Merry Christmas from Jake!

 Merry Christmas from Jake!

Howdy, Y'all! This is Jake. I'm kind of in the dog house. Literally. Yesterday I ate Mom's Vera Bradley purse. It was tasty.

Abbie Grayce was baptized on Christmas Day 2011! In 2012, Kait got braces. Team Tiara's goal is raising $100,000 for Breast Cancer Metastasis Research. "Keep calm and _______." Biggs to D'Lyn: You know, I wonder what you do sometimes. Godspeed, Uncle Don. Be Sweet. Jones cousins taught us Chinese. Abbie's DI Team, The Nerd Herd, won the the DaVinci Award and 1st at Regionals, qualifying for the State contest in Corpus! Have a Very Nerdy Christmas! "It's a Tiara! A Tiara! I'm a Princess, and I have a Tiara!" Abbie & Kait played on FSA's Rice Owls softball teams. Biggs coached. The garage freezer died while Biggs was in Asia. We lost Bellville sausage, Omaha steaks and Matagorda redfish. Abbie got contacts. I am a cancer Survivor thanks to my new vet in Navasota! My family went skiing with the Long family in Park City. I went to the spa -- again. Kait learned to snowboard. D'Lyn got run down and slid 50 yards down the mountain on her tummy, spread-eagle, picking up speed. Nertz! Abbie played with the Sandlot Sox and CFGAA Angels. The new boathouse at the Creek is The Bomb. The jet-ski dock is SWEET! Abbie was a frog in the 5th grade play, Eleanor Roosevelt for wax museum, and graduated from Keith Elementary with a clap-out. The Kid-Pitch Rice Owls won the Championship! Abbie & Kait made All-Stars. Kait got her ears pierced. Cy-Ranch State Baseball Champs! Pie Sampler at Royers'. Kait went to Tanglewood, and Jesus touched her heart. Vacation at the Creek, 6,352,218,354:1 -- The mosquito to human ratio in Sargent. Fishing with Captain Gene! Nertz! Abbie & D'Lyn went to Jr. High camp at Tanglewood and spent time with church family from The Branch. "Wouldn't it be cool if pants were made out of cheese?" Kait went to ACU leadership Camp and now wants to go to college at Rice, A&M and ACU. Bluebell Red Velvet Ice Cream. Abbie got a Phone! Road Trip! Storms, Scurry County Rodeo, the Mule in Muleshoe, Old Fort Sumner & Billy the Kid's Grave. Abbie spent two weeks at Camp Blue Haven chasing bears -- again. "Pine trees tall, waterfall. Blue skies canopied o'er me!" Kait & D'Lyn went to the lake with the Taylors. Kait learned to surf. D'Lyn wake boarded! Call Me Maybe? We ate at Chick-fil-A. D'Lyn met Katie Stanko. For real. "If your bladder is the size of a peanut, does that mean the actual peanut? Or the shell?" Splashway! Rooster's and Orange Leaf! Kait's 4th grade teachers are Mrs. Loving and Mrs. Loveless -- no joke. Mimi made sure Abbie's middle school locker was all decked out. It's a Good Morning! A&M joined the SEC. Opening Weekend is the best! Abbie, Kenlee, Stephanie & D'Lyn never want to see wallpaper again. Kait played soccer for Team USA (Biggs coached) and Challenge. See You at the Pole had the best turn-out ever. Cypress City Snow -- butterscotch with cream and caramel. Shiner Prickly Pear. Not all Pinterest recipes are created equal. Kait turned 10 and celebrated with a skating party. Abbie played for the Houston Havoc and CFGAA Bandits. The Bandits were undefeated in CFGAA and were the Season Champs! Biggs and D'Lyn celebrated their 15th anniversary. Abs & Kait brought two pet lizards home from Splendora. "Get your lizards out of the kitchen." Pink with a Purpose. Team Tiara gave $25,000 to Dr. Jenny Chang with Methodist Hospital in Houston for Mets research and $5000 to The Rose to help women who don't have health insurance. Kait was baptized! Biggsy turned 40! Happy Happy Happy. Team Tiara raised over $100,000 for the DFW 3-Day for the CURE. The team has raised over $700,000 in seven years. Biggs got a speeding ticket in Louisiana. D'Lyn got her first speeding ticket in 20 years. Fuzzy's Tacos! Kait got her braces off! Abbie turned 12! The Fairfield HEB opened! A&M beat Bama. Abbie joined Bayou City CrossFire Softball. Forevermore, D'Lyn's birthday will be the week after Thanksgiving. We "Elf'd it up" to celebrate Abbie's birthday. The girls raided Pa's Oreo & ice cream stash. Rice is going Bowling. And Johnny Football Won the Heisman!!!

We hope you had a great 2012 and are wishing you a Fantabulous 2013!! May God Bless You!

Love, Jake & Co.

I'm Famous. Again.

Really. It's the craziest thing.

Our Church does Advent Conspiracy.  Advent Conspiracy is a movement calling us to proclaim Christ in how we celebrate Christmas. It calls us to:

Worship Fully -- It starts with Jesus and ends with Jesus. Entering Advent means entering a season with an overwhelming passion to worship Jesus to the fullest.

