Coming Home

This past 6 days have been incredible.  Words cannot describe what it was like for me to finally come home to Boston & see my family & friends out here.  I start writing this while I'm sitting on the plane home & I never wanted more than to get off a flight in my entire life.

The first thing I have to say I was really fortunate to be able to eat breakfast every day with the Kalligheri family - besides the first day where we had lunch at the cafe.  I felt so loved & like it wasn't my first time here from the moment we walked in -  thank you Mama Debbie, Guy, Ellie, & Aunties.  Your love & hospitality was one of a kind & truly appericated by both of us.

I had a few goals on this trip that I was able to accomplish & that fact is amazing.  My first goal was to see as many friends & family as I possibly could - thank you so much to the Kalligheri's, Our awesome Boston Tour Guide Colton Bradford, Michele - our breakfast date was only 19 years in the making as well - & Mike & Kari Sawyer for letting watch the Bruins lose in TD Garden.  It was also pretty cool to take Kari to her first Concert ever.... & Garth Brooks at that!  She'll never top her first!

My next goal was to be able to see every Boston sports stadium -  Boston sports have meant so much to my life.  Gillette, Fenway, & TD Garden - mean so much more now that we got to see them in person.  The next sporting event will be so much cooler when I have been there!

My next goal was to get my last 6 remaining states in the continental USA - Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, & Vermont.  It took me 33 years to do all 48 - & it'll probably take me 33 years to check off my last two - Alaska & Hawaii! 😁

I have many pictures on my phone (I forgot my camera....). I'll be making a video once I get home & get caught up on life.  My phone is almost full!  I had to delete a bunch of stuff even! :/

My last thing I wanted to do was a secret that only one person knew about as it was the hardest thing I had to do on this trip.  I finally got to bring snickers to my brother.

Sorry I didn't make it home till now Justin...  But I knew you watched over us through our trip & make sure we had an amazing trip.  Thanks for making me do this journey.

I love you Justin.

Until next time Boston.  You have my heart.

Dear Justin -

Thanks for the sign when I needed it the most.  As I struggle physically with illness & mentally with anxiety- you reminded me slow & steady wins the race....

I love you Brother.  Thanks for always watching over me. ❤️

* I found this in the most random place at my part time job.  :)

The Chain of Love

Today has been a day of rushing - but a pretty cool day if I say so myself!  After working my part time job, I rushed down to Edina to visit with my Endocronolgist.  I got to surprise him with the person he seen half asleep in December was now training to run a 5k.  Seeing his face when I told him is something I was always remember in this journey.

After my appointment, I ran home quickly to receive love notes in the mail from my Auntie Suzy & Uncle Wayne.  Words can not thank you both enough for the card, check, & tshirt you guys sent.  Mind over Matter could truly be used to describe my journey so far.  I will work extra hard when wearing it to the gym for you both.  I love you both so much! Thank you sooo much.

I headed off to the Gas Station before my full time job.  I was pumping my gas when a lady gave me a coupon for .20 cents off a gallon instead of my .14 coupon I had. I thanked her profusely & started searching for a person to give my coupon to.

I found a person & she was quite happy to receive it.  As I walked out the door, I had a big smile on my face & joy in my heart.  I was so honored to pay someone's random act of kindness forward.

As I walked to my car - the lyrics to this song came in my head....

"https://www.youtube.com/embed/mVQGQ0wh7eY

Don't let the chain of love end with you.  

I sure won't

Temporary Setback

It's been a long week.  I got sick on Tuesday night &  it's really taken a lot of wind out of my sails.  I couldn't work out, & I feel like I'm failing behind.  I totally hate the feeling.  I'm sitting a minute clinic right now to see if it's more than a cold. Whatever it is, it's only a temporary set back.... & my awesome supporters have kept me motivated this week - so big thanks to them!

