Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

June 17, 2006

Fathers Day Stories

Today’s announcements

Another new writer comes to the Storytime Tapestry fold.  Bev Sobkowich, becomes writer # 336.  Please email her and welcome her the Storytime Tapestry way!

Now onto the good stuff!

Today’s Fathers Day Stories

~**~**~

~**~**~

My Father Was Such a Gentleman

Bev Sobkowich

I often felt that I was the luckiest girl in the world. My Dad was a gentle and caring man. I wanted to do outdoor chores with him. Now in town, that meant gardening and berry picking and other such chores.

Dad took me fishing and took the whole family camping. I went with Dad and my two brothers and my sister enjoyed the shore life with Mom.

We made three cents a pound selling rhubarb from our garden in the summer. At the same time we would pick raspberries for dessert at home.

This was a great way for little girls to make money at a very young age. They were people Dad knew so we were safe.

I found a dog that I insisted upon keeping. After three days my parents greed to keep him and named him Toby. He was the type of dog that had a personality that everyone came to know. Dad pretended he tolerated Toby but if we peeked outside we would see him petting Toby like the good pal he was. One day Toby went into convulsions and all of a sudden Dad was outside with milk and mustard mixed together. He got it down Toby's throat and up came the poison that was affecting him. Dad saved our special pet.

I keep a special place in my heart for my Dad and think of all the special things he did that warmed a place in my heart for him. I will love him forever.

Bev Sobkowich

beviejo@shaw.ca

Bev is a happy wife, mother, and grandmother. She loves to write and spend time with friends and family. Genealogy is a passion of both hers and her husbands.

~**~**~

What Is A Dad?
Barbara Roney

My dad married my mother over 54 years ago when I was five and a half years old. After their small wedding at City Hall, with a Justice of the Peace presiding, I was so excited to have a daddy that I ran outside, and jumped up and down, and shouted for the entire world to hear, "I have a daddy now, I have a daddy now!" My biological father had left my mother, my sister and I shortly before I was born. Daddy entered my life when I was four.

Dad willingly became my dad. You see a man can be a father, but not every man can be a dad. A dad is a man who chooses to be a father knowing that it won't be an easy job. Dads are men who willingly give their lives and whole being to raising a child. A dad is a man who takes their child to a friend's house for an overnight, or goes swimming with them at the local pool and who involves himself in the sometimes tedious and maddening daily life of a child. A dad is a man who teases the friends who visit or who holds their child's head when they are sick. Dads help with homework, and try to help their child make sense out of math or help with reports that are due the next day. A dad is a man who patiently teaches his daughter to drive or picks up the pieces when his daughter breaks up with a boyfriend or waits up until she comes home from a date. A dad is a man who chooses to be a father and gives his heart.

Taking on a woman with two girls, four and nine must have caused daddy some thought. A few years after my parents married, daddy legally adopted my sister and me. We became his in the eyes of the law but in reality we became his children the day he and my mother exchanged wedding vows. Daddy was a man who always faced life straight on with a beautiful smile and generous sense of humor and I’m sure those assets helped him while raising us to adulthood.

Daddy never complained about anything. He had faced a painful divorce, which forced him to leave his two small boys, with quiet dignity. Although he suffered greatly he never complained about the situation. He tried to do the best he could with the situation life had presented him and that entailed having his sons come for a visit as often as their mother would allow.

That's how my dad lived his life until he went to live with his Lord on August 3, 2005. Dad took each circumstance life offered and dealt with it the best way he knew how and we learned to do that by watching him. He always faced life head on with dignity and grace. He never ran from anything. One of dad’s favorite sayings was "That's life" and he said it many times through the years and meant it. The older I become the more I appreciate his outlook on life. His legacy of humor and love will be with me always.

We chose our dad but even better he chose us. Daddy's love for his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren was best seen in the loving looks he gave us, his gentle touch, and his kindhearted teasing. He was a caring and considerate man with a ready laugh. We all knew how fortunate we were and we thank God for leading dad to our family.  Father’s Day before daddy died I wrote in his card and told him how much he meant to me and also told him how much I loved him. I thanked him once more for wanting us to be a part of his life and for all the love he gave to us. My dad, William R. Reeves, was the kindest human being I have ever known. I never heard him say one unkind thing about anyone. He was a very special man, my dad.

Barbara Roney

busyb460 @ msn.com

Barbara lives in Portland, Oregon, and is a wife of 39 years, mother of two, and grandmother of Brianna, the light of her life. She has been writing for herself and her family for several years. Previous stories include Missing Dad, Pretending, Grandma's Quilts, Christmas Nostalgia, Bridal Veil, Tell Them and No Damage Done. She says "Writing is a wonderful way of expressing what's in my heart."

Poetry Section

~**~**~

"SING   FOR   ME,   MY PRiNCESS"

Mary Carter Mizrany

                 Sweet memories I   treasure
                     Of   you, daddy dear . . .
                Tho' I cannot   hold you now
                          Ever   so near . . .

                     For you left this earth
                     So  many years   ago . . .
                To   your Heavenly mansion
                    It's   glorious   I   know ~

                     I'm thinking of those times
                Of   such   tenderness  we shared . . .
                   Times you encouraged when
                        I  felt   nobody   cared ~

                  Reminiscing and hearing your
                    Voice   gentle and   sweet . . .
                     Saying " Sing for me,  my Princess"
                   Make   my   day   complete ~

                    The struggles you   overcame
                       Never   sharing   the   pain . . .
                      And   regrets   for mistakes
               You   prayed   you'd not make again ~

                    Your   intelligence and integrity
                      Calmness ~ wit and charm . . .
                    Your   graciousness of   spirit
                        Arms so strong and warm ~

                      How you   knelt by your bed
                     Each night,  daddy,  in prayer . . .
                     I   heard you   so many times 
                   You   didn't   know   I   was there ~

                   I   think of   your courage, daddy
                   Fighting   the   cancer that spread . . .
                    Slowly   destroying   your   body
                     With its   horrors and dread ~

                   Then your gentle voice interrupts
                        That so hurtful   memory . . .
                   "Don't   dwell   on that   sadness
                   My princess,   sing your song for me" ~

                    " I'm waiting here in HEAVEN"
                      I   hear you, daddy, softly   say . . .
                    "We'll   have a   glad   reunion 
                        It   can   happen just any day" !

