STORYTIME TAPESTRY

April 22, 2005

Although income tax is over for the season, in the US I have been told; it is still in full swing until April 30^th here in Canada.  Mark Crider is providing us with a little poem that I believe expresses the sentiments of Americans and Canadians and most likely every nationality in the world concerning the great horror we know as income tax.

 Congratulations goes out to Ken Swarner who is our newest senior writer.

Now on to the good stuff..........

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

 The Rainbow Bridge Gang Report

Tinker and Poo

Tinkerpoo2000@yahoo.com

We all were laying around here after the noon lunch the other day, doing the normal.  That is eat, rest, and get ready for a good brushing out. When Tink spotted something in the distance, his eyes really got big, he seen one of his friends.  Well we all bunched up and went for a little walk.  That is Cricket, Bambie, Poo and Tink.  The rest said they would just stay put.

After a bit we all saw what Tink had spotted.  The most beautiful Golden Palomino was she something, and with her was this little black cutie, with the pretty golden eyes.  Well Tink got the talk going; you know how crazy he is over horses. 

They told us their names.  Princess and the little one was Annie.  Both said they belonged to Sandy.  Now we have heard of this Sandy Woodward, asked if that would be the one.  Oh Yes cried Annie.  She is the one, she is the most loving, let me tell you about her.

I was lost, didn't know which way to go, and sure didn't know where I was.   She found me and got me off of a street, why I could have been killed right there.  She took me home, said she would find who I belonged to.  Well guess I didn't belong to no one but Sandy and her boys, as no one ever claimed me.  She called me Annie, so Annie was good enough for me.   I was so happy to have a family that at last cared for me; I would tag along with her where ever she went. 

Well then it was Princess turn.  She said she remembers taking a ride, got to this place and a nice girl by the name of Sandy was her new care taker.  Well they got along just beautiful.   That was almost Heaven. they got along just wonderful together.  Sandy took such good care of her, seen to it she had all her needs, and a good brushing, oh she was so nice.

Now they met up here and stick together waiting for that day, when Sandy comes to meet with them once again.   Annie said well she gets to take a ride on Princess back, what a ride.   Tink asked if he could get one of those rides.  Princess said sure, she laid down and the two of them, Annie, and Tink got aboard.  She stood up and went for a little trot.

Just another day at the Rainbow Bridge, and the gang gets a bit bigger.

About Me:

Well I??™m a story teller, not a writer. Never learned the art of fancy English. I

happen to live in Nebraska, but I??™m still Missouri. Never married, all the Dollies I

ever took a second look at was too smart. Now at 74, just turned that other day, I

figure they all home safe. I love Doggies and Dollies in that order. Lost my two

true friends this year, that be Tinker and Poo. So I found me a new one. This

time a little girlie Peke. She is a normal female. Got a mouth, talks all the time.

She will never be a great writers of stories like Tinker and Poo. They have

about 50 stories on HWS. And now writing back from Rainbow Bridge.

I just try to write about people, places and things best I remember. Have something

over 250 stories on HWS. under three names.   

Today's Queue Stories
~**~**~**~ 

HAPPY SPRING

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

     Spring has definitely sprung here in the mountains of my home. As I walked in my yard this morning I heard a hundred different birds greeting the sunrise with a chorus of delight. Later as I sat on my porch swing I saw my first butterfly of the year circling down in the wind until it touched my hand and passed on its loving greeting. Then as I walked with my sons around the local lake this evening we saw dozens of yellow and purple flowers sticking their heads through the ground to soak up the warm sunshine. These were complimented by the red, green, pink, and white of the trees eagerly bursting in growth. A cool and gentle breeze kissed our faces, filled the air with sweet smells, and brought music to our ears as we heard hundreds of frogs singing together in a joyful jubilee.

     Spring is such a glorious time. It is a time of rebirth, new beginnings, and fresh starts. It is a time of growth, a time of beauty, and most of all a time of life. Being out there among it helped to stir the life and joy within me as well. It awakened my spirit, warmed my heart, enlightened my mind, energized my body, and uplifted my soul. It made me aware of just how precious each day is and just how priceless each moment of our lives can be. It showed me again that life is for living and for loving not just for existing.

