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Friday, March 5, 2010

Living the Sweet Life is a collection of stories that I have written and have been published monthly in FortBend Focus magazine.  Here are those stories....


November 2006
Living the “sweet life” in Sugar Land
Many of you guys know me as a photographer but few know me as a writer. I have been working for several years now on books both for children as well as fundraisers for breast cancer. So when my good friends at the Fort Bend Focus asked me to begin writing for them I was pleased and hopefully ready for the task.
I must tell you I love being a photographer and feel like I have been given so so many blessings. That is the focus this month, that of blessings. Each and every day we all have an opportunity to see all the possibilities each new day brings. We can make choices that allow us to live the best life for ourselves and our children. Staying positive in spite of life’s ups and downs is instrumental in creating a life. I have “created” my life in many ways by making conscientious choices concerning the character traits of “home”. As we begin celebrating season with friends and family it is an important time to consider what it means to feel blessed and how responsibility for one’s happiness is directly tied to the choices we make.
This season I want all of us to spend time thinking about all the blessings. Pay close attention to the details of the season. Play with you’re children! You know, even as loud and messy as it is, they will be grown and gone quick, so enjoy them...just as they are right now.
Invite friends to share time and catch up but don’t get caught up in impressions and party glam that you loose sight of what it is you’re trying to cultivate! Home should be a special place where you have special and consistent traditions. I remember my mother’s parents would come bearing paper bags filled with pecans and sweet potatoes. We would bake and go to church and work on last art projects before the rush of the holidays began. We would make spice tea and ginger cookies and I can still remember the taste of cookie dough uncooked and Granny saying “please don’t eat that!!!” She said the same about all the pecans we shelled and managed to eat before delivering them to the kitchen! Blessings... each year gives all of us the opportunity to create memories with friends and loved ones. Living in such a fine place as Sugar Land, part of living “the sweet life” is holding dear to those we love and cherishing all the little nuances life has to offer. Hope your November is filled with moments today that as you remember them through the years will bring a smile to your face and an opportunity to share with your family traditions of years past.
Cheers to the sweet life!
Take care of you!


Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Night of Hope April 9th at Unity Church

