It amazes me....

How many people will let their children go to a slumber party at the home of someone they have never even met.

What's up with that??

What a Day. Really.

Oh my goodness. I need a beer. And I don't even drink beer. But....

Went to get "established" with a new GP this morning. I wanted in her club before I got sick. It's just so hard to get a quick appointment when you're sick and a new patient. Well, it's a good thing. She said she's seeing 10 -- yes, TEN! -- cases of swine flu a day. And I'm one of those crazy people who choose to spend time at an elementary school on a regular basis. I'm doomed.

Let's see.... What else?

Team Tiara has been contacted by a lift truck manufacturer / dealer that many of us hold near and dear about painting a forklift pink and auctioning it off to raise money for the CURE. You'd think this would be a relatively easy thing to do. Nope. After a bajillion phone calls to a lot of people I know and a lot of people I don't, I got the best advice possible. Paint it a color pink that's as close to it as you can get -- and you'll be close enough. As for adding the Komen logo? Don't even get me started.... If you're in the market for a pink forklift, hang in there with me a couple of weeks and I'll see what I can do to help you with that.

This really is a Cool Deal, and I can't wait to get the details out to you.

THEN.... We've also been contacted about auctioning off a Precious yellow lab puppy. Champion bloodlines. Registered. I should have details on that in the next couple of days. We'll have a set of criteria that you will have to meet before you can bid (house with yard, etc.), and the original owner will have to approve of who wins.

THEN..... Tanya Thome, ROCKSTAR Fundraiser, has acquired a guitar signed by All the guys in AC/DC. She's raffling that off for $20 a ticket. If you'd like in on that, you should definitely let me know.

FINALLY.... We've had to change one of our designs on the Tiara Wear. I know. Crazy stuff happens to me that just really doesn't happen to other people. It seems that one of the slogans we were going to use is copywrited or trademarked or something like that. So we've come up with something else that suits us much, much better and are doing that instead. I've updated that blog entry from last night if you want to check on that.

I do have to say, this is the first time I've ever been in that particular brand of hot water. And I'm glad that the woman who contacted me was really, really nice about it. Bless her heart. It couldn't have been easy to send me that email. But she was required to. I'm so glad it wasn't one of those "Big Mean Turd" emails. I think that today of all days, that would have put me over the top.

WHEW.

But Wait.

I know I said FINALLY..... But I have another one.....

FINALLY (For real).... All the stress and jumping through hoops and all that jazz trying to raise funds for breast cancer by bringing in companies instead of just friends and family has opened my eyes to a real need that's out there. Something I have a real heart for. Something I'm really good at. Would you please be in prayer that God will help guide me in what to do with this realization? I think there's really a way I could something with it. I just need to figure out what that is.

thanks.

Happy Birthday, Kait!

I think 7 is going to be your lucky year!

Love,

Mommy

I Have a Dream.....

So I have this dream. I know that anyone who follows me on Facebook, or the 4 people who read this blog, are probably thinking, "Enough Already!" about the 3-Day. Only 54 more days, my friends. Fifty-four more days.

But I've come to the realization in the last few weeks that while I have always done the walk for my Mom, in her honor and then in her memory, no one who is walking with me really knew her.

On this team of 45, I think Anthony Patton is the only one who even knew her at all. Last year, I got to share this experience with Michelle. It rocked. But this year, we're running short on team members who realize from first-hand experience how much our family, our community, our lives have missed out on since she's been gone.

So I have this dream. I think it would be so amazing to share this experience with a whole bunch of people who loved my Momma -- warts and all. A whole bunch of people who would remember that you couldn't eat dinner without her eating off your plate. That would remember that she could brag about her grandkids with the best of them.

I've shared that dream the last couple of weeks.

And then Saturday I received a letter from a friend of Mom's. Mom and Keitha grew up together in Old Fluvanna and were thick as thieves. Keitha thought of Mom as more a sister than a friend.

Keitha has been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of uterine cancer. Things are looking better than they were, but this cancer stuff is such a very scary thing. Please pray for her.

Cancer Sucks. And that's all I have to say about that.

Where Is Your Comfort Zone??

