This book is an eclectic collection of short stories, thirteen in all. The reader can find a wide range of evocative emotions while moving from story to story. Each of the stories is a snippet of human experience ranging from sad to hilarious and to deeply moving. The author spends time in slapstick humor, philosophical musings, and observations of the human condition. Each story has its own mood and course. There is no particular direction to this anthology of short stories, because each story has its own character. The author has encapsulated many angles on the view of life. The book is a short read but one which will pull the reader through each story with curiosity for what the next story might offer. There are rewards in finishing each.

"bubble wrap for the soul" is a collection of poems recounting a journey of healing, redirecting love towards yourself, and heartbreak. It describes the path taken to love yourself after heartbreak, and all the ups and downs. It's about good days and sad nights. It's about how important it is to love yourself first before loving someone else, and how important it is for your heart to take in the pain, and release it whenever you're ready.

Marcus Riehl has had it—with school, grief from his parents' death, and his Uncle's temper. Determined to break the "cycle", he decides to venture out into the Appalachian Mountains alone. Hungry and second guessing his decision, Marcus is found by a member of a secret Native American tribe. During his first bow and arrow lesson, the tribe is extremely impressed at his incredible skill as a beginner. It reminds them of the ancient legend of the Tamechactee: the one who will emerge as a skilled leader to save humanity from an apocalypse. Meanwhile in France, a sinister being, only known as The Maker, has concocted a plan to globally set off nuclear bombs to bring humanity into submission. His plan? To rule as their God and mold Earth into his nightmare. Could Marcus be the legendary Tamechactee? If so, will it be enough to stop The Maker?

'Any man can be a father, but it takes a special person to be a dad. Chicken Soup for the Father and Son Soul takes a peak into the lives of fathers and sons, sharing the important male milestones from birth through childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, the senior years, and every step in between. This is a celebration of how fathers and sons carry each other along life's journey. Share the story of one man who didn't think much of becoming a father until the day he laid eyes on his son, and how in a matter of moments his perspective on life and being a dad had profoundly changed forever, and the touching story of a young boy who finds the father he always longed for in a special stepdad, as well as the story of the love and respect between a father-in-law and son-in-law that appears when least expected. Readers will be inspired by the stories of sons looking up to their fathers and learning by example, and fathers recollecting their own childhoods and relationships with their own dads. These insightful stories show men and boys working through the ups and downs of life, learning as they go and becoming better because of their relationship with each other. These powerful and poignant stories are written from every point of view—fathers, sons, grandfathers, mothers, and wives—everyone who has been deeply touched by the father and son relationship.

Jeri Flynn has spent her life caring for other people at the expense of her own happiness. Having survived a bad marriage and a nasty divorce which made her unable to trust and instilled a strong sense of self preservation in her, she now has to face one last challenge. Her doctor has told her she may have only 2 years to live. Now Jeri must decide how to live those last years of her life. As she begins her new life, she encounters a young man named Sean. Her instant attraction to him pulls her into a relationship as strange as his uncanny knowledge of her deepest desires and needs. Slowly he reveals the truth to her. They are deeply connected through reincarnation, having lived three lifetimes together as man and wife. Together they embark on a journey, uniting past and present, and rediscovering the passion and love, which drove Sean to search for her through thousands of years and many incarnations. Can she learn to trust and love this man who believes she is his souls eternal mate and the only woman he can ever love?

Bubble Wrap - The Benefits Book was written to assist employers who have or are considering implementing a meaningful employee benefits program for their valued employees. Employee benefits are designed to protect employees and their families from expected and unexpected life events and to make their lives easier, less stressful and more secure. This book in its easy to read format will provide the reader with a great reference to make good decisions as they relate to their company sponsored benefits program.

A flourishing pastoral heartbeat is possible—for those who are intentional. Ministry in modern society presents a perpetual assault on the pastor’s soul. Culture has changed, and the challenges of ministry have changed with it. Many new pastors are discovering that they’re ill-equipped to manage unexpected, soul-health tensions of ministry. Some are walking away, and others are choosing to not enter the pastorate despite a sense of God’s calling. Cary Schmidt shares a fresh approach to cultivating emotional health for a lifetime in ministry. Infuse your weary pastoral soul with renewed health, consistent joy, and true flourishing. The heart of Steady Strength is to bring vitality and renewed passion to perplexed and weary servants. Schmidt explores how tensions on the modern pastor can be navigated in three compelling ways: Reckoning with the realities of an unusual call. Cultivating health in unique ways. Nurturing a robust, gospel-culture in ministry. Far from a mournful, complaining manifesto of the negative burdens of the pastor’s life, this book is a celebration of the wonderful and joyful opportunity to shepherd God’s people. In this three-part book, Cary Schmidt unfolds a workable approach to sustained, joyful pastoral health.

"Middle school readers will easily relate to the situational humor and school life, but everyone should read this book for its message. The Bubble Wrap Boy is perfect for fans of R.J. Palacio’s Wonder and will be an excellent addition to any library or classroom."-VOYA Charlie Han’s troubles are much bigger than he is. At school he’s branded an outsider, a loser—the tiny kid from the Chinese takeout. His only ally is Sinus Sedgely, a kid with a lower-level reputation than Charlie himself. Life at home isn’t much better. His dad is more skilled with a wok than he is with words, and his mom is suffocating the life out of Charlie, worried about his every move. But when a new passion leads Charlie to the mother of all confrontations, he finds his real mom has been hiding a massive secret. A secret that while shocking, might actually lead Charlie to feeling ten feet tall. The Bubble Wrap Boy is a funny and inspiring novel about friendship, family, and one undersized boy's ability to think BIG. "Both laugh-out-loud funny and heartbreaking...In the fast-growing bullying genre, Charlie's story stands out. This isn't a kid who will do anything to join the cool clique. This is a story about staying true to yourself and following your passion."-Kirkus Reviews "Earle excels at showing personal growth in the characters, and it is gratifying to observe the believable evolution of Sinus’s and Charlie’s parents. VERDICT Family drama with a solid mix of action, adventure, and humor."-SLJ "Charlie is a character to root for. He is witty and perceptive and has a secret weapon in his best friend, Sinus Sedgely....[The Bubble Wrap Boy is] exciting to read."-Booklist "Charlie's amusing sarcasm masks a vulnerability that will resonate with anyone who has felt like an outsider. The humiliation of being the butt of a joke is sensitively rendered, as is Charlie's slow reclamation of his pride in this witty, true-to-life story."-Publishers Weekly