tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86574076353677956812024-03-05T01:51:30.834-08:00 THIS IS ME!This Blog is about my relating to the world through art, as I age along with it. I am a writer, a painter and a singer....not necessarily in that order. I'll be sharing the joy of my three art forms and other tidbits. Watch for more!
fifthchildblog@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09791344881457243524noreply@blogger.comBlogger132125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8657407635367795681.post-87602664011119988442020-01-17T15:01:00.002-08:002020-01-17T15:03:05.339-08:00Reviews Are Loved By AuthorsReviews are so important to writers. The good ones boost us and the not so good ones influence us to do better.<br />
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<b>Here's my first FIVE-STAR Amazon Review:</b><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/amzn1.account.AGDGKUGAVLR6DHLDD75SVN7UOV7Q/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_gw_tr?ie=UTF8" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="color: #111111; text-decoration: none;">Bob and Nancy S.</span></a><br />
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/RPAGQJ3KW1S62/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=1697620183"><i><span style="color: #0066c0; text-decoration: none;">5.0 out of 5 stars</span></i></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/RPAGQJ3KW1S62/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=1697620183"><span style="color: #111111; text-decoration: none;"> A Deeply Personal Journey</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Reviewed on January 4, 2020</span><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Lynne Gassel's deeply personal memoir takes us on a journey filled with tragedy and triumph, sorrow and gratitude, betrayal and forgiveness. Along the way, she delves into issues of family relationships, friendship, religion, politics, psychology, mental health, and the realities of aging. Her story is compelling and her resilience is inspiring. This is a page-turner.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fell-Into-Volcano-Coming-Disasters/dp/1697620183/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1MRSF6PZ3G9LL&keywords=lynne+gassel&qid=1577925875&sprefix=%2Caps%2C207&sr=8-1" style="color: #b5653b; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;">https://www.amazon.com/Fell-Into-Volcano-Coming-Disasters/dp/1697620183/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1MRSF6PZ3G9LL&keywords=lynne+gassel&qid=1577925875&sprefix=%2Caps%2C207&sr=8-1</a></span></div>
fifthchildblog@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09791344881457243524noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8657407635367795681.post-71687881318548470322020-01-01T16:49:00.001-08:002020-01-11T22:28:00.021-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
BOOK JUST RELEASED ON AMAZON!</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fell-Into-Volcano-Coming-Disasters/dp/1697620183/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1MRSF6PZ3G9LL&keywords=lynne+gassel&qid=1577925875&sprefix=%2Caps%2C207&sr=8-1">https://www.amazon.com/Fell-Into-Volcano-Coming-Disasters/dp/1697620183/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1MRSF6PZ3G9LL&keywords=lynne+gassel&qid=1577925875&sprefix=%2Caps%2C207&sr=8-1</a><br />
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<br />fifthchildblog@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09791344881457243524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8657407635367795681.post-29491541822614985272018-11-08T10:23:00.003-08:002018-11-08T10:23:54.320-08:00Raising A Teen...NOT AGAIN!<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: , , "blinkmacsystemfont" , ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's been awhile....Raising a now 14-1/2 year-old teen has been daunting and been taking up all my energy and time. He's a fabulous kids. But as those of you currently raising a teen or have memories you'd like to forget about the age, know exactly what I'm talking about. Aside from the hormonal crazy mood swings with the "I'm sorry" follow-up, the teens of today have a different life than when we raised their millennial parents. All the social media and the overly detailed homework is exhausting for not only the student but for the parents who are forever overseeing that it gets done. So, that's why I haven't posted. Good to get that off my chest. Please share your teen adventures!</span>fifthchildblog@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09791344881457243524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8657407635367795681.post-45740199468970165942016-09-08T17:35:00.003-07:002020-01-11T22:23:52.202-08:00<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b><u>LINK to SOFT COVER BOOK & KINDLE BOOK:</u></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">If you haven't read the original version (or if you have), I know you'll like this newer version. Most of the book remains intact, but there are several added chapters, better writing/editing, a resource section and a new cover. </span>Oh, and if you read the first or this one, PLEASE re-post your REVIEW or post a new one! It really helps me on Amazon. Thanks so much!</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fifth-Child-Turbulent-Parenting-VERSION/dp/1534991131/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1473381249&sr=1-2&keywords=lynne+gassel">https://www.amazon.com/Fifth-Child-Turbulent-Parenting-VERSION/dp/1534991131/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1473381249&sr=1-2&keywords=lynne+gassel</a><br />
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<br />fifthchildblog@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09791344881457243524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8657407635367795681.post-39849761944582672382014-12-06T11:45:00.002-08:002014-12-06T11:46:03.279-08:00WOMAN'S DAY MAGAZINE FEATURE ARTICLE <div style="border: 0px; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-top: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4oyYwMGx7hltJG3TlLMJ_1rhwv6N7Pq3Tp99BsyfB347yddQs6PhUYiD5it2_nuZRie4dwa8YkRFv8d-pwbp_Vfr_ftVr0OnGFNPRXIwaOqde2mU5UaPlQokPevR18J3hRf8yCkEdLFk/s1600/IMG_3234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4oyYwMGx7hltJG3TlLMJ_1rhwv6N7Pq3Tp99BsyfB347yddQs6PhUYiD5it2_nuZRie4dwa8YkRFv8d-pwbp_Vfr_ftVr0OnGFNPRXIwaOqde2mU5UaPlQokPevR18J3hRf8yCkEdLFk/s1600/IMG_3234.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a>"Brady, please get your muddy cleats off the carpet," calls Lynne Gassel to her 10-year-old, who's just returned from baseball practice and has dumped everything—backpack, shoes, cap—on the floor. He grudgingly obliges, then heads to his room to play a video game while Lynne prepares dinner. Shortly thereafter, over takeout pizza and salad, Lynne, her husband Stu and Brady discuss their upcoming Disney cruise. It's all quite ordinary, except that Lynne, 65, and Stu, 66, are Brady's grandparents, and they are raising him as their son.</div>
