America, Bless God... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To UnSubscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShangyFunList Through no fault of my own we suddenly became an adult club in the love and romance directory so you will have to confirm that you are an adult when you go here. I still have no idea how to change this back as it sends me around in a circle when I try! or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net ================ *~* A REMINDER: PLEASE Send me sweet, interesting, funny, inspiring, family type forwards ANY TIME here... bcrsystems@earthlink.net I Need them, Love them, Use them, and Share them! THANK YOU!! ================ "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo ~ CALLING ALL CARING ANGELS ~ (\ /) (( "-" )) \ @ @ / ( "Y" ) pils ".^." `-. _/( _) ( ) (((.\(((./( ( /.((("\ ) (((" " *~* WE NEED CARING And SHARING Angels For 2011 *~* >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel? If you'd like to help and be counted as a 2011 Shangrala Angel, please visit the site and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL page comes up. Any amount is greatly appreciated and needed! PLEASE Visit Shangrala to Help: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/index.html OR If you'd rather send us a donation, Please MAIL it here: Elrhea Bigham 502 S. Harrison Van Wert, OH 45891 *~* THANK YOU! MAY GOD BLESS ALL OUR ANGELS MOST ABUNDANTLY! ================ >-->Hot Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This smokin' hottie is from our friend PatDeE. I watched the video and it moved me to tears. Such a beautiful heartwarming story I decided to look it up and do a page on it. I could of done the whole story in stills but felt the video was very well done and told the story so well that I just used a few stills to lead up to the full video story. Be sure to check it out and watch it here: __________...----..____..-'``-..___ ,'. ```--.._ : ``._ | -- ``. | -.- -. - -. `. : __ -- . \ `._____________ ( `. -.- -- - . ` \ `-----------------\ \_.--------..__..--.._ `. `. : `--' SSt `-._ . | `.` | \` | \ | / \`. / _\-' /_,' Whale Story 2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/whalerescue2.html --- ...aww, such a sweet one! Awesomely caught on tape! Thanks PatDeE! ============================================================== >-->From Our Friends At TruthOrTradition.com >Transformation: A Personal Journey By John W. Schoenheit , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' The Balance of Doctrine and Practice The older I get as a Christian and the more I read the New Testament, the more clearly I see that we Christians must pay serious attention to how we think and act. This is a shift in my understanding from a couple of decades ago, when I thought that the doctrine I believed was of supreme importance, and how I behaved came in a distant second in God’s eyes. I have now come to believe that we must be very concerned about both doctrine and practice... Read More Here: http://tinyurl.com/43naohw =================================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: .'"'. ___,,,___ .'``. : (\ `."'"``` ```"'"-' /) ; : \ `./ .' `. :.' / _ _ \ | 0} {0 | | / \ | | / \ | | / \ | \ | .-. | / `. | . . / \ . . | .' jgs `-._\.'.( ).'./_.-' `\' `._.' '/' `. --'-- .' `-...-' >A PLACE OF WONDER by Kathy Anne Harris After pulling the truck and tent-trailer into a double-wide spot in the small parking lot, we stepped out and walked to the edge of the escarpment. There before us, in a breath stopping glance, lay the grand vista of the Valley. Crisp, cool air swirled around us and the other people crowding the outlook. Outstretched arms pointed from a great waterfall in the distance to the half-domed rock, capped in clouds, and illumined in a column of sun from the south -- from the massive protruding wall of granite to the left, to the arches that had been created in the walls of the valley, ages ago. Below, the valley floor was thick with color, verdant meadows and a carpet of trees. We drove on until we reached the Lower Pines Campground. After setting up camp, we had a bite of lunch and relaxed. Off to the west, in a meadow of dried yellow grasses with small, reedy pockets of swampy earth was a herd of mule deer, nearly obscured but for their long ears, delicately shaped heads and slender