1,000 Cranes

Fun run, Cranes, an Cancer survivors:  How are they connected?!

Several months back my boot camp instructor Paul had mentioned to me that he was heading up a 5K/10K fun run in Plano, IL in April 2013.  My other boot campers and I decided that we would sign up for the 10K (this is what peer pressure does to a girl).  Paul told us that the proceeds from the event will go to the "1,000 Cranes Retreat for Cancer Survivors".  I made a mental note at the time to research the origins of 1,000 cranes, but like most of my mental notes this note got lost in the junk drawer of my mind somewhere between the tape dispensers, post-it notes and all in one screwdriver.

This Christmas I was reminded of the "1,000 cranes" when my nephew Collin handed me a paper crane that he had folded and explained to me that he learned about a girl who had cancer and her goal was to fold 1,000 crane because it would make her well. 

So tonight I looked into the legend of the 1,000 cranes and this is what I discovered (from several sources and sorry for not citing them, but this is a blog not a paper):

~It is legend that a crane lives up to 1,000 years and throughout Asia this bird is a symbol of hope, happiness, and eternal youth.  From that came the idea that if you fold 1,000 origami cranes, one for each year of a cranes life, a crane will visit you and grant you a wish.  Shortly after the end of World War II there was a young Japanese girl named Sadako Sasaki who was diagnosed with leukemia after being exposed to radiation after the bombing of Hiroshima.  Sadako became determined to fold 1,000 cranes in hopes of recovering good health, happiness, and a world of eternal peace.  She completed 644 before she died, her classmates folded the remaining 356 to honor her.~

So how does this all tie in?  Well the 1,000 Cranes Retreat for Cancer Survivors takes the hope that the cranes represent and gives those in attendance some rest for their soul.  By participating in an event like the Plano Baloney Fun Run you get to be part of their opportunity and in my opinion (which is almost never, but usually correct) this is good for your soul too. If you are interested in the race you can look up Plano Baloney Fun Run on Facebook or go to active.com to sign up.

I am declaring that this year be the year of 1,000 cranes! 

Find a way to "fold some cranes" for people in your life :)

Crane made by Collin Beduhn 

Pink Highlights

This past weekend my family celebrated our Christmas.  For the past few years my Dad has had a drawing for $100.  If your name is chosen you have the next year to spend the $100 on any person or cause that you think needs it.  I am still waiting for the year that my name is drawn :)
This past year my sister Chelsea had the honor of choosing the home for the money. This is the story that the $100 took.

~My sister explains that this fall she was getting her hair cut at a salon in Muscatine, IA (where she now lives).  Her stylist was finishing up with a customer who looked to be about 6 years old and she had beautiful brown hair.  She was telling the stylist that she loved her new hair cut and she thought her sister would be very jealous. 

Just before Christmas my sister visited the same salon for a trim.  Chelsea noticed that her stylist was putting pink highlights in a little girl's hair.  As she sat there she realized that it was same girl that was there the last time Chelsea had her hair cut.  In her mind Chelsea questioned why a girl so young would be getting highlights.  When the girl was finished getting her hair done she came and sat on the couch next to Chelsea.  The girl looked at Chelsea and said, "My mom said that I could get pink highlights in my hair before it all falls out." (Talk about a humbling moment)

Following that appointment Chelsea was heading out of town to see some friends from college and on her way out of town she stopped by a gas station.  When she was checking out she noticed a donation can sitting by the register.  On the can was a picture of a six year old girl name Riley who has brain cancer the same girl who just had touches of pink added to her hair.  There was a benefit planned in the month of January for her.

So it was destined that the money would go to Riley and her pink highlights. ~

As my sister told this story to us my eyes filled up with tears. Chelsea adds that on the facebook page regarding Riley there is a picture of the little girl with a smile and the absence of those pink highlights and beautiful brown hair. 

 For me this story isn't about Chelsea being generous to a girl she doesn't know.  This story is about being humbled.  I am guilty about making snap judgments of people all the time.  Our purpose isn't to judge, but to find out the story.  It is amazing how much difference a story can make.

