About the Book

Discounted over 28% You pay only $19.95

Contact the author directly for a copy of The Treasure Box Series at this price. Go to www.treasureboxseries.com. Also, check out fund-raiser pricing options for your organization or church.

Answers to why you are feeling this way can be found in this book!

• Something missing in your life?
• Feeling a bit out of sync?
• Stuck in a rut?
• Feeling like the walls are caving in on you?
• Trapped in your self-made prison and desperately want to escape?

The Treasure Box Series, Volume I: Peace, Joy, and Happiness is specifically designed to help you fill the empty places in your soul with the gems that give you more of what you want out of life. I suspect what you want is more peace, joy, and happiness. I am sure that you also want a sense of fulfillment and a feeling of contentment in your soul.

This book discusses how to respond to difficult situations without caving in to the emotional aspects of it or resorting to impulse reaction by default. Learning to respond appropriately is vital for peace of mind and happiness.

By the time you finish reading this book, you should feel more confident in your ability to weather storms that threaten your peace. Developing a better understanding of what to do in a storm of chaos and tribulation, helps you prevent even the slightest wind from becoming a tempest when adversity knocks on your door. When the winds blow, as in the "Three Little Pigs" story, your house of peace will not be blown over; it will remain standing firm and strong.

You can create a life with purpose, from this point forward, that you and your family will be proud of for years and decades to come. Tell me, what is more satisfying than that? What is it that will make your life more creditable, meaningful, honorable, decent, and more peaceful than it is now? This is a question that I believe you can answer by the time you finish reading this book.

The techniques presented in The Treasure Box Series, Volume I: Peace, Joy, and Happiness are personally tested and efficacy is proven. For this reason, there is no doubt these concepts can help you reach your goals in this area.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

---

Dedication
Acknowledgments
Preface
A September Psalm
Embrace Today
Universal Truths

Section I Components for Being at Peace

Introduction

A Letter to the Youth

Understanding Peace and Chaos

Harmony Within the Human System

The Soul Is Like a Special Garden

The Spiritual Aspects of Peace

God May Not Come to Your Rescue

Section II Protecting Peace and Happiness

Being Prepared Provides Peace of Mind

Preserving Peace of Mind

Forgiveness Provides Peace of Mind

Attributes That Preserve the Peace

Section III Overcoming Adversity and Character Deficiencies

Triumph Over Adversity

Set Clear Parameters

Gain Control of Self-will

Being in Alignment

Being Self-Reliant

Peace in the Home

Section IV Living a Life That Has Meaning and Purpose

Create a Life With Purpose

Take Charge of Your Life

Protect Democracy

We Can Do It Together

Important Lessons I Have Learned

More Information About the Author

Readers Questions and Comments

Index

---

THE MAIN MESSAGE

The purpose of this book is to convey a message of hope for those who find themselves bogged down by all the chaos around them and crave rest from the turmoil in their lives. It is also for those in desperate need of peace to warm their souls when life seems to be coming apart at the seams.

Regardless of your circumstances, it is within your ability to find peace during these trying times if you know how to do so and if you are ready to make that commitment. The purpose of this book is to help you achieve this goal.

---

WHY IS THIS MESSAGE IMPORTANT TO YOU?

While in pursuit of peace and happiness, you must keep your mind focused squarely on obtaining only those things in life that hold the most meaning. These are the types of gems you should be putting in your Life's Treasure Box.

What you choose to put in your Life's Treasure Box becomes your greatest asset for achieving peace in difficult situations.

Being at peace requires your full commitment, discipline, resolve, and a willingness to change the way you respond to stressful situations.

This likely means you need to learn new skills that help you avoid inappropriate responses that, until now, may have been destroying your ability to feel peace, joy, and happiness in your heart, mind, and soul. At the very least, the way you are currently responding is not giving you the results you want.

A stuffed treasure box and a full account in the Love Bank™ (trademark by Terrance Norton) become assets in helping you survive these challenging times.

You probably already realize that something is not exactly right in your life. This book helps you understand why you feel that way. Perhaps it will also help you make the most precious desires of your heart come to fruition.

Peace is not achieved by accident; you must create an environment for peace to exist. The principles that are useful in helping you do that are detailed in this book.

---

Special Notation from the Author

You will notice that I frequently refer to God in my writing. He is my power source and a constant influence in my life. I trust you understand that this is how I find comfort and guidance as I try to understand things and forge my way through the chaos in this life.

Although this book is somewhat spiritual in nature, I hope you will not mistakenly label it a "religious book" and set it aside without reading it - just because the word God happens to be mentioned or that it is mentioned more than once. You can rest assured that this book is not about a religion but it is about exercising faith in what you understand as God, or whatever it is that stirs your soul.

The word "God" is used generically to express spiritual beliefs because that is what I understand and relate to best to explain the concepts in this book. Thus, you should refer to whatever you relate to best, and use it to help you understand the concepts being presented in this book. That way, you will gain something of value from it.

