Saturday, October 22, 2011
Avon Walk Day One
We were up before the sun, preparing for battle. It was unusually cold in Charlotte, almost freezing weather, so us Texans wrapped ourselves in layers, and topped it all with our pink shirts and purple Bouquet of Rosies hoodies. Body glide on the feet, moisture-wicking socks, tried and true walking shoes, pink mittens, chapstick. Packed our water bottles, extra socks, blister bandaids, cameras. We piled in the cars and arrived in Charlotte right on time.
The walk started in a park just outside of downtown Charlotte. It was pitch black out still but they had the park all lit up for us. Our first stop was to sign the infamous pink inflatable pillars. These pillars are at the start and end of every Avon Walk each season. We could look up and see the Chicago layer from when Ann walked in the spring. When we walked up to the pillar to sign it, this was the first thing we saw:
How cool is that? As my mom would say, it felt like a God thing.
We each took our turn signing our names and writing a little message. It was so special to see what each of us were walking for and what other people were walking for. There were so many of us. I've never seen so much pink in my life.
Another special thing for me was wearing Mike's mom's angel pin. When Mom Hedges passed away, each of us kids got an angel pin of hers, which she collected. Wouldn't you know - mine has a pink breast cancer ribbon on it? So I wore it today in honor of her and her beautiful legacy. Love you, Mom Hedges!
We gathered together for an incredible opening ceremony, reminding us of why we were walking and pumping us up to get it done. Then this guy led our mass warm-up, which was hilarious, mostly because they were all 80s exercise moves and the guy kept laughing at us. Then they signaled the start, and we BOOKED IT to the front of the line.
Did I mention that it was still pitch-black out? We were crossing foot-bridges in the dark and trying not to run into anything. We even walked through a tunnel in total blackness. Laura, Regina and I set a fast pace and kept it up.
Several miles in, the sun began to peak through, and we were starting to get the chill out of our bones. Laura's plantar fasciitis (a painful foot condition) began to rear its ugly head. Poor sweetheart. We adjusted our pace and kept on. We were going to stay together no matter what.
Every couple of miles there would be a rest stop. We'd refill our water bottles, grab a few snacks, and keep walking. We were on a mission.
The best part would be when we would round a corner and see our family waiting for us. They met us along the route every few miles. They were all wearing purple and making such a ruckus cheering for us and the rest of the walkers, that by the end of the day, walkers were talking pictures with them!
At mile six, our Aunt Ann jumped in and joined us walkers. She walked with us for the rest of the day and was a constant source of encouragement. It was much easier to walk two by two instead of as three walkers, and we were so glad to have her with us.
We didn't even stop for lunch, just grabbed our bag and walked. It was interesting trying to put mayo on a sandwich while in motion. Later we did have to stop once so that I could pump. Oh, the odd things I've had to do in public... I hadn't been pumping more than a minute before I attracted the neighborhood cat, who must've smelled milk. We all laughed about that.
Did I mention how encouraging it was to see our family as we walked? Sweet Aunt Linda was there at every cheer station, resting in her chair and encouraging the walkers. I know we were all thinking of her and how if even one step we took would help her, we would walk every step until we finished it.
My dad brought Chloe and Gracie later in the morning, wearing their special "My mom is one amazing walker!" shirts and shaking their pom-poms. They walked with us for a little bit. My grandma and mom were home watching the babies, and I was so thankful for their sacrifice so that I could walk. It really did take a village.
I would say, easily, that the best part of the walk for me was getting to spend time with Laura, Regina, and Ann. We talked about everything under the sun, cried together, and praised the Lord together as we passed each mile marker.
I felt pretty good for most of the day. I don't remember at what point I started hurting. My biggest problem was the hills. Did you know that Charlotte is hilly? And by hilly, I don't mean a hill here and there. I mean constant hills, a never-ending series of ups and downs. The hills wouldn't have been so bad but my right knee flared up. For some reason, it only hurt me when going down a hill or curb. Regina's hamstrings started cramping at the end of the day, and Laura's plantar fasciitis never let up. So, we'd approach a hill, Regina & Laura would suffer the climbing up it, and I would suffer the climbing down it. At this point, we made slow progress, but at least we made progress.
