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Heart! ~ If you are not a subscriber and this has been passed on to you, join us by sending a blank e-mail to four_ears @ msn.com (remove spaces) with "subscribe" in the subject line. And get the love direct! Web site: http://www.geocities.com/jenniferioliver2001 Archives: http://geocities.com/jenniferioliver2001/Archives.htm ________________________________________________________ "We are, each of us, angels with only one wing, and we can only fly embracing each other." -- Luciano DeCrescenzo ______________________________________ PAPER BAG WEDDING by Maria Harden I met my husband-to-be when friends of ours decided to get married. It was inevitable that in all the pre-wedding activities, Neil and I would meet. I knew Ron's fiancée, Kathy, since we worked together. Neil and Ron had known each other since childhood, so it was only natural that Neil be the best man. After Neil and I had spent some time together, Kathy and Ron were curious to find out if we had hit it off. Kathy, determined to play matchmaker, teased me unmercifully. "Do you like him?" she asked. "If you don't like him, he has an older brother," she added hopefully. The more she coaxed, the more I was hesitant to admit that although it wasn't quite love at first sight, I did like him. I was just not ready to share my feelings with anyone yet. Besides, I was fresh out of a bad marriage, and the emotional scars had not yet healed. Was I really ready for a new relationship? There is a saying, "When man makes plans, God laughs." God must have had a good laugh at my indecision and decided to take matters into His own hands. It was a whirlwind romance. Three months later, Neil proposed, and I accepted. We were engaged! I knew I had found the man I wanted to live with happily ever after. We planned to be married in September, six months after we had met. Although I had a five-year-old son from my previous marriage, Neil accepted us into his heart with no hesitation. We had a small family wedding in a lovely local conservatory. My parents offered to look after my son, so my new husband and I could have a one-night honeymoon at our city's finest hotel. Our overnight bags had already been stowed in the car, but at the last minute, Neil realized he had forgotten to pack extra shoes. Since we were to meet some relatives for breakfast the next morning, he wanted casual shoes to wear. Hastily, he threw the shoes into a paper bag, and we were ready to say our good-byes to our families. When my new mother-in-law saw her son carrying his paper bag to take to the fancy hotel, she chuckled. "No one but Neil would pack his shoes in a paper bag to take on his honeymoon!" I often think of that night, when my husband carried with him the paper bag containing his shoes, while I carried with me the assorted baggage of my past. Now, twenty-five years late, the only bags we have are filled with loving memories, and the only baggage I carry is his unconditional love. Maria Harden mharden @ escape.ca Copyright © 2002 by Maria Harden. All rights reserved. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ About the author: Maria lives on the Manitoba prairies where temperatures are extreme, both in winter and in summer. She is a word-a-holic, a book-a-holic, and a shop-a-holic (her favorite pastime!). She freelances for the local paper and has been widely published on the net. _________________________________________________________ FROM OUR FRIENDLY E-MAIL CARRIER Folks, so many of you requested the recipe for my sister's tortilla soup that I felt compelled to print it here. The tortilla soup is perfect for a crisp winter day. Next week I'll print the recipe for green enchiladas. Bon appetit! Tortilla Soup 1 small onion, chopped 1 4-ounce can chopped green chiles (my sister used frozen, chopped, roasted chiles) 2 cloves garlic, crushed 2 Tbl. oil 1 c. tomatoes, peeled and chopped 1 can condensed beef bouillon 1 can condensed chicken broth 1 1/2 c. water 1 1/2 c. tomato juice 1 t. ground cumin 1 t. chile powder 1 t. salt 1/8 t. pepper 2 t. Worcestershire sauce 3 corn tortillas, cut in 1/2 inch strips Shredded cheddar cheese Sliced avocados Fried, crispy corn tortilla strips Saute onion, chiles, and garlic in oil until soft. Add all other ingredients, except for the tortillas. Bring soup to a boil, lower heat, and simmer for 1 hour. Add the tortilla strips during the last ten minutes. Add shredded chicken breasts, if you want. Garnish each bowl with cheese, avocado slices, and crispy tortilla strips. __________________________________________________________ In regards to "Wife Seeking Wife" (http://www.geocities.com/jenniferioliver2001/wife.htm) Stop whatever you are doing and finish the book! I am already caught up in this story that has so captured my imagination that I want to take the day off of work and read the whole thing at one time. This is going to be a high point for your writing, I just know it. Work hard and fast, but be certain to get every detail of the story "down on paper" so you can share it with us. I can hardly wait. - Lynne Starkey ~ Lynne, thank you for your kind words of encouragement! Because of you I finished one chapter this weekend! - Jennifer _________________________________________________________ ON THE HOMEFRONT HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my mother-in-law, Gerri Oliver! CONGRATULATIONS to our nephew, Nate Meyer, for being honored as the youngest in the state of Texas to earn his black belt. Nate is only 12 years old! Matthew ran up to me, wide-eyed, "Mom, I can't find Cody! I looked everywhere for him!" "Really? Did you check the bedroom?" I asked, seeing Cody peek around the corner as he played hide and seek from his little brother. "Yeah!" he said. Then tapping his chin, Matthew added, "Hmmmm. It's a mystery." LOVE, JENNIFER I. OLIVER AND FAMILY four_ears @ msn.com "To live that in thy last long sleep, Smiles my be thine wile all around thee weep." - Nellie L. Wallace, June 24, 1873 _________________________________________________________ This E-mail may be forwarded in its entirety, but first ask the writer for permission before forwarding. Thank you for doing the decent thing! Ü ________________________________________________________ SUBMIT STORY, QUOTE, OR FAMILY LOVE MOMENT: http://www.geocities.com/jenniferioliver2001/submission.htm FEEDBACK: four_ears @ msn.com ________________________________________________________ |
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