Hi mama (or dad!). I've been where you are. The darkness, the unknowns, the fear, the uncertainty -- everything that accompanies a hearing loss diagnosis. You may feel all of these things at once. You may ebb and flow between them. Or you may not know what you feel at all. And that is okay. When you are told your child has significant hearing loss, there is no right reaction. Tears may flow, or they may refuse to come. Anger may boil over, or it may fester. Grief can pave the way, or it can be pushed aside. We all process serious, life-altering news differently. My own family received that news on October 18, 2019. In some ways, it feels like a lifetime ago. In others, the pain and emotions are still fresh. Time is funny that way. My goal in sharing my son Cooper's story -- our story, really -- is to show you that you are truly never alone. This journey to Holland (hang in there, I'll get to the relevancy of this) can feel like a lonely one at the beginning. But when you find acceptance, when you open your heart, there is so much beauty to be found along the way.

This beloved account about an intrepid young Englishman on the first leg of his walk from London to Constantinople is simply one of the best works of travel literature ever written. At the age of eighteen, Patrick Leigh Fermor set off from the heart of London on an epic journey—to walk to Constantinople. A Time of Gifts is the rich account of his adventures as far as Hungary, after which Between the Woods and the Water continues the story to the Iron Gates that divide the Carpathian and Balkan mountains. Acclaimed for its sweep and intelligence, Leigh Fermor’s book explores a remarkable moment in time. Hitler has just come to power but war is still ahead, as he walks through a Europe soon to be forever changed—through the Lowlands to Mitteleuropa, to Teutonic and Slav heartlands, through the baroque remains of the Holy Roman Empire; up the Rhine, and down to the Danube. At once a memoir of coming-of-age, an account of a journey, and a dazzling exposition of the English language, A Time of Gifts is also a portrait of a continent already showing ominous signs of the holocaust to come.

In this memoir, Holland E. Bynam, a retired US Army colonel and educational administrator, looks back at a life defined by beating the odds. In a series of vignettes, he recalls both those who helped him and those who failed to assist him in making his world and that of those around him richer. While his approach to telling his story may be unconventionalat times he answers the questions of fictional interviewers to enliven his storyit allows him to convey a full orchard of anecdotes, insights, truths, ideals, and present day concerns. Bynams story is from the soul of a gifted man. It looks back at his early, military, and later educational experiences; and to his efforts in changing lives for the better. He also shares his thoughts on topics such as educational reform, the essence of Christianity, the deadliest sins, tips for success, the struggle in the Middle East, and more. An Incredible Journey shares excitement, insights, and secrets; seeks to energize you to chase your own dreams; and encourages debates and conversations at numerous venues.