Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

May 28, 2006

Today’s Announcements

Continued prayers are needed for Ginger Boda’s Father-in-law:

 Dear Family and Friends,

I hesitated, somewhat, to write to you again regarding Mark's Dad, after having such elation over his immediate condition following his lung surgery.  I guess we were, in a way, holding our breath, and hanging onto that miracle.  But things have taken a turn for the worst. 

Although the doctors were able to patch his left lung, and remove two tubes, Dad nearly suffered a stroke day before yesterday, as he went into atrial fibrillation.  His irregular heart rate went up to 187 and his blood pressure dropped.  They finally found a medication to settle his heart rate down to 107 and his BP up to 132/64, but a sign had to be put up requesting "no visitors" and Mom and Mark's sister were told not to talk to him or each other in the room, as they attempted to calm Dad's body down.  He seemed to stabilize.

But today, this rollercoaster has taken an all time low.  Dad is really struggling to breathe; they increased his oxygen to 6 liters, and have him on the nose and face apparatus now.  He can't eat, can't sleep, doesn't want to talk, and he is more frail than ever.  The doctors are going to give him blood to replenish his electrolytes, as well as nutrients by IV, because he is malnutritioned and dehydrated, having lost 24 lbs in 3 weeks.  He weighs only 106 now.  Renee said that she could hear some "gurgling" in his chest as he breathed, but no one will tell us if he has pneumonia.  He is wide awake, completely coherent, and told Mom yesterday that he doesn't want to hear about how his condition is any longer.  He was so frustrated.

The Christian doctor came into to talk with Dad this morning and asked him if he wanted them to do anything for him, should he have a seizure?  Dad looked right at him and replied, "No, just let me go."  He has really given up. 

We have no idea why we were given such a glimmer of hope, only to come crashing down to the reality that Dad is probably going to die soon.  The time he has had since his surgery has not enabled him to talk to any of us, and he is suffering even more.  Why God allowed him to come through that surgery is beyond me.  But still we know that Dad is in the Lord's hands.  Maybe it's because "hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life." (proverbs 13:12)  Maybe it was for our heart's sake that we were given hope.  I don't know. 

So, now we wait.  And we continue to pray.  My request, for those of you who have shared our family burden, is that you will pray for peace and calm to rest upon Mel, and upon Audrey, Mark's Mom, as well as the rest of us.  We just don't want Dad to suffer any longer. 

As Mark and I have talked together these last few weeks, the memories have just flooded into our conversations.  I have so many videos and photos of family times together with Dad, and even tho I have captured those precious moments, the inevitable does happen; the moments do slip away from us, only to be relived in our memories.  Each passing second is just that ... passing.  We are all just passing through, aren't we?  And the older we get, the faster the moments seem to slip by.  It's like watching a firefly and trying to catch it and hold onto it for longer than nature intended.  All we can truly do is live each moment to the fullest and embrace life while it is given to us to embrace.  Hopefully we don't miss the moments we've been given, to show our love to others, or ask for forgiveness, or give it, or make right a wrong, or invest our time in someone else. Hopefully we do give credit when it's due, esteem others better than ourselves, and walk without pride, because each breath we take is not for us to squander, but it's just a miracle in itself. 

So even tho things don't work out exactly as we hoped they would, I still believe in miracles. 

Thank you again for listening, and especially for praying for Dad.  May God bless each of you a hundredfold for this.  I will keep you updated, as the days unfold. For now, I want to share some of our memories with you ...  luv, Ginger: rhymerbabe@aol.com

Today’s Queue Stories

~**~**~

HOW I WON THE JAPANESE LOTTERY AND BECAME A BESTSELLER
IN AMERICA!
AUTHOR: SM THOMPSON:

 Sunny side up - why not!  Thus the conversation ran in America's glitzy California coast; whether you approved or not of the endless cups of excellent coffee or eating enough for the whole world!  John had reminded me many times about starving millions in Africa!  So I assured him there was never a moment when I could happily eat my fried egg and plate of chips without a tinge of conscience!

Got up got out of bed and brushed my hair with a magnificent brush I bought in London when waiting at London Heathrow for the departure of my non stop jet to San Francisco!  What next!   Well! I checked my email like every decent woman should and there before
my very eyes: ran the letter:

CONGRATULATIONS! you  have won the Japanese Lottery for one million US dollars!
My mind rolled over and over again!  BUY that villa in Spain, or now move out to Istanbul and buy a villa like the boss!  Save all the poets in the world!  Now I could achieve my lifelong ambition: and of course I did precisely that!

I am now the richest old girl my school has been known!  I own:  A Castle In Spain and a
Villa in Turkey! And I am surrounded by world poets!

To cap it all, my book - slow in coming has topped the best seller list and I am riding high alongside the top writers in America including the famous prizewinners in writing in English!  Mon dieu – keep on rocking!

Regards:
SM THOMPSON: AUTHOR: SOUTHAMPTON: UK:

HOW I WON THE JAPANESE LOTTERY AND BECAME A BESTSELLER

IN AMERICA!

AUTHOR: SM THOMPSON:

smtompson@yahoo.com

~**~**~

~ Wash Your Mouth Out! ~

Joyce. C. Lock

    Whoever decided which were bad words, I do not know.  However, as we well remember, when cursing came out of our mouth, as children, the new soap bar came out of the cabinet, too (only with a little help from our parents).

    Some may get out the soap, for their children, still, today.  Though, few realize we could benefit from it, ourselves.  While several have cleaned up the fowl language, we still speak cursing:

To Our Children

"You are the laziest kid I ever saw!"

To Our Mate

"All you care about is yourself."

To Past Friends

"You are so inconsiderate!"

About Ourselves

"Alzheimer runs in our family.  So, I'll probably get it, too."