Just before mile 20, Mike and Kirsten joined us. Us girls were hurting at this point and needed an extra boost. Our feet and legs were throbbing. Mike and Kirsten talked with us and made us laugh and kept us going.
All I remember about the last few miles is that it seemed like they seemed never-ending. Where was that mile marker? What? Only 25? One more? Then the last mile took us down across gravel (so cruel) and looped us around into a park.
Laura, Regina, Ann and I linked arms and walked the last hundred of feet, tears mixed with joy. We stopped before finishing for each of us to hug Aunt Linda and whisper to her that we were doing this for her. We linked back up and crossed beneath that beautiful pink arch.
26.2 miles. We did it. Cramping muscles, gigantic blisters, buckets of sweat later, we did it. And we were determined to do 13.1 more miles tomorrow...
Because we were "in it to end it."
The walk started in a park just outside of downtown Charlotte. It was pitch black out still but they had the park all lit up for us. Our first stop was to sign the infamous pink inflatable pillars. These pillars are at the start and end of every Avon Walk each season. We could look up and see the Chicago layer from when Ann walked in the spring. When we walked up to the pillar to sign it, this was the first thing we saw:
How cool is that? As my mom would say, it felt like a God thing.
We each took our turn signing our names and writing a little message. It was so special to see what each of us were walking for and what other people were walking for. There were so many of us. I've never seen so much pink in my life.
 |
| L to R: Ann, Colleen, John, Laura, Brad, Katie, Regina, Linda, Deb, Kirsten & Mike |
We gathered together for an incredible opening ceremony, reminding us of why we were walking and pumping us up to get it done. Then this guy led our mass warm-up, which was hilarious, mostly because they were all 80s exercise moves and the guy kept laughing at us. Then they signaled the start, and we BOOKED IT to the front of the line.
Did I mention that it was still pitch-black out? We were crossing foot-bridges in the dark and trying not to run into anything. We even walked through a tunnel in total blackness. Laura, Regina and I set a fast pace and kept it up.
Several miles in, the sun began to peak through, and we were starting to get the chill out of our bones. Laura's plantar fasciitis (a painful foot condition) began to rear its ugly head. Poor sweetheart. We adjusted our pace and kept on. We were going to stay together no matter what.
Every couple of miles there would be a rest stop. We'd refill our water bottles, grab a few snacks, and keep walking. We were on a mission.
The best part would be when we would round a corner and see our family waiting for us. They met us along the route every few miles. They were all wearing purple and making such a ruckus cheering for us and the rest of the walkers, that by the end of the day, walkers were talking pictures with them!
At mile six, our Aunt Ann jumped in and joined us walkers. She walked with us for the rest of the day and was a constant source of encouragement. It was much easier to walk two by two instead of as three walkers, and we were so glad to have her with us.
We didn't even stop for lunch, just grabbed our bag and walked. It was interesting trying to put mayo on a sandwich while in motion. Later we did have to stop once so that I could pump. Oh, the odd things I've had to do in public... I hadn't been pumping more than a minute before I attracted the neighborhood cat, who must've smelled milk. We all laughed about that.
Did I mention how encouraging it was to see our family as we walked? Sweet Aunt Linda was there at every cheer station, resting in her chair and encouraging the walkers. I know we were all thinking of her and how if even one step we took would help her, we would walk every step until we finished it.
My dad brought Chloe and Gracie later in the morning, wearing their special "My mom is one amazing walker!" shirts and shaking their pom-poms. They walked with us for a little bit. My grandma and mom were home watching the babies, and I was so thankful for their sacrifice so that I could walk. It really did take a village.