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In fact, the Gassels' family structure is becoming less out of the ordinary every day. More than 2 million grandparents in the United States are caring for their grandchildren without the help of a parent or another relative, according to census data. "That number rises to 2.7 million when you factor in the parents whose own grown children and <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">their</em> children have moved in with them," says Deborah Whitley, PhD, codirector of the National Research Center on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.</div>
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Experts refer to these as "grandfamilies"—households with kids headed by a grandparent. It's easy to see why so many would-be retirees are forgoing golf and long-postponed salsa lessons: The 2008 recession saw many parents out of work. There was also a 25% rise in the number of parents who were incarcerated between 1997 and 2007, and a jump in heroin and other illicit drug use between 2002 and 2012.</div>
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The Gassels began the process of adopting Brady five years ago, after their daughter Jaime, Brady's mother, died from complications of drug use when she was 32. (His birth father was never in the picture.) The transition was difficult for Stu and Lynne, who were devastated at losing Jaime, but it was fairly seamless for Brady, who was 5 when his mom died, because he had already been living with the Gassels.</div>
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As hard as Jaime's death was, in one way it came as a relief. "We no longer had to worry about how her coming in and out of his life would affect him. And it gave us the opportunity to be parents to him in every sense," says Lynne.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">NONSTOP ACTION</strong></div>
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The challenges of taking on parental duties late in life are many, and a big one is financial strain. For the Gassels, who are financially stable thanks to Stu's pension, the hardest issue is physically keeping up with their son. "When Brady was a toddler, I tried so hard to do what the younger moms were doing," says Lynne. "I remember one birthday party, where all the moms were kneeling on the floor playing with the kids. I forced myself to get down on the floor with them until one of the grandmothers said to me, 'You don't have to be their age.' I realized then that I wasn't really fooling anyone," she laughs.</div>
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Still, Lynne pushed herself. "I didn't want Brady to miss out on anything." Looking back at the toddler years, Lynne sees that she and Stu were trying to make up for the fact that Brady's mom was frequently absent. "We raced around every weekend. Brady loved fire engines and police cars, so we visited every police and fire station and went to all the county fairs, trying to give him as much joy as we could."</div>
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Brady is a happy kid, but the pace took its toll on Lynne and Stu. When Brady was 6, Lynne tore her rotator cuff while holding onto his shirt as he tried to avoid cleaning his room. "Brady pulled away from me really fast and I heard something in my shoulder snap. I went 'Uh-oh.' I had to have surgery and was in physical therapy for six months. It wasn't easy."</div>
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And of course, grandparents don't get a pass on later-in-life health problems just because they're doing what is usually a younger person's job. Many have arthritis, high blood pressure or diabetes, and research shows they delay their own medical care to look after the kids. To Stu, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's abdominal lymphoma when Brady was 3, raising an energetic boy began to seem impossible. "He adored Brady, but one night he said to me, 'I can't do it.'" Stu suggested asking one of their sons to take Brady (they have three other children, all adults), but Lynne felt they couldn't allow Brady to experience another rejection. She took on more of the parenting so Stu could recover, and tried to keep Brady away when Stu was resting after his chemotherapy treatments.</div>
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Ultimately, though, Lynne says it was Brady who helped Stu through his ordeal. "One evening my youngest son came over to shave Stu's head, since he was losing his hair from the chemo, and Brady just thought it was the funniest thing. He giggled hysterically and had us all laughing. Then he threw his arms around Stu and told him, 'You're gonna be OK.'" From then on, there was never any question for Stu that Brady would be his son. "I made a choice to e</div>
mbrace fathering my grandson," says Stu. "Brady gives purpose to my life."<br />
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">A CHANCE AT A DO-OVER</strong></div>
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Now that Brady is older and the physical demands have lessened, the Gassels love that they can be the kind of parents to Brady that they simply didn't have time to be while raising their own kids and working. "I almost feel like now we're being given a second chance to do it better," says Lynne, who was the class mother for Brady's fourth-grade homeroom; Stu coaches his baseball team. "Brady loves to have us involved in his activities. He would just beam when I came into the classroom," says Lynne.</div>
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The Gassels' adult children are supportive, but it has affected all of their lives. "It's probably hardest on my son who has kids," says Lynne. "We're busy being Brady's parents, which takes away from our ability to be grandparents." Lynne also sometimes wishes she could spoil Brady rotten. "But Brady needs me more as a mother than as a grandmother, so that's what I am."</div>
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Raising a child who has lost a parent is another grandfamily challenge. Brady hadn't seen his mom in over two years when she died. "Brady doesn't remember Jaime leaving but it had to have left a mark on him," says Lynne, who adds that Brady suffers from mild PTSD. The Gassels answer any questions Brady has, but they rarely bring up Jaime's death themselves. When he first asked, around age 6, they told him that his mom loved him and wanted to take care of him, but that the drugs changed her brain so she couldn't. "Brady said that God knew that Jaime couldn't take care of him, so God gave him to us. He's an amazing kid," says Lynne. Still, she says, "I know it's in there somewhere, that sense of loss."</div>
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That is likely why Brady regularly makes deals with them, asking, "How long do you think you'll live?" Lynne says, "He'll just grab Stu and hug him out of nowhere. That anxiety, that fear of being abandoned, is his biggest challenge." So Lynne and Stu take extra-good care of themselves: While Brady's at school, the couple exercises and Lynne enjoys creative outlets—painting, singing and writing (she wrote about losing Jaime and raising Brady in a self-published book called <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Fifth Child</em>).</div>
