Tag Archives: Reed’s Run

27 days to go: Who let the dogs out?

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Photo taken by Lulu Bell (evidence that she was NOT the one on the couch)
That’s Me, Hiccup, and Andy
(No, we don’t have laser eyes. This place has gone to the dogs.)

Mom has left the computer open.  She doesn’t know that the remote isn’t the only thing I can operate around here.  I will say it’s a good thing she is gone because this typing without thumbs is NOT easy. I see why she always says, “Huck-y if only you had thumbs you could help out around here.”  Well, I am going to help her out and pound out today’s blog.   (Do you know that she reads all of her work out loud; so, I have been an editor more than once.)

I don’t think they realize how much I notice when they think no one is looking.  Like I know what happens to all the missing cups and glasses, and I know why some people’s laundry baskets never seem full in this family. I also know which person to sit next to at the table for a little snack.  But I am like my buddy, Duke, I’m not saying anything.

It’s pretty obvious why my family chose to have a dog walk for Reed’s Run, but it is doubtful that anybody understands how much my boy meant to me.  Very few know that I came into Reed’s life because he had been diagnosed with an eye condition causing him to go blind.  My puppy energy helped him remember he was still a little boy.  Soon he forgot all about those big medical words that I couldn’t understand anyway.  All I know is that I would sit at the end of the driveway waiting until my boy got home from school every day, and then the two of us would be off on adventures.  Those adventures were everything to me, and eventually it got to where Reed talked Mom & Dad into to taking me everywhere.  (Just don’t ask the rest of them about our first camping trip.  Let’s just say Reed & I were seriously in the dog house!)

This weekend Mom invited over two of my good friends to hang out with my little puppy brother, Hiccup, and myself.  One of those dogs is my buddy Andy.  Andy is younger but I get it. He has a big heart too.  Somehow I think he understands that we have a bigger role than just friend now.  We carry a piece of our boys (Reed & AJ) in everything we do. Mom has met lots of nice people who have told her similar stories about their canine friends. Believe me, our Mom can talk.

Simply put dogs matter! Maybe not to all people, but we really do to grieving people. I feel when their hearts are hurting because I miss Reed as much as they do.  When I see them down, I try my best to snuggle up, but that is getting harder for me to do these days.  I know this is the last Reed’s Run, and even though I have had a few bouts of being down this year, I am going to make one last trip to the place where Reed and I earned those purple ribbons to remember my boy.

I am not sure that Mom is going to like that Hiccup and Andy just  licked her keyboard.  Pups! When will they ever learn to cover up the evidence? Trust me, I will act like I was never here.

PAWS OUT – Huck

Miss Kandy to the Rescue – 28 days to go!

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Photo by Lil’ Sprout Memories by Alyssa Francis

I have known my whole life (okay since 2nd grade) that I wanted to be a teacher.  I love learning, but more importantly I adore kids!  I have earned many different names over the year from Adjunct Professor to Ms. Stevens (my Lakeview name), but the name I cherish the most is the one given to me by my Sunday School kids – Miss Kandy.

I will never forget the time when my family was vacationing in the Twin Cities and we were taking in the “fun” (and I use that term loosely) at the Mall of America.  We were camped out at the Legoland play area, when I heard a faint shout out. “Miss Kandy!”  I thought I was hearing things.  But the sound began to crescendo like a blue shift of wavelengths suggesting the sound-maker was running toward me.  “MISSSSS KANNNNNDDDDDDYYYYY” I turned just in time to see a sweet little “L” from my Sunday School class running across (with her parents in hot pursuit) across the indoor amusement park.  How in the world she saw me through all those people is beyond me.

So it came as no surprise to me how I ended up in the place where the kids run earned its beginnings.  Reed’s Run aficionados will remember that we did not have a kids run in the first year.  The origin of the run came from the summer before the second run.  While helping chaperone the Lakeview junior high football team attending Chad Greenway’s “Day to Reach” camp in Hutchinson, I took a passel of younger siblings to Burger King to the play land.   After playing for a while, we all sat down to enjoy our snacks.  It was during that conversation that the idea was hatched.

One of the sweet girls started the ball rolling by saying, “I love Reed’s Run, but I just wish I was big enough to run in it.”  I explained that anyone, any age, can run.  “S” and her friend, “E” explained that wasn’t the problem; the problem was that 5k was too far for some little legs.  Oh really?  Well what if I put together a shorter run just for kids?  Their faces beamed over the top of their treats.

Since it was to be a kids run, it needed to be designed and organized by kids.  Within a week, we had two sweet 7th graders from Marshall on board, and the rest is, as they say, history.  True to Miss Kandy form, every child who runs in the race is rewarded for doing their best.  (Yes, there are medals awarded for top runners, but the emphasis is on fun.)

