Sept 6, 2005? 

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

Rainbows- A Window to Heaven

Margo Fallis

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A drizzle pitter-pattered against the window. ???Mama, why does it always rain? I wanted to play outside this morning, now I have to stay inside and it's boring.??? Sara slouched down in her chair. ???I hate rain!???

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???Sara! I don't ever want to hear you say that again. If it wasn't for rain, we'd not have flowers, or puddles to splash in, or ponds for the frogs.??? Mama put her knitting down. ???I think we need to go out for a walk.???

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???But Mama, it's raining.??? Sara gasped at the thought.

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???Rain never hurt anyone. We've got umbrellas and raincoats. Run and put yours on and don't forget your rubber boots.??? Mama laughed as she watched the burst of enthusiasm from her daughter.

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When she opened the front door, the wind blew rain inside. ???Are you sure you want to go for a walk, Mama? We're going to get really wet.???

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Mama shut the door behind them, opened her umbrella and stepped onto the grass. ???Are you coming????

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Sara slipped her hand into her mama's and down the road they went. ???Look over there, Sara. That's Mr. Brockett's flower garden. The roses are sipping the raindrops and the carnations are opening their mouths, swallowing each drop.???

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Sara looked over the fence into the garden. ???Flowers need water, don't they, Mama.???

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Mama nodded and kept walking. ???Oh look, Sara. There's a robin showering.??? A bird stood on a wooden post, fluffing its feathers and preening.

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???It is showering, Mama. That's funny. I've never seen a robin shower before.??? Sara looked down at her feet. ???Here's a puddle. Can I splash in it????

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???Of course. Let's see how big a splash you can make.??? Mama watched as Sara jumped. A wave of cold water sloshed against her legs. ???You call that a splash? Watch this.??? Mama jumped. Water splattered all over Sara's face.

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???That was a good one, Mama.???

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As they turned the corner the rain died down and then stopped. ???Look, Sara.??? Mama pointed to the sky. ???The clouds are parting. I hope we see a rainbow.???

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???Why, Mama????

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???Rainbows are the windows to heaven. Did you know that if you look right above a rainbow, you can see straight into heaven? Sometimes if you're really quiet, you can hear the angels singing.??? Mama tipped her head back and gazed at the dissipating clouds.

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A ray of sunlight broke through the heavy grayness and then another. ???Mama, the clouds are breaking apart.???

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A rainbow appeared, stretching its colored arch from one side of the sky to the other. ???Look carefully. Look for that window to heaven.???

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Sara let go of her mama's hand. She ran down the road, trying to find a better spot. The sun sparkled the raindrops, making the rainbow shimmer. ???I see it, Mama. I see heaven. I can see angels. They're flying about, happy to see the rainbow.???

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???Can you hear them sing????

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Sara listened, cupping her hand to her ear. ???I think so, Mama. I think they're singing, but I'm not sure.???

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Mama squatted next to her child. ???Listen carefully. You can hear a choir rejoicing at the beauty of the rainbow. I can hear it.???

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Sara smiled at her mama. ???I can hear it to, Mama. It's in my heart.???

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They walked home in silence. Sara turned now and then to catch a glimpse of the fading rainbow. When they walked in the house, she stood gazing out the door. ???Mama, I am happy for the rain. I don't hate rain. I want it to rain again so I can see another rainbow. The flowers need to drink, the fish in the pond need it and so do the birds. I wouldn't like to have smelly birds.???

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Mama hugged her girl. ???Come on, Sara. Let's get out of these clothes and have a cup of hot cocoa. There will always be more rain. Don't worry about that.???

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Margo Fallis
margofallis @ yahoo. net

Margo Fallis, born in Scotland, spends a lot of her time traveling. Most of her
stories come from experiences she's encountered during a journey somewhere.
Margo started writing at age 10, when she wrote a play for her 5th grade class in California. Writing for children is her number one love, but she also loves to write short stories and is working on three novels. Margo is the mother of five children, seven grandchildren, and is married to Thom, the love of her life.
They live in Atlanta, Georgia.

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~**~**~? 

As I Recall

Norma Liles

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As I recall the days of yesteryear, I am so thankful for the things that we as children took as our lot.? 

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It was not an easy task for my parents to care for their brood of ten children.?  With the love that they showered on us as time permitted, they were able to raise the nine of us to adulthood having lost one sister of mine at the tender age of two years of age.

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Some person at church with not a kind heart, to my way of thinking, said to my Mother that she had others to take my sister's place.?  In my estimation, we all have our own place which is reserved for us and us alone.?  This was not very tasteful of this person but with time, Mother was able to dispel this remark from her mind.? 

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I was not privileged to meet this sister as she left this world prior to my birth but I have often wondered if my life would have been different than it was but we will never know?? 

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Getting back to my original thought,? my parents had eight daughters and two sons.?  To my way of thinking that is not a balance? of the gender but you accept what comes your way?? 

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My oldest brother who was the third child in the lineup of our family & was the dearest that a sister could have. I have often said and continue to say that every young person should have a 'big brother' such as I had. He had a sense of humor, was loving and to fulfill it all, a protector.? 

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I am sorry to say that until he reached adulthood, the younger of the boys who is six years my senior was not quite as gentle; had resorted to make my life hades?  on earth but once we were adults, things changed dramatically.?  He, in his own right, is a bachelor by most standards who has had his share of girlfriends in his lifetime.

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I am number nine of this group and I must say that Doris, the second one in this lineup was like another Mother to me; my teacher, protector and all around loving sister.?  Not to ignore my other family but we just had a connection that stood the test of time.?  She is no longer with us but she left an indelible imprint on this heart of yours truly.

