September...a month to celebrate

A while back, I posted about a camp I go to in Alabama every summer.  This camp will always hold a special place in my heart and will always be one of my very favorite places to be.  I've been going for about 10 years now, and I've seen all kinds of things.  I've seen relationships start at camp, I've seen a couple get engaged at camp, I've made some amazing friends in both counselors and campers at camp, basically, I can't don't want to imagine my life without camp. 
Since I live so very far away, I can't go back as often as I would like, and I can't participate in some events like the 5k MonkeyC Monkey Run, the Christmas Party, and many other fundraising events throughout the year.  I can't be as involved as I wish I could be. 

Why mention all this now?  Well, September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month and the cancer ribbon is gold.  There are 46 children diagnosed everyday with some form of cancer, and that is 46 too many.  No family should have to watch their children suffer from this henious disease. 

If you've ever been in my car, you will see something hanging from my rear view mirror.  It's called a Monkey Fist, it's a camp thing.  It's a constant reminder to me, and something that puts things in perspective on rough days.  A Monkey Fist is supposedly the strongest knot known to man.  There is a story that goes along with the Monkey fist, but I can't remember it...ask Rhett Blackwell, he knows it.  We wear our Monkey Fists like a necklace, and on the strings of those of us who have been to camp for awhile are hearts like the one in the picture.  We get one at every camp session, it's to remind us of the heartbeat of camp.  There is a hole in the center to remind us of the hole cancer causes in our lives.  Most of my hearts are on my Monkey Fists, except the one on my chain.  This one is my first heart bead.  I wear it on and off throughout the year, but I wear it continuously throughout the month of September. 

 I wear it to remember those campers that we have lost, and I wear it to celebrate the campers that have faced cancer head one and beat it.  Each one of them has touched my life in so very many ways.  I am so proud of these kids, I have known some of them since they were kids and now they are in high school or even college.  I love these kids and am so proud to call them my friends! 

So remember Childhood Cancer Awareness month.   Pray for those families that have been affected, remember those we've lost, but most importantly, celebrate those who have defied the odds and beat cancer! Fight like a Kid!