Relay For Life and a Starfish

The next two weeks are my big weeks...the weeks that I have been working towards for the last 8 months or so...it's been crazy, frustrating, stressful, I think I may have lost my mind a couple of times here and there...heck...I'm still not sure I have even found it yet. 

I know that all this planning and emailing and night meetings and not to mention the fact this is my volunteer work and not my actual getting paid work....has been consuming my life.

In being involved with Relay, I hear all these personal stories about the struggles that come with cancer. Whether, it's them personally going through it or they are a caregiver...everyone has a story...and I like being able to listen and offer support. It might not be much...but a little goes a long way.

Yesterday, in our meeting...my ACS staff partner presented us with this poem.

The Boy and the Starfish

A man was walking along a deserted beach at sunset. As he walked he could see a young boy in the distance, as he drew nearer he noticed that the boy kept bending down, picking something up and throwing it into the water.

Time and again he kept hurling things into the ocean.

As the man approached even closer, he was able to see that the boy was picking up starfish that had been washed up on the beach and, one at a time he was throwing them back into the water.

The man asked the boy what he was doing, the boy replied,"I am throwing these washed up starfish back into the ocean, or else they will die through lack of oxygen. "But", said the man, "You can't possibly save them all, there are thousands on this beach, and this must be happening on hundreds of beaches along the coast. You can't possibly make a difference."
The boy looked down, frowning for a moment; then bent down to pick up another starfish, smiling as he threw it back into the sea. He replied,

"I made a huge difference to that one!" 

Life is busy.

Life get's crazy.

In the big scheme of life sometimes it seems that no matter what you are trying to do or who you are trying to help...that it doesn't matter...but it does.

I Relay for....

"The reason it hurts so much to separate is because our souls are connected." Nicholas Sparks

March 15 isn't just another day on the calendar anymore.

It's the day I received a call that deep down I knew would be coming, but couldn't ever bring myself to the realization that it would actually happen.

It's the day that my heart will forever be broken

It's the day that a mother and father lost their daughter

a brother lost his sister

It's the day heaven got an angel

and it's the day I lost my best friend

You would think it get's easier...four years later...and it does to a degree, but no matter where I am or what I am doing...not a second of the day goes by that I don't think about her.

Last year on this day, I wrote a letter to heaven.

I've mentioned it on here before, DonEtta lost her battle to brain cancer exactly 18 months after she was diagnosed. She was only 23, a few months shy of her 24th birthday, when she heard the news...."You have cancer!"

No one ever deserves to hear those three words.

I didn't even want to hear those words when she called me. I didn't believe it...sometimes I still don't believe it. It's weird I know...thinking DonEtta is still here with us, maybe it's because I talk to her often.

Call me crazy.

I am actively involved with Relay For Life, this year I am the co-chair of my Relay.

It's stressful and time consuming and sometimes I lose sight of why I am actually doing this.

Then March 15th rolls around and I am strongly and emotionally reminded that for every phone call that I am making, every email that I am sending, every person that I am hounding for donations, for every story that I hear...and for all my time consumed....I am doing this for her.

I am doing this for the girl I met in college who had those hot pink boots and a swagger that couldn't be matched.

I am doing this for the girl who would become my big sis in the sorority...and in turn become the sister I never had.

I am doing this for all those times spent just driving in the truck, with the windows down, listening to music.

I am doing this for all those crazy days and nights I wish so strongly I could get back.

I am doing this for the struggles that I watched her go through.

I am doing this for the incredible fight that she had....

and for the day she could no longer fight back.

I Relay for her.

My best friend

So, when I am frustrated or just want to give up...because everything seems to be crazy...I remember who I am doing this for...and it's not just for her, it's for everyone who has ever heard those three words. 

I Relay for them and I would Relay for you.

Who do you Relay for?

Visit www.RelayForLife.org for more information on how you can get involved.

What I've been doing

Something that is very near and dear to my heart and that has been keeping me busy as of late...and will be keeping me very busy until April 27th...actually until 6am April 28th....is Relay For Life.

I have touched a little here and there about the topic and how volunteering with the American Cancer Society is one of my passions. If you have been following me for quite sometime, then you know why it means so much to me to volunteer my time to such a wonderful organization...if you are new, Hello by the way...then let me explain.

Four years ago this coming March, I lost my best friend to cancer.

I hate cancer.

Always have, always will.

