Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

April 20, 2006

Today’s announcements

Well goes many of you know that I am talking French courses to be able to get a job here in Montreal.  I cannot find jobs that require English only anymore.  The session is almost over and I am soon to do the exams.  I am very nervous about it and even had a dream that I failed the exam. Am I a wreck or what? 

On another note, many of you have been asking, and no I never found my precious cat, Seti.  Life can be such a downer at times.

Many thanks to those of you who have donated money and or clothes to help me through this rough financial period, it is much appreciated.  Storytime Tapestry people are my family and it is for this reason that I do the newsletter no matter how overwhelmed I am.  I can never let you guys down.

Now onto the good stuff!

Today’s Queue Stories

~**~**~

LEAVING……………………..

Vona Marengo

suntigermoon@verizon.net

Ah ho Stranger!  Please join me here at the fire pit, have a mug of healing tea, and enjoy this lovely evening!  It is the most beautiful time of year here in the Mento River Valley, land of red earth, scrub oaks, jack pines and manzanita bushes!  Yes the air this time of year is pleasant and fragrant and neither too hot nor too cold, perfect I would say!  You have come to right place this is Mimosa Lodge and I am She Who Weaves, but please just refer to me as Weaver, easier to say!

You say you were a friend of She Who Travels Far?  Ah I remember her well!  She and I were friends from our young adulthood and I stood with her at her wedding and she with me at mine.  We shared much of our lives with one another, between the long trips she made after her family was grown; the stories she had to tell were wonderful!  Such wonderful memories I have of her—then I think you do not know that she has Left?

Yes it was a day similar to this, the humming birds were sipping their fill of nectar from the blossoms in the mimosa trees that grow along the path that passes in front of the Lodge, curves around the strawberry field and winds down to the fruit tree orchard.  As I remember, it was one of the most beautiful day of that year…………………

Travels Far’s brother, He Who Hunts The Deer, came by the lodge and told me that Travels Far was near to her Leaving time and was in some pain, so I told him to bring her to me.  She didn’t live too far, just up the hill over there across the Silver Bridge and past the Bullfrog pond.  So Hunter hitched a horse to his cart and carried her from Manzanita Lodge where she had  lived for several years and laid her on the Leaving blankets that I placed on the ground near the fire pit.

Travels Far was very tired and weak, she could only sip broth and healing tea, we spoke softly of our lives and where they had led us and our joys and our sorrows………..we reminisced until it was twilight and she was too tired to speak more.  I spent the night bathing her brow in water steeped with mimosa blossoms and lemon balm.  Toward dawn I sang the Coming and Leaving Chant as I knew it would be her last hours in the Mento River Valley.

“Come O Goddess of Creation

Bring this child being born

The gift of  life and health.

Bring this soul a long and healthy life!

Come O Goddess of Creation

Bring this woman about to Leave

Comfort and love

Save journey into you everlasting country

Come O Goddess of Creation

Guide She Who Travels Far

On her last and longest journey,

Bless her and take her into your loving arms

Come O Goddess of Creation

Come O Goddess of Creation

Come O Goddess of Creation

Yes Stranger, I sang to my friend and to the Goddess.  I sang to mend the ach in my heart and to help She Who Travels Far on her final journey.  Just as the Dawn had broken, Travels Far asked for a sip of pure water and some honey, which I gave to her with heavy hart and gathered her head onto my lap and held her as her spirit slipped away on its journey back to the Goddess.  I sat there with her until her brother and sister and their families came for her body.  I miss her so, kind Stranger I do miss her so……………

You are welcome Stranger, I know that you will treasure this memory of She who Travels Far and will remember her with fondness even as do I.

--------------- * --------------- *---------------- *----------------- *---------------- * ----------------

This story was written in a style similar to Ursula K. LeGuin’s in “Always Coming Home,” and mirrors a story she retold about a mountain lion that came to her Aunt’s back yard to die.  She told how it really happened and how she would have liked it to have happened in a book of short stories called “Buffalo Gals”.

So I have told the story of my friend Mary’s passing from life as I wished it could have been---instead of a phone call from her sister in California telling how Mary had died in the hospital after her second kidney transplant went bad and her body just couldn’t take any more and her spirit departed.

Vona Marengo       c 2006

~**~**~

~ Becoming One ~

Joyce C. Lock

    When a couple marries, it is sometimes referred to as 'becoming one'.  It has been said the problem is deciding which one.  Which should it be?  I submit to you, neither one.

    "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" Amos 3:3.  If either wants to be king of the hill, then they walk alone; with a mate, by their side, in name only.

    "Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour," Ec. 4:9.

    My mate is left handed, utilizing the opposite side of his brain (by comparison to the side most males use) and God gave me analytical abilities.  Yet, when God created either of us, He did not make a mistake.  There are times when I make wiser business decisions.  Though, he is quick to spot a con-artist.

"For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow:

but woe to him that is alone when he falleth;
for he hath not another to help him up," Ec. 4:10.

Our strengths uphold each other.

"Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?" Ec. 4:11.

When we make Jesus our head, Jesus will stand with us.

When both we and our mate make Jesus the head, our stand is even greater.

"And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him;

and a threefold cord is not quickly broken." Ec. 4:9-12.

"Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.  And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire." Mt. 18:8-9.

