3-Day Update

Note: I just sent this out via email, but I'm trying to make sure EVERYONE is covered! Walked 8.36 miles tonight and am icing my heel as I type. 27 more days to go! My goal is to personally raise about $10,000 -- I just lack $1700 more!
- d.

Hello!

Just wanted to update everyone on our Breast Cancer 3-Day progress. I am blown away by the support we've had from everyone this year. I have 3-Day "treats" for everyone that has donated this year and will be getting those out in the next couple of weeks. They will be small reminders for each of you to keep our 3-Day team in your prayers over the next few weeks.

If you haven’t made your donation yet, it’s not too late. Just go to www.the3day.org/dallas07/teamtiara and choose a team member that has not reached the $2200 mark yet. Shannon Watson, Robin Rosa and Amy Martin, are especially in need of help with their fundraising.

To date, we have "officially" raised over $23,000 -- although our actual amount is somewhere closer to $25,000. We still have $12,000 to go, so please pray that everyone on our team reaches the $2200 minimum; that the brave women on our team are successful in their fundraising.

For those of you in the Dallas area, we are in the midst of planning a get-together for Thursday, October 25. It looks like the location will be the Double Dave's in Allen. I'll get finalized info to you later, but please put it on your calendar. We'd love to have you come celebrate with us the night before the walk!

The incredibly talented Chris ter Kuile, a friend of mine from The Branch, has designed our team T-shirts for us. If you'll be meeting us at Double Dave's or a cheering station along the way, you'll want one! They can be ordered online at www.cafepress.com/teamtiara You're also welcome to order a team T-shirt to wear the last weekend in October -- even if you live in Timbuktu! We know you'll be thinking of us!

T-Shirt orders will need to be placed by October 9 or 10 to guarantee delivery for the 3-Day.

Here are a couple more announcements I've been asked to pass along:Calling all scouts, stomp dance troupes, canoe clubs, sky-writing pilots, marching bands, pinwheel artists, cheerleading squads, kite enthusiasts, pink motor scooter operators, and local entertainers! Special on-event opportunities are now available. Get your youth or adult community groups involved today! Please direct anyone interested in special on-event opportunities to email Jen Hagan at jhagan@event360.com.

You've got mail!

We all need a little inspiration from time to time - especially when you're walking 60 miles! Spread the word to your friends and family that they can send mail to 3-Day Walkers to be picked up on the event at the 3-Day Camp Post Office. Their words of wisdom, support, and encouragement will, without doubt, restore energy, brighten spirits, and carry tired walkers through those final miles.

Only letters will be accepted - no boxes or packages.

Letters must be postmarked no later than October 12 to ensure delivery at the 3-Day Camp Post Office.

Mail all letters to:

3-Day Camp Post Office
C/O the participant's name
PMB 319
5100 Eldorado Parkway Suite 102
McKinney, TX 75070-9127

Thanks for supporting us in this cause. Someday, I want to be able to tell my grandchildren that together we found a cure for Breast Cancer -- that they won't ever have to worry about it. Many Blessings!
DLyn

Prayer Request for Miss Abbie

Hello All!
Abbie has been tested for the GT program at her elementary school, and they're looking over her evaluation. Please pray that she's accepted into the program. We will hopefully know something soon.

Oh, and you'll all be glad to know she scored TWO goals in today's soccer game! Pictures posted soon!

Thanks!
- d.

3-Day info. for Team Tiara's "Jewels"

Are you one of Team Tiara's Jewels? (Supporters / cheerleaders?) Even if you aren't going to be in Dallas to cheer us on personally, you can purchase our Team T-shirts at www.cafepress.com/teamtiara. If you want to use economy shipping, you need to order your shirts by October 9 to guarantee they'll get to you in time. (That's Biggsy's Birthday!)

