The Blessing of a Broken Heart

Amazon.com

Of all the spiritual memoirs written about the healing power of love, this is one of the best and most relevant for our times. Author Sherri Mandell (Writers of the Holocaust had good reason to become a beacon of rage and despair after enduring the horrific murder of her eldest son Koby. Mandell, an American-born writer raising her family in Israel, sent her 13-year-old son off to school on May 8th, 2001. But Koby never made it to school that day. Instead he skipped school to go hiking with his friend Yosef. The two boys' bodies were found the next day—bludgeoned to death in a cave near Koby's home in Tekoa. Palestinian terrorists were blamed for the attacks, although the murderers were never found.

News of the brutal murders swept across the world. The boys were held up as martyrs, symbols for the age-old hatred between two sets of people. Mandell might have used Koby's death to fuel this ancient conflict. But instead she offers a beautiful memoir, written almost like a prose-poem that recounts her transformation from grief into love and compassion. Ultimately she founded the Koby Mandell Foundation, which offers healing retreats for bereaved mothers and widows as well as a camp for children whose parents or siblings have been killed by terrorists. Despite the inspiring journey, this is not a sugar-coated story. Mandell is not afraid to share the specifics of her sorrow—-and some of the passages are wrenching. "Just the night before he died, he lifted me up to show how strong he was," she recounts. "Then we measured and compared ourselves in the mirror, standing back to back. He was a fraction of an inch shorter then me. And now he will never reach me." This is a stellar memoir, speaking to the ever-constant challenge to cultivate love. --Gail Hudson

Book Description

WINNER of the National Jewish Book Award, 2004

Customer Reviews:

Getting through grief.......2004-01-18

Since I lost my oldest child six months ago, I felt I was too fragile and raw to read this book. While in Israel, however, I felt inspired and perhaps stronger, to delve into it. The feelings are so familiar and it is reassuring to know that the doubt and anger are not just mine. The only way to grieve is to communicate and share. This book provided me with some comfort that my reactions are normal and that I too will survive.

Sharing our Grief.......2004-01-01

My son died a few months ago and I have begun reading many books on grief. But Sherri Mandell's book "Blessings of a Broken Heart" is the best one I have read. It is easy to read yet very deep. Each chapter is short and essay-like and can be read independently. Sherri is very open about what her grief feels like, openly talking about subjects others may avoid. It seems as I read that she and I are sitting across the table from each other sharing our grief. At the same time, she gives a glimpse into the lives of those that are brave enough to return to Israel to live in these perilous times. And she also gives a glimpse into the Jewish way of mourning. This book is a journey through the first year of grief and you feel like you are walking it with her. I recommend this book to ANYONE that is grieving or has a loved-one that may be grieving. I have not read another book on grieving since - hers was the last one I needed.

Hauntingly beautiful.......2003-12-31

(*sigh*) What can a mere person say about the pain that is spilled out on the pages of this book? How about "Thank you, Sherri Mandell, for helping me understand even just a little bit what a parent goes through when they lose a child." ?

This book heals more than hurts the reader. As a friend of a family who lost their child before his time, I grasped for a way to understand - to be the friend they needed in their time of sorrow. Reading this book has allowed me to be unafraid of their pain and to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them. It helped me to realize how their healing will come in stages and how I can support them through the coming months.

Thank you, Sherri, for sharing your unbearable pain and unimaginable blessings.

A must read book for everyone!.......2003-11-27

Some of my friends who have read this book say it is depressing. They say they cried as they read it. Yet I read it, and didn't find it depressing. The difference? I also lost my oldest son, but to a different beast. Sherri has taken the pain of losing a child, and wrapped it up for all to see. It is hard for some to read because they want to see us "get over" the loss. I hope that all who read it will see for a second what every waking moment of our lives are like. The writing is so eloquent. While taking you into the depths of pain, Sherri is able to shine light with her strength. She has offered us hope and inspiration, but carries the message that Koby is with her forever. Sherri has touched my heart!

Thank you for writing this book.......2003-11-09

Koby Mandell was a great kid, tragically lost to terrorism at the tender age of 13. His mother Sherri Mandell has written a book that is a moving tribute to her son and a testament to the strength of families and faith in the face of unrelenting horror. A surprisingly optimistic book with a vision of hope to warm all hearts.

Average customer rating:

Inspired
HEALING THROUGH THE PAIN
Of COURSE this gets a 5 from me!

