Patience...

Today I was reading an advent devotional and I read the following... It reminded me of Laura. She has been living with grace and patience in the midst of a difficult year. I continue to admire how she embraces life in spite of challenges and trials. She is an inspiration to me.

Wishing you all peace, joy and hope this holiday season and in the year ahead.

GFW!

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The Patient Live and Wait in the Present

by Henri Nouwen

A waiting person is a patient person. The word "patience" implies the willingness to stay where we are and live the situation out to the full in the belief that something hidden there will manifest itself to us. Patient living means to live actively in the present and wait there. Impatient people expect the real thing to happen somewhere else, and therefore they want to get away from the present situation and go elsewhere. For them, the moment is empty. But patient people dare to stay where they are, waiting.

O God, help us to be patient, knowing that all good gifts come from you in your own time.

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P.S. She has one or two more infusions with the research drug. Then about a six-month wait and then reconstruction. Please pray that she will remain healthy during this period. And please pray for peace and comfort. Thanks.

Team GoFightWin! at the Atlanta Breast Cancer 3-Day

Our journey began waaaaaaay before last Friday... It began last year. Laura and Angel were diagnosed with breast cancer last fall.

This fall, team GoFightWin! decided that we were going to do what we could to help find a cure for it.

We travelled from various places on Thursday and ended up at Lake Lanier, GA so that we could walk 60 miles to show how serious we are about getting this disease to go away.

Here are some photos from our trip... Neither the words nor the photos adequately tell what it was like, but you can get some idea.

For me, and I think for others, it was an amazing, unforgettable weekend...in many ways.




I saw this as I drove down I-85. It was a sign of what would be in store for us over the next three days.


We gathered in Judy and Pam's room for a little social hour before our evening began.

Then the walkers had dinner at Jennie Clayton's house. She had a FEAST prepared for us. It was YUMMY!

And, then... it was time to retire for the evening. Early start the next day.

The whole gang pictured here before we all went to bed.

See what I mean when I say early start? It was still dark when we arrived on Friday morning.

Judy seemed to really get into the theme of things.

And Pam made all their costumes.

Normally, 3-Day walkers sleep outside, but our original campsite was "messed up" during the Atlanta floods. So, we camped in a BIG building.

Adrienne found her cozy little spot OUTSIDE of a tent. She preferred it that way.

Along the route on the first day, Angel's family surprised her with those sweet signs and those sweet boys!

Just in case the motorists didn't notice, there was a sign to let them know there were a lot of us coming.

See what I mean?

Day 2 begins.... Buses took us to the start of the walk.

There are still a lot of people walking.

A stroll by the Chattahoochee River...

All along our route -- on all three days -- we were met with cheering crowds. Most of the time, it brought tears to my eyes.

Our cousins met us in Duluth with this sign and goodie bags. They stood there for THREE hours waiting for us!!

At the end of day two's walk, the WHOLE team posed for a photo.

Beginning of day 3.

Mary Celeste's friends met us along the route to cheer us on. Even had goodies!!

Mary Celeste and I walked together down Peachtree. We thought this was a good photo op...

This is just one example of the fun traffic help we had along the route. The dancing motorcycle men (and women) were a HIT!

We're getting closer to the finish line!

Look what we saw on the sidewalk!!!!!!!!!!!

Leesburg sent some medical help! :-)

The closing ceremony...

If you look closely (just about the middle of the photo), you'll see Debbie Bruner holding the GoFightWin! banner that Pam made. Laura took this photo from the stage.

The Atlanta skyline as we head to our homes.

One last team photo -- with some of our supporters!!

An unforgettable weekend!!

Just a quick note...

Team GOFIGHTWIN! completed the Breast Cancer 3-Day yesterday. It was an AMAZING experience.

We have lots of pictures to share ....and perhaps a story or two, but those will come when a real computer is available to me.

For now, know that ALL of us on the team appreciate your support.

Four Days to Go!!

On Friday, October 23, Team GoFightWin! will begin a walk from Lake Lanier (about 60miles north of Atlanta) which will end at Turner Field on Sunday afternoon.

We are excited, nervous, emotional, tired, curious and hopeful!!

If you're in the Atlanta area and would like to cheer us on, please choose one (or all) of the cheering stations listed below to show your support for our team and for the many other teams joining in the fight against breast cancer.

Wooo hooo!!

GoFightWin!