I would say, easily, that the best part of the walk for me was getting to spend time with Laura, Regina, and Ann. We talked about everything under the sun, cried together, and praised the Lord together as we passed each mile marker.
I felt pretty good for most of the day. I don't remember at what point I started hurting. My biggest problem was the hills. Did you know that Charlotte is hilly? And by hilly, I don't mean a hill here and there. I mean constant hills, a never-ending series of ups and downs. The hills wouldn't have been so bad but my right knee flared up. For some reason, it only hurt me when going down a hill or curb. Regina's hamstrings started cramping at the end of the day, and Laura's plantar fasciitis never let up. So, we'd approach a hill, Regina & Laura would suffer the climbing up it, and I would suffer the climbing down it. At this point, we made slow progress, but at least we made progress.
Just before mile 20, Mike and Kirsten joined us. Us girls were hurting at this point and needed an extra boost. Our feet and legs were throbbing. Mike and Kirsten talked with us and made us laugh and kept us going.
All I remember about the last few miles is that it seemed like they seemed never-ending. Where was that mile marker? What? Only 25? One more? Then the last mile took us down across gravel (so cruel) and looped us around into a park.
Laura, Regina, Ann and I linked arms and walked the last hundred of feet, tears mixed with joy. We stopped before finishing for each of us to hug Aunt Linda and whisper to her that we were doing this for her. We linked back up and crossed beneath that beautiful pink arch.
26.2 miles. We did it. Cramping muscles, gigantic blisters, buckets of sweat later, we did it. And we were determined to do 13.1 more miles tomorrow...
Because we were "in it to end it."
Friday, October 21, 2011
Avon Pregame
It's the weekend of the Avon Walk! Can you believe it's finally here? For us, the Walk is a family affair. So my family rallied in Charlotte, North Carolina to support us girls as we walked.
Mike and I roadtriped with the kids on Thursday. Let's all be honest. I can't say that either Mike or I were excited about 8.5 hours in the van with our children. Not that we don't love them. But a five-year-old, an almost three-year-old, and two desperate-to-move one-year-olds in their carseats for eight hours seemed like a recipe for disaster to us.
It wasn't. It was actually fun! We loaded up in the afternoon and drove until dinner. We ate yummy Chick-Fil-A and let all four kids get their wiggles out on the playground. Then we put all the kids in the jammies, put them to bed in their carseats, and drove on. In the wee hours of the morning, we arrived at the beautiful lake house we were all staying at. Even in the dark it was beautiful. My parents were already there, and they helped us transferred the kids to bed. That was then end of day one. Not too bad!
The next day, the crew started to roll in. My cousins Laura, Brad and Regina arrived the night before. My aunt Linda (their mom) and Grammy arrived in the afternoon, along with Aunt Ann and cousin Kirsten. My mom's cousins Deb, Colleen and John drove in during the evening. You heard right - 17 people in the same house! It was soooo fun!
You can imagine I was a little nervous about my four little kids in a new (beautiful) environment. They did so well! We brought little booster seats, and the babies would sit up at the counters and stuff their sweet faces. The big girls did puzzles and played with the cousins. The rest of us adults just enjoyed being together and catching up.
In the evening, several of us went to Event Eve, which kicks off the Avon Walk weekend. It was so fun to see all the pink! Regina, Laura, and I are the walkers for our team, Bouquet of Rosies. We signed in and donated the remaining checks and cash donations we had received. Thanks to all of you, as a team we raised $7,392!! Isn't that amazing?!? We were so excited. Thank you all so much.
We finished up our Event Eve with taking a group photo and then shopping, of course! I mean, who doesn't need matching pink ribbon hair bows?
We headed home to a yummy dinner, rowdy kids, and lots of fellowship. Mike and I got the kids to bed - a small miracle - and then us girls packed up all our things for the morning. It was going to be an early start - 4:15 a.m - so everyone headed to bed.
