‘GLAD HE’S FINALLY COMING HOME’

The Story of an American Hero

Early on the morning of Dec. 8, 1941, nine Japanese fighter planes swooped down on Malalag Bay in the Philippines and strafed and sunk two U.S. Navy seaplanes at the very outset of World War II.  All of the Americans escaped unharmed except Ensign Robert G. Tills, 23, of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, who was cut down by machine gun bullets. “Ensign Robert Tills died in the fusillade of bullets from the Japanese strafers, the first American naval officer killed in the defense of the Philippines,” the Naval Historical Center wrote. Continue reading…

A Journey of Courage and Adventure

I am working on a storybook to record my father’s journey from London to Africa in 1949. He was born in England and served with the British Royal Airforce during World War II. After the war he decided to immigrate to Southern Africa where had meet my mother during the war. To get there he hitched a ride in a single engine Auster 5 with a woman pilot who had bought the plane in England and needed a navigator to accompany her on her flight to Nairobi.

I wish I had known the details of this story when he was alive. Unfortunaly the details of this story only became available after his death.

This story is such a wonderful story that I want my children and grandchildren to know of his sense of adventure and courage. This is part of their heritage and something they can treasure.

Thank you Dad for being the source of whatever courage and adventure I have in my nature! I miss you.

 I will drop a few details of his adventure in future posts. 

 Nev

www.GoStorybooking.com

An Amazing Adoption Storybook

One of the most touching storybooks I had the privilege of assisting with was over a year ago. I was introduced to a young girl in her early twenties who expressed an interest in making a storybook. She indicted she had an important story she needed to tell. Several weeks after I had helped her get started she called me late at night and asked if she could come over to my home and use one of our computers. She was at the local public library using their computers and the library was closing and she was anxious to complete her book.

Firstly, I was amazed that she took on the project without owning a computer and was determined enough to use the resources of the local library. It was late at night but I am always up till late so I was happy to assist. After an hour or two in front of my computer, interrupted only by the occasional reach for a Kleenex, she completed the book and asked me to review it for her. Wow what a book!

This book was written for her 1 year old daughter whom she had placed with an adoptive family just prior to birth. She had been married at the time but the marriage fell apart and she felt strongly that the baby girl deserved to be raised by a mom and a dad. The adoptive parents had emailed her several photos taken during the first year and had agreed to allow the birth mom to attend the little girls first birthday.

This wonderful book was to be a special gift from a mom who gave birth to her and loved her enough to place her in a better environment with another mom who loved her and a father. The storybook included photos of the birth mom, her parents and siblings. It contained details of the road to the conclusion that adoption was the best path and the relationship that developed with the selected new parents. The storybook was emotional but joyful as it expressed feelings of love and gratitude and a firm belief in the power of prayer and faith at work in lives.

This wonderfully simple storybook would belong to this little girl, to let her know that she wasn’t abandoned by her birth mother but rather was lovingly and prayerfully placed in a carefully chosen home with a mom and dad who would love her as their own.

With a simple book this little girl will have a place to turn, anytime she wants to know “What did my mommy look like?” and “Why did she place me with my adoptive parents?”

What a wonderful thing for this sweet little girl to grow up not having to wonder about her birth mom but rather to know how much her birth mother loved her and cared for her so much to set aside her own heart ache to allow her to have what she couldn’t provide – a home with a loving mom and dad to raise her.

I will always be grateful for knowing this storybook was made and the goodness that it brought to all involved even a spectator like me.

A very special thank you to the birth mom and author of the book for being a wonderful human being!

My wish would be that every child placed for adoption could have the blessing of a storybook like this.

www.GoStorybooking.com

Papa and Me

 

This is one of my favorite books that I have made. I made this book as a Christmas gift for my husband. It is the story of the close relationship he shares with one of our grandsons. Since he was a small baby they have always had fun doing things together so I want it recorded so that the memories will never fade.

I called the book Papa and Me and wrote it as if my grandson was telling the story. My grandson loves to sit on my lap and have me read the story and talk about the pictures and the things that he and Papa would do together. This is a very special time for both of us. I want him to grow up knowing that he is dearly loved and that he has signifance in our lives beyond measure and as he grows he will continue to add significance to the world we live in.

Papa and Me – a story of boy and his grandpa – a story of two hearts shared!

www.goStorybooking.com

Welcome to the world of custom storybooks

In January of 2005 while recovering from cancer related surgery, I discovered the internet. With the help of a new notebook computer and encouragement from my family I learnt the basics of surfing the web. My surfing took purpose as I planned for my post cancer life and decided to find a meaningful business to start from home. The internet searches revealed many options but nothing that I could be passionate about until I found Heritage Makers.

This amazing company had produced a product; online storybooking, that touched my heart. Their mission of strengthening families through the power of the stories of our heritage was immediately compelling to me. I wanted my grandchildren to know the wonderful stories of their family. I wanted them to know the family members that had already passed away. I wanted them to know they belong to a family of wonderful people who have lived amazing lives.

Yes, this was for me. I knew I would never feel embarrased to tell someone even complete starngers about these amazing storybooks. This would be a wonderful home based business that I could “do well with by doing good.”

The concept was simple despite my lack of computer expertise. Creating a custom storybook through an online publishing system. No special software to purchase. Access my projects from any computer connected to the internet. Then upload my photos and writre the story associated with those pictures. Pick a design and page layouts then when I am finished the corporate office prints and binds the book and sends it to me in the mail. A beautiful high quality, bound book that my grandchildren can read and read over again. Wow! This was the business for me.

Now 2 years later I haven’t regretted my decision for one moment. I am more passionate about this world of storybooks than I ever was. It is an incredible experience to help my clients make their books and then share that amazing magic moment when they receive their completed book in the mail. I have had long-distance calls from all over the country and emails from clients who are thrilled to receive their books containing their precious photos and stories.