Blessings in the Mire
Jan Deelstra
Manufacturer: Infinity Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Spiritual | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 074143850X
Release Date: 2007-02-28

Product Description

The only way to remove the darkness is to illuminate it, to shine the spotlight in the darkest corner, and to open our eyes wide to observe it (whatever "it" is) with an absence of fear. Inevitably, each dim, earthly adventure brings the balance of light. The divine laws of nature and of karma ensure that there must be the "yang" with the "yin." Dissecting and breaking down to a microscopic level to fully examine even the most nefarious side of life is the way to bring light to the shadows we dread.

Customer Reviews:

Inspired.......2007-07-30

This book came to me at a perfect time, not so much for the dealings with the issue of suicide and coping with loss, but for the author's thoughtful and cynical take on her journey through life and all of it's unexpected and seemingly impossible experiences. Beautifully written and easy to connect with, Deelstra finds a way to make some sense of an ever present test of trust and faith in the universe. With wit and a keen sense humor she will share how she finally surrenders to it.. I love your story. Thank you for sharing.

HEALING THROUGH THE PAIN.......2007-05-09

Yes, it is painful. It is difficult to get through the first chapter without stopping to catch your breath. If you have lived through the excruciating pain of losing a loved one, especially to something as abrupt as suicide, then you can relate. But the book opens up a new perspective, a fresh outlook that allows the reader to heal through the pain. It leaves one feeling uplifted and renewed, and really wanting to LIVE again. It heals, plain and simple.

Of COURSE this gets a 5 from me!.......2007-05-09

The writing of this book, Blessings in the Mire was a painful and positive experience, simultaneously. It was brutal to re-live many of the experiences written within, but it was also liberating. It is my sincere desire that reading this book will heal the readers' own wounds. With the help of the angels and spirit guides we may surprise ourselves as to the great strides we can make. EVERY situation has a positive side. The key is to find the blessing in the mire and give gratitude for the event no matter how darkly disguised. May all readers benefit and thrive as a result of contemplating the existence of miracles and angel powers.

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Confessions of a Father
More than just Father Mulcahy...

Mixed Blessings
William Christopher , and Barbara Christopher
Manufacturer: Avon Books (Mm)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0380709996

Customer Reviews:

Confessions of a Father.......2007-04-10

William Christopher of "M*A*S*H*" fame, the 1972-83 sitcom about the Korean war shows the same love and compassion as does his TV-alter ego, Fr. Mulcahy. It is easy to assume that Christopher's character is not too different from the real person.

The Christophers had a male beagle named Pepper, two children, John and an adopted son named Ned who was born in 1968. Ned showed autistic behavior from the beginning. By the time he was two, he could identify flags from all over the world as well as flowers, yet he was not able to converse in a meanginful way. Desperate, the Christophers enrolled Ned in the Fisher Clinic which was a therapeutic pre-school in 1973. Ned, then 5 was subjected to rigorous verbal demands that he respond. One gets antsy when reading about how the children had to endure "rug time." The children had to sit on a rug and read their names on a card and identify the color and shape that was pasted by their name before being allowed to play. It was impossible not to squirm with them when you read about how long and protracted an activity this was. Ned, although severely autistic was marginally verbal and he, like many on the spectrum was exact. When the desired response was "red circle," when asked to identify the shape by his name, Ned insisted on saying "it is pink." Christopher squirms inwardly while the children are subjected to this and agreeing with Ned that the circle is indeed pink. This is yet another example of how people with autism are forced to comply outwardly with the neurotypical population.

By the time Ned was 9, his behavior had gotten quite out of control. William and Barbara Christopher had him admitted to UCLA's Neuropsychiatric Unit. While there, the boy was given medications that had undesirable side effects. One thing that really bothered me was that the nurses would let the other child inmates wear Ned's clothing. When questioned about this, one nurse said how the other children "loved wearing Neddie's clothes." The Christophers were outfitting their son, not the other inmates on the ward! That showed a complete lack of regard for Ned and his belongings. The message that sent out was that his things were open to anybody who wanted to use them and that made absolutely no sense to me.

It was clear that UCLA NPI was unable to meet Ned's needs and this was not an appropriate placement for him. He made the rounds of special needs classes and later, group homes. Ned's behavior became more difficult to manage as he got bigger. By the time Ned was in his early teens, he would say he did not want something he had previously enjoyed because he wanted to revert to the earlier time of pleasure, e.g. Ned shouting that he did not want a Slurpee after having happily consumed one less than an hour earlier.

