{race for a cure}

I am usually not a joiner.

 

I have never been a joiner.

I just never join anything, not a club or an organization, not anything.  This is the way I have always been.

  This year I joined a book club...I know!

  I own quite a few books and even have a library right off our entryway (it's supposed to be the dining room) and yet I have never in my life joined a book club. 

I don't know if it is a commitment problem:) or that I have never been that much into anything organized (sports, dance, etc.).  Hmmmm.

Well, I guess I am changing and evolving because I joined a race.

  There is a sister in my ward that is fighting breast cancer and the ward put together a team called "Susie's Angels".  The ward kept emailing about the details and it was also posted quite often on our yahoo group page.  I read it and kept thinking I wanted to do this for Susie and also to give my children that experience.  I waited and waited until the week of the race.  I had to pay a late fee, but I signed up and received some shirts for me and the kids.  Chris had to stay home and babysit painters:).

We got up early and got ready and were out the door. 

We had to park far away and walk up to where the race was being held.  I somehow forgot to make sure the ward knew I was going and I did not get added to the email list to find out where to meet up.  It ended up being just me and the kids and thousands of people.

It was so powerful!

There is something to be said about a group of people united in purpose with a clear voice proclaiming something important.

  Strangers walking with strangers and family walking with family.

  

I was hit with unexpected emotion as I walked with my two children among people who had signs on their backs telling of who they were walking for. 

Some were walking for their grandmothers. 

Some were walking for their aunts.

  Some were walking for their mothers.

  And some were walking for all three.

  The signs would say "In memory of..." if that person had passed away.  There was one sign on a child's back that really got to me.  It said that she was walking for her mommy! 
How heartbreaking and also perspective changing. 
This was an important teaching opportunity that I was able to reach Henry with in a very poignant way. 

It was a great experience to realize that there is power in joining and power in a group. 

 I thought of something else that I joined many years ago. 

I joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 

I became a member of a large group united with one purpose.  I have reaped the blessings of this amazing organization wherever I have lived. 

I have felt the power of a very large group of thousands of people in a conference center raising their hands to support a prophet. 

 I have felt the power of singing with a large group of people a fervent testimony of the restoration.

  I have felt the power of people loving people.
I have been given a sense of belonging and fellowship no matter where I live.
 I always have someone to call when I am in need.

...I guess I am a joiner.

  I am a member of the true church...how glad I am!

All those who belong to this church made a sacred covenant when baptized that they would comfort those that needed comfort and mourn with those that mourn.  As I walked among strangers with tears in my eyes I felt a similar feeling that I do in church.  People supporting each other and joining together to help everyone through the battle of life.
 That is power!