STORYTIME TAPESTRY

The Newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world

July 8, 2005 

Today's Queue Stories
~**~**~**~

School Daze

Sandra Woodward

"School days, school days, good old fashioned school days," I sang exuberantly as I helped my five year old get ready for his first day of school.

My heart swelled with pride as I looked at him in his new shorts and matching shirt.  His chubby knees still showing tell tale signs of his latest endeavors to ride his bike without training wheels.

"Where has the time gone?" I mused, while Josh hurriedly ate his snap, crackle, and pop cereal.

"I'm done, Mommy.  Can we go outside now?" he asked jigging from one foot to the other.

"Go brush your teeth first, Honey. I'll be waiting for you on the porch and don't forget to use the bathroom," I reminded him.

The sun felt good on my face but a chill of anxiety sweep over me, 'Is Josh going to be o.k.  He hasn't been away from home before, either his dad, one of his older brothers, or I have always taken care of him.'

"Here I am, Mom."  I looked up from my reverie. Josh, lunch box in one hand and Sassy securely tucked under his other arm, joined me on the front steps looking in the direction from which the bus would be approaching.

Sassy was not to be left out of this monumental event!  Sassy is Joshua's best friend.  He's a true blue kind-of-friend, who's always ready to keep Josh company.  Sassy's favorite job is cuddling at night and making sure Josh is safe once the lights are out.  He's done his job well.  I noticed that stuffing is poking out of his tummy, one arm detaching from the body, and an eye is hanging by a thread.

So here we sat, little boy, worn toy cat and anxious mom, awaiting the arrival of the big yellow school bus,that will transport Josh to a new place, new people, and new experiences.

Shortly, we heard the rumbling of the bus engine as it made its way up our street, stopping every few moments to pick up a child along the way. Watching Josh out of the corner of my eye, I saw him clutch Sassy tightly against his chest, as he moved closer to my side.

The bus reached our home, doors open wide, like a mother's arms ready to embrace her child.  I held my breath, this is it, would Josh rise to the occasion, accepting this new challenge or would he cling to his familiar surroundings.

Josh plunked Sassy onto my lap.  I sat in a daze clutching the stuffed animal to my breast as I watch Josh bravery cross the street into the welcoming arms of his new world.

Authors Bio:  Joshua survived his school years and thankfully so did I!  Now I am experiencing another facet of life, the empty nest syndrome.  If you can classify it as such for I share my home in Maine with seven birds and a very spoiled cocker spaniel. I look forward to and enjoy the friendship of my grown boys when they come to visit or I go visit them.

Sandy Woodward

 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.

~**~**~ 

Doctor Says I Have Bipolar Disorder Part III

Richard Sims

Talking to my mother on the telephone about being diagnosed with a bipolar disorder, after explaining about bipolar disorders.  My mother and I discovered that I have probably had a bipolar disorder from a very young age. My mom told me of some of the temper tantrums, or fits of rage.

She told me of my destructive ways, about beating my bicycle with a baseball bat and throwing my toys and breaking them. Now it seems there was a good reason for the temper tantrums and the fits of rage. I grew up thinking that I was just a spoiled brat with a very bad temper. My parents couldn't even get a babysitter to watch me as a child.

Yes! I did get in trouble at school a lot, and fights on the school bus and was kicked off the school bus several times. I am thinking that back in my day there wasn't much thought about bipolar disorders, or maybe they didn't know much about bipolar disorders.

Then there were all of my lost jobs where I thought I was right instead of the boss all of this sheds light on a lot of my background from a child to adulthood.  I have had three bad marriages in the past but I do realize that my bipolar disorder was not the only reason for the bad marriages.

About two  weeks ago when my doctor diagnosed me as having a bipolar disorder I was aggravated and had no patience with him, being very irritated at him I told him he was a pill

pushing pecker head. He just kind of chuckled and went on with his business I guess I am lucky that he stood by me. I had come down with a very sore throat, and ear ache and a swollen gland. He had put me on antibiotics and they were not working fast enough for me.  I couldn't understand why he didn't put me on more antibiotics even though I had just finished a regiment of them; it was just too soon after finishing the first regiment. Now I realize that my doctor having to deal with my very high blood pressure, my throat ear and gland, plus my bipolar disorder had his hands full. I guess I am very lucky to have a doctor like him.

My wife Jackie being a home health care worker taking care of her son James who has spina bifida, and me with all my illnesses and bipolar disorder she understands and stands by my side through thick and thin.

About Me

I am Richard D. Sims 48 years old, I was born in a small town called Granby, the oldest

mining town is Southwest Missouri. I am the youngest out of five children ( The Brat )

I am just a simple back woods country boy, I wear Dan post western style boots and

western shirts, wrangler jeans and my black western hat. I am a jack of all trades yet

a master of none, I have found out I can do most anything and what I can't do I am willing

to learn.