In Times of Doubt, An Evening of Hope
Houston, Texas ~ In April of 1997, a beautiful woman named Marion Charles made the decision to end her life. Once an aspiring actress with an impressive list of credits in major motion pictures and television shows, she had seen her dreams vanish in a horrible auto accident that left her at first, barely alive, and would leave her disfigured and disabled for the rest of her short life. Those she left behind, most notably her younger sister Cindy Cline-Flores, had often prayed for something that could offer Marion a glimpse of hope, and inspire her to rediscover joy in her life. Sadly, there was nothing to be found that was able to reach beyond Marion’s despair. Some years after Marion’s passing, her sister realized that it was up to her to create that beacon, both to come to grips with her own sorrow, and hopefully to save others from the same anguish.
On Friday, April 9, 2010, at 8:00 in the evening, Cindy will see her prayers answered. On that night, the official release of her book, Always Hope, will be the center of a star-studded event in the sanctuary of the Unity Church of Christianity, 2929 Unity Drive, Houston Texas 77057. Popular radio personality Kevin Kline from KKBQ-FM (93Q) will serve as master of ceremonies, and attendees will be delighted by acclaimed jazz singer Yvonne Washington and Grammy Award nominated pianist Bobby Lyle.
Always Hope, and the promise it offers to those seeking a way of overcoming despair, will be center stage. This beautifully executed book is a collection of inspiring stories written by or about people who have suffered and overcome a life-threatening illness or injury, the loss of a loved one, or the belief that their dreams are beyond their reach, simply due to the circumstances of their birth. The power in each story is enhanced by the artistry of renowned Houston photographer Alisa Murray, owner of the Alisa Murray Photographic Studio. Some of the stories are by easily recognizable personalities: a prominent football coach, a national media figure, and the daughter of a very well-known Houston businessman and philanthropist. Others are written by people who are perhaps less familiar, but no less endearing and inspiring. “And each of them is so much like every one of us,” says Cindy. “This was definitely a ‘God job.’ I knew in my heart that like my beloved Marion, there were so many people who had given up on their dreams, and who desperately needed to really hear the words, Always Hope. My hope is that through the stories and images in this book, the truth of those powerful words will resonate for such people, and that hope and joy will be restored to their lives.”
For information or reservations, please go to www.UnityHouston.org, or call 713-782-4050.
For additional information, photographs, and videos:
www.AlwaysHopeBook.com Email: cindy@AlwaysHopeBook.com Phone: 713-854-6687
HopeFull Enterprises 1
ALWAYS HOPE
True Stories of Ordinary People Overcoming Extraordinary Odds
Compiled by Cindy Cline-Flores
There is a widespread belief these days – not only in the mainstream media but among consumers of the media – that bad news sells better than good news. Just about everyone has heard the old saying, “If it bleeds, it leads.” The truth, however, is that most of us hunger for something more. We read the headlines or tune into the local or national news to find out about the latest crimes, wars, and natural disasters, but that’s not all we want. We are equally drawn to shows that make us feel better and give us hope. Witness, for example, the popularity of series such as Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, which regularly depicts truly good people in dire situations, who are rewarded for their good deeds with badly needed home repairs or remodeling. We flock to movies based on true stories about people overcoming adversity. We also have an appetite for books with inspirational messages, such as the perennially popular Chicken Soup for the Soul series.
The simple truth is that despite our seeming love of the lurid, we all enjoy stories with happy endings. Moreover, most of us who are facing serious problems of our own are encouraged by learning about the experiences of others who have overcome similar difficulties. It could even be said that many of us are drawn to stories of other people’s troubles because they help put our own into perspective. But we are especially attracted to those stories if they show the people overcoming their troubles. Of course, not everyone who is in trouble has the good luck to have an entire television crew and assorted experts show up to fix their lives for them. What about the rest of us who are faced with life situations that cause deep despair – a bad accident, a potentially fatal illness, grinding poverty, or the loss of a loved one? The good news is that real people overcome real challenges such as these every day, through a mixture of their own determination and the help of others. We just don’t hear these stories very much. Cindy Cline-Flores thinks it is high time we do. And while we’re waiting for a TV series to tell these people’s stories (yes, Cindy is working on that too), Cindy’s compelling new gift book, Always Hope, fills the bill nicely.

