SUSAN M . HEIM
MARA BRANSCOMBE is a longstanding author and editor specializing in parenting multiples and women ’ s issues . When she and her husband were unexpectedly blessed with twin boys , joining the two sons they already had at home , Susan took a leap of faith and left her job as Senior Editor at a publishing company to become a work-at-home mother , which allowed her more time to follow her two greatest passions : parenting and writing .
Susan wrote and collaborated on many books , including eleven Chicken Soup for the Soul books ; Boosting Your Baby ’ s Brain Power ; It ’ s Twins ! Parentto-Parent Advice from Infancy Through Adolescence ; Oh , Baby ! 7 Ways a Baby Will Change Your Life the First Year ; and , Twice the Love : Stories of Inspiration for Families with Twins , Multiples and Singletons . Her articles and stories have appeared in many books , websites , and magazines , including Angels on Earth and TWINS Magazine . She also blogged for many years on the topics of parenting and writing . Susan is currently part of her local public library marketing team , where she uses her writing and graphic design skills to promote literacy and library programs . In her spare time , Susan continues to edit Chicken Soup for the Soul books . After successfully raising her four sons , two have flown the nest , and the other two will follow soon ; Susan is the perfect expert in successfully raising Twins . Susan returns with a beautiful story on how to build memories from Family Vacations ! is a mother , writer , yogi , artist , teacher , mindfulness leader , ceremonialist , and spiritual coach . She is the author of “ Ritual As Remedy : Embodied Practices For Soul Care .” Mara is passionate about weaving the art of mindfulness , self-care , creativity , mind-body practices , and earth-based rituals into her life and work . She has been leading community ceremonies since 2000 . An adventurous spirit , Mara , has sailed across the Atlantic Ocean , trekked across the Himalayas , and studied yoga in India . She has planted trees in Canada ’ s north , lived off the grid in a remote cabin in the woods , worked as a Waldorf ( Steiner School ) teacher , and then found her passion for dance and choreography . Yoga , meditation , mysticism , and ritual have been at the heart of Mara ’ s journey . Her trainings in the Incan Shaman lineage and the Pagan tradition have greatly inspired her life ’ s work of earth-based , ceremonial , intentional , and heart-centered living and loving . Mara currently lives with her husband and two daughters in Vancouver , Canada . It is a delightful treat to have Mara share her daily self-care rituals for the motherhood remedy in our Mama ’ s Me Time section !
DR . RANDI WARD is our editor-in-chief extraordinaire ! At 73 years young , she has been a “ mother ” to hundreds of children during her 37-years as a Georgia Language Arts educator . Her teaching journey has taken her to Cairo , Egypt , where she started several language schools teaching ESOL . Randi is also an African animal advocate and environmentalist . She is an honorary president of World Peace Forest ( Africa ) and USA Regional Director for Africa Nomads Conservation . Her passion for life and humanity has earned her many awards and honors . Randi has recently received the IAOTP Lifetime Achievement Award and was inducted into their Hall of Fame . Her life ’ s philosophy is “ Believe ! Don ’ t dream big ; dream bigger ! The sky is the limit , so reach for the stars !” Randi has traveled to 60 countries on four continents . From one of her destinations came her memoir that encapsulated her view of what life is all about , Because I Believed In Me - My Egyptian Fantasy Came True . Today , Randi is a master editor and visionary book consultant . By the way , as a mother and forever teacher , she is making sure I am “ crossing my t ’ s and dotting my i ’ s ”… Ha , Ha , Ha !
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