STORYTIME TAPESTRY

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

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Dec 15, 2005? 

Today??™s Announcements:

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? Happy Birthday Bob Shaw

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Happy anniversary Cliff and Nancy Dewitt

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

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Today's Christmas Stories
~**~**~**~

? Magical Tree

Michael Smith

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? ? ? ? ? ? ?  I pulled the boxes of ornaments from the closet and prepared

myself for a trip into the past. No photo album can bring back as many

pleasant memories as my box of ornaments. Like a picture, each ornament

contains a memory.

? ? ? ? ? ? ?  There's the box of little wooden ones, each handmade and

painted with care. Within the assortment can be found a small man on

skis, a mouse on a wing, even Santa in his sleigh. I remembered when my

wife and I bought them. It was our first Christmas as a married couple.

We hung them on the tree and dreamed how our future children would love them.

? ? ? ? ? ? ?  There??™s my clay Santa, the one my aunt gave me when I was

four. The tiny present he holds in his arms still has the tear in it's

wrapper, a tear caused by a boy who couldn't contain his young

curiosity.

? ? ? ? ? ? ?  I pull out a tiny brass bell, the one my brothers and I took

turns hiding. We had such fun playing ???Find The Bell,??? but mom would

scream at us for shaking the tree to make it jingle. Knowing my

fondness for it, she gave me the bell, and I played the same game

with my own children.

?  ? ? ? ? ? ? A pretty red ball catches eye. A memory of my young daughter

comes to mind. She was two at the time. We had put her down for her

afternoon nap and decorated while she slept, so we could surprise her

when she woke. When we finished, I sat back with my eggnog and waited

for her to wake.

? ? ? ? ? ? ?  I can see her face again. She came running from her room, fully

recharged and ready to take on the world. She was less than five feet

from the tree, before she looked up and stopped dead. Her eyes opened

wide, and her jaw slowly dropped to emit a small cry of delight.

Walking slowly forward, she raised her hand and touched a red ball, the

very ball I now hold. She turned to me; her eyes reflecting colored

lights, and asked, "Daddy, what is it?"

? ? ? ? ? ? ?  "It's Christmas, Sweetie." My voice quivered with emotion,

"It's Christ's birthday, and we are going to celebrate it."

? ? ? ? ? ? ?  Her sparkling eyes, hanging jaw, and soft skin made me hold my

arms out to her. She ran into them and gave me a hug that would have

melted even Scrooge's hard heart.

? ? ? ? ? ? ?  Next I found a green ball with a crack, a veteran of the first

time I allowed my kids to help decorate the tree. They hung all the

balls on one branch, and when they turned for another, I quickly moved

the one before it to a better spot. They were so proud to tell Grandma

they had decorated all by themselves.

? ? ? ? ? ? ?  Near the bottom of the box I find a brass plaque. This one

brought back a very special memory. It had my son's name and birth date

on it. He was supposed to have been a New Year's Eve baby but decided

he wasn't going to miss Christmas.

? ? ? ? ? ? ?  He was only three weeks old when we took him to the Christmas

Eve service at our church. That night our minister was explaining the

real meaning of Christmas. As she spoke, she wandered down the aisle

and stopped beside us. Reaching down she asked, "May I?" I nodded, and

she lifted Justin into her arms.

? ? ? ? ? ? ?  She was quiet as she walked back to face the congregation.

Turning, she held my son high and said, "This is the real meaning of

Christmas! The birth of a new life."

? ? ? ? ? ? ?  She cradled my son as she spoke, but the ringing in my ears

prevented me from hearing her words. Big tears glistened on my cheeks

as she walked around the sanctuary displaying my son to those gathered

for the Christmas service. The room seemed empty of everyone but her

and my family. The emotions I felt overwhelmed me. I reached out and

hugged my wife and daughter close to my side, and remembered thinking,

"This will be a Christmas to remember."

? ? ? ? ? ? ?  After I have hung up my personal album for all to see, I sit

back and relax. For the next two weeks, I will stare at my magical

tree and eventually find my special spot. It could be anywhere on the

tree, but I know it??™s there somewhere. It??™s the spot where a light

reflects perfectly on one or two balls and makes a length of tinsel

sparkle. It is the one spot that is perfect in every way. It is the

spot I will stare at and feel the magic of the season.

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Michael Smith

Fort Lee, NJ

mtsmith@qwestonline.com
Read my Stories at http://heartsandhumor.com/blog/

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~**~**~? 

Christmas Is All About Jesus ? 

Nanci Stroupe

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It's almost Christmas,

that? special?  time of the year

when children are so?  excited

About the gifts that Santa will bear.

But really, have we done them? justice,

allowing this special?  time of the year

to center around a make?  believe Santa

And gifts too numerous to share?

There was a birth over two?  thousand years ago,

In a?  stable so far,?  far away

while?  shepherds watched their flocks that?  night,

and so many?  people made their way to?  the tiny?  town of Bethlehem

To pay their taxes to the King.

What they?  didn't know that cold, cold?  night, in that city so far away,

Was that a tiny baby was born in a manger and He would be the King of all Kings.

