Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

May 7, 2006

Today’s announcements

Well guys and gals, I did poorly in that exam that I found difficult because I did not understand it, but in the end I passed the course.  Fresh Monday morning I start the last level and finish the courses by June 30^th. 

Happy Birthday Donna Samuels

Here is a note from Rosanne Catalano who is very thrilled about having her story and published. Please click on the website and have a look, it would mean so much to her and it also helps her in her ratings as well.

Even though Storytime Tapestry members have already read my story titled "The Forgotten Child," I recently had a 'revised version' of this story published on a reputable web site, and I would love for your subscribers to read the new version ... it reads sooo much better now that I wrote more and revised it!!! Would it be possible to write a short announcement of sorts, indicating to your readers that it would be nice to visit the direct link to where my revised story is now published?! The direct link to "The Forgotten Child" is: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/31076/the_forgotten_child.html.

Rosanne   
(a.k.a. R.C.Kayla)
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief and Writer/Author
www.rosannecatalano.net
Publisher: The Cat's Meow for Writers & Readers Ezine (A Progressive Online Magazine)
Author: Touch of Tomorrow - In Loving Memory (book of poetry) and numerous short stories, poetry & articles published online & in print.

Note From the publisher:  Joe Walker is not speaking about me in his current article.

Now onto the good stuff!

Today’s Queue Stories

~**~**~

ValueSpeak

A Weekly Column

By Joseph Walker

 valuespeak@msn.com

INSIDE LOOKING IN

            Everybody likes Carol.

            What's not to like?  She's cute, but not too cute, if you know what I mean.  She has a great personality, with a fun sense of humor.  She's bright, vivacious, charming, enthusiastic and a heck of a chef (her orange truffle brownies are to die for).  She's the first person you think of if you're planning a party or a service project or a camping trip or a trip to the mall – whatever you're planning, you want Carol to be there because . . . well, everybody likes Carol.

            Everybody, that is, except Carol.

            Those who know her – or who think they do – would be stunned to hear that.  She doesn't give any indication of being emotionally needy.  While she often makes self-deprecating jokes, they seem to be genuinely good-natured jibes, not desperate cries for help.  And she's so unfailingly positive about everything that's it's hard to imagine her being negative about anything.

            Least of all herself.

            But she is, and has been for as long as she can remember.  She doesn't like the way she looks.  Specifically, she doesn't like her hair, her skin, her nose, her mouth, her eyes or – especially – her figure.  She doesn't like her voice.  She doesn't think she's very smart.  She doesn't think she has any talents.  She doesn't even like the way her orange truffle brownies taste.

            Carol doesn't like anything about Carol.

            Thankfully, she isn't self-destructive.  She just isn't very happy.  And she lacks the confidence to fully realize her potential.  Because the way she sees it, she doesn't have any.

            Interesting, isn't it?  From the outside looking in, it would appear that Carol has everything in the world going for her.  But from the inside looking in – where it really counts – the whole world, the planets and the stars are aligned against her.  For some reason that is probably too complicated for us to fully analyze here, she can't see what everyone who knows her can see: that she is a person of diverse capabilities, meaningful value and significant worth.

            We all fall victim to that lack of inner vision from time to time.  We think that we are not good enough, or clever enough, or attractive enough, or blessed enough.  And while it's true that there is always somebody faster, stronger, brighter, wealthier or better looking, that doesn't mean that we lack value.

            We all have strengths as well as weaknesses.  They may not be the strengths we would like to have, but we have them.  To deny that is to deny the handiwork of God, which is precisely what we're doing if we focus on what we aren't or don't have or can't do or won't ever accomplish.  Such negativity has a way of becoming self-fulfilling since it rarely takes long to trudge the downward path from “I'm no good at that” to “I'm no good at anything” to “I'm no good.  Period.”

            And so we must find peace with ourselves within ourselves.  Not smug self-satisfaction, or arrogant pride and haughtiness.  Just peace.  Contentment.  Serenity.  Happiness.

            We don't need to believe that we're better than others, but we do need to know that we're just as good.  As the Duchess said to Alice during her adventures in Wonderland: “Never imagine yourself not to be otherwise than what it might appear to others that what you were or might have been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared to them to be otherwise.”

            I'm not sure, but I think what the Duchess is saying is be yourself.  Accept yourself.  Believe in yourself.  Like yourself – and your orange truffle brownies.