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Lynne admits that there have been days when she imagines what it would be like if she and Stu had a more typical retirement, spending evenings with couples their own age. She often conks out at 8:30 P.M., when Brady goes to bed. But the Gassels wouldn't trade their grandfamily. "Brady made me a Mother's Day card in May," says Lynne. "He cut out big red letters spelling M-O-M and wrote: 'I love you because…it's hard to say why I love you because no words describe how special you are to me.'" The feeling, she says, is mutual.</div>
fifthchildblog@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09791344881457243524noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8657407635367795681.post-86856947924695327442014-11-05T13:46:00.001-08:002020-01-11T23:06:21.708-08:00“Judge, 22nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards.” Judge’s Commentary*: HAD TO SHARE!<div style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
So I entered my book in a Writer's Digest Contest and expected negative comments about how I'm not a real writer, etc. OMG! I had to share this! From “Judge, 22nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards.” Judge’s Commentary*:</div>
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FIFTH CHILD is a real ringer -pick it up. S<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">tart reading, you are immediately transported into author Lynne R. Gassel's situation -waiting at the airport for a flight with her husband Stu and five-year-old grandson Brady, she gets a phone call from a stranger from rehab where her daughter Jaime (mother of Brady) is supposedly staying, and she's thinking, why bother me now? What follows unleashes an all-too-believable thread of events that takes the reader by surprise and might very well leave one in tears.<br />This and the rest of the FIFTH CHILD are a testament to author Gassel's simple yet deceptively powerful writing style. The finely structured story weaves back and forth between the challenges faced by grandparents in their 60s; Jaime's constant struggle with addiction and relapse; and the lively antics of Brady, whose quotes are cleverly placed at the beginning of each chapter. The author's insight and lack of pretense cuts right to the heart of things, aided by her fine eye for characterization and dialogue. Especially poignant is the ending when one finds out the real truth about Jaime. While this is a book best read with a box of Kleenex, it offers understanding to those with a limited knowledge of addiction and reasons why grandparents become "second time around" parents. It also offers hope.</span></div>
fifthchildblog@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09791344881457243524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8657407635367795681.post-59850133528065593642014-10-09T15:15:00.003-07:002014-10-09T15:15:24.339-07:00ONE GRAND FAMILY-Woman's Day Magazine-It's here!The November issue is in the stores! It's the Feature Article and our story about our raising our grandchild as our own. Go get it!<br />
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fifthchildblog@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09791344881457243524noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8657407635367795681.post-26463675252564209782014-09-28T17:58:00.001-07:002014-09-28T17:58:17.582-07:00Thank You for this Wonderful Review!!!!<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="margin-right: 5px;"><span class="swSprite s_star_5_0 " style="background-image: url(http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/common/sprites/sprite-site-wide-3._V375430972_.png); background-position: -30px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: inline-block; height: 13px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 65px;" title="5.0 out of 5 stars"><span style="left: -9999px; position: absolute;">5.0 out of 5 stars</span></span> </span><span style="vertical-align: middle;"><b>This is one of the best books I have ever read and I could not ...</b>, <nobr>September 27, 2014</nobr></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/AJ54VLZMMCIG1/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp" style="color: #004b91;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Melainiee Parton</span></a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/AJ54VLZMMCIG1/ref=cm_cr_pr_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&sort_by=MostRecentReview" style="color: #004b91;">See all my reviews</a></div>
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This is one of the best books I have ever read and I could not put it down until I finished. Anyone would love this book but as a Mom of a drug addict it was so encouraging but also real. It is a must read !!!!</div>
fifthchildblog@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09791344881457243524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8657407635367795681.post-36893014987428277302014-09-16T10:07:00.003-07:002014-09-16T10:08:59.311-07:00BORROW OR PURCHASE-AMAZON.COM KINDLE UNLIMITEDIf you want to read FIFTH CHILD, now's the time! I'm in the running for a big prize (for Brady's College Fund, of course!) from Amazon.com Kindle Unlimited. That means if you BORROW from Kindle Library on Amazon or PURCHASE; I will stay in the contest and could be a winner! Please!<br />
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<br />fifthchildblog@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09791344881457243524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8657407635367795681.post-51009710446597304282014-09-05T21:13:00.004-07:002014-09-05T21:13:59.502-07:00Watch the Magazine Racks and Online<div class="userContentWrapper aboveUnitContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px;">
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<span class="userContent">Just got the word that the November feature article on Brady, Stu and Me will not only come out in early October in the magazine on newstands but there will be some videos/ photos on the online magazine as well. How cool is that??!!! I'll let you know as date gets closer!</span></div>
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Woman’s Day captivates more than 22 million readers by inspiring them to find Value Every Day.<div>
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Magazine: <span class="uiAttachmentDetails" data-ft="{"type":12,"tn":"H"}">853,955 like this</span></div>
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fifthchildblog@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09791344881457243524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8657407635367795681.post-39614453346194901282014-09-04T18:58:00.004-07:002014-09-04T18:58:45.444-07:00The Addict's Mom Grandparent to Grandparent (G2G)<div class="userContentWrapper aboveUnitContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px;">