Spend Less -- Asking people to consider buying ONE LESS GIFT this Christmas.

Give More -- Take time to make a gift. Make love visible through relational giving.

Love All -- By spending less at Christmas we have the opportunity to join Jesus in giving resources to those who need it most.

We were introduced to Advent Conspiracy last year, our first year at Cy-Fair Christian Church.  I LOVED it.  We "Worshipped Fully" -- the music, especially singing Christmas carols, was incredible. 

I'll be honest and say I haven't mastered the "Spend Less" concept.  Don't know that I'll ever get that part down. 

As for "Give More" -- making candy trays is a tradition for me. But I wanted to do something more.  So I took the time to write about 150 thank you notes to people who had impacted my life -- and who had impacted the success of Team Tiara.

"Love All" -- we helped bring safe, clean drinking water to people who didn't have that resource.  Sure, we "wrote a check." That was the easy part. But the cool part was seeing Kaitlyn go door to door collecting over $100 in change so she could help.

We were blessed.

Fast-Forward to 2012.....

I didn't really have a "Plan" going into The Season this year.  Basically, I was worn out.  It just seemed like this entire year has been a beating.  Last spring the girls were on a total of five softball teams -- at a time. We hopped teams after Abbie's tournament team caved, and that added more stress.  We hit summer -- and the highway -- with a bang.  Our house had a revolving door.  SOMEONE was at a camp SOMEWHERE almost every week -- but never both girls at the same time.  It was a constant battle against laundry and schedules.  And then we were back at it with Abs playing on two softball teams and Kait on two soccer teams.  That meant about 10 possible uniform combinations to keep up with.  It was too much.

Then.....

Karen Kingsbury's latest book The Bridge came out.  I have every one of Karen's books -- with the exception of the few I've loaned out that never came home -- and the entire Redemption series that burned up in Mary Jean's house fire, along with my American Girl patterns.  MAN.

The Bridge is the sweetest little book -- and has a message for just about everyone.  I loved it. It's an easy read.  It's a book that I was able to share with Abbie. 

One of the underlying themes of the book is that the little things we do for people can have a lasting impact -- THAT is something I know and believe 100%.

Through her Facebook page, Karen encouraged her readers to pass the book along to others, to share it with strangers, to purchase extra copies that would touch hearts. 

And then I came up with this little idea.... A way to spread the sheer joy I feel when I do my Acts of Random Kindness on Fridays. I'd share that feeling of joy with my friends.

I started with eight copies from Wal-Mart.  Then it was 10 ordered at half price on Amazon.  Then I cleaned out the Wal-Mart stock again.  And then cleaned out Sam's Club -- twice.  I'm honestly not sure how many copies of this sweet little book that I've given away.  (In fact, I'm a wee bit afraid to think about it too much.)

But here's the deal.... I've shared them with friends and family and people who have been incredible in the success of Team Tiara. I've shared them with people near and far.  With neighbors. With Kait's teachers at school. With friends who have had a tough go the last few years and who have been blessed by others' random acts of kindness.  With people who have given selflessly to me and to my family.  With people I know and love dearly, who I wanted to give the gift of Christ's love.  If I had all the money in the world, I'd send this out instead of Christmas cards. Really.

In each book, I've written "Live, Love & Pass it On -- Christmas 2012."  And I've included this letter taped inside the front cover:

I've also included a couple of gift cards to Sonic or Subway or Coldstone or Starbucks.  Nothing large -- usually $5-10.  Just something to brighten someone's day.  After I found a cute RACK'd design online, I started including that as well.  Just giving the gift of giving. 

The feedback has been kind of funny.  Some people haven't really "gotten it," I don't think -- but that's okay. Others have been touched. My darling mother-in-law sent me this:  

I passed the cards and the book on to several friends, one who is experiencing especially stressful times right now. She started reading The Bridge and said she was already "moved" by the content. Thanks for giving it to me. You are a precious young woman.

I liked that.  Made my heart happy.  I like a happy heart.

So.... I got this ball rolling.  And about the time I reached 20 books, I emailed Karen Kingsbury to share.  I wanted her to know her book was having an impact.

And it was.  You see, this is our fifth Christmas without my Mom.  And for some reason, I've really struggled this year.  Michael W. Smith's "Place in this World" has been rolling through my head for weeks. The pressure of where to go for Christmas, and how to celebrate and even where to stay was just a LOT this year.  At Christmas, it's just really hard to figure out my "Place."

BUT when you're D'Lupe Biggs, that odd combination of ADD, ADHD, OCD or whatever is SUCH a gift.  As I described it the other day, you want to do everything, and you want to do it all RIGHT NOW.  So... I got busy.  I got busy spreading books and love and my own Acts of Random Kindness. I gave a Subway gift card to a guy on a street corner and one to the girl at Starbucks. I left bags of chocolates in shopping carts at HEB -- all with cute little RACK'd tags. My fave?  The hot cocoa section at HEB had just about been cleaned out by a sale, so I left a cute little thermos mug thingy there with a Starbucks gift card.

