Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

December 29, 2007

Today’s Announcement

  Rosanne, I have been at the hospital all day with my mom.....She has to have two pints of blood in the morning and they don't know where the bleeding is coming from.... I have put two poems on, the last one being last night and that is all I have.I was going to send them to you today but mama got sick and Now I don't know what is going to happen.....I am going to bed now.....I am so tired....I will get back to you when I can..

Much love to you...........Please ask Carol to pray for Mama too

Sandy

The Latest on Matt’s Mom is that she has kidney stones, please continue to pray from her recovery.

Christmas is just around the corner and most of you have already started to think about Christmas gifts for this season.  Why not help out Storytime Tapestry with its ongoing commitment to provide you with free wonderful stories and poems daily by purchasing the publisher’s newest book for someone special on your holiday gift giving list this year.  Angels Watching Over Me can be published through lulu press in both hard copy and e-book.  Just click on the link: Angels Watching Over Me

Important notice: Storytime Tapestry is a free e-zine, however 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.   You can make your donations to paypal at: winterose@videotron.ca, or if you would prefer to use the mail system contact the publisher at the same email address: winterose@videotron.ca

Today’s Christmas Stories

~**~**~

Ripples We Make
By Ellie Braun-Haley

When some people have a happy life they look for ways to bring happiness to others. This was the case with a group of employees in a bank in Ontario, Canada. One Christmas, they decided to take on the role of benefactor. They were given the name of a family known to be in a poor financial position.

Dianne was recovering from an extremely rough time. She had been a manager for a business in London and when her daughter was born, she knew she had to stay home and be a mommy. When Dianne's child was eight months old, the horrendous circumstances in her life caused her to flee to a Woman's Shelter. Finally able to safely return to her home, Dianne discovered her estranged spouse had taken everything of value. Gone were all the photos of the past eight years of her life. The furniture had been taken, the silverware, the teakettle, all of the baby's belongings, everything. Dianne would be starting out a new life with the baby and a garbage bag full of diapers and other baby clothes.

That December Dianne, was phoned and asked by a caseworker if she would consider allowing an unnamed group of employees to provide her with some Christmas gifts. Dianne said that she would be appreciative of anything they gave her. She was then asked about her favorite perfume and if she had towels and the clothing sizes of herself and her toddler. The representative asked her if she could name anything in particular that she really wanted. Since she did not have a vacuum cleaner, silverware, teakettle, ironing board or a dozen other items we might consider basic, it was a simple task to provide answers. Dianne said above all else she would really like a tea kettle for herself and any kind of toy for the baby that could come apart and be put back together again.

Gaining insight from this information, the bank employees made their decisions. They supplied the basics and then went overboard. All kinds of gifts greeted Dianne and her little girl. Among them was a lovely tailored new green suit for Dianne.

Months later, I saw the green suit for the first time and I complimented Dianne on it. Her face lit up with the memories and good feelings she had toward the employees of a branch of Canada Trust. She smiled and told me the beautiful story of how she received it.

The bank employees never met Dianne, nor did they see the pleasure and joy their gifts brought to this young woman as a direct result of their actions. They never met Dianne or the baby, yet their gesture of good will in December of one year was still rippling out more than a year later affecting Dianne, then me as I heard the story.

Dianne was separated from the love and support of her family that year by thousands of miles. Now every year her mother sends out positive thoughts and a prayer of thanksgiving to a group of Canadians who played Santa Clause to her daughter. Dianne is my daughter.

Our every word, our every action can affect the world around us. Here's hoping the impression we leave behind is always positive.

-- © Ellie Braun-Haley, author/speaker

Please mark down on your calendar that I shut down my computer on Saturday (tomorrow) and will not be back until January 11. Please hold all mail until that time. Merry Christmas!
Ellie Braun-Haley
shaley@telusplanet.net
Author/Motivational Speaker

~**~**~

Christmas Poetry Corner

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 OUR CHRISTMAS WISH ~
Tim Kevin

We send you snowflakes an kisses
To be sprinkled beneath your tree
Along with Merry Christmas wishes
So you may remember those we see
-
Spending these joyous holidays alone
All the many lovely people young an old
Through no fault of others nor their own
That in our busy world are left out in the cold
-
We celebrate the Christmas Holiday by Giving
A tradition began by the Magi in that A.D. year
Who followed a single bright star each evening
To bring gifts from afar to a Babe in the Manger -
So should you see bell-ringers out collecting
Alms for the poor or for those less fortunate
Or if your local church or community is soliciting
Toys, clothing, food, or shelter it's not too late
-
To help out just a wee bit to lighten the load
We hope you're able to loose'n a purse string
To add a bill or two wherever along the road
Bringing some cheer to make our hearts sing

.... A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL ....

Tim Kevin

irishwarlock@webtv.net

~**~**~

  What Is Christmas All About?

Cynthia Groopman

What is Christmas all about?

It is not a tree, or Santa's ho ho ho shout.

It is not decorations or giving expensive gifts to others,

But extreme love and caring for all sisters and brothers.

Christmas is not sleigh bells ringing,

But a choir in gratitude to God, hymns melodically singing.

Christmas is not a stocking hung up with care,

 In hope Saint Nicholas will soon arrive there.

Christmas is abut a miracle and a birth celebrating The king's majesty birth with mirth. 

Christmas is regally telling the wonderful story,

Of God's rejoicing glory.

So dear friends, when you think of the Christmas season,

Remember the supreme Divine purpose everlasting spiritual reason.

