Mr. Brandon Chaddick ~ SFA ~ 2015-16

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20160412_173948 Last week we went to the School of Human Sciences Honors Convocation at SFA.  We had the pleasure of meeting one of our two recipients for this school year.  We were able to meet Mr. Brandon Chaddick.  He was there to receive another memorial scholarship for this coming school year.  We were able to visit with him after the ceremony.  His parents were there and we “stole” him away for a little visiting and pictures.  He was so happy to meet us as he hadn’t had the opportunity yet to meet any other of his donors for this past school year.  He was such a humble and thankful young man.  He smiled a lot and told us many times during our conversation how thankful and appreciative he was for receiving the Lauren Alston Memorial Scholarship.  Brandon will be a Senior this coming year and will be working the Culinary Cafe this fall where we plan to catch up with him again during a dinner or lunch on campus.  Lauren also participated in the Culinary Cafe class for a semester.  If you ever have the opportunity to go you will be quite impressed.  The students plan the menu, help cook, serve the meal and decorate the tables according to the theme of the meal.  The food is always delish and visually appealing, the students do a fantastic job.

 

Below is just a few paragraphs from his last thank you letter dated Jan. 5, 2016.

“As I approached the Fall 2015 semester at SFA, I was a bit unsure of how I would be able to afford all of my classes for the semester, as I was placed with the formidable task of funding and completing 16 course hours.  Fortunately, I was given the ability  to afford my classes through scholarship funds donated by generous individuals such as yourselves.  Thus, after receiving the scholarship, I made sure that the resources provided to me would not go to waste,  I buckled down, studied hard, and for the first time in two semesters, received an “A” in all of my courses.

Overall, my experiences in my last semester proved to me that hard work pays off and can sometimes even be rewarded. It truly is the least that I can do, as the amount of money provided by your donation has been both substantial and vital to my continued education.

Once, again, I am genuinely humbled by having the Lauren Alston Memorial Scholarship bestowed upon me and I truly hope that I am continuing the make you proud of my achievements, which would be far more difficult to attain had I not been provided with financial assistance.  From the bottom of my hear, I am truly thankful.”    Sincerely, Brandon Chaddick 

26th, 27th and 7th

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I have troubles this time of the year.  Chest pains, anxiety, irritability, sadness…I squabble with Bryan over the “littlest, stupidest things”…sometimes I recognize it for what it is and sometimes it sneaks up on me.  I have to tell myself to calm down…take deep, slow breaths…it will be ok…you can get through this…   again.

 

Me and B Oct 2015Our Anniversary is February 26th and this year we have been married 33 years.  That is a really long time…maybe even more than the average marriage lasts.  Marriage is in itself a challenge to communicate, live with, understand, compromise with another person…daily…even hourly.  It takes constant work and evaluation to keep things going and on an even keel.  Add to that the additional stress of losing a child.  We process things differently, grieve differently than each other.  Bryan grieves deeply but tends to keeps things in and I tend it let it out…it usually shows up physically for me.  I have read that 16%-75% of couples get divorced after losing a child…not sure what is correct number but none of them are good and add to that the average divorce rate of 45%.  So yes, we struggle but we have beaten the odds.  I have good memories of past anniversaries…I’m so happy we have made it this far…I deserve to be joyous about this day in our lives…to be proud of “us”.

 

Baby TFebruary 27th is Taylor’s birthday.   I went into the hospital on the morning of our seven-year anniversary to have him.   I had the “7 year itch” alright…the itch to get him out.  But he wanted his “own day”…. soooooo he made his grand entrance the next evening.  He has turned into a fine young man…he isn’t perfect, no one is…but a good man we can be proud of.  He turned 26 this year, he is in college…again, lol…for a drafting degree this time.   He helps his grandparents with any “electronic problems” they have, cares for his 2 dogs, votes, is up to date on world issues and can carry on an intelligent conversation about it,  loves watching the History and National Geographic Channels and learning new things, he opens the door for his girlfriend…I could go on about the good qualities he has.  It is a joyous day…his birthday…and I deserve to be happy for and proud of him.

