I’ve had a spot on the top of my left ear for quite some time now. I’ve been aware of it and have always put sunscreen on it, especially when we are in a hot climate. Just recently it was changing a bit. I bent my ear on my pillow and it was sore for awhile. I don’t go to the doctor very often but I was thinking about getting this thing checked. Finally I was at the doctor’s office with Darren. (That way I wouldn’t back out of telling the doctor.) I showed the doctor  the spot and said he didn’t like the way it looked. My GP was going to arrange for an urgent visit for me with a dermatologist.  That made me feel better about telling my GP but also anxious that this was urgent. Although, I always appreciate how quickly things can move along when my doctor says something is urgent.

My appointment was made for 3 weeks later. I found out that the dermatologist was booking into the end of May (this was the end of January). Lucky again. I tried not to think about it and did pretty good. Years ago I would’ve worried for the entire three weeks and been pretty sick about the appointment by the time I got there.

April 24th, Breast Cancer Awareness Breakfast, Abbotsford

April 24th was a very big and important day for us. Julie, Glenda and I went to the South Abbotsford Mennonite Church for the Annual Breast Cancer Awareness breakfast. The venue was well decorated with trees, plants, ribbons and beautiful centerpieces on each table. As women and some men started to enter, each table filled with guests. The Spirit Abreast Dragon Boat team attended as did local politicians guests and supporters. I'm sure there were more than 100 attendees.

The guest speaker was Dr. Frances Wong, Radiation Oncologist and Chief Physician at the Abbotsford Cancer Centre who spoke about the Navigation Program. To read more about the Navigator program click here.

We were also scheduled as Keynote speakers. We started off by showing our music video, which is always a great way to boost the spirit in the room. We had something in store for the audience that tied to that video. Glenda spoke first then I read a section from my story, and Julie was the featured speaker. She told some of her story, her current struggles and what she hoped for her long future. When she was done she directed all of the audience to look at the papers in front of them which included the lyrics to the "Choosing to Smile" song. We invited everyone to stand and then played the song. Everyone joined in or attempted to sing along. It was a real hoot! For the first 50 people who purchased a book they got a CD with the song so they could practice singing in their car. Hopefully a few people practiced belting out their own version.

Julie, Glenda and I have been really busy with opportunities to get our message out about our book, Choosing to Smile. Since we launched the book in March we did a film shoot with Shaw Cable by Tiffany Gurden March 12th. That spot ran for a week on our local Shaw and will also show in Kelowna this week. We had such a great time doing the shoot. The three of us got a lot of book signing done while we were talking about what the book is about and how we did it. I'm still amazed myself at how we managed to write a book and get it into print in less than one year!

On April 10th the three of us were doing book signing/meet the authors, in our local Cole's bookstore in the mall. That was so much fun. People came out who had read about us in the newspaper or saw us on TV. Others who were walking by stopped to see what we are all about. Some people who had read the book sent their friends to see us so they could get their own copy. It was a great day.

The three of us were booked to share Choosing to Smile in a trade show for Valley Women's Network in Abbotsford. It was their Spring Fling event, April 13th where many of the members showed their products at the trade show and we all enjoyed an evening of entertainment, great food and wonderful networking opportunities. We met many women in established and new businesses. Wonderful way to get some ideas and tips.

We continue receiving reader reviews that are amazing. It's so interesting to hear what people are getting out of our book. The reviews have come from men, women, and teenagers. Everyone is getting something different out of the stories and message that is important to their own lives.

Bonnie passed away early this morning with her family by her side. Now she's out of pain.

I'd like to remember her this way. Smiling

Each day I am so happy to open my email to find comments from people who have read Choosing To Smile. They are heartwarming stories from our readers who have found how our stories have touched their lives and have taken the time to let us know.

It is so reassuring that by sharing our stories the message of hope and inspiration is getting across. In our stories we wrote about some sad and unhappy times but also shared how we live each day and push on. We are not heroes by any means but ordinary women who have learned how to embrace life and have lots of fun.

I hope readers continue to share their thoughts with us and help to spread the positive message of "Choosing to Smile". You can read the comments too on www.choosingtosmile.com/testimonials.

