Thankful

This dog was born on Christmas Eve in the year 2002. He was born with 2 legs - 
He of course could not walk when he was born. Even his mother did not want him. 

His first owner also did not think that he could survive and he was thinking of 'putting him to sleep'. 
But then, his present owner, Jude Stringfellow, met him and wanted to take care of him. 
She became determined to teach and train this little dog to walk by himself.. 
She named him 'Faith'.
In the beginning, she put Faith on a surfboard to let him feel the movement. 
Later she used peanut butter on a spoon as a lure and reward 
for him for standing up and jumping around. 
Even the other dog at home encouraged him to walk. 
Amazingly, only after 6 months, like a miracle, 
Faith learned to balance on his hind legs and to jump to move forward. 
After further training in the snow, he could now walk like a human being.

Faith loves to walk around now. 
No matter where he goes, he attracts people to him. 
He is fast becoming famous on the international scene and 
has appeared on various newspapers and TV shows. 
There is now a book entitled 'With a Little Faith' being published about him. 
He was even considered to appear in one of Harry Potter movies. 

His present owner Jude Stringfellew has given up her teaching post and plans to take him around the world 
to preach that even without a perfect body, one can have a perfect soul'. 


In life there are always undesirable things, so in order to feel better 
you just need to look at life from another direction. 
I hope this message will bring fresh new ways of thinking to everyone 
and that everyone will appreciate and be thankful for each beautiful day. 
Faith is the continual demonstration of the strength and wonder of life. 



White!!

Today we decided to go to Flaming Gorge.. We were driving thought the canyon and to our surprise we came across 2 Moose.. They are so graceful I just love to watch them.. One was a younger moose and the other was a huge bull moose.. Tiffani's camera did not want to take any pictures cause the battery's were dead.. So I had to take them with my phone.. So they are not the best but at least you can see them!!..

Yellow

I ran across the pics that me and Tiffani took a few weeks ago.. The colors were so bright that it hurt the eye to look directly at.. It was beautiful though.. We had alot of fun.. Did yo know that there are these one kind of trees called Yellow Pine that smell like vanilla.. Yes they really do.. It's so cool!!

Tiffani

Rock Creek

So on my way to Will's Memorial celebration I pulled into the parking lot and this song came on the radio.. It had a real meaning to it.. I think Will had a part in it getting played.. It a song that I had NEVER heard before.. It's by Toby Keith and its called....Cryin' For Me.. If you ever get the chance you should go listen to it.. There is a part in it that gave me chills.. Well the whole thing gave me chills but this part especially.. It says that he was the super star.. And we called Will our super star.. So It was just the perfect song for the perfect moment.. I can find it online for my music player or I would play it for you.. When It gets put on I will post it to my player..


Living with CF you never get used to loosing your friends..

I find myself alone . . . again on the rooftop.
Missing yet another friend, who didn't make it through.
We’d been here together, in better times with fun.
But here I sit, alone again . . . missing another one.
Their lives were inspirations, of which I’m honored to have shared a part.
Now their legacy is what comforts me . . . for of it, I am still a part.
I wake each day and thank the Lord, for sharing them with me.
And, before I lay, to him I pray, use me for others to see. . .
Each day is a gift we share,With those who really care,
For tomorrow has no guarantee.

joe lindic

Harbison Hero

A Hero has flown away with his angel wings.. A dear friend, brother, son, uncle, coach, and most of all HERO has been lifted of this earth to be an angel to many.. He has fought the biggest fight I have ever seen in my life on this earth.. His inspiration to others is deeper then one could imagine.. I meet will when we were both waiting for our new lungs.. We were beeper Buddy's from the start.. The late nights we would sit up and chat on the computer while doing our treatments.. The 3 years I have known him he has taught me so much in life.. I am so HONORED to have known him.. He will always live in my heart...

Here he is holding his precious niece Kayli.. His Pride and Joy
Here we are together in the hospital in March 09
I am so lucky to have known you!!!

"Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy.”

Remembered Always

The CF and transplant community has lost 2 brave cf'ers today.. One who was extremely brave, who has touched many lives.. The inspiration that was shown through this battle was very touching.. I will never forget the courage that I witnessed.. It was something greater than life its self.. A cure need to be closer to tomorrow so we don't have to loose dear friends...

Clinic..

