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Pockets Of Peace Book 1
Words of Encouragement From the Real World To America's Heroes
By Patsy Swendson and Richard Schmidt

‘Pockets of Peace’ sustain us. Ordinary moments are triumphs of the spirit, offering a brilliance that illuminates our lives, casting away the darkness that haunts us.

Whenever America has fought a war, the soldiers and their families have always paid the greatest sacrifice. Some wounds are temporary and some will last a lifetime. But the most horrific wound of all is to be forgotten by the people for whose freedom American soldiers have fought.

This book is dedicated to America’s wounded warriors, with the hope that they now know they will never be forgotten.

Copies of Pockets of Peace are being sent to wounded warriors in Iraq, Afghanistan and United States Military Hospitals.

If you would like to provide a copy(ies) to a specific wounded warrior(s), please send two dollars to cover shipping/handling for each book to:

Penny’s from Heaven Foundation, Inc.
1915 Eagle Meadow
San Antonio, TX 78248

Books will be autographed with a special message from you, upon request.

“In war there are no unwounded soldiers.” - Jose Narosky 

We have had requests to contribute to the production costs of POCKETS OF PEACE: WORDS OF COMFORT IN TIMES OF CHALLENGE

This book will be given to our deploying military. Printing costs are five thousand dollars for five thousand books. Your help in assisting us meet this goal is greatly appreciated.

It can’t happen without you.

The request response for copies of Pockets of Peace has been huge. Our deepest gratitude and appreciation goes to Soldiers’ Angels for their sponsorship and support of the first edition books.

The first printing was 5,000 books. This was one month ago. We have depleted our supply. Your contribution will allow us to print another 5,000. Basically a dollar a copy. We are anticipating a reprint as soon as possible. But funding just isn’t there. Please help us help our soldiers.

This book is making a difference – far greater than we anticipated!
Please help us help the soldiers by contributing today.
Any donation of any denomination will be greatly appreciated by our troops!

The freedom we enjoy in this country is far greater than a birthright. It is something that must be earned and secured by each generation. As a nation, we are endowed with an enduring belief in our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

As Albert Einstein said, "The world is a dangerous place not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." Your help will be appreciated.

We certainly and happily accept contributions of two dollars a copy to defray the cost of shipping/handling and printing/reprinting costs. Personal checks and credit cards are accepted.

Donate by credit card by clicking HERE or sending a check. Checks need to be made out to:
PENNY’S FROM HEAVEN FOUNDATION, INC.
1915 Eagle Meadow
San Antonio, TX 78248
Credit card information taken by phone.

We are a 501 (C) (3) not for profit organization.

Click book excerpts below to enlarge. 

I feel with the many people Penny touches, and I find myself grateful to her and to Patsy for making such healing possible. Finally, I deeply appreciate the writing for what Patsy is able to accomplish in lovely vignettes, short tales full of wisdom, love, laughter and tears. As a literature and writing professor, I am all too aware of how difficult it is in our world to take time to craft words well. Patsy has taken the time, and she has given it to us in readable episodes that even the harried postmodern person can appreciate. On a plane, at night in bed, along the way in a difficult day, these tales of Penny and Patsy will lift any reader’s load. And that says quite a lot. Penny’s From Heaven speaks words that heal the human heart as only really good dog tales can. In me, Penny and Patsy have found a loyal reader, one who will share this book with many friends along my way.

Book Review
Dawn Duncan

“Pockets of Peace” is a beautiful and comforting booklet. Please let us know where we can get more copies. Bless you for all your work for veterans.

SOUTH TEXAS COMBAT VETERANS

I read the pamphlet and agree that it is very beneficial for injured people. Two important factors that contribute to a helper’s effectiveness are the installation of hope and the reflection of a positive outcome. The pamphlet does both.

Jerome Tilles, MD

“What you do, does make a difference.”

Grace Blanchett – Fisher House – Volunteer Coordinator

“Patsy, the book is a marvel – too real and true! I treasure it and plan to use it at ICAF, too”.

Christina L. Lafferty, Ed.D.
Colonel, U.S. Air Force Reserve (Ret.)
Professor of Behavioral Science
Director of Research and Writing

“Congratulations on changing more lives.”

Nancy Stone
California

I don’t know if you and Richard know what a strong ministry you have together.”

Karla and Clemon Miller
“TEAM MILLER”

“I cannot begin to tell you how much I love your book”.

Patti Patton-Bader
Founder
Soldiers’ Angels

“I have raved about your book to many people to help spread the word. It should be used at every hospital or treatment center for PTSD troubled patients.”

Tom Criser
Author – The Ghost in the Orange Closet

“I've been looking through Pockets of Peace. If that doesn't inspire someone, I can't imagine what would. Nice job.”

Harvey Eisen
National Capital Therapy Dogs
Bethesda, Maryland

“The book is beautiful!!! The photos, the sayings, the prayers all are done with such great taste and eloquence…what a wonderful job you both did putting this together…many, many hearts will be touched by this. Thank you for sharing this with me, I will treasure it always. Thank you for what you are doing everyday. You touch so many hearts.

Peggy Finzgar
K-9 Lady
Ohio

I am the Chaplains Assistant here at the WTB (Warrior Transition Battalion) in San Antonio. I was recently given a copy of the Pockets of Peace (Words of Encouragement) and I was wondering if I would be able to get more of them; and if so how.

To whom it may concern,

My name is SSG Kimberly Ison, and I recently returned from combat duty in Serbia. I was medevaced due to a severe wrist fracture, Acute PTSD, severe depression and a Traumatic Brain Injury.

I arrived at BAMC confused and afraid with no family or friends to lean on for support. I can honestly say it was the most trying time of my life as I repeatedly questioned not only my faith, but my ability to face the long recovery ahead of me. There were nights where I wished I just wouldn’t wake up due to the trials of my PTSD. I felt like I was losing my mind and couldn’t relate to anyone, which just confused and depressed me more. It was a vicious cycle that seemed to increase with intensity as each day passed.

As always God intervened and I was led to a book written by Patsy Swendson and Richard Schmidt , and the Penny’s from Heaven foundation. I picked up the book to just look at and read it cover to cover in one setting. I couldn’t believe that there were others out there, even civilians, that intimately knew what I was going through. For me it was nothing less than a lifesaver on paper. After I finished the book I cried. It was a good cry, and one that I needed for months. I can honestly say that day the door for recover was opened for me. It was just a little crack, but I could finally see the light, and knew that I was worth saving. All from a book.

Since then I have loaned the book to so many other Soldier’s that I have lost track of it. The Soldier’s response is always the same and never changes. They can’t believe that they’re not alone. The book is returned with tears, with smiles, with hugs, but always with a renewed light in the eyes of the one who has read it. I couldn’t begin to count how many lives the book has changed.

Patsy and Richard’s book changed my life and gave me the courage and strength to meet the ghosts of my recovery head on. She is definitely a Soldier’s Angel.

SSG Kimberly I.