Mike and I roadtriped with the kids on Thursday. Let's all be honest. I can't say that either Mike or I were excited about 8.5 hours in the van with our children. Not that we don't love them. But a five-year-old, an almost three-year-old, and two desperate-to-move one-year-olds in their carseats for eight hours seemed like a recipe for disaster to us.
It wasn't. It was actually fun! We loaded up in the afternoon and drove until dinner. We ate yummy Chick-Fil-A and let all four kids get their wiggles out on the playground. Then we put all the kids in the jammies, put them to bed in their carseats, and drove on. In the wee hours of the morning, we arrived at the beautiful lake house we were all staying at. Even in the dark it was beautiful. My parents were already there, and they helped us transferred the kids to bed. That was then end of day one. Not too bad!
The next day, the crew started to roll in. My cousins Laura, Brad and Regina arrived the night before. My aunt Linda (their mom) and Grammy arrived in the afternoon, along with Aunt Ann and cousin Kirsten. My mom's cousins Deb, Colleen and John drove in during the evening. You heard right - 17 people in the same house! It was soooo fun!
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| Grammy was so excited to see Caleb! |
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| Auntie Annie loving on Julie |
 |
| Gracie and cousin Kirsten |
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| Regina teasing Caleb (on his new blankie from Aunt Linda) |
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| Regina & Chloe do a puzzle. |
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| Tootsie & Gracie do a puzzle. |
We finished up our Event Eve with taking a group photo and then shopping, of course! I mean, who doesn't need matching pink ribbon hair bows?
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| Ann, Katie, Linda, Regina, Laura and Kirsten |
Big Day Tomorrow!
Tomorrow's the big day, folks. We're all ready to go. Pray for us, friends! It's a long way to walk.
But it's a lot easier than cancer...
But it's a lot easier than cancer...
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Why I Haven't Blogged in a Couple of Days
It's been over a week since my last posting. I've walked. I've taken photos for postings. I just haven't done it. I haven't done it because my heart is too heavy, and I don't know how to put words to it.
Last Tuesday, my Aunt Linda found out that her lung cancer has spread to her brain. Her doctors are treating her immediately and aggressively, as it is very serious. Last Thursday, she began 14 whole brain radiology treatments, one per day. She will have some short term memory loss and will lose her hair again. She cannot drive for a year, and she will need to stop working in 2-3 months. The good news is that her lung cancer responded well to radiology, and so her doctors have hope that her brain cancer will as well.
I cried for the first 24 hours after hearing about Aunt Linda. Even though I know that the Lord can heal her, even though I know she's beaten cancer once before, I cried. I love her. I can't bear the thought of life without her. I don't know life without her, nor do I want to. She was always there as I grew up, a second mom, always just a few blocks away.
My Aunt Linda had triplets when I was seven years old. She already had one son, Bradley, who was two at the time. My family moved from the farm in Illinois to Houston where Uncle Ray and Aunt Linda lived, and that was the beginning of years of living only a few blocks apart. There was always a baby at our house, it seemed like. I remember taking walks at night after dinner, all ten of us. Their children are siblings to me. It seems like I hardly have a memory from my elementary years without one of them in it.
Now Brad and the triplets are all grown up and off living their own lives. Now I'm the one with multiples, outnumbered by very small, very quick, very loud little people. Now I'm the one looking back at my Aunt Linda, thinking, 'Ohhhhh. I get it.' As an adult and a mother myself, I see all that she willingly, loving sacrificed. I see/know how utterly exhausting and overwhelming it must have been to have so many little ones. I see how she did the best she could and how that best really and truly was incredible. I see how well she mothered. I look at her and have hope that maybe someone will look at me one day and say that I did it well too.
So I cried. Darn that rainy weather, I walked in the mall on that Wednesday and cried in front of strangers and did not care. Did. Not. Care. Let them stare. My heart was breaking. I was crying for Aunt Linda, for my Uncle Ray, for my cousins, for myself. I was crying because it took me back to those days with Caleb and myself, and how none of life is guaranteed. I cried as I listened to a Hillsong CD on repeat, trying to nestle myself deep inside Jesus' love, trying to remember what I know, know, know is true - He is faithful. He is trustworthy. He is, even so, worthy to be praised.
