===============================
{SFTH} *The Storybook Quilt* 3/21/01
===============================
If you enjoy this free daily email service, I encourage you to
spread the word to family and friends that we may bring
inspiration into the lives of many! If you are not on the list
and this has been passed along to you, join us by sending
a blank email to: Thunder27@aol.com
I appreciate any feedback or constructive criticism, so feel free to
write me (Michael T. Powers) and let me know what you think!
Just joined us and want to see all the past stories we've run?
Visit our inspirational website at:
http://www.storiesfrommyheart.com
AOL Users click here: Straight From the Heart
==================================================
The Storybook Quilt
By Christine McClimans
"Hey Grandma, what cha doin'?" I asked in my
little girl voice. Grandma looked up and a broad
smile spread across her face. "Oh, just quilting,
Chrissy. Come sit on your Grandma's lap while
I work." After hugging her a bit too tightly and
placing a kiss firmly on her cheek I cuddled in
her arms to watch.
After what seemed like an hour to me, but was
actually only minutes in reality, Grandma firmly
said, "Now Chrissy, sit still you're hurting my legs
with all that squirming around!"
"Oh! I'm sorry Grammy," I said as I wrinkled up
my nose, giggling as I slid to the floor. I looked up
at her to see if she was angry. I could see that she
was amused at my "cute" actions. I decided not
to push my luck. I sat quietly cross-legged on the
floor watching as she sorted and stacked the
small squares.
I was never, and doubtfully ever will be, someone
content to just sit and watch. I reached my tiny
hand deep into the worn pillowcase, pulling out
many squares of beautiful colored material.
"Sweetheart, go slow, why don't you tell me one
by one the colors you see? Do you know all your
colors?"
"GRANDMA! Of course I do! I am five you know,"
I said matter of factly with my hands on my hips. I
could see how she had to bite her lip to keep
from laughing.
"All right then, my big girl, let's get busy and sort
by color."
"Sure thing, Grammy... red, blue, green," I
mumbled as I slowly stacked each color into
perfect little piles. "OH! Stars and Moons! " I
squealed with excitement. She always seemed
amazed at how the smallest things would delight
me.
Once again, she grinned from ear to ear. I noticed
that from time to time she would stop and look at
one of the squares. Tenderly she would hold them
in her half-crippled hands. Touching and
smoothing the cloth and smiling to herself. To me
they were just pieces of scraps, but to her they
seemed to be something more, something very
special.
I stared at her wondering why she looked so
strange. Very quietly I touched her hand and
asked, "Grandmother, please tell me the story."
"What story is that Chrissy?" she said looking a bit
confused.
"I know magic when I see it Grandma, and I see
magic in your eyes."
"My, my, Chrissy, you are a smart little girl after all.
You see, those tiny squares are bits and pieces
from my past. The red velvet ones are from your
first Christmas dress. The blue ones are from your
mother's wedding dress and the other colors are
from different moments that I will remember all of
my life. I can take my past into the future. I can
work on this now, with you, and pass it along. This
quilt is my masterpiece."
"Why did you forget to tell me about the moon and
the stars?" I asked, pouting.
I could barely hear as she whispered, "Well, my
Angel, those are to represent YOUR hopes and
dreams. Promise me that you will never forget
them! Dreams are the wishes the heart makes."
I wondered, what were those tears that formed in
the corner of her eyes as she told me the story,
and why did she cry? Many years have come and
gone since I woke up one winter's morning and
found that beautiful quilt covering me. Grandma
had been making it for me! Then I understood the
tears that had been in her eyes.
I forgot about the quilt until today when I was talking
to a friend. He is also an aspiring writer and I found
that we have a lot in common, even though he is
more experienced and I consider him my teacher
and my mentor.
We shared how we both have note pads where
we gather bits and pieces of ourselves and parts
of our lives. Our pages are full of moons and stars.
Like Grandma's quilt... we save and collect scraps
of hopes and dreams. I believe that great writers
collect bits and pieces, hopes and dreams, for
years, saving them, and then one day they "quilt"
them into masterpieces called stories.
Christine McClimans
corky5@urec.net
Email Christine and let her know what you thought of her story!
Copyright 2000 Christine McClimans, All rights Reserved
*****
I am a freelance writer/photographer residing in a small country setting
in rural NW Ohio. I enjoy writing travel articles, fiction and nonfiction,
children's stories, poetry and inspirational material.
