STORYTIME TAPESTRY

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

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Aug 18, 2005? 

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Today we are welcoming Tammy Clark, writer # 235, for Storytime Tapestry.?  Please email her and wish success in her writing and of course encourage her to continue writing for us.

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Now on to the good stuff.......... 

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

The Movies
by Bernice Becker

When I was a small child, I watched many movies in the Shawmut Theater in Roxbury. It was located close to

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Tickets were either five or ten cents each. There was no food or drink sold in the neighborhood theaters when I was five years old, but there usually was a confectionery store nearby where you could purchase a generous amount of candy for a nickel. What could be more satisfying than your sweet-tooth treat as you sat patiently through the news, laughed aloud at the cartoons, and intently watched the main attraction and the important cliffhanger that made you want to return the following week?

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I walked along with my two older brothers, who were threatened with horrible punishment if they neglected to take good care of their little sister. It wasn??™t my fault that on the way I managed, God only knows how, to swallow a fairly large buzzing fly. I screamed as it tickled my throat, its wings beating in protest. Finally it slid down. I wanted to go home to tell my mother what had happened but my brothers didn??™t want to do that. They were thoughtful enough to assure me that flies were not bad and actually were good for you as long as you didn??™t consume too many. Little Bernice swallowed that bull along with the fly. We entered the large, imposing building of our weekend retreat and found seats. I sat between Arnold and Howard as always. Mom said that was the safest way. But what happened if I needed to visit the bathroom? They couldn??™t take me. My mother told me I could go if it was an emergency and we would have to ask a lady or older girl whom we knew to take me. I realize now that on Saturdays I was given very few fluids until I got home. Then I was urged to drink a lot to help the dehydration I??™d been subjected to.

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We were surrounded by familiar, friendly faces. I waved to my neighbors. We were all in a jovial mood, anticipating a wonderful afternoon. There was chatter and laughter. Occasionally an usher would come around to shush people and to warn us we??™d have to leave if we couldn??™t behave. To me, an usher was like a policeman. I didn??™t dare misbehave.? 

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I loved that time. We had one bag of candy, which we shared. I was happy and engrossed in a funny Charlie Chaplain film. Suddenly something hard hit my chest. I was frightened. I poked Arnold and asked him if I were bleeding. I told him maybe someone shot me.

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He whispered, ???Are you crazy? What are you talking about????

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I felt around: no blood. Then my shaky fingers fished out an object. Even in the dark, from the size and shape I could tell it was a 50-cent piece. It probably had fallen from the balcony above us, and to me it was a real windfall. I did feel sorry for the person who lost it, though.

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I asked my brothers if I should call out, ???Did anyone lose fifty cents????

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They told me ???Don??™t you dare; everyone will say they did.???

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We just had to keep it and without guilt.

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After hours of being entertained, we headed for home, but first we stopped at the little store. My brothers had convinced me that I should share my fortune with them. After all, they brought me each week.

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We were able to get three large bags of our favorite penny candy. We walked along, partaking of the goodies. I chewed a couple of the chocolate covered caramels that I favored, which was probably one of the reasons I had trouble with my gums years later.

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I left a generous portion for my parents. My brothers ate all of theirs. My parents became angry with them because they had very little appetite for the tasty meal my mom had prepared, and they were properly punished, but my mother and father praised their little darling for being kind and willing to share.

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Bernice Becker is an 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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God is our mighty counselor

Tammy Clark

Are you a victim??  Or are you enabling your spouse to victimize you?? 
Think about that for a moment.?  How many years have you
put up with abuse, and how many excusses have you used to keep from
getting help or getting out??  Are you sitting there hoping that one
day your abuser will change, or that you will be able to change him?

I am an enabler, that allowed myself to become victimized by
my spouse.?  For nine years I stayed married to this man, and endured
physical, mental, verbal, and yes even sexual abuse.
Why did I allow it??  One reason was because I was so co-dependent, I
didn't believe in divorce, and I had 3 children that I new I couldn't
raise myself.?  Then there was the big one, I was just plain scared!
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I used every excuse there was to stay in that relationship.?  But
excuses are like an hour-glass, eventually they run out and then it's
too late.?  It was almost too late for me, I remember comming to
myself, after being knocked unconcious by my ex-husband, and my
oldest daughter (who was 5 years old at the time) was bent over me
crying; "Is mommy dead"??  I knew then that I had to do something.?  I
eventually ended up in a shelter for battered woman, and there I
began to discover, that I was not a victim, I was allowing myself to
be a human punching bag.

