GratitudeGraceandGod

2012-05-08T07:22:00.000-04:00

Peace - this says it all.

2012-03-18T23:04:00.000-04:00

Graceful Exit

Ellen Goodman

"There is a trick to the 'graceful exit.'

It begins with the vision to recognize when a job,

a life stage, or a relationship is over - and let it go.

It means leaving what is over without denying its validity

or its past importance to our lives.

It involves a sense of future, a belief that every exit line is an entry,

that we are moving up rather than out."

Shared by my best friend, HFT.

Thank you.

2012-02-29T21:41:00.000-05:00

Into the Free
by Julie Cantrell

I love {LOVE} my Kindle Fire and the freebies I am able to score with my Amazon Prime membership. I was lucky enough to download a novel {for free} by a new author to the fiction genre. Julie Cantrell has written an amazing book with her new release 'Into the Free'.

I had difficulty reading this book at times, yet I didn't want to put it down. Julie Cantrell made my heart wretch with Millie's pain. As a young teenage girl, Millie, suffers heartache and despair due to alcohol abuse and the unrelenting anger of her father and the drug abuse and deep depression experienced by her mother. With her father often on the road with the rodeo, his absence {both a gift and a curse} leaves Millie the one to parent her mother.

The story follows Millie's heartbreaks and triumphs before and after the death of both of her parents. This book keeps the pages turning with family secrets, wisdom from a old gypsy lady, whispers in her ear from a long gone elderly neighbor, and love. It ends with forgiveness and hope for a once lost soul. It's not over done, it's done just right.

A few of my favorite quotes from the book as Millie struggles to find herself in the midst of chaos:

“For years, I have searched and searched for this God. This feeling of complete love and acceptance. He was always out of reach. But here, where food is scare, money is tight, heat is heavy and tensions should run high, God is everywhere. Just as during the night around the gypsy fire, I am mesmerized by watching people who are truly happy. At peace. Kind. Grateful.”

“Maybe God doesn't care if we get all dressed up and sit in the pew every Sunday, as Diana believes. Instead, maybe God comes to us through men like Sloth, watching over us as we make our own decisions. Maybe God has always been with me. Opening doors, leading me to opportunities, letting me choose my own path, and loving me even when I chose the wrong one. Never giving up on me. Knowing all along that I am on a journey. That I must find my own way to Him. Maybe River was rights. Maybe God does still believe in me.”

Julie Cantrell more than delivers on her first novel. A sequel is to follow at some point, I'm anxious to see where Millie goes in life with the hope she had at the end of this book!

Diary of a Pharmgirll: New Normal? I reject that!

2012-02-03T07:07:00.000-05:00

Today, I'm super proud of my cousin, Kathy.

Her latest post as a recovering cancer patient opened my eyes as to what I didn't know about what happens when the cancer treatments are finished.

I'm happy that she is still here because was proactive by investigating, learning and fighting her way through cancer and now is fighting her way through cancer recovery. How many of us even knew about cancer recovery? Those of us who have not dealt with cancer can't possibly know the emotional, spiritual, and physical toll that cancer, cancer treatments and recovery can take on a person's body and soul.

My cousin hit her cancer head-on and I know she must be a great inspiration for those who are just starting their cancer journey. Kudos to you, Kathy.

Take a moment to read her post:

Diary of a Pharmgirll: New Normal? I reject that!: I have been pushing through physical rehab these past 7 months. Today, my progress was evaluated. Mainly balance and strength testing with a...

A true warrior!

Mother Teresa

2012-01-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

Six words. Try it!

A Field Guide to Getting Lost

2012-01-15T20:53:00.001-05:00

I stumbled upon this little gem while being lost in pinterest. I think we've all felt lost a few times in our lives. The author, Rebecca Solnit, reminds us that we all have choices in how we handle the bumps in life, and gives us hope that we can find our way back. Now I'm going to have to buy the book!

A Field Guide to Getting Lost

If I can do it, YOU can do it!

2012-01-01T21:03:00.001-05:00

...and survive!

1. I CAN learn to cook at 40-freaking-three...with the help of great friends who are patient and understanding by giving me step-by-step instructions. And I mean s.t.e.p. -b.y.- s.t.e.p. Really. Okay, I'm pretty sure this one is still a work in progress.

2. I CAN fix the toilet after three trips to Walmart, three failed attempts, finally taking photos of the inside of my toilet, one trip to Lowe's and the help of a supreme toilet expert. {Let me just add, the toilet expert at my local Lowe's is a chick. How cool is that?} By the way, my toilet is a Mansfield toilet. Who knew?

3. I CAN learn to open the hood to my car and discover what all those pieces and parts are AND refill my the fluids when my engine lights reads, "SHUT ENGINE OFF"...that was kinda scary. {Oh all right! So I couldn't actually unscrew the cap to my anti-freeze reservoir by myself and did need male assistance since that thing was screwed on tighter than...well, you get the idea}.

4. I CAN drive to Richmond in the dark with no GPS, one wrong turn, night blindness, deliver my second son safely to his mother AND find my way back home safe and sound {after only one call for return directions, but I DID it}!

5. I CAN survive the holiday season with my family unit being splintered {I must admit there were a few sucky moments and maybe a pity party or two, but overall I thought I did well!}.

...I'm still working on this post, but this is a start from my life in the past week.

Ultimately, we all Can Do Hard Things. Hard things aren't typically fun or enjoyable. In fact, they pretty much suck, not to mention they can be daunting and create fear and anger. But once we've done that hard thing, be it a physical, mental or spiritual thing there is that HUGE feeling of satisfaction knowing that we DID it! We were NOT defeated by an over-grown piece of white porcelain, the lack of anti-freeze on a warm day, the hulking kitchen stove, the dark night, or splintered families. We CAN DO IT!

2011-12-28T21:20:00.001-05:00

Three words, one sentence,

big impact. Try it.

