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{SFTH} *Baby, Look At You Now!* 7/6/01
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inspiration into the lives of many! If you are not on the list
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___________________________________________________________
Michael's long awaited book Straight From the Heart: "A Celebration
of Life," is finally here! Close to 200 pages of true short stories filled
with love and laughter await you! Visit our web site to order the
EBook, or to order by credit card! You can also read some sample
stories from the book here!
http://storiesfrommyheart.com/michael_t__powers/
To order your autographed copy at no extra charge, send a check
or money order for $18 ($14.95 for the book and $3.05 for shipping
and handling) made out to Michael T. Powers, to:
Michael T. Powers
1918 Liberty Lane
Janesville, WI 53545
For two books add $4 for shipping and handling and for three books
add $5 for shipping and handling. If you want four or more
autographed copies of our book you only pay $5 for shipping
and handling. We'll pay the extra shipping costs!
Be sure to let us know who you would like it autographed for and
then allow about two weeks for us to sign it and send it on its
way to you.
__________________________________________________
Before we get to today's story, I wanted to let everyone know that
Straight From the Heart author, Michael Jordan Segal will be on a
web talk show on Saturday July 7. The web address is
www.voiceamerica.com. The show is called, "Healthy Talk with Karen
and Charl," and it's on from 1-2 pm Arizona time [ 3-4pm central time].
Michael is a wonderful writer, so be sure to check him out!
You can read some of his stories in our archives at:
http://www.storiesfrommyheart.com
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Baby, Look at You Now!!
By Susan Stevens
As she continued to talk, my mind wandered back to the
year she was born--1967. My sixth pregnancy was my most
difficult one. Nothing about it was like the previous five. I took
a quick mental walk down memory lane.
In the kitchen I put a clothespin on my nose and prepared for
the worse. The stench that others called the good aroma of
home cooking made its way past the clothespin and my
stomach turned as I headed toward the bathroom.
Kneeling on the floor with my head hung over the cold porcelain
bowl had become a daily ritual for me. Three months of ritual in
fact. For three months I could eat nothing but the nectarines
canned the year before. I'd never had morning sickness before,
and was thankful when my bout with it was over.
The months that followed were pretty routine, but around the
due date things changed drastically for me. I went into hard
labor in the early morning hours of November 4th. My husband
grumbled as he got dressed for the ride to the hospital. After a
few hours in the hospital my labor stopped and I was sent home.
Things repeated themselves in the wee hours of November 5th and
November 6th.
On the last trip, my husband told the doctors they were to
keep me because he was not bringing me in again. They
could tell he meant it and decided if labor stopped they
would induce it this time. Labor stopped, but started again
before they had to induce it. I won't go into details about the
rest of my stay, but will say my husband was not there, never
showed up, disappeared into the nightlife of San Francisco,
and the hospital finally paid for a cab for me to take my new
daughter home when I was released.
She was different than the others from the beginning. She
liked to be alone, woke from a sound sleep with a blood
curdling scream that always brought me running and thinking
one of the other children had accidentally injured her. She was
slow learning to sit up, crawl, walk or talk. Eventually, she was
diagnosed with a developmental disability.
She was my most beautiful baby, but not a cuddler. If you tried
to pick her up, she would raise her arms straight up so she
almost slid through your grasp. She was also headstrong and
stubborn. Even though she had a disability, I always challenged
her to go beyond what she felt she could do.
As she grew older I explained how we all have disabilities of
one kind or another. Some are painfully shy, some afraid of
the dark, some have physical disabilities we can easily see,
others have hidden disabilities like hers. Although there were
a few times she was hurt by her peers calling her "retarded",
she learned that they could have a "disability" in their lack of
understanding people like her, and she let it go.
She grew into a confident young lady, facing many challenges
head on and coming out the winner. While at home she
learned to handle money, plan menus, do her laundry, cook,
clean, crochet, do counted cross stitch so well the back
looked almost as good as the front, and numerous other
activities. She eventually moved out on her own and proved
to me and the world she could take care of her own home.
