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*Kitchen Table* 4/12/02 __________________________ 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.) _________________________________________ We end this week of stories with one by regular contributor Mary Emma Allen and her thoughts about that wonderful meeting place of the family: The Kitchen Table. Too often our hectic lives mean that we don't gather around the kitchen table for meals like we used to... We have tried to make that a priority in our house and have added another tradition, thanks to our friend Karla Chrislaw, who gave us one of the most thoughtful gifts recently. It is a hand painted mason jar with hundreds of thought-provoking questions inside printed on colorful strips of paper. Each meal I pull out three or four questions to read to our two little boys. Questions that range from just plain fun, like: "If you could be one animal for a day, which animal would it be and how would you spend your day?" To questions that are more serious, like: "Why did God give us the Bible?" We start with Connor our youngest, and then go around and have everyone tell us their thoughts. It has been a great activity to bring us all closer together, and the boys can't wait to answer the questions. I am continually amazed at how young minds think and most of the time the answers are incredibly funny, or incredibly precious... If your family doesn't gather around the dinner table together, start taking steps to insure that it will happen in the near future. You won't regret it... I promise... From my family to yours, Michael P.S. A very special happy birthday to one of the sweetest, most admirable young ladies in the state of Wisconsin; Stacey Blue! We love ya Stacey and hope your birthday is a special one... _________________________________________ Memories Around the Kitchen Table By Mary Emma Allen So many family happenings take place around the dining table, leaving us with memories which shape our lives. My family wonders why I collect these family tables and enjoy them as three generations gather around for meals, to do homework, chat over a cup of tea, or work on crafts and projects. Many of my "Country Kitchen" columns are written there as I set up my notebook computer at the table while grandchildren and grand nieces play around me. Dining Tables in Your Life Think of the kitchen or dining tables of your childhood, early married years, and later days when more than one generation gathered there. These may be tables you have in your possession now or simply ones you recall in memory. I never thought tables would be something to collect, to use in my home today. But as my parents and my husband's left their homes for smaller abodes or residency in assisted living homes, the large dining tables were among the possessions they couldn't take with them. Between my daughter and myself, we have three kitchen tables -- one from my childhood and two from my husband's. Once when asked to write a note to her grandparents about her favorite visits at their farm, my daughter mentioned gathering in the kitchen around the large table. How enjoyable that she now has that table, which she'll use in her home. The memories of her grandparents' kitchen will be carried forth to her children and rituals from her childhood may be experienced throughout the years. Our Current Table The dining table we use in our multigenerational household was the special one my mother-in-law purchased when she finally could have a more formal dining room After children were grown. This trestle table was one she dreamed of for years...one she enjoyed as she entertained family and friends. I recall her pleasure in obtaining different table cloths and placemats for this table, decorating it for various festive occasions, and entertaining as she hadn't been able when children were small. Since we have a dining area large enough for it, and a family large enough to use it, the table became ours when Mom moved to a retirement home. Now her great grandchildren gather round for meals and activities. We call it Grandma G-G's table and recall the fun times in her home, highlighted by a 90th surprise birthday party. Family and friends gathered at this table and others set up inside and out the house. Memories of My Childhood The table from my childhood is well worn and needs much refinishing. "Why don't you throw it out?" I'm asked. "It holds too many memories," I answer. "We'll find time to refinish it and someday I or grandchildren will use it." Do you have table in your life which tells a story ... whether from long ago or more recent years? Jot down or record these memories for future generations and insure your family heritage will survive. Mary Emma Allen, (c)2002 me.allen@juno.com Write Mary Emma and let her know your thoughts on her story! _______________________________________ Mary Emma Allen has been writing cooking columns for 30 years and has compiled a family cookbook. She's currently compiling a cookbook/story book, "Tales From a Country Kitchen." She writes for children and adults and has compiled a book of children's stories, "Tales of Adventure & Discovery" along with an accompanying coloring book. Visit her web site to learn about her books and read more of her articles: http://www.homepage.fcgnetworks.net/jetent/mea _________________________________________ Thought For The Day: "How much pain have cost us the evils which have never happened." (Thomas Jefferson) Verse for the Day: "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life." Matthew 6:27 Kid's Thought For The Day: "Dream." Parent's Thought For The Day "The main reason kids eat supper is to get dessert. But the better the dessert is, the less supper they eat." (Bruce Lansky) Coach's Thought For The Day "Confidence is the invisible cement that binds a team together." (Bud Wilkinson) Deep Thought For The Day: "The most irritating thing in the world is when a left-handed person puts the bread tie back on the loaf." ___________________________________________ REQUESTS: Hello Michael and the HeartTouchers family, I would like to request everyone to please include my grandma in their prayers. She is 93 years old now and has been in and out of the hospital this year. A couple of months ago, she survived several attacks of cardiovascular stroke. She was again confined in the hospital, at the intensive care unit, since last week when she was observed to be in a state of stupor. I'm sure everyone in our family have the same thought as myself that it's quite a long shot to hope for her full recovery. What I'm praying for is that my grandma not to feel as much pain as possible. And also that she may be given a chance to see all her children, some of whom are in another country, before she takes her final rest. You see, apart from her children, all her grandchildren love her very much since many of us have had the enriching opportunity to have been 'spoiled' by her, even for a short period of time. God bless you all, Alex, AUSTA@amkor.com ___________________________________________ _ /_/\/\ 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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