The HeartThread Journal - 2nd & 3rd Quarters, 1998
Notes on Viewing or Printing this Journal
(Journal begins on next page.)
If you can't print this journal using the
instructions below, you can go to our web page at
"http://futurerealm.com/journal.htm" and select the issue
you want to print. Then print it from your web browser.
* * * * *
View or print the text using Courier, or Courier
New, 12 pt (or smaller), 59 lines per page.
Many email packages have the ability to adjust the
font size. If you change it to Courier 12 or smaller, it
will look right on the screen.
The key point is that the text has been formatted
with spaces and some right justification. Therefore, the
font should be "non-proportional" (Courier) and the
MARGINS should not interfere with the text width. That's
why NO margins are best.
The text is 80 CHARACTERS WIDE. 12 point Courier
should accommodate this. You could even print it with a
smaller point size -- but if you use a larger point, then
the text may "word-wrap" and it will look very messy.
You can print it by typing "print htj.txt prn" from
the DOS directory prompt which contains the document,
(after exporting the document to a file of that name) or
adjust your word processor or email package to the above
specs.
The document ends with the phrase "(end of
document.)" If you didn't receive all of it, please email
us at "peterbrown@futurerealm.com" and we'll send it
again.
=============================================================================
These codes (which won't print) are page break codes for your printer:
* The HeartThread Journal *
- The Journal of
Marriage,
Parenting,
Family & Society -
----------------------------------
Vol. 3, No. 2
2nd & 3rd Quarter, 1998
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published by FutureRealm Productions
* The HeartThread Journal *
- The Journal of Marriage, Parenting, Family & Society -
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vol. 3, No. 2 2nd & 3rd Quarter, 1998
"To promote and encourage the 'thread' of unselfish heart and love
that invisibly connects husbands and wives, parents and children,
brothers and sisters, and then the world."
------------------------------------------
From the Editor
...............
This summer was as hot as the mouthpiece of Dizzy
Gillespie's trumpet. So hot, in fact, that people have
actually died.
Besides suffering from the intensive heat, there
have been horrific bombings, continuing starvation and
war in Africa and other places, murders committed by
children, and the list goes on and on.
We want to remember those people who died, and the
familes and friends that they left behind. The uphill
battle to create a world centered on heart is worth
striving and praying for. In light of the continuing
violence in the world, the cause is all the more worthy.
In this issue we are featuring the firsthand
experience of a friend of ours who worked with the
Missionaries of Charity in Madrid, Spain, in 1990. She
was able to serve the poorest of the poor, and shares her
unique experience with us. Following that theme, we offer
a news item about Florence Wheatley and her calling to
serve the homeless by making sleeping bags.
I am so proud and pleased to feature a poem by Diane
Wakoski. She is the poet in residence at the University
of Michigan.
We have a smattering of news items, poetry, and
anonymous submissions from the web.
We are eager to receive articles from more
contributors. There is so much good going on in the world,
despite the bad things, and so many deep things people have
felt or experienced. We want to hear from you!
We have had so many various delays in getting this
issue out, topped off with Hurricane Bonnie knocking out
our power for four days. Apologies to all of you who have
been waiting for this issue.
Kim Korman Brown
Co-Editor & Co-Publisher
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HeartThread Journal Page 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
* From the Editor, by Kim Korman Brown .................1
* My Experiences Serving with the Missionaries
of Charity, by Cynthia Edwards........................5
* Father of My Country, by Diane Wakoski................8
* Information,Please,
by Paul (last name unknown)...........................8
* Does Anybody Know What Time It Is?,
by Frances Reza......................................11
* Are You As Happy As Your Dog?
by Kari (last name unknown)..........................12
* Teenagers Need Frequent Interaction,
by Cheryl Wetzstein..................................15
* Florence Wheatley Makes
Sleeping Bags for the Homeless,
by Jan Spence........................................16
* An Act Of Love, by Sharon Whitley....................18
* The Movie Mom's Guide to Movies
and Videos for Families, by Nell Minow ..............21
(Reviews of "Ever After", "The Parent Trap"
and "Madeline")
* HeartQuestions / Questions & Reflections
about Marriage, Parenting, Family & Society
"Racism from a Boyfriend's Family;
An Undecided Wife",
by Peter F. Brown ...................................24
* Together We Can Heal - CD Review
by Kim Korman Brown .................................26
* The HeartThread Resource Guide:
Resources for Couples, Parents & Families ...........29
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HeartThread Journal Page 2
The HeartThread Journal
is published by FutureRealm Productions
Publisher and Editor - Peter F. Brown
Co-Publisher and Co-Editor - Kim Korman Brown
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Visit our web page, "The HeartThread Resource Page", at:
"http://futurerealm.com"
or our other site at "http://worldcommunity.com"
or email us at: "peterbrown@futurerealm.com"
or: "kimbrown@futurerealm.com"
You can mail us at:
FutureRealm Productions
P.O. Box 4131 ~ Virginia Beach, VA 23454 / USA
or you can call us at: (757) 468-6848
or fax us at: (757) 468-6461
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION / Email Version & Printed Version
**********************************************************
The HeartThread Journal is a subscription-based publication
sent out through email on the Internet each quarter.
(It's quarterly TEMPORARILY - it will be monthly in the future.)
To subscribe, send an email to "peterbrown@futurerealm.com" with
the phrase "subscribe - HeartThread" in the body of the message.
To unsubscribe, send an email with the phrase
"unsubscribe - HeartThread" in the body of the message.
Internet subscriptions are normally $12.00 per year for 12 issues.
For a limited time, Internet subscriptions are FREE.
(Paid subscriptions will start when it reverts back to monthly.)
Single printed copies are available for $4.00 ea. + $1.00 S&H.
Subscriptions to the printed version are available for $48 per year.
Please mail US Bank Check or Money Order to the above address.
The promotional free Internet subscriptions are not contractually
guaranteed for 12 months -- rather the subscription will
continue indefinitely for free until the publishers
end this special promotion and begin normal subscription rates.
Free subscribers will be notified when this happens,
and will be offered a regular subscription.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
WRITERS ARE ALWAYS NEEDED
*************************
If you want to write for The HeartThread Journal,
we will be happy to review your article, column or story.
Please review our "Writers Guidelines" on our web page,
and email us your proposal or actual work.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HeartThread Journal Page 3
ADVERTISING INFORMATION
***********************
Advertising products or services of value or interest
to parents, couples or families is encouraged.
Brief textual advertisements will appear in the
"HeartThread Resource Guide" at the end of this journal.
For a limited time, advertisements will be FREE.
When this special advertising promotion ends,
advertising rates will be published.
FREE ADVERTISING FOR AUTHORS
****************************
All authors receive FREE advertising space in
the issue that their article or column appears.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
*********************
All materials contained herein are
(C) Copyright 1998 by FutureRealm Productions
except for individual articles and columns,
which are Copyrighted by their respective authors.
Individual authors retain all rights to their articles,
unless otherwise specified.
