STORYTIME TAPESTRY

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

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Dec 26, 2005? 

Today??™s Announcements:

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The Contest continues.?  What a wonderful response!?  Happy Shopping for the Canadians out there, I hope Boxing day is a very enjoyable event for you.?  As for me no money, no honey as they say.

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Today's Christmas Stories
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I Believe In Santa Claus? 

Doris B. Fandal

I believe in Santa Claus and I am 66 years old!?  I
know that Santa is not a real person but I believe in
Santa Claus.?  Let me tell you some stories about Santa
Claus and me.
One year we lived in Jackson, Mississippi and spent
Christmas there.?  On Christmas Eve, I was sleeping in
the bed with my parents. For some reason, I woke in
the middle of the night and Santa was standing in the
door looking at me.?  I was so excited because I knew
he would be leaving me something nice.?  I shut my eyes
really tight and pretended to be asleep.?  Then I felt
the bed move as someone got into the bed with us.
Later, when I told my friends about Santa being at my
house, they laughed and said I had been dreaming.?  I
knew better.?  My very own Santa had been standing in
the door watching me with love in his eyes and my very
own Santa was the person I felt getting in the bed
that night.?  I am 66 years old?  but I still believe.? 
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When I was in the second grade, we lived in a very
small house that my dad had built for us.?  The house
was on our small farm in Mize, Mississippi. It only
had two bedrooms, a bath that was not even completely
finished, a living room, dining room, kitchen and a
porch on the side but to us, it was a mansion because
it was our own.
The first Christmas in that house, we did not have a
lot of money to spend but somehow my parents managed
to get together enough money so that Santa could bring
me a Bulova watch.?  I was so surprised and so pleased.
? As soon as I opened the box and saw the watch both my
dad and I
wanted to open it and look inside because the note on
the box said 17 jewels and we wanted to see them.?  We
did open the watch and checked out every moving part
of it; then we put it back together and I wore it for
a very long time.?  I think my mother finally threw it
away when it quit working.
We had the prettiest Christmas tree ever that year and
every year that I can remember.?  When it was time to
get a tree, my daddy and I would go out into the woods
near our house and choose the perfect tree.?  He would
cut it, nail cross boards at the bottom and set it up
in the living room.?  Then he would take a huge box of
Ivory flakes (soap) and add some water.?  He would beat
the flakes and water until they formed lots of snow.
You see, way back then, you couldn't buy artificial
snow for your tree so he made ours for us.?  I don't
really remember how he put it on the tree but he did
not make a mess doing it because mother wouldn't have
allowed the snow if he made a mess. After that, the
tree would be decorated and I would wait to see what
Santa would bring on Christmas Eve.?  I believe in
Santa Claus.
Each year for as long as I lived with my parents, I
believed in Santa.?  I got presents from my parents but
every Christmas, Santa would leave a surprise for me.
After I left their home and moved into a home of my
own, I have had a tree with all of the decorations.
My children would help to decorate the tree when they
were at home but I think I got more pleasure from the
decorations and the tree than any of them.?  You see,
as they grew up, they no longer believed in Santa
Claus.?  But I do, I am 66 years old now and I still
believe in Santa.
I lost my beloved Santa 21 years ago today but I know
that he is still watching over me as he did for so
many years.?  He is with God now and instead of having
him standing in the door watching me, he is standing
up in Heaven on a cloud and he is still watching.?  I
had Santa Claus as a child but now God has given me a
guardian angel to watch over me.?  I do believe in
Santa Claus whether he has on a red suit with white
fur or is wearing long white robes and has angel
wings.?  Santa is a spirit of love and I know that my
very own special Santa loved me since the day I was
born.?  I am 66 years old and I believe in Santa Claus.
?© Doris B. Fandal
December 3, 2004

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~**~**~? 

Where is Your Joy?? 

