STORYTIME TAPESTRY

March 29, 2005

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  Today, we welcome a wonderful new writer for Storytime Tapestry. Sandra Woodward is writer #188.  During the next few of days she will share some wonderful stories with you. Please email her and let her know how much you liked her work.

 A Happy Birthday goes out to Sherri from her friends her at Storytime Tapestry

 Now on to the good stuff..........

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Animal awareness series endorsed by Shiloh and Hank our mascots; all stories must receive their approval.

 THE PROMISE

Sandra Woodward 

The only horses, on our clam shell size island off the coast of Maine, were huge work horses.  I had never ridden one, in fact, I'd never even been close enough to touch a horse.  Yet, the summer of my ninth year, an all consuming passion to own a ridding horse, reared up out of the blue.

Dale Evans had nothing on me!  Unless, it was the fact, that a broomstick under my backsides served as my trusty steed!

My daily nagging began.  "Daddy, can I have a horse?  I'll take care of it, honest."  At first, Daddy tried to reason with me.  Nine year olds have selective hearing, and I was no exception.  Finally, to get a rest from my incessant: "If you let me have a horse, I'll promise to do all my chores" or better yet, "Daddy, if you buy me a horse, I promise I'll get straight A's," Daddy succumbed. "Honey, Daddy, will get you a horsie, someday."

A stroke of genius on my father's part: that promise!  My daily pestering for a horse stopped, I was getting a horse!  Now, I spent my days devouring equestrian stories.  I was the heroine in Black Beauty; I became Dale Evans (forget Roy, I only had eyes for the horse), and I practiced my riding skills with a vengeance!  I galloped over the countryside on Dad's saw horse, a lobster trap, which filled my butt with splinters, and even our huge dog, Wolfie!

Just to be sure he hadn't forgotten, I'd remind Dad at regular intervals of his promise to me.  Each time, he'd ease my mind, "Yes, Dear, Daddy will buy you a horsie, someday."

I didn't question it, really, he'd promised me kittens before, and I'd become the proud "mommy" of three he'd brought home for my older sister and I.  They looked so cute in our doll's clothes.  Of course, they weren't always in the mood, and I didn't look so cute wearing cat scratches!  Our big Silver Police dog Wolfie, though very patient and nearly the size of a pony, just couldn't play Black Beautie's part!  Let Kay have the cats!  I was ready for horseflesh!

Finally, at the peak of my desire for a horse and my impatience getting the best of me, I stood in front of Dad and as bravely as I could muster said, "Daddy, you promised me a horse!"  My father's voice sounded strained, "Daddy, will think about it, Dear."  My mouth dropped, but I didn't dare argue.

A few days later, the bottom of my world fall out when I learned, Mom and Dad were separating.  Now, the idea of a horse, became an obsession.  In my child's mind, it represented security.  I zeroed in on my mother with the same maddening technique I'd used on my father, but she never committed to the promise of getting me one.

We hit on hard times after the divorce and ended up moving in with my brother and his wife.  They owned 20 acres of prime property, including beautiful sun drenched fields and cool, fragrant pine woods.  Wonders of wonders, right behind their home was a weather beaten barn, complete with horse stall.  This magnificent country setting, added fodder to my horse fever.

However, I knew that the chances of becoming a horse owner would remain a dream.  My mom would often see me hanging around the horse stall.  I needed to be where I could catch the faint lingering smell of hay, feel the hoof roughened boards beneath my feet and dream my cowgirl dreams.

One early spring day, about a year later, I'd just gotten home from school when a truck pulling a trailer turned into our driveway.  My brother came to the screen door and hollered, "Sis, come on out, this man needs help unloading your horse!"

I don't know if I opened the screen door or trotted right through it!

I also don't know how my dear mother managed to make her way clear to purchase my heart's desire.

All I know is, my beautiful, golden palomino, Princess, was the result of a promise my father had made and my mother kept. 

Written by, Sandy Woodward

02/8/03

sassa @localnet.com

Authors Bio:  Sandy hails from coastal Maine, where she shares her home with seven pet birds and a spoiled Cocker, named Smidgen.

My African Grey, Suzzee, loves to tell the other birds to shut up, I presume so she can have center stage!

Sandy  enjoys drawing, writing, crocheting and spending time with friends and family.

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Today's Queue Stories
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The Runaways

by Ellie Braun-Haley

"If I run away that will make him sorry." I was fairly young when I acted on those thoughts. I was eleven.

My parents had gone away for a small break and my seventeen year old brother, Dick was in charge. I don't remember why I was angry with him; but I knew I was angry enough to leave home. I had a lot of stuff to pack before I could leave because when I left I knew I'd have to take the youngest, but he was asleep in the baby carriage and the carriage would be great for hauling stuff.

I also decided to take my twin brothers. They'd just trail along behind me anyway, curious as to where I was off to; besides they considered going anywhere a great adventure.

