This is a collection of stories provided from personal experiences of Stan Stoops. The stories take place on the east and west coasts of the United States, the Hawiian Islands, the Filipino Islands, and the now nonexistent South Vietnam and finally end up where it all started, in Southeast Iowa. The topics range from stories about inmates, stories about women, and the most preferred subject of all, fishing. There are a few other topics thrown into the mix, hopefully for the enjoyment of the reader. The author's mentality in writing these stories was to crowd the element of humor and to take the best out of each day no matter what the day may have had to offer. So make it a better day, and enjoy reading
Describing how chronic illness affects one's self-image, friends, and family, this book shares the experiences of people with serious chronic illnesses, and shows how they find the strength to carry on.
New York Times bestselling author and pastor Max Lucado has discovered that at any given point, almost everyone is dealing with something difficult. Whether it's the loss of a loved one, marriage issues, illness, job loss, or the stress of everyday life, you need the assurance that God will be there for you during tough times. In God Will Carry You Through, Max teaches through the life of Joseph in his no-fluff, casual storytelling style, inviting you to let God’s words guide you through loss and uncertainty. Laced throughout are: Real stories about everyday people facing struggles Thoughtful quotes Scripture passages for meditation Through decades of betrayal, abandonment, and false accusations, Joseph never gave up on God or His purpose. And Max assures you that, like Joseph, you'll get through this. It won't be painless; it won't be quick, but God Will use this mess for good. This beautiful book makes a comforting gift for people dealing with: Health issues Separation and divorce Depression or anxiety Job loss Any difficult time The inspirational chapters will bring you peace and reassurance about whatever challenge you face. After all, says Max, "Good days. Bad days. God is in all days."
"It is America in the 1950s. Four different families play out their individual lives in different parts of the country.... Circumstances compel three of the families to head West to California for a fresh start for their children. No one can predict the high-stakes drama and devasting results that ensue when their lives intersect. This tale, the first in a trilogy, follows the families as they struggle with their lives, loves, and longings."--Cover, p. 4.
WHEN HIS BOYHOOD FRIEND VANISHES, A MAN WHO HAS COASTED THROUGH LIFE ON THE FADING MEMORY OF HIGH SCHOOL HEROICS, RISKS EVERYTHING TO SAVE HIM. The FBI? What had Billy done now? And why did they think I was involved? I had to take a breath and replay in my head what she had just said. The FBI wanted to talk to Billy. That was really bad. But if they couldn't have Billy, then The Federal Bureau of Investigation wanted me. Darwin Burr was wanted by the FBI. That was a hundred times worse than bad. When I got stopped by a small town cop for speeding a couple years ago I was so nervous it took me five minutes to find my car registration. There was no way I could talk to a real FBI agent. They had a parade for Darwin Burr years ago when his team won the state title. He's coasted through life on that memory. Still lives in Claxton, Illinois -- but the bucolic farm town now simmers with racial tension. He has a cushy job working for his wheeler-dealer, boyhood friend, Billy Rourke. He has a country house, a healthy 401K, and still drinks for free at Clarkie's Bar. His wife Daina, who escaped from Latvia and never looked back, disdains Darwin's lack of ambition. She's consumed by her job helping Claxton's underclass and has little time for Darwin or their daughter, Astra. When Billy arranges for Darwin to assist Astra's high school basketball coach --the mysterious and flirtatious Fariba Pahlavi -- Darwin stops coasting. He discovers a passion for coaching. And Fariba. Just as Darwin is getting back in the game, Billy vanishes, the FBI wants Darwin's help to find him, and Darwin learns his wife's secret past has put her life in jeopardy. Darwin knows Billy's guilty, but he can't betray his friend, and he's falling in love with Fariba, but can't abandon his wife. He has no good choices, no winning shot, and in this world heroes don't get parades. ..".The moral and ethical questions raised by his own actions, and by the actions of those closest to him, are part of what keep these pages turning: the reader is keenly interested in finding out what choices Darwin will make. A great read by a writer who just keeps getting better and better."--Sands Hall. Author of the memoir, FLUNK. START. Reclaiming My Decade Lost in Scientology, and of the novel, Catching Heaven ..". Len Joy knows men, and as a woman reader, I like getting inside men's heads. Strange as they are, they have troubles and desires and they make mistakes, oh boy, and when they figure that out, they have feelings, too. No fancy stuff. No mumble jumble interiority. This is Do Something, Find Out What Happens, Deal With It...Len Joy is ... solid Americana."--Sandra Scofield - National Book Award Nominee "Len Joy combines lyrical language, unflinching insight, and a kind of rough-edged masculinity to unique effect. His work is a nuanced study of small town life and the deceptive allure of the American dream."--Abby Geni, Author of the novels, THE WILDLANDS and THE LIGHTKEEPERS
Here is the story of how Ken Winograd grappled with the uncertainties and contradictions of teaching and, in the process, began to understand himself as teacher. Winograd contends that it is crucial that teachers, especially beginning teachers, examine and reflect on the inevitable complexities of classroom life as they work to construct professional identities that are flexible, strategic, and multifaceted. After 13 years working as a teacher educator, he returned to the classroom as a teacher in a nongraded primary classroom. In Good Day, Bad Day, he describes this experience. The first half of the book contains Winograd's daily journal, where he details his everyday work. The journal describes his struggles with students, the efforts to construct a curriculum that reflected his changing beliefs about teaching, and the highs and lows typical of beginning teaching. The second half of the book formally examines various nonpedagogic aspects of teaching, including teacher-student power relations, the emotions of teaching, and the development of teacher identity. Good Day, Bad Day will be useful to teachers, teacher educators, administrators, and policymakers committed to the development of teachers who can reflect critically on their experience and then act to improve their working conditions as well as the learning conditions of students. ... Publisher description.
