The Ending of the #SharingStreak

The #sharingstreak was so much fun wasn't it? Over $690 was raised in 10 days! Incredible! Families lives will be changed forever! I am so blown away by the generosity and by the stories that were shared here.

Also--
it was incredible the amount of stories that came out in the news and on my Facebook feed during those ten days of incredible heartache, loss and joy through cancer, sickness, research and triumphs. My heart has been so tender to the ups and downs of others through this process. Wanting to hear and see what others are going through tends to make you more attentive! WHO KNEW?!

With that, on my anniversary...my sweet husband was chopping up some firewood in our front yard and ended up accidentally putting an axe (actually a mawl) into the top of his foot. We threw our kids at our neighbors, called a friend (Thanks AMY NOLL!) to come and grab them whenever she could and we went Urgent Care. Matt sliced through a part of a tendon and needed 12 stitches but it could have been soooo much worse (like losing a toe so much worse). We were thankful!

But his mobility was drastically reduced.  He was limited to the couch for a few days and he was in a pretty good amount of pain.

I realized that I am not the most patient caregiver in the world. I tried.
I really did.

Because I really wanted to be nice, thoughtful, caring, giving, LOVING.
But I got over it.

Quick.
And I like help. I like not doing life on my own. And I like my husband doing the things that I hate doing.

And when he wasn't doing them, I got grumpy. And not so servant-like. And I was sorta annoyed that he put the axe in his foot. I was blaming him. FOR AN ACCIDENT! In case you are wondering, I am an awesome wife. Everyone should want to be married to me.

UGHHHHHH.

The reality of what it takes to go through life with a terminal illness hit me like a ton of bricks and I saw what a brat I was. So I tried again. And I failed again. I asked for forgiveness. And I tried again.

Then it hit me, this is really why people need a vacation from THEIR PROBLEMS (like Bob says in What About Bob). Because caregiving (even with Jesus by your side) is hard dang work.

Now Matt is up and about and totally fine and we are back to normal. It has taken all of 11 days out of our lives. That is nothing! I have a hard time imagining 9 months, 16 months, 3 years. The rest of your days together.

And I am so glad to get to run to give this time to these families. Thank you to all of my supporters who have donated and those of you who have read. I am nearly 1/2 way to my goal. Feel free to donate and help me get there! I won't make you share!

Click here to donate! 

Day 6: #SharingStreak Amy Noll

Amy Noll with her Grandpa Whitworth who fought with the Marines in Okinowa and earned the Purple Heart. Amy is also running with Inheritance of Hope in the Marine Corps Marathon! 

Many of you know my deep friendship with Amy Noll as documented through my blog and well--LIFE.

She is one of my closest friends and I can't imagine life without her. She, along with my other bestie Jenn ran that NYC Marathon last year with Inheritance of Hope. Amy has signed up AGAIN with IOH in the Marine Corps Marathon. She is ALSO fundraising but donated to ME. What a friend!

So here is her #sharingstreak story:

Who- My Opa,  Lloyd Whitworth.

Why-  He joined the Marine Corps when he was 17 and fought in World War 2. He received a Purple Heart for injuries he sustained during the Okinawa Campaign during WW2 while serving with the 6th Marine Division.

While he was technically my 'step-grandpa' I never knew the difference. He was a quiet man but was the hardest worker I have ever known. He also loved to hunt and was an excellent marksman. He passed away in January of this year at the age of 89 and there is definitely a hole in all of our hearts with the loss. My youngest brother, John, when he was in high school used to volunteer his weekends to participate in WW2 reenactments near our hometown in Texas in which Opa would go. It was a family affair. While Opa never talked much about when he was in the Marines, he certainly stood a little taller and walked a little prouder when he would go to the reenactments. 

Where I find peace through trying times- Definitely Jesus. His fingerprints are all over my life and I cannot deny how much he loves and cares for me. And also nature. Mountains in particular. All my cares and stress just melt away.

How- In my short 25 years my family has experienced several intense close losses and looking back we  have been cared for every step of the way. 

Quote-my favorite right now- I have two... "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."     -Theodore Roosevelt  

'Nature desires us to hear and see the great story of God's love to which it points.' -Henri Nouwen

Pump up song- anything Pitbull. Most notably 'Don't Stop The Party.' Cause it's fun to run to.

Just a reminder about what the #sharingstreak is all about: I am fundraising for families with terminal illnesss for the charity Inheritance of Hope for the Marine Corps Marathon. 