David was a year older than the twins and the most lovable kid you'll ever meet, so I figured I'd take him with me too. I was so thoroughly aggravated with my big brother and he'd likely get into big trouble if all the kids suddenly vanished and so I ran away with four little kids in tow.

I don't think I told the others that we were running away that day, but it was so long ago and I can't remember that part.

My mom and dad had nine of us. There were three that were older than me. My earliest recollection of life was helping my mom take care of the twins. When they were crawlers, I'd pull them back on the bed by their legs and then let them go. As soon as I did off they went heading for the edge of the bed. I think it's strange that babies want to crawl over and hurl themselves into space. It's not like they had a huge amount of space to move in during their first nine months so you'd think they'd be content to just stay in one place.

I love Dick. In fact today he is my optometrist, but he and I sure managed to have some spats while we were growing up.

I do not remember what we fought over that day but I do remember wanting to make him regret being so harsh. I guess that is why I suddenly decided that I should run away, and since I had been mothering my brothers since they were all in diapers, it seemed only right to take them along. Besides, as I mentioned, Dick might really get shook up if he suddenly discovered that all the kids he was supposed to be responsible for had suddenly disappeared.

I packed up the baby carriage with food and drinks and of course diapers. We only had cloth diapers in those days. Then we headed out. I felt full of adventure. The others just loved going anywhere so they were happy.

We headed out in a westerly direction. In the first four blocks we came to the main highway, crossed that, then the railway tracks and then we were in the north part of town.

The town had a huge community centre in the north west and we ended up walking around it. As luck would grant us I discovered that we could slip through a giant sliding door to give us access to a huge arena. There we were in our own private place, where no one else could see us, and no one would be able to discover our whereabouts.

The boys started playing cowboys while I fed Don his bottle. Likely we were only there for
some 90 minutes but it seemed like a long time then. I didn't own a watch so I couldn??™t really say. In fact it was common only for adults to have watches in those days. The three boys got restless and bored so we finished off all the food, oranges and crackers.

I was certain that Dick would be frantic by now and probably searching the entire neighborhood. I knew he??™d be feeling sorry for his actions so I figured we'd better get on home before serious worrying set in.

To this day I can not remember what kind of a welcome we got when we arrived home that day so long ago, so while I was writing this I phoned Dick to ask him how it affected him. I figured now that we were all grown up and with grandchildren we could discuss the whole matter without any flare ups. I really wanted to know if he had missed us and was sorry for being a meany.

He was puzzled at first about the incident and then he remembered that long ago summer when he was in charge. He had not even realized that the quiet house meant that five little kids in his charge had disappeared. He laughed and laughed as I told him about that day.

"Didn't you know we were gone, Dick? Didn't you miss us?" I asked my brother

"This is the first I've heard of it." he said, forty five years later.

Ellie Braun-Haley
shaley @telusplanet.net
 

Ellie teaches creative movement and dance for young children. She has two books published on the subject, Casey Caterpillar and Other Movement Rhymes and Muttering Moths. She is also the co author of two books with her husband Shawn

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TEASER : COUNSELING OR COW SELLING? 

BY: GEORGEWATERS OJEIGBE ??“ Lagos, Nigeria

gojiegbe @jhplc.com

A month ago in the church where I worship this occurred.

We have a Ghanaian Preacher whose name is Binny (popularly called Pastor Binny).  He made this announcement informing people of the resumption of the church counseling department after a long break.

Ethnic difference is all around the world with different tongues mostly making one pronounce in ones mother??™s tongue.  It??™s not an offence anyway; this is the later effect from the Tower of Babel??¦  So our Ghanaian preacher is not exempted from that mother??™s tongue. 

The sounding notes of Nigerians are totally different from the ones of other African countries like Ghana.  E.g. our Ghanaian pastor??™s way of pronouncing bird is quite different from ours.  His sounds like ???bord??™ to us.  His girl sounds like ???garl??™.  His pastor sounds like ???pester??™??¦ on and on it goes as his own mother??™s tongue allows him to be.

So it occurred this very day that as he was announcing the message, he said ???it is good news that we are resuming counseling again.  It is free as you already know.  You don??™t have to pay for it.  It will be served to you and all you need to do is get prepared for it starting from Monday evening by 6 p.m.???.

In the service, a woman who had just joined this body of Christ was attending the meeting for the first time, she misunderstood Pastor Binny??™s counseling for ???cow selling??™ because of the way the Ghanaian preacher pronounced it which to me also sounded like cow selling.

The woman became overwhelmed and remained calm until after the church service. 

Inside our church bus she now raised the topic by asking another brethren saying ???our senior pastor is a very nice man, he is so kind and thoughtful of us, may God reward him for showing concern on us???, the brethren she was talking to answered ???amen??™!  She kept quiet as she continued to look in front of her.

