Wounded Head, Wounded Heart - A Mom's Journey through her Son's Traumatic Brain Injury

Fried Apple Pies and Chocolate Whatchamacallits shares a fascinating story about growing up in a family of twelve in the mountains of West Virginia in the 1930s. Author Lou Rogers Lester describes life during difficult times?the early years of coal mining and the harrowing experiences of World War II, during which support for the military and allegiance to the war effort was expected and the rationing of food and goods was commonplace. Lester shares her early schooling experiences, where discipline and patriotism were expected and God and country were esteemed. It was a simpler time, but it was one of patriotism and love?a far cry from the schools of today. 

This memoir will take you on a journey of memories and events through years of working and playing together, getting lost together, getting spanked, escaping snakes, surviving childhood diseases without vaccines, and supporting one another through fun times and tragedy in an era when working, walking, and playing provided ample exercise. Peek inside the intimate and unforgettable experiences of this large family in the thirties. 

Every day we make choices based on what we believe about ourselves. If we know ourselves to be the powerful, spiritual beings that we are, then all our choices are born of love. If we believe we're victims of the world we see, our choices are based on fear and a belief in lack, so anger, guilt and shame are what we experience.

Through beautiful poems, thoughts and prayers, In My Father's Arms takes us back to our beginnings; helps us to remember ourselves as God created us: whole, pure, perfect, innocent and free. It reminds us that peace, joy, love and light are our true qualities and that this identity never changes no matter what we experience in this life.

In My Father's Arms helps us to release fear and choose love for ourselves, our relationships and the world at large and to remember that only the love is real.

Following the death of her mother, ten-year-old Marissa?s life changes forever. School goes from a place of learning to a place of terror, where everyone stares at her. Her friends don?t understand, and she loses interest in even her favorite things. It is all because of loss?a loss no child should have to experience: the loss of her mother, her best friend, and her staunchest supporter.

Mrs. Chancey, a kindly neighborhood woman, takes Marissa under her wing. For the first time in weeks, Marissa finds peace in Mrs. Chancey?s backyard garden. Soon, Marissa opens up to her neighbor and shares her feelings of anger, guilt, and emptiness. Mrs. Chancey can relate. She too lost loved ones, many years ago, and Marissa begins to realize they have more in common than just a love for flowers.

One day, Mrs. Chancey shows Marissa the most important plants in her garden?plants specifically grown to aid the lives of butterflies. She goes on to talk about a man named Jesus and how he gives her peace, because Mrs. Chancey knows she will see her lost loved ones in Heaven. Like a caterpillar turned into a beautiful butterfly, Christ was resurrected to cleanse our sins, and as Marissa discovers, He can cleanse her pain, too.

Damekio Gardner was the girl who had it all: designer clothes, lavish jewelry, fancy cars, and a few streetwise hustlers to provide it all. After dating Miles for a while, her life became a continuous, vicious cycle, dating one thug after another, all of whom wanted to live their lives in the fast lane. Her life was consumed by street drama, destruction, and tragedy.

For many years, Damekio struggled against constant animosity, the slandering of her name by jealous women, and constant battles with her lovers. She was beginning to feel she was running out of options. She finally reached her breaking point in response to the death of her son?s father; that?s when she resolved to seek the guidance of God.

Damekio now knows that every experience of her life?the positive and the negative?was a lesson. Making mistakes and learning from them helped her to become the strong, passionate woman she is today. She now hopes to share her testimony to give hope to others who may be facing the dilemmas she did.