Hallejuia, Jesus Christ was born

and this is what we must celebrate and teach our children to celebrate for God is Love and His love is for all of us and

Not just at Christmas but forever and ever.

Amen and Amen

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Nanci Stroupe

onenONI@aol.com

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Nanci?  has written for Carole for?  several years and finds it a blessing to be a part of her writers. She?  wishes?  you all a very Merry Christmas and a bright, healthy and Happy New Year.

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? ? ~**~**~

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT? 

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

? ? ? ?  The Christmas season is here again in the mountains of my home. Everywhere you can see lights going up on buildings, houses, and trees. Everywhere you can also see faces lighted up with smiles and hearts lighted up with God??™s love. The snow is sparkling on the ground and the eyes of young children are sparkling with joy as well. People are buying gifts for loved ones but are also sharing the glorious gift of the Christmas Spirit with everyone they meet. It is a very special time of the year, and I cherish every second of it.

? ? ? ?  If I had one wish, in fact, it would be that this wonderful Spirit of Christmas would live on in our hearts, minds, and souls all through the year. I know that it is possible too, because I have seen a few beautiful souls who manage to keep the love, laughter, light, kindness, joy, and oneness with God alive inside of them everyday of the year. For them everyday is Christmas and every moment is a glorious sharing of the Christmas Spirit.

? ? ? ?  There is no reason too why all of us can??™t do the same. If there is one thing I have learned in this life it is that every second of every day here on Earth is either a choice we make or a choice we let others make for us. I, for one, choose the light. I choose the love. I choose the joy. I choose the giving, caring, helping, and sharing. I choose the glorious oneness with God. I choose the wondrous Christmas Spirit everyday of my life and I choose to share it with everyone.

? ? ? ?  Leo Buscaglia once wrote that "We will have finally mastered the meaning of Christmas when Christmas becomes a way of life." Make Christmas your way of life. Make your spirit one with the Christmas Spirit. Fill your heart, mind, and soul full to overflowing with God??™s love and joy and then make them your Christmas presents to the world.

Joseph J. Mazzella
joecool @ wirefire.com

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~**~**~

BRINGING JOY TO THE WORLD? 

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

? ? ? ?  I decided to take it easy today and just do a little work around the house while I listened to some Christmas carols. There is something about that sweet music that always delights my heart and brightens my day. There is nothing like a little JOY TO THE WORLD to bring a little joy to the soul.

? ? ? ?  It was while I was listening to this very song, in fact, that God took a moment to open a window in my mind. I was singing along as I usually do when I started to think about why there isn't more joy in this world of ours. It saddened me for a moment until I heard the wise whisper of God speaking from the depths of my soul. "What are you doing to bring more joy to this world?," it asked.


? ? ? ?  I took a moment to smile and laugh at my own foolishness after that. I had been reminded again about what we are all here for and I resolved to do my best to bring a little more joy to this world in my own life from now on. We all have a choice, after all. We can complain about the lack of joy in this world or we can do our best to help God bring more joy into it.

? ? ? ?  I don't know about you, but I can't think of any better gift to give to others at Christmastime or all through the year than to bring a little more love and joy into this world. It is love and joy that awakens our minds. It is love and joy that warms our hearts. It is love and joy that transforms our souls. It is love and joy that helps to make Earth a whole lot more like Heaven.?  May we all do our best to help God bring some more joy to this world then. May we all do our best to care for each other, to help each other, to be kind to each other, and to love each other. May we all do our best to make the world around us and the world within us a more joyous place to live in.

? 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.
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Writers Feedback

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Norma always comes through with the most wonderful stories--and poetry--that touches our hearts and lives.?  Thank you for sending this our way.

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Barb

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Prayer Requests and Updates

Dear?  Carol,

Please be praying for?  me for the?  next?  few days I have to have another suspicious mole removed off of my left foot. Just had a melanoma taken off my left leg always something but God is faithful.?  I am just aa wee bit restless..?  God bless you, Carol, I hope and pray things are improving for you.

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Hugs, Nanci

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? SENIOR WRITERS

Chief Writer: Sharon Bryant

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

Boda, Ginger;? ? Buhagiar, Victor; Cassady, B.J.;?  Cavalera, Robyn; Crider, Mark;? 

Deming, Barb; Doherty, Maria; Gilbert, Robert Jr; Goodier, Steve; Halley, Ellie Braun;

Harris, Kathy Anne;? Hunt, Sharlette;? Hymes, Christina

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

Liles, Norma; Lilly, Jodi Flesberg; Lock, Joyce; Mazzella, Joe;? Morris, Deepak;

Ojeigbe, Georgewaters;

?  Petry, Dianna Doles; Roberts, Susan;?  Shiveley, Debra; Shaw, Bob; Sims, Richard; Streidel, Saskia; Swarner, Ken; Vaknin, Sam; Verhoeff, Jan

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

Weymouth, Barbara; Whirity, Kathy;? White, Robert;

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STORYTIME TAPESTRY STAFF

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