Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

Jan 28, 2007

Today’s Announcements

Many people have written asking about my mother. And many wish to hear the news as they have been praying for her. Here are three updates:
These are notes regarding my mother from my brother, Tom Snell and from our sister, Sue(Snell) Markus, and from myself, Ellie Braun-Haley. They are very positive notes.

From Tom:
i saw mom today . She said lunch was excellent.
 
 i also photo copied about 10 family pictures and used a puttty substance to post them on the wall by her bed. She has room for tons of more family pictures from other family members
 
If any of you are interested in a good movie you should see Freedom Writers it is based on a true story.about a teacher.
 
love TOM


Here is a copy of an email from Sue regarding mother's status:

Mom's x-ray went well this morning at the Foothills. Excellent service from
the Medi Shuttle too. They were called "Genesismedishuttle.ca" I think. . We were back by 10:50 I think. They got us in early and it was really quick going with these guys.

The Dr's said she can walk. The one Dr was female - Dr Heely I think, but
really I am not sure if I caught her name - she looked about 18-. She kept saying aren't you walking now? You can
walk- get up and walk.

The other Dr- Dr Huffy- I think he may have done the
surgery, said she should come back in about 4 months.
It's possible for the ball unit (can't remember what it's called) to slip out, but it shouldn't do that and that the Physio should start work immediately with her.
. I asked if we should try to get a Physio working with her more than twice a week, and they said yes, if you can, but Dr Huffy also said there is no reason why we can't work with her too. He suggested that she could walk with one of us on either side of her.

Now, Mom doesn't say anything, but I know what she is thinking. She did say
later, it will take a little more than them telling her to get up and walk
for her to do this, but I said, well let's work on getting you standing.
Baby steps.

Anyways, it was all good news for now. Mom was doing great yesterday and
today as far as the mind went. She was watching TV yesterday and when I
left today.

When we were there yesterday, she basically said if
something comes up and they want her to move to another place, she is going
to tell them she just wants to stay where she's at.

Then shesaid the fella that changes her ostomy is so good at doing it and he is a real pleasant guy. She was also commenting on how good the people are that give you a bath/shower there. So, she was really seeing a lot of positives. She said she ate a big dinner and was looking forward to supper.

I think we are back on track.

Sue.

From Ellie:
While mother was having lunch the other day, she received mail from a lady in the United States. It was a Get Well card from Betty Knickerbocker. This is an acquaintance of mine. She has been praying for mother regularly and offered to send a card. What a pleasant surprise for mother! She liked getting the mail.
I've never had the pleasure of meeting Betty, but I think it is just so wonderful that a stranger would pray for another and even send a card of well wishes.

Mother (Pat Snell) is in room 57 at the Mayfair . If anyone wishes to send a little note or card please send it to Patricia Snell
Room 57,
Mayfair Care Centre
8240 Collicutt St. S.W.
Calgary, Alberta,
Canada, T2V2X1

I am sure she would be pleased to hear from you,
especially if you have been unable to drive over to see her.

She is looking good! I took her for a spin in the halls and if the weather stays good maybe we can take her outside for a stroll.

Love Ellie Braun-Haley

shaley@telusplanet.net

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Today’s Stories

~**~**~

To all those who have commented on the story I wrote titled "Troy."  Thank you.

They Ask For Little

Sharon Bryant

It makes me feel so good to know there are so many of you out there that love animals the way I and my family do.

I'm partial to dogs.  For those who are cat lovers, don't get me wrong.  I like cats too.  After all I'm the one who raised a baby raccoon, a hawk, owls, a fox, geese, to name a few.  I've cut it down to dogs now.  I'd have a cat but I know my dogs would not be nice to a cat, so there's so sense in bringing a cat into the house.

I grew up in a family who loved all animals.  Thinking back, I can remember the dogs my grandparents had and all the dogs my mom and dad had.  It didn't matter what breed.  It didn't matter what color of hair they had.  They needed a home and we had a home that needed a dog.

I remember one mixed shepherd we had when I was growing up.  Someone gave him to dad, said they didn't want him anymore.  His name was Harry.  We ended up calling him Hungry Harry because he never chewed a bite he ate.  He swallowed everything whole.  We thought his previous owners never fed him enough so he felt he had to gobble down what he was given.  Other than having terrible table manners, he was a great dog.

Prince was our Spitz.  A beautiful fluffy white Alaskan Spitz and how I adored him.  At the same time we had Rusty, our Spaniel.

Now he was funny.  He was a hunter at heart and mom didn't have to buy too many chickens.  We never found out where the chickens were coming from but Rusty would get one and lay it by the back door.

