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Bright Horizon (Troubled Waters #3)
by Rosemary HayesSet in England and Australia, this is a richly-woven family saga—spanning Victorian times to the present day—-with interweaving historical and contemporary storylines. This tale is set in the 1940s, as Jane and David Daniels struggle with the move from Australia to Britain after the war, and stumble upon some family secrets they are not sure they want to know.
Bright Kids Who Can't Keep Up
by Ellen Braaten Brian WilloughbyDo you find yourself constantly asking your child to "pick up the pace"? Does he or she seem to take longer than others to get stuff done--whether completing homework, responding when spoken to, or getting dressed and ready in the morning? Drs. Ellen Braaten and Brian Willoughby have worked with thousands of kids and teens who struggle with an area of cognitive functioning called "processing speed," and who are often mislabeled as lazy or unmotivated. Filled with vivid stories and examples, this crucial resource demystifies processing speed and shows how to help kids (ages 5 to 18) catch up in this key area of development. Helpful practical tools can be downloaded and printed in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" size. Learn how to obtain needed support at school, what to expect from a professional evaluation, and how you can make daily routines more efficient--while promoting your child's social and emotional well-being.
Bright Kids Who Couldn't Care Less: How to Rekindle Your Child's Motivation
by Ellen Braaten&“He&’s so smart, but he&’s no longer interested in school--or any 'offline' activities.&” &“She used to love sports, but now she just mopes around.&” &“My kid has turned into such a slacker!&” Sound familiar? If you're wondering how your bright, motivated little kid became such an unmotivated adolescent, you're not alone. Fortunately, help is at hand! In this compassionate guide, psychologist and learning expert Ellen Braaten explains that kids who have lost the will to do anything (other than play video games) need more than simple encouragement or the &“right&” school, teacher, or coach to get back on track. Instead, Dr. Braaten helps you understand the myriad biological, psychological, and social factors that affect motivation, and get to know your own child's unique strengths, weaknesses, and personality traits better. Gain vital tools for tackling the motivational problems that are so pervasive today--and build a plan to boost your child&’s confidence and engagement in life.
Bright Lights and Summer Nights
by Shauntay GrantTake a luminous bedtime journey through the summery dreamworld of a restless baby in this enchanting picture book lullaby. In the tradition of bedtime classics like Goodnight Moon, this gorgeous book with a cloth-like spine is the perfect gift for new parents.Fireflies and mystic moonMystic moon and brilliant nightfilled with friends and firelightOn a hot summer night, Mother Moon soothes a little star baby who won't go to sleep. With her magic, she spins a warm, lyrical tale of friendship and fun: a dreamy summer evening set beneath a blanket of twinkling stars as children and forest friends with balloons enjoy a country fair with a carousel and caramel apples before taking a fantastical trolley ride to a marvelous, light-filled destination. A captivating book, sure to be picked up night after night, that will send all little star babies off to dreamland.
Bright Lines
by Tanwi Nandini IslamFor as long as she can remember, Ella has longed to feel at home. Orphaned as a child after her parents' murder, and afflicted with hallucinations at dusk, she's always felt more at ease in nature than with people. She traveled from Bangladesh to Brooklyn to live with the Saleems: her uncle Anwar, aunt Hashi, and their beautiful daughter, Charu, her complete opposite. One summer, when Ella returns home from college, she discovers Charu's friend Maya--an Islamic cleric's runaway daughter--asleep in her bedroom. <p><p> As the girls have a summer of clandestine adventure and sexual awakenings, Anwar--owner of a popular botanical apothecary--has his own secrets, threatening his thirty-year marriage. But when tragedy strikes, the Saleems find themselves blamed. To keep his family from unraveling, Anwar takes them on a fated trip to Bangladesh, to reckon with the past, their extended family, and each other.
Bright Minds and Healthy Bodies: Delicious and nutritious food for raising bright and healthy kids
by Hilda GlickmanYour children cannot be at their best without the right food. Their health and wellbeing depend on it. This book will show you how the most nutritious food can help your children:· Build better brains and bodies· Concentrate better at school· Improve learning and memory· Sleep well at night· Balance their blood sugar for fewer mood swings· Have more energy· Suffer less from colds and infections
Bright Minds, Poor Grades
by Michael D. WhitleyFor any parent who has ever been told, "your child isn't performing up to his or her potential," this book has the answer. Renowned clinical psychologist Michael Whitley, Ph. D. offers a proven ten-step program to motivate underachieving children. This easy-to follow book identifies the six types of underachievers from the procrastinator to the hidden perfectionist to the con artist, and it presents the ten steps to help children succeed in school-and ultimately, in life. .
