How does it happen that babies are born into our world filled with all the hope and promise the gift of life can bring including supreme innocence, and then fall into patterns of behavior that are guaranteed to be self destructive? Placed under the debilitating circumstance of being manipulated and controlled by someone who has fallen into a path of fear and perhaps even evil; we rarely achieve all that we brought with us in our life blueprint. We may be pretty or handsome, we may be strong in many other ways; but our growth and true potential has been limited by someone else's vision or lack of it. If so, the ideas offered in 'Living the Dream' may jog your memory to get back to the blueprint; to bolster the blueprint by remembering the truth

Three Parables is the culmination of the Parable Series. It began with 'Maybe I'll Count the Stars' released in December 2012, followed by 'Journey' and 'Living the Dream' both released in 2013. The parables provide an insight to what may have been our plan we embarked on the journey of life and then how to successfully navigate the path we have chosen.

'Make It Mine' delves into the psyche so subtly that one barely notices they have been given a 'checkup from the neck up' about why we live the way we do in our own homes The book is filled with funny stories, sad stories and a million tips, tricks and ideas to help you navigate from a house to a home It is full of ideas and solutions for everyone from the college student to retirees. The ideas are bold, not old stuff. For motivating, inspiring ideas that teach you how to prevent becoming a victim as you locate and improve your home in today's economy; this is a must read This book is funny and happy, and is a worthwhile, down to earth endeavor that will bear wonderful fruit. It is filled with profound thoughts, inspiration and practical ideas for successful living.

'How to Find the Best...' is a three book special offering that combines 'Bridge Across Tomorrow; Surviving the Game of Life, ' 'Living the Dream' and 'Mundane to Magnificent ' 'Bridge Across Tomorrow' takes a close up and personal look at the best and the worst of life and the challenges and choices we are all faced with at some point. It provides insights, ideas and solutions to the good, the bad and the ugly in our society. This book runs the gauntlet from child abuse, bullying, domestic violence and loss to rebuilding the best of ourselves and regaining the things that matter. It speaks to children and adults, victims and perpetrators. Somehow, it helps us to delve down deep within and find the things we may have forgotten that make us better than we used to be. And then, shows us how to use them. 'Living the Dream, ' How does it happen that babies are born into our world filled with all the hope and promise the gift of life can bring including supreme innocence, and then fall into patterns of behavior that are guaranteed to be self destructive? Placed under the debilitating circumstance of being manipulated and controlled by someone who has fallen into a path of fear and perhaps even evil; we rarely achieve all that we brought with us in our life blueprint. We may be pretty or handsome, we may be strong in many other ways; but our growth and true potential has been limited by someone else's vision or lack of it. If so, the ideas offered in 'Living the Dream' may jog your memory to get back to the blueprint; to bolster the blueprint by remembering the truth And, 'Mundane to Magnificent ' We have all heard the axiom that the longest journey begins with the first step; I believe it is begins before that. I believe that when something matters to us a lot, we harbor a dream, so dare to dream. The dream fans a tiny flame, a pilot light that ignites hope. Hope springs to life when we begin to believe that there might be a way to accomplish the dream. Once we believe in the dream, we begin to realize that dream. "You can start with nothing. And out of nothing, and out of no way, a way will be made" - Michael Beckwith This is a three book special that helps us deal with all the good, the bad and the ugly in our day to day lives

Richard was the darling of Dallas entrepreneurs as his new company rose to the heights of the tech industry. His beautiful young family was the toast of society; his life the American Dream, until it all came crashing down under the fraud of the banking industry and Wall Street. With his company in tatters and his home in foreclosure he found himself out on the streets, divorced and defiant. His journey takes him to the streets and finally to living with the mass of homeless people in Cleveland Ohio on a snowy Christmas morning. His gift to himself was the purchase of gun to end his life. Follow Richards remarkable journey back to a new dream as he pursues a new love who proves to be elusive and perfect to complete him.