So tonight I do not make my customary plea for Avon donations. Tonight I beg of you to pray for my dear Aunt Linda, that the Lord would work another miracle in her life and in her body, and thereby once again bring glory to Himself. Please, please pray.
Last Tuesday, my Aunt Linda found out that her lung cancer has spread to her brain. Her doctors are treating her immediately and aggressively, as it is very serious. Last Thursday, she began 14 whole brain radiology treatments, one per day. She will have some short term memory loss and will lose her hair again. She cannot drive for a year, and she will need to stop working in 2-3 months. The good news is that her lung cancer responded well to radiology, and so her doctors have hope that her brain cancer will as well.
I cried for the first 24 hours after hearing about Aunt Linda. Even though I know that the Lord can heal her, even though I know she's beaten cancer once before, I cried. I love her. I can't bear the thought of life without her. I don't know life without her, nor do I want to. She was always there as I grew up, a second mom, always just a few blocks away.
My Aunt Linda had triplets when I was seven years old. She already had one son, Bradley, who was two at the time. My family moved from the farm in Illinois to Houston where Uncle Ray and Aunt Linda lived, and that was the beginning of years of living only a few blocks apart. There was always a baby at our house, it seemed like. I remember taking walks at night after dinner, all ten of us. Their children are siblings to me. It seems like I hardly have a memory from my elementary years without one of them in it.
Now Brad and the triplets are all grown up and off living their own lives. Now I'm the one with multiples, outnumbered by very small, very quick, very loud little people. Now I'm the one looking back at my Aunt Linda, thinking, 'Ohhhhh. I get it.' As an adult and a mother myself, I see all that she willingly, loving sacrificed. I see/know how utterly exhausting and overwhelming it must have been to have so many little ones. I see how she did the best she could and how that best really and truly was incredible. I see how well she mothered. I look at her and have hope that maybe someone will look at me one day and say that I did it well too.
So I cried. Darn that rainy weather, I walked in the mall on that Wednesday and cried in front of strangers and did not care. Did. Not. Care. Let them stare. My heart was breaking. I was crying for Aunt Linda, for my Uncle Ray, for my cousins, for myself. I was crying because it took me back to those days with Caleb and myself, and how none of life is guaranteed. I cried as I listened to a Hillsong CD on repeat, trying to nestle myself deep inside Jesus' love, trying to remember what I know, know, know is true - He is faithful. He is trustworthy. He is, even so, worthy to be praised.
So tonight I do not make my customary plea for Avon donations. Tonight I beg of you to pray for my dear Aunt Linda, that the Lord would work another miracle in her life and in her body, and thereby once again bring glory to Himself. Please, please pray.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Random Walk Photos
Here I go. Off to do my last big walk before the Walk itself.
The girls watching Mommy leave. How cute is that?!?
The gigantic pumpkins at Arnold Farms on Hwy 2.
Good old College Parkway. Almost home.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Sixteen Miles
Today I walked sixteen miles. I got up early, got dressed, and left all four kids in my mom's totally capable hands. Both babies were sobbing hysterically when I left. That about broke my heart.
I was all over the place mentally, so I put on my audiobook and tried to zone out. I walked from my house onto Bay Dale, down College Parkway to Route 2, up Route 2 to Fish Paws Deli, and then crossed over onto the Baltimore Annapolis Trail. I headed for downtown Annapolis.
My spirit was struggling. I felt/feel overwhelmed with all that is going on in my life. I constantly feel like I can't get anything done (or done well), like I'm treading water and getting nowhere.
That kind of mental attitude is not good for the walking mojo. Then something in my audiobook made me think about my babies. Two beautiful, healthy babies. Two living babies. I thought about what it felt like to hold them in my arms, to be on the receiving end of their slobbery kisses, how my heart does a little dance when they smile at me. I thought about how thankful I am to have them and how different things could've been for Caleb and I. Thankfulness washed over me, and the Lord renewed my spirit. I was back in the game.
