Contents
Introduction
Body
of the Book
Section
One:
Stories for Children
On
being different… We all are, you know!
Carrot
Top
Helping
children deal positively with divorce…
The
Chipmunks Knew
A
beautiful, poetic story on the environment
and working together to make positive change in our world…
Charlie
the Field Mouse and the Song of the Corn
Section
Two:
Stories for Youths
On
the value of music and the arts…
Music
Saves the Day
On
the virtue of diversity…
The
Mother Duck and the Mayor who Understood Love
On
mystery, creativity, perseverance and life-purpose…
Grandpa
Steve and the Mysterious Chicken
Section
Three:
Stories for Young Adults and the Young at Heart
On
finding and being ourselves…
A
Most Unusual Boy
The
Maiden who was too Sensitive for this World
Two
stories on coming of age:
Tower of Longing
The Sojourners
Section
Four:
For Adults
Selections
from A Little Book of Wisdom
Love
has Come Down at Christmas
Goodbye
Mr. Langsford
The
Snowbird
Section
Five:
for Couples
Selections
from
Forty Ways to be Happier, More Filled With Love and More
Abundantly Blessed
Selections
from Harp and Quill Poetry Series
Selections
from Little Notes Book for Couples
Section
Six:
Stories for Senior Citizens
(and for Seniors to Share with their Grandchildren!)
For
senior citizens as they progress through care…
Grandma
Ruby and Grandpa Raymond Consider a New Routine
For
senior citizens and their grandchildren…
Some wise parents and a wise grandma help a young boy
understand his grammie’s move from assisted living
to healthcare
Grammie
and Me
For
grandpas on the verge of a move to nursing home…
Grandpa’s
Bad Day
For
those retiring and their grandchildren…
Old Reverend Judy and Beauregard the Church Cat
Section
Seven:
For those who are Ill or Ready to Make their Transition
My
Great Journey
___________________________
Appendices
Appendix
A
About
PlaySingNDream.com
Appendix
B
About
Materials from PlaySingNDream
How
to order and Prices
Appendix C
Other
types of Books and Recordings
from Music-Outreach Publishing
Lists
of Books, Recordings and Videos
with detailed descriptions, ordering information, and
prices for
AbundantChange.com
Uplifting Recordings and Books for People of all Ages
and
Music-Outreach.com
Nostalgic Recordings and Books for the Elderly
Appendix
D
About
the Author
Excerpt
from Book
INTRODUCTION
Who
is Michael?…
Whoever
you are and however you may have come across this anthology
of stories, you are probably wondering, “Just who
is this Michael Purvis, the author of this book?”
Perhaps
you read the back of the book which told you a bit about
my background and the books, recordings and videos I offer
through three different online venues, Music-Outreach.com,
AbundantChange.com, and PlaySingNDream .com. If you have
read the back cover of this book, you are aware of the
basic purpose of each venue, and that the materials noted
above are published by my publishing house Music-Outreach
Publishing. This is some basic information.
But
just who is Michael, and why have I launched these endeavors?
It
is not important to the scope of this introduction that
you know my entire life-story, but it is worth noting
that my life has been a great launching pad for all my
current endeavors, including my writings and recordings.
Suffice
it to say that like many of you, I grew up in a little
town, progressed through school, went to college, fell
in love- did all the things that we humans do. It is important
for me to mention, as well, that from an early age I was
encouraged by my parents, both seekers of wisdom, to read
voraciously to hone many creative skills, and to become
a life-long seeker of truth.
And
so I have.
I
believe my purpose (as I currently understand it) is that
of artist, teacher, and healer through the arts. I am
a teacher, speaker, performer, writer, illustrator, poet,
musician, composer, orchestrator, and recording artist.
I believe that God and I decided, before my soul incarnated
here on earth, that I would use these abilities to help
others in the world.
My
life seems to go in cycles. For the first eight years
after college I used the above abilities to teach and
educate others in a variety of ways. I have for the last
eight years used those skills to perform over 5000 inspirational,
live, musical programs for elders in the various settings
in which they reside.
Now,
at the direction of Spirit, I am entering a new mode where
I believe I will continue to do some live performing,
but work more and more at home creating books, book series,
and recordings in my studio. These creations will include
writings, illustrations, music, teaching of skills and
the putting forth of upliftment, motivation and inspiration
for people of all ages, cultures and walks of life- through
the venues mentioned in the above paragraphs.
In
this way, I hope I can touch many more lives with messages
of love, healing, and joy through music and the spoken
and written word.
I
wish, in closing, to say a few words of thanks:
I
thank God, who is present in us, and all around us, and
in whose love we swim!
I
thank the Reverend Louise Dunn, who is the best therapist,
and spiritual counselor I ever had, and who is a great
spiritual teacher.
I
thank Rev. Joan Cerk who so unhesitatingly believed in
my new projects, and right from the beginning gave me
her prayers, made my work a part of her tithe, and primed
the pump of abundance for me with her spontaneous giving.
I
thank all scriptures and wise words, spoken or written,
which are based in love.
I
thank all saints, sages, and spiritual leaders who have
sown seeds of love throughout the ages.
I
thank my dear friend, Jackie Martin, whose counsel, aid,
love, patience, flexibility, and hard work on my behalf
has made this transition into a new phase in my work possible.
I
thank all of my assistants, past and present, each of
whom seem to come along just when they are needed bearing
skills, patience, hard work and generosity of spirit.
I
thank my parents: David- my father, Marlene- my birth
mother, and Judi- my angelic stepmother whom I thank for
truly being a mother to me. I thank my parents for giving
me birth, support, financial help, and teaching me to
love goodness and wisdom.
I
thank my family, immediate and extended, who always love
me, come to my aid, and never seem to question or doubt
me- even when I seem constantly to be moving in a new
direction, and be forever “evolving”.
I
thank my friends and all those I have loved in my life
for the love and teaching they have given to me over the
years.
I
thank Dewey for his generosity and support. None of this
new mode of serving God and humanity would have been possible
without his help.
And
finally, last but not least, I thank my little doggie
Merty, whom I named after Thomas Merton, the Trappist
hermit who paradoxically was very much in the public
eye, due to his writings. My little Merty was a special
friend during a difficult period in my life, when I
felt very alone, yet spent a great deal of time performing
in public. Merty forgives me when I am too busy and
I don’t give him all the love he deserves. He reminds
me to rest, and to play and, sometimes, he positively
makes me step outside of myself, stop what I am doing,
and pay attention to him- which sometimes is just what
I need to do!