It is obvious that William and Barbara loved their sons and their beagle, Pepper. They each lend their voices to this work and the tone of compassion makes this one all the more poignant and worth reading.

For the legions of M*A*S*H* fans, the beloved show gets a passing nod from time to time in the book, but it is not the focus of the book. That is to the good. This book is really about Ned Christopher and how the Christophers coped with autism. It is a gem that should remain in print.

More than just Father Mulcahy..........2003-06-03

I must admit that I got this book because I have fallen in love with the character of Father Mulcahy in the television show M*A*S*H. William Christopher plays the role with a lot of love, intelligence, innocence, and humour, which made the character so close to being real.

Because of this, I was interested in obtaining a bit of a picture into the life of the person behind the character, and therefore I got this book.

This book deals primarily with one of the Christophers' sons, Ned. From the very beginning, Ned was a puzzling child, behaving in somewhat atypical manners. However, at the beginning, much of this could be chalked up to children and their own unique behaviours. Then, as some of the problems became more pronounced, the struggle for a correct diagnosis and a successful treatment was on. Over the years, there are a number of joys and setbacks; times when it seems like Ned is making progress, and times when everything seems to be crashing down again.

The book is written in tandem by William and Barbara Christopher, with them writing alternating chapters, which is a technique that works well telling this story. From what they have written, it is obvious how much they loved this child, each other, and their entire family. And considering the number of autistic children there are, they are not the only parents who have struggled with this. (Though, between their intense dedication and secure financial situation, they were able to try some things that the 'average' person may not have been able to.)

All in all, this was a good read. M*A*S*H does get mentioned here and there, and a couple of Alan Alda quotes make their way in, but if one is looking to get more of a "backstage look" of the television series, this is not the book to do it with. However, if you is looking for a book having to do with a family doing what they can for a child with special needs, this book is up your alley.

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Peace through poetry

Peace After

Powerful

The Blessing: A Memoir
Gregory Orr
Manufacturer: Council Oak Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Poetry as Survival

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ASIN: 1571781110

Book Description

Critically acclaimed poet Gregory Orr's memoir of his tragic boyhood and ultimate redemption

Filled with the spare and moving language that marks Gregory Orr's most affecting poems, The Blessing explores themes of personal tragedy and atonement, trauma and reconciliation. Orr's ability to give voice to the feelings that are hardest to put into words makes his story unforgettable, mesmerizing reading.

The blood that would first stain Orr's childhood was spilled the year he was twelve. In that autumn, Gregory Orr shot his brother to death in a hunting accident. In this spare and poignant memoir, he tells how this horrific event shaped his life. Against backdrops of the rural Hudson Valley, a remote charity hospital in the jungles of Haiti, and the Deep South of the civil rights era where he marched and bled with other youthful demonstrators, Orr articulates his journey in a language as sharp-edged and authentic as the experiences themselves.

At his brother's funeral, he saw ". . . that death was with us. It was the small white snail of wadded Kleenex my mother kept pressing against her face; it was nibbling holes in her cheek as if it were a leaf." No comfort would come from Orr's beloved though distant mother or his father, a quixotic country doctor addicted to amphetamines. He would have to make sense of life's inchoate forces on his own. Eventually, his experiences would lead him to an unexpected epiphany and a clear answer to one of life's basic questions: How do we find meaning in the face of death?

Customer Reviews:

Peace through poetry.......2006-02-08

This book is shocking in its stark retelling of an emotionally brutal childhood. I was drawn in instantly. I found myself holding my breath and staring into the room at the conclusion of a page. I was stunned. The moments of the story have lingered with me. My mind poured over the events. Later even after I had moved on to other thoughts, the emotions lingered under my thoughts, so that I would often pause in the middle of doing tasks. The writer seems to be seeking peace through resurrection and forgiveness.

Peace After.......2005-12-06

Powerful.......2002-10-17

Orr's book is an amazing chronicle of his early years, and an essential window into how art - in this case poetry - can play an important role in survival and transformation. The writing is clear and forceful. Highly recommended for anyone interested in memoir.