Protecting peace in times fraught with anguish and difficulty is something I learned first-hand. It is for this reason that I developed a much better understanding of the fact that life's harsh lessons may seem unbearable at times and can deeply stir up the soul. It might even plunge our lives into despair and chaos. Yet I also learned that, although it may not seem like it at the time, these lessons are useful when they are cultivated in a better understanding of life.

Rest assured, what you are told in this book is not untested theory. I was put through the wringer of life and my soul strenuously tested for strength and character. It is with humility and confidence in myself and God, that I eventually overcame these trials. I am grateful for this blessing. I believe the concepts suggested in this book will help you as well.

---

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO GAIN FROM THIS BOOK?

• PEACE OF MIND…by collecting only the treasures that are good for your mind, body, spirit, and soul, you prevent the enemy to peace from taking control of your soul and imprisoning your spirit.
• JOY…by learning to secure more of what you want out of life, you enjoy a sense of peace and contentment.
• HAPPINESS…by learning to achieve more satisfying results in situations, your life feels more fulfilling.
• CONFIDENCE …by learning to respond more appropriately, you gain a better understanding of your purpose in life.
• ENDURANCE…by learning to weather the storms of daily life, you develop new skills that help you change your inappropriate responses for a lifetime.
• PEACE AROUND YOU…by learning to respond appropriately, you prevent the slightest disturbance from becoming a tempest.
• HARMONY…by learning to be in balance and in alignment with God and Universal Laws, you create a more peaceful environment.
• UNDERSTANDING…by responding appropriately, you can prevent the slightest disturbance from becoming a tempest.
• STRENGTHENED PERSONAL VALUES…by learning to embrace values such as virtue, honesty, integrity, you develop self-worth.

---

FROM THE DESK OF JUDITH SHERMAN

My heart is pained because of your hardships and suffering. Since I learned how to protect the peace around me, I want nothing more than to see you experiencing the same peace that I am able to enjoy. My heart swells with joy when I learn that I helped someone receive these same blessings. As a result, this book is a compilation of life's treasures that I collected and stored in volumes so you might benefit from some of the lessons life is generously teaching me.

Inside these pages you find common-sense techniques that are developed and proven through personal experience. I used these techniques to enhance my own understanding of peace and to help me deal with the chaos of living in the world today. Because these techniques were so helpful, I learned to respond more appropriately to my challenges. This information has blessed my life and I am a much happier person because of what I learned.

I also learned to use a simple formula that can help us control our actions better, if said at the time we are ready to react in anger or frustration. You find that formula in this book. Because of my own experiences, I know that this knowledge gives you the power to make wiser choices. Wiser choices contribute to a more fulfilling life. A more fulfilling life provides peace, joy, and happiness in your soul.

However, the most important thing I learned is that, until we figure it out and get it right, the universe will continue to serve up the lessons we need to learn. In other words, until we finally pay attention and learn what we need to learn, making appropriate revisions along the way that change the status quo, our lives will be less than fulfilling.

The point is, we must acknowledge what it is that we need to learn and change. Otherwise, the universe will continue to give us opportunities until we do, or until time runs out, whichever comes first. And this my friend, I promise you!

---

THIS BOOK CAN WORK FOR YOU!

Give it a chance! Order this book and allow it help you respond more appropriately to difficult situations. Let it be your guide in developing the characteristics you need to be a more peaceful and happy person.

About the Author

---

PONDERING ON THE BACK PORCH!

I started writing my first book after an amazing experience happened in March 2000. This is when I understood my potential and recognized what opportunities were there for me to grasp.

I was sitting quietly on the back porch and pondering over the possibility of being successful in business. At one point, a feeling of enormous gratitude for all my blessings filled my soul. It was then that something extraordinary happened that changed my life forever. Because of this experience, I believe an overflowing cup of gratitude unlocks the secrets to life. I have no doubt this is true.

For the next six years, the manuscript describing the experience evolved into five books known as The Treasure Box Series. This series details what I learned from that experience and subsequently others to enhance my understanding of peace, joy, happiness, and chaos.

Protecting peace in times fraught with anguish and difficulty is something I learned first-hand. From this, I developed a better understanding of the fact that life's harsh lessons may seem unbearable at times and deeply stir up the soul. It might even plunge our lives into despair and chaos. Although it does not seem like it at the time, these lessons are useful when cultivated in a better understanding of life.

Rest assured that what you are told in this book is not untested theory. I was put through the wringer of life and my soul strenuously tested for strength and character. It is with humility and confidence in myself and God, that I eventually overcame these trials. I am grateful for this blessing.

---

EXPOSED ILLUSIONS: WHY 9/11 INSPIRED THIS BOOK TO BE WRITTEN

In order to deal with my own exposed illusions after 9/11/2001, and to pull myself out of the depression resulting from it, I started writing again in my personal journal. In it, I freely expressed my thoughts and feelings about what happened to us that day. Eventually, those thoughts and feelings, along with what I was working on previously (a book titled, The Land of My Potential), evolved into a five book series.

