It's Time to Get Real

Ok, it's been so long since I posted anything that I didn't remember my password and had to reset it. Sad, I know.

Now's the time when I could go on and on about how great training is and how I'm so looking forward to the event and so on, but I won't. Frankly, it's time for a little honesty. I've read a lot of posts and blogs about the training and fundraising and all that's involved into preparing for walking 60 miles in 3 days, and I don't think a lot of you are being honest so I want to come clean on a few things. Someone needs to.

For starters, to be quite frank, I am tired of getting up every Saturday and Sunday at 4:30 in the morning to walk for hours on end. After all, I'm up every weekday, taking kids to daycare and school, then sitting through a meeting every day at 9 am, then trying to get everything done that I need to at work before the usual buying groceries, shuttling kids to Brownies and dance, getting homework done, dinner, baths--oh wait--there's supposed to be quality family time in there somewhere, right? Come here kids, let's cuddle for 5 minutes before I get back to the laundry. Ugh.

So I'm really missing my weekends of getting a normal night's sleep and feeling somewhat human afterwards. Instead, I walk for 5-6 hrs on Saturday mornings and turn into "The Grouchy Tired Mom That Needs A Nap" when I get home. It's not that I want to be tired, but after usually 4 hours sleep and 17 miles of walking, it's just inevitable. Last Saturday, I told my kids I was so tired and needed to lay down at least for 30 minutes to rest, so of course my son needed his bottom wiped (twice), wanted cereal (twice), and there was the usual sibling fighting that needed my cranky attention. Ugh, not the mom I want to be.

And wow, the people that ask the question of why I'm doing this and, I don't know how to describe it exactly, but they seem somewhat disappointed that I'm simply doing it because I can. Because Susan G Komen was my age with a husband and two little kids when she died and it could totally be me if we don't find a cure. That Keith's sweet aunt, Bonnie, died from breast cancer. I swear some people seem a little puzzled at my motivation when I haven't lost someone "that close" to me. And please, friends of 3 Day walkers, please don't ask if we've lost weight in our training because that's not what this is about. If weight loss was our motivation, we could have done that without signing up for this. I think a large majority of us are doing this because we could never envision this kind of time and energy sacrifice for ourselves, but when it's for friends, family, even strangers who are undergoing chemo or those who've lost their lives to cancer, it motivates us to make the time to make a difference. Besides, after walking 17 miles, guess what we are--hungry! So please, don't ask that anymore. We're all tired of it.

Yes, I confess all of this without a shred of guilt because it's all true. Yet I know that I'll look back on this event and all of the hard work that went into it and never regret a moment of it because it's bigger than me, you...all of us really. And truly worth every sacrifice that goes into it. And that's what keeps me going.

If Blogging Was My Job, I'd Be Fired By Now

Ok, so it's been almost a month again since I've blogged (which, by the way, what kind of dorky word is blog anyway?). I'm sure if you look in the geeked-out, social media dictionary (which I'm confident some Star Trek/Wars junkie wrote in their infinite spare time on a Saturday night) under the phrase "lame blogger", there's a picture of me. I'm sure of it.

But wow, what a month it's been! I've not only met, but surpassed, my minimum goal of $2300! I am oh so grateful to all of my friends and family who have generously donated! I am already cooking up ideas for a massive thank you party at my house when the walk has been completed in October. And I am very fortunate to be teamed up with such a fantastic group of nine women who have raised over $15,000 for breast cancer research. A small, but mighty group. Some of my teammates have not yet reached their goal, so if you've been wanting to donate, donate to them! It all goes to the same great cause.

I'm continuing to do my training walks, which are somewhat brutal during this summer heat.
But when I'm walking my mind returns to the display board, which I look at often, that has the "Who Were Walking For" names and photos on it, and I'm humbled all over again to have the opportunity to do my part to find the cure in their honor. And sadly, some, in their memory.