A Blessing over Ashes : The Remarkable Odyssey of My Unlikely Brother

Average customer rating:

A unique depiction of time, place and family
Riveting
Exquisite Combination of Truth and Compassion
Exellent Book
good book, that's it-

A Blessing over Ashes : The Remarkable Odyssey of My Unlikely Brother
Adam Fifield
Manufacturer: William Morrow & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0380976803
Release Date: 2000-06-20

Amazon.com

A cross-cultural meeting between Middle America and Cambodia, A Blessing Over Ashes is an unusual story that combines classic coming-of-age events with the sad history of a young refugee from the devastated Cambodia of the last decades. Soeuth--the refugee--came to live with the Fifield family at the age of 14. Adam, the family's eldest son, narrates the story in conversational slang; reading this book is like listening to an old friend tell his surprising life story. Beginning chapters alternate between Adam and Soeuth's childhood, and the differences are striking, often disturbing: afternoon shopping trips contrasted with work camps, cultural events with exchange students compared with starvation and severe beatings. As they attend school together (Soeuth tutoring Adam in math) and fish (Soeuth successfully with his bare hands, Adam unsuccessfully with rod and reel), they become somewhat closer, but throughout the book there is a sense of distance from Soeuth, a feeling that he is not communicating deeply with anyone. Both boys move through their lives--Adam as a reporter, Soeuth as a mechanic--experiencing relationship troubles, cross-country moves, career frustrations, a marriage, and other fairly standard events. After years believing his Cambodian family dead, Soeuth discovers many relatives are still alive and struggling, and he is able to establish contact with them, which sadly seems to bring more responsibility and guilt than satisfaction. Ending the book on a humorous note, a conversation about a fortune teller and his prediction for Soeuth's life is a hopeful glimpse into what the future may bring now that his two worlds have been brought together. --Jill Lightner

Book Description

From a writer of insight, wit, and compassion
comes the remarkable story of a boy from the
killing fields of Cambodia who irrevocably
changed the life of an American family.
A Blessing Over Ashes

In clear vivid prose, Adam Fifield recaptures the snowy night when he, at the age of eleven, along with his mother, father, and younger brother, waited to welcome fifteen-year-old Soeuth into the family. The boy shuffled in, short and scrawny, a baseball cap shading his downcast eyes. He spoke not a word, yet a silent terror hovered around him.

The author describes the events of the months that followed: Soeuth's wariness and detachment; his fear of being seized in the night by his parents' ghosts; Adam's discovery of his new brother's amazing physical skills, like catching fish with his bare hands; and Soeuth's eventual and painful emergence from years of darkness. As Soeuth gradually adjusts to rural middle-class America, a world fantastically foreign from the horrors of his homeland, a bond is formed with his new brothers that would permanently affect them all.

In his senior year of high school, Soeuth leaves home, lured by an anesthetic world of drugs and alcohol. Over the next few years, the brothers drift apart, distracted by college, jobs, girlfriends. Then Soeuth finds out that the members of his Cambodian family -- whom, for fourteen years, he has presumed to be dead-are alive. The discovery is the beginning of a new journey -- one that reunites Soeuth with his long-lost brothers, sisters, and parents...and with his American brother Adam.

Customer Reviews:

A unique depiction of time, place and family.......2001-08-01

There are dozens upon dozens of books on the killing fields of Cambodia out there...this one is different, because it tells the story of Adam and his Cambodian foster brother, Seouth. I was drawn to this perspective and enjoyed Adam's writing style very much. His descriptions and use of language are effective at getting emotions across without being sentimental and sloppy. At the end of the book, Adam and Seouth travel to Cambodia, and Adam made me feel as though I was there with them, riding a motobike down a dusty road, taking in the sights and sounds of an unfamiliar culture. Many books do not emphasize how poor the people of Cambodia are in a tangible way...Adam does this beautifully. If you are interested in how historical events affect individuals or have brothers or sisters, this book could change how you look at the world and reaffirm your relationships with others. (P.S...you might cry and laugh! I did).

Riveting.......2001-07-25

I particularly recommend "A Blessing Over Ashes" for anyone interesed in 20th Century Southeast Asian history, as it puts a painfully personal face on the wars in Cambodia. But even for those who know little about this era, I would recommend it as a compelling story of one person's experiences as a member of two very different families. It is a story of personal identity, and it is a story of our common humanity. Are we defined by race? Blood? Experience? Where, in the end, does Soeuth belong? How can he reconcile his divergent experiences as a Cambodian and as an American? Much of this book is tough going. Soeuth and Adam's visits to the ghostly "re-education centers" are almost unbearably sad, and reminded me of some of the observations Philip Gourevitch makes of Rwanda in his work on another place, another genocide, another year, "We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families." "A Blessing Over Ashes," is as honest a book as I have ever read.

