blish a book. When this opportunity arose I jumped at it not only because it fulfilled that dream, but because I could give the gift of wisdom and understanding to my grandchildren who will be leading and encouraging the next generation to soar. I have written many things in my life from devotions to newsletters and have even had a few pieces published in the local paper. However, this piece is my heartbeat come alive; giving some of the deepest places within me to those who read it. My hope is to uplift, encourage, challenge and mesmerize my readers with the stones on which I stepped that led me to the beauty that now surrounds me. Thank you in advance for spending your time ingesting these words. I hope you take away something from them, and also that you can be inspired to encourage others who don't even know they need encouraging.""