BOO!

Happy Halloween, everyone. It's time for the kids to have fun and the dentists to benefit. I'm not a huge candy person, but I do find myself picking out all the Snickers and PB cups after I put my girls to bed. But, I won't eat the PB cups until after they've been in the freezer for a few hours. I'm weird that way. The last few years I've noticed a lot of sugar alternatives on the market. It started with the mini micro popcorn, pretzel bags, and now there are even tiny playdough cans. I guess that's all good and fun and the kids will take a treat of any kind, unless we're talking apples. (I do remember receiving one apple in my life. I think that was when it was actually safe for a child to be outside alone.)For those of you taking the kids trick/treating tonight, have fun! And get some pictures of those costumes. For those of you celebrating an adult Halloween, take er easy! It's only Wednesday and that could make for a long rest of the week. Been there.

And doesn't this couple look like Fergie and Justin Timberlake??

Time is on my side

(no it's not!)

Occasionally the time stamp of these postings is relevant, and other times it is not. I can remember a few situations where it may have either looked like there was a post before the event actually happened, or as if I was sitting there with my laptop at that exact moment. Of course we all know that isn't true, because I do have somewhat of a life.

Anyway...an fyi. It appears that postings are usually stamped a few hours earlier than when I post them. (The last one was 2 hrs and 13 minutes off.) What the? Is that important to anyone? Maybe, maybe not. I just don't want to cause any confusion. I know in the past I had looked at the time when Carol blogged, for various reasons. It's probably some silly time zone thing, so I'm going with that.

There's no I in team

What a day.

Turns out nobody cared whether we had a ticket to get in or not. And it wasn't chaos at all with the racing going on. I don't even think there were people actually watching those stock cars going around the track. It appeared to be just "us". And even though there weren't any problems finding the team, I'll apologize for telling you all to meet by the wall. The wall wasn't. Instead of having a survivor wall standing tall, they had paper draped over tables by the registration area. So, a few changes here and there, but it all worked out.

We had a mixture of almost-rain, clouds, strong winds and sun. By starting time (noon) the clouds were clearing out and blue skies were bright. It made me smile...blue-sky days were important to Carol.

The walk was brisk and hard to predict! One corner brought fierce, strong winds into our faces that encouraged everyone to zip up a little higher and gasp a "good grief!"....then the next corner would be hot and we'd start shedding layers. My face is bright pink and warm tonight. I can't decide if it's sunburn or windburn, but I'm figuring maybe a product of both.

The star of the day was Carol's dad, Dick. Unbelievable. The guy is a machine. He lead the pack when we started out, carrying Carol's walking stick and a bright pink sign announcing that we were Carol's Crusaders. It bore a beautiful picture of Carol. As the team broke up here and there I passed Dick at one point, but always kept a close eye on him by the sign. He caught up, said hi to me, and then marched forward. That was the last I saw of him! A few of us tried to track the pink sign over the next few miles and it got further and further away from us, meaning that Dick was really cruising! He finished four miles in one hour and three minutes! We were so proud of our leader. Not bad for a 75-76 year old. (I apologize for the uncertainty there, Dick, but your daughter, Sue, wasn't sure how old you are....so she thinks that's your age.) :o)

Dominic was dubbed the "Pied Piper". He walked with all the young cousins...another moment that made me smile.

The walk was good, as was the company. The team really rocked this year.
Bert, we sure missed you!

We had a nice dinner at Brian's house after. Food was plentiful, the kids ran crazy outside and everyone enjoyed the time together to catch up and chat. I can't speak for everyone, but I felt a warm feeling tonight. (Maybe it was my burnt face....kidding!!) It was a day of Carol's favorite people, all together in one place. That gives me a warm fuzzy.

A huge thanks to Sue for all the organizing and team announcing. It was a job well done that does not go unappreciated. Thank you to Brian for opening up his home to us and hosting the dinner gathering, not to forget the Stecker family that did all the setup work. Thanks to Deb for inviting, reminding and dinner planning. Thanks to every member of the team for taking time out of their busy lives to walk today and raise the pledge money that could make a difference. And last but not least, a big thank you to all of those that read this blog and donated to this wonderful cause.

I must also extend a hug to those that provided fabulous therapy for me today. There were many, but words from Jerry and Kate stuck out. You're all good people.

Who found the golden ticket??

A few people have been asking today if the entrance tickets were coming in the mail. I didn't get mine...until I got home today and saw it in the mailbox, finally. You should get a small white postcard that has a little map on it. That is your entrance ticket. If you do not get yours by tomorrow (Friday), and the walk is creeping up right upon us, there is a ticket that you can print off from the American Cancer Society. Sue asked me to post it on the blog here, but the stupid software won't let me post an attachment. Grrr. Please call me or Sue and we will email you the ticket to print out.