2011-12-25T21:47:00.001-05:00

Grace

grace (grs)

1. Seemingly effortless beauty or charm of movement, form, or proportion.

2. A characteristic or quality pleasing for its charm or refinement.

3. A sense of fitness or propriety.

4. a. A disposition to be generous or helpful; goodwill. b. Mercy; clemency.

5. A favor rendered by one who need not do so; indulgence.

6. A temporary immunity or exemption; a reprieve.

7. Graces Greek & Roman Mythology Three sister goddesses, known in Greek mythology as Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia, who dispense charm and beauty.

8. a. Divine love and protection bestowed freely on people. b. The state of being protected or sanctified by the favor of God. c. An excellence or power granted by God.

9. A short prayer of blessing or thanksgiving said before or after a meal.

http://aimee-weaver.blogspot.com/2011/05/sign-projects.html

Strength

2011-12-18T15:10:00.001-05:00

Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's

2011-07-24T22:37:00.000-04:00

John Elder Robinson certainly looked me in the eye by the time I finished reading his memoir.

He also opened my eyes into the brain, thought patterns, and quirks of Aspies. Reading this book has been an education in itself. It's not only educational, but funny, sad, and horrific as we follow his life as an Aspie before there was an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

His mother was falling into her own crazy world while his father was deep in depression and wine bottles. He suffered in school due to the lack of understanding of this disorder (but he doesn't like the word disorder). We follow his life from birth until he decided to write this book at the prompting of his brother (author of Running with Scissors).

He was diagnosed by a psychologist friend while in his forties, giving him a deep sense of relief to find out he only has Asperger's. Despite all of the trauma suffered at the hands of his parents he became a success in life possibly due to his Asperger's. A super, eye-opening read!

Excerpt from the book:
A Little Misfit
It was inconceivable to me that there could be more than one way to play in the dirt, but there it was. Doug couldn't get it right. And that's why I whacked him. Bang! On both ears, just like I saw on The Three Stooges. Being three years old was no excuse for disorderly play

habits.

For example, I would use my mother's kitchen spoon to scoop out a ditch. Then, I would carefully lay out a line of blue blocks. I never mixed my food, and I never mixed my blocks. Blue blocks went with blue blocks, and red blocks with red ones. But Doug would lean over and put a red block on top of the blue ones.

Couldn't he see how wrong that was?

After I had whacked him, I sat back down and played. Correctly.

Sometimes, when I got frustrated with Doug, my mother would walk over and yell at me. I don't think she ever saw the terrible things he did. She just saw me whack him. I could usually ignore her, but if my father was there, too, he would get really mad and shake me, and then I would cry.

Most of the time, I liked Doug. He was my first friend. But some of the things he did were just too much for me to handle. I would park my truck by a log, and he would kick dirt on it. Our moms would give us blocks, and he would heap his in a sloppy pile and then giggle about it. It drove me wild.

Our playdates came to an abrupt end the following spring. Doug's father graduated from medical school and they moved far, far away to an Indian reservation in Billings, Montana. I didn't really understand that he could leave despite my wishes to the contrary. Even if he didn't know how to play correctly, he was my only regular playmate. I was sad.

I asked my mother about him each time we went to the park, where I now played alone. "I'm sure he'll send you a postcard," my mother said, but she had a funny look on her face, and I didn't know what to make of it. It was troubling.

I did hear the mothers whispering, but I never knew what they meant.

".. . drowned in an irrigation ditch. . ."

".. . the water was only six inches deep. . ."

".. . must have fallen on his face. . ."

".. . his mother couldn't see him, so she went outside and found him there. . ."

What is an irrigation ditch? I wondered. All I could figure out was, they weren't talking about me. I had no idea Doug was dead until years later.

Looking back, maybe my friendship with Doug wasn't the best omen. But at least I stopped whacking other kids. Somehow I figured out that whacking does not foster lasting friendship.

Simplicity

2011-07-16T21:11:00.000-04:00

My Dog's Purpose

2011-05-08T11:49:00.017-04:00

There is stillness to my house this morning. There is no clickety-clack of Scamp’s awkward gait across the wood floors. There is no unique dog ‘talk’ begging to be let out, no jarring sound of Scamp slamming his body against the back door demanding to be let back in. There is no random or constant barking coming from my back yard where he used to stand guard on the knoll overlooking the woods. There is a hollowness in my house and in my heart.

Life lessons from my dog:
Joy – Find joy in the simple things. Scamp found joy in the simple things. A stick, a walk up the driveway, a car ride, an old sock or a dropped glove brought him immense joy. "You have to sniff out joy. Keep your nose to the joy trail." ~ Buffy Sainte Marie

One of Scamp's favorite things - a simple stick.

Eat healthy – Eat your fruits and veggies! Scamp loved vegetables like no dog or human that I have ever met. Bananas, pumpkins, tomatoes, squash…he loved ALL fruits and vegetables. He ate at least one stick a day to meet his fiber needs. "Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon." ~ Doug Larson

Bananas - his favorite snack!

Find peace in nature – Scamp loved nature. He loved bugs, chasing bees, dirt, grass, sticks and just sitting in the fresh breeze. He would often sit in the back yard just overlooking God’s beauty. If you couldn’t find Scamp you just needed to look in the back yard where he would sit in his spot just soaking in the sunshine. "I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to use every hour, if we will only tune in." ~ George Washington Carver

Scamp sitting in the sunshine.

Be yourself – Scamp walked to the beat of his own drum. He didn’t care what anyone thought; he was his own dog from the day he was born. He would go off and do his own thing not worrying what the other dogs thought. He was confident in who he was. "I never wanted to be different, I just wanted to be me." ~ Unknown

Scamp being himself!

