Swim Across America

When we first heard about Swim Across America it seemed a perfect fit for us. We all love to swim and cancer took Rick's Mom back in 2007. Emily is really the only one who can swim a mile - but we plan on more family members joining her in the future!

Today she participated in Swim Across America for the third year.

Here she is after her first swim in 2009.

2010

and getting ready for the 2011 swim.

When I was looking at old photo's from her past swims we realized that she had been number 4 her first year and number 14 her second year, so we were stoked that she could be number 24 for this year!

After she was all signed in she got on her cap & goggles ready to hit the pool! It was a little overcast & chilly but I knew she'd warm right up as soon as she got going.

One down, 71 more to go ....

She mixed it up doing some freestyle, some butterfly, some backstroke some breaststroke. She still has swim competitions this coming week so it made for a good workout!

 72 laps - still smiling!

I did it!

 Mom!  I'm so tired, please stop taking pictures of me.

Then she got to sign the banner. Emily always dedicates her swim to her Grandma & signs the banner to her.

 

Oh, how I love this girl

A picture with Aidan, one of her good friends who also swam today.

We're so proud of Emily & know Grandma is too!

Swim Across America 2010

Emily swam in Swim Across America again this year. 

We kind of decided to make it "our charity." It makes sense - my kids are all swimmers and Rick's Mom lost her battle to cancer a few years ago. We are pleased to be able to raise money for cancer research and to support cancer patients.

We have to get to the pool early. They start at 6:30am.

She likes to mix it up and do freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke ... I did talk her out of doing any butterfly. Seriously, you don't have to make it too hard on yourself Em!

Here she is after a backstroke flip turn.

I love to see her like this, she is such a beautiful swimmer!

I did it!

This is how she looks after swimming a mile?!

I am hauling myself out gasping for breath after a dozen laps!

She was happy to be #14. That's her Dad's number.

The swimmers can all sign a big banner and dedicate their swim to someone. Emily dedicated her swim to her Grandma.

We are so proud of you Emily and we know Grandma is too!

Army of Mothers

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

Martin Luther King, Jr.

This is one of my favorite quotes, and this is an appropriate time for it.


Did anyone catch Oprah last week?
The show about senate bill 1738? The "Protect Our Children" Act.
Did you see the map? Were you horrified like me?

One of her guests called for "an army of mothers" to help pass this bill. Mothers. That's who it will take. I never see another child hurt without tearing up myself. I recently reached a new level in embarrassment when I began to cry at hearing an announcement in a store of two little lost boys. Why? Why when we see images of frail little bodies starving in Africa do our hearts ache? Because all of us as mothers instantly think of our own children. We instantly identify with the fear/pain/anguish another mother is feeling for her child. We know that we would walk across hot coals, or give our very lives to protect our little one's. The safety of children is the responsibility of everyone.

I had no idea the extent and reach of child abuse on the web. I was heartsick. And physically sick. Law enforcement has the technology to track down those offenders praying on the innocence of children. They do not have the means. Pass this bill and give them the means. Every person they get will be a child / children saved.

To see more about the Oprah show go here.

To read the bill go here.

To find out who your senators are go here. (Click on "senators")

Time is running out. They recess on September 26th (Friday.) Do something TODAY.

** Note - If you live in NY, you don't need to ask Chuck Schummer to support this bill, because he is a co-sponsor. Still call his office though & tell him you give it your support.