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____________________________ *Magic Jars* 4/4/02 ____________________________ 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 the thousands of HeartTouchers.com readers around the world by sending an e-mail with the word "Subscribe" in the subject line to: HeartTouchers@aol.com Visit our inspirational web site and read all the past stories in our archives at: http://www.HeartTouchers.com ____________________________________________ Can't get enough inspirational stories in your life? Would you like to send a unique gift to your friends and family? Then order a personalized autographed copy of the inspirational book: Straight From the Heart "A Celebration of Life" by Michael T. Powers for only $13.95. And best of all, we'll pay the shipping! Michael is an award winning writer whose stories have appeared in numerous newspapers and magazines around the world and in the following books: Chicken Soup for the Sports Fan's Soul, Chicken Soup for the Grandparent's Soul, Stories For the Extreme Teen's Heart, Stories For the Extreme Teen's Heart 2, Stories for the Teen's Heart 2, Heartwarmers, God Allows U-Turns Volumes 1, 3, and 4, Creating Emotionally Safe Schools, and in the upcoming books: Don't Sweat the Small Stuff Story Collection and The Miracle of Boys. He has signed several contracts for future Chicken Soup and other inspirational books. Still not convinced? You can preview his book by visiting: http://www.HeartTouchers.com/michael_powers AOL Users click here! To order your autographed copy have a check or money order for $13.95 for each book made out to Michael T. Powers, and then send it to: Michael T. Powers 1918 Liberty Lane Janesville, WI 53545 (Please allow about 2 weeks for delivery.) _________________________________________ Magic Jars By Christine Donavan Hayden My Polish Great-Aunt, Choicha Madja, was the inspiration for most things "goodie" in my life. She was a beautiful woman and always conducted herself with grace and dignity. She and her family lived on a chicken farm in rural Connecticut, and even as a young child, I knew there was a regalness about her that transcended her surroundings. Looking through old family photographs, as a baby she posed with stature, seated in my Great-grandfather's lap. Her finely chiseled face resembled her mother's. I was the oldest of all the 'next generation,' at the time, so, it is in my mind that these treasured memories are ensconced. As our respective families grew and scattered, I became the repository of many things that may have been tossed aside or abandoned. These memories are too precious not to share with someone. Choicha lived in a simple farmhouse nestled on a hill, complete with apple trees in the front yard, and neatly trimmed grape vines across the back. Everything was neat and orderly! The long rows of chicken coops to the inside of the diminutive house! They were clean, hardworking, gentle people. They never let their labors detract from their manners or Faith. Simplicity! Order! Faith! Kindness! Good Manners! I could go on and on with the values instilled in me by this woman. She loved to bake. She loved to share. And the main ingredient in all her "goodies," was love! The aroma wafting from her tiny kitchen would greet you from the driveway. You wanted to rush in that back door, screen door slamming behind, and throw yourself onto a kitchen chair...and stuff yourself silly!!! Some days were kitchen days...some were side porch days...others were parlor days...but, always...always, she served things with Grace! No rushing into things with Choicha, you had to follow etiquette, and savor every moment with her s-l-o-w-l-y. Of all the tangible things she had, I loved her set of German canisters. They were white, hand-painted porcelain, with a delicate row of pink and tangerine cosmos, bordered with goldleaf. A wisp of gold gilded the handles of each jar. They sat on a shelf along a kitchen wall, and were the first thing you noticed as you walked into the room. They were "magic jars" to me, because whether it be coffee or tea, or the sugar and spice that made everything so nice, they all went from packages to jars, and were handled with care. They elevated the whole process of her baking and serving to an art form. She received those jars as a shower gift as a young bride-to-be. Over the years, the service dwindled. Though she loved them dearly, she always used them. Those that were salvageable were mended and returned to their place of honor. Choicha baked for her family and extended relatives and friends. Into her late seventies, she would remember everyone on her Holiday list with a plate of exquisite cookies, and a money holder with a one dollar bill! From Choicha