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<span class="userContent">If you are a grandparent raising a grandchild or a relative raising a child because of the disease of addiction, please make a request to join. I am the Administrator on this site and you will never feel alone or unsupported again.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/154033158118579/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">https://www.facebook.com/groups/154033158118579/</a></span></div>
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fifthchildblog@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09791344881457243524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8657407635367795681.post-78177566685414862252014-08-30T12:24:00.002-07:002014-08-30T22:01:06.365-07:00Thank you Jeri Stern, for Your Wonderfully Honest Review<div class="a-row" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; width: 1062px;">
<a class="a-link-normal" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/review/RMGZ8U3HT1Q4L/ref=cm_cr_pr_rvw_ttl?ASIN=0615838685" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0066c0; text-decoration: none;"><i class="a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating" style="-webkit-background-size: 400px 600px; background-image: url(http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/amazonui/sprites/aui_sprite_0027-1x._V1_.png); background-position: -5px -368px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 400px 600px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 18px; position: relative; vertical-align: text-top; width: 80px;"></i></a><span class="a-letter-space" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; width: 0.385em;"></span><a class="a-link-normal review-title a-color-base a-text-normal a-text-bold" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/review/RMGZ8U3HT1Q4L/ref=cm_cr_pr_rvw_ttl?ASIN=0615838685" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(51, 51, 51) !important; font-weight: bold !important; text-decoration: none !important;">Awesome book! hits close to home</a></div>
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<span class="review-byline" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="a-color-secondary" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(136, 136, 136) !important;">By </span><a class="a-link-normal" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A3IK12X44NRDX/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0066c0; text-decoration: none;">jeri stern</a></span><span class="a-declarative" data-action="cr-popup" data-cr-popup="{"title":"Help","height":"340","width":"340","url":"/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=cm_cr_dp_bdg_help?ie=UTF8&nodeId=14279681&pop-up=1#tr"}" style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="a-letter-space" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; width: 0.385em;"></span><span class="a-color-secondary review-date" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(136, 136, 136) !important;">on August 23, 2014</span></div>
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<span class="a-size-mini a-color-secondary" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(136, 136, 136) !important; font-size: 11px !important; line-height: 1.465 !important;">Format: Paperback</span><br />
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This book was hard to put down once I started the first page. She tells how addiction<br />
affects not only the addicts life, but every member of a family. Lynne has the unique<br />
ability to allow the reader to see that addiction strikes all walks of life. Because of<br />
addiction, there are so many grandparents raising grandchildren. Lynne has written<br />
her story and allows the reader to see the daily struggle it is to watch your child<br />
slowly spiral down , but at the same time you have to be strong for your grandchild.<br />
It is not easy to take on the role as a parent when you are in your 50's and 60's.<br />
Some how, some way, millions of us are doing it on a daily basis. We all have a story,<br />
Thank You Lynne for sharing yours.</div>
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fifthchildblog@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09791344881457243524noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8657407635367795681.post-32029089495913516832014-07-25T13:25:00.003-07:002014-07-25T13:25:19.013-07:00Number 42-Five Stars! Thank You!<div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="margin-right: 5px;"><span class="swSprite s_star_5_0 " style="background-image: url(http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/common/sprites/sprite-site-wide-3._V375430972_.png); background-position: -30px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: inline-block; height: 13px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 65px;" title="5.0 out of 5 stars"><span style="left: -9999px; position: absolute;">5.0 out of 5 stars</span></span> </span><span style="vertical-align: middle;"><b>A must read!</b>, <nobr>July 24, 2014</nobr></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A2JZ9VWO82YB01/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp" style="color: #004b91;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ashley Marie Oland</span></a> (Rehoboth Beach, Delaware) - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A2JZ9VWO82YB01/ref=cm_cr_pr_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&sort_by=MostRecentReview" style="color: #004b91;">See all my reviews</a></div>
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<b><span class="h3color tiny" style="color: #e47911;">This review is from: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fifth-Child-Turbulent-Parenting-Childs-ebook/dp/B00F53UDC2/ref=cm_cr_pr_orig_subj" style="color: #004b91;">Fifth Child: The Turbulent Path That Led to Parenting Our Child's Child (Kindle Edition)</a></b></div>
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Although I finished this incredibly thought-provoking book several weeks ago, it has taken me some time to be able to write a review of the same. The story of a family's growth and constant transition weaved around an honest tale of addiction provides the reader with an insight into the often misunderstood and over-generalized world of substance abuse and dependent/neglected children. The strength of the two grandparents highlighted in this book as well as the resiliency of the grandchild in question inspire one to be better to oneself as well as to one's immediate and extended family. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has regular interaction with individuals struggling with raising a relative's child as well as individuals struggling with addiction. A book you won't be able to put down.</div>
