Family Expo to be held At Summit Mall in Akron

Family Expo to be held at Summit Mall. Hosted by Akron's Children's Services. Celebrities and fun!
The Expo will be held on April 10.

Teen having rough time in the economy gets creative

Teen unable to find work, doesn't wait for work to come to him, he gets creative. Read story here!

Training taking place in Akron for Foster and Adoption

Akron Children's Services Announces dates for foster care and adoption training. If interested read the article!!

2010 Children's Choice Book Awards

Children's Choice Book Awards for 2010!!! Vote Now!!!!

Categories from Kindergarten thru teens and vote for Author and Illustrator of the Year!

Do Something in your community and get a scholarship

Do Something offering scholarships for young people who are active in the community

Rahab ministry is a place of hope

A place of hope

Hillary Duff now a young adult book novelist

Actor/singer Hillary Duff now writing young adult books for Simon and Schuster

Man with ALS needs help!

Man with ALS desperately needs help

Make up artists from Ohio contributed on the feature film Star Trek that won an Academy Award

Make up artist from Ohio contributed his characterization abilities in the Star Trek feature film that won an academy award in make up. Gamble made the molds for the pointed ears and Romulan foreheads...

Article on man who contracts malaria in Haiti...Haiti updae

Missionary contracts malaria in Haiti...Haiti update

Wake...Fade...NOW...Gone

Lisa McMann's new book is out!

Battered Women's Shelter need items for auction

The Battered Women's Shelter of Akron and Medina need items for their auction. Please read and help.

Cancer has robbed this family of so much and they are going to lose their house.

Cancer has really taken its toll on this family. If they do not get help now, they will lose their house. Please help! Read.

Grab a book and celebrate Dr Seuss' birthday on march 2

Grab a book and celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday on March 2. The day has been designated for all children across America to read. Read the article.

Missy

My best friend in the whole world died on Saturday, February 13. She was my valentine so we didn't get to celebrate that together. She truly was the most special 'person' I have ever met in my life. She didnt see a person that had a past. She didnt see a person that had been conceived in rape. She didnt see anything but love. I felt nothing but love when we were together. She genuinely cared about me to the core of who she was. She cared like no other person has in my entire life. Missy knew when I was upset. She was so in tuned with everything I felt, but it was not only that, she cared! She would come right up to me and look genuinely concerned. Not just a dog licking a face, but a genuine I love you mommy how can I make it better. Do you know how important it is to be loved that much. To be cared about that much. To know that someone makes you their world and cares if you are hurting. She genuinely loved me and never once not even one time rejected me. In a fun way she would get mad at me, but she would still look out of the corner of her eyes to keep her eyes on me trying to act mad. it was so funny. she never acted like a dog. my dog woodson acts like a dog. Missy simply never did. She not only waited for me to come home, but she would get up, greet me, and be so glad i was home. things have not been that easy for me, but with Missy, she made everything okay. She just made my world a better place. She was a light in a very dark place for me and i will forever be grateful. I think that is why it is so hard. She really loved me and i really loved her. This was not a dog/person relationship. We really loved each other. I could walk her down the street, without a leash and we would just talk and she would look up at me and listen. I would just say come on missy lets go home and she would just turn around and we would go home. we would just sit outside and enjoy and i would talk to her and she would just sit and listen and if i would be sad, she would get up and lick me on the lips. she always made me smile no matter what. woodson just lies there oblivoius...lol. she is all about food or going out. not missy. she was about me. i dont have that anymore. she was about me. if i said ouch, she would come see why. if i told her my biological mom hated me, she would lay with me all night long while i couldnt sleep and look me in the eye sharing a pillow just letting me know things were ok that she loved me. what peopel get from other people, i got from her. What you are to get from your spouse, i got from her. I told her everything and she listened. She really did understand me and she really really cared. Everybody wants someone to care about them to the core of who they are and just let them know that they are so importnat. Missy did that. She said with her eyes, whats wrong and i would tell her and she would kiss it and make it better. I would sit on the floor and she would look me eye to eye and she wouldnt even look away. I would get up and say im gonna go back in the bedroom missy. She would get up and go with me. she never wanted me to be alone. i genuinely felt that she really believed she was here to love me. When i looked in her eyes, I saw how much she cared about me and that was why i couldnt leave her even until the end. We were committed to each other and she loved life and she loved to be where the laughing was and the cooking and the joy. She loved it when we played games and she would get right up to the table to watch or we would play on the floor so she could have her own game pieces. She loved it. and she smiled all the time, cept when i was sad. she was the most amazing 'person' on the face of the earth. i talk to her non stop like i would of, but i just cant accept the fact that all she is is a picture on the wall. i just cant get to that point right now. My loss of being able to hold her head in my hands and she would just melt when i would do that, the loss is just soooo huge. She would always want me to put my hand on her face and her entire being reacted with the love she felt from me. she responded to my love. do you know how important that was to me. it meant everything. she even did that before she died. and she responded to me in the way she could even in her coma. i know she knows i was there. I just have to believe that she is waiting for me in heaven. I have to believe that she feels nothing, but joy and love right now and that she does not feel the deep separation that I feel. I pray with all my heart that she still senses my love for her and that everything is okay for her. I spent 14 years making sure she was okay. I spent 14 years laughing at her bubble tongue and her licks. I spent 14 years holding her to my chest. I fed her from a bottle when I first got her. She was truly my baby. Truly truly was a gift from God. she is still here with me and I will continue to talk to her every day and incorporate her into my new normal cuz I have to make a new normal without her. As a writer, I spend many hours at home writing. she never missed an article. she sat with me and watched me write every one. how do I continue my profession without her? I have to find a way. I just have to find a way. Missy would want that. I have to believe that she is here with me anyway. You know, people hurt. They come and go all the time. They abuse and batter. Missy never did anything, but love. Nothing. I know God didnt do this to her. I know death is here, but I didn't want Missy to go through it. For some reason, I just could never comprehend that she would die. I knew it and I know she's gone, but to me, she was just so special that i never wanted her to experience that. She will be with me forever and whether I go in 10 years or 20 or whatever, she will be there waiting for me in heaven. I know it. I know that she is here with me now. I can feel her. I hold her red sweater that she wore all the time, and I smell it and it gives me such a peace. there is nothing like an animal. People...lol...I can do without...lol. Animals are a true gift from God. She died 5 days ago. Wow. Five days. I'm waiting for her ashes and I cannot wait to get them. Just give me a sense of peace that she is back home. She needs to be home with her mama. Missy I love you baby! Baby! I love you so much!