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Friday, October 23
8:45 am - 10:45 am Downtown Buford89 Main St.Buford, GA 30518
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Suwanee StationStation Center Blvd. Suwanee, GA 30024


Saturday, October 24
9:15 am - 12:00 pm Oreck Vacuums Store & Plaza5005 Peachtree PkwyNorcross, GA 30092
11:30 am - 6:00 pm Duluth Monarch School3057 Main St.Duluth, GA 30096


Sunday, October 25
7:45 am - 9:30 am Lowe's 4950 Peachtree Industrial Blvd.Chamblee, GA 30341
10:45 am - 1:30 pm Atlantic Stations171 17th St.Atlanta, GA 30363

Coming Together to Make a Difference

Saturday, September 19 Evansville, IN hosted a Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. The Race is nation wide event, hosted in various cities around the US. All the proceeds go to the Susan G. Komen breast cancer fund.

I decided to join the race in late August when arriving back at school. I had seen signs posted around the campus and thought I would ask our department if anyone wanted to walk with me. When I talked to our department I already knew several people were interested, however, I had no idea as many people wanted to be involved as there were. Our team consisted of twenty seven people from our theatre department. Every participant had to pay twenty five dollars to walk and then raise as much money as they wished after that.

When we arrived at the race on Saturday we were all overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and support of everyone around us. The community came together over the suffering and pain this cancer causes, and in doing so we were all made aware not only of the strength and courage of the individuals afflicted by this cancer but also of how a community can come together to make such an impact in the fight against breast cancer. It made me proud to know that I was a part of something that really can and does make a difference.

Although the fight is not over, we are winning. After being a part of something like this and seeing, firsthand, the spirit and the determination of so many people, there is no doubt that we will beat this cancer. Maybe not this year, maybe not next year, but it will happen. As long as people continue to have my mother's "GoFightWin" spirit and the support and enthusiasm I witnessed on Saturday, we will win. I realized on Saturday that "GoFightWin" is not just a cheer, it is an attitude. An attitude that I believe will not fail.

(Written by Lisa Kitchens)

Hey People! Here's Something Huge We Could Do!!

Just saw this on my facebook page. Registration is closed for this year (and it's a good thing 'cause I can't ride that far yet!)

But maybe we could try for next year -- or the year after?!!

I don't know all the details, but you can check it out at :

http://www.youngsurvival.org/tour_de_pink/index.html

Hmm. Sounds like fun, huh? ☺

Wondering

I'M WONDERING....

• if it's going to rain.


• what's for lunch.


• who's going to win today's Georgia/Oklahoma game.


• if there will be anybody we know at the 3-day walk.


• if we can really sleep comfortably in a pink 2-person tent.


• if the hot water in the 3-day showers will last until I get through.


• if the meals at the 3-day are as delicious as I think I need.


• if the 3-day is as amazing as the DVD makes it seem.


• But mostly I wonder if this is the year a cure will be found for breast cancer.

-lhk

Time to Learn the Cheer Everybody!!

Back in November, I posted a cheer set to the motions of a drill team routine I learned in high school. At that time, it was for Laura, who was beginning her journey into the world of cancer treatment.

Today, I'm re-posting that cheer for all of the GoFightWin! team to learn for the Breast Cancer 3-Day. Study the movements. Study the words (not hard). Put the movements and the words together so we can blow those 3-Day people away in October.

GoFightWin! team!!

She's So Excited...

Here's a note from Laura...to all of the GoFightWin team:

As I was putting this collage together and thinking about how much has happened since we started this venture, I couldn't help but get excited!

I have no idea whether or not I will be able to walk the whole 60 miles, but I've enjoyed every minute of trying! It's true, walking is not really my thing, but all of these people in all of these photos represent my incentive and my desire to just do it!

Some of these pictures show our supporters who think so much of the event that they get out and walk with us. I've had so much fun walking and talking and just being with everybody.

We are really getting closer to our goal. Now we have to make this last month PUSH to get the money and get physically and emotionally ready.

So to everybody I say: let's GO FIGHT WIN!!! I know we can!

Love,

Laura

P.S. I know the walk is about finding a cure, but I realized I've been walking (and will be walking) with the cures. It's all of y'all! I'm so amazed at what research and people have done and I just have to be thankful that, if I had to get breast cancer, at least I got it when so much has already been done. The thank you list is infinite!

Just a little at a time...

(Another blog entry NOT about Laura... It's for our 3-Day Team...GoFightWin!)

Some of you may know that in slightly more than 9 weeks, I'm gonna walk in the Breast Cancer 3-Day.

It's a big walk... 60 miles in 3 days. Lots of miles each of those days.

So, to get ready, I've been trying to follow the training plan as much as possible. It doesn't always work exactly like the plan, but I try to do what I can.

Yesterday, I thought I was supposed to do a 12 mile walk. So, I took the dog for the first 4 miles and then Harv and the girls met me at Starbucks, had a cup of coffee, and took the dog back home. I, on the other hand, continued to walk -- for eight more miles (Harv joined me for the last 2 1/2 miles).

