Seeing RED at Chipotle's

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Bryan and I were at Chipotle the other evening, and noticed several women wearing red shirts with different wording and both included the word RED in large lettering. We both commented on it, but neither of us knew the reason for the shirts........til now. If you are also seeing RED, and you aren't aware of its origin or purpose, click on the badge above, or go to http://www.joinred.blogspot.com/. It's a good thing to learn about something that makes a difference.

Where It All Began - November 2005

I am sharing this with you because this is a cause that is important to me.

My brother Kenneth and I dedicated February to November of last year training for it, and will dedicate about six months of training to it this year. It is the Breast Cancer 3-Day. A walk that covers 60 miles in three days. Funds raised benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust.

I would like to take you on a journey.....starting in November of 2005.

Jessamyn and Cory started "Team Juanita" in 2005. They are the beginning of the 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk for our family. I had heard all the "spots" on the radio referring to this event, but never considered doing it, until they brought it close and personal to all of us with their amazing journey!

Cory and Jessamyn making their "Team Juanita" shirts for the walk!

Day One! I can still remember waiting anxiously for them on this first stop. Asher and I were so happy to see their smiling faces come out of the sea of pink!

Day Two. Still going strong and collecting quite a support team!

At this point, they still had another 9 or 10 miles to go!

The 3-Day 2006 - Juanita's Kids

This was our gathering place. We ate, were entertained, wrote in our journals, visited and met other walkers and watched all the walkers in various degrees of suffering!

It was amazing! The final walk from the holding area, to our closing ceremonies. The energy is so high and emotions are overflowing. You can imagine, after walking 60 miles over three days, you are overwhelmed!

At the closing ceremonies, as the survivors come in, participants raise their shoes in the air to honor them. The Breast Cancer 3-Day flag that was raised at opening ceremonies, to mark our beginning, was raised once again, but this time it was a blank flag. The absence of wording symbolized a world without breast cancer; without men and women dying or suffering, without need for a Breast Cancer 3-Day, and without fear that the future will have to face breast cancer.

These were the Memorial Tents, representing each city that hosted a 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk. The walkers were encouraged to write notes in memory of some, and notes of encouragement to others. Or to just pen their reasons for support.

This was our "home" away from home for the two nights we were on the walk. A two man 6.5 X 6.5 tent! We had porta-potties galore and showered in big rig trailers. All the comforts of home!

One of our many cheering supporters! Little Brody was only a little over a month old!

Asher was wearing his "My Nonnie is Walking" shirt! Both babies were at the opening ceremonies which started at 5:30!
I loved this picture! This is where that quote "A picture is worth a thousand words" is so appropriate.

Kenneth and I crossing the 60 mile mark! What a wonderful feeling and what a wonderful journey! Unbelievable!

Opening ceremonies, November 3rd, 2006. About 6:00 a.m. The day was finally here! All the training, blisters, shoes, aches, gatorade and sweat was going to finally pay off!

The happy walkers! We were loving the experience! Every step of the way!
Our dedicated supporters. They were there every day!
Our family.....ready and waiting to lend support, hugs, an ear, gatorade, wonderful cheese/olive sandwiches and encouragement!

Real Men Wear Pink!

My gorgeous supportive husband!

If you are interested in being a walker, you can register @ www.the3day.org. If you would like to donate to a worthy cause you can do so at www.the3day.org/arizona07/kturgesen or our team page www.the3day.org/arizona07/juanitaskids .

Kenneth and I (Juanitas Kids) will be walking the 60 mile 3-day Breast Cancer Walk again this year. November 2-4, 2007. See you there!

All Caught Up

At the end of June I left for Farmington with Brittni, Cory and Brody for their 10 year high school reunion. I was along to watch little Brody while Mama and Auntie played, although I did get to have a lunch with a wonderful friend, Janice. We worked together at the Aztec First National Bank. We met up with Cassie and Kyle, and from there, I drove to Albuquerque with Cassie to help her pack up and clean her home. She moved to Farmington so she and Kyle no longer have to commute to see one another!

While Cassie and I were celebrating the 4th of July in Albuquerque with friends, our family here was celebrating our own firecracker's birthday!





Jamie

Jame-bob

Auntie mi mi

"Happy 4th of July Birthday!"













They even got to play with a few fireworks that Brittni and Cory brought back from New Mexico.





And Uncle Sam (aka Great Grampa GG) was there too, enjoying his babies!



So there........I am now caught up and so are you! At least for now.

God's Country

I have been on this same road many times growing up and when the kids were young, but I had forgotten how magnificent the scenery is. It was breathtaking. Every little while, we would get another view and it would just make you think that it couldn't get any better than this........but it always did!

Reminds me of the saying, "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away".

It certainly did that for us!

Keep Your Eyes On The Road!

We went to Moab, Utah on our trip also. If anyone knows my dear sweet husband very well, you know that he loves ROCKS! So, it should have been very obvious that I should have been the one doing the driving!

The Peace Tree

This is a little sweet stop we made in Monticello, Utah on our way to Grand Junction to see Cassie and Kyle. We had the yummiest smoothies. I had carrot, honey and yogurt and Bryan had a banana, peanut butter and chocolate. YUM! It offered all kinds of tasty treats and fun "stuff" that called my name, including the bumper sticker with the favorite saying "We must be the change we wish to see in the world".

Alive and Well

Well some of you are probably wondering if I even made it through the cleansing.......since I haven't posted since! I did and I actually am enjoying a few benefits. I have less leg/feet aches (except for the heel spur) and I am sleeping better at night. Plus, Bryan and I are eating much better. Just being more aware of what we are putting in our mouths! Another thing that was amazing is that I was never hungry. For the full 11 and 1/2 days I went without food, I did not crave food. But you are right.....the vegetable soup was absolutely out of this world on day 12!