Vickie S Story

Introduction I still remember the first time I heard about Vickies stroke. My husband and I were on a mission trip in Florida, working with an international Bible translation team. Emails began to pop up on my computer screen with fragmentary pieces of information from home. Vickies dogs had been viciously attacked by neighborhood dogs and were in emergency surgery. Vickie asked us to pray for the recovery of her precious pets. Then the news got dramatically, unbelievably worse. Vickie herself had had a major stroke and the prognosis was not good, recovery uncertain. Information was suddenly sparse from the hospital as John and we (my husband and I) waited for the medical tests and for time to give us some idea of what was ahead for Vickie. It had been only the previous Sunday that John and Vickie had done another of their beautiful choral duets at our home church. It was less than six months since we had celebrated with John and Vickie at their wedding and reception. Vickie was too young to have a stroke. John and Vickie had just begun a new life together after suffering through broken relationships in both of their pasts. How could God allow such a thing to happen to such a couple? As I worked on the sermon I was to deliver back home the next Sunday, projected to be on the joy of the Lord, I was seized with doubts. Could I proclaim this joy with such a heavy heart? Could the congregation receive the promise of joy as we wept and waited and prayed? It was John Shermans blog that showed us the way. He began to chronicle the medical, emotional, and spiritual struggles that Vickie and he were experiencing, beginning that very first day. He drew on his deep knowledge of the scriptures. As time passed and events unfolded, John listened and considered and reflected on the painful times and the hopeful times, the frustrations with medical and insurance problems as well as the unexpected joys of love and service received from friends and hospital staff. His words and Vickies indomitable spirit through very difficult circumstances drew an ever-increasing Facebook audience, with dozens of people near and far uplifted and encouraged by their endurance and trust in the Lord. Johns eloquence in expressing all of these realities was something seldom seen on social media, something that seemed truly inspired by the Holy Spirit. I recommend John and Vickies story for your reading. If youre dealing with a similar medical issue, youll find it informative as well as encouraging. If youre just trying to live a joyful and victorious life, youll be uplifted and inspired by one couples overcoming journey toward recovery and restoration. My favorite text about joy comes from Nehemiah 8:10: Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. At the time this was written, the city of Jerusalem was in ruins and enemies were encircling and numerous. Nehemiah helped the people understand that when times were tough, those were the times they needed joy the most. John and Vickies story is ultimately a story of finding sustaining strength through experiencing the joy of the Lords promises and presence. Thats a message all of us need to hear. In Christ, Rev. Marie B. Allen Congregational Life and Discipleship Pastor New Town United Methodist Church Williamsburg, Virginia Friends, I know many of you are asleep now. Vickie has had a stroke and has no feeling or movement in her left side. As her doctor said, this is a life-changing episode, but I am praying for his light and glory to shine even in a dark moment. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support as we navigate through this present uncertainty. As I learn more, I promise to update you with what I know. My apologies, Facebook cant convey these thoughts with all that is filling my heart now. God bless you (John).

For I know the plans I have for you, said the Lord, plans to help you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 Vickie and her husband, Roney, were eagerly anticipating their retirement when the cancer storm invaded, changing their lives dramatically. Author Vickie Sides tells how the storm blew away her plans and spread its clouds to affect all her family, leaving a gamut of emotions in its wake. As initial hopes that she was cured collapsed, shock and disbelief vied for control with Sides s fear and uncertainty. All too soon, she discovered that the storm was far from over; she was in the eye of a hurricane. Where are you, God? Why is this happening? and What purpose do you have for me? are only some of the questions that plagued her, as she battled not only through her own illness, but also through caring for her loved ones. Yet Vickie s Story is not about agony or despair. Instead, it is a journey of faith and of learning how to cope, one day at a time, and by the grace of God. It is about decking the halls for Christmas even as death awaits, accepting the fact that we are all at different stages of being terminal, and transitioning towards trusting the Lord completely. Today, an ovarian cancer survivor of eleven years, Sides hopes to inspire and encourage those who struggle with cancer. May her journey lead others to live above the circumstances with joy and peace and trust the God who has brought her through death and fiery trials.