I moved here to Arma, Kansas 3 years ago when I married my lovely wife Jackie, I have

two children of my own, Richard II ( Rick ) Sims 26 years old, and a daughter Rebecka

Sissom age 22. A stepson James Morrison 26 who lives with Jackie and I because of his

birth defect of Spina - Bifida.

We have found a great church here called the Arma Family Christian Center, My wife

Jackie and I are online prayer warriors so if you have a prayer request just send it to us

to receive a written prayer, please make sure you don't have your E - mail blocked.

My hobbies are building quarter mile dragsters and drag racing at Asberry, Mo. at

Mo-kan dragway. I also do wood working and wood crafts, Bow hunting and fishing,

motorcycling, and just spending quality time with my family and spoiling my

granddaughter Destiny Dawn Sims age 5.

Richard Dean Sims    armaksman@yahoo.com

~**~**~ 

THROUGH A WRINGER

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

     When I was a little boy we used to have an old fashioned wringer washing machine. This was an early type of washing machine in which you had to hand feed the freshly washed clothes through a pair of moving rolling pins to squeeze the extra water out before drying. I often wondered how those clothes felt going through them. This curiosity was painfully ended one day when I was helping my Mom feed the clothes into them and got my own fingers caught instead.  Needless to say, I was far more careful after that.

     Usually after we finished washing the clothes my Mom would hang them out on the clothes line to dry. I would hand her the wooden clothes pins as she hung them and help her fold the freshly dried clothes a few hours later. I can still remember how wonderful they smelled after warming in God's sunshine all afternoon. I would hold them up to my face and delight in their warmth, cleanness, and Heavenly scent.

     I know that sometimes it can feel as if life is putting us all though a wringer washer. The troubles and stresses of life always seem to want to squeeze and flatten every bit of peace and happiness out of us. Sometimes our whole day feels like my fingers did that time when I was a careless young boy. It is up to us, however, to not let ourselves stay flattened like an old, wet pair of pants. It is up to us to pick ourselves up and warm our hearts and souls again in the sunshine of God's love. It is up to us to choose the Heavenly scent of love and joy moment by moment to refresh our lives and to share with the world.

     I hope then that no matter how flattened you get by life at times you can still rise up to choose more joy and love. I hope that no matter how many times you are put through a wringer you can still come out stronger, better, and closer to God.

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

~**~**~

A question about death
R Dear

I wrote this poem when my father was in a coma.
I am interested in how you all see and feel life and how you view death, is it just a part of life?

The Final Score
Robyn Dear

Life is a fragile state
Not often appreciated in its entirety

We can sometimes get lost in our frivolous woes
Making a fuss as we bellow and moan

In the blink of an eye life can be crushed
To a gasping shadow of futility

Life now is a dream beyond our reach
We pray for release from this inertia

How many times did we cuss and curse
When the gift of life was abundant

How many times did we pass it by
As we hurried on our way to nowhere

Life is ironic as it smiles at our arrogance
And patiently awaits our enlightenment

Awakening flickers between denial and fear
The victor as yet undecided

Today is the day to acknowledge your place
Not wait till the darkness of death encroaches

Stop running away from the truth held within
Stand and face your honest reflection

Life is the sum of every precious step
Do not restrict it to the final score

Robyn Dear

ohdear@rocketmail.com

I am a writer, healer, poet and idealist.

I have a strong desire to help make the world a better place. It is a team effort, are you in?

My collection of poems and prose is a free download at www.thecentreofinfinity.com you can also view some flash movies of my poems there set to music. To purchase the real deal or a laminated A4 poster of one of my poems visit my web shop. Check out the newsletter for updates on the latest poems etc.

