Ok, Ok! But!! You Asked for It!


Book Description

Adventure, mystery, imagination, immaturity, and sometimes just plain ignorance....that's what you'll find in this compilation of sixty-two short memoirs. The stories will take you from the innocent childhood of the author in the 1940s and 50s, through the turbulence of school, marriage and child-rearing in the 60s through the 90s, and eventual spiritual maturity of the author in these current days. Each memoir, though short in words, is long in substance, usually funny, and a life lesson. Ten of the stories are in fact near-death experiences, and examples of how the author lived his life without recognizing the signs that his Lord placed before him. Each story stands alone without reference to the others. However, in whole, the stories relate to a complete life change in the author from childhood to adulthood. Many people do not pass beyond their first encounter with death; some do, but are left with scars and memories of their near miss. Some people call it luck; some call it coincidence, and some a guardian angel's protection. The author believes that the Lord placed signs before him, and still does for everyone. These signs are placed so that all will open their hearts and minds to the wondrous power of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The author is in no way proud of most of his memoirs, as most of them occurred due to naivety, an over-active imagination, or stupidity. But he is thankful that Jesus has been patient with him through the journey. Jesus can save all of us through our journey, but it is up to us to accept Him and save our soul. David R. Patterson, born, raised, and a life time resident of Fort Wayne, Indiana, has been employed at Murray Equipment Inc. since 1968. Dave is a self-taught Systems Engineer and Inventor who owes every thing to his Creator, who has been very patient with Dave throughout the years. All his thoughts and ideas have come from the Lord who allowed him to grow up at a time when he could use his imagination, which became his foundation for a tiny spot that he could create and fulfill a need. The Lord also introduced Dave to Steve Murray, who later became the owner and risk taker of Murray Equipment, which Steve built into what it is today, a leader in its field of expertise. Steve showed confidence in Dave, and Dave took it as a challenge to fill this void. Cynthia L. Patterson, Dave's beautiful wife of over forty five years, is truly a wife that Dave will tell you he is not worthy of, and a mother who has no equal. Cindi and Dave have four wonderful children, all of whom are Christians and are very successful. Craig and his wife Rhonda have two wonderful children a girl Paige and a boy Caleb. Randy and his wife Dawn have twin boys Jacob and Foster. Shawn and his wife Kimberly have three children, a boy Cole, a girl Madalyn and a boy Cade. Brooke is Dave and Cindi's daughter of the family, and is everything they could ever ask for, but currently lives in Chicago. Dave has no experience at writing, but he has always wanted to tell of his life time adventures, be it good but mostly bad. He also wants you to know, it's not where you were spiritually, but where you are now. Romans 12:6




You Asked for Perfect


Book Description

"Wise romantic and painfully relatable."—BECKY ALBERTALLI, award-winning author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda For fans of Adam Silvera and Nina LaCour comes a timely novel about a teen?s struggle when academic success and happiness pull him in opposite directions. Senior Ariel Stone has spent his life cultivating the perfect college résumé: first chair violinist, dedicated volunteer, active synagogue congregant, and expected valedictorian. He barely has time to think about a social life, let alone a relationship...until a failed calculus quiz puts his future on the line, forcing Ariel to enlist his classmate, Amir, as a tutor. As the two spend more time together, Ariel discovers he may not like calculus, but he does like Amir. When he's with Amir, the crushing academic pressure fades away, and a fuller and brighter world comes into focus. But college deadlines are still looming. And adding a new relationship to his long list of commitments may just push Ariel past his limit. Full of empathy, honesty, and heart, You Asked for Perfect is a story for anyone who has ever questioned the price of perfection. Praise for You Asked for Perfect: "Silverman's novel hit me straight in the heart... It was powerful enough to make me want to be a better—yet still imperfect—person." —Bill Konigsberg, author of The Music of What Happens "A coming-of-age novel that will charm readers with its relatable and diverse characters, quirky storyline, and interweaving of faith, queerness, and the everyday lives of seniors navigating the pressures of college applications, grades, and relationships. Heartwarming and engaging."—Kirkus




The Art of Asking


Book Description

FOREWORD BY BRENE BROWN and POSTSCRIPT FROM BRAIN PICKINGS CREATOR MARIA POPOVA Rock star, crowdfunding pioneer, and TED speaker Amanda Palmer knows all about asking. Performing as a living statue in a wedding dress, she wordlessly asked thousands of passersby for their dollars. When she became a singer, songwriter, and musician, she was not afraid to ask her audience to support her as she surfed the crowd (and slept on their couches while touring). And when she left her record label to strike out on her own, she asked her fans to support her in making an album, leading to the world's most successful music Kickstarter. Even while Amanda is both celebrated and attacked for her fearlessness in asking for help, she finds that there are important things she cannot ask for-as a musician, as a friend, and as a wife. She learns that she isn't alone in this, that so many people are afraid to ask for help, and it paralyzes their lives and relationships. In this groundbreaking book, she explores these barriers in her own life and in the lives of those around her, and discovers the emotional, philosophical, and practical aspects of THE ART OF ASKING. Part manifesto, part revelation, this is the story of an artist struggling with the new rules of exchange in the twenty-first century, both on and off the Internet. THE ART OF ASKING will inspire readers to rethink their own ideas about asking, giving, art, and love.