                               Mary Carter Mizrany
                                     June 1, 2003

                         Dedicated to my precious daddy,
                     DOCK   FRANKLIN   CARTER, II

                       March ~ 1915 ~ November ~ 1971
                 Your family   loves and misses you, daddy:-)

~**~**~

"HEADS   ABOVE  THE  REST"
by  Mary Carter Mizrany

Gordon's  children  love  and  respect  him  so much!
And,  for  very  good  reasons,  might  I  add.

Gordon  and  I  married  when  we  were  both
thirty.    He  had  never  been  married,  but,  I
had  been  and  brought  two  children  into  our
marriage.   David  was  nine,  Dana  seven.

Gordon  had  never  really  been  around  children
that  much  so  this  "daddy"  thing  was  a  whole
new  ballgame  for  him.    Although  we  dated for
almost  a year  before  our  marriage  and  the
children  were  included  in  almost  all of  our  "dates",
I'm  pretty  certain  Huggiebear  was  not  totally
prepared   for  this  "new  life" :-)

He  made  the  adjustments  well,  though,  and
brought  some much~needed  discipline  and
security  into  the  lives  of   our  children.

We  married  on  a  Friday  evening,  moved
into  our  new home  over  that  week~end  and
Huggie  started  a  new  job  that  Monday  morning.
This  should  give  you  a  good  idea  of  his
determination.

Gordon  has  always  given  so much of himself
to  his  family.     He  didn't  hesitate  to  jump
right  in  with  David's  cub  scout  activities  and
was  very  supportive  and  helpful  with  both
children  when  it  came  to  their  schooling.
A  hard~working  man,  who  worked  at  least
two  jobs  most  of the  time  our  children  were
growing  up,  Gordon  still  found  time  to
make  sure  all of  us  felt  secure  in  our  relationships
with  him.

After  almost  three years  of  marriage,  our  family
grew  to  five  with the  birth of  our  William.
Oh,  what  total  JOY  the  four  of  us   felt  to  welcome
our  William  into  the  world.   He  was  doted  upon
by   not  only  Huggiebear and  me,  but  David and
Dana  just  adored  him.    Now,  Huggie  spread  his
love  and  care  between  the  four of  us:-)

Our  children  may  have  lacked  for  some of  the
finer  things  (as  some  would  call them)  in life;
however,  they   NEVER  lacked  for  the  REALLY
important  things   like:   learning  to  be  responsible,
having  the  security  of  KNOWING  they  had  the
support  of  a  daddy  &  mother  who loved  them,
spiritual  guidance  and  leadership,  a  daddy
who  planned  for  their  futures  and  put  "elbow~grease"
behind  those  plans  and,  last  but not  least,
they  learned  not  to "give up"  when  the  going
got  tough.

I  thank  our Lord  every  day  for  saving  "Huggiebear"
for  me  and  our  children:-)    Our Father  knew  just
who  we  needed  in  our  lives  (and  ALL the  reasons
why)  And,  today,  the  children  are  all  three
grown,  two of whom  have  raised  two children
of  their  own ~ passing  down  so many  of  the
fine  qualities  obtained from  being  raised  by
"OUR  DADDY"

~**~**~

"HEADS   ABOVE   THE   REST"
Mary Carter Mizrany

There's   lots to say about a dad
that's   heads above   the rest . . .
And when God was making daddys
HE   gave us   the VERY   BEST ~

Hard~working is his middle name
disciplinarian, yes, it's true . . .
With a heart  that knows the secrets
of making   children's dreams come true ~

Our Daddy's   hands   are skillful
they possess that   "Magic" touch . . .
From building stools &   tables
to stuff   kids like   so much ~

And he taught   us by example
to not   give up   the race . . .
Tread  water when ya'  just can't swim
and floating's   no disgrace ~

He taught  us to  "bite the bullet"
When pain  is  just   too great . . .
Yet he also offers  tenderness
and   tears he never  will  berate ~

We   know he   isn't   perfect
There is   only ONE   of   those . . .
But of   all the dads in this old world
We're glad it's him our mother chose ~

Our Daddy   could have   turned his back
like   so many   seem to do . . .
But   he   is   heads above the rest
That's why, dear daddy, we love YOU!

        Mary Carter Mizrany
        June 30, 2003

Dedicated to:   Gordon E.  Mizrany
Dad of:   David, Dana & William
who is   HEADS ABOVE THE REST  !
I sure  do  love  you, my  sweet "Huggiebear" :-)
founder of On Wings of Faith Ministries
website: www.onwingsoffaith.com
resides in Humble, Texas 
email:  musingbymary@aol.com

Readers Feedback

Olivia's story about her sister was soo beautiful, Jene

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;

Dowd, Hartson; Gilbert, Robert, Jr.; Gold, Ron; Goodier, Steve; Braun-Haley, Ellie; Harris, Kathy Anne; Henry, Linda Ann; 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

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Thelma Hartselle - Co-Founder, Moderator

Clara Westerfer – moderator

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