FRONT PAGE FOR A PINK PURPOSE!

Picture by Alton Strupp, The Columbus Republic

Today, the article about me and my sister, Sheila, was in the Columbus Republic.  The Republic ran a special "Pink Purpose" issue of their newspaper a couple of weeks ago, with some awesome, inspiring stories of people fighting breast cancer.  Sheila and I are a part of this Pink Purpose month of their newspaper, and our article appeared on the front page of today's paper.

We did not see the photo or article beforehand, so I was quite eager to see it!  I want to thank Alton Strupp for such a great photo of me and my sister and Andrea Zike, the reporter, for her wonderful article!  Excellent job!

I did run around town rounding up extra copies for my family and friends, but I was careful to leave some at each store....so hopefully you'll go pick up a copy!  :=)  You can also find the article online here 

I also want to thank the Columbus Republic for their month long devotion to the cause of bringing awareness to breast cancer.  I have read and enjoyed each and every story and applaud you for your work in this area.  I know you are helping to save lives by giving people this platform to reach others!

You can find the special Pink Purpose issue and read the other stories at http://www.therepublic.com/view/local_story/Pink_Purpose_2011_special_sect_1317965815/

I am very proud to be a part of this Pink Purpose project.  I'm in a "club" that no one wants to be in, but now that I'm in it, God has given me a mission to help educate and encourage others.  Thank you Columbus Republic, for allowing my sister and I to tell "our stories" and my prayer is that it will help someone out there.

Until next time......let God use you wherever you are or whatever you are going through in life.  Be a willing vessel and He will open up the doors!

Cindy

NEWSPAPER PHOTO SHOOT!

Today Sheila and I were visited by Alton, a photographer for the Columbus Republic newspaper.    And I turned the camera on him!  :=)

Alton was a very nice, friendly young man and we enjoyed getting to meet him.  The Columbus Republic will be printing a special section called "PINK PURPOSE" in an upcoming newspaper.  I'm not sure of the exact date it will come out, but believe it will be next week....maybe a Sunday edition.  I need to verify it and then I'll let you know the date.  Anyway, the special section will be featuring stories of those fighting or who have fought breast cancer, and it will feature "our story"....mom, Sheila, and me.  I so wish Mom could have lived and been in the photo with us...she would have gotten a kick out of it.  

Here's Sheila getting an extension cord ready for him. 

I think Sheila and I were just expecting him to show up with his camera, but he had other "equipment" he set up.....he was quite a professional.   He shot the photos out in her back yard and he took TONS of shots, so surely he got at least one good one out of all of them!  LOL!  Jen, he had a really nice Nikon that just kept shooting photo after photo and I thought of you and your camera!  :=) 

I was thinking this was something else I could mark off my "bucket list"....I already had my "nude photo shoot" at the plastic surgeon's office....and now I was having a newspaper photo shoot.  But, then I remembered years and years ago.....before "extreme couponing tv shows", I was featured in the Seymour Tribune and they followed me to the grocery store and then to my home for shots of me and my couponing/refunding.  Yep, I was an "extreme couponer" before it became HOT on tv!  I got over $70 worth of groceries for a little over $4 on that trip.  That was a big deal back then!  Anyone remember that article?...way back when my kids were little...probably early 80's.  So, I guess this wasn't my first news photo shoot after all.

Big smile girls!!!!!

Thank you Alton. for taking such care in photographing us.  We can't wait to see how they turned out!  You made us feel like celebrities!  LOL!  Seriously, we are grateful to the Columbus Republic and everyone who has worked on this special "Pink Purpose" section and for giving us the opportunity to use our story to help spread awareness.  It is our deepest desire to help encourage others who may face this journey at some point in their lives and to help spread the message of early detection.

Once Alton had packed up and left for his next photo shoot, we took off to get us an Apple Dumpling at the Oktoberfest. 

 

The Lutheran Apple Dumpling is always a "must have" at Oktoberfest time!  There are just certain things you look forward to every year.

Sheila just finished up and was enjoying the music.  It was awesome!

We didn't get to stay long, but it was an absolutely gorgeous day!  I totally love the Fall and our short little visit downtown was very enjoyable.

I just had to show you these!  Do you know what they are?  Painted Pumpkins!  I especially love the bowl of popcorn.  LOL!  How clever, huh?

Until next time....get out and enjoy these Fall days before the cold of winter is upon us!

Cindy