I've had a blast with this. Again, nothing huge. Just a lot of little love being spread around the neighborhood. 

Then came last Friday.  While the rest of my friends and neighbors were glued to the TV, I was oblivious.  I was at Wal-Mart buying my candy-making supplies.  I  make at least 14 trays of candy each year to thank teachers, doctors, firemen -- all the people who make our little world go round.  I had FINALLY come up with a plan for Christmas, and I had FINALLY found my Christmas spirit.  I was ready. 

And then I came home. And then I heard the news. And it was rainy here all weekend. Abbie said God was crying -- and she was right.  And I cried. A lot.  And you can read yesterday's post for more on that....

BUT.... I kept going. NO WAY was I going to let that dude in Connecticut steal my joy.  No Way was I going to let him keep me from loving on everyone.  With the rain and humidity I couldn't make divinity or pralines, but still I hammered away. The girls helped.  We laughed and smiled and maybe licked our fingers -- but you'll just have to wonder about that.

Monday was spent delivering the candy trays.  Tuesday night I hosted my annual cookie exchange.  And then yesterday I set out for a day of Random Kindness like no other.  I carried this basket Amber had given me, stuffed to the gills with treats.  And a big smile. 

The smile was perhaps the most important part.  When you live in Houston, you don't just go approaching strangers.  And you're naturally wary when people approach you.  BUT yesterday was different. Yesterday was dedicated to Bryce.  Bryce's parents, Danny and Amanda, were friends of mine at A&M.  They're precious people -- you know, PRECIOUS people.  The kind of people you want to emulate. The kind of people you wish you could grow up to be.  AMAZING people.  They lost Bryce over Labor Day weekend in a car accident -- he was 13.  The strength and peace they have shown the last few months has been remarkable.

They live in Midland; I live in Houston. I couldn't be part of the Casserole Campaign. I can't leave treats on their doorstep.  I'm not there to hug them.  BUT I could dedicate yesterday's Acts of Random Kindness to Bryce -- and I did. And I'm telling you -- I had a BLAST.

Armed with my cute basket, looking every bit like Goldilocks -- okay, the 42-year-old, graying hair version -- I set out to spread Christmas Spirit whether people liked it or not. After filling up my truck with gas at HEB, I passed treats out to all the other customers.  Two turned me down (with 500 mph winds, that graying hair was whipped into a frenzy, so I don't blame them.)  Several looked at me like I was crazy, but for the most part people were receptive. I told them I was spreading Random Acts of Kindness in memory of Bryce --many people said "God Bless You." 

I'd stepped out of my comfort zone and was doing great. I will add that God was really prompting me to buy a tank of gas for someone, but I just didn't get there yet. That's WAY out of my comfort zone, and I'm working up to it.  While I'm all too familiar with what a tank of gas means when you drive an Expedition, you'll understand I was looking around for a Mini Cooper.

So I left the gas station on my way to spread more kindness -- and rather than running over an employee in in the middle of the parking lot, I stopped to hand her a treat as well. I gave her my spiel, and she looked at my with the sweetest look and a huge God Bless You and the tears started pouring. So much for the smile.

I spread some more love around the 'hood, giving candy to construction workers and leaving some for shoppers to find.... I was so blessed.  People appreciate homemade candy.  And I think they appreciated the fact that it was for Bryce.  And I know I was blessed to be able to honor his memory.  I never got to know Bryce, but I can tell you by all accounts he was an incredible kid.  And I think he would have had fun yesterday.

THIS is where the famous part comes in.....

Last night Karen Kingsbury, by far my favorite author ever, shared my story on her Facebook page.  How cool is that????

You can read about it HERE.  I want you to know that having traded emails with Karen the last few weeks, she is the REAL DEAL.  If you feel like something's missing in your life, check out her books.  She speaks God's truth in a way that will touch your heart and change your life.

I've shared all this because I DO want all four of you to know I'm Famous. Again. 

But I've also shared it because you, too, can touch lives with small acts that make a lasting impact.  It doesn't have to be big -- it can be something small.  A treat.  A hug.  Helping an elderly couple with their groceries.  Putting back a shopping cart.  Smiling. 

I do believe God calls us to GIVE -- often and with a happy heart.  And I do believe we are to do it anonymously -- not for attention.  I'm not going to share all the fun I've had. BUT I am sharing this in hopes it will give you a little nudge. You WILL be blessed by blessing others.

Go have fun.  Be Blessed.  I love you, and God does, too.

I Write.

I write.

It's what I do. It's what I've always done. It's how I sort through all sorts of stuff.  I've tried to write about Sandy Hook, but I just can't.

Cry?  Oh yeah, I've cried.  I've cried over the pictures of babies taken from this world too soon. I've cried for Mammas and Daddies and sisters and brothers.

I cried through Church Sunday morning.  I LOVE singing Christmas carols in Church, but Sunday morning it just hurt too much.

I cried over the cross that some precious, nameless neighbor stood in front of our school. 

It's not that I'm sitting in front of the TV, immersing myself in the news.  I'm not about to "fall down" again.  I know I can't let that suck me in.  I've continued with my shopping. I hosted my annual cookie exchange last night.  My life continues. 

