Advent Day #13 Meaning Behind Blossom

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Posted on December 13, 2014

Advent Day #13

A Frequently Asked Question: “What is the significance of the flowers on the book cover?”

The flowers on the cover of Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected relates to an Easter Story retold in a simple and unique dialect by Fanny, the stellar character in the award-winning book . Briefly, the twelve year old “Battoney” twins come to understand the deeper meaning behind the beautiful blossom.

To read the backstory about this beautiful flower, the dogwood, check out this article. https://allthingsfulfilling.com/2011/04/04/a-gift-in-perpetuity-from-japan/.

The personal story as related by the author is featured in a chapter in Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected.

This blog is brought to you the award-winning author Sue Batton Leonard. For more information on her memoir, please visit these links.

Audio Book http://amzn.to/1trrTl9
Paperback http://amzn.to/1qmcEHI
e-Book http://amzn.to/1lx7oRh

Labor of Love Book Review

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Posted on December 10, 2014

Advent Day #10 Discovering a Book Review
I just became aware of a book review written about my award-winning memoir on another blogger’s site called Labor of Love.

I share the link with our readers today on this 10^th Day of Advent to give you another glimpse between the cover of “Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected.”

http://rycjsbookreviews.blogspot.com/2014/08/gift-of-lifetime-by-sue-batton-leonard.html

Thank you OE Books, your Labor of Love book reviews have insightful thoughts about interesting publications on your website.

It is wonderful that your site, Labor of Love, has won both the Versatile Blogger and Beautiful Blogger awards!

To order this book in time for Christmas giving, please follow these links:

Audio Book  http://amzn.to/1trrTl9
Paperback  http://amzn.to/1qmcEHI
e-Book  http://amzn.to/1lx7oRh

Author’s Favorite Chapter

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Posted on December 9, 2014

On this 9th day of Advent if you were to ask author Sue Batton Leonard “What is her favorite chapter in her award-winning book? Here’s the answer: Chapter 19 Personal Coaching.

The story starts with an inspirational quote that goes like this “To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others.” by http://www.tonyrobbins.com.

‘Nuf said on this ninth day of Advent on All Things Fulfilling. The whole narrative that relates to this quote by Tony Robbins lies between the covers of the award-winning memoir “Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected.” To Order :

Audio Book  http://amzn.to/1trrTl9
Paperback  http://amzn.to/1qmcEHI
e-Book  http://amzn.to/1lx7oRh

Opening the Conversation

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Posted on December 8, 2014

Advent: Day #8

“Intercultural dialogue is the best guarantee of a more peaceful, just and sustainable world.” ~ Robert Alan Silverstein

For the past two years in the town where I am residing, we watched the building of a huge addition to the Holy Name Catholic Church. The construction essentially turned a relatively small church into a nearly cathedral-sized structure.

On Friday evening, the entire town was invited in as the Yampa Valley Choral Society and the Steamboat Symphony Orchestra brought Handel’s Messiah alive in the community. My husband and I saw the gorgeous space and heard beautiful voices and outstanding orchestral music. The evening put me in the Christmas spirit. I am so grateful the Catholic Church opened up this event to people of all religious affilliations and that I was able to attend it! The tickets sold out so quickly.

Throughout my lifetime I have been exposed to multi-cultural viewpoints and a diversity of religions. On this eighth day of Advent I’d like to share an image that will give insight into one of the largest influences in my childhood years which helped me to develop my thoughts and writings on spirituality.

How To Order the award-winning memoir by Sue Batton Leonard, Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected:

Audio Book  http://amzn.to/1trrTl9
Paperback  http://amzn.to/1qmcEHI
e-Book  http://amzn.to/1lx7oRh

Recipe for Xmas Cookies & Angels

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Posted on December 7, 2014

We never forget the every day angels in our lives. In the award-winning memoir Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected, angels preside.

One of the angels in my life left our family only a few months ago. She is now in another realm. She was my aunt, the wife of “King,” a real character in the life story of yours truly. She handed down to me the best recipe ever for sugar cookies. I share it with you now on this seventh day of Advent. I am so thankful for her long life, her gift of humor, and the time we spent together.

Dot’s Butter Cookies

Ingredients:

1 lb of 4X sugar (confectionary sugar)

1/2 lb butter 1/2 lb margarine

1/8 tsp salt 2 tsp vanilla

2 eggs 1/4 tsp nutmeg

4 cups of flour

Directions: 300 oven. 10 min approx – till edges are light brownCream sugar & butter – add eggs, salt, nutmeg, vanilla. Add flour. Drop by tsp on ungreased cookie sheet. Press with bottom of glass dipped in powdered sugar. Cool completely on rack.

For more information on Sue Batton Leonard’s award-winning memoir, Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected, follow these links:

Audio Book  http://amzn.to/1trrTl9
Paperback  http://amzn.to/1qmcEHI
e-Book  http://amzn.to/1lx7oRh

Peek at an Angel

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Posted on December 6, 2014

Advent: Day #6

Have you ever been in a situation where an angel comes to your rescue?

In the award-winning memoir, Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected, an incident of twins being stuck in a bad position leads to a solution by a stellar character who is a shining example that “a good teacher…who can help kids develop physically, emotionally, socially is literally an angel.” ~ Eva Amurri

That’s today’s peak between the covers of a Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected on this sixth day of Advent.

