Not Just a Month, but 8.5 Years of Awareness

October is breast cancer awareness month. Not that I or any of our family needs to be reminded of the significance of breast cancer and path

of destruction it creates.

1 out of 8 women will be diagnosed with this disease in their lifetime.

Traci happens to be the one in our pack of eight.

The news will never be pleasant and the moments leading up to her first surgery almost nine years ago, were some of the ugliest moments of my life. Addison was only two years old and the other kids have only ever known Auntie to be sick, bald or too weak to wrestle. Addi and I often took the train down to Portland to visit Traci and many sleepovers followed as the years pasted on. The disease spread not only to her lungs, but continues to advance throughout her bones. There's been two bald parties after I shaved her head shinny and too many conversations of terrifying results that quite possibly could have given us more more worry than we fretted over. The tumor markers keep rising which causes fear of the unknowns for the outcome.

One thing stands as the hero in this journey. Faith.

Traci's faith has been an example to many around her showing how good God still is as she fights everyday for her health. She is the prime example of what not giving up looks like.

A few weeks ago, my husband was doubled over with food poisoning. As he struggled to keep water down, he made a remark that, yet again, reminded me of the eternal strength my sister fights with, "Traci has done this everyday for years. I have nothing to complain about."

Recently, a few of my e2 friends ran a race most would not give two seconds of thought towards. This is just one story of how Traci has influenced others through her struggle with cancer. This is what he says...

{ Josh, Tami, Kyle & Ken }

"We don't know each other, but we belong to the same family, and I see that our Abba Daddy has moved only as he can.

I have a little story I would like to share and that I hope will bless you in some way.

As I worked and trained to run the White River 50, I experienced such clarity and connection with the Holy Spirit. It was one of the hardest, physical, emotional and spiritual journeys of my life, and I am continuing to see the fruit of that. Some of that fruit is found in the #319. When the opportunity came to choose the number I would race with, instead of choosing on my own, I just prayed. I prayed that the number that I would run with would have a greater significance than just being a number. When my number showed up, Habakkuk 3:19 came to mind and I was immediately drawn to its significance for my own race through the mountains and all that I would face on July 25th. I felt His presence and blessing in what He had given me. That this hard thing that He had called me to, and drawn me so close to Him in would be completed with Him, under His strength, not mine. When Steph grabbed me at church before our run, showed me her tattoo, and told me your story; I felt His presence and blessing all the more. I knew that the Holy Spirit was showing me the greater significance in the number I was given and what I was to do on the day of the race. I, not even knowing you or having met you, would run for you and pray for you when things got hard for me on the trail. Your "trail" has clearly been more difficult than mine - 2 massive surgeries, piles of pills each day, loosing your hair, and all of the other stuff that comes along with cancer. I know that just like for me in the hard things of this life, Daddy has been with you each step of the way, He has brought "family" alongside to "run" with you, "walk" with you and even "crawl" with you. He has given you the strength to not give up. He is with you, His power is being made perfect in you, and all of those that are being touched by your amazing life and story in Him.

As I sat in church this morning praising Jesus; it came over me again that it is in the hard things, that all of the best things happen in and around us to bring us closer to Him. I also had the thought that you are quite possibly going to win the biggest and best race of all...the race home to sit on Daddy's lap.

I hope to meet you someday and to hug the lady that ran 50 miles in my heart and prayers."

This is what awareness looks like. It changes people. Impacts people. Encourages us to keep going and to never give up.

Traci, you have made us all aware of the incredible power of God's faithfulness as you fight each new day with the fuel of the Holy Spirit guiding you; leading you; carrying you to the ultimate finish line. God has never once left you, or those racing with you, alone in this battle. Though the mountain may seem impossible to climb, we still move forward because there is beauty to be seen in the journey. I am eternally grateful for having the chance to be your sister and for our kids to have the strongest Auntie cheering for them in life.

Thank you for showing us what a warrior of faith, a child of the Lord's army, looks like under battle.