Exquisite Combination of Truth and Compassion.......2001-03-27

Biographies written by journalists often offer rare treats. This one is no exception. Adam Fifield takes the extraordinary circumstances that brought a young Cambodian boy into his family and tells us how they became true brothers. This book will open your heart and your mind and stay with you for a long, wonderful time.

Exellent Book.......2001-03-18

This book gives vivd description of Vietnam War also it has very exciting and intersecting scence which make you whant to keep reading more tmo find out what well happen next.

good book, that's it-.......2001-02-02

The book is about an american family who adopts a Combodian boy who suffered a lot, an lived a very different reality from them. The book is told by one of the american brothers. It is a very good book but I think it was quite "descriptive". I think the end could have been better. It seems as if the author leaves you in the middle of the story, as if he did not know how to end it. I enjoyed it, and it is not a "heavy" book, but not excellent for my taste.

The Song of Father-Son: Men in Search of The Blessing

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A guide for young men and their fathers everywhere
This is the book I've been waiting for...
Right for the Times

The Song of Father-Son: Men in Search of The Blessing
Peter H. Putnam
Manufacturer: iUniverse, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Fatherhood | Family Relationships | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0595377335

Book Description

As a son, what words did you desperately want your father to say to you?

As a father, what words from you would change your son's life?

Putnam's struggle with the life and death of his own powerful father, his extensive reading of Jung, Bly, and other profound chroniclers of men's lives, and his work in the New Warrior Training Adventure and the Mankind Project enable him to offer a portrait of the Unblessed son—and a path to The Blessing. The Song of Father-Son moves sons beyond their addictions, their old roles, and their deadened emotions…to their birthright as strong, loving men.

“The time has never been more right for telling the story of the Unblessed son…Peter Putnam offers his hard won wisdom to fathers everywhere: the legacy of a Blessed son.”
—Rich Tosi, co-founder of the Mankind Project and the New Warrior Training Adventure

“The Song of Father-Son should be read by every son who has ever ached for his father's unconditional love and approval, and by every father who has ever found himself somehow unable to convey the depth of his love to his son.”
—Phil Taylor, Senior Writer, Sports Illustrated

Customer Reviews:

A guide for young men and their fathers everywhere.......2006-05-08

The Song Of Father-Son: Men In Search Of The Blessing by Peter H. Putnam is a guide for young men and their fathers everywhere. As told by Putnam, many young men in modern American society have never received "The Blessing", a traditional gift given by a father as his son enters or prepares for manhood. In a tradition common to all three of the Abrahamic faiths, The Song Of Father-Son knowledgeably embraces the power of giving a son his father's full conviction and endorsement through the means of an empowering blessing which all growing young men should rightfully receive as a part of their familial legacy. For its ideals and pertinence within the context of these modern times in America, The Song Of Father-Son is strongly recommended reading for all fathers wanting to raise their sons up to manhood with, one day, sons of their own.

This is the book I've been waiting for..........2006-05-04

Just finished "Song of Father-Son..." Wow!!! For some reason, after page 60, I couldn't put the thing down. Finished it early this morning, slept a bit, sent my 17 year-old daughter off to school, and broke down in tears. I work for myself, so I was able to indulge this morning and think about things. My mom died while I was in college and I never received the blessing from my father. My strongest relationships since my mother's death have mainly been with women. I've always felt that I should develop stronger regular relationships with men but never quite knew why. This book lays things out so well. It speaks untold universal truths about men's lives and why many of us feel so uncomfortable in our own skins -- even into middle age. I have always been attacted to biography and memoirs, but Peter Putnam's stories hit closer to home than anything I've read. Even my 15-plus years of therapy don't come close. I truly believe Putnam's words touched both my heart and soul.

Right for the Times.......2006-05-02

I find Peter Putnam's take on father-loss, very refreshing, and clear cut. As a middle-aged man who lost his father at thirteen, I wish I would have had this type of book to help me years ago. Through all of his stories and shared ideas The Song of Father-Son touches on a wide spectrum of father son experiences, as a result, I feel less alone. It helps me to realize that my own father-loss isn't just about my father's death, at my young age, but as much about the things I didn't get when my father was alive.

This book is not about the glass being half empty, but instead, it's about what's in the glass, and how this lack of blessing is multi-generational. He has provided me the opportunity to understand my own father better, and his father, while steering me towards ways to lessen my own feeling of loss. The message of the book, Men in Search of the Blessing, spoke to me deeply. He put his finger on many of the things I never got from my father that I so desperately wanted.

