Monday, April 27, 2009

Weekend

SATURDAY
I participated in my first Komen Race for the Cure Saturday. I was so happy when I was getting ready to register and Rachel told me she would like to participate with me!! We had to get up at 4:15 to pick up one of my support group friends at 5:15 and be in Rogers by 6:30 for the survivor breakfast festivities. It was an early morning but it was a fun day! We met up with several of the other ladies from my support group at breakfast. I wish we'd gotten a picture together but we got in a hurry and I didn't get it. I was AMAZED by the number of people who were there. They say there were about 18,000 registered for the run (I think that includes the 5K and the 1 mile family fun walk). Let's just say this - there were A LOT of people there!! I was even interviewed by a young man from a student newspaper - I didn't ask but I am assuming from U of A. I think it all finally hit me Saturday night when I hit the shower and I was thinking about a question I heard being asked that day - why do you run?? My simple answer came to me in that short moment - because I CAN, because I am HERE, because I am HEALED!! I was overcome with emotion thinking of how grateful I am because I know some who are not able and some who are not here. To GOD be the glory!!This is after the 5K participants took off and we were waiting for the 1 mile family fun walkI wish these pictures were better to show you how many people there were - they were stretched as far as the eye could see!!
Rachel & I at the Survivor Breakfast


SUNDAY
I lost or deleted this while uploading the pictures so I hope it works this time!! Robert bought a used canoe over the weekend and Rachel decided Sunday would be a great time for a family float trip to try it out. The guys have been on several multi-day float trips in the past few years but Rachel and I haven't been on the river for a while. Robert and Allan started loading the canoes and gear while Rachel and I packed a picnic lunch and lots of sunscreen (that I *should* have put on my legs). We decided to float the Mulberry River from Byrd's to Turner Bend which was about a 3 1/2 hour float. It was a gorgeous day for a float trip!! We headed out from Byrd's with Robert and I in our aluminum canoe with the cooler and most of the other gear. The kids were in the "new to us" canoe which is a smaller fiberglass? Mohawak canoe. They did well for the first little bit and then...they were upside down for the first of about 4 times to turn over. Rachel was fine after the initial shock of it. Allan...he was a great sport about it all - even after the last spill!! Robert and I never turned over!!!! We did have to stop to empty the water twice after getting swamped going through some rapids though. It was such a fun day together! Normally, we probably wouldn't have skipped church for a day of canoeing but these kind of days have been rare since the summer of 2006 when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I am finally feeling somewhat normal again and trying to live life to the fullest! It's great to be on the go again - the kids and I will be in Mansfield this weekend for a wedding shower for my niece, Amy; the following weekend we'll all be at The Wilderness Lodge at Big Cedar in Branson. It's great to be living...loving...life!!!

The kids took a different route and had to portage over two trees!!

On the go again

Pretty water

Pretty girl ; )

more pretty water

There were lots of these butterflies around

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