Through the years, since I was old enough to have my own dog, I've had a few.  They have all died of cancer.  Even my Pokey who we lost three years ago.

When Pokey died, I didn't want to love another dog, knowing their life span would not match mine.  I didn't want to go through the hurt and pain of losing another dog....but four days after Pokey died, I was at the shelter, and that's how Miss Ladybug became a member of our family.  Today she is my body guard.  A beautiful Tri-colored border collie with a whole lot of love to give.  And we had a whole lot of love to give her.

Bob, our Corgi came just a few months later.  We weren't going to have two dogs, but we figured maybe with two, they'd be good playmates for one another.   We don't have to go to Talladega to see the races.  Bob and Ladybug put on a show right inside our house.  I never knew how fast a Corgi could run until we got Bob.  His start off pace is remarkable.  Ladybug has a lot longer legs than Bob, but he can keep up with her.  That amazes me with as little and short as his legs are.

Both being herding breeds, now that's a real trip in our house.  I have been squashed against cupboards if someone is knocking at the door.  I've been pushed by my heels through the house by both daily.  And we romp and play daily on the floor.  One weighs 53 lbs and one weighs 38 lbs. so add those together with both of them laying on my back, I've got one heck of a massage.  They know I've got a bum leg and it's hard for me to get up off the floor.  They wait patiently, both by my side, whining, to make sure I'm standing up.  I always say, "Ok guys, I'm ok."  They bark every time as if to say, "Mom's ok!"

But after the fun has stopped for the evening, after supper is done and everyone's belly is full, the true colors come out in both dogs.  They watch me and wait.  With their built in radar, they know the pattern.  They see me shut off the computer, they know it's getting bedtime.  When they see me filling the coffee pot, they head to the bedroom.  So when I enter the bedroom, Ladybug is already on the foot of the bed, and Bob is standing with his short little legs on the side of the bed, waiting to be picked up.  Every night, I say, One.....Two..........Three.  And nightly I laugh.  Because Bob tenses up when I say Two and he's ready to hop on the bed.  I have to keep pushing his butt over or he'll stop at my pillow.  LOL

Then comes the guard team.  They wait until I get under the covers then they take their positions.  Ladybug presses against my legs, and Bob lays by my back.  My husband has laughed many times and said, "If anyone ever tried to break in here and harm you, they better think twice."

They alert us if anyone is outside.  They alert us if they hear a motor near our drive.  The other night about 2:00 A.M. I was in a dead sleep.  I bolted up in the bed to the sound of both howling.  I jumped out of bed as they raced for the door.  Our sensor lights had not come on nor had the sensor inside the house.  And yet they both howled.  About a minute later, I heard the siren in the background down the road.  What I would give to have ears like they have.

I love the friendship they give.  I love the love they give.  And I know they love what I can give them.  They are my protectors, my playmates, my buddies.  They just haven't realized yet that I'm not a sheep or a cow, the way they herd me through the house.  I guess if I'd stop saying "Mooooo and Baaaaa" all the time, they might figure it out!

I've got a lot of memories of a lot of animals in my lifetime.  And each one holds a special place in my heart.  I will always think of a dog as being a "little person in a fur coat that can't talk." 

They ask for little, but what they give in return for us giving them a warm safe home to live in is worth so much to me.

Sharon Bryant

1948@bellsouth.net

~**~**~

   The First Chakra

Robin Lee

Seat Of The Spirit

Complete forms of spirituality accept that the body is not simply an empty vessel, but a seat from which the spirit grows. In Vedic texts, the body is interspersed by points of energy known as chakras. The first or root chakra, also known as the Muladhara, is the point of manifestation and is associated with a sense of stability and grounding, courage, loyalty, order, and self preservation. As the first chakra forms a foundation connecting us to life, so is it located at the base of the spine and it is the root and thus associated with the earth. Its primary color is red and its secondary color is black. Your first chakra is a center of balance, which can be an important factor in living energetically, with great awareness, and in prosperity.

An imbalance or weakness in the root chakra can lead to feelings of fear of instability, abandonment, and insecurity, as well as a depletion of vital energy. Yet it also controls sensations of bliss, both physical and mental, and fuels the will to survive, to find safety, and to accumulate material wealth. Because of this, it is often associated with one's choice of profession. When, through various forms of meditation the root chakra begins to open and energize, there is often a sensation of heat in the abdomen or third eye area. You may experience heightened emotions or empathic sensitivity when stimulating the root chakra with the gemstones ruby, garnet, blood stone, or onyx, or the scents of cedar, cypress, patchouli, or frankincense.