I decided to write about peace, joy, and happiness first because that is what I needed at the time. It is because of what I learned then and since about peace and chaos that I now feel compelled to share these lessons with my family and you. This is precisely the motivation behind the writing of this book.

Because my soul aches for those of you who suffer from painful circumstances and battered spirits, my hope is to help you ease the harshness of your situation. It pains my heart so much to know that you and your family are unable to find refuge from the chaos around you. To me, it is unacceptable that you are forced to live every day deprived of your peace of mind. I really think this book will help you find some of the peace you seek. Also, I would love to hear from you about how this book impacts your life.

---

BACKGROUND AND HOBBIES

My husband and I married when he came home on leave from boot-camp, on his way to Germany for a three year stint with the United States Air Force. After being married only one week, my new husband's orders for Germany meant he had to leave me home with my parents. The military did not recognize enlisted men's wives, so I worked two jobs to earn enough money to join him. Subsequently, our first child was born in a military hospital overseas.

Today, my husband and I are married for over 40 years. We have four married children and twelve grandchildren. I enjoy reading, playing games with grandchildren, and doing puzzles with them. I also enjoy coloring with them in dollar store coloring books and painting granddaughter's fingernails.

I taught adults and children in church for more than forty years; and most recently, children ages 16 to 17 in Sunday School. I love all the children I teach as if they are my very own! As you might guess, I take my responsibility as a teacher very seriously.

My hobbies are oil painting, reading uplifting and self-improvement books, and writing. Reading books opened my mind to a different world. I am thankful for the business organization that encouraged me to read. I am also thankful that I am able to use my desire to write by sharing this book.

I think of myself as being a congenial person, and enjoy interacting with people. I especially enjoy being around people who love life and are happy. I am blessed with a strong desire to help people, if I can. This is why I love almost everyone I meet. I look past the facade on the outside and see the real person inside. The core of the person is who I learn to love and appreciate.

Being the oldest of six children, I helped raise my siblings from the time they were very young. Because I feel so close to them, I want to protect them. So even as adults, I remain a confidant and mentor to most of them.

My parents raised me on a farm in Idaho. I learned to help my dad with farm chores. One such chore that I remember is, at five or six years old, driving a flat bed truck down rows while my dad tossed bales of hay onto the bed of the truck. When we reached the end of a row, I turned the truck into the next row. Of course, dad had it in low gear so all I had to do was keep the truck straight and turn the wheel into the next row.

My husband and I moved a lot, partly because of his military stints and the jobs he takes, but mostly because we want to be near grandchildren. We lived in Germany, Idaho, California, Utah, Oregon, Indiana, and now Texas. Together, we visited Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Washington state, Iowa, Illinois, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Nevada. By myself, I also visited West Virginia, Washington D.C., and London airport (that was a thrill).

We were in so many places because my husband gets an itch about every five years, but also because we love to see the world and the beautiful country called America. My husband also visited the Philippines, Japan, Spain, Guam, and Hawaii. I told him he could go anywhere in the world without me, but not Hawaii. When orders changed from Guam, he called to say "I have to go to Hawaii." Of course I jokingly said, "Have to? Oh darn!"

We have not decided where to retire yet, but it will likely be some place that is not too hot nor too cold, with a stream and lots of trees.

---

READERS COMMENTS

For questions and comments, write to comments@treasureboxseries. com

• Joni, of CA said: I read the part about relationships to my friend and it helped him a lot. He told me that he and his wife are doing much better now because of what you said in the book.

• Terrance, of UT said: I want you to know how much you served me by what you wrote in the book about setting parameters and staying in your personal zone.

• Helen, of TX said: It's a lot of information to take in. That's good! It's like the scriptures or conference talks. Sometimes it takes reading it a few times to get all the information.

• Norma, of TX said: I am enjoying reading your book. I especially like the story you told about the snow and living in the mountains.

• Vida, of TX wrote about Chapters 8 and 9 (Protecting Democracy and We Can Do This Together): "I had an experience 2 days ago that is relevant to these chapters....I was serving breakfast to the evacuees [of hurricane Katrina]....One of the volunteers was talking when I walked up. She said, 'I have a real problem with this war in Iraq. All those poor people are doing is trying to defend themselves.' I was flabbergasted that anyone could be that naive and could not keep my mouth shut. I responded, 'I don't agree. They weren't defending themselves when the World Trade Center was attacked. They aren't defending themselves when they blow up innocent women and children with suicide bombs.' Believe it or not. I did not raise my voice or become angry at her [naiveté]. It was great! She said, 'You're right.' I hope that helped her think through what she had been saying, and I am sure I am not the first person she had told that to. "

• Kathy, TX said: You say some really good things and I like the way you say them. I think your ideas are interesting. The information makes you think.