Marilyn McCullough has had two husbands, five children, two stepchildren, six dogs, three cats, and two goldfish. In this memoir, she provides a humorous look at all aspects of her life-from the everyday trials and tribulations of family, friends, relationships, and aging to the not-so-ordinary topics of toe fungus, flatulence, gargling, and moth killing. In this, her second published book, McCullough has gathered articles previously published in an Illinois newspaper and has combined them with reflections about events both current and past. In addition to her uncanny and often comedic essays on at life, she has included a collection of short stories geared toward children. Through the stories, observations, and experiences presented in "One Brick Loose-Not Missing, But Who Cares?" McCullough communicates her life's philosophy-live life with a certain amount of gusto, enjoy the good, and accept the bad.

Ring around the Rosie A pocket full of posies, Ashes Ashes We all fall down As a little girl growing up singing Ring Around the Rosie, little did I know, that this would become our family ballad. My maternal grandpa used to say, "One day this family will destroy itself " How could I possibly understand what that meant? But I remember him saying it, all the same. Grandpa's prediction now rings true, as our family did destroy itself and fell to the ashes with the final act of our mother's passing. She left a carefully woven Gordian knot through deceptive means in her death wake of such vast proportion and complexity that it may never unravel. The death and passing of a loved one is difficult, even under the best of circumstances. But if the ties that bind left behind unaddressed confusion, misunderstandings, and/or deceit, the pain can run deep and leave a lasting "nonnegotiable" imprint, limited not to just one member, but the entire family for generations to come.

This is what I am sure of. There are millions of parents in this world. But there are only a select few with special needs children. No matter what you believe, this child was not given to you by mistake. You were chosen. You were entrusted to lead, guide and nurture that child. It's not by mistake; it's by design.

By 1993, God had blessed Nancy Ferrin with six precious children. One was taken home to heaven soon after birth, but the others were her treasures here on earth. The early years were uneventful and filled with activities, family fun, and spiritual training. However, the teen years led one son on an unexpected, destructive path. Heartbreak grew when a few years later, her only daughter followed in her brother's footsteps. During those agonizing years, God's peace sustained Nancy as she turned to Him repeatedly for understanding and strength. Because there are countless other parents dealing with similar struggles, this book is intended to help with the confusion and uncertainty of the prodigal years.

Family Relationships are meant to help build the best possible version of us. Yet far too many families simply endure one another. The secret seeds of honor and blessing, when sown, unleash an ancient cycle that propels families and relationships to unending potential. RICH THRIVING RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR FAMILY ARE JUST WITHIN YOUR GRASP. Discover the Ancient Cycle that changes everything

These days, most books focus on what parents need to raise better children, but The Honor Cycle sheds light into the two-way nature of the relationship between parents and children. It highlights how God works across generations to fulfill His greater plans. The insights in this book helped me understand those small but daily building blocks that have strengthened my relationship with my parents. Kelly, Teacher, VA

Here are a few things you can expect: gain new appreciation for the role of your parents discover how the practice of honor can restore and enhance relationships realize your power to release blessing to your children understand how the cyclical relationship between honor and blessing work to pass along successes from generation to generation learn practical ways to practice honor and release blessing right now

Learn to open the door for blessing in your own life through the practice of honor. Then, discover how to pass that blessing along to future generations. That s the power of The Honor Cycle.

All parents want their children to be successful in college. For most, success means that their children graduate from college with a good job or are accepted to Graduate School. This book is for parents who want to help their children achieve the success they desire in college and beyond. Clearly, there are paths that lead to those two goals, paths that are often unknown or unclear to parents and students alike. For that reason, the author describes and emphasizes the key factors that lead to college, employment and career success. Parents also receive much useful advice on how to help their children capitalize on their natural talents, find their stride and pursue their dreams. The early chapters quickly take readers through the years prior to college, so parents with children who are not yet in college can determine if they are ready and what they need. In fact, some students may benefit from taking a year off after high school. For parents with children about to enter college or already in college, the author has included the information, tools, techniques and suggestions that both parents and students need. Parents will learn how students can avoid the ugly side of college life, how students can select their major and career direction, the three areas in which students must excel, the universal success skills students should develop, the 18 myths that students believe, the importance of accomplishments, the value of preparation and much more. Most importantly, parents will learn to play an effective supporting role in student success. Each chapter of this book covers a topic that all college parents should understand and address. With the information provided, parents will have the ability to help their children chart a course that can significantly improve their chances for success, during and after college.

