My lil' Sylvia has been inspiring me to grow and push myself from the night she was born. In the picture of us together in the lake - Burr!!!  That day I really wasn't excited about the cold lake water, but I was excited about helping to teach her to swim and I want her to have a mama of action and adventure!   I was so excited last year to swim for the first time in Women Swimmin' and it was such a let down to hear the swim was cancelled. 

However, I'm a woman of action so I pivoted and led my family on our next adventure.  We found the only open pool in Ithaca - thank you YMCA - and I got to swim my 1.2 miles with my Sylvia and Seth in the bleachers cheering me on.  

I'm thrilled for THIS to be my first year swimming across the lake.  Getting ready for this swim has helped me to meet and connect with so many women in this community.  I also have been thinking about ALL of the community support I've had since my sweet Sylvia was born. 

One dear woman and friend who helped so much in the early days and weeks as a mama is Fay Bunnell!!  She was always so radiant and exuded such pure positivity and joy!  I now so wish I'd taken a photo with her with baby Sylvia.  But everytime she was here she did amazing chores to help our home feel cared for, so my attention could be where it was most needed.  She was the most amazing cheerleader and always helped me to feel even more confident in my mama insticts and abilites.  Fay recently left this earthly realm and it's such a loss to our world.  I miss you Fay.  I dedicate my swim this year to Fay Bunnell.

So this August, I imagine I'll still not be excited about the cold lake water, but I am excited and honored to be helping raise funds for Hospicare!  I support Hospicare so that everyone as they approach the end of their life has the care and support that they need, including support for their loved ones.  And I'll be jumping in that cold water to continue to show that I'm a mama of action and adventure!