Kirjahaku

What do you do when you discover that your entire adult life has been a lie? What do you do when you realize everything you believed in and trusted in was nothing but an illusion painted with deceit and framed in your own stupidity? At fifty-two, the only fact that she is certain of is that her life is just about over. Standing, looking at herself in the mirror, the ravages of time and The Truth have turned her into a bitter, lonely, hateful, spiteful old woman. The peaceful, proper, well-behaved existence that has defined her entire life has gotten her absolutely nothing except an ocean of tears and a lifetime filled with regrets. However, whether she likes it or not, Bee must gradually begin to face the fact that perhaps God has not quite finished with her . yet. A Well Behaved Woman's Life is a story that reminds us that even in our darkest times, God has anticipated our needs, reassuring us that anything is possible and it is never too late - even for love, dreams, laughter and happiness.

It should have been the worse day of her life. Nothing could be worse than being a bride abandoned on her wedding day, right? Wrong. Try factoring in an unplanned pregnancy that shatters what is left of Karly Martin's dreams to be a missionary. But Karly is a survivor, stronger and braver than she ever thought possible. Giving up her son for adoption and accepting a teaching position at a Navajo mission school gives her the chance to build on the dreams she thought she had to abandon. Slowly, she begins to heal. Earl Nezbegay sees to all of his responsibilities: caring for his quadriplegic sister and her eleven year old daughter while helping out at the Navajo mission school. Keeping busy enough not to think, keeping numb enough not to feel, and keeping distant enough not to interact. It's not exactly living, but it's surviving. Recipe for Disaster brings together two very broken people. Neither is looking for love but life isn't always what we plan or expect, is it?

She is Elle Graves. She is 14. She is a captive. She is alone. She is frightened. She is no better than a slave. But she is not a red savage. Her story is wrapped within the historical facts of the Cherokee Nation in the early 19th century at a time when they were at their best and ultimately driven to their worst. Elle experiences the worst of hatred and the best of love as she travels down her life path and strives to reconcile the two worlds that she knows; her white one that she can never escape and the red one that she has chosen to embrace. Elle discovers that family has nothing to do with blood. She learns that a life well lived involves difficult choices that transform you, making you not red, not white, but more closely pink. As she travels her life journey, which involves her head, her heart, and most importantly, her soul, she finds out that she was always a powerful woman even before she knew it.

Her name is Bear. She is happy here in the Indian village she has chosen to call home even though to look at her you would see that she has white skin. At 15, she is the mate of Bright Feather and the people of The Maple Forest are her family. All she loves and holds dear are in this special garden walled around. This is the story of a captive white girl named Elle Graves who transforms into a powerful Indian woman, wife, and mother. The book encompasses a period in the 19th century during which the Cherokee achieved great success. However, dark struggles are looming, threatening all the things that she treasures. The greatest of all threats comes from the white world, a place that Bear was born into but chooses to reject. Worst of all, could her precious garden walled around be in greater danger simply because of the choices she has made to stay? Bear discovers, the hardest of choices that anyone must make has to do with those you love.

She is Bear, the mate of Bright Feather. She has matured from a frightened, captive, white girl to a wife, mother, and perhaps most importantly, Powerful Indian Woman. She is eighteen years old. Wrapped within the historical facts of the Cherokee Nation during the early 19th century, we watch The Nation struggle inside and outside its borders. During this period, Andrew Jackson becomes president and under this presidency we see their forced migration to land west of the Mississippi and the tragic Trail of Tears in 1839. We see deprivation and deception, broken promises and sorrow. But we also see determination, hope, faith and honesty. As the white world presses in on Beara"s precious garden walled around and all those she holds dear, she must fight to be able to call herself a survivor. For her ability to walk in both the white and the red world might be the best weapon they have to save them all.

Fact: Every relationship in your life past, present, and future is directly related to the state of your heart. Let's take some time to examine the state of your heart: do a little thoughtful introspection, examine the quality of your heart, realign your priorities, begin to fix what's broken, strengthen what's weak, find what's lost and make God smile a bit. Let me introduce you to: Eve and The Only Guy On The Planet - A Heart of Perfection. Sarah and The Guy She Was With For One Hundred Years - A Heart Of Patience. Leah and Her Sister's Husband - A Heart Of Self Confidence. Tamar and The Guy She Picked Up on The Side of The Road - A Heart Of Strength. Rahab and The Guy Who Got It For Free - A Heart Of Belief. Bathsheba and The Guy Who Didn't Give Her Much Choice - A Heart Of Trust. Mary and the Perfect One - A Heart Of Obedience. Realize what is at the heart of the matter - A Heart Committed To God.

My name is Elaine. Talk to my daughter Olivia and she'll mention my lousy maternal instincts, blatant favoritism towards her sister, one-sided loyalties, and convenient memories regarding my personal disasters. My friend Callie will tell you I have a wonderful relationship with my daughter Erin and a spectacular relationship with my grandson. She's quick to point out that I'm "strong, capable, and resilient." Then there's Alec. He says I'm the toughest woman he's ever dealt with. He says that I'm smart and sharp and not at all shy or hesitant about speaking my mind. And he's also quite certain that I've eviscerated lesser men. Actually, I'm a moderately capable, semi-competent, usually reliable, vaguely lonely and uniquely insecure. Best served up in small, carefully managed dosages for the most successful result. Like strong cough syrup. Or Milk of Magnesia. Not intended for small children, not to be taken regularly, and never to be mixed with alcohol.

Joining The Club was her mother Elaine's story ...Embracing The Truth is Olivia's. Here I am in psychologist Aileen Burkart's office. It's my very first visit to this therapist. I've dragged myself here out of desperation and as a last resort. Aileen reminds me a little of Jabba The Hutt sitting in her big throne-like chair as she oozes power and superiority. I feel like Princess Leia must have felt in the wire mesh bikini with the slave collar chained around her neck. Yes, I'm here of my own volition, but only just. Kind of as if you feel yourself sliding off a cliff, and in desperation and panic you grab the vicious looking cactus to save yourself; it hurts like hell but it's better than the alternative. This is a story of discovery, of transformation, of acceptance, and of faith. But most of all, despite Olivia's best attempts to the contrary, this is a story of love.

Advice on marriage, love, and friendship given with love, sincerity, humor, honesty, and the very best of intentions.