Archives at Zinester: Dec 24, 2005 - Storytime Tapestry Christmas Contest. Storytime

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

? Announcing Doris B. Fandal, as writer #276 for Storytime Tapestry, Doris has been generous in her offering for Christmas Contest Stories.? Please email her and let her know just how much you appreciate her work.? Her email address is included at the bottom of the last submission of hers called Christmas.

Way down in South Louisiana along the bayous you will
find a special group of people whose ancestors came
from France (and some from

Spain

).? Some people call
them Cajuns, some call them Coon A.but the group I am
most familiar with is a group who lives along the edge
of Lake Ponchatrain in St. Tammany Parish.
It's New Year's Eve and everyone is getting ready to
go out and party or have friends in to party at home.
But the children are all excited because tonight Maman
Christine will be coming to their house to visit and
leave a surprise.? Who is Maman Christine you ask.
Well, many years ago when my husband and I were first
married, I decorated our tree for the holiday and put
stockings out for Christmas Eve.? Then he told me,
"stockings are supposed to be put out for New Year's
Eve."? Well, maybe his stockings are for New Year's
but mine were always for Christmas Eve so what is the
difference?
He explained to me that Maman Christine is Santa's
wife and she always comes to the homes of South
Louisiana French children to leave special goodies
because New Year's Eve is her special day to be out
and about.? Hmm, I thought.that sounds like a great
idea to me but let's combine our cultures and do both.
? And so we did combine our cultures.? I put out the
stockings for Christmas Eve and left them out for New
Year's Eve.? We only had one small son that year for
her visit but we happened to be visiting in his
parent's home and his young sister and brother
anxiously waited for their surprises.? They were not
disappointed either..Maman Christine left candy in
their stockings and I think a pacifier for Denise who
was not quite 3 years old.
Then along came our own children, 1, 2, 3 and then 4
of them and each year Maman Christine came to call.
She usually left a bit of candy and a small game or
book and they were always so excited.? Then as they
got older, the neighbor children started wondering
what was going on at the Fandal house.? Maman
Christine was not coming to visit them and even if
they left their stockings out, they were empty on the
first day of January.
The Fandal children were happy to explain.? "You
see," they said, "you have to have a South Louisiana
French ancestor if you expect a visit from Maman
Christine and because our mother is not French, we
also get a stocking full of goodies from Santa Claus."
? Of course the other children all told their parents
about our children's good luck and each of them wished
they had just one ancestor who was South Louisiana
French.
This week my two oldest granddaughters were talking
about what Maman Christine had brought them this year
and the youngest, Molly said, "well Hannah's daddy is
French (He's not but she thought he was.) and Maman
Christine did not bring her anything.? Shelby's reply
was "well, you have to also be Catholic."? I hadn't
thought of that aspect of it but I guess she was
probably correct in that thought.? The descendants of
the children who are visited by Maman Christine were
French and they were Catholic.
How nice it is to have such a nice family tradition
and how nice it is to? know that our two cultures have
combined to give our children the best of both worlds
for their Christmas/New Year's surprises. Our children
were always excited by Maman? Christine's New Year's
Eve visit and now our grandchildren are having the
same fun experience.
?© Doris B. Fandal
January 6, 2004?

Doris? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? "I can if I think I can"
? Don't forget to do your monthly BSE and have a mammogram at least once a year if you are over age 40; sooner if you have a family history of breast cancer.? See a doctor at once if you find anything suspicious when you do your BSE .? It's your body, take care of it.
http://www.komenpolicy.org/komenpolicy/home.hmtl? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? www.komen.org? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? http://www.rftc.us? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? www.chemoangels.com

It's that time of the year again.? Everyone is rushing around like crazy trying to find just the
right gift for family, friends and acquaintances.? I get frustrated when I am trying to get just the right
thing and I feel sure that most everyone else feels the same frustration.

But there are gifts that are "forever" gifts.? Those gifts are chosen with care and given with love and the person who receives that gift can tell that the giver really cares.? When I was a child, I did not get a lot of gifts at Christmas or even for my birthday but each one that I did receive was chosen and given to me with love.? They were not always expensive because my family was not wealthy but they were priceless to me.

I was going over my gift list last night and started remembering gifts that I had received during my
lifetime.? When I was in elementary school, I got a watch for Christmas and my daddy and I immediately opened it to see how it worked inside.? I loved the watch but the time we spent together learning how it worked was priceless.

