GBL 5K...

Everyone knows that the Get Busy Livin' Foundation is near and dear to my heart. Three years ago, we lost Dylan...

Dylan was an avid LIVER of LIFE. He was all about seizing the moment and making the most of every single second. He was all about being grateful. Grateful for family. Grateful for friends. Grateful for health. Grateful for nature. Grateful for love.

Well, this past weekend, the kiddos and I hit the road to meet up with family in Kansas. We all met up to celebrate Dylan's life and participate in his annual memorial 5k run. We all met up to Get Busy Livin'....

And, what an AMAZING weekend it was.....

Score one for Momma!!! :Leaving at nap time was a great idear!

Unk dancing to the Polka band at the world famous chicken place...

Sister turn!

Hanging time with extended family...

GBL sign makin'....

Hotel bed hoppin'....

String cheese eatin' & shirt sportin'....(the purple lips are just a little peek into exactly how windy, drizzly, and chilly it was at the race...)

Pool swimmin'...

"Slam Dunk" jumpin'....

Pond water playin'...(This pic is extra sweet because I remember when we were the little munchkins out there, diggin' around without a care in the world....)

Football throwin'...

Picture posin'....

Bubble blowin'....

Bonfire makin'....

Camera spyin...

Frog huntin'...

Frog capturin'...

Smoke watchin'...

Unk entertainin'...

Pitts walkin'....

Nap takin'...

Pretzel Goldfish eatin' and picture colorin'...

Car ride home nappin'....

And, yes...I actually do have a couple pics from the race itself...I'll get them up on here from my i-Pad as soon as possible. The actually race was super rainy and, with Jason back in Des Moines at the Drake Relays, there was no way I was going to be able to man the camera and three, umbrella carrying kiddos. So, Aunt Calie snapped a couple pics of the big event!!! 

What a GRATEFUL day!

Love you, Dyl!

GBL!

We LOVE you, #9 and truly know that you are our inspiration to Get Busy Living!!!

A couple weekends ago, I hit the road by myself and headed towards the 2nd Annual GBL 5k Run. Once again, I was absolutely MOVED by the turnout and the large amount of support that showed up to the stadium in Pittsburg, Kansas. It was a fun time, full of catching up with family, running, and enjoying our favorite Dylan memories.....It's so hard to believe that's he's been gone for two years. It's seems like just yesterday, I was getting a phone call on that awful day. I still feel like Dylan is out there, traveling the world, living life and that I'll see him at Christmas. In my heart, I know that his spirit still is and I will, one day, see him again. And, what great laughs we will have!!!

For a re-cap of last year, click here and enjoy the pics from this year.....

Post Run....Doug (my sister's boyfriend), Cory, Kyle (my brother's buddy), and me all flashing our 9's!!!

Grandma Jean and Grandfather helping bind shoes....in addition to the GBL run, Shadley brought attention to a wonderful program called, Soles 4 Souls, and over 600 pairs of shoes were collected!!! What a fabulous cause....click the link above to learn more!!!

This is one of my favorite pictures of Dylan! He's so genuinely happy and loving life....he was truly always living and this picture does nothing but makes me smile through the tears. (I snapped the pic from one of the two huge banners that were hanging at the run. Dylan's infamous Kiwi and Operation Mother Russia e-mails from his travels/journeys abroad were featured....he definitely had a knack for the written word!)

All of us (that were able to attend) together for a group picture....

What a great shot!!!! Looking forward to many, many more years of the GBL 5k Run!!!

So, Dylan, we enjoyed running in your honor and will continue to get out there and Get Busy Living!! You have inspired so many people to do things beyond their comfort zone and "find" themselves amidst challenges, only to come out a stronger and better person than they were before. Many people love and miss you for many different reasons and in many different ways, but, bottom line, we ALL feel BLESSED to have had you be such a tremendous part of our lives. Until we meet again....continue to shine down brightly on us and remind us to not waste another second. Life is what we make of it and you've helped us all open up and embrace the opportunities that lie ahead!!! You will never be forgotten, #9!!!

Now, everyone get out there and GET BUSY LIVING!!!!

What great tribute video footage....

of the 2011 Dylan Meier "Get Busy Livin'" Foundation Run/Walk....

Click Here to See the Video... or view below..... (be patient and let it load..it's worth the wait :)

As I was browsing facebook this afternoon, I ran across this YouTube video that Shadley shared on his page. It does waaaaaay more justice to this past weekend's 5K Fun Run/Friendship Walk down in Pittsburg, Kansas than my few candid photos on the last blog entry....my pictures featured mostly us and this video really shows you just how many supporters showed up that day to Get Busy Livin'....

The video also just happens to capture Shadley, Adam, and Kerry honoring their brother, along with Trey & Tylee enjoying the kids' fun race at the end. I'm really hoping I can find a way to save this YouTube video for Trey, Tylee, and Taylen to one day have to go along with all the wonderful stories, pictures, and articles I want to share with them about Dylan and his amazing way of living!! (So any input from all you "techies" out there would be greatly appreciated!!!) They had fun racing that day and eventually will be able to realize the entire reason we were there to show our support.....

Here's to the success of the foundation and for everyone to really GET BUSY LIVIN'......

#9, You TRULY will NEVER be FORGOTTEN

and your tremendous zest for life will continue to live on in all those that you touched! Just one look at the picture below and you can begin to see just how many people turned out for the Get Busy Livin' 5k & 1 Mile Friendship Walk. 

Whether people turned out for the run, a little walking, to volunteer, or just to show support, everyone was there to honor the beautiful life of my 1st cousin, who tragically passed away last year in a hiking accident. Although his life was cut entirely too short, Dylan did more livin' in his years than most people could do in a hundred years.

In Dylan's memory, the Get Busy Livin' foundation has been established by a few of his long-time friends. (Visit www.getbusylivin.org for more detailed information) And, we were lucky enough to be able to make the journey down to Pittsburg, Kansas this past weekend to participate in their first big fundraising event.

We (the hubs, Trey, Tylee, Taylen, and I) hit the road on Saturday morning about 3 AM, ready to face the 6 hour drive and arrive just in time for the race. The weather was ABSOLUTELY gorgeous and the atmosphere could not have been better.

Grandfather, Grandma Jean, Dad, Donna, Cory, Calie, and Haley all came down from St. Louis and met up with us to spend the day celebrating Dylan's Get Busy Livin' outlook on life. We changed into our shirts, lathered up in sunscreen, and headed to the high school stadium to get our walk on......

It was great to see everyone else who made the trip and we know those who weren't able to make were definitely there with us in spirit!! The kids had a blast and the rest of us spent the entire day reliving all of our favorite Dylan memories.....

Jason and the kiddos ready to hit the track....

Starting the 1 mile walk....hand in hand! LOVE it!!!

Ty walking with her Great Grandparents.....too cute!!

One of my faves!!!

This is where we ended up after the first lap...Trey had to go!!

Working on our second lap...Taylen even joined in the fun!!!

Trey & Grandfather getting the fruit ready for the runners' table....

Trey & Ty getting lined up for the Kids' Fun Run.....

Trey finishing the last leg of the Fun Run with Shad right by his side....

Ty hustling across the finish line...Way to Go!!!

Aunt Calie holding Taylen while the rest of the kids were running....so comfy!!

Taylen hanging out with her Great Grandma Jean and Great Grandfather for the first time...she was checking them out and loving what she was seeing!!!

What a fabulous day and, Dylan, we will continue to get out there and live life!! You are a true inspiration and I look forward to sharing all of your little "Dylan-isms" with my three little ones....We love and miss you!!!