Ideally, the energy of your root chakra is a source of health, wealth, and security. It may seem that some of the root chakra's other elements, such as greed and anger, are negative, but all are fundamental to a balanced existence and part of spiritual development. When your first chakra is operating in harmony with your body's other energy centers, you will find yourself acting in the moderation of wisdom and with an eye toward reaching your higher goals.

Robin Lee

onespiritx3@yahoo.com

~**~**~

Lazarus Is Comforted

          By

          Chris Hansen

     I don’t know what I’ve done in life. Perhaps I sinned somehow.

I’m too sick and weak to work, to sow or reap or plow.

I lie here day by day at this rich man’s gate,

but I hardly think he notices my fate.

Do the dogs come to taste me or to comfort me?  I really wish I knew.

But at least they don’t ignore me, as so many others do!

The dogs lick my open sores.  If only the rich man cared so much!

The dogs are my physicians.  But I’m too unclean for human touch!

The rich man’s table is heaped with food.  Couldn’t I have just a crust of bread?

Yes, there is comfort for my soul;  there is no hunger for me if I am dead!

     Why does that beggar trouble me day by day.

Does he expect me to help everyone who comes my way?

If I gave away my fortune to just everyone who came,

then I would be just as poor as they, and then we’d be all the same.

I’ve worried and fretted and clawed my way, and now I finally have peace of mind.

Once I was where Lazarus is, but no one bothered to be kind!

I’m tired of hearing about Lazarus!  He is no different than a hundred other men!

     “Master! Master. Don’t trouble yourself.  Lazarus will never bother you again!”

     Many years went by.

Now the rich man was old and it was time for him to die.

They all planned the best funeral that money could afford.

All the famous men were there and they sent him off to his reward.

     Suddenly the rich man woke from his peaceful sleep of death.

He breathed and screamed in agony as fire seared his every breath!

Open sores were licked by each burning flame.

The rich man screamed in agony, but no one came! No one came!

In the distance, out of the darkness, the rich man saw more fire lights.

They were not the fires of torment, but of long ago festive nights.

He saw tables and candles, and foods and wine.

He saw guests in fine clothing preparing to dine.

He heard music and laughter and singing,

in short all the joy and all of the best,

and servants very graciously bringing,

 whatever was wanted to each happy guest.

The rich man began to cry out in despair,

“Why oh why can’t I be there!”

Then the rich man saw a familiar face,

sitting at an honored place,

 sitting right beside father Abraham.

The rich man said, “He’s taken my seat, where I always am!”

Suddenly he knew this honored guest!

He knew the one who took his place and was so bountifully blessed.

He cried, “Father Abraham! How can this be?

Can’t you have some pity on me?

In God’s name!

I am in agony in this flame!

They feast while I burn! Have you no shame!”

     Then Abraham slowly stood,

as somehow the rich man knew he would.

He saw Abraham’s flowing robes of white,

as he stepped out of the fire light.

He stepped some distance from the banquet hall,

when the rich man had begun to call.

He approached a great chasm, and walked up to the ledge.

He gazed far out over its edge.

While Abraham was gone,

the feasting went right on.

When Abraham stepped outside,

then Abraham replied,

     “In your comfort, you had no care.

Now you are here, and he is there.

You haven’t been mistreated at all.

Once you sat in a banquet hall.

You felt no pity as he lay at your gate.

You deserve your awful fate.

Lazarus cannot come to comfort you.

He couldn’t come if he wanted to.

A great chasm exists, deep and wide.

Like the distance between humility and pride,

as deep as the selfish heart can run,

as bottomless as deeds which can not be undone.”

     Oh please,” the rich man begged, “My brothers don’t know about this place!

I know they can never again see my face,

but if one of your righteous ones could go back from the dead,

surely they would believe what that righteous one said.”

     Abraham said, “I know how desperately you implore.

But after all, people have come back from the dead before.

Holy prophets have written what God himself has said.

Would they really listen to someone who came back from the dead?

Let them first read scripture and obey.

I’m sorry, but there is no other way.”

     Then Abraham to his guests, returned,

and the rich man suspended in his loneliness, burned and burned and burned!

Chris Hansen

chrishansen54@sbcglobal.net

Readers Feedback

January 25, 2007- This has to be one the best editions of Storytime yet. Each piece of work touched me in some way and "Troy" had my tears flowing. I agree with Cynthia Groopman's poem, In life, many sources of inspiration are found. There sure does seem to be a lot of that here!

Dianna Doles Petry

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