Hearts of Gold

I have heard many people ask why football players will wear pink during October to raise awareness for breast cancer but they won't wear Gold in September for kids with cancer. Well I have some good news to tell you about the Superbowl this weekend, because every football player WILL be wearing Gold including the hosting team. There are many teams that officially have Gold in their uniforms including my Green Bay Packers, who appear to be yellow, but who are becoming known as those with hearts of Gold for our kids fighting cancer.

 

 

When it comes to raising awareness for childhood cancer, we want to see everyone help out, but we can't just depend on celebrities and football teams to do it or us one month each year. We are on a mission to find a cure for childhood cancer and it is going to take all of us, nearly every minute of everyday.

 

This weekend I challenge you to represent children with cancer at your Superbowl party with something Gold. I am also challenging our running group to a mini map that will take us to the Superbowl during the Virtual Event "Run for the White House for Childhood Cancer" 

https://www.facebook.com/events/129786293855902/132498340251364/

 

 

So don't worry too much about not seeing gold on the outside when watching professional sports because the true support our kids with cancer will receive will be overwhelmingly from those with Hearts of Gold.

 

For more info about our running group, scroll down through the last two blogs and join our Event

https://www.facebook.com/events/129786293855902/132498340251364/

The 4x1200

The Run to the White House for Childhood Cancer awareness was created on the heels of the White House petition, that was signed by over 25,000 people to light up the White House "Gold" this September, in recognition of children fighting for their lives from this monster.

As people join together on this journey and donate their miles toward our destinations, we hope to compel others to run, walk and even observe all of the places we will visit along the way. As we travel through states, capitol cities and visit children's hospitals on this virtual tour, we hope that friends in those cities and towns will share the mission that we are on to reach the White House.

Since Childhood Cancer is the number 1 killer among kids, our reasons for running are far greater than just exercise. We want our country to know that our kids deserve better when it comes to funding research. Our nations leaders need to know, that among all of the other reasons to save children's lives in this day, a cure for children's cancer is a most important and urgent priority.

A little background for those of you who are new to my blog, my son Lincoln was diagnosed in 2011 at the age of 2 with ALL (leukemia) He is doing well today which gives me a lot of room to advocate on his behalf. Now that I am aware of how terrible childhood cancer is, I want to fight for all kids everywhere. My mission to cross the county by myself could not happen because of my son, but in a virtual effort we can all be a part of something great.

Now that we have over 250 people willing and ready to donate miles, we will move towards the road leading to the White House. We have completed 3 legs of this race that have led us to 3 west coast children's hospitals. Next we will take on 4 new maps that will all lead us to the Lincoln Highway, the first coast to coast highway for the automobile. It actually starts in San Francisco, but we will all be meeting in Cheyenne, Wyoming with over 1200 miles on each map. We will also start a new map in Texas with all of our new friends joining.

My hope is that parents with kids in the hospitals right now will also discover the journey we are on for them so they can check out our progress, giving them hope that all of us are on their side. Please share this event with your friends and family this year as we Run for the White House for Childhood Cancer.

Here are the maps I will share on the event page for the 4x1200
Seattle to Cheyenne 1247
Portland to Cheyenne 1231
Los Angeles to Cheyenne 1249
Texas to Cheyenne 1260

Please Join the Event and cheer us on as we travel @ https://www.facebook.com/events/129786293855902/130841170417081

Run for the White House

About a week ago I was thinking to myself about how we could take childhood cancer awareness to the next level in 2013. There are many of us who are on a mission right now to petition the President to light the White House Gold to bring awareness to the governments front step. We think we will see the petition pass sometime today, but we won't stop there when statistically more children have died from cancer this month than all school shootings combined.
In order for all of us to gain national attention, we will need to work together in a way where people will turn their attention away from the idleness of what they watch on TV every night and discover that they still have a reason for breathing.

Speaking of breathing, I am not too much of a runner anymore, but I used to go long distances, walking, running or on a bike. I love to travel and discover new places and as I walked a quarter mile around the park where I live, a familiar story came to mind. Its about a young man who lost the love of his life and as he says in the movie "I just started running..."

