Words from the Heart

Dibs the Dragon and the Marshmallow Rescue is an excellent read for both adults and children. Ellie Moss, the creator of Dibs and illustrator, Mehibi Studio do an excellent job of making Dibs and his friends come to life. To be honest, I have a fondness for both children's books and dragons. Being able to read to my grandchildren a book where the dragon is the hero, rather than the villian, is a delight.  In addition, Ellie's story provides amble opportunity to have conversations about being lonely, finding friendship and enjoying the simple things of life.  I highly recommend this book for young and old. Dibs the Dragon will become part of my grandchildren's library! About the author: Ellie Moss is the creator of Lickitypop, an imaginative, candy-colored universe where jellybean forests shimmer, bubble scooters zoom through cotton-candy skies, and problems are solved with courage, connection, and a sticky SPLAT. What began as an escape during a difficult chapter in her l...

  Last year my word for the year was "Dance." I didn't do much actual dancing but emotionally, spiritually and metaphysically, I was dancing around all the craziness of 2025. The last days of the year were a gentle slow waltz into a year of blessings. In 2026, I will be doing my best to bring blessings to all in everything I do. I will also practice accepting the blessings of others with grace and humility, remembering that receiving is as much of a blessing as giving.  May all who read these words find 2026 to be filled with the blessings of Peace, Hope, Joy, and most of all Love. Blessings!

  In his latest book, The Reckoning of Grace , Ronald Chapman depicts our current times with novel that takes a serious look at how the chaos and turmoil of today is part of a great transformation of consciousness. This is the third of Chapman's The Saga of Grace series . The Reckoning of Grace encourages the reader to dive deeper into the meaning of reconciliation, post-traumatic growth, healing and the courage to open to possibilities. Chapman's characters are people we could know with all the foibles and excentrities people have. Their ability to look at the world today and find hope challenges the reader to stop and reevaluate the importance of self-reflection, peacemaking and acceptance.  While The Reckoning of Grace could be read alone, I think reading the entire series will bring readers much more inspiration and understanding on how to deal with these troubling times. ____ About the Author: Ronald Chapman is owner of an international speaking and consulting company, Ma...

                                                                                        Image via Pexels  I am happy to welcome back, Jennifer Scott, as a guest writer. Her posts are always informative and helpful.  Thank you, Jennifer! It’s easy to admire resilience from a distance. When people talk about “bouncing back,” they often skip the strange middle — the hollowed-out stretch of time between collapse and clarity. You know it when you're in it. Days feel like static. Your timeline no longer matches your expectations. But somewhere inside that quiet disorder, things are rearranging. Growth doesn't announce itself with a trumpet. It whispers behind discomfort.  The Surprise in Struggle  Hardship rarely feels like an invitation. But the truth is, ...

Reviewing books is often a chore. However, there are those books that I devour - reading cover to cover, not wanting to put them down. Have You Seen Him by Kimberly Lee is one such book. Kimberly is a rare author. She researches diligently. Her dialogues are fluid and authentic. Her characters are well crafted and always surprise you.  This book has all the elements that make me want to keep reading. There is mystery, romance, heartache, chase scenes and even a bit of McGivering. The female characters are strong. Their male counterparts are equally impressive.  This story of identy loss will keep you on the edge of your seat! I highly recommend this intriquing novel. Thank you, Kimberly, for letting me have the privilege of reading it. I wish you the best in your literary career!   About the Author: Kimberly Lee, JD is the author of the riveting thriller, "Have You Seen Him." A versatile writer, editor, and creativity coach, she has a passion for nurturing the imaginativ...

  Researching for a Novel I am thrilled to have as our guest blogger, Kimberly Lee , the author of "Have You Seen Him," a novel that keeps you reading all the way to the end. "Have You Seen Him," is about the pursuit of identity, combined with mystery, romance and characters that are so well-rounded, it is difficult to decide if they are the good guys or the bad. Add to this, great descriptions and dialogue. This novel is a winner!  That said, I would like to share Kimberly's post on how she did her research for this novel. ~~~ On a clear blue day, I dine with a friend aboard the Queen Mary, the famed ship docked in Long Beach, California. I notice the restaurant’s interior, the waiters’ uniforms, the bay windows that open to the sea. We tour the Princess Diana exhibit, then find ourselves in a ballroom decorated for a prom. We take a windy metal staircase to a deck below, then stroll along the deck. When we get to the parking lot, my friend drives off, waving....

I was a Girl Scout. I camped with my troop at Camp Cedar Hill outside of Boston. For a poor city kid, camping was life-changing, full of lollipop trees, camp songs and sneaking out to run the leaders' bras up the flagpole.  We never feared for our safety, neither did our parents. That all changed as of the  morning  of July 4th this year. When I awoke Friday morning, I looked out from my desk to another blue-sky day shining through the window. Another glorious day, I thought. Little did I know my heart would soon break into tiny pieces as I skimmed the news.  There at the top of the fold was the story of an all-girls camp in the Texas Hill County - Camp Mystic - where over 20 girls, within seconds were washed away by a flash flood. How could this happen? According to people who are paid to know these things, the reason is multifold. First, climate change has increased the risk of extreme weather. Second, the cuts to our Weather Service left gaping holes in the expert...