One

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The Vote

Today I visited a two-year old daycare classroom where my friend teaches.  I was discussing with her how I had just voted and so she asked the darling two-year olds who were sitting eating snack if they voted.  Many answered, "Yes", but she could have asked, "How many of you have antlers?" and the response would still have been the same.  Oh the sweet innocence.  There was one girl who answered "yes" to the voting question so my friend asked her who she voted for.  With a big smile on her face she answered, "Candy!". 

Now that is a platform I can get behind!

Jacket

This past weekend I took place in the Hot Chocolate 5K/15K in Chicago, IL.  Let me emphasize the "5K" part of that title!  It was a fun race to take part in and with 40,000 runners/walkers it was the largest race by far that I have participated in.  The charity benefiting from the race was the Ronald McDonald House which is a well deserving cause.  Another way runners could give to a cause was by shedding their clothes.  Any clothes taken off at the starting line or during the race (don't worry there were no streakers) were donated to a mission in Chicago.  While I was waiting in my corral before the run began there were these two women who got in line right next to me and I notice that one of them was wearing a very nice Columbia fleece jacket.  Just before the horn buzzed us to our destiny of 3.1 or 9.3 miles for the morning the lady took her Columbia fleece jacket off and hung it on the fence and said, "You have been a great coat, now go be great for someone else".  I couldn't help but get choked up.  The giving spirit some people have is just an awesome thing to witness. 

Now there may be people who read this and think, "What is the big deal, it is just one jacket?".  Well my friends I would like to direct you to one of my favorite stories:

There was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing.

He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach

and saw a human figure moving like a dancer.

He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day,

and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man,

and that what he was doing was not dancing at all.

The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects,

and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?"

asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out.

If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented,

"But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach

and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean.

As it met the water, he said, "I made a difference to that one!"

 

My running mate Ashley and I after our race!



 

I challenge everyone to find a starfish or jacket :)

 

And Make A Difference

Let Me Hold You Longer

My baby Noah is no longer a baby.  Noah is one.  He is a walking, yelling, food throwing, run over the dog with his blue pick up truck, refuse to get his diaper changed, three toothed amazing gift of a boy.  Like I have said before Noah is my daily reminder that unconditional love is real.

Photo By: Ellie Piper

Photography Studio 37

I was going through his many books and I came across one entitled Let Me Hold You Longer
By Karen Kingsbury.  I couldn't bring myself to actually read it out loud to Noah because the words make me weep.  I recieved this book as a baby shower gift from my Aunt Cindy and Aunt Dixie and they warned me of the books ability to turn on the water works.  I believe they told me that they were both crying their eyes out in the Target book aisle.

 

"Long ago you came to me, a miracle of firsts:

First smiles and teeth and baby steps, a sunbeam on the burst.

But one day you will move away and leave to me your past,

and I will be left thinking a lifetime of your lasts..."

 

(Hello tears!)

 

"The last time that I held a bottle to your baby lips. 

The last time that I lifted you and held you on my hip. 

The last time when you woke up crying needing to be walked,

when last you crawled up with your blanket, wanting to be rocked."

 

(Are the tears decorating your face yet?!)

 

The last time when you ran to me, still small enough to hold. 

The last time that you said you'd marry me when you grow old. 

 Precious, simple moments and bright flashes from your past

would I have held on longer if I'd know they were your last?"

 

(and if I wasn't blubbering already)

(the book ending to finalize my sob fest)

 

"For come some bright fall morning, you'll be going far away. 

College life will beckon in a brilliant sort of way. 

One last hug, one last good-bye, one quick and hurried kiss. 

One last time to understand just how much you'll be missed. 

I'll watch you leave and think how fast our time together passed. 

Let me hold on longer, God, to every precious last.

 

If you are a mother of a boy and you haven't cried in a day or so you should really read the whole book.  I am willing to share our copy :)



 

 

 

 



Noah and Maggie

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