Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

July 16, 2006

Today’s Queue Stories

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July 15 - St. Swithun's Day  {also known as St. Swithin's Day} 

Saint Swithin was England's Bishop of Winchester.

St Swithin’s Day, if it does rain
Full forty days, it will remain
St Swithin’s Day, if it be fair
For forty days, t'will rain no more."

This charming weather-rhyme is well known throughout the British Isles and Ireland. St. Swithin [St. Swithin, or Swithun was born circa 800 and died AD862} was an early Saxon Bishop of Winchester and legend says that as he lay on his deathbed, he asked to be buried in the common graveyard, "where the rain would fall on him and the feet of ordinary men could pass over him." For nine years, his wishes were followed, but then, the monks of Winchester attempted to remove his remains to a splendid shrine.

The work began on July 15th,  but it couldn't be finished then, or for many years afterwards. Torrential rains prevented it on the first day and these continued for forty days and forty nights. It was said that St. Swithin, who had detested any outward display or ostentation, was weeping in protest.

The countryside was flooded and the monks beseeched St. Swithin to intercede for them. It's said that he appeared to one of his monks and revealed to him how displeasing it was to God to spend their time in useless expenditures of time and money which might easily be spent with more advantage in the relief of the poor and needy; he also forbade the monks to ever interfere with his remains thereafter.

In AD 963, the work on the mausoleum was finally completed, but, by then, the legend of St. Swithin as a rain-saint was firmly established.

Oddly enough, while most of us would rather not see rain on July 15th, apple-growers hope for it on this day, as well as on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul (June 29) for it is believed that the saints are watering the crops. If they fail to do so, the apple-crop will be a poor one. Furthermore, no apple should picked or eaten before July 15th and all apples growing at this time will ripen.

Since we don't have an apple orchard, we're not worried about a lack of rain. Wherever you are, if you are hoping to be drenched with sunshine, we pray it will be so. On the other hand, if you're in an area of drought, may you be blessed with a wet St. Swithins!

The Shrine of St. Swithun, together with the tomb of Alfred the Great, in Winchester Cathedral made the Cathedral a principal place of pilgrimage in England. The shrine was destroyed in 1538 by King Henry VIII' s men during the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

Hartson Sager Dowd

hsdowd@telus.net

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"Holy Repair"

  Paula Booher

I'm a firm believer that our children are our best assets.  Their innocence of speech calls upon our nature of thought to remember how we treated our own parents at an earlier time in our own lives.  What comes around goes around and so forth.  It doesn't matter how long they have to wait our parents get their due eventually.  My sweet mother would be getting her kicks right about now!

I was a hyper child to say the least.  Always very active and going ninety to nothing.  I bombarded the poor woman with an endless barage of questions from the time I could toddle to when I graduated from High School.  My energy was never ending as hers dwindled.  It was like I literally sucked the very life out of her.  I didn't do it intentially yet did it I seemed to.  Now it seems it is my turn to watch as my own life is taking a turn at slowing down while my son is the quicker one.  He is not as hyper as I was and his questions are not like mine.  He's never been a jumping bean like me but he takes pokes at dear old Mom for not picking up the pace like he'd like me to some days.  It gets frustrating at times because I used to run circles around the likes of him at his age.  I tell him so and I also tell him that birthing babies has worn me down a bit.  That He was One of Those babies and not to give me such a hard time!   I tell him that one day, should the Good Lord be willing, he will have a sweet little bundle of Joy to give him grief and he will reap whatever he gives me so he had better take it easy on me.  Of course he doesn't believe me right now...

I didn't believe my mother either.  Mother always said, "In the end things will come out right".   She is getting her balanced scale her "Holy Repair".  To those parents everywhere who understand of what I am speaking that term makes perfect sense.  To others it won't.  To my dear sainted mom...there is a smile from ear to ear on her face as she urges my son on.  I can hear her laughter in echos in the air.  "You go Jake"..."Give it to her good son, she wore me out!"... "But that's ok cause I'm in heaven now where I got my ultimate Holy Repair!

copyright C Paula Deann (Roe) Honeycutt Booher

5/28/2006 10:00 a.m.

wrappednword@yahoo.com

bio:

I'm 48, married, and the mother of 6.  One is in heaven, three are here with me,& two are my stepsons,(one of which has graced me with a beautiful granddaughter who is 20 months old).  God has chosen to write through me and I have chosen to obey His choosing.  I hail from Springfield, MO and have since I was 19.  The Queen City of the Ozarks has been good to me.  It's a beautiful place to live and just up the road from Branson.  The next Step Up from Nashville in country music for those who don't know us.  The locals would tend to say they were the "Original Hillbillies".   

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Poetry Section

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Confounded

Joyce C. Lock

The Noblest of the Noble,

The Wisest of the Wise,

Have All Been Confounded;

Seeing Through Jesus' Eyes.

