Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

Feb 14, 2007

Today’s Announcements

Happy Valentines Day everyone, remember everyone who has love in their heart and is able to give it to another human being is a valentine.

 We have two valentine birthdays today:

Lori: ladybounty2000@yahoo.com

Nell Berry: louis_berry@bellsouth.net

I am sending this two you because I just found a way to make some money per month.  Most of the places I have seen payout to Americans but since I am Canadian I was having problems finding one that offers payment to both; and other countries as well.

Please come and join, your participation will be as you want it no pressure and you would be helping me out at the same time while making money for yourself. Simply join by clicking on this link.  http://www.mylot.com/?ref=winterose

I thank you in advance,

carol

Donations are needed to help with the operating expenses of running the newsletter and to keep Storytime Tapestry the quality newsletter you are so accustomed to.   

Please note that Storytime Tapestry is a free newsletter to members and there will never be a cost for the newsletter.  Donations are purely voluntary and no member should ever feel guilty for not making a donation at this time.

Today’s Stories

~**~**~

My Special Valentine

Helen Dowd

It wasn't until I heard Skipper's deep, guttural bark, Chrissie and Scruffy's excited yapping, and the three geese honking--triggering the disappearance of the three preschoolers out the door that I realized what time it was. Licking my fingers, then wiping my hands on my apron, I hustled the cake into the cupboard, and the dishes into the sink.

"I wonder if Dean will keep our secret," I said to myself as I rinsed the evidence off the dishes. But I hadn't long to wonder as the children burst through the door, dropping their lunch kits onto the counter, all trying to talk at once.

"I didn't tell, Mommy." I heard the piercing announcement through the din of eight other youthful voices. I smiled at the four-year-old, and stood watching the excitement of the children.

"I got twenty-eight valentines," piped six-year-old Dennis. To him Valentine's Day was a new experience, and clutching them all in his hand at once, he came toward me.

"And I got thirty," announced eight-year-old Dale.

"Look!" I cut in, "Let's all get changed out of our school clothes; then we can all share the valentines. In fact, let's save them 'til after supper. I have a surprise for you."

"Mommy's got a cake," piped up three-year-old Dougie. But his announcement fell on deaf ears as the excited children scrambled into their bedrooms to change their clothes.

It was then I noticed David, also eight, standing still by the door, clutching a Valentine--a favorite, I presumed. His usually smiling, moon-shaped face had a peculiar look on it, but before I could question him, he walked by me to his bedroom to change. I didn't think any more about it until suppertime. I handed the children plastic bags to put their Valentines in.

And now, as the children gathered at the table for the evening meal, the excited pitch of their voices had risen to a crescendo. Daddy wouldn't be home for this special supper, as he was on the bridge crew with the Department of Highways, and was away repairing a washed out bridge.

With the meal cleared away, and all the children in their pyjamas and housecoats, a habit we adopted on chilly winter evenings, we all gathered around the large dining room table. I had told the children at supper that my surprise was: we were going to have a valentine party, and that we would save our dessert until then. The excited children clutched their plastic bags in their hands and assumed their usual mealtime places. I brought out some candy I had saved for the occasion, and set the large heart-shaped cake in the middle of the table.

Now it was time for us all to share the valentines the kiddies had gotten from their friends at school. They pulled the cards from the plastic bags and set them on the table in front of them. It was then I noticed that David had only one card in front of him. My heart nearly broke, but now was not the time for questioning. There would be time for that later.

When it was David's turn to share his valentine, that strange look reappeared on his face. He turned the card over, and his usual smile returned to his face as he read, "To David, My Special Valentine. From your Teacher, Miss Waters." The card was not anything out of the ordinary. It was just one of the run-of-the-mill valentine cards, but to David it was special. After he read it he hugged it to his heart. It was the only one he had received.

There was nothing wrong with David. That is not why he did not have friends, nor why he did not receive any valentines. He was not shunned by his peers because he was a trouble-maker. He was not shunned because he was extra stupid or extra smart. It was not because of any obnoxious behaviour, nor because he was a smart alec. No. It was just because he was a **Native Indian. Our children were all foster children, and they were all mixed-blood, Native Indian children. All except for David. He was a pure Native Indian from the Indian reservation in Atlin, British Columbia.

My heart was breaking just now, breaking for a sweet little boy who was shunned by his peers because he was different. I went over beside him, looked at his valentine, and said, "Oh David, that is SO special. Let's put it on the fridge so that we can look at it every day, for as long as you want."

