But this  goes so much further in life.  Just recently I had the opportunity to go to San Francisco to watch my brother and his best friend run the San Francisco Marathon.  Now for those of you who have been to San Francisco, I can hardly walk up some of those hills much less run, and to walk or run 26.2 miles up and down hills….incredible!!  What an accomplishment!!  For those of you who might not have had the chance to go to San Francisco as of yet…it is a city full of hills and steep hills!  It is beautiful…but again challenging even for cars!! 

So how did my brother, Steave and his friend, Chris do this?  And my question…why?  Well, I might not have the answer as to why, but  as for the how…I can tell you as their cheerleader..total determination!  Spirit, self-motivation, faith, endurance, and most importantly mind-over-matter!!  They are amazing!  I am so proud and was so proud to be there to see them cross the finish line of a race that they said was the hardest they have ever done.  But it goes one step further, this was their 10th Marathon!  Wow…really for a baby-sister…I am so proud!  And they were honored with an extra medal for a series called California Dream’in, this was a medal for running three marathons in California in one year; Long Beach, Huntington Beach and San Francisco!!  Again I am so proud!

Now even though this is a sport that they have chosen to accomplish, I think it fits into the meaning or the story of life, if you will.  For example, how do we get through everyday life? Well, I think some days the answer is determination, spirit, faith, that we are doing what we need to do and doing it the best we can to get through. Some days it might be easy and some days it might be as hard as running 26.2 miles! But we do it!  We set our minds to it and accomplish what we need to survive!

Now think about this with cancer, it is the same scenario.  Now of course, this is not something that we choose or want, but there we are in the midst of it and what do we do?  How do we accomplish crossing the finish line? We have faith, we have determination, we stick with it, we fight and we definitely have mind-over-matter to get through..or we should.  And this is what I try and strive to tell you in the book!  Do what you need to do to get through, find humor, accomplish mind-over-matter, have faith and cross the finish line!!  You can do it!  It might be a long fight, it might be 26.2 miles of hills…we might triumph at the top, and slip in the valleys…but keep the fight up, keep your spirit whole and keep your eye on the finish line!

But like I told the guys before they took off….I know you can do this, I know it is going to be hard, but don’t forget to look around see what you are doing and running through, across, and over!  Take it all in…this is a huge accomplishment and we will want to hear all about it in the end!

Keep looking for that finish line….You are almost there

Keep the faith!!

Don’t forget to check out the Traveling Book Blog and read all about its travels!

www.MirrorMakeoversTravelingCancerBook.Blogspot.com

In my travels and promotion of my book, I have had the wonderful little rubber bracelets made to help individuals remember my website.  You know the ones I am talking about.  Lance Armstrong, LIVE STRONG bracelets in yellow, Susan G. Komen bracelets in Pink, they are wonderful and carry wonderful messages and reminders of what we might want to look at later, after the excitement is over and we can relax and ponder the days events. 

Mine are pink and lavender.  Pink for breast cancer and lavender representing all cancers.  Both my bracelets are embosed with “Quiet Angel Publishing” in hopes that once the wearer has reached home they will take a look at my story on my website, pass it on, and hopefully help others with its words of encouragement and inspiration!  It is hopeful and a fun way to spread the word as you collect all kinds and colors.

Well recently, while I was in Canada at the International Dragon Boat Festival solely for breast cancer survivors, I was handing mine out.  Now mine were free, which was something odd at this event as most requested a donation for theirs, but I just wanted to get word out so they were free.  This caused much delight at the event which made me feel good as we handed out several hundred.

In the course of the event, one gal walked up to the table and as we were talking I asked if she would like a bracelet, she responded with “yes, I will take one, they make great vacuum cleaner belts”!  Well at the time, I will have to admit I was not quite sure how I felt about that statement, but I figured as long as she looked at the website first, all is well.  But the statement did stay with me and I imagine it will for a long time.

Well low and behold, I have recently had problems with my vacuum cleaner.  With much frustration today, I decided to take it a part and figure out if I could fix it  or I should place it out with the trash pick up later this afternoon.  I had hoped on the fixing end of it after all my Mom has always said “us women could fix the world with a Bobbie pin!”

As I took the vacuum apart, I realized the belt had broken, well you guessed it, the statement that stuck in my head (maybe not for a good reason) resurfaced.  Even though I had hesitation, I decided to use this gals words and recommendation and give my bracelet a try as a belt! 

In my amazement, the vacuum is working  better then it did when I purchased it!

So what would be the moral to this story….

Hopefully…wear the bracelet, enjoy it, go to my website and read my story of triumph, pass it on, along with the fact that you learn something everyday, then (and hopefully only then) if you ever need a vacuum cleaner belt, please feel free to put it to another good use!  After all, I figure this is kind of going green..let’s use and reuse and then recycle!

Our Journey Continues…..

Barb and I had a wonderful time doing all the tourist stuff that Niagara has to offer, we went to the Butterfly Conservatory, Niagara’s Fury, Journey Behind the Falls and of course, Maid of the Mist!  I think we covered everything!  We even stayed and watched the Falls as they change colors at night, which was suppose to take place at 9pm, but really took place at almost 10pm, but like good tourist we hung in there and it was totally worth it.  I don’t think we missed a thing, including all the Fudge stops! 

