Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

Hearts and Humor – A Michael Smith Column

October 1, 2007

Hi, Gang - those of you who actually receive this.
I'm so frustrated. I'm sending my stories to you, but
so many readers are not receiving them.
I don't even get my own stories.

It's a beautiful day here. It's 75 with a nice breeze.
I hope your day is as pretty.

Fall is coming. I pulled this story out for you.
I hope you enjoy it.

    I Love your comments.
    Send them to: msmith4@nj.rr.com

    If you missed my post last week or failed to receive it
because of Zinester, check out the links below the story.
I have some wonderful videos for you to view
A couple of them were forwarded to me by members of our
reading family. I know you'll love them.


    If anyone is interested in greeting cards or crafts,
Ginny belongs to a group of artists. They've teamed
together to market their products. Check them out at:
http://www.etsygreetings.blogspot.com


    Ginny's cards and other crafts are at:
http://www.ginginsgoodies.etsy.com


    Be sure to check out my collection of inspirational
sites at the end. There's something for everyone.




    Now for today's story.


                      When It's Time
                                                                                                  When It's Time
    Leaves bounced over the grass, propelled by the wind. I knelt
in front of freshly tilled soil. A leaf slapped against my leg,
stuck for a moment, and fled with the next gust. Others followed - a
colorful march across the yard.

    I created a hole in the soil with my trowel and reached into
the bag of bulbs at my side. I removed one, placed it in the hole,
tenderly covered it, and shuffled to the side. Grass stained my jeans
as I moved down the line - dig, plant, cover.

    The bag was empty. The bulbs were planted. I showered the sweat
and dirt from my body, and sat on my deck. The weakening sun warmed
me, but the cool breeze and tumbling leaves reminded me winter
would soon follow.

    The bulbs weren't sleeping. Their roots grew downward, drawing
nutrients from the soil. The cool earth triggered cells to produce
small leaves and flower buds under the ground, where they would
wait for the warmth of spring.

                *************************

    From my window, I watched the first snow of the year cover my
flower bed. The soil, still warm from the waning sun, melted the first
flakes, but was soon overcome. The snow built up.

    A month later, the ground was solid - frozen. Winds whipped powdery
snow into piles. Barren trees creaked and clattered with each gust. I
threw a log on the fire, made a pot of tea, and waited.

                *************************

    The days grew longer, the air warmer. Snow melted and formed
puddles on the still frozen ground. At night, the surface of the
puddles froze, but the water beneath soaked into the soil, feeding
the bulbs. In the morning, there would be clear layers of ice
where the puddles were. It shattered like glass beneath my boots.

    Spring came; the air warmed. I walked in the yard. Under my weight,
water squeezed from the soil and filled the tracks I left behind. On
the southern side of the house, close to the basement walls, grass
became green. In my flowerbed, shoots of green pushed through the
surface. In a few weeks, they grew taller, reaching for the sun. Buds
formed at their tips and burst into color. I smiled - new life.

    A few weeks later, the flower pedals fell free and were carried
off by the wind. The leaves continued to grow tall and strong, making
food for new bulbs.

    The weather cooled. The leaves dried, browned, and withered
away. Snow fell again. The new bulbs lie hidden under the soil.
They would have their moment of glory.

    Nature takes care of the bulbs, like we take care of our children.
If they grow and bloom too early, they'd fail. They won't be
prepared for their environment. The cold would beat them.

    Outside, the snow fell again. I threw a log on the fire and
trusted nature. The flowers would bloom again - when it's time.

   Michael T. Smith
  
Check out these wonderful videos I loaded to my Youtube account:

This is a wonderful tribute to 9/11.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxJiiWo0JbE&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcirclesofcompassion%2Eblogspot%2Ecom%2F

From Positive News weekly - a great presentation on the
value of showing appreciation.
http://www.whileyoucanmovie.com/?SRC=DMRPREC&ref=64

The Budweiser horses show their respects to 9/11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUDuNxLqo1U

I received this from my inspiration friend in Australia. Thanks, Keith
Keith's link is below.
Even animals show their love to each other. This is so cute.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7dVWVEDQCw

This is James Brown and Luciano Pavarotti doing a duet together--I
never could have imagined such a beautiful blend of 2 different sounds!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCIyzNISw1Q

Great pictures and music by ABBA, click on the link below.
http://www.greatdanepro.com/Chiquitita/index.htm

We love this song, but was especially blessed by this rendition.
Hope you enjoy it too.
Please click on this link: http://www.andiesisle.com/icanonlyimagine.html



     If you enjoy a story, feel free to pass it on to your friends.

My only request is that you include the link for your friends to

join our family.

To join our family, go to:

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

    As promised, here is a list of great inspirational sites.

I subscribe to all of them. You will love these sites.

    A good friend of mine has a new book out. You should check
this out. Carol's been through rough times. She tells it all
in her latest book.

