STORYTIME TAPESTRY

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

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Aug 17, 2005? 

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Storytime Tapestry is really growing, today we announce yet another new writer to our fold, Stacey Robyn is writer # 234.?  Her poetry is very unique and very powerful. Please take the time to wish her a wonderful stay here at Storytime.

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Now on to the good stuff.......... 

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

One Teacher Can Make a Difference

by Bernice Becker

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Our third grade class was listening to our teacher, Miss Pratt. She told us she was disappointed that we were not making the progress she had expected with multiplication tables one through nine. She explained that we really understood the meaning of multiplication but that we had not spent enough time memorizing the tables. The rote method was necessary in this case.

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I regretted that I had not put forth the amount of effort required. I had spent too much time playing with my friends instead of drilling myself. I had let down my teacher, who to me was the kindest, sweetest, and prettiest one I had ever known. This was my first experience with one who smiled much more than she scowled, laughed often, and never threatened any of us, yet she was able to ???read??? the children, control the class, and teach effectively. Miss Pratt put a lot of herself into her work. Every day near the close of school, she would read to us, or even better, tell us stories about when she was a little girl. Most importantly, she made us feel that she cared about us and that we were important.

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Because of a serious car accident when I was three and a half years old, I had a scar below my nostril that was the result of a torn upper lip. Everything else had healed up without any after effects physically, but my emotions remained scarred. (Years later plastic surgery was performed that improved that condition.) Meanwhile, having been called Chief Running Nose and Scarface by many insensitive children, my confidence and self-esteem had suffered. Although my parents and relatives referred to me as pretty, I did not see myself that way. Focusing on my scar, I could not appreciate any redeeming features. (As I grew older, I thanked God that I was alive with relatively little damage, and still do.) At the end of one school day, I remained in my classroom, waiting for the arrival of my mother, who was coming to take me to an appointment close to the school. Miss Pratt sat at her desk with a fellow teacher and chatted.

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I glanced at the clock and realized it was time for me to get ready to leave. I put on my matching brown wool coat and hat trimmed with beaver that even I realized was becoming. The teachers looked at my outfit and seemed to admire it. I was able to read their lips a little and my ears perked up to hear, ???Who is she? She really is cute.??? My teacher??™s answer was, ???I agree; Bernice is adorable.???

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Adorable! The word grabbed me. It jolted me. It was just about my favorite word. A delicious warmth enveloped me with a new sense of awareness. Teachers would not lie. Maybe it was true. I looked pretty. This was a revelation to me.

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At that moment I made the decision to be the first child in my class to learn the assigned tables. Whatever it took, no matter how much time, I would succeed. No one was going to stop me. This time I believed in myself.

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About one week later, Miss Pratt announced to the class that Bernice was the first one to learn the tables and she told us she was proud of me. She handed me my first diary, gold key and all. I thanked her enthusiastically. The class smiled and clapped. For the first time, I felt truly good about myself. I knew I had been motivated by Miss Pratt??™s remark. This might not have occurred if I had not overheard those kind words. What a difference one special teacher can make! Miss Pratt, you??™ll never know how much I??™ve thought of you through the years. I tried my best to be a caring teacher like you were. I believe I was successful. My classes always loved the stories I told them about myself when I was young.

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Thank you for being the kind of teacher you were. I hope you enjoyed the wonderful life you deserved.

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Your Space

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Reflections, memories, ideas, wisdom thoughts, glimpses into your world, favorite foods, treats, dreams. Perhaps you have remembered a favorite story from your early childhood! Jot it down here and don??™t forget to share it with others!

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Go for it!

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Bernice Becker is a 84 years young author? of her new book "Feel Good Stories". Indeed her tales prove that feeling good knows no age. Reading the stories narrate foibles and adventures of growing up, marriage, teaching, and retirement, you'll find yourself laughing, crying, and delighting in the adventures of being alive. Visit her website at http://www.storiestofeelgood.com? to buy? the book and? get started on your own journey to feeling good!

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~**~**~? 

? Fear A True Story

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By Gwen Tweedy

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Fear can strike uncertainty in us all from time to time. We are told not to do it by God,

but I must admit I didn't follow instructions very well. When I was a small child and on into my adult hood I had a particular fear that I hoped no one would find out about.

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When I had these? episodes I? hoped the tail tell signs would not show it's reflection.