When my friend was diagnosed and after her surgery and all through her treatments, I felt helpless. Useless. I wanted to do so much. To take away her pain if I could, but I couldn't. I also couldn't cure this monstrosity of a disease that was taking over her body. All I could do was to be there, to make her laugh, to brush her hair, to try on wigs, to paint her nails...anything I could do just to take her mind off of what was really going on...I would do it.

After she passed, I once again, felt helpless. Even more useless. I was lost...I was lost for quite sometime actually. These plans I had after I graduated college didn't seem to matter anymore. I had no idea what I wanted to do or who I wanted to be. All I knew is that I wanted my friend back and there wasn't anything I could do about it.

What I did do the last summer she was here with us, was volunteer for Relay For Life. I had volunteered before in college, because I had to...you know if your in a sorority and you have to do philanthropy work...that sort of thing. I liked it, but didn't think about again until after DonEtta got sick.

I volunteered kinda last minute. I actually ran into a local fire fighter who told me about it and how he had a team, and I will be lying if I didn't join his team just because he was a fire fighter. However, the night of Relay was so much more. It was hard that night, during the remembering ceremony. If you have never been to a Relay For Life event, the remembering ceremony takes place when the sun goes completely down and all along the track they have bags or luminaries with names on them. Names of those you have lost or those who are still fighting their battle or those who won. It's completely quite and everyone just walks along the track...it's very emotional and therapeutic at the same time.

After that and after the passing of my friend,I knew this was my cause. Everyone has their cause that means something to them. The following year my mom and I had a team and were team captains, the next year I served on the committee as the Survivor Chair and this year I am the Co-Chair of the entire event.

To say I am busy is an understatement, but it's a great busy. I actually feel like I am making a difference in the fight against cancer. 

For our first team captain meeting, I showed this video...just as a reminder of why us volunteers do what we do. Why we are willing to camp outside for 24 hours do all sorts of crazy games to keep awake, why I am stressing over getting money raised and donations in...sometimes we let these big and material things  get in the way of why we really Relay. So, please watch this video...and you'll see why this means so much to me. Maybe you'll be inspired to start your own team and get involved. 

For more information you can visit www.relayforlife.org 

I'm a princess and this is my tiara

I realize I have had two tiara related posts in a row...obsessed much?

That would be yes.

I have been slacking on my posts as of late, posting late in the day, I am running out of ideas to blog about. Y'all have that...bloggers block? I need help, ideas...so if you lovely ladies would like to know anything about me or my dogs or Oklahoma...or anything in particular...let me know.

Tell me what you would like to see more blogs about.

Make-up...because I do love make-up, hair...I do do a mean poof...snookie watch out.

You tell me and I will blog about it or try to blog about it.

So, this weekend I thought I would try and be a college kid again.

I failed.  How I ever stayed out late and still functioned properly at my job/school the next day...beats the heck out of me.

Friday night a bunch of us celebrated my friends bday at the Hard Rock Casino..no not the one in Vegas(I wish) but the one here in good ol' Tulsa, Oklahoma. It's a lot of fun...so if any of y'all are passing through and are looking for a fun place, the Hard Rock is the place to go!



We danced, had drinks, laughed, I got kicked out of the club for trying to sneak past the bouncer. I mean, I should have known that after the first time of sneaking in, my luck was probably going to run out if I tried it again.

We had IHOP at 2 or 3 in the morning...not good for myfitnesspal...all and all it was a great time had by all.

And I was reminded of why I am 27 not 21 and can not do what I used to do.

Not.At.All.

Saturday afternoon I had my kick-off event for Relay For Life...I am very excited that this means that we are officially getting closer to the actual day of Relay which is in April.

Then Saturday night I could barely keep my eyes open long enough to watch my favorite thing ever. My Superbowl if you will.

Miss America.

I have to give props to my girl Miss Oklahoma..who by the way goes to my Alma Mater...Oklahoma State University. She was runner-up...should have won first if you ask me.



On another note, I realize that I am exactly like Amy Farrah Fowler...well, I am not a scientist or anything...but given a Tiara...I would most definitely react like this.

"I'm a princess and this is my tiara!"

LOVE IT!!
Tonight I am off to volunteer for one of the programs that Relay For Life raises money for. It's called "Look Good...Feel Better" and it's a program specially designed for women who are undergoing treatment to come and get fitter for wigs and to learn how to apply make-up now that their skin has probably changed. I am very excited about this. Can not wait to tell y'all more about it.

Have a great evening my loves!

