Livestrong

This past weekend Brandon headed down to Austin, Texas to run in a Livestrong Race. The race is to increase awareness of cancer and to raise funds for a variety of cancer charities and research groups. As most of you know, Brandon is a 4 year cancer survivor. I will never forget that July and the months after. It was a truly hard time but some of our greatest blessings have come from the lessons we learned through the experience. Nothing teaches you more about yourself and who you can really rely on then a trial like this. It was amazing to feel the love that surrounded us and sometimes it came from very unlikely sources. The kids and I held down the fort at home so he could go and enjoy a great weekend with his good friend Jason! I big thank you to Jason's sweet wife Kari for being a single mom for the weekend while the boys were gone.

Here are a few of the pictures Brandon took from the weekend.

First Lunch in Texas! Brandon said it was so good!

Race registration.Lance Armstrong was not there the day Brandon raced. He showed up the next day for the bike portion.

Jason, Brandon and Joe. Joe is also a friend that now lives in Texas. He was their tour guide for the weekend.

The next two pictures are after the race. Brandon said it was very emotional for him at the end. Each cancer survior finished in a single file line filled with balloons, hugs and roses to celebrate their win in the fight against cancer. It becomes so real when the others in the race are running in honor of someone who has lost that fight. He said it was really hard to see the runners who were wearing a tag that said they were running in remembrance of a loved one.

This is the University of Texas Baseball Stadium. Brandon and Jason were lucky enough to run into Auggie Gurrido, the head baseball coach. Auggie was the CSUF baseball coach for many years and took the Titans to the College World Series multiple times. Brandon worked in the locker room during college and spent alot of time around the athletics department. He gave Brandon and Jason a personal tour of the stadium. What a perfect treat for my college baseball loving and Titan alumni hubby!

Cancer is an ugly thing but the blessings and lessons we have learned and continue to learn are a gift. I am thankful everyday for early detection and the fabulous doctors that made sure that Brandon will be around for many more years.