 

080March 7th…the worst day of my life.  A day I would give anything…I mean anything…for it not to be…not to have happened…to not lose our first born…our only daughter.  It has been six years and it seems like yesterday…the pain is a little less raw but still gut-renching, heart-breaking, lonely, sad, body–aching, nightmare-ish and a joyless day.  I struggle to get out of bed…not cry all day…to breathe…to make the chest pains go away.  I struggle to focus on her “goodness and joy of life” attitude and not the loss of her precious life.  I try to honor her life by eating one of her favorite foods…spaghetti this year…by playing games she liked…Farkle or Sequence…by doing random acts of kindness…taking animal food and toys to a local shelter…to try to see the goodness and beauty in the world God has created…to feel the wind, see the sun, smell the flowers…for her.  I was glad to be with Taylor this year…our physical family of three… but missing our fourth.

family of 3 March 2016

 

So I’m a big mess during these 10 days.  I have 2 happy, joyful events and dates… but I know the worst date of my life is right behind those…lurking, with chest pains and sadness, stealing my Joy from those days.  I got through it…  yet again…   breath…  deeply, slowly…   breath…

Naomi Lauren

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Naomi Lauren and Me 12-30-15

Suzanne holding Naomi Lauren for the first time.

Is she not the most precious bundle of joy?  The most beautiful, petite porcelain doll?  We all sure think so.  I would like to introduce you to Naomi Lauren Matheny…my great niece.  She was born on December 22, 2015 and was 5 lbs 15 oz and 17.5 inches long.  Naomi, in Hebrew, means “pleasant, agreeable, my sweet”…and her Mama says she is all that and more.   Her middle name is for… our Lauren.  We were so humbled and honored when Elise asked us if she could give her that middle name.  We hope she has a little bit of the “spirit” of that name.  Lauren…who reached out to those who looked lonely, lost, scared or unloved.  Lauren…who was funny, laughed a lot and had a quick wit…but sometimes things came out of her mouth before she thought it through…that last part we don’t want Naomi to get…lol.  Lauren…who most things were black and white…right or wrong.  Sometimes when things were wrong she spoke her mind…she took up for the underdog…but not always in a polite way…so we hope Naomi has more finesse in speaking up for what is right.   Lauren…who wasn’t perfect…had faults…but tried to live a meaningful life of purpose. Lauren…who liked to go on mission trips and lend a helping hand.  Lauren…who’s faith was important, who loved Jesus, who accepted him as her Savior in grade school.  We know Naomi one day will as well… as she is surrounded by family and people of faith.  Lauren would have been so enamored with this tiny, beautiful baby girl…one day they will meet and I wish to see Lauren’s face light up when she sees her…hugs and kisses her…her name sake….Naomi Lauren.

 

Two Updates

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We have 2 exciting updates to tell you about.

First…we had $792 more in donations given to us in the last few weeks.  We are so thankful because that means we can help more students with college scholarships or more young adults going a mission trip or more children with new backpacks or ???…the possibilities are numerous …to make a difference in someone’s life.  Thank you for your help in continuing Lauren’s legacy of helping others.

images

Second…we have an update on one of our Lufkin High School recipients.  Lauren Taylor Hancock graduated in 2011 and is attending Stephen F. Austin State University.  She lives in Nacogdoches, is a senior and will be graduating in May of 2016.  She was a Twirl-O-Jack for her first two years of college and she feels that helped her to stay connected and feel apart of something after high school.  “College can be lonely and that time I had to be involved really helped shape who I am and the decisions I made about my future” she said.  Her major is Family and Consumer Sciences with a focus in Hospitality, Nutrition and Food Science.  Her minor is in Secondary Education.  Her passion is to educate and teach students from middle school to high school to understand the science behind the food they eat and how to be a great cook.  She is President of her student organization and they do events related to family and community such as Toy for Tots and Thanksgiving Home Bound food baskets.  Lauren said “Thank you for the head start you gave me in college.  Both of you are so generous for keeping the scholarship going in Lauren’s honor.”

Amy and Lauren

Amy Murray, LHS recipient from 2010 and Lauren Taylor Hancock, LHS recipient 2011.

 

Team Fundraiser $2135

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What an awesome team…Peace, Love, LAF.
Russell…running and showing his “peace out”.
Ragin and Russell…on the right… early on in the Half Marathon….passing runners.
Tracy, Brody, Robin, Suzanne and Julie…who is the only one smiling…as we go uphill…lol.
Walking…on the brick streets of Nacogdoches.
Ragin…in the groove and running smooth.
Team Peace, Love, LAF: Russell Harvey, Tracy Portwood, Robin Hamil, Bryan, Brody Hamil, Suzanne, Ragin Cornelius. Missing is Julie Alston.
Walking….
Walking…see the pink discarded jacket on the sign by Julie?
Before we started the 5K.
Russell and Ragin…starting at the back of the Half Racers…so as they pass people they get a good look at their LAF t-shirts.