Here's some more info:

Calling all scouts, stomp dance troupes, canoe clubs, sky-writing pilots, marching bands, pinwheel artists, cheerleading squads, kite enthusiasts, pink motor scooter operators, and local entertainers! Special on-event opportunities are now available. Get your youth or adult community groups involved today! Please direct anyone interested in special on-event opportunities to email Jen Hagan at jhagan@event360.com.

You've got mail! We all need a little inspiration from time to time - especially when you're walking 60 miles! Spread the word to your friends and family that they can send mail to 3-Day Walkers to be picked up on the event at the 3-Day Camp Post Office. Their words of wisdom, support, and encouragement will, without doubt, restore energy, brighten spirits, and carry tired walkers through those final miles.

Only letters will be accepted - no boxes or packages.-

Letters must be postmarked no later than October 12 to ensure delivery at the 3-Day Camp Post Office.

Mail all letters to:
3-Day Camp Post Office
C/O the participant's name
PMB 319
5100 Eldorado Parkway Suite 102
McKinney, TX 75070-9127

Well-Rested

Hey!

I tried to post picture earlier this week, but no dice. Hopefully they'll work this time. We had a great trip. Since this is the off-season, it really felt like we had the place to ourselves. We rented a Hummer for the weekend, which was pretty cool. Gas-guzzling, but cool.

These pictures are mostly from the mountain we hiked up -- twice. It's over 4.5 miles one-way, climbing over 3000 vertical feet. The first time (Friday morning), it was tough. The second, it was jello-leg-inducing. But it felt like a huge achievement. I iced my heel each night -- no problems. Thank goodness!

As you can see, the aspens are turning right now -- I had the best time taking pictures!

Here's the Man from Snowy River riding Friday afternoon. Our visit to 4 Eagle Ranch was a "breakthrough moment" for Biggs -- he's really a lot more confident about riding now!

And here he is visiting with an old friend we ran into in Vail....

We also rented mountain bikes on Saturday. After we hiked up the Berrypicker trail, we rode the Gondola down, had lunch, then rode the Gondola back up with our bikes. Then, we rode those down. About the only thing that got a workout on that trip was my hand brake. I think they may have needed to replace it once we were done!

We're back, well-rested and glad to be home. Busy week this week -- I'm reading to Abbie's class on Friday. Next week we have teacher conferences for both girls. Is that where they tell us Abbie & Kait are geniuses??

Ya'll have a great week!

Love ya,

d.

A Much-Needed Vacation

Hello From Vail!!!!!

Since yesterday was our 10th anniversary, Biggsy whisked me away to Vail for the weekend. I'm loving it!!! We got here about 5:00 yesterday afternoon, had dinner.... It was great. Got up really early this morning -- before most of the cafes were even open. We hiked up to the Gondola and rode back down. It was a little over 4 miles and in that time we climbed 3000 vertical feet. I whined some, but it was great. The aspens are turning up here, and it's absolutely beautiful.

This afternoon we rode for about 2 hours at one of the ranches nearby. That was great as well. We rode with another couple from South Carolina -- they were on their honeymoon. So that was kind of fun.

We're up here till Sunday, then headed home. I'll post pix as soon as I get home!!!

Love ya,
d.

Whew....

This has been one of those weekends that we're glad will be over soon -- so we can rest up. YIKES. Have we ever been busy.

Kaitlyn's 5th birthday is tomorrow -- we had her party Friday night. We had about 15 girls and Kodie over here for the party. We cut out chocolate chip cookies and decorated them. Each of the girls went home with a decorated apron and cookie cutters. Kaitlyn was so cute opening her presents -- every gift was something she had "always wanted." It was fun to watch. Here are a couple of pictures of the girls. Note the Birthday Princess hat that we've been using FOREVER.

And check out our "toothless wonder" -- Abbie. She's lost six teeth so far. I hear the tooth fairy may need to file for Chapter 11!

Both the girls had soccer games yesterday. Because the girls are playing at different locations, Biggs and I are having to utilize the divide & conquer approach. So here are a couple of picture of Kait on the soccer field. I'll post a couple of Abbie when I can.

