Welcome to "Straight From the Heart!"

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I appreciate any feedback or constructive criticism, so feel free to write me (Michael T. Powers) and let me know what you think!

Straight From the Heart
http://www.storiesfrommyheart.com
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  by Brian G. Jett

 

  Dare we go back to childhood, as a child we do hear tell
  Fairy tales, show and tell and the pennies in wishing wells

  The candy canes and paper planes, catching fireflys in a jar
  Hide and seek, trick or treat and wishing upon a star

  Riding bikes and flying kites, "Can I go out to play?"
  Chocolate bunnies, we'd read the funnies, sprinklers on summer days

  Red Rover, Red Rover and sleep overs, in sand boxes we would make
  The 'king of the hill', it still seems real, the 'Tooth Fairy' and birthday cakes

  Christmas lights and pillow fights, milk and cookies left under the tree
  Eager minds and counting time, we couldn't wait for the gifts he'd leave

  The time has flown and what's unknown, our first child will see the same
  A second chance to sing and dance, through our child our youth remains...

 

by Brian G. Jett  ©~2000
hangtough@earthlink.net

 

Send Brian an email and let him know what you thought about his story!
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A little bit about Brian:

Brian G. Jett currently works in the computer industry and has published
works in various magazines including Wisdom Magazine.  He is a jazz guitarist and hopes to take his music to the next level as well.

He lives in Lexington, Ky with his wife Tanya and they are expecting
their first child in January of 2001.  Brian is the author of the
ever-growing popular poem, "A Window To Look Through," as well as "A
Mother's Rhyme," "What Matters Most", and "Who Has The Handicap?"

His website can be seen at:
http://www.hangtough.com/

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This was written in honor of little "special needs" child of about 11 years old.
 
His Magical Smile
 
I wonder what you see in me,
that makes me feel so alive and free?
Could it be that little imp smile of yours;
that magical smile, that makes me soar!

Your eyes so bright and alive with merit,
Your soul so filled with a child's spirit.
I see in you what I used to be.
I love that magical smile you flash at me.

I know I will never be able to convey; it true!
How much you're loved and can't be without you.
You are what goodness was always meant to be.
My child, with that miracle smile just for me!

Dedicated to the life I help create.
He can't know how much he means to me.

Max
Lucki M@aol.com
copyright 2000

Send Max an email and let him know what you thought of his poem!
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My name is Max but my friends call me Lucki. Once, I was asked, "Why Lucki?" Well, it is because I count my self lucky to have the love of my family and to be able to share my ramblings with so many of my computer pals. I have lived in Chicago for what feels like eternity, can't see myself anywhere else. I am a nurse working in a small nursing home, on a dementia/Alzheimer's unit. I lovingly call it, Max's Zoo. This poem was written with the sounds of his sparkling laughter floating about my mind, as he watched his cartoons on TV.  He will never know what his smile does for me.

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REQUESTS:

 

From: ydejager@alcatel.altron.co.za (Yvette de Jager)

Dearest Michael

I have two special requests for prayers for you and the fellow-readers
today.

One is for my cousin, Charisse, from Adelaide, Australia, who is
currently seeking a possible cure for her disease - Fanconi Anemia -
through gene therapy.  A spark of hope was recently lit when a fellow
sufferer, from the USA, notified her about the therapy.

The other is for my neighbour, Gene, who has just been diagnosed with
diabetes and Leukemia.  We were shocked at the news of her diagnosis
but I believe that through prayer and belief she can be helped.

Warm regards

Yvette de Jager - Johannesburg, South Africa
e-mail:  ydejager@alcatel.altech.co.za

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From the Straight From the Heart Guestbook!

Name:brenda cunningham
Date:08/22/00
Email Address:jon-bren@erols.com
Message:I enjoy your daily writings and enjoyed the Caleb and Connor page. How wonderful to find a family so happy and in love with one another. May God continue to bless you and may your lives always be this happy.

Brenda

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Name:Tania Fleck
Date:08/21/00
Email Address:tsfleck@yahoo.com
Message:I think your kids are adorable and that your web site is great.

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Name:Jennifer
Date:08/21/00
Email Address:zophoria@hotmail.com
Message:I get your straight from the heart and really enjoy it... It really helps me through all of the trials... thank you sooo much

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Name:Mary Carol Devey
Date:08/21/00
Email Address:Romans 83839mc@netscape.net
Message:Dear Michael -- Joy and tears -- laughter and last but definitely not least a very good friend have come from your e-mail page. The Lord will truly reward you for your faithfulness.
Blessings to you and yours. Mary Carol

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Name:Debby Adler
Date:08/21/00
Email Address:Hunsun@ticon.net
Message:It's always such an extra special blessing when I receive your daily inspirational e-mails. I always enjoy laughing with you on your "Quotes" for the day. And most of all I appreciate the both of you for your friendship and I am one of the lucky ones who get to attend church with you.