But as hard as I begged it this fear came all too often.

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The? fear?

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I would be standing in a line with people what people I did not know. While standing, I would hear a man usually coming down the line and smacking faces.

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Crack! Crack!

As he got closer I instinctively put my hands over as much of my face as my hands would cover.

My mom caught the after math of one such episode and said I was as white as a sheet.

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But how to get rid of the thing?

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I recall while watching? The Sound Of Music when Maria said you need to face your fears.

Oh wonderful I thought finally something I could use; Advice that I could understand and conquer.

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But how?

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The next time this fear came along I deliberately sat upon my hands. But my inner hands strained to get out of this prison. but I must not let that happen! And soon some time later but not too far in the distant future the terror subsided.

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A God thing?

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You'd better believe it.

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But I also faced my fear and stepped out on faith that it would work. And each day we face these same things only in a different setting. But we are not alone and through God alone?  solid and lasting victory is found.

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gtweedy2@cox.net

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My name is Gwen Tweedy.

I work at Envision the shop for the visually impaired because of being totally blind. I operate a power sewing machine. I have been married for over 26 years to Bob. And I have a grown daughter Melissa.

I live in Wichita, Kansas.

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My hobbies include Singing in my choir, some reading, and encouraging my extended prayer family and friends on the Internet.

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I also play piano for my small Sunday school class which I enjoy.

My Email address is:

gtweedy2@cox.net

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~**~**~? 

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Sunflowers and Sunny Days

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  by Sharlett Hunt 5/14/05

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?  I woke up early this bright, shiny morning, way before daylight, about 3:30 Am to be exact.?  I sat and drank coffee, listening to Precious meow to go outside.? Sometimes she talks so much? it is maddening!?  ? That darn cat, I declare!? 

?  She can't stand for? a door to be closed.?  Doesn't matter which side she is on.?  My little bundle of love gets up as I do, she has a sense of some sort, in which, she can tell the time of day.?  I believe her tale of woe would be better told in a science fiction story, but, that is another story.?  She has become my true companion for the past year, since she adopted me.?  This is her house, only thing I am good for is opening the cat food for her and giving her a daily massage so, of course, she admires the hands.? 

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?  On this particular morning, I did my life as usual, going about things in my normal way. ? 

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?  It had begun to get daylight around 6:30 AM.?  I decided to let my Precious cat outside and proceeded to wake her from (in her estimation) a well deserved nap.?  I walked out with her.

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?  Since central Florida suffered with all those freak hurricanes last year, I have finally decided to start growing things again.?  I had planted some sunflowers.?  I have one that is in full bloom.?  These are not as big as I have seen but are about 4 1/2 feet tall.?  There's another one or two that is just peeking their head out.?  I also planted some dandilions and they are starting to bloom.?  I have spring onions and ten tiny tomatoes on a plant my dad gave me a couple months ago!?  My heart sings!

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?  Two years ago, I cut some small branches from a honeysuckle vine, rooted them, ? and it is blooming also!?  The smell is out of this world in the evening.?  This plant has gone through three major hurricanes and still has the strength to bloom!?  Nothing smells better than honeysuckle except maybe jasmine, which I adore.?  What a wonderful life!

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?  Thing is, it is a God given life.?  The beauty that He allows me to see is there for me if only I open my eyes.?  I am not always perfect, by anyone's estimation, but what I do believe is I am made for this day and to enjoy life to it's utmost extent.?  It is in the dew of an early morning.?  It stays within a starry night, if you just look up you can see so many things.?  He gives us? so many fragrances to enjoy.?  And the colors!? 

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?  No designer can duplicate the colors of a flower or the intricate design.?  Just as we are made, according to a Master's Plan.?  Each of us? is different in our own way, but sometimes similar.?  My hurt is your hurt, if you see it, and so is my joy,? then maybe we are connected by emotion.?  I'm not really sure.?  I just know we are connected.

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?  I will get up early in the morning and go outside and enjoy a sunny day.?  I will dwell on nothing but good for He has made me realize that I am special, one of a kind.?  I am so peaceful in the fact that He will always send me a rainbow after a storm.?  Oh, the colors!