One summer my daddy went to work in South Texas near Brownsville and while he was there he crossed the border into

Mexico

.? When he came home, he was carrying a gift for me, one for my mother and another for my grandmother.? My gift was a pair of leather sandals.? Oh they were so beautiful and I wore them with such pride.? I finally outgrew them and mother either gave them away or threw them away. I wish I could have kept them.? Mother's gift was a big brown
leather purse.? It had cut out designs on the side and she carried it for years.? It was probably the best purse she ever owned.? She did not have a lot of money to put it in it but she carried it everywhere she went.?

The gift for my grandmother was not something to carry around or wear.? It was a set of
two small pictures in delicately carved wooden frames. The pictures were handmade and each one had two tropical birds.? The birds were partially formed using feathers and the pictures are beautiful.? I still have those pictures; my grandmother left them for me.? These gifts that my daddy brought for us were "forever" gifts even though the sandals and the purse are long gone.? They were forever because they were given with such love and the memories of them are
still with me.?

Those memories won't go away. Another "forever" gift that I received came from my
husband but he was not my husband at the time.? The local grocery in the town where we lived and worked had a beautiful bride doll on sale one year and I fell in love with her. When I opened my gift that year, the doll was inside.? I was so surprised and so overwhelmed with her.? She is growing old now along with me and sits on a bench in my bedroom.? One of my
granddaughters will have her when I am no longer here to take care of her.

Gifts of love are special. Gifts of love are not always expensive. Gifts of love are "forever" gifts
because they stay with you for a lifetime.? Perhaps we should all stop frantically searching for the just right gift for someone and instead give them a gift of love. That is what Christmas is about anyway, the gift that we received so many years ago in when the baby was born in Bethlehem? was a gift of love and it was a forever gift.

In our family on Christmas Eve you hear the members
of the family yelling "Christmas Eve Gift, Christmas
Eve Gift" when they meet another family member or
friend. They want to be the first one to say it to
everyone they see on that day.? When the phone rings,
they don't even answer with a simple "hello" but
hurriedly exclaim, "Christmas Eve Gift" to whomever is
on the other end of the line.? Sometimes some people
are really surprised when they call and hear that
because they are not familiar with that custom.
I don't know how it started but I can remember that
my daddy and my mother would always say that to me
every year on Christmas Eve.? The strange thing is
that no matter how many times someone is the first to
say that to another person, no gift is ever expected.
Of course when the children are small, they expect a
gift but soon learn that it is the fun of saying
"Christmas Eve Gift" that is the outcome of this and
makes everyone excited and happy.?
Christmas has become such a commercial event that
most people don't remember the real reason for the
holiday.? It is really nice to see the members of our
family happily enjoying the day with nothing given
except the words and the excitement that shows in
their eyes.? Our family does enjoy sharing gifts but
we enjoy this gift that is without any commercial
value.?
?© Doris B. Fandal
January 6, 2004

Doris B. Fandal?
?

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Is Christmas bringing out the worst in us or
is it my imagination?

When I think of Christmas, I think of the reason we
have Christmas and plan happily for gift buying, food
to cook and things to do.? I even get my tree up long
before anyone else in the family and I do my shopping
throughout the year and not just the last month.? I
like Christmas.? As the season approaches, I can even
be heard singing or humming Christmas songs.both
religious and non-religious.? I may even sing a medley
of both, all as one song.? I usually can't remember
all of the words to a song so I constantly switch from
one to another.? I love Christmas and the joy and
anticipation that should be on everyone's face and in
everyone's heart.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? But I think that a lot of folks have
forgotten why we celebrate Christmas and look on it as
a chore and a time to get through.? In a local store
last weekend I was noticing the other shoppers and
there were so few happy faces. One woman with a child
was frantically pushing her buggy through the store as
though it were a weapon and she was just daring anyone
to get in her way.? The child was crying and she
stopped to tell her (quite loudly), "If you don't shut
up, you won't get anything from Santa."? That
certainly did not make the child happy and she did not
stop crying.? I wanted to tell the child that her
mother was just stressed and not to worry but I did
not.? I know better than to interfere with a mother
and her child in a store.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? The next person I noticed was a woman who
was accompanied by a man who appeared to be her
husband.? She had stopped at a display of what some
would call junk but the display was attractive. She
started piling the items in her buggy and remarked, "I
am going to knock out my shopping right here."? The
man just smiled and kept quiet.? I imagine he doesn't
do much of the family gift shopping.?

