The motivational speaker and barefoot water skier shares stories of people—including herself—who found the courage to follow their passions. For years Karen Putz worked a sales job she neither loved nor hated. She liked the company and her boss, yet something essential was missing: passion. So she set out to learn from people who were madly in love with their work and their lives. Here, Karen tells the inspiring stories of individuals who discovered their true passion, purpose, and desire. And she begins with her own story of going deaf from a barefoot water-skiing accident only to rediscover her passion for the sport at age forty-four. Everyone is given a unique gift in life—but too many of us never unwrap the package. Unwrapping Your Passion is your guide to shaking up the status quo and getting down to the essence of who you are, what you love, and the passion that will drive your life forward.

Offers guidance for taking part in the Advent tradition of the Jesse Tree, with scriptural passages, devotions, and activities intended to apply their themes.

Heeding technology's cry to “get connected” can result in overloaded circuits of the mind. Frenetic connections cause frazzled lives. Unwrapping Wonder: Finding Hope in the Gift of Nature will restore the reader's soul as they step outside to cultivate a connection with creation and, in the process, deepen their relationship with the Creator.This delightful mix of natural history, human story and God's glory found in everyday nature is based on Job's words: “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you ... or let the fish of the sea inform you.” Each chapter focuses on one natural object such as the bee, the barnacle, the tiniest seed.By peering within the ordinary, we can learn to see details which reveal extraordinary wonder. As we unwrap the gift, we discover more of nature, God, and ourselves, one wonder at a time.Unwrapping Wonder is for active men and women and families who enjoy the outdoors or reading about nature, and for those needing hope in a hectic world. Each chapter offers: --The Wonder Introduced: through anecdote, natural history, or life story.--The Wonder Unwrapped: zooming in to see hidden details, and explained in everyday terms.--The Wonder Applied: Practical, spiritual lessons for daily living.--Promise of Hope: Relevant Scripture to inspire hope.--“Wondercise”: A hands-on nature activity designed to awaken heart, mind, and soul to the wonder of creation and give praise to the Creator.

In an unorthodox approach, Georgetown University professor Cal Newport debunks the long-held belief that "follow your passion" is good advice, and sets out on a quest to discover the reality of how people end up loving their careers. Not only are pre-existing passions rare and have little to do with how most people end up loving their work, but a focus on passion over skill can be dangerous, leading to anxiety and chronic job hopping. Spending time with organic farmers, venture capitalists, screenwriters, freelance computer programmers, and others who admitted to deriving great satisfaction from their work, Newport uncovers the strategies they used and the pitfalls they avoided in developing their compelling careers. Cal reveals that matching your job to a pre-existing passion does not matter. Passion comes after you put in the hard work to become excellent at something valuable, not before. In other words, what you do for a living is much less important than how you do it. With a title taken from the comedian Steve Martin, who once said his advice for aspiring entertainers was to "be so good they can't ignore you," Cal Newport's clearly written manifesto is mandatory reading for anyone fretting about what to do with their life, or frustrated by their current job situation and eager to find a fresh new way to take control of their livelihood. He provides an evidence-based blueprint for creating work you love, and will change the way you think about careers, happiness, and the crafting of a remarkable life.

A billionaire Italian playboy gets a chance at redemption for Christmas when he reunites with his forbidden love in this romance by a USA Today bestseller. Five years ago, Lily Holloway walked away from a car crash, turning her back on the forbidden passion she shared with her stepbrother, Rafael Castelli. Nothing could make Lily return to the irresistible Italian’s demanding world. Now, when their paths cross again, Lily is desperate to retain her freedom and claims amnesia has blocked her memories of him. Yet all deception is quickly burned away by the incredible attraction that still simmers between them. But he’s found her, and she knows Rafael will soon discover her greatest secret—their son!

Returning home from war, a wounded Lord Huntington has sworn off marriage. But in the hands of Nurse Charlotte Kittridge, he feels something stir. Meanwhile, Charlotte hopes that the man who makes her heart pound will return her dangerously passionate love. Original.

*A collaboration from two of your favorite Multicultural / Interracial Authors. Just in time for the holiday season.**What do you do when the love that once set you free, feels like it's holding you prisoner?Sterling and Elizabeth Jackson have built a life most would envy. A beautiful home, two wonderful children and a very comfortable lifestyle. Yet something is tearing them apart. With divorce looming, they are trying to make it through the holiday season for their family.With clashing schedules, demands from employers and two busy kids, the former lovers have managed to stay out of each other's orbit, at least for a while. But Fate, or maybe their well-meaning family, has set them up on a collision course.Past memories bubble up to the surface and there's nothing to stem the flow. What once was amazing has turned hurtful and full of pain. But is that the real story? Is it too late for a couple who once lived and breathed for each other to find their way back?There's a thin line between love and hate. Will Sterling and Elizabeth be able to mend a love that seems broken and lost, or will the final pull on the holiday ribbon unwrap their last chance to save their marriage.