What would you think if I just started running... across the country...without hesitation, on a mission to tell people that kids get cancer too and its time to do something about it? That would be CRAZY! But I still wish I could do it. If Lincoln were not in treatment right now, I would already be gone, but its too late to let go of this dream. I want to do it, and I want to do it THIS YEAR! I want to stand on the front steps of the White House on National Childhood Cancer Awareness Day and look at the Golden glow of the lights that shine for our kids because our nation cared enough to stand up to childhood cancer.



So how am I going to do this? With your help of course.



While I may not be physically able to walk or run across the country on foot, I believe I have a plan that will work. I know a lot of people who walk, run, bike, swim and even kayak for miles at a time, and to give them even more of a reason to stay healthy and fit I will lay out the plan to complete my mission.

Starting today I want to personally invite you to join me in a Virtual Cross Country trek to reach the White House in September. This is going to be so easy you wish you could do the real thing. Many people reading this have already done it today, and all that I ask is that you donate your miles to the Facebook Event "Run for the White House for Childhood Cancer Awareness" https://www.facebook.com/events/129786293855902/140956752738856/

This event will be open to the public and you can invite your friends who run or walk too.
What I want to do is take every one's distances (or workout times) and add them up each day from January until September.
I will choose some locations on Google maps and set goals that everyone can contribute toward.
If you are running a marathon or just running for fun, you can tell us how far and we will add it to our journey.
I will update this event with maps of where we are going and where we have been so everyone can check a few times a week to see how we are doing.
We will also be dedicating a day of running for children with cancer who have facebook pages and we will send them messages of support from our event.
This will be an exciting journey of discovery and personal commitment to yourself and our kids that we can track this year.
Here is what we hope to see by September and if it turns out that any of us could actually be at the White House on September 13th, I hope to be the first one to meet you.

On your marks, get set, Run for the White House for Childhood Cancer Awareness and click to join. https://www.facebook.com/events/129786293855902/

(2017 update: Join us with the Max Cure Foundation on the Main Event on the following links)
https://maxcurefoundation.org/followme/
The main event
https://www.facebook.com/events/309685192742996

A Golden Opportunity

Never has there been a time in American history where you can stand up and let your voice be heard. People are acting aggressively and can be heard world wide as they stand up to advance their cause. Today the White House is receiving petitions from just about anyone for just about anything. One petition has nearly 400,000 signatures and only 25,000 are needed. You have seen them before, and let the opportunity pass you by, but this time I am going to ask every person reading this to take a stand. Our president has declared September as Childhood Cancer Awareness month. I personally don't think one month a year is enough, I don't think 13 months is enough. This isn't about joining the bandwagon and clicking LIKE a million times so a boy can get a puppy, this is bigger and far more important. We are searching for gold like Michael Phelps was in the Olympics and we are not going to go down without a fight. The precious medal is highly valuable, but the gold we are talking about is for our precious children who have been diagnosed with an incurable disease called cancer. The price of once ounce of gold is about $1668 today, but nearly 2500 children will die this year from cancer.

This September we want our president to light up our white house in Golden lights to declare that kids get cancer too and that they are desperately in need of funding for research.

There is no way the childhood cancer community can do this alone. Please join us as the people of America to make this happen, thank you.

 https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/light-white-house-gold-month-september-honor-pediatric-cancer-fighters-and-bring-light-cause/syV6M6wX

Grandpa's Fishing Story

Saturday the Jones family said goodbye to a Great Man, my grandpa Bill Jones. He was born in Burley, Idaho in 1920 and he passed away peacefully in the same small community that supported him for 92 years. He joined the army and traveled the world before meeting grandma Emma who would be his only wife until 1994. He had 1 daughter and 5 sons, Larry, Dennis, William (Rick), Steve, Charlene and Jack. Dennis passed shortly after birth and Grandpa was Larry's caretaker up until now.

Grandpa was a hunter and fisherman and took his grandchildren fishing on the Wood River every time we all got together. The fishing stories that would be told for many years were not always about the fish we caught but the memories we made with grandpa and with each other. Grandpas Fishing Story was never really about fish for me but the importance of life, the thrill of the catch and the sometimes the disappointment of loss.