Cindy has spent several years gathering the stories of real people who have been dealt the cruelest of hands and have played them with heroic strength and grace. The result is Always Hope, a well-rounded compilation of stories featuring people of all ages and faiths who refused to let the terrible, and sometimes terrifying, events in their lives destroy their spirit. Always Hope has just gone to press and is set for a major launch in Houston, Texas in spring of 2010.
Among the people whose stories appear in Always Hope are... RaNelle Wallace – As a beautiful young woman with a promising career in television, RaNelle suffered horrific third-degree burns in a near-fatal plane crash – and while still recovering from these injuries, she raced into the raging inferno of a neighbor’s home and helped save the neighbor’s small children from the fire. The burning within her was more powerful than any physical fire, and she has gone on to lead an inspired, and inspiring, life. Vonda Washington – She had a seemingly perfect life until she went into an agonizing premature labor. After winning her own fight for life, she was told her son would not survive, or if he did, his devastating brain abnormalities would prevent him from anything resembling a normal life. Today, having overcome incredible odds (with a lot of help from the doctors and nurses, and his mother’s own powerful faith), he is a vibrant, energetic, and active little boy. Christina Dharamsingh – For years she suffered the most brutal abuse from a husband who regularly drank, beat her (at one point he broke her ribs and punctured her spleen), and threatened to kill her. She thought she was surely going to die on the night he stripped her naked and tied her to a boiler in the basement of their home, running the newly-sharpened blades of his knives across her skin while describing exactly how he was going to mutilate her. Miraculously, she escaped to freedom with her two children, but she had little more than the clothes on her back, and faced an uphill struggle. Today, however, she is running her own successful business and helping to save many others from lives of despair. Deborah Buks – She beat the odds after being diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer. In her journey from illness to health, she has learned to separate the truly important things in life from the truly trivial – and she doesn’t mince words when talking about the unhelpful attitudes (and insufferable clichés) of people who haven’t walked in a cancer survivor’s shoes. Lowell Quentin Bass – An African-American man who grew up blocks from a toxic city dump in an era when blacks truly were second or third-class citizens in America, Lowell overcame poverty, learning disabilities and an abusive family background to emerge as a successful businessman and motivator of others. His has been a true journey “from grit to glory,” from the gutter to the stars. Alden Clark – A single man with a deep desire to be a father befriends a drug-addicted, pregnant street woman and promises to adopt her baby. The doctors all declare that given the woman’s habits, the baby will be monstrously deformed. Alden knows better, and although unfortunately the woman chose to return to the streets, today he is the proud father of a beautiful, healthy boy. Aaron Perez – A young boy survives a near-fatal shark attack on the Texas Gulf Coast – and after his long and painful physical and emotional recovery, he still loves the beach and the water. (He probably helped save his own life by having watched a documentary on sharks that taught him to pound his fists on the creature’s vulnerable and sensitive gills.) Chhay Mak – He survived the brutal “Killing Fields” period of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia – when by all logic he should have been killed, for a bout with polio as a toddler had rendered him wheelchair-bound and useless to the Party. His family was able to escape to America, where life was better, but as a stranger in a strange land (and a handicapped one, to boot), Chhay’s troubles were far from over. Yet he shone as a wheelchair athlete, and today is a true innovator in creating and promoting products for the disabled athletic community.

Lori Considine – An angst-ridden teenage girl, unable to express her pain in any way except self- mutilation and numerous suicide attempts, finally wakes up in a padded cell after having been rescued from her most serious attempt – and makes the choice to turn her life around. Today, guided by her past pain and an enduring and ever-present faith, she is helping save others with similarly self- destructive tendencies.
Kristina Thorson – One beautiful Sunday afternoon, a young mother goes for a motorcycle ride with her husband, despite a profound feeling of foreboding about the whole adventure. Just as she is relaxing and enjoying herself, the fear suddenly descends upon her again, and to this day she only vaguely remembers being hit by the car. She also remembers an older man who came to pray with her at the scene, bestowing a strange sense of tranquility that broke through her agonizing pain (oddly enough, however, no one else saw him). Although she lost one leg below the knee, that didn’t stop her from going on to have another child and living a rich and full life.
Elizabeth McIngvale: A bright and lovely young woman, raised in a loving, successful, and well- respected family, suddenly finds herself consumed by unwanted thoughts and compulsive behaviors that steadily grow worse, turning her life into a waking nightmare. Ultimately she is diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) that several clinicians tell her and her parents is the worst case they have ever seen. She is told repeatedly that her case is probably too severe to be treated...but neither she nor her parents are the types to give up easily. With faith, determination, and cutting-edge professional help, she reclaims her life, and has gone on to create her own foundation to help the hundreds of thousands of other people suffering from the same nightmare.
There are many more stories such as these, representing a diverse mix of people and situations, and Cindy Cline-Flores is gathering even more for future books (she is planning an Always Hope series of books and products). In fact, Cindy’s own life story is an inspiring one of hope and of overcoming grief. Her lead photographer, Alisa Murray, has a similarly dramatic and inspiring story.
Award-winning screenwriter and novelist Ray Bradbury, who was a good friend of the author’s late sister, Marion Charles, wrote a special Foreword to the book, and he has been supportive of the project from the beginning.
The narratives that make up Always Hope are rich in possibilities that go beyond the printed page, and Cindy has also been developing them as a professionally produced video series, and has been in discussions about a TV series as well. These are stories whose resolutions do not necessarily represent “happy endings” in the Hollywood sense, but something even better: hopeful beginnings. And not only are the stories compelling in themselves, but many also elucidate areas of concern for many people, e.g., cancer, disability issues, domestic violence, and the like. Especially given the challenges facing Americans nowadays, there is a real need and a genuine hunger for reminders that no matter how bleak our circumstances might appear, there is always a brighter day just over the horizon, beckoning us to persevere. When we are tempted to wallow in despair, we are reminded that there is Always Hope.
Note: Sample videos of interviews with some of the people in Always Hope can be viewed at http://www.alwayshopebook.com/video.htm The main web site is http://www.alwayshopebook.com.

