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| << July12, 2007 - Hearts and Humor - The Best Move |
July22, 2007 - Hearts and Humor - Are You Hiding Under Your Tent >> |
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Hello, Gang! Happy Sunday or Monday, depending on where you are in the world. It's been hot and humid all weekend. Ginny and I did get our-and-about, but kept it to a minimum. Have you ever made a decision and discovered it was a bad one? How did you correct it? It's not easy, is it? Today's story tells about a decision my daughter and I made. I'll say no more. You can read it below. I'm also including some great photos of our adventure. I pray you are safe and happy and that you enjoy today's story from my heart. If you enjoy a story, feel free to pass it on to your friends. I only ask that you leave the link at the bottom for them to join us. NOTE: IF YOU WISH TO STOP RECEIVING MY STORIES, PLEASE USE THE UNSUBSCRIBE LINK BELOW. PLEASE DO NOT MARK ME AS SPAM. MY STORIES ARE ONLY SENT TO THOSE WHO SUBSCRIBE TO MY EZINE. I Love your comments. Send them to: msmith4@nj.rr.com If anyone is interested in greeting cards, Ginny belongs to a group of artists. They've teamed together to market their products. Check them out at: http://www.etsygreetings.blogspot.com Ginny's cards and other crafts are at: http://www.ginginsgoodies.etsy.com Be sure to check out my collection of inspirational sites at the end. There's something for everyone. Now for today's story. This is one of my favorites. Get on Your Behind and Slide Ginny and I took my daughter, Vanessa, to see the Kaaterskill Falls, in the Catskill Mountains of New York State. The falls are one hundred and twenty miles north of our home in New Jersey. We parked the car in the small lot and followed the narrow shoulder of the mountain road, which snaked down the side of the mountain. Cars passed dangerously close, as we made our way to the base of a cool mountain stream. A sign announced "Falls - 0.5 Miles." The trail was well worn by the feet of those who'd made the trek before us. On the steep parts, we grabbed trees for support. Ginny, who suffered from a cold, took a break. She stretched out on a rock, "Mike, I don't know if I can make it." Vanessa and I sat beside her. "It's OK, Gin." I held her hand. A family passed us. The trail grew quiet. "Gin, do you hear it?" She sat up. "What?" "Listen! I think I hear the falls. It can't be too far away!" "Michael, I'm not sure I can make it." "I'll help you." I pleaded. ************************* A half hour later, we stood panting at the base of Kaaterskill Falls, the highest two-tiered waterfall in New York state. Two hundred and sixty feet above us, a stream of water slipped over the edge of a cliff, tumbled one hundred and eighty feet onto a shelf in the cliff, formed a pool and then dropped another eighty feet to the base of the falls. "Michael!" Ginny held my hand. "It's breathtaking! I'm so glad I made it." "Dad, this is amazing!" Vanessa said in awe. Several people climbed the side of the mountain, walked along the edge and stood at the side of the pool on the ledge eighty feet above us. "Dad, that looks like fun. Let's try it! I want to see the pool." Ginny waited at the base of the falls. Vanessa and I began to climb. The higher we went, the steeper the side of the mountain became. We climbed with the face of the mountain a few feet in front of us. The loose soil, covered in pine needles, rolled like marbles under our feet. With the help of tree branches and bushes, we made our way close to the top, where we paused for breath. "Dad, I don't think I can make it to the top." My daughter panted. Sweat ran down her forehead and into her eyes. I looked up and wiped my own sweat from my face. We were close to the top, but the last few feet were steep and free of trees and brush for support. I gave in. "You're right." I paused to catch my breath. "Let's go back." We started down the mountain. I held a tree. "Vanessa, this is scary!" On the way up, the side of the mountain was in our face. On the way down, it sloped away from our feet. Our point of reference was distorted. We were unsteady on our feet. Holding on to each other, trees, brush, and anything else we could grasp, we slowly worked our way down the path we chose. If the mountain was too steep, we sat on our behinds and slid or crawled like crabs. ************************* I held Ginny's hand, looked up the mountain, and wiped dirt from my pants. Our decision to climb the mountain seemed like a great idea, but we soon realized we'd made a mistake. We make decisions. Most are right for us, but there are times when they're wrong. It's not easy to change our minds or correct our past actions. Like the branches and bushes I held onto, we have family and friends. When they offer support, grab onto them. They'll support you. If all else fails, get on your behind and slide. Michael T. Smith If you enjoy a story, feel free to pass it on to your friends. My only request is