Today was a great day at clinic.. The only thing I had to do is my PFT's and are you ready for this............ I.........Blew........A......82!!!! The best number in my whole life... I am WAY excited!! I don't have to go back for 2 months... I hope that my numbers will continue to go up.. Even if it is just a little bit..

I also have a request from all of you... I would love it if you all would send a prayer out to Will and his family.. They really need some good thoughts and prayers sent there way...

Thanks everyone..
Loves
T

Raccoon

Well REAL early this morning at 5 in the AM I was just laying in bed.. All the sudden I saw this HUGE explosion out side of my window, fallowed by a BOMB! Right by the telephone pole.. So i jumped out of bed to go out on my deck to see if I could see anything.. Nope could not see anything.. But the horses were going crazy cause they are right next to the telephone pole in the front.. Well my deck don't have any stairs to go down so I had to come down stairs to go out side.. We have a big outside dog that was still sleeping.. ha ha good guard dog ehh.. So I went out to the pole to see if I could see anything but there was nothing there.. I heard something on the other side of the yard at that pole.. So I went over there and there were 3 raccoons climbing that pole.. Dude they were so huge.. They tend to get extremely big cause we live by the river and they come up from there.. So I came in to get my dad and he said that there was a raccoon that probably climbed on to the transformer and that's why it blew up.. So come to find out it happened on the pole opposite side of my room.. It was such a big thing that it looked like it happened right there by my room.. So we called the power company to come fix it.. They got it all fixed and I fell back asleep for a while.. When I got up and let my dogs out and Ziggy ran in front and was going crazy, barking and running around the bush.. I was like OK well what is he barking at he never just goes out and barks at nothing.. So I went outside and there is the Raccoon still ALIVE from that electrocution.. He is not going anywhere tho.. Like he can walk but he is really confused.. So I had to bring Ziggy back in so he would leave that poor lil (big) guy alone.. Animal control wont come out for something like that unless they are rabid or are endangering ourselves.. So I have to wait till my dad comes home and he will take care of him... It makes me sick I hate to see any kind of animal suffer.. So I took him out a banana.. I'm not sure if he will eat it tho.. But whatever i guess..

Well that's the excitement for the day.. Just though it may entertain you for a min while reading this..

Have a good week!!
Loves
T

Vespa ride..

Start Time: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at 8:00am
End Time: Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 11:00am
Location: Chicago to Burbank

Emily’s newest challenge is a cross-country ride from Chicago to Los Angeles where she hopes to appear on the Ellen DeGeneres Show to raise awareness of cystic fibrosis with a large national audience. As you can see from the photos included, Emily shares a striking resemblance to Ellen DeGeneres and is a huge fan of the talk show host. Emily has maintained her health by becoming incredibly physically fit. Her fitness regime includes running, drumming, and biking. Two weeks ago, Emily took her Third Annual City to City Ride, 335 miles in four days from Detroit to Chicago on her bicycle. Her plan had been to return from that ride and then one month later begin her trek to Los Angeles. However, Emily’s Achilles tendon has been injured and now she is unable to make that ride as she had been planning to do. A lung infection in July, required antibiotics which have the unfortunate side effect of weakening tendons, and thus the Achilles injury, making a 2000-mile bicycle ride impossible.Fortunately, Emily doesn't recognize the word “impossible” and within minutes of hearing this potentially devastating news, Emily had a new plan…..”I’ll ride a Vespa instead!” Emily will be riding a very cool Vespa, from Chicago to L.A. which is critical in making her dream come true. ** Update** Emily will be riding 30-40 each morning and then finishing it up on the Vespa. Physical therapy has really been paying off and Em's Achilles is on the mend.Emily has received a great deal of press locally and nationally. She has appeared in a Forbes Magazine article, New York Times article, and a recent local article from the Detroit Free Press as well as an announcement of her recent Applebee's "Real Burgers for Real Heros” award.

Keep up to date with the ride at www.letsrockcf.org, www.e2e4cf.com and also follow SPIN Magazines coverage at spinearth.tv!

She'll be collecting donations for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation too. You can donate, track the ride and stay in touch with Emily at www.E2E4CF.com!

..Reining Reinless..

Wow you HAVE to see this video of Stacy Westfall... She is an amazing reinless reining trainer.. I think this would be so cool to be able to do, but the work that it would take would be a real dedication.. I can only dream that I would be able to do this one day..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMr4REbiW-s

Pic's are here!!!

These are some pics taken at my barrel race cf benefit.. It was a blast!!

