Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

July 10, 2006

Today’s announcements

Today we welcome another new writer for Storytime Tapestry by the name of Sheri Solomon.  She becomes the 340^th writer who has published with our newsletter.  Sheri just calls her poetry ramblings but we know better.  Please take the time to email her and tell her how much you enjoy her work.

Now onto the good stuff!

Today’s Queue Stories

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YOUR LIFE IN YOUR FACE

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

joecool@wirefire.com

     I was shaving this morning when I noticed something interesting. I had just finished taking off the previous day’s growth of beard and was putting on my aftershave when my youngest boy came in and laughed at his reflection. It is a game he loves to play, so I joined in smiling and making faces in the mirror. It was then that I noticed it. Whenever I smiled dozens of deep wrinkles would appear around my eyes and my mouth. As soon as I made a frown, though, all of them would disappear and only a few "frown lines" would take their place. It seemed amazing that I should have so many more wrinkles from smiling than from frowning, but as I looked at myself I heard the gentle voice of God in my thoughts saying, "Enjoy what you see. The choices of your lifetime live in your face." This made me smile even more and I took joy in knowing that my smiles had so outnumbered my frowns in this life.

     I, for one, never want a facelift or a botox treatment no matter how wrinkled I get. Each wrinkle is the evidence of thousands of smiles, of moments spent laughing and loving, and of a life lived in joy and oneness with God. It is good to know too that I can keep adding to them all of my life. It is never too late to add a wrinkle of happiness, kindness, and love to your face and show the world the beautiful life you are living.

     I hope that your face steadily grows more wrinkled in all the right places then. I hope that your frowns are few and far between and your smiles are many and made with love. I hope that you can look in the mirror and see the beautiful evidence of a life lived in love, in joy, and in oneness with God. Always remember that God wants you to laugh, God wants you to love, and God want you to delight in those choices of goodness that show up so gloriously in your life and in your face.

Joe Mazzella

joecool@wirefire.com

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A Scriptural 'How to' for Writing ...

Joyce C. Lock

     Once I discovered that scripture provides 'how to's' to be successful at whatever the Lord calls us to; the Bible became so exciting!  For example, pay close attention to this verse.

"I am the vine, ye are the branches:

He that abideth in me, and I in him,
the same bringeth forth much fruit:

for without me ye can do nothing."

John 15:5

     The key word is 'abide'.  All we have to do, to reach MANY for the Lord, is to abide.  Now, abide does not mean to be good enough or to do anything better than the next guy.  It is about having a close knit, moment by moment, relationship with the Lord.  And, it does not mean we are not allowed to have another thought.
 
     Though, when busy with daily chores or driving in the car, consider listening to Inspirational music or a sermon on tape (just whatever ministers you); directing your thoughts toward God.  Begin to consider television and radio preferences; not for legalism's sake but, to protect your mind toward better things.
 
     Envision God standing right beside you, wherever you go.  Then, whenever you have a thought, share it with Him as you would a friend ... and be sure to listen, too.  Now, that would make His day, as His greatest desire is to dwell with you!
 
     And, soon, you will begin to discover things that matter to your heart and His.  As those feelings begin to surface, the Spirit begins to move, and the words begin to flow ~ write them down.  Then, with just a few touch ups, you will have a guaranteed Masterpiece!

"For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Matthew 11:30

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Poetry Section

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I wrote this - during the month of May - during the first few weeks after we adopted our first daughter, whom we named Katherine Eliza. Kate came to live with us when she was 3 days old. Just this summer Kate found her first mother... it is with joy that we have come full circle.

Kate and DeAnne have not only exchanged email, letters, phone calls,

they have been blessed to have a wonderful face to face visit.

We have waited for this day -- since the moment we first considered adoption, as a way to build our family..  My husband and I can't wait until we will be blessed to meet her, and hug her, too.

Sheri Solomon

email.sheri@verizon.net

ok... here are my words..

To My Unknown Sister
Sheri Solomon

When I first held my daughter in my arms -
My heart ached
For you in your time of struggle
To share with me the joy.

And each day since
When looking and loving
My heart
Is full of the love you have for her.

Love which we'll build upon
And share with her
Always.

The water  you see erupting in Yellowstone today fell as rain and snow

long before Columbus explored the New World,

maybe in the days of Julius Caesar!"

..quote from the book Geysers : What They Are and How They Work, 2nd Edition

by T. Scott Bryan

Ramblings

Sheri Solomon

email.sheri@verizon.net

Now... knowing this fact

I wonder ...

How old are my tears that flow...

Tears that weep for awakening memories

Tears that cry for Mother Earth

Tears that come from my soul...

How long must they have existed...

Yet, recently they come quicker,

faster, flooding..... as pre-mortal memories return..

and the strange thing..

as each tear is shed, more are born

stored within deep founts ....

I must have eternal pools ...

aching for action.

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We Look … But Can We See?

Sheri Solomon

email.sheri@verizon.net

we look... but can we see?

we walk... but do we know where we tread?

we gaze upward... yet are we peeking into heaven?

we breathe .. but do we deeply inhale and slowly exhale, savoring each sensation?

we talk ... yet do we take time to listen?

we smile -  but with only our lips .. or with our entire being?

and when we praise ... do we open our mind, our eyes, our body, our soul

and express thanksgiving?

blessings upon blessings..

too numerous to count

each day upon us they fall....

we can allow them to

trickle through our fingers falling thankless

or we can choose to bathe with them

gather and clutch them close...

drenching us totally

rejoicing daily,

no hourly, (no not enough)...

rejoicing .... always

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 Inside Out

Sheri Solomon

email.sheri@verizon.net

drawing from one's core ... to the top layer of skin

those celestial

eternal

internal yearnings/urgings

bringing back to the sun

to the surface

the light from within

that has slumbered in darkness

longer than they should...

striving to reach

and join .. to merge with those other radiating beings...

who feel the same..

who are beginning to re-remember

who dare never to forget/or be buried again...

Shine...

shining... as they proclaim

loudly

their purpose, their insight, their goal

the future of

all

email.sheri@verizon.net

Readers Feedback

Prayer Requests and Updates

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; Dowd, Helen; 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

Carol Roach - Founder/publisher

Thelma Hartselle - Co-Founder, Moderator

Clara Westerfer – moderator

Bob Johnston - moderator