Hi Friends~
I know this post is getting out late. I apologize. I started it on Monday, and couldn't complete it. I was so worn out today. Before I start today's post...let me tell you this: Stop by Wednesday... As we start our Wonderful Easter Give-Away! And, all you need to do is type your name or your user name...alone in the comment section...so we can announce you if you win! Leave your comments in a seperate space please.
OK, here we go-- The American Cancer Society's Re-Lay for Life was a wonderful event! If you have never been to one, I would contact the Society and see if there is one near you. It is such a beautiful event and so moving! I am very proud of my mother for Chairing this year's event. They raised more money than last year...even on the day that we all worried the federal government may stop working!
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And, let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works." Hebrews 10:23-24
The event started at 6pm, and I was there earlier in the day to help set up. There were tents set around a track at a local high school. At 6pm the Survivors walked a 1/4 mile lap around the track. Then the care takers walked, and finally family and everyone else. It was so beautiful. They sold luminaries for $1 a bag, and you could decorate it for someone who has passed on from cancer or who was fighting cancer. They lined the track with the lit candles inside them at 9pm and shut off all of the track lights. It was so moving to walk around the track, and see all of the names and designs. On the bleachers behind us, they had set bags to spell out the word "HOPE." (These were plain luminary bags with candles...no one went up there.) The bags stayed lit all through the night, and it was a wonderful tribute. Each tent chose a different game to represent...because "Cancer is not a Game!" My Mom's tent was a chess tent. She had large poster board chess shapes hanging around the tent. And, a handmade chess set on one of the tables. And Dave set up his chess set on a table and played people if they made any donation. It worked out great.
Each tent raised funds in different ways. Some sold baked items, or pork sandwiches, cotton candy, jewelry, games, that big jump up and down inside the big castle game for little ones and we were the only tent to sell cards. I think the highest price of anything else was $3. Your gorgeous cards sold at 10 cards for $20, or 2 packs for $30. You could see that they would have to sell a lot of 25 cent brownies to equal one pack of cards/envelopes. The traffic was not as busy as expected, but we did sell quite a few packs of cards! And, every person who stopped to look was just amazed at the quality of the cards! They couldn't believe that your cards could be made by humans rather than machines. Dave was quick to point out the tiny, precious pearl embellishments, and the dainty little ribbons. Isn't he wonderful? Fully supportive of my crafting! Many people were surprised at the price point...compared to others, but realized the value when it was pointed out to them. They soon walked another lap, and stopped in to buy a set or two.
One of the rules of the Re-Lay for Life is that at least one person is walking on the track at every moment.
Thank you for your prayers for me. I was so afraid/anxious that I would not be able to walk the "Family" lap--and it was so important to me...I didn't want to be disrespectful to my parents who are both Survivors, or my other family members who have passed with cancer...I know my parents wouldn't be upset in reality...not at all. But what a Testimony I was able to share with them...they knew that you were praying for my body to have strength and energy.(Reminder: My parents are still Jewish, my husband is still an Atheist...so far.) I felt like I was wrapped in your prayers. I have not walked more than the length of about 6 houses on average, since probably 1997, when I was injured. God is so good! He IS Able! I felt like the disabled man in the Bible who was on the mat...and Jesus told him to get up and take his mat...and he did! AMAZING! I walked a total of 15 laps through out the night! Not all together...but 5 of them were....and it was without my cane or back brace! I could feel His blessing me all the way around the laps...and I tell you this to Glorify Him! And, I tell you this because right now, even though my legs are sore, I want to remind you that anything is possible through prayer! There is no way that I walked 15 laps on that track on my own! Please, please, do not be shy to ask us to pray for you or your loved ones. So much will be given to those who merely ask Him for help. He loves us so much, He wants us to be happy, He wants us to feel His abundant and unconditional love. Please just write your requests in the comment section, if you want your fellow blog guests to pray also. And, if it is confidential, email me, and I will share it only with Joan, our faithful Prayer Team Leader. You do not need to leave a name in either case if you do not want to. I am just so excited about what He will do to help us love others...achieve His plans for us. Some day, I pray, this terrible, horrible, scary, non-discriminating disease will be wiped off the face of the world!
