Lady by the River Post 10 of 10

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Hello Readers.

One Word Sunday is CONFUSED. 

Here is my entry:

Now, connecting to Sunday Trees,

let’s wind down

with some final Lady by the River book thoughts. 

Did you know….

This book idea was BIRTHED IN FLORIDA?

So here is a Florida palm tree with a quote from the book:

Did you know….

This book content was COMPILED IN VIRGINIA?

So this next photo has our Central Virginia vibe –

And it shows “construction” because isn’t this sometimes what life brings our way? Detours. Repairs. Change.

Bottom line is that a “Life Interrupted” is normal. It “can” lead to many good things. Delays can be God appointments. Let’s yield. Let’s stay stable. Let’s rebuild. Let’s get rolling when we need to – but know when it is okay to stay at the station to examine expectations and stop forcing a timeline that might not be in our best interest. 

Did you know….

The scene in this next photo is the same location that was the cover art for the Lady by the River book?

 This photo turned out to be special because it was the same month Lady by the River’s Second Edition was COMPLETE – submitted, accepted and “finito”  At the time, I did not realize this photo would connect to the ending of this book adventure. I took the photo to show my hubs where I was having lunch (it was snowing where he was – and I was enjoying the Indian River in Florida). The photo is special and I give God all the glory. 
Photo that became cover art for the book. My mother sent it to me one day (years ago) because she was inspired – yet again – by another colorful sunset. It was just right for the book – in look and in essence. 

 

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BRIEF SNIPPET FROM THE AUTHORS:

Mark shared about coping through divorce, death, and other setbacks. He takes us through getting stuck in a snowstorm while his personal life was also tumultuous. He drops his guard and humbly shares how he stayed stable and kept going – and much of that was connecting with his wife, Karen. A three-day road trip to New Jersey opened his “eyes and heart” and later they called that trip, the “longest first date ever.”

Jeff shared ponderous thoughts about his mother, faith, drugs, living life in America and a lot of social psych is woven in as he notes points like, “Ironically whatever you love… you empower and give power to.”

 Kristin shared about addiction and living life in an improvement mode – and how the act of showing up – and thinking about one’s thinking – is what brings self-awareness and strength. “Gratitude is a wonderful tool for reshaping perspective.”

The sensory-savvy Ana brought us into her thoughts about family disappointments and overcoming letdown. And how a bit of support can rescue us at times. “My best friend would jump on a train and come and pick me up when I was falling apart. I didn’t have to ask, he understood…”

Sherri allowed us to grow with her – she grows as a woman and cultivates roses. We get a personal feel for the powerful story connected to her father – and we also get to travel continents with her as she lived in the United States and then went back to England, all while managing a family and career. “Though we certainly are not promised a rose garden, we can make the choice to plant one, whether in pots or in the ground, and we can do it…”

Mahesh provided humanitarian glimpses, with his carefully picked words, and he gets us thinking as he shares how he matured. Mahesh gave little nuggets of wisdom. For example: “Somebody once wanted to experience job rejections, so he attended a list of interviews he knew he’d fail. And he failed. But that prepared him to negate the ugliness of rejection.”

Chad used fiction in his chapter to share about faith, trust, and companionship. He used “flight” in his story and Foster (2003) noted, “Often in literature the freeing of the spirit is seen in terms of flight.” The “soul” can take wings and become “disembodied” bringing freedom and a sense of lightness.

Mabel allowed us to join her pursuit of writing, and at times we are right there in her room with her. She reminds us that sometimes we need to NOT look to the right or left when we have a goal – we need to stay focused and by “pushing boundaries with our art on our own terms and in our own time, we learn to present it to the world in a way that we are truly comfortable.”

Yvette, the contributing editor, shared coping ideas, nutritional tips, chapter discussion questions, and poetry. All with the goal to help deliver the message that we need to never reach the point of being DONE. We can rebuild and repair. Hopefully this book will educate, empower, and encourage the reader. 

Lady by the River was put together to remind us all that life is worth living.

Life is filled with ups and downs, which helps us grow.

We do not grow from staying comfortable.

