Moments with God Giveaway with Thais VanGinHoven; A Cancer Survivor
Here I am in Michigan–snowed in again!
A perfect day to make a big pot of hot soup, some crusty, hearty bread and curl up with a good book.
In the pot?
Hamburger Soup; a veggie-laden savory contribution from my friend Pam that was published in my latest book.
On the bread board?
Homemade honey-whole-wheat. Hot out of the oven with a tad bit of butter.
In my hands?
A wonderful book by a cancer-survivor and lover of God, my sister-in-love, Thais VanGinHoven.
Thais VanGinhoven is a breast cancer survivor. She is also a mother, dental hygienist, writer, speaker, artist, and friend.
Her pursuit is to bring glory to the name of God through her daily life and the telling of her story. She believes that as long as she is alive God must not be finished with her yet. Thais lives in southwest Michigan.
Okay…that was her professional bio. Now for the real scoop!
Thais (pronounced Ty-ese as in Thai food) is the oldest sister of my husband Todd. The “funnest” Aunt around, as my kids say, she can often be found on some wacky adventure, quietly riding her horse or encouraging a hurting soul.
Quite the cook, like all three of Todd’s sisters, she makes the absolute BEST appetizers—usually laden with some fancy cheese (an Ehman trademark) and bakes one killer white-chocolate raspberry cheese cake (also in my latest book). She has a knack for decorating, for making you feel as if you’ve known her all your life and for turning tragedy and adversity into opportunites for growth.
Perhaps this amazing lady ‘s life philosophy can be best summed up by the sign that hangs in her quaint 1880’s farmhouse (the former Heinz Pickle Farm’s overseer’s residence):
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-pressed body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, latte in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, ‘Whoo-hoo! what a ride’ “ :-)
Thais recently published her first book Moments With God; Diaries of a Cancer Survivor.
I’ll never forget the day we got the call.
Thais had breast cancer, but it didn’t have her. Not for one moment!
Fast forward 8 years. She has lived through not only the cancer, but also an unwanted divorce that cost her the dream house she lived in and her comfortable, county-club lifestyle.
Soon after she found herself alone, she suffered a severe brain injury from a fall and had both her adult children move states away just as her divorce was final.
Thais was forced to start her life over again, finding and adjusting to a new “normal”.
Through it all, she kept a journal. That journal is now her book!
To be entered to win a signed copy of this encouraging volume along with a $10 Barnes and Noble gift card (to buy your own journal or to use at their coffee house) simply leave a comment here today.
Tell us, if YOU could write a book, what would it be? Fiction? A memoir? A self-help book?
I FIRMLY believe everyone has a story within them. What would yours be? Or what would you write about if you could? If time is tight, simply say “I’m in!”
And would you please hop over to Thais’ site too and leave a comment on her blog?
I would so love that!
But be sure to leave your comment here too for the giveaway!
I’ll see you back here on Wednesday!
Cancer-kicking Blessings,
