And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! For then would I fly away, and be at rest.' Psalm 55:6 (KJV) There are many tears and much sorrow for this white dove, but it is happy with life! You will not understand this for years to come, but this wounded white dove will bring wonderful blessings to you and your family. You must believe this! Many years ago, an old woman delivered this message to Carl's mother on a dark, city street. Eight-year-old Carl and his seven brothers and sisters are mystified by this strange story. What is the importance of the wounded, white dove? How could a wounded white dove bring many blessings to such a large, deprived family? What hidden secrets must Carl uncover? Will Carl ever find the wounded white dove? Once again, Arthur Dale Likens weaves a beautiful story about an incredible, loving family living on a lonely, dusty road known as Anglin' Road. There are more struggles and adventures-blizzards, a possible murder, an abandoned tent, and Carl's beloved brother Glen's health is deteriorating. Friends-old and new-and loving relatives come to share in the laughter, the dancing, and the singing that echo across the valley.

What is the theological significance of art? Why has the Church always encouraged the arts? What is so profoundly human about the arts? In A Wounded Innocence Alejandro R. Garcia-Rivera answers these questions in a series of sketches" that are mixed spiritual and theological reflections on various works of art written in a poetic style. These reflections explore the relationship between the multi-dimensional spiritual and the arts. The first *sketch, - *The Beginning of Art, - introduces the rest that go on to explore further the human, artistic, and theological implications of a wounded innocence. Each *sketch - reflects on a particular human work of art. Some are conventional works of art. Others may never find their way into a museum but, then, that is one of the implications coming out of this book. A museum does not define what a work of art is, its human depth does. In these deeply studied yet spiritually written reflections on each work of art, it is hoped that the reader will find his and her own creative depth described, perhaps even revealed. A Wounded Innocence is both inspiring and informative. Readers will learn about art, spirituality, and theology, and will find themselves inspired to look at works of art, and even to produce a work of art. It sets a new way of doing theology that is at the same time spiritual. More importantly, Garcia-Rivera describes a theology of art. Chapters are *The Beginning of Art, - *The End of Art, - *Human Freedom and Artistic Creativity, - *Heaven-with-Us, - *The Human Aspect of Atonement, - *The Tyger and the Lamb, - and *A Wounded Innocence. - Includes black and white art. Alejandro R. Garcia-Rivera, PhD, is associate professor of systematic theology at the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley. The author of numerous articles, he also wrote a Catholic Press Association award-winning book on theology and aesthetics titled The Community of the Beautiful (The Liturgical Press). "

From Darkness Into The Light is an inspirational book of poetry written in free style. The poems emerged from a journal that I wrote in order to deal with unresolved issues of personal losses. Initially written for self-expression, the poems interwoven throughout the journal profoundly touched me. I read some of them to close friends, and based on their response I began to read the poems to the public. Again, the response was overwhelming. What I find interesting about the poems is that most are written in about 15 minutes, some a little longer, and others in shorter time. I began to realize that the poems are gifts that flow through me and that they touch others in their own deeply personal way.

Pulitzer Prize-winner and former poet laureate of the United States, Rita Dove has written prolifically since the early 1970s. In this, the first full-length critical study of her entire body of work by an American scholar, Malin Pereira traces the development of Dove's literary voice, looking at the ways she combines racial specificity with the perspective of the unraced universal. Pereira examines Dove's poetry, fiction, drama, and literary criticism closely and chronologically, charting her path through the racially charged culture wars of the 1970s and 1980s. She demonstrates how Dove eventually transcended racial protocols that threaten to define her work and moves into a nomadic poetic articulation of her cosmopolitan identity. As Pereira addresses Rita Dove's cosmopolitanism, she also examines the thematic concerns that reoccur in Dove's work - themes, such as incest, miscegenation, nomadism, the blues, and patriarchal oppression.

Rebecca Wainwright is fifteen years old in 1866 when her family travels west on the Oregon Trail. The journey is difficult, tedious, and at times, dangerous. They cross swollen rivers, endure severe storms, and Indian attack. While the wagon train continues on to Oregon, the Wainwright family stops and settles in Nebraska. They build a sod home and farm the land. Rebecca and her family endure many hardships on the windswept prairie: fierce snowstorms, voracious wolves, and prairie fire. In the spring of 1867, the Wainwrights are attacked by a party of Lakota Indians and Rebecca is taken captive. Her fear is nearly overwhelming and she wonders what these savages may have in store for her. Her captor, a young, handsome warrior, brings her to a woman in his own village to become the woman's daughter. Rebecca learns the Lakota language and way of life, realizing she has had many misconceptions about the Indians. She learns they are loving, caring people who only want to be left alone by the whites. She falls in love with the young, handsome warrior and they are married in the Lakota tradition. She begins to see the destruction of the native people, their lands stolen and desecrated, the buffalo slaughtered, and the tribes forced onto reservations. She witnesses the Indian people fighting back against white aggression, and becoming a hunted and hated people in their own country.

"The Big Nightcap Letters" by Aunt Fanny is a delightful collection of correspondence that offers a glimpse into the lives and adventures of various characters. The story revolves around a group of individuals who engage in a unique tradition of writing letters to one another. Through these letters, they share their experiences, thoughts, and emotions, creating a tapestry of interconnected stories that unfold with warmth and humor. The central focus of the letters is the Big Nightcap, an event that brings together friends and family for an evening of storytelling and laughter. Each letter serves as a chapter, revealing the personal anecdotes, dreams, and reflections of the characters as they prepare for the annual gathering. As the letters are exchanged, readers are introduced to a colorful cast of characters, each with their own quirks, passions, and challenges. From the witty and charming Aunt Fanny to the adventurous and curious individuals who contribute their stories, the correspondence paints a vivid picture of their lives and relationships. The letters cover a range of topics, from humorous mishaps and heartwarming moments to personal triumphs and unexpected surprises. Through their written words, the characters create a sense of camaraderie and connection, bridging the distances that separate them and celebrating the joys of friendship and family. "The Big Nightcap Letters" captures the essence of human connection and the power of storytelling. It highlights the importance of sharing our experiences, dreams, and struggles with others, fostering understanding, empathy, and laughter along the way. Aunt Fanny's writing style is engaging and light-hearted, weaving together a tapestry of stories that will captivate readers of all ages. Her characters come to life through their distinct voices, creating a sense of familiarity and endearment. "The Big Nightcap Letters" is a heartwarming and entertaining read that celebrates the power of human connection and the joy of shared experiences. It reminds us of the importance of staying connected with loved ones, cherishing the moments of laughter and storytelling that bring us together."

These stories, in all their narrative voicings, deal with sorrow and still seek to find life’s joys. Despite conflicts, contradictions, sacrifices, surprises and ironies, the haunted and hunted characters try to comprehend death in detail. In so doing, the human spirit rises up and triumphs against the incomprehensible and bewildering aspects of life, love and death.

Luke Savage Was Not A Marryin' Man. The funny thing was—Noelle Bellencourt just happened to come from a long line of folks with tricks up their sleeves. Certainly there was more to this Eastern miss than met the eye, for he suspected she had the power to transform his wandering ways! Noelle Bellencourt had come West to find family and fulfillment—and instead found herself stranded in the desert, arguing at riflepoint with Luke Savage. But could this mysterious stranger truly be the one to make all her troubles disappear?