I decided that the best thing to do was to make a big thing out of what he had, rather than showing him pity because of how much less he had than the others. And the three little ones saved the day. In unison they said, "Let's have the cake now."

Relieved that the crisis was over. I gave David a big hug, and told him that he could pass out the valentines we all had made for each other. And David was equal again. He was amongst his friends and his family, where there was no prejudice, just a lot of love.

** NOTE: This story happened in the sixties. The attitude toward Native Indians (or First Nations, as they have chosen to be called now), has changed in the past 30 years. Also, now there is a much more ethnical mixture in the present-day schools, than there was when this story took place.

© Helen Dowd

www.occupytillicome.com.

hmdowd@telus.net

Poetry Corner

~**~**~

A Solemn Promise of Love

Helen Dowd

I’m not going to give you a promise of fortune
Perhaps we won’t have any gold.
But what I will give you is undying love.
You’re mine now to have and to hold.

.....You don’t need to give me a promise of fortune;
.....I don’t ask for silver and gold.
.....And I, too, will give you my love and devotion,
.....I’m yours now to have and to hold.

I’m not going to give you some false expectations:
I don’t know what trials we may face.
But I want you to know that whatever we suffer,
I’ll be there, your fears to erase.

.....You don’t need to warn me ‘gainst false expectations:
.....Yes, I know that life can be tough,
.....And I want you to know that whatever we suffer,
.....I’ll be with you when the going gets rough.

I’m not going to give you the hope of a mansion.
Sometimes we may live in a shack.
But I do want to tell you, where ever we do live
My love for you never shall slack.

.....You don’t need to give me the hope of a mansion.
.....I don’t care where we may call home.
.....That we are together, is all that will matter.
.....Even though throughout life we may roam.

I’m not going to give you assurance of children.
Although three or four would be swell.
But I’m going to promise, that whatever may happen,
With you I shall forever dwell.

.....You don’t need to give me the assurance of children.
.....That’s out of our hands, don’t you see?
.....If we should have one, half a dozen, or none,
.....Your love’s all that matters to me.


As we stand hand-in-hand, let us promise together:
To each other may we always stay dear.
‘Though life may throw rocks and arrows our way,
Our love will grow stronger each year.

© Helen Dowd

Bio

Helen Dowd enjoys spending time at her computer, along side her husband of 49 years, writing poetry, story poems, stories about pets and life in general, as well as inspirational and Bible stories. Her writings can be found on her website: www.occupytillicome.com.

hmdowd@telus.net

~**~**~

"Love is patient,
love is kind.
May we keep these thoughts in mind."

"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, things no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."
I Corinthians 13:4-8 (NKJV)
"Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres…"(NIV)

True Love

Helen Dowd

Will you still love me when I am old?
When my skin is wrinkled, and I'm always cold?

Will you still love me when my eyes are dim?
When I'm hard of hearing? Will you love me then?

Will you still love me when my knees are gnarled,
When my fingers are feeble and my hair is snarled?

Will you still love me when my mind is not keen?
When I can't remember where I am, or have been?

Will your love still hold if I'm in a wheelchair?
Will you still love me? Will you still care?

Of course I will love you, to the end of time.
I'll always be yours. You will always be mine.

I'll be here for you: you'll be here for me.
We'll grow old together. Just you wait and see!

© Helen Dowd

www.occupytillicome.com.

hmdowd@telus.net

~**~**~

How Can I Tell You?

Helen Dowd

How can I tell you just how that I feel
When I can't find the right things to say?
How can I tell you how deep is my love
When the words keep on floating away?
How can I thank you for being my pal?
For loving me day after day?
For letting me tell you my silliest dream?
For helping me find my way?
How can I show you how glad that I am
That I have such a great pal as YOU?
Someone to walk with, and talk with, to share,
Someone so loyal and true.

Helen Dowd

www.occupytillicome.com.

hmdowd@telus.net

~**~**~

To My Valentine

Helen Dowd

Valentine's Day to some folks may mean
Giving flowers, or candy, or cards
To express to a friend, or a lover, or spouse,
The thoughts they can't say with mere words.
But Valentine's Day, to me means much more.
It is sharing each part of my day.
It means loving and caring, my heart so in tune,
That you're with me, even when you're away.

© Helen Dowd

www.occupytillicome.com.

hmdowd@telus.net