And I still cry.  I cry because I've spent so much time with 6 and 7 year olds.  I cry because I know what it feels like to hold one in your arms -- until she squirms to get down.  I cry because I can't imagine what it's like to have that ripped away. I don't want to imagine what it's like to have that ripped away.

But here's the deal....

Some of you are driving me nuts.

While I've tried hard to NOT be immersed in this, to keep myself upright -- three things have stood out that I continue to stew over. 

The first is this notion that God isn't in our schools -- that we've run him out of there.  People, God is WAY bigger than that.  God doesn't bend or bow to anyone -- He certainly didn't bow to Madeline Murray O'Hair. God is VERY much in our schools.  He was right there in Dawn Hochsprung when she charged that shooter.  He gave Victoria Soto the courage to hide her students and stand up to that beast.  He was right there giving comfort and strength.  His heart is broken right now -- and I assure you He is crying as well.

The other thing that is driving me insane is this Gun Control debate that is RAGING.  I've got friends on Facebook, concrete in their polar views, yelling at each other. 

Guess what?  None of you are right.  It's not an all or nothing deal. And some of you are being so darn hateful!  Really? Twenty BABIES died on Friday -- tone it down! I read a GREAT article last night that I think you all should read.....  Check it out.    I don't know this writer. She could be the biggest goofball of all time -- but in this, I think she's got some very good points.

The third thing that is driving me nuts is all this talk of Asberger's and autism -- and the fact that media is so freaking clueless it just creates confusion for everyone else.  Asberger's and autism do not create the kind of insanity that brings a guy to plan out an attack like Friday's.  My heart breaks for my friends who are raising kiddos "in the spectrum."  I KNOW you have an incredibly difficult path already -- without hearing autism addressed by clueless dudes on the evening news.  Please know each of you and your kiddos have been in my prayers -- by name -- this week.

So maybe I CAN write after all. 

And it's Christmas.  And if I let this steal our joy, the shooter wins even more. And if for no other reason than the fact that I think we could all use a bit of diversion, I bring to you Jake's annual Christmas letter.  No, I haven't mailed my Christmas cards yet -- they may come around Easter.  But in the meantime, you can enjoy Jake's annual missive.

Kait's teacher labeled it "confusing."  It may be.  Or maybe it's just that this was her first year to get "the letter."  But remember, Jake's about as ADHD as a dog can get.  "Squirrel" is his middle name.

Hope you enjoy.

Big Hugs,
d.

Merry Christmas from Jake!

Howdy, Y’all! This is Jake. I’m kind of in the dog house. Yesterday I ate Mom’s Vera Bradley purse. It was tasty.
Abbie Grayce was baptized on Christmas Day 2011! In 2012, Kait got braces. Team Tiara’s goal is raising $100,000 for Breast Cancer Metastasis Research. “Keep calm and _____.” Biggs to D’Lyn: You know, I wonder what you do sometimes. Godspeed, Uncle Don. Be Sweet. Jones cousins taught us Chinese. Abbie’s DI Team, The Nerd Herd, won the Da Vinci Award and 1st at Regionals, qualifying for the State contest in Corpus! Have a Very Nerdy Christmas! “It’s a Tiara! A Tiara! I’m a Princess, and I have a Tiara!” Abbie & Kait played on FSA’s Rice Owls softball teams. Biggs coached. The garage freezer died while Biggs was in Asia. We lost Bellville sausage, Omaha steaks and Matagorda redfish. Abbie got contacts. I am a cancer Survivor thanks to my new vet in Navasota! My family went skiing with the Long family in Park City. I went to the spa – again. Kait learned to snowboard. D’Lyn got run down and slid 50 yards down the mountain on her tummy, spread-eagle, picking up speed. Nertz! Abbie played with the Sandlot Sox and CFGAA Angels. The new boathouse at the Creek is The Bomb. The jet-ski dock is SWEET! Abbie was a frog in the 5th grade play, Eleanor Roosevelt for wax museum and graduated from Keith Elementary with a clap-out. The Kid-Pitch Rice Owls won the Championship! Abbie & Kait made All-Stars. Kait got her ears pierced. Cy-Ranch State Baseball Champs! Pie Sampler at Royers’. Kait went to Tanglewood, and Jesus touched her heart. Vacation at the Creek. 6,352,218,354:1 – The mosquito to human ratio in Sargent. Fishing with Captain Gene! Nertz! Abbie & D’Lyn went to Jr. High camp at Tanglewood and spent time with church family from The Branch. “Wouldn’t it be cool if pants were made out of cheese?” Kait went to ACU Leadership Camp and now wants to go to college at Rice, A&M and ACU. Bluebell Red Velvet Ice Cream. Abbie got a Phone! Road Trip! Storms, Scurry County Rodeo, the Mule in Muleshoe, Old Fort Sumner & Billy the Kid’s Grave. Abbie spent two weeks at Camp Blue Haven chasing bears – again. ”Pine trees tall, waterfall. Blue skies canopied o’er me!” Kait & D’Lyn went to the lake with the Taylors. Kait learned to surf. D’Lyn wake boarded! Call Me Maybe? We ate at Chick fil A. D’Lyn met Katie Stanko. For real. “If your bladder is the size of a peanut, does that mean the actual peanut? Or the shell?” Splashway! Rooster’s and Orange Leaf! Kait’s 4th grade teachers are Mrs. Loving and Mrs. Loveless – no joke. Mimi made sure Abbie’s middle school locker was all decked out. It’s a Good Morning! A&M joined the SEC. Opening Weekend is the best! Abbie, Kenlee, Stephanie & D’Lyn never want to see wallpaper again. Kait played soccer for Team USA (Biggs coached) and Challenge. See You at the Pole had the best turn-out ever. Cypress City Snow – butterscotch with cream and caramel. Shiner Prickly Pear. Not all Pinterest recipes are created equal. Kait turned 10 and celebrated with a skating party. Abbie played for the Houston Havoc and CFGAA Bandits. The Bandits were undefeated in CFGAA and were the Season Champs! Biggs and D’Lyn celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary. Abs & Kait brought two pet lizards home from Splendora. “Get your lizards out of the kitchen.” Pink with a Purpose. Team Tiara gave $25,000 to Dr. Jenny Chang with Methodist Hospital in Houston for Mets research and $5,000 to The Rose to help women who don’t have health insurance. Kait was baptized! Biggsy turned 40! Happy Happy Happy. Team Tiara raised over $100,000 for the DFW 3-Day for the CURE. The team has raised over $700,000 in seven years. Biggs got a speeding ticket in Louisiana. D’Lyn got her first speeding ticket in 20 years. Fuzzy’s Tacos! Kait got her braces off! Abbie turned 12! The Fairfield HEB opened! A&M beat Bama. Abbie joined Bayou City Crossfire Softball. Forevermore, D’Lyn’s birthday will be the week after Thanksgiving. We “Elf’d it up” to celebrate Abbie’s Birthday. The girls raided Pa’s Oreo & ice cream stash. Rice is going bowling.
And Johnny Football Won the Heisman!!!
We hope you had a great 2012 and are wishing you a Fantabulous 2013! May God Bless You!