All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
No part of this journal may be used or reproduced
in any manner whatsoever without
written permission from the publisher,
or the individual authors
(in the case of their articles or columns),
except in cases of brief quotations
embodied in articles and reviews.
Opinions expressed by writers in The HeartThread Journal
are not necessarily those of FutureRealm Productions.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
*********************
Readers wishing to submit a letter should email it to:
"peterbrown@futurerealm.com"
or send it by regular mail to the above address.
Letters may be edited for grammar or length.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HeartThread Journal Page 4
Serving the Homeless in Madrid
with the Missionaries of Charity
..................................
by Cynthia Edwards
When I was six years old, my family moved from our
hometown in New York to Madrid, because of my father's
business. We stayed for three years. Thirty years later,
I traveled again to Madrid, this time to do the business
of my Father in Heaven. I celebrated my sixth "spiritual"
birthday in that city. Oh, yes -- and I stayed for three
weeks.
Coincidences of this order are not rare in a life of
faith. I had to believe God's hand was genuinely in the
lottery that assigned the volunteers in my church to a
foreign mission country. But even while I was admiring
God's modus operandi, I struggled with the idea of going
to a civilized Western capital, when I had longed all my
adult life to do "real" missionary work in the Third
World.
God came to my rescue by giving me a new
understanding. One drizzly, cold November day as I was
driving through the streets of southeast Washington D.C.,
pondering how to approach my overseas mission, my eyes
were drawn to a homeless old man in a bright pink
blanket, trying to sleep in a bus shelter. In the instant
I looked at him, he looked up at me, directly into my
eyes. I parked the car, put some money in my coat pocket,
and approached this greasy stranger. I removed my coat
and tucked it around his shoulders the way I tuck
blankets around my little boy at night. As I did, I felt
my heart swell with the same mother's love, and tears
coursed down my cheeks.
So there it was. Great need exists even in the heart
of the most advanced cities of the world. Since our
pastor had asked us to go to our country as servant of
servants (the position Jesus took when he washed the feet
of his disciples), I decided I would serve the street
people of Madrid. From this point of internal departure,
the rest of my plans fell easily into place. I found a
soup kitchen in Madrid run by the Missionaries of
Charity, and I wrote to say I would be joining them.
The Missionaries of Charity are Mother Teresa of
Calcutta's heroic sisters. They devote themselves to
serving the presence of Christ in his "distressing
disguise" as the poorest of the poor. For me it was the
fulfillment of a long-held dream to work beside them.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HeartThread Journal Page 5
By following my inspiration, I found the soup
kitchen run by the "Indian sisters" in the famous
blue-and-white sari.
Situated on the Ronda de Segovia in the shadow of
the Royal Palace, every afternoon an average of 200 poor
or homeless people gathered at the comedor (dining room)
for a free meal, and to receive the other nourishment of
God's love, meted out generously by the nuns and their
dedicated coworkers. My first job, given to me minutes
after arriving at the bustling soup kitchen, was to chop
up hairy pigs' trotters for the stew. I regret to report
that at that moment, I felt that it was truly more
blessed to give than to receive.
But after a few days' experience I realized that the
menu was generally delicious and healthful, albeit based
haphazardly on donated foodstuffs. I became expert at
preparing bucketsful of potatoes, stacks of cookies, and
laden platters of sliced chorizo (sausage). After the
meal I helped clean the kitchen, dining room, and eating
utensils with large quantities of bleach. A young priest
remarked candidly, as we rolled up our sleeves to hand
wash 230 plates after Christmas Eve supper, that
disinfectant is the most heavenly perfume you can wear
after being among the street people.
The high point of my day, every day in Madrid, was
that one blessed hour in which I helped serve the dinner.
In this moment I felt the closest to the saints who had
served the poor and sick. Now I know the smells their
nostrils have been filled with, sharing a room with
people who had no facility for washing. I know what it is
to give fresh clothes to a man whose shirt and pants are
covered in blood, judging only his need, and not his
worth.
The poor people sat at long tables and we, the
volunteers, served them as in a family restaurant. The
nuns reserved the right to hand out the bread, as bread
had a spiritual significance beyond its belly-filling
properties. I felt God's love flow through me as I poured
a cup of water or filled a plate with second portions,
and served it with as much love and care as if I were
serving Our Lord himself. I received joy that lifted me
up until I felt light as a feather when an old Portuguese
seaman mumbled, "Gracias, bonita" ("thanks") as I passed
by with the kettle of hot chocolate. Mother Teresa said,
"Only in heaven will we see how much we owe to the poor
for helping us to love God better because of them." Amen,
Mother Teresa.
The soup kitchen was run by two nuns: Sister
Lavinia, an Indian, and the Superior of the order in
Spain; and Sister Paul, a rotund Spanish sister who once
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HeartThread Journal Page 6
laughingly compared her appearance to that of a soccer
ball. Neither of these sisters topped 5 foot in height,
but such was their spiritual power and vertical
connection to God and Jesus, they daily managed 200
mostly male and often rowdy street people.
But they couldn't have served them all without a lot
of volunteer help. The soup kitchen required at least ten
assistants daily to complete all the preparations, dinner
service, and cleanup in a reasonable time frame. Day by
day as we peeled vegetables, passed plates, and soothed
lonely souls together, the coworkers learned who I was
and why I had come to Spain. I had sacrificed spending
Christmas at home with my own family for the sake of a
bigger family: God's family. One lovely lady, born on
Christmas Eve and so named "Nativity," took a great
interest in me, and asked me to think of her as my
mother!
The poor people of the soup kitchen came from many
countries and regions: I met refugees, displaced workers,
students and others from Morocco, West Africa, Poland,
and Portugal, as well as Spain. We prayed together before
every meal, in Spanish and English, led by Sister Paul,
and additional prayers were offered by the Poles and
Arabs in their language and according to their faith. I
was so excited by this. It was like being in a big
patchwork family!
The greatest times of all were the celebrations of
Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) and Christmas Day. The nuns
and some of their pupils set up a Nativity scene in one
corner of the room, and the poor dressed up as the
different characters: Mary and Joseph, shepherds, and the
Three Kings. A band provided enthusiastic music for
Christmas carols, and some of us broke out into
charismatic dancing, our feet animated by the joy in our
hearts. The Poles, young men far from home, sang endless
sad lullabies to the Child born on that holy night. The
young non-Christian Arabs added spice with driving drum
tempos and traditional dances.
The food served at these two feasts was truly
delicious -- roast chicken, shellfish soup, sweet almond
paste and other delicacies; even a celebratory glass of
wine for each person. I began to feel quite hungry
myself, as I had consumed little but bread and coffee
during my visit. But I was determined that the poor would
have a better Christmas than I did. Externally, I think
they did. But spiritually, I'm sure I had the best time
of any human being in Madrid.
.......................................
Cynthia Edwards, cedwards@cyberramp.net
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HeartThread Journal Page 7
The Father of My Country
..........................
by Diane Wakoski
My father was not in the telephone book
in my city.
