Thank you, Mrs. Gwen Hart, my Fifth Grade English teacher...for my passion to write.

I know that it has been awhile since my last entry. The last one was an emotional one that words cannot express how deeply I felt and was affected. I could not write after that entry. Now I am able to return to writing.

Thank you for waiting. Many friends and family have encouraged me to get back to writing. SO here goes...



As I sit here on my computer in my kitchen/office listening to my favorite music, I find this quiet time here at the house an excellent opportunity to write without any interruptions. Therefore, I am here to try and write all that I am feeling and thinking...to my heart's delight.

So, please make some time to read this. Sit back, grab a cup of coffee, tea or other favorite beverage and enjoy ...!

When I write, it is from my heart as I have been told. I am beginning to see and believe it. I feel that there is no "right" style here in my blog. IT is MY personal blog for me to share what it is I want. AND, what I want to share is laughter, smiles, my joys, my sadness, my desires, my challenges...whatever my heart feels...it wants to truly share.

First, I want to share HOW it is that I came to love to write. It was my Fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Gwen Hart from Brookstone School in Columbus, Georgia. Mrs. Hart took me under her wings to teach me that writing is the powerful key to communication. If it is success you want in life, writing is one of the many paths to take.

I, also, want to say a big thank you to my mother, Betty Tisdale. She has made a copy of each and every e-mail she has received from me. And, as she has read each one of them, she has told me that it would make for a great book. There in lies the inspiration to my writing this blog and my book. A BIG heartfelt thank you, Mom! You truly have inspired me as well!

A wonderful sigh here...I will never forget what Mrs. Hart said to me.

"Don't HOLD back, Lien...share what you feel and are thinking. People will want to hear what you have to say. Your yearning to learn and to share are ultimate gifts you possess. Lien, just keep writing and let the words come out. Everything will come together in sentences, then into paragraphs, then into chapters and then so forth. It will all flow into something...a book, who knows?"

Those are the words she shared (in her fabulous Southern drawl) with me long ago yet feels like it was just yesterday. Writing has always been a passion of mine more so than ever. Writing a book back then never entered my mind. It has been through the urging of my family and friends as of late that I finally decided to start with this blog being the foundation of ultimately writing my book.

It took one person as I was growing up in Columbus to make a difference in my life, Mrs. Hart. There were so many times that I felt inadequate in some of the ways I tried to communicate with people and on paper because deep inside I kept thinking that English was my second language and would not be able to master it. Mrs. Hart's passion and desire to help me (and/or anyone in my class) to succeed in writing , spelling and grammar made that huge difference with my outlook in my own life.

I remember those afternoons after school with Mrs. Hart. All day during the school day I kept my excitement of getting the one on one lessons with Mrs. Hart. No interruptions...just us. Albeit, there were a few occasions that was not the case. Mrs. Hart was so patient with me which gave me more determination to show her the same respect by truly learning English - writing and speaking correctly. I listened to her. I did the extra homework that was given to me in addition to the regular homework she gave in class. Later in my life I am learning that you need to really work at it as you are indeed worth it!

I was DETERMINED to succeed in writing! And, I wanted to finally have something in my life that meant something dear to me...writing!

English is a HARD language. I still don't get alot of it but I am able to use resources that was not available to me back then such as "Googling". Back then, we used a book called, The Webster's Dictionary for spelling and grammar. NOT sure how often it is used as we now have online spelling check and places for grammar. I am wondering as I write this IF Mrs. Hart uses the online spell check like the rest of us? I bet she does! Wink!

I do not wish to bore you with all the details of the dangling sentences, NOT ending sentences with a preposition, using the correct verbiage and ETC.! It's from the heart that is the basis in writing which is what I am conveying here.

The passion I put into my writing I feel Mrs. Hart sitting next to me here as if she were my cheerleader waiting for the quarterback to throw that touchdown!

It took one person, as I was growing up in Columbus, to make a difference in my life. It was my Fifth Grade teacher, Mrs. Gwen Hart, who inspired me to do something I thought I could never do with English being my second language.

I had someone who believed in ME and valued ME as a person. SO, please never underestimate yourself because someone out there believes in YOU. And with this being all said I will leave you with this song, "Teachers Make A Difference" because Mrs. Gwen Hart did that for me.





This is a heartfelt thank you to ALL the teachers who have made a difference in our lives and for those who continue to make a difference now.

It is heartbreaking to see the successes of teaching being clouded by the struggles and challenges of budget cuts and other means that are undermining the strength of each teacher who IS trying to make a difference.

I would NOT be writing this had it not been for this teacher who believed in me. So, truly from my heart...THANK YOU to ALL the teachers...who make a DIFFERENCE.

AND, thank you , Mrs. Gwen Hart...I would not be here writing without your presence in my life then!