Haiti needs your help.

Haiti's situation worsens. They need water and many resources in order to survive.

Bess the book bus delivers books to underprivileged children--they need your vote

Bess the book bus travels across the country delivering books. They need your vote.

Fourteen year old is given 100 dollars to further the kingdom of God and he turned into 16,000 for Haiti

Fourteen-year-old turned 100 dollars into 16,000 for Haiti

Teen dating violence

February is Teen Dating Violence and awareness Month

Young adult book Elijah's coin

Elijah's coin Change a life, it just might be your own

Local Battered Woman's Shelter provides many services

Local Battered Woman's Shelter provides many services

V.C. Andrews has a new release

V.C. Andrews, author of Flowers in the Attic and Petals on the wind, has a new book series. The first book in the series was just released. The second book is due out end of February. Click on the link to read about it.

Does depression, drugs, and past hurts eventually remove choice?

Depression, drugs, and past hurts vs. choice

Missionaries who survived earthquake share their story

http://www.thesuburbanite.com/news/x231951065/Home-from-Haiti-Portage-Lakes-residents-share-their-experiences

Missionaires in Haiti

Missionaries lived through the earthquake and now they are rescuing survivors in the rubble.

CIA operative who died in Afghanistan from Oho

CIA operative who died in Afghanistan was from Ohio

New church forming in bowling alley/lounge

New Church forming in a bowling alley/lounge. Check this out!

Haven of Rest Director to step down Decmeber 2010

Haven of Rest Director to step down December 2o1o. Great piece on homelessness. Article.

Book on human trafficking for human trafficking month

January is human trafficking month. An article on a book that is a must read from a woman out of Ohio who was trafficked. Included in the article are events that are scheduled in Ohio for awareness of human trafficking. Article

The Sinful Woman

The sinful woman from Luke 7 was known as a sinner. God knew her heart. My book, the Sinful Woman uncovers the heart of the woman at Jesus' feet. Read further.

Have you been raped or Molested? Help.

Raped? Molested?

The Outsiders changed young adult literature

The Outsiders changed Young Adult Literature. A great read for all ages!

