HOW IS YOUR ATTITUDE?

One thing that I have learned over the years is that I am in control of my own destiny. The actual path may not be what I originally chose, but ultimately who I am and how I apply life's lessons are up to me.

I work for a growing community bank in Southern Oregon. When I started with the company almost 8 years ago, we were quite small and it was always a treat to see our president stroll through our department once or twice a day just to see how we were doing. One year he had a wonderful poster made that each one of us could take and use as we saw fit. This poster has been at my desk now for close to 4 years and I can honestly say that I take a moment to read what it says everyday. Since I haven't posted in awhile, I thought that I would share this saying and if ever your path seems to take an "off course", that you will think of this and be rest assured that you are still in control.

ATTITUDE

by Charles Swindell

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearances, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company...a church...a home.

The remarkable things is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude...I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.

And so it is with you...we are in charge of our attitudes.

So, my question to you - how is YOUR attitude?

CELEBRATE. REMEMBER. FIGHT BACK!!

With my mom Irene Sammons,

a two-time breast cancer survivor,

celebrating life at the annual

Relay for Life event in Medford, Oregon

May 30-31, 2009

Last weekend, at 10:00 a.m., members of the community gathered at Medford's Spiegelburg Stadium to show their ongoing support in the fight against cancer at the annual Relay for Life event. Even through extreme heat, followed by rain and "nature's firework show" ~ thunder and lightening ~ we continued to walk to find a cure!

"Celebrating 150 Years of Oregon" was this year's theme and the teams really showed their creativity. A couple of fun teams were the "Goonies", a popular movie filmed in Astoria, Oregon (and all true Goonie fans know their motto ~ "Goonies never say die!!") and the "Civil War" - for those of you unfamiliar with Oregon sports, this is the annual meeting between the University of Oregon Fighting Ducks and the Oregon State Weasels, oops - I mean Beavers (just HAD to throw that dig in for all of my Beaver friends!!). Their theme was "Divided but UNITED in finding a Cure!". My team - PremierWest Bank - was a wild west bank, complete with ponies, cowboy hats and bandannas and we were "Banking on a Cure". A HUGE shout out to everyone at PRWT for their ongoing support because we couldn't have done it without you!

Each hour we had a different theme to add to the fun and local dance, Tae Kwon Do, and Karate schools gave performances and demonstrations of their talents. DJ Troy, also a committee member, kept the beat compliments of KISS-FM.

The Survivor Ceremony began at 4:00 and as each Survivor's name was called they were presented a medal by the Oregon National Guard. After the last name was called, the Survivors gathered together on the track for their Victory Lap. The look on their faces as they walked by and saw their family, friends and members of the community cheering them on was PRICELESS!! Many are still going through treatment, and the walk is not an easy one, but it just shows the strength and determination of these courageous people and how much it needs to be celebrated!!

As the sun went down and the stars began to light the sky, candle lit luminary bags lined the track. On each bag a name was written in celebration of those who have won; in honor of those who are still fighting; and in memory of those who have lost their battle against cancer. The Luminary Ceremony is a time to reflect and to honor all of those who have been touched by this dreaded disease. A lone bagpiper walked the dark track - a tiny flicker from each bag provided the only light to guide our way - played "Amazing Grace". We followed, walking silently, reading the names on each bag and reflecting. This is one of the hardest, but most beautiful moments. I walked with my mom, who tried so hard not to show she was crying. I put my arm around her and told her it was okay.

I have a strict policy - there are no calories at Relay!! Local companies donate food or their portion of the proceeds back to Relay for Life and the "midnight soup" is so delicious!! I also look forward to the movie and this year was no disappointment! At 2:00 a.m. the screen went up and we were treated to none other than "The Goonies"!! What an awesome show for all ages!!

At 4:00 a.m. I started to see a glimmer of light and then dawn was upon us quickly. I walked from 5:00 to 5:30 and it was absolutely beautiful. After a few more hours, camp came down and we gathered for the Closing Ceremony.

Our year was a success - as of this date we raised $107,000.00 and we are so proud. I am already starting to work on ideas for 2010!! Cancer never sleeps and neither should we when it comes to our journey to FIND A CURE!!

ON THE MOVE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Someone once told me that "the grass never gets green under my feet"...I am pretty sure that it meant that I am not one to sit still and watch the world go by. At least that is my interpretation and I am going to stick with it, LOL!!

