Guides Books

"Wonderful, wise words. It provides insight into the human side of serious illness and offers patients and families the hope and strength they need." Jimmie Holland, chairman Psychiatry, Memroial SLoan Kettering

"Filled with practical information for freinds and family, it should prove to be a great comfort..." Andrew von Eschenbach, director, the FDA


"...Provides hope and teaches us how to show compassion when it means the most." Steven Rosen, MD, director of the Lurie Cancer Center

This was the book I was searching for to help my best friend. It spoke to me because of the way the author told her personal story and gave ideas and suggestions. I felt like she was speaking to me.

She knew what I was feeling, knew I wanted to help and she gave me ways to do that. She helped me face the future right beside my friend.

when Life Becomes Precious was a godsend. It should be handed out to everyone at doctors' offices.

This truly is a fabulous resource! The information is quite straightforward and covers a wide array of areas/issues that are certain to be impacted by the news of a loved one being ill. The components of the book cover areas such as understanding your feelings, how our fears play out in the ordeal, how to have conversations regarding the illness and ramifications of the illness, how to find resourceful medical care and how to balance one's role in life given the situation.

I would highly recommend this book for people who are going through the challenge of a loved one being ill, as it applies to not only cancer patients - but all who have serious health issues.

Elise Needell Babcock's words are better than any I've read on dealing with cancer and family. Her advise is simple and extremely helpful.

My spouse had heart disease. At the same time, I was looking for a book for a friend with cancer. I found Precious and read it before giving it as a gift. I realized the suggestions applied to my family. I started using the author's ideas immediately and it helped us tremendously. I find myself quoting her often in my volunteer work at church (with patients) and with friends. One friend called and said she was having serious problem coping with her husband's diabetes. She read the book and called to tell me that after following the advice in Precious, she saw a dramatic change in the way her family communicated and supported each other. Another friend said she was in an argument with her daughter about the father's illness. The mother used the suggestions in the book to calm her daughter down. Later that evening, the daughter (in her 30s) came up to her mom and said, "Thank you. What you said and how you said it was wonderful!" This book should not even have cancer on the cover. It's practical, moving, upbeat and extremely helpful for patients and families coping with any medical challenge. J. Long, past president of a personnel agency

Huge wealth of Biblical knowledge! Excellent resource. It goes through a survey of each book of the Bible and then gives a treatise on each major doctrine of the Bible. Many charts and lists are given for those interested in Biblical facts and detailed knowledge. This is not a commentary but a great tool to use in basic, comprehensive, Bible study. My husband has given this as a Christmas present to a pastor, who later told him how much he appreciated it. Six of our older children have studied through the book and a seventh is doing so now. Different views of hard subjects are presented with a conclusion by the author on why he takes the position he takes. Very well done. My husband has used it for years, as he has been in full time ministry for 30 years. God bless your reading and Biblical study.

As an Elder and a mininster of the Word of God, I truly appreciate the amazing amount of information that Dr. Willmington has put within this book. Is is straightforward and covers many different topics. I would recommend this work for any serious student of the Word or Pastor.

Elder Jacob

Mr. Harold L. Willmington is very informed of scripture and presents it in a concise manner not only to a "newbie" born-again Christian, but the seasoned believer as well. I had gotten this for study in the Faith Bible Institute study course I was taking in '06 and find it an invaluable tool to further the study of the Bible. The layout is user friendly and the presentation of the material was spot on and Mr. Willmington should be commended for his exhaustive research to put together such a tool to help others examine and discover unseen truths in God's Word. It is recommended that one have a KJV Bible as this book refers heavily to that and the user-friendly one I read is: Life Application Study Bible KJV, Large Print

You WILL NOT be disappointed in Willmington's Guide to the Bible!
Take care and God Bless...

I was so excited to receive this book, more importantly it has blessed me tremendously. I am a pastor of a church and I can't tell you what a valuable resource this has been to my ministry, my preaching and my personal walk and understanding of God's word. Thank you very much. I have so many other people getting ready to purchase this book because I wont let them borrow mine.

This is a must have book for everyone interested in deeper but concise bible study. I referred 2 pastor friends and they all bought it. Though i may not agree with some of the writers theological position, i am sold on the quality of it's contents and structure. This is a must have book. No doubt. Great book for the price.