that you include the link for your friends to join our family. To join our family, go to: http://subs.zinester.com/86758/ As promised, here is a list of great inspirational sites. I subscribe to all of them. You will love these sites. A good friend of mine has a new book out. You should check this out. Carol's been through rough times. She tells it all in her latest book. Carol Roach M.Ed, B.A. Publisher: Storytime Tapestry Author: Angels Watching Over Me:http://www.lulu.com/content/644485 Picking up the Pieces: A Woman's Journey: www.publishamerica.com To join Carol's story site, go to Storytime Tapestry at: http://archives.zinester.com/98907/ From my wonderful writing friend, Jan. She writes wonderful stories about her life and losing her sight. Janet Perez Eckles Faith and Love with a Latin Flair www.janetperezeckles.com Here's a good one by Linda Della Donna Freelance Writer www.littleredmailbox.com www.griefcase.blogspot.com www.storybone.blogspot.com "...and sometime when I wasn't looking, I got a new life." By my good friend Keith in Australia: http://www.agiftofinspiration.com.au/ My friend Phil runs http://www.peoplestuff.com.au/ Phil's awesome and brutally honest Zev, yes another friend, runs http://empoweringmessages.com/stories/ Heart Catchers is a wonderful site. www.DianeDeanWhite.com www.Heartwarmers.com and www.petwarmers.com are two wonderful story sites. http://hodu.com/ http://www.mydailyinsights.com/ www.ripplemaker.com http://www.sermonillustrator.org http://www.SkyWriting.Net Here's a newly discovered one I like: http://www.archive.zinester.com/9516 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WarmFuzzyStories/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WithInSight/ If you, or anyone you know needs prayers for health concerns, struggles,etc visit www.janetperezeckles.com Janet's prayer group will respond. That's all I can think of right now. If I come up with more, I'll add them. Enjoy!!! I love your comments, Send them to msmith4@nj.rr.com. I'll include some in every post. Now for some comments on my last few stories: Mike, Just wanted to drop you a quick note and tell you I have been praying for your son, his friends and their families (regarding the wreck). I know it must be awful for everyone involved. I pray that your son will realize how blessed he is - that he was not in the car - and that he will not experience "survivor guilt" from it. I pray that he will take away from this lessons about the choices we make and how those can have devistating consequences. But I also pray that he will not allow fear to keep him from making the hard choices and that he will recieve the wisdom to know exactly what he should do in all circumstances. I also pray for strength and wisdom for you and Ginny as you help him through this time. Lisa **************** Regarding an old story of mine called, "Life is a Bag of Frozen Peas." Hi, I read your write up on life is like a frozen peas.Its of great blessings.May God bless you and your new wife. dickson. **************** Mike, You truly have been blessed with an amazing ability...being able to touch (and sometimes change) people's lives through mere words, these words shared not just across the continent, but around the world. I have heard that those with the most important purposes in life, and those who are diligently following God's plan, are those who suffer the greatest. This suffering could be through any number of things, sometimes it is the Devil who is trying to make us stumble and fall out of God's plan, but other times it is God helping us become even stronger, and more capable than we already are to handle the bigger or the final project that he has for us to do. I like the idea of the second part better, but I know that we all have our stumbling blocks, that we must prove we can overcome and still stay on the right path. Julie ************** I think this is the first of your stories I've had time to read all the way through. I gather your Son was in a wreck, a bad one. When things happen to our children it's the saddest time of our lives. I loved your story of you and Ginny playing scrabble. I would be in a mess, maybe that is why I do get in messes, I can't spell worth a hoot. But you took a game and made a sermon out of it, a very inspirational one. Charlotte H. ************ Michael, Congratulations! I read your newsletter an love the story and the links you provide. The contents are not only thought-provoking, but also informative. And thanks so very much for including my link. What a great guy you are!! Regards my friend. Janet Perez Eckles Faith and Love with a Latin Flair www.janetperezeckles.com Visit my blog-nuggets of inspiration for the hurting heart To unsubscribe, go to: http://www.zinester.com/cgi/unsub.cgi?86758&0& |
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| << July12, 2007 - Hearts and Humor - The Best Move |
July22, 2007 - Hearts and Humor - Are You Hiding Under Your Tent >> |
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