(Please click on each picture to read the captions)

Team Peace, Love, LAF

Julie Alston, Ragin Cornelius, Robin & Brody Hamil, Russell Harvey, Tracy Portwood, Bryan & Suzanne Alston

On a cold Sunday morning, November 15, 2015, a group of dedicated friends participated in the East Texas Half Marathon, to raise scholarship funds for the Lauren Alston Foundation.  I can’t say enough about my group of friends…it moves me and humbles me that they want to help continue Lauren’s legacy of helping others.  That they gave their time, energy, money, lots of sweat, a couple of tears and some pushed their bodies further than normal and some started with injuries.  They came from Austin, Corrigan, Lufkin and Yoakum to participate in this run in Nacogdoches.  This is the second year for Team Peace, Love, LAF.  Ragin came to Bryan and I last year about making this a fundraiser run for LAF.  We hope you will join us in November 2016.

Ragin and Russell were the two brave souls who participated in the half marathon…that is 13.1 miles folks.  The race started at 7:30 am…but they had to be there about 1 hr earlier to park, warm up their legs and then race…on top of driving 30 minutes to get there.  Ragin is a seasoned runner but was dealing with shin splints, from his training, before he even started the race…but he pushed himself those last few miles and finished.  Russell just started running last year before this race/fundraiser.  Russell ran the 5K last year but challenged himself and moved up to the half marathon this year.  He enjoys running 8-9 miles most days but pushed through to complete his first half marathon…for Team P, L, LAF.  I am so proud of these guys…they took on the hardest part…the bigger challenge!!  They rock…they are awesome…they have huge hearts!!…and nice legs from running…lol.

Now us 5K’ers are another story…lol…we are walkers…not runners.  We also aren’t early risers…especially on cold, rainy mornings…thank goodness the rain stopped before the Half’ers got started.  The 5K race started at 7:45 am…but we had decided beforehand to have our “own” start at 8:30 am.  For two reasons…we aren’t early risers…yes, I’m saying it again…and we wanted to finish sometime close to when Ragin and Russell would be finishing their Half.  So Tracy, Brody, Robin, Bryan, I and Julie, our sister-in law, who was able to join us last minute…started our 3.1 mile walk or stroll.  We enjoyed visiting with each other, cheering on the Half’ers we passed… who were running toward us on the route and we got to see Ragin and Russell whom we “high fived”…looking at the houses in the neighborhood we passed through and commenting on all the clothes thrown on the sides of the road.  I guess some runners shed their clothes as they got hot and would later come back to get them.  We could have had some really nice jackets, gloves, t-shirts and leg warmers had we picked up all the items we saw.  Too bad there wasn’t any warm-up pants…cause someone in our group was walking in his fleecy pajama bottoms…I won’t name you Bryan Alston…and could have changed along the way…lol.   We finished in under an hour…barely…but we weren’t in it for an “official” race time…just the company….6 across the line.  We weren’t there but maybe 15-20 minutes when Ragin showed up across the finish line….Yay, 7 cross the line!!  Then we were looking for Russell, who we knew was struggling just a bit that last mile.  And because you never leave a man behind, Ragin went back to run with him across the line…the friendship, encouragement and Russell’s perseverance brought tears to our eyes…we all loudly cheered him on.  YAY!!! All 8 of Team Peace, Love, LAF had finished…we were together and hugging it out.  Again…I am so proud of this team!!  And a “shout out”… of thanks… to our cheer team of Kathy, Elise, Sharron and Roy Dean!

Because of this Team and all of their gracious sponsors…22 fabulous Supporters from Texas, Florida, Alabama and even Japan…we raised $2135 for scholarships.  Thank You…Thank You…Thank you all!!

We are so thankful to the Runners, Walkers and the Sponsors for your support.  We hope to continue this fundraiser next year and would love for more people to join us…yes, you reading this.  You can Run…Walk…Skip…Hula Hoop it…we don’t care…just join us…in mid November 2016…you know you want one of those cute Team t-shirts.

Our love to all…we are blessed by you.  Happy Thanksgiving.

Love, Action, Faith and a 5K

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What are you doing for Thanksgiving?  Eating turkey…dressing…sweet potato casserole…homemade yeast rolls…pumpkin pie…better yet, pecan pie?  Then maybe watching some football and lying around like a stuffed turkey?…lol.  Well… not Emily Collins and her Mom, Jennifer, they are going on a mission trip to Haiti.  Emily is a student at Texas State University in San Marcus and this isn’t her first trip to Haiti but it is a first for her Mom.  Emily wants to show and share her passion for the people of Haiti with her Mom.  Can you think of a better way to spend Thanksgiving?  That is why Emily is a perfect choice for our Love, Action, Faith Scholarship.  She will be Christ love…in action...because of her faith.  Think of Emily and Jennifer, the week of Thanksgiving, as they take this journey together and pray often for them as they travel and be the “hands and feet” of Christ.  And let us be every thankful for the many blessings we have in America.