About Others

"Well, they just can't seem to do anything right."

    Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.  Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing.  My brethren, these things ought not so to be.  Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?  Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries?  either a vine, figs?  so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.   Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you?  let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.  But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

    This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

James 3:9-18

    Most of the time, we do not advertise our fowl language.  We may not share our cursing, in regard to others.  But, we are pretty free to share them about ourselves.  "I'm getting old."  "I may not live much longer."  "I am too dumb to learn that."  "I won't ever be able to walk, again."

    This verse recently spoke to me and, because I love you, I truly pray you get it, too.  God gave us power, using our words, which could be the very reason Jesus said, "According to your faith be it unto you," Mt. 8:28-29.  Whenever we make negative statements, we are giving Satan permission to make that evil so.

A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth;

and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. 
Death and life are in the power of the tongue:

and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. 

Proverbs 18:20-21

    So, the next time something negative comes out of your mouth (before evil has time to take its effect), go wash your mouth out.  You will be certain to remember, then.

Much of what ails us, and our loved ones,

are words we have spoken. 

© 2004 by Joyce C. Lock
http://our.homewithgod.com/heavenlyinspirations/

Poetry Section

~**~**~

Dedicated to Mark Boda’s Dad.

Little Brother

Joan Clifton Costner

Come on home, little brother of mine,

Come on home, you’re so weary.

How many battles you’ve fought and lost;

How many scars you carry! 

Each battle, you thought, the last one -

You were convinced you could win;

But I am tired of seeing you

Beaten and suffering, again.

Come on home ~ Dad’s waiting;

Big arms open wide up there.

He wants you so, and, yes, He knows

You’ve had more than your share.

Fathers are always waiting

To see a son coming home ~

And this big Brother is here to say

I’ll go with you - I’ll carry you some. 

You can rest in My arms, little brother,

You can sleep awhile and grow strong.

Don’t worry ~ I never stumble

Let’s, you and I, move right along. 

Awhile back I did some time for you

In a battle you couldn’t have won ~

So now, I’ll take you home, little brother,

You’re one of those I call my own. 

There are demons we fight and the struggle

Isn’t always so obvious here;

There are souls that tremble in silence ~

Hiding away in fear.

There are warriors, too, that do battle

With a monster that just won’t die.

The world watches (with all the answers)

But not acting very wise.

Someone had a smile for you, brother,

Someone, an encouraging word ~

Someone with an hour and spiritual power

Could have said what you never heard.

So I’m taking you home, little brother,

Where the tempter can come never more ~

I set your soul free! Come! Abide with me!

Let’s be off for the golden shore!

Joan Clifton Costner

jody@ptsi.net

Ref:

John 15: 16 "You did not choose me ~ I have chosen you."

Prov. 18:24 "There is a Friend Who sticketh closer than a brother."

Rom. 8: "The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared

with the glory that is to come."

~**~**~

Dear Carol...

My best friend from age 10 is named "Ginger" = so maybe that's why I feel so for

Ginger who is losing her father.  I thought this might help too.  I promise this is all...

:-) EXCEPT maybe read "Story of a Champion" (my mother's last day) and tell her

they don't die....Angels...The Lord Himself will usher them to Glory.  Just keep sharp and

tuned to the Holy Spirit for I do believe if my attention had not been distracted with Glenn's

pacemaker and all that, I would have felt the brush of Angel wings....

She didn't die.  She just changed abodes.  You have eternal life right now.

Love In Christ Jesus,

Joan

http://underhiswings0.tripod.com
http://www.heavenlypoetry.com

Portals of Heaven

Joan Clifton Costner

Portals of Heaven ~ Portals of Grace!

Portals, beyond which

I’ll see His face!

Portals ~ the doorway, to Life evermore ~

Portals, the entry, to Eternity’s shore! 

I see the Pearly gates in my mind ~

I won’t even think of

What I’ve left behind;

Jesus will be there ~ arms open wide ~

Gathering jewels to the other side. 

I see the angels, I see their eyes,

Watching intently

For Jesus’ great prize,

The life that He laid down, paid for all sin;

Gladly rejoicing as I enter in.

Oh, All the loved ones,

Gone on before ~

See how they run to His open door!

Oh, what rejoicing, singing His name ~

Land of the Sonlight ~ always the same! 

Never a dull day, never a tear!

Never a lonely

Soul will be there!

No wreath of sorrow will hang on a door

Jesus, our Savior, safe on His shore! 

While I am waiting ~ down here below ~

I’ll let my heart’s cup

With Love overflow!

I’ll dream the dream that ~ He died to share,

Holding my breath and watching the air!

Soon through the Eastern ~ sky He will break ~

Just like He promised,

Loved one to take!

Unfolding the pages of Life throughout time ~

Precious Redeemer ~ I call Him mine! 

Basking in Sonlight ~ all of our days ~

How could we ever

Sing worthy praise?

All that He asks is ~ love Him so true ~

Love comes so easy, now how about you?

Will you let Jesus, pardon today,

All of the sin load

You’ve packed away?

His blood is still flowing ~ so strong and so pure ~

Oh, come to Jesus, and Heaven is sure! 

CHORUS: 

PORTALS OF GLORY! MERCY AND GRACE!

I’LL SEE MY REDEEMER -THEN FACE TO FACE!

THERE ON THE HILLSIDES, BY THE CLEAR CRYSTAL SEA

MANSIONS ARE WAITING - AND THERE’S ONE FOR ME!

©© 2005 by Joan Clifton Costner

Under His Wings Heavenly Poetry

Joan is a Heavenly Inspirations Author.

This writing may be used in its entirety, with credits in tact,
for non-profit ministering purposes.

Joan Clifton Costner

jody@ptsi.net

~**~**~

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; Booher, Paula; 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