Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

January 1, 2008

Today’s Announcement

A new year a new dawning; Happy New Year Everyone.  Let’s hope that 2008 is a great year for everyone.

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

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

~**~**~

CONFETTI SNOWBALLS

 Violet Apted  

            The view from my window was a ‘Christmas card ‘scene.  I stared in amazement at the sheer beauty of it all.  When I had gone to bed there was not one flake of snow to be seen. Now a deep white blanket of it covered everything in sight.  The branches of the trees strained beneath the weight of the snow, and icicles hung sparkling from the rooftops.  “What a day for a wedding”! I said to my reflection in the mirror, as I made my way to the bathroom.

I knew ‘Boxing Day’ was a cold day to choose for my marriage, so I had chosen a red dress with white fur trimmings, and knee high white boots, as my wedding outfit. Now it seems nature had provided my ‘white wedding’ for me. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was, and I was really thrilled about it.  That was until I received the phone call from the taxi company who were providing the cabs for the ceremony.  All their cabs were ‘bogged down’ in snowdrifts. The boss himself was attempting to reach us, but could not promise anything.

Half an hour later- with the snow falling heavily- our taxi skidded to a stop outside the house.  With a sigh of relief we drove off on the most frightening ride of our lives. The driver could barely see the road ahead as we drove through the snowstorm. The taxi skidded and slid along the road.  The engine finally spluttered to a halt. We were bogged down in a deep snowdrift! The driver’s attempts to dig us out failed, and wishing us good luck he waved us off as we walked in the ‘knee deep’ snow the last few yards to the church, and our unforgettable wedding.  Now all we had to do was get to the reception!

The family and friends, who had also walked through the snow for my wedding, were undeterred about the walk back. So with the snow now only falling lightly, all the wedding party moved off. Our feet sinking deep into the snow, all we needed was a team of huskies and we could have believed we were in Alaska.

We were nearly home when we reached Victoria Park, I can’t remember, who it was that threw the first lot of confetti over us, but suddenly there was confetti everywhere. Then came the snowballs!  The laughter as everyone joined in, is something I will never forget. Have you ever seen ‘Confetti snowballs’? They are so pretty, in fact they look good enough to eat and very much like ‘hundreds and thousands, on white icing.  

Exhausted from rolling in the snow and throwing, or dodging snowballs. We finally made our way home.  Our rosy red cheeks glowing! After experiencing a most memorable, unusual wedding day. The man I love; Lots of snow, lots of laughter, and confetti snowballs.  What a Very Merry Christmas story!

Violet Apted

violetsrblue7@hotmail.com

~**~**~

Mary’s Christmas Miracle

Violet Apted

There was sorrow in Steve's heart as he looked at the small pile of toys under the Christmas tree, it was Christmas Eve, and he had worked hard to raise money for the children's home Christmas party.­ The mine had been closed for six months now, times were hard and the people in the small mining town of Cakfield had given as generously as they could afford.­ There was at least one present for each little orphan, Steve thought wistfully, and there were lots of cakes and homemade bread.­ The women of the town had shared what they had for their own families with them, but he knew there wasn't enough.­

‘Times were bad, but why must the children suffer?­ He startled himself by speaking aloud.­ Pulling himself together he went upstairs, peeping into the little girls dormitory to make sure they had all settled down for the night, he was about to close the door when he heard a child praying.­ Mary was only four years old, both parents had been killed in a car accident about a year ago.­ It had been a miracle that Mary had survived the crash.­ Tears came to Steve's eyes when he heard her saying.

"Please tell Father Christmas to see Mummy in heaven, she has my dolly Sammi with her, I know she forgot to leave her for me, and please God help my friends to be happy, and give Jesus a big kiss."

 Steve closed the door quietly, he leaned back onto the passage wall eyes closed to stem back the tears, overcome by the faith and love of a child.­ As he stumbled to his bedroom he knew there would be little sleep for him that night. Steve opened his eyes to the sound of bells ringing, glancing at his watch he was surprised to see it was six a.m.­ Slipping on his slippers and dressing gown, he was soon downstairs.­ Strange no one was about he thought as he opened the front door.­ Snow had fallen heavily during the night, the garden looked beautiful in it's carpet of white, but there were no signs of the ringing bells that had woke him.­ Suddenly two long marks in the snow caught his eye, sleigh marks that went halfway down the drive then stopped.­ Something glittered in the snow, as he stooped to pick it up he realised it was a little silver bell like the reindeer's wore, it tinkled as he put it in his pocket. Turning back into the house Steve closed the door to keep out the cold as he walked slowly into the large hall.­ He could hear the children getting up. ­He stood in amazement as he saw the huge pile of presents scattered beneath the tree.­ The table laden with jellies, cakes and fruit.­ A tiny hand slipped into Steve's, and he looked down to see Mary's face full of wonderment.

