Piecing it all Together: A Collection of Memoirs depicts various events in my life. The book symbolizes my lifelong story pieced into my imaginary quilt. God and his grace is the strong doubled threads that helped piece my quilted blocks together into a God-given masterpiece. Many years ago, God gave me a special gift - the art of quilt making. In my autobiography, I reveal how I have pieced my sometimes-difficult life together. As a child, I always wanted answers to questions like, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” I was born in the Baby Boomer era, which was a time when children were seen and not heard. As an adult, I have become a voice of utterance through my deliverance in which God has set me free! Through the years I have faced many unpredictable and grievous encounters. I lost my mom at the age of six. When my son was killed by a drunk driver, I wanted to be angry with God, “Why God, why my son? There are so many bad people in this world, Lord.” But He sent me a comforter, the Holy Spirit. I faced many difficult times during my life. Times when I was hungry, the time when I almost drowned, multiple times I was overcome by carbon monoxide, received beatings so much that it broke my spirit, and other occurrences that young children or adults should not have to suffer for the sake of pleasing others. As a young bride I encountered numerous marital problems. Eventually prayer and perseverance made our marital union grow stronger. My faith in God helped me to rise above my difficult dilemmas. He was always there beside me and guiding my footsteps. Today, I enjoy the pleasures and satisfaction of events that life brings. I chose joy! Being a child of God, daughter of the King, and woman of faith, I thank Him every day for loving me, forgiving me, helping me to forgive others, and bringing me comfort and joy in my darkest hours. I thank Him for lifting me up with laughter and joy when I am overwhelmed with love and happiness. He is a Mighty Good God! Kathleen Lindsey is an African American historian who uniquely brings her talents of quilting and storytelling to teach Black History to all nationalities in theatrical appearances across the country. She’s worked as a teacher’s assistant for reading, as a teacher’s aide with handicapped and mentally challenged students, and literacy for young children. One prized achievements was to pose for a 70 foot high mural on the Goldberg Building in Philadelphia, depicting the famous Underground Rail. Piecing It All Together A Collection of Memoirs By Kathleen D. Lindsey Thomas Nelson Copyright © 2019 Kathleen D. Lindsey All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-59555-963-0 Contents In the Beginning, 1, The Silver Tones, 7, Time to Start a Family, 9, Should I Say Elephants?, 15, It's a Boy!, 19, The Fly Chasers, 23, The Last of the Litter!, 25, Flags on Parade, 29, The Twin Kiss, 31, Lost at Parvin State Park, 35, The Party Line, 37, The Church in Construction, 39, Victor, 45, Our New Bathroom, 49, The Old, Rusty Swings, 51, The Tapeworm, 53, Little Uncle Dave — "Onk" — and Aunt Natalie, 55, The Sears Catalog, 59, Hurricane Hazel, 61, Kindergarten Baby, 63, It's Picture Day!, 65, Junie, 67, Dad Was a Yeller!, 73, Mom Passes Away, 77, The Funeral, 79, Daddy's Grief Comes Down, 83, Miss Sadler Comes to the Rescue!, 85, First-Grade Baby!, 87, It's TV time, 89, Stranger in Our Midst, 91, The Old Glass Factory, 93, Koo-Koo-Ka-Choo, Mrs. Robinson, 95, The Big Brown Box, 101, Ida, Is there a Real Santa?, 103, The Great Ice Storm, 105, Hiking with Ret, 107, A Truck Filled with Ponies, 109, It's Party Time!, 111, Dad Marries Lavinia, 115, The Wedding, 119, Christmas with Our New Mother, 121, The Old Singer Sewing Machine, 123, Big Rat! Big Bite!, 125, Trouble in Paradise!, 127, I saw Mom!, 129, Granny Annie Comes to Live with Us, 133, Stormy Weather!, 141, The School Dentists Return, 143, The Lovely Chicken Coop, 145, Ice Cream on Clayton Avenue, 149, Mom and Pop Stores, 151, Daddy's Little Helper, 153, Burning trash, 155, Daddy, Get Your Gun!, 157, Linda Palmer, 159, Stolen Bag of Goodies, 161, Oh No! My Face Is Spotty!, 163, Janet Harris, My BFF, 165, The Birds Are Coming!, 169, My Teacher, My Friend, 173, Sixth Grade, 177, The Big-Game Hunter, 179, Stepmom's Parents, 181, Fish in the Street?, 185, It's My Bike!, 187, Little Brother Gets Hurt!, 189, The March on Washington, 191, Goofing with the Bees, 195, Stealing Is a No-No!, 197, Teenage Years with Our Stepmom, 199, Get Your Spoons Ready!, 201, Wash Day, 203, Pee Yew! Chitterlings, 205, Canning Day!, 207, Baking Day!, 209, Giblets and Gravy, 211, The Great Egg-Travaganza!, 213, Coal Gas Nearly Killed Us!, 215, The Smokey Mosquito Truck, 217, Dad Divorces Mom, 219, Going Fishing for What?, 221, The Birds and the Bees, 223, Dancing at the Police Station, 227, Boys Chase Me, 229, The Fur Stole, 231, The Williams Sisters, 233, My