Exercise – Scamp loved to run! When I would start up the driveway the dogs would race the car to the house. The other two dogs would go straight up the driveway, but Scamp would veer off dashing around and behind the house and beat the other two dogs to the car. When I would walk to work each morning Scamp would FFLLLYYY down the driveway. His ears would be pushed back against his head as he flew with his tongue flapping to the side of his mouth. "Running is one of the best solutions to a clear mind." ~ Sasha Azevedo

Doggy football.

Be compassionate, kind and loving – Scamp was a compassionate dog. Pei Pei, Scamp’s half-sister who was a sickly runt, spent her first few months at work with us every day and Scamp, who not typically gentle, would softly pick up Pei Pei’s toys and walk across the office gently dropping them at her feet. He would gently play tug of war with her knowing somehow that she needed a soft touch. The compassion and kindness he showed Pei Pei deeply touched my heart. "If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion." ~ Dalai Lama

Scamp making Rudy feel welcomed to our family.

Make your voice heard – Scamp didn’t have a typical dog whine or bark. Scamp had a baby/toddler/dog sounding talk when he wanted to go outside or needed your attention. I can’t explain it, but it was truly unique. He would ‘talk’ as he would rock up and down on his back paws …several times…up, down, up, down. We called this the Scamp Dance. Scamp made sure his voice was heard loud and clear. "When we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard or welcomed. But when we are silent, we are still afraid. So it is better to speak." ~ Audre Lorde

Scamp shoving his way to the forefront to be heard!

Be honest – Scamp was a thief. He would steal anything including TV remotes, socks, hats, shoes, bananas, trash…ANYTHING. My AC/heat guy was here a few months ago working on my furnace in the basement and Scamp was at the top of the stairs ‘TALKING’ trying to get his attention. Scott decided Scamp was just being Scamp and ignored him as he was on a tight schedule. Scamp eventually gave up and came back to the office. When Scott finished working on our furnace and came up the steps...there on the top step was his missing tool. Evidentially Scamp had stolen this tool the last time Scott was here and decided to return the tool to its rightful owner. Scamp may have been a thief, but honesty won in the end every time. "Honesty does not always bring a response of love, but it is absolutely essential to it." ~ Ray Blaton

The stolen remote control - it STILL works.

I'm sure other lessons will come to me as the days go on. We buried Scamp in the garden this morning...one of his favorite places.

Scamp slept to the right of my office chair every afternoon when it was his nap time. I shall miss everything about this strange and wonderful creature. I am grateful God sent this unique beast to me, giving me three years to spend with him. Yes, Scamp could be a true pain in the back side, but he made me laugh and shake my head several times a day. Scamp brought me joy. RIP Scampy-Dampy! Mommy will miss you.

Scamp is ready.

The one best place to bury a good dog is in the heart of his master. ~ Ben Hur Lampman

-----

Enzo quotes from 'The Art of Racing in the Rain' by Garth Stein ~

"He died that day because his body had served its purpose. His soul had done what it came to do, learned what it came to learn, and then was free to leave."

---

"In Mongolia, when a dog dies, he is buried high in the hills so people cannot walk on his grave. The dog's master whispers in the dog's ear his wishes that the dog will return as a man in next life. Then his tail is cut off and put beneath his head, and a piece of meat of fat is cut off and placed in his mouth to sustain his soul for its journey; before he is reincarnated, the dog's soul is freed to travel the land, to run across the high desert plains for as long as it would like.

I learned that from a program on the National Geographic Channel, so I believe it is true. Not all dogs return as men, they say; only those who are ready. I am ready.

When I return to the world, I will be a man. I will walk among you. I will lick my lips with my small, dexterous tongue. I will shake hands with other men, grasping firmly with my opposable thumbs. And I will teach all people that I know. And when I see a man or a woman or a child in trouble, I will extend my hand, both metaphorically and physically. I will offer my hand. To him. To her. To you. To the world. I will be a good citizen, a good partner in the endeavor of life that we all share."

---

"People and their rituals. They cling to things so hard sometimes."

---

"Those monkey-thumbs were meant for dogs! Give me my thumbs you f**cking monkeys!" (Scamp would have loved to have had thumbs)

---

"We had a good run, and now it's over; what's wrong with that?"

---

"You should shine with all of your light all of the time." (Scamp let his little light shine all of the time)

LIVE

2011-04-21T12:43:00.000-04:00

Stop worrying about living...and LIVE!!!
We are all on a waning itinerary and should just relish our existence...

Vanity be damned?

2011-03-02T22:24:00.008-05:00

"I believe. I believe. It's silly, but I believe." ~ Natalie Wood

in a Miracle on 34th Street

Whew! What a week. My son has been ill since Sunday with a N.A.S.T.Y. stomach bug. Double ick. He's lost 8 lbs in four days and is dehydrated. I'm tired of doing loads and loads of laundry to keep him in clean everything. Poor boy. But I will do whatever it takes to get him back on his feet.

This week I am adjusting to new eye glasses. I know. Me. In glasses. Forevah!! The outside noise of eye glasses is distracting, especially as I lift my fork to my mouth, glance up, glance to the side...there is a disturbance as I move my eyes. I have to move my whole entire head just to see things clearly. This is new and odd. I think we're going to have an adjustment period my glasses and I.

My new eyes!

Somehow I am now allergic to contact lenses. Hence the new glasses. How does this happen? I have my mother's DNA to thank for my quirky allergies, she was the Queen of Quirky Allergies. Thank you, Jo.

Mi Madre, Jo. And no, I don't look a thing like her.

In October/November after weeks of feeling crappy, puffy eyes, hives, swollen lips {And if one's lips are going to be SWOLLEN can't they be evenly swollen so there's a bit of sex appeal admist the puffy eyes and hives?}, red itchy eyes and several trips to the allergist it was determined I was allergic to my make-up. {MOAN} {Note: I now use Bare Minerals on a limited basis - I'm not completely au naturel...Thank you, God!} You would think I would have recognized SOME of the symptoms I was experiencing this time, but nooooo...it took me about five week of feeling crappy and several visits to the eye doctor for us to get to the bottom of this mystery, Scooby.