For time period between Memorial Day and 4th of July, I am running at least a mile a day. I am asking for donations to IOH and will share the stories of the donors on my blog. The stories can be stories of hope through cancer, loss, or of military service ideally. 

If you would like to make a donation, that can be done here-----> Inheritance of Hope. 

Day 5: #SharingStreak Amy Berry

Amy Berry's Grandfather Fred Cushing Jr. and her girls the last time they saw him alive. 

Amy Berry is a dear friend who works with me here in Asheville on the Young Life staff. We run hard in life together in Asheville since we have kids that are similar ages and we love to laugh at exactly the same things.

Amy's husband Phil is the director of Camp Ridgecrest for Boys where Asher has spent two weeks of the summer for the last three years AND HE LOVES IT LIKE WHOA. 

We love the Berry's and are so grateful for their friendship.

Late last year, Amy's grandfather and the patriarch of her family passed away and it affected her deeply. She is honoring him with a donation to Inheritance of Hope and with today's post. 

Who- My grandpa- Fred Cushing, Jr.

Why- He died in November at the age of 96 and was just an incredible man- great father, grandfather, great-grandfather, business man, World War 2 veteran, loving husband and super sharp to the end.  He was a lover of learning and reading and the outdoors.

Where I find peace through trying times- Jesus and my family have helped me through my hardest times; 

How- knowing that my Hope is in Jesus and his death on the Cross and life with me now

Quote- my favorite right now: “We spend most of our lives trying to make things happen for ourselves and for the people we love. But life is not reduced to what you give or know or achieve. Nor is it reduced to your mistakes, your failures, or your sin. Life isn’t even defined by whom you love. Rather, it is defined by the God who loves you. In other words, you are not the central character—not even of your own life’s story. This is not meant to demean you; it is meant to set you free.”  From Sacred Thirst by M. Craig Barnes

And this from the Bible- Job 26:14And these are but the outer fringe of his works;

how faint the whisper we hear of him!

Who then can understand the thunder of his power?

Pump up song- phew....that's hard.  Really any Whitney Houston song like "One Moment in Time" or Mumford & Sons "Roll Away Your Stone" or "Let's Go" by Trick Daddy (that's pretty varied I'd say)

*I love that those are her pump up songs. That sounds just like me! 

This is the final donation so far! I am running every day and I would love to run and pray for you and your family. I would love to post and share tomorrow about someone in your life! MAKE A DONATION TODAY! 

Click here to make a donation to Inheritance of Hope and join in the #SharingStreak!

If you are wondering what Inheritance of Hope is all about and what kind of impact it is making: Here is a blog post from a family that JUST came back from a retreat. Inheritance of Hope is all about leaving a legacy and changing lives. Creating hope and hope for the future. It is REAL! 

Day 1: #SharingStreak Ri Lamb

(top L)Me wearing my fathers 1982 Marine Corps Marathon shirt, (top R) my father in a foxhole in Korea, (bottom L) my parents looking super dapper at a formal military gathering, (bottom R) my Father's Change of Command Ceremony when he was the Commander of the 25th Transportation Corps in Seoul, South Korea. PRETTY AWESOME HUH?

Person you want to honor:

My husband Don. Served in the Army for 36 years. We have lived in twenty-something places together in his military career. 

Why are you honoring them? 

He is my hero. I can always trust him. He has given his life for our country and I can't imagine life without him. He is always encouraging me. He is so faithful and trusting. 

Who has helped you the most to find strength through trying times? 

Besides my husband--My children, my mother, my grandmother. And Jesus. 

How?

Having a strong faith...whenever we moved--having a strong faith gave me the ability to see how somethings would never change no matter where we were. Being an Episcopal, I knew that my parents were saying the same prayers and reading the same Scriptures I was even if I was half-way across the world. 

When my sister-in-law died, it gave me great comfort to go to a church in California and to know the service to find the same prayers and Scriptures that we have at home. It was peaceful at a time of grief. 

Favorite quote:

"Love one another as I have loved you"

Something you want others to know/be inspired by/find hope in today:

I love your running! I am inspired by the way you have run for charity. Particularly for Inheritance of Hope. By how persistently you train. How you have encouraged your children and friends. It's infectious. 

Here's a fun quote "When you find yourself spending more time worrying about your body odor than you spend on God's call for your life, then it is time to reexamine your priorities." --Bishop Scott Benhase 

What is your pump up song? 

Sweet Caroline and Forever in Blue Jeans--Neil Diamond

Want to join in the Sharing Streak? 

Leslie Sloan Inheritance of Hope Page