Challenge and a really good opportunity for a good laugh

                                                            a little bug told me-




Challenge-opportunity for a good laugh here-

As I mentioned over on face book I have been thinking. That in itself is enough to make people either nervous or just go ahead and flat out run away. This however is for a good cause. The American Cancer Society and Relay for Life.

If you are reading this, then you probably already know that I am a breast cancer survivor. I was diagnosed and went through my personal battle in 2008. Now here I am cancer free and fighting to help other people join me in celebrating more birthdays.

One of the ways I do that is write- a lot. I'll post a lot of blogs, I'll send a lot of emails, I write columns and submit them to what ever medium I think may run them.

I talk a lot. Sharing with people what I know, what I have learned, where if I don't know something that they can find the answers they need.

I participate in Relay for Life. I spend the night- all night- of the event. Why? Because cancer doesn't sleep and on that night neither do I. Well, not much anyway. I walk the Survivor Lap. I walk countless miles through the night. I tear up as the Luminarias are lit and the lights go out. To walk past bag after bag with someone else's name emblazoned across it, brings a lot of tears. So many, cancer touches so many.

I also fundraise. I've sold things for Relay for Life, shirts, tickets for pancake breakfasts, barbecue, trinkets bangles and beads in the quest to raise money to help find a cure.

In the past few days I've been watching all of those Pink Glove videos on Youtube. Some are really good and some are a lot of people have a blast as they draw attention to the fight against (breast) cancer. So, my idea was--that if people help me to exceed my fundraising goal I will create one of those videos. Where does the good laugh come in? I don't dance. I have not really danced since I was somewhere around twenty years old. I am now 53..that's a pretty big gap. But- I would gladly embarrass, humiliate, and invite ridicule to myself in the process of raising money for a good cause. I will find a way to make this video one of good technical quality so that my lack of dancing skill will be clear and obvious. The video will be made at various places here on the Dirt Road and nearby locations. I will draft- um- enlist, the aid of my son in operating the camera so that it will be minus any gaps while waiting for me to enter the scene..

AND

If there are those that are seriously frightened of the prospect of seeing this 53 year old lady dancing-- I will also accept donations to keep me from dancing. Which ever gets the most- wins..actually, the ACS and Relay for Life wins. We just get to have a great bit of fun and a grand time bringing that about.

Donations can be made online on my personal page here or you can print out a form and mail in the donations directly to ACS..just tell them its for me. You can also make a check out to ACS and send it to me, contact me and I'll tell you where to send it. Or- if you're local and see me out and about I'll gladly accept a donation and count your vote for which-ever.

Also- my books are still available and a portion of each sale goes to Relay for Life.

The person who donates the most will receive a signed copy of one of my books- their choice.




http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?px=5704248&pg=personal&fr_id=33417&fl=en_US&et=1-Fkd99cdHEfbl--fhjg1w..&s_tafId=693231






Blessed, a collection of God given inspirational poetry by Rebecca Stepp Revels is available now @

http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=2137587

and now also at

Amazon, Books-a-Million and Barnes and Noble .com





The Legend of Dragon's Doom:a Young Warrior's vow, by RS Revels is available @

http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/the-legend-of-dragons-doom-a-young-warriors-vow/7505820

and other online sites





also @ Bookin' It, your mobile bookstore @ www.bookin-it.com



Available now @ http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/blessed-in-his-promises/12670945:

Blessed in His Promises

All books available @ Poor Richard's Book Shoppe @ www.PRBookShoppe.com

Cancer Touches us all

Cancer touches us all


by Rebecca S. Revels on Saturday, February 12, 2011 at 12:07pm

Many of us have lost someone that we love to cancer. Some more recently than others, some of these we may have been related to, were friends with, worked with. It doesn't matter how well we knew them or how close we were to them. It doesn't matter the cancer battle they fought- and lost. They have left us, they battle no more. We are here to deal with their loss, and the empty spot they have left.







There are those that have battled cancer, no matter they type, and have won that battle. Even those that have gone into the fight more than once. At this moment, they are with us. I am one of those. I am a survivor- as are those that have battled and are currently battling cancer.







