Greater than life is our personal relationship with God, who commands us to love one another and who awakens us to transcendent wisdom and universal compassion.

This truth is beautifully exemplified in the following inspirational books written by writer/producers Alice Ward Johnson, Ed.D., and her husband, the Late John Johnson, Ed.D.

Nothing Tastes Better Than A Healthy Thin Feels: The Spiritually Empowered Way to Weight Loss Success

Author: Alice Johnson
Publisher: Mal-Jonal Productions/Miami, FL
ISBN: 0-9715031-5-x

Nothing Tastes Better Than A Healthy Thin Feels, a 102-page nonfiction written by Alice Johnson, shares with the reader the spiritually empowered way to weight loss success. Based on her experience on the Oprah Winfrey "Healthier lifestyle" program in which she successfully lost over fifty-pounds in a six-month period (Jan. 2003 - June 2003) by "doing it right this time"; and dropping from a size 16 dress to size 6), Johnson chronicles her story in a two-part format that takes the reader on a human awakening journey and a spiritually awakening journey that is empowered from within.

Documenting her research findings, Johnson tells her story which is drawn from her commitment to Oprah's goals for a healthier lifestyle, namely: regular exercise, healthful foods in reasonable portions, and eating primarily to satisfy nutritional needs, rather than emotional ones. In her determination to make this lifestyle a lifetime commitment, Johnson shares with readers how she followed the guidelines of the bestseller/classic, Make the Connection written by Oprah and her trainer Bob Greene, Keep the Connection written by Bob Green, and The Ultimate Weight Solution written by bestseller author Dr. Phil McGraw. In so doing, she shares with readers how she was able to make and keep the connection between body and spirit that enabled her to awaken to the ultimate weight loss solution, as she now holds the keys to weight loss freedom. The book opens with a February 2004 congratulatory letter from Oprah to Johnson, a letter that is yet miraculously empowering many of the talk show hostess' Miami listeners to lose excessive, unhealthy weight. It culminates with a "Kindness" poll, highlighting how kind are you to your body and soul…spiritually, mentally and physically; and the importance of making and keeping the connection between body and soul which is the ultimate weight solution.

Candlelights of Kindness for the World: Kindness is the Truest Religion

Author: Alice Johnson
Publisher: Mal-Jonal Productions
ISBN: 0-9715031-3-3

In collaboration with husband, the late John Johnson. Based on research from all of our major religions throughout the world, this volume shows us in detail that universal kindness is the truest religion.

Candlelights for the Elementary School Student's World

Author: Alice Johnson
Publisher: Mal-Jonal Productions, Inc.
ISBN: 0-9715031-4-1

Compiled and co-edited by Fredric G. Zerlin, Naomi Davis porter and Kathleen Kendrew. By cataloguing kindness and gratitude, the students of Gilbert L. Porter Elementary School in Miami, Florida wrote true stories based on their experiences in the home, school and community.. The stories touch lives and lift spirits and are a tribute to the innocent victims of the 9/11 terrorists' attacks. In a tribute to the world of kindness, they express their gratitude as they spread the message that kindness is love in action.

Candlelights for the High School Student's World

Author: Alice Johnson
Publisher: Mal-Jonal Productions/Miami, FL
ISBN: 0-9715031-1-7

Compiled and co-edited by Ana Mederos-Blanco. Highlighting gratitude and kindness, this book consists of eleven chapters with nine stories each, based on the nine spiritual virtues. The book is written by students of Coral Reef Senior High School, Miami, FL, as a memorial for the innocent victims of the 9/ll terrorists' attacks. The stories are true experiences of kindness and gratitude that touch lives and lift spirits in an endeavor to help transform the world through deeds of kindness and gratitude.

Candlelights for the Middle School Student's World

Author: Alice Johnson
Publisher: Mal-Jonal Productions, Inc.
ISBN: 0-971-5031-2-5

Written by student of Richmond Heights Middle School in Miami, FL., this book consists of 112 true stories of gratitude and kindness that touch lives and lift spirits and that are drawn from the students' human experiences. The volume is a memorial to the innocent victims of the 9/11 terrorists' attacks and is written in gratitude to those who are helping to shape the future of the world through deeds of kindness.

Candlelights for the Family Caregiver's World: Spiritual Keys for Avoiding Caregiver Burnout and Promoting Inner Peace

Author: Alice Johnson
Publisher: Mal-Jonal Productions/Miami, FL
ISBN: 0-9715031-0-9

Based on spiritual awakenings drawn from the Johnsons' gratitude journals, highlights six spiritual keys for avoiding caregiver burnout and promoting inner peace. It focuses on the hidden power of kindness and gratitude, enabling the reader to view caregiving in the context of a divine plan that constitutes the greatest spiritual support imaginable. Based on kindness and gratitude, Candlelights for the Family Caregiver's World is the first volume in the "Candlelights of Kindness" book series, and is the progenitor for the rest of the books in the series.

We Create Our Own Happiness

Author: Alice Johnson
Publisher: Mal-Jonal Productions/Miami, FL
ISBN: 0-9648271-9-0

We Create Our Own Happiness, a 274-page nonfiction divided into ten chapters and written by Alice W. Johnson, shares with readers what family caregivers have learned about life for the new millennium. Based on documentations taken from her gratitude journal writings and wisdom drawn from a myriad of Oprah Winfrey's talk shows, Johnson brings to her readers a truth that happiness is the goal of life, and that gratitude is the basis for human happiness. She shares the wisdom that we, indeed, create our own happiness because the journey is within. In the opening chapter of the book, she quotes Oprah: "It really doesn't matter what actually happens to you in life; what matters is how you perceive and cope with it." Following the quotation, Johnson then moves into the format of writing a personal letter of gratitude to Oprah, thanking her for the transcendent wisdom she shares with her listening audiences and the richness of her programs that have enriched her life and the lives of many of her friends who are family caregivers. "The book is highly therapeutic and constantly reminds the reader of states of health: physical health, mental health and spiritual health," wrote art Haywood, Ecumenism and Millennium Ministry.

