This Is Not the Life I Ordered: 50 Ways to Keep Your Head above Water When Life Keeps Dragging You Down - Softcover

"This is the needed inspiration to survive the worst luck and circumstances that catches women unexpectedly. Stories of individual strength to transform shock, despair and paralysis into sheer will and guts. It is the innate resources we have to climb out of the abyss and into a new life with unexpected happiness."
-Amy Tan, Best-Selling Author, The Joy Luck Club

"I love this book and all the threads of wisdom!"
-Debbi Fields, Founder and Former Chairwoman, Mrs. Fields Cookies

"Full of hope and encouragement. I laughed and cried but always felt uplifted!"
-Jessica McClintock, Founder, CEO Jessica McClintock Inc.

"Even before you hear their stories, you feel their strength and find yourself engulfed (in a good way) by their spirit."
-Gerry Laybourne, Co-founder, Chairman and CEO of Oxygen Media

If you've ever felt overworked, overwhelmed, or just plain unlucky, this book is for you. Through this collection of stories, wisdom, and practical advice, you'll meet four ordinary women who have faced extraordinary life challenges. Together, they have a history of 6 marriages, 10 children, 4 stepchildren, 6 dogs, 2 miscarriages, 2 cats, a failed adoption, widowhood, and foster parenthood. One of them was shot and left for dead on a tarmac in South America and two lived through the deaths of spouses.

Over a decade, the power and strength of their collective friendship enabled these women not only to survive, but to thrive. Join them to learn how you too can turn misfortunate events into joy-filled.