8.21.2008

One of my ACS video's and my e-mail address

Well, I knew that it would happen sometime, but a video of me is now on the www! Here is the address if you want to check it out: www.sharinghope.tv/video/2050485
Also, I have gotten a lot of requests for my e-mail address, because several people want to be able to correspond with me without it being posted on my BLOG for everyone in cyberspace to read. So...my address is tmarymoon@gmail.com. Please e-mail me with any comments or questions you may have, and I will try to respond as quickly as possible!
Mean people need not e-mail!
What am I thankful for?!
Friends that I haven't seen forever! And...video editors that make me look better at this stuff than I really am!
Drew- I hope your mom is doing well! I had no idea she was a BC survivor. And, your father-in-law will be in my thoughts!

8.14.2008

And....




....another shining star goes on hospice....hearts break.

What am I thankful for?!
Sometimes it is hard to be thankful during hard times, but I guess I am thankful for hospice nurses. They must have hearts of gold to be able to care for people during such emotionally and physically difficult times. I am reading a book called "Glimpses of Heaven" by Trudy Harris, RN. She was a hospice nurse and tells stories of peoples last days/minutes here on Earth. It is very spiritual and makes me less fearful of death.

8.03.2008

Relay is over. Now what?

It has been so busy that I haven't had any time to type. Relay was an amazing success! Our $35000 fundraising goal was blown out of the water....the money tallying is not yet complete by the ACS, but it looks like we might have reached $50000!!!!!! That is so unbelievable to me. I don't think I have quite grasped it yet! Much thanks to the Brunings, the Dominators, my DDS'ers, and team Perseverance!!!! Wow, each year Relay has gotten bigger and bigger! It is such an emotional night to end all the FUN-draising chaos!
During the opening ceremonies we had 11 team members receive $1000+ fundraising t-shirts! How amazing is that! Team Perseverance is made up of ROCKSTARS! Then I got to accept a check for $10000 from WalMart! They helped us SAVE OUR HAIR! How great is that! It was crazy! They gave me one of those huge-mongous checks, like publishers clearinghouse! How fun was that! I cried on the poor man's shoulder! I am sure he was wondering what kind of nut I was. How amazing! That money will help so many people right here in Nebraska!
The luminary ceremony was emotional as always, but I was so busy that I didnt have time to get the luminaries from my parents and my kiddos together and was so worried that I wouldn't get them lit before other people started lighting them. It worked out, but I was tired, and I think it was just all so emotional that I was not handling things very well. Also, this year was extra hard because I just lost Kim this year, our friend Jason started chemo, my friend from work is struggling with her treatments, and my friend Katy just lost her sister in May. We thought Katy's sister would be here this year to walk with us, but I guess a higher power had different plans for her. It was a rough night for her family, and my heart ached for them.
I shared speaking duties with my friend Eric this year in our Fight Back ceremony which was held RIGHT after the luminaries. So, in my emotional state I hear the announcement over the loud speakers that the Fight Back Ceremony would be starting in a matter of minutes, and I just couldn't pull it together that fast. Eric has also been through a lot this year, and adding those emotions to the emotions I was already having just sent me over the edge. I cried through the whole thing! CANCER IS JUST NOT FAIR! The rest of the night I just tried to zone out and when the sun rose in the morning we all headed home and went to bed.
The last few days following Relay have been hard. I found myself sitting in the cemetary crying, and not being able to stop. I had spent the last year speaking at Relay events and the last 6 months fundraising. I did it in all the free time that I had. I wanted to make a difference, and I was working hard at it. Cancer hit my friends over and over throughout the year, and I was doing everything I could do to fight back. But when Relay was all said and done, and the money was turned in, I felt an immense sense of saddness.....all that work and my friends that cancer had taken were still gone, and my sick friends were still sick, and I still had to go to chemo on Monday morning. I should have felt such joy in all that we had accomplished! I should have been excited, but I couldn't help just feeling sad that we still do not have a cure. But I have no doubt that we will be one step closer and that many, many cancer patients will benefit from the many services that the ACS provides. I am trying to focus on that......
What am I thankful for?!
Sunny days, candlelight, and Hope for the future.