We hope you enjoyed the October 2023 issue of This Awful Awesome Life.

Many thanks to Orlando Bartro, and Linda Cahill for their contributions to each issue.

Everything in Between, is now available in hardcover, paperback, and e-book on amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and independent bookstores in the United States  and parts of Europe. Don’t ask me which ones because the distribution deal happened recently. I love the cover! Thank you, Francis Cleetus for bringing my vision to life in such a spectacular way! Find out more about Everything in Between in this issue. Here is the link to purchase my book, https://www.amazon.com/Everything-Between-FrancesJoyce/dp/1960399861/ref=sr_1_1?crid=ZS2347EON70H&keywords=Everything+in+Between+by+Frances+Joyce&qid=1682964829&sprefix=everything+in+between+by+frances+joyce%2Caps%2C82&sr=8-1

I spoke with Toby Gribben on The Toby Gribben Show for Shout Radio about Everything in Between and what’s next for me. Honestly, he was wonderful. Here is the link, so you can listen to the podcast: https://shows.acast.com/tobyonathursday/episodes/frances-joyce

The theme for our November issue is “Men’s Health.” Previous November issues have featured articles about Movember. This year, I decided to also include more men’s health issues.

I have a dear friend from high school who writes under the pen name, Jay Andrews. This year “Jay” decided to take his health seriously and make some lifestyle changes. Luckily, he has a wonderful, supportive wife who helped him along his journey. Jay shares his story with us along with some amazing before and after photos.

November is a great month for enjoying foods from the fall harvest. Linda Cahill has delicious recipes courtesy of the Pampered Chef for your Thanksgiving table, Even if you don’t celebrate the holiday, you can enjoy these tasty recipes. For November in “The Twelve Months of Salad,” I made a Hearty Farro Salad.

This month, Orlando Bartro challenges us to try new things to help maintain an active and open mind.

Veterans Day is Saturday, November 11 in the United States. It is known as Remembrance Day in Canada and Australia. The red poppy is the official symbol of fallen veterans who are also honored on Memorial Day. Please take a moment to honor the men and women who have served in the military.

For National Adoption Month, I decided to take a look at children in the United States who are waiting to be adopted. How did they come to be in foster care? Why is it so difficult for teens to find loving permanent homes despite the huge numbers of people claiming to want children? Writing this article left me with more questions than answers. One thing I do know is these children matter and we as a nation must do more to make sure these kids are properly protected, educated, valued, and prioritized. If we care about the lives of unborn children, we must not turn our backs on them after they are born. We can and must do better.

I finished reading You Can’t Always Say What You Want: The Paradox of Free Speech by Dennis Baron. It chronicles the history of Supreme Court decisions involving the First Amendment, how they have historically been interpreted and applied, and how/if these decisions will influence our current conservative court. Typically, I would have reviewed this book for our September issue, but the current political climate, the war in Ukraine, the attack on Israel, and the plight of innocent people in Gaza are pushing the limits of what can and should be said. It may seem like a contradiction of terms, but it is important to understand even the Bill of Rights comes with limits and responsibilities. If the First Amendment is open to interpretation how can other amendments claim to be absolute?

This month “What’s in a Word?” is featuring words that end with phile. Phile denotes a fondness for or a love of a particular thing. Are you an arctophile? Read our article and find out.

This month we’re streaming an eclectic mix of movies and television series.  

We have some great choices in our reading recommendations for kids and adults. Also, check out our Author page, November in Pictures, and our preview of the December issue.

The internationally best-selling author, Luke Murphy, has a new book out. The Cradle Will Fall hit bookstores on September 30. Charlene Taylor and Calvin Watters are teaming up for their most challenging case ripped from today’s headlines. The plot of this thriller revolves around foreign adoptions. I felt it was a fitting choice to review during National Adoption Month.

I hope you are carefully vetting the growing list of people who have formally announced their intent to run for office in the 2024 elections. Senatorial and presidential hopefuls have begun campaigning for the 2024 elections, but you still have time to start the vetting process. Please keep showing up and voting. We will never tell you who to vote for, but we will keep telling you to vote and do your homework! Vet all candidates and insist that all political parties do the same. Which incumbent legislators have actually authored and submitted legislation to benefit Americans? Who’s all talk and soundbites? Vote for the candidates who are the most qualified and who will safeguard our democracy.

Samantha Sayers has been missing since she disappeared on August 1, 2018, after a day of solo hiking at Vesper Peak near Seattle, Washington. Sam grew up in the Erie, Pennsylvania area where her parents Ron and Lisa still live. Her family is exploring all avenues of inquiry to find and bring her home. In the face of such an enormous challenge, they have chosen hope.

Please keep sending positive thoughts to Sam and her family. As promised, we will be displaying a yellow ribbon for Sam on the opening page of each issue of This Awful Awesome Life until she is home.

If you are a person of faith, please pray for her safe return to her family. Because we are an online publication, we can update this article with any news. We will also post information on our Facebook page, but only after it is verified. Thank you!

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Happy Reading,

Fran