"It's not in my comfort zone."

When you talk about the 3-Day as much as I do, for as long as I have, that's something you hear a lot -- or at least versions of it.

It wasn't always in my comfort zone, either.

Neither was sharing my faith. But a few years ago, a dear friend offered us an analogy at a Bible Study I went to. She had just bought this lipstick that she absolutely loved, and she'd been telling everyone about it. No one was immune from her enthusiasm -- not even the checker in the grocery store.

After a couple of days of this, she began to realize that she was going on and on and on about LIPSTICK. While she absolutely LOVED that lipstick, she loved Jesus much, much more. But she didn't share Him with everyone she met.

What is it that you're passionate about? What do you share?

For me, finding a CURE for breast cancer is one of my passions, and yes, that makes the fundraising end of the picture much easier. Having lost my Mom at 61. YES! 61!!!!.... I'd do anything to keep anyone from going through what we did.

You see, my friends, fundraising may be outside your comfort zone, but it's far more comfortable than the realities of breast cancer. It's far better than getting a letter from your Mom's best friend who regrets to tell you she has advanced uterine cancer -- that her name must now be added to the list of those you walk for. It's far better than finding out a dear friend's chemo isn't working, so now the oncologist is prescribing the "red" chemo, which is the worst out there. It's far better than losing a friend who's 40 years old -- and who leaves behind two little girls.

If you're not walking with me in the 3-Day just because it's outside your comfort zone, please understand I still love you. But I'm going to be blunt with you. Cleaning toilets is outside my comfort zone. Dealing with a child who is throwing up is outside my comfort zone. Walking 60 miles is outside my comfort zone. I dare you to live a day, a week, a month without doing something that's outside your comfort zone.

I know that out of the four people who read this blog, there are probably at least one or two who simply can't do the 3-Day for whatever reason. But I know there are probably one or two who are hesitant because it isn't in their comfort zones.

If you want to step out of your comfort zone and come walk with us, there's plenty of time. But you need to get moving pretty quickly. The first step is the hardest. Once you make that step, it's just the short rows from there on out.

That pretty much goes for sharing your faith, too.

We Will Never Forget

All Abuzz......

If you're a parent of a school-age child, you know this big brouha this week has been Obama's address to schoolchildren. Scheduled for Tuesday, the plan is for Obama to offer a "pep talk" to America's students, encouraging them to stay in school.

Being the oh-so-Republican that I am (If you were around here a year ago, that would be perfectly clear to you.), I pretty much don't agree with pretty much anything Obama has to say. Don't even get me started on the Health Care issue.

Biggsy and I talked about this. For each of us, our initial reaction was "no." Well, mine was more like "Heck, no." I don't like the idea of Obama talking to my kids. At all.

But.

As vocal as I was prior to the election last year, we've stressed a couple of things around our house. For one, we stress that God calls us to respect our leaders, and to pray for them. Obama included. And while we may gripe and grimace at what he plans for us, and while I personally think we're going to spend the rest of our lives trying to un-do what the democrats are doing right now, I still owe him respect as our country's leader.

We also stress the value of education to our kids. Very, very rarely are they pulled out of school early. If the doors are open, our kids are there. And while I joked about pulling them out to get a flu shot on Tuesday, they would have been there. Obama or not.

I had a plan.

I had planned to print out the list of questions off the Internet. I planned to go over those with the girls, prepping them for ways we can help our President. I wanted to put the idea of prayer in their heads before anything else was suggested -- that is first and foremost. I planned to watch the address myself on my computer at home and to go over anything I thought was needed when the girls got home.

My plan isn't needed. And I'm a bit sad about that. Our school has chosen not to show the address. I'm not sure why -- no reason was given. I know that financial reasons are key to why some schools are not showing the address -- for every child that's pulled out of school for the day, the district loses $35. I know some schools were inundated with calls and emails -- and with this being a "red" neighborhood in a "red" state, I'm sure ours was no exception.

I'm sure scheduling was an issue as well. I've had a difficult time understanding why this address was planned for during lunch. Anyone who has ever spent time around schools knows that it takes a lot of coordination to feed 1000 kids. Why this address wasn't scheduled for first thing in the morning is beyond me.

