Table of Contents
Foreword Lisa Whelchel xi
Introduction 1
1 Treasured Moments
1 A Handful of Hope Pam Mytroen 4
2 That Fraying Family Susan Farr-Fahncke 7
3 A Window of Light Lola Di Giulio De Mad 10
4 A Butterfly Moment with Mike Phyllis Cochran 13
5 Crazy Normal Shawnelle Fliasen 15
6 The Greatest Gift Debbie Cannizzaro 17
7 A Wrinkled Kiss Robyn Langdon 20
8 Bouquet of Weeds Kathie Harrington 23
9 I Salute You, Mother Debra Larson 26
10 One Last Recital Gigi Adam 29
2 God's Guiding Hand
11 Jack-in-the-Box Bedtime Deborah L. Kaufman 32
12 Be Still Michelle Rocher 34
13 Listening for God's Voice Susanne Dietze 37
14 Seven Times in a Day Karen R. Kilby 40
15 Making the Big Decisions Susan M. Heim 42
16 Love in a JCPenney Catalog Meagan Greene Friberg 45
17 God's Wake-Up Call Renee Crosby 48
18 Without Conditions Linda Apple 50
19 One of Life's Greatest Blessings Clara Cooper 53
20 Tune for Myself Susan M. Heim 56
21 One of Those Days Dena Dyer 59
3 Loving Through Tears
22 P.S. Pray Susan Farr-Fahncke 62
23 A Letting-Go Kind of Love Michele Cushatt 65
24 Over the Rainbow Shirley Anne Reynolds 68
25 A Real Mother Violet Carr Moore 71
26 Hug 'Em and Pray Shelley Ring 74
27 Gold Medals and Tea Kettles Terrie Todd 77
28 Kindred Spirits Sharron K. Cosby 80
29 Parenting Through Good Times and Bad Ruth L. Snyder 83
4 In the Beginning
30 My Son, My Hero Cathy McIlvoy 86
31 Liz Cleans House Marie Cleveland 88
32 Anna Mary's Advice Pam Williams 91
33 Alone in the Night Susan M. Heim 94
34 Pregnancy Paranoia Janeen Lewis 96
35 In Deaths Shadow Brendalyn Crudup 99
36 Comfort from a Friend Melissa Zifzal 102
37 Beating the Bed Rest Blues Karen C. Talcott 105
38 God, Give Me Strength Michelle Sedas 108
5 Lessons from Our Kids
39 That Kind of Faith Carol Hatcher 110
40 Listen to the Children Linda O'Connell 112
41 She Needed a Hug Lorie Bibbee 115
42 Beautiful Things Danica Favorite 117
43 Resting in Hope Rohhie Iobst 120
44 A Daughter's Eyes Cecilia McNeal 122
45 The Nativity Lesson Janice M. Gibson 124
46 A Race Run Well Kathryn Nielson 127
47 Twenty-Five-Cent Pearls Theresa Sanders 129
48 Riding the Rollercoaster Michele Cushatt 132
6 Comfort Through Prayer
49 The Boring, Old Prayer Diane Stark 135
50 Meltdown in My Heart Trade "Sissy" Taylor 138
51 Never Alone Marsha B. Smith 141
52 Abandoned? Not Ever! Pat Moyer 143
53 The Grab Bag Sharon A. Struth 145
54 No Ordinary Talk Rita Billbe 148
55 Waning Room Prayers Karen C. Talcott 151
56 A God of Second Chances Stefanie Wass 153
57 Broken Bones and Prayers Jenny R. George 156
7 Help from Above
58 Beautiful Day Karen Krokroskia 159
59 A Mother Knows Best Michelle Peters 161
60 An Angel in the Woods Marcia Mansfield 164
61 Why Didn't I Think of That? Leah Clancy 167
62 God Sent His Angels Karen Asire 170
63 Stranger or Angel? Jan Brand 172
64 The Power of Prayer Mary Z. Smith 175
65 A Penny in My Palm Mary Delgado 178
8 Surrendering Our Worries
66 The Little Green Book Shannon Griffin Blair 181
67 Overcoming Bad Days Susan M. Heim 184
68 Worry or Pray Michelle Rayburn 187
69 You Don't Know It All Michelle Rocker 190
70 In His Arms Janeen Lewis 193
71 Sunday Was My Day of Rest Karen C. Talcott 196
72 I'm Somebody's Mom Janice Flood Nichols 199
73 Harsh Words Jeannie Lancaster 202
9 Whispers of Wisdom
74 The Easter Dress Beth K. Fortune 205
75 Busted Rhodema A. Cargill 208
76 The Tattooed Stranger Susan Farr-Fahncke 210
77 Having It All Michelle Close Mills 213
78 Timing Is Everything Susan M. Helm 216
79 The Old Piece of Junk Jan Brand 218
80 Bunny Showdown Maria Woolsey 220
81 Beyond the Sunset Bettie B. Youngs 223
82 Rebuilding Castle Walls Mary L. Allen 226
83 God's Glittery Gift Danica Favorite 229
84 An Instrument in God's Hands Pat Jeanne Davis 232
10 Giving Them Wings
85 The Seed Planters Mary Z. Smith 234
86 Footprints Theresa Sanders 236
87 My Black-Eyed Susan Karen R. Kitty 239
88 Turtle Talk Stefanie Wass 242
89 The Rocking Chair Terrie Todd 245
90 A Family That Plays Together Stays Together Karen C. Talcott 248
91 Mama Bird Penny Frost McGinnis 251
92 Growing Up, Not Away Patricia Downs 253
11 Celebrating Our Families
93 The Light Saber vs. the Dandelions Marcy A. Blesy 256
94 The Golden Summer Rhonda Brunea 259
95 Picture Perfect Terrie Todd 262
96 Mommy's Hero Laura L. Bradford 265
97 Memories Set in Stone Deborah L. Kaufman 268
98 Magical Mirth Gayle Allen Cox 270
99 Love in a Care Package Emily Collins 272
100 Laundry Days Ami Tripp 274
101 Jesus Loves Mommies Dena Dyer 276
Meet Our Contributors 279
Meet Our Authors 291
About Lisa Whelchel 293
Thank You 294
About Chicken Soup for the Soul 296
