What can you do???????

THANK YOU for all the wonderful and supportive comments about my ambitious 12hr bike ride!  I really appreciate them and am so excited to embark on this journey!

So many of you have asked "what can I do to help"????

My initial list of TO-DO's is growing..... but that's for me to worry about and not you...

The #1 thing YOU CAN DO is to SPREAD THE WORD!!! Please share my fundraising page with ANYONE and EVERYONE you can!  Post it on your blog, FB, Twitter, WHATEVER - send a carrier pigeon; JUST GET THE WORD OUT!!!!  Even .50 would help....this goes directly to the National Brain Tumor Society - it does not go to me, my bank account or anyone else.

Step #2 - if you donate (which I sure hope you do) - Engage your corporation for a matching donation.  It may take a few extra minutes but I know my company will match up to $5,000 of contributions is a calendar year!!  That means if I donated $100 - they will match that and make it $200 total!!! Think about how that could change a life!!!!

Step #3 - RIDE WITH ME!!!!!!  The place is To Be Determined - I'm hoping it will end up somewhere public but it may just happen in my living room (let's be honest) - You can hop on your bike Saturday October 8 and RIDE TO FIGHT BRAIN TUMORS!!!!!!!  Let me know that you are going to participate; details regarding the ride and riding in your hometown will be delivered shortly.

Step #3.5 - WALK WITH US!!! If you live in the DFW area and want to participate in the walk in Fort Worth on November 5 - JOIN OUR TEAM, FACING GIANTS, HERE  If you don't live here but still want to get involved you join as a virtual participant! ($10)

Step #4 - I'm working on a giveaway to host for all of you that donate............ so stay tuned for that!!!!!!

A new blog/website dedicated solely to this effort will debut sometime in the near future....working on that too.....

Now off to spread the word (you should do the same!)

LET'S UNITE TO FIGHT CANCER!!!!!!!

2 years

Two years ago on Saturday (June 4) I lost Jess to Brain Cancer.... as I thought about her all day I wrote this that evening...

Dear Jess -

Two years - it's been two years since I was driving to work and received "the call" - "the call" that changed my life as I knew it.  I will always remember where I was on Luna Road that morning.... it will be a place that when I drive there I can't help but remember the ring, Della's voice, and the calmness in my voice that said - "Della, I need to get to work and I will call you back."  I knew I had to wait until I was stationary, off the road, and not be a hazard to other drivers.  Crying while driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving...at least crying in the state that I was in.

I made it to work - parked, got in the building went to my office, shut the door and called my mom.  Came out of my office - went into Luann's and set there and bawled until I could piece myself together to call my boss and get home.  I knew that with this news meant a lot of people would be coming over.  I went home, changed all the sheets on the beds, cleaned the house, and prepared for a few days of chaos and many people.  I knew the couple of hours I had to do that was the only hours I would have alone for up to a week.  No one was going to let me be by myself.  And that was ok.

I wanted to call Bill - I texted him instead.  All I wanted was for him to wrap his arms around me.... but that was going to have to wait.  We were still apart at the time you passed .... 

June 4 will never be the same...it will be the day that I was robbed of years with my best friend, it will be the day that I will never forget where I was, what I was doing and the flood of sadness that engulfed me that day.  It will be the day my heart broke into a million pieces for your family, your friends, all of those  that loved you.  It was the day I realized we will never go eat soup and salad at Olive Garden or nachos at Cristina's... we will never go spend way too much money at the mall or just randomly go see a movie again.  It was the day I realized I would never be able to call you when Bill and I got back together (even though I believe you had a hand in it while sitting up in heaven smiling), it was a day I had a sobering reality that my partner in crime, my best friend, my sister, and I would never speak/text/email again.  It is a day that breaks my heart each and every time I think about it.

I know that you would want me to not be sad, to live a life to the fullest, that brings awareness to the awful disease that took you too soon so I do.... I wake up each day with a smile on my face, thankful that I woke up and have a day to enjoy.  I'm thankful for my health and the steps I take to ensure I have a long, healthy life with  my family, my friends, and my future children.  I wake up each day and throughout some point think of you and how you changed my life even after you were physically gone from this earth.  I wake up and thank God that he gives us angels like you.

I wake up and think about this...

“God, whether I get anything else done today, I want to make sure that I spend time loving you and loving other people – because that’s what life is all about. I don’t want to waste this day.”

 

 

xoxoxoxoxo

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't forget about Mrs. Adventures DAY OF GIVEAWAYS ON FRIDAY JUNE 10!