You don't have to be a GRITS (Girl Raised in the South) to enjoy and identify with the strong, loving women characters in these novels. These books are as crazy as your drunk Uncle Rabon at a wedding and as poignant as the first anniversary of your favorite huntin' dog's death. We all should have friends like these - Ya Ya!

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya sisterhood and Little Alters Everywhere tell the tale of Vivi and her beloved girlfriends the "Ya-Yas" and about Siddalee, her daughter who she both physicaly and emotionaly abused. Sidda was beaten, slapped, and called names by her own mother who was a drunk. Vivi, though charming and fun, is also very selfish and cruel. Sidda goes from being a hurt, abused little girl to a tough and passionate young woman in her 30s who still fights with her mother over a Time magazine article in which she tells of her mother's damanging ways. As Sidda slowly comes to know more about her mother from a scrapbook, it forever changes her life as she starts to heal past wounds and being able to move on from her dark past. Sidda is a beautifuly written voice, and there's so much truth to these books. So many parents abuse their kids and all for selfish reasons and most of all because they don't love them. Sidda doesn't know how to love anyone, since her parents didn't love her enough. But Vivi, though an unfit mother, is sorry more then ever that she hurt her poor children and both women struggle to regain their realionship. I love this book. It's a great book. It made me cry and laugh. I love the South, so I loved this book and the child-abuse subject is a very universal subject matter which I'm sure a lot of people are very farmilar with and can understand and have been through.

This was a most enjoyable easy read. It filled you will sense of the south and a life (both good and bad) that most of us only see in the movies.

Rebecca Wells did an awesome job at writing this book. She's created lovable characters for everyone. Rebecca has made the charcters come so alive, it's like they're your friends. When they're having a bad time, so are you. When they're happy, so are you. This book is really good for mothers and daughters to read together.

I was leant a well read dog-eared copy of 'Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood' a few years ago and came to know and love Rebecca Wells' style and story telling capabilities.

Ms. Wells has the ability to capture a particular era and region of the country (the South) and make her characters come alive.

The Ya-Yas are all about friendship, loyalty and some much darker and less admirable human traits as well. Some of the situations recounted in these two VERY different books about the Walker family will have the reader squirming with discomfort. For Rebecca Wells is intent on telling the whole story: the bad, the sad, the shocking, as well about the successes, the joys and a lot of giggles at the funnier side of human nature.

When you have finished both volumes in this boxed set, you will have a really good idea of what makes a very complex set of family members (the Walkers) "tick". What keeps them together, what may tear them apart. The journey isn't going to be boring in Ms. Wells' talented hands.

The story(stories) prove that being a "southern belle" isn't nearly as easy as you might think.

I'm happy to have my own lovely boxed set, combining both volumes 'Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood' and 'Little Alters Everywhere', so I can revisit these fascinating people any time I want. My particular recommendation for the reader would be to read 'Divine Secrets' first and then flesh out the history of the clan with 'Little Alters'. But I have wondered many times why Ms. Wells published the smaller, episodic 'Little Alters' first. So those uninitiated into Ya-Ya-hood, may wish to read them in order of the published date. If you do, PLEASE let me know what you think about the experience. I'd be interested in your opinions.

What can I say? This book is amazing. Gayla breathes fun and life into gardening in a way I haven't found anywhere else. I was a beginning gardener looking for a book that was fun, hip, easy, and full of useful information. This book DELIVERED and then some. It's been an incredible reference again and again. I surf her site regularly for updates but this book has really been my teacher. My garden is looking a million times better. Some things readers will love: organic fertilizer and pesticide recipes that are easy, simple projects like growing your own herbal tea garden and making a foot scrub, and start-to-finish instructions on how to grow any kind of garden (container, community, urban, etc). THANK YOU GAYLA!!

I checked this book out so many times from my local library that I finally just bought it. It's fun to read, and a great reference book. I am such a newbie when it comes to gardening, but this book really helped me understand the basics, and at the same time encouraged me and got me excited about gardening! I would recommend it to anyone who has the urge to plant but just doesn't quite know how.

I love this book! It is full of information that is in a humorous and easy-to-read format. I have been through the whole book once and now go back almost daily to look specific things up. I live in a downtown loft and have a beautiful container garden on my rooftop thanks to this book!

