Life’s Choices.....

Ever wonder WHY?

Why here or now?

Why him or her?

Why can’t I get a break?

Why my child????

Over the last couple of years, I have had a lot of WHY? questions run through my head....some verbalized and other not, some I reacted to and others I fought not to because these days I have to pick & choose my battles carefully --- and there’s only so much of me to go around (no wonder I’m on Lexapro and Ambien).

It has taken a long time to the answer about why we were back in Union, but eventually I did --- there is no way we could have ever accomplised what we have for Autism Awareness like we have been able to here. We have found people to fight with us, for us and others against us; however, we have remained strong (on the outside).

I still don’t know why Kyle has autism, but somedays it’s a lot clearer than others...like when he touches someone’s heart with his smile or simple touch of the hand. And through this connections we have managed to break through beariers, touch lives, raise a little money for Autism Speaks (autism awareness), make life long friends that will be part of our family for the rest of our lives and even make International connections for autism awareness.

In the midst of it all, I have learned (borrowing a phrase from a close friend) that life “moves a little faster for some and slower for others” which puts you in a position to wonder “what could have been”. But you face reality and deal with what you were dealt.

I know that one day I will be having a very long conversation with GOD ‘bout these struggles but until then I have to pray for the strength to accomplish whatever needs to be done in my lifetime. I hope that you, our friends & family, will be there with us wherever the road leads to support our efforts even though you may not agree with our methods or life’s choices sometimes. Just know that we love you more than you will ever know!

Team Aruba officially opens race shop

Team Aruba officially opens race shop

By CHARLES L. WARNER

Published:

Thursday, April 17, 2008 1:56 PM CDT

Staff Writer

Union County's enthusiasm for motorsports helped make it the U.S. home base for Team Aruba, Ven Eaman says.

Team Aruba's U.S. Home Base Complex held its grand opening celebration Wednesday. The complex, located on the Whitmire Highway, is the centerpiece of Union County's efforts to become a motorsports hub.

While access to highways was important, it was the people of Union County and their commitment to motorsports that was the deciding factor in the team's decision to locate here, Eaman, who is team coordinator, said.

“It's a very exciting day, we've been working toward this day for awhile now,” he said. “We met the people of Union at Rockingham, N.C., at the race. They knew about us, they knew that we didn't have a U.S. base. They invited us over, we came for several meetings and we got to know the people. They are motorsports-minded (and) didn't leave us any other choice but to pick Union as our U.S. home base. We're glad and we don't regret it; we're going to do great things together.”

Eaman predicted his team would win a world championship “in the near future” for both Aruba and Union County. He added that Team Aruba will also work to help attract more racing teams and related motorsports industries to the county.

Eaman's brother, Henny, the former prime minister of Aruba, compared the enthusiasm in Union for Team Aruba to that in his country as it worked to overcome an economic crisis it faced at the beginning of his first term in office.

“We had a big crisis and we made a plan and we had a very enthusiastic team,” he said. “In that enthusiasm that you see today in the eyes of everyone that's involved I recognize a team that is going to grow and is going to work together and is going to accomplish lots of big things for the venture between the City of Union and Team Aruba.”

In addition to motor sports, the Eamans are looking to expand their business by setting up an exchange involving the import of water, beer and possibly aloe products made in Aruba and exporting steel products and machinery from Union County. The Eamans are also involved in the textile industry and will be looking at possible opportunities for trade between the county and Aruba.

Union Mayor Bruce Morgan welcomed the Eamans' commitment to helping bring motor sports and other economic development to the county.

“This has just been a wonderful day for Union, for Team Aruba and for Union's future,” he said. “We think this is just the beginning of being able to recruit additional racing teams and motorsports people to Union.

“This shows the commitment of some of these organizations to the sport and with Ven Eaman and his entire family making Union their United States home base means that they will continue to invest money here in the area and help us recruit additional teams to come to Union,” he said.”

Mike Petrie, president of the Union County Motorsports Association, served as master of ceremonies and spoke on the impact motor sports can have on a community.

“We all understand the economic impact that motorsports can have on Union County,” he said. “Motorsports is an industry and people around here are starting to recognize that.

North Carolina long ago recognized Motorsports as an industry and because of that they're way ahead of the curve,” he said. “A good example is in 2005 motorsports poured $5.9 billion into the state of North Carolina and created 27,000 new jobs. Maybe on a smaller scale, we hope to accomplish the same thing here.”

Supervisor Donnie Betenbaugh pointed out that motorsports has a long history in the county.

“Team Aruba's formally announcing their location here along with all the other things going on in motorsports here in Union County, it looks as though our future will be very bright for the motorsports industry and the economy of motor sports in Union County. We're very excited to be a part of that.”

Copyright © 2008 - The Union Daily Times

Team Aruba Grand Opening

Article published Apr 17, 2008 GoUpstate.com

Team Aruba opens drag-racing shop in Union

By Matt Cobbs
Published: Thursday, April 17, 2008 | Updated: 11:41 am

MIKE BONNER/mike.bonner@shj.com | Order a reprint
Jim and Marie Brady check out the Team Aruba car during the open house of the drag-racing shop in Union on Wednesday.

UNION - The gear and crew have been moved in for a couple months, but Team Aruba officially opened its new drag-racing shop Wednesday afternoon.

The team's new home base - about 3 miles from Union on Whitmire Highway - welcomed Union Mayor Bruce Morgan, former Aruba prime minister Henny Eman and an assortment of other guests for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

"We know this is going to be very profitable and rewarding for all of Union in the future," Morgan said. "It's just going to be an economic boom for us and something we can all appreciate and love."

Henny said the team's move should help to stimulate economic growth for both Union and Aruba.

"This joint venture is going to give very positive results for Aruba's advertising. Our small island depends largely on tourism," he said.

"It should also be positive for the fast-developing city of Union," he added "I'm sure that we will be visiting Union and tracks very often."

Henny's younger brother, Ven, is the coordinator for Team Aruba.

Trevor Eman, 21, is the team's driver and competes on the IHRA circuit - they have an event this weekend in Rockingham, N.C.

The process of bringing the team to Union began last year when Ven met Mike Petrie, president of the Union County Motorsports Association, at a race.

Petrie began telling him about the town and its love for racing.

"Many people think I found Union. This is far from the truth," Ven Eman said. "Union found Team Aruba. Union has a motorsport-aggressive approach, and everybody in Union loves anything that has a motor, that's loud and goes fast."

Petrie said several particular aspects attracted the team to come to Union.

"We've got friendly people, people that share (Ven's) passion for motorsports, access to three major interstates, a relatively mild climate and the availability and price of (the) property," Petrie explained.

Trevor Eman drives the team's 2006 Ford Escort with an 820 CID Ford Hemi Mountain Motor built by Jon Kaase. He has raced in several categories, including Super Comp and Top Sportsman.

"This was a very special day. There was a lot of excitement," Trevor Eman said. "Now that we've got somewhere to leave out of, we should be much more organized and much better off than we have been the last couple years."