Bright Minds, Poor Grades
by Michael D. WhitleyIn addition to outlining the importance of teaching a child to love labor, Whitley provides a ten-step program to help parents motivate the bright child who prefers to work below ability. A clear, concise, useful book.
Bright Not Broken
by Temple Grandin Diane M. Kennedy Rebecca S. BanksThe future of our society depends on our gifted children--the population in which we'll find our next Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, or Virginia Woolf. Yet the gifts and talents of some of our most brilliant kids may never be recognized because these children fall into a group known as twice exceptional, or "2e." Twice exceptional kids are both gifted and diagnosed with a disability--often ADHD or an Autism Spectrum Disorder--leading teachers and parents to overlook the child's talents and focus solely on his weaknesses. Too often, these children get lost in an endless cycle of chasing diagnostic labels and are never given the tools to fully realize their own potential.Bright Not Broken sheds new light on this vibrant population by identifying who twice exceptional children are and taking an unflinching look at why they're stuck. The first work to boldly examine the widespread misdiagnosis and controversies that arise from our current diagnostic system, it serves as a wake-up call for parents and professionals to question why our mental health and education systems are failing our brightest children.Most importantly, the authors show what we can do to help 2e children, providing a whole child model for parents and educators to strengthen and develop a child's innate gifts while also intervening to support the deficits. Drawing on painstaking research and personal experience, Bright Not Broken offers groundbreaking insight and practical strategies to those seeking to help 2e kids achieve their full potential.Diane M. Kennedy, author of The ADHD-Autism Connection, is a long time advocate, international speaker/trainer, and mother of three twice-exceptional sons.Rebecca S. Banks, M.A., co-author of The ADHD-Autism Connection, is a veteran educator, national speaker/trainer, and mother of two twice-exceptional children.Temple Grandin, Ph.D., is a professor, prolific author, and one of the most accomplished and renowned adults with autism in the world.
Bright Red Fruit
by Safia ElhilloAn unflinching, honest novel in verse about a teenager's journey into the slam poetry scene and the dangerous new relationship that could threaten all her dreams. From the award-winning poet and author of HOME IS NOT A COUNTRY.A MICHAEL L. PRINTZ HONOR BOOK • A CALIBA GOLDEN POPPY AWARD FINALIST • A PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, BOOKLIST AND KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOK OF THE YEARBad girl. No matter how hard Samira tries, she can&’t shake her reputation. She&’s never gotten the benefit of the doubt—not from her mother or the aunties who watch her like a hawk.Samira is determined to have a perfect summer filled with fun parties, exploring DC, and growing as a poet—until a scandalous rumor has her grounded and unable to leave her house. When Samira turns to a poetry forum for solace, she catches the eye of an older, charismatic poet named Horus. For the first time, Samira feels wanted. But soon she&’s keeping a bigger secret than ever before—one that that could prove her reputation and jeopardize her place in her community.In this gripping coming-of-age novel from the critically acclaimed author Safia Elhillo, a young woman searches to find the balance between honoring her family, her artistry, and her authentic self.
Bright, Precious Days: A novel
by Jay McinerneyFrom the best-selling author of Bright Lights, Big City: a sexy, vibrant, cross-generational New York story--a literary and commercial triumph of the highest order. Even decades after their arrival, Corrine and Russell Calloway still feel as if they're living the dream that drew them to New York City in the first place: book parties or art openings one night and high-society events the next; jobs they care about (and in fact love); twin children whose birth was truly miraculous; a loft in TriBeCa and summers in the Hamptons. But all of this comes at a fiendish cost. Russell, an independent publisher, has superb cultural credentials yet minimal cash flow; as he navigates a business that requires, beyond astute literary judgment, constant financial improvisation, he encounters an audacious, potentially game-changing--or ruinous--opportunity. Meanwhile, instead of chasing personal gain in this incredibly wealthy city, Corrine devotes herself to helping feed its hungry poor, and she and her husband soon discover they're being priced out of the newly fashionable neighborhood they've called home for most of their adult lives, with their son and daughter caught in the balance. Then Corrine's world is turned upside down when the man with whom she'd had an ill-fated affair in the wake of 9/11 suddenly reappears. As the novel unfolds across a period of stupendous change--including Obama's historic election and the global economic collapse he inherited--the Calloways will find themselves and their marriage tested more severely than they ever could have imagined.From the Hardcover edition.
