A Smile Through Tears

"Hell exists. It's here on earth. It's called hatred and racial discrimination, and I saw it with my own eyes during the Tutsi genocide that took place in Rwanda between April and July of 1994. I am one of the few to have escaped such a fate, and the events I am about to relate have been seared into my soul." -- Back cover

Explores the feeling of loss before a death or dreaded event occurs, otherwise known as anticipatory grief or early grief.

On October 21, 1989, airline TAN SAHSA's Boeing 7Z7-200, registered as N88705, was a passenger flight en route from San José, Costa Rica, to Miami, with stops in the cities of Managua, Nicaragua, and Tegucigalpa, Honduras. At 7:53 in the morning the plane crashed into Cerro de Hula as it approached the Toncontín International Airport in Tegucigalpa. 135 people died. Of the 146 passengers on Flight 414, only 11 people survived . . . Vivian Pellas is not a fictional character, although she could well be one. Her story is that of a life "forged through fire". She faced the hardest tests and, with her immense faith, not only defeated death, but now saves lives and alleviates the suffering of countless children. Her experiences and her work inspire women and men from different parts of the globe. Today she wants to touch the hearts of others to make this a better world,where children's tears are turned into wonderful smiles of hope.

There were times when smiles were evasive and tears profuse, but there were also many minutes, days, and months when the smiles and the tears became one and the same. Smiling through My Tears is a poignant story that chronologically unfolds the meaningful life and untimely death of my son who could have easily been anyone's child or neighbor. Smiling through My Tears is an unveiling of an "everyday American," dealing with a not-so-everyday, childhood disease. It touches everyone's heart and soul. It offers strength to those living through similar circumstances, as well as understanding and peace to those who are the survivors.

Cartoonists have captured the culture of the nineties. From codependency to adult children to New Age beliefs, American society has proven fertile ground for the growth of the recovered memory movement. Using cartoons as a common thread, Smiling Through Tears is a unique nonfiction book that employs humor to tackle a painful & controversial issue, guiding the reader through a complex web of psychological & social elements that have nurtured one of the nations' most bizarrre moral panics of this century. The public's awareness & perception of the underlying causes of False Memory Syndrome became evident through the parody & satire of one of America's beloved mediums - cartooning. Through the use of mind-altering techniques, misguided therapists have contributed to the devastating damage inflicted upon tens of thousands of families. Smiling Through Tears offers a light & insightful perspective on this psychological drama.

Do you believe that joy is a choice? Dawn Barton does. She's an upbeat Southerner with good hair and a successful business background, but she's had more heartache than most of us can imagine. Laughing Through the Ugly Cry is a collection of honest and sometimes raw stories. Dawn throws an arm around readers as she brings them along on her journey through the loss of a child, divorce, cancer, rape, the death of her only sibling, her husband's substance abuse, and finding her way back to Jesus in the middle of it all. Dawn shares her personal story to show readers how to find happiness and purpose even in the darkest of days. By laughing through the ugly cry, you will discover how to: Shut down negative feelings causing you to feel inadequate Identify the pros despite how challenging the cons may seem Embrace joy wherever you can find it Learn how to be honest with yourself and process grief in a healthy way Dawn writes, "If more women were open about just how difficult our lives feel and how hard we are on ourselves, I think we'd learn to relax a little and give ourselves the grace God gives us every day." Laughing Through the Ugly Cry is great for: Women of any age seeking comfort, encouragement, and inspiration Book clubs and girls' nights--Dawn poses thoughtful group questions to support meaningful conversations about growth and joy