(Not That You Asked)


Book Description

In (Not that You Asked), Steve Almond documents a life spent brawling with the idiot kings of modern culture. He squares off against Sean Hannity on national TV, takes on Oprah Winfrey, nearly gets kidnapped by a reality TV crew, and winds up in Boston, where he quickly enrages the entire population of Red Sox Nation. Amid the carnage, he finds time to celebrate his literary hero, the late Kurt Vonnegut. These are essays the Los Angeles Times has called “rich, fearless [and] cutting.” Praise for (Not that You Asked) “Refreshingly irreverent . . . absurdly funny.” –The Boston Globe “[Almond] scores big in every chapter of this must-have collection. Biting humor, honesty, smarts and heart: Vonnegut himself would have been proud.” –Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “Taunting, revealing, irreverent, and earnest.” –The New York Times “Steve Almond has created a distinctive voice and literary persona. Pleasure-obsessed, self-deprecating, horny, hilarious and always dedicated to parsing the messy terrain of the human heart.” –Forward.com




Because You Asked


Book Description

There's Nick Flynn on the "purpose of storytelling"; Tess Gallagher on "finding by losing"; Lydia Davis on "Endings and Order; or Order and Endings"; Bonnie Rough on raising daughters,




Questions You'll Wish You Asked


Book Description

This journal deepens the mother/daughter bond while creating a keepsake for when conversation is no longer possible.With journaling questions for Mom such as:"What have you learned from heartbreak?""Is there a book you hope I'll read?""When you're gone, what is something you'll want me to remember you saying?"These questions will transport you from the daily routine into a time when the ordinary has been rendered sacred. Whether you're a parent looking to leave a legacy to your child, or a child recording memories of your parent, make time for the questions you'll later wish you asked: your future self will thank you.Commonly asked: who is this journal for?The journal provides over 100 questions for a mother to answer for her daughter. It makes a perfect baby shower gift for a new mother of a baby girl, keepsake gift for an aging mother or daughter, and thoughtful present for mothers and daughters of all stages in between. Some daughters sit with their parents and fill out the journal while asking the questions: this invites thoughtful conversations, generational connection, and intimacy. Others choose to purchase the journal for themselves, fill it out, and later present it as a gift to their daughters.This journal can be an especially thoughtful gift for a mother who has lost her own mother; the "motherless" mother often deeply recognizes the importance of recording thoughts and memories for her children.




They Ask, You Answer


Book Description

The revolutionary guide that challenged businesses around the world to stop selling to their buyers and start answering their questions to get results; revised and updated to address new technology, trends, the continuous evolution of the digital consumer, and much more In today’s digital age, the traditional sales funnel—marketing at the top, sales in the middle, customer service at the bottom—is no longer effective. To be successful, businesses must obsess over the questions, concerns, and problems their buyers have, and address them as honestly and as thoroughly as possible. Every day, buyers turn to search engines to ask billions of questions. Having the answers they need can attract thousands of potential buyers to your company—but only if your content strategy puts your answers at the top of those search results. It’s a simple and powerful equation that produces growth and success: They Ask, You Answer. Using these principles, author Marcus Sheridan led his struggling pool company from the bleak depths of the housing crash of 2008 to become one of the largest pool installers in the United States. Discover how his proven strategy can work for your business and master the principles of inbound and content marketing that have empowered thousands of companies to achieve exceptional growth. They Ask, You Answer is a straightforward guide filled with practical tactics and insights for transforming your marketing strategy. This new edition has been fully revised and updated to reflect the evolution of content marketing and the increasing demands of today’s internet-savvy buyers. New chapters explore the impact of technology, conversational marketing, the essential elements every business website should possess, the rise of video, and new stories from companies that have achieved remarkable results with They Ask, You Answer. Upon reading this book, you will know: How to build trust with buyers through content and video. How to turn your web presence into a magnet for qualified buyers. What works and what doesn’t through new case studies, featuring real-world results from companies that have embraced these principles. Why you need to think of your business as a media company, instead of relying on more traditional (and ineffective) ways of advertising and marketing. How to achieve buy-in at your company and truly embrace a culture of content and video. How to transform your current customer base into loyal brand advocates for your company. They Ask, You Answer is a must-have resource for companies that want a fresh approach to marketing and sales that is proven to generate more traffic, leads, and sales.




Think About What You Ask For


Book Description

This is a book of spiritual poems inspired by the preached Word and our everyday experiences. These words will cause you to pay attention to the signs and lessons God gives us each day.




Be Careful What You Ask For


Book Description

A well rounded young woman searches for love and attempts to find it in every man she dates. This leads not only to heartache along the way, but drama and tragedy.Determined not to fail at love, she continues to give her all, man after man, she never gives up.




If You Ask Me


Book Description

Experience the “heartwarming, smart, and at times even humorous” (Woman’s World) wisdom of Eleanor Roosevelt in this annotated collection of the candid advice columns that she wrote for more than twenty years. In 1941, Eleanor Roosevelt embarked on a new career as an advice columnist. She had already transformed the role of first lady with her regular press conferences, her activism on behalf of women, minorities, and youth, her lecture tours, and her syndicated newspaper column. When Ladies Home Journal offered her an advice column, she embraced it as yet another way for her to connect with the public. “If You Ask Me” quickly became a lifeline for Americans of all ages. Over the twenty years that Eleanor wrote her advice column, no question was too trivial and no topic was out of bounds. Practical, warm-hearted, and often witty, Eleanor’s answers were so forthright her editors included a disclaimer that her views were not necessarily those of the magazines or the Roosevelt administration. Asked, for example, if she had any Republican friends, she replied, “I hope so.” Queried about whether or when she would retire, she said, “I never plan ahead.” As for the suggestion that federal or state governments build public bomb shelters, she considered the idea “nonsense.” Covering a wide variety of topics—everything from war, peace, and politics to love, marriage, religion, and popular culture—these columns reveal Eleanor Roosevelt’s warmth, humanity, and timeless relevance.