Brighten the Corner Where You Are: A Novel (The Kirkman Family Cycle)
by Fred ChappellBrighten the Corner Where You Are is the riveting story of a day in the life of Joe Robert Kirkman, a North Carolina mountain schoolteacher, sly prankster, country philosopher, and family man. This novel from award-winning author Fred Chappell has won the hearts of readers and reviewers across the country.
Brighter Skies Ahead: Forecasting a Full Life When You Empty the Nest
by Terri DeBoerInspiring advice on how to stop mourning the empty nest—and find meaning in a new phase of your life: “Relatable . . . thoroughly entertaining.” —Tracy Brogan, USA Today–bestselling authorThe transition to an empty nest as children move out and move on to independent lives can be very tough, leaving parents with overwhelming emotions of sadness, grief, and, sure enough, emptiness. In this book, meteorologist and television personality Terri DeBoer reminds you that no matter how quiet your home may seem, you are definitely not alone!With insight and good humor, she shares fifty strategies she’s discovered for weathering the often stormy transition to an empty nest, in short, easy-to-read chapters. Incorporating lessons learned from her own experience as well as from the challenges of the recent pandemic, DeBoer also provides practical exercises and reflection questions—to help you find hope, peace, comfort, and joy in this next stage of life.
Brighter Than the Sun
by Daniel AlemanA timely and thought-provoking story about a teen girl shouldering impossibly large responsibilities and ultimately learning that she doesn&’t have to do it alone from the award-winning author of Indivisible. Every morning, sixteen-year-old Sol wakes up at the break of dawn in her hometown of Tijuana, Mexico and makes the trip across the border to go to school in the United States. Though the commute is exhausting, this is the best way to achieve her dream: becoming the first person in her family to go to college. When her family&’s restaurant starts struggling, Sol must find a part-time job in San Diego to help her dad put food on the table and pay the bills. But her complicated school and work schedules on the US side of the border mean moving in with her best friend and leaving her family behind. With her life divided by an international border, Sol must come to terms with the loneliness she hides, the pressure she feels to succeed for her family, and the fact that the future she once dreamt of is starting to seem unattainable. Mostly, she&’ll have to grapple with a secret she&’s kept even from herself: that maybe she&’s relieved to have escaped her difficult home life, and a part of her may never want to return.
Brilliantly Behaved Toddler (50 Things You Really Need To Know Ser. #1)
by Lorraine ThomasThe 50 bite-sized chapters in this book cover the most trying situations that a parent and toddler are ever likely to meet - including mealtimes, sleeping, toilet training and supermarket tantrums. Each idea features an activity box to help parents gauge their progress and see results as they move forward, while informative narrative and quotes from childcare experts guide and equip them with the techniques they need to feel happy and confident in their parenting skills. Whatever the challenge, experienced parenting coach Lorraine Thomas gives parents an instant practical strategy that really works.
Brilliantly Behaved Toddler (50 Things You Really Need to Know #1)
by Lorraine ThomasThe 50 bite-sized chapters in this book cover the most trying situations that a parent and toddler are ever likely to meet - including mealtimes, sleeping, toilet training and supermarket tantrums. Each idea features an activity box to help parents gauge their progress and see results as they move forward, while informative narrative and quotes from childcare experts guide and equip them with the techniques they need to feel happy and confident in their parenting skills. Whatever the challenge, experienced parenting coach Lorraine Thomas gives parents an instant practical strategy that really works.
Brilliantly Behaved Toddler: 50 Things You Really need to Know
by Lorraine ThomasParenting a toddler can be trying. Brilliantly Behaved Toddler is a handy guide to one of the most challenging periods of parenthood. With years of experience delivering practical parenting strategies through her parent-coaching business, in fifty easy-to-follow chapters, Lorraine Thomas provides the useful tips to handling the most exasperating situations that a parent and toddler are likely to meet, including mealtimes, sleeping, toilet training and supermarket tantrums. Informative narratives and quotes from childcare experts guide and explain techniques to help parents feel confident in their parenting skills. Whatever the challenge, experienced parenting coach Lorraine Thomas gives parents solutions that really works.