Today is a sad day. Today, for the first time since our team was formed, we had to move a name from the "In Honor Of" list to the "In Memory Of" list. Mindy McCann, age 40, lost her battle with breast cancer. She was a friend to our team mate, Jenny, at Trinity United Methodist Church. I didn't know her, but I do know she had young children. And because of breast cancer, she won't be here to see them grow up. And although her family and friends are hurting now, the hold that cancer had over Mindy's earthly body has been broken. No more pain and suffering for her. I pray that her family can take comfort in that.

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33.

I pray a cure is found soon. I don't want another name to get moved.

I guess I'm not a natural-born blogger

since it's been well over a month since I've posted anything. I've thought about doing it many times, but somehow it always gets pushed to the back burner of my ever overflowing stove top. After I walked my first 10-miler with my team mate, Jenny, in a FREAKIN LIGHTNING STORM, I was going to post about how scared I was that we'd be struck dead, right there on the trail, and my obituary would say how my sensible team mate had tried to talk me into walking at the mall instead, but alas, my stubborn nature had finally done me in. Or after I went down to Gulf Shores with my mom and kids and dressed in an outrageous pink outfit and got on the Rick and Bubba radio show to promote our team, I was going to post about all the crazy looks I got at 6 am in my gawdy pink hat. Or when I finally surpassed the 100-mile mark sweating to death on one of my training walks and I realized I'm barely scratching the surface on what I need to accomplish. Or when our team raised $1840 at our kids' elementary school doing Penny Wars, how proud I felt to be part of such a great school and community (yes, I know it sounds corny, but it's true). I had intended to blog after my Parents Night Out adventure, which was tons of fun for the kids, but I learned that I'd like more eyes watching those adventurers next time. Or this week when I realized what is probably wrong with my foot is Morton's Neuroma and I've got to go see a foot doctor about it to see what can be done, I wanted to blog and ask if anyone has ever even heard of this lame sounding condition (I mean, couldn't they come up with a better name than Morton?).

But most importantly, if I could adequately capture the emotion on this page every time someone shares their story with me about survivors, their precious loved ones who've lost their battle, or the ones who are currently courageously fighting, I'd write it all down every time.

But some things can't be expressed so easily in a blog.

So I will just continue to carry them in my heart.

You Know Your Lemonade Stand Sucks When...

your own father doesn't even stop! No lie, my dad came over yesterday and helped Keith work on the shed, then went to visit with our neighbors before going home. As I saw his truck topping the hill, I perked up thinking at least my dad would stop, but nope, he just gave me a friendly wave and kept on trucking. Dang. That was cold.

Last time, I sold two pitchers and had to go make more in less than an hour! This time, I had two whole customers. I'm thinking the difference must have been having my kids with me before. I guess people are more prone to stop for cute little kids than some old woman wearing pink hocking overpriced lemonade! However, my nice neighbor did make a donation so that helped restore my dignity. Thanks Kim!

Saturday, I did my first 8-mile walk. I was hoping to finish in two hours flat, but it ended up being a little longer. I must admit, I was pretty tired the rest of the day.

I joined the team just over three weeks ago and so far I've logged 48 miles and raised $869. I'm looking forward the the family fun walk this weekend! Hope the weather's good. Come out if you can!

Pink Lemonade, Anyone?

Today started with a windy, brisk 5-mile walk at 8 am. I met Jenny, a teammate, for the first time and really enjoyed chatting with her (and teammate Stacie and my friend, Malissa). Later in the afternoon, I took the kids up our driveway and set up a pink lemonade stand to catch people coming and going from the Nature Trail. We got over $20 in a short amount of time, but I have to admit my kids were freaking me out a little with getting so close to the edge of the road. I'll need to reconsider the logistics before I do this again because I also created some minor traffic snarls, but everyone was super nice and supportive so thank you! Thanks to my sweet husband for helping me set up (after getting in late last night from being out of town all week) and my kids for helping me (at least for the first 10 minutes).

First Fundraiser!

I'm excited about team Pink for Life's first fundraiser!