Never Goodbye

You gave me your heart, I gave you my soul; Your love and laughter, Made me whole;

Nearly nineteen long years, You graced my life; Til the reaper came, With sickle and knife;

Your silence is stunning, Your absence extreme; Every second of every day, Is crushing and mean;

My daughter, my love, The wind in my sails; Taken from me abruptly, Snuck through heaven's veil;

How am I expected, To continue living, When all around me, Is pain and misgiving?

In still, ebbing moments, I remember your voice; Your laugh, your whisper, In this deep, numbing void;

That has become, My new sentence to bear; When all I want, Is to have you back here;

You were everything precious, A sweet gift from God; That was ripped from my grasp, Buried under the sod;

I love you, I break for you, You're the blood in my veins; I beg for an answer, To make life seem humane;

But I know oh too well, The truth of this dark place; I will miss you until, We reunite in God's grace.

Review: Do Monsters Have Birthdays by Jasmine Williams

 

Jasmine Williams was kind enough to send me a paperback copy of her book so that I could review it with my three year old granddaughter. We both loved it! The words rhymed very well which kept my granddaughter interested and the illustrations were colorful and cute!

The story was understandable to my grandchild too which kept her waiting for me to read the next page. This book was full of the fanciful imagination of a child and was wonderful for me to read as an adult, remembering how fun it was when I was younger to think about imaginary things and situations.

I would highly recommend this book for any child ages three to seven. It is a perfect addition to a child's book library and also a lot of fun for adults to read too!

My Rating:  5 Diamonds! <>  <>  <>  <>  <>

Where you can find Do Monsters Have Birthdays:

https://www.amazon.com/Monsters-Have-Birthdays-Jasmine-Williams-ebook/dp/B016TQ4QC6/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Where you can find Jasmine Williams;

https://www.amazon.com/Jasmine-Williams/e/B00I8W8WE8/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Freedom Comes After Decimation

Freedom. A word that we love. Personal freedom, financial freedom, business freedom. And of course, historical freedom. I come from America, the land of the free. The idea of freedom is hypnotizing. But freedom comes at a price. In order to be free, we have to be decimated: decimated on a personal level. For some of us that means financial decimation. For others that means mental decimation. For many that means decimation on all levels. Those are the people who really end up experiencing freedom.

I define decimation as being ground to a pulp; as being brought to a state of complete questioning; being in a state of total disrepair. People who are decimated are people who's preconceived notions have been ground to fine powder; people whose assumptions and ideals have been challenged to a point where they are no longer sure of what's true and real. Those are the people who are forced to look around and see the world anew-to understand that they know nothing of truth and that freedom comes only from learning the truth.

Many times we think we know what freedom is-until we are decimated.  Then we pick ourselves up from the dust and rubble and realize we really didn't even know what we were talking about in the first place.  True freedom isn't money, power and prestige.  True freedom isn't winning at the sake of causing others to lose.  True freedom is peace and happiness.  How many of us can say we are truly happy?  Most of us believe happiness hinges on what happens in our lives day to day.  That couldn't be farther from the truth.  Happiness is a peace-an internal knowing of truth-on the inside of us that doesn't change with the tide of life. It's knowing who we really are, where we came from, what we are here to do-and being okay with that-despite who and what is happening around us.   It's our purpose, our mission, our true selves hiding beneath the flesh and bones of our bodies.  It's our eternal identities.

Our nation was decimated by war before we became free. And now as we look around, we see that once again we are being ground into fine power to awaken from the lies surrounding us to seek freedom again. We've lost ground-we've forgotten how much we had to lose to gain what we sought so readily. We've forgotten who we really are.  So now we're being forced to lose what we thought we had gained in order to learn how to acquire what we all want and need with renewed vision.  In all honesty, if we could wake up again and call ourselves 'one nation under God' we'd be accomplishing a lot.  Oneness is part of freedom as is our eternal truth. This knowledge is part of the life learning process in coming to grips with what freedom really means.  Unfortunately it seems life runs in circles. Cycles of loss and gain.  Being ground into a fine powder to destroy assumptions, prejudices and preconceived notions is a way of coming to freedom and truth. We are all born, live lives that teach us truth and then we graduate to heaven to see what this earth has really taught us. How do we learn? Hardship and pain.