My credits include Hope Magazine, Over the Back Fence, Tulsa Woman
Magazine, Drag Racing Review, The Small Street Journal, Motivating Moments,
various newspapers, travel brochures, and online e-zines.
I am published in several anthologies and I have several nonfiction
stories scheduled for publication Spring 2001. I am currently active writing
my first novel.
Visit Christine's website called DreamEscapes at:
http://fictionwriter.tripod.com/McClimans.html
==================================================
Thought For The Day:
"Isolation is the worst possible counselor."
(Miguel de Unamuno)
Verse for the Day:
"Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety."
Proverbs 11:14
Kid's Thought For The Day:
"The school bus is never running late the same day you are."
Parent's Thought For The Day
"My kids would never share anything of their own free will - except germs."
(Bruce Lansky)
Coach's Thought For The Day
"As a coach I need to be able to laugh at myself. When you're able to do that you usually end up laughing with someone, not at someone, and you build camaraderie."
(Joe Broeker)
Deep Thought For The Day:
"Why do people put the window down when they smoke in the car alone? Are they afraid of breathing the smoke?"
==================================================
REQUESTS:
From: grace970@msn.com (grace970)
I have some wonderful news to share with your readers and our fellow prayer warriors. The young man I enquired all to pray for has recently came home from the hospital. All of his injured organs miraculously healed very quickly.. God surely heard all of the many Christians praying for him. He is really dealing with the loss of his leg very well. I wanted to inform you all on his condition and also thank you all so very much. For giving time in prayer for this young boy. Thank God for all the wonderful Email replies that has been sent to me for him. May God Bless you all, and enrich your lives wonderfully. In Christ, Rhonda
*********
From: craiglaw@dixie-net.com (Lisa)
Michael,
I want you to know how much I appreciate your emails. In one way or another each
touches my heart.
I was wondering if you could do me one BIG favor. I'll be going to Brazil for 10
days on a mission trip. I leave Friday, March 23, and return on Sunday, April
1. Here is my request. Would you please post a message asking that your readers
pray for me, my family, and the others and their families going on this mission
trip. We are taking four different groups, medical, evangelizing, construction,
and backyard Bible study. Please pray also for the lives we will be touching when
we reach our destination. I want only for God's will to be done.
I've never flown and I've never been away from my family for more than 2-3 days.
So I'm just a tad-bit nervous. But I know that God can take all of the
nervousness away and give me peace and comfort.
May God continue to Bless you as you serve Him.
Love in Christ, Lisa Montgomery
PS: If someone has any words of wisdom, they would very much be appreciated.
====================================================
_
/_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\ / THUNDER27@aol.com
/_/ \ "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
\_\/\ \ Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live for the Son
\_\/ of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
====================================================
The copyrights to the stories that appear in SFTH are owned by the
authors and are used with their permission. This email may be forwarded
in its entirety, but please do not cut and paste the stories to be used
elsewhere unless you have contacted, and been given permission,
by the individual writer. Thanks!
====================================================
Video Imagery (Michael's Video Production Business.)
"I thought of you first after my family sat down to watch the video we gave
them. They loved it, to say the least! Within thirty seconds my mom was
crying and my dad did too. They said it was the best Christmas gift we could
have given them!! You did such a beautiful job! They were so surprised and so
touched---they really, really, really loved it. Thanks for helping to make it so
special to us all. My mom mentioned how the songs were perfect for the
video too! Thanks again!"
Kelli-- College Station, TX
Let me make you a video from your pictures or home movies!
Check out the web page for Michael's video production business!
http://members.aol.com/Videoimg/index.html
AOL Users click here: Video Imagery
==================================================
Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you?
http://www.ccci.org/laws/index.html
AOL Users click here: The Four Spiritual Laws
==================================================
Writer's guidelines for Straight From the Heart can be found here:
http://storiesfrommyheart.com/writer_s_guidelines/
AOL Users click here: Writer's Guidelines
==================================================
UNSUBSCRIBE:
"What? You want to leave us?"
All you have to do is send a BLANK EMAIL with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line to:
Thunder27@aol.com
Give it a day or two to be processed... then try not to think of all the great stories
you will be missing!
==================================================
SUBSCRIBE:
"I need a daily source of inspiration and encouragement in my life!"
To become a Straight From the Heart Member send a BLANK EMAIL to:
Thunder27@AOL.COM
Then get ready to laugh, cry, and be deeply touched by some of the best
stories on the Internet!
==================================================
