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Greetings, Ripplemakers
I'm trying out a new style for
this newsletter. Let me know how you like it, and please be
candid. If you like it and if I can manage it properly, I may
switch to this new format. I'll try a slightly different format
tomorrow.
Bob
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Life is a Hallmark Card
by
Kathy Whirity
When my best friend and I were
teenagers we had two favorite past times. We loved to eat
and we loved to hang out at the mall. Like most teens
we never had much money, so we'd stop to eat first and then,
with all the money spent, we'd window wish shop and clown
around the way giggling fifteen year olds do.
Our favorite place to hang out was the
Hallmark store. We'd walk up and down the aisles,
choose the perfect card we'd buy for each other, if we had
the money, and then share tears or smiles depending on what
emotion the words instigated..
In those coming of age years we forged
a friendship built on heartfelt feelings and we often times
found solace in the soul stirring bond brought about by the
words of a Hallmark card.
I think it is perhaps because of those
years that I have become somewhat of a greeting card
connoisseur.
From 'thinking of you' notes to
sympathy cards, choosing just the right card is a big event
for me. No card is worth sending unless it relays exactly
the sentiment I long to express.
The other day, while cleaning out the
crawl space, I came across the queen sized zippered bedding
bag I keep every greeting card I've ever received. At
a quick glance I'd have to gander a guess and and say there
are enough cards there to wallpaper our living room.
These are the cards that have helped
shape my life, enhancing my well-being from adolescent to
adulthood ~ all sharing space in one big, plastic keepsake
card holder.
They are the lasting messages that
speak volumes to the milestones of my life.
Cards, yellowed and tattered with time
still have the power to pull heartstrings into recalling and
renewing a memory as if it was yesterday.
Friendship cards, anniversary cards,
and even homemade cards , made with the help of wee ones
imaginations bring back all the love that has made my heart
sing with delight.
I pull out a goofy looking card that
grabs my attention. It has a stick figure on the front
that seems to be drawn in my likeness.With curly hair,
dangling earrings and big, crayon blue eyes I giggle as I
realize this is exactly how my oldest daughter saw her mom.
Opening it up I see a hand drawn heart with eyes and a big
smile. On the other side is a rainbow and under the
rainbow in 3rd grade printing are the words~~ "Yur the best
mom in the hole wurld!!"
Okay, so this may be one card that
Hallmark cannot compete with for it is a treasure more
precious than gold.
I can't go back to where I've been but,
from time to time, I can take a welcomed trip down memory
lane.
These are the Hallmark moments of our
lives. Words from once upon a time that inspire us and
give us the opportunity to appreciate the people in our
lives who mean so much.
And, when we sometimes have doubts,
when the world deals us unfair blows, the encouraging words
are there in black and white, sometimes drawn ~ as in a
homemade stick figure with a heart shaped smiley face
standing out from the rest of the stack.
Through the years my life has read like
a Hallmark card; sometimes with laughter, sometimes with
tears but always with gratitude for all the love and meaning
they represent.
When you send someone you love a
greeting card you never know where it will end up long after
it's opened and read - maybe in a shoe box, a dresser
drawer, or in a big plastic bag stored under the bed or in a
crawl space. These are paper relics of our yesterdays
that all too soon become a collage of moments captured
in time.
Life is a Hallmark card when you care
enough to send the very best.
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From the Mailbag |
Re: Sadie's
Christmas Angel, by Kathy Baker
Congrats!!!! for getting the most candy cane
votes for the story. Thank you, Kathy Baker, for
writing the story and sharing the beauty of humanity.
And, thank you, Mark Crider, for being
Sadie's
Angel--may God give you his blessings. Mark, I'm sure
all the furry creatures at Rainbow Bridge are waiting
with a very special welcome for you. Thank you, too,
Mark, for seeing past the outer shell of a person and
giving light to their human spirit, regardless of
their situation in life.Kathy Pippig Harris
Re: Is Anyone
Missing Baby Jesus?, by unknown author
Hi Bob,
This is a wonderful story and I found it on one
site which credits Jean Gietzen as the author.
Thanks so much for sharing all the wonderful
stories.
What
a way to start a Monday. with tears in my eyes.
thanks. I needed that.
Dianne
Re: Of Peace
and Pencils, by Jeff Taylor
welcome Jeff. wonderful story. very well
written. reminds me of the "Christmas Guest"
story. very good. hope to read more from you.
Dianne
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