STORYTIME TAPESTRY

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

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Dec 19, 2005? 

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Today's Christmas Stories
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? Daddy Can't Come Home For Christmas? 

Sharon Bryant

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It was the Christmas of 1968.?  I was living alone near the military base in Norfolk, Virginia.?  My husband was due to come home, or so we wives were told, the ship would make it back from the Med in time.

Christmas Eve arrived.?  I and several other Naval wives had a little get together.?  We talked about what we had done for our husbands homecoming, the first Christmas the ship would be in port in three years.?  Everyone was excited waiting for the next day.?  We had not seen our husband's in over seven months.

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I'd put up a little 18" tree on my table.?  I was so far from my own family, and I was living in tight quarters, there wasn't room for a bigger tree.......nor the money to buy one.?  I remember I made little white snowflake ornaments out of paper.?  I used glitter and glue to make them sparkle.

There was no extra money in those days.?  We were lucky to be able to afford food on the table let alone go out and buy trees and ornaments and things like that.?  Many of us, no MOST of us, made everything ourselves.

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Christmas morning that year I listened on the radio to the ship arrival announcements.?  Funny, but I can still recall those call letters for that station in Norfolk, WGHB.?  Suddenly, my ears perked up when I heard my husband's ships name called out.? 

And then the bleak news.?  It was not coming in.?  It was delayed and there was no information on WHEN it would be in.?  My heart sank.

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We had no phone, so I ran down the street three blocks to a friend whose husband was also on the ship.?  She had heard the news on the radio also.?  She was crying when I knocked on her door. "What am I going to tell Terri?" she asked.?  "I told her that her daddy was coming home for Christmas."?  I didn't know what to say.?  Terri was a 3-year-old who loved her daddy and she asked Santa to bring him home for Christmas that year.

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That was the year I and my friend and her daughter Terri, sat alone Christmas Day.?  There were no gifts.?  There was no money to? buy anything, no money to go anywhere.?  Her tree wasn't much bigger than mine was.?  It was hard to see that little 3-year-old cry that Christmas, missing her daddy.?  It was hard watching her mom telling her that she didn't know when her daddy would be home.?  Terri kept running to the window to look outside, just in case her daddy did come home.

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That is a Christmas I won't forget.?  The ship made it back that spring.

? Sharon Bryant

1946 @bellsouth.net

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About Me:

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I am Sharon Bryant,? 59 years old and reside in Alabama. I lost my child in 1977 when he was five and I write articles on bereavement often. I am a chocolate/candy maker and also a wood crafter and knitter. I am married to a wonderful man, and have two remaining children, a daughter 26,
Amy, and a second son, Randy, age 24.

My main goal in life is to help those who
have lost a child. My website is: www.angelsremembered.tk

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~**~**~? 

WHERE TWO WAYS MET? 

Leona Ebling
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The boys were excited and happy while we shopped all day before our Doctor appointment at three that afternoon.?  My husband Charlie had the job of keeping them busy while I picked out gifts to put under their tree.?  We had purchased new coats, gloves, and snow boots for both boys and a pram suit for our little daughter. Charlie and I also had new warm winter coats.? 

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? Our car piled with gifts and food in the trunk and our old coats were in the back seat with the boys. It was our first Christmas we had been able to afford those things since our oldest child received a miracle healing the year before. Doctor and hospital bills had been tremendous.

My wait was much longer than expected as the doctor had an emergency at the hospital earlier in the day.?  I came out of the office to face a terrible snowstorm.?  The blizzard conditions growing worse all the time.?  My husband was concerned as to our making it back to our country home about seven miles from town.?  He thought about us staying in a motel for the night and then decided we would try to make it home.

Half way home we hit a drift of snow causing our car to die and we sat stranded in the road.?  Charlie got out and began the long walk to our home.?  He was going to bring our big truck back and pull the car home with it.?  It was too cold and the snow too deep for us to go with him so we had to wait in the car.? 

I told stories and we sang nursery rhymes for what seemed hours.?  I was getting more worried by the minute but did not want the children to know I was so scared.?  Finally, my son John who was four climbed over into the front seat beside me and said, "Mommy, my daddy is going freeze to death out there.?  And we will freeze too."?  I said, "No John, Daddy will be coming with the truck soon!"? 

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? The darkness and the blowing snow was covering our car and made it impossible to see anything outside. Icy fingers of fear griped my heart as I felt that enemy of my soul, (fear) raise up strong against my faith.

John climbed over into the back seat and knelt down on the floorboard of the car.?  He said, "Jesus you take care of my daddy and send someone to take us home, amen."?  Then he got up, putting his little face against the back window, and looked through a small hole where the snow had blown off.? 

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(I believe an angel had cleared off that small hole on that window so a small boy could see his answer to prayer coming down the road.)?  In just a very few minutes, he exclaimed, "Momma there is a car coming to get us!?  See! I knew Jesus would send someone to get us!"

I heard the old pickup stop right beside us and I had to kick? our frozen car door open to make him hear as the window would not roll down.?  The man said "My Lord! Lady, do you have children in there????

I answered "Yes!?  I have two boys four and five years old, a two year old little girl and my baby who is only six weeks."

He began throwing his Christmas gifts and groceries in the back of the old pickup and helping me carry the children to put in the cab.?  He would get out and shovel a path. Then he would get in a drive a little way before being stuck again. He had to repeat this several times.? 

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? We met my husband walking toward us about a mile ahead.?  He had called every one he knew to come get us and they had all told him they would after the storm let up.?  Our truck, he had walked home to get, was parked in another little town by my brother who had used it, unknown to Charlie that day.

