Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

Jan 18, 2007

Today’s Announcements

Happy birthday Mary Ann Campbell bmacampbell@worldnet.att.net

Happy birthday Kay Seefeldt: birdnest@megalink.net

I just wanted to let you know that my little Mama went home to be with Jesus last week. I would like to request your prayers for me and my family at this time.  After her funeral, it seems that it only gets harder to bear. There is nothing more to do for her and life seems so empty without her sweet smiling face.  She left behind a lot of love and good memories for her family and I know that we will see her again someday, but right now I miss her so much.

She lived a long full life. She would have celebrated her 94th birthday if she had lived until March 12th.  She was loved by all who knew her and she will be missed.

Love and hugs

Leeuna

newbizacct@yahoo.com

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Today’s Stories

~**~**~

One Fine Dog

Tonia Goslett

Buddy is a boxer, a large and goofy fellow who has a heart of gold. While there have been many dogs in my life, he is the first one I raised from a puppy. He was in pretty dire straits when he came into our world, so full of worms it was a miracle that his little body was receiving any nutrition at all. Today he is full-grown, a handsome and muscular 60-pound dog who at a little over 2 years old loves to run and jump and play. Boxers have a tendency to be quite rambunctious, and Buddy is no exception. I am told he will retain the qualities of a puppy way into his adulthood and possibly even into old age.

Rusty, a wise, old Pekinese, raised Buddy and established the rules early on, making sure that Buddy knew the limits of interacting with a smaller dog. There is no doubt that Rusty is the alpha dog, and we reinforce this fact every day. Rusty always gets his treats first and is allowed to chastise Buddy should he start to get a little out of hand. This practice has allowed us to maintain peace throughout the house, and not worry that Buddy with his size and strength might inadvertently hurt Rusty or one of the cats.

Recently we introduced a new member to our home, Spike. He is a little Shih Tzu puppy who weighed in at 2 pounds when he came under our care. Rusty was the first to meet the puppy and showed no interest in him at all. He just moved away if Spike came too close, and the puppy quickly learned that Rusty preferred to be left alone. At first, we limited any interaction between Buddy and Spike since the puppy was so small, and also not in the best of health. Spike was kept in a large crate while he was recuperating, and becoming comfortable with his surroundings. He was given time to explore the house only when Buddy was confined.

Gradually we started to allow more interaction between the two dogs, keeping Buddy on a lead while they sniffed each other and started, ever so tentatively to play. As is the case with most boxers, Buddy likes to use his paws as part of any game. When he is given the opportunity to play with another boxer his own size, it is easy to see how the breed received its name. They jump and paw and tumble and wrestle and generally wreak havoc until they are each too exhausted to move. While Buddy does not have a mean bone in his body, we were greatly concerned that he might inadvertently hurt the puppy in an overly rambunctious moment. We need not have worried.

After a few days of highly supervised interaction, we began to let Spike roam a little more freely in the house. Buddy was allowed to be around him off a lead as long as one of us was there to keep a watchful eye over them. At first, it was necessary to reprimand Buddy for trying to use his paws when playing with the puppy. He is very responsive to verbal commands and instantly jumped away from the puppy when he heard “No!”. Of course, Spike became utterly enamored with his big new friend, and took every opportunity to pounce all over him.

Buddy really wants to get things right, and it only took him a short while to realize that he needed to adapt his style in order to interact with Spike. He has learned to lie down with his front paws spread wide apart and let the puppy come to him. They mouth at each other, and occasionally Spike gets his entire head inside Buddy’s open jaws. It is amazing to watch how fiercely Buddy concentrates when playing with Spike, making sure that his size and strength do no harm to the little one. Spike is allowed to bite at Buddy’s jowls and pull on the flesh there, and Buddy’s only response is to whimper a little if Spike pulls too hard.

It will be a long time before Buddy is left alone with Spike, he is just too small and it is not a chance worth taking. It is obvious that these two will become lifelong friends, and no doubt it will be Spike who has the upper hand. For the moment, it warms my heart to watch my big lug of a boxer playing so carefully and gently with the little one. He is a fine fellow, and we were blessed on that day when he came into our world.

