Carrie Hojem, a thirty-year-old hard-working artist and creative director at Fashions Consolidated, is torn. Her lengthy romance with Jack Nielson is rapidly collapsing, but her biological clock is ticking loudly. Haunted by recurring dreams of a child who calls her "Mama," Carrie knows she needs a new plan-now.

Buoyed by the map for her future that she and her physician devise, Carrie ends her relationship with Jack and throws herself into life after love by dating two men-Bruno, an actor, and Jake, a veterinarian. Never in her wildest dreams does she anticipate the better plan that soon prevails or the unspeakable tragedy that deepens her appreciation of new love. Throughout her journey, Carrie has the support of her best friend who would gladly take Bruno off her hands; her brother whose sense of humor regularly veers out-ofbounds; and her parents, whose perspective on an aunt's disaster during World War II unexpectedly provides them with an appreciation of Carrie's plan.

Only time will tell if Carrie will find the unconditional love she has been seeking-from both a lover and the child she dreams of at night.

Stuck in unhealthy relationship dynamics? Yearning to find (or be) that perfect someone? Can you accept someone while also wanting them to grow? The key to healthy relationships is accepting that real love is messy, imperfect, and a work in progress! Clinical psychologist Dr. Carla Marie Manly's The Joy of Imperfect Love guides readers on a transformative journey of compassionate, healthy love. With research-backed insights, captivating case studies, and empowering exercises, readers explore how attachment issues and unresolved personal issues negatively impact both self-love and the quality of our relationships. Dr. Manly offers sound solutions for creating awareness and healthy habits that promote lasting love. Readers will breathe a sigh of deep relief as they discover the doable, real-life secrets to creating joy-filled relationships and genuine, imperfect love.

Patti Playpal*t life-sized companion dolls were an enormous hit in the 1960s. These gorgeous dolls could actually wear the clothing of the children they belonged to! Patti Playpal dolls are in demand on today's collectors' market, although surprisingly little information has been available about them. This wonderful reference not only chronicles the Playpal Family with their original outfits and play sets, but also all of the other life-sized dolls of the era that have been a source of confusion to collectors and dealers alike. Finer points like original hair colors, hairstyles, and outfit variations are finally documented. Over 250 color photos, original catalog and television advertisements, and valuable information about the dolls and the prices they command today make this long-awaited resource an excellent addition to the library of all doll or toy enthusiasts.

How does a woman embrace her maturity with joy and strength when her body changes year to year? Psychologist Dr. Carla Marie Manly provides an important and meaningful window into womanhood for those approaching fifty and beyond. A must-read book for any woman approaching the age of fifty, Aging Joyfully touches the sensitive reality of the transition from a life filled with new beginnings to a graceful process filled with freedom, beauty, and joy. Includes chapters on: ·Loving Your Changing, Maturing Body; ·Your Health: What to Expect with Menopause, Memory Changes, and More; ·Shifting Relationships: Understanding and Adapting to Natural Changes in Relationship Dynamics; ·The Worlds of Work and Retirement: Facing Ageism and Retirement with Awareness; ·Aging Parents, Caregiving, and Loss: Gracefully Caring for Others and Letting Go; and ·Slowing Down as the Time Speeds Up: The Art of Transitioning into a New Life Role.

Poetry Collection: While sleeping, received this inspiration in a dream, a message to relay and I pray nothing gets lost in the translation of this tribute ...to the things that I've learned along the way What's important, it seems, is not life's final destination Nor is it the journey that is foremost, per se Primary is what's retained... and what's shared... and what's passed on... Of the things that we learn along the way

Poetry Collection: Upon being told that I am a poet Suggested I have my work added To the local grade school curriculum Meant well but I think not... Emily Dickinson And Robert Frost I truly... am not... This is NOT what I do Though I do agree with Emily who aspires to "Dwell in the possibilities" And with Mr. Frost I concur that "The only way out is through" Like Dylan I "Do not go gentle into that good night" That is not what my poems are made of... Racism Newly found Love Motherhood And children he forgot Addiction Cocaine Loneliness And working with what you've got A working man's hands A homeless man's lot Betrayal Destruction that genocide wrought May not always sound nice... But Beloved, it's life Life is what my poems are made of

Warning: Contents of this book may cause side effects such as addiction to the Word of God or Kingdom-seeking tendencies The best bible study "tool" is: A QUESTION. The first five letters of the word 'question' spell "QUEST" a journey... an adventure... a search for answers to mysteries. My hope and my aim with Hidden Treasures of the Kingdom is to send the reader on a quest within the covers of the greatest book ever written, the Bible. I've asked the publisher for wide margins and spaces for you, the reader, so that you can make your own notes and write your own questions as they come up in the course of your treasure hunt. This book is my unabashed attempt to hook you, the reader, on a life-long quest for the Kingdom and all the treasures that are hidden within. - Carla J. Goodwin "The author reviews the hidden principles and promises found in the Bible which will empower Christians to live a transformed, Kingdom-based life. Examining topics such as sowing and reaping, materialism, faith, anxiety, bondage to sin, and the origins of love and wisdom, this book lays out the basic framework of Christianity in an easy-to-understand format." - Brittnee N ewman, Editor Xulon Press "Like all of the best teachers, Carla helps us understand the Bible by not telling us what to think, but rather how to think and find answers for ourselves when we read The Word." - Adam Dunigan

Carrie Hojem, a thirty-year-old hard-working artist and creative director at Fashions Consolidated, is torn. Her lengthy romance with Jack Nielson is rapidly collapsing, but her biological clock is ticking loudly. Haunted by recurring dreams of a child who calls her "Mama," Carrie knows she needs a new plan-now.

Buoyed by the map for her future that she and her physician devise, Carrie ends her relationship with Jack and throws herself into life after love by dating two men-Bruno, an actor, and Jake, a veterinarian. Never in her wildest dreams does she anticipate the better plan that soon prevails or the unspeakable tragedy that deepens her appreciation of new love. Throughout her journey, Carrie has the support of her best friend who would gladly take Bruno off her hands; her brother whose sense of humor regularly veers out-ofbounds; and her parents, whose perspective on an aunt's disaster during World War II unexpectedly provides them with an appreciation of Carrie's plan.

Only time will tell if Carrie will find the unconditional love she has been seeking-from both a lover and the child she dreams of at night.