The man told us he had lived out in that part of the country all his life but had never taken that road to go home.?  He said, ???Why I would take a strange road in such a storm is beyond me.?  But when I got to the crossroads back there I just felt I needed to come that way".?  He said he would have passed us by if I had not got the door kicked open because he thought there was no one in the car.? 

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? He took us to our door and then had to stay with a neighbor on up the road because he could not make it to his own home.?  Every Christmas we always made it a point to wish that kind gentleman, and his family a Merry Christmas and thank him for his gift of his decision he made at the place, ???Where Two Ways Met."

The next day we found our car had been plowed around on each side by the snow plow. We had been setting right in the middle of the road? ?  Our little car was completely covered with frozen snow.? ? ? ? 

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Scripture from KJV Holy Bible:?  Mark 11:2-4?  And (Jesus speaking) saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you ; and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat;?  loose him, and bring him.

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And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? Say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.

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And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without a place where two ways met: and they loose him.

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?  In obedience, we are able to carry out the Master??™s plan by only letting him guide us.?  I believe with all my heart that our Lord heard that little boy??™s prayer. At the same time a man in an old pick up truck who was trying to make it home through a blizzard.?  How God so impressed him to take a strange road never driven by him before though he had passed it by many times on his way home.?  In doing so he possibly saved a whole family from being frozen to death that night.

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Many times we have to choose which way we take in order to be in the perfect will of our Lord, and sometimes that choice is not the one we wish to make.?  But in doing so we are able to make a difference in not only our life but in the lives of others we are sent to.

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To Carol, and to so many of you whose stories I have so enjoyed and been encouraged by, I say THANK YOU and GOD BLESS you as we all continue to listen for that still small voice as HE directs us on our journeys here many times where TWO WAYS MEET.

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Still "Dancing with Life" (my book you can order from AuthorHouse.com or Barnes & Noble?  your friend and fan of all those wonderful stories as we make a difference in lives every day.? ?  Leona? ?  wwjdleona@aol.com

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Christmas In The Country? 

Norma Liles

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There is nothing more rewarding than Christian fellowship when? you get together to enjoy the fruits of His labor of love.

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Twenty-five lovely servants of the Lord gathered in this country

farmhouse to celebrate the birth of baby Jesus.?  The joyful faces amidst the warmth of a home filled with love and the trimmings of the season could not be equaled.

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There was a bounty of foods with a country flavor which tempted the most resistible palates.?  The desserts were as wonderful as the entrees, not to be? overlooked.

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We were all rather in a comfy mood after the provided meal as we compared our treasures?  of another era; one ladies' Mother's first thimble, her first thimble,

ceramic tree ornaments of a craft forgotten, a much dated wreath, a 25 year old child's Christmas stocking, pictures of other days during the holidays plus too many mementos to mention.?  We were intrigued with the 'new but old story' of the birth of the baby as it was read to us; as we raised our voices in song to the carols that we love, and the expectant prayer to be said in our personal behalf on Christmas eve from the giver of the candle exchange.

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The day could not have been complete without the tour of this grand old home of thirteen rooms which has been kept in it's original flavor with a decorated Christmas tree in each room.?  There were not two trees alike and the touching one was when we stopped in at the 'play room' which was set aside for the grandchildren. This tree had been decorated by the grandchildren and it showed their efforts.?  One grandchild had placed his ornaments all in one clump. You could tell without being told that it was a very young child's effort.? 

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Without a? reminder but within our hearts, we knew that were celebrating the birthday of a King.?  We KNOW that Jesus IS the reason for the season; the only?  reason that we SHOULD? celebrate? Christmas. T

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Our special day would not have had happened without the warm hospitatlity of our hostess/host, Geneva and Jerry; celebrating our Joy!

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NormaLee Liles 12-7-05

hoopla214@yahoo.com

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So- Long To A Special Friend

Norma Liles

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He is such a romantic soul

Sporting his new garments so festive

With a cigar in his mouth

A brand new derby crowns his head.

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He is rather quaint this gent friend of mine

We all have an affection for him

Just be careful to keep him out of the sun

He has an allergic reaction to it's rays.

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Sometimes he seems to cry easily

If knocked over or stomped upon

It seems to shake his equilibrium

He can disappear from view.

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So welcome him here for a season

He adds a lot to the holidays

But let him go back from wherever he came

Mr Snowman, I bid you goodbye.

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Regards of NormaLee Liles ?©

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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.

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? ~**~**~

? Prophecy Fulfilled? 

Janice Bumbalough Marler

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This year, as we gather around

? The Christmas tree,

Singing songs from days of yore,

Reciting a Christmas story of

The wise men three,

And how precious gifts they bore;

We recant how the star

Led the Shepard??™s from afar

To a lowly manger

Where lay the newborn King;

Salvation for us this

Christ-child would bring;

Our hearts swell with pride

As we recount the prophecy

Foretold down through

The ages worldwide;

On this day we welcome

? The celebration of His birth,

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ;

This holy infant, this only son of God,

Who came to give us life

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Janice Bumbalough Marler

?© December 7, 2005

poetrybyjan@aol.com

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Writers Feedback

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Carol - Poet's Lament is such a creative poem.?  I enjoyed it very much and you? are a fine poet.?  Blessings, Sharlett

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Prayer Requests and Updates

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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

Publisher: Carol Roach-founder

Moderator: Thelma Hartselle-co founder

Moderator: Clara Westerfer

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