Brincar à Maneira Dinamarquesa
by Iben Dissing SandahlO famoso modelo escandinavo que desperta a felicidade, confiança e espontaneidade das crianças Depois do grande sucesso alcançado pelo bestseller Pais à Maneira Dinamarquesa, a psicoterapeuta e professora Iben Dissing Sandahl aprofunda o que torna a Dinamarca tão especial, um dos pilares mais importantes para educar crianças saudáveis e felizes - a brincadeira livre, não estruturada. Sandhal defende uma sociedade onde prestemos mais atenção à educação de crianças equilibradas e com grande força interior, a fim de melhor as prepararmos para os desafios que as esperam no futuro. Para tal, oferece aos pais e educadores em todo o mundo uma visão sobre como integrar a brincadeira livre na vida das crianças. Um guia prático para brincadeiras livres, não estruturadas, que define claramente as etapas a ter em conta para criar filhos fortes e saudáveis. Com tópicos práticos e exemplos inspiradores, Brincar à Maneira Dinamarquesa ajudará pais e educadores a tornar as crianças AINDA mais felizes e mais bem integradas. Adira ao Juramento da Brincadeira e ofereça às crianças a oportunidade de crescerem felizes:«Concordamos com divertir-nos, ser autênticos, experimentar e explorar, deixar a brincadeira captar a magia da imaginação, não julgar nem condenar as ideias dos outros, apreciar a honestidade que a brincadeira desperta, estar abertos à nossa fonte interior de criatividade, e à dos outros.» Os elogios da crítica: «SIM! Vamos pôr de lado todas as estruturas mensuráveis e deixar os nossos filhos brincar à sua maneira para encontrarem o caminho para uma vida feliz e consistente, a fim de poderem conquistar o mundo da forma mais pacífica.»Tom C, Pai «Este livro torna fácil entender o tesouro escondido da brincadeira. Dá uma valiosa perspectiva de como a brincadeira das crianças as ajuda a desenvolver-se como seres humanos e diz a nós, pais, quando nos afastarmos e quando interferirmos.»Nicole P., Mãe «Brincar à Maneira Dinamarquesa defende energicamente a brincadeira livre e dá sugestões práticas aos pais, educadores e médicos para a sua implementação. Concordo que a liberdade de resolver conflitos, medos, e exprimir criatividade só pode ajudar a reduzir o stress, a aumentar a autoconfiança, a diversão, as competências para resolver problemas e a resiliência.»Barbara Lavine, conselheira profissional licenciada, Virginia, EUA «Antes de ter lido Brincar à Maneira Dinamarquesa, não me tinha apercebido de quanto brincar de forma não estruturada é importante. Brincar é a forma de as crianças desenvolverem um espírito inovador, sociável e feliz. Brincar é a forma de pensar criativa que muitos de nós perdem demasiado cedo. É o que faz os seres humanos continuarem e criar e a inovar. Apresenta ao leitor ideias concretas de como proporcionar uma vida mais lúdica e mais feliz às crianças e às suas famílias.»Line West, happyasadane.com «O livro de Iben Sandahl sobre a brincadeira livre das crianças insiste que devemos estar atentos à forma como a brincadeira cria a sua magia, que a deixemos desenrolar-se em linhas individuais de oportunidade, que encorajemos as crianças a brincar e que façamos parte disso. Brincar à maneira dinamarquesa contém uma mensagem importante, com as suas ideias e sugestões sobre como garantir às crianças a brincadeira livre num mundo que se foca sobretudo nos requisitos de desempenho. Algo que podemos garantir reconhecendo como brincar livremente fortalece o desenvolvimento das crianças enquanto seres humanos e incentiva-as a testar as suas oportunidades tanto no mundo real como no imaginário.»Per Schultz Jorgensen, professor emérito, doutor em Filosofia «Brincar à Maneira Dinamarqu
Bring Me the Head of Ivy Pocket (Ivy Pocket #3)
by Caleb KrispMeet the girl who ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE is trying to avoid! The completely unreliable and totally irrepressible Ivy Pocket must orchestrate a most daring and brilliant rescue in the wickedly funny conclusion to the Ivy Pocket trilogy. Neil Gaiman meets Lemony Snicket and the Series of Unfortunate Events in this hilarious series that the Huffington Post called “a must-read.” Perfect for middle school readers!Since she came into possession of the Clock Diamond, Ivy Pocket has been chased, tricked, kidnapped, locked in an institution, and subjected to a truly terrible set of adoptive parents. Luckily, Ivy Pocket always lands on her feet—having all the natural instincts of a frightened feline. With the Clock Diamond in hand, she hurries to rescue her best friend, Rebecca, who is being held prisoner in a parallel world. But Ivy Pocket has fallen ill, there’s a man in a white suit following her everywhere, and the Butterfields seem to be behind yet another plot to lock her away. With a few tricks and all the natural instincts of a master of disguise, Ivy Pocket is sure she can dodge her enemies long enough to pull off the most daring rescue anyone has ever seen.The fast-paced conclusion to the Ivy Pocket trilogy, which School Library Journal called a “gripping-and laugh-out-loud-adventure.” Featuring extensive and hilarious black-and-white interior art by Barbara Cantini. “Please, nobody stop Ivy Pocket.” —Kirkus Reviews
