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Here is a discovery I made that is guaranteed to 'swell up the joy' in your life, and provide simple wisdom that will change your life. Children's books. The credit goes to John Thompson who dropped the discovery right in my lap.

Three months ago I was approached by John Thompson the publisher of Illumination Arts to write a children's picture book. The offer came out of the proverbial clear blue sky. "Why in the world would this award-winning publisher of children's books seek me out to write a book for them?" I mused. I had never written a child's book in my life, nor had I ever entertained the thought. The last encounter I had with a children's picture book was one gifted to me about a year ago. All I See Is A Part Of Me written by Chara M. Curtis, and published by Illumination Arts, (no coincidence) was without a doubt one of the best books of simple truth I had ever read. I left it on my coffee table for months, read it often, looked at the joyful illustrations and later put it on my bookshelf with all of my grown up books.

Unbeknownst to me, publisher John Thompson had been following my work. He E-mailed me on a Friday and said he said he liked the ways in which I presented my work and myself. He felt guided to approach me with the offer. Taken aback, I said I would go into mediation for direction and call him on Monday. (All of my commitments are prefaced with silence and a prayer for guidance.)

I did what I said and went into meditation, asking my guidance team if this was a project I ought to take on. Early Sunday morning I was guided to go to my computer and start writing. I wrote all day and into the night. I was filled with pure joy the entire time. I called John on Monday and informed him that not only had I accepted his offer, I had already written the entire foundation for the book. The working title was The Adventures of God. I E-mailed it to him, having no idea if what I presented was the proper way to go about writing a children's picture book or not. What I did know was that the joy I got from the simplicity of this project was incredible and I wanted this opportunity to come to fruition.

John liked the premise of it, however all decisions were jointly made by his staff and his 97 year old mother who reviews every book they publish. (Isn't that wonderful?) Soon thereafter a contract was signed.

John began sending me dozens of children's books that Illumination Arts had published for more than fifteen years. Each one I read induced the 'swelling of joy' in me. Children's books are like magical elixirs that calm the turbulent adult mind. I was experiencing the joy of a child as an adult. What a blessing.

I howled with laughter when I read Too Many Murkles by Heidi Schmidt and marveled at the ingenuity of the illustrations of Mary Gregg Byrne. This is a book about smelly little creatures, called "Murkles" that invade the small town of Summerville every year. Soon after the "Murkles" arrive there is an invasion of "Firestars" cropping up everywhere turning everyone's green lawn red and if that's not enough, in flies strange gray birds called "Tanzas" that continuously squawk and swoop down on the"Firestars."

The townspeople are up in arms. All these unique invaders seem to pose a big problem to everyone, except a wise little girl named Juliana. Juliana has great clarity and knows that perspective is everything. She studies the invaders carefully, without judgment, and reports her joyful findings to the townspeople and the Mayor.

Through Juliana's eyes, the "Murkles," the "Firestars," and the "Tanzas" become unexpected gifts for the townspeople. Juliana says, "it's all how you look at it." Now all are welcomed back to Summerville every year.

Dear hearts, we have got to lighten up in spite of circumstances. There is too much heaviness and headiness on this Planet right now. I'm not saying to turn a blind eye to the world. What I am saying is to make it a point to balance life with joy and laughter.

Go to www.illuminationarts.com or a bookstore or Amazon.com and start reading children's books. Personally I wouldn't want to be without All I See Is A Part Of Me or Too Many Murkles. Then again I wouldn't want to be without The Tree, The Whoosh of Gadoosh or One Smile. So many simple choices for joy. Thank you John Thompson, mom and staff of Illumination Arts for every single masterpiece of joy you have sent forward into the world. And kudos to every inspired author and illustrator of these treasures disguised as children's books.

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