This isn't me, and a slight exaggeration..but close to what I looked like.
You get the idea. Not so pretty, is it?

This is where I put into practice all those books on gratitude I have read of late. If I'm going to talk the talk, I better walk the walk {Thanks to the Flemings for this one}. I'm grateful my eyes are no longer goopy and I can wear glasses...that I am not blind, and I can still read my beloved books, see the leaves on the trees, each blade of grass and the blue sky. I am grateful I don't have hives, itchy red eyes and my skin is clear again {VANITY}.

I can see clearly now the goop has gone.

Let's just hope and pray the hair products aren't next. {This would be a very bad thing in Girl World}. That would just be CRUEL! {VANITY}. HA! HA! Okay, maybe I'm a little serious here. That would make it three strikes, wouldn't it? But if it should happen, I have a Plan B ready and waiting. I'm thinking a Jamie Lee Curtis haircut would do. This hair cut wouldn't require much in the way of hair products...I hope.

My future hairstyle?

–noun

excessive pride in one's appearance {THIS ONE IS MINE, I OWN IT!!}, qualities, abilities,achievements, etc.; character or quality of being vain; conceit. Aren't most girls

just a bit vain?

I will have to get to know this new me. Love me, love my glasses!

Who is that girl in the mirror looking back at me?
She is not me.
She is not me.
She is not me.
Who do I see?

Letters to Sam: A Grandfather's Lessons on Love, Loss, and the Gifts of Life

2011-02-28T22:35:00.005-05:00

I've been wanting to read this book forevah, but I have too many books and too little time so I have to pick and choose...not to mention I try to find the best deal I can on any said book since I do read so many books...it can get costly {$$cha-ching$$}.

Yes, I probably should visit my public library more often but if a book has something to teach me then I turn into a page bending, note taking, underlining book readin' fool and I don't think Bess Haile {The Library Queen, I refer to her as this with the utmost respect} would appreciate me muckin' up her books.

Daniel Gottlieb starting writing letters to his grandson, Sam, when he was born not knowing he would later be diagnosed with autism. But boy, does he have something to teach his grandson on his different-ness.

Photo obtained from author's website

"I wanted to teach him what I've learned about fighting against the kind of adversity that I face almost daily and that I fear he will face in his life. And I wanted to tell him how peace comes to us when we simply stop fighting."
Let me first tell you a bit about Dr. Daniel Gottlieb. He's an amazing man who happens to be a quadriplegia. He is a practicing psychologist and family therapist, a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer, a radio host, written several books, and is a father and grandfather. Whew! Despite being a quadriplegia he has forged ahead in life fighting his fears, insecurities, and losses all the while dishing up his personal wisdom to help others.

..."And I wanted him to understand that as he gets older, giving love may be even more important than receiving it."

The author touches on most subjects {Family, Different-ness, Your Body, Mind and Spirit, What's Ahead for You, Your Place in the World, Afterword}delivering common sense, humor and wisdom in each of his letters to Sam. This book touched my heart making me want to write letters to my son. I may have to settle with a blog from the Not So-Mother of the Year.

Dr. Dan Dottlieb
Photo obtained from author's website

Some of the Letters to Sam and the lesson:
*Reclaiming Your Wisdom - So your job is simple this: trust your instincts, remember your secret pact, and reclaim the wisdom you have always had.
*Your Perfection - Your different-ness and my different-ness are just facts. Sometimes what we do with our minds turns those facts into pain, and sometimes we can just treat them as facts, acknowledging them but not feeling them. But the more feel your different-ness, the more lonely you will feel.
*The Journey Inside - The journey inside could be the most courageous journey of all...as we embark we must have faith that we will be okay on the other side.
*Losing Your Binky - Each stage of growth involves loss. Without it, you can't have the gain. So when you feel the pain of loss, please don't grab at something to take away the pain. Just have faith that pain like everything else is transitional...on the other side of the pain, you will learn something about who you are.

"All are stories about what it means to be human."

Now YOU just have to read this book. This book has much to teach the reader. I can't wait to read his newest book, The Wisdom of Sam: Observations on Life from an Uncommon Child.

Note: Dr. Daniel Gottlieb recently suffered a fall from his wheelchair and is currently in rehab trying to regain his strength and the use of his left arm. I am wishing him the very best.

Dr. Dan at rehab - photo from author's website

My Kind of To-Do List

2011-02-28T08:32:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday

Photo obtained from ICanRead.com

One Simple Word - Hope

2011-02-24T23:00:00.001-05:00

Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark.

- George Iles

I'm not going to write you a love song--or a love letter??

2011-02-19T11:29:00.008-05:00

I know Valentine's Day is over, but I simply loved this story about George and Barbara Bush and the love letters they have written to each other over the past 60 years. Not to mention seeing a grown man shed a few tears over the woman he loves. Pitter. Patter.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Every Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, birthday, Christmas, etc. my husband and son ask me what I would like as a gift. I'm not a one for jewelry or extravagant gifts, they mean little to me. I'm a practical kind of girl---give me a cordless drill! {Thank you, Dad}. Okay, so maybe a note or poem isn't so practical...but I AM a girl. I replied with the same answer I give them several times throughout the year, "a note or a poem written by YOU." And then the GROANING begins! ARRGHHH!!

My husband told me this past Valentine's Day that he wrote me THE one poem he will ever have in him, no other poem will ever be written by him for me. It was his one and only shot at poetry and love letter writing. It was written for my 38th birthday. {Let's not talk about his spelling}. It's short, sweet, silly and one of the things I treasure the most in this world. I believe it was written with a crayon...green of course...his favorite color.

