With National Breast Cancer Awareness coming up in October, CUP HALF FULL and AMBAJAM have teamed up creating a gift package of a book and a blanket to comfort those going through treatment as well as extended family and friends. AMBAJAM, Where Children’s Style Comes to Play, has designedAMBAJAM has added an embroidered pink ribbon, which matches the bra on the cover of the book, onto their pink jumbo cuddle up blanket. The blankets are soft and yummy, warm and cuddley and a perfect gift for those days when you just can’t get warm or simply need the comfort of something soft and nurturing on your skin.

Who: ALL ARE WELCOME. The more the merrier. Men, women and children, no pets please!
Where: 3457 Ringsby Court Taxi 2 #105 Denver, CO 80216  Phone: 303-830-7595

When: November 5, 2010 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. p.m.
Dress: Come as you please.
What: A Celebration of Life & A Fundraiser.

Jan and grand daughter during and after chemotherapy.

To order a copy of Cup Half Full, please go to the ordering page.

Order yours TODAY through August 31st, 2010 and receive free shipping.

A work of heart lead by spirit.

It wasn’t something I woke up one day and said to myself,  ”I think I will work on a book having to do with the lives of people living with breast cancer.” “And, by the way, I will spend the next ten years working on it off and on until it is complete.” No. Not so much.

My life has lead me on many uncharted paths, most of which I would not have embarked upon had they been mapped out. Perhaps it has to do with being directionally impaired. Or, perhaps it has to do with not mastering the art of reading maps… or even written directions for that matter. Don’t you think if we knew ahead of time what we were getting into, the likelihood of doing those things would be slim? For instance, when I rode my bicycle 2,200 miles from Denver to Boston after my Mom died from breast cancer when I was 22. A friend had asked me a few years later if I would like to ride bikes around Europe. I was broke at the time and had a clunky ten speed bike. She had a fancy 15 speed with skinny tires. I had short legs, she had long legs. I said I’d ride across the United States with her. Wendy had the map. I peddled twice as hard and twice as many rotations and she still rode a good mile ahead of me. It was a remarkable 6 weeks. Wendy lead the way and I followed. I had lost my Mom and I had temporarily lost my self. Sleeping on picnic benches, in state parks, occasionally in the tent when it was raining, and in the homes of gracious strangers, I slowly found myself as I was humbled by the unexpected acts of kindness from complete strangers across the country.

When I returned to Denver, I slowly began following a path I was unaware I was following. Some unknown calling from inside myself was beckoning. It felt like an invisible map that lead me from one creation to the next, one photograph at a time, one project at a time, one book at a time, one vision at a time. When I didn’t pay attention, it would haunt me.

Fast forwarding to this book, CUP HALF full: LIFE IN THE FACE OF BREAST CANCER, I happened to be on a bike ride with a dear friend and my favorite poet when I felt called to mention this new idea that was calling my name. Rebecca Lee and I had worked on several books together and she knew me pretty well. I said, how would you like to work on another book? We talked and she said yes. That was ten years ago. By the way, she also has long legs which are lean and strong to my still short legs. I have grown with age, but not in height.

Rebecca’s Mom, Alice, also died from breast cancer. You will find some of her outstanding poetry in the book. It will soon become evident why I consider her my favorite poet. Read for yourself. Her words will reach into the depths of your soul and you will indeed be touched.

Now I shall bid you sweet dreams.

In grace and gratitude.

Katy

Eileen Stearns