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| << September22, 2007 - Hearts and Humor - It's a Dad's Job - WITH PICTURE |
October04, 2007 - Hearts and Humor - The Fall of Life >> |
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Hi, Gang - those of you who actually receive this. I'm so frustrated. I'm sending my stories to you, but so many readers are not receiving them. I don't even get my own stories. It's a beautiful day here. It's 75 with a nice breeze. I hope your day is as pretty. Fall is coming. I pulled this story out for you. I hope you enjoy it. I Love your comments. Send them to: msmith4@nj.rr.com If you missed my post last week or failed to receive it because of Zinester, check out the links below the story. I have some wonderful videos for you to view A couple of them were forwarded to me by members of our reading family. I know you'll love them. If anyone is interested in greeting cards or crafts, 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. When It's Time When It's Time Leaves bounced over the grass, propelled by the wind. I knelt in front of freshly tilled soil. A leaf slapped against my leg, stuck for a moment, and fled with the next gust. Others followed - a colorful march across the yard. I created a hole in the soil with my trowel and reached into the bag of bulbs at my side. I removed one, placed it in the hole, tenderly covered it, and shuffled to the side. Grass stained my jeans as I moved down the line - dig, plant, cover. The bag was empty. The bulbs were planted. I showered the sweat and dirt from my body, and sat on my deck. The weakening sun warmed me, but the cool breeze and tumbling leaves reminded me winter would soon follow. The bulbs weren't sleeping. Their roots grew downward, drawing nutrients from the soil. The cool earth triggered cells to produce small leaves and flower buds under the ground, where they would wait for the warmth of spring. ************************* From my window, I watched the first snow of the year cover my flower bed. The soil, still warm from the waning sun, melted the first flakes, but was soon overcome. The snow built up. A month later, the ground was solid - frozen. Winds whipped powdery snow into piles. Barren trees creaked and clattered with each gust. I threw a log on the fire, made a pot of tea, and waited. ************************* The days grew longer, the air warmer. Snow melted and formed puddles on the still frozen ground. At night, the surface of the puddles froze, but the water beneath soaked into the soil, feeding the bulbs. In the morning, there would be clear layers of ice where the puddles were. It shattered like glass beneath my boots. Spring came; the air warmed. I walked in the yard. Under my weight, water squeezed from the soil and filled the tracks I left behind. On the southern side of the house, close to the basement walls, grass became green. In my flowerbed, shoots of green pushed through the surface. In a few weeks, they grew taller, reaching for the sun. Buds formed at their tips and burst into color. I smiled - new life. A few weeks later, the flower pedals fell free and were carried off by the wind. The leaves continued to grow tall and strong, making food for new bulbs. The weather cooled. The leaves dried, browned, and withered away. Snow fell again. The new bulbs lie hidden under the soil. They would have their moment of glory. Nature takes care of the bulbs, like we take care of our children. If they grow and bloom too early, they'd fail. They won't be prepared for their environment. The cold would beat them. Outside, the snow fell again. I threw a log on the fire and trusted nature. The flowers would bloom again - when it's time. Michael T. Smith Check out these wonderful videos I loaded to my Youtube account: This is a wonderful tribute to 9/11. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxJiiWo0JbE&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcirclesofcompassion%2Eblogspot%2Ecom%2F From Positive News weekly - a great presentation on the value of showing appreciation. http://www.whileyoucanmovie.com/?SRC=DMRPREC&ref=64 The Budweiser horses show their respects to 9/11 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUDuNxLqo1U I received this from my inspiration friend in Australia. Thanks, Keith Keith's link is below. Even animals show their love to each other. This is so cute. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7dVWVEDQCw This is James Brown and Luciano Pavarotti doing a duet together--I never could have imagined such a beautiful blend of 2 different sounds! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCIyzNISw1Q Great pictures and music by ABBA, click on the link below. http://www.greatdanepro.com/Chiquitita/index.htm We love this song, but was especially blessed by this rendition. Hope you enjoy it too. Please click on this link: http://www.andiesisle.com/icanonlyimagine.html 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 a few comments on my last story: Michael, your fantastic story "It's a Dad's Job" was so captivating and so wonderful a read I HAD to write to you. I related to your story more than you can imagine except for one tiny detail: the person who joined me on my roller coaster ride was my first husband. About 20 years ago my ex and I went out to Los Angeles, Ca. to visit his younger sister who had been living there for some time. Bruce and his sister had grown up in Far Rockaway, New York and had gone to its local amusement park for some years. I grew up in Manhattan but if I wanted a place to go to for such adventures Coney Island in Brooklyn, NY was it, next to Palisades Park right across the Hudson in NJ. Of course, I rarely went to either place (my older brother did and he loved the rides) and I NEVER went on the roller coaster. During our trip we drove down to Anaheim, Ca. to visit friends of his, we planned a few day trips to Disney Land. Of course, he wanted to go on the roller coaster they had there, which was the Runaway Train - minor in comparison to the rides you described. I went with fear, dread and horror in my head AND heart but I was determined to be a sport and agreed to go on the ride - against my better judgement and sanity. I read all of their directives carefully and planned on taking extra care towards my safety, which included prayer. Lots of it. The irony of that is that I am not a religious person, but I was that day. I was terrified. As the motors and chains clicked and clanked up to the top of the hill, I gripped the safety bar so tightly I could barely remove my fingers from their grip. While everyone in front of me was excited - and this included the youngest riders - I was pale and serious, already worried and convinced I would die. And then, in a momentary flash that caught me off guard, the cars took off, twisting and turning around sharp curves, climbing and falling up and down hill, back and forth, up and down - help me I wanna get off! I was screaming bloody, panicked murder - which no one, including my ex could hear - gripping the bars, while my ex and the other riders were waving their hands in the air, yelling happily! I was slammed to the left against him, then slammed to the right, and then back again. Up, down, all around, my heart was beating so fast I thought it would jump out of my chest. I wanted to get off of it THEN, not soon, not later but then. Finally the ride was over and it was time to get off. I climbed out of the car and nearly fell over because my legs were like jello. And then he asked me, "Honey, how did you like it?" I did what any self respecting, mature, practical and "together" 32 year old woman would: I turned to him and burst into tears. A leaf didn't shake as much as I did that day. The Mattahorn ride, was, of course out of the question. Thanks for a great, great read! Pina M ************************* Oh, what a gift you truly are! I loved the story and thank you! I wanted to add you my links page, but I wanted your permission first. Thanks, again. You are one of God's greatest blessings! -Frances ************************ I just read "It's a Dads Job" LOL.. Oh Mike ....it was wonderful....as I was reading it .....I was going through your same emotions.....I did the same thing with my daughter.....who is now 36.......I could feel "it" all over again as I read it.....you are sooo talented...I appreciate your writings.....your newletter Ohhh by the way.....me and the CA penpal......are getting married.....he's gone back home to pack up his stuff and put his house on the market...he loves NC and said when he got back home the first time ....that CA was NOT home.....being here with me was HOME...I'm a very happy camper with a very beautiful engagement ring....lol Keep writing....I'll keep reading and your links are awesome ! ! Brenda ********************** To stop receiving my stories, please go to: http://www.zinester.com/cgi/unsub.cgi?86758&0& |
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| << September22, 2007 - Hearts and Humor - It's a Dad's Job - WITH PICTURE |
October04, 2007 - Hearts and Humor - The Fall of Life >> |
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