  After "grounding" this past year, 2025 has me dancing! This will be interesting, since I am trying to find reasons to dance in the year ahead. Usually, people dance when they are happy, but in doing some research - I always research my words - I found there are dances for when you aren't overjoyed with what is happening in the world!  For example, the tarantella was an original traditional dance related to being bitten by a tarantula! According to a video on the history of this dance, it was believed it was a condition that was caused by being bitten by a spider and by dancing the venom of the spider was removed.  Other Indigenous dances are done for healing sadness, anger, confusion, and despair.  Dancing does more for us than simply expressing our emotions. When we dance, we improve our overall health, we produce endorphins, which help us to balance our emotions, we improve brain function, breathing, and much more. While we certainly can dance by ourselves, danc...

  Fifteen years have passed since Momma went to fly with the angels. Sitting here on the eve of Mother's Day, I am filled with memories of our times together.  My first distinct memory was looking out the big window of the apartment Momma and Dad had on Comm Ave in Boston. I was only about a year old, but I remember that moment.  The next memory was when my brother Timmy was born, and I was trying to boost Barry up to see him in the bassinet. I was almost three and Barry was just two. One of the aunts caught us and shooed us away. Momma explained that we could tip the bassinet over and the baby could get hurt. I felt awful! Over the years, Momma struggled with depression, chronic illness and more. However, she aways had a way of making everything feel like it would work out in the end. Her wisdom was sought after by many of her friends. Looking back, I sometimes wish she had taken her own advice.  Momma could be so funny that you'd laugh so hard that you'd end up cry...

  As a lover of animals, I was immediately drawn to Roslyn Cohn's book, Who Saved Who. Without giving any spoilers, I can share that this is an autobiographical journey of an award-winning actress, who returns from New York to Marin County where her love of dogs becomes her saving grace.  Her mother is a Naturalist-Animal Rights Activist, and her father is a pawnbroker/jeweler, who thinks out of the box. Roz is raised to be her own person and to pursue her dreams.  This book is filled with stories of how our four-legged family members teach, heal, and inspire us to be better than we are. Each dog described has as unique a personality as each of us.  If you love animals, especially dogs, I highly recommend this book. You will laugh out loud, cry and cheer throughout the book. Best of all, there are photos of Roz, her family, and the dogs.    ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Roslyn Cohn is an actress who has worked from stages the size of a postage stamp to Broadway with t...

  Image via Pexels Once again, I am delighted to have guest blogger, Jennifer Scott, post for us. Her insights are valuable for many younger readers.  ~~~~~ As a working mother, it can be difficult to find the right balance between your job and your home life. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and stressed out by all of the demands placed on you by both worlds. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t still hope for living your best life. Here are some ways you can boost your well-being as a working mother, courtesy of Words from the Heart. 1. Gauging Career Satisfaction  Taking time to evaluate your professional satisfaction is an important part of maintaining well-being. Ask yourself if you are truly happy with your current job, or if it’s time to make a change. If you aren’t sure, take some time for self-reflection and figure out what will bring you greater satisfaction.  2. Going Back to School or Switching Jobs   Going back to school or switching jobs could be j...

  Several years ago, I published,  Gogo's Dream: Swaziland Discovered ,  after meeting a young Australian doctor and poet online at a website that shared poetry with the world. His words and use of language touched my poet's heart. Before long, he was sharing his work with me as he traveled to Swaziland, now called Eswatini, to care for the Gogos (Grandmothers) of this tiny landlocked country that had be decimated by AIDS.   The Gogos were left caring for the children after their sons and daughters died, leaving the children without parents.  The work Dr. M did, started with just a few helpers and has grown to an international organization, Possible Dreams International , with supporters from around the world. One of the reasons I support Dr. M's work is that this is not an organization that slaps a bandage on a bleeding artery and walks away.  PDI works with the people of the community, gets them involved in self-care and teaches the community how to...

“You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching, Love like you'll never be hurt, Sing like there's nobody listening, And live like it's heaven on earth. (And speak from the heart to be heard.)” ― William W. Purkey These words by author and educator, William Purkey, have sat on my wall for years.  Of late, whether because I am midway through my 70th journey around the sun or what, I am not sure, but I have been taking these words to heart. "You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching," says to me - don't worry about what others will think, enjoy life!  Run in the rain with the children, splash in the puddles.  Make snow angels.  Yell, "Yeah, Creator!"  "Love like you'll never be hurt," is the only way to love in my estimation.  I have shared many times that my old heart looks like a patchwork quilt, but I wouldn't change a thing. I love the story of how the Japanese treasure their pot...

  Image via Pexels I am happy today to share a new post from Jennifer Scott . Jennifer was a guest blogger in 2017, sharing her experiences with grief . You can learn more about her on her site: Spiritfinder .  ~~~~~~ In a rapidly evolving world, unlocking and maintaining your creative potential is pivotal for personal fulfillment and professional advancement. Creativity stands at the core of innovation, problem-solving, and rich self-expression, marking the essence of original thought and vision. For anyone from artists grappling with creative blocks to professionals in search of novel ideas or simply individuals aiming to infuse more creativity into their lives, rejuvenating your creative energy is paramount. In this article, Words from the Heart shares some actionable strategies designed to empower you to thrive by drawing fresh inspiration and igniting your creative spark.  Try Out Diverse Art Forms    Exploring new art forms stimulates the imagination. Fro...