Risk

As an abuse survivor myself, I have had many sleepless nights. Nights are the worst! Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is very real to those who have been hurt. I'm not as bad as i used to be. I believe God has something to do with that. Maybe time. Maybe the realization that I'm not in danger anymore, but I spent a great deal of my life feeling that I had to be aware of everything going on around me. Hypervigilance. I am still always aware of everything, but it is not to the extent that it was. I lived in a state of that I was going to be struck down at any time. I do not live like that anymore. To read the rest, click here and scroll down...Risk.

Christian Club, The Good News Club, in the schools

Christian Clubs in the schools. Nice fresh piece!

Changing the world one word at a time...go to my new site

I started a new site. This is a lot more personal and a lot more revealing of myself and my writing. The site is actually called Capturing the heart through the written word...I am inviting anyone who wants to follow this, there will be a lot of honesty and a lot of what I have learned or witnessed through journalism, being a counselor in the jail system, or counseling battered/raped women and children. Also about what I have learned in my own abuse. Go to my website and check it out. I promise you, you will help change the world....one word at a time...keep reading.

Woman with M.S. is a national inspiration

woman was has M.S. is a national inspiration

Kids step up to help the homeless

Kids step up to help the homeless

Woman who was murdered in Jackson

Interviewed friends of the woman who was murdered in Jackson...Domestic Violence story.

Wish due out January 1

Young Adult book Wish due out January 1

Charlie Sheen arrested on Christmas day

Charlie Sheen arrested on Christmas

On the path

I have had so much happen in the last couple days. I'm just following God's path. I had a great time with Audrey yesterday. I initially met Audrey and her family through a story, but I have been so blessed by them and am very thankful that they have been brought into my life. Her mother and little Blake have taught me a lot! You can definitely be strong through adversity. I had a great talk today with Charles Powell. He is involved with Joshua's Mission and author Dillon Burroughs. I'm excited because they would like to use me to help them on their new ventures. They like that I am not just a writer, but that I also know the streets. I have worked with women in the jail system and women who have been battered and raped. With my degrees, writing skills, and heart for those who are hurting, they would love for me to jump on board with them. I also heard from a woman who is friends with Lisa McMann, author of Wake, Fade, and Gone. I am very excited about this also because she writes for Simon and Schuster as well. The more contacts I get the better. She liked my article about Lisa that got picked up by the Sanfran Chronicles. That is so awesome! I am very thankful for the path God is sending me on! Keep opening up the doors!

This week, I had to actually sit down and write out a schedule in order to get all my writing done. A great problem!

Simon and Schuster has signed four book deal with best selling author, Lisa Mcmann

Simon and Schuster has announced they have signed a four book deal with best selling author, Lisa McMann

Domestic violence escalates during the holidays

Domestic violence occurs year long, but with the economy, pressures, and added stresses, violence escalates.

Agencies are forming to combat human trafficking in the United States

Human trafficking is real in the United States. Agencies are forming to combat this horrific, tragic, crime against women and children. Please read!

Joe Biden contacts local boy

This article was so much fun to do! I wish I did more of these!! This little boy was in a wax museum and chose to portray Joe Biden. This is so cute!! Biden got wind of it and wrote the little boy. Check this out!

The movie precious voted one of this year's top movies by The American Film Insitute

Precious earns top honors

Why people stay in abuse and the cycle of violence

People stay in abuse for many reasons. Fear, lack of resources, and the cycle of violence. Read here.

Controversy at the wall

Veterans have worked hard to make the memorial park in Clinton Ohio. There has been some controversy with a committee member. Here is the article.

Abused? Take your life back!

Abuse can take your life, but you can get it back! Take your life back!

Human Trafficking in the United States

Actually got to speak with Dillon Burroughs regarding Human trafficking in the United States. I did not realize how prevalent it is in this country and I consider myself a pretty informed person. He shared with me that he read a book from 1910 about human trafficking. I know it has always been, but for some reason it just seems that it is more talked about in the news. I dont know if it is the recent movie, Taken, or the recent murder of young Shanyia Davis, in Florida. Her mother sold her into human trafficking because of a debt. Most of these women and kids are sold into human trafficking for less than a couple hundred bucks. That is it! it is scary! I plan on doing anything I can to hep in this cause. This is one of the saddest things I have heard in this country. I have been through a lot of abuse and helped a lot of women and children who were abused, but this is just an outrage! From my understanding, law enforcement are not really even trained to recognize trafficking rings. They do not know what to do with the victims after they are rescued. Traffickers are often let out on bond and only serve 1-2 years. That just blows me away.