We go into this fight, believing we can win. More than ever before- many of us now do win this, but not all.







We go into this fight, with the love, the prayers, the help of those that know and love us.







It is not an easy battle, no matter how early or late the cancer was diagnosed. It is not an easy battle no matter the treatments undergone.







We hear the diagnoses, and then we must decide who we are going to share the information with. We share that diagnoses with those that are closest to us alone, or with whomever else we chose, small or large numbers. We may ask for prayer, assistance or we may try to do this on our own. For our own reasons.







I remember, I will always remember the expression on my brother's face when he found out. It is ingrained in my memory never to be erased. That is one of the reasons I do the things I do in this battle. My cancer physically is gone. I was diagnosed, I had a lumpectomy and radiation. I am a survivor. But---I am forever changed. Many things in this life change us, for the better or worse.







My cancer has made me stronger than I ever was. My diet has changed, my activity levels have changed, my very thought processes...have changed. I find peace in my faith and in the simple things around me. I am more content in what I have, not seeking out the many material things because realization is, they won't keep me healthy, they won't make me happy. They are in fact, simply things. I have become more outspoken at least in this, my story.







While I was fighting my cancer, there were days, especially while I was undergoing the radiation treatments, when I felt as if it was impossible to put one foot in front of the other. I had no energy, I was moving, working, living on will power and faith. Even as tired I was during the day, I still took the time, made the effort to take a daily walk. There I found a great peace and the strength, to keep fighting. Many friends sent me cards (that I still have), many prayed for me, many sent me messages of encouragement. And I fought on.







I won my battle. I am cancer free. There are those- as I said- that do not. We are made less by their loss. Yet, we are made stronger. We look to this and we grow angry. We look to this their loss and we grow determined. We will fight to not lose another loved one, another friend, another co-worker- another friend of a friend of a friend to cancer. We grow determined that our best friend's mother, sister, father, brother will not lose his battle.







I do this by writing about it. By telling my story, by sharing what I dealt with, what I did, how far I have come. I do this, by my writing, and simply talking with those somewhere in the battle. I do this, by participating in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. I stay the entire night. I stay for those who have battled and won. I stay for those who have battled and lost. I stay for myself. I walk the Survivor lap and I walk the very last Celebratory lap. I watch the sun go down, the luminaries being lit and I watch the sun come up. It is my wish, my desire, my hope..to see an end to cancer. Part of that we can bring about in lifestyle changes, part of that will need those that work to discover a cure. But they need funding, that is where Relay for Life comes in. There are many ways to support Relay for Life- ask me, check in with your local chapter, as someone you know that is involved. Make a donation of your time, your talent, your cash.







Cancer is a terrible disease that shows no favor. It takes whomever it chooses. Let us, together, put an end to it. Let us work so that more of those that face cancer will celebrate more birthdays- healthy and cancer free.






                           --as always-- a portion of my book sales goes to Relay for Life--




















Blessed, a collection of God given inspirational poetry by Rebecca Stepp Revels is available now @

http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=2137587

and now also at

Amazon, Books-a-Million and Barnes and Noble .com





The Legend of Dragon's Doom:a Young Warrior's vow, by RS Revels is available @

http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/the-legend-of-dragons-doom-a-young-warriors-vow/7505820

and other online sites





also @ Bookin' It, your mobile bookstore @ www.bookin-it.com



Available now @ http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/blessed-in-his-promises/12670945:

Blessed in His Promises



All books available @ Poor Richard's Book Shoppe @ www.PRBookShoppe.com

my yearly mammogram

                                relay for life- helping survivors celebrate more birthdays







As a breast cancer survivor, ever year when it comes time for my mammogram, the nerves start. I'm not so much afraid, but I am afraid. Not so much for myself, even though I seriously don't want to go through that again. Knowing what I know now. Seeing or hearing of others going through it is one thing, you can sympathize, offer kind words and go on about your merry way. Whistling a tune thinking the world is a happy place. When it comes knocking on your door, its an entirely different matter. NOW you understand. With each different test, procedure and treatment your awareness grows. Part of you possibly feels guilt and regret over how indifferent you seemed at other people's illness. Part of you may be angry. Part of you, is afraid while part- the strongest part, is determined to beat this new enemy.