Letters to my BFF

**I wrote this on the plane on Tuesday 2/22 - but my blackberry wouldn't post to blogger - Grrrrr**

Dear Jess -

I'm sitting here on a plane on the way to New Mexico and I just read an article in Spirit Magazine on my Southwest flight about the movie "Brian's Song".  I haven't seen it but it truly peaks my interest.  It's about two best friends, Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers who aren't only best friends they are football teammates as well. 

The story is about the bond that is formed when they find out one is terminally ill with cancer. From the brief synopsis I read is strikingly resembled our friendship.  I can't wait to Netflix the movie.  But as usual it gets me thinking about you and our friendship and how much I miss you and our bond that we shared.

I was driving home from Ronda's yesterday (side note readers: Ronda is my hair stylist) and I couldn't stop thinking about the time you desperately wanted your hair to be blonde.  When you convinced Ronda to die it -  it turned orange!!! HAHAHA!  It was right before Easter and let me tell you - you looked awesome with bright orange hair and a pastel dress.  Your mom wasn't very happy that Easter Sunday going to church.  I think shortly after, if I recall, you went back to your natural beautiful brown hair that always made your green eyes pop.  You were so beautiful.

Last Friday was Bill's 30th bday.  I invited your hubby to his surprise party but he wasn't able to make it.  I understand.  I miss our double dates and constant laughs.  I can't believe your 30th bday is right around the corner (Feb. 27th).  It's another day that is hard every year.

30! I can't believe we would be celebrating our 30th birthdays this year and 17 years of friendship.  WOW!

I still continually miss you every day and assume that its never going to go away.  Since my last letter to you Sarah got married.  She was a beautiful bride and I so desperately wished you were there to see her.  I wrapped my Livestrong bracelet around my bouquet so that you were there with us and standing for her.  The wedding was gorgeous and Sarah is happier than I have ever seen her. You would be so happy.

I continue to struggle that you aren't here.  Mostly for selfish reasons - I know you are no longer in pain and that we are all on God's time but even though the days pass and it should seemingly get easier, I still remain sad.  Then I think about a happy memory (like your orange hair) and laugh.

I miss you friend and wish I was planning to celebrate your 30th this weekend.  Instead I will think about and embrace all the birthdays were did have together because those are precious memories I will never let go of.

Love you.

Al

Letters to my BFF

Dear Jess -

There still isn't a moment that goes by I don't think of you - seriously it's THAT often.

On Christmas Eve I was having a glass of wine with my mom and preparing dishes for the Christmas Day feast ( you know she cooks WAAAAY too much food) and we were talking about the time you and me had to go to the store 4 times because we messed up Anna's jello thing she loves so much.  Mom and I laughed so hard about that Christmas Eve.

I've been missing you a lot lately.  Maybe it's the holidays, maybe it's because your 30th birthday is coming up next month, maybe it's because SBJ is getting married this weekend, or maybe it's because I just miss you that much - I try and try to think about all the fun times - all the laughs all the memories and all the silly stories....which inevitably works 99% of the time to clear up the sadness...but sometimes I am just sad.

I saw your family in November at the Brain Tumor Walk - so good to see them.  I know you know this, but everyone is doing so well.  I miss my second set of parents about as much as I miss you- but I know I will get to see them soon.

Today is your sisters birthday - the first thing I did was text her when I got up to wish her a happy day!  I still think of her as my little sister and since you aren't here to wish her happy bday I did it for the both of us.

I'm sitting here at work 4 days before SBJ's wedding.  And, although, I'm super happy for her I can't help but be sad that you aren't here to celebrate with us.  I'm going to OKC tomorrow for work then it's over to Tulsa to start the festivities.  You know SBJ only does things top notch and this wedding is no different.  It oozes SBJ through and through.

When Amber and I wake up on Saturday morning it won't be the same drinking mimosa's without you.  Or getting our hair and make up done without you or walking down the aisle to support SBJ and you not being there...but like all things since 6/4/09 I will get through it knowing that you are guiding us with your gentle kind spirit.

I'm continually thinking of you and the day we spent together on your wedding day.  Hair, makeup, chick fil a, and a freezing cold day in December with awesome pictures.

I love you BFF - and miss you dearly.

BFFASSFAEAEAEAEAE,

Al



Me, Jess (BFF), Sarah (SBJ)




Me and Jess

  

Mom, Me, Jess, Stephanie (Jess' mom)