Almost getting to our destination where we would all divert and go our different ways she opened up again saying ???I will quickly get here on Monday evening.  No wonder why Sister Ifanyi always goes to church on Mondays before.  I never knew that she was being given cow.  She is always in hast to get to church.  Well, they don??™t give things like cow in my former church but we sometimes have love feast???, the brethren beside her replied, ???that is good??¦???

My counseling for ???cow selling??™ sister now asked the question that ???if I am coming to church on Monday evening should I bring some people to help me carry the cow home or would the church provide the transportation????

The brethren said, ???madam, I don??™t understand what you are saying about cow, or you meant to say counseling????

The woman although, a semi illiterate person responded saying ???ennnnh??¦ I am referring to the announcement of that pastor this evening, you know he said that we should come for cow selling for free or are you not interested to get one cow?  If you are not interested, ennnh you can give me your own I wouldn??™t mind???, she said jokingly to the brethren closer to her.

It never occurred that there were other listeners as myself in the bus not until everybody busted into laughter as people in a comedy show.

She thought we were laughing because of the brethren??™s ignorance about her supposed cow selling for free. She simply turned around and said abiooooo (am I not right?), if he does not want he should give me his own cow now??¦

More laughter??¦  This time she joined in the laughter, hers even seemed louder than ours.  Just imagine that scenario!

I laughed until tears started dropping out from my eyeballs.

The bus driver said madam you can even hire ???mallams??™ (the people from north Nigeria are referred to this) to drag the cow home, you have no problem!

She said ha, why will I waste money when I have six grown up boys at home, I will bring them to carry the cow home and I know that their father would be much happier since I joined this church.

Nobody explained to her since people thought she was only making fun.

I learnt that she actually was in church on the following Monday evening.  It was said that when she got to church, her first statement was ???where are the cow now????.

She wasted no time as she wanted to be the first person to grab a cow and so she dashed towards Pastor Binny.  Good evening pastor??¦!, she said.

Good evening madam??¦! Pastor Binny responded.

Ennnnh, I have come for the cow now??¦

What cow madam??¦

Ennnh, Pastor the cow you promised us on Sunday??¦

Cow?... Me? Did I promise you a cow, in what way and how?  We don??™t sell cow here or are you sure you have not missed your way, he said to the woman.

Ennnh, I just started attending fellowship here and you announced that there are cow for sale and it??™s free of charge, this you made on Sunday service, she said.

I never announced such, maybe not me and I know not in this church because nobody sells cow here.

Somebody interrupted??¦ Oh, madam we thought that you were joking yesterday about this cow issue??¦

What cow issue, pastor Binny cut in??¦

This woman actually said something about cow while in the church bus yesterday??¦

Oh, madam, I meant counseling (cow-selling)??¦  Although, despite the pastor??™s explanation one kept hearing cowselling and not cow selling> I said cow selling and not cow selling> madam, I said cow selling and cow selling??¦

It took the pastor ample of time to explain better the meaning of his announcement to this already disappointed lady.

How disappointed her family might had felt that day.

It took somebody to correct her and to cheer her up. 

How disappointed she felt to know the truth that it wasn??™t a cow that was said instead it was counseling. 

THE END

Georgewaters Ojeigbe

gojiegbe @jhplc.com

BIO-DATA

I was born on 21^st April, 1970.  I live in Lagos, Nigeria the most populous city in Africa. I sing in a Church music group where I fellowship.  I love sports.  I love admiring the heavens and other wonderful works borne from Jehovah??™s hands.  I discovered the power of writing stories, encouraged by Carol.  Thanks for her existence!  I am pet lover minus snakes; I so much hate this creature called snake but others I prefer.  I like to do lots of home works like creating my art works, gardening, making some home furniture, fitting electrical appliances etc.

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Poetry Section

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 Seeds of Faith

Kathleen Ann Shelton

The fields are all empty

Barren and dry

Without any fruit

Crops have withered and died

The soil so thirsty

It??™s land now hungry too

Without proper nutrients

It produces no food

You??™ve got to turn up the heat

In the midst of the drought

Plant seeds of faith

So they can sprout

You reap what you sow

Of that there??™s no doubt

So plant seeds of faith

So they can sprout

When the fields appear empty

Don??™t give up in despair

Irrigate the crops

With your tears in prayer

When famine threatens

Just call on Christ

He??™ll feed the hungry

He??™s the bread of life

You??™ve got to turn up the heat

In the midst of the drought

Plant seeds of faith

So they can sprout

You reap what you sow

Of that there??™s no doubt

So plant seeds of faith

So they can sprout

Kathleen Ann Shelton

          Kathleenannshelton @yahoo.com

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 Writers Feedback

I can definitely identify with this story.  I agree that it is what you put into your witting that counts, not how long it might take.  Your thoughts and words are unique to you and your experiences, something that can't be hurried.  You are such an extraordinary talent and I am pleased to be a part of Storytime Tapestry.  The book will be finished in its own time and the words will be lasting in the memories of all who are privileged to read it.  As you know I read a little and it is fabulous!  God bless, Sharlett