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Often I wonder how it must have felt to care for such a large family but as I look back over my life, I have no doubt that my parents were devoted to each other and that their love for each other echoed deep within the hearts of my siblings and I.

NormaLee Liles ?©

hoopla214@yahoo.com

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About Me:

Norma Liles is a retired data entryclerk/supervisor who lives in Ohio. Her hobbies
are: writing poetry and stories, reading, her family, living for Jesus and her use of her computer. Her ambition is to add pleasure to those who read her writings as well as sharing her faith.

My writings have been published on Starfish, Driftwood, Sandollar, Morning Spirit Lift,
www.poetry.com, PrayerofGod, Jan Karon's newsletter, American Poetry Writer's league,
Lucy's Inspiration, Faithful Hope reading room, Poetry of Today publishing, Hope in Him,
Bonnie's Place, America will remember and News Moose. Finally, she is a senior writer for Storytime Tapestry.

? ~**~**~

? ~ America ~

? Joyce C. Lock

? ? ?  Whilst we abhor war and the American flag is only a? symbol of who we are, our flag has become so very precious to us as it represents all that is dearest to our heart.

? ? ?  We consider freedom to be more than just a way of life, counting freedom to be life itself ~ as terror and oppression is hell on earth.?  And, aside from pro-abortionists,? Americans value life as the most precious commodity there is, next to God, Himself; and to love His children is to love Him.

? ? ?  Thus, as Jesus gave His life to make a way for us, with opportunity for life more abundantly, we offer a heart like His in defending others, in need, too.

? ? ?  When we do war, it is not to recompense evil for evil.?  Our loved ones are far too dear to risk losing for trivial cause.

? ? ?  It is with a heart of love we offer others the privilege of freedom and, aside from all our society's ailments, that is still what makes America great ...

? ? ?  Not proud of who we are, but proud of all we are not; being thankful that only by the grace of God were we born in such a wonderful country ...

? ? ?  And so it is that the American flag, and all it represents, thereby, brings tears to our eyes and humbles our hearts to worship.

~ * ~
Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.

Psalm 82:3-4

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?© 2004 by Joyce C. Lock
http://our.homewithgod.com/heavenlyinspirations/ To help avoid SPAM, please do not publish my e-mail address.

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Proud to be an Americanand

Even more Proud to be a Christian

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The KeysTo Heaven
Bill Walker
wildbill6807@yahoo.com

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Who has the? Keys to Heaven? What is the way to Heaven? How does one get through the gate of Heaven? Who is the gatekeeper of Heaven? Who started this stuff about St.Peter?

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Now get your Bible out and read, and above all, think as you read. Take it slow and easy on the reading, and thinking of what it says. Also, think of what has been poured into your head by some great minds of some church leaders over many years. This is called control of the mass of people, by keeping them not thinking what the Bible really says.
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Who started this crap about Peter having the Keys to the gate? Read your Bible. Matthew 16;19. Jesus is talking here. He is saying,?  I will give Peter the KEYS. Was Jesus talking about a key and a locked gate? Does that mean Peter sets at the gate and lets in whom he likes, and keeps out ones he doesn't care for.?  Is that his job? Read that slow and easy, and think what it says in another place.

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The Key to Heaven is not a locked gate, with a person like Peter guarding the gate. The Keys to Heaven is only one; the Son of God, Jesus. Jesus was speaking of himself as the way, the Key to Heaven. He is at this point in time telling Peter that the Key to Heaven is Jesus. He is giving him the way, the one and only way to Heaven. Jesus is the KEY.
If you go back one step, you will find the words about "upon this Rock." Again a point some church people grab onto, saying Peter was/is the power of whom gets into Heaven and who doesn't. I don't think Jesus meant Peter is the rock. Rock is this earth, the church is built on. He wasn't talking about building a church on the moon was he? The earth is where we live. If you will read and think some, Peter weakened a few times. He was flesh and blood just like any of the rest of us. Spirit is real strong at times, flesh is weak a lot of times. And I am told he guards the gate?
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Peter and Company are being told to go out and preach, and teach the way to Heaven. They have been given the keys of how to do so. Jesus himself is the way, and only way to Heaven.

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John 14;6. Read that slow and easy - where is Peter spoken of there? Jesus says very plain, He, Jesus, is the one and only way to Heaven, there is no other way, nor a person such as Peter.

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Peter, Mark, Paul, Luke, John, Mary and anyone else, and all together, cannot push, or pull you or me through the gates of Heaven. It is the blood of the pure Lamb of God, Jesus that will bring you and I through the gates of Heaven. There is nothing else but the BLOOD. Peter and Company, and any from that time on, are the teachers/preachers of the way, not the gatekeepers. Remember one thing Jesus said, and he said it very clear. "I am the WAY, and only WAY." None of the others then, or anyone who lives now, is or was one hundred percent pure. No one is saved but by the Grace of God, and the Blood of his only begotten Son, Jesus. Remember, we all have sinned, sometime, somewhere, someplace. It is written, fracture one of God's laws, and brother, sister, we fractured every last one of them.

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Tinker and Poo; The Boys Write

http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?&isbn=0-595-35741-5

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.? ? ? 

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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; Doherty, Maria; Goodier, Steve;?  Halley, Ellie Braun;

Harris, Kathy Anne;?  Hunt, Sharlette;? 

Jacobson, Gary;?  Kiser, Roger Dean; Kerens, Claudia; Jenkins, Pamela;

Liles, Norma;?  Lock, Joyce; 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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