 Copyright ©2007 

Cynthia Groopman

cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net

~**~**~

Chanukah Festivity

Cynthia Groopman

Chanukah is full of fun, good food and lots of festivity,

No longer were the Jewish people forced to live an alien way of life,

Nor suffer extreme hardship and religious strife.

Dancing sprightly are the flames of the bright Chanukah lights in regal splender,

As all of us are embraced by God's everlasting love, so gentle and tender.

So, when the dradel is spun,

Remember the victories

the Macabees had bravely won.

When we celebrate Chanukah festivity and joy,

Praise God for all the wickedness and hatred He did destroy

For as we bask in Chanukah festivity,

Let your heart sing triumphantly with mirth, and spiritual elevation and glee.

Cynthia Groopman

cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net

~**~**~

December Festivity

Cynthia Groopman

December festivity is dancing round and round,

As all sing and smile to a rejoicing sound.

December festivity is full of delicious food with a truly wonderful delectable taste,

Savor each morsel, we must not eat in haste.

Spiritually renewed are we, with glowing smiling faces.

December festivity is praying at God's holy places,

December festivity is receiving a gift as a big surprise,

Marvelling at the menorah and Christmas tree lights dazzle our eyes.

December festivity is crunching in the first snow,

Wearing our new boots are big enough for our toes.

December festivity is hearing old man winter's annoying howling whine

Briskly walking, and breathing in fresh air makes us feel energetic, active and fine.

Thus December festivity can be found at a holiday get together,

Basking in the sunshine of fun, friendship and happiness, regardless of the weather

Cynthia Groopman
 cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net

Readers Feedback

Hi Carol,
Loved Pamy Blaine's story about the Baring School Christmas program.  Her
mother was a remarkable person.
Clara

~**~**~

Clara’s story – No Christmas presents reminds me of Mother's experiences and how when very small, the only toy she got was a tiny teapot. I guess that is why she loved the tiny brass teapot, it was so special because that was all she got.( She said they got lots of fruit and candy and that was an exceptional treat.) I had bought a tiny brass teapot on one of my journeys. She clasped her arthritic hands around that teapot and gave me the sweetest smile. I'll never forget that. How she loved that teapot. I must write a story about that one day.

Love,

Mary Ann

Here are the Published Christmas entries to Date.  If you want to review the stories or poems before voting which will come only at the end of this contest, just go to the archives:  http://archives.zinester.com/98907

Stories

Name                    Story                                                 Date

Williams, Cheryl           Christmas: Look forward to it ….         December 20

Haley, Ellie Braun         A Christmas Story                                December 20

Bryant, Sharon I Walked The Halls                               December 21

Bryant, Sharon Believing                                               December 21

Lock, Joyce                 Abbreviated Christmas             December 21

Smith, Michael  Memory Tree                                       December 22

Walker, Bill                  Mary Did You Know?              December 22

Levine, Arthur              The Troubled Geese At Christmas        December 23

Walker, Bill                  Christmas Lights                                   December 23

Mazzella, Joe                Christmas Gifts                         December 23

Wilson, Mary               Through the Eyes of Mary                     December 24

Walker, Bill                  Jesus and Santa                                    December 24

Colasanti, James           An Angel In Between                            December 25

Walker, Joe                  The Two Sides of Christmas                 December 25

Dowd, Helen                Tintagel The Forest Angel                     December 26

Walker, Bill                  The Christmas Gift                                December 26

Wersterfer, Clara          No Christmas Presents             December 27

Wainland, David           Christmas Doesn’t Get Any Better       

                                    At the North Pole                                 December 27

Blaine, Pamela  Christmas at Baring School                   December 28

Bryant, Sharon Thank You                                           December 28

Dowd, Hart                  Hundreds of Easy to Make Gifts           December 29

Haley, Ellie Braun         Ripples We Make                                December 29

Poems

Name                    Poem                                                 Date

Cardinal, Conrad          Make a Wish Come True                                 December 20

Cardinal, Conrad          Why?                                                               December 20

Ebling, Leonia             A Gift Of Love                                       December 21

Ebling, Leonia               God’s Decorating                                             December 21

Meeks, Carol               Joseph’s Example                                             December 22

Meeks, Carol               Stable Born King                                              December 22

Meeks, Carol               Come Into Our Christmas Parlor                       December 23

Costner, Joan Clifton    Can’t Take Christmas                                       December 24

Costner, Joan Clifton    Our Boys Are Coming Home                            December 24

Costner, Joan Clifton    There’s More                                                   December 25

Pringle, Sandra Lewis Poem For Children                                             December 26

Jacobson, Gary            A Soldier’s Bright Christmas Star                      December 27

Jacobson, Gary            Christmas In a Foxhole                         December 28

Kevin, Tim                   Our Christmas Wish                                         December 29

Groopman, Cynthia      What is Christmas All About?               December 29

Groopman, Cynthia      Chanukah Festivity                                           December 29

Groopman, Cynthia      Christmas Festivity                                            December 29

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.

Clara Westerfer, Mark Crider, Rosanne Catalano, Paula Booher, Kay Seefeldt, Mariane Holbrook, Mary Ellen Grisham, Louise Nomani, Sharon Bryant, Angela Walker, Hart and Helen Dowd, Keith Ready, Ginger Morgenstern, Ellie Braun-Haley, Surinder Jandu, Bob Shaw, Carol Meeks, Charlotte Hilliard, Maria Keller