© Tonia Goslett

GosCer@aol.com

~**~**~

   Love and Work, Work and Love

Other Ways to Connect
Classes, Audio Experiences, Seminars
and more.....
================================

Dear Passion Activators,

Isn't it fun when day-to-day life
infiltrates the daily passion
activator?

Even as I formatted today's issue,
Katherine helped me to continue to
experience work and love, love
and work - as I hope you will in
reading today.

With Love,

Julie

================================

Love and Work, Work and Love
© 2007
Julie Jordan Scott

My day started merrily today. Please read that again, with
your tongue firmly entrenched in your cheek, and hear
it in my voice.

Yes, my day started merrily today.

I'll put it in a nutshell for you.

Sam, my five-year-old, is having challenges with his
digestive system. He had them when we were in Flagstaff
and now they have started again, but this time from a
different part of his digestive system.

When it looked like it was a temporary challenge, I
lit a candle and set it on my entry way altar. I
recited my most recent quote-to-live-by, "My work
is to love." Mary Oliver said it so it must be true.

Sam made another mess which I cleaned, mopped and
scrubbed up.

"My work is to love." I said with a minor amount of
vigor. "My work is to love." In cleaning up like
this, I was loving my family and myself.

I walked down the hallway, past the bathroom, and
there was another surprise for me. I went to fetch
the mop and bucket from the kitchen. I caught
Katherine's eye and said, "I love being a Mom
when you guys are sick."

My wise fifteen-year-old daughter replied, "You
love being a Mom all the time." I trudged down
the hall while she continued. "Can you imagine
life without us?"

She had a valid point there. I could not imagine
life without them.

Sam had followed me to the bathroom. He felt no
guilt or remorse for adding to my to-do list for
the day. That is how it should be. He shouldn't
feel remorseful for having digestive problems.
It is a normal part of life and "my work
is to love."

I mopped it up and lifted Sam onto the counter
which I disinfected before and after he sat there.
I got a washcloth and warmed it with water and
washed him off, too. He laughed, not at all
upset at any part of his day. I smiled at
my precious boy and remembered, "My
work is to love."

I returned to prior task with a smile on
my face. I looked up from my writing to
take a breath when I caught a glimpse of it.

My altar.

I can see my altar from my desk. It looks
so pretty. There is a clock there, a couple
candles, an assortment of pinecones, acorns,
candles, a sculptured angel, a pomegranate and
an empty wine bottle.

The "my work is love" candle is giving me a
hug from a distance.

Behind me, Sam and Katherine are high-fiving
and Emma is sitting at the dining room table,
drawing and writing. I can feel my work,
my love, filling me.

I can not imagine my life without them. I can
not imagine my life without my work.
Love. Love. Love. Work. Work. Work.

Kahlil Gibran said, "Work is love made visible."

I agree with my wise friends and my daughter. My
most important work, where I make the most
significant contribution, is when I love.

= + = + = + =

Julie Jordan Scott is a Writer, Life Coach, Poet, Speaker,
Actor, Director and Mom Extraordinaire whose deepest passion
is helping people - like you - discover and live with
passion. Call 661.444.2735 to book your complimentary
coaching session or visit http://www.5passions.com
<http://www.5passions.com> for
plentiful resources to live a passion-rich life.

=================================

Other ways to Connect:

I am so excited about this program - please let
your writing friends (or "want to be writing") friends
know about it....

Reach Your Writing Goals in 2007 -
Join in the brand new "Writing With
Passion Now" program for writers
from 5Passions. com

http://www.5passions.com/writewithpassionnow.html
<http://www.5passions.com/writewithpassionnow.html>

= + = + = + =

Carry my Coaching in Your MP3
player or right on your computer!

http://www.5passions.com/giftofaudiocoaching.html
<http://www.5passions.com/giftofaudiocoaching.html>

= + = + = + =

One of my favorite finds is the website, 43 things.

It is a great place to keep track of your goals,
hopes and desires and network with like minded and
hearted people so that achieving your goals, hopes
and desires is that much more fun.

