#blogElul 25: begin

As the month of Elul comes to a close in a few days, I'd like to use this opportunity to draw your attention to the secular month of September, which begins tomorrow.

Last year, for the very first time, I learned that September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Which meant, frankly, that I used to be very un-aware.

(And nevermind that I am now fully and completely aware of childhood cancer EVERY month. Nevermind that, okay?)

What does this mean?
Did you know that in the US alone, 36 kids are diagnosed daily with childhood cancer?
Did you know that in the US alone, 7 kids die each day from childhood cancer?

Sigh. Childhood cancer isn't pretty or shiny. Even though we are often smiling, there are lots of times that we aren't. There's a lot of pain and worry and fear and that's just from the parents. You can imagine how bruised and battered our kids are...

Tomorrow begins a month of story-sharing, statistic-quoting, and gold-wearing.
Maybe people will get so used to it that they won't stop.

Here are some links to cancer posts, videos, etc, that are all designed to make you so crazy that you will stop at nothing to join in the fight against childhood cancer...and of course, you can always read about our journey at Sam's blog.

Are you sick of all this cancer stuff? -- by Nicole Scobie
Breaking News! Childhood Cancer is Not Rainbows! -- by RockstarRonan's Mom, Maya
Lock up September -- at the FourSquare Clobbers Cancer blog
Childhood Cancer Stories all September -- by MaryTylerMom

All of these blogs are hard to read. Be courageous and subscribe to one or all of them. Read the stories, feel the heartbreak. Get mad and do something....it's a good time to begin.

Feel free to grab one of these and share it....share it....share it.

The Jewish month of Elul, which precedes the High Holy Days, is traditionally a time of renewal and reflection. It offers a chance for spiritual preparation for the Days of Awe. It is traditional to begin one’s preparation for the High Holy Days during this month with the Selichot, the prayers of forgiveness. We look to begin the year with a clean slate, starting anew, refreshed. All month, along with others, I'll be blogging a thought or two for each day to help with the month of preparation... I will be blogging here, and sharing #Elulgram photos on the same themes at imabima.tumblr.com. Follow me on twitter @imabima for all the #BlogElul posts, not only mine but others' as well! This year, I'm not doing a linky or anything like that -- I'm conserving energy! So be sure to tag your posts on Twitter and Facebook so I can catch them with my alerts....