"His Sins" is a three-generation family saga about how the actions, anger and bitterness of one person had an effect on future generations.

Alexander and Janet - At eighteen Alexander is determined to leave the mine in his small community in Scotland but many things happen to delay his dream of going to a land where the 'streets are lined with gold'. When they finally reach Canada, he finds that riches are not everywhere as he had thought. Realizing that disappointments have continued to follow him he takes his bitterness out on his family.

Elsa - Conceived on a night when Alexander, while in a drunken state, had taken Janet, she is loved by neither father nor mother. Growing up where loneliness is her constant companion she bears the brunt of her parents' frustrations. As a result she marries a man much like her father.

Sarah Ann - Daughter of Elsa appears to be unscathed by her parents' dysfunctional relationship. She doesn't discover until she meets Adam that her family history has had an effect upon her also. She will have to overcome her problems if she doesn't want to lose Adam forever. Will she be able to do it?

"His Sins" is about families and relationships. It is also about the power of the human personality and how adversity can be overcome. Although this story speaks of bitterness and anger, it is also about love.

Life's Challenges: A Short Story Collection touches on some of the things that many can associate with. Some of the stories are written in a serious vein while others are written with humor. And all are written keeping in mind the unique relationships between people and the diverse situations in which many may find themselves involved. Life's Challenges includes twenty-one stories encompassing unique situations, some with a small bit of fact on which the story was built. In "My Mother's Fur Coat," Ms. Behnish's mother did actually fall into a ditch in her fur coat; the rest of the story is fiction. "A Daughter's Guilt" is the story of a daughter dealing with an aging parent with dementia. "The Young Girl Inside of Me" tells the story of an elderly woman, a feeling no doubt felt by many in her age group. "Free Compost," "A Vacation with Grandpa," "How Not to Eat a Pineapple," "A True Appreciation of Nature," "A Simple Question" as well as "Her Mother's Fur Coat" are stories based on a humorous look at life. "Sullivan Station" is one of the more serious stories. But all the stories in Life's Challenges will give the reader pause for thought.

"His Sins" is a three-generation family saga about how the actions, anger and bitterness of one person had an effect on future generations.

Alexander and Janet - At eighteen Alexander is determined to leave the mine in his small community in Scotland but many things happen to delay his dream of going to a land where the 'streets are lined with gold'. When they finally reach Canada, he finds that riches are not everywhere as he had thought. Realizing that disappointments have continued to follow him he takes his bitterness out on his family.

Elsa - Conceived on a night when Alexander, while in a drunken state, had taken Janet, she is loved by neither father nor mother. Growing up where loneliness is her constant companion she bears the brunt of her parents' frustrations. As a result she marries a man much like her father.

Sarah Ann - Daughter of Elsa appears to be unscathed by her parents' dysfunctional relationship. She doesn't discover until she meets Adam that her family history has had an effect upon her also. She will have to overcome her problems if she doesn't want to lose Adam forever. Will she be able to do it?

"His Sins" is about families and relationships. It is also about the power of the human personality and how adversity can be overcome. Although this story speaks of bitterness and anger, it is also about love.

A Roller Coaster Ride With Brain Injury (For Loved Ones) has been written to assist those who are experiencing a similar tragedy to realize they are not alone. By reading my story it will help them adjust to the monumental changes in their life and that of their injured family member.
They will learn that it is sometimes two steps forward and one step back. In the days ahead, they will learn not to take things personally if their brain injured loved one becomes angry or verbally abusive and they will discover the importance of setting boundaries for themselves. As well, it is important not to feel guilty if they wish time for themselves or if they occasionally feel frustrated; their life has changed also.
Initially the most crucial things to do are 'ask the right questions'; 'take control of the situation'; 'be proactive'; 'be their own advocate' for their injured family member and realize the necessity of 'having support'. These are vital when battling cognitive and behavioral problems, frustration and anger management difficulties, confusion and short-term memory loss as well as other brain injury impairments.
Included with my story are sample cognitive exercises that we used at an early stage in Larry's development which helped immensely in his progress towards recovery.
As time goes on they will learn that there are adaptations and adjustments that will be necessary to make. There will also be many 'bumps in the road' but things really do get better.