That's me in a nutshell

Love Robyn

~**~**~

Ray

Charith Pelpola

Blue is not a colour

It's a world, a planet

A space where I trespass,

With lungs full

Of atmosphere

That doesn't belong here

This cord keeps me

Tethered to the surface

Keeps dragging me back

To a world of noise

To an arid place,

When all I want is this peace

I drift above a living forest

An iridescent hide

Of dragon scales and damsels

There are jewels here

Serendipity beneath the waves

I am an ungainly guest

An alien at their threshold

But I have come here

Ventured in silence

For a glimpse of them

Ghosts that materialise

With mid-ocean swells

Currents cold and rising

Herald their arrival

On wings whose touch

Will never feel

The light of day

But I can feel them

Blue within blue

A satin dance,

They glide as if through

Blue mist

Nothing stands in their way

All bright things part for them

No threats, no submissions

Just everything in its right place

To be here

To witness their passage

To understand the workings

Of a world lost

Beneath the waves

There is nothing

But the blessings

I desire

And the touch

Of the Ray

?© Charith Pelpola, 2004

charith@starwaves.tv

~**~**~

The Tide

Charith Pelpola

There are things we shouldn't have to see

Not when the day is a mirror of clear blue

Upon the surf and below

Not when the city is industrious,

Alive with the screams of car horns

Not when the palms

Sway melancholic on a tropic breeze

There are things we should not witness

Not in the heady celebrations

Of this, a season of family

But we have seen such things

This joy has been washed away

Our eyes have been blinded

By the savagery of it all

There can be no end to these visions

There can be no child's dreams

For the coming of a better year

We have seen the end of all things

We have watched a world turned against us

We should not have seen this

A betrayal from that which provided

There is no comfort in the oceans

We cannot turn any longer to the cool sea breeze

It offers us no solace, only tempered steel

How can we look upon this lapping surf?

When tears fall so freely, mere offerings of salt

To a depthless kingdom of saltwater

Our eyes have been opened

By an estranged sea

It has made us see these things.

(In remembrance of those lost to the Tsunami)

?© Charith Pelpola, 2004

?© Charith Pelpola, 2004

charith@starwaves.tv

As for me: I'm a wildlife documentary maker, have been in the business for almost 10 years and have spent most of my life in the field of environmental conservation. After qualifying in environmental science in '96, I moved out of the UK where I was brought up, and proceeded to lead a nomadic existence throughout South and South East Asia, and have now taken root in the island-state of Singapore. My factual and scientific writings have appeared in several publications, from wildlife periodicals to in-flight magazines, to coffee-table photography books. My fictional writing has remained entirely personal - until very recently! 

I am of Anglo-Germanic Sri Lankan heritage, 32 years old, husband to Kristen and parent to four cats and two dogs.

Cheers,

Charith.

~**~**~

Writers Feedback

Bob Shaw - As usual a story of a beloved pet always brings tears to my eyes.  She had to be a very special one but for some reason I   believe that all pets are. I enjoy your stories and hope to read many more. Nat

Candle of Love -- Carol Roach - LOVE IT! thanks for sharing your talents... Karin

You paint such a vivid word picture!!! Bette ( Autumn Dance)

Yes, I share your love of theseasons and autumn is by far the sweetest! Louise (Autumn Dance)

Hi you Two. Just to let yu know that this animal lover from New Zealand cried when i read your story.  You must be two very special people , there are many who wouldnt take the runt of the litter as you both did. Though her time with you was short she was the most loved bird dog in all the world i am sure. I have printed this out and will read it to my 95 year old mother who has just shifted in with my husband and i. She is blind but her mind is still very active and i know that she too will shed a tear for your wonderful little dog. Who is still chasing birds around in a special place. God Bless Bob and Ronni.Thank you so much for sharing that story with us all. Much Love to you both.  Cher

Prayer Requests and Updates

Recently I asked for prayer concerning my brother, GW near Bakersfield,
CA., and prayer for family members to travel from Florida, Mississippi.
Tennessee and Arkansas.  My brother died on June 24th. 
My two sisters, a nephew and I traveled by van there.  We were there for
the funeral. 
It was a beautiful service. It was a really good tribute to GW.

I want to thank each one of you for praying for all of us.  GOD is in
control and prayers were answered.  We serve an awesome GOD. 
We stopped in New Mexico to spend the night.   AS we pulled into the
hotel parking lot, the van ran hot.  The next morning anti-freeze was
added which took care of the problem.   GOD is so good.

I had the  oil changed in my car before I left Tallahassee.  When I
backed the car up at my niece's house,. I noticed a hugh oil leak.  I
had to wait until the 5th to go to Firestone.  They took care of the
problem  The oil plug had not been tightened properly.   If I had
traveled at night as I usually do,  my car motor would have burned up
due to no oil.  I made it home fine.   Your prayers  have been answered
concerning all of us. 
Thank you again and again. 

If you ever need a prayer prayed for for you or your family, please
don't hestiate to ask me.

GOD is love.  Jesus loves you and so do I. 
Tennie

Dear friends across the world 

We have need of all the love and prayers you can spare for us today and in the days to come.  We await news of our family in London. My husband is a Londoner and my nephew and his young family live there. We wait and we pray, as households all over the world are doing at this moment.

We will not hate. That is what these evil people want and we will not give them our souls. They can never win. I have chosen to pray and hold healing energy for all caught up in this. I will not use inflammatory language. In this home we chose love and peace. We will not allow our way of life to be altered in any way by these attacks. We hold the centre and will not be swayed. That is the best and surest answer to the forces of evil in the world.