My father was not sleeping with my mother
at home.
My father did not care if I studied the piano.
My father did not care what I did.
And I thought my Father was handsome
and I loved him and I wondered
Why he left me alone so much.
So many years in fact that
my father made me a lonely woman
without a purpose, just as I was a lonely child
without my father. I walked with words
Words and names
names -- Father was not one of my words
Father was not one of my names.
...................................
Contacting Diane Wakoski was a joy.
She is the Poet In Residence at
the University of Michigan.
"The Father of My Country" Copyright © 1988 by Diane
Wakoski. Reprinted from EMERALD ICE: SELECTED POEMS
1962-1987 with the permission of Black Sparrow Press,
24 Tenth St., Santa Rosa, CA 95401, (707) 579-4011,
books@blacksparrowpress.com.
* * * * * * * *
"Information, Please"
.......................
by Paul (last name unknown)
When I was quite young, my father had one of the
first telephones in our neighborhood. I remember well the
polished old case fastened to the wall. The shiny
receiver hung on the side of the box. I was too little to
reach the telephone, but used to listen with fascination
when my mother used to talk to it.
Then I discovered that somewhere inside the
wonderful device lived an amazing person - her name was
"Information Please" and there was nothing she did not
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HeartThread Journal Page 8
know. "Information Please" could supply anybody's number
and the correct time.
My first personal experience with this
genie-in-the-bottle came one day while my mother was
visiting a neighbor. Amusing myself at the tool bench in
the basement, I whacked my finger with a hammer.
The pain was terrible, but there didn't seem to be
any reason in crying because there was no one home to
give sympathy. I walked around the house sucking my
throbbing finger, finally arriving at the stairway.
The telephone!
Quickly, I ran for the footstool in the parlor and
dragged it to the landing. Climbing up, I unhooked the
receiver in the parlor and held it to my ear.
"Information Please," I said into the mouthpiece just
above my head.
A click or two and a small clear voice spoke into my
ear. "Information."
"I hurt my finger. . ." I wailed into the phone. The
tears came readily enough now that I had an audience.
"Isn't your mother home?" came the question.
"Nobody's home but me." I blubbered.
"Are you bleeding?"
"No," I replied. "I hit my finger with the hammer
and it hurts."
"Can you open your icebox?" she asked. I said I
could.
"Then chip off a little piece of ice and hold it to
your finger," said the voice.
After that, I called "Information Please" for
everything. I asked her for help with my geography and
she told me where Philadelphia was. She helped me with my
math. She told me my pet chipmunk that I had caught in
the park just the day before would eat fruits and nuts.
Then, there was the time Petey, our pet canary died.
I called "Information Please" and told her the sad story.
She listened, then said the usual things grown-ups say to
soothe a child. But I was unconsoled. I asked her, "Why
is it that birds should sing so beautifully and bring joy
to all families, only to end up as a heap of feathers on
the bottom of a cage?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HeartThread Journal Page 9
She must have sensed my deep concern, for she said
quietly, "Paul, always remember that there are other
worlds to sing in." Somehow I felt better.
Another day I was on the telephone. "Information
Please."
"Information," said the now familiar voice.
"How do you spell fix?" I asked.
All this took place in a small town in the Pacific
Northwest. When I was 9 years old, we moved across the
country to Boston. I missed my friend very much.
"Information Please" belonged in that old wooden box back
home, and I somehow never thought of trying the tall,
shiny new phone that sat on the table in the hall.
As I grew into my teens, the memories of those
childhood conversations never really left me. Often, in
moments of doubt and perplexity I would recall the serene
sense of security I had then. I appreciated now how
patient, understanding, and kind she was to have spent
her time on a little boy.
A few years later, on my way west to college, my
plane put down in Seattle. I had about half an hour or so
between planes. I spent 15 minutes or so on the phone
with my sister, who lived there now. Then without
thinking what I was doing, I dialed my hometown operator
and said, "Information , Please".
Miraculously, I heard the small, clear voice I knew
so well, "Information." I hadn't planned this but I heard
myself saying, "Could you please tell me how to spell
fix?"
There was a long pause. Then came the soft spoken
answer, "I guess your finger must have healed by now."
I laughed. "So it's really still you,' I said. "I
wonder if you have any idea how much you meant to me
during that time."
"I wonder", she said, "if you know how much your
calls meant to me." "I never had any children, and I used
to look forward to your calls."
I told her how often I had thought of her over the
years and I asked if I could call her again when I came
back to visit my sister.
"Please do, she said. "Just ask for Sally."
Three months later I was back in Seattle. A
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HeartThread Journal Page 10
different voice answered "Information." I asked for
Sally.
"Are you a friend?" She said.
"Yes, a very old friend," I answered.
"I'm sorry to have to tell you this," she said.
"Sally had been working part-time the last few years
because she was sick. She died five weeks ago."
Before I could hang up she said, "Wait a minute. Did
you say your name was Paul?"
"Yes."
"Well, Sally left a message for you. She wrote it
down in case you called. Let me read it to you." The note
said, "Tell him I still say there are other worlds to
sing in. He'll know what I mean."
I thanked her and hung up. I knew what Sally meant.
...................................
This submission came with the message:
"Never underestimate the impression you
may make on others." Someone emailed
this gem to us and we
do not know its origin.
* * * * * * * *
Time
......
by Frances Reza
Does anyone know what time it is?
Last month I kissed your soft cheek
and answered your silly questions
about where God lived,
and who made the clouds
and why does it rain sometimes?
Does anyone know what time it is?
Last week you finally found out
about that mysterious phenomenon
of being a woman.
And I cried with you when he left,
and in delighted glee,
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HeartThread Journal Page 11
watched as you picked out that dress
and went to that wonderful place
you will remember the rest of your life.
Does anyone know what time it is?
Yesterday, I cried as I watched you walk
down the aisle,
and wondered if you were happy.
Would he take care of you?
I held your hand as you screamed
in agony until we heard that first little cry
and suddenly, the world seemed a better place.
Does anyone know what time it is?
This morning I watched as you hovered near my bed,
holding my hand, stroking my hair with your soft fingers.
You spoke of heaven and it comforted me.
Your warm smile, loving me.
Even as the sand in my hour glass
slipped away.
...................................
Frances Reza is a mom and a writer
living in Virginia Beach, VA.
* * * * * * *
Are You As Happy As Your Dog?
...............................
by Kari (last name unknown)
A fellow at one of my workshops confessed, "For
years I was so miserable that I prayed to God daily to
let me wake up as happy as my dog!"
I went home and thought about it. Am I as happy as
my dog? Hmmmm.
I began to observe my dog Munchie, who is happy all
the time. This seven-pound furball is the most joyful
creature I have ever seen, living constantly in a state
of continuous delight and discovery. It became clear to
me that this tiny, fuzzy creature knew something I didn't
know, (or at least didn't remember). I decided to study
Munchie's attitude to see what he was doing that I was
missing.
