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{Straight From the Heart} *The Dove* 11/6/00
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Welcome to "Straight From the Heart!"
If you enjoy this free daily email service, I encourage you to forward it on to family and friends. If this has been passed along to you and you want to join the list, just send a blank email to:
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Straight From the Heart
http://www.storiesfrommyheart.com
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Good morning!
I start coaching basketball today and for the next four months or so my free time is nonexistent. As a favor, I am asking that the only thing you send to me are story submissions, comments on stories, either my own or ones that are shared on the list, and personal stuff. I enjoy the comments on the stories and anything personal you may want to share or discuss, but please try not to forward me anything or pass along something that has been passed on to you.
I am hoping this does not offend anyone as it is not meant to. And I hope this does not deter you from sending me comments, story submissions, or personal email. Know that I read all of the email I get, and 99% of the time I respond to each one. Sometimes it just takes me awhile to do so. Keep the personal stuff coming, just try and limit the non-personal forward-type emails. Again, thank you for being a part of this list and for your understanding as I try to guard my time with my family.
Have a great week everyone!
Michael
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The Dove
By Pamela R. Blaine
The last six weeks had been a trying time in my life. I had spent the time at the hospital with my Mom 800 miles away in Missouri. The sitting, the waiting, the sometimes up all night, had taken their toll and I had come home to West Virginia, to rest and be with my husband and children for a few days before going back. It's difficult to be away when you feel so strongly that you should be somewhere else but Mom had been moved to a hospital closer to my brother and he would be in and out during the day to check on her.
I had just gotten home from the grocery store, restocking shelves for the family since as I was trying to prepare to leave again. After putting things away, I decided to take a break, sit out on the deck in the late afternoon shade, and have a bowl of ice cream. I was sitting there relaxing, with my feet propped up on the deck railing, deep in thought, when I heard a noise behind me. I began to realize that I had been hearing this noise over and over for several minutes but in my reverie, I had not been paying attention. I turned around in my chair to look and I watched in amazement as a dove flew from one side of the yard to the other. As she flew, she sang her dove song, urgently making the sound as she traveled several feet across the whole yard from one tree to the other. It was almost as if she were calling out to me and saying, "Look at me, I'm beautiful and I can fly!" I watched her fly once more and then just as mysteriously as she came, she was gone.
I was contemplating where that dove had come from, since I had not seen any doves around my house before, when I heard my husband calling me to the phone. I came in the house and picked up the phone. It was my brother. "Mom's gone", he said quietly. In my heart I think I already knew. You see, Mom loved the Lord with all of her heart. This wouldn't be the first time that God had sent a message on the wings of a dove and this time it was to reassure a daughter. He was letting me know that Mom was not really gone but she was now with Him. I believe He was saying to me,
"Yes, she's beautiful and she can fly!"
By Pamela R. Blaine c August 24, 2000
Pamyblaine@aol.com
Email Pam and let her know what you thought of her story!
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I live in West Virginia with my husband, Michael. I have 4 children and 4 grandchildren. I love to write stories and songs.
PamyPlace
http://members.aol.com/pamyblaine/PamyPlace.html ___________________________________________________
Thought For The Day:
"One of the disconcerting facts about the spiritual life is that God takes you at your word."
(Dorothy Day)
Verse for the Day:
"Whatever your lips utter you must be sure to do, because you made your vow freely to the Lord your God with your own mouth."
Deuteronomy 23:3
Kid's Thought For The Day:
"Dirt is only considered bad when it is not on the ground."
Parent's Thought For The Day
"Advice for the day: If you have a lot of tension and you get a headache, do what it says on the aspirin bottle: Take two and keep away from the children."
Coach's Thought For The Day
"The minute you start talking about what you're going to do if you lose, you have lost.
George Shultz
Deep Thought For The Day:
When someone says "have a nice day", tell them you have other plans.
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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
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/
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Thanks!
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