Northern Lights 5K and Cub Run

Love My Life's next virtual race is here!

 

Registration is now open for the Northern Lights 5K and Cub Run!

 

Yes, for the little ones, there's a one mile option, the "Cub Run".

Get those kiddos up and movin' for a great cause!

 

Register you and your cub ~ save $2

 

Race Date: Sunday, February 10, 2013 (or anytime that works for you!)

 

Where: ANYWHERE you want! Use your training miles, run, walk, skip, or do them in your mind from the comfort of your couch if you like (though that's not as much fun...)

 

Why: Because you care about finding a cure for blood cancers! All proceeds (less cost of medal and shipping) are for my next Leukemia & Lymphoma Society/Team in Training fundraiser, the Inaugural Nike Half Marathon in Washington D.C. on April 28, 2013.

 

Important Date! Registration will CLOSE on Sunday, January 27th, 2013 to allow for order/shipping of medals.

 

Questions can be sent to me at: lovemylife4liz@aol.com

AND... I have 4 Love My Life Bears left so I will be raffling off 1 bear each 10 registrants for the first 40 registered!

 

 

 

 

 

Loving My Life ~ Dublin, The Loving Tree, & $32,000

I haven't written in a while. Sometimes I'm not sure what I want this blog to be, or what direction to take it. I know I want it to be about honoring Liz's zest for life and about raising awareness that Hodgkin's Lymphoma needs more research for a cure, and therefore, it's about raising money too. I've posted a money thermometer to monitor my progress. I have a goal to raise $32,000 by October 16, 2013. It's lofty for sure, but as you can see, we're nearly at $20,000 already! These figures combine the Dublin Marathon, Tinker Bell, and now Nike D.C. Stay-tuned after Christmas for another virtual 5k!

 

The Dublin Marathon was great and Ireland was amazing! Our brother, Sean, was with me; my "cheerleader" for the race and it was wonderful to share such a special trip with him. The Team in Training Flex Team was the best! What a wonderful experience to meet and make friends with folks from all over. TNTrs are the best! We left a little of Liz in Ireland at this beautiful stream on the grounds of the Blarney Castle. It was so peaceful.

 



 Last night we had a fund-raiser at Spiked Paint in Fullerton (www.spikedpaint.com) and it was SOOOO FUN! The turnout was great, the owners (Erin and Ian) are wonderful, and we painted this beautiful painting under the expert guidance of Erin. If you want to have a fun evening and test your creative side, check them out! Still waiting on the final numbers but I think it'll be close to $250 raised for LLS~yay!

 

 

Remember, as the holidays are upon us, that it's not about that tie, toy, or latest electronic device, or buying things because you should. It's about living and loving; about family and friends, it's about quality time.

 

 

I lost my precious baby sister, and all the money in the world won't bring her back, but there are still so many fighting for their lives; a young woman, Heather, who just went through a stem cell transplant, and a young boy named Devon, who is praying for an outside donor match to save his life. I honor my sister's memory by continuing to fight for a cure for people like Heather and Devon. Hodgkin's Lymphoma needs more research, it needs a cure...

 

 

 

Thank you!

I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who participated in the Love My Life 5k. You helped honor my sister's memory; her spirit, and love and appreciation for life. You also helped raise $680 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society; you made a difference in a future life.

LML...Shellee

Love My Life 5k Update

BLING is in! Registration is open till September 30th. All proceeds benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Celebrate YOUR life while I celebrate and honor my sister's life on her Angel date. LML...Shellee

Color, Indy, and 11 months...

Nothing like be blasted with vivid colors and feeling the vibration of an Indy car flying by at nearly 215 mph to make you feel alive. Both made me think of you Punkin.

Today was 11 months. So hard to believe we've survived these months without you. I thought about it all week and then yesterday was so busy with living/loving life, that I didn't think about "it" though you were on my mind all day. Many times I wished you were there with me or I thought how happy I knew you were that I was having fun. Mom and I talked about it last night as we watched the Indy race and enjoyed the beautiful night; it was perfect out - you know, the way it is after a hot day at the river and then the night is absolutely perfect? Then today, we were all together and goofing off with the hats Tracy sent. I did get teary-eyed after that, but it was a good day too. I think we're going to take them to Ireland :) You are SO missed, and it's so hard to grasp sometimes, but I guess, we are healing a little, and I know that is what you want; what we're supposed to do. There will always be a hole though...

 

 

LML4U...xoxo...Sissy

14 Miles...

That's how many miles I walked (jogged a tad) yesterday in preparation for my marathon in Dublin. Wake up call was 4 a.m. (OMG!) and if any of you know me, right now, morning is not my thing :) But, I did it and I was there at 5 a.m. to begin. I was grateful we started so early and avoided some of the heat, plus, got to see a beautiful sunrise! I actually love that time of the morning. Seemed like the miles weren't too bad, but boy did I feel them later, thankfully, 90 minutes of YIN Yoga (at Just Yoga in Corona) this morning helped work out some of that.