2022 Readers' Favorite Gold Medal Winner in Non-Fiction - Memoir Genre Award-Winning Memoir “Courageously exploratory, making for a truly enlightening read." (Kirkus Reviews) Raising Jess is the powerful story of one family’s survival when faced with adversity. Written with compassion, honesty, and humor, it tells of a family changed forever by the birth of a child with a rare chromosome deletion and their courageous decision to choose hope. Facing the challenges of caring for her daughter, marriage struggles, and the question of having more children, Vickie Rubin gives a glimpse into the world of her family and transformation while Raising Jess. This beautiful, gripping memoir will delight and leave you wanting more. "This is an inspiring story of tragedy and triumph, brilliantly and powerfully told. I highly recommend it." - Ashley Adams, Author “This is a triumphant tale.” - Cathy Shields, Author" "A heartwarming, compassionate story. This story will bring tears to the eyes of readers as they are educated and enraptured by one family’s journey with a child with special needs.” (5-Star Review by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite) “Couldn’t put it down! Raising Jess is an amazing book! Vickie Rubin’s writing is masterful! Highly recommend.” - Mike Steklof, Ed. D. “Beautiful Insightful Narrative That Resonates Deeply. I feel enlightened, inspired, hopeful and transformed by Vickie's story.” - Janet G. “Beautifully written and a must-read for anyone that knows someone with disabilities or wants to know a family’s perspective.” - Jill G. “I couldn’t put it down. Get a copy of this book—so pure, raw, and beautiful.” - Ashleigh Bussinger “Vickie reveals her Soul to the reader. A Must-Read for All” - Lori N. Vickie Schlanger Rubin, M.S Ed., three-time award-winning author, contributes essays to Newsweek, Buffalo News Opinion, and blogs worldwide. Vickie is an experienced public speaker and passionate advocate for families of children with disabilities. Her blog, Vickie's Views (www.vickierubin.com), gives a heartwarming and humorous view of everyday life.

"Delectable and easy-to-prepare recipes from the creator of the legendary Miss Vickie's potato chips. Vickie Kerr has always been passionate about preparing nutritious meals for her family, and it was her desire to make a healthier snack for her four young children that resulted in the recipe that launched one of the most successful potato chip brands in North America. Now, after more than thirty-five years preparing food for her family in her kitchen, she presents this collection of recipes and the story of a family legacy spanning decades. More than seventy recipes, from healthful salads and sides, to delicious entrées, hearty soups, and comforting casseroles, through classic desserts and preserves, and even the recipe for Vickie's potato chips! Instructions that are so simple and straightforward that even the newest cooks will feel confident getting into the kitchen. Vickie Kerr launched the Miss Vickie brand of potato chips in 1987 after creating an original recipe that used potatoes her husband, Bill, grew on their farm in New Lowell, Ontario. In 1993, her company was acquired by Frito-Lay, This is her first book. She divides her time between Arizona and Ontario"--Provided by publisher.

Before she was mother to global superstar Demi Lovato, she was just Dianna Hart. Dianna tells her story from the very beginning in this complete and genuinely affecting memoir. She had big plans of becoming a country music star, but her life went in a different direction than her dreams. She developed an eating disorder early in life to gain a sense of control in her strict upbringing. As she continued to struggle with body image and her obsession with being perfect her entire adult life, she was also met with other difficult situations. Her husband and father of her two eldest daughters, Dallas and Demi, had his own troubles that effected the entire family. She coped with alcohol and pills, forming a long-lasting addiction. She's had terrible lows but also some great highs as she watched her daughters break out in Hollywood to become strong, empowered young women. As a mother caring for daughters with addictions while continuing to battle her own, Dianna offers a unique perspective. And as a family, they have survived everything life has thrown at them and come away from it stronger than ever. Dianna tells her story of living through and surviving adversity--with tremendous strength, love and faith.

