Friday, November 13, 2009

Race for the Cure

I lost my mom in August of '96 to breast cancer complications.

She was 53 years old.

Her mother also died at 53 of cancer complications.

Because of that I have walked the Race for the Cure several years in their memory. Two years ago I felt led to run the race. I had tried running before. Okay, twice. Now I had a reason and a cause. I followed the Couch to 5k 9-week program and ended the final day by running the race without stopping. A huge personal accomplishment for a truly lazy person like myself.

This year I couldn't find anyone to run it with. (Insert Stephanie's pouty face here.) Our church had the first of what will become a traditional 5k and my running friends were doing that race. I love my church but my loyalties lie with breast cancer research and not wells in Africa. Sorry. Shawn did run it but that hilarious story is going to have to be another post. This is all about me.

My Bible Study leaders are both breast cancer survivors. They, and also sisters of each one, walk it every year as survivors. A group of other family members and friends join them. This year I joined their group.

The morning of the festivities started out at 38 degrees. You can tell by looking at Rhonda that it was down right chilly.

Here's part of our group. We look cold, don't we? As we were standing around waiting to start this man walked up. These three ladies got all misty eyed and started hugging him. He was their oncologist. It was put in perspective when Brenda said, "This is the man who saved our lives." He runs the race every year with his sons. How amazing is that?After some warm up exercises and the National Anthem white doves were released to honor those who had lost the battle. I of course started crying as the flew away into the sunset. I'm crying now as I type this. 13 years later it is still hard.As the gun shot we were off and my feet were itching to run. I really wished I'd had the confidence to run it by myself. Instead I watched the runners set off as I started the walk with my camera ready for whatever may happen.This is such a fun event because of the firefighters,cheerleaders,characters, and a completely different type of characters.As always I love to find fun t-shirts. Someday I'm designing my own. Hold me to that, will you?And the signs. Oh the signs. As a walker I took the time to read as many as I could. Needless to say, I cried the entire one mile walk. As we approached the finish line the finishers of the 5k were heading in. Do you see the thighs on that guy?Even though I hadn't run it I still had done my little tiny part to find a cure. In my little part of So that was the happy side of my day.

Now for the other side.

My Bible Study leader is a wonderful teacher. I look forward to our Tuesday mornings together. But after we leave the church our relationship is different. She is good friends with some of my good friends but we're not close. Does that make sense? I always feel on the outside.

Anyway.

Three of the ladies knew my mom, and know what I've gone through. One of them was one of my mom's best friends.....my mom wasn't mentioned at all. Is that selfish of me? I don't know if they were trying to keep me happy, or if they didn't even think about it. Or if it's because of my relationship with my Bible Study leader.

I struggle every day with questions as to why they were healed and my mom wasn't. That is between me and God though. But that morning I left feeling alienated and ignored. I felt like the whole reason for me being there was forgotten and instead we focused on the survivors. Don't get me wrong, I celebrate their life. But I also mourn a death.

So, both sides of my day. Think I'm crazy?? It's okay, I can handle the truth:c)

And just for fun...we've discussed before how I am soooo not a crowd person. This was the view around me. I have no idea how I didn't freak out and hyperventilate.
video
Could someone hand me a paper bag please??

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Need a laugh?

I sent a handwritten note in the girl's lunches every day. I've been doing it since McKinley started 1st grade. You should know that by now, I'm running out of things to say. McKinley recently complained about the lack of good material. The next morning she asked to write her own. Yes, a note to herself. I luckily snuck it out, showed it to Shawn, and snapped a picture.'Oh self! You are georgeous! You're also so smart & funny.
Remember! Don't let Phftttttt run you life! '

I knew I had to sneak a peek when she asked me how to spell 'Phftttttt'!

We'll be discussing some English and grammatical high points later today:)

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

What do you know, I can sew!

Well, sort of. I was the award winner for Home Ec my freshman year of high school. But I truly believe it's because the student teacher sewed my entire jumper. (Which I never wore by the way.) We're still friends and we always laugh about that:)

I follow a blog and saw this idea. I also read these directions. I knew I could do it. If it doesn't require a sewing machine it doesn't really worry me.

You'll need:

A t-shirt to wear
A t-shirt to cut (I got mine at Goodwill)
Scissors
A Pen
A cookie cutter or template
Needle and thread
I put the cookie cutter on the inside of the shirt and traced around them with the pen until I had about 20. I then cursed under my breath as I used scissors that were bought specifically for fabric, hidden where only I could find them, and then savagely stolen to be used to cut paper, hair, food, and whatever else my family could think of. Needless to say, it took me awhile.I simply put one down, sewed it into place with about three stitches and repeated that over and over again. I had the other websites open so I could glance at theirs from time to time.

Here it is all done.And here's how I looked after getting back from the Pioneer Woman's book signing. I thought it was worthy of her. Next up on my agenda...a ruffled shirt. A sewing machine would be handy to make the basting stitch...but I'm pretty sure I can make it work with just a needle and thread!

Stay tuned:c)

Monday, November 9, 2009

Well isn't that special?

Even though I can't eat Mexican food because of my MSG allergy I still go to a lot of Mexican restaurants with friends and family who haven't realized it is possible to live without it:)

Luckily the one I went to this summer was two doors down from Pei Wei, the happiest place on earth!

Even though I sat in the Mexican restaurant and ate Asian food, I felt bad when I read the menu and noticed they'd named something after me. But on a different note, I may have found a place for the next Funk Family reunion.