|
 |
|
|
 |
|
In This Issue
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quick Links
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hello,
|
|
|
NEED A SPEAKER?
Contact Susan for your next event!
TURN YOUR MESSES INTO SUCCESSES!
He looked around to see if anybody was watching,
then continued with digging. Quickly, he cleaned up
the mess and unbeknownst to anyone, his secret
remained buried in the dark, cold ground all winter
long.
How could this occur in such a highly sophisticated
world, you ask? But it did. No one knew the truth
for months. That is, not until spring arrived and
then - the truth - little by little became apparent.
Restless and impatient, he realized he couldn’t keep
his dark secret hidden any longer.
That’s when Sam revealed what he had done. Taking
his wife, Jill, outside, he anxiously awaited her
response. Her eyes grew as big as saucers as she
stared in disbelief. She screamed, “Oh, my gosh.
What have you done? I can’t believe it!” He knew she
would have a million questions, “How could you? When
did you do this?” She thrust her arms around him
shouting, “They’re beautiful! I love them!
Tulips! My favorite! I had no idea!” Within
minutes, they personified the name of the flower –
and yes, their “two-lips” meshed.
But Sam was making a point. Like the tulips, he and
Jill had experienced a very difficult “winter” in
their own lives, as well. Jill had fought a battle
against cancer and Sam’s career took a nose dive.
Sam, however, remained optimistic and wanted to
remind Jill that through the cold, dark and dreary
messes in their own lives, things were looking up.
The tulip philosophy is not a new philosophy, but
one worth repeating. Tulip bulbs must be planted
underground in the fall – when the promise of the
dark, cold, and dreary winter lies ahead. Just like
life, and although we don’t like it, sometimes it’s
necessary to go through the dormant winter to
facilitate the vibrant new growth in the spring.
Yes, we would like to avoid this difficult time, but
as with tulips, doing so would prevent essential
growth and the flowers would fail. Enduring and
surviving the long, cold winter produces strong and
vibrant blooms as an extraordinary palette of color
bursts through the top layer of mulch in the spring,
offering beauty and splendor beyond measure.
Meanwhile, we can be assured that through our winter
of endurance, God is developing and growing our
character and fortitude. This is how we discover our
resilience, strength, and stamina. We can endure by
determining to endure. We can develop the staying
power through relying on Him and believing that in
the midst of our pain, we can rest and be assured
that even though it may not seem possible, this is
when we grow the strongest and learn things about
ourselves that we never thought possible (hopefully
good things).
Wouldn’t it be nice to “bloom where we’re planted”
without much effort? But that’s not reality. Reality
consists of health issues, financial constraints,
strained marriages, wayward children (or parents),
demands and numerous other weeds that we’d like to
eliminate from our garden of life.
When Jill saw her beautiful array of tulips, she was
reminded that blessings are not always revealed at
the beginning. Sometimes we have some “ground” work
to do first. But, if we resolve to grow through our
trials and learn from our messes, we have the
inimitable opportunity to turn our messes into
successes!
Enjoy the beautiful tulips this spring! (After all,
they went through a lot to get here.) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
"On the Air"
with Susan Crook
Click here
(to view recent appearances)
(Watch Susan's recent television interviews with
various ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC stations around the
country.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Personality Insights for Moms"
Multiple awards - WINNER
Best Parenting Book Award
A great Mother's Day gift!
EASTER EGG HUNT - RECOGNIZE YOUR CHILD?
Want to recognize personality styles
easily? Watch children on an Easter
egg hunt! Because of their different
personality styles, each child approaches
the pastel little treasures hidden in the
grass with a different motivation.
|
 |
The “C” child follows the rules,
stays within the designated boundaries,
and counts out the exact number of Easter
eggs each child is allowed to keep.
To take an “S” child on an Easter
egg hunt is an experience full of love,
graciousness, and reaffirming kindness.
“Ss” don’t hesitate to share any excess
eggs they’ve gathered with the other
children; they’re so sweet. (It’s actually
more fun to hug the bunny anyway.)
The “I” children miss a lot of the
eggs because they’re so excited about
skipping and waving to all their friends.
They have such a good time – especially if
they can talk to all their friends while
they’re hunting for the eggs! In fact,
hunting for friends can be more fun than
hunting for eggs!
Taking a “D” child on an Easter egg
hunt is a whole different story. My high
“D” son, Scott, embellished me with some
of the most embarrassing Easter egg
hunting moments of my life. He was out for
the kill! He would elbow his way to snatch
every egg in sight, and then hurl them
into his Easter basket as if shooting
hoops! Being forced to put some of the
eggs back was one of the most difficult
“acts of kindness” this “D” child ever
experienced.