Here are the keys to happiness that I discovered
from my pet:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HeartThread Journal Page 12
1. Be here now. Munchie is fully present with
whatever is happening. He has no sense of the past or
future. You will not find Munchie at the local bar
nursing a beer over lost love. He has no lost love. He
loves whatever is in front of him.
Munchie greets me enthusiastically whenever I come
home. As soon as he hears my car pull up to the garage,
he drops whatever he is doing and runs to meet me. He is
so delighted to see me that he barks and cries
simultaneously, wags his tail so hard that he wipes up
the garage floor with his fuzzy butt, and he pees.
(Munchie taught me the meaning of the phrase, "I could
hardly contain myself!") This dog lives the attitude of
gratitude!
Munchie offers me the same whole hearted greeting no
matter how long I have been away. Whether I have been on
the road for an afternoon or a month, he gives me the
full red carpet welcome. When I come home after a long
time he doesn't sit on his haunches with his arms folded
and soberly announce, "I think it's time we discussed
your commitment to our relationship." No, he is just
happy to see me, and he lets me know it.
2. Think possibility. Every few months Munchie
disappears for a few days. I once went searching for him
and found him trying to mount one of the German Shepherds
next door. The little guy reached no higher than the big
lady's knee, but that didn't stop him. He thought big!
3. Seize the Day. Munchie regularly shows up at my
front door asking to come in and play with me. Depending
on what I am doing and how muddy his feet are, sometimes
I let him in. The moment I open the door, he charges in.
He doesn't give me a moment to change my mind. He knows
what he wants, asks for it, and seizes the opportunity
the moment it is offered. Munchie is a master of Carpe
Diem.
4. Take care of yourself. Once Munchie had his tail
run over by a car he was chasing. To facilitate his
healing process, he found himself a quiet spot under a
bush, and simply rested. Whenever I passed his little
nook, there was the Munchster, quietly resting with his
chin on his paws, just allowing nature to take care of
him. After a few days he was back in action, barking,
peeing upon my arrival, and hoping the German Shepherd
would kneel just a little more.
I thought about what some of us humans might do if
we were injured. We might just keep chasing cars; work
harder; or blame someone and spend time complaining. But
Munchie let all of that go in favor of his natural
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HeartThread Journal Page 13
wisdom. He loved himself enough to rest when he needed
it.
5. Entertain yourself. When I am not home Munchie
finds plenty of other amusements. He chases cats, sniffs
dead critters, naps, and visits neighbors. He is not
codependent. The world, through his eyes, is a big
playground. There is always someone or something to
entertain him.
6. Be unlimited. Munchie has no self-concept that he
is small, and so acts big. When I take him on walks
through the country, he slips under fences and chases
cows and horses. I think they are more surprised than
intimidated, to be corralled by a barking tumbleweed. But
it works. Munch usually gets the critters to move at
least a little bit, and he comes back with a triumphant
smile.
7. Protect your space. My dog has no questions about
his function: he is here to protect me and my grounds
from anything that moves. He is like a living
announcement machine. The moment any foreign object with
wheels or legs comes near the house, his hair-trigger
bark alarm goes off. Night or day, he's there to announce
potential intruders. (If they don't run away when he
approaches, he changes his tactic and starts kissing them
-- we're working on that one.) Munchie's intention is so
strong that he actually does intimidate other animals
(not including humans).
There was a Doberman that used to come around, and
she always yielded to the Munchie Sentinel Service.
8. Let yourself be loved. When Munchie looks tired
during long walks with me, sometimes I pick him up and
carry him for a while (probably more for myself than
him.) The moment he's in my arms, he rolls over and lets
me carry him like the King of the Canines. Harboring no
sense of guilt or unworthiness, he does not protest, "Oh,
you really don't need to do this." or "I will carry you
tomorrow." He just lays there and soaks it in. He knows
he is worth it, and he receives it with a full heart and
body.
9. Relax. Munchie is not a slave to the Puritan Work
Ethic. He is closer to the Pure Tan Play Ethic. He
doesn't have a job, doesn't lay awake at night wondering
if God exists, and doesn't try to hide his little doggie
erections when they spontaneously arise. He knows that he
deserves love without having to earn it. Munchie is clear
that his purpose in life is to enjoy every new day, and
he is happy to have the Universe continually take care of
him.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HeartThread Journal Page 14
As far as I can tell, Munchie is an enlightened
being. He doesn't read a lot of books, has never gone to
a seminar, and has no problem balancing his checkbook.
Perhaps, if I play my cards right, one day I will indeed
wake up as happy as him.
...................................
We received this via the Internet,
and do not know its origin
* * * * * * *
'Connected' Families, Peaceful Schools Make Safe Teens
........................................................
by Cheryl Wetzstein
Vaccines for teen troubles have yet to be invented,
but a massive ongoing study may help steer parents,
teachers and teens to the next best thing.
In September, researchers published findings that
said that teens are 'protected' from risky behavior if
they lived in 'personally connected' families and
attended peaceful schools.
It was also very important that teens - like those
of yesteryear- saw their parents at four daily junctures
- before and after school, at dinnertime and bedtime.
Researchers also uncovered elements that increases
teens' risk for unhealthy behaviors: Teens with
"household access to guns," for instance, were more
likely to be involved in violent behavior, such as last
month's shooting deaths of five persons at a Jonesboro
Ark. middle school in which two boys, ages 11 and 13,
have been charged. More research is now being prepared on
what protects - or doesn't protect - teens from danger,
researchers Micheal D. Resnick and Dr. Robert W. Blum
said at a recent briefing by the Institute for Youth
Development of Herndon.
The new data will look at how teens are influenced
by extracurricular activities, mentoring, single-parent
homes vs. two-parent homes, and personal belief systems,
the researchers said.
The wellspring for all this information is the
massive, federally funded National Longitudinal Study on
Adolescent Health, known as Add Health, which is handled
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HeartThread Journal Page 15
by the National Institute of Child Health and Human
Development.
The study began in 1994 with brief surveys of 90,000
teens in grades seven through twelve. This was followed
by 12,000 in-home interviews with students in 1995. A
second wave of interviews was held in 1996 with 15,000
students.
The data looked at eight unhealthy behaviors and how
teen behavior in these areas was affected by their
families, schools and individual personalities.
Researchers found that if teens lived around violent
or suicidal family members, and users of tobacco,
alcohol, drugs and guns, they were at greater risk for
involvement in those behaviors.
"What comes through is that family connections
count," Dr. Blum told the briefing, adding that "family
connectedness" helped protect teens against every
unhealthy behavior except teen pregnancy.
............................................
printed with permission from the
Washington Times National Weekly Edition
April 12, 1998
* * * * * * *
Florence Wheatley Makes
Sleeping Bags for the Homeless
................................
by Jan Spence
Flo Wheatley held her young son, Leonard, as he was
vomiting and near collapse. Returning from the hospital
and his daily cancer treatments, they were a block from a
subway station in New York City. It began to rain.
