It's So Hard To Say Goodbye to Yesterday!
340134
I picked this CD up at the local thrift store. If you are a Boyz II Men fan, you will definitely love listening to this CD. They have an incredible voice and sound. The songs are mellow, loving and soothing. I also enjoyed listening to the song, "End of the Road," which was also featured in the film, "Boomerang," with Eddie Murphy. There are plenty of other songs here to enjoy and listen too. If you're not a fan of Boyz II Men, you will be after listening to this CD.
4830386
Hi, there, Martha,
It's ten till 3 on Monday morning. I just finished reading 'Hats and Eyeglasses' in one sitting.  Yes, I was already tired. Yes, I have to work in the morning. And yes, I downed too many almonds while I was reading, but oh, boy, I loved your book!

As I read, I wanted to have been part of that family; all those people whose lives wove together to provide this safety net of unconditional love! That kind of support as children produces such confidence, strength, and self- assurance. How vastly different our childhoods were-  I felt like a little shadow girl standing nearby, watching as the story unfolds.  I was completely drawn in and unwilling to break away from the adventure until it was over.

Boy, oh, boy, oh boy, what you went through during your ill-fated trips to Paradise.........all I can say is we all have our addictions; but by the grace of God you came out on the other side, with family, friends, and sanity intact. Jeez, Martha! Jeez!

Your amazing relationship with your Mother got me right in my Achilles. Her phone call to you in your office was heart-wrenching, but your telling of the day she passed away was too close to home. I'm so sorry for the loss of your Mom (and maybe that sounds strange for being belated) but her wisdom, wit, and love will never leave you.

Your book was so full of heart and generosity; I can't help but think that again comes from being surrounded by so many loving friends and relatives.  Thank you for writing this wonderful, tough and tender book.  Even if I  regret tomorrow the sleep I lost tonight, I never regret a good read. Good night, Martha!

xxoo, M.A.
2206928
I looked around at the dusty counter tops, the rugs that needed vacuuming, the dishes yet to be put away. I was on the edge of tears, chastising myself for letting things get so out of control. The temptation to shove everything back and look away from the piles called to me like a sweet love song. But I was tired of the mountains of things around me, fatigued from always running from one duty to the next, exhausted from doing everything but what I felt in my heart was the most important thing; to enjoy my life.

My days were frenetic activity, the hours growing shorter and the years left with my children at home flying past me so fast I couldn't keep up with tearing the months' pages off the calendar.

I wanted to get off this highway. I wanted the side roadthe one with the surprise of a fruit stand or a long forgotten picnic table spotted off in the shade of a Weeping Willow. But things felt too deep for me to even think I had a chance at a new life for us.

In 2012, I discovered Rachel Macy Stafford online from a friend's suggestion. Her blog, Hands Free Revolution, has held my hand ever since. Rachel reminds me that no matter how overwhelmed I feel today, I can bring myself peace with rest, direction, and a new chance tomorrow. I can make mistakes and start over. I can learn to love more and I will start with myself.

This is why today, I am celebrating the release of Rachel Macy Stafford's book, Hand Free Life.

It's for anyone who has gone to bed at night, feeling the weight of failure.
It's for all of us who begin out day already feeling defeated.
If you are the way I am, then you know what I mean when I say that disappointment in ourselves hurts far more than from anyone else.
If you set expectations for yourself that you'd never set for anyone else.
If you're harder on yourself than you would be to a friend.

This is the book for you, no matter who you are. It is impossible to walk away unaffected from Rachel's searing truth and invitation, to start over. It's never too late to do life with more love.
3743929
I finished Leaving the Hall Light On  within 48 hours of buying it !!! I thought it was magnificent! I was so moved and had many moments where I wished I could just reach out and hug Madeline ... Her writing is exquisite. Madeline, you were so raw and honest in your description of your journey through Paul's illness and suicide, as well as the path you so bravely chose since that day in 1999. I am in awe that you did it all on your own without even taking anti-depressants. I am so inspired by your courage and survival instincts/choices. The love story of your 41 years with Bob was also beautiful. The way you shared both the ups and downs and differences in your reactions to Paul's illness showed how your love did somehow make the intolerable possible.  I am anxious to share this book with anyone who has experienced either suicide of a loved one or bipolar illness.
1933984
Peyton discovers that the best day can turn into the worst one in the blink of an eye. Her whole world changes with one bad moment and she is left picking up the pieces. Now she has to start all over again and try to remake her future in a new school and not much time to do it in. She is frustrated and confused and feels pretty alone.