Grandpas celebration of life service included military honors, singing, a life sketch and a picture video with music. I was asked to say the opening prayer which began with "I am SO nervous," but then followed with a joke about how I would be reading this prayer off of my phone, which I had texted to God earlier. The prayer goes like this:

Lord this is a difficult day but as we prepare to let our father, grandfather, brother and friend, rest in your kingdom, we feel the love and joy that only the presence of your Holy Spirit can sustain.

The journey for Bill has been a long and fulfilling one full of stories that will be told for many years.

 

The love that he shared through 4 generations will never be forgotten and the legacy of a Christian faith and reliance on our creator God will always live in us.

 

As we celebrate his life today we believe that his purpose in this life was complete, and as all the cousins knew the fisherman grandpa was, he was as much a fisher of men during his faithful and caring time with us.

 

Thank you Heavenly Father above for welcoming Bill into you eternal home as a new child again, in Jesus name Amen.

 

The minister who got to know grandpa in the last few weeks spoke about how he came to believe in his creator God and was converted to a follower of Jesus Christ. I had no idea that this would be the most profound thing I would hear about my grandpa.

Grandpa loved all children from his own to his many grandchildren and all of our children. A long time ago grandpa had a niece and nephew who's child named Brian was very sick in the hospital. My grandpa's family raised him with religion but he nearly became an atheist after what he had seen during the war when he was in the army. As he held this young child who was suffering in his arms, the baby slipped away into eternity. It was at that moment that he felt the grace of God that would dramatically change his life forever. He could not deny the pain that was taken from the child and the supernatural peace that followed for both of them. When my nephew or my son were in the hospital he always asked about them before anything else to see how they were doing. He got to meet his newest great grandchild just days before he passed away.

Grandpa's legacy will live on in every one's lives who he touched with his deep love and compassion. Grandpa's Fishing Story will forever be a tale to remember but he is fishing the Big Wood River now and with every cast teaching little angels the Love of his Creator.

 

 

Heaven Called

We all know someone who has passed away from this life into their eternal home, and as we say goodbye we hope that one day we will see them again. Today my grandpa Bill Jones finished his 92 year long journey and is waiting to hear the words from his maker "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter my kingdom and rest in peace for all eternity." There is not much else that I want to say tonight except that we will be making the trip at the end of the week and we will miss him as long as we carry on in this life.

Two Tacos for Lincoln

Today I went to Dallas, Oregon (the little D) about 23 miles from my house where I lived from 1999-2007. Most people wouldn't drive 23 miles for two tacos, but today I was hungry. When I got to Dallas I drove right past the new restaurant that was on the main road through town. Its a small but new place to get some good food and it was worth it. When I walked in the place was packed and the smell of Mexican food was overwhelming as people were looking for a seat. Many stood and waited knowing that they would be disappointed to walk next door to McDonald's to satisfy their hunger. When it was my turn to order I asked for two tacos and some water since I know the salsa was going to be hot. As I took a seat I heard someone standing way in the back close to the door say that they had come in today to support a boy named Lincoln who was fighting leukemia. When he got the total for his food he asked if he could pay more than double to help Lincoln during his treatment. The new owners in the back were working fast to serve everyone who was as hungry as I was and when the lunch rush was over I went back to thank them and the volunteers for raising awareness for children fighting cancer. I hope everyone who likes tacos would go to their facebook page and thank them with a LIKE because where the government is lacking in awareness for childhood cancer, there will always be a taco stand in the little D giving it all for kids like Lincoln. Thank you El Pique and all of the volunteers who helped. https://www.facebook.com/pages/El-Pique/291149671001292

The X Factor

December 14th was the second time in recent history that our country was jolted when the world suddenly stopped turning. As the news broke of the 20 children who's lives were extinguished in a single moment, our country cried out in horror and our government responded within hours about how to reduce the risk of another event of this magnitude. Now one month later people are still aggressively talking about how to make this world a safer place for children by reducing the risk factors in these tragedies.

