Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

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Feb 16, 2006

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Today??™s announcements

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Today we have the privilege to meet our newest writer, Carole Devecka, writer #291, for Storytime Tapestry. I am sure you will enjoy her work as much as I do.?  Please email her and let her know how much you enjoy her great work.

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Now onto the good stuff!

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Today??™s Valentines Contest Stories

~**~**~

God Given Daisies ? ? ?  ??” by Carole Devecka? ?  ? 

Making Memories

We all have that special ability to make memories even when we are not aware of it.?  Some memories leave deep, lasting impressions that often change our lives by impacting crucial decisions and attitudes. Others bring us pure joy and teach us about love and acceptance.

The following article was taken from a counseling tape that was used with our trouble teens.

Why do I stay with Tomorrow's Promise?
by Richard Klinker

I was as asked the other day why I hang around with Carole and Company (as I like to call them.) One word sums it up.? 

That word is Love.

It is the love that is shared by all around Tomorrow's Promise.?  It goes beyond the hugs and kisses and usual jovial faces, to the life style that is presented to all, by all, at all times.

It is the positive outlook and drive that is presented to everyone that comes through the door that they could succeed at whatever their dream may be. The "You can do it if you try," attitude.

It's the "No matter who you are, what you have done, or why you have done it, we still love and accept you," attitude.

The "I want to help you through your hard times and share with you our good as well as bad times." It??™s the "We are always available and willing to help," the "Let??™s laugh together, cry together, talk together, sing together, whisper, yell at, run, walk, dance, sit, be quiet play together," attitude.? 

The "Let??™s live life with gusto and joy, through the good times and the hard times, for it is all a part of LIFE," attitude.

? It's the "You are not ugly but Beautiful Inside," the "You are not short, you stand tall with pride in your accomplishment," attitude.? 

It's the "don't go around with your nose stuck up in the air but walk about in humility," the "Everyone's an equal, do what you do best and try your hand at everything else, don't hide yourself or your talent but shine forth brighter than the sun on its sunniest day," attitude.

The "Stick with us and we'll show you how to smile," attitude.

? It's looking at all of life and seeing and keeping your eyes fixed on the positive aspect of everything rather than the negative side of things.

It's the power and love of God that passes through each and every person that works here and flows through all those who come to this school??¦

It's life itself!

Like I said, one word sums it all up??¦ LOVE.

Simple answer to a simple question, wouldn't you say?

LOVE.

Note From Carole:

It is LOVE??”authentic, anchored, life altering LOVE.? ?  The greatest being God's Love.

Don't waste your time pursuing anything else. Everything else will fail you at one time or another.?  Nothing else satisfies heals, protects, or provides like God's Love...

Spread some Love around this Holiday Season.

??” ?© Carole Devecka, God Given Daisies

For more incredible stories visit: http://www.sfpnn.com/carole_devecka.htm

E-mail Carole at: CDevecka@highstream.net? 

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~**~**~

God Given Daisies ? ? ?  ??” by Carole Devecka ? 

A REAL FRIEND KNOWS ALL ABOUT YOU??¦
AND LOVES YOU ANYWAY!

Most morning counseling sessions were raw. The teens were frustrated and angry. They yelled, cursed, cried, or just clammed up.?  They had just come from a safe haven??”a residential rehabilitation facility where they didn't

have to deal with their families, their neighborhood, the school officials, their "Bad" friends, or the boss and co-workers at work.?  Now they were thrown out into the world again and they were afraid of the old traps.

Would they be eaten up by the wolves waiting for them to slip up again as they had in the past?

How can you build them up while counseling them that what they had done in the past was illegal, in most cases immoral, and could have ended their lives in a second?

We had to instill in them that they were here (on Earth) for some reason. That God had chosen to keep them around. He had a plan for their lives.

Most of them didn't believe that God could, or would, love them, knowing what they had done in the past. We had to convince them that God not only forgives, but He gives us a new day, every day, to start anew... brand new... without our past transgressions hanging around our neck like a huge stone.

He (God) never goes fishing in the Sea of Forgetfulness.?  Unlike most humans who throw things up in our face, our heavenly Father guides us with patience and love and His love is unconditional.