After the games yesterday we went to the Rice / Tech game. Rice got whipped. But it was fun. And it's kind of neat getting to do some of the Lettermen stuff with Biggs -- free lunch, parking space with our name on it, taking the girls on the field for the victory line before the game, cookies in the "R" room at halftime.... And it's always fun to see old friends there. The Tech fans were out in full force -- I think they have the best tailgate parties around. They were rather subdued yesterday. I think it may have been because they don't see Rice as a threat. I don't know. But they were nowhere near as crazy as when they play A&M.

Today we checked out yet another new church -- we're getting good at visiting. We know the drill: Get there early. Check in the kids. Check out the donut selection. Get the welcome bag.... You get the drift. The church we went to today is one I drive by four times a day on the way to Kait's school. It's Cypress Bible Church. They use the same curriculum for the kids that The Branch uses -- so it was kind of like visiting an old friend. Their program isn't called Big Time, and the characters have different names. But the themes, music, etc are the same. What a huge gift to spend time there today.

I'm not sure if it's the church for us or not. They seem to have an older average age than most of the churches we've been to. They've got a full-fledge choir (minus the robes) and this really hip granny that's about 80-something singing in it.

This afternoon we had Biggs' company picnic. That was fun -- but hot. The girls got to ride ponies -- but I'm afraid they thought it was a bit lame. The ponies were on leads and were walked around a pen. They made a parent walk alongside (Abbie made it very clear she didn't need us there.) The girls also got to ride in a canoe with Biggs.

I've been sitting here typing this with my foot in ice water. YIKES. I'm a wimp. I walked about 6 miles tonight -- the longest I've done since going to the doctor. My foot is getting better, but slowly. I find it really hard not to push myself too much -- but with the 3-Day coming up in just six weeks, I don't really feel I have much choice other than to push myself.

Our big news for this week: On Thursday Biggs and I will celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary! Can ya'll believe it's been 10 years??? He's whisking me off to Vail to celebrate. I can't wait! Just going somewhere cooler sounds incredible. Of course, it's cooled off a lot here the last few days. It's not exactly crisp when I take the girls to the bus stop in the mornings, but it isn't too bad.

So that's the news for this week. Among our prayer requests this week: Prayers of praise that my cousin Major Gary Lloyd is on his way home from Iraq. Praise that the lump my friend Suzi had removed from her breast was benign. Praise for my dear friend Nancy who was baptized this morning in San Antonio. AND we sold our house in McKinney on Friday!!!! Yea God!!!

Ya'll have a wonderful week!

Love ya,

d.

Square Head??

Last night at dinner....

Biggs: Kaitlyn, you get the square piece of lasagna.
Abbie: Kaitlyn, that’s because your head is a little bit square.

I have no idea....

Life in the Sloooooow Lane....

That's me. I saw a real, live podiatrist today. AND I got a REALLY big shot in my right heal. The doctor said to take it easy for three days, and then for the next four days I'll be allotted a whopping 1-mile training walk each day. I go back in a week for a follow-up -- but in the meantime, I get to sleep in one of those really cool boots that keeps your foot at a 90 degree angle. Oh yeah. Stylin'.

It reminds me of the time one of our show steers (I think it was Champ) drug me down and messed up my arm / shoulder. I had to wear a sling for a week or so, so Mom decorated it with a rhinstone heart -- courtesy of the Ronco rhinestone setter she had for our twirling outfits. (Yes, I was a twirler!)

I've really been missing her this week -- it's not that I don't miss her every day, but this week has been tough. I had wanted her to help me make doll clothes for the girls this Christmas. I'm not about to spend $100 on an American Girl Doll that I'm not even sure they'll play with. But the look-alikes at Target aren't that bad. And I've started making clothes for them. At first I thought they'd be from THE MAN. But after I've gotten into it, I'm realizing I really want the credit and Mommy-love that's going to come from this. So I'm thinking THE MAN is going to have to come up with his own gift.

