A lot has happened the last couple of weeks! I got behind in training again thanks to a fairly mild case of bronchitis - but bronchitis nevertheless. Then it got hot again (skycast is orange today and I think tomorrow, not walking outside with that!). But I have been busy at school! The marching band is sounding great! Sometimes I walk around the track while they're practicing in the morning. This weekend should be good for walking.
Ah, the quilt raffle. The beautiful quilt that my friends Christi and Tama made for me was raffled off - Christi and I did the drawing today. And the winner is........(drum roll please).......Victoria Becker. Victoria works at Blue Cross, and from what I understand is having her own battle with breast cancer. Victoria - wrap the quilt around you and feel the love from the hands that made the quilt and the friends that supported me! I'll most certainly be walking for you also. Victoria works in the building across the street from the main building, and happened to be in the support area and just happened to have money with her to buy a raffle ticket for the quilt. She was supposed to win it! I'm so glad she did.
I have a friend, Keith Flanders, who lives in DC and participated in the walk last year. He's walking again, and has also worked on the crew for the Boston walk. We've been talking, and are looking forward to meeting each other. He's "adopting" my sister and I for our stay in DC - it'll be nice to have a friend who knows the area! He really has a heart for the 3-day walk and I get energized just talking with him. He's someone else God has put in my corner!
I leave in three short weeks. I need to start my packing list! I'm getting very excited. The last year has been so awesome, and I have lots of people to thank for it - but most of all, I thank God I'm able to undertake this task. God bless all!!
steffy
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Komen Race for the Cure
Where to start?? This morning was fantastic in all respects. The weather was gorgeous. I walked with old friends and new. I was part of the survivor's walk. So AWESOME! And this is small compared to what I will be doing in September - is that next month already??
This morning I participated in the Susan G. Komen Kansas City Race for the Cure. It's the first event I've done since becoming a survivor. It was so beautiful. There were live bands cheering us on at almost every corner. Pink balloons everywhere. As I neared the finish line, I was handed a pink rose. My friends took lots of pictures - I FORGOT my camera. I was going to take my small one, but alas, forgot. Oh, well - that's what friends are for. I'll post pictures when I get them from them. We were all happy just to be together and see each other again. The drumline from one of the Shawnee Mission schools (sorry, forgot which one) led the survivor's walk - it was so awesome!
Yesterday I completed a 17-mile walk in two phases. Did a 9-mile walk, came home, rested, ate lunch, then headed back out for an 8-mile walk. The 8-mile was a little tough, I ran out of water and didn't plan my route as well as usual. I went to a pizza place (which shall remain nameless but I'll never go there again!) and asked for ice water. They didn't have ice, which I said was OK, but then he tried to give me a story about the health department and not being able to give me water out of the faucet since if it's contaminated I could get sick. HUH????? OK, one, isn't any place of business required to have drinking water available and not for purchase? Two - since when could the water out of the faucet, which I'm assuming since they're in the city is actually city water, be contaminated to the point that it would make me sick? He finally relented and filled up my water bottle about halfway with tepid water (which was better than nothing!). I then was able to continue and make it to one of my favorite gas stations - they gladly let me have a bottle of ice water.
I was getting tired, knee was acting up, but I kept putting one foot in front of the other. As I was nearing home, I saw a kid riding a skateboard. He was crossing the street. He was dressed in a black pair of pants and a tank top, and had a Sonic hat on - and was coming from the direction of Sonic. He was also smoking a cigarette. Now - I have a not-so-good attitude about smokers, especially young ones. But as he passed me, he gave me a big smile and asked how I was doing - to which I replied that I was hot, tired, almost home, but good. He asked me how far I'd walked and I told him I was finishing up 17 miles. He then asked me what I was walking for and I told him (I was wearing the white Komen run shirt so he suspected something along that line!). He then stuck his hand out and told me to keep going, he admired me. I took his hand and said thanks - and remembered that I really try not to judge kids no matter how they look or what they do. His encouragement got me back home when I was almost ready to give up! I now remember why I like working with kids so much. I used to work with the kids in our church youth group - and now work with the kids in the marching band. I love them so much! He really made up for the pizza guy who didn't want to give me any water!
Songs - they play with you sometimes! I usually walk alone, which I don't mind. I don't have to worry about keeping up with someone or someone keeping up with me. I don't carry an IPod or anything else - it's just me and my thoughts. But there's usually a song running through my head. On yesterday morning's walk, it was Brandon Heath's "Give Me Your Eyes". I think that was trying to prepare me for the afternoon. Then in the afternoon, for some reason the National Anthem started going through my head. I didn't want to listen to it for 8 miles, so forced it out. Then "Sing, Sing, Sing" started up and I walked with that the rest of the way. Kaitlyn's marching band is doing that song as their opener in their marching show this year so I was hearing their version, drum line and all. It was great!
Dear God, thanks for the blessings of cooler weather! Thanks for the friends you've placed in my life. Thanks for the ability to try and make a difference. Help me to do your will even if it conflicts with mine. Guide me to the right path for my life. Amen!