FOREWORD
Joy Is The Grace We Say To God by RAY BRADBURY
Glancing through this incredible book, I am reminded of two things: A poem I read many years ago with the line, “Joy is the grace we say to God.” The other thing is an Egyptian myth. I’ll attend to the myth first.
The myth relates the simple fact that when you die and go to heaven, the god of the dead, standing at the gate, will test you with only one question. The question Is: In this life, did you know enthusiasm? If the answer is no, you go straight to hell. If the answer is yes, you pass easily through the gates to eternal celebrations of the future.
So, what you have here are photographs and words of many people that have many reasons not to be enthusiastic, and yet they reach out toward life with that vitality which can only be named as the enthusiasm that will pass them through the gates one day.
Finally, to return to the poem, all of us, regardless of our stature, and whether we’ve had good lives or bad, feel this incredible joy at morning to wake and realize we have yet another day to live and celebrate, because we are all grateful for the gift, whether it is large or small, whether it is cramped or whether it is free.
These people, then, to me, represent that joy which is the grace that we give God in return for life and, finally, shining in their faces, there is a quiet enthusiasm that cannot be quenched.
So I think I have named my two reactions to all of these amazing people who are teaching me, with their words and faces, how to behave toward the life that I live.
Ray Bradbury November 7, 2009

DEDICATION
The inspiration for creating this book originally came from my older sister, Marion. She was my role model, my mentor, and my best friend. Marion was a successful actress and model, working in New York and California in the late 60’s and the 70’s. She was the Chiquita Banana girl, and was featured in numerous other television commercials. Marion appeared in the hit movie Soylent Green, which starred Charlton Heston and Edward G. Robinson, and had a role in another movie titled Ginger In the Morning, starring Sissy Spacek. She frequently appeared in popular television shows of the period, such as Love, American Style, Dragnet, and Barnaby Jones. She even appeared on The Johnny Carson Show.
Then in the mid 80’s, a head-on auto accident in the mountains of California left Marion comatose and paralyzed. Her friends called and told my mom and me that we needed to come right away, because the doctors held out little hope of Marion surviving. She was in a coma when she arrived at the hospital, completely unresponsive to her friends or anyone. When Mom and I first walked into the ICU, we were beyond shocked. The only sound was the constant pshhh-pshhh of the respirator. Marion’s face was badly cut, covered with stitches, and her head was half-shaven. It seemed that tubes beyond count were coming out of every part of her body. My first impression was that she had passed away; she didn’t even appear to be breathing to me. Our mom marched right past me and all the machines and monitors as if they weren’t even there, gently placed her hand on Marion’s head, and started whispering in her ear, “My baby. My sweet, sweet little baby girl.” Immediately, Marion’s heart rate started rising, and her chest started moving up and down. She was breathing so hard that bubbles started pouring out of her breathing tube. Mom said, “Marion, if you can hear me, squeeze my hand.” Marion gave a tiny, gentle squeeze.
This was the beginning of a nine-month hospital stay, and a lifelong healing journey. Mom and I sat for hours and days on end, watching her on the breathing machine. The doctors told us that she probably would not regain full consciousness, but Mom and I knew differently. From the time we were children, Marion and I loved to sing together. Now, as she lay so horribly wounded, I would sing her our favorite songs, and she would blow little bubbles from her breathing tube. I knew she was hearing me, as her lips would move slightly as I sang. The doctors said it was just muscle reflex, but Mom and I knew differently. Marion might have been in a place beyond our understanding, but she was still here with us, fighting to sing, and to live.
Over the next months and years, Marion continued to amaze the doubters in the medical profession. She did come out of her coma. Initially, however, she was paralyzed, could not speak because of severe damage to her vocal cords, and had suffered significant brain damage. One day in the hospital, Mom and I saw her big toe move. Once again, we were told it was only muscle reflex, but again, we knew differently. On another day, we heard her voice, but were told she would not be able to talk in an understandable voice. Mom’s and my faith remained unshaken, however. Marion had repeatedly amazed the doctors, and we just knew she would do so again. And amaze them, she did!
After nine months of hospitalization and extensive therapy, Marion was released from the hospital, and returned home to Texas. After many years of therapy, Marion became able to walk with a cane, and she most certainly could talk! Eventually, she even managed to drive a car and live on her own, without the constant assistance that the doctors had told us she would always require. During this time, I searched and searched for books and stories to share with her, stories that would be inspiring – inspiring enough to help her through the long recovery road ahead, and inspiring enough for her to want to live.