But as wonderful and fun as all this was, even all this pales in comparison to the next event because this was just so special to me…….

Meet…

Darren Cranford

Illustrator of Mirror Makeovers & Savvy Insights

I was so excited about this stop and about having Darren sign the Traveling Book!    Darren and I  have been working together mostly via email for a little over a year.  He is the illustrator of my book and I could not be happier.  But believe it or not,  this is the first time that Darren and I have ever met! It amazes me, when I look at the illustrations and how I have had them in my head for years, only to be so blessed to have someone come along who could take what I saw in my minds eye and put it down on paper so perfectly!  I thank my lucky stars everyday!  And besides being an incredibly talented illustrator, he is very kind, patient, and generous!  Even though we had never met, I felt like I have known him for years, even from the beginning.  Even though we work together I have felt as though he has stood by me like a true friend, full on encouragement, inspiration, with a great ear, a good heart and a very kin sense of figuring out what I want when I get overly excited with a new idea and thought!  Somehow he manages to put it down on paper just like it is scrambled in my head!!  For that he deserves a medal because… I can get very excited!!   

When we started out and I had the book written, I would describe to him what I wanted for the illustration, I would say “You know, you have really bad days, like Medusa and I use to draw snakes on the mirror” and this is what I got…..Perfect!!  Just perfect, even down to the robe and of course the cup!

Then I would say; “when I was bald I use to wear really big earrings so I wouldn’t look like one of the boys!” Again, exactly what I had in my head!  I even think I have a pair of earrings like that.

While we were working on the eyebrows gal, I would tell him that you have so many emotions that there where days that I just thought…”Beam me up Betty”..just get me out of here. I always figure “Betty” would work better then “Scotty” because “Betty” would totally understand!  And again, perfect eyebrows and just how I felt on those “Beam me up days”…

So now you have an idea of how Mirror Makeovers & Savvy Insights came to life and who the wonderful person is that helped me accomplish this.  It was so much fun and I am positive that that fun came from being able to work with someone so professional, kind and understanding.

All of you know that the name of my publishing company is Quiet Angel Publishing, but you might not know the reason behind it.  Since I was a kid, my mom has told me to say my “Angel Prayer” a prayer to our Guardian Angel so they will watch over us and she tells me this to this day.  Now everyone has their own beliefs and I will always be the first to respect that, but for me, I believe that I have someone watching over me.  And this is the reason why, now it could be that my Mom says the heck out of that Angel Prayer 100 times over, when I am on one of my adventures, traveling, riding the Harley to Laughlin, paddling in open water, etc.  But the reason I believe it, is because for one… I am still standing.  I have made it through my adventures, through tragedies in my life, and through cancer, but it goes beyond that.  I have met and have some wonderful people in my life.  My family, who watches over me constantly never tiring and seems to like the job.  My true friends who have stuck by me, encouraged me, and helped me every step of the way (like Barb above) and the wonderful people I have met that help, not because they need to or have to, but because they want to with kindness and support and Darren will always be one of those to me.  I consider myself truly blessed every day!

This is why I honor Angels….because I have so many in my life!

My logo another beautiful illustration by

DARREN CRANFORD

Even though this is your work, I owe you a debt of gratitude for helping to make my dream come true!

What a TRUE HONOR!

My sincere and heartfelt thanks to Kathy LaTour, Editor-At-Large, for having faith in my book; not only for writing such a beautiful book review, but for having the faith that my book would help a friend!

Please take a look….

CURE Today Magazine

My Brother and I in our booth....

We set-up early, about 7:30 am and spent the day, til about 5:00pm.  There were many speakers with interesting and helpful information, as we were also invited to attend the seminars and lectures along with the participants of the event.  Not only was all of this worth it, but I was blessed to have my brother come along with me for the day.  He helped set-up camp, and helped others as well (he is a very kind man), and we spent the day meeting new people and visiting and catching up with each other as well, it was all very enjoyable.

Lisa with Patient Advocate Foundation, DC - handing out information

Me with Friends Denise and Valerie

I also had the sponsorship of GO GIRL ENERGY DRINK.  GO GIRL is a wonderful new energy drink that donates a percentage of their proceeds to help the fight against Breast and Ovarian Cancer.  GO GIRL donated their drinks for me to give out to the participants of this event!  GO GIRLS generosity was amazing, not only in helping the fight against cancer with proceeds, but in supporting Mirror Makeovers and this event with the donation of their great drinks!  So not only was it a beautiful and warm day, but everyone had something cold and refreshing to keep them on the GO….

Young man at the event enjoying GO GIRL ENERGY DRINK

It is what gets us through, it is what keeps us strong, it is what makes us believe! 

Attitude IS Everything! 

Your attitude can change a moment, a day, a year!  It can make you laugh, it can make you cry, it can make you try and try, until you feel as though you can try no more! 