I learned the most important lesson in life: Give what you can, but do it with love in your heart. When you walk into my little kitchen now, there are those "magic jars" sitting on a shelf. There they are, big and small: Coffee, Tea, Sugar, Rice, Ginger, Cinnamon, and Nutmeg. They are all that is left, except my memories. My memories, and the most important ingredient of all...Love! One of Choicha's special recipes was for 'Fried Twists.' Just by 'listening' to her recount of preparation, you can appreciate her delicate and precise demeanor. I know she would be pleased that I would remember to "share" this recipe with you. Choicha's Fried Twists 4 Egg Yolks 1/4 Cup Heavy Cream (Sour) 1/3 Cup Granulated Sugar 1 2/3 Cups Sifted Flour 1/4 Teaspoon Salt 1/4 Teaspoon Cinnamon or Pinch of Mace Beat egg yolk until light. Add cream and sugar and beat well. Add flour, salt and spice. Roll small amount of dough at a time into a little less than 1/8" thickness. Cut in 1" x 3" strips with pastry wheel, cutting diagonally. Make lengthwise slit in center of each strip. Twist. Fry in deep fat at 350* until light brown. Drain on brown paper. Dust with powdered sugar while warm. Christine Hayden PrettyGBC@CS.Com Write Christine and let her know your thoughts on her story! _______________________________________ Christine Hayden lives with her husband, Bob, a furry friend, a feathered duo, and a fish in The City of Presidents, Quincy, Massachusetts. Physical limitations have blessed her with a clearer vision of her abilities to share stories of her childhood. She appreciates all the writers who have touched her life through two very isolated years, and sends prayers of thanksgiving for their inspiration. Christine may be reached at: PrettyGBC@CS.Com _________________________________________ Thought For The Day: "God has a history of using the insignificant to accomplish the impossible."--Richard Exley Verse for the Day: And Jesus looking upon them said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." --Mark 10:27 Kid's Thought For The day: "Don't argue for a later bedtime when you still have pajamas with feet." Parent's Thought For The Day "People who say they sleep like a baby usually don't have one." --L.J. Burke Coach's Thought For The Day "The Lord gave us two ends to use; one to think with, the other to sit on. Which one we use will determine how well we do in life. In other words, heads you win, tails you lose." Writer's Thought For The Day; "Put your ear down close to your soul and listen hard." --Anne Sexton Deep Thought For The Day: "If a man says something in the woods and there are no women there, is he still wrong?" ___________________________________________ _ /_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS \_\ / HeartTouchers@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 HeartTouchers.com are owned by the authors and are used with their permission. We refuse to run stories without the author's permission and contact info listed after the story. We also refuse to publish stories listed as "author unknown." (All of which violates Copyright Law and the rights of the authors.) This e-mail 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. Thank you so much for honoring the rights of those writers who graciously share their stories with us! __________________________________________ 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 photos! Check out my video production business by visiting: http://www.hearttouchers.com/video_imagery/ AOL Users click here: Video Imagery ___________________________________________ Would you like to see your story in HeartTouchers.com? Writer's guidelines can be found on our Web site here: http://www.HeartTouchers.com/guidelines/ AOL Users click here: Writer's Guidelines ___________________________________________ SUBSCRIBE: "I need a daily source of inspiration and encouragement in my life!" To become a HeartTouchers.com Member send an e-mail with "Subscribe" in the subject line to: HeartTouchers@AOL.COM Then get ready to laugh, cry, and be deeply touched by some of the best stories on the Internet! __________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: All you have to do is send an e-mail with the word "Unsubscribe" in the subject line to: HeartTouchers@aol.com Give it a day or two to be processed... __________________________________________ Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you? http://www.greatcom.org/english/four.htm AOL Users click here: The Four Spiritual Laws __________________________________________ |
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Touching Lives - One E-mail at a Time! Author Michael T. Powers - HeartTouchers @ aol.com
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