We hope you enjoyed the June 2023 issue of This Awful Awesome Life.
Many thanks to Lilly Kauffman, Orlando Bartro, and Linda Cahill for their contributions to each issue.
Every issue of This Awful Awesome Life is still available to read.
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
After two faulty links to our Zoom interview, I spoke with Toby Gribben for Shout Radio about Everything in Between and what’s next for me. Honestly, he was wonderful. I haven’t heard the podcast, but I know the show will air soon. We will update this page and our Facebook page with information about when the podcast will air.
The theme for our July issue is “Choices.” We make choices every day. Some choices are simple… what will I wear today, or what do I want for breakfast? Other choices are more difficult. Should I accept this promotion and move halfway around the world, or should I stay where I have friends and family? Should I speak up or take action if someone is being bullied? Should I go on that second date? The list goes on and on, but what do our decisions reveal about us?
We’ve also devised a fun questionnaire, “Would You Rather.” We invite you to take it and compare your answers with your friends and family. Just for some added fun, we sent the questionnaire out to a few authors and interesting people who have been featured in This Awful Awesome Life over the years, so you can see whose answers most closely match your own.
This month, Orlando Bartro has an interesting article about Gogol and how he perceived the world. Do you see the world through “Gogol’s goggles?”
Lilly Kauffman looks back at a choice she would have loved to make. What is the one thing you would do if you could?
This month I reviewed How to Be Good by Nick Hornby. With humor and sensitivity, Hornby’s characters ponder the question of how to be good. Is there a secret formula? Does being good because you want to be perceived as good count? How much do you have to sacrifice to be good? Do “good people” have the right to insist everyone else live up to their standards?
“What’s in a Word?” explores words related to choice
“Dare to Believe,” is proud to feature two inspiring individuals who chose to sacrifice their own lives to help others, Officer John Perry, and Sophie Scholl.
This month we also want to recognize July 4th, American Independence Day.
Our July 2023 salad in “The Twelve Months of Salad” is Blueberry Cucumber Summer Salad with Creamy Balsamic Vinaigrette. It’s colorful, fast, easy, and delicious – the perfect refreshing salad for when it’s too hot to cook.
Each month, Linda Cahill shares delicious recipes courtesy of The Pampered Chef. Her July recipe suggestions are ideal for summer celebrations, or any time you gather with family and friends.
Don’t miss our July quiz, “Choose Your Words Carefully.” Have you ever heard of “Kangaroo words and “Joey words?” Trust me they are really fun and easy once you’ve found a few.
This month we’re streaming films and series about choices. Every plot involves some sort of choice. It was hard to pick just ten, but I think we nailed it. We have some great choices in our reading recommendations for kids and adults. Also, check out our Author page, July in Pictures, and our preview of the August issue.
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 will begin campaigning for the 2024 elections which gives you 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. 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!
Please share our link, www.thisawfulawesomelife.com with your friends and family.
Even though This Awful Awesome Life is a free publication, our subscription numbers matter. They affect the quality of people we attract to be in our magazine. So far, we’ve been fortunate to feature amazing people from all walks of life, and we want to do even more. You can help by becoming a subscriber and encouraging your friends to read and subscribe to our magazine.
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Happy Reading,
Fran