Commuters rushed past them. Flo heard a voice say: "You
need help, lady," and she looked up to see a homeless
man, wearing jeans, sneakers and a cutoff army jacket.
She felt a little fear and declined his help, saying:
"No, we're okay." But the homeless man said again: "You
need help, lady." He picked up her suitcase and walked
toward the subway. Flo and Leonard followed him and the
three of them boarded the train. They all got off at
Flo's station and the homeless man hailed a taxi for her.
"I pressed a $5 bill into the man's hand before the
cab pulled away," Flo said, "and I heard him say, softly:
"Don't abandon me." Flo has never forgotten his words.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HeartThread Journal Page 16
Two years later, in 1985, Leonard, who had suffered
from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, was recovering miraculously.
And in the small town of Hop Bottom, Pennsylvania
(population 385), Flo Wheatley stitched her first
sleeping bag, using her kids' outgrown clothing; jeans,
shirts and sweaters. She and her husband drove into
Manhattan and gave the bag to a man huddled in a doorway.
She made eight bags that year.
News of her Ugly Quilts sleeping bags spread through
the rural area and soon neighbors were dropping off
fabrics at her home. A local church invited Flo to speak
and to demonstrate how to make the bags. She named the
family project My Brother's Keeper Quilt Group. She
called the bags Ugly Quilts so that volunteers wouldn't
think they were too difficult to make. The grass roots
project continued to grow:
Women began gathering to sew and socialize. Many of
the sleeping bags were delivered to Flo's garage for
distribution. Her garage door remained unlocked to accept
deliveries. In 1992, more than 5,300 Ugly Quilts were
distributed to homeless people and to shelters in
Manhattan and other large cities.
The Wheatley family created a single page of simple
instructions on how to make an Ugly Quilt. The first step
is to sew pieces of fabric together to form a seven foot
square, and then another one. These squares are joined
together. Old drapes, blankets and mattress pads are
added for padding and men's neckties are used as handles.
All the fabrics are recycled. There is a big demand for
these instructions.
A mail crew arrives at Flo's home every Wednesday
morning for breakfast and to open the mail bags. There
are requests for instructions from all over the United
States as well as other parts of the world. A missionary
in Mexico asked for instructions to make a bag for
himself and to teach others to make sleeping bags. There
was news from American volunteers at an army camp in
Germany: supply planes had dropped "Flo-designed"
sleeping bags to the refugees in Bosnia. In Mesa,
Arizona, they have just completed 2,000 sleeping bags. In
Fort Ogden, Florida, they have made one bag every week
for five years. Flo believes that more than 100,000
sleeping bags have been made since 1985 . Eleanor Dugan
and Becky Gordon co-founded the San Francisco group. By
avocation, they are both quilters. They have gained
national recognition exhibiting their quilts in regional
shows. But today, they are committed to making sleeping
bags. Becky said: "It's simple. If you can tie a shoe
lace, you can help make a sleeping bag. And a sleeping
bag can save the life of a homeless person."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HeartThread Journal Page 17
The informal group meets in Eleanor's home, which
looks like a warehouse. Hilton Hotels recently donated
200 bedspreads and mattress pads, filling her living room
almost to the ceiling. Her dining room contains a large
cutting table and a sewing machine. And there's a sewing
machine in the kitchen. "It is not Martha Stewart
living*," said Eleanor, "but these bags are literally the
difference between life and death to some of the
homeless." Eleanor speaks and gives demonstrations at
churches, schools, clubs, organizations, and the San
Francisco County jail. At a recent Bronx Community Center
demonstration, Flo was expecting volunteers to come and
make bags and distribute them to the homeless. But
homeless families arrived on the scene, including
children. They spent the day making bags. When they left,
they took the bags and slept in them that night.
(Enquiries: Please send a stamped SAE to: My
Brother's Keeper Quilt Group, Route 1, Box 1049, Hop
Bottom, Pennsylvania 18824, USA.) * Martha Stewart is a
popular proponent of gracious living, American style.
............................................
The late Jan Spence was a fearless champion
for the homeless and a Share International
correspondent from San Francisco,
She passed away peacefully in April of 1997.
This article was reprinted
by permission from SIMS International.
http://www.simedia.org/main/cfwhen.html
* * * * * * *
An Act of Love
................
by Sharon Whitley
When I was growing up, my father always stopped what
he was doing, and listened while I'd breathlessly fill
him in on my day. For him, no subject was off limits.
When I was lanky and awkward at 13, Dad coached me on how to
stand and walk like a lady. At 17 and madly in love, I
sought his advice on pursuing a new student at school.
"Keep the conversation neutral," he counseled.. "And ask
him about his car."
I followed his suggestions and gave him daily
progress reports. "Terry walked me to my locker!" Guess
what?? Terry held my hand! "Dad! He asked me out!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HeartThread Journal Page 18
Terry and I went steady for over a year, and soon
Dad was joking, "I can tell you how to get a man; the
hard part is getting rid of him."
By the time I graduated from college, I was ready to
spread my wings, I got a job teaching special education
at a school in Coachella, California, a desert town about
170 miles from home. It was no dream job. Low-income
housing across the street from the school was a haven for
drug users. Street gangs hung around the school after
dark. Many of my charges, emotionally disturbed
10-to-14-year-old boys, had been arrested for
shoplifting, car theft or arson.
"Be careful," Dad warned me during one of my
frequent weekend visits home. He was concerned about my
living alone, but I was 23, enthusiastic and naive, and I
needed to be on my own. Besides, teaching jobs were tight
in 1974, and I felt lucky to have one.
"Don't worry, " I reassured him, as I loaded up the
car to start my trip back to the desert and my job.
Several evenings later I stayed after school to
rearrange my classroom.
Finished, I turned out the light and closed the
door. Then I headed toward the gate and it was locked! I
looked around. Everyone - teachers, custodians,
secretaries - had gone home, not realizing I was still
there, stranded on the schools grounds. I had been so
engrossed in my work that I hadn't noticed the time.
After checking all the exits, I found just enough
room to squeeze under a gate in the rear of the school. I
pushed my purse through first, lay on my back and slowly
edged through.
I retrieved my purse and walked toward my car,
parked in a field behind the building. Eerie shadows fell
across the school yard.
Suddenly, I heard voices. I glanced around and saw
at least eight highschool age boys following me. They
were a half a block away. Even in the darkness I could
see that they were wearing gang insignia.
As I walked faster, they continued taunting me.
"Hey! She's kinda cute!"
Quickening my pace, I reached into my shoulder bag
to get my key ring. If I have the keys in my hand, I
thought, I can unlock the car and get in before...My
heart was pounding.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HeartThread Journal Page 19
Frantically, I felt all over the inside my handbag.
But the key ring wasn't there!
"Hey! Let's get the lady!" one boy shouted.
"Dear Lord, please help me," I prayed silently.
Suddenly, my fingers wrapped around a loose key in my
purse. I didn't even know if it was for my car, but I
took it out and clutched it firmly.
