New Releases by Sheila Bailey

A father's grief for his son. A daughter's grief for her father. And a love story that crossed continents and an ocean, coming to rest in a tiny New Hampshire town. This small state has more than enough heart, sending men and women to fight for freedom around the world. New Hampshire military personnel have distinguished themselves in every war from the French and Indian War to the dusty mountains of Afghanistan. The Granite State continues to honor their sacrifices, memorializing their stories in statues, bridges, buildings and highways. Join Kathleen and Sheila Bailey as they recount the stories behind the stones.

THE HUMAN CONDITION "We get hit, we get back up. We are knocked down and we stumble to our feet. A door closes and we search for a Window with Light." Life is an awkward journey. Who Knew? It's unexpected, sometimes unwanted, not always easy. Quite often we are hijacked by outside influences over which we have no control. Our only power will be in how we handle the confusion. There will be valleys low and mountain high, shadows and light. Emotions deep and true will be involved in this Journey of Life. Do not refuse to acknowledge them. They should not be denied. They will give you a strength and a wisdom that is based entirely on the Truths that we discover, acknowledge and uphold. Trust will be lost by actions that come out of nowhere and it can destroy lives. Let it not be yours. Through each step, every choice, all lessons, (like a butterfly discovering its wings) the knowledge of "who am I really?" still exists. Never for one moment forget this. Know that endings and only beginnings, "Beginnings without End!" it is called the "Human Condition" and we could not exist without this. No one ever said, "Life would be Easy." Expect it not to be. It is a learning curve and we are riding the slide to who knows where. We will require all our faculties to navigate the twisting trail placed before us. Never doubt that We can do this. We are amazingly adept. This is how we grow and learn. If we are not learning... why are we here? Questions will bombard us. Face them with Intelligence... Patience ... Grace. Answer them with the Truth you find within. "Who Am I Really?" The answer to that question lies within you. That quest should be our Life Journey. We all will make a difference but we choose just what impact we will have. We matter, you matter, Life matters. It's as simple and as hard as that.

Breaking Free is a book of one woman's journey to freedom. I woke up this morning with an idea, a creative thought. I realized that I was no longer lost, but found. The shattered fragments of my life shifted into place, and my concept of self was reestablished. I was imperfect but learning. I saw beauty of spirit, clarity of mind, a loving heart, courage and unfailing strength and said, "Here am I." I remembered that I was a dreamer, always had been, always would be, and I stretched into my old self and I fit "like a well-loved glove." I understood, or perhaps remembered, in that moment that I was special, that the spark that had ignited my soul at birth was intact. That all the impossibilities were but hurdles to be jumped, in a race of "life to be won." My picture of self had survived the war years! Pain was not a part of that but only a tool by which to learn: that forgiveness was part of healing, necessary to survive. That ultimately we have no enemies except the enemy of self. That there were no restrictions on happiness, except those, self-inflicted. There were no dreams that could not be realized except those we had not the courage to dream. Hardships were not handicaps but mere stepping stones to greater faith. Beyond, yet within the stretch of my hands, is the gift of self, God Given. I am the miracle He created. My world will be all that I make it! Humbly I walk, steadily towards eternity, amid endless possibilities. The choices, they are mine!

Carla trae s&ándwiches raros a la escuela. Obviamente, sus compa&ñeros de clase tienen mucho que decir al respecto. &–&¡Es asqueroso! &–dice Héctor. &–Es repugnante &–dice Leslie. &–Es grotesco &–dice Mart&ín. Pero la valiente Carla, que posee una buena dosis de autoestima, no est&á de acuerdo. &–Es diferente &–responde&–. Es creativo, es &único y lo hice yo misma. A sus compa&ñeros de clase no les causa buena impresi&ón y se alejan de su lado en la mesa del almuerzo, dej&ándola sola con sus s&ándwiches extra&ños y originales. Héctor es el m&ás malvado de todos, y el d&ía del picnic de la clase dice que el espectacular Delicioso de lujo de Carla es un Gusanoso de lujo. Como es de esperar, Carla est&á muy molesta pero cuando Héctor descubre que ha olvidado su almuerzo, ella le ofrece generosamente uno de sus s&ándwiches extra. Al final, el hambre de Héctor pesa m&ás que sus temores. Prueba un bocadito, &¡y le encanta! Muy pronto todos hacen fila para probar un bocado, y descubren con sorpresa que algo “inusual” en realidad puede ser fant&ástico. Carla no s&ólo convierte a los burlones en degustadores, sino que también los inspira a preparar s&ándwiches creativos. This charming story presents a new way for young children to understand how to creatively embrace who they are, no matter what others think. Carla's lunch box is filled with odd delights like the Olive, Pickle, and Green Bean Sandwich; the Banana&–Cottage Cheese Delight; and the unforgettable Chopped Liver, Potato Chips, and Cucumber Combo. To Carla, these are delicious and creative lunches, but her teasing classmates are unconvinced, abandoning her at the lunch table to eat her bizarre sandwiches alone. The tables turn, however, when Buster—the worst tease of all—forgets his lunch and is surprisingly delighted when thoughtful Carla shares one of her sandwiches with him.