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Sharlette863 @aol.com


About Me:

I was born in Alabama, the middle of
seven children. At about age four we moved
to Central Florida and I have lived here
most of my life. I am a Viet Nam Era
Veteran. I have always enjoyed writing
and as I get older it seems to come more
naturally to me. I believe
everyone has many stories inside them and
some are blessed to be able to share them.

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Poetry Section

~**~**~

With His Love

? Sandra Lewis Pringle

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With His love,

He quietens our spirits,

in times of turmoil and distress.

He leads us safely into His refuge,

and tenderly gives us rest.

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With His love,

we are assured,

that we shall not be disdained.

We only need to whisper "Jesus",

and call upon His name.

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With His love,

we are led beside the still and peaceful waters;

He restores our troubled and contrite souls.

We become His child, His loved one,

and He loves us,

and makes us whole.

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With His love,

He reaches forth,

to take ahold of our right hands.

We are guided by His wisdom,

into a safe and promised land.

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With His love,

He heals a heart,

that has become broken, bruised.

He gives us purpose,

and tender? knowledge,

so that we no longer feel abused.

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With His love,

He answers;

Often, before we even call.

He concenrs Himself with our problems,

whether big or small.

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With His love,

He watches, carefully, our coming and our going;

He diverts? our feet? from harm,

as we have a sense of His knowing.

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With His love,

His voice rings out,

whenever we please Him, in song.

He gently picks us up from ashes,

whenever we have chosen wrong.

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He strengthens us, He heals us,

He sends forth ministering spirits from Above.

How in the world, do we abide,

without

His precious love?

~ ?© 2005?  Sandra Lewis Pringle ~

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Ask Jesus to come into your heart, your life today,

if you do not know Him.

He is there, waiting, watching for you.

Prayer Of Salvation~Greetings From The Heart And Soul

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Sandra Lewis Pringle

SLPEnt1@aol.com

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My name is Sandra Lewis Pringle.?  Writing is, and always has been, a favorite pasttime of mine, since a child.? ?  I often would make up little stories to entertain my cousins, and friends, at times we had nothing else to do.

? ?  I wrote poetry at a young age, and then began to write more seriously, as the years passed.

? ?  I began an inspirational greetings site, online, in 1998.?  By that time, I had gathered several people who wished to read poetry, and with whom I had been sending out prayers, in answer to prayer requests.

? ?  The name of my poetry site is "Greetings from the Heart and Soul."
Greetings From The Heart And Soul

? ?  Later, I added my daily devotionals, "Morning Glorythoughts", and that readership has grown by leaps and bounds.? ?  Praise God.

Morning Glorythoughts Daily Devotionals

? ? ? ? ?  And since I also like to play with photography, I have recently added onto the internet, my own gallery of photos, which glorify the Presence of Almighty God all around us.

Sandra's Gallery of Photography

? ? ? ?  I reside in North Carolina, grew up in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, and this is where I call home.

? ? ?  I hope that if you visit any of my websites, you will enjoy and be blessed.

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? ~**~**~

Death Becomes Him

Stacey Robyn

as he walked through the door, my heart sank.
home.?  safe.?  alive.

I monitored my reaction to this everyday
occurance and could no longer deny what
screamed inside.

with a sense of clarity born to prophets and
seers i realized i was living a lie.?  this facade
of urban living and heartless loving was
slowly smothering me.

here i was wishing death on another living
soul.?  not just any other soul, my husband,
father of my children and sole provider.

the one who scooped up spiders rather than
smooshing them, the vegetarian, the peace queen
was now conjuring morbid accidents and deathly
events in an attempt to free myself from my domestic
hell.

our marriage was long past the point of salvation.
pride and possession were the last ties between
he and i.?  i was his prize, his show piece, his
proof of virility and supreme masculinity
and he was not going to give me up.

forget that we fought about everything.
forget that i believed in god and he
hated dogs.? we were married and that
was that.?  misery is ok.?  divorce is not.

at first i believed i could create my own
world.?  schedule enough activities to
keep a distance and focus on our kids.
avoidance is time consuming and
energy depleting.?  i had nothing left
of the creative me.

i was dying.?  slowly suffocating
in my own fear.

slowly, over time,?  my thoughts turned to death.
not my own, of course.?  i wanted
to live.?  i wanted to swim with
manta rays and eat bananas straight
from the trees.?  i wanted to paint
the perfect tear drop and eat home grown
peas.?  if he wouldn't leave maybe he
would die.

somewhere between misery and freedom
a light turned on.?  six o'clock
would always come.?  i could dread it
or....

or.

yes, that's it!