How British Columbia became an international hotspot for submarines, submersibles, Newtsuits, underwater robotics, Arctic sonar and a host of other cutting-edge undersea technologies. In Deep, Dark & Dangerous, maritime historian Vickie Jensen explores the fascinating story of British Columbia's rise to become a world leader in the underwater tech industry. She profiles both trailblazing innovators and newcomers to the field, and traces BC's colourful history and bright future as a front runner in the world of subsea technology innovation. This little-known saga began in the early 1960s. Two commercial hard-hat divers from the Vancouver area, Don Sorte and Al Trice, realized that they needed a small manned submersible with robot arms for deep-sea work. They couldn't find one to buy, so they decided to partner with machinist Mack Thomson and build their own. Experts told them it would be suicidal to try a home-made version, but just over two years and $100,000 later, their Pisces I was successfully making two-thousand-foot dives. They formed International Hydrodynamics, which went on to build fourteen submersibles and produce a generation of experts that would launch an entire industry of subsea companies in BC. During the same period, Phil Nuytten went from opening Vancouver's first scuba shop as a teenager to becoming a commercial diver and starting his undersea construction company at age twenty-five. Now, Nuytten is best known for his atmospheric diving suits, Newtsuit and Exosuit, along with a series of submersibles for scientific research. Drawing on her background in documenting both history and industry, Jensen uncovers the stories of over forty subsea pioneers, both historical and current, and details the innovations that are responsible for BC's remarkable and continuing subsea reputation. Written with colour and flair, this is a fascinating and exciting story that anyone can enjoy.

A “fast, fun” cozy mystery series “full of Sherlockian lore”—set at a Cape Cod bookshop run by a “charming, intelligent heroine as observant as the Great Detective himself” (Carolyn Hart, New York Times–bestselling author) When murder pays a visit to Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, Gemma Doyle must use the powers of deduction to find the killer—and clear her own name. Gemma Doyle, a transplanted Englishwoman, has returned to the quaint town of West London on Cape Cod to manage her Great Uncle Arthur’s Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium. The shop—located at 222 Baker Street—specializes in the Holmes canon and pastiche, and is also home to Moriarty the cat. When Gemma finds a rare and potentially valuable magazine containing the first Sherlock Homes story hidden in the bookshop, she and her friend Jayne (who runs the adjoining Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room) set off to find the owner, only to stumble upon a dead body. Gemma is the police’s first suspect, so she puts her consummate powers of deduction to work to clear her name, investigating a handsome rare books expert, the dead woman’s suspiciously unmoved son, and a whole family of greedy characters desperate to cash in on their inheritance. But when Gemma and Jayne accidentally place themselves at a second murder scene, it’s a race to uncover the truth before the detectives lock them up for good.

In this award-winning memoir, two sisters reckon with the convalescence and death of their outlandishly tyrannical mother and the care of their psychologically terrorized father, all relayed with dark humour and brutal honesty. When Vicki and her sister learn their mother has been hospitalized for a broken hip, they return to their parents' home in Alberta to put things back in order. Though their parents disowned them years before, the sisters now reassert themselves in the dysfunctional household: their father, undernourished and suffering from Stockholm syndrome, is unable to see that he is in danger from his outlandish and vindictive wife. Rearranging their lives to be the daughters they were never allowed to be, the sisters focus their efforts on helping their father cope with the unending manipulations of their mother, and must encounter all the characters common in the circus of caretaking--oddball nurses and home helpers; over-opinionated hospital staff who have fallen for their mother's compulsive lies--along with the pressures that come with caring for elderly loved (and sometimes unloved) ones. Set against the natural world of remotest Alberta ("in winter the cold will kill you, nothing personal"), this memoir--at once dark and hopeful--shatters precedents about grief, anger and family trauma with surprising tenderness and humour.