They also said that they'll have a list of all registered participants at the gate, so I don't think that anyone will get kicked to the curb without a ticket.

Some of you know that there will be stock car races on Saturday, also. That is NEW to everyone. Usually the track is all ours and it's a very pleasant day/experience. We have NO idea why they booked two events of this size on the same day, but we're thinking it may be a little chaotic. Lord knows there are plenty of people there just for the cancer walk. I can't imagine what a zoo this may turn into, but let's all hope they know what they are doing. There are races in the morning, a break for us to walk, and then races in the aft. Ugh.

It could be a little tougher finding everyone by "the wall" than we had expected. Please call me or Sue if you have trouble. Most of us know a few people on the team, so keep your eyes open and do your best to find Carol's Crusaders. Sue will have a TEAM sign...and most of us should know some of the Stecker or Breiter crew.

Dress in layers, be prepared for some rain (cross fingers) and better early than late.
And thanks to all for being a part of this great team!!!
I know that Carol is looking down, incredibly proud.

What to wear, what to wear

Sue has all of the T-shirts for next Saturday (for those of you that registered before 10/15). If you'd like to pick yours up before the walk, she will be in Sheboygan by mid-afternoon on Friday, the 26th. She will be staying at the Sleep Inn off of I-43, just north of Oostburg.
You may contact Sue at 608-516-6811.

The day of the walk we will be meeting by "the wall" between 11:00-11:30. I would recommend checking in and submitting your donations before then. I don't know the official name of the wall, but it is where the survivors and family members may sign and/or leave messages for loved ones. It's not far from the starting line. If you have any problems finding the team, call Sue's cell (above).

This is by far a record number of team members and dollars raised for Carol's Crusaders.
Let's make it a great day!!

We interrupt this program

Sue has an important message for all walkers. Please read:

Hello Carol's Crusaders! I picked up the t-shirts today from the ACS in Madison, and found out something that is a HUGE change from years past. If anyone you know is planning to walk or come along as a spectator, but is not registered, get them registered! Since there is a Road America stock car race that day, Road America is requiring that all walkers AND spectators have an entrance ticket. Tickets will be mailed a week before the event, but will only be mailed to registered participants. (By registering before the 19th, the $15.00 registration fee will go to the American Cancer Society, rather than to Road America the day of the walk.) This applies to my family, for example. I only registered myself, even though all 5 of us are walking. I have to go in and register the other 4 members of my family so that we can all get in on race day. If you have any questions about this or any other walk details, give me a shout.

When does it stop hurting?

Yeah, I know it's been a while since I've show my face around here. I guess at times I'm either not sure of what to say, or I'm afraid to really say it. Time is supposed to heal all wounds, but I'm starting to doubt that. The pain may have eased a bit since July, but I'm still having a hard time coping with Carol's absence. I know I'm not alone and have recently chatted with family members and friends that are unsure of how to deal with their anger and frustration, too. Nobody has any answers. We just all miss Carol so much!

The RA walk is something I look forward to each year. It's an emotional event for most and a celebration of life for others. It's going to be tough this time. I always looked for Carol and the team at our "meeting spot" before the event started. During the walk we all talk of our families and the events going on in our lives. Even when the weather was cold, rainy or close to miserable (which was often the case), it was such an invigorating walk that we'd tend to forget about the dreary day surrounding us.

The last two months I have been excited about the walk getting closer. I can't wait to see all the family and friends again! I was anticipating some hard moments, but overall I thought it was going to be a day for us to celebrate Carol and put our happy hats on. Now that it's nearing...I'm a little nervous. Of course I'm still looking forward to seeing everyone, but there's this anxiety setting in. Ugh.....

Show me the money

Walkers:
For those of you that have registered online, but are receiving offline donations, you may enter those online. It's just a way to have all your pledges acknowledged in one big pot. And it raises our personal and team goals.

To enter offline donations:

Go to “My Progress” when you log in. There is a link above the Gift Summary (on the right side) that says “Enter Gifts Received Offline”.

Just FYI.
Scream if you have any questions.

TGIalmostF

Looks like our team is growing! Right now there are 15 team members registered online. I know there are a few that may be registering manually, also. And a huge thanks to Brian who has offered to hold our celebration dinner after the walk. It's going to be a great day!

