» Navy Sou Photography

Family & friends,

I am excited to announce that I will be participating in the AIDS Walk in Long Beach on Saturday, June 21st! AIDS Walk Long Beach is the only direct impact AIDS fundraising program in Southern California and in high spirits I am looking forward to giving back to our community and contributing to a great foundation to help stop the AIDS trend in our community. I am asking for your help as my sponsor for this great event by donating whatever you can to help the cause. Any dollar amount will be appreciated whether it be $1 or $100! The funds raised will go directly to HIV prevention & education programs and to direct services. These funds are restricted funds and can only be used to stop AIDS. Funds cannot be used for payroll, overhead or capital expenses. I thank you for your support and your help in making a difference!

Cash and checks are welcomed, but if you’d like to donate online please click here!

Much appreciation,

Navy

***Edited to Add***

I just wanted to thank those of you who contributed and sponsored me for my AIDS Walk! I am humbled by your sweet gesture, so thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart! The walk was was quite rewarding and it really meant alot to me to know that I am involved in such a great cause! I am the most out of shape person I know, but I had no doubt that this 5k walk would be a breeze. What’s 3 miles…right? Yes, I was a huffin’ and a puffin’ by the time I reached an incline up the hill, but it felt great to cross that finish line! Mya slept a partial way during the walk, but she was up a majority of the time and overall, I think she really enjoyed being out there. I was a part of the UHC team and walked with a few friends who gave me more of a reason to go out there and walk. Mya made new friends and I think they became her best friends when they took her on the ginormous ferris wheel that they had at the Pike! I am embarrassed to say that I failed to take my own daughter on the ferris wheel because of my fear of heights! So thank you Raphi, Jennifer and Julie for making it special!

A special thank you to Alvin AKA: Babe & Baby Daddy, thank you so much for your support and coming out there to show us some love without me even asking! It means alot to me and you never cease to amaze me! I love you!

*I realized how difficult it was to raise money when I signed up for the walk, but I managed to raise $95!*

M. Tanay Holmes-Jackson
“I’m so excited for you! Go get’em!”

Tanisha Metoyer
“Walkitout … walkitout! – Phil, Nisha & Deja”

Varencka Bailey
“I’m so proud of you Navy!!! Keep doing what your doing, you make us all proud of the contribution you are doing!!! V.Bailey”

Kelly Cusick
“YOU GO GIRL! RUN FOR THE CAUSE!!!!! ~Kelly~”

Alvin Aska
“Hey Baby, You have such a good heart and that is one of the many reasons I love you. Good Luck!”

Total Donations: $95

It’s funny how far we’ve come from the olden days of touch tone dialing and pagers and I was sweetly reminded Sunday morning when I was woken from my sleep by a series of text messages that read:

“Happy Mamas Day! May your day be blessed and spent just the way you want!”
“May ur day be blessed with great gifts from your little ones, and may u relax & enjoy ur day. Happy Mother’s Day!”
“Happy Mother’s Day to all you beautiful ladies. Enjoy your day!!! Smooches!”
“Happy Mother’s Day! Hope you have a great day!”
“Happy Mother’s Day!”
“Happy Mother’s Day…I wish u all the best in life, love & in health =)”
“HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!!”
“Happy Mother’s Day 2 all my beautiful mommies! Thank you 4 all the hard work that u put forth n raising ur children!”
“Happy Mother’s Day”

Whether those wishes came from a form of text messages, an animated graphic or a bulletin posted on My Space ~ I am indebted by just the simple gesture and the thought that transpired into these words. It really is just a sweet reminder of the women that we’ve become, the times that we are tested, the obstacles that we’ve overcame, the joy that overwhelms our hearts and the hopes that we constantly have for our children.

Reminded – I was of the mother that I am, but more so of the woman who reigned supreme in my life…my mother. Never have I known a woman so strong, fearless and resilient to have led the life that she lived. My mother and father were refugees who escaped the “killing fields” in 1979 from the Khmer Rouge. It was terrifying to hear the horror stories that unfolded – stories of their rampant escape from death through the rainforests, stepping foot on human skull and bones along the way, not knowing whether or not their next step would be their last if they were doomed to have set a mine off. My mother and father were fortunate enough to have survived the genocide that took over a million lives and came a very long way before they departed. I take strength and perseverance from my mother and wish she was here today to see the mother that I’ve become. She would have been proud and maybe even a little surprised to see how I morphed into the mother that she was. I am the woman that I am because of her and I am reminded of her every single day whether I relive a moment with her in my dreams or whether she crosses my mind in just a random thought. Always…I am reminded.