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		WRITE 2 THE HEART Stories that are aimed "Write 2 the Heart" July 12, 2005 Cheryl Speir, Editor, moderator @ write2theheart.com ----------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to your latest issue of "Write 2 the Heart." You are receiving this newsletter because you requested a subscription or a friend generously forwarded their copy to you. ------------------------------------------------------------ We all have good intentions. But somehow the everyday cares take our eyes off of what we know we should do. After reading Debbies’s story, I will reexamine my priorities. ------------------------------------------------------------ All new subscribers receive a free downloadable copy of the e-cookbook, “Write 2 the Heart of the Chocolate Lover.” To subscribe send a blank e-mail to: subscribe-me @ write2theheart.com ------------------------------------------------------------- The “To-do” List By Debbie Roppolo ------------------------------------------------------------ I am a very organized person. Let me restate that. If I don’t, my husband, John, will “bust a gut” laughing if he reads this. There are clothes in the laundry room that are to be folded, and a small, neatly stacked pile of magazines in my office to be sifted through. I keep organized with a “to-do” list. I organize each item by importance as I put them on the list. The same list has also been my undoing. All too often, I have given the wrong things priority on the list. A few months ago, on a whim, I called June. June had been my anthropology professor and academic advisor in college. I deeply admired her, and many hours were spent talking to her in the small, cluttered office. Often she would shake her head over my career decision. “I know that you want to be an anthropologist, but I can’t help but think you’re making a mistake.” “It’s what I want to do.” I said stubbornly. “I know. But is anthropology where your heart is?” June rifled through the stack of term papers on her desk, and pulled one out of the middle. She glanced at it briefly before handing it to me. The term paper was mine. June leaned closer to me and tapped the paper with her finger. “This is where you heart is, in writing. You can tell by the way this paper was written.” “Me? A writer?” I scoffed. During my next few years in college, June tried unsuccessfully to convince me to be a writer. As I spoke with her on the phone a few months ago, I couldn’t help but notice how feeble she sounded. June reluctantly told me that she had leukemia. I had a secret that I knew that I must tell her. I had just found out that I was pregnant with my second child. John was campaigning for a public office, and we agreed not to tell anyone about my pregnancy. Now though, I heard a nagging little voice from deep inside of me telling me to tell June my secret. “I have two things to tell you. The first is that I’m pregnant.” I heard a gasp on the other line followed by joyful laughing. “How wonderful! I’m so excited for you! What’s the other thing that you want to tell me? Let me guess. You're having twins.” June had a very warped sense of humor. “No. I’ve decided to start writing.” There was silence on the other line, then again, laughter. “Well, it’s about time you decided to take my advice.” June said weakly. “Always know that I’m so very proud of you.” We had only talked a short while, and I was alarmed at how weak her voice was beginning to sound. “You sound tired. I’ll call you back soon.” “Please do,” she said. I immediately put her at the top of my “to-do” list. She had always been there for me, now I would be there for her. I always intended to call. Days turned into weeks, and every day I would bump June a little further down on the list. She would know that I was busy, and she would understand. Before I knew it, a month had passed. John arrived home early one day, with a grim look on his face. “Deb, I got an email from a professor at the University. June died today.” I looked at John in disbelief. “No she didn’t. I have to call her back. Wait a minute. I’ll show you the list.” My hand trembled as I reached into my pocket and pulled out the list. There it was, at the very bottom: Call June. Reality smacked me in the face as I gazed at those damning words through my tears. I had never called her back. I had constantly put other less important things above her. I could bore you with several other incidents in which I put other things, other tasks in front of loved ones on my “to-do” lists. I could waste your time telling of all the times that I was to busy accomplishing tasks on my list to say how felt. I could, but I’m not. My indiscretions are my cross to bear, not yours. How many times have you formed a “to-do” list? Can you count on one hand all the times that you put off telling that special someone how you feel, or are there too any times to count? Time is both precious and fleeting. Your various tasks and chores will be there day after day, your friends and loved ones may not. Always put them first on your “to-do” list. Debbie Roppolo roppolo4 @ yahoo.com You are encouraged to write to the authors to let them know what you think of their story. Have a comment on today's story? Send it to: moderator @ write2theheart.