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| << November12, 2007 - Hearts and Humor - The Meaning of 11 |
April24, 2008 - Hearts and Humor- New Service >> |
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Hello, Gang. I hope those who celebrated Thanksgiving had a good one this year. Ginny and I are going to eat our turkey dinner today. We delayed it this year. We just took a drive on Thanksgiving day this year. I'm so sorry for being slack in getting my stories out to you these past few weeks. Ginny was away in Idaho with her daughter. She came home the Saturday before Thanksgiving. We've been spending all our time together. In the evenings, we curl up on the sofa holding each other, usually falling asleep in each other's arms. We've missed the warmth of each other in bed. We crawl under the covers and wrap around each other and sleep like babies - content to have the love of our life back in our arms again. I've missed my little girl so much. To add more to that, I started a new job last week. How many people start a new job on a holiday week? I'm a lot closer to home now. I only have to travel 20 miles each way, instead of the 48 miles I was driving. I hope this excuse helps explain my lack of writing - a new job and my wonderful wife is home after a month. SMILING I finished putting up our Christmas tree today. We put it up early, so we can enjoy it for a long time. Each year, while decorating the tree, I feel like I'm in a time capsule. Today's story is one that I post every year. I hope you enjoy it. Please check the fantastic links I have for you following the story. You'll especially enjoy the little boy who called into a radio talk show. Also, check out the list of inspirational links below that. All my wonderful writing friends are there. There's something for everyone. I Love your comments. Send them to: msmith4@nj.rr.com 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 Now for today's story- the first of my Christmas stories to get you in the mood. Memory Tree I pull the boxes of ornaments from the closet and prepare myself for a trip into the past. A photo album can't bring back as many memories as my box of ornaments does. Like a picture, each ornament contains a memory. There's the box of wooden ones, handmade and painted with care. Within the assortment is a small man on skis, a mouse on a swing, even Santa in his sleigh. I remember when Georgia and I bought them. It was our first Christmas as a married couple. We hung them on the tree and dreamed how our future children would love them. I pick up a ceramic Santa. My aunt gave it to me when I was four. He holds a tiny box in his hands. There's a tear in it's wrapper, a tear caused by a boy who couldn't contain his curiosity. A tiny brass bell is next. My brothers and I had fun with this bell. We took turns hiding it in the tree. The others had to find it. We played "Find the Bell," until mom yelled at us for shaking the tree to make the bell ring and reveal its hiding spot. Mom knew how much the bell meant to me. The year I had my own family, she gave me the bell. I played the same game with my children. I pick up a pretty red ball. My daughter touched it when she was two. We'd put Vanessa down for her nap and decorated while she slept. We wanted to surprise her. When we finished, I sat back with a glass of eggnog and waited for her to wake. I see her face again. She ran from her room, fully charged and ready to take on the world. She was five feet from the tree, before she looked up and stopped. Her eyes opened wide. Her jaw dropped open, as she emitted a small cry of delight. She walked forward, raised her hand, and touched a red ball - the ball I now hold in my hand. She turned to me. Her eyes reflected the colored lights. "Daddy, what is it?" "It's Christmas, Sweetie." My voice quivered with emotion, "It's Christ's birthday. We're going to celebrate it." Her sparkling eyes, hanging jaw, and soft skin made me hold my arms out. She ran into them and gave me a hug that could melt even Scrooge's hard heart. I pick up a cracked green ball, a veteran of the first time I allowed my kids to decorate the tree. They hung all the balls on one branch. When they turned for another, I quickly moved the one before it to a better spot. I laughed when they told Grandma they decorated all by themselves. Near the bottom of the box, I find a brass plaque. It brings back a special memory. It has my son's name and birth date on it. Justin was supposed to be a New Year's Eve baby, but he decided he wasn't going to miss Christmas. Justin was three weeks old, when we took him to the Christmas Eve service at our church. That night, our minister explained to us the real meaning of Christmas. As she spoke, she wandered down the aisle and stopped beside us. She reached down and asked, "May I?" I nodded and handed him to her. She lifted him into her arms. She was quiet as she walked back to face the congregation. Turning, she held my son high and said, "This is the real meaning of Christmas: The birth of a new life!" She cradled my son as she spoke, but the my emotions caused a ringing in my