I'm sad that we've got a President that doesn't instill confidence across the party lines. A president that people don't trust. A President that people are afraid -- I mean all out afraid -- to have talk to their children. I'm sad that we don't have a President that the people across the board can look up to -- a Reaganesque President who everyone loves no matter which side of the political aisle they stand on. If this had been George Bush, we would have been all over it. And I don't think this objection is because it's a Democrat. If it had been Clinton, you wouldn't have had 90% of Facebook threatening to pull their kids out of school. Clinton wasn't seen as dangerous -- unless you had a daughter aged 18-20 working in the White House.

When you send your kids to school, you don't have a say in what they are taught. It's impossible for you to control everything that comes across their desks. All the authors, speakers, textbooks, etc. I wasn't worried about Obama indoctrinating my kids. Our children are far more influenced by their teachers. Their parents. What they see on TV.

I wish parents would get as fired up about what our kids are taught as far as evolution vs. creationism goes. Or whether God is allowed in our schools. But no, they only get fired up about the "gall" of our President giving our students a pep talk.

Like I said, I wasn't worried about "indoctrination." My kids are smart, and I give them more credit than that. And as far as I was concerned, a lesson in critical thinking wouldn't be such a bad thing to have. I don't want my kids to be sheep. I want them to learn to listen to what an authority figure says and to decide what they think about it. I want to be in their lives to help guide that thought. But if I shelter them and keep them away from everything, how will they ever learn to think things through and form opinions?

Needing to Go DEAP

I've been struggling with something lately, and I'm not sure about it at all.

When we left Dallas, we left an incredible church family. We left a place that we absolutely loved. People we loved. If you've never been to The Branch in Farmers Branch or Vista Ridge, you should definitely check it out sometime.

When we were at The Branch, Biggsy and I both went through HUGE growth spurts on the spiritual plane. We led a small group Bible Study and were members of another one. I was on on Praise Team. The girls talked about Jesus like he lived down the street. In short, we were all building intimate relationships with God. And it was great.

And then we went through some icky stuff, and moved here, and went through even more icky stuff, and bounced around between a few different churches, and finally landed at one here in our neighborhood.

It's a Baptist church, and although we aren't "Baptists," we've been trying it on for size, I guess you could say. We were both raised in the Church of Christ, but we don't really fit that general description anymore either. A few years at The Branch will do that to you.

Lately, I've really been missing The Branch. Homesick and sad -- that's me. And it's hard to explain just what I miss because I can't really pin it all down. But I can tell you The Branch has Acapella services like nobody's business. Four-part harmony like you wouldn't believe. Even if it's not all that harmonious and slightly off-key, I'll take four-part harmony over a set of drums any day.

I miss the people. The sheer joy that would cross their faces when they would see me. (Yes, me. It's my blog. So yes, this is all about me.) The hugs. I had church friends who knew ME. I like hugs, but none of the churches we've been too down here have been very "huggy." And this isn't just a D'Lyn thing. I've watched how everyone is with everyone else. Is being huggy just a Dallas thing???

A couple of weeks ago, things around our house were in a stew. We were both miserable. Completely unhappy with one another. (I know it's hard to believe -- but we are human!) We never should have gone to church. But we did. And we put on that "church face" that we all talk about. You know, the one where you say, "I'm fine." "I'm good." Whatever. One Friend noticed. As I stood in the service and cried through all the songs -- even the ones I love -- I felt so miserable. And so very alone.

I miss having communion. Sometimes I think it can be easy for communion to become kind of just something you "do." But miss it on a regular basis for over two years, and it becomes something else. You realize the connection it gave you. You realize that you're really missing something. You realize how much you need it weekly.

The Branch did Big Time in a big way. They don't do it anymore, so even if we were there we wouldn't get to do that. But they do something just as great now. I miss going to Big Time with all our friends. And watching my kids "do" Big Time. And dude... I miss Coach's much-anticipated talks.

