Luminaria Ceremony at Livermore's Relay of Life

Finally we went back to Livermore's Relay of Life to hear Rocky and Jodi Lewis's testimony on their journey through cancer as a survivor and a caregiver. It was quite moving and inspirational.



Hope-Because you have to have hope, faith and love...


Rocky and Clark


Clark, Emma, I and EvieRae


Some of more of the Cornerstone Fellowship Team


Emma dances whether someone is watching or not.

San Ramon Relay of Life and BBQ

I never thought that 20 years after graduating from Cal High in San Ramon I would be there with my husband, daughter and some of my former class mates briefy for a Relay for Life.

Some of our biggest supporters have been Teri and Jennifer-thank you!

Teri Stein Ryan and I


Clark and Emma

Then Clark and I headed back to Livermore for Del Valle for Delilah's BBQ Birthday. It was hot but watching the kids swim and eating some delightful food was worth the 100 degree plus heat.

A Day of Relays (Livermore and San Ramon) and a BBQ birthday party

Clark, Emma and I attended the opening ceremonies and survivor laps for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life in Livermore and San Ramon today (though by the time we got to San Ramon Clark was done with the heat and we stayed a minute, walked half a lap and left). Here are some pictures from the Livermore Relay.


Emma and Clark

Clark and I

Clark, Emma and I

Jodi Lewis

Rocky Lewis

Our little dancer

Famous quotes

I posted this on Facebook and I loved it so much I thought I would post it here...

In the end, it's not going to matter how many breaths you took, but how many moments took your breath away.
- shing xiong

Below are some more of my favorites-

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.
—Ambrose Redmoon

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands but seeing with new eyes.
—Marcel Proust

Work like you don’t need money, love like you’ve never been hurt, and dance like no one’s watching
—Unknown Author

Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.
—Oscar Wilde

Half way point

Today is Clark's half way point with chemo. He actually went by himself. Emma and I got colds when we were down in Disneyland and I was unable to take him. Clark seemed in good spirits when he came home and now is resting.

Yesterday Emma started her first day of Fairy Tale Ballet. Clark and I went and it was so cute. Emma wears the sweetest pink ballet shoes, tights and tutu. It was so endearing to see her and the other little girls trying to use a ballet bar and learning 1st, 3rd and 5th positions of ballet.

Pictures should be forth coming once I figure out how to download them from the new phone...

Cancer update

Today we met with Clark's oncologist. After reviewing Clark's latest CAT scans, he determined that Clark will have chemo until the fall and then radiation. The radiation will last about 5-6 weeks. It will put us about November/December.

As Clark says just in time for another stay at Disneyland-we will see!

Disneyland a week ago

A trip planned to Disneyland on a few days notice-having to start and end within a limited amount of time before Clark's next chemo.

And just by chance and our fabulous fortune our very dear friends and fellow Livermore Moms Club member Kris, David and Delilah (who is only 17 days younger than Emma)were able to join us with their friends and family as well! It was great. We look forward to doing it again!!!

Team Schoening One Love-THANKS!

San Francisco Lymphomathon 2009-Team Schoening One Love

Thank you for all that came...it meant the world...

Team Members:
Total Raised $2,070.00
Team Captain : Terilynn Bench
Christina Celaya-Gardner
Michael Challand
Kevin Christensen
Rebecca Christensen
Philip and James Gardner
Jennifer and Bill Garry and Family
Adrian Miller
Janice Molinelli and Family
Michele Morris
Ron and Cindi Reis
Nancy and Maddie Robbins
Kathleen and Emma Schoening
Makena Siebert
Michelle Siebert
Kylie Siebert
Leslie Sine
Julie Wise Kozak and Rachel
Shawn Grace and Family
Rob Laing and Diana
Todd, Syndie and Lexi Cunningham

And the many others who donated their time and money to make this the best time for our team and the event!

2009 San Francisco Bay Area Lymphomathon at Golden Gate Park

While Clark, Emma and I are going to see the Big Eared Man at Dland on chemo passes, here is the information for the 2009 San Francisco Bay Area Lymphomathon at Golden Gate Park from my bestest girl friend in the world!

We have raised over $1800. What a great job so far everyone!

If you would like to caravan with us, meet at my house at 7am.


Hey there Team Schoening - One Love!

We're only a week away! Thanks to all of you for your efforts so far, and for the tremendous support you are showing our dear Clark.

The details for the day are below:

Sunday, June 14th

Meet at the Golden Gate Park Band Shell (near the DeYoung Museum) and look for the "Team Schoening" sign to find us!

Registration 8:00 am - 9:00 am
Walk 9:00 am - 10:30 am
Post Walk BBQ & Live Music 10:30 am - 12:00 pm

Since there will be food after the walk in the park, maybe we can find a scrumptious dessert-ish place after the walk raps up near the Park and spend time together in the afternoon for those who are available!

