People around the world right now are finding that times are hard, and we all have to be careful with our finances. The enduring appeal of Wind at My Back centres on the heartwarming stories about families that pull together during the Great Depression of the 1930’s.

Here is one of the most unique essay submissions we received for our End of Summer essay contest.  Unlike many of the other pieces we’ve posted, Kristian Alegado, a young male athlete, chose to highlight a modern-day female racecar driver.

It is the first time that Malgorzata Janiec has ever taken part in an essay contest, but the 27-year-old teacher from Poland felt strongly enough about the works of Mother Teresa to write the following essay.  Here is the reason why Malgorzata is inspired by the world’s most famous nun.

Colleen Dewhurst won two Emmy Awards for her portrayal of Candice Bergen’s mother on the hit sitcom, Murphy Brown.  Colleen was originally nervous about performing in the role, but later found it amusing when people were surprised that she could do comedy work – and do it very well.

Fans of Wind at My Back recognize Shirley Douglas as the actress who played the tough matriarch of the Bailey family, May.  However, the Canadian actress has a wealth of interesting trivia attached to her name.  Here are some important facts you may not know about her:

While reading the autobiography of Colleen Dewhurst (Marilla Cuthbert in Anne of Green Gables), I was continually amused by the stories she told of the world famous actors and directors she worked with throughout her career.  One of her most entertaining anecdotes came from her time on the set of the Academy Award-winning film, Annie Hall, with director Woody Allen.

At least I've learned this much:
Life doesn't have to be
all poetry and roses. Life

On this day in 1991, legendary theater actress Colleen Dewhurst passed away from cervical cancer at the age of 67.  Anne of Green Gables fans adore her as Marilla Cuthbert, a role that she took in the last few years of her life.  But it wasn’t the famous characters she played that meant everything to her, it was acting itself.  For Colleen, acting meant “life”.

YOU who celebrate bygones!
Who have explored the outward, the surfaces of the races—the life that has
exhibited itself;

I taught myself to live simply and wisely,
to look at the sky and pray to God,
and to wander long before evening
to tire my superfluous worries.