Team Tiara

Team Tiara 18 / 15 Weekend

Two years ago when I walked the 3-Day, my Mom had passed away a mere three months earlier.  My world was in such a tailspin, I had no idea which end was up. 

So many blessings came out of the 2007 walk, but the message that made the most impact in my life was that God was walking through the walk, and through our team.  And that message came through loud and clear.

And while I am so glad I was able to walk every inch of that 60-mile walk, I fully recognize that my little feet with way-too-high arches have their limitations. I can no longer walk 60 miles in three days.  But I haven’t given up. I walk what I can, and I pour every bit of myself that I can into fundraising.

This weekend is a big weekend for our team.  Today the Tiaras walked 18 miles.  Tomorrow they’ll do 15.  This 18/15 back-to-back walk can be grueling at best.  But along with some very welcome cold weather, God gave us a wonderful gift this morning.

Because 18 miles is FAR outside my training walk agenda, I planned to walk 6 or 7 miles today.  I decided that if I was going to just walk 6 miles, there was no need to meet our team at the 7:00 a.m. start — I’d rather sleep a little later and carve my 6 out of the middle.

I got to the Athletic Center about 8:00, and made a call to our co-captain to find out where they were.  (I’m sure she stepped of the trail to answer the phone! )  They were a ways away, but requested that I bring our team flag. I headed home, grabbed the flag, and started walking to meet them. 

When you’re walking through your neighborhood, carrying a flag, surrounded by lots of fun and crazy walkers, it’s one thing.  When you’re walking solo through your neighborhood carrying a flag, it’s another thing entirely.

This is where God chose to show us, once again, that Coincidence is what happens when He chooses to remain anonymous. 

We Love Pink!

Before I could reach the team, a young woman pulled up to talk to me.  She thanked me for carrying the flag and bringing a smile to her face.  She was on her way to the funeral of somone who had died from breast cancer, and she appreciated what we do.

We chatted, and as things often are in Fairfield, found out we have several mutual friends.  When she said I was younger than she had expected, I decided that had something to do with my new haircut and the fact that I was wearing one of Kait’s hair pretties.

I told her how to find out more about Team Tiara, and how to sign up to walk with us next year.  In the meantime, our team arrived.  I shared a bit of what was going on with them, and she shared the fact that it was her Grandmother who had passed away.  At that point, the tears were beginning to dampen our faces.

I walked around her truck to give her a hug, but felt God’s strong urging to do more. I took her hand and led her around the front of the truck to our waiting team who gathered around her and prayed over her.  We prayed for her and her family.  That every step we take as a team and every dollar we raise will bring Glory to God.  And we asked Him to bring us a CURE.  Soon.

As we parted ways, many of us shedding tears, she mentioned that this was the first time anyone had prayed over her in this grieving process.  And I prayed a silent prayer of thanks that God would lead us all to that very spot at that perfect time with that crazy flag and give us an opportunity to be His hands and feet today.

Kara Takes a Turn at Carrying the Flag

Walking, Walking, Walking...

For My Mom,

D’Lyn