Families are our greatest source of refuge, even though we sometimes need to seek refuge from them. Bud was certain that if the leaves fell in the fall his Georgia Bulldogs would valiantly take the gridiron and make him proud. He was equally as certain that his maternal family meant him harm, physically and emotionally. Even though Bud had learned at an early age that family was not a team sport, this last series of events threatened Bud’s relationships with the people he cared the most about, his own family. Ride shotgun with Bud in his Pontiac Smokey and the Bandit Edition Trans Am as he navigates through the fog of aging and special interest to attain the rewards of his quest, sobriety and sanity.
This book tells the story of a young man who struggles to find his way in a world that doesn't seem to want him. He isn't smart enough or handsome enough. His skin is the wrong shade and his shaking nervousness is never understood. From his first steps as a child, he is exposed to life's harsh realities: poverty, violence, sexual abuse, neglect ... until finally, seeking to escape the cruelty and unfairness of the world by immersing himself in its questionable pleasures, he drifts further and further from a salvation he doesn't even know exists. In Mama Can You Hear Me, William Waters shares the story of his life with a candor and sincerity that is as touching as it is shocking at times. With his experiences and soul laid bare, he offers up his journey, from the depths of despair to the welcoming arms of God, who lifted him up, carried him through, and picked him up when he faltered. With faith, determination, and the grace of God, it is the story of a young man who survived.
Throughout Makayla's childhood, she was dragged through the streets of North Omaha at all hours of the night. She was exposed to more immoral and dangerous behavior in her first decade of life than most people experience in a lifetime. From seeing her mother inhaling crack, to waking up in unknown houses all alone, her childhood was anything but stable, carefree, or easy.
This book is about communication between parents and kids during the divorce period. Irene, the protagonist of the story, offers insight that can help children and divorcing parents work together so the children can experience comfort and healing through this emotional time of their lives. The list of 11 things that Irene asks from mum and dad is the message that all parents should keep in their hearts as they proceed in their separation."Irene, we'd like to tell you something" Dad said and Irene hugged her Teddy Bear the tightest she could...., "Mum and I decided it would be best for all of us to stay apart for a while" he said and Irene bugged her little eyes. She was trying to figure out what that should mean to her. Thousands of thoughts flashed through her mind at that very moment.... That moment she wanted so bad to scream. She couldn't say a word though.... As Irene was struggling to avoid her parents fights she wrote to her diary "Maybe I have to choose between them so as to put an end to the whole situation. I don't wanna do such thing though; I love them just the way they are." But one day she found a solution....and she also created a list to remind to her parents what is more important for her. The first thing in her list was ".... stop saying bad things to each other. Both of you are my parents; I love you both to the moon and back and both of you are hurting ME when saying all these bad things to each other."Below a review from Readers' FavoriteMum, Dad, Can You Hear Me? by Despina Mavridou calls to all warring parents to pay attention. This book is written like one for kids, but I strongly recommend it for adults who have or plan to have kids. It sheds a light on what children go through in many homes. When the home front is in disarray, the kids suffer the most. While we battle with each other as parents, we must remember our little jewels who didn't beg to be born. A chaotic home is damaging to them, causing a breed of broken adults in society. Despina conveys her message using eye-friendly and colorful illustrations. The plot was well structured, her writing style was playful, and her tone was relaxed. This story is short and powerful, hitting the target with its message. I loved it!
An anthology of stories, poems, and essays by adolescent boys on issues that concern them, including identity, girls, death, anger, appearance, and family.
In AWAKENED (Book #5 of the Vampire Legends), Rachel Wood wakes in Benji’s arms—except there is one problem: she cannot remember who Benji is. Heartbroken, Benji lets her go, as she insists on leaving him and returning home. Rachel arrives back in her home in Pennsylvania, and her dad and brother Mark are shocked to see her. She is even more surprised at their reaction: she can’t remember what happened exactly, but she feels sure that she was only away for a single night. Why is everyone acting so crazy, so surprised to see her? Rachel, not remembering anything else, insists on resuming her normal life. She insists on returning to her old high school in Pennsylvania, where she runs into all of her old friends, who are equally startled to see her. A new love interest arrives in her life, while she tries to shake dreams of strange omens, and of Benji, who she still doesn’t remember. She also tries to fight these strange hunger pangs that are overtaking her. In the meantime, Rob is as set as ever on finding Rachel, and he crosses the world, wreaking destruction, to get her. Benji, too, is determined to save her, to make her remember their love—while Hunter and Penelope and Matilda are on a mission to find the Waverly Tablet and prevent Violet from conquering the world. It will be a race to the end while all these forces try to converge on Rachel. But by the time they reach her, she may even be gone herself… Will Rachel remember her true love? What choice will she make? AWAKENED is book #5 of the Vampire Legends series (following SWORN, TAKEN, BITTEN and CHOSEN), and is also a standalone novel.
When Uncle Gary mysteriously disappears, all he leaves behind is a mountain of sawdust and a nightstand that his eleven-year-old nephew, Billy, inherits. When Billy is awakened at night by noises from inside the nightstand, he takes a closer look and discovers a hidden panel that opens to an antique maze of wooden corridors. He and his sister Sophie believe that Uncle Gary is hiding somewhere in the nightstand. As Billy, Sophie, and their two friends Chris and Maggie begin to explore the ancient hallways they discover far more than they expect. Billy must make a terrifying choice: let the police handle things the conventional way, or escape to the nightstand and try one last time to find Uncle Gary before it's too late.
Mama of ten Abbie Halberstadt helps women humbly and gracefully rise to the high calling of motherhood without settling for mediocrity or losing their minds in the process. Motherhood is a challenge. Unfortunately, our worldly culture offers moms little in the way of real help. Mamas only connect to celebrate surviving another day and to share in their misery rather than rejoice in what God has done and to build each other up in hard times. There has a be a better way, a biblical way, for mamas to grow and thrive. As a daughter of Christ, you have been called to be more than an average mama. Attaining excellence doesn’t have to be unsettling but it will take committed focus and a desire to parent well according to God’s grace and for His glory. M is for Mama offers advice, encouragement, and scripturally sound strategies seasoned with a little bit of humor to help you embrace the challenge of biblical motherhood and raise your children with love and wisdom. Mama, you are worthy of the awesome responsibility God has given you. Now it’s time to start believing you can live up to it.
Author Kennedy Oliver and her husband, Austin, were two high school teachers from a small town just trying to work hard and raise their daughters to be good people. In 2005, the family was thrilled to be moving into a beautiful, newly built home. In 2006, Kennedy experienced unexplained exhaustion and significant health issues. The family had no idea the medical nightmare they would face for the next six years. Kennedy consulted with multiple doctors, underwent an extraordinary amount of surgeries, and experienced unspeakable pain with her chronic condition. And then in 2011, Austin became deathly ill and required emergency surgery to save his life. In God Only Knows, Kennedy tells her familys story. Because of their faith in God, constant prayer, and their incredible support network they were able to navigate through this extremely difficult journey. This memoir shares a powerful message of love, perseverance, and how an unyielding faith in the Lord helped this family survive.
Lucy Scott has faced many challenges in her life, but the one that surfaces on her eighty-fifth birthday may be the greatest of all. As she looks to her future as an independent, energetic woman, her son and daughter take a very different view. With the support of friends and her most meaningful relationships, Lucy must forge a new way forward.