See my page (and register, too!) by clicking the
link below:

http://www.43things.com/person/JulieJordanScott
<http://www.43things.com/person/JulieJordanScott>

=================================

Official Words from 5passions.com

If you would like to use the article written by Julie in
this edition of Daily Passion Activator, permission is granted
as long as the copy remains unchanged and the resource
box is included at the bottom of the article.

===========================================

Daily Passion Activator is brought to you courtesy of:

Julie Jordan Scott
Julie@5passions.com

5Passions.com/PassionCrafting
 

Successful movement
Pick up the foot put it down
Ohhhhhh, that is just right.......

~**~**~

Poetry Corner

~**~**~

I Am Glad To Be Alive
by Cynthia Groopman


In deepest gratitude I say,
I am glad to be alive today.
To marvel at the flowers that splendidly flourish and thrive,
I thank God that I am alive.


To gaze at the awesome sunrise,
and to have my heart dance and sing, with each pleasant surprise,
I am glad to be alive,


to aim high and to strive.
To wave to a bird flying so high,
and to touch the rainbow regally adorning the sky.
I am glad to be alive,


to hear bees merrily buzzing in their honey filled hive.
For God, without you, I would not be alive today,
and I thank you in a rejoicing way

.
Cynthia Groopman

Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net
Copyright ©2004 Cynthia Groopman

~**~**~

Help Me To Understand
Cynthia Groopman

Dear Lord, please help me to understand,
that life is bitter sweet,
and is often like an unpaved and narrow street.
Please God, help me to understand, that trails I must blaze,
and that my life's sky is often full of confusion and haze.
For I need to grasp your gentle outstretched hand,
as God, you will be with me and help me to understand.


Cynthia Groopman
Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net
Copyright ©2004 Cynthia Groopman

 ~**~**~

Greetings
Cynthia Groopman

With smiles, I lovingly greet you,
as sunrays of friendship radiantly in a sky of blue.
I greet you with a song in my heart,
and with cheerful thoughts that I happily impart.
With a beaming face,
I enfold you into a fond greeting's soft embrace.
For there are different ways to greet a friend, as you know,
and greetings are as happy as the dancing waves,
that sprightly prance as the calm ocean waters majestically flow.
For greetings are pleasant and sincere,
Permeating a sunshine of friendship that is precious and dear.


Cynthia Groopman
Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net
Copyright ©2004 Cynthia Groopman

Readers Feedback

I Ron’s story Epitaphs is a treasure.  Thank you Ron.  Reminds me of those old Zane Gray Books that I loved years go.    Louise

Excellent!

Yes, evil makes good possible!
Poet William Blake asks in "The Tiger" whether God smiled His work to see. The vicious tiger (evil) shows its contrast with the lamb. With good and evil we know both and have choice! Yes, God smiled His work to see!

Yes, East and West can meet.

Vance Agee, Christian

I think that "Remembering Dr. King" is a wonderful tribute to a man we should never forget. Cynthia is a good writer and I enjoy her work very much.  I really enjoyed the story that Debra's son wrote too. You have a lot of talent present here now.

Dianna Doles Petry

Storytime Tapestry Angels

Angels on earth, they exist they are out there.  Angels come in all ages, shapes and sizes, civil status, and religion.  Their nature is love and their purpose is giving to the less fortunate of this world.  Storytime Tapestry angels are no exception.  These angels are loyal members who have contributed to the upkeep of Storytime Tapestry newsletter so that Storytime Tapestry can continue come to your email box 350 days of the year.

Here is our Storytime Tapestry Angels: Also, I would like to thank those of you who chose to be a silent angel and gave an anonymous donation to keep Storytime Tapestry up and running.

Clara Westerfer, Mark Crider, Rosanne Catalano, Paula Booher, Kay Seefeldt

Mary Ellen Grisham, Louise Nomani, Sharon Bryant, Angela Walker

Hart and Helen Dowd, Keith Ready, Ginger Morgenstern, Ellie Braun-Haley

Surinder Jandu

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; Meeks, Carol; Mizrany, Mary Carter; Morris, Deepak; Ojeibge, Georgewaters; Petry, Dianna Doles; Pringle, Sandra Lewis; Roberts, Susan; Shiveley, Debra; Shaw, Bob; Sims, Richard; Smith; Michael; 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