I recall the scene in Roots when Kunta Kinte took his son up on a mountain top, right after he was born, and held him up to the moon while welcoming him to the world. Peter has included many blessings, following chapters, that illustrate ways to satisfy the longing so many of us men have for a different type of father son connection.

So Young, So Loved, So Missed: A True Story of Blessings in the Midst of Grief as Seen Through a Mother's Eyes

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Inspirational
I RECIEVED A BLESSING

So Young, So Loved, So Missed: A True Story of Blessings in the Midst of Grief as Seen Through a Mother's Eyes
Linda Davis
Manufacturer: ACW Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 193212442X

Book Description

This book is a true story about the blessings that took place in the life of a mother during the most devastating time in her life.

Customer Reviews:

Inspirational.......2005-01-24

The story of Erica Davis, whose life was cut short from a tragic car accident, is sad, but brings the reader a sense of hope and peace. I admire Linda Davis, Erica's Mother, to have the courage to write this book. I can't imagine losing a child, yet you are comforted knowing that Erica is in Heaven with God. Linda's faith in God is remarkable and inspiring. I would recommend this book to anyone who needs to reaffirm their faith in God. I bought copies for my family and close friends.

I RECIEVED A BLESSING.......2004-11-30

INPOSSIBLE TO PUT DOWN! AS THE BOOK CAME TO THE END, I FELT A SENSE OF SHAME THAT I DID NOT KNOW THIS WONDERFUL BLESSING OF A GIRL THAT WAS HERE FOR JUST A SHORT TIME. IT WAS INSPIRATIONAL, SAD, AND YET PEACEFULL. THE WORDS SEEM TO POUR ONTO EACH PAGE AS IF THE LORD HIMSELF WERE THE INK. MY 14-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER READ IT WITHOUT PAUSE. I DECIDED TO PURCHASE A SECOND BOOK, JUST TO PASS ON FOR FEAR THAT IF I DIDN'T SOMEONE WOULD MISS OUT ON SOMETHING I TRULY BELIEVE THE LORD MEANT FOR EACH PERSON ON EARTH TO EXPERIENCE. THIS BOOK IS NOW BEING PASSED AOUND AT NEARLY THE SPEED OF LIGHT. I'VE READ "THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN " A BOOK THAT IS CONSIDERED EXCELLENT. I BELIEVE LINDA DAVIS' BOOK TO BE OF THE SAME STANDARD AND I EXPECT AS MORE PEOPLE READ HER JOURNEY THEY TO WILL FEEL THE SAME.
THE LORD SENDS US MANY GREAT MEN AND WOMEN. YET WE DO NOT ALLWAYS GET TO PERSONALLY MEET OR GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO GRASP THEIR PRESENCE AND GIFTS THAT THEY WANTED TO SHARE WITH US. HOWEVER THROUGH THIS BOOK WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO SHARE THE FAITH THAT A YOUNG GIRL CARRIED WITH A GREAT SENSE OF PRIDE AND LOVE, SEEN AND BEAUTIFULY WRIITEN THROUGH THE HEART AND EYES OF THE ONE PERSON WHO NEW HER BEST, HER MOTHER.
THE LORD IS WITH US ALLWAYS.
ERICA IS WITH THE LORD ALLWAYS.

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My Life in Letters: Bane & Blessing
Linda Nelson Gardner
Manufacturer: Tate Publishing & Enterprises
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1598865692

Book Description

Linda Nelson Gardner started out 2005 feeling like her life was quite blessed. She was married to Ray Gardner--a chemical engineer, pilot, tuba player, jack-of-all-trades, and love of her life--and within that marriage she found freedom to develop all her potentials and maintain other fulfilling relationships, including her relationship with God. My Life in Letters: Bane and Blessing traces Linda's journey through this particular year written in the form of weekly letters to her family and friends. Her optimistic outlook is tested mid-year when Ray is diagnosed with Mesothelioma--cancer of the lung lining--and shortly after her community is devastated by Hurricane Rita. Despite these dire circumstances, Linda holds onto her faith and shares it with others, and she continues to see God's support through the many people who reach out to them. My Life in Letters is certain to leave readers touched by Linda's enduring faith and courage.

