Natalie Ashby has lived all of her life in active ministry. Her parents were evangelists and church planters with twelve children in tow -- she was the youngest girl. She married right out of high school and became a Pentecostal preacher's wife. When her husband was diagnosed with cancer, she expected life to slow down but it only increased in responsibility. Though the illnesses that plagued him were long-suffering, nothing could prepare her for the day he died. Suddenly, she was called "widow". A dirty word. A constant reminder of a long journey that led to the label. Natalie candidly shares the road to discovering her identity, purpose, calling and coming out on the other side. This book is her story in this season of life -- a newly-widowed former pastor's wife navigating life outside of full-time ministry. The tables have turned, her seat has changed, and she's along for the ride.

My Story is a refl ection on the events of my lifefrom my birth in 1926 until my marriage in 1949, at the age of 23. My experiences in growing up on a poor, hilly farm without electricity or inside plumbing during the depression years of the 1930s, then the diffi cult war years of the early 1940s, followed by the growing prosperity after WW II all helped to shape the kind of person that I wished to become. These events helped me to progressively establish three main goals for my life: Build a meaningful relationship with my Creator, get a worthwhile education, and fi nd a Special Girl to share my life. In those 23 years, I accomplish two of my goals. The one remaining goalmy fi rst and oldest objectivewas still a work in progress at the end of My Story. My efforts to fi nd an acceptable way of worshipping my God would not be realized until a few more years had passed. I had also determined that my Special Girl and I would reach this goal together. If time allows, I will complete that account in Our StoryAll the Way in the near future. My initial purpose in writing this account has been to preserve that heritage for my two sons, Steve and Jeff, and for their families . . . If My Story proves to be of any interest to others, so much the better. Jim Wahl - text should be Amazone BT for "Jim Wahl"

In this tender story of international adoption, a mother weaves a magical web of tales to explain how her child came to be part of the family. A young child asks his mother to tell the story of where he came from. I might tell how you came from a land far away in a hot air balloon. The basket slowly drifted down like a feather into our yard. I dropped the firewood I was carrying and ran to you. 'You're home now, ' I said. Or maybe it was a lark--and not a stork--that brought the child to the mother. Or perhaps he was rescued from a dragon! Each lyrical and fantastic tale contains a small kernel of truth that pieces together the baby's journey from China into his new mother's arms. Beautifully illustrated by Jessica Lanan, The Story I'll Tell is a gentle and moving story of international adoption and parental love that is sure to touch the hearts of readers everywhere, no matter how they came to be a family.

In the tradition of Michael Herr's Dispatches, a National Guardsman's account of the war in Iraq. John Crawford joined the Florida National Guard to pay for his college tuition, willingly exchanging one weekend a month and two weeks a year for a free education. But in Autumn 2002, one semester short of graduating and newly married—in fact, on his honeymoon—he was called to active duty and sent to the front lines in Iraq. Crawford and his unit spent months upon months patrolling the streets of Baghdad, occupying a hostile city. During the breaks between patrols, Crawford began recording what he and his fellow soldiers witnessed and experienced. Those stories became The Last True Story I'll Ever Tell—a haunting and powerful, compellingly honest book that imparts the on-the-ground reality of waging the war in Iraq, and marks as the introduction of a mighty literary voice forged in the most intense of circumstances.

Bobby Burns knows he’s a lucky lad. Growing up in sleepy Keely Bay, Bobby is exposed to all manner of wondrous things: stars reflecting off the icy sea, a friend that can heal injured fawns with her dreams, a man who can eat fire. But darkness seems to be approaching Bobby’s life from all sides. Bobby’s new school is a cold, cruel place. His father is suffering from a mysterious illness that threatens to tear his family apart. And the USA and USSR are testing nuclear missiles and creeping closer and closer to a world-engulfing war. Together with his wonder-working friend, Ailsa Spink, and the fire-eating illusionist McNulty, Bobby will learn to believe in miracles that will save the people and place he loves.

