Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

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March 18, 2006

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Today??™s announcements

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From our writer Janice Finley, please say prayers for her. I am going for back surgery next month. Say a prayer for me.? ?  The 1^st link is what they are going to do, and I will be in?  Birmingham, Al. hospital for about 5 days, and in a brace for a month or so. It is?  a bilateral lumbar disectomy with titanium rods put in. OUCH!!! That in itself sounds painful! Can hardly wait??¦It is caused from stenosis in the spine .?  Janice Finley

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? My back spinal fusion, metal rod, real bone insert {yeap, I am having a bone transplant from someone else} ? surgery is scheduled in Birmingham , Alabama?  for the 23^rd March. I will be in?  hospital for about 5 days . then io will coming home for 10 days, going back for staples to be out, then for another 25 days, no sitting nor standing, or laying, except for sleep for over 30 minutes at a time.

After that, I will go back for a X ray and start? physical therapy. The doctor wants the transplant bone to?  knit with mine and be stronger before PT starts.?  Of course, it is scary, and everyone is of the unknown. There are many risk. infection, bleeding, spinal headaches, and lots more. I will have partial paralysis . AND I AM SCARED TO DEATH. The doc told us that it will be a rough 3 days, and I will be doped up for at least 2. Whoopee!!?  Please put me on your prayer list. Thank you? Janice.

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Understanding Lumbar Fusion Surgery

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http://www.spineuniverse.com/displayarticle.php/article1562.html

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Quote for today:? 

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Daily Lift #916

Have A Compassionate Eye

When you watch other people, what you see depends on what is important to you at the time. A barber will notice styles and quality of haircuts. A tailor will notice clothing. A salesman will notice potential customers. A critical person will notice what is wrong. And a compassionate person will notice opportunities to be compassionate.

Be compassionate. This elevates you greatly.

(From Rabbi Pliskin's book Kindness)

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Now onto the good stuff!

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~**~**~

Lent

Bill Walker

wildbill6807@yahoo.com

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Lent season is here again.? ?  I never think of Lent, but what a certain man comes to mind. That would be General Robert E. Lee.?  One of the most Christian men ever, also one of the best generals ever.

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He lived a life of if he couldn't say good about someone, he just didn't say anything.?  He never said bad about the people on the other side.?  One day some miner officer was blasted the people from up north.? ?  General Lee. said, "How can you say such? There isn't a day that goes by that I don't pray for those people.?  I wish they were home, and we were too."

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Now General Lee had another thing I liked. Prayers!?  He would do a bit of praying about something and leave it in God's hands. I have heard the long winded prayers that makes one want to say, turn out the lights, the show is over, lets go home.?  I think that was his way of looking at it too.?  One time he said something has to be done about preacher so and so.? ?  He prays for ever one, every thing and never get over it. Poor church mouse got tired and walked out even.

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How there is many things that can be said about General Lee and his being a Christian.?  I think what he said about Lent, is one of the best.

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I don't know much about what some people of different points of view does or thinks about Lent.?  I know some gives up something they like for those days.? ?  I knew one lady that gave up ice cream.?  That would be tough for her I know, she liked ice cream, and it showed too.

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The question was put to General Lee one time.?  His answer was kind of short.

He thought giving up sin would be a good idea.

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Tinker and Poo; The Boys Write

http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?&isbn=0-595-35741-5

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~**~**~

That Leaky Roof

Helen Dowd

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"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee.??? Isaiah 43:2

"Sharp afflictions are to the soul as a soaking rain to a house." You find out whether or not your roof leaks, only after there has been a rain. I remember a funny incident from my growing up years. We lived in a house built by my dad. Its construction was crude, but it was home, and I have fond memories of that house.

The kitchen part had a slanted roof. Dad was forever fixing the roof by rolling tarpaper onto it, and then pouring liquid tar on top of that. We had gone through a long rainless spell, and we had all forgotten about the many times previously that we had to step around pails in the middle of the kitchen floor, set there to catch the water streaming from the ceiling. On this particular day, a sudden rainstorm hit. It rained hard for about ten minutes, and Dad, looking quite pleased with himself, sat in the kitchen. His chair tipped back against the wall, he looked up to the ceiling. "Praise the Lord!??? he said. "I finally have all the leaks fixed.??? No sooner had the words left his mouth, than a stream of water poured down onto to his bald head. We all burst into laughter, including Dad...So, it was back again to fixing the roof for Dad, as soon as the storm was over.

