Sand Castles And Sunsets
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
The young boy sat on his knees trying to put the finishing touch on a sand castle he had made from his upturned bucket. He looked disgusted at the crumbling sands before he kicked the castle down and took off running toward the woman nearby on the beach.
"Why did Daddy die, mommy?" The young boy cried out as he slid to a stop. His curly hair was ruffled and tossed by the wind.
His mother looked up wearily and shook her head. She was alone and felted lost in a troubled world.
Angrily the boy threw down his tiny shovel. "I don't want to build a sand castle. Daddy's not here to help me, and I need him! I need him right NOW!"
Cory started to turn and run away. Then he looked again at his mother and stopped suddenly. He could see the sadness and tears swelling up in her eyes as she looked away. He was sorry he had yelled at her, but he had to have an answer, no matter what. He had to know why!
Sara Cooper knew this big, dreadful question was coming, and she'd rehearsed the answer for weeks. But suddenly, trying to explain the sudden death of her husband to her 4-year-old son seemed much harder than the rehearsal. She had practiced the "God needed him" lines. But right now, Cory needed him too. There were no "good" answers to Cory's question. The accident report said the driver of the pickup truck had fallen asleep, crossed the centerline and collided with the car Bill Cooper was driving. How could she explain the why's of that to Cory? It didn't make any sense to her either. Oh, why did Bill have to die?
"I don't know," she answered truthfully as she reached out and pulled Cory onto her lap.
"It's okay, mommy." Cory gave her a big hug and began to gently pat her back like she always did for him when he cried.
Sara had thought that all her tears were gone. There could be no more. She had cried them all out in the weeks of torment and loneliness, but the tears streamed down her face at Cory's comforting touch. She hugged him hard and long before Cory gently pulled away to return to his world of little boy's play.
Sara watched Cory as he sat close and began again to play there in the sand just outside their new beach side cottage. She wished it could be that simple for her to just quietly return to the work of a child's play as Cory did.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
Cory is but 4 years old playing on a warm, sandy beach when he is confronted by the unacceptable news of his daddy’s death. Tormented by grief multiplied by her son’s tears and rage, Cory’s mother is unable to comfort her angry and emotional son. Her own tears are endless.
Then, Ol’ Joe appears on the beach and begins playing in the sands, building castles with Cory. Ol’ Joe builds castles that are “just right.” Cory is caught up in the process of this new, well planned method of building fortresses. Life’s lessons are taught as the sands become the castles. The pain of loss and its resulting anger ebb away as the waves and sunsets move the castles back into the sands and the days become years.
The repetition of life cycles – day / night, laughter / tears, love / heartache, tides in / tides out – a rhythm to life is found in Sand Castles and Sunsets. Readers will find this natural rhythm comforting, full of emotion and purpose. In spite of the rhythm – or because of it – there is a natural flow. Peace comes. Cory finds hope and promise for a new joy-filled day.
About the Author
Janis E. Miskimins grew up in
These childhood foundations gave Janis her deep emotional commitment to feel what others feel and share in the abundance of love she also feels from a wise Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Although her writings rarely speak directly of her faith, Janis writes of powerful life changing stories where the spirit of a higher power touches the lives of real people.
Today, Janis brings forward manuscripts of novels, children’s books, short stories, poetry, songs, and screenplays. All have been written throughout her years of youthful adventures, teaching junior high, raising a family, divorce, single parenting, graduate school counseling psychology program, guardianship of elderly friends, remarriage, and, after her daughters were grown, the adoption of a son with Autism/Aspergers.
Janis hopes that through her writings readers may stand in the gap for others and begin to feel a stirring within their own souls and awaken to a sure knowledge that they – as all others – are a child of a loving Heavenly Father. And, with this knowledge, choose to live fully doing good and serving others every moment of life. There is much good to be done!
You may learn more about Janis and her work at Sand Castles, Inc. @ www.sandcastlesonline.com.