Heart Touchers

============================

{SFTH} The Candy Bar Caper 4/16/01

============================

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

============================================
Hope everyone had a Happy Easter!

We just wanted to say thank you again for all the birthday greetings
that were sent to Kristi this past week or so. Here is a special message
from my bride!

Dear Straight from the heart "family",

I just wanted to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for the WONDERFUL
birthday cards, postcards and letters for my birthday! I received over 150
birthday greetings from all over the world!!!!! It really touched my heart.
I wish I could respond to each of you individually, but if I did you would stil
be getting them a year from now!

Thanks again to each of you...it was wonderful getting to see where you are
from and learning more about the AWESOME people on the Straight from the
Heart list! It truly was a special birthday because of the kindness of people
I have never met!
Love,
Kristi Powers

============================================
THE CANDY BAR CAPER

By Al Batt

I grew up on a diversified farm-a number of different types of
crops and various kinds of livestock. Lots of livestock. My
mother had what we called a laying house. It was an old
henhouse in which she put a couple of hundred laying hens.
Each day we would gather the eggs and when we needed groceries,
Mom would take them to Sibilrud's Cardinal Grocery Store in
Hartland and trade the eggs for some groceries. Once in
a while, there would even be enough money derived from the
eggs that I could get a candy bar.

This was not always the case. I didn't like chocolate, but for
some reason I liked "Cherry Humps" candy bars. Two
chocolate-covered cherries connected by even more chocolate
and covered with a candy wrapper.

On one such trip to town, I had a particular hankering for a
"Cherry Humps". I was seven years old. We didn't get to town
all that much. Not all the hens were good layers. The poor
layers became fryers for Sunday dinner. This caused the
flock to shrink in size as time went by. Mom took the eggs
to the back of the store and slid them into a chute that led to
the person who candled the eggs. Candling was a process in
which a person held the egg between his or her eye and a light
and could tell by experience whether or not an egg had blood
clots, was rotten or was fertile.

We didn't have a lot of eggs this day, so I followed my
mother down the few aisles of Sibilrud's Grocery with
but a small hope for one of my beloved candy bars. I
had a handful of "gimme" and a mouthful of "much
obliged", but it soon became apparent that there would
be no "Cherry Humps" for my enjoyment this day.

While my mother was settling up with the cashier, I did a very
stupid thing. I picked up a "Cherry Humps" candy bar from its
display case and put it into my pocket. When it came time to
put the groceries into our old Pontiac and head back to Mule
Lake Farm for another go at the endless chores awaiting us there,
I dove into the backseat.

About halfway home, my taste buds could wait no longer. I took
that candy bar out of my pocket, unwrapped it as quietly as I
possibly could and bit off one of the two chocolate-covered cherries.
I was so engrossed in savoring the exquisite taste of the candy bar
that I did not notice my mother eyeing me through the rearview mirror.
She hit the brakes of the old Pontiac and we slid to a stop on the
gravel road.

"Where did you get that candy bar?" she asked.

"Sibilrud's," I mumbled as I tried swallowing the evidence.

"How did you get a candy bar? You didn't have any money!"

I didn't need to give an answer. Mom could see the guilt written all
over my face. She turned the old car around and we headed back
to Hartland. I hoped that my mother was going back to Sibilrud's
to pay for the candy bar. I was not to be so lucky. She grabbed
me by the ear and dragged me out of the car and into Sibilrud's.
Sibilrud's was owned and operated by Kenny and Shirley Sibilrud,
wonderful people. I followed my ear and my mother to where
Kenny Sibilrud was standing.

"Kenny," my mother blurted out. "My son has something he needs to tell you."

I think Kenny thought it was kind of funny, but my mother didn't.
I had to tell Kenny what I had done. I had stolen a "Cherry
Humps" candy bar. I had to tell him that I was very sorry and
that I would never do it again. It was the truth; I was very sorry
and I would never do it again. This still wasn't enough for my
mother. She drove me into town each afternoon for six days.
Once there, I had to go into Sibilrud's and sweep the floors
with a bad broom. The broom was well on its way to becoming
bristle-free. Not only that, but if anybody asked me why I was
sweeping the floors, I had to tell them why. I learned from this
experience that happiness is not always an experience, it is
often a memory.

I don't think they make "Cherry Humps" candy bars anymore. If
they did, they would be safe from me.

Send Al an email and let him know what you thought of his story!
__________________

Al lives on a farm in Minnesota with his wife, Gail. Al is a writer, a newspaper columnist, a radio personality, a speaker and a storyteller.

Al Batt
RR1 Box 56A
Hartland, MN 56042

============================================
From the E-mail Box!

Michael, I have been a member since the beginning of SFTH. I love all the stories, but especially those about the wonderful love you and Kristi share and the adventures of your adorable sons. You are a fine example of what the average family should be. Your writing is wonderful & your website is one of our favorites. Please keep up the good work. May your lives be richly blessed.
Most sincerely,
Bevanne Sinclair
basinclair@webtv.net

Thanks for sharing and caring. Time well spent while receiving encouragement and grace. Prayers and love to all.
Marion
gmjar@worldnet.att.net

Since a dear friend told me about this site every morning I can't wait to read the story of the day. This has been such a blessing to me and really makes my day. Thanks to all the writers, God-Bless you all
Mira Shropshire
jimmira@earthlink.net

Beautiful web page, and still thank you for publishing my stories.... Love and prayers, to You and Kristi.... Bob
Bob Poole
jer333@kycom.net

Love your newsletter. I have three children and am very busy these days and hope to write more in the future. Thanks for making my day(s)!
Laura Schulz
lschulz2@home.com

I just wanted to tell you both to keep up the great work you're doing!!
I read the straight from the heart stories everyday and many have brought tears to my eyes, it's just wonderful!!
God Bless You!
Tiffany
Yoson13@hotmail.com
============================================

Thought For The Day:

"When I come to the end of my rope, God is there to take over."

Verse for the Day:

"...for He hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee."
Hebrews 13:5

Kid's Thought For The Day:

"Never tell your mom her diet's not working."

Parent's Thought For The Day:

"Parents are not quite interested injustice, they are interested in quiet."
Bill Cosby

Coach's Thought For The Day:

"I've heard the statement that 'players come and players go,
so the program is what counts'. Somebody missed the point
since the players ARE the program." --Bill Greer

Deep Thought For The Day:

"Did you know that dolphins are so intelligent that within only
a few weeks of captivity, they can train people to stand at
the very edge of the pool and throw them fish."

=============================================
REQUESTS:

Michael,
One of my students in the Kindergarten class at church, Bethanie Ehlschide, has a lump on the side of her head. She has to go to see a surgeon on Thursday, April 19. Please could you pass this request on? We have all been praying for her. Happy Easter and God Bless everyone. Thank You.
Sharon
Iluvjc2000@aol.com
=============================================
_
/_/\/\    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. 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 unlessyou 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 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
==================================================
Would you like to see your story in Straight From the Heart?
Writer's guidelines can be found on our Web site here:
http://storiesfrommyheart.com/writer_s_guidelines/

AOL Users click here: Writer's Guidelines
==================================================
SUBSCRIBE:

"I need a daily source of inspiration and encouragement in my life!"

To become a Straight From the Heart Member send a BLANK E-MAIL
or an e-mail with "Subscribe" in the subject line to:
Thunder27@AOL.COM

Then get ready to laugh, cry, and be deeply touched by some of the best
stories on the Internet!
==================================================
UNSUBSCRIBE:
"What? You want to leave us?"
All you have to do is send a BLANK E-MAIL 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!
==================================================
Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you?
http://www.ccci.org/laws/index.html