This book has been written to be an informant to all mankind we must be assured that the days of the coming of lord and savior Jesus Christ is near and god loves reaches far and wide and will forever be. And the hopes and dreams of man lies in the hands of the almighty we must be reassured that god is in control and will forever be. Now is the time for humanity to come together as one. God’s light will shine bright forever.
“Brave. Compelling. Provocative. ” —Gabrielle Union Wade, actress and New York Times bestselling author In this moving memoir, Shirley Smith, wife of NBA Champion and All-Star J. R. Smith, tells the story of giving birth to one of the youngest premature babies to survive—using her experience to heighten awareness of the crisis of Black maternal and infant health and pay tribute to Black women’s resilience. Shirley Smith and her husband, NBA champion J. R. Smith, looked forward to the birth of their second child, Dakota, as they celebrated New Year’s Eve with family at home. After dinner, Shirley felt a sharp pain that worsened through the night. Only 21-weeks pregnant, she was in labor. Mama Bear is the story of her 141-day ordeal, from entering a hospital emergency room on New Year’s morning and giving birth to her premature newborn, to taking her daughter home for the first time the following May. In telling her story, written with Zelda Lockhart, Shirley shines a spotlight on the dangers Black women face during pregnancy. Black mothers are twice as likely as their white counterparts to go into labor prematurely and lose their babies—and almost four times as likely to die giving birth. Neither socioeconomic status nor access to quality healthcare seem to matter. Tennis champion Serena Williams experienced life-threatening complications during childbirth, and Beyoncé suffered toxemia with her premature twins. Shirley chronicles the emotional and physical battle she and J. R. endured to save their daughter, and her continual struggles to support her family while nurturing herself. Like many Black women, Shirley was raised to believe that pain is a sign of weakness. The one who kept it together for everybody, she had always put herself second. She parallels this difficult journey to her childhood growing up with an addict mother, and having to raise herself and her brother from a very young age. A chronicle of pain, loss, and infidelity, Mama Bear is ultimately a story of love—a celebration of community, family, faith, healing, the maternal bond, and one woman’s indomitable spirit.
When seamstress Olivia Dirkspin leaves Central City for a three-week holiday, shes looking for a quiet, secluded place to get away from it all. She finds the Due North of Zenith Lodge, a place with no radio and no phone, just the solution. In addition, the advertisement boasts that this location in the wilderness forests of northern Saskatchewan hosts spectacular views of the Northern Lights. But rest and relaxation arent exactly what she receives. Olivia hopes that getting away from the fast pace of the city will help her to re-evaluate her life. Her fifteen-year-old adopted daughter, Lisa, has moved out, leaving Olivia to put her life back together. On her journey to the lodge, she meets the owner, Vincent Randall; she soon discovers they have much in common. And with a host of relatives, friends, and strangers, they become embroiled in an escapade that speaks of both love and heartache. Played out against the serenity of a northern wilderness tourist camp on the shores of a pristine lake, Olivia is able to salvage the pieces of her relationship with her daughter and summon the courage to venture into new relationships.
About the Book “I” Journal is a unique, faith-based journal dedicated to helping someone change their way of thinking. Complete with exercises to encourage introspection, “I” Journal focuses on making a commitment to the self to guide self-change. About the Author Dr. Shirley Smith-Hill started out by working and volunteering in the community. She attended Temple University and received a Bachelor degree in Social Work. She then went on to receive a Master’s degree in Urban Education. After many years of working in the behavioral health field, Dr. Smith-Hill decided that she wanted to further her education and pursued a Ph.D., in criminal justice. Many of her clients could not make a commitment to themselves and continued their high-risk behaviors, which led to self-harming behaviors. “I” Journal helps with extenuating and ceasing behaviors.
Rose Hilory is thrilled when she receives a promotion at the Data Computer Company. Finally, her hard work has paid off, and she moves to Blue Ridge, Alberta. In addition to an increase in pay and responsibility, the company has provided a house to live in rent-free. This is not an ordinary house. With its computerized components, Rose finds surprises in every corner, and some of them are disconcerting. Also troublesome are her mysterious boss and an employee who is determined to see Rose fail. Even though shes glad for the move, Roses memory remains vivid, and she yearns for the love she lost more than ten years ago. She can still envision the growling of the cougar when it attacked her horse, Queenie, as she spent the evening with her boyfriend, Donavin. Even more devastating was the reaction of Donavins parents; they disapproved of their son riding with a simple country girl. His family had packed up without even a goodbye. She never saw him again. Determined, Rose tries to move her life forward, but strange events intervene. Her life, her job, and her welfare could be at stake if her enemies get their way in A Canadian Rose.
Have you ever wondered where you are in life? You realize that there is more to life than what meets the eye, and yet you find that you are not where you want to be. Realizing and acknowledging your true reflection in the mirror can be either a beautiful or a devastating experience, depending upon ones perspective. However, it takes courage to confront the issues and responsibilities of oneself while not casting the blame onto others because of our own ignorance and lack of knowledge. One can go through life wondering and searching, trying to understand how to get to that place. Sometimes it appears as though one is going around in circles trying to understand how we fit into this world. What is my real purpose for being on this earth? Well, the Word of God tells us that God has predestined our lives before the foundations of the world. Then the question remains of how do we get to the place that God has purposed for each of us in this preordained plan?
Following her husbands death, Smith completed his memoir--a story of love, faith, and hope in the midst of sorrow, suffering, and loss that demonstrates the importance of trusting in God when life is at its worst. (Motivation)
My sincere hope is that every person in an abusive relationship will get out, and that the abuser will be changed by realizing the pain and suffering they cause. When I prayed that God would allow me to marry a preacher, somewhere in my mind I thought it would guarantee me a life of love, peace, and happiness. Nothing was further from the truth. After all, preachers are men too, clothed in nice suits, shoes, and fancy robes. All my life, I had been around marriages that should have ended years ago. I wanted to be different; I wanted to help people change. I wanted to see men love and cherish their wives. We all know for the most part at least on the surface that preachers' wives seem to be more than happy. Some wear the designer suits and hats with fancy matching shoes. On occasion, I did too. However, I soon found out, at least in my life, it was all superficial. I was all smiles and encouraging words outside the door, but most days, behind closed doors, my life was a living hell. Three months into my marriage, I began living in a nightmare. I told myself I would never tell anyone. I would help the world believe we had the ideal marriage. Even before the I-do's, I knew there were some problems. Before long Shirley became a "preacher's wife with a secret life," and everything in her told her that she's not the only one!
Shirley Yokley Smith and her husband of sixty years are parents of four children. They have eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren. From these family experiences she shares laughs, lessons, and love. She began a thirty-year teaching career as a classroom teacher, then became a reading specialist and spent the last half of her career as a teacher of learning disabled students. During those years in the classroom she saw many unmet needs in the lives of children. It is her strong conviction that God's word has provided the counsel needed to meet those needs. Her writing reflects those convictions.
I hope to inspire others to know that theres hope and that Gods divine purpose will be fulfilled in all humanity. I pray that this book will bless millions and bring humanity together in special way to receive Gods Holy Word and Holy Spirit. Remember, you never walk alone.
This book is a special dedication to all humanity in hopes that it will bring encouragement, enlighten the minds of the reader to a broader outlook on God’s holy Word, and open a door of great enchantment to know that God is always with us. In God, there is a new way of living, a new way of giving. Be encouraged and be blessed, God’s beloved, and remember, God has us all in his mighty hands.
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