The 9th Outing.

For those of you that don't know, my brother Bryce was killed in a car accident June 7th 2002. He was on his way to basketball camp with my sister Morgan and my dad (who was driving) when they came to a 4 way stop and a dump truck ran a stop sign, killing my brother, and seriously injuring Morgan and my dad. A Helicopter came to take Bryce to the hospital but never left with him in it. The paramedics performed CPR on Bryce in the front yard that the accident took place near (where Payton...our youngest sister, my mom and I were present...and witnessed all of this because the accident was .2 miles away from our house and we had to pass it to get to the hospital) .

It was a terrible time for everyone. But it was also very weird. If anyone in our family was ok with death and the idea of dying, at the age of 16, it was Bryce. We had had so many talks about death and how he was 100% ok with the idea of it. It was a horrible time for us, because we were sad, but we were feeling sorry for ourselves.  We knew Bryce felt no pain. I saw him. I watched the paramedics and while he looked a tad bit swollen, he looked exactly like himself. He wasn't in pain. It was instant. I strongly believe that he felt no pain, and for that I am thankful.

After he died it was a long healing process for everyone. We all went through the greiving process differently, but we all got through it, for the most part.  We miss him a ton....and I often get sad that he isn't around to see the boys grow up. He would have a blast with them!! Eli knows who he is from pictures, and whenever he sees him, in pictures,  he says "Hi, Bry."

ANYWAYS...enough of that sappy, sadness. My point is.....a few of my dads friends were sitting around and trying to think of something that they could to do raise money in Bryces name and they came up with the idea of the Golf Tourney. The Bryce William Mitchell Golf Tournament. We just celebrated the 9th annual outing and as usual it was a success....half of it anyway! It rained the day of the tournament and flooded the course.....leaving it a sad day without golf. But the night before we held the annual dinner and it was a hit. It was on Fathers Day, so we were worried about a shortage of people, but we had more people this year than we have in the years prior!! We didn't even have enough tables! We had to bring extra chairs in!

Brad Stevens, the Butler Basketball coach, was our guest speaker.
We gave away 6 monetary "gifts." We don't call them scholarships, because they aren't. They are monetary gifts. These gifts ranged from $2500 to $1000.
We raised a TON of money in the live auction and in the raffle ticket sales.
We had a delicious dinner that my mama chose the menu on! (including THE most amazing crab cakes EVER)
And several old time friends/family "roasted" my dad. That was the first time we have ever roasted him, we were just trying to do something different to keep the fun alive during the dinner.
It's pretty awesome to see 250 people come out to support my brother and our family and the cause that we feel so strongly about.

Here are pictures from the dinner and the day that the outing was supposed to be held. Like I said before the golfers weren't able to golf because of a terrible storm, that flooded the course. But I do have pictures of some of the golfers that still came out to support us, get their goodies and (get this...) pay their way for the tourney....even though they didn't get to golf. We know a lot of good people. I am so proud of my family and the company we keep.



Day 1. Stuffng the Goodie bags and getting things ready!






Warren...the man that does it all. The tourney wouldn't be possible without him!


Uncle Shorty gets pedicures and he had them put a 34 on his toe for the tourney.










these were the coozies this year. they are so cool.




These are some nifty wine boxes that Warren had made for all of the 1st place winners and for the sponsers that have helped us every year. they turned out so nice!










The set up for the dinner. We had the navy blue napkins in support of Butler and our guest speaker, Brad Stevens!


Dad and Uncle Shorty.


Grandpa and Linda


Chooch. He provides us with the music during cocktail hour of the dinner. He is great.




This is Korinne. She won one of the "gifts." I cannot say enough awesome things about this girl.


Korinne and her brother Isaac.






Grandpa, cousin Nick and Uncle Tim




Aunt Paula and her family came for the first time in 9 years. It was nice to see them all and for the boys to meet his Aunt, Uncle and Cousins!


can you tell thats he dad?


Aunt Paula, Uncle Spencer, Turner and Natosha.




Love.My.Sisters.


2 men that would do anything for my family. they HAVE done a lot for my family. Uncle Shorty and Chuck. Love them!


Morgan and Paytons best friend, Joelle.


Some of the auction items!










Brian, Steph and her new husband Ryan.












Dad and Brad Stevens. Really nice guy.


Dads family with Brad.












another gift recipient


Dad laughing of some of the roasting that was taking place.




some of the tickets from the raffle.






Morgan and her boyfriend, JB.


Uncle Shorty and his gals :) We love him! So sad that his wife, Nancy, didn't get to come!


The day of the outing. Payton, Morgan and Paytons friends playin games and hopin that the rain would pass.


my sweet little bully, Izaak.


he looks innocent. my little eli. so high maintenance.


I told them to put their thumbs down and frown. Look at my mom. She is super great at following directions.








Eli and his spongebob umbrella. He insisted on being out in the rain.


































Dad and Joe Reitz. Joe used to play AAU with Bryce and then went on to Western Michigan to play football. Now he is in his first "season" with the Colts. Can't wait to watch him play!! We love Joe. He is the sweetest kid alive.



There you have it! The 9th outing was as well as it could be...even though it rained.


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