Love Finds Expression Through Kindness and Concern

Authors: Alice and John Johnson
Publisher: Mal-Jonal Productions/Miami, FL
ISBN: 0-9648271-6-6

Love Finds Expression Through Kindness and Concern is a 119-page nonfiction written by Alice and John Johnson, Ed.D., and drawn from their gratitude journal writings, a form of creative writing based on talk show hostess Oprah Winfrey's suggestion to her listeners. The book focuses on spiritual messages from the lives of Mother Teresa and Princess Diana, highlighting their spiritual mission in their service to humanity, and our gratitude to them for expressing their love through kindness and concern. The book tells us that God speaks to our hearts through human history such as this, commanding us to love one another and awakening us to transcendent wisdom and universal compassion.

The Calm and the Strife

Authors: Alice and John Johnson
Publisher: Mal-Jonal Productions/Miami, FL
ISBN: 0-9648271-2-3

The Calm and the Strife: In Search of Life's Spiritual Message from the OJ Simpson Trials depicts domestic violence based on true life experiences, and how this behavior shatters the continuity of the family, destroys healthy relationships, individuals and spirituality.

Caring for the Caregiver

Author: Alice Johnson
Publisher: Mal-Jonal Productions/Miami, FL
ISBN: 0-9648271-5-8

Caring for the Caregiver, a 136-page nonfiction written by Alice Johnson in collaboration with husband John, is a manual for those who care for disabled family members or friends. The book emphasizes that the needs of family caregivers are distinct from the needs of those for whom they are, and that family caregivers share a common bond despite the difference in their individual situations. Inasmuch as research tells us that frustrations and sadness are the most frequently felt caregiver emotions, Johnson's book shows how to deal successfully with frustrations, depressions, exhaustion, anxiety, guilt, anger, and the loss of privacy, future plans, economic security, health, family, friends and work. Based on her knowledge of personal experiences, tremendous research, visits with doctors and social workers, along with other family caregivers, she documented her information in an effort to help the helpers, thus giving her information the title: Caring for the Caregiver.

Symbols of Love

Authors: Alice and John Johnson
Publisher: Mal-Jonal Productions/Miami, FL
ISBN: 0-9648271-4-x

Symbols of Love, a 106-page non-fiction, is another inspirational book written by John and Alice Johnson drawn from their gratitude journal writings and based on experiences of their lives for which they are grateful, especially the family unit. Wrestling with the chronic disease, multiple sclerosis, they adhered to talk show hostess suggestion of gratitude journal writing and were awakened to the love and kindness that surrounded them. The book tells how God speaks to us through human experiences…especially family experiences, and how we should listen with a spirit of gratitude and be spiritually awakened to the many symbols of love.

Let Your Attitude Be Gratitude

Authors: Alice and John Johnson
Publisher: Mal-Jonal Productions/Miami, FL
ISBN: 0-96482713-1

Let Your Attitude Be Gratitude: The Basis for Human Happiness, is a 98-page nonfiction based on human experiences of the authors that awakened them to the power of gratitude. They share this powerful awakening to readers to spread the joy and enrichment of gratitude journal writing, a form of creative writing suggested by talk show hostess Oprah Winfrey.

Love Paints Beauty In The Soul

Authors: Alice and John Johnson
Publisher: Mal-Jonal Productions/Miami, FL
ISBN: 0-9648271-1-5

A sequel to Mysterious Stranger Aboard: A Couple's Courageous Battle With Multiple Sclerosis, is a 273-page non-fiction written by John and Alice Johnson, husband and wife. Based on talk show hostess Oprah Winfrey's suggestion that her listeners begin keeping gratitude journals, the book is based on gratitude. It chronicles chapters from their marriage with the chronic disease, multiple sclerosis (usually called MS) while John is confined to the nursing home at the Veterans' Administration Medical Center in Miami, FL, following the murderous onslaught of Hurricane Andrew. As a victim of severe MS that was made even worse by Hurricane Andrew, John continued to participate in writing about the human experience, determined to remain in a constant state of gratitude. He and Alice profiled the human experiences of their continuous triumphs over adversity, awakening to the hidden power of being grateful, and an awareness that love paints beauty in the soul.

Mysterious Stranger Aboard: A Couple's Courageous 40-year Battle With Multiple Sclerosis

Authors: John and Alice Johnson
Publisher: Mal -Jonal Productions/Miami, FL
ISBN: 0-9648271-0-7

A 280-page non-fiction written by John and Alice Johnson, husband and wife…chronicles their 40-year marriage with the chronic disease, multiple sclerosis (usually called MS), and is the first book written by patient and caregiver. As a victim of severe MS, John, in collaboration with co-author Alice, has profile the human experiences of their triumphs over adversity in an emotional-packed autobiography projecting their frustrations, depressions, exhaustion, anxiety, guilt, anger; and their loss of privacy, future plans, economic security, health, family, friends, and work.

"Be strong, we are not here to play, to dream, to drift;
 We have hard work to do, and loads to lift
 Shun not the struggle, face it; 'tis God's gift.
 Be strong! Be strong!"