Enter in new rivals, new friends and new relationships. Things are never easy, but with her family and her friends on her side will it be enough?

This is my first book by Kami Garcia and I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

* Thank you to Kami Garcia, the publisher and Netgalley for providing a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
1561289
I just finished the book and am sad to say goodbye to the characters. Such a lovely story! I highly recommend it!
47745
In a world where most people hide their true feelings, I found "Twice Blessed: A Diary of Secondary Infertility - One Woman's Journey" a breath of fresh air because of its honesty and rawness.  From the anticipation of 5 years before she even starts trying to over a year of month after month of different procedures, attempts, and disappointment, you feel Ninotchka's every emotion on this journey.  I cannot imagine being so ready - having my life together so young, being so happily married, with a great husband, an awesome first child, a beautiful home, having a great career, running marathons, surrounded by so many great friends with whom you share your life with, et cetera - in other words, having and living such a fully complete and fulfilled life - and then finding myself unable to add on to that life and family with another child.  Isn't that what we all dream of?  Wow!  How frustrating indeed to not be able to conceive, especially for no apparent reason.  Whether for a month, or 13 months (as Ninotchka's experience was), or 5 years, I think the disappointment is all the same.  Any woman who has tried to get pregnant and couldn't, or has been blissfully pregnant and knows what it's like to plan and actually bring a child into the world, could totally feel for Ninotchka.  I know I did.  Infertility is described as being unable to conceive after one year of trying but gee, no one shares what one goes through during that horrible year.  One often hears about infertility but not secondary infertility too and, honestly, I don't know which is worse.  My husband and I are about to start trying for a second child and I can't even fathom not being able to give my little boy a brother or sister.  I am hoping our journey is not as arduous as Ninotchka's and her husband's but at least now I know it is a possibility so we probably won't be as bewildered and shocked if it happened to us.  But that's only possible because of this book.  Thank God I read it and thank you, thank you, thank you for writing it!  I am basically ahead of the game in 2 major ways because of this book.  One is that after much research in preparation for our second baby, I feel as prepared as I can possibly be to deal with both the social and emotional issues and not just the physical ones should I be unable to readily conceive.  And two, this book has made me so grateful for what I already have (my son) because of Ninotchka mentioning how grateful going through this made her for her own daughter. Children are indeed blessings and miracles and I'm glad that because of this book, I am present to it yet again.  I can think of more ways I have been impacted by this book too -- it brought up compassion for me for a fellow human being, faith, hope, love, determination in the face of adversity and despair (to just keep going with one's life even when so disappointed and sad is just so admirable!), and triumph -- and as I write this I realize that's the HUMAN SPIRIT!  No wonder this book landed as so good to me!  I now see that Ninotchka having gone through this is actually a BENEFIT because due to her sharing her story, anyone who reads it can learn about this much-too-little-discussed issue AND life itself.  This book has really helped me and I will for ever be grateful.  Thank you again and may I also be Twice Blessed!
1185141
My emotions were all over the place!  What a powerful, eye-opening experience to live the lives of these two heroic women!  I have to say, however, that it was a heavy.  I found myself carrying around hostility for hours after I'd done a bit of reading.  Parts of it were hard for me to read because it was so tragic.  Overall outcome:  I feel so fortunate to have been born in a time and place where women are respected and valued, and empathy for the women of Afghanistan who have endured so much tragedy and hardship.
1318543
Very inspiring!  I am not alone.  Often times the job can be overwhelming but we all need to realize what truly matters in life.  It is easy to forget.
4826247
Always marvelous to hear Serrat singing Penelope... it feels like it was yesterday !!
2247133
A strong reminder...you will get through this!  What an encouragement!
1303088
Along the path of life, we all endure several hardships, but the worst by far is having to live on after the person we loved most dearly is gone.  It happened to me at the age of seven.  I could not believe that my mother would go away and leave me to fend for myself at such a young age.  She, too, died of cancer -- a long, lingering ordeal.  We'd visit every evening at the hospital and go outside to cry.  When the funeral was conducted, I kept asking "Why does she look like a man?"  They had simply pulled her long hair back and, that long ago, the funeral attendants did not use hair stylists or care how one looked to the survivors.  When my dad died, I inquired, "Why does he have a crooked nose?  He always had a straight nose."  Little things like this affect the daughter at any age.