The donkey dug his heels in and refused to move another step. The farmer, a country man who had been living off his land for many years, was frustrated and angry. The animal was refusing to move forward into the barn, fearing the strange sensation of his long ears brushing the top of the barn. He pushed and slapped the donkey's side with his straw hat, attempting to scare him forward. But the animal refused to budge another inch. The farmer had no time for such foolishness. A car was approaching the barn; likely another customer from his unattended vegetable stand out front. Drat this animal He silently pondered the situation; no wonder they called them mules The late model Mercedes came to a stop; a man who appeared to be in his mid 40's stepped out of the car, folding his suit jacket over his arm. "Hello, are you the owner of the fresh vegetable operation out front?" "If you're talking about that vegetable stand then yes, I am. I'm stuck here behind this darned animal. He's afraid to go into the barn because his ears keep clipping the top of the barn " The man, an engineer by trade, walked over to the donkey and stood looking at him quietly for a moment. "Do you have an idea as to how you can get him in?" "If I did, I wouldn't be standing here, now would I?" "Why don't we try digging a slight decline out under that doorway so his ears won't brush the top of the barn?" "Now ain't that just like a college preppie like yourself," the farmer muttered in disgust "It ain't his legs that are too long, it's his ears " And so it is with mankind; we build science fiction stories about time machines and create all kinds of complicated scenarios about time travel, many arriving at the conclusion that the people who believe in these stories are loons. We refuse to accept that there is a simple method available to every human being; one that we brought with us into our life fully equipped to use. Some may curiously examine the concept of time travel, but most simply do not believe it exists outside the big screen science fiction dramas. If it were possible and that simple, wouldn't everyone be doing it? Of course; they are.

Slowly, she took the blinders off, and then carefully removed the rose colored glasses. She blinked her eyes rapidly; the light was blinding She had started with a dream and lived a nightmare; she was creating a new one It would happen the moment she agreed to dream a new dream She heard a sight rustling and the whispered words, ever so gently blowing in the wind, "Remember you are simply moving to a lower vibration on the physical plane. This is your experience; remember to dream the good dream. We are only separated if you believe it to be so. Call on us and we will be there to counsel and guide you. " And so it came to pass... that the dream was showing severe signs of wear and tear as it drifted about her mind, tattered and torn from years of holding on. The weary hand finally released the last vestige of the tenuous hold that had once been so mighty. Like a feather it drifted into the wind and then, caught by a sudden breeze, it lifted, disappearing into the distant horizon. Expecting the gut wrenching pain she had endured with every failure, she was stunned to feel the lightheartedness that engulfed her. And then came the dawning realization that... Holding on had caused the pain

I am reminded of a great quote from my friend Og Mandino in his book, 'The greatest Miracle in the World' "Most humans, in varying degrees, are already dead. In one way or another they have lost their dreams, their ambitions, and their desire for a better life. They have surrendered their fight for self-esteem and they have compromised their great potential. They have settled for a life of mediocrity, days of despair and nights of tears..." Pay close attention to songs that won't go away from your mind, to what is happening or what you are thinking about when you hear them; pay attention to the little things that most people miss, and you will find that you have connected, even while you are awake, with those who are traveling on this journey with you; the guides who bring you gifts of enlightenment, security and protection, hope and unquestioning love. Life is an amazing journey if you are able to recognize your companions along the way

The massive lumbering gates of hell were slowly being cast open this night; the hounds of hell released to reclaim these vicious misfits of humanity. They would be returned to their master and their chosen home. Hell had broken loose, quietly and without fanfare. The distant sound of the unleashed deadly hounds in pursuit began to pound, a steady, deadly beat that portended their coming arrival. Like a ticker tape on Broadway, the number of participants began to fill the pages of the black book of hell. Unbeknown to them, in very short order they would all be rejoined as the deadly hounds completed their mission of reclaiming this evil. These hounds never failed. And in hell, the master awaited their return.

This book goes beyond home decorating as it delves into the nuts and bolts of how to make all those projects happen 'How to Turn Mundane into Magnificent' is step-by-step guide that helps you discover the look and feel you want to create in your home. The common sense theory from the 'Make It Mine' book continues here as we examine how to use what you have, to do what you can, where you are; creating an entirely new look on a minimal budget. It provides a wonderful, lighthearted approach to repurposing your furnishings and accessories and redecorating your home or apartment Every home is a personal expression of the people who live there. 'How to Turn Mundane into Magnificent' guides you ever so subtly, as you delve into your family's lifestyle, helping you to decide exactly what you need from the space and what you really want to create in your home. Once you have determined your goal, this book will lead you effortlessly (almost ) to your objective. The book is filled with information on how to identify the features of each room, and then defines the best and most cost effective way to make the room work with your new plan. Next we help you select the best pieces of your existing furniture and how to find the best prices for second hand selections that will act to create your new decorating ideas in a stunning finished project. Refinishing furniture and repurposing accessories becomes easy and fun as you transform old, tired items into the perfect new look in your space; for pennies 'How to Turn Mundane into Magnificent' shares hundreds of ideas to help you improve your home; in today's economy this is a must read This book is funny and happy, and is a worthwhile, down to earth endeavor that will bear wonderful fruit. We share funny stories, sad stories and a million tips, tricks and ideas to help you navigate from a mundane to magnificent 'How to Turn Mundane into Magnificent' is the new 'survival bible' for recreating spaces in your home. It is filled with money saving ideas, space planning, profound thoughts, inspiration and practical ideas for successful living.

