who is thankful?

i am thankful. have you checked your boobs, lately?

DO IT!! do it, now before the holidays get here and you don't know if you are coming or going.

love,
bestie elf

Chestie Besties Survive!

I apologize for not blogging sooner. Honestly, i was in the 'fog of fatigue'. Have you ever been there? In the fog, you are unable to make decisions, eat properly, or move easily. What caused this? Oh, just walking 60 miles in 3 Days!!! It is all good though...it is a happy fog! It is a fog that I hope to feel again.

The Breast Cancer 3 Day was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. It wasn't just the physical challenges but it was also the emotional challenges. Along the route, we were greeted by family, friends, and strangers touched by Breast Cancer. Some of the cheerleaders were walkers from previous years. I think my eyes filled with tears before we even made it to a cheering station. A child held a sign that said, 'thank you for saving my mom.' A woman held a sign that said, 'my right breast thanks you.' When I saw my daughter Emma at a cheering station on Saturday, I was overwhelmed and overjoyed to hold her!


I met incredible men & women throughout the weekend. We met survivors and the family of survivors and the families of those that had lost their loved ones. One survivor was walking with her teenage son. How cool is that that he would walk 60 miles with his mom?! One man walked all 12 Breast Cancer 3 Days last year and was walking them all this year! He was also over 60!

So, what gets you through 60 miles? Music and candy. I would have thought that I would not have gained weight on the 3 Day but the cheering crowds hand you candy & the dinners are like fine cuisine after walking all day! We spent most of our time singing or dancing along the route - especially towards the end of the days. We know a lot of lyrics...just not entire songs!

I enjoyed camp despite the cold on Friday night. It is unreal that we would spend 5 months training in 90 and 100 degree temps and then actually participate in the walk with lows in the 40s & highs in the 70s! It was 36 degrees at opening ceremonies on Friday morning! We were out there for almost 2 hours!
Our team of 12 was amazing! It is hard to keep up with everyone while walking & even at camp but we were all together a few times. Everyone has such different paces. We had a few injuries. Most everyone was wrapped, iced, or lanced at one point. We did have a dehydration situation and our Bestie Trish was sent to the hospital. She has recovered and is safely in Cali back at work! We had a great team that together raised $30,000! The Dallas/Ft. Worth Breast Cancer 3 Day raised $6.5 million!!

So before the actual event, I thought that I would not participate again because training requires a lot of time and that is hard with my job, the kids, a traveling husband, etc. However, today, I am seriously considering walking next year! I do know that one day I will walk again even if it isn't next year. Emma told me that she doesn't want me to walk again till she is old enough to walk too.













Thank you to everyone that donated to the Chestie Besties. Thank you for not only donating your money but for your support. This was a huge accomplishment for each of us and we needed the support of each other and the support of our friends and family to cross that finish line. For me the finish line meant seeing my husband who I hadn't seen in over 3 weeks! It also meant sharing an incredible endeavor with my Bestie E, my mom, and the most fun group of girls!

Thank you, E, for recruiting me! Thank you for all the time you put into training and organizing. You are always living life to the fullest and I am so glad that you take me along with you!

I apologize for this blog. It is all over the place and I blame the 'fog of fatigue'. (I wonder how long that excuse will last!) I can't fully explain what the Breast Cancer 3 Day experience is or what it means because it means so much. 'From the outside looking in you can't understand it...from the inside looking out, you can't explain it.' That quote applies here. So, I guess that means you all have to walk!

cheers - m