I jogged across the grass to my car and tried the
key. It worked! I opened the door, slid in and locked it
- just as the teenagers surrounded the car, kicking the
sides and banging on the roof. Trembling, I started the
engine and drove away.
Later, some teachers went back to the school with
me. With flashlights, we found the key ring on the ground
by the gate, where it had fallen as I slid through.
When I returned to my apartment, the phone was
ringing. It was Dad. I didn't tell him about my ordeal; I
didn't want to worry him.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you!" he said. "I had an extra
car key made and slipped it into your pocketbook - just
in case you ever needed it."
Today, I keep that key in my dresser drawer and
treasure it. Whenever I hold it in my hand, I am reminded
of all the wonderful things Dad has done for me over the
years, I realize that, although now he is 68 and I am 40,
I still look to him for wisdom, guidance and reassurance.
Most of all, I marvel at the fact that his thoughtful
gesture of making an extra key may have saved my life.
And I understand how a simple act of love can make
extraordinary things happen.
...............................................
This story was emailed to us via the Internet.
We do not know its origin,
other than the author's name.
* * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HeartThread Journal Page 20
The Movie Mom's Guide to
Family Movies and Videos
..........................
by Nell Minow
Reviews for parents of the best of current films and
old movies available on video and cable, by Nell Minow,
author, film critic, and mother. Reviews will be updated
each week with recommendations and replies to questions
about movies on special topics, suitability of particular
movies for children, and movie trivia--try to stump me!
I'd also love your suggestions for a new book on movies
for families. The best kids' comments I receive will be
published. The Movie Mom (TM)
Now in Theaters
***************
Ever After
..........
A Cinderella Story (1998) Rated PG-13
for very brief profanity and some action violence.
Recommended for 8 and up.
Drew Barrymore plays Danielle, according to her
great-great-great grand-daughter the real inspiration for
the story of Cinderella. Just as in the classic fairy
tale, Danielle lives with her mean step-mother and
step-sisters, after the death of her beloved father. They
force her to do all the work. She meets the prince, goes
to the ball wearing glass slippers, and runs away before
midnight. But there are some big differences. No pumpkin
coach, no fairy godmother, and no bibbity-bobbity-boo.
This heroine is not meekly obedient. She stays on because
she wants to take care of her home and the people who
work there, because it makes her feel close to her
father, and because she still hopes that somehow she will
find approval from the only mother she has ever known.
The step-mother, played by Anjelica Houston in her
most evil "The Witches" mode, is not going to give it to
her. She tells Danielle that she sees her as a pebble in
her shoe. All she cares about is making sure that the
prince chooses her elder daughter, Marguerite (Megan
Dodd), as his bride. She is willing to lie, cheat, and
steal to make it happen.
Meanwhile, the Prince (Dougray Scott) is not quite
Charming. He appears arrogant, but is really just lonely
and aimless. His parents want him to marry the princess
of Spain, to cement a strategic alliance, but he wants to
fall in love. He meets Danielle when she is in disguise
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HeartThread Journal Page 21
as a courtier, to rescue a family servant sold by her
step-mother to pay her debts, and he is very taken by
Danielle's passion and intellect.
The stepmother finds out about their relationship,
and does her best to thwart it. When the prince finds out
that Danielle is not really of noble birth, he is
furious, at first. But it all ends happily ever after,
even without a fairy godmother (though with a little help
from Leonardo da Vinci).
Sumptuously filmed at medieval castles and chateaux,
with gorgeous costumes, this is a pleasure for the eye
as well as the spirit. Danielle is a very modern heroine,
smart, brave, honest, and able to save her prince as well
as herself, if necessary. The script is clever (though
wildly anachronistic in places), and while the accents
come and go (and why do French characters speak with
English accents, anyway?), the performances are
excellent, with particularly engaging turns by Melanie
Lynskey as the sympathetic younger step-sister and Judy
Parfitt as the queen. It is one of the most delightful
family movies of the year, maybe of all time.
Parents should note that there is one profanity,
some action violence, and a sad onscreen death. The plot
may be a challenge to younger children, especially those
expecting the story they know.
The Parent Trap
...............
Rated PG for mild language. Recommended for 6 and up
This delightful remake of the Hayley Mills classic
stars Lindsay Lohan as both Hallie and Annie, twin girls
separated at birth, who meet up at summer camp and decide
to switch places. Lohan is utterly adorable and does a
masterful job of creating two separate characters, each
of whom spends a large part of the movie impersonating
the other. Their father, Nick (Dennis Quaid), owns a
vineyard, and their mother Elizabeth (Natasha Richardson)
designs wedding gowns. Meredith, the scheming girlfriend
who hopes to marry their father for his money (Elaine
Hendrix) has this year's bad guy profession: publicist.
Parents may want to reassure their kids -- one child
who saw it with me was distressed that the parents had
split up the twins and made no attempt to see the child
they gave up. Divorced parents should make sure their
children have no illusions of a reconciliation, and all
parents should make sure that while it may be charming for
the children in the movie to manipulate their parents, it
is not appropriate for real life. Other parental concerns
include Elizabeth's getting drunk (portrayed as funny)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HeartThread Journal Page 22
because of her nervousness at seeing Nick again, and a
truly grisly scene where one twin pierces the other's
ears. There is also a poker game bet which ends with a
child jumping in the lake without any clothes.
Madeline
........
(1998) Rated PG for brief potty humor
and mild suspense (5 and up)
One of the most beloved heroines of children's
literature is brought to life in this movie based on the
classic series of books by Ludwig Bemelmans about the
"twelve little girls in two straight lines" who live in
"a small house in Paris that was covered with vines," and
especially "the smallest one," Madeline. Bemelmans'
gorgeous water colors turn into gorgeously photographed
Paris, set vaguely in the 1950s, setting the stage for
Madeline's night-time race to the hospital for an
appendectomy, her fall into the Seine and rescue by the
brave dog Genevieve, and her adventures with Pepito, the
son of the Spanish ambassador. Frances McDormand (whose
performance in "Fargo" won an Oscar) plays Miss Clavel,
the nun who cares for her charges with imagination,
wisdom, love, and courage. Nigel Hawthorne (of "The
Madness of King George") plays stern Lord Covington, who
wants to sell the small house covered with vines and
close down the school.
Young children, especially fans of the books, will
enjoy the film. Newcomer Hetty Jones is a spunky
Madeline, brave enough to say "Pooh Pooh" to a tiger,
smart enough to know that if she asks Pepito to be extra
quiet he will find some way to do something noisy, and
determined enough to find a way to stop Lord Covington
from selling the school his late wife loved so dearly.
Parental concerns: Miss Clavel's tolerance of the girls'
misbehavior (a riotous debate over whether the girls
should eat a chicken Madeline had seen before it was
killed, a late night kitchen raid), a kidnapping that
younger children might find scary, and the overall
absence of parents (Pepito's parents are loving but
rather neglectful, Madeline is an orphan).
