Blog Tour Winners

Congratulations to Joan Gore who won the Becoming Free Blog Tour.
Congratulations to Vesper Meikle who won the Love, Hugs, and Hope Blog Tour.

Love, Hugs, and Hope Blog Tour

Love, Hugs and Hope

Written after the tragic Newtown, Connecticut, shooting, this book is an invaluable tool to help parents and children work through feelings after a tragedy. Our kids deal, not only with national tragedies, but every day ones like death of a grandparent, loss of a puppy, or divorce. This book guides readers through emotions of fear, sadness and anger, then offers constructive ideas for managing these feelings and seeking comfort. The message of the book is that love chases away hate and light banishes darkness. Lori Nawyn's engaging illustrations help the reader know that hope is only a hug away.
 

Midwest Books reviews the book as follows: "Love, Hugs, and Hope: When Scary Things Happen" is a special understanding kind of book that aims to help children find safe ways to express their feelings when bad things happen. A beautiful two part message is embedded at the core of this lovely book, with perfectly balanced text and illustration. It proclaims: "Love chases away hate (on a valentine held by a penguin) and light chases away the dark (with a lit candle held by a duck in the darkness with stars)." Further pages tell children to cuddle up close with the adults who love them and hug them to help chase away the fear and sadness. "Love, Hugs, and Hope" is available in jacketed hardcover, Kindle, Nook, iPad, and ePub Midwestbookreview.com

The book is available at:

Amazon

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Blog Tour - Win $25.00 Amazon Gift Certificate
 August 31, 2013 through September 15, 2013

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Becoming Free Blog Tour

Becoming Free, A Woman's Guide to Internal Strength

Just as a butterfly emerges from a tight constricting chrysalis to beautify the world, you can break out of old confining habits.

Free yourself from outdated childhood beliefs. These youthful misconceptions can keep you from receiving affirmative energy in your life today.

Positive energy can be yours through:

1. ·         Goal setting
2. ·         Understanding childhood misconceptions
3. ·         Journaling
4. ·         Positive self-talk

Find peace and attract healthy relationships with this step-by-step process. Enhance the quality of your life with this clearly outlined life-renewing procedure.

Buy Now:

Amazon

Familius 

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To Do The Best We Can

God Doesn't Write With a Pen

God Doesn't Write With a Pen by Christi Lynn Pauline

With his country on the brink of civil war, Blema Fangamou fears for the lives of his family. God Doesn't Write with a Pen recounts the many miracles the Fangamou family from West Africa despite war and separation from each other. The Fangamous help readers lift their faith and recognize miracles in their own lives.

This incredible true story recounts the Fangamous' amazing journey of hardships, miracles, reunions, and life-altering experiences to help us recognize the tender mercies in our own lives.

John H. Groberg, emeritus General Authority and author says, "The story of the Fangamou family is both compelling and inspiring. Christi Pauline has done a great job of capturing the turbulent emotions of this family as they pass through trial after trial with continued trust in the Lord. It is a fascinating and rewarding read."

I recommend this book as a must read for all those who have a tender spot for the suffering in Africa. This family has, by the miracles of God, come to the United States, found faith in Heavenly Father, and been reunited after war ripped their family apart.

It is well written and an easy, faith promoting read. Enjoy, Christy Monson

Strength Your Sense of Self

Our back yard is full of scrub oak trees where a little squirrel loves to run and play. A yappy little Yorkie--cuter than anything--lives at our house. Squirrel and Yorkie love to argue with each other. Squirrel is smart and loves to tease. He can have Yorkie running in circles as he chases through the trees.

I brought Yorkie in the house the other day because their argument was going on so long I was afraid neighbor relations would become strained. But Yorkie didn’t quit barking at Squirrel. He headed for the door to the upper deck and continued yapping. Squirrel hopped onto the branch nearest the door and danced back and forth, chattering all the time.

Squirrel was in complete control of Yorkie’s feelings. Yorkie couldn’t think of anything but barking at Squirrel. Now, granted, Yorkshire Terriers were bred to catch small rodents—including squirrels, so it’s not really fair to ask him to control his feelings. But we, as intelligent human beings can be very like Yorkie at times.

How often do we allow others to choose our feelings? How many times have you said something like, ‘You make me so mad.’? Or we become angry when a loved one is critical of us. Maybe we’ve been anxious because a spouse didn’t get home on time. 

The process of strengthening our sense of self comes slowly as we grow from child to adult. Maturity brings some control. But there are several things we can do to keep ourselves from being overtaken emotionally by those around us.

1.      Stop when you find yourself losing emotional control. Take a time out. Relax for a few minutes in a quiet place.

2.      Do some deep breathing.

3.      Remember that your thinking determines your feelings. During your quiet time change your thinking.

4.      Remind yourself that no one can decide your feelings but you. Reframe your situation to a positive one. Just because someone else is upset doesn’t mean you need to fill yourself with negative energy.

5.      Cherish yourself and the good about you. Imagine yourself being filled with sunlight.

When you are calm, go back and face your situation with positive energy, letting those around you know you love them but are unwilling to engage in their negativity. Infuse yourself with light so that others may see your strength and goodness.

Even yappy little Yorkie is the most loving, gentle bundle of fur around (when no rodents are present).

Christy Monson is the author of Love, Hugs, and Hope When Scary Things Happen and Becoming Free, A Woman’s Guide to Internal Strength. Both will be in book stores September 1, 2013.

Service nurtures both the giver and receiver

No man can help another without helping himself. Ralph Waldo Emerson

One day last spring, I had the privilege of helping my mother, who had cancer, rake her front lawn. Even though the doctor had put her on hospice, she was still very active She loved yard work and wanted her garden pristine. Her messy pine tree thwarted that wish at times, so we constantly picked up pine cones and raked pine needles.

She was exhausted after half an hour's work, but determined to finish--raking errant needles and cones, then resting a minute, only to begin again. Over and over until the task was complete. What a privilege it was to work with her. What a sense of industry and follow through she had. Her gift to me that day--the inspiration to stick to a task and complete it no matter what--was greater than any small about of help I gave her in the yard.

I have a neighbor that just turned 100. She’s in a rest home now, and I visit her every week for just a few minutes. Her face brightens when I enter the room. She’s so happy to see me. I catch her up on neighborhood news, and she asks how her yard looks. Has her grandson trimmed her roses? Are her tulips in bloom yet? I do love seeing her and giving her a hug. I feel filled with love every time I leave her side.

What a blessing it is to enjoy the elderly in my life. Their wisdom coupled with their child-like purity filters warmth into every part of my being. I love being part of their goodness.

Ralph Waldo Emerson's words, No man can help another without helping himself, rings true to me, bringing copious bounty into my life.