The Hunter Goold Memorial Scholarship - Weekend in Arizona.

The kids and I visited Arizona in January and while we had so much fun playing with Super Shelley and Papa, the real reason for our trip was to present the award for the 5th Anniversary of The Hunter Goold Memorial Scholarship at E&A's Safety School.

Growing up my father worked for a company, Jeff Ellis and Associates or E&A.  E&A is an International Aquatic Safety and Risk Management Consulting firm dedicated to the prevention and elimination of drowning.  My dad traveled the world with E&A speaking in seminars and trainings. Our family was able to travel across the United States (a 7 week tour when I was 15 in 2002), to the Bahamas(2006) and Dubai(2008) all while my dad worked for E&A.

Bahamas 2006. 

Dubai 2008

Some of our greatest memories as a family, especially with our sweet brother Hunter are times we traveled for Dad's work with E&A.   E&A employees from water parks across the country and world (Chris Perry I'm talking to you) have certainly become family. This years presentation of the HGMS was pretty special since my sweet son Hunter got to be the presenter.  My mom did a beautiful job, even making us shed a few tears, introducing my brother and our family history with E&A.  Hunter was a little charmer as Papa walked him on stage. He looked like a mini celebrity flashing his big smile and waving at the audience.  My Dad, as always, did his thing and wrapped up the presentation with an incredible message to the guards.  (Dad looked so cool in his awesome BowTie. Such a hipster!) I am so grateful for my parents and the wonderful examples they are to me.  Watching them share our story... our loss... it inspires me to be stronger, be better and love deeper. 

We were hosted at the stunning Arizona Grand Resort. 

Our dear family friends RAC and Joe made us feel more welcomed and loved then ever.

RAC & Joe even did a pretty great job keeping my kiddos entertained at almost 11 o'clock at night when they had been up since 5am! 

What a special weekend and I am so grateful to E&A for carrying on this awesome tradition and for keeping The Goold's in the E&A family. 
We are eternally grateful for your love, support and friendship.