Carol Roach
M.Ed, B.A.
Publisher: Storytime Tapestry
Author: Angels Watching Over Me:http://www.lulu.com/content/644485
Picking up the Pieces: A Woman's Journey: www.publishamerica.com

To join Carol's story site, go to Storytime Tapestry at:
http://archives.zinester.com/98907/

From my wonderful writing friend, Jan. She writes wonderful
stories about her life and losing her sight.
Janet Perez Eckles
Faith and Love with a Latin Flair
www.janetperezeckles.com


Here's a good one by Linda Della Donna
Freelance Writer
www.littleredmailbox.com
www.griefcase.blogspot.com
www.storybone.blogspot.com
"...and sometime when I wasn't looking, I got a new life."

By my good friend Keith in Australia:
http://www.agiftofinspiration.com.au/

My friend Phil runs http://www.peoplestuff.com.au/
Phil's awesome and brutally honest

Zev, yes another friend, runs http://empoweringmessages.com/stories/

Heart Catchers is a wonderful site.  www.DianeDeanWhite.com

www.Heartwarmers.com and www.petwarmers.com are two

wonderful story sites.

http://hodu.com/

http://www.mydailyinsights.com/

www.ripplemaker.com

http://www.sermonillustrator.org

http://www.SkyWriting.Net

Here's a newly discovered one I like:

http://www.archive.zinester.com/9516

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WarmFuzzyStories/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WithInSight/

If you, or anyone you know needs prayers for health concerns,
struggles,etc visit www.janetperezeckles.com
Janet's prayer group will respond.

That's all I can think of right now. If I come up with

more, I'll add them.

Enjoy!!!


I love your comments, Send them to msmith4@nj.rr.com.

I'll include some in every post.

Now for a few comments on my last story:

Michael, your fantastic story "It's a Dad's Job" was so
captivating and so wonderful a read I HAD to write to you.
I related to your story more than you can imagine except
for one tiny detail: the person who joined me on my roller
coaster ride was my first husband.
 
About 20 years ago my ex and I went out to Los Angeles, Ca.
to visit his younger sister who had been living there for
some time. Bruce and his sister had grown up in Far Rockaway,
New York and had gone to its local amusement park for some
years. I grew up in Manhattan but if I wanted a place to
go to for such adventures Coney Island in Brooklyn, NY was
it, next to Palisades Park right across the Hudson in NJ.
Of course, I rarely went to either place (my older brother
did and he loved the rides) and I NEVER went on the roller
coaster.

During our trip we drove down to Anaheim, Ca. to visit
friends of his, we planned a few day trips to Disney Land.
Of course, he wanted to go on the roller coaster they had
there, which was the Runaway Train - minor in comparison
to the rides you described. I went with fear, dread and
horror in my head AND heart but I was determined to be a
sport and agreed to go on the ride - against my better
judgement and sanity. I read all of their directives
carefully and planned on taking extra care towards my
safety, which included prayer. Lots of it. The irony of
that is that I am not a religious person, but I was that
day. I was terrified.

As the motors and chains clicked and clanked up to the
top of the hill, I gripped the safety bar so tightly I
could barely remove my fingers from their grip. While
everyone in front of me was excited - and this included
the youngest riders - I was pale and serious, already
worried and convinced I would die. And then, in
a momentary flash that caught me off guard, the cars took
off, twisting and turning around sharp curves, climbing
and falling up and down hill, back and forth, up and
down - help me I wanna get off! I was screaming bloody,
panicked murder - which no one, including my ex could
hear - gripping the bars, while my ex and the other riders
were waving their hands in the air, yelling happily! I
 was slammed to the left against him, then slammed to the
 right, and then back again. Up, down, all around, my
 heart was beating so fast I thought it would jump out of
 my chest. I wanted to get off of it THEN, not soon, not
 later but then.

Finally the ride was over and it was time to get off. I
climbed out of the car and nearly fell over because my
legs were like jello. And then he asked me, "Honey, how
did you like it?" I did what any self respecting, mature,
practical and "together" 32 year old woman would: I turned
 to him and burst into tears. A leaf didn't shake as much
 as I did that day.

The Mattahorn ride, was, of course out of the question.

Thanks for a great, great read!

Pina M

*************************

Oh, what a gift you truly are!  I loved the story and
thank you!  I wanted to add you my links page, but I
wanted your permission first.  Thanks, again.  You are
one of God's greatest blessings!
-Frances

************************

I just read "It's a Dads Job"
LOL..
Oh Mike ....it was wonderful....as I was reading it .....I
was going through your same emotions.....I did the same
thing with my daughter.....who is now 36.......I could feel
"it" all over again as I read it.....you are sooo talented...I
appreciate  your writings.....your newletter

Ohhh by the way.....me and the CA penpal......are getting
married.....he's gone back home to pack up his stuff and
put his house on the market...he loves NC and said when he
got back home the first time ....that CA was NOT home.....being
here with me was HOME...I'm a very happy camper with a very
beautiful engagement ring....lol

Keep writing....I'll keep reading and your links are awesome ! !

Brenda

**********************