"For we walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:2
The people were just amazed at the quality and creativity you put into your amazing cards. I would say that 75% or so of the people who looked at the sets, bought one. The traffic was just very light. There are still many sets of cards left, even though I believe the sale was a success. Many people didn't bring their checkbooks with them, and I couldn't take credit cards. They figured $10 would get them through the night and next half day. I will be contacting everyone who donated cards in the next couple of days to see what you would like me to do with the cards. Many of the cards were not the same, so I broke them up by theme: inspirational, thank you, thinking of you, humor, etc... If you donated cards, and do not hear from me in the next few days, please contact me.
Whether you sent cards, purchased envelopes, gave advice, prayed for my physical capacities, bought cards, or walked laps all night long at another relay... All of the funds go to the American Cancer Society. Much of the money goes to research, treatment for patients, counselling for patients and their families...you name it! You have helped many, many people. It is a very worthwhile organization in my opinion, and I hope you will look to see if they are having a Re-lay for Life in your area. You will be part of a wonderful event, and enjoy yourself, and if you have been touched by cancer, or a loved one has been...then you will have an opportunity to celebrate their lives with other Survivors.
"Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the Lord!" Psalm 27:14
Remember~ Tonight at 8pm is the last chance to Name Our Team! There is a nice prize for this contest! Details are on the side bar.
Stop by tomorrow... Wonderful Easter Give-Away starts! And, all you need to do is leave your user name or real name...so we can announce you if you win!
And, all of you "Precious Women of God--This Includes You!" please be sure to stop by on Friday as well, for Michele's next Bible Study segment on a woman of the Bible. Isn't it wonderful how she gets us to see how similar or different we are from that person? I love it...join us here!
Thanks for listening and participating in this special event with me.
He IS Able,
Traci Starkweather
I know this post is getting out late. I apologize. I started it on Monday, and couldn't complete it. I was so worn out today. Before I start today's post...let me tell you this: Stop by Wednesday... As we start our Wonderful Easter Give-Away! And, all you need to do is type your name or your user name...alone in the comment section...so we can announce you if you win! Leave your comments in a seperate space please.
OK, here we go-- The American Cancer Society's Re-Lay for Life was a wonderful event! If you have never been to one, I would contact the Society and see if there is one near you. It is such a beautiful event and so moving! I am very proud of my mother for Chairing this year's event. They raised more money than last year...even on the day that we all worried the federal government may stop working!
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And, let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works." Hebrews 10:23-24
The event started at 6pm, and I was there earlier in the day to help set up. There were tents set around a track at a local high school. At 6pm the Survivors walked a 1/4 mile lap around the track. Then the care takers walked, and finally family and everyone else. It was so beautiful. They sold luminaries for $1 a bag, and you could decorate it for someone who has passed on from cancer or who was fighting cancer. They lined the track with the lit candles inside them at 9pm and shut off all of the track lights. It was so moving to walk around the track, and see all of the names and designs. On the bleachers behind us, they had set bags to spell out the word "HOPE." (These were plain luminary bags with candles...no one went up there.) The bags stayed lit all through the night, and it was a wonderful tribute. Each tent chose a different game to represent...because "Cancer is not a Game!" My Mom's tent was a chess tent. She had large poster board chess shapes hanging around the tent. And, a handmade chess set on one of the tables. And Dave set up his chess set on a table and played people if they made any donation. It worked out great.