This is such a nice book to keep on the shelf and reference. She explains a lot about gardening, indoor and outdoor.

I had originally checked it out of my local library, after reading it, I knew I had to own a copy. I've never regretted this purchase.

Enjoy the book!

This book is great for people who know absolutely nothing about gardening, but want to grow a window flower box garden or want to start a backyard herb and vegetable garden. Takes you through the details of gardening in an informative and easy-going way and answers all your questions.

This book was an excellent read and was difficult to put down. Intriguing view of history of the organization as well as many other organizations such as Rotary, Elks, etc. It definitely answered many questions I had regarding Freemasonry and is written in layman terms so those without knowledge of Freemasonry going in can grasp the subject matter fairly easily.

As mentioned by at least one other reviewer I did detect a slight bit of bias, but then again every author has some bias based upon experience and beliefs. However, the book provides so many references that I would have difficulty doubting the credibility. The book also provides beautiful illustrations that accent the points in the text.

My recommendation is to purchase the hardcover as this book is a beautiful bookshelf reference. Whether you are interested in the organization or just a history buff I highly recommend this work.

National Heritage Museum curator Mark A. Tabbert has written an informative, easy-to-read study of the history of Freemasonry in the United States and how Freemasonry inspired the creation of several fraternal, civic, and service organizations. To show that rich history, the book contains several photographs of Masonic and other fraternal artifacts from the National Heritage Museum.

Tabbert cover many Masonic topics including Freemasonry's influence on the Founding Fathers, the anti-Masonic hysteria that followed the Morgan scandal, Masonry during the Civil War, the Golden Age of Fraternalism in the late 19th Century, the founding of service organizations during the early 20th Century, Freemasonry's boom years following WWII, the state of Freemasonry today, the York and Scottish Rites, the Order of the Eastern Star, the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, the youth orders, Prince Hall Freemasonry.

American Freemasons is a superb work that was written for both the Mason and non-Mason alike. It would be an excellent addition to your lodge library, your home library, and your public library. Would make a great gift for a new Mason or a prospective candidate. You will enjoy this book!

I wish I had this volume years ago. It tells more truths about Freemasonry than most masons get in a life time. Mark A. Tabbert Is well qualified to write the History of Masonic good work. He has done a superb job.

This book is a bit repetitive in the things it says. The information is good.

Although a handsome book with excellent and interesting photographs,the author makes no attempt whatsoever to enlighten the reader to even the most simple, everyday symbols of the Freemasons. For example, I was able to search the web for 10 minutes and discover more information regarding the beautiful symbolism and history of the Freemasons than I could find in this entire book. I did not expect the author to divulge sacred rites and rituals, but this book was far too watered-down and repetitive to be of interest. From a historical perspective, there are some interesting bits but they are too few and far between.

While I use Angel Blessings Cards regularly, I seldom read the book anymore. I felt like I knew the angels so well that I didn't need to look at the book.

Then I meditated about something I was stuck on. As I listened within, I felt guided to read the section on Seraphim. Were my eyes opened! I had forgotten the richness and the treasures that are on these pages. Kind of funny for me to say because I wrote it! But that was 15 years ago.

I am enjoying every moment of rediscovering this gem.

There was a person that gave these cards 1 star. Actually that's not quite fair. These cards are really pretty the only thing that she's missing is the lamination/gloss to help them last longer. These cards are larger than your average tarot deck. She has all the archangels on them. Hadraniel is the most adorable looking in this deck. Not a bad deck at all.

I love this product. I am very satisify. It really helps me in my everyday life. THX soooooooooooooooo much fo the great price too.:)

I pull an angel card every morning & read about the special energies my angel of the day has in store for me. It helps me focus on something positive everyday. It gives me a higher direction for my energies. I am finding that big changes are taking place in my life as a result of this set.

Thank you, Kimberly, for all your dedication and hard work in putting together this deck of cards and accompanying book of some of our helpers. the angels. I use many spiritual materials, however, this deck has become the sunrise to my day and a latern in the middle of the night when I feel lost. Truly, Kimberly has walked through the fire and has come out to the other side with great wisdom and inspiration to share with us, as only one can who has experienced near death. I highly recommend this material to those in search of the light and for daily inspiration to keep pressing forward.