Bring Your Baggage and Don't Pack Light: Essays
by Helen EllisThe bestselling author of American Housewife and Southern Lady Code returns with a viciously funny, deeply felt collection of essays on friendship among grown-ass women.When Helen Ellis and her lifelong friends arrive for a reunion on the Redneck Riviera, they unpack more than their suitcases: stories of husbands and kids; lost parents and lost jobs; powdered onion dip and photographs you have to hold by the edges; dirty jokes and sunscreen with SPF higher than they hair-sprayed their bangs senior year; and a bad mammogram. It's a diagnosis that scares them, but could never break their bond. Because women pushing fifty won't be pushed around.In these twelve gloriously comic and moving essays, Helen Ellis dishes on married middle-age sex, sobs with a theater full of women as a psychic exorcises their sorrows, gets twenty shots of stomach bile to the neck to get rid of her double chin, and gathers up the courage to ask, "Are you there, Menopause? It's Me, Helen." A book that reads like the best cocktail party of your life, Bring Your Baggage and Don't Pack Light is chockablock with fabulous characters: cat-lady plastic surgeons and waterpark Adonises; bridge ladies and poker players; platinum medallion fliers and Garage Sale Swindlers; forty-year-old divorcées; fifty-year-old new moms and still-young octogenarians. Alive with the sensational humor and ferocious love for her friends that won Helen Ellis legions of fans, this book has a raw vulnerability and an emotional generosity that takes this acclaimed author to a whole new level of accomplishment.
Bringing Antiracism into Focus: Using Transformative Lenses to Reframe Professional Practice (Applying Child and Adolescent Development in the Professions Series)
by Alicia Herrera Kevin Ferreira van Leer Samantha BlackburnThis guide introduces applied antiracist developmental science and developmental frameworks that have been comprehensively integrated with antiracist principles. It underscores the importance of viewing child and adolescent development‑related work through an antiracist lens from the outset, examining how systemic racism, implicit bias, and critical consciousness shape human development, and emphasizes the need to cultivate an antiracist developmental perspective to promote equity in professional settings.Anchored in the foundational bioecological model, this book extends to additional frameworks such as the Racism + Resilience + Resistance Integrative Study of Childhood Ecosystem (R³ISE), the Integrative Model of Ethnic Minority Development, the Multicontextual Model for Diverse Learning Environments, and the Phenomenological Variant of Ecological Systems Theory (PVEST). These frameworks are adapted to confront racism and support antiracist practices.Targeted discussions in dedicated chapters cover fields including psychology, PK‑12 education, higher education, and allied health. This book bridges theory and practice through case studies, practical examples, and reflective activities, demonstrating how to incorporate antiracist strategies into daily professional practice. It also delves into how community assets can be protective and mitigate the effects of racism, guiding professionals to recognize and leverage these strengths effectively.This resource is designed for students, pre‑professionals, and early‑career professionals in child and adolescent development committed to incorporating antiracist practices into their work. It serves as both an introductory overview and a practical manual for applying developmental principles with an emphasis on reflection and praxis.
Bringing Asha Home
by Uma Krishnaswami Jamel Akib Ruth JeyaveeranIt's Rakhi, the Hindu holiday special to brothers and sisters, and Arun wishes he had a sister with whom to celebrate. Soon it looks as if his wish will come true. His parents are going to adopt a baby girl named Asha, and she is coming from India, where Arun's dad was born. The family prepares for Asha's arrival, not knowing it will be almost a year until they receive governmental approval to bring Asha home. Arun is impatient and struggles to accept the long delay, but as time passes his love of paper airplanes and his supportive family help Arun conquer his frustration and find his own way to build a bond with his sister, who is still halfway around the world. With warmth and honesty, this tender story taps into the feelings of longing, love, and joy that adoption brings to many families. Readers will find reassurance knowing there is more than one way to become part of a loving family.