Let’s find support when we need it. Let’s be supportive to others.

 

 

Lady by the River Authors

Mabel Kwong (here)

Sherri Matthews (here)

Chad Prior (here)

Kristin Rybrandt (here)

Mark Bialczak (here)

Jeffrey D. Simmons (here)

 Ana Linden (here)

Mahesh Nair (here)

Yvette Prior (here)

 

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That’s all for today – Hope the rest of your Sunday is great. 

Today (April 14th, 2019) is the LAST day of the giveaway for Lady by the River at Amazon here.

 

Let’s “BITE THE WAX TADPOLE”, which means we need to STAY ALIVE WHILE LIVING (here)

P R I O R H O U S E 

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24 thoughts on “Lady by the River Post 10 of 10”

  3. I like the part about detours. So often, the road ahead seems confusing and scary, but we find the strength to cope with it and explore new things.

    I downloaded the book. I look forward to reading it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks for checking it out
      And I might have forgot to mention that detours also suck – bad! They can cost money and sometimes we lose in a way where there is no rebuild – or the rebuild might just not be what might have or could have been – and loss is very real – and delays can be costly – well no need to say anymore – but you said a key phrase “learn to cope and explore new things” which sometimes bring the exact thing we need
      – hope you have a great Sunday

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Confused? I’m familiar with that idea. Just about every day in fact. I like your photo representing it. I often feel like a small fish in a tank, admiring the gravel, wondering when dinner will be floating down from above.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. I do so agree that we need to be supportive of those in need. Not simply so that the favor may be returned in kind should we need it some day, but because it’s how the world makes the most sense.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. well said – that giving just to give is what we need more of.
      and what i like about Victor Hugo’s writing is he weaves that into his stories.
      The character gives – and risks or loses by the outreach – but then low and behold it does come back to help
      –
      and so I tell people that when we give – just know it will come back in different ways – and maybe later – so even if our motive is not just for self – it can be a motivating factor to remind folks “that we PLAANT SEEDS when we give – WE INVEST IN OTHERS” and when we do that – we will have growth and reward – it is a law – you reap what you sew
      and that is good news and then there is the pure joy that comes –
      from giving and seeing what it sometimes does…
      ahhhhh –
      but I get what you are saying – too many people get puffed up
      or their giving is really self-driven
      and research has shown that altruistic behavior can be accompanied with no empathy –
      and sometimes charity and philanthropy are status – tax write offs and less about love and concern –
      ok – enough

      Like

      1. Giving is always a good thing, but when it’s from the heart with no expectations other than the simple act of giving, that is when I believe it changes things. For the much better. I do believe there is an energy to that, one to which we feed on.

        Liked by 1 person

  7. I like the writing in the picture with the road block. I think that is part of human DNA. We have great curiosity and we love problem solving (seems hard or nearly impossible but we (human) keep at it to find answer). We grow on these qualities.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. we sure do grow on those qualities – and I like how you mentioned the human need for satisfying curiosities and tackling stuff – it can be so rewarding (as long as it does not knock you out first – ha)

      Liked by 1 person

    1. thanks Janet – and I changed that photo because it aligned with my book experience – I mean – I have better pics of myself – cos in that one i am squinting – no make up and was teaching all day – whew –
      but my mom was with me and it was taken at a time when this book was getting done –
      have a nice day J

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Thanks… I really enjoyed reading this… it ties in beaultifully with my “never give up” theme today!
    Also… I went looking at your Priorhouse Books page… so sad, I couldn’t leave a comment and a like there!!
    However, I’m learning stuff by just being here… and thanks for your tips as well! 👍✒😃

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi – thanks for the comment AJ
      And I think I told you I am still learning so much with all of this too and so let’s keep sharing tips as they come out way.
      The never give up theme was a good one (and always reminds me of Churchill – but is timeless and we need to hear it again and again)
      Appreciate your taking the time to leave a comment here – and be in touch after I check out your kindle books

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thanks… yes, Sir Winston is an inspiration… he sure knew how to share wisdom! 😉
        Thanks too for looking at my books… if you’re on kindleunlimited you can get them free! 🙂

        Like

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