Love, Jake & Co.



Hacked -- AGAIN

Okay.

My blog keeps getting hacked. I have NO time to deal with this, as I'm supposed to leave tomorrow morning for the DFW 3-Day for the CURE and haven't packed so much as a sports bra.

So.... If you get the "hacked" posts, please be patient. I'll try to sort this out when I get home.

To whomever keeps doing it and posting junk on my blog -- I have nothing nice to say to you.

Not Supporting Komen These Days???

D'Lyn's Note:  Yes, this is a loooong post.  If you're going to take the time to read it, please take the time to read the whole thing -- all the way down to where Norm talks about how I'm a rockstar or awesome or something like that.  And please don't start a wave of ugliness after it.  If you do, I'll be forced to turn off the comments.  

Dear Friends,

A few people have sent emails or called concerning the PR scandal involving Susan G. Komen for the CURE and Planned Parenthood that took over the news cycle earlier this year, and they have asked me to forward their opinions to Komen.  I've sent them to Norm Bowling, the most head honcho of the head honchos that I know at Komen.

Norm sent me the following email in response, in hopes that it would better help you understand the relationship that Komen has with Planned Parenthood.

On a personal level, I'd like to share what I shared with another sponsor yesterday.  It's been revised a bit since yesterday -- in all honesty these ideas have been in the revision process for about the last three years.  

Please understand that if I thought for a second that I was helping fund abortions there is no way I would do what I do. I detest abortion.

I think the Planned Parenthood issue was a PR disaster, and I think you'll see that resolved in the very near future. Komen's support of Planned Parenthood from the very beginning was nothing more than a token support -- designed to provide breast health services -- and only those -- where there were no other options for helping the women who needed it so badly.

The problem with this whole situation is that people on both sides of the issue have used this to draw a line in the sand. As you know, the problem with lines in the sand is that sometimes you have to cross them.

If your wife or daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer, would you turn down any treatment that was discovered with Komen-funded research? I'm betting not. I'm guessing you'd be just like so many of us and be thankful for all the advances Komen has made in the last 20 years -- advances that are saving lives.

This issue is affecting both sides of the coin. Just as many Pro-Choice supporters have pulled support from Komen because this life-saving institution DARED to pull their paltry support from Planned Parenthood. They've drawn lines in the sand as well.

The trouble with all this -- Women will DIE because of this mess. People on BOTH sides of the issue are pulling support because Komen "let them down." The 3-Day series will bring in $17-21 MILLION less than last year. And that's just the one program I'm involved with.

Are you prepared to avoid any company that supports Planned Parenthood?  Google it -- the list is rather long.  If your higher moral ground won't allow you to support the life-saving research and services Komen provides just because they have the audacity to provide breast-health services through Planned Parenthood, I hope you'll avoid those companies on the list. I guarantee you the money that Whole Foods donates isn't geared toward saving lives.

I appreciate the phenomenal support you've all given to Team Tiara over the years, and I know you don't mean this personally at all. I just hope you understand that if people on both sides of the issue use Komen to make their points, they will be voting with the lives of women and men who had absolutely nothing to do with this fiasco.

