That First Day Feeling

Take a minute and reflect back on some of the most meaningful first time events in your life and your feelings on That First Day during or after the event. In this book, you will have the opportunity to bring those memories alive again as you read the stories of individuals from all walks of life and by seeing how scripture directs your walk each day just as it directed their walk that eventful first day for them. You are going to see how the choices you make in your life will direct the path you follow throughout your life here and for eternity. As you read the book, allow yourself to imerse in God's word through the scripture that relates to each section and tie that scripture into your own life events.

Everyone knows that sinking feeling in the pit of the stomach just before diving into a new situation. Sarah Jane Hartwell is scared and doesn't want to start over at a new school. She doesn't know anybody, and nobody knows her. It will be awful. She just knows it. With much prodding from Mr. Hartwell, Sarah Jane reluctantly pulls herself together and goes to school. She is quickly befriended by Mrs. Burton, who helps smooth her jittery transition. This charming and familiar story will delight readers with its surprise ending. Fun, energetic illustrations brighten page after page with the busy antics surrounding Sarah Jane. FIRST DAY JITTERS is an enchanting story that is sure to be treasured by anyone who has ever anticipated a first day of school.

A startling, wonderful novel about the true meaning of being an alien in an equally alien world."We are specks. Pieces of dust in this universe. Big nothings.""I know what I am."Mal lives on the fringes of high school. Angry. Misunderstood. Yet loving the world -- or, at least, an idea of the world. Then he meets Hooper. Who says he's from another planet. And may be going home very soon.

A visually stunning story of resilience and determination by an award-winning new author-illustrator team, perfect for back to school. This is no ordinary first journey. The rainy season has come to the Mekong Delta, and An, a young Vietnamese boy, sets out alone in a wooden boat wearing a little backpack and armed only with a single oar. On the way, he is confronted by giant crested waves, heavy rainfall and eerie forests where fear takes hold of him. Although daunted by the dark unknown, An realizes that he is not alone and continues to paddle. He knows it will all be worth it when he reaches his destination--one familiar to children all over the world.

A unique hardcover picture book for two to five year olds, this is the story of a lovely little girl who is nervous about many things. Noni finds a way to control her nerves and work through her anxiety, making life much more bearable for everyone! Noni is nervous about playdates, and global warming, and most of all, about the first day of school. Her parents are worried too, and even her brother is a little wary. But Noni finds a friend, someone a little more outgoing than herself, and discovers that through friendship, she can belong and succeed in a world that once filled her with dread. The story is a universal one about the power of friendship and belonging, delightfully illlustrated by award-winning illustrator Genevieve Cote.

The first day of school is exciting—but it can be scary, too! Meet Rosie, a brand-new student who just happens to have butterflies in her stomach. “Silvestro and Chen take a common figure of speech and transform it, literally, into a lovely expression of a universal experience.” —Kirkus “A cheering first-day story.” —Publishers Weekly Rosie can’t wait to start kindergarten—she’s had her pencils sharpened and her backpack ready for weeks. But suddenly, on the night before the big day, her tummy hurts. Rosie’s mom reassures her that it’s just butterflies in her belly, and she’ll feel better soon. Much to Rosie’s surprise, when she says hello to a new friend on the bus, a butterfly flies out of her mouth! As the day goes on, Rosie frees all her butterflies, and even helps another shy student let go of hers, too.

After a few hectic - but wonderful - years, I woke up in a hospital close to my hometown in Sweden. What had happened? Only yesterday, I felt like a champion. Maybe it was my eagerness to explore the world around me that had put me here. Or maybe it was my fear of missing out on some potentially rewarding experience. Maybe I had been just a little bit too eager trying to make my dreams come true, or could my brush with death simply be a case of bad luck? There was a severe inflammation in my brain, which at times made it hard for me even to recognize my loved ones. To me, questions like 2 + 2 seemed more fitting for a rocket scientist. The doctors were deeply concerned and told me that my prognosis was very uncertain. Things certainly looked bleak, but surviving this whole ordeal was still in the cards. At the time, it made more sense to me to simply see my situation as a case of bad luck. Nonetheless, six months later and completely recovered, I realized that this was the result of something completely different. My love for life and my desire to experience as much as possible had blocked my inner signals. It was like an inner voice telling me to "Relax. Don't try to do everything at once. Stop and smell the roses." Unfortunately, I ignored this worried voice that was trying to look out for me. As I took my first stumbling steps leaving the hospital, I can still clearly remember how alert my senses truly were. Children's laughter made me feel all warm inside. The simple beauty of the sky shifting color made me stop all of a sudden in awe. Smelling the first spring flowers gave me goose bumps. The taste of fresh air being sucked into my lungs made me feel deeply relaxed and the sensation of once again experiencing life made me somewhat euphoric. I was completely present in the moment and my senses were shaper than ever before. This was the beginning of a new journey for me. I started to examine exactly what is needed to create the best possible conditions for feeling good and how we are to create the best possible lives for ourselves. Eight years later, I have now compiled my research and theories in this book. My research has led me to conclude that it is possible for each and every one of us to feel good, every day, throughout our whole lives.

Gutter Feelings Pip Wilson has been on the frontline of Youth Work for many years, including much intensive work and love for young offenders. He feels with the Gutter Feelings of the toughest of teenage gangs and wants, at the same time, to disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed. This is a book about putting Christian principles into practice and living it out - the failure, the hurt, the wounds and the hope. It is a faith journey of a human being... becoming.