Our Book of HOPE. Dixie s Chicks Relay for Life Team

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1 Our Book of HOPE Dixie s Chicks Relay for Life Team

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3 Our Book Of Hope A collection by Dixie s Chicks Relay for Life Team Published by Dixie s Chicks Britt, Iowa

4 Susan Carlson Dixie s Chicks Relay for Life All right reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in review, without permission in writing from the author/publisher. ISBN Printed in US by Instantpublisher.com

5 Introduction Our book is about giving HOPE to cancer patients and their families. It is a collection of thoughts from team members, family, friends and cancer survivors. Some have included poems, inspirational quotes, scriptures and some have included stories that have helped them to continue on with HOPE of better days. Hope and faith are two intimate brothers; they always go together. Hope nourishes faith and faith treasures hope. ~ Sri Chinmoy

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7 Relay for Life Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Half of all men and one-third of all women in the US will develop cancer during their lifetime. Today, millions of people are living with cancer or have had cancer. The good news the number of deaths due to cancer is decreasing!! Relay for Life is helping to make this happen. Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society s trademark fundraising event where teams of 15 people form to raise money and take turns walking around a track during the 12 hour event. Teams form from businesses, clubs, families, friends, hospitals, churches, schools and service organizations with a common purpose to support the ACS in its fight to find a cure for cancer. Relay for life is a time of remembrance, hope and celebration. The relay is symbolic of the cancer patient s battle with cancer. As the sun sets with the first couple of hours, it symbolizes the end of what was thought to be a healthy life. The overcoming darkness throughout the night represents how scary the disease can seem and those dedicated participants that choose to stay show that this is not a battle that is fought alone. Then, with the sunrise comes a new day for the cancer survivors with hope and energy to keep fighting the disease.

8 Dixie s Chicks ~ by Sue Carlson Our Relay for Life team, Dixie s Chicks, was started in 2005 in memory of Dixie Pavelka. Dixie battled cancer for ten years before passing away on April 30, Dix was a very special person who touched many people. She was always ready to give whatever she could to those who needed help. She loved her family, friends and life. It was her unique way of dancing to life that has inspired me. On more than one occasion she reminded me that no matter what the storm, there will always be a rainbow. Sometimes you just have to look harder for it. If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain. ~ Dolly Parton Dix and I had several conversations in the last few weeks of her life. There is one that I think about often and especially when were preparing for a fundraiser. I went into her home that morning to relieve the lady who stayed with her during the evenings. Her night had been an extremely tough night and our morning continued to be the same. Dix was finally resting on the couch and I decided to sit quietly beside her. She said to me, Sue, do you want to know what I hate the most about having cancer? My thoughts immediately went to the past twelve hours and what she had been through. But that wasn t her response. She went on to tell me the

9 thing she hated most about having cancer, was looking into the faces of the people she loved more than anything in this world and seeing their pain. Knowing that she caused this pain because she had cancer and she didn t know how to help us. We spent a great deal of time that day in tears and talking. I assured her that she was helping us. It was her strength, determination to fight and the way she faced everyday with HOPE that helped us. She talked about her family, other cancer families and how she wished a cure could be found, so the people she loved would never have to deal with cancer again. That is why she was involved with Relay for Life. She wanted to give that HOPE to others. We talked about her cancer and how we both knew it was becoming more aggressive. Dix didn t care, she wasn t going to give up and she didn t want the rest of us too. There was HOPE and that is what we both held onto. Hope helps us cope when the well is dry of wishes One can only have courage if one has hope. We need both in tough times. ~ Catherine DeVrye It was from our conversation that day I realized how important it was to give HOPE to other cancer patients and their families. FAITH, HOPE and LOVE are three very powerful gifts that we can give to ourselves and others. It is what we want Dixie s Chicks, Book of HOPE to bring to you.

10 Submitted by: Jason and Kristy Pavelka It was difficult dealing with knowing someone we loved was suffering. The doctors didn t give Dixie much hope, and if a cure, a treatment, or a medicine couldn t be found for her cancer, where else could we put our hope? Although Dixie didn t ever stop hoping and fighting for a cure, she found a great Hope in an everlasting, all powerful God. If God did not choose to heal her on earth, she knew shortly her body would be whole, perfect and healthy in God s presence in heaven. Dixie didn t have that Hope because she lived a perfect life, went to the right church, or grew up in the right family. Her Hope was a gift, a wonderful, free gift given by Jesus Christ himself when He died on the cross. The cross created a bridge over the canyon of sin that separates us all from God. There is nothing we can do to deserve or earn this gift. It is only attainable by faith- belief that Jesus Christ paid the penalty for all our wrongdoings and has forgiven us.

11 There is only one way to eternal Hope, and that is through faith in Jesus, as the Bible says in John 14:6, Jesus says, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father (God) except through me. We can have hope here on earth hope in our friends, family, doctors, money, possessions, but it is imperfect and temporal. The Hope that only God gives is perfect and never ends. Romans 15:13 May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. No Greater Gift could we hope to give, Than helping someone else to live. ~Lorraine Kember

12 Submitted by Nathan Pavelka Courage Courage is the price life exacts for granting peace. ~ Ameilia Earhart The following passage is from a book titled If Life is a Game, These are the Rules By Cherie Carter-Scott, Ph.D. Courage is finding the inner strength and bravery required when confronting danger, difficulty, or opposition. Courage is the energy current behind all great actions and the sparks that ignites the initial baby steps of growth. It resides deep within each of us, ready to be accessed in those moments when you need to forge ahead or break through seemingly insurmountable barriers. It is the intangible force that propels you forward on your journey. It takes courage to embrace the idea that what you make of your life is up to you and to actually do what you need to do. You can learn how to access your courage by digging down deep inside and tapping into whatever spiritual connection sustains you. What inspires you to action? For some it is a

