Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

September 20, 2007

Publishers Favourite Sites:

Rosanne Catalano

http://www.rosannecatalano.net/

Michael Smith

http://subs.zinester.com/86758/

Barbara Weymouth

penwormprayerwarriors-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Helen Dowd

www.occupytillicome.com

Dean Perchick

http://symzonia.blogspot.com

I'd like to tell you about a new website that I discovered and now love where all of your favorite authors can be heard on video from your own computer!

The website is Bookvideos.tv and is coming to you from Simon & Schuster publishing. Check it out at: http://www.bookvideos.tv! You won't be sorry you did.

Today’s Announcement

Dear Prayer Partners,
I have two updates tonight:  Ainsworth Dudley and Debbie Veness
Thanks so very much for caring, for your love, and especially for your
priceless prayers for each of them and their families and medical teams.
God bless you!!!!
=============================================================
Prayer Update:  Ainsworth Dudley, 45  (our daughter Angie's husband)
Just wanted you to know that Ainsworth's open-heart surgery was
changed again to Wednesday morning.  They did several more tests on
him Monday and today.  The doctors say that they will do two by-passes,
rather than three, as some of the heart muscle tissue is dead and would
not respond to a by-pass in that area.  Please do keep Ainsworth and his
medical team in your prayers, especially Wednesday morning.  Angie and
many of Ainsworth's family members have been able to go to Emory
Hospital to be with him.  Billy and I are in Athens, along with little Harper, 9,
and little Ainsworth, almost 5.  We pray for Ainsworth to be flooded with
God's perfect peace, and that God would guide the surgeon, Dr. Doug
Morris.  We pray for speedy healing and a great recovery, which is
expected to take twelve weeks after he gets out of the hospital.  I pray
that God would bless each one of you precious family members and
friends.  We have been so touched by your love, thoughts, prayers,
calls, e-mails, and many kind offers of help.  We love you!
God bless you!  In Jesus' all-powerful Name I pray, Amen.
==============================================================
Prayer Request From Debbie Veness:  (battling cancer)
Sent in via our daughter, Susan Jones (Debbie works at Athens Florist)

Well wouldn't you know it, apparently my "yippe-i-O" news was a little
premature.
Lab results showed cells Had spread, so now I'm back to square one again.

More surgery, of which type I'm not sure, and possible other treatments -
I'll know when I see the surgeon this Thursday.  Time to get your mom on
the horn to her prayer chain friends!

See ya
Debbie

Today’s Stories

~**~**~

 THOUGHTS OF YESTERDAY

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

     I am running out of wall and mantle space here in my little home. It seems like almost every square inch of my walls and mantles is now covered with framed photographs. It looks really crowded but happy up there. It is a delight seeing all of those joyful faces smiling down on me.  They are far more beautiful than any wallpaper. My cats, however, have given me more than a few annoyed looks as they walk around the smaller frames on my mantles. It may be they miss their old napping spots or it may be because there are no pictures of them there.

     Either way I am not taking a single frame down. Each one of them is a second of joy frozen forever in time. Each one brings a warm thought of yesterday to my mind and a peaceful smile of happiness to my face. Each one brings a memory of love to my heart and the sweet taste of laughter to my lips. They are all moments of life and light that I cherish.

     Sadly, not every moment of our lives can be as joyful as these beautiful pictures. Some of our thoughts of yesterday are full of pain, grief, and loss. Some of our times on this world are ones of great growth but great suffering as well. Sometimes we stumble, fall, and make mistakes. Sometimes we are hurt by others and sometimes we hurt others as well.

     We can take heart, though, in knowing that "All things work together for good for those who love God." God is always there waiting to help us through our pain and to forgive us when we hurt others. God is always there to see us through our struggles and lead us back to love and joy. God is always there to heal our yesterdays, improve our today, and make our tomorrow blessed.  With His help we can fill the walls and mantles of our hearts, souls, and homes with photos of love and happiness. With His help our thoughts of yesterday, choices today, and plans for tomorrow can all work together to create pictures of Heaven here on Earth.