 "Look Uncle Steve look."  Holding out her arms for him to see the doll she had been cuddling close to her.­ "My Mummy sent my Sammi, just like she promised me."  She said.­ Steve picked Mary up into his arms as he said. "It's a Christmas miracle darling.’ He whispered.

Violet Apted

violetsrblue7@hotmail.com

Christmas Poetry Corner

~**~**~

NO ROOM FOR THE CHRIST OF CHRISTMAS

Helen Dowd

Oh, where is the Christ Child of Christmas?
Now, what have we done unto Him?
God sent down His dear Son from heaven:
a Gift, to save us from sin.
But on that historic, first Christmas
they could not find room in the Inn.
Christ was born in a barn, with the cattle--
on some hay, in a musty feed-bin.

They call this the blest Christmas season.
Excitement explodes through the air.
The streets are so crowded with people
who dash in and out, here and there.
They’re driven into a wild frenzy.
They’re caught in the mad buyer’s snare.
But where is the Christ Child of Christmas?
Have you seen Him around anywhere?

The streets are ablaze with bright lighting.
The malls are all bursting with toys.
We see Santa Clause and his reindeer
enticing small girls, and wee boys.
There’s holly, and tinsel, and trinkets.
There’s music, and laughter, and noise.
There is food, and there’s fun, and there’s frolic.

But it’s hard to find any real JOY.

Oh, where is the Christ Child of Christmas?
Pray, what have we done unto Him?
Is He pushed away off in a corner?
Or lost midst the wrappings and trim?
He stands at the door, and He’s knocking.
Will we be inviting Him in?
Or will CHRIST be removed from our XMAS
just because we’ve no room in our inn?

Let’s think on this over this Christmas, as we do our Christmas buying.

Let’s leave room in our hearts and in our lives for the Christ of Christmas.

 ©Helen Dowd.

hmdowd@telus.net

~**~**~

The Haves and the Have-nots

Helen Dowd

It happens just a month before Christmas:

"A festive spirit" begins to unfold.

At the stores and the malls you can feel it:

Lights and glitter, a sight to behold.

In the churches and schools there's a frenzy

to collect toys and clothes, new and old.

The "haves" want to share with the "have-nots,"

gifts and food, but rarely their gold.

Christmas week, and right through to New Year's,

love and friendship waft gently on air.

Clubs and schools fill up boxes with goodies

to show all the "have-nots" they care.

At the churches they serve Christmas dinners,

inviting the "have-nots" to share.

Oh the "haves" are so generous at Christmas.

For the "have-nots" they even offer a prayer.

But just wait til a month after Christmas,

toys, tinsels and trees all forgot.

Where then, is the pre-Christmas spirit?

Have the "haves" now forgot the "have-nots"?

NOTE: the "haves" carry on with their living,

hardly thinking of all they have got,

while the "have-nots"go on just existing,

getting by without what they have not.

Helen Dowd

hmdowd@telus.net

~**~**~

~**~**~

Readers Feedback

One Unforgettable Christmas – Hart Dowd - I really enjoyed this one. Thanks  S K Jandu

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

Dowd, Helen                Our Last Deliverer Has Come               December 30

Walker, Joe                  A Christmas Wish List For You            December 30

Dowd, Hart                  One Unforgettable Christmas                December 31

Singh, Dr. Harmander Happy Christmas: Learning Art of

                                    Problem Solving for Prayer                   December 31

Bryant, Sharon             Santa’s Mistake                                    December 31

Apted, Violet                An Unexpected Visit                             January 1

Apted, Violet                Confetti Snowballs                                January 1

Apted, Violet                Mary’s Christmas Miracle                     January 1

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

Singh, Dr. Harmander The Dawn of The Day of Happy Christmas

                                     And His Grace                                                December 30

Dowd, Hart                  My Nelda                                                         December 31

Ebling, Leonia               His Name is Wonderful                         December 31

Dowd, Helen                No Room For The Christ of Christmas  January 1

Dowd, Helen                The Have and Have-nots                                  January 1

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