Mysteriously the government has not uttered a single word about the death of over 200 children who have died since December 14th from pediatric cancer. The President has not cried on national television for the families who have lost their children, and no one in the main stream media has called drug companies out on the carpet who have made very little effort in making new drugs for kids fighting cancer in the last 20 years because of lack of profits.

I don't know what is worse, the loss of children's lives or the refusal to look into the eyes of the innocent and listen to our countries most precious voices. If a handful of horrific incidents over 10 years can spark a national movement to make change, then why don't the lives of an estimated 25,000 who have died, and hundreds of thousands of others in treatment, seem to even make a sound?

I think we know many of the factors that are preventing our kids lives from being saved, but as our kids continue to suffer and lose the decades of life that we have all enjoyed, the children's cancer community will continue to combat against the evil of ignorance by raising awareness through the power of social media. This is our X-factor, our reality show and our desperate cry for help. Please watch and share

 

Follow my Blog on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/briansphirstblog

 Speak Up to Silence Cancer @ https://www.facebook.com/speakuptosilencecancer

Reality vs. the Truth

Today I was thinking about reality TV and wondering why people are so fascinated by the countless shows that are running the air waves these days. Just about any channel has one of these shows going at any time of the day where you can pretty much watch people live on camera doing what they do best, being themselves. So what makes these 'people' shows so worthy of our time and why do we place any value at all on giving our attention to the next person to get eliminated from the house, stage or island? I don't know if I can give you the best answer, knowing that some of these shows I love to hate will make me lose sleep wondering who is going to win, but I can surely give you a peice of reality where you can discover the truth about how everyone can win.

I realize that our own lives are difficult in many ways and it feels good to break away from our own realities and just veg, but I'll tell you from personal experience, the last 25 years of veggin' haven't taken me anywhere. To be honest my favorite way of checking out has always been video games. Ever since I got Super Mario Bros on my own Nintendo, I have enjoyed a little fantasy in collecting coins, fighting bad guys with swords made of water, and becoming a military sniper. I logged over 168 hours (literally 24/7) of game play in this Post Apocalyptic game where you go around doing missions and shooting people to survive. The one thing I noticed is that in this world there was absolutely no entertainment and the only hope for something to take a break from survival mode is find a rare book that was not badly burned so you could study a bit of history. Take a second and enter this world with me where there are no reality stars, no cameras, no producers influencing events to raise the ratings on the next boy meets girls show. What would you do if the bomb went off and there was no way of finding out who won American Idol this year? I'll tell you what I would do first and foremost (and I actually did in this game) find and save any children who are our only hope for the future.

In 2012 there were a young boy and a young girl who's reality was challenged as they fought for their lives. Many people had been following their stories for some time but when their stories began to break out of their circle of friends and communities, they became reality superstars. With nearly a quarter and a half million people watching, waiting and wanting to help in whatever way they could, these kids became the face of childhood cancer. Now sadly as they have passed on, the world's attention is drawn away into another reality with little to no value.

Don't you think the lives of kids are More Important than the rumors about some reality stars with no talents? If your not asking yourself what's more important than the next Rose Ceremony, then what are you doing? I've said enough, its time for a reality check: here is the Truth of the matter for our kids fighting cancer. http://www.thetruth365.org/

Unexpected Moments

My son Lincoln had an appointment today at Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland, Oregon today.  The appointment was just like many we have been to before where Lincoln would receive chemotherapy after being sedated. He was excited to see his Chemo pal, Dustin from the Children's Cancer Association and the doctor and the nurses would be happy to see him too. Everything we going along very well with the new normal that we have come to know until it was time to go home.
As we were headed to the elevator Lincoln saw a volunteer blowing bubbles in the hall, and after trying to entertain the idea earlier he changed his mind a few minutes too late. This is where I could tell a very graphic story, but even now as the frustration lingers from trying to calm the situation, I still want to express how much I Hate Cancer! The side effects of the chemo are not always those that make a child look weak, sick or in pain. Today they made my son suffer several moments where we were not sure if we were going to make it out without another sedation. Cancer comes in many forms, but so does the suffering of those who are affected and must endure the most unexpected moments.
Please continue to raise awareness and keep a light in your heart for kids like Lincoln, here are a few ways to do that:
LIKE and SHARE
https://www.facebook.com/prayingforlincoln
Celebrate Kids on the Red Carpet
https://www.facebook.com/redcarpetkidsforthecure
Speak Up to Silence Cancer
https://www.facebook.com/speakuptosilencecancer
Join the Truth Squad for daily missions
https://www.facebook.com/theTruth365film
Subscribe to my Blog Page
https://www.facebook.com/briansphirstblog
You will also find some of my friends pages and petitions you can sign when you subscribe to my pages and you can also follow me on Twitter @ricksson33.