~**~**~

'Tis More Blessed to (For) Give

Joyce C. Lock

 
     When someone has made a slight blunder and their sincere remorse has been made known, it is not all that hard to forgive.  We pat ourselves on the back and think we did well.
 
     When severely wounded, we tend to embrace the hurt for awhile, play the role of a martyr (being righteous in our own eyes), and make them suffer a little.  Then, maybe we will forgive.  Now, we are really good Christians, huh?
 
     Then comes the wound so severe that life will never be the same.  They do not seek or deserve forgiveness.  Neither are they sorry, at all.
 
     There is no cover in which to hide feelings of betrayal, anger, grief, bitterness; emotions raging so strong they will eat your insides away.
 
     Only then can we begin to understand that forgiveness is even more necessary for our survival than theirs, not always because they deserve it but because we do.  And, in such case, we can know the blessed peace of (for) giving in a depth few have known.

God's way is always in our best interest, Co. 3.
 
 

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

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Poetry Section

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Within God's plan

Norma Liles

Seeking beauty inside your soul

By following His advise and commands

Increases your value as you persist

In allowing God to pave your future.

As a follower, this is my misson

To live for Him realizing His vision

A shining example is my goal

As God paves the way of the future.

He leads me beside the still waters

Re-establishes my faith when it falters

Accepts my prayers of salvation

When I allow Him to pave my future.

Glory Halelujah to the Lamb

The One who was slain in our place

He lives and reigns forevermore

Paving our way for our future.

Someday within the His plan

He will welcome me home with Him

Knowing I have followed His plan

As He paved our way to eternity's shore.

NormaLee Liles ©

3-8-06

Norma Liles is a retired data entry

clerk/supv who is 76, a native of Ohio

and still resides there. She is very

outgoing and loves to make new friends!

Her hobbies are: writing poetry and

stories, living for Jesus, reading,
enjoying her family, and her use of

her computer.Her ambition is to add

pleasure to those who read her writings

as well as sharing her faith. She enjoys

Southern Gospel Music and loves to sing.

Her writings have been published on Starfish,
Driftwood, Sandollar, Morning Spirit Lift,
www.poetry.com, PrayerofGod, Jan Karon's
newsletter, American Poetry Writer's league,
Lucy's Inspiration, Faithful Hope reading room,
Poetry of Today publishing, Hope in Him,
Bonnie's Place, America will remember,
News Moose & Penworm prayer warriors as well as

a senior writer for Storytime Tapestry.

~**~**~

FOUR LETTER WORDS FOR YOU (March 2006)

From: Georgewaters Ojeigbe – Lagos, Nigeria

If I can never tell you I LOVE you

I guess I have been a coward all along

If I can never tell you how different you seem to be

I should probably remain silent for the rest of the years

If all I do is just giggle whenever you are around

It means I have a clue

I hate to say it but I have to speak my mind

The truth is that I LOVE you dearly

Through the years you will always be in mind

For this is the way I understand it all

Georgewaters Ojeigbe

gojiegbe @jhplc.com

BIO-DATA

I was born on 21^st April, 1970.  I live in Lagos, Nigeria the most populous city in Africa. I sing in a Church music group where I fellowship.  I love sports.  I love admiring the heavens and other wonderful works borne from Jehovah’s hands.  I discovered the power of writing stories, encouraged by Carol.  Thanks for her existence!  I am pet lover minus snakes; I so much hate this creature called snake but others I prefer.  I like to do lots of home works like creating my art works, gardening, making some home furniture, fitting electrical appliances etc.

~**~**~

Readers Comments:

Debra Shiveley: Your words are truly compelling!!!! Your depth immeasurable!! You are so strong, Thank you for sharing it  with us – Mary Dees

Jene Lind is one of the most kind hearted souls, I know.  I have stopped by her home one time.  We had wrote one another for some time. I was passing her way, and thought I just had to stop and say hello. I got to know her better.  Yes she is a very nice kind hearted person.  As some would say. The salt of the earth. I think she should take her poems and stories,
put them together in a book.  Sure make mighty fine reading.

Bill

Paula Booher - I like your poetry very much. I have tried my hand at writing poetry but it is not so easy.

Regards

S K Jandu

Senior Writers

Chief writer: Sharon Bryant

                                     Chief researcher/historian: Hartson Dowd

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