Still He Walked by David Lagerfield gives my spirit an uplift. I will never take my walks without thinking of this poem.
Barb

"The Seedlings of my Dream" should be read by all writers, Carol. It, if we would but admit it, speaks to and of each of us. You are writing from deep within, dear. I really enjoy that.
Barb

 Carol, great history and cultural lesson about Easter celebrations in other countries. Thanks for sharing and I made note of the website for future use also.
Barb

Carol, I love the title, "Seedlings of My Dream." I relate very much to your story. It is well written. Loved the immediacy of the last few you have written about your writing courses. I think your writing has grown and you are now "flowering." My computer has been down but now I have latest microsoft XP. Will get back to Storytime writing. Best wishes,

Gabby Nicholls Morgan.

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 March 28, 2005

Governor, Jeb Bush

State Of Florida

Phone: 850-488-4441
850-488-2272
Fax: 850-487-0801
Email:  jeb.bush @myflorida.com

Dear Governor Bush

This is my second letter to you Governor, Bush.  First I want to thank you for your efforts on behalf of Terri Schiavo. 

My heart and the hearts of America and all over the world are crying out for justice for Terri Schiavo. We're all watching and wondering what would happen to us if we were in the same situation? 

Please continue to do all you can for her. The lies of that are being perpetrated in Terri Schiavo's case is nothing less than

heinous.  When will we stop convicting people in the court of the, "Media"?  Is this what America has come down to?

Let us get real here for a moment, rehabilitative services have been denied Terri for the past decade since she has been hospitalized, now food and water have been withdrawn.  These services have all been denied by her husband, who

certainly appears to have no vested interest in his wife's well being. 

He has a mistress with two children that he has fathered; surely we are smart enough to see the conflict of his interest here. 

I think it's safe to say his thoughts are with himself and not with his wife.

I pray that someone of earthy authority will step up to the plate, however, Terri's time of in-humane suffering and immanent

death are drawing nigh! 

God has been watching all the atrocities that have been committed concerning Terri's life decisions.  Man does not have the

authority to say if someone should live or someone should die.  That authority belongs to God.

When God reaches down and takes his child, Terri Schiavo home her suffering will end.  However, it will just be beginning

for those who have perpetrated this crime of murder and have caused the needless great suffering of an innocent human being. 

God has been watching the whole time and has seen our lack of compassion and humanness and our willingness to turn our

backs on Terri Schiavo. 

America's heart has grown cold and calloused, we can see it in our children's eyes if we take the time to look, really look.  

Our children see violence in every area of their lives today. 

We can't even send our children to school with peace of mind anymore.  The true conscience of America, of our founding

fathers is crying out for justice.  God must be invited back to America, back to our hospitals, back to our schools and back

to our justice system and back into our homes.  Without God, we are depending on man to make decisions and we can all

see what path that is leading us all to.

There will be many come judgment day, not in man's court, but in, ???God All Mighty??™s, Court room???, who will have much

explaining to do.  I pray God will have mercy on all their souls.

I thank you for all your efforts on Terri's behalf, the whole Christian world is now praying for an 11th hour miracle here

for Terri or that she will be released from her pain and suffering soon and go home to God.

Sincerely,

Barbara J. Weymouth

weymouth @cwnet.com

"God sent each person into the world with a special
message to deliver, a special song to sing and a
special act of love to bestow. No one else can
speak my message or sing my song or offer
my love.... these are entrusted to me."
Quoted by Father J. Nash - 2001

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 Prayer Requests

Prayers are still needed for my family in hopes that a ruling by the courts is in our favor to save what a child has had for eight years. I know it makes no sense. But do to legal proceedings I am not legally allowed to say what is happening. But I will say someone is trying to tear apart the family as if there has not been enough pain over the past few years.

Dina Dimato

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SENIOR WRITERS

Agee,Vance;  Apted,Violet;  Baker,Kathy;  Batt,Al;  Berry,Nell;

Boda,Ginger;  Bryant,Sharon;  Cassady,B.J.;  Crider,Mark;  Deming,Barb;  Goodier,Steve;  Harris,Kathy Anne;  Hunt, Sharlette;  Jacobson, Gary; 

Kiser,Roger Dean; 

Kerens, Claudia;

Jenkins,Pamela; Liles,Norma;  Mazzella,Joe;  Ojeigbe,Georgewaters; Shaw,Bob; Sims,Richard; Vaknin,Sam; Walker,Joe;  Whirity,Kathy;  White,Robert;

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Moderator: Clara Westerfer

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