I was beat and bruised,
verbally and emotionally abused.
I lay in bed and just cry,
Why me Lord, why?
I lay there feeling all alone,
There is no peace in my home.
I have been forsaken by the one I love,
"I know the feeling," said God above.
"What must I do?"?  I pray,
"Step out of the way;
And let me take control this day."
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It was at that point in my life that I opened my eyes, and began to
realize that I had self-worth,?  I didn't need to be anyones punching
bag.

My next problem was I had no confidence in myself.?  I didn't believe
that I could do anything on my own.?  I have always been a follower,
not a leader.?  I was not an educated woman, and had no real job
experience.?  But then one day a stranger came into my life and She
introduced me to God, and showed me that by putting my confidence and
trust in Him, I could accomplish all things.?  I felt as though I
found a new lease on life, and the more I learned about myself, the
more I realized that the problems in my marriage, were not all my Ex-
husbands fault.?  If my attitude had been different, I would have
realized that it not only takes two to build a productive home, but
it also takes two to build a disfunctional home.?  There was no
communication between us, he did his thing and I did my thing,?  I
chose to keep peace rather than try to talk to my ex-husband about
the things that bothered me, and because I did that he figured that
it was acceptable to treat me the way he did, and when I would
finally have enough, and would explode with hateful words, it would
set my ex-husbands emotions afire, and all hell would brake loose.? 
With that I realized It was just as much my fault as his.? 

My marriage could not be saved, but God gave me another chance, and
this time when problems in the marriage would arise I would do my
best to make sure that I wasn't feeding the problem, but looking at
why the problem occured, and sharing my opinion with my husband and
allowing him to express his feelings, then we would work on coming up
with a solution to the problem.

God has become the Head of Our Home.?  And I have learned to see with
my spiritual eyes more, rather than my carnal eyes.?  We are all Gods
children, and we need to exhort one another, and build on each others
good attributes, not dwell on each others shortcommings, you see all
have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.? 

Jesus teaches that we need to forgive one another, just as Jesus
forgave us.?  He looks at us with love even though we are wreched
sinners, and forgives us our sins.?  I don't know where I would be
today if the Lord had given up on me and chose to leave me to die in
my sins.?  Your Husband may be an abuser, a sinner,?  a
cheater......etc.?  But his soul is worth saving, so don't give up on
him, pray for understanding, for guidance, for protection, and for
God to change your attitude.?  Then pray for God to bind the spirit of
abuse in your husband, and loose his love and his will in his life.? 
Ask God to change your husbands environment, and to send him new
christian friends that can minister to him, and encourage him to be
the spiritual leader of his home. The bible says that Gods grace is
sufficient for all, so pray for Gods grace to fall upon your husband,
then plead the blood of Jesus over his soul.?  And everyday that you
awake, thank God for what he is going to do in your life and your
marriage, and let all that you say and all that you do, be to the
glory and honor of our Lord and Savior.

Consider this:

B - BASIC
I - INSTRUCTIONS
B - BEFORE
L - LEAVING
E -EARTH

The bible is a manual that will lead you to a better way of life, and
to life eternal.
By: Tammy Clark

tambo768@yahoo.com

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My name is Tammy Anne Clark, I'm a mother of 5, and
I'm married to a wonderful man. I love to write poems,
short stories, and kids stories about faith.?  My
favorite quote is "If you don't stand for something,
you will fall for anything".?  I live in kentucky (Gods
country), as we call it down here, and I'm blessed to
have a wonderful view which inspires my much of my
writings.?  I have been writing for the last 8 years,
most of my papers are inspirational real life stories.

I hope that this info helps.
Tammy

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~**~**~? 

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The Ball A True Story

Gwen Tweedy

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I'm not sure what age it started this love of sports but I do know I was young.
In particular, I loved football and basketball. More in particular I loved my Wichita State Shockers.
I wrote a fan letter to the president of the university telling him of my fantasia and I started receiving
football tickets and then one pair of basketball tickets each year and I got to sit in the President's party
and finally got to meet my favorite announcer but that is another story.

I had always wanted to meet just one of my athletes. For that's how I thought of them and this I did also
but that too, is another story.