Last month I felt an urge to do more - something that would help me not only promote my platform "Relay for Life" and the importance of breast cancer awareness and education ~ but also be an example that once you hit "that age" (don't you just "love" it when these two words work their way in to a diagnosis, LOL!!) LIFE AS WE KNOW IT DOES NOT END! I am now the very proud Beauties of America Oregon's 40's 2009!

I am so excited to return to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina this August. Beauties of America is very dear to my heart, as I had the opportunity to meet some incredible women at this pageant - in fact two of my dearest friends, Charissa Payer and Billye Fietz are in my life because of BOA. I have several friends competing this year and I can't wait to see them again and also to give a big "Oregon Hug" to those that I will finally be meeting in person! This pageant truly does "Celebrate Beauty at Every Age" and that is a statement that each and every one of us needs to hold true to our heart no matter what your age is! But for now ~
40's Women ROCK!!!

HOW ARE YOU?

Tonight the story of Farrah Fawcett and her battle with cancer aired.

As a daughter, sister, and best friend of a loved one who has fought the battle against cancer, I am still overcome with emotion. With tears streaming down my face, I watched a woman and her family - no different than mine - face the battle of this dreadful disease. I pray for her, for her son, her family and for all of those who are fighting or have lost someone they have loved to cancer. Most of all, I pray for a cure.

In two weeks I will be walking in memory and in honor of those we have lost; who are fighting; and in celebration for those who have won the battle against cancer at the annual Relay for Life event in Medford, Oregon. I will be walking for you, because no matter who you are, each and every one of us have been, or will be, touched one way or another by this "terrorist" called cancer. I will continue to walk, advocate and speak out until I am told that a cure for cancer has been found.

God bless Farrah, my mother, my sister Janita, Tina, Billye, Charissa, you and your families... and thank you for your support.

WHEW ~ WHAT A RIDE!!

The 2009 Oregon International pageant was held March 27 and 28, 2009 in beautiful Lake Oswego. Lesley Nardini and her wonderful staff made sure that we all were treated like royalty and had a great time.

We started out with a lovely tour of downtown Lake Oswego ~ I had not had the chance to really visit Lake Oswego before and it truly was a lovely treat!! We were driven in style in a stretch Hummer limo and had great girl talk along the way. THIRST ~ a WONDERFUL restaurant was our host for lunch and the food was oh-so yummy!! I don't cook (sorry Bud!), but the meal that they prepared for us made me want to ask for the recipe!! After lunch we did what all beauty queens do best ~ SHOP!! We visited two great shops ~ "MERINGUE" and "LUCKY ME", who are also sponsors of the pageant. All of the contestants had a ball looking at all of the cute glitzy things and I found the most beautiful Juicy Couture hoop earrings that I "just HAD to have"!! What a wonderful afternoon fit for queens!!

After our afternoon of lunch and shopping we went back to our hotel and changed into our new red "Oregon International Pageant" t'shirts, a gift from Mrs. Oregon Int'l 2008, Debra Gilmour, and black pants. We had a fun rehearsal and then walked next door for a great dinner hosted by another pageant sponsor, APPLEBEE'S!! I had the grilled Tilapia and it was SO good!! Another great opportunity to bond and get in that much needed girl time ~ who doesn't like talking about shoes???? If the day wasn't already packed full of fun and treats the best was yet to come ~ a Pajama Party/rehearsal! There was also a gift exchange and I came home with the cutest black crown t'shirt compliments of the VERY talented Mrs. Beaverton, Kate Krisiansen. What a wonderful way to end the day!

We woke up the next morning to a yummy breakfast provided by the hotel and off to hair and makeup with makeup extraordinaire, M'chel Bauxal. She is amazing and such a lovely woman! Then interview ~ the panel of judges were phenominal and really kept us on our toes. They had a very tough job that day with so many accomplished women.

After interview we had some down time to grab a snack in Lesley's suite and get in a little more of that fun girl talk ~ we do like to talk!! We then packed up everthing we needed for that evening and hopped into our pumpkin coach (aka stretch hummer limo!!) and headed to Lake Oswego High School. We had a quick rehearsal with our hubby's - Bud is so CUTE!!! All of the husbands looked adorable, actually - it is the look of love in their eyes when they see their wives and how proud they are of us all!

