Near Mama's Heart, unique and diverse, speaks to families everywhere. From its beautiful pictures to its tender verse, it illustrates the loving relationship between a breastfeeding mother and her child.

I’ll Carry You My Child I just remember praying so silently, “Dear Jesus, will you please take my trembling hand?” Lord, can’t you see I’m losing all of my courage? I’m weak, my legs are shaking, and I can barely stand. I know that you see this door in front of me; my precious daughter is resting in peace on the other side. I am just so afraid of seeing what I most want to see, “Lord, Do you think, this time, you could carry me inside?” Then Jesus said, “My child you must have forgotten, for this surely isn’t the very first time. You’ve had other troubling times in your life, as I did then, I’ll carry you now, and you will be just fine.” I can’t tell you this won’t be painful, for it will be, there will be things that you won’t want to see. But someday even painful memories become cherished, and they’ll remain “deep, in the heart of you and me.” Don’t you remember the day that you followed me child, as we walked lazily along in the sand? There was only “one set of footprints” then, don’t you know, “my child, I’ll carry you again?” 18 MARY J. BOOMHOWER Did You See The Angels? Danni, “Did you see the angels hovering near, and did you ask them to please go away?” “Did you tell them you would go another time, but that you just couldn’t go that day?” Danni, “Did you tell them you were on your way home, and that I was counting the minutes to see you?” “Did you tell them your new life had barely begun, and that you still had so many things to do?” Danni, “Did you tell them, that you really loved “The Lord,” and you would gladly go to Heaven someday?” “Did you tell them that we hadn’t said our good-byes, and that you just couldn’t leave me that way?” Danni, “Did you tell them that your mama wasn’t that strong, and that I just couldn’t bear losing my child?” “Did you tell them how we had to hug every day, and how much I would miss your smile?” MAMA’S HEART 19 Our Last Cuddle All signs of life were gone from you, when I first saw you that day. The pain that you had suffered was still on your face, and I wanted so badly to take it away. I needed to wrap my arms around you, and to give you lots of baby kisses. Just the way we did when you were small, and when you had all of those “near misses!” I gently blew kisses over your body, while I prayed that you safely made it “home.” Then I really thought I heard you say, “Mama, please cuddle me once more, while we’re alone.” I really wanted to lye down beside you, and wrap you up so tightly in my arms. I wanted assurance you’d never know pain again, I’d gladly lay there forever, protecting you from harm. I just went to my knees praying, Lord Jesus, will you please, please hold my hand? She had so much life left to live, Lord. I just don’t understand! Lord, you know I’ve lost my precious child, and I don’t know what to do. This is the hardest time in my life I’ve ever known. And now, Lord, I need so much help from you! 20 MARY J. BOOMHOWER Footprints On My Heart How very softly you tip-toed into my world, almost silently, and only a moment you stayed. I wasn’t prepared to let you go, and never dreamed you’d go away. I remember the day you took your first step, and how it made a footprint on my heart. I never thought your life would be so brief, or how soon we’d have to say good-bye and part. I used to think of the day you’d marry, and wonder about the man you’d choose. I prayed you’d find the right one, someone that would love you and always be true. Some say that God knows the day we are born, how long our stay on earth will be. If “He” knew from the beginning, I just wish ‘He” would have prepared me. MAMA’S HEART 21 What Would You Do Without Me? Please open up your big brown eyes; I just know if you’d try that you can. Can’t you feel me? I’m right here beside you! Oh my child, I can just barely stand. Please open your eyes, I know that you can. You can’t be gone, the dream wasn’t yours, it was mine! This was always a dream but I didn’t understand, but now you’re gone and you left me behind!

Sometimes life takes a turn we weren't expecting... ...and the detour leads somewhere we never could have imagined. Shocked to learn she's pregnant, Misty is worried her parents are going to disown her. At the very least, they're going to be embarrassed of their prodigal daughter. But they're not. And they step in to help out when Misty can't be there for little Tommy. Life seems to be going pretty well. Until the fateful day when Misty's entire world is turned upside down. Tragedy makes her question everything she's ever known about God. She's bitter, angry, and inconsolable. Life suddenly doesn't seem worth living. Can a surprise visitor make Misty see that her tangled, knotted life is truly a beautiful tapestry on the other side? The Tapestry Series True-to-life Christian stories that just might help answer life's questions.

Pour yourself a glass of lemonade, pull up a chair, and sit down next to Mama. Have you wished you could talk to someone who¿s been through what you¿re going through? Do you need some advice from someone who cares? Mama is here. Now, in an 86-page gift book, Mama¿s best advice is available for you to cherish and share. A mixture of homespun wisdom and hard-won life experience, Table Talk from Mama¿s Heart is the perfect book for everyone who is looking for a little bit of motherly advice.

Mama's Heart Fits Two is a delightful picture book that explores the special sharing issues inherent with twins. Twins must share their parents from day one and often feel insecure as a result. This book takes the reader/listener through various situations where Eva and Gia, fraternal twins, fight over their mother while struggling with the issue of sharing. In the end, Eva and Gia learn that a mother's love is infinite and unconditional. Mama's heart indeed fits two.

For use in schools and libraries only. A lyrical dance through the seasons...Fine lines scratched into drawings add a sense of motion beyond the dancing figures, the billowing clouds, rustling leaves, and splashed-in puddles. --Kirkus Review.

This book you hold in your hand may be small in size but the story it tells is huge! The message... Trust God's Grace... He does not do miracles half way! This is a true story... written from the heart... without benefit of accomplished writer's skills. There are no long descriptive pages meant to build suspense...life can do that all on its own. How many of us live our lives routinely...going along day after day... assuming things will always go as we plan? This mother found the peaceful, normal life she so treasured, turned upside down in a split second. How she coped (or didn't cope) is chronicled in these pages.