I was sore. And tired. And, it turns out, when I looked on the training schedule, it was supposed to have been a 14 mile day. I was pretty proud of walking 12 miles and a little disappointed that I didn't follow the plan. I got over it. And, tried to pump myself up for a ten mile walk today.

This morning I didn't really want to walk. I was still sore from yesterday and I didn't want to have to wake up early. My nice neighbor walked with me for the first five miles. Then I came home, showered, changed my clothes and walked to and from church (the last five miles).

All along the way, I really didn't want to be walking. I enjoyed time with my neighbor and on the way to and from church I listened to good music, but I would have really enjoyed staying at home for my first cup of coffee and riding to and from church.

However!! On the way home, (my last 2 1/2 miles) I had a revelation...

There is a training plan to get my body and my mind ready. For each mile I don't want to walk, but do anyway, I gain a little more confidence... a little more, "I can do THIS." Because I walked 12 miles yesterday and 10 more miles today, it gives me the hope that I can walk the 15 miles that's comin' up at the end of this week.

And, it occurred to me that training for the 3-Day is a lot like life. Every time we do something --- even when we don't think we have it in us --- we get more and more prepared for the things that are ahead.

So! For those of you who may be training for the 3-Day, walk on!! It's gettin' you ready in lots of ways.

And, for those of you facing what seems to be an insurmountable task, do it a little at a time and each step will prepare you for what's ahead.

GoFightWin!

The Longest Walk Ever

This blog isn't really about me, but since we're now focusing on the 3-Day, I thought I'd share with you what my girls did for me...

I walked 12 miles today...which, so far, is my longest training walk yet.

The following photos show what greeted me when I got home.

Pretty sweet children, wouldn't you say?

Blessed to Bless

I spoke at church today about the Atlanta 3-Day... Here's how it went.

I'm Pretty Sure Mama Would Be Proud

I believe Mama was proud of all of her children, but lately, I've been thinking about how proud I think Mama would be of Laura right now.

She would be proud of the way Laura faced the original diagnosis. She would have been proud of Laura's determination and her fight. She would have enjoyed Laura's photos of her doctors and nurses and the camelias that Laura got to see with Mrs. Cannon in the spring. She would have respected Laura's intelligent questions and her desire to follow doctors' orders even though that meant she couldn't have salads for a LOOOOONG time.

And, she would be pleased and proud that Laura's fight and the doctor's care somehow led to the disappearance of the tumor. She would be smiling and telling her friends the good news.

And,I think she'd be proud of Laura and the rest of the GoFightWin! team for doing the 3-Day.

I spoke with Laura the other day and she reminded me that what we're doing for the 3-Day isn't about any one individual. It's about fighting this fight so our children and other people don't have to face an uncertain future.

Our team is walking the Breast Cancer 3-Day so that there will be more resources and funding for people who are facing a similar diagnosis to Laura's. We're walking as a team.

Laura, Mary Celeste and I have raised the minimum donation we need to participate. There are others on our team who still have more funds to raise. If you're thinking that you'd like to make a donation to the Breast Cancer 3-Day, please do it. Choose a member of the GoFightWin! team who hasn't met their minimum donation and help them meet their goal.

There are lives to save today and you can help be a part of making that difference.

Mama would be proud of you.

Blowin' in the Wind

Laura's hair is growin' back!!

Check it out!

She's Stayin' Busy

Laura's had a full summer and it's not over yet...

And, she still gets to pop-in to have some medical work throughout the summer.

Today she had to go in for a dexascan which is a test to check on her bone density. She reports that procedure was "nothing" and that she probably spent more time filling out paperwork and talking to the technician than she did for the test itself.

She feels really good and has been able to take a trip to Michigan to see Lisa... with a stop or two along the way to see Clif, some former Tennesee friends and neighbors and a friend who used to live in Cedartown, but now lives in Kentucky.

After her fun trip to Michigan and back, she took her first 14 mile outdoor bike ride in a looooooooong time. Other than being able to go for the ride -- which she LOVED-- she was also able to catch some good 4th of July amateur fireworks on the ride home.

The next day, she and her friend, Judy went for a ride and saw a gopher turtle which is on the proposed endangered species list.

Her INR is right where it's supposed to be -- which is nice cause she is able to be a little less rigid with her diet... and THAT's a good thing 'cause she DOES have an appetite!

The past few days she's spent cleaning, while Steve has headed back to work already.

Lucky for me, my girls and I will get to see her next week!! All the siblings will be together towards the end of next week.

She's getting excited, too, for the Breast Cancer 3-Day. Our team has met over 66% of our goal for the walk. Thank you, to all of you who have made contributions.

GoFightWin!