Here is more information on Sue Batton Leonard’s award-winning memoir, an anthology of stories.

Three Awards!
Merit EVVY Award – Anthology
2nd Place Evvy Award – Audio Book
2014 Winner of Harvest Book Contest – Young Adult Category

How To Order:
Audio Book  http://amzn.to/1trrTl9
Paperback  http://amzn.to/1qmcEHI
e-Book  http://amzn.to/1lx7oRh

Tis the Advent Season

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Posted on December 4, 2014

Tis the Advent Season! Advent means “the coming of the greatest gift of all, the birth of Jesus.”

Traditions in many households include the use of an Advent Calendar to mark the days leading up to Christmas. Typically, these calendars, which date back to the mid-19th century, include paper doors that open up to reveal an image, a piece of chocolate or other little token or a Bible verse. Some advent calendars have become more creative and are not just made of paper. Want to know more about the history of the advent calendar? Please visit this link. http://www.gotquestions.org/advent-calendar.html.

On All Things Fulfilling, we have created our own form of an advent calendar. Each day from now until Christmas we will be giving you a little gift from the award-winning anthology Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected. Each day will be like opening a door on an advent calendar – a glimpse inside the book cover.

We have a little catching up to do, since today is the 4th of December. Here marks the beginning!
Day #1 Opening the Cover

Twins….one very weak and one very strong. What will become of the little one?
Day #2

Enter into the story two “pioneers” in pediatric heart surgery. A valuable gift.
Day #3

After a brush with death for the little one, another “saving grace” arrives at a door.

Advent Door Day #4 Friendship or Foe? Which brings lessons that build skills of survival for a lifetime?

For more information the memoir Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected, which has won 3 book awards, please visit these links:

How To Order:
Audio Book  http://amzn.to/1trrTl9
Paperback  http://amzn.to/1qmcEHI
e-Book  http://amzn.to/1lx7oRh

This blog is brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard.

Holiday Gift for the Family

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Posted on December 1, 2014

There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all. —Jacqueline Kennedy

What makes for good stories that families can read together?

One or more memorable characters

Writing that paints a picture

A unique voice (audio books hold the best treasures!)

Messages that make us either groan or laugh, reflect or ponder

Cause emotional reaction from the reader (feelings of sadness, love, hope, compassion)

Leaves the reader changed in some way (i.e. attitude or understanding about something)

Themes that are relevant to family life and are age appropriate

Topics that lead to engaging discussion for family members

Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected contains all the elements of a good story for family enjoyment. Here are the words of some book reviewers ~

“This is a story of trust, faith, friendship and deep love for one another.” ~ Barbara Gueldner, Ph.D., MSE, Licensed Psychologist.

“Gift of a Lifetime is indeed that…a story of how the simplest words can have the most impact on our lives.” ~ Salley Gibney, You are Never Alone Foundation

“Sue’s ability, through dialogue, to share Fanny’s voice and powerful role in Sue’s developing years is a gift to readers.” ~ Mary B Kurtz, author

Share this warm hearted story with your family this holiday season! It is available in the following three reading choices. How To Order:

Audio Book http://amzn.to/1trrTl9
Paperback http://amzn.to/1qmcEHI
e-Book http://amzn.to/1lx7oRh

Author Sue Batton Leonard has won three Book Awards for her debut publication.

Merit EVVY Award – Anthology
2nd Place EVVY Award – Audio Book
Winner of Harvest Book Contest – Young Adult Category

Sunday’s Blessing

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Posted on November 30, 2014

It takes hands to build a house, but only hearts can build a home. ~Author Unknown

Happy Sunday, everybody! I hope those who traveled a distance over the Thanksgiving weekend arrive home safely and are filled with fulfilling memories of the good food and good company they shared over the weekend.

Here on All Things Fulfilling I had a nostalgic recollection, and Sunday is an appropriate day of the week to share it. Normally on weekends, I regroup and abstain from blogging.

Who among you can relate to this picture and this hand-sign diagram? If you know what it is, who taught you how to do it ? Your parents, your siblings, friends or in church or at school?What are these two children saying about faith through their actions?

If you can’t figure it out, scroll to the end of the blog and I will give you the answer.

This blog is brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard. For information on her newly-released memoir, Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected, please visit this link.

http://amzn.to/141aW6S. The book is available in audio, book in print and e-book.

Answer: “Here’s the church, here’s the steeple, open the doors and see all the people?” That’s what the two above images are showing.

Upping the Happiness Level

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Posted on November 28, 2014

A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing with him the image of a cathedral. ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Did you know that there is scientific evidence that you can increase your own happiness level just by being grateful? Want to know more? Read this article. http://bit.ly/1yvpdSx.

Turns out all this talk about being thankful, is not a lot of bunk. There really are psychological and emotional benefits. Learning to appreciate the small things, rather than big things is even more important.

Today, I’d like to challenge you to start a year-long, daily list of small things that you are grateful for. The smaller the better! Why? Because that means you are paying attention to the little yet, important things in life.

My happiness quotient rises when I see things like these when I least expect it.

What tiny things turn you inside out with glee when you encounter them?

As we end this week of Thanksgiving go into the next holiday of the year with your heart wide open looking for the little things that mean a lot during the Christmas season.

“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly.” ― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

This blog is brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard, and her award-winning memoir Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected.

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Advent Day #13 Meaning Behind Blossom