Do you feel like you've been ground into fine powder? That you don't know who you are anymore or what the truth is versus the lies? If you do you're in good company. It's common to all of us humans on this planet. When you find yourself in this situation, try to find peace with it. Try to be grateful for the lessons you're learning. Because if you meet these processes head on and refuse to become bitter, you will eventually find freedom-the freedom and truth you need. Remember: some of the greatest people who lived had to fight the hardest and had to lose darned near everything in order to gain what they really needed to learn. Never give up and never lose hope!

Echoes

 

Before you left, You told me Everything: All your pain, And your regrets. I found it strange- The sudden openness Between us, But I didn't consider The ramifications; Until I found Your lifeless body In your apartment. Suddenly the world Came crashing in As I remembered Your haunting words. You knew you'd soon Be leaving me forever And I refused To believe it. Now I'm sentenced To the silence You left behind; And your words That once fell Upon my deaf ears Will echo in my mind Until I too Leave this earth To search for you In eternity.

Dedicated to my daughter who passed last November. I love you, Celby. Please forgive me.

Everything I Needed To Know I Learned In Hell by Dan Balestrero

 

Everything I Needed to Know I Learned in Hell is a compilation of things I've learned about succeeding and failing - in life and business - while teaching. Teaching leads to a lot of revelations, laughter, tears, disbelief, theater of the absurd, the occasional miracle, and, more often than not, exciting progress.

It's important to point out that I'm an observer of behavior, not a therapist. Having said that, the reason I wrote this book is I felt a need to put down some thoughts from my personal point of view about how to work through limitations and move on to full success. Anthony Robbins is right, "Success leaves clues."

And just as importantly, failure also leaves clues. Or, more directly, it leaves a trail - usually an icky trail- of bad choices executed with no plan and way too much false hope.

We all have our own self-doubts and small hell that we have to escape from in order to succeed. Over the years, I've seen different people succeed and fail, and I've made notes about the causes and traits that seem to create those two outcomes. I've tried to offer encouragement to the people I've worked with, and I've laughed and cried with many in an effort to discover how to escape personal demons and model the success of others. Other people's success can be inspiring, and sometimes totally annoying, as we try to figure out, "Why not me?"

Everything I Needed to Know I Learned in Hell is about the things that have helped me and others escape our private hells. I offer this information in the hope that it might be of some help to you. Even given the difficulty of life, everyone- I mean everyone- can escape. This book contains my personal view of how the mountains of shit can be used to fertilize your orchard of success.

Where you can find Everything I Needed To Know I Learned In Hell:

https://www.amazon.com/Everything-needed-Know-learned-Hell-ebook/dp/B06XB4M2MY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1490647315&sr=8-1&keywords=everything+i+needed+to+know+i+learned+in+hell

https://www.amazon.com/dp/154409809X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1490647315&sr=8-2&keywords=everything+i+needed+to+know+i+learned+in+hell

Where you can find Dan:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34507930-everything-i-needed-to-know-i-learned-in-hell?ac=1&from_search=true

Here's The Press Release For Poetry and Ponderings!

The new press release from Online PR Media!

Online PR News – 18-June-2017 – Green Bay – In this rare collection of nonfiction Christian poetry and prose based on real life experiences, Diamante Lavendar, a victim of abuse, shows the reader the raw emotions of pain, hate, and denial that occur before a victim of abuse can find a way to heal from the pains of assault. Knowing herself the very difficult journey of being a victim, Diamante was abused as a child, and turned to alcohol and drugs to numb the pain. Many years later, she started to heal under God's watchful eyes and was able to find love in her life again. She shares these truly inspiring, religious poems in the hopes that it may help other victims heal their hurts, as she did while writing the poetry collection.

"Poetry and Ponderings is the most loving and beautiful dedication to Diamante Lavendar's daughter. Anybody who has gone through a grieving time needs to read this classic expression of love and devotion. I tip my hat to the author for this marvelous collection of wisdom, insight, and truth."—Mel Novak, Actor, Best known for his role in Bruce Lee's Game of Death.