Back in Houston, my sister tried very hard to make new friends and to gain employment. Over the years, and faced with frustration at every turn, the struggle eventually became too much for her, and she lost all hope. In April of 1997, she ended her life. I wanted to shout at the world, “Why didn’t you look in her eyes when talking to her? Why didn’t you treat her with the respect, and care, and kindness she deserved?” But even then, I knew the answer. Many people couldn’t really be present with Marion because they were afraid, as if by relating to her, they might somehow be faced with the same challenges that she faced. And I am sure that others felt awkward, unsure of the “right” way to deal with her. When my sister ended her life, I felt that a part of me had died with her. I felt like there was a huge, black hole in my soul. I would cry myself to sleep each night, and awaken each morning to more tears. I wondered if I would have the strength to live through her death, and I especially wondered how my mom would live through the death of her child. When Marion died, she took part of us with her.
Some years later, my nephew and his wife were involved in a serious motorcycle accident. While they both suffered severe injuries, his wife’s leg had to be amputated. They have two young children. As I walked into the ICU to see my nephew’s wife, who was in critical condition, I tried to think – as I had with my sister Marion – of every positive story I could imagine, to tell her to give her hope and help lift her spirits. I recalled the story of Ray Charles, who managed to overcome extreme poverty, blindness, and drug addiction to become a true icon in the music industry, and – beyond that – an inspiration to all who heard his music, even if they knew nothing about the obstacles he had overcome. His ability to laugh at his predicament truly inspired me beyond words, and I applaud him for his strength.
Then, just months later, my youngest sister, who has two very young children, was diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer. Once again, my world was shaken, and I tried to think of every possible story of hope, of people beating the odds of “incurable diseases.” Once again, I wished for a book that would serve as inspiration.
I kept finding myself in situations where loved ones and friends were facing difficult challenges in their lives. I wanted to leave them with an inspiring book – a book filled with actual stories of people who have been through, and overcome, trauma – a book that would give them hope!
Then one day, I was standing at the water cooler at my workplace, again wishing for such a book, when I noticed a poster above the cooler that read, “Be The Change You Wish To See,” a quote by Gandhi. It became clear that the book did exist; it just hadn’t been written yet. I decided right then that it was my job to create this book – a book to give hope and inspiration to all people, and especially those who find themselves facing life’s most difficult situations. This is what I call a God Job!
This book is a collection of essays describing the journeys that these brave souls have taken (and on which they continue each day). The stories are about ordinary people who have not only faced their fears, but have gone on to see the beauty life offers to those who take the time to see and consider the wonders all around them. By taking the time, and opening their eyes, hearts, and souls, these “ordinary” people have become quite extraordinary. Working on this project, and getting to know some of the people who offered their stories, has touched me on a very deep soul level. To say that I feel honored and blessed to bring their stories forward would be a gross understatement. In the most profound sense, they are my heroes.
It is my deepest desire that by offering a glimpse into the lives of these not-so-ordinary heroes, this book will raise awareness about people with disabilities, and serve as a source of hope and inspiration to all who read it – especially those who find themselves on a challenging journey of their own.
~ Cindy Cline-Flores