Each tent raised funds in different ways. Some sold baked items, or pork sandwiches, cotton candy, jewelry, games, that big jump up and down inside the big castle game for little ones and we were the only tent to sell cards. I think the highest price of anything else was $3. Your gorgeous cards sold at 10 cards for $20, or 2 packs for $30. You could see that they would have to sell a lot of 25 cent brownies to equal one pack of cards/envelopes. The traffic was not as busy as expected, but we did sell quite a few packs of cards! And, every person who stopped to look was just amazed at the quality of the cards! They couldn't believe that your cards could be made by humans rather than machines. Dave was quick to point out the tiny, precious pearl embellishments, and the dainty little ribbons. Isn't he wonderful? Fully supportive of my crafting! Many people were surprised at the price point...compared to others, but realized the value when it was pointed out to them. They soon walked another lap, and stopped in to buy a set or two.
One of the rules of the Re-Lay for Life is that at least one person is walking on the track at every moment.
Thank you for your prayers for me. I was so afraid/anxious that I would not be able to walk the "Family" lap--and it was so important to me...I didn't want to be disrespectful to my parents who are both Survivors, or my other family members who have passed with cancer...I know my parents wouldn't be upset in reality...not at all. But what a Testimony I was able to share with them...they knew that you were praying for my body to have strength and energy.(Reminder: My parents are still Jewish, my husband is still an Atheist...so far.) I felt like I was wrapped in your prayers. I have not walked more than the length of about 6 houses on average, since probably 1997, when I was injured. God is so good! He IS Able! I felt like the disabled man in the Bible who was on the mat...and Jesus told him to get up and take his mat...and he did! AMAZING! I walked a total of 15 laps through out the night! Not all together...but 5 of them were....and it was without my cane or back brace! I could feel His blessing me all the way around the laps...and I tell you this to Glorify Him! And, I tell you this because right now, even though my legs are sore, I want to remind you that anything is possible through prayer! There is no way that I walked 15 laps on that track on my own! Please, please, do not be shy to ask us to pray for you or your loved ones. So much will be given to those who merely ask Him for help. He loves us so much, He wants us to be happy, He wants us to feel His abundant and unconditional love. Please just write your requests in the comment section, if you want your fellow blog guests to pray also. And, if it is confidential, email me, and I will share it only with Joan, our faithful Prayer Team Leader. You do not need to leave a name in either case if you do not want to. I am just so excited about what He will do to help us love others...achieve His plans for us. Some day, I pray, this terrible, horrible, scary, non-discriminating disease will be wiped off the face of the world!
"For we walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:2
The people were just amazed at the quality and creativity you put into your amazing cards. I would say that 75% or so of the people who looked at the sets, bought one. The traffic was just very light. There are still many sets of cards left, even though I believe the sale was a success. Many people didn't bring their checkbooks with them, and I couldn't take credit cards. They figured $10 would get them through the night and next half day. I will be contacting everyone who donated cards in the next couple of days to see what you would like me to do with the cards. Many of the cards were not the same, so I broke them up by theme: inspirational, thank you, thinking of you, humor, etc... If you donated cards, and do not hear from me in the next few days, please contact me.
Whether you sent cards, purchased envelopes, gave advice, prayed for my physical capacities, bought cards, or walked laps all night long at another relay... All of the funds go to the American Cancer Society. Much of the money goes to research, treatment for patients, counselling for patients and their families...you name it! You have helped many, many people. It is a very worthwhile organization in my opinion, and I hope you will look to see if they are having a Re-lay for Life in your area. You will be part of a wonderful event, and enjoy yourself, and if you have been touched by cancer, or a loved one has been...then you will have an opportunity to celebrate their lives with other Survivors.
"Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the Lord!" Psalm 27:14
Remember~ Tonight at 8pm is the last chance to Name Our Team! There is a nice prize for this contest! Details are on the side bar.
Stop by tomorrow... Wonderful Easter Give-Away starts! And, all you need to do is leave your user name or real name...so we can announce you if you win!
And, all of you "Precious Women of God--This Includes You!" please be sure to stop by on Friday as well, for Michele's next Bible Study segment on a woman of the Bible. Isn't it wonderful how she gets us to see how similar or different we are from that person? I love it...join us here!
Thanks for listening and participating in this special event with me.
He IS Able,
Traci Starkweather
