Wow! Fact or Fiction? Hmmm… consider it. State your opinion.
This blog is brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard. For information on her award-winning memoir Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected and Short Stories: Lessons of Heart & Soul, please go to http://www.allthingsfulfilling.com/about-the-book/.
Welcome back to our week of simple pleasures. I hope you enjoy this week’s messages on All Things Fulfilling that have few words but the images reflect little things that make a difference in our lives or the lives of others.
“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.” ~ Rabindranath Tagore
This blog is brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard, author of Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected and Short Stories: Lessons of Heart & Soul.
This week’s theme on All Things Fulfilling is going to be the beauty of simplicity. So, in that vein, blogs will be short, sweet and to the point. Yet I still aim to inspire, entertain, educate or
Inform!
As they say at http://www.YouAreNeverAloneFoundation.org
“I Matter…You Matter…Each Person Matters.” ~
You Are Never Alone Foundation
This blog is brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard, award- winningauthor of Gift of a Lifetime:Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected and Short Stories: Lessons of Heart & Soul.
Last fall after I did a book signing in my hometown of Towson, Maryland. My life-long friend, Chris, handed me a handwritten missive that was so meaningful. To get a hand-penned letter in this digital age is something special to begin with. The letter contained her memories of our times spent together as children. I couldn’t believe the little things that she remembered, many were the very same memories I’d retained all those decades since my childhood.
However, there was one event that I didn’t recall at all. Here is what she said:
“A surprise birthday party I gave YOU?” I questioned Chris after reading her words in the letter. “I don’t remember it!” My sister doesn’t either.
“What!!” said Chris, in amazement. “You’ve got to be kidding! You went to all kinds of extremes to lure me over to your parent’s house that day so you could surprise me!”
“Nope, I have no recollection at all,” I said. Obviously, the surprise birthday meant a lot more to her than it did to me.
The point of this blog today is that we never know if an event or person in our lives will take up residence in our hearts and never leave us. S0, try hard to be nice to others because you never know the impact a friendship might have on your life.
This blog is brought to you by the award-winning author Sue Batton Leonard. For more information on Gift of a Lifetime:Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected and Short Stories: Lessons of Heart & Soul, visit http://www.allthingsfulfilling.com/about-the-book/.
“God be thanked for books; they make us heirs of the spiritual life of past ages.” ~ William Ellery Channing
On Saturday I had a book signing at Come and See Christian Books and Gifts in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. People drifted in and out throughout the day to shop and to speak with me about my award-winning publication Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected.
During quiet times, I took the opportunity to browse and become more acquainted with what was in store. In the children’s section I came across a book called “Making Heart-bread.” I thought it was particularly meaningful, and the concept of the tale holds value for both children and adults. It is based on a true story of what helped heal emotional scars of children who were traumatized during the World War II era.
Briefly, a grandmother teaches children the difference between making bread to fill the “tummy” and bread that fills the soul. Making heart-bread she says is very important because it “never runs out.” The recipe has ingredients which nourish us most in times of need. The ingredients are revealed throughout the storyline.
After having read Making Heart-bread I have feelings of warmth inside me knowing I have been given all the fundamentals of heart-bread throughout my lifetime. Heart-bread is that which is made from memories of love and spirituality.
This blog is brought to you by award-winning author Sue Batton Leonard. For information on her two publications Gift of a Lifetime:Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected and Short Stories: Lessons of Heart & Soul , please visit https://allthingsfulfilling.com/about-the-book/
See you on Monday on All Things Fulfilling.
My thoughts are free to go anywhere, but it’s surprising how often they head in your direction. ~Author Unknown
A few days before Christmas I filled the teapot with water, set it on the stove to heat, picked up the phone and dialed my sister’s phone number. I turned the burner up to HI just as my sister picked up the receiver on the other end and immediately said “Hello! Hold on a minute will ya, Sue, I want to put my tea kettle on.”
“Yep,” I thought as I waited, “we’ve still got it – that twin telepathy thing.”
When she returned to the phone I said, “What a coincidence. Just this minute I put water on to heat for a cuppa, too.”
Mind you, I am in Colorado and she is in Maryland. Although in two different time zones, we were both ready for a cup of tea at the same exact time.
It often turns out that we call each other simultaneously, both feeling like we need to have a good long visit.
“I wanted to speak with you before real the holiday confusion sets in. I have been in touch with some blasts from the past.”
“Like who? Who have you been in touch with?” Jan asked, sounding very curious, and as if she had missed out on something.
“Oh some people we knew in high school. I’ve connected through social media.”
I began to name them off. We had a great time recalling the good old days and people neither of us have been in touch with for nearly four decades!
Do you have people you would like to be back in touch with? Did you know reconnecting with old friends is good for your health? Here’s an article that will be of interest. http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/wellness/staying-connected-to-the-past
What better New Year’s gift could you give a long lost friend or relative than the gift of your voice? I’ve tried to do that through a different kind of medium – in my memoir writing!