13 belief in a higher power, for some it can be meditation or inspiring music, and for others perhaps great literature or spiritual passages. Regardless of what your connection is to the divine source, cultivate it well, for you will need to call upon it in those moments when you require courage. There are, or course, those times when you may be unable to locate that reservoir of courage stored inside you. That is when you will need to draw on the support of loved ones around you. You can borrow the courage you need from other people who believe in you strongly to get you through the phases of temporary amnesia when you forget your own abilities and tenacity. Courage is learned in the moment that you take a leap of faith and take action. I remember learning to dive as a child. For weeks, I stood at the tip of the diving board at our local pool, trying to work up the courage to plunge headfirst into the water below. My father stood at the bottom of the ladder three Saturdays in a row, offering encouragement. He demonstrated over and over how to do it, but I still felt afraid. The fear was nameless, since I was pretty sure I would not injure myself, and failure wasn t really a concern. I suppose I was simply afraid in the way that humans often are when they stand poised to jump, metaphorically or literally, into the unknown.

14 Finally, the day came when I realized that I could psych myself up all I wanted, and receive endless support from my father, but ultimately I would have to take a deep breath and just go. I climbed the ladder one more time, stood at the now-familiar edge of that board, said a little prayer, and dove. It was not a perfect dive, but it was a dive nonetheless. No blaring trumpets heralded the glory of my accomplishment, but it was that moment that I learned the valuable lesson of courage that would remain with me the rest of my life. What fears stand in your way? Bring them to the light so you can loosen their hold over you. Fears, real or imagined, only impede you. Banish them so that you may learn the lesson of courage and create the life you desire. Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark. ~George Iles

15 What God Promises He doesn t promise sunny days; just a rainbow at the end of a storm. He doesn t promise silver and gold, but to provide for your needs. He doesn t promise to make your life trouble free, just to give you strength to see things through. He doesn t promise all the answers; just that He ll direct your path. He doesn t promise you understanding, but faith that will see you through. He doesn t promise freedom from despair, only joy and peace in believing. He doesn t promise that you ll never fail, just that your strength and hope will be renewed. He doesn t promise you ll have no fears, but that he is always there. Most of all, He promises unconditional and everlasting love. ~ Barbara Cage

16 God Gives You a Rainbow for Every Rainy Day Often it is through the most difficult days of our lives that we come to know ourselves and what is truly most important to us. No matter how sad you may feel at time, be confident that hope will awaken with you tomorrow. Faith and Courage reach out to you; take hold of them, and you will find that you will be able to smile again and truly be happy once more. How we deal with life is really a matter of personal choice, so choose to be happy. Find joy in the simplest things, and see beauty in each person you meet. When times are difficult, remind yourself that no pain comes to you without a purpose. Above all, trust in God s handcrafted plan that He has made just for you. Let Him love you through life s joyous and painful aspects; if you do, you will find inner peace and unending joy. ~Kelly Wolfe Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:8

17 Strength vs Courage It takes strength to be firm. It takes courage to be gentle. It takes strength to stand guard. It takes courage to let down your guard. It takes strength to conquer. It takes courage to surrender. It takes strength to be certain. It takes courage to have doubt. It takes strength to fit in. It takes courage to stand out. It takes strength to feel a friend s pain. It takes courage to feel your own pain. It takes strength to hide your own pains. It takes courage to show them. It takes strength to endure abuse. It takes courage to stop it. It takes strength to stand alone. It takes courage to lean on another. It takes strength to love. It takes courage to be loved. It takes strength to survive. It takes courage to live. ~ Dave Griffin

18 Remember These Words Don t let go of hope. Hope gives you the strength to keep going when you feel like giving up. Don t ever quit believing in yourself. As long as you believe you can, you will have a reason for trying. Don t let anyone hold your happiness in their hands; hold it in yours, so it will always be within your reach. Don t measure success or failure by material wealth, but by how you feel; our feelings determine the richness of our lives. Don t let bad moments overcome you; be patient, and they will pass. Don t hesitate to reach out for help; we all need it from time to time. Don t run away from love but towards love, because it is our deepest joy.

19 Don t wait for what you want to come to you; go after it with all that you are, knowing that life will meet you halfway. Don t feel like you ve lost when plans and dreams fall short of your hopes. Anytime you learn something new about yourself or about life, you have progressed. Don t do anything that takes away from your self-respect; feeling good about yourself is essential to feeling good about life. Don t ever forget how to laugh or be too proud to cry. It is by doing both that we live life to it s fullest. ~Author Unknown Hope does not take away your problems. It can lift you above them ~Maya Angelou

20 Time to Feel Good Think about them one at a time BEFORE going on to the next one hopefully it ll make you feel good. 1. Falling in love. 2. Laughing so hard your face hurts. 3. A hot shower. 4. No lines at the supermarket. 5. A special glance. 6. Getting the mail. 7. Taking a drive on a pretty road. 8. Hearing your favorite song on the radio. 9. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside. 10. Hot towels fresh out of the dryer. 11. Chocolate milkshake. (or vanilla or strawberry!) 12. A bubble bath. 13. Giggling. 14. A good conversation. 15. The beach. 16. Finding a 20 dollar bill in your coat from last winter. 17. Laughing at yourself. 18. Midnight phone calls that last for hours. 19. Running through sprinklers. 20. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all. 21. Having someone tell you that you re beautiful. 22. Laughing at an inside joke.