Showing results by author "Nancy Kuykendall" in All Categories

My oldest son was an addict for twenty years. Cigarettes, meth, and alcohol ruled his life. The title, IN THE DARK, describes both his life and mine. He walked the dark path of addiction. I lived in the dark because of my naivety. I knew nothing about drugs or addiction. I was at a loss to recognize or understand the signs and knew little of what was going on in his life. The stories shared in this book are my reflections on the journey I traveled as I dealt with my son’s addiction and then recovery. He found his way out of the dark. He survived. These reflections are meant to offer hope ...

Many of us have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Sleep deprivation has become an epidemic and the consequences are often severe. This book explores various reasons for sleeplessness and attempts to shed light on ways to combat it. This is not a medical book. This book looks at sleep deprivation caused by common hindrances and explores chronic problems shared by many. The author shares personal experiences. Some practical ideas are shared, as are spiritual truths that can help us. This book is meant to encourage the sleepless.

This book contains all four books in THE OLD WOMAN series. In Book One – Meet Rose, we get to know her. In Book Two – A New Year, we follow Rose as things begin to change. In Book Three – A Time of Change, Rose faces, and makes, a big decision, shocking her family. In Book Four – Full Circle, another big change takes place for Rose. Rose is a widow, in her eighties, living alone with her cat. She is strong, independent, and wants to stay in her home where she and her husband lived and raised two children. Things become more difficult as Rose ages and she eventually makes tough ...

Rose became a widow at age 80 when her husband and love of her life died suddenly. Living alone, Rose is determined to stay in her home but each year it’s becoming more difficult. Her two grown children live in cities hours away, but young family-friend, Jack, helps watch over Rose. In The Old Woman - A New Year Rose celebrates her 86th birthday and begins to face new challenges and need more help. The thought is presented that she might need to leave her home, but Rose is unwilling to give in to that idea, yet, the thought lingers in the back of her mind, especially as she grows more ...

Rose became a widow at age 80 when her husband and love of her life died suddenly. Living alone, Rose is determined to stay in her life-long home but each year is becoming more difficult. Her two grown children live in cities hours away, but young, family-friend, Jack, helps watch over Rose. In The Old Woman - Book One, Book Two, and Book Three, we meet Rose and her family and watch her begin to struggle as aging creeps up on her. She is faced with new challenges and new decisions, which are difficult to face, but Rose is a strong and independent woman. In The Old Woman - Book Four - Full ...

This short story takes a humorous look at the challenges of growing older. Linda laments some of these challenges—fading eyesight, weakening hands, containers of all sorts almost impossible to open. Amidst the challenges, Linda and her husband John can laugh.

'An Unexpected Love', a snake story, is a personal story of experiences with a creature I do not love in feeling, but found myself in the situation of carrying out the tiniest act of love in its time of need. This is a simple story in which one life recognizes the value of another very different life, overcoming fear and disgust to help. and realIzing we have the choice and capability to love in action that, or who, we find unlovable.

Christmas is a magical time for many, especially children. The Silver Tree is a short story first published in a collection of short stories in Mornings on the Porch, originally published in 2014. This is a true account of a "magical" Christmas tree from my childhood in the 1960s. A mesmerizing tree with an unusal look and special meaning, for me and my family. There is no one kind of Christmas tree.

With Christmas approaching, the Hawthorne family is feeling the excitement of the season. With the excitement comes some wants and wishes. Quietly within, unspoken longings are stirring in their hearts, especially for Beth and her father. Sometimes we can’t have the things we wish for. Sometimes we must wait a while. And sometimes we must work extra hard to bring our wishes to reality. Christmas Longings is a gentle, feel-good story of a young family in the throes of the Christmas season in 1958.

Rose became a widow at age 80 when her husband and love of her life died suddenly. Living alone, Rose is determined to stay in her home of sixty-one plus years. Her two grown children, who live in different cities hours away worry about her, but young family-friend Jack helps watch after Rose. As she ages simple tasks and life in general become more difficult for Rose, yet, along with her cat, she plans to remain in her home as long as possible. Rose could be anyone’s mother or grandmother living out her twilight years determined to be as independent as possible for as long as possible. ...

Rose became a widow at age 80 when her husband and love of her life died suddenly. Living alone, Rose is determined to stay in her home but each year it’s becoming more difficult. Her two grown children live in cities hours away, but young family-friend, Jack, helps watch over Rose. In The Old Woman – book three - A Time of Change Rose celebrates her 87th birthday and begins to face new challenges and need more help. The thought is presented that she might need to leave her home, but Rose is unwilling to give into that idea, yet the thought lingers in the back of her mind, especially as...

Some of the most wondrous and extraordinary things are all around us, yet we often miss seeing them. Some are so small they can easily be overlooked if we aren't paying attention. Some are large, yet we still miss seeing them. Circumstances in life seem one-sided, but there are often two sides to be seen if one might stop and ponder them. New ways of looking at and thinking about surroundings and circumstances in life is what Ordinary Wonders is all about. It is about noticing the wonders in the most ordinary of days or most ordinary of things. It's about the many wonders there are for our ...

Nothing is more restorative than heart to heart talks with God. In this prayer diary, I share some of my personal prayers of hope, thanksgiving, need, repentance, sorrow, gratitude, praise, and more. These ninety, short prayers are written in simple language. God requires nothing more. Though these prayers are my own, they’re written with the idea that we are all much alike, living in the same world, with the same sufferings and longings, with the same help and hope available to each one of us. If you find it difficult to pray consistently, reading one of these prayers a day may help ...

30 Days of Inspiration - A Golden Collection is a sampling of writings the author has chosen from her nonfiction books. This short book of inspiration includes short stories, devotions, and prayers encompassing thoughts on life, hope, and the constant presence of God. Chosen for this collection are favorite writings expressed by readers as well as favorites of the author. This collection celebrates the author's ten-year anniversary as an author and is her tenth book.

God is never far from us. He has come to me when I've purposefully sought him—to answer my prayer, or to comfort, instruct, direct, or discipline. God has also suddenly spoken to me while I'm going about my day, leaving a strong impression of what his will is for me. At times I’ve understood immediately, while at other times he’s had to approach me repeatedly until I understood. This book is about how God has made himself known to me throughout my life. God is not silent.

Sometimes an ordinary day, or moment or event, can suddenly take an extraordinary turn and come to mean more, or teach you more, than you ever would have expected. Have you ever had a mundane day turn into something spectacular? Have you ever been full of an anger you couldn't let go of, then in a moment were freed from it? Do you have precious memories held deep inside? Have you ever had to give up a dream? Have you ever achieved a goal or dream? Have you ever suffered a pain and a hurt so intense you didn't believe you could get through another day, yet you did? Have you loved and lost? ...