The new season of Survivor starts tonight. Carol and I always talked on Friday mornings. We'd pick our favorite "players", comment on the challenges, and laugh at some of the great moments. I think she even got Brian hooked on it. I'm going to be a little bummed tomorrow morn, not having my go-to gal there.

Well, here's to wishing everyone a great weekend... it looks like the weather will be cooperating to the fullest, so enjoy!

Calling all walkers

Here's a small portion of Carol's Crusaders walking in 2005. Carol and I are in front (yellow and burgundy jackets).

For all of you looking to join the 2007 team....

There are two ways you can register for the Road America cancer walk. Either online, or manually if you are unable to go that route. But, if you're reading this I would assume that you have internet access, right?

Here is the address: http://main.acsevents.org/MW_RoadAmerica

I can't remember every detail, but it's fairly intuitive, so I'll give you the basic step-by-step.

When you go to the American Cancer Society website there will be a button to Join a Team. Enter the team name (Carol's Crusaders) and hit the search. When you click on the team name (towards the bottom of the page) it'll show Sue Chambers as the team captain. You can then "Join".

There is a $15 registration fee, which you pay online. Then just keyin your name and all associated info that goes along with being you. There will be a few other questions, including your Tshirt size. Each year they give out long sleeve Ts.

When you're done registering you can go to the Participation Center to setup your own personal donor page. You don't have to do this part if you don't want to do the donations online. Sue and I will have forms available if you'd rather go the paper route. If you DO wish to setup the page, have some fun with it. You can be creative and write anything you want. Then you can email all your friends (through the page) and they can donate online. Again, all kinda cool. Here's what my page looks like.

Click here to visit KB's personal page.

Click here to view the team page for Carol's Crusaders

So, following this so far?

You can also view the team data...see who's all joined and how much money has been raised so far. It's all right at your fingertips.

If you'd like to register manually, please contact Sue at: sue9768@gmail.com and she'll be able to help you out. If you register online, but would like to write your donations on paper, you may contact me popper53@sbcglobal.net or Sue, and we will get the form to you.

If you have any questions, please contact either one of us and we'll be happy to help you out. If you are unable to walk, but would like to donate, let us know!

We're hoping for a good size team this year and many more to come.
Again, the date is Saturday, October 27th.

Our team wants you

I'm going to make this quick because I don't have much time right now, but I have all the information available for the Road America cancer walk on October 27th. "Carol's Crusaders" is a registered team, just as it was in the past years. You may register online or manually, whichever you prefer. (The online method is pretty cool, so I'd recommend that.) I will post details on how to do this by the end of the day....gotta run!

Side note: I hear Dominic had a pretty good first week of school and band was fun. Gotta like that.

Backpacks and new shoes

It's time to get out the pencils and books and prepare for the teacher's dirty looks.

Back to school again! Being a parent of two, I have to admit that there are always emotions associated with this day, no matter how old the children are. Either we're happy to get them back into the routine and schedule, or we're sad to let them go into that world that we have little control over.

I've been thinking about Dominic and hope that school in Mankato will be a good fit for him. I heard that he was looking forward to it, so that's a great start. It shouldn't take long for him to make new friends and get into the swing. He has a lot of people looking out for him, so he'll be fine. Good luck to him!!

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy

It is SUCH a beautiful day out there. I would almost consider it perfect. Not a cloud, mid 70s, dry air, tiny breeze. Can't really think of what could make it any better.

Funny how the weather can really make or break a person's day. It makes us happy to have the sun shining on our face... and crabby when it's pouring cats and dogs and we have to run to our car parked waaay over there. A pretty snowfall makes for a fun day to get cozy in the house and watch the ginormous flakes come down... but then we get cranky when we are breaking our backs with snow removal.

The weather also gives us something to talk about. How many times a day do you hear people bring it up at work or at the store? And not only today's weather, but what the weekend is going to bring, as well. It's also a conversation starter when you meet someone new. "Boy, sure is windy out there today, huh?"

The weather affects our mental health in a number of ways, but today it's all about sunshine, so let's concentrate on that. If you're going golfing, working on the yard or just having a beer on the deck with friends... enjoy this beautiful day. Make it a positive one.

It Won't Be Easy

A family member asked me to post a special message.

Next week Friday, the 31st, is Brian & Carol's wedding anniversary. It's going to be an incredibly hard day for Brian, as you would imagine. Please remember him next week, especially on Friday. Send a card, give him a call, anything that you think may help him get through it.

