7:28 AM - How to Jump From a Ferris Wheel and Land on Your Feet Vol. III
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Writing and Poetry
The third volume in the inspirational ten volume series, How to Jump From a Ferris Wheel and Land on Your Feet, is scheduled for release in late September 2008.
Tawana Williams
The Foreword was written by Tawana Williams, world renowned Motivational Speaker, Mentor, Life Coach, and Author ofUnarmed But Dangerous. Amongst the real life stories shared in this volume are ten chapters written by women who have lived and survived extreme adversities.
Facing Adversity Head On
Teen pregnancy, domestic violence situations, food, alcohol, and drug addictions, loss of friendships through death, and other empowering life changing stories will impact the reader in positive and indelible ways.
Contributing Authors:
- Tawana Williams - Melissa R.Martin - Makeisha Williams - Teresa Bryant - Dr. Naima Tonya Johnston - Helena Driscoll - Nkechi Feaster - Robin Rice - Judith Battiste - Eva Angvert Harren
The series was inspired and compiled by author, poet, and publisher Miriam L. Jacobs as she sought additional avenues to help empower others. Her aim is to show those who may be trapped in a cycle of emotional, spiritual, or physical pain how to become the best that they can be despite all odds.
Her strong faith and unwavering perseverance enabled her to escape a violent marriage and begin her life anew. Her first book, Trapped in My Pen, has received worldwide acclaim and is empowering women to take a stand against domestic violence.
Mountain Tops and Lighthouses When the storms of life are raging In the midst of churning seas When I'm going under for the third time A voice whispers to me
Fear not my weary my little one Be not troubled, nor be afraid Trust in the One who only speaks And the wind and seas obey
Skies may darken, winds may blow Tough times, hard to get through But mountain tops and light houses Are always within view
The anchor holds you securely Still holding, in spite of the storm Morning is coming, I'm right here with you And no one will cause you harm
Your boat may drift aimlessly Take you treacherously from the shore But abide in me, and I will see You safely home once more
Storms of life, they come and go The valleys are before you too But mountain tops and light houses Are always within view.
7:06 PM - Rest in Peace Author Debra D. Griffin
Current mood: strong
Category: Life
I can honestly say that I love Debra D. Griffin. She added joy to my life and helped me through some dark times. Although we never met face to face, we have hugged, cried, laughed, and shared lunch together many times.
Debra was a fighter and her fighting spirit is was I admired most about her. When I first started Candalyse Publishing, I had set out to publish my own books, but God had something else in His Plan. I received an email message from Debra asking me to publish her memoirs.
Little did I know then that Debra would become a part of my legacy and I a part of her legacy.
Debra sent me her manuscript and I cried throughout the reading of it. What an amazing woman! Just when I thought that my life was riddled with pain and anguish, God presented me with a woman who had endured and overcome the ravages of cancer, not once or twice, but three times at the time that we met.
She humbled me. I was in the presence of a true survivor and I thank God for having had the many opportunities to laugh with her about living life on life's terms. If we can't laugh at life we might as well crawl in a corner and die. Debra was something else with her sense of humor and beautiful mellow voice.
Publishing her manuscript was a true test of faith for both of us!
She was and will forever be my first author published with Candalyse Publishing. I could not have asked for a better client! God knows His business and He knows it well! She and I took baby steps in the new venture. We shared the frustrations, the joy, the sadness, the glee... she was always there, ready with some kind advice and encouragement when I thought that I would just give in to failure.
At 3 o'clock this morning I had a dream about Debra! Today, I learned that Debra passed on at 3:15am. She came to say goodbye.
Debra was an amazing photographer, poet, author, music lover and friend.
2:22 PM - In a nutshell...
Current mood: hopeful
Category: Life
In a nutshell... Born fourth of five children to an overbearing, but loving mom, and a Jekyll and Hyde binge drinking father who was handsome, educated, and spoke seven languages, I excelled in school using reading and writing as my coping skills for living in a chaotic traumatic household.
