Opening Ceremony

Opening Ceremony 2011:

Mom, Scott, the boys, and I arrive at Stone Mountain early. Yes, it was still dark and very cold!!  They dropped me off at the gear trucks and then had to find a space to park the car so that they could watch the opening ceremony.  Walkers were dropped off right in front of the gear truck.  The picture to the right was taken after the ceremony, before I left on the route.  My gear rode in truck B.  After dropping off my gear I was given a route card.  This card had a list of pit stops and grab in go stations listed with the times that they open and close.  While waiting on the ceremony to start there were several things that you could do.  You could take pictures of course in front of the various Komen signs and could shop at the 3-Day store.  There were various places to fill your water bottles and many porta potties.  My first stop was the goal wall.  You could write your goal or who you were walking for on a spot and place it on the wall.

As you can tell, the wall was full by the end of the ceremony.  Next, I wrote the names of friends that that I was walking in memory of on the Remembrance Flag that would be raised later in the ceremony. 

I finally met up with my family and we waited for the ceremony to start.

Me and Mom

Scott, Me, and the boys

Soon it was time for the ceremony to begin.  All of the walkers entered the gate in front of the stage.  Inside the gate was another small stage where survivors would bring in flags during the ceremony.  We began with group stretching and then a welcome speech by an Atlanta Komen Representative.  Dr. Sheri Phillips the National Spokeswoman for the 3-Day led the ceremony.  The poem she reads as survivors, family, and friends bring in flags will bring tears to your eyes.  She is such a powerful inspirational speaker.  She is a survivor with a powerful story of never giving up and being positive no matter what you face.  She believes that anyone can make a difference in this world and she is a living example.  When I grow up...I want to motivate people just like her!  You can watch an opening ceremony video on YouTube.  Just search 3-Day Opening Ceremony.  Her speech, I believe is the same in all 14 cities.  During this time flags are brought in representing why people walk (flags include:  mother, grandmother, sister, friend, husband, aunt, etc.). 

At the closing of the ceremony the white Remembrance Flag is brought in by survivors and raised in memory those who lost there battle.  It is a very emotional ceremony, I have tears in my eyes now just remembering and writing about it.  This is the flag that I was talking about earlier and it will later be placed in the Remembrance Tent at Camp.  Those standing around the white flag are all survivors who also brought in the flags of encouragement (love, belief, hope, etc.).

Now it's time for the walking to begin!  They released us from the gave a few at a time so the path wouldn't be so congested.  I was full of emotion...joy, hope, and nervous too!  It was finally my turn to exit the gate.  The path was lined with friends and family of the walkers cheering for us all and giving us high fives.  I'm sure I'll say this again, but I have never heard so many "thank yous" in my life.  As I continued toward the route, I got to say good bye to my family and then went through the last gate where my ID was scanned and my journey continued as DAY 1 has begun!

Getting Ready...Packing

Where to begin...I have so much to say...This was a truly amazing experience! It has been a month since I walked the Susan G. Komen 3-Day in Atlanta. I apologize for not blogging earlier, but needed time to recover from the the event and I had to jump right back into my job and family life. I will say that the journey was worth it!  I had originally planned to blog about each of the days, but I have broken it down into several different posts.  I hope you have enjoyed my journey just as much as I have!

I guess I'll start with packing.  Packing for the 3-Day was a chore!  I had been to several clinics on how to pack and what to pack, but actually packing was a different story.  Your bag can only weigh 35 lbs and that must include your sleeping bag/pad/mattress.  I rented my sleeping bag and pad from REI.  Mom came up a day early and I'm glad that she was there to help me pack.

Yes, that's my check list.  I was so thankful for a check list!!  My youngest son told me that I had a big mess and "No one's gonna help you clean it up!"  I did eventually get my mess cleaned up and everything into my bag.  I did take somethings that I could have left at home and then there were something I wish I had took.  We do live and learn, so I feel that I'll pack better for next year!

We all got a good nights sleep and were up by 5 am to load, eat break fast, and arrive at Stone Mountain between 6-7 am. 

Now, it's time for Opening Ceremony and the start of Day 1!!