When my son was a little boy {he's now 15 and waayyyy to cool to be writing a note to his mother}, he often wrote me the sweetest notes and drew me the cutest pictures {until he hit his military phase}. I have saved every last one of them. This was before he became a teen and I became an idiot. I know...it's a phase. {This is where I stop and wonder how my mother, God bless her soul, made it through the teen years of her four daughters!}

My point to the men of the world is that they could get off so cheap in regard to the cost of buying a gift--not to mention the shopping for the said gift {which I think my men hate almost as much as letter writing} by scratching out a few little lines on a piece of paper. It would take them less than three minutes and bring immense JOY to the women in their lives. Easy peasy! Instead they act like you have asked them to 'Lasso the Moon'.

I write this blog in jest. I know my boys love me. I certainly knew when I married my husband that he was no Yeats, but I think he may have a touch of Silverstein in him.
`

One written word is worth a thousand pieces of gold. ~ Japanese proverb

The Promises She Keeps - by Erin Healy

2011-02-18T20:17:00.002-05:00

Promise Dayton’s life veers off course when it intersects with Zack Eddy’s mother, Porta.

This book has many elements including cystic fibrosis, autism, twins, photography, art, spirituality, and a smattering of supernatural. I know what you’re thinking…it does sounds like an odd mix, but somehow the author is able to pull it off without going overboard. She is able to give her readers incredible insight into the lives of those who live with cystic fibrosis and autism. After reading this book you will have a deeper understanding of both as well as an appreciation how these diseases affect the lives of those who suffer from them as well as their families who live it with them.

Portia is a witch who follows her son to a new town to open an art gallery as she searches for the secret for immortality. She believes that Promise, who suffers from cystic fibrosis, is the one person who can bring this to fruition.

Promise is looking for a way to forever be remembered after her death, knowing that cystic fibrosis will cut her life short. She is tries to jump start her own singing career as the book opens, hoping this will be a way to never be forgotten. She meets Zack at art class where she is a live model. This is where the trouble begins.

Author, Erin Healy - photo obtained from author's website.

Promise suffers from several freak accidents during her relationship with Zack. Zack’s mother, Porta, wants Zack to make Promise hers, literally. Porta believes Promise is the ‘one’ who is immortal, thereby able to grant immortality to whomever she desires.

Others in the cast of characters are twin siblings, Chase and Chelsea Ellis. Chase is a high functioning autistic adult. He is a gifted artist who draws only on black paper with white pencils and has an ‘obsession’ with trees. It may be better stated to say that he understands trees and human spirit (you have to read the book). Chelsea and Chase’s mother left years ago, not able to take care of a child with autism and their father disappears during the Iran war. However, Chase’s father is able to speak to him through his art. Chelsea has taken on the task of being her brother’s caretaker with the assistance of an aide, Wes.

This book was odd, yet it was able to grab my attention and and hold it. I found myself wanting to get back to the book in the morning before work, lunch, waiting for the school bus...you get the idea. I had to read the book! I have a difficult time trying to put this book into words…it’s not like most books. I thank the author for the education in regard to autism and cystic fibrosis. I enjoyed the read, and still find myself thinking about Chase and life’s mysteries.

Synopsis from the author’s website:

Promise, a talented young singer with a terminal illness, is counting on fame to keep her memory alive after she dies. Porta is an aging sorceress and art collector in search of immortality.

When Promise inexplicably survives a series of freak accidents, Porta believes that she may hold the key to eternal life.

Enter Chase, an autistic artist who falls in love with Promise and fascinates her with his mysterious visions and drawings.

Soon, all are plunged into a flesh-and-blood confrontation over the mystery and the cost of something even greater than eternal life…eternal love.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Blind Hope - something we can all use from time to time

2011-02-11T22:21:00.008-05:00

We all need a bit of blind hope in our lives. Blind Hope: An Unwanted Dog & the Woman She Rescued shows the world how to achieve just that. Kim Meeder and Laurie Sacher bring rescued Aussie mutt, Mia, to life in their book. Mia has much to teach to us two legged beasts of the world, a lesson which can easily be summed up in the title of this book.

After aimlessly wandering through life, Laurie Sacher finds herself working at Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch in Oregon. This is a isn’t a dude ranch, it’s a special place for emotional healing for broken horses and children that is owned by Kim Meeder, co-author of this book.

Kim & Troy Meeder - obtained from author's website

Laurie is a lost soul when she starts her job at the ranch. After seeing the amazing results that the abused animals and children have on each other, Laurie decides that she too wants to make a difference and makes the decision to adopt Mia. Mia is a 9-year old Australian shepherd mix with a myriad of problems. Laurie was expecting a beautiful, stylish dog but what she receives is a scruffy looking mutt with really bad breath. But this magical mutt has much to teach Laurie. "Her 'yes' to the dog was also a 'yes' to herself."

Laurie Sacher - obtained from author's website.

Mia was a mistreated dog with a coat of armor guarding her heart when she and Laurie met. Over time they came to accept and ultimately love one another. The lessons taught by Mia to Laurie are lessons we all should be aware of in our pilgrimage through life. Some of us have already learned these lessons, some of us haven’t. Some of us may not need all of the lessons shared in this book, but regardless it’s an eye-opening, heart touching tale.

Laurie sticks with Mia through all of her medical problems (and let me tell you, this poor dog has more health problems than most humans do), willing to do anything necessary to make her life on earth better. Mia eventually ends up going blind and miraculously Laurie finds a way to train Mia to both trust and listen the sound of her voice and the snap of her fingers so that Mia’s journey through life as a blind dog is easier.

Toward the end of the book the authors introduce twin siblings, Anna and Kent. These are emotionally distressed children who visit the ranch to find salve to place upon their wounds. The magic mutt Mia is the only one able to reach through the stone wall Kent has built around himself. “Who would have thought a blind dog could reach into a boy’s prison and love him back to life?”