Doris B. Fandal

It is a time of the year when people are singing "Joy
to the World" as well as many "funny" songs that are
sung with the words Joy but have nothing to do with
the one they are mimicking.?  Everyone seems to think
that joy is the word of the season.
Of course we are joyful that our savior was born and
died to save us but where is our own joy??  We find joy
in our families as we visit with them during this
holiday season.?  We find joy in our friends as we talk
with them and share moments at lunch or parties.?  We
find joy in choosing the perfect gift for someone on
our gift list.?  But where is our joy and what is the
reason for it?
I read recently that our joy could be found not in
outside influences but within us.?  We must be joyful
ourselves if we expect to find joy in others.?  We must
express our joy if we expect to share it with others.
My own joy comes from knowing that my family and
friends are healthy and happy.?  My own joy comes from
knowing that I have survived my illnesses and am
enjoying what life has to offer.?  My joy comes from
knowledge and use of that knowledge.?  My joy is from
within but at the same time, I receive joy from
outside sources as well.? 
I believe that it is by giving of our own joy and
receiving joy from others that we become happy and
contented people.?  I believe that we all need to share
our joyous moments with others.?  I believe that in
sharing our joy, we bring smiles to the faces of those
around us.?  There are a lot of gifts under our tree
with my name written on the card; I will receive joy
from opening those gifts and seeing what is inside
just for me.? ?  The most joy I will receive from these
gifts is from seeing the happy smiles of the loved
ones who have chosen those gifts for me.?  I will be
giving joy to them by showing my love and appreciation
of the gifts they have chosen.? 
I have a shelf full of gifts from my children and
each of those gifts gives me joy each time I look at
them.?  They were chosen with love and given to me with
a joyous expression; some are old but each of them
gives me joy.?  My children gave me joyful, happy gifts
and that joy has lasted through the years.?  May our
joy continue to grow and last.?  May we share this joy
with others with a smile, laughter and a cheerful
"hello".? ?  I know where my joy is; do you?
?© Doris B. Fandal
December 22, 2004? 

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? ? ~**~**~

DETOURS? 

Doris B. Fandal

Today I had lunch with some friends and on my way home I
had a few stops to make...one of them took me a bit
out of the way so I decided to take a short cut to my
house.?  Well, there was a big detour sign about a mile
down the road so I followed it...it kept going on and
on and finally guess what? It dead ended. I saw some
of West Monroe that I had never seen, had a nice drive
through the countryside and did not get home until
about an hour after I took the short cut. It was
wonderful, I was driving by myself looking at the
beautiful trees in all of their changing colors and
glory and thinking that I am so lucky to be alive and
at this time in good health to enjoy God's gift to me.
I also got to see a lot of Christmas
decorations...some beautiful, some not so beautiful
but wonderful because they were put there by someone
who did them with love and probably could not afford
the "more showy, expensive" decorations.? 
It's amazing what a little "detour" in our lives gives
to us if we just look around. We are diagnosed with
breast cancer, other cancers, heart problems, lung
problems and they are little detours in our life. They
may slow us down but if we just look around as we
travel on those detours, we will
also see the beauty of life and the joy that is around
us.? 

Have a happy day, a wonderful holiday season and much
health
and happiness in the year 2001.? 
?© Doris B. Fandal
Dec. 2000

?© Doris B. Fandal
mkayla38@yahoo.com
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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.

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~**~**~

? UNDER HIS WINGS

Sharon Bryant

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I was nervous when I first entered the building.?  There were so many people standing around and I knew only a?  few of them.?  I saw the table with the beautiful photos.?  Though I didn't know many in the photos, I knew I was looking at a family and the love within that family.

People began to sit down and I slowly walked down the aisle until I came to a vacant seat.? 

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Before me was a tremendous array of floral arrangements.?  Beautiful arrangements in all colors, some decorated with Christmas ribbons and holly.

I noticed the big cross behind the flowers.?  The artificial lighting on this dark rainy day made the cross look as though sunlight was filtering through the windows.?  For some reason I kept staring at the cross.?  I whispered, "God are you here?"?  "Someone really needs you now."

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It was then I saw him walk through the doorway to the right.?  My heart went out to him.?  I knew his heart.?  I knew the pain he was going through.?  I knew his thoughts.?  I knew that from this day on, his life would be changed forever.

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I watched as he took his seat with family members.?  Then......the service began.

My friend, someone I admire and respect,? was burying his wife.?  Cancer invaded her body, and God called her home at the young age of only fifty-eight years old.

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I listened to the service and I must say, I have never heard a more beautiful comforting service as what the minister gave.?  Then it began.?  The music started softly and a woman's voice rang out in the church.?  I listened to every word? of? the song.?  ? I shall never forget it.?  "Under His Wings."

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I turned my head towards my own husband and thought, "What if this were me??  What if I were burying my spouse today as my friend is?"?  I looked around the church and saw many couples together, and yet I also saw many men and women sitting alone.?  I wondered if? some of them? had lost their spouses.

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It is so hard to lose someone we love.?  It is even harder when it's near Christmas time.?  To lose a loved one so near the holidays, the memory will stay on your mind forever.? ?  Each Christmas there are emotions we never knew before.?  For all the years that I have lived since my little boy's death, this time of year brings more memories, more heart tugs and more emotions than any other time of the year.

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Yet I know, like my friend's wife, my son is Under His Wings.

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For all who have lost a loved one, may this Christmas be a gentle one for you.

God Bless,

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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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Writers Feedback

Dear Santa (Robyn Cavalera) is so touching and so in need now. So much commercialism that takes away the true meaning of our Dear Savior Jesus Nathalie? 

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(Implants for dogs) ? ? I have read lately and seen ads on the TV for those and wondered how much it would cost, Thanks for sharing it Bill.

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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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