fifthchildblog@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09791344881457243524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8657407635367795681.post-86548007246139934842014-06-23T09:09:00.001-07:002014-06-23T09:09:07.678-07:00This Review Brought Tears To My Heart -Thank You!<div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="margin-right: 5px;"><span class="swSprite s_star_5_0 " style="background-image: url(http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/common/sprites/sprite-site-wide-3._V375430972_.png); background-position: -30px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: inline-block; height: 13px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 65px;" title="5.0 out of 5 stars"><span style="left: -9999px; position: absolute;">5.0 out of 5 stars</span></span> </span><span style="vertical-align: middle;"><b>Stunningly emotional and honest</b>, <nobr>June 23, 2014</nobr></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/AO98T2KFQ6LIK/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp" style="color: #004b91;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">dee melton</span></a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/AO98T2KFQ6LIK/ref=cm_cr_pr_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&sort_by=MostRecentReview" style="color: #004b91;">See all my reviews</a></div>
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As a grandparent raising the child of my addict daughter this book was the most stunningly emotional book I have ever read. There was hardly a sentence that I couldn't relate to. I was drawn in by the end of the first page and couldn't put it down until the last. It is extremely well and honestly written and a must read for any grandparent raising their grandchild, especially if they are doing so because of addiction. My intention was to pass this book on to another grandparent raising a grandchild but feel so connected to it that I want to hold on to it for a little bit first. Thank you Lynne for sharing your life with us and telling our story honestly. Kudos to you...Bravo...xo</div>
fifthchildblog@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09791344881457243524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8657407635367795681.post-21141257388589412952014-06-23T09:06:00.001-07:002014-06-23T09:06:13.802-07:00Wow! This Makes 38 out 40 Five Star Reviews!<div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="margin-right: 5px;"><span class="swSprite s_star_5_0 " style="background-image: url(http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/common/sprites/sprite-site-wide-3._V375430972_.png); background-position: -30px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: inline-block; height: 13px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 65px;" title="5.0 out of 5 stars"><span style="left: -9999px; position: absolute;">5.0 out of 5 stars</span></span> </span><span style="vertical-align: middle;"><b>Father of a Heroin Addict who is still alive & in Prison</b>, <nobr>June 21, 2014</nobr></span></div>
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My wife and I are living Lynne's story. Our daughter is in prison for several felonies to<br />fund her drug addiction. She gave birth almost 6 years ago to a baby boy, Jaden.<br />Only to relapse when he was 3 months old. We became guardians & then 3 years ago adopted him.<br />He is a joy & consumes most of our life now,<br />Our daughter is still alive and is serving another year of a 4 year sentence .<br />What happens next is in God's hands,<br />This book was so real at every level of what we feel & our journey being parents of an addict.<br />Thank you Lynne for words we read that we relate to and at some level feel we are not on this journey alone.<br />I read the book in one night after the first chapter.<br />Mark KILLINGSWORTH<br />St Pete, Fl</div>
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fifthchildblog@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09791344881457243524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8657407635367795681.post-7838353812247076212014-06-11T08:47:00.003-07:002014-06-11T08:47:18.617-07:00THANK YOU For Another AMAZING Book REVIEW!<div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="margin-right: 5px;"><span class="swSprite s_star_5_0 " style="background-image: url(http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/common/sprites/sprite-site-wide-3._V375430972_.png); background-position: -30px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: inline-block; height: 13px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 65px;" title="5.0 out of 5 stars"><span style="left: -9999px; position: absolute;">5.0 out of 5 stars</span></span> </span><span style="vertical-align: middle;"><b>Fifth Child authentically captured life behind the closed door of a family's journey through hell and back.</b>, <nobr>June 10, 2014</nobr></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A2793AX5IFA25S/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp" style="color: #004b91;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jan Nichols</span></a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A2793AX5IFA25S/ref=cm_cr_pr_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&sort_by=MostRecentReview" style="color: #004b91;">See all my reviews</a></div>
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Lynne absolutely got it right. Since I have walked in her shoes from losing my own child all the way through my own Grand kids asking "do I call you Mom" I am blown away by her ability to tell the story just like it went down. The book is authentic and truly captured every nuance from beginning to end.<br /><br />This book to me about her family dealing with the results of the rampant drug addiction tearing through our Nation which does not spare any social or economic group is equal to how Silver Linings Playbook captured a Family dealing with mental illness.<br /><br />BRAVO......</div>
fifthchildblog@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09791344881457243524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8657407635367795681.post-77298939146636954492014-06-07T14:20:00.003-07:002014-06-07T14:20:54.219-07:00Heartfelt Thanks. This Review Gave Me Chills and Tears...<div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="margin-right: 5px;"><span class="swSprite s_star_5_0 " style="background-image: url(http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/common/sprites/sprite-site-wide-3._V375430972_.png); background-position: -30px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: inline-block; height: 13px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 65px;" title="5.0 out of 5 stars"><span style="left: -9999px; position: absolute;">5.0 out of 5 stars</span></span> </span><span style="vertical-align: middle;"><b>"God made a good decision."</b>, <nobr>June 7, 2014</nobr></span></div>
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<b><span class="h3color tiny" style="color: #e47911;">This review is from: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fifth-Child-Turbulent-Parenting-Childs-ebook/dp/B00F53UDC2/ref=cm_cr_pr_orig_subj" style="color: #004b91;">Fifth Child: The Turbulent Path That Led to Parenting Our Child's Child (Kindle Edition)</a></b></div>
