Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

July 18, 2007

Today’s Announcements

A Happy anniversary wish goes out to Mark and Debra Shiveley: merribuck@aol.com

Happy Birthday Abram Friedland, our Montreal poet, from your friends at Storytime Tapestry.

Please keep me in prayer as I go to my job interview tomorrow morning.  My hope is to have a second interview with the company directly.  This will be a direct hire position, not a temp job.

Thank you for your prayers and support.

Love to all,

Barbara

Donations are always 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

~**~**~

 ONE GLAD DAD

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

     I am one glad dad these days. I feel so very blessed. Everyday I thank God for these three wonderful souls He sent to be my children. They all have such beautiful spirits. They all bring joy to me and to the world around them every single day. It is always such a pleasure to take walks around town with my oldest son. He has more people say "Hi" to him in a day than I do in a week. This is because his goodness and friendliness touches the hearts of everyone he meets. My youngest son rarely speaks at all, yet his spirit shines in other ways. His spontaneous joy and delight in the simplest things makes me smile and his wonderful laughter sounds as beautiful as an angel’s song. Both of my sons do have Autism, but Autism doesn’t have them.

     My boys also remind me that sometimes the brightest souls come to Earth in disguise. They come hidden in broken bodies and handicapped minds. They come needing our help and care, yet at the same time they show the rest of us how to live. They go around spreading love, sharing joy, and shining God’s light. And they help us to realize that we can do the same.

     Those who know them often become better because of them too. I know that my daughter’s kind, giving, and loving heart has grown stronger and more beautiful because of them. She has had to face a lot growing up with two "special" brothers, but she has used it all to become the wonderful, young woman she is today. Her own spirit glows so brightly. She has already become one of those shining souls who makes the world a better place just by being in it.

     I think that I will remain one glad dad for all of my days here. Life has given me a lot of challenges and struggles to face, but God has given me the love, joy, and strength to face them. Life has given me two handicapped sons to raise and care for, but Heaven has blessed me with three shining souls to show me what it means to live and what it means to love.

Joe Mazzella

joecool@wirefire.com

~**~**~

This I Believe # 22
Bill Walker
missourisage@yahoo.com

This I believe, we see and hear only what we like to see and hear. We know a man can walk by a small group of people. No two of the group will tell the same story of what the man wore or even the color of his clothes. If a man speaks about something of great importance, only one or two will get every word. The ones that will has a trained ear.
The others will miss words here or there, might even put in a word here or there the man did not say. We see but don't see. We hear, but don't hear

We also do something that is very strange. We buy many things because of the looks of the package. The outer cover will sell the goods on the inside. Years ago, when the new cars came on to the show room floor. The thing to do was for the car maker to have a pretty girl in the picture with the car. The young blades with the thought of buying a car, saw the pretty girl. She might sell some cars.  

I remember what M/Sgt James T. Alsup said, make the food look good, soldiers eat with their eyes. The food may be garbage, but if it looks good, it will be woofed down. If it is ever so good and well cooked, and it doesn’t look good it will head for the garbage can. That is most of the time. I know I didn't get many takers the first time on my
world famed apple pie. Then some that took a bite had to blab.

We do many things because of the looks, the sound. This I Believe.

Many marriages will be made on the sight thing, also the sound, the talk of one or other. Only to fall apart after the true person comes out.  We see and hear what we would like to see and hear. This I Believe. Many a fine person is passed over because, they didn't have
great looks, and smooth talk. This I Believe.

Also many a good person was passed over for the job, because of looks or didn't have  smooth talk. This I Believe.

Tinker and Poo; The Boys Write
http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?&isbn=0-595-35741-5

~**~**~

Poetry Corner

~**~**~

Complaining
Cynthia Groopman

People are not always satisfied and are constantly complaining,
They are disgusted with the cold and dissatisfied when it is raining.
When it is too hot, they desire it to be cool,
And children are sad when they do not have a day off from school.
People become impatient when they are made to wait,
And are frustrated when a meeting ends too late.
Not liking to work too hard, people yearn to be lazy,
And they display a frownful face, when the sky is foggy, overcast or hazy.
Always being dismayed with what they eat,
People are annoyed that they have to diet and avoid delicious treats.
Everyone must be satisfied with life's givings,
And they must not complain and be tolerant and more forgiving.


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

~**~**~

Humility

Cynthia Groopman

We must not brag or boast,   
And think that we are so important, that we know the most.
We must not base happiness and success upon wealth,
Nor must we look down upon those who are weak or are in poor health.
Professional status and jewels are not the most cherished treasures that we can possess,
As God gives us the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
All of us are equal in the eyes of God, as you can plainly see,
And that is why our hearts must be full of humility.

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

 ~**~**~

Once I Was Broken
Cynthia Groopman

A little angel I am,
Smiling as brightly as I can.
I would fly merrily,
And glow with the sunshine of love, radiantly.
A message of love, I would bring,
But then one day, I fell, and broke my wing.
I began to cry and,
And thus was unable to sputter and fly.
Lying on the ground,
I was so sad and terrified, that I was unable to move or make a sound.
A sweet lady did pick me up and cradled me in her loving arms,
And I was feeling healed by her magical  charms.
I was no longer sorrowful and alone,
Because she brought me to her lovely home.
With tender loving care, my broken wing, she did repair,
And she was my blessing and the answer to my heartfelt prayer.
For now I am able to fly and spread joy and cheer everywhere,
And as long as my lady angel is near,  I rejoice in gratitude's mirthful prayer.


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

~**~**~

Welcome To My World
Cynthia Groopman

As the tapestry of friendship will bloom and regally unfold.
On the wings of an angel's love, you have arrived,
where like sprouting grass, you can flourish and thrive.
Nestled in the bosom of great happiness,
you have entered with a chest of treasure and a smiling caress.
Welcome to my world, please do come in,
And let the joy and gladness now begin.


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

Readers Feedback

Carol,
   I love when you share these precious moments from your past.  For good or for bad our past moments helped to make all of us who we are.  I have found too that the more we write and share the more those memories resurface from the depths of our minds.  They long to be expressed and shared as well so that they can touch another's heart.  Keep up the good work.
Wishing you every joy, Joe

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