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{Straight From the Heart}   *Water's Edge*  11/14/00
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Straight From the Heart
http://www.storiesfrommyheart.com
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All right!  We have a challenge for you!  Do you have a hero in your life? I want you to take a few moments and write about him or her. Yes, that means you have to stretch your fingers out and do some typing or better yet, make it a handwritten note. When you are done, send it to your hero. That simple act will not only make that person's day, but it will be your way of thanking them for all they do in your life.  If you want to share the hero letter with us, send it to us at:

thunder27@aol.com

We may share it on the list!

We did this last year and some amazing things happened!  Check out our website:

Straight From the Heart
http://www.storiesfrommyheart.com

Click on the Heroes Button on the left hand side to see the amazing stories!  To start the ball rolling I shared the letter I sent to my hero and mentor Bill Greer on our website.

You may never know how much that simple act of writing a heartfelt letter will mean to that special someone in your life.  Read the first hero letter response at the Heroes page and you will be touched and challenged.  I guarantee it!
Have a great week and take some time to write to that special someone who has made a difference in your life!
Michael

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Water's Edge

By Dee Ann E.L. Horvath

I was very young, barely five years old when I learned that my whole life could be totally changed in a few agonizing moments. It all started out so innocent on a hot summer afternoon. My mother had worked very hard to create a safe environment for my sister and I on our lake front property in Wisconsin. She weeded and raked the whole beach area around the pier and chained off a safe area for us to swim. Being 5 and 4 years old my sister's and my lake was a wonderland to our senses. Snails, mussels, fish and turtles were our consideration as we explored their world and the area we were allowed.

We noticed a man fishing close by in a boat and looked forward to fishing with our father when he came home. We would have a nice dinner and then get dressed for fishing on the pier. Dad had so many neat gadgets for night fishing, bobbers that lit up when the fish nibbled and time to be with us. That was the best part. We were very patient because it was so much fun to spend special time with Daddy. So my sister Lori and I played for hours in the sanctuary my mother had created for us looking forward to evening time with father.

The warm winds picked up and being children we never paid attention to our inner tube that had blown over the chain and gone into the forbidden zone; a vastly weeded area with a spring in the middle that was cold as Alaska. My mother, being our savior, made it her quest to get the tube back. She dove in but the heat of the day and the cold spring caught her off guard. Mommy was a good swimmer but her thrashing caused the weeds to wrap around her legs and pull her down. Lori and I watched as we saw our mother drowning pleading for the fisherman to help her. He froze and seemed to watch the drama unfold unable to emend the situation. Lori and I stood on the water's edge and beheld the worst disaster in our life. Our mother was our effervescence that propelled us to grow and we were watching her die…. Slowly. I always felt stronger than my years and she yelled out don't Dee Ann and then something special happened. She remembered something someone had told her a long time ago. When things pull you down take a deep breath and relax. All of a sudden you will be released and set free. She suddenly relaxed and all the weeds let go and she lay floating on the water. Mother made her way back to the sea wall safely although exhausted.

My mother is gone from this earth now but never from my mind. She taught me so many things but most of all she taught me how to float. At times when things overcome me I remember what she told me… Relax, don't panic, breathe and you will see another beautiful day and you know what, it works. Life's lessons can be hard and they can hurt but in truth they can also be sweet, rewarding
and enlightening like my day at the water's edge.

By Dee Ann E.L. Horvath
Ambereye3@aol.com
Themestream Author Info 

I have always been a creative and artistic individual who loves to write. I love life and meeting people. To me every person is a novel waiting to be read, some are better than others are but there is always something to be learned. In the last year or so I have taken up poetry. It helps me to sort out my thoughts. I find it is an excellent outlet for stress and best of all it leaves a lasting impression. Now I have started writing short stories about things that made me who I am today.

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REQUESTS:

Michael,
Please keep my brother, Lewis Robinson in your prayers.
He has cellulitis and has been in the hospital since Sunday.
Some type of foreign matter has entered his body through his arm and his arm and hand is three times it's original size.
The hospital he was at could not do anything for him so we moved him yesterday and called in a new doctor and an Infectious disease doctor.
He is in a great deal of pain and no antibiotic they have tried is reaching the infection. His temperature is 104 and his white blood count is over 2000 and rising.
Please pray for him and let the members of Straight From The Heart Pray for him also.
Many thanks,
Phylis Cranfield
ppphylis50@aol.com
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Thought For The Day:

"There are enough targets to aim at without firing at each other."
(Theodore Roosevelt)

Verse for the Day:

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
Ephesians 4:32


Kid's Thought For The Day:

"When you're lost, it's better to stand still than follow the wrong path."

Parent's Thought For The Day

"Your life's "Golden Age" is the period in your life when your kids are to old to require a babysitter and too young to take the car."

Coach's Thought For The Day

"There’s no substitute for guts."
(Paul “Bear” Bryant)

Deep Thought For The Day:

"Each day I try to enjoy something from each of the four food groups the
bonbon group, the salty-snack group, the caffeine group and the Whatever
group."

  _
/_/\/\    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

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Writer's Guidelines
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