Summer

I haven't blogged in several weeks so while I have some down time I thought I would catch up a little. The summer has been busy with youth camp and camp-meetings all over. Toccoa Youth Camp was great as well as camp-meeting that followed a few weeks later. I was able to attend Virginia camp-meeting in Dry Fork; which I hadn't been to since I moved to Georgia. The school which I attended and graduated from Community Lighthouse Academy in Liberty, SC had a camp-meeting the end of July. Lots that kept me busy and wasn't able to become bored. Also, during all that I had school. How I juggled it all is beyond me except with God's help. Hartwell had a pre-4th the end of June and it was fun. They had couple of venders including Bruster's Ice cream, watermelon, along with an orchestra band; around 9pm they shot some fireworks that were just beautiful. I mean what fireworks aren't? In mid July, a local TV station in Greenville FOX Carolina came to downtown Clemson on Friday morning for 5-9am for a tour they were doing called, Celebrate the Carolinas. Relay For Life Pendleton-Clemson sent up a booth with free bagels and coffee sponsored by a local bagel shop located in Clemson, Hudson Bagel. I was privileged to go downtown along with lots of other folks and help represent RFL and being a survivor. For my mom's birthday on July 21, me, her, and my grandpa took a ride in the mountains for the day. It was nice besides the fact that it rained some of the trip.  I have included some pictures taken through my adventurous summer.

 Pre-4th

 Pre-4th in Hartwell at the Hartwell Dam

finale - 

this is my favorite part of fireworks!

Celebrate the Carolinas with FOX Carolina

5:30am about to go live

me with Tiger Cub

still waiting to go live

RFL booth

FOX Carolina mascot bear

painting and sidewalk chalk art

Cody's ride motorized skate board 

Joe Gagnon (AM reporter), me -Julie Davis (college student), and Cody Alcorn (AM morning anchor)

Clemson Tiger Football mascot - Tiger Cub

Joe all dolled up waiting to go live with the owner of a Boutique shop in downtown Clemson

Cody with staff from Wingin' It in downtown

on the table is sushi and 2 most flavored wings

5lb burger from BGR: The Burger Joint

Cody and Joe go against each each with their team to see who can eat the most in 2 minutes

Cody with some of his team members - 4-5 men between 22-28 yrs old

Joe with his team members - 5-6 kid between 8-11 yrs old

 Cody's team won!!

Mom's birthday mountain trip

caught in a rain storm in Murphy, NC

rain storm #2 also in Murphy, NC

Bridal Veil Falls in Highlands, NC

 more of bridal veil falls

bottom of the falls

bottom of the falls #2

dam in Highlands, NC

Life

Life has been so busy over the past couple of weeks til I completely forgot about my cancer-free birthday. On June 7, 2006, I was declared CANCER-FREE after 4 rounds of chemotherapy. I have been so blessed over these past six-years that I can't express how grateful I am that God has allowed me a second opportunity continue this amazing adventure called life. It seems surreal that it has already been six years, when just like yesterday I was being prepped for surgery. I am so undeserving of the things God has blessed me with; however, I am thankful he blessed me with them. I am guilty and I am sure we all are of taking life for granted. I am so grateful every morning of the new day I am able to see and experience. I was blessed with an amazing doctor and group of nurses to help me become victorious and it was not only them but the prayers of family and friends that went up and continue to go up. I was so humbled and overwhelmed by the support of friends that put together a benefit to help out with financial expenses. I may not have thanked them, but their work didn't go unnoticed. It was greatly appreciated! Thank you SO much! I have fortunate to have a great group of friends! I love you all!!

Relay For Life 2012

Pendleton-Clemson Relay For Life 2012

6 years Survivor from Ovarian Carcinoma 

 passed away from Colon Carcinoma

December 1985

 Breast Cancer Survivor

Survivor of Thyroid Carcinoma

Team banner RFL 2012

Some of you may not know what exactly Relay For Life is? Relay For Life is an event with the American Cancer Society. It was started in 1985 in Tacoma, Washington by Dr. Gordy Klatt. He walked around a track for 24 hours approximately 83 miles and raised $27,000. In 1986, 19 teams joined him on the track. Relay For Life is a fund-raiser for fight back against cancer by finding more cures for cancer and having a world with more birthdays. It is a world-wide event and in 19 international countries (if I make no mistake).

It is a one night a year event of teams camping out, walking the track to raise money to fight back. Cancer never sleeps and neither do we on this night! This year Pendleton-Clemson RFL has raised $95,686 thus far and still counting. Our goal was $65,000 and was surpassed when we ended our Relay For Life event on May 5. It is amazing how small donations of $1 or more can make a HUGE difference. We are trying to reach $100,000 by July 1. You can make your generous donation to myself Julie Davis or my team Mac's Drive-In http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=40237

Fireworks

Bluegrass under the Stars!!

It was a great evening listening to a variety of bluegrass groups, eating chocolate and funnel cakes with wonderful friends!

The evening was topped off with a spectacular firework extravaganza!!

Georgia Peaches

I am a true Carolina girl; however, I am currently a Georgia peach but not for much longer.
The runner-up of American Idol Season 10 Lauren Alaina is from Georgia and came out with a song called Georgia Peaches and I just love it.

http://youtu.be/qfWmFevHdQo

another year older....another year wiser.....

I am beyond blessed to have lived to see another year. I did not think of being 27 so fast, it just seems like yesterday when I was starting kindergarten. I am ever so grateful for the mercy, compassion, and grace I have received for above. If it had not been for him, I would not be who I am nor where I am today. I am so thankful to have been brought up as a child by loving parents who taught me right from wrong and how I should live and treat others even when I was treated wrong. As a child, I never dreamed of my life being like it has, but it has helped me become a stronger and more independent and confident person. We all face bumps in our life's road and we just have to ask for guidance, wisdom and strength to get over them.

Blessed

Sometimes we forget just how blessed we are...Then God gives you a little reminder and you know you are just where you were meant to be!

Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me. Psalms 66:20