I did not need to suffer through chemo therapy. I did have to have radiation treatments. The radiation treatments where first off embarrassing for a person who is very self conscious. To have to stretch out on that table and bare it all so that it all can get radiated is nearly as embarrassing as it is important. Even as the technicians have seen it all --this is you--and you are not comfortable with this. Second the radiation treatments to me- and different people react in different ways- the radiation treatments left me a walking zombie. There were days it was nearly impossible to put one foot in front of the other. There were days I would have loved to have pulled the cover up over my head and slept- for days. During the treatments I was weaned off of my junk food diet. Processed sugars and caffeine made the exhaustion from the radiation worse. There was a small amount of burn, like a mild sunburn. That didn't bother me too badly. I've had some serious sunburns in my time, this was nothing compared to them.



I still have the certificate I was given on completion of my treatments hanging on the board in my kitchen. Along with most of the cards that I was sent during treatment. Guilt came in there as well, I was receiving cards and messages from people I didn't know, encouraging me. Because of that, I will forever be more concerned over others suffering through the battle against cancer. Any type of cancer.



I'm no so afraid of the cancer returning, even if it meant my death. I know where my name is listed. I worry about my family. I can vividly recall the expressions that were on each face as they found out. The fear, the sadness, the realization that we will each have to at some point face our own mortality. Even as we may celebrate the fact that a life of suffering has ended and the person lost has opened their eyes in a much better place..we mourn our loss. We mourn that we are separated from them. I would not want my family to mourn, but as I know that I would mourn losing any of them, I know they too would mourn me.



I dread my yearly mammogram, not only because of the embarrassment, or the pain- and it does hurt being mashed up like that- but for the time spent wondering about the results. All manner of thoughts pass through as time drags by. And you wonder, what if the answer is, it has returned.



For myself, I believe that I would fight just as I fought the first time. I will do my best, to actually do better than I did the first time. At that time, I was not only battling cancer, I was trying to help my husband find a job- while working a full time job myself. I would have a better diet, exercise more, rest more and do my best to not stress so much. Things I am actually working on now- in the hopes of helping to do what I can to prevent its return. I have two more years of medication to take, hopefully once that is passed, then I will be physically handling the preventative thing well.



I hope that the time I have spent working with the American Cancer Society and their Relay for Life will help me knowledge wise should the cancer return. I know now, things I did not know then. What is available, how to find help, what they do for those battling cancer, cancer survivors and their caregivers.



I do dread that yearly mammogram- but I know how important it is for me. I want others to know, just how important it is and that it is not something that can be put off till next year or when ever the mood strikes. My cancer was caught early- thanks to that mammogram. I will celebrate more birthdays, I will spend more years with my beloved family and friends. I will work as much as I can, as well as I can with Relay for Life to help others do the same. Won't you consider it as well?













































a portion of the sales of my books goes to relay for life--



Blessed, a collection of God given inspirational poetry by Rebecca Stepp Revels is available now @

http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=2137587

and now also at

Amazon, Books-a-Million and Barnes and Noble .com





The Legend of Dragon's Doom:a Young Warrior's vow, by RS Revels is available @

http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/the-legend-of-dragons-doom-a-young-warriors-vow/7505820

and other online sites





also @ Bookin' It, your mobile bookstore @ www.bookin-it.com



Available now @ http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/blessed-in-his-promises/12670945:

Blessed in His Promises



All books available @ Poor Richard's Book Shoppe @ www.PRBookShoppe.com

Relay for Life

This will be short as I have a meeting to attend.

I am a cancer survivor. I participate in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. It is my desire to help make it possible for every person who battles cancer to be a survivor.

I will be posting info on Relay, on the American Cancer Society and the events that will be going on between now- Kick off night-- and relay which happens in May..

Relay- join us- its fun, its exciting, its worthwhile.. it is one way we can make a difference--


While this blog I will leave short- even as I started to change it- but I will add that this is just the beginning. I plan on making posts on what happens as we travel through toward and right up to our Relay event--please join me in this venture-