PAGEANT TIME - EEEEK!! This is the moment that most of us had been working towards and waiting for almost a year to arrive. That first step on stage is a doozy, but after that it is rush, rush, rush and OH SO MUCH FUN!! The next two hours were gone in a flash and before we knew it we were standing onstage with our gorgeous hubby's in tuxes anxiously waiting to hear who's name would be called as the new Teen, Miss and Mrs. Oregon Int'l 2009. The special awards were called first and Misty McCord, Mrs. Medford was honored with the Dee Dee Brant Founder's Award; Kate Kristiansen, Mrs. Beaverton received People's Choice; Sandra Herder, Mrs. Portland ~ Most Ticket Sales; Bronwyn Gibson, Teen Willamette Valley ~ Photogenic; Deanna Bebeau, Mrs. Jackson Co. (THAT'S ME!!) and Sandra Herder tied for Mrs. Congeniality; and Sandra Herder and Olga Kim, Mrs. Tigard tied for the Physical Fitness Award.....drum roll please ~ Bronwyn Gibson, 1st RU and the new MISS TEEN OREGON INT'L 2009 ~ SHELJIA PATEL!!! MISS OREGON INT'L 2009 ~ JESSICA CARLSON!!! Olga Kim, 2nd RU; Deanna Bebeau (THAT'S ME ~ YEAH!!), 1st RU; and the new MRS. OREGON INT'L 2009 ~ SANDRA HERDER!!!

What a GREAT group of ladies and a wonderful pageant. I know that each one of our new queens are going to make our beautiful state proud! I am so honored to have been part of this pageant and I know that I have made many new friends and strengthened bonds with many of my dearest friends. Thank you to Lesley, Tamara, Kym W. for all that you did for us! A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO BI-MART ~ without your support we wouldn't be where we are today - THANK YOU!! ...and to Ruthie, thank you, for giving me that great "mama" hug just when I needed it most!

I love pageants!!

WHAT DOES A REAL BEAUTY QUEEN LOOK LIKE?

Bald Really Is Beautiful!!

I received this picture today. In my eyes, this is one of the most beautiful and inspirational pictures that I have seen. The beautiful lady in the center is my dear friend, Billye Fietz. We met at a pageant three years ago and I have been blessed by her friendship ever since.

Billye just turned 62. I get a kick out of sharing her age - and she won't mind me telling you this because I introduced her to an audience full of people while I MC'd a pageant in Austin, Texas and because I am so proud of her I asked if I could share her age. I wish that I had the words to describe how the audience cheered for her!! She has a zest for life like no one else that I have ever met - she inspires me.

This beautiful lady is also a Survivor. Billye is battling - and WINNING - the fight against breast cancer. I am so proud of her strength and courage, but most of all, I am so proud of her for continuing to live life to its fullest. Though she admits that it has been rough, and some days are harder than others, she has not allowed certain obstacles to deter her from enjoying what she loves to do.

So, the next time you wonder, "what does a real Beauty Queen look like?" remember Billye, with her big beautiful smile, because folks - THAT IS TRUE BEAUTY!!

WHY DO I COMPETE IN PAGEANTS, AND BETTER YET ~ CONTINUE TO COMPETE?

THAT is the million dollar question!! I can't even begin to count how many times I have been asked this question, LOL!! Actually, the answer is very simple ~ because I LOVE IT!!

I have always been a "girly~girl". I loved watching Miss America while growing up and, like most little girls, would walk down my backyard sidewalk "runway" blowing kisses and waiving to my audience (usually a few chickens or a couple of cats walking by...). Although I loved watching pageants, I didn't start competing until I was almost 40. Why? Because I never had the confidence in myself to even dream of stepping out of my comfort zone. From the time I was very little through adulthood I was TERRIBLY shy!!

What changed my mind? My daughter, Tai, competed in pageants as a young girl and into her teens. I watched with great pride as she blossomed into the beautiful, confident, daredevil - "nothing is going to get in the way of what I want" woman she is today. It was through a fellow "pageant mom" that I learned of Mrs. pageants and it sounded like fun...and this was the "seed" that was the start of the new adventure that would forever change my life.