Please light a candle and as I light my candle with all of you, together across the world our little lights unite into a great flame that will extinguish the darkness. 

The truth is that we cannot hide from this evil. It disguises its coward's face within the fabric of our society. What we can do is to stand strong, to protect ourselves where we can but above all to continue to live the lives we had planned and in so doing honour the memories of those who can no longer live the lives they had planned.

When we continue to live our lives as though there was no fear, as though the evil had not reached out and touched us, we defeat the terrorists. They crave our fear; they desire the destruction of our way of life. They cannot have that. They cannot have our souls.

In love and light

Maria

Would appreciate prayers for my wife Liliane who seems to have a recurrance of breast cancer.  Thank you.

Victor

Dear Prayer warriors:

God is answering prayers for our little Sean (my cousin's son 7 years old)

Little Sean still needs our prayers and love, he has many treatments to go.

My other cousin Margaret still needs your continuing prayers as she continues on with her chemotherapy too.

Father God, Please keep Sean and Margaret in your loving care, guide and fully direct both their care, give them strength Lord to hold up under their Chemo treatments and to always know that they are loved.  Lord, please give their families strength too, so they can remain a source of support and love.  I pray these things in Jesus' most precious name, Amen and Amen

Thank you for your love and prayers,

Love,

Barbara

Here is a note from my cousin, Cindy:

Just want to thank everyone for their prayers and support through this difficult time. Sean is actually doing great! Thank you, Jesus! After we got his diagnosis I took him in last Wed for his PET scan and then he was admitted into Loma Linda Children's hospital. He had everything done. CT, chest xray, EKG, complete Pulmonary Function Test, echocardiogram, creatine clearance (check the kidneys), Porta-cath place (for the chemo), and finally on July 2nd he started his first chemotherapy treatment (five drugs the first day).

Thankfully, the cancer is limited to the lymph nodes on his neck. They found it in more than one, so he's at stage 2A (the A means he has no symptoms) He got sick the first day on drug #5 and threw up 650ml (that's alot). But, Benadryl works wonders (knocked him out for several hours) I pulled him around in a wagon for a while before I put him in bed. They give him Zofran for the nausea during the infusion. The second and third day no problem, no nausea. He ran around like normal.

Today the visiting nurse came to teach Sean and I on giving him his Neupogen shot. Sean gets to choose where to put it and pushes the plunger in. The children on the oncology unit are truely amazing!! They ride bikes, cars, wagons, play video games, do crafts, everything all while pushing their IV poles around. The nurses and Child life specialist are great with these kids. I stayed with Sean the entire time in my own little chair/bed. He was having so much fun his didn't want to leave. But, we got out on July 4th (appropriately - freedom) Next Monday (July 11) I take him back to Loma Linda outpatient clinic for more chemo.

I pray his keeps his strength and his numbers up - WBC (white blood cells), HGB (hemoglobin), PLTS (platelets), ANC (absolute neutrophil count). these are important in fighting off infections 

Margaret was feeling a little sick today (her chemo was yesterday). She has 5 more weeks to go. I told her about the Benadryl, so she's going to try it. Hopefully, it will help with her nausea.

Well, gotta go. I'm going back to work tomorrow. I'll try to keep you updated on his progress.

Love always,

Cindy

Dear Prayer Warriors

Please keep me in your prayers, tomorrow is my job interview.(Thursday July 7, 2005) Please pray for grace and poise for me as I've been floundering for five years now (working on-call) and it has taken its toll on my self-esteem.  I believe in my heart that God has brought me to this job and I have much to offer and bring to this company to glorify our Lord.

Thank you for your love and prayers, God's will be done. 

Love,

Barbara 

"One can never consent to creep
when one feels an impulse to soar".
~Helen Keller~

Dear Prayer warriors:

Please keep Carol Roach in your prayers, she is in need of our Savior's healing touch.  She is in pain and cannot get the sleep and rest her body needs.  Please join me in agreement that these pains will leave her body soon and complete health will return in their place.

I pray these things in Jesus' Most precious name, Amen and amen

Thank you for your love and prayers!

Hello Everyone;

I just gota a update on my Mother Helen Sims in Granby, Mo., she had a doctor's

appointment yesterday at 5:00 P.M.. She had losted six more Lbs. and the doctor

didn't like it, She is to go to St. John's hospital in Joplin, Mo. July 22nd. at 2:30

P.M. and at 4:30 P.M.  they will stretch her esophagus.

So please pray that her esophagus stretching will be successful and it will work,

and cause her no more problems! Thank you all for your prayers for my Mother,

all of your prayers are deeply appreciated. God bless you all.

Thanks Again

Richard D. Sims

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

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