Happy Easter (1Week Late...)

I hope all my wonderful readers had a very blessed Easter! I was quite busy around Easter, and didn't have a chance to post, and wanted to make a bit longer post, so I thought I'd wait a week!
This is the first Easter in the last two years that I haven't been on treatment, which is a huge blessing! This Easter I was filled with so much awe and gratitude for where God has brought me in this year.  Just recollecting a year ago...I was blessed to receive beautiful Easter baskets from the oncology ward, and feel the wonderful love of so many medical professionals.  I was in the midst of my BMT, and pretty sick! A year later, I'm at the tail ending of completing my third semester of college and nearing my 1 year scans! All day, I was just filled with so many thoughts of where I had been a year ago, and how much God had blessed me to allow me my life and to be with my family.

For those of you who don't know the true meaning of Easter, I can assure you it has nothing to do with bunnies and eggs! While bunnies and eggs give us some fun things to enjoy on this special holiday, there is so much more to the Easter story. 
Easter would not be possible without Good Friday, the day we remember Jesus Christ's death on the cross.  An innocent man, he was falsely accused and sentenced to death, to bear the punishment for our sins.  While many may wonder why is Jesus is God he didn't save himself, the Bible states that he choose to die for us.  How special to know that someone loved me and you enough to take away the punishment we so justly deserve! If Jesus had stayed dead, that would put him on the same platform as Buddha or Mohammed or St. Peter, or any one else.  Easter is the celebration of his coming to life again, which makes him God.  Without his resurrection, we wouldn't have a living savior to serve.

This Easter I was able to more appreciate his resurrection, than last Easter when I was focused more on his sufferings.  I'm so grateful to have had an absolutely beautiful day to spend with dear friends and my family!

Relay for Life follow-up

Thank you to my amazing Relay for Life team! Here is our team, by the numbers:

 

5th overall, out of 64 teams

25 official members, but many extras who helped out

$2347.57

$255-raised by Alex Bowers (the most raised by an individual on our team)

$16.35-raised by "Mr. Jug" at the Penny Wars

$91.58-raised by our three Mr. "Miss Relay" contestants- Cody George, T.J. Sae-Kho, and Matt Frantz

$307.64-raised by our on-site fundraisers-walking tacos and sale items

$545-received through our win of the "Luminaria Award" for bringing in the most new sponsors!

Plus all our donated tickets and merchandise!

 

Our cute little clowns with our beautiful team sign created by Rachel

Serving up a Walking Taco

The set-up, start-up, and encouragement team

Dan dunking Jess Miller from our team; the champion dunkee, she got dunked eight times during her 15minuted time slot!

Survivor Ceremony.  Survivors were invited to share their name, cancer and years in remission; we were also asked to walk the opening lap and kick off Relay 2014, as well as walk a survivor and caregiver lap after the ceremony!

Eliza and Ruth

Luminaria Lanterns line the track, honoring and remembering those who've fought cancer.

SOME...of the team! Many more to come later through the long night!
 Includes Noelle Weiser, Eliza Jacops, David Royak, Sharon Bernard, and Jess Miller

Themed laps through the evening! Crazy hat lap with Sharon and Jess, and 3-Legged Race with Noelle!

The Cakewalk-similar to musical chairs, but the winner gets the cake!
Ruth and Dad played, with Ruth winning a huge tray of cupcakes!

Survived cancer, now surviving and thriving cancer! At the beautiful survivor and caregiver ceremony, it was fun to meet other college cancer survivors!

Group shot with Craig, David and Eliza.  Pretty sure the guys are laughing at the girls...

R-Eliza doing the nerd/geek lap
L-Cody George and Matt Frantz ready for the Mr. "Miss Relay" pageant lap!
Matt was laughing a little hard at Cody, so he found himself in a dress as well...

Relay was a very long night, but so much fun! UAkron Relay raised more than $48000 to support the American Cancer Society! Also, a special thanks to Sharon Bernard and Alexandra Bowers for staying up most of the night with me, and to Alexandra and Ean Dickerhoof for coming back after only a few hours of sleep to help pack up and clean up!

 

 

Relay for Life!

Hello Friends,

This year I am captain of our Honors College Relay for Life team! I'm so excited to help out with this awesome event, which helps raise money for the American Cancer Society (ACS).  ACS provides so many materials and services to support cancer fighters, survivors, and caregivers, and we are trying to make sure they can continue to make these available for free.  Please check out my personal team page, and help our team if you are able!

For those of you local readers, please come out to the Relay for Life at the University of Akron, this Saturday, at 4PM-7AM Sunday morning! Our team will be selling walking tacos and Starbucks drinks, have an awesome auction and raffle, and have fun games you can play!

Here is a brief look at some of our prizes and auction items...a HUGE Thank You to all the gracious sponsors and donors!

Blossom Music Center (2 tickets)
Great Lakes Science Center (4 tickets)
Lake Erie Monsters (2 tickets)
Akron Symphony Orchestra (2 tickets)
E.J. Thomas Mama Mia! Gift Basket (2 tickets + CD)
UA Alumni Association (gift basket)
Chenoweth Golf Course (4some 18+Cart)
UA Campus Book Store (gift basket)
Insomnia Cookies (donation day)
Mustard Seed Market (gift cards)
Acme Fresh Market (gift card)
Sam's Club (gift card)
Downtown Akron Partnership (Downtown Akron Passports)
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (4 tickets)
Akron Rubber Ducks (2 tickets)
UA's Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society
UA's Society of Women Engineers
Tiffany's Bakery (cake)

And all our donors!