I am grateful.
Earliest childhood memories are of my father climbing the stairs leading to the second floor and tumbling backwards, crashing down the stairs, landing in a heap. Since I was always awakened when I heard him ascending the stairs, I would cringe under the blankets praying to God that he didn't fall this time.
My dad died one week before my nineteenth birthday when he had a final fatal alcoholic fall down the front stoop of our family home.
I was devastated and lost, especially since my first boyfried decided that now was as good a time as any to break off his engagement to me, three days after my father's death.
As devastating and untimely as my father's death was I did not deal with it until I was 42 years old!
In my twenties, I used men and booze to define me.
I was on a self destruct mission. I had low self-esteem, no self-confidence, and no female friends. I wrote my father's obituary and had to contact the Red Cross who then notified my brothers who were stationed overseas at the time. My parents had been married, for better or worse, for twenty-five years setting an example that women must stand by their men, respecting their marriage vows.
By the time I turned twenty-seven, I had been married twice and had bore three children.
I came home from work one night to find that my 28-year-old brother, his wife, and three young daughters died in a horrific house fire. The day after my brother's funeral, my 19-year-old cousin fell out in the living room and died of pneumonia..
My conviction to die was stronger than ever.
I lost faith in God.. I could not understand how these tragedies could have been His will. I drank daily and did any and everything I could think of to die. Depression was my daily companion. He told me that, along with Bud Weiser and Johnny Walker, they could take me out- sooner than later.
One night I prayed hard while vomiting over the toilet. I asked God to help me get my life together by the time I was thirty.
This prayer is usually said but never meant.
On October 17, 1989, almost two years after my family perished in that inferno, I staged a walk out in my civil service job. Alcohol running through my veins gave me courage, convincing me that I was invincible. A quiet drunk I was not! A depressed drunk is a force to be reckoned with and so I took charge on that day and told my coworkers that we did not have to work under horrible conditions where the heat was pumping during Indian summer warm October days...
The events that followed were the beginning of an amazing, a miraculous, a God given, beautiful transition.
I am grateful.
Two days after the walk-out, I was on my way to an alcohol rehabilitation center where I learned that alcoholism is a family disease and that drinking was truly not helping my depression. Those folks told me that I could learn to live my life happy, joyous, and free! I didn't want any parts of their program of abstinence until they told me that 1 in 3 of the people on my ward would remain sober. The other two would be dead or institutionalized! I wanted to be the one!
Fear is a great motivator!
I celebrated my 30th birthday the following March sober and free!
God had heard my prayer but, He showed me more death, pain ,and destruction before leading me to a path of wholesome living. I am grateful!
By age 37, I was 7 years sober, by God's grace and mercy! My life was very much on track and freedom from bondage of self was my reward!
Before age 40, my two teen daughters had blessed me with 2 granddaughters.. one of which was born with a birth anomaly.
Since 2000, I have made it my mission to spread awareness around the world. Compassion, tolerance, unconditional love are the keys to acceptance of humankind. I am a fallible child of God. I still make mistakes, I just don't beat myself up over them today.
God forgives me and He loves me, unconditionally.
Today, I am blessed with friends.. both male and female! I know who I am. I know my purpose. I know my mission and I refuse to be swayed from it. Today I love myself unconditionally and I am free!
If you believe, you can achieve and you will receive.
On July 29, 2008 Candace will undergo her tenth facial reconstructive surgery to remove and reconstruct Giant Congenital Nevus from her face.
At nine years of age, she has gone through more physical and emotional pain than many three times her age. By purchasing a copy of this important inspirational children's book, the message of tolerance, compassion, and unconditional love is spread.
Every purchase also helps to raise awareness to the very rare skin disorder.. 1 in 200,000 babies is born with a Giant Congenital Nevus.
Every purchase raises funds towards Candace's surgery and all future surgeries
Every purchase is money well spent in promoting tolerance and acceptance of those with differences
accomplished
blessed
strong
peaceful
hopeful
focused