Here I am headed to the first barrel..
Turning the first barrel.. Our turns were a bit wide

Turning the second barrel..

Turning the third

Headed home!!!

This is my sister on her horse turning the first barrel..

Here is good ol Calvin (Sarah;s son) racing with his pony named Brownie...

Here is Kait (Sarah's daughter) running the little paint pony..

11:10 PM

So it was 11:10 PM on September 14 2008 and I was about to eat a big bowl of pasta, when in walks Kelly.. I so knew what she was there for.. I was in total shock though.. Everyone says it will come when you least expect it.. Well it really does.. Anyway the first thing that she said was..."STOP don't eat that" lol. So I slowly put everything down.. I just sat on my bed listening to her and so ready for this but so scared at the same time.. It something that you cant describe in words.. So Kelly told me everything that I needed to know so I could get myself prepared.. Well as prepared as you can get in 6 hours.. When we gave each other a hug Kelly left and I started to call my family.. I had this felling that was saying this was no dry run this one was for real.. Again another felling you cant describe.. So I called my dad.. He woke up and was on his way down for the second time that day.. In the mean time I called my best friend Sarah who came to hang out till my dad showed up.. My room was pretty full that night.. I had Sarah, Chad, my dad, and my grama.. Sarah went home about 1:30.. But everyone else stayed.. I was so tired but I couldn't fall asleep.. Chad was right next to me the whole rest of the night.. He was not sleeping either.. We both watched the clock like it was the t.v.. Time went so fast but so slow at the same time.. Kelly said that the surgeon would get back from his flight from NM with the lungs at about 6:00 AM.. Well right at 6:30 they came in my room and got me all ready.. They took my blood pressure, which was almost triple numbers both sides.. They kind of chuckled and told me to take deep breathes.. UM hello.. it takes more than a deep breath to calm down your blood pressure when you know that you are going to be cut in half..
So I was wheeled into the pre-surgery waiting room, I was in there for only like 2 minutes tops.. I got to say bye to dad, grams, and Chad.. It was intense..The last time I looked at the clock it read 6:36 AM.. I rolled on the the surgical table and everyone introduced them selves to me.. I remember the room was super cold.. But it felt good cause I was always hot from working so hard to breathe.... From there I don't remember a thing.. The lights went out for me. Well that is a short description of the night I got the word my lungs were on their way.. I'm so blessed that I am here today to talk about that night.. I still pray for the donors family and thank them all in my prayers.. I am finishing my letter to the family.. I have wrote that letter so many times not knowing just how to thank them.. But I just think that if they cared enough to give the organs to save other lives then a simple thanks will be okay.. Ill I know is its hard no matter how you say it..

The Bucks

Later that evening I had decided to go down to Starbucks.. Little did I realize that would be the last time that I would have to wheeled down there.. I always did enjoy every drop of my delicious drink.. I loved going down to the Bucks.. It was an escape from my room..

Bye

My family was saying good bye.. They always would say "the next time we see you you you are going to be on your way in to surgery.. Well little did they know this time that would be oh so very true.. My nurse Amanda would say the same thing.. So she would tell me that the next time she was working she will be coming to see me in the ICU.. Well little did she know too that she was so right.. Amanda didn't leave till 7:30 so we had a little more time to hang out.. She would pop in my room every chance she got.. All the Aids would do the Same.. I loved 2E!!

Hoping

One year ago I was practically living in the hospital knowing that one day my whole life was going to change.. The problem was that I didn't know exactly when.. The hospital made me feel safe so I didn't mind being there at all.. In fact that were I wanted to be.. I know that sounds funny to someone that has never spent much time in a hospital.. It even sounded strange to my own family..
My friends and a family were up visiting me.. We were just hanging on to another day.. I was doing 5 to 6 treatments a day just to be able to keep on breathing.. I weighed 121 lbs.. But it was all water weight due to the steroids that I was on.. That is a miserable feeling, being full of fluids and not being able to move around much.. So I would just lay in bed and watch movies and t.v shows.. I think we had ordered dinner from pizza hut that evening.. We got the pasta that I so frequently ordered.. I ate till I was full and then I fell asleep for a little bit..

Well I will tell you a little more about my life changing moment in a few.. Till then I hope you are having a great day!!

Clinic

I went to clinic today and overall everything went well.. Except for my PFT's. They are down a smidgen.. So I go back in 10 days and redo PFT's to see were they are.. If they are the same or down more then we will do a bronc.. I'm not to worried, its just something that is minor..