“Poetry and Ponderings is the most loving and beautiful dedication to Diamante Lavendar’s daughter. Anybody who has gone through a grieving time needs to read this classic expression of love and devotion. I tip my hat to the author for this marvelous collection of wisdom, insight, and truth.”—Mel Novak, Actor, Best known for his role in Bruce Lee’s Game of Death.”

"Tragedy turned triumph. Poetry and Ponderings beautifully leads the reader from gut-wrenching pain to glorious freedom and healing. A must read for survivors and those who love them."—Sarah Boes, Founder of More Precious Than Rubies, reaching victims of commercial sexual exploitation.

"Ms. Lavendar takes the reader through her powerful, unfiltered emotions on each page with every poem. The personal nature of her poetry opens a window into her life, into her being."—IE Castellano, Author of The World In-between Series.

"Diamante's Poetry and Ponderings are an affirmation, and flow to the close of her book with the summation of her awakening. She has in each poem walked us through to her understanding, and acceptance; we are the creation of God's breath, as souls to live life to the fullest, and with forgiveness… ‘Writing is her way of leaving her mark; one poem, one story at a time.’ This book achieves this endeavor."—Sam Eastwood, International Poet.

"A really nice collection of poetry. The poems flow well, as well as vary in structure and length…I enjoyed the positivity that took over the majority of the work and the enlightened affirmations that punctuated every few pages. I really enjoyed the branch graphic on every page; it’s neat how the branch reflected healing."—Maddy Drake, Dreaming Big Publications.

About the Author: Diamante Lavendar has been in love with reading since she was a child. Diamante believes that everyone should try to leave their own positive mark on the world, and to make it a better place for all. Writing is her way of leaving her mark-one story at a time. She began writing in college and has published poetry in anthologies over the years. Most of her writing is very personal and stems from her own experiences, and those of her family and friends. She writes to encourage hope and possibility to those who read her stories. Her book, Breaking the Silence has been nominated for and won many awards. To learn more about Diamante Lavendar and her books, please visit her website at: www.diamantelavendar.com.

- See more at: https://www.onlineprnews.com/news/912410-1497614270-poetry-and-ponderings-a-new-chapbook-of-hope-and-healing-by-award-winning-author-diamante-lavendar.html#sthash.zXJ59Vmb.dpuf

Review: The Magnum Opus by Christopher and Christine Kezelos

A beautiful, sentimental story written by Christine and Christopher Kezelos.  If you enjoy fantasy and whimsical storytelling, this book is for you.

I absolutely loved how the authors wove spiritual wisdom into the book's pages in a subtle yet striking way.  The story is a must read for anyone looking to develop more meaning and intention in their lives.

I highly recommend this book to adolescents and adults alike.  The Magnum Opus would make a wonderful gift for anyone interested in fantasy or fiction.

My rating:  5 Diamonds!  <>  <>  <>  <>  <>

Where you can find The Magnum Opus:

https://www.amazon.com/Magnum-Opus-Seek-shall-find/dp/0998462802/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496742473&sr=8-1&keywords=the+magnum+opus

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-magnum-opus-christine-kezelos/1125384778?ean=9780998462806

My poem entitled Life, set to music.

I wrote this poem a while ago but recently decided to set it to music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMHeJpo7ij4

As is everything I write, this poem has a lot of personal meaning to me.  I hope you enjoy it!

Feel free to follow me on youtube.  I have created 20 videos there with different types of content.  I'd love to have you join me!

You Shone Like The Sun On Autumn Leaves

You shone like the sun on autumn leaves, Their remaining life brief before they fell from the trees;

The sun's light was strong, the warmth intense, Just as was your heart; loving, immense;

But the leaves shriveled up and neared their end, Just as you when you left, my child, my friend;

Your meaning lives on in every new day, I begged God for time to extend your stay;

It's a hard lesson to learn that you have no control, Over life, over love, over a darling child's soul;

All we can do is sift through the hours, And beg for provision, mercy and power,

To experience life's sentence of lessons and fate, Before we, too, find ourselves in heaven's estate.