...............................................
The Movie Mom's Guide is on the web at:
http://pages.prodigy.com/moviemom/moviemom.html
"Movie Mom" is a trademark of Nell Minow
All material (C) 1998 Nell Minow
Email: nellm@aol.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HeartThread Journal Page 23
- HeartQuestions -
Questions & Reflections about
Marriage, Parenting, Family & Society
---------------------------------------
[Racism from a Boyfriend's Family; An Undecided wife]
by Peter F. Brown
DEAR PETER:
For the past three years, I have been dating an
Indian gentleman. We're both in our mid-20s. He's the
oldest, and has two sisters and a brother. I'm Black and
his mother/sisters hate me. We have never formally met.
They have expressed that they're not interested in
meeting me because of my race. Nevertheless, I get along
well with his brother.
Unfortunately, my boyfriend resides with his family.
He lives on one floor and his family occupies the
remaining floors. I/We rarely spend time there. I have
received harassing calls from his sister(s). He
confronted his sister(s) and informed them that I will
file a complaint if they contact me again. Since their
confrontation, I haven't received any more calls.
However, the situation has become more volatile.
Recently, I visited my boyfriend to exchange some items.
His mother/sisters came to his apartment and created a
'scene'. My boyfriend informed them to leave, after his
mother threw something at me. I ignored them through the
entire event and only split apart my boyfriend and sister
when their argument became physical. I planned to leave
after everything calmed down and went to retrieve my
shoes (which I normally leave in the hallway) only to
discover they were missing. We found them in a dusty,
spider-webbed wall panel.
I have exceeded my tolerance level for his 'family',
but haven't given him any ultimatums. Since the last
episode, my boyfriend no longer eats any food
cooked/bought by his family. He is also washing his own
clothes (his mother washes their clothes at the
laundromat where she works). I no longer visit him,
except to pick him up with my car. He is also looking for
a new place to live. What can I do to lessen the stress
his family is placing on us? him? Should I do/say
anything the next time his family approaches me?
Fed Up Girlfriend
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HeartThread Journal Page 24
DEAR FED UP GIRLFRIEND:
Normally I would encourage you to try to make
harmony with his family, but when a family is taking a
very strong, racist stance, I believe that one has to
follow the righteous path, even if it costs family
relationships. At the same time, it might be productive
for your boyfriend to seek out an elder in the Indian
community, perhaps a Hindu religious leader, and ask that
person to influence your boyfriend's parents to be more
tolerant and generous. Perhaps you can meet with the
parents with that leader as the mediator. It would be
good, after all, if their hearts could be influenced in
the right direction.
If nothing works, and you and your boyfriend are
committed to a long term relationship, and then marriage,
I would recommend that you follow your heart.
DEAR PETER:
My wife left me about 3 months ago. We have an 8 month
old daughter. She said that one of the reasons for leaving is
that I was happy with crap jobs. I'm happy with any jobs
I have. But... she wanted me to get a real job and my
cousin lived in an area (away from home) that has many. I
moved 1200 miles from them, and am now in a strange city with
out a job or family. When I ask her if she thinks we'll get
back together, her opinions vary from day to day...never
no.. but sometimes more promising. Am I stupid for trying
to follow my heart? I miss seeing my daughter grow up..
I've only been in Denver for 2 weeks and have had one interview.
It will be our 2nd anniversary September 14.
Any help is appreciated,
Mike
DEAR MIKE:
You're not stupid at all for following your heart.
Heart is more important than money or anything else. I
would move back to the city where your wife and daughter
are, and sit down with your wife and tell her that money
can't be the basis for her relationship with you. Doesn't
it say, 'for richer or for poorer?'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HeartThread Journal Page 25
At the same time, it's easy for wives to feel a lot
of stress because of money problems. If she feels that
you really need to get a better job, and that the better
jobs are in Denver, then she should go with you, with
your daughter. Ask her if your daughter cares whether you
have money or not. All she wants is her daddy. Stay
together at all costs.
........................................................
Peter F. Brown is the author of the book,
"Striving for Parental Love" and lives in
Virginia Beach, VA with his wife Kim and their
four children, Tymon, Thea Grace, Ranin and Tadin
HeartQuestions is published as a column on
The HeartThread Resource Page at:
"http://futurerealm.com"
Email: peterbrown@futurerealm.com
* * * * * * * *
"Together We Can Heal"
Recorded by Phil Volan and Steve Barta, Source Music
......................................................
CD Review by
Kim Korman Brown
"Together We Can Heal" is a collection of "12 songs
that communicate and empathize with the many emotions
experienced by grieving children and adults." Composed,
arranged, and produced by Steve Barta, Phil Volan and
friends, the work was commissioned to fill a void.
In the liner dedication, Connie Patterson, the
Manager of Children's Connection at Pikes Peak Hospital,
(Colorado) says that, "Music speaks when no-one else can.
Music builds a bridge when pain, anger and sadness
isolate a child or an adult. We had many places to use
music...but we had no music. We contacted Phil
Volan...and this recording is the result."
Phil Volan, singer, guitarist and composer said, "At
first, my own fear of dying or losing a loved one kept me
from plunging into the songs, but in a surprising way, my
limited research and experience began to inspire me as I
observed the range of feelings, depths of spirit and
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HeartThread Journal Page 26
compassion in people when confronted by death. It was not
at all depressing like I expected it might be. In fact,
the process of writing these songs was uplifting and
joyous."
The topic of grief has come a long way in recent
decades. There was a time not so long ago, that one did
not speak of the dead. "Mommy has gone away" was
sometimes all a child was told when his mother died in an
epidemic or while giving birth to a sibling.
Douglas Gresham, stepson to C.S. Lewis, said in his
forward to the book, "A Grief Observed" by C.S. Lewis:
"that if he [Lewis] mentioned Mother, I would always seem
to be embarrassed as if he had said something obscene. He
did not understand that I was fourteen when Mother died
and the product of almost seven years of British
Preparatory School indoctrination. The lesson I was most
strongly taught throughout that time, was that the most
shameful thing that could happen to me would be to be
reduced to tears in public. British boys don't cry. I
knew that if he talked to me about Mother, I would weep
uncontrollably and worse still, so would he. This was the
source of my embarrassment. It took me almost thirty
years to learn how to cry without feeling ashamed."
It is evident that this is a potent aspect of life
that needs more addressing. No matter how many people
have been forced into the grieving process, many have
never been able to sort out their pain. In the latter
part of the twentieth century, more books and essays have
been written on the subject than ever before, but there
has been very little music composed for the specific
purpose of tending the grieving process.