Emily and some of her friends in Haiti.

Emily and some of her friends in Haiti.

On Sunday November 15th there will be 8 of us participating in the East Texas Half Marathon that runs through the SFA campus in Nacogdoches.  And before you fall off your chair laughing…it’s No…Bryan and I will be some of those walking the 5K portion…no running…no half marathon for us…lol.  But we do have 3 brave, energetic souls who are running the half marathon.  We are using this as a fundraiser for LAF.  Please consider making a donation to support our efforts.  That is the way we can continue to provide college scholarships and Love, Action, Faith scholarships, like the one Emily is receiving.  You can use the “To DONATE Online” button at the top of this page or you can mail a check to:

LAF   PO Box 152535   Lufkin, Tx  75915.  **If you donate $100 or more you will receive a Peace, Love, LAF team shirt. (please give us your sz)

Be on the look out for the follow-up story and pictures from Emily’s trip and from the Fundraiser Run/Walk.

Thank you for helping us continue Lauren’s legacy of helping others.

How she got her name…

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How she got her name…perfume….Yes, perfume.  Lauren is named from a Ralph Lauren perfume.

Lauren by Ralph Lauren

 She asked me one time, when she was a teenager, how I came up with her name.  So I told her the story.  When Bryan and I were dating, our first Christmas together, he gave me a bottle of Lauren by Ralph Lauren.  The bottle was a beautiful burgundy color glass…one of my favorite colors, it was expensive…back then at least… and I loved how it smelled.  It was the nicest gift any boyfriend had given me… for only dating a couple of months…he impressed me.  We were married for four and a half years…by choice, much to the “grandparent wanna-be’s” displeasure… before I got pregnant.  We quickly came up with the name Lauren Elizabeth for a girl…from the perfume and we loved the name…but we never could settle on a boy’s name.  Back in that day you usually only had one sonogram…which we have on video…but we didn’t discover the sex of the baby then.  As I was having her I remember asking Dr. Huddleston what the baby was…he said “A head…that is all that is out right now…(laughing jovially)”…a few more pushes and we knew…a beautiful, dark-haired, long bodied, rounded manicured nails, precious baby girl.  We named her Lauren Alizabeth Alston.  Notice the change of E to A on Alizabeth?  Well… Dr. Huddleston and his wife stole our baby girl name…lol.  I told him early in my pregnancy that if we had a girl what her name was going to be.  He and his wife had a baby girl a couple of weeks before Lauren and “stole” our name.  When I accused him of it…he swore he didn’t remember me telling him the name…I believe him…because how many baby names did he hear, on a daily basis, in his practice…hahaha.  So I changed the E to an A to be different and because most people pronounce it with an “A” sound anyway.

A tray on my bathroom counter…with Lauren’s picture and perfumes.

But back to the perfume story…I wore it almost daily…at least until I was pregnant with her…then all perfumes made me nauseous and I have rarely worn any since.  But when I do it is Lauren…we had given her some for Christmas after her inquiry about her name.  I wear her… Lauren…in more ways… than just her perfume.

Three

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We spend about 8 months of the year in our little rolling home.  In our travels we have met all kinds of people and have seen all manors of RV’s.  Some people have been loud and crazy…others keep to themselves…but most never meet strangers…kind of like us. Usually we are the youngest in the parks…but we don’t mind…we have friends of all ages.

 

Four years ago, while we were in Fredericksburg at Lady Bird Park, we met Jean and George. One evening while Bryan was looking at a tree in the park George hollered out at him…. “Hey, leave my pecan tree alone”.  Bryan jumped because he didn’t know where that booming voice came from.  And that is how we met the friendly jokester and his sweet wife.  George is a retired Vice Cop, from Houston and Jean is a retired rural route Mail Woman.  Every year he and some of his former co-workers get together at Lady Bird Park to reminisce…and boy do they have some stories to tell.  Well one evening us two couples went out to have a beer and listen to live music at Silver Creek.  We were talking and getting to know each other and Jean started talking about their girls.  They had four beautiful daughters.  As she is naming them and telling their ages…she said almost forty years ago they lost their second daughter to cancer when she was just two years old.  She told us what that journey and heartache was like.  Then she told us about her last two girls, who lived in the same town, but it was a few hours from them.  Six years earlier one daughter committed suicide from being in a verbally abusive marriage, they tried numerous times to help her get out of that marriage, but her despair was to great to overcome.  The last daughter got the call from the hospital about her sister.  She called her parents and told them to come quickly… as she rushed to the hospital a short distance away….where she learned her sister didn’t make it.   While at the hospital, waiting on her parents to arrive, she suffered a sudden aneurysm and died.  So George and Jean arrived at the hospital to learn the horrific news that they had lost two daughters that day.  Tears started rolling down my face as I listened to Jean tell me about their daughters…their life story.  She reached across the table and squeezed my hands and said “You are such a sweet, tender-hearted young woman.”  I replied “I know your sorrow…I live it too…but not times three.”