Here are a few of the participants in this magical evening..93Q Personality Kevin Kline Master of Ceremonies
Jazz Singer Yvonne Washington
Business Owner & Philanthropist Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale
Pianist Bobby Lyle

About the Author
The author, Cindy Cline-Flores
Additional photographs available upon request. Contact the author at
cindy@alwayshopebook.com Or call 713-854-6687
C indy Cline-Flores’ greatest passion in life is helping others. Even as a small child, while most children her age were focused upon play, Cindy was ever the care-giver. She would come home from school, drop her books on the kitchen table, and rush off to visit the elderly in her
neighborhood. Cindy has worked at Unity Church of Christianity in Houston, Texas for over twenty years in
various roles, ultimately serving as Executive Director for twelve years. A few years ago, she chose to reduce her efforts to part-time, in order to devote more time to the care of her mother and her young son Mark, who is the light of her life.
She is a vital part of managing a media production company which she and her husband own. Cindy is a motivational and keynote speaker, and gives powerful and inspiring lectures and workshops on topics such as Visioning, Empowering Women, Grief Recovery, and Creating a Magnificent Life.
She lives her life with passion and heart, knowing and demonstrating that it is from our hearts as well as our intellect that we can truly heal our suffering and create the kind of world for which we Always Hope!

About the Photographer
Photographer Alisa Murray
Alisa Murray opened her studio in 1998 after having one of her portraits receive cover status under the direct influence of her uncle, also a photographer of 30 years. She has trained under the well known portrait artist, Tomas Ramos and came into her own artistically in 2000. Her work has been featured in local covers of various magazines and she has been featured both locally and nationally for her work as an artist as well as for her philanthropic work with Susan G. Komen, MD Anderson, The Pink Ribbon House, and Popular Photography magazine.
Along with being an exceptional photographer, Alisa is also an award winning columnist featured monthly in the Fort Bend Focus magazine with her column "Living the Sweet Life in Sugar Land" as well a contributing columnist and writer for Houston Family magazine.
For additional information, go to www.alisamurray.com, e-mail Alisa at studio@alisamurray.com , or call 713-598-2207

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Welcome to the Renaissance Artist blog! Here you'll find a plethora of helpful information about marriage and mothering, art projects to do with your children, tips on party planning, cool baby gadgets and hints on how to take the best portraits. Really, it's a "brain dump" of everything I am good at or interested in. I have even posted my award-winning column for you to enjoy as well.
“Always Hope A Night to Remember” Friday, April 9, 2010 @ 8:00 pm Unity Church of Christianity 2929 Unity Drive, Houston, TX 77057Join us for an evening of “Hope, Inspiration and Renewal” with inspirational speakers and heart-opening music!Featuredspeakers: 93QmorningairpersonalityKevinKline Gallery Furniture owner, Jim “Mattress Mac” McIngvale and his daughter Elizabeth Reverend Howard Caesar, minister Unity Church RanelleWallace, authorof“TheBurningWithin” Alisa Murray, Nationally acclaimed Portrait Artist Cindy Cline-Flores, author “Always Hope” and moreMusicalGuests: GrammynominatedJazzpianistBobbyLyle Special guest appearance by Jazz singer Yvonne WashingtonSeating Limited Purchase your tickets now at www.unityhouston.org or call 713-782-4050This event is for anyone who has ever faced life’s adversities!Alisa Murray