Amen

Signing alongside Ms. Roush are contributors and fellow members of Toastmasters International: Kay Presto, Lee Barron, Cyndy Logan, Kay Starr and Marjorie Benesh residents of Inland Empire and Orange Counties. Kay Presto is also published in the Chicken Soup for the Soul books, including Chicken Soup for the NASCAAR Lover’s Soul.

The newest book just released in this six-book series, titled Heart of a Military Woman, is packed with heart-warming stories about all types of women involved in the military, from those who currently serve to those who are wives, mothers, and family and friends of those who serve. Some stories share experiences back to the days of the women who piloted airplanes for the military during World War II (WASPs). The book also includes a story about the first woman who lost a limb in our current war, and another about the local U.S.O. facility in Ontario, California.

Other books available at the signing will be:
Heart of the Holidays (Yuletide treasures and traditions)
Heart of a Mother
Heart of a Woman in Business
Heart of a Woman
and Corazon de Mujer (Heart of a Woman in Spanish).

For further information, call Borders Bookstore at 909-646-7322.

It’s sacred Thanksgivin’, and all through the house,
Nothing’s overnight baking, not Lamb and not Grouse.
Making plans for the morning, health-conscious are we,
Jotting it down, while sipping White Green Tea.

Chocolate Tofu Mousse Cake – well-chilled,
With graham cracker crust, I’m not that strong-willed!
Organic Pumpkin Pie – served piping hot.
Maybe Turkey next year?  I think NOT!

These suggestions work the same in late December, mid-March, early summer or while watching leaves fall.  Read this advice, and you’ll see the timing is universal. 

1. Watch a movie . . . that tugs at your heartstrings. This may be a favorite movie you’ve seen many times, or a new one that excites you, moves you or maybe even makes you cry. Just pick one that makes you feel good as opposed to sad. When the movie is over bask in the feelings that you feel.

2. Think about things . . . that make you feel proud. Spend some time looking back at accomplishments large or small, private or public, that make you feel good about yourself. It will be time well-spent.

3. Listen to music . . . that makes you smile. You know what music this is. This is the music that makes you dance, smile and maybe brings back fantastic memories. Pop it in your CD player or fire up your iPod.  Better yet, if you have an MP3 player, make a play list of all your favorites so you can listen to them back to back, anytime you want.

4. Talk to a friend . . . who believes in you.  Spend some quality time – on a walk, over dinner or with a cup of coffee – talking with a person who is supportive of you and loves you for who you are.  Enjoy the time together, listen to what they say, and thank them for being in your life.

5. Read a book . . . that inspires you.  Whether a self-help book, inspirational poetry or a story you identify with, find a book that you will not only enjoy reading, but will also learn from.

All of these actions will create positive feelings and memories. Each helps you look back and inspires you into the future. You can use these feelings and memories to not only feel better about yourself now, but to propel you with greater energy and enthusiasm for what is coming.

Potential Pointer: Choosing actions that help you understand yourself and your world better, makes you feel better about yourself. When you feel better about yourself, you take an important step towards creating a better future – for yourself and all with whom you work, live and play.

We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room-by-room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched.  Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives… not looking for flaws, but for potential.
- Ellen Goodman

Now let us welcome the new year, full of things that have never been…
- Rilke

We will open the book.  Its pages are blank.  We are going to put words on them ourselves.  The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day. – Edith Lovejoy Pierce

It is when things go hardest, when life becomes most trying, that there is greatest need for having a fixed goal.
- B.C. Forbes

Set a goal to achieve something that is so big, so exhilarating that it excites you and scares you at the same time.  It must be a goal that is so appealing, so much in line with your spiritual core, that you can’t get it out of your mind.  If you do not get chills when you set a goal, you’re not setting big enough goals.
- Bob Proctor

Wise men came to see him there
Laying in soft manger’s hay
Radiant angelic hosts proclaimed
“Unto you a child is born” they say.

Centuries from that first nativity scene
From Christ’s birth, we’ve come to hear
Of God’s plan, Virgin Mary’s gift
Come closer to love, and farther from fear.

Still today, we celebrate that glorious night
Midnight clear, and stars so bright
That all will know of Divine love
And great gifts from Heaven above.