I'd like to congratulate everyone on the fundraising! We're currently in 6th place out of 18 teams - WOO HOO!!!! Let's keep it going as we wind up this week culminating in the walk on Sunday. Fundraising tips are on the bottom of this email.

I'd like to welcome the new members of our team, and provide you an updated team roster below:

Terilynn Bench - Team Captain
Kathleen and Emma Schoening
Adrian Miller
Michael Challand
Christina Celaya-Gardner
Philip Gardner
Kevin Christensen
Rebecca Christensen
Makena Siebert
Michelle Siebert
Jennifer Garry
Leslie Sine
Ron and Cindi Reis
Nancy Robbins
(Todd and Synthia Cunningham and Michele Morris are our virtual honorary team members as well! They are out of state and not able to attend the walk.)

Special note for our new members: Custom shirts were ordered and I know that some of you joined after we were unable to place additional orders. The shirts are dark green in color with a light green lymphoma ribbon on them and our team name, in case you want to color coordinate with us! :) Whatever you want to wear is perfect of course, just being there is what matters!

A special thanks to Michael Challand for designing and getting the team shirts! For those who still need to pay for them, don't forget to bring a check or cash to the walk to pay Michael. He says the shirts have arrived and look GREAT!

If you have any questions, please let me know!

GO TEAM!

With much love,
Terilynn

Rules

Today was Emma's grand blast of a 3rd party with 20 of her playgroup friends at a local indoor play facility. We had a great time!!!!

After today's party and after the presents were unwrapped, Clark and I had a long conversation about "rules and what they mean".

Some people run their lives by rules and consequences. Some people go through the rules and disregard what they want and others just do what they want. The conversation came to be because I have had many questions lately on a particular subject and I have had an onslaught of e-mails saying "these are the rules, these are the by-laws..." I believe that consistency and fairness should benefit all and not just some, however when the rules are bent and the majority's morale is brought down because of the bad actions of a few, the rules need to be reviewed, changes made and actions to be taken (and sometimes not in that order). I struggle because not everyone thinks like I and I do not always think like others.

When I was a a manager at a financial institution, a group of my employees gave me a decorated stick and said that I , "Speak softy and carry a big stick." While I am not Roosevelt, and I no longer speak as softy as I should, my stick still sometimes comes in handy (just kidding).

I believe that rules are made, just as easily as I understand that they are made to be broken when they no longer apply.

Drained batteries

Today from the time I got up to now I feel like I am running on drained batteries. Not enough spiritual, emotional or physical rest for me lately and I need a charge. This weekend is a flurry of parties for friends, household duties and errands, Emma's playgroup birthday party and now packing for a medically approved last minute "fun" trip.

So please God recharge my batteries as only you know how. Your rest is what I need and seek.

Happy Birthday Emma!

To our beautiful three year old -Happy Birthday Emma!

Dance in the rain

Tonight Emma and I were in one of the bedroom's and heard the rain starting to come down hard and fast. I turned to Emma and said "Come on" and ran to the front door. Clark met us there. We opened the door and Emma ran out in the rain. She started to giggle and dance.

Clark and I stood there in the doorway and watched her.

Because sometimes you just have to dance in the rain.

Luminaria bags for Relay for Life

Emma, Clark and I made luminaria bags for Relay for Life at California High in San Ramon (where I graduated from so long ago). These bags were given to me by someone who I was in Brownies and Girl Scouts with (yes hard to believe it I was a Brownie and a Girl Scout-the brown and the green uniforms were so styling back then).

Teri-thank you. We loved doing this and cannot wait to give them to you.

Here is what the luminaria bags means to the Relay for Life according to their website.

The Light of Hope

For many people who attend Relay For Life®, one of the most moving parts of the event is the Ceremony of Hope. As the light dims over campsites and team members complete laps, the night is brightened by the glow of lighted bags called luminaria, each of which has a special meaning. Some luminaria celebrate the survivorship of people who have battled cancer and lived to tell the tale. Many commemorate the lives of those who have been lost to this disease. All represent a person who has been profoundly affected by cancer and the family and friends who continue to be touched by that experience.

Last Day of School

Today was Emma's last day of school until the Fall. Ms. Linda had pictures made of us and then we decorated the frames today. It was bittersweet.

Later this afternoon Emma started her summer swim lessons. She loves being in the pool. Luckily we live in a HOA with two heated pools and we have already made it down there a few times since the opening. In fact, many times we go through and we are the only ones there. Clark would like to go swimming with us but the GPS tracker (as known as the portacap) makes him self conscious. I told him no one cares so we will see.

Clark feels so much better today. I have to assume if you are ummm feeling frisky that this is life is getting better.