Break The Silence

I was looking on my Facebook page & I found an ad by Wylers with the Teal Ribbon which is the ribbon color of Ovarian Cancer. As I clicked on the ad, I found that September was Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. I followed the link until I came to the NOCC website..ah..very cool I thought.. I then started browsing for events around the USA. I found no NOCC organization in Nevada, sadly, but found one in Sacramento which is only 127 miles from me. They were sponsoring a 5K
walk/run to "Break the Silence of Ovarian Cancer". I checked my calender and realized it was 2 weeks away on Sept. 17th and I didn't have anything planned, so not stopping to even think about it, I signed up..not as an individual, that would be too easy, but as a team. Team Brenda in honor of my sis, Brenda, who is an Ovarian Cancer Warrior. I decided that I could be a team of one, BUT, just maybe I could get others to participate with me. I immediately, emailed my Cousin Valerie in California, a few close friends, and my daughters. Five minutes later I had a Team of 4, then 5..before I knew it we were up to 8.. I decided that we needed a Team shirt so, knowing my Sister Brenda's art talent, I asked ( or told) her to design the artwork..she stayed up all night and the next morning we were ready to go to the printers. And to make our Team Brenda complete, Brenda was able to fly up to join us in our Walk/Run.
What an inspirational day..an upbeat event, honoring the survivors and those that had lost the fight to this disease. Seeing my sis, smiling from ear to ear. Watching as she was selected to get up on stage and open the event.. She was a natural. Seeing other teams honoring their loved ones. Listening to the stories of the survivors, feeling the hurt of those that had lost their loved ones. Watching as the survivors were gathered for a picture and seeing the very young girls, young mothers, grandmothers...all ages that are fighting this silent killer. We walked, laughed and finished the race with my sis in a wheelchair for most...but she crossed the finish line on her feet!
A special thanks to "Team Brenda" members all who traveled to support the cause: Cousins Valerie and Laurie, My Daughters: Nielsine and Amanda, Friends: Donna(whose sister Martha is an Ovarian Cancer Warrior), Cathy and Mary, and of course our Team Leader: Brenda. I love you all! Can't wait for next year..we are already recruiting!

Trees

Years ago there was a dome built to house an artificial environment for a garden. The conditions were perfect. Temperature regulated, perfect amount of light and of course the perfect amount of water to make trees and plants flourish. And flourish it did! The trees and plants grew at an amazing rate. One day as the scientists were checking the garden they noticed that great limbs were breaking off the trees. Why? What would cause this in a perfect environment? As they researched this they discovered that trees develop stress bark from the elements. The howling winds, the snow and ice, even the dry weather. All these things cause stress bark to form on the trees, especially around the limbs. What does this stress bark do? It makes the trees stronger. Able to grow and produce in all conditions. The trees in perfect environment were weakened..the trees left to survive in the elements grew strong, able to withstand the winds of Mother Nature.

Such is our life. We could live in a perfect world, but would be grow strong limbs? I know that the challenges and trials that we face help us to develop stress bark. We grow in character and spirit from the winds and storms of life. We should be thankful for our blessings and our trials. For it is with the trials and how we handle them we become all that we can be.

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Waiting for Spring

I'm waiting for Spring. Officially it has been spring for over a week. But right now it feels more like winter. Snow, Wind, Snow... I know that spring will come as it does every year in the foothills of the Sierras. We will have some warm days soon and then just when we think it is really spring, a hard freeze and more snow.

But I'm ready to be warm. To see the new leaves and blossoms. I'm ready for the rebirth of my corner of the world.

I suppose that is how I feel about my life right now. The economic times are so difficult. Wondering how our business will survive.   I know it is a test of faith. I know we still have each other and the rest is just stuff, but it is still difficult to work through.

Yes I know Spring is coming...hurry..Please hurry.