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Parents don't plan on their children becoming meth addicts. They don't plan on burying their children and parents don't plan on raising their children's children. Lynne and her husband Stu have experienced the intense heartache and ultimately, the satisfaction of such life experiences.<br /><br />"God made a good decision." The true story of a mother's love for her family, her sacrifice and selfless journey into parenting--again.<br /><br />Lynne sets the stage for telling her personal journey as she recounts her all-American childhood experiences, whirlwind romance and her anticipation of a traditional Baby-Boomer family life.<br /><br />She then, draws the reader into the midst of her ever-darkening world as addiction insidiously creeps into her family and seizes control.<br /><br />For those who may be experiencing similar circumstances, this book helps to assure the reader that they are not alone. It also provides some very important truths and helpful resources regarding co-dependency, dealing with an addicted child and the ever-increasing situation of grandparents raising grandkids.<br /><br />Throughout the book Lynne intersperses short and wise snippets from her grandson Brady, who proves to be wise beyond his years. One "gem" happens after Lynne attempts to join other parents in a martial arts class to complete a strenuous workout. Brady hugs Lynne and cupps his hands around her beet-red face and states, "It's not what you do, it's what you try to do."<br /><br />Lynne sums up her arduous but fulfilling journey at the end of the book by leaving us with one last heartfelt statement from her grandson Brady (as he questions Lynne as to her role in his life).<br /><br />"So," he said with his hands on his hips, "what are you, my stepmother or what?"<br />Obviously, his friends must have been throwing terms out at him trying to figure out who I was.<br />Now it's time for some straight shooting. Maybe he'll get it this time around.<br />"No, Brady, stepmothers aren't related to their children; and you have my blood running through your veins."<br />He looked confused.<br />"Brady, I'm your grandmother; and because I take care of you, I'm also your mom--you have two in one!"<br />He got a very serious look on his face.<br />"So, let me get this straight," he self-assuredly re-capped. "In real life, if Jaime were still my mom, you'd be my grandmother. But because she took drugs and couldn't do it, you're my mom?"<br />"Yes," I replied.<br />Brady stood there, very pensive. Then a smile of recognition came on his face.<br />"God made a good decision . . . He thought you'd be good parents for me. Jaime couldn't be good at it because she used drugs, so he gave me to you."<br /><br />I enthusiastically recommend reading this book for anyone touched by addiction. It is full of redemptive hope and encouragement.<br /><br />~Judy Herzanek/Changing Lives Foundation<br />Co-author of:<br />Book:<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BF38JKY/ref=cm_cr_asin_lnk" style="color: #004b91;">Why Don't They Just Quit? (2010 Edition, Revised and Updated)</a><br />DVD: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IH8G7U4/ref=cm_cr_asin_lnk" style="color: #004b91;">Why Don't They Just Quit METH? Families need help too. DVD Roundtable Discussion (2 Disc Set)</a></div>
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fifthchildblog@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09791344881457243524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8657407635367795681.post-76993192188973180922014-06-03T20:43:00.000-07:002014-06-03T20:43:03.780-07:00KINDLE SUMMER PROMOTION<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
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KINDLE COUNTDOWN SUMMER PROMOTION!<br />June 6-7 ONLY $4.99...June 8-9 $6.99...June 10 $9.99<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fifth-Child-Turbulent-Parenting-Childs/dp/0615838685" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/Fifth-Child-Turbulent-Parenting-Childs/dp/0615838685</a></div>
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fifthchildblog@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09791344881457243524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8657407635367795681.post-19627824944755417682014-04-26T14:37:00.003-07:002014-04-26T14:37:33.788-07:00COURAGEOUS LOVE<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">A valuable book for grandparents raising grandchildren is called </span><b style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">COURAGEOUS LOVE: Instructions on Healing Circles for Children of Trauma</b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> by Laura Bailey on Amazon.com. You can get it on Kindle or in soft cover. The author is a therapist who specializes in childhood trauma and addresses PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress). Because the reason most of us are raising our grandchildren is due to a traumatic event of sorts, it is very common in many of the children we're raising. Sometimes, the symptoms are evident and other times are hidden. I had many "ah-ha" moments. This is an important book.</span></span>fifthchildblog@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09791344881457243524noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8657407635367795681.post-36290964343930456902014-04-23T13:52:00.001-07:002014-04-23T13:52:45.135-07:00An Excellent and Honest Book About A Difficult Situation<div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="margin-right: 5px;"><span class="swSprite s_star_5_0 " style="background-image: url(http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/common/sprites/sprite-site-wide-3._V375430972_.png); background-position: -30px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: inline-block; height: 13px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 65px;" title="5.0 out of 5 stars"><span style="left: -9999px; position: absolute;">5.0 out of 5 stars</span></span> </span><span style="vertical-align: middle;"><b>An Excellent and Honest Book About A Difficult Situation</b>, <nobr>April 16, 2014</nobr></span></div>
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<b><span class="h3color tiny" style="color: #e47911;">This review is from: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fifth-Child-Turbulent-Parenting-Childs-ebook/dp/B00F53UDC2/ref=cm_cr_pr_orig_subj" style="color: #004b91;">Fifth Child: The Turbulent Path That Led to Parenting Our Child's Child (Kindle Edition)</a></b></div>
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I was very impressed with how well this book was written. Writing about drug addiction in an honest way is hard and this book tells it like it is. I found the story sad, but at the same time the honesty made it very readable. Lynne Gassel rose to the occation and prevailed against the odds. Most families would be torn apart by this, but they stuck together and came out better for it.</div>
fifthchildblog@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09791344881457243524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8657407635367795681.post-4158244880290942912014-04-07T10:16:00.002-07:002014-04-07T10:20:22.942-07:00Yes, 10 Million!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There
is an estimated 10 million grandparents having custodial responsibility for
their grandchildren, according to the Foundation for Grandparenting,
established by Dr. Arthur Kornhaber. The majority of grandparents is under 65
years of age and employed, with half the grandchildren under 6 years of age.