Miriam's Gift: A Mother's Blessings-Then and Now

Average customer rating:

An Amazing Read
She Was A Lover Of Life
Rosemary's Gift
A "Must Read."
Her life touched mine, as it has some many, and more to come

Miriam's Gift: A Mother's Blessings-Then and Now
Rosemary Mild
Manufacturer: Fithian Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Customer Reviews:

An Amazing Read.......2003-01-13

Miriam's Gift was one of the most moving reads I have experienced in a long time, deeply rewarding. Rosemary Mild has created a loving portrait of her daughter Miriam, who perished on Pan Am 103. I am so sorry that Miriam, and her fellow passengers, lost their lives due to the selfish, hateful acts of terrorism. This book has inspired me to try to find joy in daily life, even if it is difficult. It was one of the saddest books I ever read, yet I found myself smiling at the memories of Miriam the author recounted. Thank you Mrs. Mild for sharing Miriam with the rest of us. And thank you Miriam.

She Was A Lover Of Life.......2002-04-02

Although Miriam Wolfe was a victim of terrorism, a victim of official incompetence and bungling that produced catastrophic results, this is not a book about her death. This is a book about her life - a life lost much too soon.

Be sure to have plenty of tissues and hankies nearby while reading this book, for you'll surely need them. For Miriam's story will touch you to the depths of your very soul and beyond. Miriam was a gift bestowed from heaven and had heavenly gifts of compassion, love, and understanding bestowed upon her. She was a truly gifted and unique individual and I'm deeply sorry I didn't know her, for if I had I would have been truly blessed. So many crime and terrorism victims are swept under the rug because it is too "politically undesirable" for the powers that be in the international community to seek due recourse for the terrorist crimes committed by such states that sponsor them. I can't understand this logic - why is it "politically undesirabe" to seek justice for the innocent, to speak loudly for those who no longer have a voice? It took almost 12 years to bring the 2 fiends responsible for the Pan Am 103 bombing to trial. Even then, 1 was acquitted and the other sentenced to 20 years in prison. Can anyone justly believe that this is proper punishment for the taking of 270 innocent lives?

But this book does not deal with these political and diplomatic inadequacies, though Rosemary gives a brief depicition of these. She wants to talk about her beloved only child Miriam. While Miriam was not famous or well known, she possessed admirable stellar qualities. As human as the rest of us and therefore imperfect, she was indeed a young woman who saw potential in goodness and beauty, who placed real value on life's simplest joys, who viewed the world and all its sweetnesses through eyes which saw the glass as half full rather than half empty. Do all of you cowardly terrorists follow this concept?

Rosemary describes her and the rest of her family's reactions to this appalling deed in a heartsickeningly candid guise that will transport the reader from the snugness of their own lives into the bleakness caused by such random and unmitigated acts of incomprehensible evil. I dare fellow readers to skip through this story. You can't, for in a world still reeling from the ghastliness and horrors of 11 September 2001, it strikes too close to home. For terrorists don't care who they destroy.

But how you live is more important than how you die. Miriam's afterglow is great, for her name and her soul endures. There are now scholarships and memorials awarded in her name. Even in death, she's blessing people's lives and spirits with gifts given in the name of goodness. She's still helping those less fortunate than herself. What a wonderful legacy. Hatred combined with a few ounces of Semtex plastic explosives can't possibly destroy that.

Rosemary's Gift.......2001-07-18

Rosemary Mild has written a wonderful tribute to her very much loved daughter Miriam. Miriam at aged 20 years was murdered when Pan Am flight 103 crashed over Lockerbie. Rosemary carefully recalls Miriams early years as a baby and their flourishing relationship as she grew into a very fine young woman. She clearly was outstanding and poised on the pinnacle of life itself as fine young student and incredible human being. She was more than a photo much more than a few embroidered lines on a tribute quilt. She was someones daughter and someones friend and had done so much for so many in her short time on this earth. This is a loving book written with compassion and warmth and will move you to tears as it did me as you go through the emotional journey that Rosemary takes you it is clear to see that Miriam was indeed gifted and the world has lost someobne very special.

A "Must Read.".......2000-05-27

Having worked as an aviation defense attorney for over 15 years, I wanted to learn more about the plaintiff's side. But I got a lot more than I bargained for when I read "Miriam's Gift: A Mother's Blessing - Then and Now." Rosemary Mild has written an extraordinary memoir -- the layout is perfect, the pictures of Miriam are stunning, not a word in the book is wasted, and the story itself, with its myriad insights, is nothing short of compelling. Without a doubt, it transformed me into a much more undertanding and compasionate person. "Miriam's Gift" is Rosemary's gift to the world. Thank you for your courage, strength, love and incredible writing ability.

