Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

August 17, 2006

Today’s Queue Stories

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If I Can Do It! - So Can YOU.

Helen Dowd

Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”

I started writing late in life. The credit for what ever I may have accomplished goes to God, my husband, and my parents and other relatives. When I started school, I did not know what was expected of me, so I would sit at my desk and cry, or chew on a pencil, an eraser, a ruler, or a crayon. I was what someone once called a "crayon eater." In other words, I began school not "understanding the rules."

But whose rules? Do you need rules to become an artist, a musician, a writer?

On my first day of school, not understanding what the teacher expected of me, I just cried, and ate the chalk. (*Another one of my stories). Then, as I proceeded to the higher grades, I still did not understand what it was that my "betters" required of me... In the second grade the teacher shook me because I didn't understand how to add. Well, let me tell you, Mrs. White, since becoming an adult, I have worked as a bookkeeper; and even now, as a senior, I do people's income tax.... In the fourth grade I was told I read too slowly. Too slowly for what? Did it matter Mrs. Robinson? I still can tell you exactly what grade I was in, and where I was sitting in class, when a certain piece of knowledge entered my brain. Slow to get there? Perhaps, but the knowledge was permanent.

It was in the seventh grade that the teacher told me I gave up too easily, and would never amount to anything. Thanks Mr. McKenzie! But because of a supportive husband, who will never let me give up, I have been able to prove you wrong...My grade eight teacher flung my book across the floor, after reading one of my GOOD stories, telling me that I must have cheated. That couldn't have been MY story. I wasn't bright enough to compose anything that intelligent. Well, Mrs. Jordan. If you were living, and I could find you, I would tell you that you were wrong. In fact, I may even stick my tongue out at you, as I would have done then, had I dared. I have not only composed many stories, but I have written a book, and I write poetry, stories and articles on a regular basis.

In the tenth grade my typing teacher told me I would never make a typist. Wrong again. Not only have I worked as a secretary, I type every day, hour after hour at my computer. Where are you, Mrs.Yand? In heaven, I hope.

I could go on, but the point of this essay is not to tell the world about my accomplishments: they are few. It is to encourage anyone reading this that if I can do it, YOU CAN TOO. Don't let anyone discourage you from fulfilling your dreams.

If I CAN DO IT, so Can You!

When life throw its daggers and arrows your way,
Never stagger, nor falter, nor weakness display.
Stand up to your foe. Look him straight in the face.
Don’t let problems beat you, nor cause you disgrace.
It’s YOUR life to rule, so YOU take control.
Keep your eyes straight ahead.

Don’t lose sight of your goal.

Psalm 123:1 – “Unto thee lift I up mine eyes. O thou that dwellest in the heavens.”

©Helen Dowd

hmdowd@telus.net

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JUST BY BEING IN IT

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

My old friends have returned for another summer of fun in my backyard. There must be hundreds of them out there every night. I can't stay up with them anymore, but I sure do love watching them dance in the darkness for the first few hours after the sun goes down. They don't even need any music and I never have to worry about them bumping into each other either, because each one of them carries their own light.

Watching my friends, the fireflies, light up my backyard every night brings me nothing but joy. I feel my own light shining a little brighter when I see them and I feel a little closer to God's love as I look at them. What a wonderful love God must have for us all to give us such a beautiful world full of amazing creatures like these. They make the whole world a better place just by being in it.

Just think of what a paradise Earth would become if everyone of us also did our best to live a life so beautiful that we made the world a better place just by being in it. Just think what it would be like if all of us started each day by remembering how much God loves us and by thanking Him for our lives. Just think what it would be like if we all took the time needed to fully love God, ourselves, and others. Just think what it would be like if each of us spent each and everyday sharing love, joy, goodness, laughter, and smiles with everyone we met. Like my firefly friends we all would be carrying our own light, and our souls would be shining bright enough to light up the whole world.