* Marty & Carolyn Lundeen

* Dennis & Peg Hoff

* Wayne & Suzy Schuman

* Jeff & Mary Lundeen

* Jane LeClair

* Cindy Chapman

* Diane Vaughn

* Roger & Jane Anthony

This weekend will be spent getting ready to go to Boston for our Anniversary- a trial run maybe!  Looking so forward to finally meeting the Kalligheri family after 19 years... Spending time with awesome sauce Colton Bradford - & of course our friends Mike & Kari Sawyer.  

Jason & I will celebrate our 7 years together by seeing Garth Brooks for the 7th time - & 6 years to the day we seen him for our 1st anniversary in Vegas.  How Cool!!

I could not ask for more.

It's all worth it

Some days - it's hard.  Last night, I was really struggling with achy legs & just being plain tired.  I'm only getting about 6 hours of sleep in a usual night & anyone that knows me knows that I need at least 8.  Don't get me wrong - I'm not complaining at all!  I chose this journey & im glad I'm on it.  Especially when I get home & receive this note in the mail from Jason's aunt Bonnie:

Jason's Cousin Jenny is one of my

"Whys" in choosing to do this race.  It brought tears to my eyes to read that Jenny was so excited!  I can't wait to make her & her family proud of me.  I taped her note on my wall to look at if I ever feel like giving up.  Thank you so much Bonnie & Jenny for sending me this on a day I really needed it!

Thank you to those who donated this week.  

* Lyndsay & Wayne Deitner

* Ashley & Jessi Oliver

* Bonnie & Craig Gilland

I sincerely appericate it with all my heart & I'm hard at work on special Thank You gifts for June!

Just got done with my workout & my Valentine is bringing me to the Wild-Bruins Game!  I can't lose this one!  Happy Valentine's Weekend!  Love y'all!

To Eat or Not Eat...

To eat those excerise calories, some of them or not eat them at all.... That is the question.

Personally - I've had success with eating some of them back but never all.

When talking to my awesome personal trainor & friend Nichole the other day -  she recommended not eating a single one back.

Any recommendations out there?  (Hey Nick- that means you!  & I loved rowing!)

My Road Warrior

I won't be making this journey alone!  Of course - I have the support of my family & friends...and my donors.  I got some good Angels watching over me...  (Hi Grandma & Justin - plus a chorus of angels who have left my life)...  I have the unconditional support of my husband, who thought I was crazy at first.  There's my best buddy Jeff & his family that are some of my biggest fans....  

But I need my road warrior, who has fought battles far greater than this one.  Let me introduce you to her pretty face

My Mama!

As many of you know, my mama & I have always been best friends.  We are pretty much inseparable & spend so much of pur free time together.

As you all know as well, my mom was diagnosed with lung cancer in September of 2012.  Her road has been nothing short of an uphill battle since...  A failed operation & painful recovery...  Chemoradiation...  Chemo.  Blood transfusion.  Oxygen dependence.  A big scare.

But she's a fighter & one of my biggest inspirations.  She was giving 30% chance of making it 5 years when she was diagnosed.  This September will bring 4 years with continuous good reports from the oncologist.  

When I decided to make this trip - I knew I needed her to be there to Cheer me on.  Life's too short to waste another minute & she's always wanted to see the East Coast.  Plus she'll get to meet her other son's family finally as well.

I took a second job in Janurary to cover all our expenses for the trip out there.  Logistics have been a little hard since we'll need oxygen for her.  But no challenge is too big for me to handle.

(Side note: I've been asked if the funds raised for this will be going to cover the cost of my travel expenses.  Absolutely not.  All funds go to Best Buddies - I will not see a dime.  I'm also 100% liabile for all unraised funds on May 20th.  If I don't meet my fundraising goal, it will be out of my pocket.  My second job will pay for all our travel expenses.)

I look forward to being able to share this experience with my mom. She is the one that gave me my heart & taught me how to fight for all I wanted...

In a way - I'm doing this for her too.  If she can beat the odds, I can too.