Relaying

This past weekend was Relay for Life in Augusta County.  Participating in Relay is something that I had thought about here and there throughout the years, but had never gotten the nudge or real desire to go out of my way to do it. Then a few months ago I had someone come through our neighborhood asking for donations.  It was one of the moments in my life that I can clearly say God intervened.   I won't go into the whole story, but suffice it to say she was the exact right person who showed up at the exact right moment and said the exact right things.  When I closed the door after she left I knew that God had sent her to our door and I knew that we had to participate in Relay.

I was so excited about participating that within minutes of her leaving I had recruited family members to participate and was planning our event.  But a few weeks later Connor would get his preliminary diagnosis and my focus shifted.  Instead of focusing my excitement on fundraising and all the fun things we could do at the event, I was fully engulfed in the cranio world and preparing for surgery.

I knew as it got closer that this year was going to be our test year.  My goal was to get Glenn there so that he could be around other survivors and celebrate the fact that he did in fact survive and to feel it all out.  I couldn't split my focus so we were just going to go and see what it was all about.  

So Saturday was our Relay.  A big shout out to my sister in law, who thankfully took charge and made plans when I didn't.  Thanks to her we had a campsite (who knew we even needed one) and tents and she even made a basket to raffle off to raise more money!  

The first thing that happens at Relay (at least ours did - I'm clearly not an expert) was the survivor lap.  I can't tell you what it felt like to watch my hubby circle the track in his survivor shirt with all the other survivors.  I could see it meant a lot to him too.  Cadence found his daddy in the sea of purple and was so excited to cheer for him and finished the lap with him.  There was also a survivors' dinner where we found Sharon, the lady who knocked on our door.  I was so excited to have Glenn meet her.   I knew he would like her and hoped she could be someone he could lean on and talk to about all the things only someone who's fought through cancer can understand.

It was really an awesome evening.  There were definitely a lot of tears shed - the luminary ceremony was SO powerful - and how do you not lose it when they end that with a bagpiper playing Amazing Grace and then a lap in silence.  But it wasn't all doom and gloom - it really was a celebration of life.  And it was so good for my husband.  He and Sharon have exchanged numbers so that they can stay in touch and he's already planning our event next year!  It was such a great way to get in some really great family time in this weekend!  

I can't wait to relay next year!