Yesterday, I signed up for the Breathe Deep Atlanta Lung Cancer Walk sponsored by Lungevity Foundation. I'll be walking in support of my mother, a lung cancer survivor. I know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month - my grandmother died from breast cancer. But when my mom was diagnosed, the assumption that she smoked was too much - because she didn't. You can read about my mom's story in my post, Standing Up For Mary. I wanted to share with you a few facts that you may not know about lung cancer.
The Statistics
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, regardless of gender or ethnicity.
Lung cancer impacts one in 14 Americans and kills more than colorectal, breast, pancreatic, and prostate cancers combined.
Lung cancer kills almost twice as many women as breast cancer, and more than three times as many men as prostate cancer.
About 55% of all new lung cancer diagnoses are among people who have never smoked or are former smokers.
Lung cancer accounts for 14% of all new cancer diagnoses but 28% of all cancer deaths.
One major fact that us in the Lung Cancer supporter community are trying to end is the stigma. Anyone Can Get Lung Cancer - you don't have to have smoked or lived with a smoker. You can be old and you can be young. The following story truly touched me. I have decided to do a weekly post (or more) on Lung Cancer to get the word out.
Jill lost her battle with Lung Cancer. Her wish was to beat this disease. Let's do more!
I just wanted to say hello to any of the new visitors who might come via the Weekend Blog Walk. This is my first time doing a link up and I am pretty excited. This blog is just about me and my daily life.
But..since you are here...
Question:
(Just a fun question)
If you could visit any country, where would you go and why?
Remember one of my first posts on the Erin Condren Life Planner? Well, I bit the bullet and purchased it last week. Now I am in the waiting game, becoming almost OCD checking the website for an status. I know that is is really not that serious, but only a few things have capitivated my attention like the planner. I think it is because it is very practical but very different and personalized that has truly made me want one.
I am definately going to do a post so that you all can see the unboxing - maybe a vlog, who knows.
On another note, can you believe that it is October already! This time of year is my absolute favorite. Waiting on the leaves to change or watching them change is oh so breathtaking and reminds me of all of the special celebrations that take place in my life this time of year.
My Pastor's anniversary at my church
Football games
Fall Leaves and Cool Breezes
Breathe Deep Atlanta Lung Cancer Walk
Birthdays! (mine ;) )
Christmas
New Year's
I don't really celebrate Halloween but I do get candy in case some kids come by. They haven't in the past couple of years - yet I still buy it.
This past weekend was a busy one for me. It started off on Friday at the City of Refuge volunteer project. Then a prayer breakfast on Saturday morning and a cooking class in the afternoon. In the hustle and bustle of going to and fro, I was able to take time to think about life and reminise on various events. Here is my little trip down memory lane.
Volunteer Day: My volunteer experience really began as a candy striper at DeKalb Medical Center. I served from 8th-12th grade. I really loved my time helping the patients and nurses. In fact, I didn't even have a job in high school as I was busy being a volunteer.
Cool Fall Mornings: I think my favorite season is Fall. The cool crisp air reminds me of comfort, warmth..and football (lol). Not to mention that when fall begins, the leaves turn on the trees. And soon after we have the winter holidays and my birthday!
Japan: The Japanese cooking class condjured up so many emotions that I am not even sure if I could settle on one thing. We cooked miso chicken, takegomi rice, and sweet potatoes. The food was delicious and even the tv shows we watched were nostaligic.
What has happened to you that makes it easy to travel along life's journey?
Today was a great day. Every year, the company I work for, 2 Places At 1 Time, holds an annual volunteer day where employees nationwide give back in their local communities. This year the staff in Atlanta volunteered at City of Refuge. City of Refuge is in fact that - a place of hope and rebuilding in a community ravaged by poverty and crime. Our task was to work in the Eden Garden.
When we met the Volunteer Coordinator, Phil, he gave us bracelets that said "Where Good Works" Micah 6:8. This bible verse reads: (taken from New King James Version)
He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? I don't always do this. I know what is right in so many situations, but do I always do what the Lord requires of me to do. If someone is hurting or going through a bad situation, I should do whatever is in my power to assist them and build them up - not tear them down. I never intend to do them harm - but my inaction can often speak volumes.
City of Refuge is a blessed place. You can feel the love there. You feel safe there. Not one time, did I even think of what neighborhood I was in - in terms of feeling afraid. They are doing the Good Work and continues to spread God's message of love and healing to those who need it.
I think of the times that I am asked to help others and I complain or asked to give a hand to those in need and I do it begrudgingly. I may not have nothing going on but I am mad that someone asked for my time. Is it possible that I have nothing going on because it was for me to help them. I am sure that is the case. I will gladly wear my bracelet so I can share with others about the City of Refuge and how we can me be models of Micah 6:8 and do what the Lord requires of us to do.
This past Friday, I went to a high school football game. As someone who was a member of my high school marching band from 8th - 12th grade, as much as I love football, I am also very interested in the marching band. But for whatever reason, I hadn't gone to any high school football games since I graduated. Well I take that back - I went to one.
My younger cousins were playing. It was the game of the week - Southwest Dekalb vs Stephenson. Football team vs Football team, Band vs Band. One of my younger cousins vs the other cousin. Whoever was the victor would definately have bragging rights. And to top it all off, my uncle is the Offensive Coordinator for Southwest Dekalb. I couldn't miss it - even though I was starting to come down with a sinus cold.
Traffic was horrible. It had rained earlier that day which made things worse. Determined to support and represent, I finally made it to the stadium at about 8pm. (The game started at 7:30pm). I decided to sit on the Stephenson side, for no other reason than that I figured more of my family would be on that side and that it would be more fun. I am so glad I did. I got there about 2 minutes before halftime. Looking through the crowd, I spotted my family and waited until the buzzer sounded so that I could make my way down the bleachers to where they were sitting.
I tried to hide my excitement, but I couldn't wait to see the Stephenson band. As the visiting team, they went first. Memories came back as I looked at the drills. This band was really good. But the best was truly to come. As they finished an amazing set, all of a sudden they started playing the them from "Superman" and formed the "S" symbol on the field. And then....
An epic move that cannot be duplicated because it will be imitated.
Because imitation is the highest form of flattery (lol). There were FIREWORKS! I'm sorry, but I will remember that forever. It was AMAZING.
My phone ran out of power so I couldn't video tape it, but here is a video of the band from 2 years ago.