There Is Nothing Greater Than Grace

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.  2 John 1:6

On October 30, 2011 churches across Atlanta celebrated Breast Cancer Awareness Month by participating in Worship in Pink Sunday, hosted by the Komen Atlanta Affiliate.  The main purpose of WIP was to wear pink, spread awareness, and remember those who have fought and those who are fighting breast cancer.

I was very excited that my church was able to participate.  Pastor Phil and Ms. Eva have been a wonderful support to me on my journey.  My boys just love them too.  The members of Grace have made me and the boys feel so welcome and they have prayed for us all.  The Sunday, before my walk, I was able to give my testimony and invite the member to wear pink.  (A video of my testimony is located here on my blog.)  On WIP Sunday, we wore pink and I was able to hand out a thank you gift to the ladies of the church with a WIP Bible bookmark and awareness information on breast cancer (all provided by Komen Atlanta).  I even found out that there were several members that are survivors. 

Thank you, Pastor Phil, Ms. Eva, and church family!  Your prayers were felt as I was walking and I know that God was walking with me too.  Your love, encouragement, and support mean so much to me and my family.  I am thankful for each and every one of you and pray that God will continue to bless you all.  There is nothing greater than Grace!

"Don't lose hope, don't let go, don't give up, you are not alone.
There is no valley, there is no darkness, there is no sorrow greater than the grace of Jesus.
There is no moment, there is no distance, there is no heartbreak, He can't take you through.So before you think that you're too lost to save...Remember there is nothing greater than grace." 

~ Point of Grace

Thank you Lord for blessing me with truly amazing friends and family and allowing me the opportunity to walk, spread awareness, and to share your love.  Thank you for carrying me the distance and walking with me through this journey called life.  There is nothing greater than Your grace!  I am proud to be your child.  I pray that one day a cure is found for all cancer.  Thank you for allowing me to contribute in a small way to finding that cure.             

HMES PINK OUT!

On October 18, 2011, my school hosted a PINK OUT day.  Each student and faculty member could pay a dollar to wear pink to support and honor Gladys Knepper's (teacher) fight against breast cancer.  This event was hosted by out Relay for Life Team, but they decided to donate the money to my walk because they wanted it to go directly to help a organization that focused on breast cancer (Susan G. Komen for the Cure).

My school is truly amazing.  It is honestly one big family full of support and love.  I was totally overwhelmed with the support, not just from the staff of HM, but the support of the children too. Everyone was wearing pink and cheering me on.  The kids told me all day that they were proud of me and they wished me luck.  I knew that I was going to finish the 60 miles because there were 500 smiling faces telling me all day that they knew I could finish!

That morning, two of my sweet students, jumped out of their truck excited to show me that they had dressed up and were wearing signs on their back.  They too had known several friends and family members who have fought breast cancer.  Tears came to my eyes as I read their signs...not only were they remembering their friends and family, but they included my mom.  These girls have never met my mom, but they wanted to honor her too. 

The ladies pictured above with the pink hair...Donna Thompson and Kristi Bellamy are two ladies that I couldn't live without!  They have supported me and helped me to fit in at HM from day 1.  They got together and created a giant banner and had the kids sign it.  Thanks ladies for being there for me each day, to make me smile and laugh, and to support and encourage me.  I couldn't ask for better friends than Thompson, Bellamy, and the staff at HM!!

I love this banner!!  I love the little details that each staff member and student wrote/drew.  Notice me at the start all happy with straight hair.  At the finish, I'm tired, messy hair, and have blisters on my feet.

The support and love that I felt from my family, my school family, my church family, and friend got me through the 60 miles!  I love being a part of the HMES family. Thank you, Carol and the Relay for Life Team!  Thank you, Thompson and Bellamy and everyone else that had a part in making the banner!

 I am praying for my friend/co-worker, Ms. Knepper as she continues her battle.  She is a very sweet and strong lady and I know she will win her battle.  I am honor that she let me wear her name as I walked the 60 miles.  She is so positive and I know she felt the love and support that I did from HM. 

Again, I am honored that I was allowed this opportunity to spread awareness and to walk for us all.  It is my prayer that one day a cure will be found for all cancer, so that my children and my students won't have to battle the disease!