Trust me, I'm ticked off at Komen, too. BUT for me this walk isn't about Komen. It's about honoring the Mom I lost five years ago. A Mom who would be SO PROUD of my girls, who would expect a play-by-play after every soccer or softball game.

You helped us lay the groundwork for Team Tiara, and you helped us build it into what it is today.

This month we presented a $25,000 grant directly to Dr. Jenny Chang with Methodist in Houston for research into metastatic breast cancer -- an under-funded area of research where we desperately need to have an impact. And we presented a $5,000 grant directly to The Rose to fund mammograms for women who don't have health insurance. Neither one of those grants touched Komen in any way, shape or form. Neither one would have been possible without the foundation you helped us build.

Thank you for that, and thank you for letting me share my heart. 

Seriously, please don't turn this into an ugly discussion -- if you do I'll have to give you the mean Mommy look -- and you know I don't like to do that.  

If this information I've shared today has brought about a change of heart for you, please consider making a donation to a Team Tiara team member TODAY.  We have 11 days to raise approximately $21,000.  You can easily donate at www.the3day.org/goto/teamtiara2012.  I'm especially asking you to consider donating to Cinda Brown, Tanya Croft, Laura Davis, Bernadette Dohmen, Amy Martin, Charlotte Stuart or Diane Wiley.  

You see, those walkers have not reached the $1,000 mark yet. According to the new "Pay before you Play" rules with the 3-Day, each of those walkers MUST raise $2,300 before the walk -- or they won't even be allowed to join Team Tiara on the route.  

If this information hasn't changed your views at all, please consider donating to Team Tiara's Metastatic Breast Cancer Research Fund.  You can do so with an easy donation at www.teamtiara.net or send checks payable to Team Tiara, P.O. Box 2433, Cypress, TX 77410-2433.  

A friend of mine compared this to looking for a new church.  Sometimes after a while the church you're going to just doesn't fit any more, and you need to look for a new one.  And that's great as long as you don't stop going to church. 

Maybe donating to Komen doesn't work for you anymore -- but please don't stop supporting this cause.  Find a new place, a new way.  

If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to let me know.

Many Blessings,

D'Lyn

Norm's email:

Dear D'Lyn:

Thank you for passing along the questions from your donor about Komen-funded grants to Planned Parenthood. It is important to all of us that donors and constituents get accurate information.

Komen provides funding for local community health programs through our network of more than 120 affiliates across the United States. Each affiliate is responsible for assessing the breast health service needs—including education, screening, treatment and support—for the residents within its region as well as identifying and providing funding to organizations that can meet those needs. Annually, Komen Affiliates fund programs that provide breast health education and breast screenings for hundreds of thousands of low-income, uninsured, or medically underserved women via nearly 2,000 local organizations, including 19 Planned Parenthood sites.

The decision to fund any breast health and screening program is based on a thorough assessment of a community’s breast health needs and resources. In some areas of the U.S., our affiliates have determined a Planned Parenthood clinic to be the best or only local place where women in need can receive breast health care at no cost.

In all cases, Komen funding is used exclusively to support breast cancer programs, including clinical breast exams conducted by trained medical personnel. When symptoms indicate a need for further screening, patients may be provided with a referral to obtain a mammogram. Depending on local resources, that mammogram may be paid for using a Komen grant.

Twice each year, Komen affiliates conduct a thorough review of their community health grant programs to ensure that funds are being used only for breast health services. Under no circumstances are Komen funds used to fund abortions or other non-breast services, and any service provider shown to violate those rules would be immediately terminated from the Komen grant program.

During the past five years, Komen Affiliate grants to Planned Parenthood have funded 169,777 clinical breast exams and more than 6,400 mammograms. Our mission is to help save lives by increasing screening rates among all populations of women across the U.S. and around the world. As long as there is a need for health care for vulnerable populations, Komen will fund the facilities that can best meet those needs.

We very much appreciate the support we receive from the faith community and will continue to work with organizations and individuals who share our goal of helping women and families facing breast cancer in our communities. We very much hope that people of all faiths will continue to support the fight against breast cancer by participating in Komen activities and events.

A woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every 74 seconds, and we cannot win the battle against breast cancer alone. We need the support of our local communities to ensure that we are able to continue providing vital services to women and their families.
For additional information on this issue and Komen’s overall work in local communities, we invite your donors to visit our website at www.komen.org<http://www.komen.org/>.

I hope this information is helpful, D'Lyn. Thanks again for your amazing support over the years and please let me know if you have any other questions.

Best, Norm.

Tee'd Off for the CURE!

Hello Friends!!!

Whether you've sponsored a Team Tiara walker, walked in the 3-Day or been part of our prayer team, you've played a role in this exciting news!

Our 3rd annual "Tee'd off at Breast Cancer" golf tournament will be Monday, October 1 at Falcon Point Country Club in Katy.

