MYRTLE THE TURTLE AND TOMMY THE TURTLE

Jennifer's birthday is March 28th. She loved turtles. My brilliant and creative sister, Kimberly,
came up with a wonderful idea to celebrate her birthday. The Crafty Pig, our dear friend, made some adorable turtles. We are going to put a birthday hat on them and put them on the Jennifer Project Bags for March to celebrate Jennifer's birthday. Pig also made paper doll sets for the bags. I wrote a little story about Myrtle the Turtle for the girl bags and Tommy the Turtle for the boy bags. We will include a cut out birthday cake along with decorations for the cake, supplies to make a birthday card, the paper doll sets, and some puzzles or games for the birthday party. The bags can't have Jennifer's name on them and the kids can't know where the bags came from, so we thought this would be a great way to have a little birthday party for Jennifer! I can just imagine her with Mom and Dad in Heaven laughing at us, and saying, what are they going to think of next? Who knows what we will be able to think of with the help of all our wonderful and creative friends?

RACE FOR THE CURE 2009

This July, it will be ten years since I was diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast Cancer, Stage IIIB!! I was given a 30% chance of survival! My Heavenly Father knew better...He is the One that is in control. I am so very, very blessed.

Kimberly and Jennifer walked by my side in the Race for the Cure after my diagnosis. I remember the last race Jennifer walked with me, she had to stop and rest a few times. We finished the race....I think that we were in the last five people to finish...but we did finish!

Since Jennifer's death, I have not walked in the Race for the Cure....I just felt that it would be too emotional not having her by my side. Maybe I was also using this for an excuse not to do it.

The last few days I have been thinking about how grateful I am that I will soon be a ten year survivor. Jennifer walked many times with me when I know that she didn't feel like doing it. I know that she did it to support me......that is the kind of daughter she was!

This October, I want to walk in the Race for the Cure again! I know that Jennifer won't be there with me physically, but I know that I will feel her with me as I walk.

I am going to start today preparing to walk. I would love it if any of my friends and family would join me in celebrating 10 years of being cancer free!