We don't know that there are holes in the roof until the rain comes.
In our spiritual life we don't realize that there are flaws in our soul until the storms of affliction hit. Then we find out how leak-proof our Christian life is. Trials test us and show up the defects in our souls. When things are going smoothly in our life, we get a false sense of "righteousness???. The devil whispers to us, "Boy, you are doing okay. Look what a good Christian you are. You helped out that pesky neighbor without complaining. You generously gave to the food bank. You donated your time without batting an eye. Look at all the accolades you have received for your kind deeds. You are doing great!"

But watch out. Wait until the floodgates of distress hits you. Wait until your computer beaks down, and you can't get onto the Internet. Wait until your car won't start, and you have to have it in for an expensive repair job. Wait until you get knocked down with the flu, or until one of your children or pets get sick. Wait until your house roof springs a leak. Then how good is your Christianity? Listen! Now you will hear the devil singing another song: "What a poor testimony you are! You raised your voice this morning because things were not going your way. You were impatient with your spouse, your children, your dog. What a fine Christian you turned out to be!"

Do the floodgates of affliction threaten to drown you? Is your roof leaking? David, the Psalmist had a leaky roof too. Trial after trial came his way and threatened to overcome him. He cried out: Psalm 69:1-4 "Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck...I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me...I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God....They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty...??? David was really in deep water. But he knew where to turn. He turned to the only one who could keep him from drowning in his problems.

When we are overcome with fear, and find out that our spiritual roof is leaking, we need not panic. It is God who allows these floods to come. He hasn't sent them to drown us, just to test us, and to cleanse us and to show us where our "roof??? needs repairing.

Have you been through a storm?
Is your life in a mess?
Does life seem impossible?
Full of problems and stress?
Are you fearful, rebellious, irritated, disturbed?
Don't despair, my dear Christian,
Just turn to God's Word:
Go to Peter (the first),
Chapter 5 and verse seven.
"Cast your cares upon God,
Your Father in Heaven.
He careth for you.
He will hear when you call.
He will lift your soul up,
Whenever you fall.

If you go to God in prayer, by faith, and yield to the Holy Spirit, God will repair your "leaky spiritual roof."

?©Helen Dowd

hmdowd@telus.net

~**~**~

I CAN'T WRITE!

Sharon Bryant

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The other day a friend asked me, "How can you just sit down and write a story?"?  I said, "It's easy, why?"?  She told me she couldn't do it.?  I asked why couldn't she.?  She replied that the words don't come to her.?  She said, "You always make it sound like it's a breeze."?  I told her it was.?  She then asked how I could hop around and write something funny one day and something sad the next.

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I thought a moment before I answered her.?  Then I began.........

I've had the opportunity to work with the mass public all my life in my job.?  I've been lucky to travel around the US quite a bit and see many things, places, towns, events, and I make mental notes and take photos of many things and the folks I've met on my travels.

I told her our memories are like reading a book we love, sitting it down and not getting back? to it for three weeks, but remembering where we were at when we laid it down.

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I told her writing a story is the same as writing your best friend a letter.?  Just tell it like it is and start "talking" inside your head, and let your fingers do the walking.?  She smiled and said, "I don't have that much to tell, I've led a dull life."

I told her no one really leads a dull life.?  Each and everyone of us have memories of our childhood, our teen years, our older years, and by the time we've reached our Golden Years, we've got quite a library? accumulated in our minds.

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I believe anyone can write a story.?  I believe we all have a story to tell.?  And I believe if we try, we might surprise ourselves with what we are capable of putting on the screen you are looking at right now.?  I believe where there's a will......there's a way.

I believe in variety in life.?  And I believe very strongly if we can write a story that can touch? the heart of someone out there, then we're a pretty good storyteller.

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I won't bother to tell you the story I thought of tonight when I was flipping through some old photo albums today.?  It sure brought a smile to my face looking at my mom, in her 50's, smiling, nah, not smiling, but glaring through a smile at me as she held up one of the Christmas gifts I bought her.?  Dad was grinning from ear to ear and I know that's why mom was glaring at me.

Gee, and Victoria Secret wasn't even around that I knew of when I bought her that gift.? 

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Or I was going to tell the story tonight about the night dad got mad at me and chased me outside.?  Being the goofball I was at 18, thinking I could outsmart him, I climbed a huge pine tree.?  I do know it's humanly possible that we can sleep in a tree all night long, even in chilly weather, if we're too scared to come back down, especially if your dad is playing guard at the bottom of that tree.