I hope to have my pics from the benefit in the next day or two.. I have not seen them so I am excited to!
This is a short entry but I just wanted to keep you all updated.. Can you believe that in 6 more days it will be my year mark for the new twins (aka lungs) LOL..

Labor Day

I hope everyone had a great weekend!! We all had a good one here.. We had the barrel race benefit on Friday, we raised close to $3000.00 dollars.. I think that is great.. We grew from last year and I'm sure we will continue to grow through out the years.. I will post pics on here as soon as Mandy gets them to me.. I may have a video of my first barrel run in 6 years.. Super cool!!! I had an awesome run.. It was a great 16 seconds of my life!! Everyone had a great time.. It is so laid back.. We are not there to win its all about FUN and raising awareness!!

Saturday and Sunday was just kind of a chill couple of days.. I did not do to much, but a little shopping. Today was a fun day.. I went to the Idaho state fair up in Blackfoot.. I love that fair.. We had some friends that are in the horse races up there and they did good..

Wed is clinic day.. We are doing all the yearly tests.. Can you believe it has been a year almost.. WOW!!!! Well I'm going to get to bed.. I have a big day tomorrow..

Love lots
T

The Race

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 4th Tanya Taylor Benefit Barrel Race Help raise money for Cystic Fibrosis! The barrel race will be divided into three groups. Senior entrance fee is 30$, 11-14 $15, and 11-under $10. We will also be holding a raffle, tickets are one for 3$ ...or five for 10$. All ages and abilities are welcome! Come out for a good time and help us get CLOSER to a CURE! Hope to see you there!!

http://tanyataylorcfbenefit.yolasite.com/

Photo Shoot!!

WOW!!! Here are some of the Photos Sarah Howard took... They are so amazing, she does such a FABULOUS job doesn't she..
I love them all!!!!
Which one do you think I should use for my Thank you cards that I send out to my sponsors???

THANKS SO MUCH SARAH!!!!

You can view her page at http://www.sarahhowardphoto.com/

*less than a week*

My benefit is less than a week away.. It is next Friday.. Wow that came up FAST!! We are all ready for it.. Best of all I am running my horse.. Don't worry Kelly and Tauna, Buster is a HUGE teddy bear and there are no out-of-control freaks coming.. Its a super chill event!

So today I had my 1 year anniversary pictures taken.. Thanks to Sarah Howard:) She does AMAZING work!! I cant wait to post them when they are ready.. She said Tuesday!! Cant wait!

Oh and we got the buckles that our winning contestants will win.. Go look they are so so FABULOUS.. They are made by Bob Berg.. He makes the $250,000 PBR (Pro Bull Riding) statue..
http://tanyataylorcfbenefit.yolasite.com

I hope everyone has a great Monday!!

Loves T

Prayer Request

So I was notified that my cousin Shannon was in a bad truck accident.. She was going through Casper Wyoming and she crashed her truck, it rolled 8 times and she survived it.. Sadly her 2 dogs did not.. I'm so so glad that she didn't have her baby with her.. Shannon was wearing her seat belt so that is the only thing that saved her.. She cane out with a broken leg and bruised all over.. She also has really bad head trauma..
Can we even go a whole year without anything else terrible happening.. HHHMMMM lets hope so... Thanks for all your support
T

Bath Time!!

I gave my big Baby Girl a nice cool bath today.. It was a nice hot day.. She loves the water so she was all about the cold bath.. I will have to get a video of her playing in the water.. She has a Huge water trough that I keep full so she can mess a around in it.. It is almost 1/2 her size..LOL Here is some pics of my clean girl!!!

Clinic

Today I had my 11 month clinic day.. Everything looked real good.. My pft's were 76.. That is good.. I weight 113.9. 2 LBS from my goal 115.. I will be there by the next time I go to clinic.. I had a very hard scare today.. Scared the living shit out of me...

