Relay for Life 2010

These events are so important! Not only because they recognize over 11 million cancer survivors, but they also educate the public about advances being made in cancer research and raise a lot of cash to furthur research and other programs.  Most people think these events are serious and stuffy, but we have a lot of fun!

I haven't got the totals for the entire event, but we had a great time!!! I was even able to raise $15.00 for my Jail Bail! LOL!

During all this fun we had a survivor banquette, which was a amazing and the food was delish! 

I was very honored to be the guest speaker, but I suprised myself.  I was up at the microphone spouting out facts and reasons why we should all volunteer at the American Cancer Society and I said something that has changed the way I look at my volunteering.

The American Cancer Society has been around for 97 years! NINETY-SEVEN years! Then I thought about what has changed in 97 years. We have made so many advances in technology that have changed all of our lives, but we have still not found a cure for cancer.  That is so sad, but it makes me want to do more to help!  I am not a doctor or a research scientist, but I can take one woman at a time and make them look like a million bucks! The Look Good... Feel Better Program is so much more than make up and hair, it truely gives women who are fighting for their lives a much needed confidence boost.

See, you don't have to dontate thousands of dollars or have a PhD to make a difference.  I bring my make up brushes and curling irons to the table, what are you going to bring?  Make a difference now, let's not wait another 97 years.

Everyone has a talent that could help get us closer to the cure.

Lesson In Love

Lots of people can tell you life lessons but until you experience them for your self. It can not be put in perspective like you think it will be until it happens. I just had a very big life lesson taught to me this weekend. You dream about and talk about the biggest engagement ring, the fanciest wedding, and all of the stuff that goes along with getting married. Then you get married and wonder what you did all that for. It's funny how you think back about the whole thing.

My husband and I did not do the whole big wedding thing. We went away to a quiet beach in the rain forest. Just him and I. We wanted the day to be just about us. The day. What we were vowing to one another. Changing are lives. Beginning our life as husband and wife. It is a day that we still talk about. A day that after we go to someones wedding we giggle in each others ear that ours was better and that it was just about us. Then on the way home we relive the that day again.

I do not have the biggest engagement ring but it is the biggest best one in the whole world to me. The best fanciest ring but most importantly it is the ring that my husband wanted me to have. The one he worked hard to save for. The one he designed for me. One like no one else's because of the day he placed it on my finger. The amazing moment in time that we said our vows and once again that ring was slipped on my finger.

This weekend my ring was taken from my home. I thought I miss placed it. I looked. I searched. I turned my home upside down. Finally the moment came when I had to tell my husband that my ring was not where it should be. It was hard to face my husband who put so much love in the idea of this ring not to mention the hard work that he had done to get this ring that its now gone. Do you know what he said? Its just a ring. We are still married. I still love you. Of course he immediately began helping me to look for it in case I had miss placed it but I didn't miss place it. It was taken but now with prayer and hard detective work it is back in it's rightful I mean leftful place. You know what I'm still married and I think we are better for it too. Love is not a ring or a thing it is a commitment to one another. My husband has been wonderful through this whole ordeal and we are closer now because of it.

Award!

I was just awarded a pretty big award from the American Cancer Society. They just recognized me for my outstanding contributions to the Look Good... Feel Better Program. So I got dressed up put on my crown and went to the Relay for Life to receive my award. I was so excited! This is what I am thinking finally all my hard work is paying off. They say a long speech about all that I have done and what I will be doing. So I feeling pretty good. Look at me. Look what I have done. I have helped all of these cancer patients. They call out Amberlee Hayman, Mrs. Mississippi will you please come receive your award. I stand up walk to the stage receive my award and take lots of pictures will all the right people with the biggest smile on my face.

I go to my seat and watch for the relay to begin. Then they start calling out special survivors and the team leaders. This is when I realize these people are the ones that should be getting the awards and then a very small very young little girl comes up to me and she had heard what the Look Good... Feel Better Program dose for women with cancer and she wanted to know if I could make her pretty like I was. It was very hard to hold back the tears because in front of me was the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. At eight years old she had been battling cancer for most of her life and had more courage than three grown men and more grace and beauty than any beauty queen I had ever meet.

Just as matter of factually as she had asked me I told her we could get her fixed up. All that being said I have a new out look on life and an even bigger mission than when I started with the American Cancer Society.

The more I work with cancer patients the younger they seam to get. And there is such a thing as a Teen Look Good... Feel Better Program, but there are only seven in the whole United States. Only seven! There are not enough regular Look Good... Feel Better Programs to take care of the women much less seven for all of the young people. Lets make this a time to take care of the next generation until we find a cure for cancer. Making the Look Good... Feel Better program a thing of the past is my goal.

Peace Love and Cancer

I don't really know how to talk about this subject but it has come up in the Look Good... Feel Better Programs I have facilitated and I read a magazine article the other day that had been weighing heavy on my mind.

The women want to know how to get and feel sexy again. The lady in the article wants to know how to be with her husband after her treatment for Brest cancer or if her husband even sees her as a sexual person anymore. The article says for her to try a new hair cut, make up, clothing. All of theses things the Look Good... Feel Better Program helps women with well except the clothing. All of thees things are offered for free because of the Personal Care Products Council Foundation, American Cancer Society, and The Nation Cosmetology Association.

This is why it is so important to camouflage the side effects of cancer. Women still want to be women even through cancer treatment. They need to be women during this time. They need our support, your support, and the love of there husbands and family's during this time.

Heart Walk 2010

So many wonderful people came out on this day to support Heart Health. I was so happy the weather was good and I was able to run the 5K! Miss International Erin Golden and Mrs. Arkansas International Robin More were also able to come and support the Heart Health mission.

Mrs. Arkannsas International Pageant 2010

Today was the first day of the pageant festivities. We had a wonderful orientation and then lunch was provided for us by Western Sizzler of Jacksonville. I almost felt like a celebrity walking in! The staff made us feel so welcome and the other customers were very happy to see all of the contestants.

Then it was on to every one's favorite part the interview. We had five wonderfully talented judges for five min. one on ones. Now that this part is over for the Mrs. contestants the teen and Miss will interview tomorrow.

For the Mrs. Contestants we will be getting up early to walk in the American Heart Association Heart Walk. It will be very fun and lots of information about heart health. I did this last year and had a blast!

Saturday I got to be a part of a a wonderful community involvement project to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Maurice's presented a spring fashion show in partner with local business who provided items for a silent auction. The items were bid on to raise money and every model brought awareness about cancer. The relay for life team leader was their to in form everyone about the relay for life in Benton. It was a wonderful time for everyone involved.

This just show that you can use anything to help out great cause. The American Cancer Society is that great cause. With over a million cases of cancer diagnose every year in the U. S. we have to support this organization.