The Fearless Path Book and Accompanying CD For A Relaxing Emotional Workout With Leah Guy

The 411 by Maria:

I have always loved meditations but never felt like I knew how to do it properly. This CD even with the noise of the house going on around me I was able to listen and relax with headphones on.  Leah's voice and the accompanying music are the perfect blend for her words of guided meditation. 

Each part of the CD accompanies a chapter in her book The Fearless Path going through the 7 Chakras.

Root
Sacral
Solar Plexus
Heart
Throat
Third Eye
Crown

Probably the part that really radiated with me in the book the most is where Leah explains why Letting Go is not the best advice. As someone who has lived through sexual abuse, my mother's death, my father's abandonment, and a narcissistic relationship that broke me. It broke me into millions of pieces. I had always Let It Go. It was what I had learned to survive in  my life. To accept crumbs and to just let it all go but I was just accumulating more and more hurt and feelings of inadequacy. I learned I was holding onto so much anger, fear and resentment that I was unable to fully enjoy my life and be at complete peace.  I have been divinely guided in my healing and  my relationship with my spiritual belief is so much stronger for all I have been through.

Leah really does speak to your soul and if you feel as though you constantly have a black cloud over your head it is time to do something about it. Shake off the negativity and I believe wholeheartedly that Leah can help you do that with her guided meditation and not New World but Real World no nonsense assistance you can live your best life.

School Cyber Bullies And My Spirit Visitor Or A Day I Hope Not To Relive

It started out as a great morning. It was Handsome's 14th Birthday and he was so happy and excited. All was well until about 8:00 A.M. when I heard some snit about my son being video taped and shared on Snapchat taken during recess. Two videos by girls in a grade above him with something like "whose mans (not a typo, they said mans) gets their hair cut like that?" The other was "who runs like that?" With laughter in the background.  Cyber bullies picking on a kid for being different in an unpoliced world like social media. Nothing new but it breaks my heart. 💔💔💔💔💕

UGH...anyway..long story short, call to the school to report it. Feelings of hurt, anger and a momma bear instinct to protect my Autistic, innocent boy from the mean world. I tried to spend my day with my 10 2 year old toddler at work. They need me too and I want to be there for them. I cuddle, rock, hug, pick up and kiss them all day long.

I got Handsome and Goddess from school and he is in a great mood excited to head to Game Stop to use his birthday money from his Aunt on a new headset for Xbox One and his dinner of choice, Kentucky Fried Chicken.

We get home and around 6:00 PM I get a call from my Uncle to inform me that my Grandpa had died. Grandpa was 98 years old and had recently fallen ending up in the same rehab as his wife my 99 year old Grandma. They were not sharing a room but were right next door to each other. He was very good to my sisters and I growing up. Tractor rides, candy, money, trips to Toys R Us with a get whatever you want speech and always sweet. I can still hear his voice in my head. "What? You're talking tooooo fast, slow down". He was the polar opposite of my other grandpa. I am so sad to say good-bye. Grandpa had buried my mom, his first born when she was only 34 and my Uncle his baby when he was only 32. So my thoughts going to bed last night were that they were all together.

According to my Uncle he never woke yesterday. He had oxygen over his face when my uncle stopped by and was sleeping so my uncle went to my grandmother. In the dining hall. The nurses went to my uncle who was helping grandma with lunch to tell him my grandfather had passed. He never woke and went quietly and peaceful. My uncle told grandma who said "already! So soon!"

I believe grandpa went way before lunch. This is going to sound strange but I was laying awake in bed yesterday at 5:00ish yesterday morning when I felt someone lean on my bed. There was a small hug and I thought it was Skye coming to crawl into bed even though she hasn't in months. When I put my hand out no one was there. I was creeped out for a moment and pulled the sheet over my ear. Yup still scary even as an adult but going to bed last night that moment brought me peace. Maybe grandpa was saying goodbye. I will hold onto that thought until my last breath.

This is the last photo I have of him.  He waved good-bye to us pulling out of his driveway last time we visited.