The confidence that I have gained through pageantry is worth every penny that I have ever spent. Where I am in my career I attribute to my participation in pageants ~ I am not afraid to go after what I want and I LOVE meeting new people. I have not a problem walking into a room of strangers and striking up a conversation or speaking in front of an audience - before, I would have hyperventilated at the mere thought!! I was even asked to make a commercial for my company because of my pageantry experience!

Why do I continue to compete? Easy ~ I am in love with the entire experience. I like to call pageants my "extreme sport" ~ it is an adrenaline rush that leaves you saying WOW!! - I want to go again!! Sure, I love to shop and wear beautiful clothes. I enjoy planning every detail and setting goals for myself, and the friendships that I have gained over the last 10 years are PRICELESS (Hi "Posse" ~ you know who you are!!). But most of all it is a GROWING EXPERIENCE that has given me the opportunity to reach deep down into my very soul to find out who I really am and to grow as a woman.

So, to all of you that once walked down her own make believe runway blowing kisses to her pets ~ I am living proof that it is NEVER TOO LATE TO FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS ~ AND THE CONFIDENCE AND WISDOM THAT COMES THROUGH AGE IS TRUE BEAUTY!!!

My mother, Irene Sammons ~ my hero!!

This was taken after the Luminaria Ceremony during her first Relay for Life event as a survivor. She is with her luminaria that was made in her honor.

SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED TO JUMP IN WITH BOTH FEET!!!

There are times when you are a little unsure... but I have found out what is best for me is to face my fears head on and "JUST DO IT"!! So, here I am writing my first blog post :) I have to admit that I never saw myself as someone who would have a blog, but this is a big beautiful world we live in, and what runs through it and connects us to one another and anything else that we would like to learn about, is CYBERSPACE!!

Okay...here I go...ONE, TWO, THREEEEE....OMG....JUMP!!!

With my first attempt as a "newbie blogger", I want to share with everyone my passion for Breast Cancer Awareness and Education; the American Cancer Society; and one of the most "dig deep in your soul ~ realize what really matters in life" events that you can be involved with ~ RELAY FOR LIFE.

I became involved with the American Cancer Society over seven years ago when I was invited to help out with my company's Relay for Life team. I felt that I had a connection because my mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995. In the beginning I just never imagined how that "connection" would grow and just how important this event can be to so many people and on so many levels.

In 2006 my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time. Now, my mom and I share a special, and kind of "quirky", relationship. I sensed how scared she was, and how she was trying to be "brave" for all of us. I decided right then and there that I was not going to let her go through this alone and to allow her to fall into a depression. I was going to do all in my power to help her face this "demon" called cancer. I would be right there with her as she fought with everything that she had and that she would never let IT "see her sweat"! Through every phase that she went through we found a "positive" that we could look at and even make us laugh:
The Mastectomy ~ perfect opportunity to get those "perky boobs" ~ cute story she shared with the male nurse as he wheeled her into surgery (thanks to the power of anesthisia!)
Chemo and Hair Loss ~ what cute, stylish, hats we would find and to think of the time saved on not having to fix her hair every morning!! FYI ~ did you know that when you loose your hair from chemo that this includes nose hair? I didn't, and neither did my mom, so she had to call me one day at work with this new discovery!!

I knew that my mom would benefit from being a part of the Relay for Life that year. I signed her up as a survivor and drove her to the football field. As my mom stood in the middle of the field, in her cute little white hat, she watched as the other survivors received their t'shirts and survivor medals, she knew she was not alone. When two of the committee members, who were also survivors, asked if she would like to help carry the banner during the Survivor Lap, her weary eyes immediately lit up! That day was the hottest we had that year, and I was a little concerned that she would have trouble completing the entire lap. As I stood on the sidelines, watching my mother proudly walk by helping to carry the banner that told the world that she and so many others were warriors, I started to sob. Right then and there, my commitment and passion to make a difference was born!

My mom is one of the "lucky ones", even through all she has endured. My mom found her cancer both times in the early stages and it did not spread to any other organs. She is living proof as to why Breast Cancer Awareness and Education is SO important ~ and why we need to be aware of our health and to be proactive in our health care.

Little long winded for a newbie...but as I started to write so much started to pour out that I have had to edit this more than once!! More will follow, but until then please check out http://www.cancer.org/ and learn how the American Cancer Society can help you or someone you love.