The highlight of this year's tournament will be the presentation of two checks. We will be donating $25,000 to Dr. Jenny Chang's research at Methodist Hospital here in Houston. Dr. Chang works primarily with Triple Negative breast cancer -- an incredibly aggressive type of breast cancer that is taking far too many young mothers. She runs a Triple Negative clinic at Methodist and also works with Denver Harbor to provide treatment for women who do not have health insurance. This grant is representative of Team Tiara's commitment to directly fund metastatic breast cancer research -- an under-funded area of research where we need to have a lasting impact! Our goal is to raise $100,000 to directly fund research conducted by Dr. Chang and others in this field.

We will also be presenting a $5,000 check to The Rose. The Rose is a Houston area non-profit that provides mammograms for women who do not have health insurance, or who are under-insured. When women who do have health insurance get their mammograms at The Rose, the income from those services funds mammograms for women who don't have insurance. It's a great program and one Team Tiara supports whole-heartedly!

Please consider golfing with us -- it's always a great tournament! This is a beautiful course we know you'll enjoy playing! If you sign up by this Friday, your registration fee will be discounted to $100 per player. If you're not into golf, but you'd like to join us for dinner and the check presentations, we have that option as well. Dinner-only tickets are $25.

Thanks!

- D'Lyn Biggs

Team Tiara Founder

WELCOME! 3rd Annual Tee'd Off at Breast Cancer Tournament Register Sponsorships Club Information Obtain more information about our organization at www.teamtiara.net www.pinktober365.com 19days until Event

3rd Annual Tee'd Off at Breast Cancer Tournament Texas is having a COOL front and that means COOL savings for you. Sign up by September 21, 2012 and each golfer is only $100!! This years event will be held Monday, October 1, 2012 at the well-manicured Falcon Point Golf Club in Katy, Texas. All proceeds will benefit Metastatic Breast Cancer research. Registration begins at 11:30 am, with shot-gun start at 12:30 pm. The cost for this event is $130 per player, $475 per foursome. Sign up more than one foursome and each player is only $110. This price includes entry into all events, 18 holes of golf, riding cart, lunch, dinner, silent auction and a chance to win various prizes. There will be an awards presentation and dinner directly after golf at the club house. You may purchase a dinner ticket only for $25. Please click here to register or click here for information regarding sponsorships. Appropriate golf attire is required.

Happy Birthday, Kait!!

Just look at those Smooshy cheeks!!!  

Kaity-did, we love you!!!

D'Lyn-terest

D'Lyn's Note: This post was approximately 150 years ago, but has to be the most-viewed post ever. I still get questions about these gloves. Yes, they are ADORABLE. What you don't see is that approximately 75% of our party guests cut the fingers off in the car on the way to the skating rink with a pair of scissors that came from God Knows Where -- and then complained about how cold their fingers were at the skating rink. Seriously. BUT.... Long story short, I bought these on a clearance rack at Sports Authority in a pretty icky area of Houston. 150 years ago.  Hope that helps. 

If I had a name like Betty or Christie or Evelene, would I have this much fun with my name???

Well, maybe if my name was Evelene.



Anyways....  Kait's #10 birthday is on Monday, and we're doing an Ice Skating Birthday Party.  I couldn't find any cute goodie bag ideas on Pinterest, so I had to get creative.

We'll just call it "D'Lyn-terest."

Snowmama D'Lyn???

Tonight I applied to be a Snowmama -- or at least I attempted to.  Whether or not I've actually applied is somewhat up in the air.  You see, my computer kept getting stuck on Step 2.

If you know me, you know I was pretty much born to be a Snowmama. I've been a Room-Mama and a Soccer-Mama and a Softball-Mama for years. I'm a DI-Mama.  I've been a Substitute-Mama and a Cooking-Mama, and I know I'd be a darn good Snowmama.

I LOVE the Snowmamas and the advice they give.  They ROCK.  Like KISS. As a Snowmama, I'd get to share all the tips and tricks we've learned to make our vacations in Park City a breeze -- like ordering our groceries from Grocery Girls and how we get our skis delivered to our door by Ski Valet.  I'd get to share about my favorite runs and adventure trails.  And about how YUMMY the hot cocoa is at the bottom of the slopes.  (BEST EVER!!!) Most of all, I'd get to share how their Signature 5 Ski School is the Bees Knees!!!

Here's the deal.....

I started out wanting to video my answers to their application questions.  That didn't exactly work.  I've never made a "movie" before, and my skills just aren't honed in that department. It was kind of like when I got rundown on by that crazy skier last year.  It was a MESS.

So I answered the questions as best I could, then attempted to attach some Biggs-style entertainment to my application -- just for grins.

And that's where things went awry.

So here, for all four of you to enjoy....   Ski Houston by the Biggs Bunch.

Wasn't that a hoot???

If you want to know what our crew looks like on "real" snow, check out these pictures from Park City Mountain Resort.  Now don't you think I'm meant to be a Snowmama???

D's Note:  These next two pictures are from the top of McConkey's.  When Chris Seidman preaches about how you can experience a bit of Heaven on Earth, he must be talking about the top of McConkey's lift.  By far my favorite ski place -- EVER!!!

Help Save 2nd Base!!!

