http://fourears.gather.com Recent Articles on Gather by Jennifer Oliver en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 Sat, 02 Jan 2010 09:02:54 GMT 2010-01-02T09:02:54Z en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 http://www.gather.com/images/header/logo_gather.gif http://www.gather.com/ http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977341345 Wonderboy hovered over the rectangular encasement and gingerly felt around the razor-sharp edge.   A microfilm of sweat popped out on his forehead, his smile edgy, hands trembling, while his team, . . . Thu, 08 May 2008 14:33:01 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977341345 Jennifer Oliver 2008-05-08T14:33:01Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977339359   "Momma, you need to follow Mr. Bee!" all three boys shouted. They flapped their arms and made bzzzz-ing noises.   I rose from the rocking chair to follow the honeybees to . . . Mon, 05 May 2008 22:57:26 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977339359 Jennifer Oliver 2008-05-05T22:57:26Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977337359 I would've made a great cheerleader, cheering my little heart out in a cute little skirt, swishing maroon-and-gold pom-poms, flirting with football players.   I would've made a great cheerleader . . . Fri, 02 May 2008 22:29:02 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977337359 Jennifer Oliver 2008-05-02T22:29:02Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977337148 Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.--Confucius The cleaning lady wheeled the trash receptacle from the girls' bathroom out into the tiled hallway.   When the bell rang, knots . . . Fri, 02 May 2008 17:27:59 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977337148 Jennifer Oliver 2008-05-02T17:27:59Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977299120 "I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble."--Helen Keller   This morning, my sister, . . . Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:20:40 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977299120 Jennifer Oliver 2008-04-01T17:20:40Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977278536 Love who you are and what you are and what you do.  Laugh at yourself and at life and nothing can touch you.--Louise Hay   Due to Cody's debut in this world as an extreme preemie . . . Sat, 08 Mar 2008 00:26:25 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977278536 Jennifer Oliver 2008-03-08T00:26:25Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977238357   I'm in shock. Out of 5,000 entries, the excerpt from my novel Wife Seeking Wife   was selected for the semi-finals in Amazon.com's Breakthrough Novel Award . . . Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:41:47 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977238357 Jennifer Oliver 2008-01-24T00:41:47Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977201943   During the winter of 1994, we were basking in the spirit of the upcoming holidays with plans to spend Christmas with my family in Houston.   Being six months pregnant with our first child . . . Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:57:34 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977201943 Jennifer Oliver 2007-12-12T21:57:34Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977193636 "What is a home without children?  Quiet." - Henny Youngman   When I was five years old, hearing aids were prescribed for me. I was diagnosed with an incurable, . . . Tue, 04 Dec 2007 02:07:17 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977193636 Jennifer Oliver 2007-12-04T02:07:17Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977179997   There is no idea so uplifting as the idea of the service to humanity.—Woodrow Wilson   Have you ever given to others, only to receive in return ten-fold the blessings? . . . Sat, 17 Nov 2007 19:59:48 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977179997 Jennifer Oliver 2007-11-17T19:59:48Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977179327   "All the darkness in the world cannot put out the light of one small candle." -- Unknown   Her name was Kim Lorraine, and in the spring of 1956 she died moments . . . Fri, 16 Nov 2007 22:58:52 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977179327 Jennifer Oliver 2007-11-16T22:58:52Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977178468 Normal:  what the average person can accomplish with little or no effort.  So why be normal? --Bob Seay   I observed the man from the comfort of my lawn chair as I sat with . . . Fri, 16 Nov 2007 01:13:02 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977178468 Jennifer Oliver 2007-11-16T01:13:02Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977177539   A steaming bowl of tortilla soup:  perfect for a crisp winter day!  My older sister cooked up a huge pot of this aromatic soup for our family during one Christmas holiday in . . . Thu, 15 Nov 2007 03:16:15 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977177539 Jennifer Oliver 2007-11-15T03:16:15Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977177439   From what we get, we can make a living; from what we give, however, makes a life.--Arthur Ashe    My husband, Stephen, drove to a bigger city about an hour away to pick . . . Thu, 15 Nov 2007 01:13:02 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977177439 Jennifer Oliver 2007-11-15T01:13:02Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977175423   To touch the soul of another human being is to walk on holy ground.