I have a real good friend that has had a signal lung transplant and she has had some problems with her blood pressure.. Well we pulled up to the hospital at the same time so we walked into gather and I thought she didn't look so good but i thought she was just having a long day already.. Well we went into the hospital and she kinda stumbled like she was drunk.. So I called her name and she didn't hear me so Right when I was going to call her name again she fell to the floor.. I was scared to the max.. (I don't do good in situations like that) I sat and was rubbing her back to calm her down and make sure she was okay.. So I just was talking to her to try to gather what happened.. I'm real worried about her that I cant stand it.. She is a dear friend that I really care about.. I hope she is okay.. I wont give her name but if you could send prayers her way I would love you forever.. She don't look good to me and I know she could really use some real great prayers.. She is defiantly in my thought and prayers.. Well now that I have told you about today's adventures I will let you all go and enjoy your night or day whenever you read this..
Love you lots
T

Hot

It is so hot.. I cant sleep at night cause its so hot.. I have my air on high.. I guess it cant last for ever.. Soon it will be freezing cold.. Ill take the hot now that I stop and think about it.. This summer has gone by entirely to fast.. I am up to jogging my 2 miles a day again.. Today I spent alot of time at the gym.. It feels good to work out again.. I feel real good..I have gained alot of weight and still going strong.. I will be up to 115 in no time.. I redone my hair.. The blonde is back!! Love love it.. Well Just thought I would update a little on things.. I am on my way to get some things done for the benefit.. I cant get over that it is in a month.. Dang I have alot to do before then.. Mandy and I will get it done though.. Have a great week..
Love
T

My new hair doo

Home

We got home late yesterday.. It feels good to be home, although I so loved the coast.. Below are some pics of awesome waterfalls.. It is the tallest one this side of the Mississippi river.. I hiked up to the bridge that meets 1/2 way up the fall.. Its going to be a couple days till i get used to being home again.. I bought a bottle of wine.. Well when we stopped for the night in Oregon I went to get some clothes out of my bag and they were damp.. I had no idea why.. So I got home and was unloading stuff and there lay my empty wine bottle.. I guess the pressure made the cork pop out.. I was angry cause it sounded so good.. Peach wine.. Oh well..

The Coast

This is the Oregon Coast.. It will take your breath away if you ever see it in real life!!!

We decided to take the west coast part way and then cut over to the Columbia river another part of the way.. I am feeling great, I am up and exercising daily again.. I done alot of working out in Seattle.. There are alot of hills at the places we went.. So my legs are back to being strong.. They had quite the layoff after I broke my arm.. If you are wondering what my legs have to do with my ARM getting hurt.. Well I landed on my whole right side and my hip was kinda screwed up.. But I fell good enough to start working out again.. YEA!!!! Well I'm gonna get to bed so I can get up in the morning and we are going to see this really gorgeous place.. I cant wait to show you the pics.. You will love them.. Trust me!!!

Goodbye Seattle

Today was our last day in Seattle.. We have had a very fun 2 weeks up here
.. We have been many places.. I went to the very first Starbucks, that was pretty cool.. Everything was still in original state.. Today we went on a cruse around the bays.. Below I was getting ready to board the boat.. After we were dine with that we went to the Aquarium.. It was really cool.. Please enjoy the pics below.

We are heading home in the morning..

Star Fish and an anemone

More Star Fish.. They are one of my favorite,

I thought they would feel squishy but they are hard and very rough

There is Nemo

The Tiger fish

A very HUGE Clam

A super bright blue Fish.. One like Dora

Not sure the name of this fish But he was big and funny shaped

A tiny tiny baby Seahorse

Not sure the name of this one either but super cool looking

The very cute Sea Otters.. They are so cute I could have on as a pet!!!!

Outdoor Wonders

Today we really did not do much, we just relaxed at my aunties house.. We needed a day off from our busy week.. I have almost never done this much in a week.. We have been on a run constantly.. I would not have had in any other way though.. Tomorrow we are going to Pike Street.. It is going to be very fun.. I am going to go to the first Starbucks that ever opened.. My 2E groupies will be excited to know that.. The bucks is our special getaway from our room.

Below is some of my favorite flowers that are at my aunt Bev's house.. I just absolutely love Lilly's..

I just got this pic back from yesterday.. Here we are at the space needle.. On the top row- Myself, Amy (cuz) holding Sean, Grama, Bev (aunt), Bottom row- Caleb, Rachel, Marissa, Joseph

Space Needle

Today we wen to the Space Needle.. It was so awesome.. It stands 520 feet above ground.. It opened in 1962.. They sometimes have people do stunts from the top of it.. There have been a couple of people jump off of it.. They later was arrested.. I myself would never think of doing so.. I was good to look of the edge of it.. I don't much like heights, but for some reason I still go on high things.. I must like the rush of things..

This is Grams on the top of the Space Needle..