My Story

WooHoo year #2 with PTP. My name is Charlotte and I am so proud to be a part of this organization. I came to know about Pledge the Pink through two of my dearest and oldest friends; one of which is a breast cancer survivor. They both shared their wonderful experience with PTP and what is means to be a part of this cause and to their team, Team Boo Bees. I am grateful and blessed to be part of Team Boo Bees. I have been more fortunate than most, I make sure to get my annual mammogram and follow-up on any abnormalities. I have had three biopsies and all were benign, but scary nonetheless. This cause is important to me because cancer is scary and life taking, my wish is no one ever has to go through a diagnosis of cancer. Cancer does not discriminate and I believe no one should ever be alone in fighting it. I believe in this organization and I hope to one day be even more involved. My hope is to raise money to assist women in need of medical services and support. I am grateful for any amount you might be able to give, no amount is too small and your prayers are always welcomed. Thank you for leaning into whatever your heart is guiding you to do.

This year is even more important to me because someone very close to me, as close to me as my mother; just a week ago was told she has cancer. Thankfully, she is diagnosed with DCIS which is also called intraductal carcinoma or stage 0 breast cancer. This magnifies the importance of yearly mammograms and quickly diagnosing this disease. She is schedule for an appointment next week and mostly likely a lumpectomy within a week or two. I was able to attend her follow up appointment with an oncologist, he was kind and reassuring yet was so insightful that even with stage 0; it is still cancer and it’s scary. I’m walking for this special person this year, and for so many more. 🩷

My Story • 2022

I can’t say enough good things about this organization. My experience last year was beyond any expectations I dreams of. So many participants and volunteers. Being surrounded by another 1499 individuals who are passionate about breast cancer awareness and raising money for mammograms was extraordinary. I met so many wonderful individuals all with their own stories to tell and why PTP is so important to them.

I was so excited to get to Fripp Island, SC that I drove straight throw and arrived at 4am but could not get onto the island to the house until 3:30 in the afternoon. I took advantage and drove around looking at the sights. Stopped for coffee in the Low Country and visited a park. It was all so beautiful.

My first year walking did not turn out as well as I would have liked but I did give it my all. I was able to complete day 1/10 miles. Day 2, I was only able to complete 5 miles due to extremely sore feet, actually I had severe blisters on both feet. I wore the same shoes I trained with but I probably wasn’t as prepared as I could have been. I was able to volunteer my last day, I missed the walking with my friends and teammates but volunteering with the Boo Bee Supporter was a lot of fun too! We passed out drinks and protein bars to walkers and runners.

My team is Team Boo Bees, our mascot is bees and boo (ghosts) or boobs!

I set a fundraising goal of $2000, I have raised $100 and I’m so grateful to the individuals who donated to this great cause. I realize times are tough for everyone given the financial constraints of our time, please pray about giving and follow your conscience. I totally understand if you cannot contribute financially, please consider praying for the event and all the participants.

This link will take you to my fundraising page:

https://donate.pledgethepink.com/?p=25721

This link will take you to PTP main page for for information about the organization:

https://pledgethepink.com/

Thank you for taking the time to view my blog and Pledge the Pink 2023. I sincerely appreciate each one of you.

~Charlotte, Seeker of unexpected Comfort, Happiness, Joy and Patience.

Friday, August 4th, 2023

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

— Matthew 7:13-14

Hello Friends ~

I hope this post finds you well! I am currently listening to an audible book by Philip Graham Ryken called, “King Solomon: The Temptations of Money, Sex and Power.” One of the topics discussed was choices, which that leads to decisions and onto specific outcomes/consequences. The writer’s prelude, my assumption is he’s a golf fan, starts out telling of the choices and consequences of Tiger Woods. Admittedly, I like Tiger, his abilities have astonished many in the sport of golf. In reality, he’s a human being, just like all the rest of us. We are all created by God and whether in life or in the afterlife will one day, bow down and declare God is God!