Anyway, Mom and I had this great system that worked for us for years. With the exception of 4-H projects where I had to do all the work (and believe me, it had to be perfect!), we found out the assembly line worked really well for us. I'd cut out, she'd sew, and then I'd do the handwork. So Tuesday night as I stayed up cutting out little nightgowns and Christmas-print PJ's, I kept wishing she was here to hand them off to. It's just not as fun as I had originally imagined.

Our trip to Fluvanna this weekend, however, was a lot of fun -- I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out. M'Lys, A'Lise and I did a lot of sorting and cleaning. We started by putting pretty much everything from my bedroom closet and those closets at the end of the hall into the middle of the bed in my old bedroom. It only took us all day Saturday to get it cleaned off. Definitely a trip down memory lane. I found all these old diaries that I'd kept through high school. Kate Po., Kate Ph.... If ya'll are out there I seriously have no idea how we all got through high school without someone pushing me off Gail Mountain. Geez Louise.... Drama, drama, drama.....

(BTW, Kate Ph -- I just bought a pair of pants at Academy. Made by Nike. Biggs calls them my Parachute Pants. You should check them out -- finally a chance to get a pair! They're not Nylon stuff, but they've got lots of pockets....)

Saturday morning was just like Christmas. About the time we'd gotten up and finished breakfast and gotten started cleaning, the hunters started coming in. Some of my favorite people on Earth -- it was hard to not start boo-hooing right there. Randy and Braden, along with Randy's 91-year-old Dad, Truman. (How many 91-year-old men can say they got their limit on Opening Day?) Kirby & Colt. (Lynn came down that evening to eat dinner with us at The Shack.) Wes. Anthony. Alan and Kodie. Pete. Jimmy. Holly. Randy brought me a framed picture he'd shot from the Gin House at Sunrise. It's gorgeous.

Abbie has been begging to hunt with Biggs. We've always said she wasn't old enough. But Saturday evening when Terry showed up with Brantley and Abby Marie, we knew it was hopeless. There was no keeping her at the house. So we fished out her brown Ogle T-shirt and crammed her flaming red hair up under a camouflage cap and sent her out in Kirby's rig. She had a blast! When she came back covered in dove guts, she declared that cleaning the birds was her favorite part! I'm sure!

Sunday morning the girls and I drove to Lubbock to hear surprise the McCalls and hear Brent preach. If you're ever in the Lubbock area, I highly recommend you pay them a visit. The worship service was incredible, and Brent was spot-on with his sermon. They're at Raintree Christian on 82nd, between Indiana and Quaker. I promise you'll be glad you went. Paige always gives the best hugs.... And my kids think she rocks. It's awesome having friends that love you like that!

Guess that's all the news that's fit to print. Sorry it's so long, but I haven't had much of a chance to write this week. As I close, I do have a few prayer requests....

Laquita Daniel is at MD Anderson this week -- she's facing breast cancer for the second time with an inoperable tumor behind her breast bone -- and chemo isn't working.

My friend Suzi (my age!) found a lump this week and is seeing a surgeon / oncologist next week.

My Uncle Ray had his right leg amputated about mid-way down his shin last week, after years and years of pain and several staph infections. You know, when we saw him on Sunday... I'd swear he looked 15 years younger!

We have a contract on our house in McKinney, but they're supposed to get funding by midnight tonight or they may drop it. This is our second set of buyers -- please pray they get funding. It would be so good to get this off our backs.

The Branch (where we went to church in Dallas) is launching their North Site this weekend. I've heard they have people coming out of the woodwork to be a part of it. Please pray God's protection on the leadership of The Branch, particularly Chris as he drives back and forth to preach at both locations.

Hope you're having a great weekend -- if you're ready to sign up for the 2008 3-Day, you can do so at http://www.the3day.org/! (I'm not stopping till we find a CURE!)

Hugs,

d.

Ya'll Have GOT to Read This!

This is the funniest thing I've read in awhile!
- d.

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