 

That is… T H R E E …of their four….beautiful, young daughters…their babies…their precious children…gone.  So when I am feeling overwhelmed…or heavy sorrow….I think of Jean.  I think of her heartache…her pain…her suffering.  If Jean has the strength and grace to continue living her life…after losing three children…I can do no less.  There, but for the grace of God, go I.  Please say a little prayer for Jean and George.

 

blue flowers

 

 

Senior Sunday Poem

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In our church there is something called Senior Sunday.  It is for all graduating High School Seniors that attend the church.  The Seniors take over the service for the day and perform all of the tasks…each taking a role in the service.  They greet people, take up the offering, sing, give the “sermon” and more.  It is a day for them to be recognized and shine in the spot light.

Lauren wanted to sing…she had a beautiful voice.  I was nervous for her as she hadn’t sang in front of a large group in several years… since she sang in musicals at the private christian school she and her brother attended.  I encouraged her to write a poem and recite it instead…she liked poetry too…so she rose to the occasion and that is what she did.

Lauren Sr Sunday 2006

In honor of all those graduating…whether it be High School, College or even Grade School…here are her words.  May you find encouragement and direction for your life.

 

 

Senior Sunday Poem   

Together we have been through it all

And together we all fall.

Christ brings us down on our knees

Christ, humble us, please.

How will we choose to measure our lives?

Will we try to fill it with lies?

Will we be some of the elite?

  -they never stop moving their feet-

Or will we gauge it in meaningful talks

And challenging walks, with God?

Get excited and look around

These are your brothers and sisters in Christ!

They will always be here

To help you through life.

And at the end of the day,

They are just a phone call away.

If you depend on God and your friends,

Does it really matter what life sends?

We pray we go far,

We pray we follow Your star,

We pray we go where ever You are.

  ~ Lauren Alizabeth Alston ~

Lauren Alston Senior Sunday 2006

Lauren Alston
Senior Sunday 2006

 

 

LHS 2015 Recipients

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Glen from LHS Alumni Association called me over a month ago.  He had narrowed down our choice of recipients by the qualifications we had given him…he always does a great job.  He told me “I know I have always given you girls to choose from but this year I have several great guys I want to tell you about.”  I told him we didn’t care if they were male or female…we just wanted to help deserving youngsters.  He said “I don’t know if you know this family or not but they go to our church…Jeff and Tracy Portwood and their son is John.  He is active in the young group, he plays on the golf team, he was thinking about Pharmacy as his possible degree, he has a very good GPA and more good qualities.”  I let him tell me all about John and when he finished I laughed…in a good way…and said, “We know the Portwoods very well, they are our friends, and Yes, John is a great young man.”  I told him how much the Portwoods helped us after Lauren passed away and that the whole family were kind, helpful, generous people.

Glen went on the tell me about several girls and another young man.  He said he was really impressed with him when he interviewed him.  Yes, all students applying for Alumni Association scholarships are personally interviewed along with other criteria they have to meet.  But on to the next young man.  He told me how he was on the robotics team, the swim team, he was already a CNA but wanted to be a Nurse Practitioner, he worked at the Boys and Girls Club and more good qualities.  He then told me his name was Thomas Powell.

After Glen told me about all the possible candidates, Bryan and I talked about them and chose the two young men.  Scholarship Awards night was on May 12, 2015 and we got to visit with them and have our picture taken.  We were talking with Thomas and asked who his parents were.  He told us Gary and Suzy and Bryan and I just looked at each other and started laughing…they were our “old neighbors” from Brookhollow.  We had not recognized Thomas, because he was 12 when we saw him last and we knew him as “TJ” not Thomas.  Lauren had even babysat him, his twin and their little sister. 

Wow…how fitting to have two quality young men…that Lauren personally knew…from families that are our friends and were “there for us” after Lauren passed away.  We are so happy to award these young men the Lauren Alston Memorial Scholarship for Lufkin High School for 2015.

Bryan, Thomas Powell, John Portwood & Suzanne

Bryan, Thomas Powell, John Portwood & Suzanne