Lincoln's Prize

If you were sitting with me in Lincoln's room as I was getting him ready for bed tonight, you may not have been able to sit for long because you would be rolling on the floor laughing out loud at how he was so excited for his appointment tomorrow! With all of the expression that a 4 year old can tell a story with, he was still happy when he said he didn't like shots, but he would only cry a little bit because he had his 'flubber' or numbing cream. He then went on to say that he liked the white juice that makes him shake and makes his eyes go back in his head but when he wakes up he gets to eat and then his friend Dustin will bring him some new toys for Christmas. He always knows he will get a prize when he has to fast and get a pokey in his chest. He says grandma always looks away when he gets his shot but it only hurts a little bit. I think he told the whole story in one breath and then he wanted to go to sleep immediately so he could wake up and get his Prize!

Did you know that most kids don't get that excited about going to the doctor because most kids don't have to live with this life threatening disease? When a boy like Lincoln has lived nearly half of his life with cancer, all he knows is how to be a little boy, and chemo, hospital visits, shots, chemo pals, prizes, sedation's, fasting, crying and the absence and loss of an everyday normal life cannot stop his unbelievable spirit to fight against this unknown enemy.

Lincoln is 1 of nearly 13,500 kids face a monster that many adult don't even believe exists in children, and who have no idea how many lives are extinguished by this silent killer.

That's 36.5 kids a day, 365 days a year, in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015....

Every time a new president is elected 10,000 kids will die because our own government won't even recognize how precious the life of a child is unless there is some kind of national tragedy.

7 kids were lost on the 7th of January, 2013 because the National Cancer Institute won't even give 7% of their $5 billion dollars to research 12 major types of children's cancers.

The American Cancer Society call pediatric cancer rare, because its not an "epidemic" like the kinds of cancers from self indulgent people who smoke, eat or drink too much.

So what do we do with kids like Lincoln? Do we only Hope things get better even though statistically they won't. Seriously, what would you do if it were your baby?  The Truth must be heard by this great nation and we must fight for kids who deserve more than a sympathetic St. Jude's commercial that is rarely seen by the public. With the power that we have in the palm of our hands, we need to take childhood cancer awareness to the next 3 levels before our September awareness planning even begins. We need to be ONE VOICE to bring the Truth which has the power to make change in our country and around the world. I want to ask everyone who reads this blog today to make a new commitment to raise the bar on childhood cancer awareness, by sharing in a very personal way, how the Truth 365 film can make a difference for kids like Lincoln who battle, suffer and sometimes cling to life, even when there is no hope left.

I challenge you to reject the thought that you really need to watch that new show or get that extra hour of sleep tonight and watch this film until your heart is breaking to make a difference.

Remember Lincoln tomorrow during his appointment and sedation for his chemotherapy and remember his true Prize is one more day with his family and people like you who care a whole awful lot. Please Comment on facebook with the word PRIZE if you have shared the Truth 365 with your friends and family, because Great is your Reward. Thank you for your support for Lincoln and this film for kids everywhere.

 

God's______Dead

This weekend has been eventful for our family as we traveled to my brothers house to pick up Emma from my parents who invited her to stay for a few days. We watched some football but left before the game ended so I could get back to watch my Packers play the next game. Today I also watched my second favorite team win and tonight we are watching Hook with Robin Williams.

A fairly normal weekend for us but a lot on my mind as well. My aunt just told us that grandpa is waiting for his angels wings and has mentioned seeing his wife who has been in heaven for 18 years. I was in Idaho a few weeks ago to see him and our time was good seeing how he remembered me. He has lived a full life and is at peace as he looks for the light to invite him to the afterlife.