So in the end, a couple elementary kids planted the seed, a couple middle school kids got it organized, and a whole lot of kids have enjoyed their ideas and work. Thank you to “S” and “E” for sharing your really great idea over ICEES with me.  God definitely knew what He was doing when He gave me a heart for kids.  Reed’s Run was improved for the better, but the best part is that I am truly blessed because of it.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”  Matthew 19:14 (NIV)

Greatness – You CAN do it! ~ 29 days to go

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Photo courtesy of Lil’ Sprout Memories (Alyssa Francis)

I recently saw a Nike commercial that features sweet Nathan Sorrell of Ohio.  That commercial has been often discussed with all kinds of dissenting and differing opinions.  I will admit that when I saw the commercial for the first time, I cried.  It was a really emotional moment, because I saw a young man who tried.  I saw a young man who didn’t let others define his value or self-worth.  In subsequent weeks, I have seen an interview with Nathan and his mom who have walked through a whirlwind of commentaries – some regarding the ad as genius and others who liken it to child abuse.  In the end, Nathan admitted that his critics only fueled his desire to work-out more.  Good for you, Nathan!  I am sure that run was not easy, but he did it.

His spirit reminded me of another young man who embraced life fully and who never gave up.  I don’t think there was an activity in life that he pursued that he didn’t at least give it a passionate try.  Yesterday, I shared that Reed kept on running.  I am sure it was hard and I am sure that he was pooped, but he did it.  His determination to support a friend kept him going, and he did it.

It was that perseverance that fueled me to wake up one morning and finish the journey that I had started with the boys in January of 2008.  That journey was to complete a triathlon as a team.  Well, the plans changed and I worked for one year to get into shape to do it.  It wasn’t easy.  It was time-consuming. My teammates weren’t able to compete; so my work load tripled. I wasn’t going to set any impressive records. Yet, I worked and worked some more.

One of my personal favorite memories from my triathlon was the surprise I got after completing the swimming and biking to see my family and dear friends waiting to cheer me on.  Sweet little M had made signs.  Many read, “You can do it!”  But the one that caught my heart was written in her best 1st-grade penmanship said, “Can you do it?”  I also doubled-over from laughing so hard.  In reality, I was thinking the same thing, because after a half-mile swim and 17 miles biking, I wasn’t sure I had 5k of running left in my legs.  But with one of my friends (pulling a Reed – running alongside of me), I just kept going, and I did it.

Yes, there are serious and competitive runners at Reed’s Run as it is a certified and sanctioned event.  But we have moms and dads with babies in strollers.  We have grandmas and grandpas who go for a nice fall walk.  We have families that go for an evening stroll.  Whether you come to win or come to walk, in the end both extremes cover the same distance.

The best advice I ever got from one of my college professors (who in this case happened to be my dad) was, “The first key to success is to show up.”  Thank you to all who have showed up in the past; you are the key to our success.  If you are considering this year’s run, I promise – “You CAN do it!” And who knows you just might, “Find Your Greatness” because just like Nathan, we are all capable of it!  I know because your greatness has been a big part of my family’s healing!

Reed’s Run – 30 days to go

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ImageI have never felt the need to do this before, but somehow as the reality that the end is coming soon, I suddenly have a desire to share the “behind the scenes” decisions and reasons for what we do.  I ask that you as you read these posts that you share them if you feel led to do so.

How did this run come about in the first place?  In the wee hours following Reed’s death, a dear friend (who is coming from California to this year’s run) planted the idea that we needed to start a scholarship because Reed LOVED to learn.  We adored the idea, but had no idea how we would fund the thing.  Additionally, we didn’t want to give a small scholarship – we wanted ONE that would make a significant impact in the lives of students.  With that in mind, how in the world were we going to do this?

Throughout this part of our journey, we received cards and letters of support and encouragement from everywhere.  One day, we received one, from another now friend who has walked in our shoes (who will also be at Reed’s Run), that told of the run they do for their son.  We saw their website and were encouraged, but run – seriously – Reed was emphatically NOT a runner.  Golf tournament – art show – Star Wars movie marathon: all seemed more our boy’s style.

About this same a few sweet boys in Reed’s class and on his football team shared stories that our redhead NEVER told us.  I realize we were just beginning our grief journey, and any story was like precious jewels. But these stories opened up our eyes to just how much Reed never tooted his own horn. Apparently during football conditioning, Reed encouraged others when they thought they had nothing left to give.  One story told of how they were laying on the ground doing leg lifts.  The boy next to Reed was about to give up.  Reed told him, “This is going to make us better.  You can do it.”  The boy shared that gave him just enough to keep going.  The second story became the inspiration behind Reed’s Run.

