“strength does not come from what you can do, it comes from overcoming the things you thought you once thought you couldn’t.” –Rikki Rogers (Source Online Wellness Network)

“Experience is not what happens to a man; it is what a man does with what happens to him.” –Aldous Huxley (Women too.)

“A smile is the light in the window of your face that tells people you’re home.” (Source: Let’s Be Positive Together)

Thank you for all the times you lit up the window of my face.

Love,
Russ

Here are some excerpts and illustrations from my second children’s book. It’s titled “Rusty Bear and Thomas, Too”. It is scheduled for release at the end of September, and will be a part of my Kickstarter Crowd-sourcing campaign (which could begin as early as next week.)

Before Thomas could think or say a word
“A family’s in trouble!” is what he heard.
Rusty Bear pointed to a nest up high.
“Mama bird is sick and too weak to fly.
She has three hungry babies that she can’t feed;
Please help me to help this family in need.
Their nest is falling apart from the wind.
She’s scared her nest won’t keep her chicks in.”
Thomas said, “We’ll find food and rebuild their nest.”
They worked real fast and didn’t stop to rest.
Thomas found the food he knew most birds eat:
Worms and bugs that would be a tasty treat.
–

But that towering tree looked very tall.
They became quite afraid that they might fall.
They had to be brave to get the job done.
So they faced their fears every single one.
–

When Thomas’ hand began to lose its grip,
Rusty Bear helped him so he wouldn’t slip.
And when one of his big paws missed a limb,
Thomas was right there to help steady him.
–

\Love,
Russ

I no longer believe that quote to be true. Prejudice is gradually being eliminated a little more every day. Certainly not in everyone. But when one considers that when even just one person who had chosen prejudice and hate begins to choose love, acceptance, friendship and compassion instead, from that point forward their children and children’s children are very likely to follow their example. When I multiply that by the number of people who are becoming less hateful and more loving every day, it gives to me great hope for humankind and our planet. It isn’t happening overnight, but it is happening.

Russ

I prefer to believe that wisdom is knowing that we are love, and it’s the material things beyond those needed to live that are nothing.

Love,
Russ

At this point, my plans include that those who participate will have opportunities to receive first-edition autographed copies of the book with a personal note from me, the chance to donate some of the books to a library of their choice, and for some, a personalized short poem about someone they love (possibly involving a character in one of the books), and/or perhaps one or more of the illustrations from the book signed by the illustrator and printed on high-quality (acid-free?) paper.

That way, the whole community can participate in, and be rewarded by the creation, of the books.

More details soon!

Love,
Russ

Love,
Russ

In case some of you might be interested in my answer, here it is:

Every member of my family says that every time we leave each other, at the end of every call, and it is the last thing My Beloved and I say to each other at night.

No matter how, when, or where we die, “I love you” will be the last words the others will have heard from us.

There is something very comforting to me in that.

Love,
Russ

An excerpt from “Clyde and I” is at the end of this post.

The second book is about my carved redwood bear and my grandson Thomas (an older version of him because he is only 14 months old).

Both books will both be full-color.

I love forward to writing books about my other grandchildren too!

Other project updates:

For a variety of reasons, I’ve put the two children’s song projects on hold.

In the meantime, I’m writing two more children’s stories while I’m working on bringing to life the first two books.

An excerpt from “Clyde and I”:

Clyde and I
I went to say “hi” to new neighbors next door
And saw something I’d never seen before
When I say what I saw please don’t laugh
Because what I saw was a green giraffe!
He was standing on his head out in the rain
And the poor wet guy seemed in a lot of pain
His body swayed way up high
And his feet were stuck straight up in the sky!
I just stood there not knowing what to do
As he ate a banana that was bright blue!
–

Love,
Russ

Reblogged from Hope* the happy hugger:

Sources:
Old Lady: Memories Last Forever photo
Learning: Dennisse Liseth’s photo
Reading: Judith Butler quote, The Reading Room’s photo
Heaven: Heaven on Earth

As for the quotes, if words such as “always, never, should, and shouldn’t” are off-putting to you–as they often are to me–I invite you consider replacing those types of words in the quotes with ones that better resonate with you. It is not my intention to tell you or anyone else how to live. I have enough of a challenge staying focused on the way I want to live!

Update: You’ve probably noticed that for a writer’s blog there has been remarkably little writing here lately. That is because my non-working time is largely focused on three writing projects that I hope to begin unveiling to you real soon. Thank you for your patience.

In the meantime, I hope you are enjoying the images and quotes in this post and some of my recent ones.

Love,
Russ