Some of the stories in Tell Me a Story, Ill Bake You a Cake will take you back to a carefree time when kids ran barefoot all summer, caught lightning bugs, climbed trees, and didnt have to come home until the streetlights came on at night. Joys humor is evident as she tells about kitchen disasters, poison ivy, family togetherness, the agony of math, the ecstasy of Baked Alaska, and the infamous Lavisson sisters. Some stories are funny, others poignant, but all are entertaining. The recipes are simple and non-threatening to the novice cook. As long as youre not looking for recipes for turnips, brussels sprouts, or liver, youll find a recipe to suit any occasion. Enjoy the stories. Now go into the kitchen, and cook something.

From striking new voice Simon P. Clark comes Tell the Story to Its End; richly atmospheric, moving, unsettling, and told in gorgeous prose, it is a modern classic in the making. "Tell the story to its end," says Eren with a grin. His yellow eyes are glowing like embers in the night. "When I reach the end," I say, "what happens? You'll have the whole story." "Hmm," he says, looking at me and licking his lips with a dry, grey tongue. "What happens then? Why don't we find out?" People are keeping secrets from Oli. His mum has brought him to stay with his aunt and uncle in the countryside, but nobody will tell him why his dad isn't there, too. Why hasn't he come with them? Has something happened? Why won't anyone talk about it? Oli has a hundred questions, and only an old, empty house in the middle of an ancient forest for answers. But then he finds a secret of his own: there is a creature that lives in the attic... Eren is not human. Eren is hungry for stories. Eren has been waiting for him. With Eren to listen, Oli starts to make sense of what's happening. But Eren is powerful, and though he's willing to help Oli, he's not willing to do it for free; he wants something in return. Oli must make a choice: he can learn the truth -- but to do so he must abandon himself to Eren's world, forever. -- “Savvy readers and would-be writers will love this exploration of story as an art form, a panacea, and an endless part of life.” - Kirkus Reviews “Clark does an admirable job of conveying Oli’s wonder, confusion, and frustration as he strays farther and farther from reality... Adeptly mixes fantasy with reality.” - Publishers Weekly

Satan's youngest daughter works at a call center. The Twelve Dancing Princesses lure men into an underground nightclub. A dancing bear falls in love and into addiction. The Queen of All Magic throws a party on the bayou to celebrate the death of her soulmate. I'll Tell You a Love Story does exactly as its title promises; tells love stories. Stories that blend the ordinary with the mythic, mixes the everyday with fables, and shifts between hope and heartache.

Family storytelling offers many of the same advantages as book reading - and some new ones - for children's language and emotional development, coping skills, and sense of belonging. Tell Me a Story: Sharing Stories to Enrich Your Child's World shows parents how telling and sharing stories about family experiences can help children grow into healthy, happy adolescents and adults. Dr. Elaine Reese outlines the techniques that work best with children of all ages, from toddlers to teens, including children with learning delays and difficult temperaments. She also tackles challenging issues such as whether children profit at all from the stories that they experience through TV, movies, and video games; how storytelling differs from daughters to sons; and the best ways to continue to share family stories with children after a separation or divorce. Finally, Reese shares tips specially designed for storytelling with grandchildren, demonstrating how parents can and should continue to nurture family storytelling long after their children are grown, and especially once their children become parents themselves. Providing guidance on a positive, portable, and free way to enrich children's development, Tell Me a Story deserves a place in every parent's library.

" Tell Me A Story" is a collection of short stories written by Mrs. Molesworth. The book features a delightful assortment of tales that capture the imagination and engage young readers. Each story transports the reader to different worlds and introduces them to a variety of characters, from brave adventurers to mischievous fairies. Mrs. Molesworth's storytelling style is enchanting, weaving together elements of fantasy, adventure, and moral lessons. "Tell Me A Story" is a charming book that promises to entertain and inspire young readers with its delightful narratives."