I miss listening to Chris preach. Chris just has this way of commanding your attention -- something that's pretty important when you're ADD like me. Every one of his lessons was interesting -- entire series where I learned more Bible than ever before. We're the same age, Chris and I (and I'm not telling what that is), but I always felt like I had so much to learn from him. I realized from very early on that here was a man who God was using to reach people in a very powerful way.

I miss being part of a missional church. Where serving people in your backyard is of utmost importance -- where being "Jesus with Skin On" is the top priority. A church where the Elders and Staff realized the need for help after Katrina -- not just in New Orleans but in our own backyard. The times when we were encouraged and empowered to give that help -- while growing in spirtual maturity in the process.

We had these great family meals before Small Group each week, and we'd take time to really be in each other's lives. The maturity (not age!) the Joneses, Anders, Goodwins and Sullengers brought to our small groups was invaluable.

The Branch has ease and in-formality. I miss the donuts. Singing music arranged by my friend Robin. Being around so many people who were so all-out on-fire for Jesus that they just couldn't quit talking about it. People who lived out the whole "hands and feet" thing at every opportunity. I couldn't stop talking about The Branch and inviting people to join us there.

Hug and Howdy time was my favorite. No one does that down here. Is that a Dallas thing, too?? Sure.... Everyone greets one another. But it seems to be more of a surface level kind of thing. Very seldom does anyone exchange names. What's up with that??

With all that's different, it's the prayer life I ache for the most. When Abbie was in Kindergarten, rest time was called DEAR time -- Drop Everything And Read. When we were at The Branch, it was more of a DEAP time -- Drop Everything and Pray. It seems to me that that intimate relationship with God and with each other was based on that foundation of prayer. Not just something you did at certain times during the service. Sure, that was in there as well. But people praying independently out in the lobby or the hallways. Wherever there was a need. Whenever there was a need.

It could be that every single church we've been to since we've been here has all of this -- and I'm not seeing it. But it's been two years since I've been in a place where I've personally experienced this "package deal" and I'm just missing it.

Biggsy told me tonight that it was time for me to move on. He's right. I know. The Branch has changed. I have changed. If we freakishly moved back to Dallas tomorrow, it would be a completely different experience. I get that.

But I'm still struggling.

Check Your Chi-Chi's!

It's September 1!!!

Not only is this Opening Day of Dove Season -- a National Holiday as far as the Biggs Bunch is concerned, it's also time for your monthly reminder to....

Check your chi-chi's!
Knead your knockers!
Squeeze your oranges!

Remember, YOU are the first line of defense against breast cancer!!!

You've Got Mail....

If you want to send us some Tiara Love while we're on the 3-Day, here's the address!

Breast Cancer 3-Day Camp Post Office
ATTN: INSERT NAME OF PARTICIPANT
P.O. Box 126496
Benbrook, TX 76126

Do You Have Boobies? Do You Love Someone Who Does???

I cross-posted this on my Facebook account tonight, but it's too good not to put it on here as well.

Okay gang.... Right now, Team Tiara has 42 registered walkers. To reach our fundraising goal we really need about 80. I've tried to come up with a great list of reasons you should walk with us. Feel free to add others you can come up with!!!