Start today then. Start shining your light now. Live from your soul. Brighten the lives of all those around you. Be a beacon to others. Live a life of such joy, love, and oneness with God that you make the world a better place just by being in it. This world needs your light.
 Joe Mazzella

joecool@wirefire.com

~**~**~

 Going Home

Debra Shively

Leaning against a tall ash, the bark felt rough against my naked arm.  It was a nostalgic feeling, bringing back memories of childhood when a tree was as much for climbing as for shade or support.  Memories of a little girl waving and shouting “Mommy!  Here we are!” as she scrambled up low slung branches of a back yard tree.  Daddy, standing on a dappled lawn, guarding her progress, a gentle wind rustling the leaves of the branches.

A slight breeze lifted my hair, making it dance about my face, tickling cheek and nose.  The night was soft and velvety with the smell of salt peter hanging in the air, the distant sound of the pop pop pop of fireworks stirring memories as well.  Memories of celebrations past, of laughter and song, good food and companionship, of family.

Sliding to the ground I sat.  Drawing my knees to my chest and wrapping my arms about my legs, I watched, resting my chin upon my knees.    The hill where I found myself this 4^th of July evening was an impressive one.  So much so that the fireworks were below me, making it appear as if I observed the display from a more heavenly plane.

It would be nice if it were so, if I could be in Heaven, or Nirvana, or wherever it is we go when we breathe our last breath.  I would be with those who had left me behind, left me to touch and see and smell and hear – alone.

I shifted my body and leaned against the rough bark, relishing the scratchy feeling of its bumpy surface through my thin, cotton blouse.  There was a screeeeee, a trail of smoke and a loud bang as a rocket burst into a shimmering bouquet of red and pink.  It lit the ground below and I could see billowing clouds of smoke, looking like so many clouds, reinforcing the illusion that I was not on earth, not bound to this mortal existence, but had moved on, perhaps – gone Home.

They say “Home is where the heart is.”  If this were so, then there was no home for me on this earthly plane.  My heart died a year ago on a freeway in Central Ohio.

My husband and I had been married a year when I discovered that I was pregnant.  We were delighted when our little girl was born on the 4^th of July.  Five years later, we were driving home from Grandma’s house full of hot dogs and bratwurst, birthday cake and soda pop, eager for our beds.

It had been a good five years, full of Christmases and birthdays, paper doilies imprinted with paint-smeared little hands, tiny stars pressed upon a white surface, waiting to be framed and wrapped in bright paper: a Mother’s Day gift from a golden child. 

Five years of butterfly kisses and hugs, Cheerios and “Sponge Bob.”  Five years of love and happiness which ended a year ago this night on a dark strip of highway.

The finale was approaching.  The fireworks were coming faster, the screech of the rockets increasing in number.  Soon it would be over and I would be going Home.

My head began to nod.  I smiled a soft, slow smile.  My first in a year.  Soon!  Soon!  The scene before me became hazy and the sounds of the finale began to dim.  My heart lifted in joy!  I could hear a little voice:  “Mommy!  Here we are!”  I was Home.

Debra - Mitakuye oyasin - We are all related.

merribuck@aol.com

http://www.whodathunk.org
 
I firmly believe that I have received the same child I was meant to receive whether I gave birth or adopted.  The same soul, the same entity was meant to be mine from the beginning of time. Debra Shiveley Welch "A Very Special Child"

We love our life on the lake where birds and animals of every description abounds www.merribuck.com

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous -- it is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.  Elizabeth Stone."

~**~**~

Poetry Section

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copyright Monday Oct. 17th, 2005

originally submitted to the 'Poets Workshop'

before I knew of a better place...

"God's sittin' me up when it all falls down"

by

Paula (Roe) Booher

God's settin me up for a miracle

When everything breaks around me,

Look at the mountains closin' in

Daylight hides behind the tree.

Don't let yellow creep in up your spine

Nor fear take hold of your mind,

Evil has no residence or rental agreement

God always shows up on time.

Angels await His call to action

Mercy doth the Word spells out relief,

Have your storms ready for calming

Psalms take personal reading for grief.

Praise when clouds approach

Do not crouch when the wind blows,

Stand in the face of adversity

The answers come as faith grows.