I know that God is going to continually enrich your career as well as your marriage. You are truly a special couple that I am privilege to get to know.

Kristi, I do appreciate your wonderful stories and your beautiful children as I see them almost every week. And I also appreciate your honesty and guidance and prayers when I needed them the most. Your godly influence helped me to make some of the most difficult choices I ever had to make but in the long run ended up changing my life forever. God in His infinite wisdom, although at that time I was still getting to know you, used your words to comfort, encourage, and direction that I was seeking. God is the ultimate director but He also uses friends to confirm when we can't quite see the light in the darkness that is surrounding us.

Michael, dearest Michael for all the hours and hard work that you put in for all of us readers out there to uplift and encourage us. And for your devotion to your beloved, beautiful Kristi is so inspiring. And your love for your children is full of emotion and dedication. You have taken time to get to know me via e mail and give me tips on my writing, encourage me, always have a kind word to say about me and will always take the time to answer any questions that I may have no matter how silly they may be. You have uplifted so many people with your writing and we all encourage you to keep pursuing what God has so impressed on your heart to become through Him. You are an inspiration to us all. May God continue to bless you and your endeavors.

And last but not least I thank you both for your prayers during a most difficult testimony. A testimony that has changed my life. The Lord knew the steps I needed to take in order for my life to heal, for my self-image to be as God sees me and for the person that He is going to help me to become. I now know that nothing is impossible with God.

God Bless
Debby Adler

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Name:Edwin Tan
Date:08/21/00
Email Address:edwintan55@yahoo.com
Message:Visit your web site today and find it very encouraging. Thank God that the Internet can be a medium to touch people's heart.

God Bless You,
Edwin, Singapore

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Name:LaDonna Lenox
Date:08/21/00
Email Address:llenox@jcn.net
Message:I have been a subscriber to your daily stories for over a year now, and I really like this web site too. The sound clip of your son is so funny!! Thanks for sharing your hearts with us and I feel like we're friends. May the Lord continue to show His grace and favor upon your family in all He sets before you to do. God Bless all of your family. I live in Missouri
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Name:Sandi (from Florida)
Date:08/20/00
Email Address:sandifla@earthlink.net
Message:Michael & Kristi,
Oh, how I do relish and savor your website! You so touchingly mingle inspirational, heartwarming stories and articles with dashes of hilarious humor, and the sound-wave of Caleb saying "stinkin stink" is a cute example of that. Now, when do we get to hear Connor? Please give him a turn, too! Thanks for all the hard work y'all do to bring us readers the fantastic daily e-mail articles. Everyone should subscribe to your e-zine. Let us know when your first book is published. I'm placing my order now for five copies. No kidding. God bless you and your fine sons always and in all ways.

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Name:Cyndy Ebner
Date:08/20/00
Email Address:cyndyandjim@mcsi.net
Message:Your website is absolutely great!!! You sound like a great daddy, and the story about the sign up of the swimming lessons, Tuxedo Swimming, was really cute. Keep up the good work. Will check out more of your stories soon. Thanks, Cyndy

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Take a moment to visit our website and sign our guestbook at:
Straight From the Heart
http://www.storiesfrommyheart.com
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Thought For The Day:

"You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years trying to get other people interested in you."
(Dale Carnegie)

 

Verse for the Day:

"Love one another with brotherly affection--as members of one family--giving precedence and showing honor to one another."
Romans 12:10 AMP

 

Kid's Thought For The Day:

"Don't jump off the garage with an umbrella.  You won't float down to the ground like the Penguin did on the old Batman TV show.  Believe me!  I found out the hard way when I was a kid."

 

Parent's Thought For The Day

"Children learn what they observe."

 

Coach's Thought For The Day

"Court a volleyball player tonight."

 

Deep Thought For The Day:

"Live a good, honorable life.  Then when you get older and think back,
you'll be able to enjoy it a second time."

 

  _
/_/\/\    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 

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  (RKaGe@aol.com)    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!
 Video Imagery
http://members.aol.com/Videoimg/index.html

Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you?
 The Four Spiritual Laws
http://www.ccci.org/laws/index.html

Writer's guidelines for Straight From the Heart can be found here:

Writer's Guidelines
http://storiesfrommyheart.com/writer_s_guidelines/

The copyrights to the stories that appear here 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!

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