I hope that the spring of this year adds a spring to your own step as well. I hope that the new life bursting forth in nature awakens you to the endless life in your own soul. I hope that all the new growth and new beginnings around you help you to choose new growth in love and new beginnings in joy in your own life. I hope that all this wondrous glory of creation reminds you of the loving hand of God that created it. Have a happy Spring.

Joseph J. Mazzella
joecool @ wirefire.com

~**~**~   

OUR PERFECT DESIGN

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

     Do you know that it takes more facial muscles to frown than it does to smile? Scientists have also found that it is more draining on the body to be depressed than it is to be happy. Anger and hatred too have been found to use up more energy and vitality than the body can replace while joy and love have actually been found to replenish your energy and vitality. Worry and mistrust are among the greatest destroyers of our zest for living that there are as well. Faith and oneness with God on the other hand tend to produce a calmness that keeps our strength and zest for living high. Pessimism, despair, complaining, and self-pity all make us feel like we are dead inside, but optimism, enthusiasm, cheerfulness, and merriment all make us feel like we could live forever.

     When all this is taken together then it becomes clear that God designed us to live in love, joy, goodness, and oneness with Him. When we live in and choose these things we come alive with energy and vitality. When we don??™t we grow closer to death with each passing day.

     The rewards for choosing love, joy, and oneness with God are immediate and glorious too. Everything inside of us becomes better and everything in our lives becomes better. We become blessed rather than stressed. We smile and feel good in the many wonderful choices we make each day. We grow more and more delighted and enlightened while becoming a shining light to all the souls around us. We make the whole world more beautiful just by being in it.

     God loves us all so much. He designed us for joy. He designed us for love. He designed us for unending delight and eternal life. He designed us to live in oneness with Him always. Let us always live by our perfect design then. Let us always choose love, joy, life, delight, energy, vitality, and oneness with God. Let us rejoice in these things today, tomorrow, and forever and always share them with everyone everywhere.

Joseph J. Mazzella
joecool @ wirefire.com

Joe lives in West Virginia with his wife and three children. Various dogs and cats

have adopted Joe and his family for their own. Joe enjoys his family, beauty, love

and hearing from his email friends. Joe likes to take the time to smell the

roses and enjoy the beauty around him as he goes about his daily life.

Poetry Section

The TAX POEM

Mark Crider

Tax his land, tax his wage,  Tax his bed in which he lays. Tax his
tractor, tax his mule,  Teach him taxes is the rule.

Tax his cow, tax his goat,  Tax his pants, tax his coat.  Tax his ties,
tax his shirts, Tax his work, tax his dirt.

Tax his chew, tax his smoke,  Teach him taxes are no joke.  Tax his car,
tax his ass, Tax the roads he must pass.

Tax his tobacco, tax his drink, Tax him if he tries to think. Tax his
booze, tax his beers, If he cries, tax his tears.

Tax his bills, tax his gas,  Tax his notes, tax his cash. Tax him good
and let him know That after taxes, he has no dough.

If he hollers, tax him more, Tax him until he's good and sore. Tax his
coffin, tax his grave, Tax the sod in which he lays.

Put these words upon his tomb, "Taxes drove me to my doom!" And when
he's gone, we won't relax, We'll STILL be after the inheritance TAX!

Mark Crider

Mark @cccoating.com
 

 ~**~**~

Living

Diana Doles Petry

I anticipated the days yet to come,

While I feared all that was still unknown.

I soaked up knowledge like a sponge,

I never realized how much I had grown.

Now the knowledge of past experiences,

Leads me through my often chaotic days.

I possess a caring heart and an open mind,

Yet, I still find myself searching in many ways.

I have a willingness to trust other people,

Even though my heart has felt the pain of loss.

I am enthusiastic to share my adventures,

Yet, I have no desire to be any person's boss.

I found inner strength I never knew I had,

I have learned things that willingly teach.

I ask for help when I really need it,

I offer advice but make it a point not to preach.

I know that I have limits on what I can do,

Still, I want to try many new things before I go.

