Fore!

Yesterday was anything but a typical Thursday for me!  After an early morning wakeup and a drive from Alexandria, VA out to the Raspberry Falls Country Club in Leesburg, VA, I found myself in the pro shop getting a brief tutorial on my brand new rented TaylorMade golf clubs.  I'm not sure how funny the golf pro found it that he was renting never been used clubs to the girl who barely ever golfs!  After bringing them out to my cart and giving me my pitching wedge, a driver, and an 8 iron he walked out to the driving range with me.  My first swing?!  A 200yd straight drive!  Rendering a man speechless before 8am...quite a priceless moment.  :)

The entire morning and early afternoon were spent golfing 18 holes with my good friend Connie and two of the gentlemen that work for Pepperidge Farms.  I tried to get my workout in running between holes to try and find my ball, because lets be honest...it didn't always manage to land on the fairway!!  6.5 hours of golf was quite the workout as my entire body is sore this morning!  From my shoulders and arms to my core, I can definitely tell these are not muscles I use very often!  :)

Albeit a very enjoyable day filled with a few drinks, lots of sunshine, and warm weather, the bigger cause behind the events of yesterday is what made it even more special.  Every year the Costco NE Regional Office hosts a golf charity classic with all of the proceeds going to the Children's Miracle Network and more specifically the Children's Hospital of Washington, D.C.  Yesterday between golfing, a silent auction and cash donations, they were able to raise approximately $780,000 for this amazing cause!  Not only was the check presented to the CMN representative but also to a family who personally shared their experiences of Children's Hospital with the 500+ attendees of the evening.  There was not a dry eye in the house when their two young daughters (one of whom is a Leukemia survivor and the other who donated her bone marrow to her sister) started singing "Let It Go" from the movie Frozen while their father played the guitar.

Sometimes slowing down and taking a step back allows us to see just how grateful we should be for our own health and happiness.  Yesterday was another one of those days that was emotionally and spiritually motivating to continue to make sure I play my own music inside of myself!