Most of you know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. I hope you’ve had the opportunity to participate in some way, even if it’s something as simple as purchasing a product whose proceeds go in part to the cause.
I lost my best friend to breast cancer 17 years ago… Sheila left two young children behind, and she left a huge hole in the lives of those who loved her.
I have learned over the years that women are strong, resilient people. And in general, women stick up for each other and support each other. It’s up to those of us who have been blessed in so many ways to lend a hand to our sisters who may not live in such fortunate circumstances.
I am proud to be included in a special project that will be published in June 2008 by Berkley. It’s a short story collection called The Power of Love, headlined by authors Erin McCarthy and Lori Foster. I believe I am correct in saying that all of the authors and all of the agents have donated their monies to a battered women’s shelter in Cincinnati.
The book will be available at the Reader/Author Get-Together in Cincinnati next June, and I think all or most of the twelve authors will be there.
As you head through this week with its challenges and stresses, pause a moment to be thankful for all the blessings in your life, and stop a moment to remember the many women who live in poverty or abusive relationships or the fear of losing their lives to cancer.
As women, we are strong… hear us roar! 
Janice Maynard
Janice, I totally agree with you on counting your blessings. I think it can help us all get through bad days. Things have been pretty stressful in our home lately with parent health problems and finding out our daughter will have to start speech therapy. Whenever I feel down I try to remember to count my blessings. Remembering my blessings always makes things easier to cope with.
Kelly -
I’m sorry to hear your daughter will need speech therapy, but many times it only takes a year or so to see great rewards. I taught kindergarten and second grade for 15 years, and I saw many of my students “graduate” from needing the therapist’s services. Between normal maturation and the targeted therapy from the speech teacher, many problems cane be “cured”. So I hope that will be the case with your daughter.
Janice
I hope the book does really well. Its a good thing you all are doing
This looks like a great book full of hope. I won’t be at the Get-together, but I am still going to buy this book!
This book looks so good, and for sure I will be picking it up.
I’ve been wanting a copy since I’ve heard about it - what a great cause. I look forward to the get-together. Praise to all the strong women out there - you don’t have to do extraordinary things to be extraordinary.
Kelly-
My son went through speech therapy from 18 months til about the middle of third grade. It was wonderful for him. We had fantastic therapists that made him feel special, not differant. He thought it was cool to go to his “special class” because they really did make it fun for him.
Janice-
I so sorry for the loss of your friend. I can’t even begin to imagine going through something like. I worry sometimes that I’ll leave my kids too early. Your blog reminds me that I need to savor every moment with them.
Thanks and I will be buying the book!