I have jumped over many hurdles in my life,

I have learned to survive, that I know.

We all look for a purpose for our life,

We search for that throughout our days.

Maybe we miss the things that really matter,

By not paying more attention along the way.

I still anticipate the days yet to come,

I easily leave the past and dream of tomorrow.

To live is to experience a full range of emotion,

Happiness, pain, ecstasy and even sorrow.

?©Jan, 2005

Dianna Doles Petry

~**~**~

Stranger

Dianna Doles Petry

When I looked into a mirror,

It was a stranger's face I saw there.

She stared at me with blank eyes,

Wrinkles showed her wear and tear.

Her eyes had once been Hazel,

Now they were darkened with despair.

She spent her life always wondering,

Did anyone ever really care?

I think she called out to me,

Then she turned and ran away.

Maybe that was best for her,

Since there was nothing I could say.

She hides away from the world,

From the pain and hurt of her past,

She's built a wall to protect her heart,

But she knows that it won't last.

I looked into a mirror that day,

It was a stranger's face I saw there.

I knew I had to change my life,

To build a life that I could share.

Now the stranger is no more,

For she's locked away inside of me.

When I look into the mirror,

Strength and beauty are all I see.

Dianna Doles Petry

?©Jan. 31, 2005

Dianna59 @ charter.net

Proud founder of:
Women With A Unique Soul
www.womenwithauniquesoul.com
Proud member of:
Nuttin But Sunshine
www.nuttinbutsunshine.org
Webmaster of Short Stories
http://pages.ivillage.com/dianna40
Webmaster of Poetry From Life
http://www.geocities.com/diannawv/

Writers Feedback 

No I cannot believe how many writers to date have contributed to this newsletter. I think it is great, the amount of people and many, many of the stories I have read, including poems.

I want to thank you and the readers for praying for my family. Prayers I did not know I needed were answered for me as well, and led me to a greater understanding of myself. I thank you very much for including my family in your prayers.

Peace,

Dina

This the way i felt about my dad to re ??“ Sharlett Hunt. He didn't make it to 80 but there is not a day when I don't think of him in someway. Nat

I have tears.  They are tears of joy!  This is so good that something I wrote touched another's heart.  I think that's what it must be all about.  Gosh I just feel so blessed that others liked my story!

God bless, thanks, Sharlett

"Dad's Eighty Eighth Birthday Dinner" A very touching pearl Sharlett.

Gabby Morgan.

Sharlett Hunt??™s Story -This story brought tears to my eyes. It made me think about my parents and all they had done in their lives, how wonderful they were. They were the best parents, always loving and giving. Both are gone now, buried next to my 2 little girls. I wish I could go put flowers on their graves more often, but they are in Illinois and I in Florida. But my heart is with them, and they are always in my thoughts and dreams.

WONDERFUL STORY

GOD BLESS

Susan Roberts

I will be sending this story out  (by Johann Christoph Arnold, in a mailing to approximately 50 people on my mailing list tomorrow night, sometime after 7 PM, in a mailing dated for Friday 22 April.

Bob Johnson

FlatbushOkie

Announcements

Seeking pastors and writers to submit articles for a monthly Christian newspaper, which will begin Jan. 2006. Stories pertaining to the intervention of God's hand in people's lives and uplifting the Lord Jesus Christ. E-mail james4436@charter.net

Prayer Requests

From Barbara: Here is a note from Tim:

Please pray for the Lord??™s hand to guide and support Warren, his family and doctors through upcoming appointments and surgery for prostrate cancer.  Thanks to all.

.-Tim-

SENIOR WRITERS

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

Boda, Ginger;  Bryant, Sharon;  Buhagiar, Victor; 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;

  Petry, Dianna Doles; Roberts, Susan;  Shaw, Bob; Sims, Richard; Swarner, Ken; Vaknin, Sam;

Walker, Bill;  Walker, Joe; Warner, Gorden K;

Whirity, Kathy;  White, Robert;

STORYTIME TAPESTRY STAFF

Publisher: Carol Roach-founder

Moderator: Thelma Hartselle-co founder

Moderator: Clara Westerfer

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