THE STORY: The setting is an East Texas small-town bar, and the action covers three periods in the main character's life, at six, sixteen and twenty. He and his resilient, but resigned, mother frequent the bar so that the boy may at least get to kn

It’s time to get serious about playfulness! When was the last time you felt really, truly happy? If you’ve ever longed to leave your exhausting days and fretful nights behind, look no further. Courtney recounts a courageous—and often hilarious!—experiment in joy and delight as she awakens to the truth that God doesn’t just want us to be holy, but happy, too! A whimsical storyteller who combines witty humor and engaging research with unfettered honesty, in Happy Now Courtney Ellis is a wise guide on an uplifting journey from sad to spirited. You’ll discover there is almost nothing that playfulness cannot make a little bit better, a little bit easier, and a lot more fun. Lift your mood, lighten your load, and renew your spirit with the power of playfulness. Happy Now: Let Playfulness Lift Your Load and Renew Your Spirit is a rollicking, investigative, and thoughtful invitation to open ourselves to the joy and freedom of play all over again. It is designed to invite readers to let go of their most serious selves, grant them permission to engage in curiosity and wonder of all kinds, and delight in the release of its transformative effects: creativity, innovation, delight, rest, and—above all—a more trusting relationship with Jesus. Through wry observations, firsthand experience, Scriptural study, and broad research, Ellis addresses questions like: How does God invite us into play? What does it mean that we are created for curiosity? In what ways can wonder help us love our neighbors more fully? The world can be a serious place. Because of Jesus, Christians don’t need to be. Dive deeply into the waters of whimsy, embracing the joy God offers. Sometimes that looks like welcoming holy laughter. Other times it’s learning to see mistakes as learning and innovation rather than mess-making. Play brings about transformation and rest and praise. And isn’t that just the reason God created us?

"Katie B. Smith places a spotlight on areas that need further development to strengthen one's ability to make smarter decisions and reach desired outcomes. I now have more fulfilling relationships, career opportunities, and a genuine expression of myself. If you are stuck envisioning your next chapter and are willing to do the work, Katie's integrative method will enhance you, your mission and your life " - Elaine DiLisio, President, Cordillera Advisor Group Everyone wants to be happy, yet most are preoccupied with stress, over-extension, and discouraging thoughts. While appearing to be successful, they feel stuck and plagued by negative self-talk. For the first time, certified executive coach, Katie B. Smith, shares her sought after professional guidance with the masses. In this book, you receive her strategies to move beyond fear and into the conscious choice of embracing fulfillment, love, and happiness - even amidst challenges. Hone the practices to: - Move from tolerating to accepting - Break negative thinking - Live with ease and less stress - Have fun, pleasure, and joy - Acknowledge and love yourself - Create a new personal and professional future Katie B. Smith speaks from the creative space of inner wisdom, years of corporate experience, and her journey into wellness, meditation and yoga. Her information is communicated in the language of the business world, but with a Zen twist - from the inside out. Her Results Focused Coaching shines a light on the person, not issues. Katie works with business owners, senior executives, and career professionals in the art of integrating their body, mind and heart to harness happiness and have the life and work they deserve. To learn more, please visit www.katiebsmith.com.

Is happiness something that you believe will come attached to some future event or a special person? Are you postponing happiness until you have the ideal job, live in your dream home, find the perfect mate, retire, or some other future situation? If you find yourself caught up in these thoughts or are missing passion, joy, or inner peace, then this book is for you! Through a series of practical lessons, you will learn the tools for raising self-awareness, leading to a path of personal transformation, which will allow you to experience a life of peace and happiness.

Everyone in Happyhop House experiences lots of feelings during their day. Can you spot who is happy to be playing paper aeroplanes? Who is sad that the last slice of cake has gone? Who is scared of the dark? At age 2, children enter a crucial stage in their development by starting to form friendships. In this fun, interactive question-and-answer book, young readers can look carefully at the pictures to work out who's feeling what, learning how to understand 12 key emotions and recognise them in others.

A photographic behind the scenes look at three years in the life of Grammy Award nominated band the Yeah Yeah Yeahs by lead guitarist Nicholas Zinner. Documenting the glamour, debauchery and road-weary tedium of a rise to international acclaim, Nick gives readers a fresh look at rock n roll through the eyes of one of its stars. With essays by Jim Jarmusch and comedian David Cross.

THE STORY: A chance encounter at a conference hotel plays upon Kitty's mind as she struggles to balance personal freedom with family life, fidelity and a testing job. Her husband seems more interested in misplaced apostrophes than his marriage, her