October; National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

october is national domestic violence awareness month.
in honor of it AND my mom, i am tinting this photo purple because that is the awareness color. (like pink is the color for breast cancer awareness)

my mom and i are both victims AND survivors. victims at the hands of someone who should have been a protector, but survivors because we are free from those hands. some women never get the chance to be survivors, but we did - and for that we are GRATEFUL!

it is still very painful & the awful memories will never fade, but with God's help, you CAN get through it.

if you know of anyone in a violent relationship, GET THEM HELP!
do not wait!!! their life may very well be at risk.

the national number to get help for yourself or someone else is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

this is my mom:

and this is a poem she wrote several years ago. (link goes to a flickr photo)

i love you, mom!