I wish this book was much longer--I wanted to know more. The story of a family with the resources to have a luxurious easy life, but chose to open their home and hearts to children who had less than nothing. The selflessness of this family is amazing. I just couldn't have done it. I couldn't have divided myself into so many pieces and have coped with the disorganization. But, I wholeheartedly admire the people who can. Such an inspiring story. Don't miss it!

What an amazing book this is. I was thinking about fostering children and this book was so helpful in my decision. Kathy writes with honesty and although I'm usually not one to cry, through the joy and pain in this book I cried three different times. I couldn't put it down.

This book is fantastic! It offers a realistic view of what raising fostor children is like. It shows the good and the bad, yet I have never wanted to be a fostor parent more!

I loved this book. As a therapist who has just written a book about a teen girl in foster care I think it's important to focus on the incredible work that foster parents do. They are our unsung heroes! Thank you Kathy!!!!! For a fictional, uplifting account of the journey of a teen in foster care (inspired by the foster children I've worked with in the past) check out my soon-to-be released young adult novel, RETURNABLE GIRL. Maybe it will inspire you to bring a child home.

This book is about Kathy Harrison's real life as a foster mother and the story about a couple of the children that came into her home. She talks about her true emotions and feelings as she tries to hold these "shattered" children together with, as she puts it, just love and "band aids."

Augusten Burroughs (author of Running with Scissors) said about this book...."Shocking, brutal, heartbreaking and ultimately redemptive, This is the riveting and profoundly moving story of a hero, disguised as an ordinary woman. And like every hero, it's the children she is out to save."

Unlike Augusten I did not find the book "shocking" but honest and realistic to what every foster mom goes through. I could not believe how close our stories were as I read this book. You could have taken out the names of her children and drop in some of mine, tweak their story a little, and it wouldn't ring any truer then what we have seen and gone through.

I cried as she wrote about letting Lucy go to an adoptive home. She loved Lucy but not in the same way as the children she adopted. She wanted to keep her but also wanted Lucy to have that unconditional, total love she deserved. The pain of letting Lucy go tore open those feelings and what we went through with two little boys I had for three years.

She writes about her desire to reach ever child that walked into her home and the heartbreak when she realized love, food, clothes, a home, and safety wont/cant heal all their wounds.

She talks about the times caseworkers have such caviler attitudes to their lack of action that keeps a child in the system longer then need be, or keeps them off the adoption list longer. It reminded me of the unfelt and off the hand "sorry" and "oh, well" I have heard so often. But like her, I don't know how to change things, nor do I have the time to try because there is "another child coming through my front door that needs me."

I understood as she talked about the times she stood tall and strong when she felt the weakest, because it was best for the children. Telling the emotions every foster parent feels behind closed doors. The love she has for the strength and unbelievable timing her husband had at being there when she needed him. I understood the times she wanted to yell at a parent for smoking around the baby in her care but struggles with what is good for the baby and the need to keep the communication open between them. The honest hate she felt for some of the parents that have abused the children in her care but at the same time struggle as she realizes that most likely the bio-parents were children in the same situation when they were young and haven't learned anything different. The hope that what she was doing would change things in some way screamed what every foster parent prays is true. It made me think she had a hidden camera in my home that could read my thoughts and feelings I never let others see.

The hardest part of the book, for me, was the roller coaster of emotions they went on as they tried to adopt Karen. She is elegant in relating the fear of loosing a child that, in your heart, is already yours. A feeling that can't be explained or even come close to being logical. She maps out the joys of moving forward, the pains of more hold ups, the relief that the children are in your care, but the lingering dread that things could change in an instant. She revels how everything is devastatingly out of our control and we have to stay on till the ride is done.

She is most honest about not being a saint, or perfect, or even close to perfect. I laughed so hard when she wrote about the attachment case workers visit. She says she remembers her weakest moments (when she said something she shouldn't of or didn't handle a situation the right way) when people call her a saint; so do I. It only takes one or two human reactions to realize we are not saints or perfect; but she honors us with "a warrior" doing our best.

However, she also shows why we keep doing what we do for these children. The ability to see more in these children then others do and the wonderful feeling we get when the children reach not their potential (because it is rare we get to see this) but better then when they came to our door and father then others thought they could. This might be a simple smile, or a giggle, a sentence everyone understood, going a week with out an out burst, a day with out harming themselves, or the ability to care about something other then themselves for a second or two.