I crossed over the Navy Bridge, basking the slight breeze, the smell of the water, and the warm sun on a chilly day. There's something about walking over a bridge that just means something, you know? I can't explain it, so I won't try.
From there, I walked downtown, past the Naval Academy and towards City Dock. When I saw the chalkboard sign at SugarBuns restaurant advertising a Monster BLT, I promptly decided it was lunch time. NOW. With a Coke, please.
After I demolished my BLT, I walked towards City Dock and was so surprised to see that it was Boat Show Week. I am so out of it.
I looped around downtown and then walked up Duke of Gloucester and West Street all the way Westgate Circle. Then I turned around and headed back down to City Dock again, trying to clock a few more miles.
After another loop around downtown, I headed up Rowe Boulevard, crossed under Highway 50, and kept walking on Bestgate towards Westfield Mall. A little before mile seventeen, my knight-in-shining-Camry swung by and picked me up.
I was supposed to walk twenty miles but I decided that sixteen was enough. I hadn't seen my kids all day, and I had a girls night out planned for the evening. I needed to go home and be with the kids for a bit between events, so I cut the walk short and headed home.
And, let me tell you what - those slobbery kisses made all the walking worthwhile.
Okay, friends! It's time for my typical closer, so I won't delay. Would you please consider donating to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer? It's really easy to do, and your donation makes such a difference. You can either click here to donate, or you can access the donation page via the Avon Walk link on the right side of this blog. Thanks so much!
I was all over the place mentally, so I put on my audiobook and tried to zone out. I walked from my house onto Bay Dale, down College Parkway to Route 2, up Route 2 to Fish Paws Deli, and then crossed over onto the Baltimore Annapolis Trail. I headed for downtown Annapolis.
My spirit was struggling. I felt/feel overwhelmed with all that is going on in my life. I constantly feel like I can't get anything done (or done well), like I'm treading water and getting nowhere.
That kind of mental attitude is not good for the walking mojo. Then something in my audiobook made me think about my babies. Two beautiful, healthy babies. Two living babies. I thought about what it felt like to hold them in my arms, to be on the receiving end of their slobbery kisses, how my heart does a little dance when they smile at me. I thought about how thankful I am to have them and how different things could've been for Caleb and I. Thankfulness washed over me, and the Lord renewed my spirit. I was back in the game.
I crossed over the Navy Bridge, basking the slight breeze, the smell of the water, and the warm sun on a chilly day. There's something about walking over a bridge that just means something, you know? I can't explain it, so I won't try.
From there, I walked downtown, past the Naval Academy and towards City Dock. When I saw the chalkboard sign at SugarBuns restaurant advertising a Monster BLT, I promptly decided it was lunch time. NOW. With a Coke, please.
After I demolished my BLT, I walked towards City Dock and was so surprised to see that it was Boat Show Week. I am so out of it.
I looped around downtown and then walked up Duke of Gloucester and West Street all the way Westgate Circle. Then I turned around and headed back down to City Dock again, trying to clock a few more miles.
After another loop around downtown, I headed up Rowe Boulevard, crossed under Highway 50, and kept walking on Bestgate towards Westfield Mall. A little before mile seventeen, my knight-in-shining-Camry swung by and picked me up.
I was supposed to walk twenty miles but I decided that sixteen was enough. I hadn't seen my kids all day, and I had a girls night out planned for the evening. I needed to go home and be with the kids for a bit between events, so I cut the walk short and headed home.
And, let me tell you what - those slobbery kisses made all the walking worthwhile.
Okay, friends! It's time for my typical closer, so I won't delay. Would you please consider donating to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer? It's really easy to do, and your donation makes such a difference. You can either click here to donate, or you can access the donation page via the Avon Walk link on the right side of this blog. Thanks so much!
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