My husband and I spent this past weekend caring for my cousin's two young teenage sons, while she and her husband flew to NYC to support a good friend with an emerging health crisis. It was a delightful weekend for my husband and me, not so for my cousin and her husband. Their good friend, now at age 54, suddenly is faced with all that accompanies a terminal prognosis.

How quickly life can change. 

While the weekend was a difficult one on many levels for my cousin and her husband, they saw, first-hand, the terrific network of people who are committed to helping their friend navigate the road ahead. Friends, co-workers, family and neighbors have rallied. It was difficult for them to leave, but they were heartened by the knowledge of those who will take over the day-to-day coordination of needs, all of whom have their friend's best interest at heart.

Community, in happy times and not so happy times, means so much. Investing in that which builds and secures meaningful relationships, that binds one friend to another, is an investment worth making. 

~ Joan Wright

MCC women, you are invited to attend Our Turn: A Conversation for Women. This group meets every other Thursday, alternating between morning and afternoon times. Locations and topics will change each time. This week, Kathy Christoffel will lead a discussion on advocacy and our experiences being an advocate. Do you seek out or avoid advocacy opportunities? In what situations have you considered yourself an advocate? What were the biggest challenges to starting or continuing your advocacy efforts? Find additional discussion questions to consider before the meeting here. By sharing our experiences, we hope to broaden our awareness of advocacy and of one another. Sabina Sten hosts in the RiverWest Community Room.