Pink Blog Candy!

I had such a good day today! This morning, I took my summer sheets off the bed and put on my fresh, clean flannel sheets for winter! I love flannel when it's cold out and you can snuggle down in the warm bed! (But you don't care about the bed - get to the candy!! LOL!)

So this afternoon I went shopping with my friend, Heidi, and I found tons of cute pink stuff for blog candy! Here it is:

This is in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I wanted to find pink stuff in keeping with that theme. Here's what you can win: six sheets of 8 x 8 designer paper, stickers, pink-toned bling stickers, pink buttons, pastel-colored brads, a spool with three different ribbons on it, love-themed clear stamps and a clear stamp block. I hope that's worth winning. I always have so much fun at Michael's, and I always spend way too much money!

So how do you win this blog candy, you ask? Well, in keeping with this month's theme, I would like you to leave a comment on this post and tell me how you or your family or someone you know has been affected by cancer. You don't have to go into detail if it's too painful. I just think it's important for people to know how widespread this disease is and how it affects our lives. Maybe by sharing our stories, we can spur people on to raising more funds and awareness. (One comment per person, please, and make sure you include a way for me to contact you if you win).

As for my story, well, I know a few people who have had breast cancer or who have it. My grandmother passed away sixteen years ago from it. But probably the most poignant encounter with cancer I've had is with my father. He had colon cancer. (I know it's breast cancer awareness month, but as my mother-in-law says, "If we can find a cure or treatment for breast cancer, it opens the door to healing all cancers!") My dad was diagnosed when I was in my final year of university in 1996. He went in for surgery to remove what the doctors thought was one large tumor in his colon. My mom and I were waiting for him after the surgery, when the doctor came in and told us that the cancer was literally everywhere throughout his colon, liver, and pretty much everywhere. He gave my dad six months to live. I have never passed out before, but that was the closest I came.

My dad fought brilliantly, confident that he would beat this horrible disease. I watched him go through rounds of chemotherapy, deal with a colostomy bag since his intestines no longer functioned properly and try every alternative medicine he could find.

He walked me down the aisle a year later and gave me away to my husband. He was starting to get better and things looked more hopeful. He fought on for six more months after that, but after a year and a half of fighting, his body didn't have the strength anymore. On November 6, 1997, my dad passed away. That was the worst day of my life. I was fortunate to have the chance to say good-bye and have the extra year with my dad, but this disease is horrible. It is so important to find a cure.

I'm going to copy what some of my blog friends are doing and commit to donating $1 for every comment I receive here to the Alberta Cross Cancer Institute, which is where my dad and many others receive(d) treatment (up to $50). So in addition to possible winning some blog candy, you will be helping contribute to cancer research and patient care.

I'll leave this open until the evening of Friday, October 12, and then I'll use Random.org to choose a winner.