Joe Mazzella

joecool@wirefire.com

~**~**~
 ValueSpeak
A Weekly Column
By Joseph Walker
valuespeak@msn.com

LITTLE TRAIN TANTRUM

My timing was perfect.
Almost.
The commuter train was still idling at the station as I approached it from behind. I could hear the bell sounding, indicating that the train would be pulling away soon. I picked up my pace and moved closer to the tracks so I could be clearly seen in the driver’s rear-view mirror. Surely he or she would wait the 10 seconds it was going to take me to reach the train door closest to me. Surely he or she would.
Or not.
I was within 20 feet of the train when it started to pull away from the station.
“No!” I shouted as I broke into a full gallop – or at least, as full of a gallop as these tired old legs can deliver. “Wait!”
I waved frantically, hoping the operator would see me and take pity on me. But it was no use. The train, as they say, had left the station – and left me standing there on the platform, panting and perspiring and fuming.
“Ten seconds!” I muttered angrily at the operator, who I figured was laughing at the chubby old guy he had stranded. “Ten blasted seconds!”
Only I didn’t say “blasted.”
Thankfully, no one was close enough to hear my private little train tantrum. The closest person to me was a young woman who was likewise running to catch the train, only she was about 20 yards behind me. I’m sure she saw me waving at the train as it was pulling away, but I don’t think she heard . . . you know . . . “blasted.”
“Oh, man, that’s frustrating,” I said, huffing and puffing with exertion and exasperation as the young woman approached.
“I know,” she said, smiling a frustrated little smile. “If I had been just a minute faster I could have been on that train.”
“Well, yeah,” I said. “Or if the train operator had waited just a few seconds . . .”
She shrugged her shoulders. “Well, he’s got a schedule to keep,” she said without an ounce of animosity. “He can’t wait for every straggler. It’s his job to leave on time. It’s my job to be here on time.”
Suddenly I felt guilty – and inspired. Instead of blaming someone else for her predicament she was assuming full responsibility for the elements of the situation over which she had control – something I happen to believe in, but don’t always do. I started thinking about everything I could have done that morning that would have allowed me to get to the train station 10 or 15 seconds earlier. I’m embarrassed to admit that it was easy to come up with enough dinking around on my part that I not only would have made that train, but probably the train before that.
And the train before that.
It’s a natural thing to want to blame others for our problems. And sometimes it’s true: people DO make choices that impact us adversely. But before we get too wrapped up in our anger, we probably ought to take a good, hard look at ourselves. Most of the time we’ll find that there are contributing circumstances over which we have some control.
In other words, we’re probably part of the “blasted” problem.
And our timing isn’t as perfect as we thought it was.

~**~**~

Poetry Corner

~**~**~

Endure

Conrad S. Cardinal

I am saddened by stories that I hear,

of friends that live in torment; people

I hold dear.

Often they're misguided, their judgment

poor.

They misunderstand what is meant when

we're told we must endure.

I don't have all the answers, but some

things I believe I know.

God wouldn't want his child to suffer, not

God who loves us so.

To me endure means keep the faith no

matter how hard the fight.

I'm sure it doesn't mean to suffer day

and night.

No one has been put on earth just to be

abused.

Their hopes and dreams aren't meant

to be refused.

Here's something to remember, a very

important fact.

When we pray for something, we must

also act.

If one wants a change in life, do all that

you can do.

Through your actions God can work and

he will bless you.

Faith must always be active, moving

towards the need.

Asking for a blessing, asking God

to intercede.

Dear friend I hope this helps you and

sends you on your way.

I pray you'll find the peace you seek

and happiness each day.

Conrad

cconseth@aol.com

~**~**~

Advise To A Child

Conrad S. Cardinal

Child someday you'll know and understand

the reasons why,

God made the fish that swim in the sea and

the birds that fly in the sky.

Why grass is green and flowers grow will

be no mystery to you.

In fact I believe, if you abide by his word,you'll

know all before you're through

The "Ten Commandments" should be the rules

by which you live your life.

The most important things should be, faith,

your children, and your wife.

The task that faces you isn't an easy one.

The road of life is rough, it isn't always fun.

Child if you follow these rules given us by

God,

you'll never have to stop and say,

I can't do it,it's to hard.

Conrad

cconseth@aol.com

Readers Feedback

Carol,
    Thanks so much for running my story in today's issue.  In this Merry-go-Round of life
it is always good to have friends like you riding along.  Wishing you every joy, Joe

Hi Carol,

Tanja Cilia’s story, “The Rainbow: Welcome to Utah”, is a beautiful inspirational piece.  What a great message for everyone, adult and child alike.

All the best,

Joan Skura

Storytime Tapestry Angels

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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.

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