Ever since my friend Ryan passed away from brain cancer when he was 16, I never was without faith that God was on the other side waiting. In the last 3 years now, 4 of my immediate relatives have moved from this life into the one that we were always meant to have, one without death and suffering. I don't know how people can ask the question, "why do bad things happen to good people" when none of us are perfect and there is no such thing as "good enough" to get into heaven, because it never depended on our own goodness, but on God's perfect will. We all have a world view and many of us struggle with it because we try to fit God in our little box instead of believing He is who He says He is. I don't think anyone can believe 100% God is dead and that we evolved from some other source. If that is that way it is, then there are no laws that apply and we are free to do what we will without guilt.

I pray daily that my children will grow up as I did, knowing God's NOT dead but realizing that we are completely and utterly dependent on his grace to save us from what we are lacking in the presence of His Holiness.

God's NOT dead, He's surely Alive

Shout out Saturday

Today I want to give a big Shout Out to the Jessie Rees foundation. One year ago today Jessie became cancer free, but not without the ultimate price. Since there is no cure for cancer, kids like Jessie fight with Hope and spread Joy where ever possible as they fight on the front lines of a merciless battle. If you are an adult, its time to "be a grown up" and fight cancer for kids because they can't fight alone. Please visit and and LIKE Jessie's page and commit to a State of Childhood Cancer Awareness for life @ https://www.facebook.com/JessieReesFoundation

"I AM"

Right now I can hear a lot of people saying, "It's finally Friday!" After a long holiday season and a New Years Eve party, its time for a break. Its funny how the holidays, which for me is a lot of time away from work, still wipes us out. I agree that I am glad it is Friday and I am looking forward to the weekend off and away from my normal job, but since I have had a lot of time off and a lot of fun with my family and my kids, I am looking forward to some time to just be who I am.

This Friday, take a moment to reflect on who you are, and who you always wanted to become. Its not about success, money or even fun, its about just Being, period. There is joy in discovery, even when its rediscovering who we are to be.

"I AM: Two of the most powerful words; for what you put after them shapes your reality." Unknown.

Think It Thursday

The hard part about writing a blog every day this year is coming up with something interesting enought to provoke thought and inspire my readers. Sometimes it takes me 2-3 hours to write what I want to say with the words I choose to use, so tonight I want to ask a question.

What do you Think I should write about?

There is a lot of subject matter that I would like to offer my opinion on so with your comments, either on this blog post or in the comment box on facebook, will you give me something to talk about in just a few words?

Remember I like to think outside the box when it comes to main stream media.

Please comment: what, who, when, where, why, how?

Wednesday's Wisdom

I have a hard time believing its Wednesday since I have not been to work in 12 day. If someone caught me off guard and said it was Monday I would believe them. Here is something you should keep your guard up at all times with as the wisdom of the ages speaks:

 

Don't forget how wise Wisdom can be sometime LOL!

If you would like to see more of Brian's Phirst Blog, click and LIKE my facebook page @ http://www.facebook.com/briansphirstblog

 

 

 

Blogging in the New Year

Now that 2013 has arrived I am going to make it a goal to write something each day in my blog. There is so much on my mind all the time and I don't get to talk about it much when I am digging holes for fence posts. I probably won't post every day on my facebook profile but I have a facebook page that you can subscribe to by clicking LIKE at http://www.facebook.com/briansphirstblog

 For the first day of the year our family went to my aunt and uncle's in Battleground, WA for a great day outside in the sun running around the ranch with my niece and nephews. We played dodge ball in the horse arena with Nerf footballs and I helped all of the little kids hang on the zip line. Lincoln hit his head and got a bump about the size of a silver dollar, but he is OK now. We got the gator stuck in the mud and later we saw a bald eagle flying over head. Emma got to go to grandmas for a few days before she goes back to school. I start work again tomorrow and I am excited spend some time outside even if it is 25 degrees in the morning.

As always keep our kids fighting cancer in mind and watch the Truth 365 film by clicking the picture on the top right of this blog.

That's all for today, come back tomorrow for more of Brian's Phirst Blog.