Reconnect to a long-lost friend or acquaintence before another year goes by and you delay it. Wishing you a fulfilling year ahead with good health and lots of renewed friendships! Happy 2015!
This blog is brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard, author of Short Stories: Lessons of Heart & Soul and the award-winning memoir Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected. For more information, go to http://www.allthingsfulfilling.com/about-the-book/.
When you catch a glimpse of your potential, that’s when passion is born. ~Zig Ziglar
When I was growing up, “Oh My Soul” came out of my mother’s mouth as often as I heard my dear Fanny say “Lord A Mercy.” Do you think perhaps between my mother’s plea and Fanny’s, my life was saved? Hard to say, isn’t it? Depends if you are a believer!
I am and I follow the words of E.B. White who says “Writing is an act of faith, not a trick of grammar.”
So today I take great pleasure in announcing that I’ve taken another leap of faith and my new publication called Short Stories: Lessons of Heart and Soul is available http://amzn.to/1Da5fST
I can hear my mother now, saying to my father, “Oh My Soul, she’s done it again! She’s listened to her readers and has published more Fanny stories. Come here, Fred, you’ve got to see this on the computer ….”
This time, I hope I have completely surprised my family. When I published my memoir “Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected,” the release of the book got leaked a little early. No matter! Things always work out the way they are supposed to anyway!
Lessons of Heart and Soul is a limited collection of short stories cut from the original manuscript of the award-winning memoir, Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected by author Sue Batton Leonard. Readers who loved the stellar central character, Fanny, in the first publication will fall in love with her all over again.
If you are a parent who is attempting to raise children who will have their values in the right place in life, the ten stories, very appropriate for ages 12+, give a jumping off point to handling those important conversations you have been meaning to have with your children. There is nothing that helps get a conversation started better than humor – that’s inside it!
Lessons of Heart & Soul is available in e-book only. Did you know you can give the gift of e-books to others? http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/?nodeId=200555070
This year, instead of a Valentine’s card, give the gift of an e-book instead. Lessons of Heart & Soul is a perfect publication for giving to your loved ones.
Do return tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling. Video footage of my appearance on a program from GNAT-TV called Let’s Talk with Salley Gibney will be posted with important information about independent publishing and how to begin writing your own story.
If you hear a voice within you say “you cannot paint,” then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced. ~Vincent Van Gogh
New Year, New Opportunities!
If you are in the Steamboat Springs, Colorado area join me on Saturday January 3rd, 2015 at Come & See Christian Books & Gifts, 675 S. Lincoln Avenue (near the Hampden Inn) for a meet the author/book signing event from 11am to 2pm.
Are you interested in writing and publishing a book? The author will share what helped her to write and publish her award-winning book Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected.
There will be refreshments and treats and learn what’s in store for 2015.
As a thank you to our readers, today I am going to share an audio chapter of Gift of a Lifetime:Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected.
One of the most valuable lessons in my lifetime was learning as a child that the spirit of Christmas should be extended to others. In fact, being grateful and thinking of others rather than ourselves is one of the best cures for whatever ails us.
A week ago, I volunteered a few hours helping with a United Way project here in Steamboat. I was awestruck by the charitable hearts of the people in our community. Corporations, retail establishments, individuals and churches all came together to make sure no one who needs assistance will go hungry and without a gift for Christmas.
A holiday shopping market of toys and clothing and other necessities that makes Christmas feel special was set up for families in the auditorium at Colorado Mountain College. Hundreds of volunteers helped with the effort.
Kate Nowak, Executive Director of Routt County United Way is to be commended for her efforts in leading the way in pulling it all together.
Being neighborly and remembering to give of ourselves through volunteering and other thoughtful gestures means much to those who need to be lifted up. For the giver, it can also lead to a few symptoms of the advent virus – “contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature and frequent attacks of smiling.”
In chapter 29 titled “The Gift of Life” in the award-winning memoir by yours truly there’s a poignant holiday story that families can share together about being grateful every day of your life. Listen in here.
Let the world know you as you are, not as you think you should be, because sooner or later, if you are posing, you will forget the pose, and then where are you? ~ Fanny Brice
Fanny Moore, God Bless Her, the stellar character in the memoir Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected faithfully attended church weekly. She reiterated many of the things her “preacher man” said about faith throughout the week at our family’s house. Often misconstrued, her literal interpretations led to priceless conversations and joyful times.
I get great pleasure in reading church signs that I pass by in the car because often I think many of them could have been posted by my beloved Fanny. Each comical sign in front of a church brings a warm-hearted smile to my face. I can’t help but think the signs are heaven sent, just like Fanny.
I hope these signs have gotten you in the JOLLY christmas spirit. You’ll be warmed by Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected if you enjoy inspirational yet humorous stories. The eloquence of Fanny Moore is not to be missed!
Celebrate the season in good cheer! But remember, please do not drink and drive!
This blog is brought to you by award-winning author Sue Batton Leonard. For 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
All Things Fulfilling 