Fearless

"FEARLESS is living in spite of those things that scare you to death...FEARLESS is getting back up and fighting for what you want, over and over again!" Taylor Swift

I know someone who is fearless. Actually I know a lot of people who are fearless. If you believe in Taylor Swift's definition of fearless...then fearless is having doubts, fearless is having fears.

Therefore, we are all fearless.

Today was a crazy day...like most days, actually most days for the last six weeks...thank goodness my boss comes back on Friday. I have gone non-stop today, going to both of our clinics, doing my actual paid work and then answering interview questions for my volunteer work.

I thought it was a rough day.

Just like that, God sends something or in this case, someone to knock me right back into reality.

One of the ladies who works next door, has just been diagnosed with Breast Cancer...for the THIRD time. Every day I see her smiling like there is absolutely nothing going on, like she didn't just get back from having treatment, like she just isn't fighting every day. I would have never known that she was sick...had it not been for her hats and scarves she wears on her head that replaces the bright pink highlights she had just weeks ago.

She is the reason why I volunteer for Relay for Life. At least one of the many reasons. Today, I had to answer at least 20 or so in depth questions about Relay for Life, note to self...being co-chair is not all fun and games....I was getting frustrated with the lady at the paper who kept adding more and more questions, changing the deadline, everything. Here I am trying to do my actual job...the job I get paid for...but I can't because I am too busy doing my volunteer job.

Then I saw her. Just as I was griping about doing this and that, I was reminded as to why I do what I do. Why I volunteer, why I wanted to be co-chair. Why I LOVE Relay for Life. I have already seen someone I love go through cancer. It's not something I ever care to witness again.

Let's be honest, cancer sucks, it's not pretty, it's not easy, it's probably one of the most grueling, unimaginable, heart wrenching, FEARLESS thing a human being can go through.

See...she is fearless. Not because she is afraid of what could happen. She is fearless because she isn't going to let it happen. She isn't going to stop living. Fearless is living life...it might not be the life she is used to at the moment, but fearless is knowing that she will get her life back.

Her kind of FEARLESS is what I strive to be. If you want to know what courage, strength and faith look like...look at a person who is facing unbelievable odds, who is going through something no one wants to go through.

That's FEARLESS.

Earthquakes, tornadoes, and planners...Oh My!!

Only in Oklahoma do we experience Earthquakes and Tornadoes. Yes, that is right...last night we had Tornado warnings and I experienced my second earthquake ever...I don't know whether to hide in a door way for the earthquake or take shelter underground for the tornado...so I just chose to sit on my couch...I mean, really what else are you supposed to do.

I successfully completed day one of my no-nonsense diet and I started my kick butt work out routine. Let me tell you, I can barely lift my arms over my head this morning. All in all, I would say I did a dang good job...I also resisted temptation because a couple of months ago I ordered these chocolate thin mint teaser things from the Girl Scouts and of course they come in the DAY I decide to not eat sugar. I resisted that temptation and I hid it, yes, I realize I know where I hid it...but I have to go through a lot of stuff to get to it, and really I don't want to have to do that.

Go me!

So, the most exciting thing to happen to me lately...besides experiencing my first earthquakes is receiving the most amazing planner in the entire world in the mail this past Saturday.


Yes, my life has been that boring.

Well, ladies I have heard several of y'all talk about your Erin Condren life planner and well...I found a sale on that bad boy and ordered me one. OH. MY. WORD....it is amazing. I am so in love with it!

I used to be somewhat of an organization freak. In college, I was so OCD when it came to my studies and especially when it came to my planner. My mortar board. At my university,we had a planner that would come out at the beginning of every fall semester. It was the planner of all planners and for OCD people like me...it was pure heaven. Nothing and I mean nothing got done unless I had written it in my Mortar Board. I was that girl that had a particular highlighter for tests, papers, projects, Greek stuff, etc.

Yes, sometimes I have nerd like tendencies.

I was borderline crazy about that thing...but so were a lot of people. Everyone loved their mortar boards. In fact, after college no planner I got ever compared to it...so I stopped writing things down...and I love writing my to do lists down, I like the feeling of crossing something off my list, I like the feeling of being accomplished.

One of the reasons I chose to order this planner is because you can choose a planner that supports whatever cancer awareness organization you would like. In fact, if you choose to go with a planner that supports a cancer organization, Erin Condren will donate 25.00 from the sale and apply to whatever organization you would like.

