Patricia Taylor

KAT was an ordinary stray kitten, but as he grew bigger he developed extraordinary powers. One day, he came to Sam's Welding Shop, and there he played the role of guard cat. Each night when Sam and all the workers went home, KAT was left alone to protect his master's shop. No mice, critters, or prowlers would dare enter the grounds while KAT was on guard.

This is the true story of a plucky young girl who suffered an extremely traumatic and cruel childhood. Her name was Shirley Gilfillan and she was born in Adelaide, South Australia in 1925 to a mentally disturbed mother and a weak and inadequate father. She was abandoned by him at three years of age and then permanently blinded in her left eye by her psychotic and alcoholic mother at the tender age of four. Her neighbours feared for the child's life and reported her mother to the authorities. Two women police officers appeared at their door and the distressed and terror-stricken child was torn from her mother and placed with her bachelor uncle who had no idea of how to care for a young child. His sister was taken by the authorities and placed in a mental institution, diagnosed as homicidal and paranoid schizophrenic. She was never released. When Shirley was nine her uncle made the gut wrenching decision to place her in a Catholic orphanage. Abandoned and rejected once again, the young girl was desperately heart broken and inconsolable. The orphanage sadly brought brutality and cruelty into her already battered life and her days were extremely difficult. Sent to the country to work for an elderly couple, she hoped for a new and brighter beginning but instead she was sexually abused and ill-treated. Somehow Shirley found the courage to keep on hoping and praying for the tide to turn. Working as a live-in maid in houses in Prospect, Adelaide. South Australia finally brought an answer to her prayers for "Someone to Watch Over Me." Shirley was the author's beloved mother and she told her story to her daughter over many years.

Bella and Hippo are swept up into an adventure in the Black Forest. A ray of light guides them deeper and deeper into the woods. But why? Join Bella and Hippo on their adventure and meet their many new friends as they all seek the solution to a mystery.

Bella and Hippo are swept up into an adventure in the Black Forest. A ray of light guides them deeper and deeper into the woods. But why? Join Bella and Hippo on their adventure and meet their many new friends as they all seek the solution to a mystery.

This is the true story of a plucky little girl who was abandoned, unloved, and severely abused from birth. Taken from her mentally ill mother for her safety and abandoned by her father, Shirley was placed with her compassionate but poverty stricken uncle. Their life was extremely difficult and it was a constant battle to survive. Sadly the despondent pair lost the battle and at nine years of age Shirley was taken by her bachelor uncle to a Catholic Orphanage where brutality and neglect were rampant. Once again she was abandoned and heartbreak engulfed her. Having been emotionally and physically abused and blinded permanently in one eye by her disturbed mother, she was now treated cruelly by other women who were supposed to take care of her. The unkindness of the nuns at the St. Joseph's Orphanage and their harsh treatment of children in their care was unbelievable. Longing to escape Shirley was elated when told at ten years of age she was being sent out into the country as live-in help. Sadly her hopes were dashed again as the horror of her new surrounds became clear. The cruel old man sexually abused and terrified her and she was his prisoner in the isolated farmhouse. She looked to his wife for rescue, but she turned her back on the desperate young girl. Shirley cried out repeatedly to the God she hoped was real, praying fervently for escape. Escape finally came because of her courage and faith. Shirley found love at the tender age of sixteen and Burt was by her side "until death do us part." He became the "someone to watch over me" that she had longed for. Finally she had the family, too, that she had longed for. They were blessed with seven children, six girls and one boy. Her battle to believe in God and that He loved her and accepted her was one that raged for many years. The nuns had presented a different, unloving and harsh Jesus than the One who eventually won her heart. He became the "lover of her soul" and His love permeated throughout her and brought healing and restoration and joy. Shirley became the girl she was born to be and scattered love on anyone who came near her. This was a whole new experience for her and instead of driving people away, she now drew them like a magnet as the love of God shone through her. When she passed away just before her 90th birthday, she knew where she was going and couldn't wait to get there.