Bio: Angela

About Angela:

Thank you to the CFLC for taking me along on these adventures, culturing me and expanding my mind!

I accept this challenge in complete support for my friends who have rolled up their sleeves and said we can make a difference even just one life at a time!

A bit about me…

I’m a family girl and love them with all my heart. My husband Shawn is amazing and loves me all the days even when I don’t choose joy, but he’s mine so that’s all you need to know. :) We have two boys Beck (8) and Kai (5). Being a mom is the most rewarding, challenging and heart tugging privilege I’ve ever had.

I’m a Daddy’s girl, am a spittin’ image of my Ma and have two younger sisters. I totally have the big sister mentality, so if you mess with any of my family…you better be ready to mess with me!

My husband and I chose as adults to be baptized two years ago on Easter. I am so thankful for the love and change Jesus has brought into our lives and home.

I love fast-pitch softball, it’s part of my heartbeat – specifically catching. I played and coached at the collegiate level and still play in the old lady league each summer. Some of my other loves are: a smile, a hug, good coffee talk, homemade taco salad, running while it’s snowing, swinging on swings, butterflies, rainbows, the look on my kids' face when they accomplish something, being on or near the water at the family cabin, my dad’s patience, my mom’s rhubarb crunch, helping people, games and competition, beer and chips with a good movie and any old good adventure!

My adventure with the Wilderness Warriors is in honor of: My Grandpa Haala (my only dollar dance :), my good friend Julie, Tami, Charlie, Melissa, Kate, Tom, Paul, Ken, Mickey, those not mentioned and anyone who crosses the path – may you be mighty and strong-hearted to know you will always be >cancer!

“I hope you dance…”

Bio: Bri

About Bri:

There are two major parts of my life, a before and after, a bad and a good, the ugly and now the beautiful. I won’t go into too much detail about my past, because this girl likes to keep her sights set forward. But I will tell you that I was wrecked, and the pivotal point was when I met Jesus. He radically changed my life and every day I am waking up to a new adventure that He has planned for me…it’s so awesome! God freed me from my past guilt and my shame that now I can just rest in his grace. I’m absolutely surrounded by blessing, there is no way that I accomplished all this on my own.

One of the ways that I am greatly blessed is that no one in my immediate family has had to fight against cancer. I will stand up to support my friends and their families, and those who have personally fought. Newly found friendships has brought me to this >cancer Wilderness Warrior Hike Against Cancer and I am honored to be a part of this healing, knowing that all of their experiences will affect the way that I process and handle any future run ins with cancer.

“Like” list… My best friend and husband Adam, road trips in our van, bike rides, letting my imagination unleashed, being outside in all elements of the wonderful Minnesota weather, smelling things good or bad, modern day treasure hunts (aka thrift shopping), creating something out of nothing, cooking, gardening, Oh, my two beautiful kids Evan (6) who is so clever, and Mavis (18 months) who is beautifully fearless.

“De-like” list…trying to keep up with social media, mosquitos, whiners and complainers about misquotes, forgetting about food and then it burns, and I really can’t think of anything else.

I am so excited that I get to be a part of CFLC and glad that I was given the chance to plant new genuine friendships.

Bio: Kelsey

About Kelsey:

In the interest of full disclosure, I should start by saying that (thankfully) none of my family or close friends have been directly affected by cancer. The reason I'm a part of this effort is to show my love and support to my fellow Christmas Fettucine Ladies Club mates who have been, most specifically Vicky, Liz, and Emily. While I don't know what it's like to deal with the devestation that cancer causes, I know what it's like to need a reliable support system when grieving a loss or celebrating a victory. To my dear friends: I'm proud to know such strong and capable women. Thank you for letting me be a part of your story.

The first thing and most important thing that I want anybody to know about me is my complete and utter reliance on Jesus. He didn't save me from a terrible life - He saved me from a purposeless life. Every word I say, person I love, breath I take is done out of gratitude for Him. To everyone out there, I want you to know: God is not mad at you! He adores you! I pray that this truth will change other lives the way it's changed mine.

I'm married to the manliest man this side of the Mississippi. His name is Peter and he has a beard that will make you tremble in your galoshes. He is my favorite person on the whole entire planet, by far, and I love every day that I get to spend with him. He just makes me so darn happy.

We have a handful of kids who are, well, a handful. Emery is 7 but already has the wisdom of someone much older. Pryor is 4 and I've never seen anyone who is so hungry to learn new things as him. Betsy Ransom is 2 going on 16 - she won't leave the house without a princess dress, princess hair, princess band-aid, princess undies, and/or sparkles on her eyes.