--Stephen R. Covey   When I attended Open House at my son's school, I scanned the bulletin board outside . . . Tue, 13 Nov 2007 00:09:29 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977175423 Jennifer Oliver 2007-11-13T00:09:29Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977174551   The most beautiful things in the world are not seen or touched.  They are felt with the heart.--Helen Keller   I'm a plus-sized woman...which makes me positive, . . . Mon, 12 Nov 2007 03:12:34 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977174551 Jennifer Oliver 2007-11-12T03:12:34Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977174441   The power of conformity:   it's human nature to blend in with others.   However, with selective listening, one can tune in to that inner voice and ignore the loudest critics. . . . Mon, 12 Nov 2007 01:11:32 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977174441 Jennifer Oliver 2007-11-12T01:11:32Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977174382 My son, his pupils dilated, squinted at the giant E projected onto the wall. Slipping one foot out of my sandal, I wiggled my toes.   "How many fingers am I holding up?" "Mom, . . . Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:11:28 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977174382 Jennifer Oliver 2007-11-12T00:11:28Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977124136   I was eight years old when I taught myself how to drum my fingers.  I had to be adept as my older brother, who lorded this deceptively simple talent over me. I practiced and practiced on . . . Fri, 21 Sep 2007 18:59:30 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977124136 Jennifer Oliver 2007-09-21T18:59:30Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977117535             Every now and then I come across a book that can move mountains.           This is such a book. . . . Sat, 15 Sep 2007 02:50:31 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977117535 Jennifer Oliver 2007-09-15T02:50:31Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977117101   Warning to mystery fans:  Throw away your tasseled bookmarks for this whodunit.  It's that kind of pager-turner.   The sign says, "Welcome to Maine-The Way Life Should . . . Fri, 14 Sep 2007 19:18:01 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977117101 Jennifer Oliver 2007-09-14T19:18:01Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977111572 Written on the eve of 10 Sep 02. We all remember where we were when it happened. "The World Trade Center's just been hit!" my coworker said, her eyes wide as she approached my desk. . . . Sun, 09 Sep 2007 16:51:56 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977111572 Jennifer Oliver 2007-09-09T16:51:56Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977087112   "The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread." -- Mother Teresa As it was with every normal kid in the world, my boys pursued various tactics to . . . Wed, 15 Aug 2007 20:35:14 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977087112 Jennifer Oliver 2007-08-15T20:35:14Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977080234   Cranberry Falls, Texas October 1999               "Sheet," she muttered under her breath.  For extra measure:  . . . Wed, 08 Aug 2007 22:37:42 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977080234 Jennifer Oliver 2007-08-08T22:37:42Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977078104   WARNING:  Reading this book at the beach may give you a bad case of sunburn.  It's that kind of page-turner!   Three women step off of a plane. Thus begins the bittersweet . . . Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:31:18 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977078104 Jennifer Oliver 2007-08-07T01:31:18Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977065149 "I'm going to give you a set of instructions," Mollie announced to the workshop attendees, and she said, "Go to your room and get your shoes from the closet. Go to your dresser and . . . Tue, 24 Jul 2007 17:27:33 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977065149 Jennifer Oliver 2007-07-24T17:27:33Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977064073   There are days, if I'm fortunate, where I'll reel in a blessing without fishing for it. Yesterday it was beautiful outside, although overcast. I looked up at the fat gray clouds lazily . . . Mon, 23 Jul 2007 15:48:43 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977064073 Jennifer Oliver 2007-07-23T15:48:43Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977060652 Last night a visitor knocked on my door. I opened it. "Good evening!" she said with a fixed solicitor smile. "I'm with Time Warner Cable. Are you Teresa Hernandez?" "No," . . . Thu, 19 Jul 2007 17:10:18 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977060652 Jennifer Oliver 2007-07-19T17:10:18Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977041676   OF THEE WE SING     "Hey, Jennifer!" someone hissed. "Get up!" Looking up from my doll, I saw that other kids on the playground had dropped what they were doing . . . Thu, 28 Jun 2007 00:37:30 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977041676 Jennifer Oliver 2007-06-28T00:37:30Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977032959 I've been tagged by the following Gather friends: Pat S.:  http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977029905 Terry Shaw:  http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977032135 . . . Mon, 18 Jun 2007 19:10:00 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977032959 Jennifer Oliver 2007-06-18T19:10:00Z