I walk for...

My Children.

I recently received an e-mail that I've been chosen to carry a flag for opening and closing ceremonies at the Atlanta 3-day for the Cure. I couldn't be more honored. Carrying a flag during the ceremonies is an honor and privilege that I take incredibly seriously. I have looked forward to the day when I can carry a flag for years.

The flag that has been chosen for me says "My Children." At first I responded letting Michele know that I did not have children and would be happy to switch with someone else. I don't have children - wouldn't it be wrong for me to carry a flag that insinuated that I do? The more we spoke, the more convinced I became that I was meant to carry this flag. While Jarrod and I do not have children of our own, we do plan on either having or adopting children in the next few years. I walk for them so that they do not have to worry about cancer. I walk so that they know that their mom was part of something bigger - part of finding a cure - part of changing the world.

I also walk for the children in our lives that mean so much to us. I walk for my nephews and the sweet kids that call me Lele. I love these young ones and think about them while I'm walking. I want them to grow up without the fear of cancer. I walk so that they have comfort that so many people love them and I'm one of them. I show them that I love them by walking and fighting. I walk because someday our family might look something like this:

 I walk because I married an incredible man who adores children. We want to share our love and our family with kids. I don't want those kids to see me fight breast cancer. I don't want my daughters to worry that their own breasts might kill them. I don't think much about our future children - when I do I get overcome with excitement wrapped in anxiety - but since receiving Michele's e-mail, I've been thinking about my future family more and more.

Just think when you have kids in the future, you can show them a picture of mommy carrying the children flag.

 My breath caught in my throat. I told Jarrod about this. His eyes sparkled. Just thinking about this makes my eyes water. I don't know if it's the fact that someday I'll be a mommy or the fact that someday I'll be able to share this journey in the fight against breast cancer with my children that gets to me. Either way, I couldn't be more excited to carry this flag in just a few short weeks. I leave for Atlanta two weeks from tomorrow and will arrive in town just in time for the ceremony rehearsal. I promise you that I'll be thinking about your children and mine all 120 miles in Atlanta and Dallas. And will continue to walk until the threat of breast cancer no longer exists.