In How to Have a Good Day, economist and former McKinsey partner Caroline Webb shows readers how to use recent findings from behavioral economics, psychology, and neuroscience to transform our approach to everyday working life. Advances in behavioral sciences are giving us an ever better understanding of how our brains work, why we make the choices we do, and what it takes for us to be at our best. But it has not always been easy to see how to apply these insights in the real world--until now. In How to Have a Good Day, Webb explains exactly how to apply this science to our daily tasks and routines. She translates three big scientific ideas into step-by-step guidance that shows us how to set better priorities, make our time go further, ace every interaction, be our smartest selves, strengthen our personal impact, be resilient to setbacks, and boost our energy and enjoyment. Through it all, Webb teaches us how to navigate the typical challenges of modern workplaces—from conflict with colleagues to dull meetings and overflowing inboxes—with skill and ease. Filled with stories of people who have used Webb’s insights to boost their job satisfaction and performance at work, How to Have a Good Day is the book so many people wanted when they finished Nudge, Blink and Thinking Fast and Slow and were looking for practical ways to apply this fascinating science to their own lives and careers. A remarkable and much-needed book, How to Have a Good Day gives us the tools we need to have a lifetime of good days.
Christian Living "Is it really possible to maximize each and every day?" Author Kelly Wilson believes the answer to the above question is a resounding "yes!" This book provides a simple, but profound, model that shows you how to make each day better, moment by moment. As your days improve, you'll notice that in time your life has become better overall. Whether you're going through a tough time that needs major improvement or you're in a good place and wondering if it can get any better, the message in this book will guide you toward A Better Day - A Better Life! You'll discover: Practical ideas to improve your relationships An inspired paradigm that increases your productivity Tips to boost your enjoyment of life Tools that enable you to become more balanced and spiritually grounded Reminders that you can thrive in spite of tough circumstances A simple model to change your life for the better "Excellent, insightful, powerful!" -Laurie Cochrane, Church Leader and Pastor's Wife "Well-written and encouraging! I'm motivated to step out of my comfort zone." -Judy Boyd, Wife and Mother "This book gave me concepts, enlightenments, revelations and thought-provoking ideas that I continue to ponder and intend to put into action." -Margaret Horton, Educator Kelly Wilson is a wife, mom and business owner. After working in corporate America for thirteen years, she founded Victorious Living, a faith-centric company that teaches women how to Envision, Pursue and Enjoy the Lives we want to live. The company provides personal coaching and group training. Kelly teaches biblical concepts with passion and humor. She affectionately calls her husband and three children the Wilson Tribe. They reside in Mason, Ohio. After finishing this book, you'll want to buy copies for your friends and loved ones!
Every so often people end a chat or note with the farewell expression, "Have a good day." Happily, we accept, but go our different ways to live “normal life”: lives of frustration, stress, fears, and disappointments. Normal life is anything but good. Why is this? Most people do not know how to have good days. Yet, as the research shows, it is so easy to have good days. We simply apply some core principles. In this book, Lionel Merritt, (minister, counselor, and life coach) explains the principles in an easy to understand way. How to Have a Good Day therefore put within our reach the good days people wish us. We desperately want to live such days in these trying times. Whatever your circumstances, you can live good days. Follow the advice and suggestions in this book and you will. My Friend, take this first to live good days.
Five Ways to Better Days is a guide to using expressive writing to achieve health and happiness, bringing the reader through a programme of expressive writing and other important practical mental health and wellbeing strategies. In doing so it focuses on five key areas of positive psychology: Gratitude: recognition and appreciation for what you already have in your life Flow: how to immerse yourself in the present moment Flexible thinking: how to appreciate other viewpoints and become more tolerant Goals: how to identify what is most emotionally important and practically achievable in your life Connections: how to value and deepen your connections with others In an exceptionally practical way, each section of the book provides the reader with writing and non-writing suggestions, practices, ideas and activities to deepen their sense of wellbeing. Linking the fields of expressive writing and positive psychology in a new and dynamic way, this book provides a practical guide for both the general reader and mental health professionals in counselling, health and social care settings. The practicality of the book also makes it an ideal book for workshops and expressive writing/psychology course material. The techniques provided are based on psychological principles but also on the author’s own knowledge and experience of the rich field of expressive writing. Five Ways to Better Days is for anyone who wants to use writing to enhance their creativity and their sense of wellbeing, health, resilience and happiness.