Love us and guide us from your ethereal view,                                                                                 Until one day we are reunited with you.

-Diamante Lavendar

Ominous Clouds

Ominous clouds on a haunted street, Passers by shuffling quickened feet; Ghosts lurk behind windows, and half open doors; Watching, waiting, squeaking furniture and floors; Their time has stopped, clocks are meaningless pieces; Of a life they once knew, before meeting the reaper; Confused and rattled, they are bound to cold earth; No longer feeling happiness, meaning or worth.

-Diamante Lavendar

Available on Fine Art America at:

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/ominous-clouds-diamante-lavendar.html

Pug With A Passport by Marie Story!

Jump into an exciting travel adventure with Kipling, the Pug with a Passport! Ride along with Kip as he travels through the big, busy city of Tokyo. Join him as he learns about the country and culture of Japan with his friend, Taiki. Explore with Kip as he rides the train and learns to play taiko. Tag along as he tries sushi, learns some Japanese, and makes new friends!

Interview with Kip:

1.  What is your name?  Tell me a little about yourself.
My name is Kipling, but you can call me Kip. I'm a five-year-old pug who loves adventure. I travel all over the world, learning about different countries and cultures. I have friends in so many countries, and they teach me a lot about how people live in other places. I also like playing with my friends at the park and taking long naps on the couch. My favorite snacks are bacon and bananas.
2.  You have a passport.  Tell me where you enjoy travelling?
I love traveling EVERYWHERE! I just got back from a big adventure in Tokyo, where I visited my friend, Taiki. On my next big adventure, I'll be visiting a new friend in Mexico City! You can follow all of my adventures on Facebook or Instagram. I like to post a lot of photos of the places I visit.
3.  Why do you like to travel?
Each country has so much to see and do. There are so many different types of food to try, and places to visit. I love to learn new languages as well! It's fun to see how different people are all around the world. I think it would be boring if everybody was exactly the same! Don't you?
4.  Tell me about Marie, your creator.
Marie was born in the Philippines, and grew up in Japan and Mexico. She spent most of her life bouncing around to different continents, including Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America. She loves to tell kids about how wonderful travel is, so that's why she started writing stories about my travel adventures.
5.  What would you like people to know about Marie?
Marie is a writer, illustrator, and designer. She lives with her husband (author Peter J. Story) and two pugs (me and my sister) in San Antonio, Texas.
Where you can find Traveling Through Tokyo:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MV6OU0D/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486613877&sr=8-1&keywords=traveling+through+tokyo
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/traveling-through-tokyo-story-marie/1125924918?ean=9780990749332
Where you can connect with Marie Story:
https://www.facebook.com/pugwithapassport/?fref=ts
https://www.instagram.com/pug_with_a_passport/

Introducing Artist Monika Vijay!

I met Monika on Fuzia.  She is an artist from India-a very talented artist!  I offered to feature her on my blog and social media sites.  Here are a few pieces of her work:

U & Me

Autumn Beauty

Lord Buddha

A Note From Monika:

Hello, This is Monika Vijay. I am from Bihar. I was never into painting and writing until I got older. With my parents' pressure and interest, I was taught painting by Diya Mam when I was in 7th study; but after that I didn't do much work with it until prompted by my husband. Now, after marriage and getting free from studies, my hubby encouraged me to be a painter. He bought colors, brushes, charts and everything required for painting. Now I'm used to it and I love painting whenever I get free time. I have also started taking drawing classes. Next, I'm going to sell my paintings for home decor or for hotel & restaurant interiors. People can contact me as per their painting requirement. I would like to thank my hubby for encouraging me and for helping me to become a fine painter now.

How To Contact Monika:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011561172639

Where To View Monika's Work:

https://www.facebook.com/mvartgallery.in/?pnref=story

Peach Blossoms

The peach blossoms reach And grasp for the sky, Watching graceful birds And insects fly by;

They drink in the essence, Of the winds' lusty breeze, And the sweet scented flowers, Growing nearby their trees.

They watch and marvel, At the vibrant colors, Of the grass, the skies, Flowering sisters and brothers;

All in due season, All in due time, There is no worry or pressure, In nature's rhythm and rhyme.