You know what's awesome, is that I checked my personal donation page...and Erin Condren already made a 25.00 donation. How great is that.

As y'all may or may not know, I am the event co-chair for my local Relay for Life for 2012...which requires major organization and if I don't write everything down, I may go crazy...I already have post it notes everywhere...it's pretty much chaos. I am pretty excited about this planner because I got to choose the color of it and Relay for Life's signature color is purple...which stands for hope and it just so happened to be one of the two colors to choose from...the other being pink, for breast cancer. 

So if y'all are looking for a planner for 2012 and wanting to donate to a good cause, you should for sure check her out. She doesn't disappoint!

www.erincondren.com

That's all I got for today ladies...have a good one!

P.S. I just want to give a shot out to all my new followers. Y'all are awesome and if I haven't already stopped by your blog, I will do so! Love y'all!!

Hope

"When you do nothing, you feel overwhelmed and powerless. But when you get involved, you feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes from knowing you are working to make things better." Unknown

Brace yourself because this post is probably a lot deeper than you would have liked to have read on a Tuesday morning. If you have been a follower of mine you may know that I strongly support the American Cancer Society's main fundraising event called,Relay for Life. If you are new to following me, first of all...welcome, because I don't think I have welcomed y'all yet and second you may not know the reason I relay. Three years ago, I lost my best friend to cancer. She was young, vibrant, beautiful, kind, she was my best friend but more than that she was my sister. I miss her every single day and as long as I'm alive and able I will fight with all I have in honor of her and others who have lost their battle with cancer or are fighting for their lives right now. Earlier in the year I wrote this post about her, feel free to read it and learn more about what happened and more about how awesome and wonderful she was.

I have volunteered for Relay for Life for about 5 or six years now, I first got involved not necessarily because I wanted to but because I had to. In college, I was in a sorority and as many of you know being in a sorority isn't just frat parties and socials...we sometimes have to do philanthropic activities as well...I know, right? Imagine that. Anyway, one of the events was a Relay for Life and I didn't partake in the overnight activity I just donated money.

Well, the summer after DonEtta was diagnosed with cancer I had just moved back to my hometown after graduating college and felt the need to get involved. It was too late for me to start a team, so my mom and I joined the Firefighters team. We had a great time, I mean why wouldn't we, we were with the firefighters...hello! I learned more about the meaning of Relay and what it represents. Relay for Life is about Celebrating, Remembering and Fighting back. Celebrating those who have survived Cancer with a celebratory walk around the track, remembering those loved ones we have lost to cancer with the luminaria ceremony and at the end of the night waking up to the sun and promising to fight back.

The following year, I did not participate in Relay for Life, that was the year that I lost my best friend, my sister to cancer. I just couldn't bring myself to participate, I probably should have, Relay for Life has sort of this healing power. I don't know what it is, it probably has something to do with the hundreds of people walking down the track backwards wearing dresses for whatever kind of lap is going on at that time or the fact that everyone is there coming together for the same cause, the same reason. To have hope, hope that someday we won't have to have these events in memory of those lost, but to celebrate that cancer has been beat.

The next year rolls around and I am there in that meeting. My mom and I decided to have a team, our team is called Marga-Relayville....clever, right? Our two passions, Margaritas and Relaying. We raised over 1200.00 as a team and camped all night, that is until it rained on us and was freezing cold. Cancer doesn't just go away when it rains outside or when it's freezing cold, cancer doesn't stop while your sleeping, or while your walking your lap around the track. So, why should we?

Last year was the first year that both my mom and I were on the committee for our local Relay. I was the survivorship chair and my mom did the accounting. It was a lot of time, a lot of dedication and a lot of work...but it was more than worth it. I had the best time doing what I did. No, I didn't get paid for it, but that doesn't matter. When you are involved in something that is without a doubt bigger than you are and you are passionate about it and you want to see a great outcome, it doesn't matter how much of your time you put into it....just seeing the smiles on those survivors cross that lap is worth all the time and money in the world.

The last weekend I was very fortunate to have gotten invited to participate in the American Cancer's Society High Plains division Summit in Dallas. It's where volunteers and staff come to stay in a fancy hotel for a couple of days and take in all things Relay. It was the most amazing, inspirational, educational, worth while experience of my life. Just when you think you are having a bad day, have a conversation with a six time cancer survivor who has been in remission for 2 years. Then tell me how bad you think your day was. I made friends for life, others just like me who are fighting this same fight for those they love. I met survivors. Survivor isn't just a word...it's a reality. It's a way of life. Surviving. I watched two little boys receive an award for their mother who just lost her battle to breast cancer. Their mom was only 36, and while she was fighting cancer, she was relaying and raising money, she raised over 40,000 individually. How amazing is that? Obviously the apples don't fall to far from the tree, because her little boys, who by the way are ages 10 and 7 each raised individually over 20,000 each.