Mrs. Rossi's death experience was heartbreaking.  When we have our first child, we are always so in love with life and so proud to be able to produce someone who looks like the one we love the most in this world.  Nowadays, with thousands of U.S. military men so far away fighting to this country, many young women will be left to raise the children alone.  A child is a blessing and sometimes, in later life, make all the difference for their mother from destitution and isolation to loving care.  A daughter, I think, is the most devoted.  It just wasn't my fate to have a daughter.  There couldn't possibly be another female like me.  It is harder on the girl when a mother dies, as there is no one around to lead her through the changes of youth into womanhood.  She has to literally face the world alone and learn to cope, be it as a meek little old woman, or a person with fierce determination to make things better in her hometown for posterity.

This book, a tear jerker like 'A Walk To Remember' and the movie, will stick around in the reader's psyche long after it is read.  I remember when Charles and Mary Alice had their first child, a little girl, and he played "The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane" on the radio when she was exactly nine days old; no greater love from a clever father.  I have often wondered what did happen to him and the dancing daughter.  Zach had to face the unexpected death of his son five-hundred days ago.  He still suffers great angony as nothing was left behind, as the little son of Nancy and John Ross.  The saying goes, "It is better to have loved and lost, than not to love at all."  The major thing is to look forward to the future and do the best you can for the wonderful child, a part of the one you lost.
4717043
This decision not to publish the ebook at the same time was made as a public relations move. It's hard to express my disappointment. I'm going into the hospital on Friday and I knew that my trip there would be a little more bearable as I would be able to lose myself in this long awaited conclusion to the series. I would probably still get the hardbound if I felt my condition would allow me to hold the much heavier book up for hours at a time, but that's not possible. I have never felt that as a person I have been discriminated again, until now.
This was done with the intention of preserving Mr. Jordan's legacy, but it's obvious from the reactions that were generated by this decision, that it has backfired. I don't pretend to know Mr. Jordan's personal desires, but I feel that the man who created such a wonderful world and characters with such integrity, would be more concerned with how his reader's feel inside about his work than the results of some list. I feel the results from the sales will be so overwhelming that it will be moot in the long run. In the meantime, I can't help but feel disappointed that the powers that be cared more about a title that they care about the people who want to experience it. I hope I have the opportunity to experience A Memory of Light
3433578
This must have been a very hard book to write. Going back and reliving the past was painful I'm sure.  But Kimberly Miller wrote this in such a way as a reader I felt like I was there too.  Such an eye opener to the world of hoarding.  But she survived and sounds like an overcomer.  Great read- it's hard to put down!
2920172
Heartbreaking but it appears that we need to own up to the heartbreak that others have been feeling every day.
2189635
We all live in a world that is hard to understand.....even as Christians.  It is hard to continue in faith with so much pain and suffering.  This true book shares these hardships with the hope for the future as that which undergirds us.  Our short life here versus our future as Christians in heaven.....there is no comparison!  This book, also, shows many times over, how that only what is done for Christ is important.....only it will last.  In reality, every day is a step closer to meeting our Maker.  Each human soul needs to be ready to leave this world.  Thank you for this book of encouragement!
1622214
This is  a beautiful walk down memory lane when times were slower, and people were kinder and families went to church on Sunday morning.  When Grandma would sing about an Uncloudy Day as she washed dishes-- and Grandpa whistled Amazing Grace on his way to milk ole Kiker & Ginger.  When the phone number had only four digits and it was a two, three or four party line. Oh, YES-- those were the days, my friend.  I'd swap this smart phone for just ONE good ole visit back to the 'real' life.
My husband is in advanced Alzheimer's Disease and can't recall those good times but there's something inside his head and heart that click when he hears Willie cut down on Precious Memories.  BUY this album-- even if you have a heart of stone, you will be moved.  Thanks, Amazon for making these available to those of us who can't just rip down to the mall and buy a new album.