Save the Date

Oops...I failed to mention that the date for the 2008 Rally For The Cure is already set. It will be Saturday, August 9th, at Sunset Hills. Please mark your calendars now if you'd like to golf and/or volunteer. Debby Thorn told me that they are ALWAYS looking for new people to jump in and help out! If you'd like to be included on the volunteer list or are looking for additional information, please contact Debby at Debby.Thorn@kohler.com or Ed at 920.467.0780.

Let's make next year's event even bigger and more successful!

If Only It Grew On Trees

The golf rally was a big success! Over $21,000 was raised this year!

There were over 250 golfers and plenty of others that stopped in for a burger and a beer. The sun was shining and there was this sense of unity with everyone...all coming together for this great cause. Kudos to Ed, Amy and all of the friends, family and volunteers that made this special event happen.

We've Come to a Decision...

Hello, all.

I wasn't sure where to go with Carol's blog at this point. Some have told me that they still go back to read entries, or that they would like it to stick around indefinitely just because. It began as a tool for Carol to share her progress, medical jargon and feelings with all of us. I can't speak for everyone, but based on the number of people that have approached me since Carol asked me to take it over, I think it really served it's purpose.

Carol said she trusted me with it, and I feel honored to have that come from someone that was such a natural writer. After talking to some of her family members, I have decided to use Carol's Connection as a home base for all information Carol-related. I'll post any cancer fund-raising events, special things done in her memory and hopefully some cancer treatment break-throughs, as well. Although Carol's memory is held strong within all of us, this can be another way to keep the cause she fought for alive.

If anybody would like me to post information to share, please get in touch.

For those of you golfing at Sunset Hills this weekend, pay special attention to hole #5. A tree will be dedicated to Carol tomorrow night and there is a plaque with her name on it.

A special thank you goes out to Brian's sister, Penny, for getting pink "In Loving Memory of Carol Stecker" Tshirts made up for everyone that is golfing and/or doing the Road America cancer walk in October. We all really appreciate the effort involved.

Speaking of the cancer walk...Sue and I will be co-captains for team "Carol's Crusaders" this year. More info on that coming soon.

It's been a rough couple weeks and I know these events coming up are just going to stir up the ole emotional pot for everyone. We all miss her like mad. What gets me through each day is knowing that she's still there whenever I need to talk, just like she always was.

-Kristi B

Just A Little Plug Here...

I spoke with Tim Renzelmann today, the Vice President of the Sheboygan County Cancer Care Fund. http://www.scccf.org/
I have done volunteer work for him in the past. He's a great guy and a cancer survivor, as well.

He said that he has already received phone calls in regards to donations in Carol's memory. I was pleased to hear that! Keep them coming! Please contact Tim if you are able to make a donation of any size; it is a wonderful organization. Just be sure to include that it is in memory of Carol Stecker.

Also...the annual golf outing "Rally For The Cure" is coming up this August. Please visit the Sunset Hills website for more information. http://www.sunsethills-golf.com/rally

Thank You!!

Black Is Not A Color

Carol Marie (Breiter) Stecker, 42, of N1995 Wittwood Road, Oostburg, closed her eyes and met her God on Sunday morning, July 15, 2007. She died in the comfort of her home, with her loving family by her side as a result of the breast cancer that had overtaken her body. She was at peace with her fate, but deeply saddened to be leaving her loved ones behind.

Carol was born on December 15, 1964, to Richard (Dick) and Therese (Girten) Breiter in Mankato, MN.

She grew up in Mankato, and graduated from Loyola High School in 1983. She attended Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, IA.

In 1991 Carol was blessed by the birth of her only child, Dominic Richard Breiter. He brought great joy and laughter to her life. Some of Carol's fondest memories were tied to Dominic's sense of humor.

Carol spent ten years working in the movie theatre industry; managing theatres in MN, IN, KY, and WI. Carol loved to travel and satisfied her wanderlust by working in the hospitality industry for a number of years at hotels in MN and GA, a resort in the San Juan Islands of WA, and on a cruise ship in HI.

Carol and Dominic moved to Sheboygan in 1996 and this area became their home. At the time, Carol worked for Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Sheboygan County. Her co-workers there remained close in heart, always, especially Sheryl Schuesler. Most recently Carol was employed by Muth Mirror Systems in Sheboygan as an Administrative Coordinator and greatly enjoyed the variety of her work. She leaves behind there her best friend, Kristi Biederwolf.

In 1999 Carol met the love of her life, Brian S. Stecker. She always said he was worth the wait! Brian was by her side in 2001 when she was initially diagnosed with breast cancer and remained there throughout her treatments. In December of that year he proposed and Brian and Carol married August 31, 2002, in a big, beautiful outdoor wedding in their back yard.