"Walking In Their Shoes," is a sociological perspective on communicating with people diagnosed with moderate-severe Alzheimer's disease and where/how negative behaviors originate. This book includes true stories and illustrates how to successfully understand behaviors, resolve conflict, and redirect persons diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The Alzheimer Association estimates between the years 2010 and 2030, 17 million people will become at high risk to develop Alzheimer's disease. It is important that you see the faces and realities of these people, not just the numbers. My book is designed to assist you in exploring the reality, and face, of Alzheimer's disease by inviting you on a short journey into the world of Alzheimer's disease. "2010 Alzheimer's Disease Facts And Figures," Prevalence, pages 10-12: Alzheimer's Association.

This is a tale about a dream come true. The story of a boy's longing to belong to a home, a family, a country. Rejected as a baby by his father as well as by his mother's family, Memo, at the age of five, is abandoned by his mother Maria at a boarding Catholic school in Mexico, while she pursues her acting career. After three years of beseeching, Maria takes pity and takes him to El Salvador, where he struggles to belong to a family that treats him as an inferior and a country that treats him as a foreigner. At age fourteen he goes to Nicaragua, hoping his father would provide what his Salvadorian family has not. His father wants nothing to do with him By a quirk of destiny, Memo becomes a Radio and T.V. teen star in El Salvador. But he soon realizes that, by pursuing acting he has given up his education thus surrendering his future for an uncertain present. A lover of American movies, he spends all his free time in movie theaters dreaming about living in America, a country that seems to have it all. He decides that only in America would he be able to realize his dreams. He implores his cousin Violeta, who lives in the United States, to sponsor him. After several years of pleading, Violeta acquiesces; but he will have to finance his trip. Memo starts the long legal process. Meanwhile, he saves all his money to pay for the trip. He returns to Nicaragua to ask his father for help. His father rejects him and wishes him failure. Memo will have to do it alone. At last he overcomes all obstacles and boards an airplane bound for America. What will he learn there? Memo cannot wait to find out.

Expressed in journal form, my book is about my life and issues related to my first experience with love and how that first wrong interpretation affected me over the years. Initial entries written in 1986 and continuing until this year, concluding with my reaquaintence with true love.

"Bitter Sweet Secret Assignment" is a book about a young, beautiful half blood Jewish journalist. She wanted to experience the revolution adventure in Suriname which ended in a different disaster. Her love for the business man Chris Nepal abrubtly ended in a horrible nightmare on their wedding night. The revolution regime was after her for a secret list of names of people who were against the revolution. Smuggling contraband goods together between South American countries had developed a great friendship between her brother and him. After her two brothers' mysterious deaths she had no choice but to escape to Europe. Years later she married Thomas Swan who was suffering from dementia and was confronted again with his memory of World War II. Later her friendship with the Italian missionary Tony Brocelli was a hidden secret, battling with faith and her everlasting love... Trying to cover up all hidden amazing secrets with normal christian diplomatic behavior only ended up with sadness, pain, depression and a broken heart. Suddenly the young successful Andrew Archer appeared again in her life. He has new ideas of business, medical research, and agriculture. He introduced Lena to one of his new methods of physiological training. This project was mainly to help educated and business people recover from an economic depression and a broken heart. Also the upcoming teenage rage caused them to suffer from anorexia and bulimia. The American psychiatrist Beth Carr and the Japanese Neurosurgeon Lee Chan discovered her weird behavior. And Andrew Archer exposed all the hidden dark secrets...his identification, complicated family, death, ancestry

This is the true story of one young man's encouraging struggle against drugs and crime. Written for Robert J. Bracke by his adoptive father, Arthur R. Bracke.
This is the true story of Robert's first twenty-one years. Robert, while of above-average intelligence, was unable to read or write due to the devastating effects of his learning disabilities, severe dyslexia and dysgraphia, conditions that were not properly diagnosed until he was placed with Arthur R. Bracke at the age of twelve.
Running Against the Wind is the true story of Robert Bracke. It starts out with his troubled times with the use of drugs and drug dealing. During the book, he recalls the abandonment from his mother, his father's harsh remarriage, drug usage and his miserable young life, growing up in numerous foster homes. This book isn't kind to the reader. It is bold, demanding and harsh with the reality of what life is like for too many people in today's society when they are pushed out into the world and demanded to grow up at a young age.
During this young man's life he had to struggle to "be his own man" by playing into the government's hands by, more or less, being forced into the Governor's Drug Task Force. He ran with his fifteen-year-old girlfriend, Annette, across country to keep from having to testify against criminals who had put a $35,000 price on his head!
One reviewer wrote: "While reading this book, I had to stop several times and catch my breath! I was aghast at the horrid treatment of this young man and, at the same time, angry with him for being caught up in the game of drugs. It is a reality check book that I believe all parents should purchase for their teens and read with them."
There is no holding back with this book. It shows the way of the underground drug world that very few people know about, but at the same time, it shows the love this father has for his adopted son by recalling the events of their life together. Even though the book is about the son, this is also about the adoptive father who loved his son so much that he was there for him, even if only in his heart and mind at times.