The Perfect First "Scary" Bedtime Story For Kids by Bethanie Murguia #scholastic

The 411:

I love this book. It is absolutely the perfect book for kids who say they want a "scary story." When my daughter was 3-6 she loved the idea of scary. Not sure where it came from but she talked about wanting to hear a scary story all the time. I never read her one because she didn't really want one and I knew that. She was already in my bed every night and I couldn't imagine I would ever be able to get her in her bed after a "scary" story. I would have loved this book for her.

Grace and her brother Walter want their Papa to read them a bedtime story and Grace wants it scary but Walter doesn't want it Too Scary!

The story takes Grace and her Brother into the woods and along the way they insert their ideas which helps Daddy tell one that isn't Too scary for Walter and his "brave" sister

Absolutely adorable with awesome, sweet illustrations even on the "scary" pages.

808 Conversation Starters

The 411:

I believe this book is a great conversation starter for anyone. For the past 14 years I have hit up my friends on Facebook asking various questions of the day and they love it! Who doesn't love talking about themselves?

The book is written for couples are struggle for something to talk about after an exhausting day of monotonous work or another night in front of the TV. I totally can support that.  Who doesn't love conversation that doesn't start with how was the weather where you were today?  I have been with my husband since 1997 but we were friends since 1991 before dating and I can tell you that on any day he wouldn't want to answer any of these. I just rattled off about 5 of them randomly and he mostly just answered with sarcastic but funny answers. At least we were conversing. HOWEVER with that said, I know many people who would love this book.

Friends
Family
Potential Dates - I have friends who have done Speed Dating and I think they would have loved to have this book with them)
New Partners - Why waste precious time getting to know someone? Ask a few questions from this book and see if they are worth it.

The Stuff of Family Life by Michelle Janning

The 411:

I  am a keeper of things! Mostly things pertaining to my family life.  My parents, my childhood, and my children. Throwing away things that I feel make up who I am as a person. The photo of the dress my mother wanted me to wear at my wedding, mom's journal, love notes and cards from old boyfriends, any card or letter a friend mailed to me over the years, notes and art work from my kids. These are the things I cannot imagine ever tossing. I am less sentimental than I used to be due to life making me a bit harder than I used to be but still need to keep certain items. I was hoping this book would help me figure out a better way to deal with tossing things away in a way to downsize.  The book mostly reminded me why the things I hold onto mean so much to me. 

It was interesting to read what each piece in our home says about us and the image we are putting out there. How the way we place our furniture and many more uses the dining room table have other than just eating. Glad to see it is not just my family. 

Definitely a fascinating read. 

Help In Understanding the Autistic Mind From The Inside: Behind the Locked Door by Paul Louden

The 411:

I was so interested in reading this. My son Handsome is on the Autistic Spectrum. I read all I can about autism. What is the best way to help my son succeed. How to communicate with him but none of the books have spoken to me as much as this one. Paul is speaking from a totally different place. He knows. He is not a doctor, therapist, educator, he is Autistic and he knows! He knows from a place that no one else can. He is speaking how my son would speak if he could. 

If you have a child with Autism you can already tell from the chapters this is a must read. My son is 13, soon to be 14 and I have thought about all of this in regards to my son.

What does he REALLY understand?
Will he ever have friends?
Will he go to college, have a job, a relationship?

My son is so many of these things and NOT because like they say if you know one autistic person you know one autistic person. There is no cookie cutter example of an autistic. My son knows when he needs to be alone and will say so. He is very much a creature of habit so much so that I know what time of day it is by what he is doing. He wants to follow the rules and wants everyone else to do so.  He doesn't understand sarcasm and hates jokes because he doesn't get them. He LOVES his family and loves his mommy and tells me every single day. He is amazing and I wish the rest of the world saw him as I do.

There were so many eye opening moments in this book and I believe this is a book for all parents, doctors and educators.  My son has a whole support system behind him at school and I know with every bit of my core there are still many of them that really don't get it. I wish I could gift this book to every single one of them. 

I will probably read this book at least another 10 times in the next two years. I love that Paul wrote this and thank him and his parents also featured in the book for the honesty and candidness.