Reflections of the Soul... At its essence is a road map to positive living. A soul stirring assembly of poetry that empowers you as it relates to love, emotions, family, friends, grief, inspiration, prayer, humor, children, passion, special people and things. The poetry is filled with experiential insights of heartfelt truths and integrity. The title of this book truly describes the poetry there in. Reflections (for a writer) is fixing the mind on subjects, serious thoughts, contemplation, joy, reminiscing and the result of those thoughts, ideas and conclusions expressed in words. The soul tells us the difference between right and wrong. It is a burning sensation in the body. Brilliance, a burning passion, exciting, stimulating vivid imagination can also describe the soul. Life can be overwhelming; the burning sensation represents things that are going on inside of us, the Soul. This poetry deals with so many aspects of life as we live it. The poems display a deep belief in God. They offer valuable and timeless instructions on ways to live life fully and optimistically; no matter how daunting the inevitable obstacles are. No matter how dark the nights of life are, there are always brighter days ahead. If you like to laugh, this book is for you. Some of the poems are hilarious. They will cause you to laugh from the depths of your soul. Can you imagine a book filled with suspense, love, laughter, truth, faith, imagination, inspiration, is hilarious and causes you to hesitate, meditate, gives you courage, enthusiasm and more? Imagine no more; all of these attributes are captured in, "Reflections of the Soul."

The purpose of this book is to bring about awareness, deliverance and institute change in our families. Identifying generational curses is one of the first steps to deliverance. I have shared my family stories as I saw them as a child. Some of the accounts may be mixed with fictional phrases but the message is foundational. Hopefully as you read you will see your families and the road to a breakthrough will begin. Please keep in mind that the God we serve, which is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is the only true and living God and only He has the power to deliver and set free. His word tells us that He is Baal-Perazim - Lord of the Breakthrough. (2 Samuel 5:20)

This book serves a major purpose in my life. Even the book cover, overflowing with the 8's, shares some major significance to me. In the Bible, the number 8 means new beginning. In order to further explain the purpose of this book, I have to go back to where my soul first experienced pain and rejection. Attending kindergarten at PS 31, I started school almost a year late because I had eczema really badly. I also had a teacher (whose name I remember to this day) who would make me stay alone in one part of the classroom. I wasn't allowed to sit or play with the other students because even though I wasn't contagious, I looked the part. I also have to go back to a family tragedy where at the age of twelve, I was gang raped by grown men. When they let me leave, I went home. No one was there, so I went to sleep and I slept with that secret for almost six months. I never told anyone until I was sent to live with relatives in another state. Torn from my sisters who I loved and who I knew really loved me, I was too messed up to realize that my new family was trying to love me. I was too messed up to receive the love they gave. After some years, I was brought back to my sisters and brothers and my mother, but too much had happened to me. There was so much anger and hurt, and I acted out a lot. I fell in love with an older married man who I thought loved me. At that time, I didn't love me enough to get out of an abusive relationship. At the age of twenty, I gave birth to my first child, my son. After thirteen years, the older married man and I parted ways, but I was blessed with two children from him. In order to get away from him, I moved out of state where the lack of money for diapers and food became so difficult that I began dating for money. I know I have made some major mistakes in my life. All the hurt, joy, pain and lessons were all trapped inside my mind. The only way to get free was to write. My poetry was my escape. This book reflects my new beginning, my BEGINNING ANEW.

"How I Got Out of the Cotton Fields" is easy to read --hard to put down. Dr. Raymon Crawford adroitly uses vivid language to weave a remarkable story of a triumphant spirit that is victorious despite heartbreaking challenges.
His words paint colorful images that breathe life onto the pages of the book-we smell the aroma of the sweet potatoes roasted in the fire place-we close our eyes and feel the cool breeze created by the cracks in the walls of the uninsulated house and strain to see by the dim kerosene lamp-we taste the Grandma Kelly's scrumptious pinto beans and cornbread - we take the journey with him.
This story of a struggle is creatively told. Raymon takes the reader on a vicarious journey to the cotton fields of North Carolina, many of us recall, as he wishes, our on cotton fields- we are inspired
In true educator style, he enumerates the lessons learned; as a seasoned military leader, he "commands" us (with his riveting account) to read more, and more, until we reach the end of this compelling book. We learn the lessons.
This book is more than a simple chronology of the writer's journey from the cotton fields of North Carolina to the halls of academia-some of the most Prestigious American colleges and to the corridors of the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense-the Pentagon. It takes each reader on an enthralling trek into the depth of the human spirit.

In this very exciting book of short stories and poetry, the author, Diane Jones-Norris, shares her heart for people in her writings. This book is a book of encouragement to those who may have made some bad turns in the road of life. She lets the reader know that it's not too late to turn your life around. Her wit and honesty will capture your attention as you anxiously read to see what happens next. The 21 vibrant short stories and poems are about the many roads we travel through life; they will enlighten you and cause you to hunger for more.

In this very exciting book of short stories and poetry, the author, Diane Jones-Norris, shares her heart for people in her writings. This book is a book of encouragement to those who may have made some bad turns in the road of life. She lets the reader know that it's not too late to turn your life around. Her wit and honesty will capture your attention as you anxiously read to see what happens next. The 21 vibrant short stories and poems are about the many roads we travel through life; they will enlighten you and cause you to hunger for more.

This book of short stories portrays the special relationship that existed between a daughter and her daddy in a time of unparalleled challenges during this time in history. It emphasizes how lessons of a lifetime can be learned by a young girl who grew up underexposed to many simple, everyday events in life. These lessons have been documented as family history to be passed along to family and friends from generation to generation. The reader is encouraged to reflect on these awesome memories as he remembers his own personal memories. This book is also designed for parents who want to make a positive difference in the lives of their children and their children's children for a lifetime. The author further hopes that as a result of reading these short stories, families would realize the importance of documenting and sharing their own stories.