I don't like sitcoms or onions. I love to do crafty things, even though they never quite turn out the way I see them in my head. I love beer, but only out of a bottle. I eat at Chipotle once a week for date night and I get the exact same thing every single time. I'm a sucker for a cheesy novel. I used to be afraid of spiders but it became too incovenient so now I just deal with them. I often offend people without knowing it because I speak faster than I think (I'm working on this). I love rock and roll. I don't know how to wink.

I think that's everything you need to know, plus a little extra just for kicks. Thanks again to the CFLC for being my friends. Thanks most to Jesus for being better than everything else in the universe.

Bio: Emily

About Emily:

I am an EXREMELY blessed and lucky girl.  I have an amazing family and friends.  I bought my first home two years ago - what you’d call an intense fixer upper. =)  I love designing and working on my own house, huge passion for movies and books, and coming up with all sorts of crazy ideas!  But my story and blessings are far from the everyday wonders I thank God for…

At age nineteen, just as I was about to start my first year of college away from home, I was diagnosed with stage four cervical cancer.  I had not been feeling great all summer and they discovered a cyst on my ovary that needed emergency surgery. My mom had to drive down to my apartment in Mankato and take me in for the cyst removal in Minneapolis.  I never returned to my apartment.

They found my cancer only because I had complications after the surgery and was rushed back in.  Within a week of my “easy” procedure, I had cancer that had spread to my lungs and was having my first chemo treatment. I would not be going to school. No one said it to me but no one expected me to be around at all. It is the only time I remember seeing my father cry. My two younger siblings were still in grade school and honestly to this day I don’t know what the repercussions are that they suffered from that year. My mom dropped everything taking me to appointments and being home with me as much as possible. I had six months of chemo. One treatment a month that took all day, and it took a month for my counts to recover before I was ready for the next round.  I almost didn’t make the last one on time.  I was hospitalized twice I believe during the time. I lost all my hair. I don’t remember conversations I had with people and the whole time in general is slightly foggy from all the medications. 

I started treatment in August and they did a scan in December right around Christmas time and we were just praying that there would be some positive results. I had a lot of people praying for me. One family got home and mom and daughter said oh I need you to pray for this girl… it was both me through different people they had heard about me.  In December, after only five treatments, my CT scans were almost completely clear. Absolutely nothing. According my amazing Dr. Argenta, it is not possible that I got cancer, it is not possible that I was healed in that amount of time with his treatment, and as he so nicely told me at my five year check-up, he did not expect me to live two weeks the day he first saw me! He calls me his miracle patient every day. I believe him, because it takes a miracle to cure cancer.  It’s a combination of the hope and prayers, strength and knowledge and all these wonderful people working together. If he can encourage another patient with my story, I hope he uses it each and every day while he’s battling this disease on the front lines trying to find new treatments. That’s why it would be so great if we could join together to help raise some money to fund cancer research. 

I did finish up my treatment with a month long of radiation treatment after chemo.  I would like to say that all the staff at the UofM is absolutely fantastic and I wouldn’t go anywhere else.  They made an unbearable time bearable.  My family is wonderful and I don’t think I gave them enough credit for that both then and now. Cancer doesn’t end after treatment. Effects of chemo and radiation can follow you for a long time.  I can’t have children- I have to adopt.  I missed out on a couple years of my life.  It is hard to reclaim a life you thought was over.

But this year I celebrated EIGHT years in remission!  

I am learning to get my life back and be happy and healthy and have fun! My Wilderness Warriors Ladies are great for that! I feel like I can finally stop living under that cancer shadow. I want to get out there and share my experiences and add a ton more to it! Although, I’ll try to keep the near-death count down, Dad!  =)  (For another time, ask me about the car or house fire, etc.)

TTFN!

LIVING LIFE >CANCER

Bio: Kelsie

About Kelsie:

Most important thing to me:  Do I have to pick one???  Well I can’t, so here it goes.  Dominic, my son, is the most important of the important things to me.  He is three years old, loves animals, frog hunting, hats, playing in puddles, music, curious George, and riding his strider bike.  Dominic is my reason to pursue dreams in life and now I am back in school (the third most important thing to me).  I am studying to become a Biologist but have not decided on what field. I have been so blessed with amazing mentors and opportunities through school and will be spending my summer at Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve where I plan to hike and get a good suntan in preparation of WW weekend.  The second most important thing to me is my family; I am the baby of 5 kids and now the proud auntie to four nephews and three dogs.  Although we are spread throughout all of the US my family has remained close and forever tied through the loss of my brother at age 16.  Kasey did not pass from cancer but I did learn at an early age what it is like to lose someone you are close to and to desire to do whatever you can to help others.