The Ohio Reformatory for Women was under siege. The state highway patrol had taken control of the facility. Every cottage was now manned by a state trooper. The entire campus remained under lockdown. She asked the trooper in charge of her dorm if she could make a call. "I don't see a line here; go ahead." She called her attorney and told him what had happened. He was not surprised that the guards had set them up, but he was shocked that she had access to that number and had created all of this chaos. He had not known such a number even existed. He smiled to himself; this is a big damn deal, he thought. He felt this latest sequence of events had only endangered her more; he called the media and gave them a heads up. In this kind of situation, the more public attention that is focused on the facility the more careful they would be. Within fifteen minutes, news choppers filled the air, several TV news trucks were parked at the front gate and newspaper reporters where everywhere.

How To...'Make It Mine' is not just a book about home decorating; but it does provide a wonderful, lighthearted approach to decorating your home It creates an awareness of how our state of mind affects the world we live in, confirming the old adage that while "You may never reach the summit and for that you will be forgiven. But if you don't make at least one serious attempt to get above the snow line you will always regret it " 'Make It Mine' delves into the psyche so subtly that one barely notices they have been given a 'checkup from the neck up' about why we live the way we do in our own homes The book is filled with funny stories, sad stories and a million tips, tricks and ideas to help you navigate from a house to a home It is full of ideas and solutions for everyone from the college student to retirees. The ideas are bold, not old stuff. For motivating, inspiring ideas that teach you how to prevent becoming a victim as you locate and improve your home in today's economy; this is a must read This book is funny and happy, and is a worthwhile, down to earth endeavor that will bear wonderful fruit. It is filled with profound thoughts, inspiration and practical ideas for successful living.

Prologue If you have begun to feel like these passing years have filled your mind with fear and doubt and anxiety and remorse and there is no room for joyful memories; it's a new day We're starting over... right here, in this room with the very things we have to work with, we are going to begin again. What do all these very big issues have to do with your home? Everything Your home is a reflection of how you see yourself It is a point of beginning where you do have control and you can determine the outcome. This is where the fun begins; this is the first step in a joyful journey to a thoughtful approach that will help you discover what feels good to you. We are throwing the traditional rules to the curb and using instinct and emotions to replace strict logic and old school rules. Pick up a pencil and pad and let's make some notes. This is about your feelings; try to prevent logic from overtaking your dreams. You will emerge as an accomplished player in the game of life

"Design is what you do when you want to express yourself..." if you had time, if you knew how, if you could; you would. But where to start? We all reach a time or place in our life when we look around and no longer feel comfortable in our space; a time when it begins to feel constricting, dark, cluttered or unharmonious. Most people do what they have always done before. You clean it up, move a few things around and maybe even paint; but it's still not perfect, just better than it was. What makes the difference between a house and a home? Design. A house may have all the same furniture, accessories and lighting, but it's not a home. Why? Because a home reflects the personalities and passions of the people who reside there. It feels warm and inviting when you step in the door; you recognize that you are in someone's private space, a refuge. And you instinctively feel the honor of being invited into their private space. And it is an honor. Why doesn't your home feel like that? How do they do that? They claim their space; they embrace it, love it and fill it with personal touches that are a reflection of who they are, what they feel, where they go and what matters to them. Walk through the door of any house and, if you are observant, you can tell who lives there and what's important to them by the placement of furniture, pictures and overall look and feel of the space. Look around your home. Does it reflect you? Can you 'feel' you inside the space? Is it a reflection of your life and loves? 'The 1 Minute Design Manager' is a quick reference guide that takes a minute or less for each pointer that will fill your mind with creative and positive ideas to 'take your space', claim it and own it proudly.