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- I was born in 1970 in the small town of Rosebud, Texas. One of the claims to fame that this tiny town had was that, at one time, there was a rosebush in every yard. My town was listed “Ripley's Believe It or Not” because of this. I got into law enforcement in 1991, where I met my future hubby, John. We've been together fourteen years, and have two boys, one who is 11, and the other who is 2 1/2. After a few years of being shot at and stabbed, I left law enforcement and pursued a degree in Anthropology at St. Edward's University in Austin, TX. Throughout all the trying times in my life, writing has been a comfort for me. Ever since I can remember I have loved to write. It has, in a sense, allowed me to "escape" from the stress that was on me. I contributed a story for the book “Laughing and Learning: Adventures in Parenting” and a story in the upcoming “Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul,” to be released later this year. web site address: http://www.freewebs.com/onthefrontporch -------------------------------------------------------------- Story Submissions -------------------------------------------------------------- Do you have a heart-touching or inspiring story to share? Send it in the body of a plain email, no graphic or colorful backgrounds please. Write ‘submission’ in the subject line. Don’t forget to write a brief bio to introduce yourself to our readers. You may include your family friendly websites, information on your books, newsletters, and upcoming projects. Email to: moderator @ write2theheart.com -------------------------------------------------------------- Letters From Our Readers -------------------------------------------------------------- I can truly relate to Shirley's story of the pain scale. Having degenerative disk disease, and varying in degrees of pain from one day to the next, it's almost impossible to get a doctor to understand. It's like that funny noise in your car engine that stops the moment you finally get a mechanic to listen to it. At one point in my back pain career, I had cortisone injections in my spine, and after one injection, I had the worst pain I have ever experienced. I thought I'd had a "10" before, but I learned quickly that there is always a worse pain somewhere, sometime, or in someone else. Thanks for the reminder of our Savior, as well. I cannot imagine such pain as His. Pete Hall --------------------------------------------------------------- Military Prayer Reminder --------------------------------------------------------------- As you read over this list of names, please take that moment to pray for these young people and their families: Tim Speir Alan Todd Holland Graham William Julie Sagel Jessie Marshal Thompson Jason Eric Hernandez Kristin Danielson Ryan Larry Miele Daniel Amy John Joanne Gary Boardwine Hadassah Chanz Wackerly Robert Henderson David Habighurst Tonia Melissa Bair Matthew Nutter Nick Nation Seth Jarrell Matt Hall Donald Wayne West Frank Schambach, Jr. Please continue to pray for our country, our leaders, and our troops at this time. If you have loved ones in the military, or who are being called to go overseas, send their names (first and last or first only) to be included in our prayer reminder. --------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Have you visited our new bookstore? It’s located at http://www.write2theheart.com/html/book_store.html You will find wonderful books written by, or that include stories by many of our talented writers. You will also find books that aide the budding writer. I highly recommend “Sally Stuart’s Christian Writers’ Guide,” and “2005 Writer’s Market.” Both are must haves for all serious writers. They are great tools to find that perfect market for your writing. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Cheryl's Corner I know it has been a while since the last time I sent out this ezine. My son, Tim, came home on leave from Iraq earlier than expected. His one request was that we as a family go somewhere where he could fish, play guitar with his brothers, and not have to worry about cleaning up messes. So when he got home, we all packed up and went to son Aaron’s apartment in Thibodaux. It met all of his requirements. While all of the ‘boys’ were fishing, a small four foot alligator got wrapped up in one of their fishing lines and had to be brought into the boat to be untangled and released. This was the highlight of the grandsons fishing trip. We all spent Tim’s time home letting him rest and trying to fatten him up; he has lost so much weight. His area does not get meals delivered and they get tired of the instant meals provided. Every letter home says: send more food. After seeing how thin he is, I will be doubling my efforts to send care packages. God Bless, Cheryl ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 2005 Write 2 the Heart Nothing may be reproduced or published without the written permission of the individual author or copyright owner. All rights belong to the authors. ---------------------------------------------------------------