Things I like:  Listening to calling frogs, feeling my horses breath on my face, my mom’s: fruit pizza, special K bars, rice crispy bars, strawberry cake…ok so any dessert my mom makes, slippers, naps, overcoming trials in my life, getting done with a workout, and freshly made beds (especially if I didn’t make it)

Things I dislike:  Starting a workout, needles, wet shoes, the sound of ice crystals scraping in a freezer, mushrooms, and getting my eyebrows waxed

Favorite quote: “Every sinner has a future and every saint has a past.” -Anonymous

Most Joyful Moment:  My heaven moment (the moment if I had to live only one for the rest of my life) would be one day when I was riding my horse at sunset on a trail that bordered a meadow and there was a cool breeze and the scent of wildflowers in the air.  We galloped for that stretch of trail and I remember thinking I could feel God.  I have never felt so close to nature and to understanding the meaning of life as I had at that moment, my heaven moment.

Why I am part of >cancer: I am part of the wilderness warriors hike against cancer because:

• My son’s future>cancer
• Jim who loved me like a daughter when I was an awkward terrible teenager >cancer
• Riding off into the sunset >cancer
• A good cup of coffee >cancer
• Just about anything I can think of >cancer

Bio: Joan

About Joan:

I had this quote taped to my desk at my first job after college. I still have it. I don’t know where I first saw it, but it has been the reminder of how I want to live my life:

To laugh often and much;

To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;

To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;

To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;

To leave the world a little bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;

To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.

This is to have succeeded.  

-Unknown

I grew up in a family of six girls. My family was close, and we spent a lot of time outside recreating, including spending three weeks each summer in the Quetico wilderness. Not only did this time bring us closer together as a family, it brought us all reverence and appreciation for the natural world and the simpler things in life. We spent a lot of time rock hunting, berry picking, swimming, exploring, reading, playing word games, sunrise, sunset, and star gazing... I am fortunate that my husband shares the same passion for backcountry camping and we have spent weeks (twice we went for a month!) doing the same things with our children. 

I am passionate about my family, reading, hiking and canoeing, learning new things, traveling, and meeting new people.

When my youngest was three years old, I had to have a melanoma removed. It is a terrible thing to wonder if you will see your children grow up, but there is no reality check greater than sitting in an oncologist's office seeing people of all ages and backgrounds, along with their loved ones, fight this disease.  I am one of the fortunate ones, having caught the skin cancer at an early treatable stage. I am part of this group, > cancer, in order to support all the people who have battled this disease, including the ones I met in that office,  and to honor the lives of my father-in-law, my godfather,  and my two cousins that I have lost to cancer.

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

-Leo Buscaglia

Our act of caring >cancer

In Training: Belly Dancing

As a group we take our training program for our >cancer challenge very seriously. As Benjamin Franklin said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Therefore, when one of our members suggested a series of six belly dancing classes, most of us jumped at the chance!

We were all vaguely familiar with images of beautiful curvaceous women from far flung lands, where the climate is hot and the dancing even hotter, undulating in glittering costumes and seductive veils to Middle Eastern rhythms in Bedouin tents. Sort of ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ meets ‘Sex and the City 2’ – we were excited!!!

Surely after six weeks this is what we would look like?

Hmmmm... If I quote Albert Einstein at this point maybe it will set the scene for what actually took place, “Only those who attempt the absurd can achieve the impossible.”

This is what we actually looked like:

Eight of us started classes on April 10 – sadly not in a Bedouin tent in the Middle East, but in the gym at Rogers’s Middle School. Not too different, except instead of sand on our bare feet we picked up the remnants of 6th, 7th & 8th grade lunch. And instead of an audience of attractive Maharajas, there were a couple of workmen in overalls who seemed to pass the open door more frequently than their work necessitated. Nevertheless they seemed appreciative of our efforts.

Our teacher, glamorous and flexible and patient, did her best to evoke the atmosphere required for authentic belly dancing. However, by the sixth lesson our numbers were down a little due to injury, prior commitments and travel plans. Despite this, those that managed to hip thrust, chest pop and shimmy their way to the finish line did a sterling job and made the whole group extremely proud.

Watch their final performance here!