The book starts out with Laurie rescuing Mia, but the reality at the end of the book is that Mia is the one who rescued Laurie.

The book was an easy read. There were points in the story that made my throat tighten and my eyes water. I do wish there was more back-story in the beginning to give the book more depth, but overall I am grateful for Mia's lessons to the me--the reader.

“Like other rescues on the ranch, Laurie and Mia’s reveals how something beautiful happens when we’re selfless in our actions.” ~ The Blind Hope

Here are some of my favorite quotes in the book:

“Girl, every hardship we face is an opportunity to either break down or break through. We choose the outcome. For each difficulty we struggle with, we decided if it will make us weaker or stronger.”

“Laurie had become the sighted, two legged-student of a blind, four-legged teacher.

“A sincere kiss, no matter how stinky, is more valuable than gold.”

Mia - The Magical Mutt

Some of Mia’s lessons:

”Dogs know how to forgive and keep on forgiving…Man! Here I am a grownup , and in this area I’m still learning.” ~ Aren’t we all?

“This kind dog had helped a lost woman understand it’s not the outside package that makes people valuable; it’s the truth, the hope, and the new heart that beats within them."

To read the first chapter of this book: Blind Hope by Kim Meeder (Chapter 1)

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/reviews/view/3652

NOTE: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review

The Postmistress

2011-02-10T20:11:00.016-05:00

I purchased this book based on the recommendation noted on the cover by one of my favorite authors, Kathryn Stockett, author of The Help {talk about A BOOK}, which read, “A beautifully written, thought-provoking novel that I’m telling everyone I know to read.” The cover was simple. I read the blurb, on the back purchased the book although I still wasn’t not quite sure if I wanted this book. But if Kathyrn Stockett recommended it, I couldn’t go wrong…could I?

Author, Sarah Blake - image obtained from her website.

The story is set prior to America's entry into World War II. Sarah Blake weaves the tale of a postmistress, a female war correspondent, and a disgraced doctor and his wife during these few months. About three quarters of the way through the book I was still unsure of the plot…where was she taking this story?

The cast of characters includes a newly appointed postmistress of a small town at the end of the Cape, a young doctor who is trying to atone for his father’s sins who marries his orphaned bride, and most importantly, a female war correspondent who wants to leave her mark in a man’s world. It’s an odd mix, where in the end all comes together.

Dr. Will Fitch makes a devastating mistake {no spoiler here} and feels compelled to go to Europe to help those in need due to the Luftwaffe bombings. He feels guilty and shamed, knowing he is following in his father’s footsteps. He cannot atone for both his sins and the sins of his father. He will not wait out life. He thinks an eye for an eye is fair. Dr. Fitch leaves behind his pregnant wife, Emma, although she never tells him that she is pregnant.

The postmistress, Iris James, an ‘intact’ forty-something finally meets her first love, Harry, at the beginning of this story. She takes her job seriously, thriving on ‘orderliness’ of her job. Order brings her peace. She holds everyone’s secrets in her hands, as the mail was the main form of communication in this time period. Just think about that for a minute. No television, no Facebook, no cell phones, no Twitter, and very few regular telephones {what do we call the phones in our homes?}.

Image obtained from as-evidenced.blogspot.com

Frankie Bard is a female American foreign war correspondent working for Columbia Broadcasting News under Edward R. Murrow during a time when females were a rarity in this field. Frankie gets in over her head emotionally as she starts wondering about the end of the story, the follow through…what happens to these people after the glimpse she had into their lives? This seed of wondering was planted by Dr. Will Fitch. Will and Frankie met in a funk hole during a bombing. Yes, funk hole was taken directly from the book. Frankie’s voice is the female voice heard across America as she describes the horrors of the war as seen by her own eyes. She must tell these horrors with no emotion in her voice, her job dictates such.

Emma wrote to Will every day. Will wrote to Emma every day. Iris, the postmistress, sees the letters come and go, worrying about the day when the letters stop arriving. Emma writes in her letters, “Will, come home,” and “Will, where are you?” Iris, the postmistress, holds a letter left by Dr. Fitch for his wife, just in case.

There is no humor, no light, and no happiness in this book. You know these are my list of 'must haves' in my book choices. But I imagine that there was no humor, no light and no happiness in the lives of the people who lived it. This book was written to be ‘centered’ on the edges of the war, and most especially, the people of the war.

In the end, the author ties it all together… finally. For me, in a sense, it was an educational read. Sarah Blake does a good job bringing the horrors and the people of the war to life. I thought of my grandparents and great-grandparents, wondering what their lives were like during this time period. What did they do, what did they think? Did they think the world was coming to an end?

It’s a story that is now mostly forgotten by us, and I think we, the human race, should remember this story. This book is a reminder of the people of this war and the atrocities cast upon them unnecessarily. These are things that should never be forgotten. It is not a light read. It’s not a particularly enjoyable read, but certainly intriguing.

Enzo - He's One Smart Dog

2011-02-09T22:27:00.003-05:00

I've touched on another one of my favorite books, The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein, but I haven't really told you about it. And I'm not going to do that yet, but I AM going to share some of Enzo's (who happens to be a dog...a very smart dog) quotes with you. I often wonder if my dogs think deep thoughts like Enzo. I think they must. I love Enzo.

I changed my mind...because if do I write about it, then I will dissect the book because that's what I do, thereby giving away too much of the story. And that would be wrong, then you would have no desire to read it. The book does deal with car racing, which I'm not a huge fan of {sports}...those of you who do know me, know I'm a sports hater {there's that word again}...no wheels, no balls...but Garth Stein doesn't overplay the whole racing thing. Actually, the whole book is just about perfect. You will laugh, you will try not to cry...but you will, you will cheer for Denny and Enzo, you will want to be Enzo. Seriously. Enzo is smarter than most of us two legged beasts.