When other moms repeated the promising
Easter message, “He’s Alive! He’s Alive,”
they weren’t referring to Jesus at the
time! They were warning their kids about
Scott! “Ds” need to win, and win they do.
That’s where we, as moms, have to
encourage our high “D” child to act like a
caring, sharing child – and not hog all
the eggs! (By the way, this event required
action that involved more than the “Mom
look”! I had to assist with a little
elbowing of my own! Hm-m-m... and we
wonder where they learn these things!)
Happy egg hunting to all personality
styles!
Excerpt from the award-winning book,
"Personality Insights for Moms."
Hurry! Order an assessment today to
"D-I-S-Cover" your personality style!
Child Personality Assessment
Teen Personality Assessment
Adult Personality Assessment
Remember -- no personality style is right
or wrong -- just different!
______________________________________
_________________________________________
Award-winning,
Personality Insights for Moms,
is now available online at
Amazon.com or at your local
bookstores. $13.95 (10 digit ISBN
#0977839702) (13 digit ISBN
#9780977839704)
(Please submit requests for
autograph separately. Be sure and
specify recipient's name.)
A book club favorite! Free
Discussion Group Questions available
online for your convenience!
Read sample
chapter today.
Coming Soon: "Personality
Insights for Couples." Find out why opposites attract
-- and then attack!
|
|
|
|
Recipe of the Month |
RESURRECTION CINNAMON ROLLS
- 1 (8 oz.) tube refrigerated crescent
rolls
- 1/4 C. (1/2 stick) melted butter
- 8 large marshmallows
- 1/4 C. sugar
- 1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
Preheat oven to 375°. Grease 8 muffin
cups.
- Combine sugar and cinnamon in a
bowl.
- Separate crescent rolls into 8
triangles (represents the cloth that
Jesus was wrapped in).
- Dip marshmallow (represents Jesus)
in melted butter (oils of embalming).
- Dip in cinnamon and sugar (spices
used to anoint the body). Place on
triangle.
- Pinch, sealing edges well
(represents the wrapping of Jesus’ body
after death).
- Dip in butter, press into spices.
- Place each roll in prepared muffin
pan.
Bake 13-15 min. (The oven represents the
tomb.) (Pretend it is 3 days later.) Cool
slightly, open the rolls (cloth) and
discover that Jesus is no longer there. HE
HAS RISEN!
|
|
|
|
Just for Laughs! |
QUESTIONS:
- Why was the Easter bunny so upset?
- What is the Easter bunny’s favorite
sport?
- Where does the Easter bunny go when
he needs a new tail?
ANSWERS:
- He was having a bad "hare" day.
- Basket-ball, of course.
- A re-tail store.
|
|
|
|
Thought for the Day |
| |
 THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY:
Easter’s not just about new outfits and
pretty little baskets. Easter is the
fulfillment of a promise for a new
beginning... the new beginning that God
gave us when His son died on the cross.
Because Jesus was buried and rose again
(sounds like tulips), we can experience a
new life – like a garden with a palette of
many colors – when we let the “son” shine
on us.
Create a
new beginning for your life today.
|
|
|
|
Great Gift Idea |
Another GREAT MOTHER'S DAY GIFT! Order online
today.
New "A Cup of Comfort - Devotionals for Mothers"
Daily Inspiration for Christian Moms - to be released
later this month! ($15.95)
Read Susan's devotional in this book, "Different Strokes
for Different Folks...and That's Okay!"
(Please submit requests for an
autographed copy separately. Be sure and specify
recipient's name.) |
|
Need a Speaker? |
|
Need a speaker? Contact Susan for your next event!
See
Speaking Topics or Susan would be happy to work with
your theme!
RETREATS ~ CONFERENCES ~ EVENTS ~ MEETINGS ~
Teachers In-Service, Real Estate Agents, Bankers, Nurses
-- Need to earn CEU's?
ABOUT SUSAN: Susan Crook is a Certified Human
Behavior Consultant with a Master’s Degree in
Communication, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Her
relationship expertise,
television and radio appearances, speech presentations,
book and articles, website,
and newsletters reach thousands every month. Susan's
career experience as the former Assistant Director of
the Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders and successful
business owner uniquely qualifies her as an
award-winning author and inspirational national speaker.
Contact us today!
NOW SCHEDULING 2007-2008 SPEAKING & TRAINING
ENGAGEMENTS!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
