McElheron Maureen - There is a God!: 1,001 heartwarming (and hilarious) reasons to believe

JEREMY P. TARCHER/PENGUIN Published by the Penguin Group Penguin Group (USA) LLC, 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014 USA Canada UK Ireland Australia New Zealand India South Africa China penguin.com A Penguin Random House Company Copyright 2013 by Richard Smith and Maureen McElheron Penguin supports copyright. Copyright fuels creativity, encourages diverse voices, promotes free speech, and creates a vibrant culture. Thank you for buying an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright laws by not reproducing, scanning, or distributing any part of it in any form without permission. You are supporting writers and allowing Penguin to continue to publish books for every reader. Most Tarcher/Penguin books are available at special quantity discounts for bulk purchase for sales promotions, premiums, fund-raising, and educational needs.

Special books or book excerpts also can be created to fit specific needs. For details, write: Special.Markets@us.penguingroup.com. ISBN 978-0-698-14529-0 Version_1 Introduction Are you a doubter? A believer? Or just confused? Not to worry because... There is a God. In a cold and lonely universe, how often do we utter this phrase at lifes true miracles? Feeling your heart swell as you watch your little girl struggle with an ice cream cone thats bigger than she is. The blessing of a loving spouse.

You had the courage to say no to an aggressive telemarketer and a controlling mother on the same day. And is it not wondrous that customs merely smiled at the cheese, wine, sausage, bread, corkscrew, knife and several hotel towels in your carry-on? There Isa God is a humble (but meticulously researched) compilation of the many things that make life wonderful and hopeful. Coming home to the sound of little feet running and hearing Daddy! Those suspicious little teeth marks on the cookies left out for Santa. Leaving the restaurant on a freezing night and discovering coat check gave you a warmer coat. And is it not marvelous that at seventy, you still ski with your original hips? We hope you will think of these pages as little security blankets, gentle reminders of an entity, a Divine Presence, if you will, who soothes, watches over us, gives us hope and reassures us when things are not entirely bright.

The cute girl at the party came without a date.

Feeling your heart swell as you watch your little girl struggle with an ice cream cone thats bigger than she is Your daughter finally fell for a nice guy. You outsourced the worst of your teen years. Results will not vary. Your dentist would kill for your gums. You and Oprah share a trainer. In vino veritas (especially an extraordinary vintage) Your temper at work is a protected disability. In vino veritas (especially an extraordinary vintage) Your temper at work is a protected disability.

A sticky love ballad just when you need one Your four-year-olds impression of you when youre angry The shoulder youre crying on belongs to a really buff body. Miracle #2: You managed to keep a lid on your weight during the holidays.

Good-night hugs from your little girl Going food shopping while hungry and spending only $369.44. (Last time this happened, you spent $512.77.) The speeding cab splashed the guy in front of you. Running into an old flame at the finish line of the marathon with your makeup still intact You won the lawsuit against Sara Lee for forcing you to gain fifty-eight pounds.

Youre smart enough to follow the advice of your fortune cookie (Add the check carefully).

Miracle #3: Watching your toddler take his first wobbly steps Miracle #4: Your first hole in one You never hear the people above you. Blessed are the meek, for they dont object when your stuff takes up the entire overhead bin. You easily name all Seven Dwarfs when the trooper administers the sobriety test.