This information was obtained from the author's website:
"Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver. Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race track, one can successfully navigate all of life's ordeals.

On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through: the sacrifices Denny has made to succeed professionally; the unexpected loss of Eve, Denny's wife; the three-year battle over their daughter, Zoë, whose maternal grandparents pulled every string to gain custody. In the end, despite what he sees as his own limitations, Enzo comes through heroically to preserve the Swift family, holding in his heart the dream that Denny will become a racing champion with Zoë at his side.

A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life...as only a dog could tell it.

Enzo's Song - Song and Photos by Martin Odstrcil

Now onto the really good stuff. Enzo's quotes:

"In Mongolia, when a dog dies, he is buried high in the hills so people cannot walk on his grave. The dog’s master whispers in the dog’s ear his wishes that the dog will return as a man in his next life. Then his tail is cut off and put beneath his head, and a piece of meat of fat is cut off and placed in his mouth to sustain his soul for its journey; before he is reincarnated, the dog’s soul is freed to travel the land, to run across the high desert plains for as long as it would like.

I learned that from a program on the National Geographic Channel, so I believe it is true. Not all dogs return as men, they say; only those who are ready.

I am ready."
--
"Those monkey-thumbs were meant for dogs. Give me my thumbs, you fu**ing monkeys!"
--
"My soul has learned what it came to learn, and all the other things are just things. We can't have everything we want. Sometimes, we simply have to believe."
--
"If you taught me to read and provided for me the same computer system as someone has provided for Stephen Hawking, I, too, would write great books. And yet you don't teach me to read, and you don't give me a computer stick I can push around with my nose to point at the next letter I wish typed. So whose fault is it that I am what I am?"
--
"...And I knew, as Denny sped me toward the doctor who would fix me, that if I had already accomplished what I set out to accomplish here on earth, if I had already learned what I was meant to learn, I would have left the curb one second later than I had, and I would have been killed instantly by that car. But I was not killed. Because I was not finished. I still had work to do."
--
"But what is worse, smelling the roast and not feasting, or not smelling the roast at all?"

Did I tell you Enzo was a smart dog? You really gotta read the book. Really. Garth Stein makes me wonder what my dogs think as they sit there and give me that look. Do they think I'm not making the right decisions? Do they care? Oh, what I would give to know what my dogs think. I think Garth Stein has it all figured out. I think Scamp is probably the deep thinker in my three.

Scamp - my philosophical dog.

Reminder

2011-02-08T18:16:00.000-05:00

Just remember:
A world without hate, racism, despair, war, and death would be HEAVEN!!!

Two Notes - Kindness, Gratitude and Thank-You Notes

2011-02-05T19:21:00.006-05:00

You must know by now that I love a story with a happy ending. I love gratitude and kindness. I especially love it when they all three come together like kismet creating an explosion of grace. I stumbled upon this story posted on Facebook by HelpOthers.org. I have shamelessly copied this story and photos from The Martha's Vineyard Times. I'm grateful that the reporter, Nelson Sigelman took the time to find those involved in this story, without his help we wouldn't know about these two wonderful little girls and their small, yet compassionate gifts to a quietly grieving man. You won't regret taking the time to read this story. I promise.

Bruce Bailey with his wife Judy - It's Christmas time and his last name is Bailey--coincidence?

This was originally posted on January 26, 2011 in The Martha's Vineyard Times:

It was a chance conversation between strangers in the departure terminal of Logan Airport in Boston the Sunday following Christmas. Waiting for their flight, an Island mother and her two young girls sat next to a man returning to California, carrying an unseen burden of grief.

They boarded the same plane. During the flight the children each handed Bruce Bailey a note that he tucked in his pocket unread. The plane landed, and they went their separate ways.

Later, at home in San Diego, Bruce Bailey read the notes. As the weeks passed, he wanted to contact the girls to let them know how their words and simple, unadorned kindness had eased his grief over the recent loss of his wife and had affected his outlook on life.

He knew from the notes that the girls were named Kaya and Grace. He recalled that the family said they were visiting relatives. He knew they lived on Martha's Vineyard but little else beyond the bare details of mutual loss they shared in conversation while waiting for their plane.

A lawyer by profession, first in private practice and now for the city of San Diego, Mr. Bailey called the Vineyard Haven post office. Perhaps, he thought, the postmaster in a small community would know a mother with two children named Kaya and Grace.

Postmaster Joe Massua did not. He recommended Mr. Bailey call The Martha's Vineyard Times.

A late evening call

Two weeks ago today, Mr. Bailey called The Times office. It was late. He caught a reporter on his way out the door. Mr. Bailey asked him if he could spare a few minutes to listen to his story.

He explained that eight months ago his wife had died of pancreatic cancer. "Judy and I had been married for 39 years," he said. "I met her in law school at the University of Toledo. She was one of three females in the class."

It had happened quickly. On March 9, his birthday, the doctor delivered a grim prognosis. "Two months and three days later, she passed on. Excuse me," he said as he paused a moment, "I'm still getting over this."

In December, Mr. Bailey decided to travel East for one week, a trip he described as a memorial tour. He visited New York City where through a stroke of luck he was able to get into a sold out show by trumpeter Chris Botti. Three years earlier he and his wife had seen Chris Botti together.

He spent Christmas with his relatives in Marblehead. "It was healing for me to get away," he said.

He left for the airport early that Sunday, anxious to avoid a snowstorm that was expected. The terminal was crowded as he waited for a Southwest Airlines flight to San Diego.

Mr. Bailey said he still attends counseling sessions through Hospice. "One of the things that I am getting through is not only the grieving process but where I can talk to people without crying," he said. "And I am getting there, I'm doing fine."

That Sunday

A woman with two children sat in the only empty seats, next to him. "I started talking to mom, and I don't remember her name. I know she was Italian and just a wonderful lady."