I'm babbling/lol. I think I just want to share the sunrise picture and then this quote I swiped from one of the groups on Facebook. That's really what this blog is all about (though I'm not quite sure how I want to write about it, or can), but that was my sister, thankful for life, hence "Love My Life", and it's true, right now, someone, somewhere is fighting to survive just as she did. So, be thankful.

Feeling Extremely Blessed

The Love My Life (virtual) 5k is picking up steam and I'm so excited! Don't forget to register before it closes on September 30th.

For the details: Inaugural Love My Life 5k

Today has been (well, this week really) so emotional. I think I'm ready for bed (thankfully since we're meeting at 5 a.m. for 14 miles!). First thing this morning, I received a donation notification that not only put me over my goal, it made me #1 Fundraiser for Team Dublin! It was so generous a donation that I was speechless. What an amazing journey this has been for me.

Then, tonight, I get home and check my mail and I have a package. Hmmm. Can't figure that out. I don't remember ordering anything. Oh, it's from Tracy in Alaska:) But I just got my birthday present from her so what is this? Oh my stars! When I finally opened it, all I could do was cry. It's the hats Liz and I put on in the store in Alaska when we were there. I'm so not the silly one. She made me do it that day for the picture, and I'm so glad she did. We didn't buy those hats that day because - what would we do with them? But oh, how many times we both wished we had purchased them since. So to open that box and see those hats - the same ones - was more than I could handle. What an unbelievably thoughtful thing to do. I am touched beyond words yet again today. Thank you Tracy <3

This turned out to be one of my very favorite pictures from that trip, and now one of my VERY, VERY favorite memories...LML

September...

I can't believe it's September 3rd already. Sometimes I realize it's the middle of summer, or the end of summer, and can't believe it. At times it feels as though time moves like molasses and other times it's so fast it's a blur. As the last days of August came and went, I found myself dreading the approach of September (because that leads to October); the last few weeks of my sister's life a year ago. Marked by the weekends spent with her, I can recall each one.

So, just as I was beginning to feel like I was making a bit of progress in this process called grief, I find myself reliving those weeks/moments (more than normal); some are bittersweet, others sad/painful.

My birthday is fast approaching and for the first time in my life, I am not filled with my usual excitement. Yes, I'm (very) grateful to be celebrating another year (always), but it won't be the same (nothing has been of course, nor will it be) and I find myself just wanting to skip it. Seems when I look back at pictures from birthdays past, they were the best family photos ever; silly, fun, goofy... I guess I'm wondering how... when she is who brought out my silly side:) Maybe I'm over thinking it (I tend to do that/lol). Maybe she'll make her presence known and it will all seem right? or maybe she'll just help me be OK with what IS?

Then comes October... is a year really right around the corner? How on earth have we survived? How has the world not stopped to mourn with us? How does it just keep going on each day while our hearts are broken? That's what happens though and you have to keep putting one foot in front of the other, and in spite of the pain and sorrow, you have to appreciate being alive; to Love My Life, if for no other reason at the moment than the sheer (glorious) fact that you are alive and that in itself is a gift. Liz appreciated that gift every moment she could and that is the legacy she leaves behind.

There are exciting things coming in October as well (so my emotions seem to be in constant conflict). One is the Inaugural Love My Life (virtual) 5K which I hope becomes a very real 5K one day to honor her life by not only continuing the quest for a cure as well as the fact that the very essence of walking or running a 5K is living. What better way to honor her life than to live ours? Quite often I have to remind myself of that, or be reminded (some days it's still hard, but it is what I intend to do; for myself, for her...). And of course, the marathon in Ireland! Sean and I are looking so forward to that! But it will be bittersweet too; emotional, but exciting and fun too.

Well, I need to get to bed. Way past that time and I'll pay for it in the morning. I must stop this late night stuff again.

It was a beautiful sunset tonight at Doheny Beach with friends. LML...

Serendipity

I created this blog (or revamped the one I had) after midnight last night, so essentially, today, August 31, 2012. After I was at work this morning, I took out today's Daily Word and the lesson for today - I swear - is "I Love My Life" - can you believe that? Talk about meant to be... Serendipity! Which is one of the movies Liz kept bugging me to see - for years! Yes, we finally watched it together a couple years back and yes, I completely fell in love with it. I'm sure she had a hand in today's events :)

"I have been strengthened by challenge, broken open in crisis, and sustained through it all by God within. ...I have been blessed by friends and family as we've lived through times of joy and (great) sorrow. For every loss I've grieved, I have been blessed by a time of love. I have no regrets. I love my life!"