“So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:10-11 (ESV)

King Solomon

When Solomon rose to the throne, he sought after God, and God gave him an opportunity to request for whatever he desired. Solomon humbly recognized his inability to rule well and nobly asked God for the wisdom he would need to govern God’s people righteously. God gave him wisdom and also wealth (1 Kings 3:4-15). In fact, “King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth” (1 Kings 10:23). God also gave Solomon peace on all fronts during most of his reign (1 Kings 4:20-25).

— christianity.com (*see reference below)

King Solomon’s “CHOICES”

His “Choices” Led to His Demise

Solomon’s decline did not happen all at once. It was a slow process of his heart turning away from undivided loyalty to the God of the Covenant. In, 1 Kings Chapter 11, the fatal flaw for Solomon will be magnified. His demise will lead to the dividing of the kingdom. (*see references below for more information)

God’s Royal Commands for Kings

“When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,”

•be sure to appoint over you a king the Lord your God chooses.

•He must be from among your fellow Israelites.

•Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not an Israelite.

•The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.”

•He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray.

•He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.

•When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left.

“Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.”

— Deuteronomy 17:14-20

I would dare say that most of you familiar with the story of Solomon; however, I experienced or at least had the realization that King Solomon, like Tiger Woods are no different from anyone else, that is a child of God. I might call it divine intervention to clear thinking. I realized in real time that each day upon waking we all have a choice, actually the day itself will provide multiple opportunities for choices. The most important is who will I serve today, God or myself (?). Everyday is a gift from God. All that I (we) have is a gift from God. It’s not that I don’t know these things, it’s that life is filled with so much noise of chaos and hectic circumstances; all of which are frustrating and sometimes even frightening. Truth is God is readily available to each of us anytime and anywhere. God delights in us.

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”

— Zephaniah 3:17

“But the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.”

— Psalm 147:11

Speaking from experience, spending time with God can strengthen one’s resolve to live a life with purpose and clarity for God. Also, from experience, it is easy to be drawn away from the one thing that feeds your soul. How can this be, you might ask? The distractions of life even in the tiniest of measure, once it diverts our hearts can be a slippery slope towards destruction. Recently, I’ve enhanced my devotional time by using varied websites to experience God in new and different ways. Prayer has always been a part of my daily life but I have also been more intentional with my conversations (prayers) with God. Being connected with God can occur in so many different ways: verbal, thoughts, actions and listening/being silent. I have been absent from Church functions for quite sometime, some of my reasons are valid based upon my work schedule others I’m still sorting out. I miss my friends, my church family but my love for them has not changed during my absence. I am by no means saying that everyone needs to attend formal church services to have a relationship with God, it is entirely a personal choice. Attending church for many can be for the benefits of community and social support and learning/growing of God’s love.

What comes to mind is…Just Be Kind…to everyone because we can never know what is happening in their life. I see signs and t-shirts that promote this but how many of us actually do it. There’s too much hate and hostility in the world. We can all learn lessons from Solomon and Tiger, and so many others. Every person is fighting some kind of battle, some may be visible but most are not, please, JUST BE KIND.

“Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one–the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts,…Your affectionate uncle, Screwtape.”

—C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

Thank you for stopping by my blog today, I am grateful and honored. Bless you!

~Charlotte, Seeker of unexpected Comfort, Happiness, Joy and Patience.

References:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.7.13,Matt.7.14&version=NIV

https://www.christianity.com/wiki/people/king-solomon-in-the-bible.html#:~:text=Solomon%20humbly%20recognized%20his%20inability,1%20Kings%2010%3A23).

https://www.bibleoutlines.com/1-kings-111-43-downfall-of-solomons-kingdom-and-divine-discipline/#:~:text=Solomon’s%20decline%20did%20not%20happen,the%20dividing%20of%20the%20kingdom.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deut.17.14,Deut.17.15,Deut.17.16,Deut.17.17,Deut.17.18,Deut.17.19,Deut.17.20&version=NIV