Her life touched mine, as it has some many, and more to come.......1999-09-30

One of my first memories of Miriam was during the Children's Theatre of Annapolis's production of "45 MINUTES FROM BROADWAY" when we were 12. I remember us trying to set up Mike Handwerger and Natalie Savignak with Muir and I playing matchmakers. The relays we did across the auditorium floor of Broadneck High School. "Well, he said if she comes over and says hello" and "Well, she said if he says hello first".

I realize this is a bit off the beat-and-path, but MIRIAM'S GIFT has brought back so many wonderful memories for me, it is hard not to remenice and want to share more or Miriam's spirit. Reading the book has allowed me to finally remember Miriam without all of the pain of that night in December, 1988. Though the memories still linger, and the loss is never truly gone, Mrs. Mild has so eloquently interwoven the stories; that right before you want to cry, she shares one of Muir's own writings and you want to laugh. Or better said, you hear Miriam saying, "No more tears. Time to remember, learn, and move on."

Reading the book was like being back in Maryland again in those care-free days before college; before "responsibility". Mrs. Mild recalls a production of MUSIC MAN. I still laugh every time I think of that show. The only time I've ever kicked a dance partner in the head and she still spoke to me! (Mind you, I've never done it since.)

I knew Miriam was an avid writer, but I never knew to what lengths until reading this book. Her words are intelligent, humorous, and insightful. In fact, she gave me a journal which I never touched until I studied in London in 1990. I wrote constantly there. It is one of my most treasured possesions.

Please don't think by what I've said that you have to have actually "known" Miriam to enjoy and appreciate this book. Trust me, by the end, you will; and feel like you have know her all your life.

To Mrs. Mild, I would like to say, "Thank you. Your courage and strength are an inspiration to all who will read this book. Your writing shows a devotion that had no boundries".

To anyone who may read this review, I must say this:

Miriam was talent, friendship, and love. Her spirit will never leave us. After reading this book, she will stay with you and guide you and give you hope and inspiration for anything and everything you do. That is the person she was, and the spirit that will never die.

Average customer rating:

Share This Book With The Ones You Love, Your Family

A gift for all ages.

A wonderful read -

Irish Blessing

Couldn't put it down!

Irish Blessing
Carolyn Cross Hall
Manufacturer: Equine Graphics Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Irish | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Memoirs | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1887932895

Product Description

In the spring of 1884, Mary Ann English finds herself with a dilemma. After twenty-eight years, can her troubled past be forgotten? Is her heart open to forgiveness?

Set in the Ohio Valley in the 1800's, Irish Blessing takes the reader back in time, yet mirrors many modern-day challenges, expressing these issues in an entertaining and spiritual way. It is a charming tale about real people...a true story filled with joy and sadness, weakness and strength.

Irish Blessing is a tribute to American heritage, saluting our precedent families a unique portrayal of resilience, steadfast faith, and the power of love.

What the Author Has to Say:
"Irish Blessing is my tribute to my heroic great-great-grandmother. I feel that Mary Ann would be honored to have you hear her story, and I trust that the liberties I have taken will be forgiven.

I have chosen to write Mary Ann's story through her voice and her memory. This has allowed me to tell her unique and compelling life's journey through the time of the Mexican War, the establishment of the B&O Railroad, the Gold Rush, and the Civil War."

Customer Reviews:

Share This Book With The Ones You Love, Your Family.......2005-04-29

This book is a great story that takes you back in time. As I read I found myself feeling very emotional.You find yourself feeling like you are a part of this family enduring all their hardships and sharing their laughter,joy, and sorrows. I found myself not wanting to stop reading just wondering what might happen next. This is a great book that should be shared with your family! This book reminds you of how much you love your family and how much you would sacrifice for thier needs, happiness and blessing.

A gift for all ages........2005-03-20

Irish Blessing is a wounderful read. It has been a true blessing to share with my daughters. It gave us a feeling of what it must have been like to live in the time of our early America. If you like history, rich character developement, and the feeling of escaping into a good book, I strongly recommend reading this book.

A wonderful read - .......2005-03-19

The story was so interesting and descriptive, I came away feeling nostalgic, as if I had lived through it myself and wished I could go back.

Irish Blessing.......2005-03-19

This is a great book for readers of all ages! I picked it up and couldn't bring myself to put it down. It was fantastic!

Couldn't put it down!.......2005-03-17

This is one of those books that you pick up and you can't put it down. I read it in one evening. Carolyn takes us back in time to a wonderful story about perserverence and family love. It is a book that you will want to pick up for years and read it again. Can't wait for more books from this author!

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