This outrageously high number could actually be higher. Casual unreported
custody and fear of losing senior housing and other benefits prevent many
grandparents from exposing their circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>According
to Pew Research Center, households composed of multiple generations are higher
than they have been in half a century. Pew also found that 1 in 10 children is
parented by his grandparent(s).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
Brookdale Grandparent Caregiver Information Project at UC Berkeley Center on
Aging said in the last 10 years, the number of children living with their
grandparents has increased 50%.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
2000, the U.S. census reported that 4.5 million children were being raised by
their grandparents. In 2005, the number rose to 6 million and jumped to 8
million in 2008.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><b>For those 10 million, here is a a list of resources. I hope you get the support you so deserve. </b></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">GAP</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> (Grandparents as Parents)Group (<a href="http://www.grandparentsasparents.org/">www.<b>grandparentsasparents</b>.org/</a>):
a support group for grandparents<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>raising grandchildren.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">National Kinship Alliance
for Children</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (<a href="http://www.kinshipallience.org/">www.KinshipAllience.org</a>): a
nationwide network of grandparents, community members, and professionals
working together to provide education and support, advocacy and thought
leadership for children, grandparents, and kinship families. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><o:p></o:p></u></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Raising Your Grandchildren </span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">(<u>RaisingYourGrandchildren.com</u><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">) </b></span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">by Karen Best Wright: a website with ongoing information for
grandparents and kinship families. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Grandparenting Blog</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (<a href="http://www.grandparentingblog.com/">www.GrandparentingBlog.com</a>) by
Karen Best Wright: an interactive online support site.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Addict's Mom G2G </i></span></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">(grandparent to grandparent) <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sharing Without Shame </b></span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">(</span></b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://www.facebook.com/groups/154033158118579/</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">)<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">:<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></b>a closed secure forum for
grandparents raising grandchildren due to their child’s addiction. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">AARP</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">(American Association of Retired Persons)
(<a href="http://www.aarp.com/">www.AARP.com</a>. Then type grandparents raising
grandchildren): provides information and forum for grandparents. <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><i><br /></i></b>
<b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><i>GRAND</i>
</b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">(www.grandmagazine.com) is an online magazine with information and articles
for grandparents or relatives raising children</span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">.</i></div>
fifthchildblog@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09791344881457243524noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8657407635367795681.post-26329310614565947652014-04-05T19:24:00.002-07:002014-04-05T19:24:51.252-07:00DON'T MISS THIS CD RELEASE PARTY!<div class="mbs _5pbx userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 5px;">
<div style="display: inline;">
OK, Friends and Family; This is my daughter Tracy's event. Her voice is AMAZING, her music MESMERIZING and her show ENCHANTING. Please come and show your support. Her music is going places! I know this. You will want to be part of it!!!!</div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">
<div class="_5r69">
<div class="_5ing mtm _dcs clearfix" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px 1.5px inset, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0470588) 0px 1px 1px; margin-top: 10px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; zoom: 1;">
<div class="_5inf" style="position: relative; z-index: 2;">
<div class="_46-h _5ind" style="height: 174px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 470px;">
<img alt="Carmella's photo." class="_46-i img" height="368" src="https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/q71/s480x480/10155710_556474704450965_967832864_n.jpg" style="border: 0px; left: -5px; position: absolute; top: -34px;" width="480" /></div>
<a class="_5ine" data-ft="{"tn":"q","type":20}" href="https://www.facebook.com/events/230867317105114/?ref=3&ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular" style="bottom: 0px; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; left: 0px; position: absolute; right: 0px; text-decoration: none; top: 0px; z-index: 1;"></a></div>
<div class="clearfix pam" style="padding: 10px; zoom: 1;">
<div class="rfloat _ohf" id="u_ps_0_0_j" style="float: right; margin-top: 42px;">
<div class="_6a _6e mrs _19ab" style="display: inline-block; margin: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; z-index: 1;">
<div class="_6a _6b uiPopover" id="u_ps_0_0_6" style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;">
<a aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true" class="_42ft _4jy0 _55pi _5vto _55_p _p _4jy3 _517h" href="https://www.facebook.com/home.php#" id="u_ps_0_0_7" rel="toggle" role="button" style="-webkit-background-clip: padding-box; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0470588) 0px 1px 1px; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #f6f7f8; background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/y1/r/wL6VQj7Ab77.png); background-position: 0px -21px; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-color: rgb(205, 206, 208) rgb(197, 198, 200) rgb(182, 183, 185); border-style: solid; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border-width: 1px; box-sizing: content-box; color: #4e5665; cursor: pointer; display: block; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; max-width: 200px; padding: 0px 8px; position: relative; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="_55pe" style="display: inline-block; max-width: 186px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: bottom;">Going</span><i class="mls img sp_5l8dti sx_486f28" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yy/r/5buWW_6PBLx.png); background-position: -298px -38px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; bottom: 1px; display: inline-block; height: 8px; margin-left: 4px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 9px;"></i></a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="__cz _42ef" style="line-height: 1.38; overflow: hidden;">
<span class="_6lc fwb" style="display: block; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px; max-height: none; overflow: hidden; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><a data-ft="{"tn":"q"}" href="https://www.facebook.com/events/230867317105114/?ref=3&ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Carmella at Hotel Cafe</a></span><div>
Saturday, May 24 at 8:00pm</div>