     It's been awhile since I've written in my blog. The books arrived on March 2nd and we launched the book on March 5th, 6th, and 7th at the Women's Show. It was such a great time meeting and talking to so many people. We thought that Friday night wouldn't be that busy but we were going steady from the moment we opened our booth each day. Glenda was on stage on Saturday afternoon and gave a wonderful 30 minute speech. First she introduced Julie and I on stage then continued to tell the audience her amazing stories.

    As we talked to people at the show I found myself telling people how much we'd accomplished in the preceeding year. We didn't just write our story but also self published. The three of us worked tirelessly while we wrote our stories and haven't stopped with all the other components that are necessary to spread our message to the world.

    Some of the things we did on our own were to register our copyright, start the Choosing to Smile publishing company, select our editing team, which includes book design, build our website, grow our facebook group (we're up to 3700 people now), design the logo, do the photography for the book, Glenda wrote our song, had the music written by Slapjack, film our 2 amazing videos, set up the printing for the book, and so on. There's a lot I didn't even touch on.

    When we launched the book on March 5th it was 11 months to the day of the "idea" of writing a book. We really didn't know what we needed to do and how we were going to do it but we started with a meeting to brainstorm. We talked to a lot of people and followed some of their suggestions. We didn't leave any stone unturned.

We went into Vancouver taking the skytrain from Surrey to Waterfront station. There were no lineups and we got right on. There have been lots of stories of lineups that are hours long. The weather changed a bit, was cloudy and cooler, so that probably had something to do with less people going into Vancouver.

When we got off at Waterfront station there were a lot more people. There are quite a few streets that are blocked off from the traffic so people just spill off the sidewalks and take up the streets. Our first stop was to see the Olympic flame.

Amazing! We watched the lighting on TV but to see it in person is much better!

Then we walked downtown to see and hear more Olympic excitement.

OH CANADA!

Here is the Olympic countdown clock in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery. The day had turned quite cold and rainy so it was nice to see the pink cherry blossom trees.

While we were watching  the live screens we watched Ashleigh McIvor win Gold for Canada in Ladies Ski Cross finals!

GO CANADA!

Our weather has been so wonderful. We've been able to get outside and work in the garden. We still get frost at night but the day has been warming up very nicely. So many people have been getting out for walks with their dogs and today I saw two people walking their minature horses on leashes.

Spring is here and is so pretty.

Here is a story I wrote last year that was published in the April 2009 Canadian Living Magazine, called
My Symbol of Hope. (Click on the link)

Let's hope the weather holds longer for the Winter 2010 Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler.

Living in the Fraser Valley we are very close to the 2010 Winter Olympic action. In Chilliwack we live about 1 and a half hours from Vancouver. The start of the Olympics was rainy but as of today the sun came out and people have been able to shed their heavy coats. I haven't been able to make it to Vancouver yet but I did get to see the Russian Figure Skaters during practice. The Russian skaters were practicing in Abbotsford for the past 16 days.

Yesterday after work we went to the arena and were able to see them up very close. It was a breathtaking experience. The two couples practiced their routines.

And then Melissa and I had our pictures taken with them!

I hope to get into Vancouver on the weekend to see more of the Olympic activity. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

When we got home the Choosing To Smile music CD was waiting for me. It is so great! I keep it in my car and play it over and over again. Sure does put a smile on my face. :)

Today Cindy Papale is doing a book signing at the Changing Times Bookstore in West Palm Beach. I really wanted to get there and had to figure out how to get to West Palm Beach from Ft. Lauderdale. Seems the best way is to rent a car and drive the 45 minutes north to West Palm Beach. Luckily we caught a ride to a car rental place and Darren drove us to West Palm! We got map quest directions from our hotel and it was fairly simple to find.

We arrived early and I hadn’t prebooked my spot so I went into the store early to be sure I could attend. I saw the crew setting up the lighting and cameras with Cindy sitting on her chair at the front of the set up. I went up to Cindy and introduced myself.  She knew right away who I was. We were both so happy to meet. As I told Cindy I’ve had the tickets to come to Ft. Lauderdale for over 2 years and have never been able to arrange the trip. What are the chances Darren and I make the trip and arrive the day she’s doing a book signing/filming!

More people started arriving and I met Paula Holland De Long who was also giving a workshop that evening. I also met Micheal Colanero a digital photographer, http://www.cafepress.ca/BCABPP