The stories I could tell could go on and on, but I have already written a novel. When you are this passionate about something, it's easy to write. I know their are a million different causes out there for everyone to get behind and support and I am all about it. There is not a single person in this world that has not experienced cancer, whether you personally have had it or know someone who has. Cancer doesn't discriminate, it knows not race, age, gender, whether your rich or poor, famous or not famous. It doesn't care.

If you would like more information about Relay for Life or how you can join your local Relay in your community please email me or leave me a comment, I would be more than happy to get you the information you need.

http://www.cancer.org/

Have a wonderful day loves!

What really matters

Good Morning...here we are with another Monday. It's a very cold and dreary day today. I woke up and it was 64 degrees in my house...I had to turn on the heater. What happened to all the spring like weather we were having? I guess maybe God didn't want the sun to come out today...I was going to blog about my weekend and how once again I am reminded that I am not 21 and therefore shouldn't act like one. However, when you get the chance to go out with your bestie and live it up...you do so, sometimes a little too much. Fun times were had that is for sure. I was also going to blog about how having said fun times mixed with a few two many margaritas you tend to call/text people you really shouldn't and in that one second of tequila confusion/weakness you become that girl that just made a complete ass of herself.

Yep, I may or may not have been that girl. You not only wake up the next morning with the worst possible headache you have ever had  but you also have the feeling of, "OMG, did I really do what I think I did....crap!"

But then I got to work this morning and found out some very sad news; I realized that calling/texting a certain boy and making a fool myself, doesn't really even come close to the pain and suffering that people go through. That my embarrassment over something so dumb...is just that. Embarrassment. I am also reminded that life is far too short and far too precious to let something so meaningless ruin your whole day.

My boss lost her aunt today from cancer. She fought to the very end. Having lost someone close to me from cancer, I can understand her loss. I never knew this lady, but I know she was loved and highly thought of. She was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, and a friend. Please pray for the family today as they grieve for her loss.

No one should have to go through this, but people do. Cancer is everything I hate and more. I participate in Relay for Life, which is the main fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. I am on the committee and am the Survivorship chair. We have our events coming up in the next few weeks. I have gotten so caught up in trying to make everything "perfect" and presentable so that my survivor event will be the best one yet...it doesn't matter. What matters is that I remember why I relay. My boss's Aunt, along with my best friend, my great aunts and many more...they are the reason I do this. They are the reason I volunteer my time, they are the reason I relay. 

This is what matters.

Hope everyone has a blessed day today, and please keep my boss's family in your prayers.

Everyone loves a birthday party...

"We know only too well that what we are doing is nothing more than a drop in the ocean. But if the drop were not there, the ocean would be missing something."  Mother Teresa


For the last three years, I have been participating in my local  Relay for Life.  Relay for Life is  the American Cancer Society's signature fundraising event. It is an overnight event that teams raise money for leading up to and the night of supporting cancer research and programs with the American Cancer Society.


 Did you know that half of all men and one-third of all women in the US will develop cancer in their lifetime? Its true. Cancer sucks!!


  Which is why, I am doing my part in shutting up cancer. I am tired of seeing it, hearing it, knowing of it...I am done with it. Today is the kick off event for my local Relay and we are kicking it off with a bang!! I am so excited, well...as one could be I guess holding an outdoor event in 6 degree weather.  This years Relay I am the Survivorship committee chair, co-chair of activities and entertainment as well as co-captain of our team, Marga-Relayville. Needless to say, from now until April 15-16...I am a busy busy gal, that's ok...someone needs to do it, might as well be a slightly bossy, somewhat perfectionist, has to be in control at all times, lovely blonde Okie girl,  like me : ) I am sure...actually I KNOW you will be seeing more info on this event in the months weeks to come...so be prepared! Until then, I will leave you with this little flyer and if you ( my like 5 followers ) would like to come to the event...please do so!!!


P.S. for those followers who do not live in OK, I have posted a link to my donation page, any and all donations are appreciated...you know you want too : )


http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?px=10397401&pg=personal&fr_id=32121