I looked at her as she continued to talk, and I listened with new
awe. "My doctor confirmed the home pregnancy test and started
me on prenatal vitamins. He wants to see me in four weeks
and I need to have a history of family pregnancies. David and
I want to get married." Was this the little girl doctors said wouldn't
get beyond a 4th or 5th grade education? No, this was a woman
taking control of her life and now the new life she is carrying.
She loves children. Her door is always open to neighborhood
kids, and she always has homemade treats or games to play
with them. She has regularly baby-sat for friends and family.
The fact is she is wonderful with children and will be a good
mother. I just never thought of her as married and a mother.
She has always amazed me, and she continues to amaze me.
I looked at her and I saw a gentle spirit full of love for others, full
of love for David, and I saw the sparkle of love starting to shine
for the baby she will one day hold in her arms.
I saw her anxiety as she waited for my reaction. My heart
swelled with pride for this young woman who has fought so
hard to be "normal". For the moment I set aside my surprise,
and any concerns. I reached out to my daughter. Gathering
her in my arms for a hug, I felt her tension and apprehension
melt away. It was the beginning of another journey for her, but
she knew I'd be there cheering her on as she once more stretched
her limits.
by Susan Stevens, Copyright Janurary 7, 2001
Summr@email.msn.com
Send Susan an e-mail and let her know what you thought of her story!
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Susan Stevens lives in Washington State where she is in management for a human resources company. She is the mother of 5 sons and 2 daughters, as well as the grandmother of 13. She enjoys her hobby of writing poetry and short stories.
Quick note from Susan:
She is due sometime between August 28th, and September 5th
according to the doctor. They had one ultra sound in the first
trimester that said she was 12 weeks, but the doctor told her he
thought she was only 8 weeks and that the people who do the
ultra sounds aren't always right. With a matter-of-fact look, Lori
responded to his comment with, "Neither are doctors." And she
should know!!
To read another story about Susan's incredible daughter, check out
"The Can-Do Girl" at:
http://www.storiesfrommyheart.com/052101/
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Thought For The Day:
"Anyone who has never made a mistake, has never tried anything new."
Verse for the Day:
"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I
press on toward the goal." --Philippians 3:13,14
Kid's Thought For The Day:
"If you want to make a friend at the beach, start building a really
big sandcastle."
Parent's Thought For The Day
"If you can't open a child proof bottle, use pliers or ask your child."
--Bruce Lansky
Coach's Thought For The Day
"When an archer misses the mark he turns and looks for the fault
within himself. Failure to hit the bull's eye is never the fault of the
target. To improve your aim, improve yourself." --Gilbert Arland
Deep Thought For The Day:
"I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken."
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REQUESTS:
Gary and Rebecca Mink are just boarding a flight for Johannesburg, the first leg of 3. GARY IS WEAKER TODAY, so please keep them in special prayer throughout the day, today and tomorrow.
Thank you...
Bob Kelly
Rkelly61359@cs.com
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_
/_/\/\ 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
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The copyrights to the stories that appear in SFTH are owned by the
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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
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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
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Purchase your copy of Michael T. Powers' new book! For a sneak
preview, visit:
http://www.storiesfrommyheart.com/order_our_book_
AOL Users Click Here: Straight From the Heart: A Celebration of Life
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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
_________________________________________________________
Michael's long awaited book Straight From the Heart: "A Celebration of
Life," is finally here! Close to 200 pages of true short stories filled
with love and laughter await you! Visit our web site to order your copy!
You can also read some sample stories from the book here!
http://storiesfrommyheart.com/michael_t__powers/
AOL Users Click Here: Straight From the Heart: A Celebration of Life
To order your autographed copy at no extra charge, send a check or
money order for $18 ($14.95 for the book and $3.05 for shipping and
handling) made out to Michael T. Powers.
To:
Michael T. Powers
1918 Liberty Lane
Janesville, WI 53545
For two books add $4 for shipping and handling and for three books add
$5 for shipping and handling. If you want four or more autographed
copies of our book you only pay $5 for shipping and handling. We'll
pay the extra shipping costs!
Be sure to let us know who you would like it autographed for and
then allow about two weeks for us to sign it and send it on its way
to you.