<span class="_6s_" style="display: block; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><span class="_5ini fsm fwn fcg"><a class="_5inl" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=79051053058" href="https://www.facebook.com/thehotelcafe" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">The Hotel Cafe</a> in <a aria-haspopup="true" aria-owns="js_4" class="_5inm" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=110970792260960" href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Los-Angeles-California/110970792260960" id="js_5" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Los Angeles, California</a></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
fifthchildblog@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09791344881457243524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8657407635367795681.post-30467324325436172142014-04-05T17:19:00.002-07:002014-04-06T08:35:05.598-07:00Great Review from Someone Who Knows<div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="margin-right: 5px;"><span class="swSprite s_star_5_0 " style="background-image: url(http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/common/sprites/sprite-site-wide-3._V375430972_.png); background-position: -30px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: inline-block; height: 13px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 65px;" title="5.0 out of 5 stars"><span style="left: -9999px; position: absolute;"><br /></span><span style="left: -9999px; position: absolute;"><br /></span><span style="left: -9999px; position: absolute;">5.0 out of 5 stars</span></span> </span><span style="vertical-align: middle;"><b>Very touching and heartfelt</b>, <nobr>April 5, 2014</nobr></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
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<div style="float: left;">
By </div>
<div style="float: left;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A3I8F2MDF297D9/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp" style="color: #004b91;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Karen B. Wright</span></a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A3I8F2MDF297D9/ref=cm_cr_pr_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&sort_by=MostRecentReview" style="color: #004b91;">See all my reviews</a></div>
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<b><span class="h3color tiny" style="color: #e47911;">This review is from: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fifth-Child-Turbulent-Parenting-Childs-ebook/dp/B00F53UDC2/ref=cm_cr_pr_orig_subj" style="color: #004b91;">Fifth Child: The Turbulent Path That Led to Parenting Our Child's Child (Kindle Edition)</a></b></div>
<div class="reviewText" style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
I read Lynne's book cover to cover. Her writing style is engaging and capturing. Even though I raised grandchildren for reasons other than drug addictions, I found Fifth Child to be inspirational yet down to earth. By the end of the book, I felt that I knew Lynne personally. Perhaps, I will someday. If you are a grandparent raising a grandchild or a parent dealing with your child's addictions, this is definitely a must read book. This is one of the best books I have read by a grandparent raising a grandchild.<br />
Karen Wright</div>
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<div class="reviewText" style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<b>Karen B. Wright has a wonderfully informative Blog "Grandparents Raising Grandchildren" www.grandparentingblog.com and an interactive website "Relatives Raising Children" www.raisinggrandchildren@earthlink.net</b></div>
fifthchildblog@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09791344881457243524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8657407635367795681.post-55132541281251581862014-03-28T09:32:00.004-07:002014-03-28T09:32:41.130-07:00ANOTHER ONE! THANK YOU!<div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="margin-right: 5px;"><span class="swSprite s_star_5_0 " style="background-image: url(http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/common/sprites/sprite-site-wide-3._V375430972_.png); background-position: -30px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: inline-block; height: 13px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 65px;" title="5.0 out of 5 stars"><span style="left: -9999px; position: absolute;">5.0 out of 5 stars</span></span> </span><span style="vertical-align: middle;"><b>I enjoyed from beginning to end.</b>, <nobr>March 5, 2014</nobr></span></div>
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<div style="float: left;">
By </div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A2S8XS45I4SAMQ/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp" style="color: #004b91;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">amazonfan</span></a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A2S8XS45I4SAMQ/ref=cm_cr_pr_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&sort_by=MostRecentReview" style="color: #004b91;">See all my reviews</a></div>
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<div class="tiny" style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span class="crVerifiedStripe"><b class="h3color tiny" style="color: #e47911; margin-right: 0.5em;">Amazon Verified Purchase</b><span class="tiny verifyWhatsThis">(<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/community-help/amazon-verified-purchase" style="color: #004b91;" target="AmazonHelp">What's this?</a>)</span></span></div>
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<b><span class="h3color tiny" style="color: #e47911;">This review is from: </span>Fifth Child: The Turbulent Path That Led to Parenting Our Child's Child (Paperback)</b></div>
<div class="reviewText" style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
From the minute I started reading this book I was pulled into the story. It was written with both honesty and heart. I cried, I laughed and I cared about these people.</div>
fifthchildblog@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09791344881457243524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8657407635367795681.post-27906505518364716342014-03-27T09:55:00.003-07:002014-03-27T09:55:16.683-07:00Love These 5-Star Reviews!<div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<span style="margin-right: 5px;"><span class="swSprite s_star_5_0 " style="background-image: url(http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/common/sprites/sprite-site-wide-3._V375430972_.png); background-position: -30px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: inline-block; height: 13px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 65px;" title="5.0 out of 5 stars"><span style="left: -9999px; position: absolute;">5.0 out of 5 stars</span></span> </span><span style="vertical-align: middle;"><b>Love this book! Honestly written and compelling to read!</b>, <nobr>March 6, 2014</nobr></span></div>
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By </div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A2RAU0NS0F07DX/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp" style="color: #004b91;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Darcy</span></a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A2RAU0NS0F07DX/ref=cm_cr_pr_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&sort_by=MostRecentReview" style="color: #004b91;">See all my reviews</a></div>
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<div class="tiny" style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 0.5em;">
<b><span class="h3color tiny" style="color: #e47911;">This review is from: </span>Fifth Child: The Turbulent Path That Led to Parenting Our Child's Child (Paperback)</b></div>
<div class="reviewText" style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
I loved this book! So well written and compelling to read. I read the whole thing in 2 days. Couldn't put the book down!! Life does not always turn out as one would hope. This book helped me see that there is good in every situation and that growth comes from the moments where we are challenged the most.</div>
fifthchildblog@blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09791344881457243524noreply@blogger.com0