Party for Pottebaum - Thank you Part 2

If I could pick a song for my journey through cancer this would be it.

My Mom sent this to me last week and it literally made me shed tears and
by the end I had snot dripping from my nose. 

 I am sure this is TMI (too much information) but it's true!

If I made a video for this event this is the song I would choose because

you have all shown your love for me and my family.  Thank you!

"In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said "It is more to give than to receive."

Acts 20:35

Thank you for giving to our family in our time of weakness.  We plan to pay it forward when I am fully recovered by throwing a benefit for another cancer patient in the future.

Nicki Evans, Me, Angie Ross

Angie Ross and Julianne Spatz

I have known these three ladies since freshman year in highschool.  We were on cheerleading together freshman and sophomore year.  Julianne and I lived in the same dorm our freshman year in college and hung out quite a bit all through college and attended each other's weddings.  Angie went to Wayne State but I would visit another friend of mine Tricia Pugsley who lived with Angie at the time.  Tricia was there with her husband Dan but I didn't get a photo.  Nicki, Julianne, Angie and I spent a lot of time together in high school especially practicing for competitions and camps.  Love you ladies~!

Jeff and Kathi Scherzberg

Julianne introduced me to Kathi as they were in the same sorority Kappa Alpha Theta.  They called me an honorary member because I hung out with them so much I felt like I was part of the house.  I worked with Jeff at Main Street Cafe in Lincoln.  He was a bartender and I was one of the cocktail waitresses.  I introduced Kathi and Jeff one night while working and they tied the knot a few years later. They now have a beautiful little girl named Sabrina who is only one month older then my daughter Olivia.  =)

Angie, Kathi, Me, Diana, Julianne, Nicki and Karen

I met Diana and Karen both through Julianne.  Diana is her little sister and Karen was also in Kappa Alpha Theta with her.  Whenever we had competitions Diana was always there to support us.  I got to know Karen better the summer before my final year of college.  We had back to back economics classes crammed in to 3 weeks each.  We always would get lunch afterwards at Main Street and attempt to study.  We have stayed in touch since and I live vicariously through her and her roommate Dana.  So whenever I can go out (which is not much especially now-a-days) I always call to see where they will be.  When ever I meet them her brother Andrew usually joins us.

Karen and her brother Andrew

Sasha and Matt Speiker

It would not be a party without the Speikers!  Sasha also was part of the crew that would all go out in college.  Sasha and I have remained extremely close and talk at least two or three times a week.  I have known Matt longer then I have known Sasha.  I introduced the two many years ago and they now have three beautiful children Jack, Savanna and Sofia (My God daughter)

Marcy's Friend, Matt and Marcy

Marcy was a Theta as well and we had many good times in college.  She was so kind to come the party!  It has been years since I have seen her but she is the same old Marcy.

My sister Angie, Caci and Matt Liebentritt

Watching Angie's kids for the past 2 1/2 years I have gotten to know Caci, Matt and their four children, Barret, Chloe, Carson and Wyatt. Caci tripped on her stairs outside before she came to the party and was limping the whole time. They found out her foot was broke after taking her to the hospital! =(

Jeff and Kim Phillips

They are sporting the shirts they wore for the bike ride benefit in July and for RAGBRAI.  They were so kind to drive in from Remsen to show their support.  Thanks Weasel and Kim!

More to come!

Ta Ta's Fun Ride Video

Thank you Team Beer City and to everyone who showed their support.  This is NOT my best shoot as I didn't want to bring all my camera gear.  Thank you to Jessica Marx and Stephanie Phillips for your pictures!  Fantastic work ladies!


Here is a video shot during RAGBRAI.  Thanks for riding for me TEAM BEER CITY!!!  Thanks for the shout out Weasel! =)

Tata's Fun Ride

Ten years ago, I had never heard of the town Remsen Iowa, I couldn't of told you where it was or how many people live there.  When I met Steve (in November 2003) he brought me to Remsen for the first time in April of 2004.  He took me on the 5 minute tour and at the end I kept thinking wow this town is really small!  Where do you go shopping?  Our first stop (besides his parent's house) was Beer City.  Steve had talked this bar up so much I had to see it for myself.  Immediately, I felt right at home, belly up to the bar, and remember meeting two guys by the nicknames of Shorty and Weasel along with a dozen or so of Steve's friends.  We closed down the bar telling stories of Steve when he was younger.  I also learned on that trip Steve's nickname was "the Beave". =)  Now that I have been to Remsen and I am a Pottebaum I encounter people almost weekly who knows a Pottebaum, is a Pottebaum, lived in Remsen or grew up close by to Remsen.

Over the years I have gotten to know Steve's friends, family and the people of Remsen better.  They have been there for us when we got engaged, married and for the birth of our daughter Olivia.  When they found out I had cancer Team Beer City told us they were throwing a benefit with or without us! =) 

This past weekend I saw all the friends and family that have been there for Steve and me during the good times and now when times are a little tough.  I think I was in shock the whole weekend from the amount of support we received, it left me speechless.....which is hard to do!  70 people rode their bikes for me!  In the heat, wind, up hills, pushing themselves to keep going even when they were tired.  I do have to give a special shout out to Nick Harvey who rode most of the way with his daughter Anna on the back and Dave Fisch who had his sons on the back the ENTIRE 50 miles! 

I am not sure how to say thank you to those of you who made food, signs, t-shirts, donated your time, money, fixing up the bus, having bracelets, bandannas and coozies made, driving in from out of town,  booking the band, and advertising the event.  Thank you to Beer City for welcoming us in to your home.  Thank you to the bikers for sweating and enduring the wind.  Thank you to everyone who showed up to the party afterwards.  THANK YOU to Jeff and Kim Phillips, Jeff and Amy Schorg, Rob and Janel Schorg, Glen and Amy Roder, Corey and Abby Phillips for organizing this event.  How will I ever repay all of you for your kindness?

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT!!!!!

Driving in the car watching all the riders my sister-in-law Judy kept saying "Wow, Emily this is all for you!".  I kept taping with my video camera because I didn't want to miss a thing.  I am sorting through song choices and footage to hopefully produce a piece in the next couple of weeks. Finding time between watching my sister's kids, daughter and my next chemo session will make it tricky.  I am determined to have it finished by the end of the month.

If you have any pictures or songs you want me to listen to you can email me at emily.pottebaum@yahoo.com.  I can't use the pictures from facebook I need the photos sent to me in jpegs.