"But, you don't know what I have done in my past!" one young girl said.

???Many of us have acted out, stolen money, sold our bodies, some have even caused bodily harm to another. But, my God has seen it all, and still loves you.???

"I slept with the Monsignor" said a fifteen year old girl. "Now I am going to rot in hell!"

???NO YOU??™RE NOT!? ?  He is the one who sinned against you, a child. He will pay the price on judgment day or even sooner, if you let us file a sexual abuse complaint against him.???

"But he gave me some money. Doesn't that make me a prostitute????

???No! It makes you a child that was manipulated and sexually abused, and even if you were a prostitute, God would forgive you??¦???? 

???Did you ever hear of Mary Magdalane? Some say she was a prostitute. Other's say she was a jilted lover searching for love in all the wrong places. A mob was going to stone her to death and Jesus yelled out ???Let the person without sin be the first one to throw that first stone.??™ Slowly, they all walked away.?  Then Jesus said to her... ???There is no one here accusing you. Go and sin no more.??™? 

???Throughout the Bible Mary Magdalane was there, even at the foot of the cross when Jesus died, she was there. She became friends with Jesus and a real friend knows all about you and loves you anyway.?  That is the way we are here at Tomorrow's Promise. You can tell us anything and we are going to love you anyway.???

???Now deal with that!?  . . . And who needs a hug today?"

???Now let's go fishing!???? 

Everyone ran to my fifteen passenger van. Some of them even asked me to put on my music.?  They said "Put on the songs that make us cry, This Time, (Do it for You) This Time, and You Can Do it if You Try."

I told them that crying was part of the cleansing process and that they were learning to forgive themselves.

I wonder if Rich Simmons ever thought the words to his exercise music could be so meaningful to kids straight out of rehab... Who knew?!

??” ?© Carole Devecka, God Given Daisies

For more incredible stories visit: http://www.sfpnn.com/carole_devecka.htm

E-mail Carole at: CDevecka@highstream.net? 

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~**~**~

Never Too Young To Love?  ? 

by Carole Devecka

ASHA AND JASON:
"Angels come in all shapes, colors, and sizes"

Most two and a half year olds are cute and adorable.?  Many of them are so smart you would think they are little midgets.

Asha came to our day care center after she had open heart surgery. She was little, very petite, with pale, almost alabaster skin, and had extremely long blonde hair.?  Along with her beauty, she was extremely smart. She definitely knew her own mind, and was very opinionated, to say the least.

Jason, was a little African American boy who was the same age as Asha. His mother worked across the street from the "Y".?  One of her co-workers suggested she put little Jason in our day care center.?  The co-worker had an older daughter, who came to our camp program, and loved it.?  She assured Jason's mom that the staff was very attentive to all the children, and their needs.

The children were usually dropped off at the "Y" in the morning, and then taken by van or bus, out to the camp.?  At the end of the day, they were returned to the "Y" building, and the parents had a chance to discuss their children's day with the staff members.

When Jason came to visit, he joined in a circle and played a musical game with children his age.?  A few days later, Jason arrived very early in the morning. He was now enrolled to spend the entire day, and weeks to come, with us.. His heart was broken when his mother left. His crying tore at your soul. He felt completely abandoned. No reassuring from any of the staff members mattered to him.?  Then something truly beautiful happened!

Asha came over to me and said, "Miss Carole, Jason needs me to make him feel better!"

I told her that maybe she was right. Maybe, Jason needed a beautiful little angel to kiss away his tears, and make him feel better.

Asha leaned over, kissed his cheek, right where a tear was rolling down his face, and she said "Don't you worry, I am your angel. I will take care of you. Don't cry, we all love you"

Jason looked at me, tears still running down his cheeks. I assured him it was alright to go with Asha. His little angel would take care of him.?  She walked him into the bathroom, washed his face, and took him by the hand.

That was the beginning of a friendship that lasted for years to come.

Asha and Jason became an inseparable team. This team would show others that their pre-conceived prejudices were wrong.