ears, which prevented me from hearing her. Tears glistened on my cheeks, as she walked around the sanctuary, displaying my son to those gathered for the Christmas service. To me, the room was empty of everyone but her and my family. Overtaken with emotion, I reached out, hugged Georgia and Vanessa to my side, and thought, "This will be a Christmas to remember." In 2003, I pulled the ornaments out again. Justin and I were not going to be home for Christmas that year. We were going to spend Christmas with friends in Ohio, but I wanted Christmas to be the way it always was. I wanted Christmas to be the way Justin remembered. Georgia died two months earlier. Justin and I were alone in New Jersey. Vanessa was in Ohio. It had to be the way it was before. The tree had to be perfect. The decorations had new meaning that Christmas. The memories of her death were raw, but the tree overcame them. A tear trickled from my eye. Good things may pass, but their memories hang on. A year later, I hung a new ornament on our tree. It was one I got for Ginny. It's a penguin. She loves penguins. The next year, I had one she gave me to hang. It's a frosted ball with a penguin dressed in an Ohio State football colors - my favorite team. New pages added to my album. Every year, I hang my personal album for all to see, sit back and relax. For several weeks, I'll search my memory tree, until I find my special spot. I don't know where it is, but I know it's there - a spot where light shines perfectly on one or two balls and reflects off a length of tinsel. It's perfect in every way. I lock my eyes on it, enjoy its beauty. and I relive my life. It's there for all to enjoy. I invite you to share it with me. Look at the ornaments. Flip the pages. Share my life. It's my memory tree. Michael T. Smith To read more of my stories or to sign up for my twice weekly posts, go to: http://archives.zinester.com/86758/ Please send your comments to mtsmith@qwestonline.com and send the story to your friends. Here are some wonderful links for you to go to: This little boy is wise beyond his years. Be prepared to cry. http://youtube.com/watch?v=zCdZwitrNoY A smile from God. I received this from Mountain wings. You can sign up for their daily posts there as well. http://www.mountainwings.com/past/7323.htm Here's another on to make you cry. A father comes home from war. I just showed Ginny this one for the first time. We both cried. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TG_-VqMgG8 I got this from my buddy Phil. His link is below. You'll enjoy his weekly posts. This little girl is incredible. What a singer - she's 11 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TG_-VqMgG8 This one comes from Harts and Dowd. A crow and kitten? To mazing to believe, but it is true http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JiJzqXxgxo If you wish to receive Hart's and Helen's posts, send them an email to hmdowd@telus.net They'll sign you up. From mybuddy, Steve, who created my first blog for me. I uploaded this one to my Youtube account. Hopefully this will help your tears dry after the above lins made you cry. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95BEzxY44B8 From my friend Connie - A time http://www.biblesociety.ca/free_scriptures/escriptures/ecclesiastes3/ecclesiastes3.html More great links. This guy is amazing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnVDHzUAj30 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTSFhIv9bYg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGH-5-Gvjng http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDoKF1NZ8P8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuoR6OM6KxA&NR=1 A song from a soldier in Iraq. The war may be right or wrong but this man is just doing his job http://www.flashdemo.net/gallery/wake/index.htm 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 story Congratulations! There's nothing like a beautiful new baby to bring a smile to one's face. I only had sons, and was so thrilled with my first (of four) granddaughters (there are also 7 grandsons). I love the name - Elizabeth Brianne. I know Ginny is so very much enjoying her time with her daughter, but also know you'll be so happy when she comes home. Linda from Iowa ************* Congrats on your new granddaughter. I have 2 now and 1 grandson. Thank you for the reminder about veteran’s day. My husband is a vet as was my father. We should never forget. Diana *********** Regarding my story, "I Stepped on a Lantern." Nice, I wish there were more guys out there who would wear their hearts on their sleeves, I hope you know everytime you write about your wife and you express your LOVE for her to all of us, you are paying her a very huge compliment and you are respected for it. You make her sound very special and I am sure she is. Cheers Dayan ************** To unsubscribe from this list, go to: http://www.zinester.com/cgi/unsub.cgi?86758&0& To subscribe, go to: http://subs.zinester.com/86758 |
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April24, 2008 - Hearts and Humor- New Service >> |
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