Dear Friends & Family,


It's been a while since I've touched base with you in regards to my fundraising for the Komen 3-Day for the Cure. Unless you were hiding out in a cave in Uzbekistan the first part of this year, you probably know we went through some "drama."


That experience was a lot like being run down this year while skiing in Utah. After sliding 50 yards head-first down a run called "Tycoon," I needed a few minutes to reorient myself and make sure I still all my pieces and parts were in the right place.


The experience with Komen this Spring was much the same. After the smoke cleared, I needed a bit of time to sort things out. But you know what? I STILL believe in Komen, and I STILL believe they are saving lives, and I STILL believe I am where God wants me to be.


2012 marks my 7th year to walk in the 3-Day for the Cure. When I started this journey, I never thought I'd still be doing this. But this year also marks five years without my Mom. Knowing that, I can't walk away. The 3-Day offers me an opportunity to honor my Mom -- an opportunity to celebrate her life and love and everything that went along with it. An opportunity I just don't get anywhere else.


How can I pass that up?


But it's not just about my Mom. It's about my friend Anna who was diagnosed this Spring. And my friend Brenda. And Cheri. And so many more. It's about Dr. Chang and the amazing research she's doing right here in Houston. And the friends, not even diagnosed yet, who will benefit from that research.


Yes, I'm walking -- November 5-7. And yes, I'm planning to walk all 60 miles, just like last year. And yes, I'm asking you for help. I know this Spring Komen for the Cure acted a bit like the Crazy Aunt who says stuff at Christmas that just doesn't make sense -- and frustrates you a bit even though you love her dearly. I know some of you may not be ready to continue funding Komen's research. Believe me, I respect and honor that.


But just hang in there with me a moment....


Walking in the 3-Day isn't just about Komen to me. It's so much bigger -- and I have Team Tiara to thank for that. To date, Team Tiara has raised over $600,000 since 2006. Yes, much of that has funded research through Komen for the Cure. But that's not all we do. We do so, so much more.


We've utilized those funds to offer direct support, including financial support, to more than 30 breast cancer survivors. In March 2011 we dedicated Hope Field -- the first girls' softball field in the country that's dedicated to breast cancer awareness. We've sponsored mammograms for women who do not have health insurance. We couldn't have done that without you -- or our non-profit 501 (c) (3) status that allows us to offer direct support where needed -- independently of Komen for the Cure.


Our goal for 2012 is to raise $100,000 to directly fund research into Metastatic Breast Cancer Research. It's a big goal to fill a huge need -- an area of under-funded research where we NEED to make a lasting impact!


Please look at this list of ways you can help save lives and find at least one way to help support Team Tiara and our battle against breast cancer.


1. This will be my 7th year to walk in the Komen 3-Day for the Cure. Once again, I'll need to raise a minimum of $2300 to walk. If you'd like to support me, or join Team Tiara, you can donate at this link.
http://the3day.org/goto/dlynbiggs


2. If you'd like to support Team Tiara's Metastatic Breast Cancer Research Fund, direct support for survivors or mammograms for those who do not have health insurance, you can donate in one of two ways. You can go to www.teamtiara.net and use our PayPal Donate button. Or you can send checks to Team Tiara, P.O. Box 2433, Cypress, Texas 77410-2433. Remember, our goal is to raise $100,000 this year, above and beyond our 3-Day fundraising, to directly fund Mets research.


3. Our 3rd Annual "Tee'd Off at Breast Cancer" golf tournament will be held Monday, October 1 at Falcon Point Golf Club in Katy, Texas. We'll have dinner, prizes, a silent auction and a GREAT time! You don't want to miss this!!


4. We are currently acquiring auction items for the Golf Tournament. Tickets to events, sports memorabilia, gift baskets, handmade items, gift certificates -- anything works! If you'd like to donate an item, please let us know!


5. As always, we'd LOVE for you to walk with Team Tiara! This year our goal is to have 100 walkers on our team. Wouldn't that be cool? As a walker, you'll be introduced to many "firsts." You'll sleep in a pink tent, take showers in a converted semi trailer, dine on peanut butter and jelly graham cracker sandwiches and become an expert on blister care. You'll laugh at jokes, cry over people's stories and share your own. And in the process you'll help raise millions of dollars for breast cancer research and education. To join our team, go to www.the3day.org/goto/teamtiara2012 and click on "Join Team."


Thank you for supporting Team Tiara, and thank you for helping me honor my Mom. As I close, I'd be remiss if I didn't remind you to "check your chi-chi's" and make sure the women in your life get regular mammograms! Breast cancer knows no age or gender boundaries. You are your best defense!


I'll plan to touch base with you a couple of times before November -- nothing overwhelming, I promise! But I do want to share a bit about what an actual day on the 3-Day is like. (Hint: A Komen mile isn't really a mile.)


Stay Tuned for "The Rest of the Story!"

Big Hugs,
- D'Lyn


p.s. The 3-Day is running a crazy challenge. If I get FIVE online donations in the next FIVE days, they'll add my name to the "Speedy Fundraising Hall of Fame" and I'll get some 3-Day Bling. Can you help?

This Spring

Yes, life has been incredibly hectic around here. This is just a glimpse of what we've been doing this Spring!