In all honesty, Reed was still in the “husky” stage of life.  If you have boys or men in your life, they know which jeans section I am talking about.  So for 12 years old, he hadn’t outgrown that stage yet.  Additionally, he wasn’t the quickest or best runner by far.  The boys told us of how Reed would run his required laps, but here is where the story gets interesting.  Instead of quitting, he would cut across the field and run alongside the boys who were behind him (I am guessing there weren’t many).  He would run the rest of their required time with them, encouraging them, telling them he wasn’t going to leave them behind.  INCREDULOUS – a kid who didn’t enjoy running – did THAT!  That kid was MY boy!

We confirmed the story with the coaches, who added that it caught on and that others started doing it too.  We knew then how we were going to raise funds for his scholarship.  Last night I saw a video that caused me to sob.  I am including the link below.  I never got to witness Reed’s “Run”, but I have to imagine in a small way it was like this.

Even though we never thought Reed’s Run would become as big as it has, we are glad that we get to share that small piece of our boy with everyone. The world always needs friends who run along side.  Thank you to all the people who continue to do that for us and who give of their time, money, donations, love and support to make this dream (Reed’s Run) a reality.

http://www.godvine.com/The-Inspiring-Story-of-Matt-Woodrum-Can-Bring-Anyone-to-Tears-1990.html

Please note:  We have amazing admiration for the tenacity and spirit of Matt Woodrum and all that he has taught his community, and now, the world.  Apparently, God has placed young men (and women) all over the world to teach us a lot about ourselves.   Thank you Matt for teaching more about what you CAN DO than what the world tells us you can’t. Since Reed’s death, I have learned that, indeed, God can use young men to change the world.

The comfort in the words of a song

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For the book contest, please see the February 15 blog.

My sweet pastor often tells of how he does his best thinking in the car. I have never really confessed to him that my most ardent grieving happens in my van as  I  really listen to the words of songs on Christian radio. Sometimes the songs remind me so much of someone or some situation that I have to pull over and simply cry. I am not so self-centered to believe that God gave those folks the lyrics for me, but often, it does feel that way.  Such is what happened one day when I heard the words to Aaron Schust’s My Hope is In You. 

I love God and I am humbled to know His ways are so much higher than my own.  This time, he knocked it out of the park for this little girl.  The first time I heard this song was shortly after receiving some not so pleasant news from the Mayo Clinic.  Even though many believe that Sawyer is completely healed, the Mayo doctors know differently (and so does our checkbook).  We ran into some complications, and it hit me so hard.

“God, why this? Why now? They told us four years, and now, they are telling me possibly many more. Hasn’t he been through enough?”  If you aren’t sure that God is big enough to take my questions, read Psalms 88.  He didn’t answer right away, but a few more miles down the road, on came My Hope is in You.  “Okay, God, I get it.  Yes, I will wait for you! I won’t be shaken by drought or storm.  And thank you for sending me the peace that passes understanding.”

My second thoughts reminded me when I heard the story of the origin of the song, It is well with my soul.  Horatio Spafford’s faith is one that amazes me, and to think he wrote a song that has timelessly comforted grieving people is a blessing straight from God.

As preparations for the last Reed’s Run begin, we have really wanted to have a theme that won’t be easily forgotten.  A theme that leaves people with the memories of what the event was all about for the four years.  As a family, we chose, “To rise from tragedy, cling to hope.”  Then another one of those van cruising days (of which I have plenty) happened, and again, God gave me this song.  Cue the big light bulb above my head, “How about not only theme words, but a theme song?  And THIS song is it!” 

It defines Team Stevens.  If quit isn’t in our vocabulary, HOPE definitely is!  And one of the goals of Reed’s Run has always been to “Reach Others for Christ”.  Sometimes what a hurting world needs is the knowledge that there is a colossal hand that is reaching out to grab yours before you fall. 

Later that evening after the epiphany moment, I went home and searched for the music video.  What I saw brought my eyes to tears and my knees to reverence of God’s love.  We are not alone.  Others have walked our path through the valley of the shadow of death.  And others too want people to know that only God knows the ending of the story if we just reach out and hold on. 

So even though I am certain that Aaron Schust, the artist, or his videography team know absolutely nothing about Team Stevens, I am equally certain that God does! 

If you would like to see for yourself, you can find the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugD0i5Y3cw8 It is now the official song of the 2012 Reed’s Run.  Personally, I cannot think of a better send-off reminder.