I believe that if you have a BAD attitude, that is just how things are going to stay.  But if you have a GOOD attitude there in the same, things will be good!

Of course there is going to be very difficult days, times, maybe even years, but there is going to be good times as well.  Things happen in life, things we want, things we don’t want…but I believe they happen for a reason.  Maybe these things are a wake-up call, maybe they happen because it is time for a change, maybe they happen to make us stronger for other things, days and times.  Who is to say..but again my belief is that you have to come through, you have to use your positive side to get you through, even when you think you can not bear it for one more second, I believe  attitude will get you through..better then without it.

This is hard but try and think for a moment.. when you are having a really bad day or time, is it really horrible?  Is it something you can not over-come…no matter how hard you try?  If you take the time to look around do you see someone experiencing something worse?  Maybe you are not a cancer survivor, but perhaps a supporter, which seat would you rather be in?  And if you are a survivor, or fighting this battle, does someone have it worse?  Don’t get me wrong, it is all bad, but it could always be worse!

When I talk I try and stress this.  I try and stress attitude, to be as positive as you can.  I don’t like the negative talks about cancer, because unless you are living under a box, we all no the bad, we all know the difficult and unfortunately we all know what the outcome can be, and for me I did not want to hear it.  I wanted to hear how to move forward, how to live through this, and how not to let it beat me!  Personally that is what I wanted to hear..not saying that people should not hear what they want to hear, or say what they want to say, but I am all about the positive!

That is the book…the book tells some of my bad stuff, some of my good stuff and how I dealt.  I have heard from people that cancer is not humorous.  OF COURSE…it is NOT humorous!  But did you know that laughter helps us to heal?  That it raises our endorphins and in turn that increases our immune system?  Laughter is good!  Positive attitude is good!  Do your best to move forward and if you don’t have the positive attitude borrow mine until you do! 

Just breathe and I have faith you will!!

These Everyday Gals are all about attitude & emotions!

Katie Parker, Regina & Sandy Finestone

Regina with the new "Everyday Gal" T-shirts

Survivor Participation

Medusa Volunteer

Beautiful Survivor

Survivors & Frank; Supporter for his wife Yvonne

Debbie, Sylvia, Me and my Mom, Peggy

All these photos are from the beautiful Susan G. Komen Survivor Breakfast in the Inland Empire.  The breakfast took place at the Pachanga Resort and Casino and it was just a beautiful weekend.  I had the honor of being the Keynote Speaker and as you can I see I got everyone involved.  It was a lot of fun and I just really enjoyed it.  There was about 500 beautiful survivors in attendance.  It was such a pleasure to be able to share my story, and even more of a joy to meet some beautiful women with their own stories. 

I was also very blessed to have my Mom go along.  We spent the night at the Resort and had a very nice dinner with Yvonne, her husband Frank, Debbie and her husband, Matt.  Both Yvonne and Debbie work for Komen.  They are all very kind people, very giving and just  enjoyable company, true Superstars!

I was also so happy to have two dear friends help at the event.  Komen allowed me to sell my books at the event and I was thrilled to be able to donate a percentage to help such a wonderful charity.  At my table I had two beautiful friends and survivors help sell my books and my new “Everyday Gal” t-shirts.  Debbie and Sylvia, both from the video; Debbie our leading actress and Sylvia our supporting actress and friends ever since. They both did a wonderful job helping everyone with their purchase and me as I signed books.  I am so blessed with support!

So a beautful hotel, a wonderful time with my Mom, wonderful new friends and a great visit with old ones, a wonderful talk, great participation and a room full of inspirational, beautiful, positive survivors!

All and all, just an amazing weekend that I will always remember!

I have the honor of being asked to be the Keynote Speaker for the Susan G. Komen Survivor Breakfast.  I am so honored, touched, excited and nervous!  This is truly a dream come true!  But in all my excitement I have been working very hard on my presentation and it has kept me away from my blog!

So I promise, next week after my presentation on the 10th, I will tell you all about it and all about the Traveling Books adventures, as it has been Traveling the world still and meeting new people!

So, stay tuned, and look for all the new adventures coming next week! Plus some new added features to the website and you will get to meet the “Everyday Gals of Cancer” !

You will not want to miss it!!!

Thanks for your patience!!

And think good thoughts….and wish me LUCK!

No matter where you are, what country you are from or what your background is…sign-up and have the book sent to you!  The book is filling up with signatures from survivors and supporters all over the world.  The book has already traveled to several places in the States, Egypt, England and will soon be on its way to France. 

I can’t think of a better way to let each other know that no matter our station or place in life…we are all in this together!!  Sooo…what are you waiting for????  SIGN-UP!!   And show your support!!

Plus help an amazing charity!  AWOL – A Way of Life After Cancer!  We are working hard at helping women attend these retreats via scholarships!  It is a wonderful cause and gets women moving forward with their lives after cancer treatments!!  Anyone is welcome!!

So..get involved!  Take a look at the Traveling Book Blog, sign up as a fan and tell your friends…best yet have the book sent to you!

www.MirrorMakeoversTravelingCancerBook.blogspot.com

Hope to hear from you soon…and your friends!!