She was traveling with her daughter, Kaya, 7, and stepdaughter, Grace, 13. He thinks they said something about traveling to Carlsbad.

He learned that the woman's first husband had died suddenly a few years earlier and she had remarried a man who had lost his wife, Grace's mom, five years earlier.

"Grace was sitting on the other side of mom so I had to look around mom to say hi to Grace. And Grace said to me, 'You know, Mr. Bailey, my mom died of pancreatic cancer too, and that was five years ago.' And I said, gee you were eight years of age."

"We talked about it just briefly," he said.

The conversation was casual despite a few tears as the older man, mother, and children shared the details of their lives. After about 40 minutes, they said goodbye and boarded their plane.

Two notes

"Before the plane landed in Phoenix the two girls came up and said, 'Mr. Bailey, here,' and they handed me two notes."

He briefly looked at the notes and placed them in his pocket. Later, he caught a glimpse of the family across the luggage pickup area.

"I didn't have a chance until I got home to read them and understand what they really were," he said. He said they were both lovely notes, but Grace's in particular struck a deep chord. "That an eight-year-old who loses her mom and who is now 13 could write a letter like that to me — I was just floored by it.

"Grace's insightfulness has given direction to this 65 year old dealing with his grief," he said.

Mr. Bailey made copies of both notes and he carries both with him. He placed the originals in a memorial booklet dedicated to his wife.

Grace's note to Bruce Bailey.

Mr. Bailey, a partner in a private law firm, was in semi-retirement when he decided to take a job with the city of San Diego, which is engaged in litigation against several major companies in connection with a series of devastating wildfires.

He said he loves his new job and the direction it provides, and he wrestles with the loss he feels. But he is quick to add that he is getting through it. "I am so blessed," he said.

Asked what he would want Grace and Kaya to know when they are older, Mr. Bailey said, "What I would like them to know is that even at their young age they can help the world be a better place, and I'm a perfect example of it. They have helped me immeasurably in my outlook on getting through grief. That's what they should know.

"And if I never reach out to them, they'll never know what those simple little 40 minutes that they spent with me and their mom, and then their little notes — they'll never have an idea of how much I want to thank them and let them know that I'm making great steps forward thanks to them."

Editor's note: Mr. Bailey hopes to hear from the family. The Times will forward contact information to him.

Kaya's note to Bruce Bailey.

Part Two - The Happy Ending

This was published on January 27, 2011 in The Martha's Vineyard Times:

It did not take long for Bruce Bailey of San Diego to learn the identity of the mother and two children from Martha's Vineyard that he met in a departure terminal at Logan Airport in Boston the Sunday following Christmas.

On Friday, one day after Gina Patti heard from Bruce Bailey, Grace (left) and Kaya sent him a photo.

Mr. Bailey wanted to let the Vineyard family know how much their kindness during that meeting meant to him. He called The Martha's Vineyard Times.

"Do you think there's any chance we can find them?" he asked a reporter.

"Absolutely," the reporter said.

The resulting story, "Healing notes of kindness span generations and the nation," appeared Wednesday evening on mvtimes.com and in print Thursday, January 27.

The first online comment, posted by Katherine May-Waite, appeared at 7:12 pm, last Wednesday. "I know, as I'm sure many others do, who the kindhearted mother and wonderful daughters are referred to in this article. I know they were on the last flight out of Logan that day of the terrible snow storm. We will call and be sure to bring this article to their attention"

The second comment was posted at 7:58 pm that same night.

"This story touched my heart very deeply. That strangers could meet in an airport waiting area and just reach out and touch another person's soul has restored my faith in human kind. It makes it all the more touching to me because I am the father of Kaya and Grace, and I am married to Gina, their mom and stepmom. I Love them, and they truly are wonderful girls. Robert Oslyn. Oak Bluffs."

A friend called Gina Patti of Oak Bluffs Wednesday night and said there was a story about her on mvtimes.com. Ms. Patti read the story and shared it with her two girls.

On Thursday, she called Mr. Bailey's telephone number in California and left a message.

"I yelled when I got your voice mail," Mr. Bailey emailed her. "The dogs thought I was crazy, but now they know that my prayers have been answered."

In a telephone conversation Thursday afternoon, Ms. Patti told The Times, "It wasn't luck. We were all meant to meet."

Ms. Patti said the story has provided a lesson for her daughters and others who hear about it.

"You really can make a difference," she said. "And it doesn't take much to be kind."

Friday, Mr. Bailey left a voice mail message for Times managing editor Nelson Sigelman.

"There's just been an extraordinary outpouring of goodwill and it is all about the girls," Mr. Bailey said. "It is about Grace and Kaya and their kindness and their abilities at that young age to reach out. I just can't tell you what the outpouring of joy — that's it joy — from my friends here (San Diego) has been and it is being shared and shared and shared, and that's a good thing, because maybe more people will understand that's what we need.

I am just thrilled to have spoken with the family yesterday and I promise that I will see you all this summer."

In an online comment posted late Friday, Gina, Grace and Kaya responded to Mr. Bailey and the many commentors on mvtimes.com touched by their story.

"Thank you all for making this possible and such a positive experience. Bruce, our encounter meant as much to us as it did you. I am sure we'll see you on this special Island and out in California. Nelson Sigelman, thanks for picking up that last phone call of the day, taking an interest in the story and beautifully capturing its essence! And, of course, thanks to all you, the wonderful community on Martha's Vineyard, who has embraced and supported our family throughout the years."

Grace and Kaya - Young ambassadors of goodwill.

Of course I have to end this story with the ultimate book on thank-you notes. I keep talkin' about it, and I think it will be a lonnnggg time before I stop talkin' about it. I'm doing my own 365 Thank Yous and so far it has been an amazing journey, someday I'll share it with you. The book is a must read.