"And a child shall lead them"

--- ?© Carole Devecka, God Given Daisies
http://www.sfpnn.com/carole_devecka.htm
CDevecka@highstream.net

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Readers Feedback

Carol ??“ Questions of the Heart. This I call a bittersweet story. Thank you for letting me know it.

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Jene

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Carol,
? ?  Letting go is the hardest thing any of us has to do in this life my
friend.?  Just remember that you truly are loved by so many including the
greatest love imaginable.?  God bless you always.?  Joe

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This is beautiful. Still makes me cry. But it's a good cry i suppose. Knowing
that you could still find love in the purring and cuddling of a cat. Animals do
wonders. MY dog sarah that stays with my mother never leaves me alone when i
come visit.

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"Darla...." should be read by every woman who has been abused by a man in their life!

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Barb

You have such a knack for writing pieces that tug at the heart long after you have completed the reading of them.?  "Wildflower" is just such a piece.

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Barb

Carol,
? ?  This is such a tragic story.?  I will keep Darla in my prayers.?  God bless
you always.?  Joe

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Wildflower ??“ Carol This is such a heartfelt story,? ?  Such sadness. I hope

she returns.

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Jene

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Carol - Well, you certainly are a wonderful writer.

I can thoroughly FEEL your stores. They

have much emotion.

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Jene

Questions of the heart -Love this story Carol... so sad but sooooooooooo good too... the end was very special... thanks so much hon..hope you are doing better.. love ya,?  your friend,?  Nancy

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Wildflower - This is a good story Carol..?  I cried as I read it.. so sad... but thanks for sharing.. love your stories... hugs,?  Nancy

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Prayer Requests and Updates

Oh, Carol, I am late in reading my emails and just came across the one about Loren. I am sooo sorry to hear this. He was such a dear man. We had great times writing our stories together and he used to send me such wonderful pieces on the history of our shared home state of Texas.?  What a loss!

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Barb

Carol,

? ?  I just saw it in Storytime Tapestry a moment ago.? ? I appreciate your sending out the notice, several of us have been waiting to hear from him.?  I knew if health permitted he would have been online and writing stories.?  I am very sad to hear of Loren's passing.

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~ Pamela

So Loren Moor is gone forever??¦?  I have never met him, never spoken to him on phone, never I have seen him on internet cam but I am going to really missed him.? GeorgeWaters Ojeigbe

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Too heavy to bear, I am so sad about LOREN MOORE??™s passing away.?  I will dearly miss him.?  There will be no other person to tell me about CADDO lake.?  No more giggling stories. No more hearing of how wonderful Jonnie Moore is.?  I can feel the tears coming to my face now??¦ LOREN MOORE is gone forever and forever will I not be able to meet him in person.?  All is now history of this wonderful and talented story writer called LOREN MOORE.

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My heart felt goes out to JONNIE MOORE??¦ I have heard about her and I have smelt the love that they both shared amongst themselves through reading of Loren??™s stories about their love life.?  Jonnie is going to really miss her late cheerful husband.?  I can never forget that story of how Loren met Jonnie, it was such a beautiful story??¦

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I don??™t know what to say at this point of time??¦

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GEORGEWATERS OJEIGBE ??“ LAGOS, NIGERIA

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Dear Carol.

I have taken my time to send my condolences out of the simple fact I know how overwhelming even the littlest things can be when you are grieving. I too lost my Father and know how terribly hard it is to keep going on. I wish you all the peace and comfort and love you need during this time. Just take it one day at a time.

Hugs & Blessings, Michelle Jones

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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; Braun-Haley, Ellie; Harris, Kathy Anne; Hunt, Sharlett; Hymes, Christina; Jacobson, Gary; Kiser, Roger Dean; Kerens, Claudia; Kevin, Tim; Jenkins, Pamela; Liles, Norma; Lily Jodi Flesberg; Lock, Joyce; Mazzella, Joe; Morris, Deepak; Ojeibge, 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, Gordon, K; Walsh, Sue; Weymouth, Barbara J.; Whirity, Kathy; White Robert;

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Storytime Tapestry Staff

Carol Roach - Founder/publisher

Thelma Hartselle - Co-Founder, Moderator

Clara Westerfer ??“ moderator

Bob Johnston - moderator

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