Without being cloying or overly sentimental, these
songs address the confusion, pain and sense of isolation
that comes from grief, particularly for children.
from "So Cool":
"This was not supposed to happen,
This is totally unfair,
Without any kind of warning,
You're just suddenly not there," *
from "Stories To Be Told":
"Everything is different now
I want it all back the same
I promised God a lot to make it all okay
But it hasn't done a bit of good
except sometimes in dreams" *
The topic of death and dying can be awkward, but
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HeartThread Journal Page 27
Steve Barta's beautiful piano playing, and Phil Volan's
sensitive voice and guitar playing, blend well with the
realistic lyrics. Family members sharing the loss of
someone could gather together and listen to this music as
a help in the healing process, especially if they are
struggling to articulate their feelings. The broad appeal
of this music will speak to listeners in a personal way.
C.S. Lewis wrote the book, "A Grief Observed", to
help deal with the death of his wife after a long battle
with cancer. He said, "No one ever told me that grief
felt so like fear. I am not afraid, but the sensation is
like being afraid. The same fluttering in the stomach,
the same restlessness, the yawning. I keep on
swallowing."
In her book, "Companion Through the Darkness",
Stephanie Ericsson similarly said: "Grief is a tidal wave
that overtakes you, smashes down upon you with
unimaginable force, sweeps you up into darkness, where
you tumble and crash against unidentifiable surfaces,
only to be thrown out on an unknown beach, bruised,
reshaped."
Not everyone knows how to put their feelings into
words. This music gives substance to some of the
questions people must grapple with when coping with
death.
Seconds after hearing the opening bars of the first
cut, "I Had a Dream", tears were streaming down my face.
I thought of my own parents who have passed away, and I
could empathize with others who have faced the death of a
loved one. In fact, listening to this music caused me to
take note of my own family, to consciously appreciate
them more, and thank God again for each day we have
together.
........................................
Kim Korman Brown is a writer and a Mom.
Email: kimbrown@futurerealm.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HeartThread Journal Page 28
The HeartThread Resource Guide
- Resources for Couples, Parents & Families -
...............................................
If you have any books, products, services, seminars,
or other helpful items that you would like us
to mention in this space, please email us at
"peterbrown@futurerealm.com".
Ad spaces are 23 character wide x 18 lines long.
Submissions should be formatted correctly and emailed.
This advertising space is FREE for a limited time.
Items do not have to fall within specific categories,
but we do reserve the right to selectively approve
any and all advertisements.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Mother Linda's | For non-fiction books | Custom Birth |
| "Ode to Sucanat: | for kids of all ages, | Announcements, |
| The First | see Usborne books. We | Christening and |
| Sucanat Cookbook" | carry a selection of | Dedication Invitations |
| by Linda Forristal | almost 800 titles in | |
| | the areas of history, | These elegant cards |
| Order your copy today | science, nature, music | feature a B&W repro |
| by sending a check or | crafts, religion, and | of your baby's photo, |
| money order for $6.50 | more. See the Book Bag | with your choice of |
| to: | at http:/www. | wording on heavy |
| | freeyellow.com/members/ | translucent paper, |
| Mother Linda's | book bag/ for a FREE | overlaying pink or blue |
| P.O. Box 7 | birthday club, book | parchment, and tied |
| Bladensburg, MD 20710 | reviews, and list of | with a matching ribbon |
| | our books. Orders taken | "NaptimeTwo@aol.com" |
| Please write | from all Canadian | Naptime Productions |
| "HeartThread" on the | customers | 1295 Wildwood Road |
| memo line. | | Toledo, OH 43614 |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| "Over The Shoulder | Parent's Pal Over the | The Kidsling |
| Baby Holders" ... | Shoulder Baby Holder | from Parent's Pal |
| ... are versatile, | | (see other ad) is a |
| fully adjustable, | The "OSBH" is | version of the sling |
| padded baby slings that | a sling style carrier, | for 1 1/2 - 6 year olds |
| can be used for babies | widely recognized as | to use to carry their |
| from birth to 3 years | the best available. It | dolls and bears...just |
| old. There is a wide | works for newborns to | like Mom and Dad do! It |
| variety of natural | children of 35 lbs. You | makes a wonderful big |
| carrying positions that | can carry the child in | sister/brother or |
| allow you to wear your | many positions. | birthday gift. Gift |
| baby comfortably, with | Excellent for nursing | certificates are |
| no restrictive arm or | discretely. 3 sizes to | available. Parent's Pal |
| leg openings. Excellent | fit most. I offer it at | "parentspal@aol.com" |
| for nursing. For more | a low price with quick | Phone: (770) 396-4747 |
| information, or a full | delivery and personal | http://www.atl. |
| color brochure, | service. Email: | mindspring.com/~robertlw|
| Email:Cwbc1@aol.com | parentspal@aol.com | /parentspal.html |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
The HeartThread Journal Page 29
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Fit For 2 Step Aerobic | "Condom Nation" | "Angels Bar & Grill" |
| Workout For Pregnancy | Blind Faith, Bad Science| by Richard Panzer |
| Video | by Richard A. Panzer | |
| | | New comic book. College |
| The video is a | This new book by the | students, Bill & Sandy, |
| variable-intensity, | director of the Center | after Woodstock II, |
| high-energy 60-minute | for Educational Media | encounter Malcolm X, |
| program led by | blows the lid off the | Marilyn Monroe, Sigmund |
| ACE-certified pre- & | liberal sex-ed agenda. | Freud, and Jack |
| post-natal exercise | | Kerouac, the 50's |
| specialist Lisa Stone. | $12.00 plus $3 S&H | "beat" writer, at a |
| $19.95 + $3.00 S&H | | mysterious diner and |
| Fit For 2, | .......... | discuss the roots of |
| P.O. Box 70062, | | the Sexual Revolution |
| Marietta, GA 30007-0062 | Center for | and the results 30 |
| 1-800-729-7837 | Educational Media | years later. |
| Our web page: | P.O. Box 97, | $2.95 + $2 S&H |
| www.lack.net/fitfor2 | Westwood, NJ 07675 USA | (see other ad for addr) |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| "Striving for Parental | DK Family Learning | Do you need a Web Site, |
| Love - A Practical | provides families with | or Web Design Services? |
| Guide on Giving | fun and educational | |
| Parental Love to | books, videos, and | The World Community |
| Children" | CD-ROMS for children | Network (WCN) is an |
| by Peter F. Brown | (and adults) of all | affiliate of FutureRealm|
| | ages and interests. | Productions, at: |
| Now Available! Newly | For a free catalog | "worldcommunity.com" |
| printed 3rd Ed. high- | full of great products | |
| lights "heart" of | send your request to: | We offer high quality, |
| parenting and family. | DKSarah@bigfoot.com | low priced web sites, |
| $10.95 + $3.00 S&H | | with a rock solid ethic |
| (VA res. add .045% tax) | of "Quality of Service. |
| Send US Bank Check or | | Period." We're here to |
| Money Order to: | "http://members.tripod. | fulfill your needs! |
| FutureRealm Productions | com/~DKFamily/index. | Email "peterbrown@ |
| P.O. Box 4131, Virginia | html | futurerealm.com for more|
| Beach, VA 23454 / USA | | info. Call 757-468-6848 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(end of document)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HeartThread Journal Page 30