Did I say to run out and divorce them?  No.

Just, don't cheat on God to fall with your mate.

    "No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon," Lu. 16:13.

Adam's sin was that he chose his mate above God.
And God named both male and female 'Adam', Ge. 5:2.

    Only God knows how to defeat Satan every time.  Therefore, if the Spirit does not guide a couple toward agreement, God is not likely in it.  A warm assurance and the comfort of unity comes when both agree on His leading.  Only then can the three walk together.

    "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them," Mt. 18:19-20.

When we seek God's guidance together, we obtain divine protection.

Another way of looking at it is this.

Father
(head)
/\
/   \
/      \
         Son         Holy Spirit

Jesus
(head)
/\
/   \
/      \

Husband        Wife

"I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one;
and that the world may know that thou hast sent me,
and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me."

Jn. 17:23

Only when we become one with God can we become one with each other;
one in heart, soul, purpose, body, mind, and strength.

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

Poetry Section

~**~**~

Spring

Mary Dees

Sun, paint my world with light,

And dance upon the trees.

Kiss the barest of the branches;

Give them back their leaves.

Whipoorwill please sing for me,

I need to hear your song.

Your serenity embraces me,

And beckons me along.

Seeded earth soften,

Arise the wild flowers.

Mother nature be kind again -

Offer a gentle shower.

Frosted lakes, melt away,

Welcome the geese from afar.

Warm night then bring to me,

Your blanket of bright stars.

By Mary M. Dees

~**~**~

Send Me The Night

Mary Dees

Send the night to me in black,

I know I can relate.

Let the darkness surround me,

Before the day will break.

Send the night to me,

With stars beaming in the sky.

Let me feel the cool night air,

Before I close me eyes.

Send the night  to me,

With traces of bright red,

To signal the danger,

Of the storm that lies ahead.

Send the night to me,

While falling with the dawn.

Let me see the shadows creeping,

Attesting time that is moving on.

By Mary M. Dees

marlena7694@yahoo.com

Mary M Dees resides in Ohio with her two children. She wrote her first poem at age 13 and has been writing ever since. She currently works as a hair dresser but has had a lifetime interest in poetry. She also likes to dabble in interior design.

~**~**~

Readers Feedback

Comments from April 13^th

Dear Lopamudra,

Thank you for sharing with us.  For some reason, there is comfort in knowing that someone else has been there.  I too have found myself in a very dark and hopeless place from which there was no escape.  I too, had to learn to throw open the shutters, and let the light in; throw up the windows and let in the fresh air.  I too found when I mastered the art of looking beyond my pain, there was immeasurable beauty around me (even if I didn't always want it there).

Please take a look at my blog:  birthmotherofadopted.blogspot.com

and my other site: writeinmaine.blogspot.com

and: writeinmaine.com

If you find the time and inclination to visit these sites, you will find what I am about.  I too am a writer, though relatively unpublished at present.

Godspeed to you as you travel your roads in this life.

Sincerely,

Sue Baumgardner

Comments from April 12^th

Wow I loved Bill Walker's memories of Christmas Dinner 1952, Jene Lind

Leona Ebling writes a wonderfully inspiring story for all writers, not just beginners. As someone once said, when we sit down to write, no matter how many books or articles or poems we have written and/or published, we are all beginners.  The best of luck to this lady--she will continue to publish her work because her attitude is perfect to do so.

Barb Deming

Carol,

I like Lynne's idea of the unanniversary celebration thing for divorced people.   Kewt.  Three divorces from the same guy...ya think they'd make me a spokeswoman or see me as a hopeless nut?...LOL

I could truly relate to "Tax Time" by Sharon Bryant. I have been known to do all sorts of strange things while filling out my tax forms!

Dianna Doles Petry

dianna59@charter.net

I really enjoyed this special treat that Hart Dowd put together. Thank you for running it and thank Hart for taking the time to write it. Dianna Doles Petry

Comments from April 11^th

If I ran across a person commiting a felony act of animal cruelty in
Texas I would invoke the right of ALL Texas CCH participants to defend
myself from harm to an elderly person (it can get the perp shot) when he
attacked me for slappin'his @$$ into the middle of next week. There's
some very sick people out there.
Thanks
Mark Crider

Comments from April 10^th – Pat Capps Mahaffey: I remember back when my foster mother made my sister and me clothes from feed sacks and yes, we were mighty proud of them. Jene Lind

Such a wonderful story of a special memory.  I truly traveled back in time with you as I too remembered my pretty dresses I wore to school all made and trimmed with lace and rickrack by my grandma who raised me.  They too were made from the pretty flowered feed sacks.  So cherished  and so special as reminders of a very happy and lovely time in our lives.   God bless and keep on sharing dear Pat, you are a wonderful pattern addition to the written and shared Tapestry stories shared by our beautiful Winterose.   Hugs Leona

From Pat Capps Mahaffey

It's so nice to hear from people who have the same memories that I have.  Thanks for writing. 

Pat 

Prayer Requests and Updates

Senior Writers

Chief writer: Sharon Bryant

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; Westerfer, Clara; White Robert;

Storytime Tapestry Staff

Carol Roach - Founder/publisher

Thelma Hartselle - Co-Founder, Moderator

Clara Westerfer – moderator

Bob Johnston - moderator