Speak the name of "Jesus"

The church now place His crown,

Give Him all His Glory

Gods sittin' me up when all falls down.

copyright re-write 6/23/2006 4:43 a.m.

author Paula Deann (Roe) Honeycutt Booher

wrappednword@yahoo.com

Storytime Tapestry has become such a blessing to me as well as home to over 325 other gifted writers.  Please join me in thanking Carol by visiting Storytimes website at http://sub.zinester/98907 to subscribe or you can just check out other poems, stories, and information through Carols email address.

About myself:

It's simple...I love the Lord my God with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all my mind.  Where there is love Anything is Possible!  He led me to Storytime Tapestry just a few months ago and now I know more than just a few "Amazing Angels"!

In addition to Storytime...More inspirations of the Holy Spirit can be enjoyed at poetry.com under Paula Booher and Paula Roe, my maiden name.

~**~**~

"Eavesdropping Angels"

written by

Paula Booher

He holds her secret wish within his hand

Waiting for a very special moment to release it,

No one will know the second or minute of its' coming

For he has chosen the appointment just for her to sit.

By his side and within his arm cradled under his heart

To see his breathing touch her soft hair shining,

From the moonlight glistening off her golden locks

Only she has lived within his soul and reached him deeply pining.

Her sweet eyes stole him away from that first glance years before

No one since has been so much to him,

She and he have met their match

From now until forever God will fulfill their every whim.

As the moonlight reflects the ripples in the waves of the river

The rushing water takes their cares far away,

No more worries trouble a blessed man and his woman

Now that he's found his freedom from the day.

copyright 6/25/2006 9:07 p.m.

Paula Deann (Roe) Honeycutt Booher

wrappednword@yahoo.com

~**~**~

ON HIS WINGS WE ARE SAFE

By: Georgewaters Ojeigbe – Lagos, Nigeria

gojiegbe@jhplc.com

Yeah…!

The World is Rotating and Revolving

Things are Happening

People Need Hopes and Helps

Even if it Seem Slim we are Assured of Jehovah God’s Presence in Our Lives

Far from Yonder comes the Ray of Hopes

The Promises of Him who Sites Upon the Highest Throne

The Throne that is Far above the Universe

We Need Potentials to be Able to Tap into the Great Kingdom

The Place where we can Look Unto; Beyond the Hills and mountains

Though Families and Governments might have failed us

The Great One Sees all Affairs of Mankind and Promised Victory for Failure

Worry not and Fret not

Cry not and Pain not

The Greatest Hope for all that Knows Him, who is the King of All Ages

Who has made Paradise a Place for Righteous Ones

Although, we are yet here on Earth

But His wings Covers us from the Evils of the Days

For the Days are getting Dimmer on the Sides of the Ungodly

However, for the Godly, it is Filled with Promises of Hopes, Strength, Miracles in Abundance

You just name them One by One for His Promises are for the Chosen Ones

ON HIS WINGS WE ARE SAFE!

George Waters Ojeigbe

Readers Feedback

 Ref.  Train Your Human.  This is delightful.  I am very well trained .  Actually my family calls me the weak link for when it comes to discipline I am quite useless.   Thank you Clara.                     Louise

Dearest Carol,

While I was reading today's Storytime_Tapestry's editons, I thought to myself; "Yes, Carol is a real winner!"  I am serious!  I know that you have crossed many valleys in your lifetime but it just occured to me that you have to be on the mountain top right now for this reason: So very many folks are behind you; praising you for your undying love of sharing their/your thoughts, your continual fight to get to your goal in life.  In my heart of hearts, it must feel mind boggling to know that so many people are your fans, friends and encouragers.  God bless you and know that I, too, am praying for you to have reached the mountain of distress which you find yourself in at times.  Never fear, my friend, if success is measured through the love of others, you, my dear, are rich!   Much Love, Mama Normie

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.; Costner, Joan Clifton; Cavalera, Robyn; Crider, Mark; Dees, Mary; Deming, Barb; Doherty, Maria;  Dowd, Hartson; Dowd, Helen; Gilbert, Robert, Jr.; Gold, Ron; Goodier, Steve; Grisham, Mary-Ellen; 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; Mizrany, Mary Carter; 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