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The Milford-Haven Novels, Novellas & Novelettes have now won more than 60 book awards!
Prequel Novella
Novelette
#1 Artist AdventureNovella
#2 Artist AdventureNovella
#3 Artist AdventureNovel One of the Pentalogy
Novel Two of the Pentalogy
Novel Three of the Pentalogy
Novel Four of the Pentalogy
Holiday Novelette
Holiday Novelette
Holiday Novelette
PEARLS OF WISDOM
Category Archives: self-growth
If It’s Not One Thing It’s Your Mother
I could have chosen to believe I had a mean-spirited mother who’d rather hurt than help her daughter. Yet, when I scratched the surface of the complex relationship with my mother, I never failed to discover her heart of gold. Her only motive in saying anything critical was to help me, improve my life, remove an obstacle, deliver me to my best opportunities. Read more
Posted in Family, Family values, Gratitude, Head & Heart, Heart, Mara Purl, Mothers & Daughters, self-growth
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Ancestors in the Mountains
In my memories, honeysuckle twined itself densely through the framework along one wall of the wrap-around porch, sweetening the air. In the cool of the cellar, I reached high to grasp one of the scores of jars of applesauce my grandmother had made. My little legs pumped hard to make the rope swing go higher. I sat on my granddaddy’s lap and asked for the hundredth time to listen to his “tick-tock”—his gold pocket watch. The aroma of biscuits wafted out from the kitchen.
Posted in about issues of the heart, AHA Moments, Bellekeep Books, familial history, Family, family history and genealogy, head and heart connection, involvement in issues near and dear to heart, Live Your Best Life, Mara Purl, Nurturing the soul, self-growth, Travel
Tagged family history, family history and genealogy, tracing our roots, West Virginia
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Auntie-Mothering Heart to Heart
The first time I saw a picture of my darling nephew, he was making the thumbs-up sign in an ultrasound image. Close to the time of his delivery, my sister asked, “If he comes in the middle of the night, should I call you?” I answered, “Every other woman does!” This was literally true, since my husband’s an obstetrician. We laughed, and then dashed to the hospital at the appointed hour. Read moreStep-Mothering is All Heart
One of my favorite roles in life is that of step-mother. Any more than one can plan or train for motherhood, one can’t schedule the unexpected eventually of becoming a step-parent. The job comes with its own prickly difficulties, but also with a series of gifts that continue to leave me, by turns, breathless and grateful. Read more
Posted in about issues of the heart, Art and Entertainment, Books for Baby Boomers, Domestic Violence, Family values, forgiveness, Head & Heart, head and heart connection, Heart, Heart and head connection in books, involvement in issues near and dear to heart, life's purpose, Live Your Best Life, Mara Purl, Milford-Haven Novels & Stories, Personal Essays, relationships, self-growth, sychronicity of life, transformation through AHA moments
Tagged family, Mother's Day, parenting, personal fulfillment, personal growth, step children relationships, step-daughter, step-mother, step-parenting
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God-Mothering from the Heart
Nothing could have been a greater honor than my friend's request that I be her baby's God-mother. We didn't know exactly what that might mean, as this special relationship would occur without religious affiliation. But since Erin and I refer to one another as spiritual sisters, it made perfect sense that I'd be involved in the spiritual life of her daughter. Read more
Posted in about issues of the heart, Books, Collaboration with other writers, E-Books, e-books by Mara Purl, Family values, Finding treasures of the heart in books, Head & Heart, life's purpose, Love of Books, Mara Purl, Milford-Haven Novels & Stories, Personal Essays, self-growth, Women authors, Women's Fiction
Tagged God-daughter, God-mother, God-parenting, heart lives, Mother's Day Gift, women's fiction
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A Year for Mom: January Foreshadows
“A Year for Mom” is a collection of posts written during 2013, the year of my mother’s final illness and of her passing. Some of the most heartfelt and extraordinary communications I’ve ever sent or received took place during this challenging year. I feel I learned so much that ultimately it was as much a year of gain as of loss. Many of my friends and readers have expressed a wish that I share my experiences. These personal moments are shared . . . from my heart.
My family all had a fabulous Whirl-Purl of a holiday season. I’m sure you’ve had years like this.… Read more
Posted in AHA Moments, Authenticity, Family, Family values, Gratitude, head and heart connection, Heart, Intuition, Live Your Best Life, Love, Mara Purl, Personal Essays, relationships, self-growth, Transformation, transformation through AHA moments
Tagged mother and daughter conversations
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