Whoever thought he'd sit out there all night waiting for me??  Gee, I sure didn't.?  Who fooled who that night?? 

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I was going to write the story I wrote in college, revamp it, and add on to it.?  "The View From My Window" it is called.?  But then I got to thinking of how many views I've seen from my window and I really didn't know where to begin.

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Then I thought I'd write something spooky, sort of to go along with what is happening in my life right now....but I figured I didn't have an ending yet, so I'd better wait to write that one.?  Trust me, this one is a mystery!

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And then I thought, I'll whip up something like Stephen King does......I looked out my window, saw that green grass poking up through the old brown dead grass, the long strip that goes from the septic to the field lines, and I thought, "Gee, now what it........what if something got into my field lines, then got into my septic and fought the water and got into the pipe to my house, and found its way into my bathroom?"?  I mean, who knows, ET could be standing in my bathroom using my hair spray in the morning, right?

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But for right now, I've got to go brush Ladybug and Bob and get them ready for bedtime.?  LOL.......I bet something happens that I can tell about it tomorrow night though!

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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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Poetry Section

~**~**~

What Would You Give?

Joyce C. Lock

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If help had vanished and love were lost,
Hope turned to sorrow before a cross??¦

Songs gave way to cries and screams,
Children were lost (as well as their dreams)??¦

Fire and flood had taken its' toll;
What would you give in exchange for their soul?

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?© by Joyce C. Lock

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~**~**~

When God Speaks ...

Joyce C. Lock? 

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His Words are like? a lamp,

in the darkness, to give direction.? 

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? His? lamp? lights the way, with instruction.

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His? instruction meets the need of our heart,

wherein it becomes our choice to follow Him.

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When His Words are hidden in our heart,

We find the path that leads to Him.

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?© by Joyce C. Lock

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~**~**~

WHERE DO YOU PUT YOUR FAITH?

Joyce. C. Lock

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In your job or in your God?
In your money or in Him, honey?

In your fight or in His might?
In your toy or in His joy?

In your spouse or in God's house?
In your lease or in His peace?

In your smarts or in God's part?
In your plot or in His lot?

In your best or in His test?
In your friends or in just Him?

?© by Joyce C. Lock

Ye see then how that by works

a man is justified, and not by faith only.
James 2:24

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Readers Feedback

I liked today's story by Joseph Mazzella "Today well lived". There is a great lesson to learn.

Regards

S K Jandu

I have really enjoyed this story by Debra Shively. She has described these natural motherly feelings so beautifully. This reminded me of very precious tender moments with my three young sons. I was so lucky to have them close to me, hugging, kissing and sharing every secret with me. God has taken my first son from me but the other two are still close to me.

I thank God for all His blessings.

S K Jandu

I want to thank Geo Rusu for sharing? his very inspiring story of his life. There is a lot to learn from his life and experiences, especially the last paragraphs. Indeed our life is a gift from God and we should spend it wisely doing good for others.

Thank you Geo Rusu. Keep writing.

S K Jandu

David Wainland ??“ I Brake For Speed Bumps -Awesome reading. I felt that it was a great analogy.

I'm sorry for your loss.

Tammy

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March 7 - ? What a beautiful story by Maria Doherty!?  She really is so creative with words!?  Thanks, Sharlett Hunt

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March 6 - Carol,
? ?  I hope that you are having a very happy birthday my friend.?  May today
and everyday of your life be full to overflowing with joy.
? ?  Thanks so much for including me in today's storytime.?  I am always
honored to be put in the
newsletter.?  Wishing you the happiest of days.?  Joe

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March 8 - Violet Apted - WOW, WOW, WOW!!!! What a thing to happen to a person!! I am glad in the end,
you ended up with a good friend, but the nerve of it all!!!
michelle schutt

MARTISORUL

Thanks to Geo Rusu for this wonderful story of Romanian tradition that I never heard before and really enjoyed learning about.?  God bless, Sharlett Hunt

Prayer Requests and Updates

You are welcome, Carol.

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Please put my husband on your prayer list. He had surgery to clean out his left carotid artery and still isn't feeling real well. He is supposed to get the other one done as soon as he feeling well enough. So, I would appreciate prayers for him.

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Love, Nell

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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; Marlor, Janice Bumbalough; 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;

Wainland, David; 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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