I could go on and on but if you want to see what it is like to be a foster parent....read this book! If you are a foster parent and want to know you are not alone....read this book!

This is a Fantastic Book! It is great for both the novice quilter and the nore experienced one! The book covers all the methods of machine and hand applique plus it explains how to embelish! It comes complete with projects and patterns! It has everything you could want about applique in one place!!!!

The book has all the different kinds of applique techniques. It is a great reference book.

This book is great for the beginner or advanced sewer. It shows many ways of applique that all make sense. This book has clear illustrations and wonderful pictures. There are detailed instructions that are clear and easy to follow.

This book has just about everything you need to learn how to Applique If you are Right-Handed as all of the people that wrote six star reviews must be. There are no instructions whatsoever for the left-handed person.

I own several books on applique, but will probably never use them again. This one has it all! Great photos and easy intructions for every method and then some. A must have for anyone who sews or quilts.

I've read this book several times. Every time I pick it up, I end up laughing until I almost cry. As a bachelor myself, I relate to the grains of reality underneath O'Rouke's great sarcasm.

Not as good as "Eat The Rich" or "Parliament of Whores" or "All The Trouble in the World" or "Holidays in Hell" or "Give War A Chance"; those books are thought-provoking as well as screamingly funny. This one is just screamingly funny, but this might actually be a plus for people whose response to some of P.J.'s better works is a defensive "That's not funny!"; P.J. has a tendancy to poke fun at EVERYTHING, including the sacred cows of people who he disagrees with (and sometimes those he agrees with.)

As a 32 yr old bacelor, this book had me literally HOWLING with laughter! I let my girlfriend read it. We aren't dating anymore, LOL. As ridiculous and as obscene as some of it seems, it is startling to realize that I have actually LIVED like that!

FIVE STARS,..!!!!!!

I've been on a tear of P.J. O'Rourke's books lately, starting with Republican Party Reptile and so forth. This is by far one of P.J.'s best. I'm on the other side of the coin politically (fairly liberal) myself, but P.J. usually spares no one, and I admire that (Rush and his wacko friends could learn a thing or two).

This book is just about how to get by if you're a bachelor. It's incredibly funny for the most part (the cooking sections should not be read if you've just ate!). This is a fantastic little book, very helpful if you plan to live like a slob or like a typical college freshman.

The Bachelor Home Companion: A Practical Guide to Keeping House Like A Pig written by P.J. O'Rourke is a very funny, keep you in stiches book.

You'll never keep a house neat and tidy after you read this book. Of Course, that's assuming that you already do. What its like as a bachelor in theory as to actually being one is, according to O'Rourke, a great disparity. If you want to laugh and be entertained at the same time then this little tome is for you to enjoy.

Humor abounds and your life will definately take a turn... for better or worse will depend on you.According to O'Rourke... "How often does a house need to be cleaned, anyway? As a general rule, once every girlfriend. After that she can get to know the real you."

I was just beginning the process of International adoption and found this book to be wonderful in helping me understand the process coming up and all the terms that were being used! It was one of the best information books on IA that I have found!

Wonderful book on adoption. The writer makes it so intriguing that you just want to read on - almost like a story book. I've read some really boring ones so this was like a breath of fresh air! The author is also an adoptive parent so that helps as well. Another nice fact is that she adopted by "choice", not because she couldn't have children which is our situation and we hadn't come across many people with the same reason as us - that also made it neat.

I now have a new favorite go- to book for people who are beginning the adoption process. The author is Dawn Davenport, and she is and adoptive parent who writes with great warmth. She has a balance of important information emotional support that runs through this book. THe author discusses the pros and cons of domestic adoption, as well as the opiotns avaialble in various countries. The tone of the book is never judgemental, just informative so that prospective adoptive parents can make inforamed decisions. This is a great place for people to start, as well as a great reference book during the process and after your child comes home.

This book is an excellent resource for anyone beginning the international adoption journey. It is full of helpful, up-to-date information as well as personal stories of families who have completed their adoptions. Dawn Davenport gives a balanced view...the anecdotes are authentic and show both picture-perfect examples and ones where things were not so easy. I highly recommend this book!

This book is thorough and well written. I highly recommend it as a research resource for parents reviewing adoption options!