And Amen!
steffy
This morning I participated in the Susan G. Komen Kansas City Race for the Cure. It's the first event I've done since becoming a survivor. It was so beautiful. There were live bands cheering us on at almost every corner. Pink balloons everywhere. As I neared the finish line, I was handed a pink rose. My friends took lots of pictures - I FORGOT my camera. I was going to take my small one, but alas, forgot. Oh, well - that's what friends are for. I'll post pictures when I get them from them. We were all happy just to be together and see each other again. The drumline from one of the Shawnee Mission schools (sorry, forgot which one) led the survivor's walk - it was so awesome!
Yesterday I completed a 17-mile walk in two phases. Did a 9-mile walk, came home, rested, ate lunch, then headed back out for an 8-mile walk. The 8-mile was a little tough, I ran out of water and didn't plan my route as well as usual. I went to a pizza place (which shall remain nameless but I'll never go there again!) and asked for ice water. They didn't have ice, which I said was OK, but then he tried to give me a story about the health department and not being able to give me water out of the faucet since if it's contaminated I could get sick. HUH????? OK, one, isn't any place of business required to have drinking water available and not for purchase? Two - since when could the water out of the faucet, which I'm assuming since they're in the city is actually city water, be contaminated to the point that it would make me sick? He finally relented and filled up my water bottle about halfway with tepid water (which was better than nothing!). I then was able to continue and make it to one of my favorite gas stations - they gladly let me have a bottle of ice water.
I was getting tired, knee was acting up, but I kept putting one foot in front of the other. As I was nearing home, I saw a kid riding a skateboard. He was crossing the street. He was dressed in a black pair of pants and a tank top, and had a Sonic hat on - and was coming from the direction of Sonic. He was also smoking a cigarette. Now - I have a not-so-good attitude about smokers, especially young ones. But as he passed me, he gave me a big smile and asked how I was doing - to which I replied that I was hot, tired, almost home, but good. He asked me how far I'd walked and I told him I was finishing up 17 miles. He then asked me what I was walking for and I told him (I was wearing the white Komen run shirt so he suspected something along that line!). He then stuck his hand out and told me to keep going, he admired me. I took his hand and said thanks - and remembered that I really try not to judge kids no matter how they look or what they do. His encouragement got me back home when I was almost ready to give up! I now remember why I like working with kids so much. I used to work with the kids in our church youth group - and now work with the kids in the marching band. I love them so much! He really made up for the pizza guy who didn't want to give me any water!
Songs - they play with you sometimes! I usually walk alone, which I don't mind. I don't have to worry about keeping up with someone or someone keeping up with me. I don't carry an IPod or anything else - it's just me and my thoughts. But there's usually a song running through my head. On yesterday morning's walk, it was Brandon Heath's "Give Me Your Eyes". I think that was trying to prepare me for the afternoon. Then in the afternoon, for some reason the National Anthem started going through my head. I didn't want to listen to it for 8 miles, so forced it out. Then "Sing, Sing, Sing" started up and I walked with that the rest of the way. Kaitlyn's marching band is doing that song as their opener in their marching show this year so I was hearing their version, drum line and all. It was great!
Dear God, thanks for the blessings of cooler weather! Thanks for the friends you've placed in my life. Thanks for the ability to try and make a difference. Help me to do your will even if it conflicts with mine. Guide me to the right path for my life. Amen!
And Amen!
steffy
Sunday, August 7, 2011
One more day.....then COOLER!
It's supposed to be 100 degrees today also. This weekend is a "back-down" weekend, 8 miles on Saturday and 6 on Sunday. I chose to do cross-training on Saturday (swimming) and probably will today also. Now for the good news - cooler all week, although rainy. I don't mind the rain - it's better than the heat! I'm planning on putting my miles in on Monday and Tuesday this week. Next weekend is a long one - 17 miles on Saturday and 13 on Sunday. I'm ready! Right now weather forecast looks good - high of 87 on both days. But that's a week away, we all know how weather forecasts can change! But it does look like cooler weather is on the way.
I've been having a wonderful time working with the band directors at Kaitlyn's school. We just finished up two weeks of band camp - this year's halftime show is going to be great! It's called "The Jazz Effect" and the numbers are Sing, Sing, Sing followed by Caravan. The last song is When A Man Loves A Woman (otherwise known as WAMLAW). It's really gonna be a good show.
Kaitlyn's wisdom teeth did well - no problems with dry sockets or anything. She's back to normal!
Remember all my buddies walking in Chicago today. There's walks going on pretty much every weekend now. I can't wait for mine!
Walkin' on!!
steffy
I've been having a wonderful time working with the band directors at Kaitlyn's school. We just finished up two weeks of band camp - this year's halftime show is going to be great! It's called "The Jazz Effect" and the numbers are Sing, Sing, Sing followed by Caravan. The last song is When A Man Loves A Woman (otherwise known as WAMLAW). It's really gonna be a good show.
Kaitlyn's wisdom teeth did well - no problems with dry sockets or anything. She's back to normal!
Remember all my buddies walking in Chicago today. There's walks going on pretty much every weekend now. I can't wait for mine!
Walkin' on!!
steffy
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