amazing!

(me, ken, rae and kelleigh finishing)

we finished the walk.

3 beautiful days

filled with

family, friends, conversations

support, encouragement

new acquaintances, remembered faces

laughter, tears, memories

amazing stories

hope, love, thankfulness

lots of porta -potties, gatorade, water,

all day buffet :)

blisters, no blisters, band-aids, moleskin

ibuprofen and not much sleep......

pink and more pink and still more pink

and lots of putting one foot in front of the other

it was, as it has been every year.....

“One cause, three days, hundreds of conversations, thousands of people, changing millions of lives”

and an experience i will never forget!

and for anyone who thinks they can't accomplish much on their own....

there were 2100 Arizona walkers

and TOGETHER

we raised

5.2 million dollars for Susan G. Komen

Breast Cancer Research

so everyone does make a difference!

(warriors in pink shirt with your loved ones names worn 1st day)

i am still trying to get all of my pictures together, but just wanted to let you know it went wonderfully

and yesterday was spent just trying to get things put away

clothes washed and a bit of resting!

hopefully i'll have pictures to share soon.

thank you all for your thoughts and prayers!

3-Day Countdown

the 3-Day countdown has begun:

complete a 20 mile training walk------check

make shirts.......check

pack: clothes, extra shoes, band-aids, moleskin, sleeping bag, blanket, flashlight, journal, air mattress, sox, fanny pack, water bottles and a desire to make every minute count------check

i am so thankful to be a part of this experience and that i have the ability to do what some are not able to do.......walk.

the video below is not to make you sad .......it is to show you why people walk.....

and there are 100's of stories just like these from those we meet on this amazing journey.

Opening ceremonies begin around 7:00 this Friday morning and Closing ceremonies will be around 4:30 Sunday afternoon.

in the meantime, we will have walked 60 miles and met countless others walking and sharing for the same cause with different reasons

i will be walking for our loved ones and friends and for those you mentioned in your comments

and as brenda said in her comment "may our shoes have wings as we walk for this cause" :)

thank you to everyone who has made this possible and supported me in all ways...... i could not do this without all of you!!

i'll see you soon.

"Everyone Deserves a Lifetime"

remember

blessings

i want to stop time

and count my blessings

and count them once again.

i've been mindful today

of how easy it is

to become accustomed

to blessings.

i have waited and prayed

and waited

and waited and prayed some more

to hear jamie and matt call

and say

"we have been matched!!!!!! "

it happened!!

and we cried,

and rejoiced and

cried some more

and gave thanks

but then

i somehow

start letting

another days frustrations

or problems

become bigger

than

my thankfulness

for this miracle.....

i would like

to bask in this joy

today

tomorrow

and the next day

and next week

and not forget

the time

it took

to hear the words

and the thankfulness

and

love

i

feel

for

answered

prayers.

my cup runneth over

God's Plan

our sweet daughter and dear son-in-law

received wonderful news on tuesday afternoon.....

they have been matched with a birthmother

on their adoption journey.

we feel so blessed, thankful and full of praise.

surely a lesson

in

faith,

trust

and hope.

please visit her adoption blog "on Wings of Hope"

and read their wonderful story.

and please continue to keep them

and the birthmother

in your hearts and prayers.

xoxox

thankful

Thou hast given so much to me,

Give one thing more, - a grateful heart;

Not thankful when it pleaseth me,

As if Thy blessings had spare days,

But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise.

~George Herbert

happy birthday bee and corky!

happy happy 30th birthday

dear daughters!!!!

brittni (because you are 7 minutes older)

we celebrate YOU!

your big heart

your compassion

your strength

your laughter

your gentleness

your firmness

your worry :)

your love

your uniqueness

your thankfulness

your generosity

your tenderness

the wonderful mother you are

and

cory, we celebrate YOU!

your compassion

your understanding

your determination

your grit

your thankfulness

your strength

your laughter

your uniqueness

your openess

your loyalty

your acceptance

your independence

the wonderful mother you are

what an amazing blessing you both have been!

we love you so

and all that you have brought into our lives!

have a wonderful day

celebrating you!