OR.

choice.

change.

with clarity and resolve i left.?  perhaps i might
have planned better.?  perhaps a good-bye note might
have been compassionate.?  perhaps a call, an email
or a word from friend.

or perhaps i might have lost my nerve if i
hadn't followed the clarion call of my
heart to go.?  right then.

and i did.

clearly the most loving choice i ever made.
for i stopped wishing death on him and
began living life for ME.

~stacey robyn
7-2-05

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stacey robyn is a creativity
counselor, writer, photographer
and mail junkie.

contact at:
seek2bfree@yahoo.com

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? ~**~**~

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Living Library

Stacey Robyn

this door, hinged invisibly and viscerely floating,
may be seen by my eyes only.

this passage opens through my heart to
a world beating with passion, intrigue, and
mystery.

in order to find this door i must make
myself as small as an atom and as large
as love.

my eye opens this door, by simply
seeing beyond...forgetting there is a
door and looking past to my sacred place.

this sacred place winds round to meet
me.?  books from ceiling to floor...containing
information on every subject, concept,
possibility and event throughout all time.

a wooden ladder awaits my presence.
i admire rungs worn by my
searching steps and handles smooth
to the touch from an eternity spent
supporting my reach, my search...
my desire to grasp truth

this ladder has her path, her place,
in this circular room. she is free to
be in any place of this circle, simply requiring
a guide...someone to nudge her
into a position of support.

as i look up i gaze into crystal heavens
bending to kiss the edge of creation.
i am protected yet able to view sun
and moon, stars and birds, trees and
wispy clouds.

through this crystal dome i feel
touched by warmth, as the sun
filters through a geometrically
divine configuration of carbon,
minerals, and time to remind me
i, too, am living light.

in the center of this space is
a sunken floor that
says 'let your self down.?  it's
perfectly ok to lay in wait
as your reveal yourself to now'.
pillows of all shapes, filled with
downy fluff, buckwheat and
even air adorn the
floor...all beckoning for me to
join in and be still.

i admire this living library and know
it is only eye candy.?  climbing
the ladder, grasping a leather
bound volume of knowledge, and
absorbing the contents is a way to
spend time.

i know at any moment i may
etherically absorb whatever
knowledge i seek and it is so.
it is done.?  i am knowing by
knowing i am.

this space provides me time to
unwind, to be.?  and to ride
my ladder in circles for eternity.
as i choose.

~stacey robyn
7-11-05

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stacey robyn is a creativity
counselor, writer, photographer
and mail junkie.

contact at:
seek2bfree@yahoo.com
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keep what's worth keeping
and return the rest to Love

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Writers Feedback

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?  I realize telemarketers have to make a living but I immediately signed up for the DO NOT CALL capability.?  No longer do I have to leave my phone off the hook for hours while I nap, watch a movie on TV or eat in peace.

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And not all of them are like you, Carol.?  I have been cursed, yelled at--most all refuse to take No for an answer.?  I have NEVER purchased anything I was called about or donated to a charity I'm told about over a phone line. I don't want to be solicited.?  In my area, soliciters are kept off my streets and from my door.?  I wanted the opportunity to do the same with telemarketers.? 

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Now, if they could just figure out how to do the same with spammers.

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Love,

Barb

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Prayer Requests and Updates

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? Dear Prayer Warriors

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I am going to speak before our City Council regarding some serious issues in my neighborhood community.?  I hope to build

a fire under some city officials to get many things changed and improved here.?  Such as police response and City Government response/customer service.

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Please keep me in your prayers for courage and for my safety.

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Thank you for your love and prayers!

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Love,

Barbara

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? SENIOR WRITERS

Chief Writer: Sharon Bryant

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

Boda, Ginger;? ?  Buhagiar, Victor; Cassady, B.J.;?  Cavalera, Robyn; 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;?  Shiveley, Debra; Shaw, Bob; Sims, Richard; Swarner, Ken; Vaknin, Sam; Verhoeff, Jan

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

Whirity, Kathy;?  White, Robert;

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STORYTIME TAPESTRY STAFF

Publisher: Carol Roach-founder

Moderator: Thelma Hartselle-co founder

Moderator: Clara Westerfer

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