One day later on quite some time later, I received an?  autographed basketball in the mail with the current team at that time.

Who all had handled this ball?

Countless untold numbers I was sure, and the athletes who wrote their names upon
the ball had most certainly touched it. But I couldn't see it! I moaned within myself.
And a tinge of real regret threatened to overwhelm me and spoil this precious memory of time.
But I must not let it worm it's way in I must? cease this moment that God had given me
and enjoy it to the maximum.

Awe, as the sweet flow of wonderfulness coursed through my body. I fondled the rough round ball in the palms of my hands, and memorized every ridge and sighed with ecstasy.
This truly would be a moment to remember!

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The End.

In Loving prayer for someone special *YOU*
Gwen

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My name is Gwen Tweedy.

I live in Wichita, Kansas.

I have been married for over 26 years.

And?  Bob and I have a grown daughter Melissa.

I am totally blind

and work as a power sewing machine operator at Envision.

My hobbies include writing, encouraging people on my Email lists reading,

singing in the?  choir,

and playing for my small Sunday school church.

My Email address is

gtweedy2 @cox.net

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Poetry Section

~**~**~

A Shadow

Saskia Nienna Streidel

A shadow is growling into my heard. It is touching me ??“ ice and fire.

I feel the pain of an older day, forgotten but still alive ??“ earth and stone.

I sense the laughter of an long forgotten enemy ??“ deep and strong.

I feel the fear growing like a shadow in my heart.

Ice has to melt.

It is the time of the fire.

Saskia Nienna Streidel

saskiaofthewoods@yahoo.de

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? ~**~**~

The night falls in me,

Saskia Nienna Streidel

in my arms,

in my body.

It fills it with trust

and my soul with dreams.

The night falls in me.

No more fears or pain.

The nights promise is

to heal my wounds again.

Saskia Nienna Streidel

saskiaofthewoods@yahoo.de

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Sometimes, a smile for you is enough.

Saskia Nienna Streidel

A smile for you goes through and through,

Fights with my fears

And eats my soul.

And makes me fall in love with you

again and again.

Saskia Nienna Streidel

saskiaofthewoods@yahoo.de

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My name is Saskia Steidel, I am born the? 17.10.1981 in Germany. I live in a small?  village in the middle of the woods and love to write. Right now I study learn therapy and music therapy and I just quit my job as a ticket manager in the administration of an soccer club, to have more time to study and to write and to work as a Nanny, what I really love. So far I published poems and some other pieces in different books and published one book called "Am Ende der Nebel". Right now I am writing on a children??™s book.

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Writers Feedback

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Fear, a True story, by Gwen Tweedy was the second great story I read on Storytime today and I have only read two so far! lol Fear is something I have had trouble with in the past.?  I used to have some scary dreams where someone or something was chasing me.?  I think dreams are something we already have in our sub-conscious. Something in the back of my mind was causing the fearful dreams.?  Nowadays I hardly ever remember my dreams so they must be insignificant.?  I do believe that God can and will take anything away from us if we believe and ask Him in earnest.?  God bless, Sharlett

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I just loved the story by Bernice Betcher, One Teacher can make a Difference.?  Yes indeed they can as does Bernice, I am sure.?  I really enjoy reading her stories and it brings back memories of my own childhood and sometimes I write it down.?  She is a great inspiration to me as I, too, get older physically, but hopefully, not mentally.?  Thanks and God bless, Sharlett Hunt? 

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We eat very very little beef. Venison is the only red meat
with the exception of bar-b-qed wild young pigs. No fat
on them.
It's just game and fish for us otherwise. Well, a cornish
hen or Popeye's Spicy fried chicken here or there a
couple times a year.? 

Mark

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Hi Carol

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I have been a vegetarian most of my life, and then I heard about the Diet for your blood type, and I did the test for my Blood type and I was O,,,,, I thought OH MY GOD, I have to eat MEAT to stay alive,

As I was recouping from my pulled muscles in my back which took 4 years to do, in the last year I began to eat BEEF and instantly I felt BETTER,

With O types we have the acid in our stomachs to digest the MEAT......so.........

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GO ahead and eat, and If you do the blood type and find out you are...........more power to you!

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I love your stories, and I want to put a link to you on my website, I Have not forgotten about what I said, I have just been so busy, but still have it in my mind to do

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IF you want to still........lets do it when I get to that point.

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In Light and Love

Janet Wood

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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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