Carol bowled several years on the 'Stecker Construction' women's bowling team and on a couples bowling league. She enjoyed snowmobiling while she was able, and golfing with Brian at Sunset Hills Golf Course, owned by their friends Ed and Amy Kirchenwitz. She loved family gatherings, trips to Mexico, Dominic's drumming, Brian's softball games, Christmas, lunch with Deb (Jeff) Thorn, dining out with friends, and everyday activities with those closest to her. She was an unusual football fan in that she rooted for both the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers. Laughter truly was her best medicine.

Carol was one of seven children and Brian is one of nine. Carol always felt blessed that she came from such a wonderful family and then made it even better by adding the many Steckers to her family tree. In addition to her parents, Dick and Therese Breiter of Mankato, husband, Brian and son, Dominic, both of Oostburg; Carol is survived by three sisters, Mary Breiter (husband Scott Pratt and nephews Alex and Aaron) of Eugene, OR; Kathy Ramirez (husband Anthony and nephews Lorenzo and Zachary) of Milwaukee; Sue Chambers (husband Larry, niece Kaitlyn and nephews Jacob and Owen) of DeForest; and three brothers; Joe Breiter (wife Chersti Hanson) of Minneapolis, MN; Jerry Breiter (wife Roberta Jensen), and Dave Breiter (wife Kate and nephews Mark and Joseph), both of Mankato, MN. Carol's in-laws include her mother-in-law, Romaine (Gordy) Stecker-Bruggink of Oostburg; brothers-in-law: Lonnie Stecker (wife Brenda, nephew Joe and niece Nikki and her family) of Oostburg; Dale Stecker (wife Tammy and nephews Andres, Joshua, Kyle, Jacob, Josiah, and nieces Kaitlyn and Alicia) of Oostburg; Larry Stecker (nieces Ashley and Jordan and nephew Zachary) of Gibbsville, WI; and Tom Stecker (Dawn and nephews David, Alex and Tommy) of Hingham, WI; and sisters-in-law; Wendy Hendrikse (husband Kevin and niece Samantha and nephew Travis) of Oostburg; Julie DeMaster (husband Mike and nephews Arin and Matthew) of Oostburg; Penny Wychesit (husband Felix and nieces Chelsea, Courtney, Mary and nephew Tyler) of Gibbsville; and Debbie Harmeling (husband Joel, nephews Nicholas, Drake, Alex and niece Elizabeth) of Hingham, WI; and also Brian's stepchildren; Becky Lukens (and her children April and Jordan),of Cedar Grove and Brandon Lukens of Plymouth. Carol is further survived by many aunts, uncles, and over 50 cousins.

Carol was preceded in death by her grandparents, several uncles and her father-in-law, Thomas Stecker, Sr.

Friends may greet the family at the Wenig Funeral Home in Oostburg, WI, on Tuesday, July 17, 2007, from 3 pm to 8 pm, and on Wednesday, at church, from 9 am until the time of services.

Funeral services will be held at the First Reformed Church in Oostburg, WI, at 10 am, Wednesday, July, 18, 2007, with the Rev. Wayne DeVrou officiating. Entombment will follow at the Gardens of Peace in the Town of Sheboygan.

Online condolences may be sent to wenig@wenigfuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers, Carol has requested that donations be made to the Sheboygan County Cancer Care Fund.

Additionally, Carol's wish is that no one will wear black to her funeral. Wear bright, happy colors. Celebrate her life, do not mourn her death. She wants to look down upon those gathered and see a wave of colors, as if viewing a field of flowers.

A very special thank you to Dr. Kumar and the oncology angels at the Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic in Sheboygan. You, truly, are miracle workers.

The staff at the Wenig Funeral Home, 108 Center Avenue, Oostburg, WI 53070, (920-564-2771) is serving the Stecker family.

The Sheboygan Press

July 16, 2007

And Then There Were None

....days left of suffering.

Carol Marie Stecker passed away this morning at 8:10am.

She took her last breath and then there was peace. Dominic never left her side. He spent yesterday afternoon with her and was there throughout the night. He's still with her now.

I know they gave her 7 months, so this may come as a little bit of a shock to some, but it was time. We've been watching her health change every day and knew it was going to be soon. Some of us prayed that it would be this weekend because the whole Breiter family was here. I think she was waiting for that time, and after she had the final talk with them, then she was ready.

Arrangements are in progress and will be posted soon.

Please remember Carol today and always, as she was. With her infectious smile and positive outlook on life. She will forever be in our hearts and our souls. God bless her.

-Kristi B