1. You have Boobies.
2. You love someone who has Boobies.
3. It's easier than Chemo.
4. Suzi Bruin will carry your luggage.
5. We'll raise millions of $$ for breast cancer research and education.
6. You haven't lived until you've pee'd in a port-o-potty that's draped with a garland of really big bras.
7. Pink Beard Barry.
8. You get to sleep in a pink tent.
9. Chocolate never tasted so good.
10. Imagine thousands of people cheering YOU on.
11. 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer.
12. An estimated 1,910 MEN will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and 440 will die.
13. You can ride in the Boobie Mobile.
14. You have a daughter.
15. You are someone's daughter.
16. Pink is definitely your color.
17. You get to eat snacks every three miles!
18. You haven't lived till you've seen men in tutus.
19. 85% of all women diagnosed with breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease.
20. For 3 days, the world is as it should be.
21. You want to make a difference.
22. You're in great shape.
23. You wish you were in great shape.
24. You've heard rumors of peanut butter and jelly graham cracker sandwiches.
25. Real men wear pink.
26. "There's a guy who loves Boobies!"
27. You have a wife.
28. You wish you had a wife.
29. 3000 women. 500 men. Talk about great odds!
30. You know it takes a LOT of money to fund a CURE.
31. You want to help promote awareness -- self-exams are you best defense!
32. A world without breast cancer isn't just a dream -- it WILL be a reality.
33. You loved my Mom.
34. You loved YOUR Mom.
35. You know how to Fight Like a Girl.
36. Hot Pink feather boas are the way to go!
37. Free massages.
38. You know someone who's going through chemo.
39. You've held a loved one's hand while they went through chemo.
40. You're turning 40 this year.
41. You need a good challenge.
42. You've never taken a shower in a converted semi truck.
43. You don't want to be a statistic.
44. You live in the DFW area -- and don't even have to travel to the walk!
45. We're going to be walking by your house anyway -- why don't you join us?
46. You're one of my best friends.
47. If I, D'Lyn Biggs, am giving up a cool November weekend to do this -- for the FOURTH year in a row -- there's got to be something to it!
48. You really don't have to worry about raising the money -- people want to help!
49. You don't have to walk all 60 miles -- you can always hitch a ride on a shuttle bus!
50. You've always wanted to know more about blister care.
51. What's that moleskin stuff, anyway?
52. You could end up in a Nation-wide advertising campaign!
53. Body Glide is soooo smooth!
54. You could end up wearing your tentmate's sports bra -- yikes!
55. It's a great way to test
your very cold-rated sleeping bag!
56. You can learn about motor boatin'.
57. It's a great excuse to buy new shoes.
58. Do you know 46 people who could donate $50 each? You're there!
59. A weekend with Anthony Patton. 'Nuf said.
60. You get to experience every possible emotion -- in just three days.
61. Pink camo rocks!
62. Talk about a natural high -- just watch your fundraising meter rise!
63. Elimnate breast cancer before you daughters are old enough to know what a mammogram is. 64. Boobies. Boobies. Boobies.
65. How many words can you think of for boobies??
66. I'll show you my bra.
67. Test your balance by trying to pee in a port-o-potty at 3:00 a.m. while trying to keep your flashlight from falling in the hole.
68. Rest. Refuel. Rehydrate. And pee.
69. 60 miles = 4500 calories burned. Cool.
70. The Tammys.
71. It's like a free pass to be completely silly for three days.
72. We have the coolest spokesperson on the planet!
73. You will feel like a queen. Or king. Or athlete. Or superhero.
74. Walking and talking is incredible therapy.
75. You can finally stomp your foot and have your say.
76. If walking 60 miles is crazy, why would you want to be normal???
77. Cancer Sucks.
78. You can meet my sister -- the Trash Lady.
79. You can meet my other sister -- the Queen of the Walker Stalkers.
80. Get "wrapped" by someone who knows what they're doing.
81. It's a great excuse to hit Academy or REI.
82. Suzi & I are on the cover of the Merchandise Catalog.
83. Forget the whales -- save the boobies.
84. You get to yell cute things like "Check your chi-chi's!"
85. Random people you've never met will let you pee in their bathrooms.
86. You can love on puppies and babies all along the way.
87. It's a 60-mile buffet.
88. It's 60 miles of ministry.
89. Linda and her motorcycle, Grace.
90. The kind of humor that only those who have been affected by breast cancer can share.
91. When is a mile really a mile?
92. Karaoke, Karaoke, Karaoke.
93. Don't forget to lock the port-o-potty door.
94. Try finding your ONE tent in a sea of 1500 matching pink tents.
95. If your port-o-potty doesn't have TP, you can call Suzi on your cell phone and she'll bring you some.
96. You've never seen so many decorations involving boobies!
97. Save Second Base.
98. "We must! We must! We must save our busts!"
99. When you hit a wall, and think you can't go one step further, a survivor will pass you. She won't have any hair. And you'll find out what it means to go the extra mile.
100. Isaiah 40:31.
101. My Mom will be there. She is every year. I promise.
102. It will change your life.

Do you "get it??" Register online at www.the3day.org/goto/tiaras.