Available on Fine Art America at:

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/peach-blossoms-diamante-lavendar.html

 

Four New Photographs!

Here are some of my new pieces. All available on my art website. The first is entitled After The Rain.

Water falls upon the earth anew.  From morning's mist to setting sunlight's dew.  Cascading upon nature, bringing life again.  Another simple pleasure from heaven's blissful realm.  Celebrate rain and our earth's health!

My photograph entitled Cotton Candy Clouds.

On a warm, winter day as the snow melts away, the clouds came out to shift and play in a cotton candy formed array!

My photograph entitled Purple Rain.

Rain is soothing to the soul.  How much more is purple rain?  The color purple uplifts and calms.  It is the color of royalty and spiritual awakening.  Purple also encourages creativity.  What more could you ask for?

My piece entitled Moonlight Branches.

On a lonely, moonlit night, gnarled branches caught my artist's sight.  Displaying calm and peaceful gloom, their image met my camera's zoom!  I love night time.  I see the most peaceful things in the dark of night.

You can find all of these and more at https://diamante-lavendar.pixels.com/

I Have A Friend On Jupiter by Celine Rose Mariotti

Carlos and Indiana find a website that promises to find them pen pals from outer space. Imagine their surprise and excitement when they are paired with Mannie and Kossie, two children from Jupiter! The two pairs of pen pals are excited to learn about each other and their planets, and are even more excited to learn they may be able to visit! Will the other Earthlings be as open to a visit from aliens from Jupiter, though?

Where you can find I Have A Friend On Jupiter:

https://www.amazon.com/Have-Friend-Jupiter-Celine-Mariotti/dp/1540801020/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493972538&sr=8-1&keywords=i+have+a+friend+on+jupiter

Check out the book trailer here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVeu2m9-iqM

Available through Dreaming Big Publications!

Sea Goddess

My newest piece of fractal/digital art.

Water is one of our most precious commodities.  We need to respect it and take good care of it so that it can continue to sustain us.

Sea Goddess interprets the beauty of water on the planet and acknowledges that it had to have been created by divine guidance.

Available on Fine Art America at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/sea-goddess-diamante-lavendar.html

Angel Of Light

Here is my newest creation entitled Angel Of Light! A combination of digital and fractal art!

Angels are all around us all of the time.  We can feel them in our hearts and see them in our minds' eye.  Sometimes we're lucky enough to see them with our natural eyes and they can be felt too with a cool, prickly sensation or a warm, loving sensation.  They are only a heartbeat away!  (https://fineartamerica.com/featured/angel-of-lilght-diamante-lavendar.html?newartwork=true).

Weeping Well by Angel M.B. Chadwick

Fear is like a looking glass.....

Eva Murphy loses something she'd never thought she'd lose. From that day forward her world changes and her journey begins.

Love and devastation come her way constantly and as she comes of age, her inner strength is tested over and over again.

Interview with Telly Glanville from Weeping Well:

     -Telly Glanville. I'm 18 years old. I'm from the UK. I play centre for the rugby team  at Summerville Boarding School.
     -Keeping afloat in the struggles of life. Embracing the darkness and knowing that there is strength in vulnerability. 
     -Eva Murphy. She's a spitfire. She always lets you know where she stands.
     -She thrives in the darkness. Because of this her works and characters are complex,    authentic and unique as well as relatable. She has a unique insight into mankind. She doesn't  live vicariously through her characters, we live vicariously through her.
     -Because it's her life story. She has an abundance of  her own real life stories to show and tell.  Yes, I agree with her perspective because it's universal as well as extremely personal.
Where you can find Weeping Well:
https://www.amazon.com/Weeping-Well-Mrs-Angel-Chadwick/dp/1541341082/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491981014&sr=8-1&keywords=weeping+well
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/weeping-well-mrs-angel-mb-chadwick/1125412278?ean=9781541341081
Where you can find Angel:
https://www.facebook.com/angel.chadwick.10
https://www.amazon.com/Mrs.-Angel-M.B.-Chadwick/e/B00O4KZI8Q/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
https://www.wattpad.com/user/Amaboo