Bringing Bubbe Home
by Debra Gordon ZaslowDebra Zaslow was humming along on baby-boomer autopilot, immersed in her life as a professional storyteller, wife of a Rabbi, and mother of two teenagers when she felt compelled to bring her 103-year-old grandmother, Bubbe, who was dying alone in a nursing facility, home to live and die with her family. Zaslow had no idea if she would have the emotional stamina to midwife Bubbe to the other side. Bringing Bubbe Home is the story of their time together in Bubbe’s last months, mingled with scenes from the past that reveal how her grandmother’s stories of abuse, tenacity, and survival have played out through the generations of women in the family. Debra watches her expectations of a perfect death dissolve in the midst of queen-size diapers, hormonal teenagers and volatile caregivers, while the two women sit soul-to-soul in the place between life and death. As she holds her grandmother’s gnarled hand and traces the lines of her face, Debra sees her own search for mothering reflected in her grandmother’s eyes. When Bubbe finally dies, something in Debra is born: the possibility to move into the future without the chains of the past.
Bringing Common Factors to Life in Couple and Family Therapy
by Adrian J. Blow Eli A. KaramWith the aim of renewing motivation, energy, and creativity in a therapists clinical work, this book explores how common factors may be utilized to increase effectiveness in couple and family therapy. Practicing a specific approach or model for couple and family therapy may fulfill many initial therapist needs, but over time it is developmentally normal for your enthusiasm to wane for a specific way of practicing this therapy. This book therefore provides a common factors framework which may help alleviate feelings of "staleness" and reinvigorate your practice. Different from previous theoretical texts about common factors, this practical book will help you construct a personalized plan that will allow you to take charge of your therapeutic development. The authors present helpful strategies and exercises to build on your previously existing therapeutic skill set, stoke curiosity for the work, counter against burnout and frustration and, most importantly, achieve consistently better outcomes for your clients. This new resource is an essential read for seasoned couple and family therapists who want to improve their clinical skills and personal effectiveness, as well as students and professionals just starting their journey into this type of clinical work.
Bringing Elizabeth Home: A Journey of Faith and Hope
by Ed Smart Lois SmartAt 3:58 in the morning of June 5, 2002, Ed and Lois Smart awoke to the sound of their nine-year-old daughter Mary Katherine’s frightened voice. “She’s gone. Elizabeth is gone.” At first they thought she was having a bad dream about her older sister, but Mary Katherine’s seeming bad dream would quickly become their worst nightmare. Their daughter Elizabeth was gone.They were not sure why the media picked up on Elizabeth’s story, but after their daughter was kidnapped she became the whole world’s daughter. After nine months of a strange, hard, sometimes rewarding, but mostly painful journey, Elizabeth was miraculously returned to them. Just as millions throughout the world had grieved for her loss, now they celebrated her safe return. In Bringing Elizabeth Home, Ed and Lois share the pain of every parent’s worst fear: “What would I do if my child was taken from me?” They also share a story of great hope, strong faith, and trust in God. The Smart family had always been devoted to their Mormon faith, but through their terribly painful experience they gained a tremendous inner strength, which became the key to their survival. They write, “Having our daughter back home, in our arms, is nothing short of a miracle. It is the ultimate proof that God answers prayers. Granted, sometimes the answer is not the one we pray for, but still it remains an answer. We feel truly blessed that He answered our prayers the way we had hoped for, although we realize, regretfully, that this is not always the outcome in kidnapping cases. We have met so many families with missing children and we’ve seen how deep their pain goes . . . But what we hope to convey through our journey of faith and hope is that with a strong belief in God, all things are possible. Miracles do happen.”In the end, the Smarts’ story brings one point poignantly home--nothing is more important in this world than family. Not money. Not work. Not a fancy new car or an expensive, big house. Family, the prayers of so many friends and strangers, and trust in God are what got them through this experience--and having survived, they have no doubt that they can persevere in any situation as long as those three things are in their lives. Though their story is filled with many incredible twists and turns, they never lost focus on what was important: bringing Elizabeth home.