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? There were others in the store and they were
not smiling; I could not help but feel sorry for them.
? It was a busy day for shopping; Saturdays just before
Christmas are not good days to be out looking for
gifts.? I found the items on my list and a few extras
and was ready to leave, but at the same time I was
watching the crowd.? I did find a few who seemed to be
happy to be out and shopping and I was happy to see
them.? Many of them would even say? "Merry Christmas"
to folks they met.? I know I did.?

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? I know that the store does not advertise
Christmas as a religious holiday but they do advertise
the items they are selling for gifts.? I don't know if
the employees have been told not to say "Merry
Christmas" to the customers or not but I think that is
probably the rule.? However, the cashier who checked
me out that day quietly told me "Merry Christmas" as I
paid for my items and the lady at the door did too.
There is hope then that Christmas is not bringing out
the worst in us; it is just stressing some and they
are forgetting the reason for the holiday.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? The man who sold me stamps this week is
still smiling and saying Merry Christmas and I KNOW
that the government is not allowing religion in the
season.? He is always smiling when I am there so
Christmas did not bring out the worst in him.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Maybe I should reconsider.? Christmas is not
bringing out the worst in us. Those who are acting as
though there is no Christ or happiness in Christmas
are probably that way the whole year.? I am going to
spread as much Christmas joy as I can this year so
"Merry Christmas" to everyone and may your days be
filled with the joy and love of the season.

?© Doris B. Fandal
mkayla38@yahoo.com
December 14, 2005

Doris Fandal, wife, mother, grandmother and full time volunteer for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Formerly a teacher but started writing after diagnosed with breast cancer.? I am now a 6 1/2 year breast cancer survivor.? I am 67 years old.

Bio: Nell Berry is a published author of one book, Growing Up In Missouri and Other Short Stories which is available from Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com and publishamerica.com. She has written numerous poems, as yet unpublished. She lives at Mark Twain Lake, in Missouri with her husband of 55 years. He was 75 on Halloween and Nell will be 75 her birthday, Valentine??™s Day, 2006. They have four children, nine grandchildren and two great granddaughters.

The *King* of Joy

Norma Liles?

Born in a manger
To most a stranger
Stories foretold
Glory unfolds.

Shepherd's adore
Angels in chorus
Star lit the way
Where He doth lay.

Hearts do pound
Joy all around
The King can be found
Yet to be crowned.

King of my heart
King of thine art
Joyfully singing
Joybells ringing.

?© Norma Liles

In my quest for the Christ child and the place of His birth,
I walked around as in a stupor without any real direction
with the exception of my goal.

When evening came slowly, I retired early and just as
I was about to close my eyes for the night's rest, a rosy
glow filled my bedroom.

I became intoxicated with the aroma of
a scented flower which I cannot name. The fragrance was
of something without substance but oh so pure and
reassuring.

The glow was so intense that I felt that if I looked directly
into it, it would surely blind me but as I gazed into this
halo type mass, it was if I became a part of it's being.

My whole body became so serene and light as I became
one with the glow and I seemed to be transpired to another
realm beyond my normal comprehension. My body
floated as if it had no will of it's own.

I found myself to be on a journey of some kind as I seem
to glide along without question or concern with a feeling
of trust in whatever was to be.

All at once, I felt a picture form below me and as I peered
beyond wherever I was, I could see ancient shepherds
guarding their sheep, old men traveling which had to be
the wise men of old. Even with this vision, I was too mesmerized
to follow what was to be.

All at once, I became a part of a glorious celebration as
a mulitude of angels were singng His praises.
My goal had finally been reached. I was in the presence of
the birth of the babe, Jesus Christ. The Messiah has come
to us as a babe in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

My heart was overjoyed and the tears fell like rain. I could
not contain my joy and so today, my friend, just remember,
we serve an awesome Savior King, Jesus who lives today
at the right hand of His Father God. (Amen)

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you
good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you
is born in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."
(St Luke 2:10-11 KJV)

NormaLee Liles ?©

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.

I would love to comment on your beautiful poem and to let you know that those are my feelings, too.? I am a 76yr old female from Ohio who writes stories, poetry too.? I know what it means to have a nice compliment on our writings so with that in mind, God bless and may you and your wife have a lovely Christmas.? You may have read some of my 'stuff' on Storytime_Tapestry.? Norma Liles

? 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;

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

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

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