~ * ~

Wise men still bring gifts

To the King.

© by Joyce C. Lock

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CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM

Joyce Lock

Constructive criticism ought not to be.
For, it has no place in Christianity.

In looking beyond yourself to meet their need,
They'll become stronger and their heart you will feed.

Only as you bless others, then, can they see
All God has in mind in their service for Thee.

© by Joyce C. Lock

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Counting the Ways

Joyce Lock
 

How do we love Thee, Oh, Lord?
Let us count the ways.

We're loving you when we worship you,
praise you, and our service is for you.

We're loving you when we're honest,
open, and real.

We're loving you when we walk with you,
talk with you, and glean upon your every word.

We're loving you when we have compassion,
show mercy, and forgive.

We're loving you when we believe in you,
wait upon you, and take steps of faith.

We're loving you when we're meek, humble,
and are not offended with another's weakness.

We're loving you when we seek you,
obey you, and see things in your eyes.

We're loving you when we keep our heart,
actions, and motives pure.

We're loving you when we meet needs,
give you credit, and allow you first place.

We're loving you when we don't see stature,
gender, religion, education, or color.

We love you in, Oh, so many ways, Lord.
But when we love you enough to feed your sheep,

IT'S THE REAL THING.

© by Joyce C. Lock

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 Don't Laugh at Me

Joyce Lock

I'm God's little miracle, born into a world of sin.
Though life can be cruel, I get by as best I can.

My heart is so tender. My hopes are in you
To tell me who I am, to guide what I'll be.

My load is heavy, not at all like yours.
Though I may falter, don't close the door.

Created like God, a soul, don't you see?
You laugh at Him when you laugh at me.

© 2001 by Joyce C. Lock

Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed:
for in the image of God made he man.

Genesis 9:6

  Magdalena James - What wonderful writing!  I relished every word as I read true positive thoughts. I am also a product of abuse and it has been a long, hard road with daily reinforcement for me to live a "normal" life.   Thanks Magdalena.  Blessings, Sharlett F. Hunt

Readers Feedback

Hart Dowd’s Strawberry Festivals - He left out the Strawberry Festival every April in Poteet Texas, a hundred miles north of us towards Santone Texas. It makes headlines sometimes.
Just Google Poteet Strawberry Festival and take a look.
Sandra won first place with her strawberry topped-mexican lime cheese cake. The little limes were from our trees in the yard.
Thanks

Carol,

Yes I bought some strawberries last month and poured
low fat natural yohurt on top with no sugar!  I am on
a diet!

I recall years ago Daniel our friend used to go
picking strawberries, and I remember him bringing them
into our house in the village and we ate strawberries
and cream WITH sugar!

What luxury!

Enjoyed your recipes but then I have not the capacity
for muffins ... I can have one at Christmas I guess!

SM THOMPSON:
AUTHOR & LECTURER: UK:
   340 writers already?  Wow, the growth of Storytime has been amazing.  It truly
has been blessed by God and is touching so many souls.  I am just happy to
be a part of it.  Have a blessed week my friend.
Wishing you every joy, Joe

Senior Writers

Chief writer: Sharon Bryant

                                     Chief researcher/historian: Hartson Dowd

Agee, Vance; Apted, Violet; Baker, Kathy; Batt, Al; Berry, Nell; Blaine, Pamela; Boda, Ginger; Booher, Paula; Buhagiar, Victor; Cassady, B.J.; Cavalera, Robyn; Crider, Mark; Deming, Barb; Doherty, Maria;

Dowd, Hartson; Dowd, Helen; Gilbert, Robert, Jr.; Gold, Ron; Goodier, Steve; Braun-Haley, Ellie; Harris, Kathy Anne; Henry, Linda Ann; Hunt, Sharlett; Hymes, Christina; Jacobson, Gary; Kiser, Roger Dean; Kerens, Claudia; Kevin, Tim; Jenkins, Pamela; Liles, Norma; Lily Jodi Flesberg; Lock, Joyce; Marlor, Janice Bumbalough; Mazzella, Joe; Morris, Deepak; Ojeibge, Georgewaters; Petry, Dianna Doles; Roberts, Susan; Shiveley, Debra; Shaw, Bob; Sims, Richard; Streidel, Saskia; Swarner, Ken; Vaknin, Sam; Verhoeff, Jan; Walker, Bill; Walker, Joe; Warner, Gordon, K; Walsh, Sue; Weymouth, Barbara J.; Whirity, Kathy;

Wainland, David; Westerfer, Clara; White Robert;

Storytime Tapestry Staff

Carol Roach - Founder/publisher

Thelma Hartselle - Co-Founder, Moderator

Clara Westerfer – moderator

Bob Johnston - moderator