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life."
-Psalm 23:6

For Sale for the Cure: Bears, Notecards, Cookbooks, and Cool Downz

Love My Life items for sale! Now I have the ability to showcase all the wonderful items I have available for sale with proceeds going to fight blood cancers; to find a cure for Hodgkin's Lymphoma! All proceeds will go toward my fundraising with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society via Team in Training. Direct link to TNT Fundraiser is also available now.

Each item will be in the drop down menu of the PayPal option on the right called Love My Life items for sale. Thank you.

 8 Love My Life Bears left; do you know the story behind "Love My Life"? See my fundraising page for the full story. $11.50/bear

 4 Boxes of notecards left. These cards are made from the original art Liz painted for me (story top left of Blog); 25 blank notecards/envelops. $25/box

 Many available. Cooking Up A Cure II. Recipes from every day people like you/me. Cover design is same art by Liz. $10/each

 2 Cool Downz left. These are GREAT in the heat, and though it may be cooling down, when you're training, you get hot, even when it's cool (though it hasn't been cool enough yet). $10/each. Both are the American Flag.

Announcing the Inaugural Love My Life (virtual) 5K!

I am SO excited about this and hope you will be too! Please feel free to share. I'm not even sure how to begin, but borrowing another teammate's great idea (thank you Cara) I bring you the first annual (virtual) Love My Life 5K!

What is the Love My Life (virtual) 5K? Well, it's an event for those of you who want the medal but don't want to (or can't) do the 5k (a 5K is 3.1 miles). BUT... this one is special and I hope to make it an annual event. It's to celebrate the life of our Liz, but also celebrate our lives, to love and embrace this wonderful gift we wake up to every day (even when they are rough) ~ life!

Proceeds will benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society via Team in Training where I am training to complete a full marathon in Dublin, Ireland (yes, Ireland) on October 29, 2012 and then the Tinker Bell Half right here at hometown Disneyland on January 13, 2013.

What is virtual? Well, it means that technically, there is no race so it's anytime you want it to be or works for you, but officially, it is Tuesday, October 16, 2012 (Liz's Angel Date). You can go out and run around the block, walk or run the 3.1 miles anywhere you want, or just sit on the couch and know you contributed to a good cause in the name of a wonderful young woman, my sister, Liz.

My hope is to grow this into an actual, real live, 5k every year on her Angel Date to remind us to Love Our Lives, and to raise awareness and money to find a cure for Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

Every participant will receive a finisher's medal personally designed by me to display proudly:) Here is a sneak preview of the art and I hope to have the actual medal posted soon.

This year, it falls on a Tuesday, and though it is virtual, anyone who wants to meet me at Yorba Regional that morning (time TBD, but early) to walk or run the 3.1 miles with me in Liz's honor (or any portion of it) is MORE than welcome and encouraged!

I hope you like the art and are ready to register because Registration IS open! Registration will be open through September 28, 2012. Your medal will be mailed to you in time for you to have it by race day.

To order just click on the PayPal Buy Button to the right (top right). If you don't have PayPal you'll still be able to buy using your debit/credit card using that link. If you have any questions, send me a message at lovemylife4liz@aol.com

Thank you...Shellee a.k.a. Sissy

 

More About LoveMyLife4Liz

It's been 10 and 1/2 months since I lost my baby sister, Liz, to Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I cannot even begin to describe what that feels like, or what we've gone through these past ten months. Some days I'm not sure how we made it this far. There's really too much to say so I'll just start with why I started this blog. I really started it to have a place to showcase an exciting fundraiser I'm about to launch to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through their Team in Training program (click on the Lollipop Love photo). I am training to finish a marathon in Dublin, Ireland on October 29th in memory of Liz. Our brother, Sean, is going with me to be my cheerleader (as Liz always was) and help me celebrate the life of a beautiful young woman who didn't get to travel the world as she so wanted. She did get to do a lot of things, and she certainly embraced life in a manner that left it's mark on so many, and for that, we are grateful.

She was an inspiration to Live and Love Life; embrace and be thankful for each moment. Chew with your mouth open! LOL, that's what she told our mom; because then you can more fully experience the flavors. She loved to cook and was a natural.

Grief is not something you can scurry through, or skip.  The only way to the other side, is through it, and it is not an easy journey. However, I am learning that it provides the opportunity to dig down deep and touch a part of yourself you didn't know existed. You never get over it, and each journey is unique, but you can get through it (right now I'm just going on blind Faith for that one:>).

I wish I had started this a long time ago, but it's never too late. I don't really know what this will become, but I intend to grow her Love My Life motto into her legacy, and through it, raise awareness, and money to find a cure for Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

Stay tuned for something exciting...