STORYTIME TAPESTRY

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

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Jan 5, 2006? 

Today??™s Announcements:

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? New feature quote of the day:

Quote of the Day:?  When King Solomon wrote: "There is nothing new under the sun," that refers to the light of nature.

The Zohar, however, teaches that everything is new when seen in the light beyond the sun.

Rabbi David Aaron

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

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Animal awareness series endorsed by Shiloh and Hank our mascots; all stories must receive their approval.

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Homeward Found? ? ? ? ? ? 
Kathy Pippig Harris

I live in a shelter, alone in a cage
With food, and a towel on which to sleep
I'm small, with spiky fur, and of kitten age
Folks come here looking for a friend to keep

Some days others and myself are taken to a home
A place where strangers live, but each is alone
Once an old man caressed me gently, murmured and sighed
As his tears spilled to my shoulder from tightly closed eyes

We also went where there are machines and bright lights
A big place for babies and children who are ill
As each child checked us over it was hard to stay still
To each patient was given the choice of us to pick
A time for a while to forget they were sick

I was brought to a girl, with hair the color of night
With her hands she explored my body and face
And her touch as fragile and intricate as lace
She lifted me up so she could smell my fur
I mewed and she smiled, then stroked me, and I purred
She said, "I am blind, but you have made this moment bright."

During the week many come to the pound
Down each aisle they make the rounds
Sometimes a kitten is chosen and homeward bound
And even rarer, a lost loved one is found

The last of summer passed, then gone, too, was fall
No longer a kitten, I'd grown lanky and tall
In the wintry months fewer folks came to call
So the kittens were gone on a visit, but not us all
Lonely, I watched shadows move at the end of the hall

I fell asleep, dreaming of the visits I did make
When my fur was spiky and my pads pink and small
Then hands tenderly shook me and stirred me awake
As a man carried me, he took my picture from the wall

When he stepped outside, he wrapped a blanket 'round me
Put me in the backseat of a car and drove away
I sat up, wondering where we were -- trying to see
But the windows were frosty, so back down I lay

The car came to a stop and the man turned around
His expression gentle, he took me out of the car
He climbed some stairs, knocked, then opened a door
He strode in and laid me in another man's arms

I was hugged, caressed tenderly, and the old man sighed
As his tears spilled to my shoulder from tightly closed eyes
Thank you, my son! It is he, the one I had held before.
"Hey, fella! I'll bet you wondered where you were bound?
"Well, my furry friend, you need worry no more.
"In time for Christmas, you are -- and homeward found!"

Copyright 2005 Kathy Pippig Harris
kappi00@aim.com

? I live in central, sunny California, where I share my life with my husband and our furry family. I work full time for a living, and I write in order to live fully.

My works have been featured in many online publications and in traditional print. I am also a weekly columnist for the publication "Frank Talk" which is distributed in several counties in the tri-state area of Michigan, Ohio, and Missouri. I've written four books and my fifth book, "For the Spirit-Soul," a collection of my short stories and poems will be released soon.
kappi00@gmail.com

kathyanneharris@spirit-soul.com
RELATED LINk:http://www.spirit-soul.com/BeyondTheBridge.htmlMy websites:http://www.spirit-soul.com/BeyondTheBridge.htmlhttp://spirit-soul.com/ToShareWithYou.html

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

? ~ Counterfeit Love ~

Joyce C. Lock

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? ? ? ? ?  Some form of the word ???love??™ exists in scripture 543 times and is, conceivably, one of the most abused, excused, and misused words in modern lingo, today.

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? ? ? ? ?  I love your style.?  I just loved that show.?  I love the way you fix your hair!?  I love ice cream.?  Oh, I love what you've done with this room!?  I love you in that dress.?  I love it when you make me laugh.

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? ? ? ? ?  I LOVE YOU ... unless I get hurt ... just don't ask me to help ... only when my needs come first ... though, not if it means listening to you ... barring when I can take credit ... when it's convenient ... if you love me ... as long as you do what I say ... but not your children ... unless you get in my way ... until I think of some good jokes at your expense ... except you put on a few pounds ... omitting when friends are around ... whenever it benefits me.

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? ? ? ?  Let's make love.?  If you love me, you'll do it.?  Never mind that I'm sleeping with someone else, it's you I love.?  You're just stupid.?  You know I love you.

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? ? ? ?  I love you, but I won't forgive you.?  I'm sorry for hurting you, again, but you know I love you.?  I told you once that I love you.?  That ought to be enough.?  What do I have to say to make you believe me??  I (bleep, bleep) love you, all right??  If I say I love you, then I love you.?  I can see others and still love you.?  When you measure up to my expectations, then, I'll love you.

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? ? ? ?  Some speak most eloquent words of love.?  Fewer show it in their lives.?  But, whatever they speak, actions speak even louder.

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? ? ? ?  Surely, God must prefer to disassociate from situations wherein people misuse words that describe His character.?  And, wherever He isn't, it isn't love.

? ? ? ?  It is impossible to love until we (know God and) begin to love others as He loves us, because God is love and it's His Spirit that loves through us (1 John 4:8, 12b-13).?  Anything less is counterfeit.

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?© by Joyce C. Lock
http://our.homewithgod.com/heavenlyinspirations/

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Poetry Section

~**~**~

When Love Was Enough

Janice Finley

In the beginning,
Love is enough.
A kiss, a hug,
A loving touch.

But as we get older
And as we mature,
We need a strong love
That will endure.

Someone we can count on
In times of need.
Someone to follow,
Someone to lead.

A friend and a lover,
A partner for life,
Together forever,
A husband and wife.

When you have trouble,
And things seen tough,
Remember the beginning
When love was enough.

Janice Finley

finleyj@otelco.net

Copyright ?©2005? Janice? Finley

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? ~**~**~

Faceless Friend

Janice Finley

Your face, your smile; I have never seen
I don't know the color of your skin
Your voice and laughter I have never heard
I don't know if it is soft or loud
Your hugs I have never felt
I don't know the strength of your arms
Your hand I have never touched
I don't know if it is calloused and worn
But to me you are my Friend
The question comes to me, "How can that be?"
You don't know a face, a touch or a sound
But is it the physical nature of a person
That causes me to call you "My Friend" or
the feel of a touch, the strength of a hug?
I don't need those for you to be my Friend
You have lent your ear to me and listened
Then gently guided and directed me with your words

Janice? Tomerlin- Finley

finleyj@otelco.net

Copyright ?©2005? JANICE-Tomerlin? Finley

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? ~**~**~

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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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