necks. I walked closer, to get a better look. Their heads followed my course from the camp to the meadow. We studied each other, the deer, and me. And none of us moved. Cars sped by on the road past the meadow. Campers arrived, shuffling about in their designated camps. Hikers and bicyclists scurried back and forth on the paths around us. But the deer, and I, remained quiet, unmoving. I glanced up at Half Dome, and I could spot dots of color and movement on its crest -- hikers. I swiveled my gaze to the opposite side of the valley. I followed the upper ridge, and stopped. There, rushing down the slope of granite, Yosemite Falls pulsed torrents of snow-melted water over rocky ledges, down the cliff wall, and down further still -- crashing at the bottom in a spray of mist. Rainbow patterns winked in and out of the dewy spray. When I got back to camp, several people were whispering to each other, and pointing to something moving through the nearby trees. It seemed everyone was looking at the same thing. I looked, too. Between shafts of sunlight, columns of shadow, and the trees, a large coyote strolled past us and on to the river on the other side of the camp. It was delightful! Later that night, during supper, a park ranger came to visit each group of campers. She advised us that there was a large, indigenous bear populace in the park. She instructed us to store all foods in the iron, bear-proof, storage boxes. And not just food. Anything with an attractive scent was to go in these boxes -- not in your vehicle, not in your tent or camper or RV -- but in the iron storage box. We did as she had instructed. Others did not. That night, while the humans slept in their sleeping bags, beds, or cots, bears came visiting -- a mama bear, and her two cubs. However, we didn't discover this until the next morning. My brother remarked how he had heard a soft, shuffling sound outside his tent that night. He had peeked through the window of the tent and watched as the mother bear and her cubs ambled past his tent, on to the campground across the road. The bears had totaled the campers' van. We discovered that she had also paid us a call. She had left paw prints on our truck, and one on the outside wall of the tent-trailer, just above the place where my head had laid that night, in sleep. Yosemite is a place of wonder. Yet, when I think of the magnificent creatures who dwell there, and then of the hordes of humans who visit the valley, I must ask myself: Who is the beast? -- Kathy Anne Harris ___________________________________________ Kathy says, "I am a social worker by day, a writer by life. Four of my books have been published: three ficton, one non-fiction. They are available online and also can be ordered from your local bookstore. I live in Clovis, CA with my fur kin." You can reach her at: mailto:bluebelliedlizard@earthlink.net ================================================================ >-->From LaughAndLift: \ | / -- * -- / | \ /') ./') ('\. ('\ /' /.--''./'') (''\.''--.\ '\ :--'' ; ''./'') (''\.'' ; ''--: : ' ''./') ('\.'' ' : : ''./' '\.'' : :--''-..--'''' ''''--..-''--: dp God is with you - every step of the way! The Lift >My God Has Been Faithful (Author Unknown) In My Moments of Fear, Through every Pain, every Tear, There's a God who's been Faithful to Me. When My Strength was all Gone, When My Heart had no Song, Still in Love, He's Proved Faithful to Me. Every Word that He's Promised is True; What I thought was Impossible, I See God Do. He's been Faithful to Me. Looking back through my life, I now understand, That all the time I was in God's hand. My God has been Faithful to Me! -<>- __,--'''''--,_ _,--'''''--,__ _-' `\ /' `-_ ,' `\/' `, / `\ \ / `\ `\ \ ( /'\ `\ ) ( /' `\ `, ) ( /' `. | ) \ /' `-,__,-' / \ /' ___ / `. /' ,' `\ .' \ /' / ,--( `\ / /' /' ,' \ `< ( /' / ,--( `\ ) ( /' /' ,' \ `\ ,' `---,' /' ,--( `\ `\-' ( /' ,' \ `\ ) `---,' ( `\ `\_,-' ( \ `\ ) `---,' `\ `\_,-' Normand ( `\ ) Veilleux `---' `\_,-' "The issue is not about which church you go to, it is about following Jesus where He leads you." - Rich Mullins, the "Awesome God" guy >Leave Everything and Follow (By Steve Troxel, God's Daily Word Ministries, www.gdwm.org) [Edited] When Jesus walked on the earth, He called people to follow Him as He ministered. There was something irresistible about His call - something that opened eyes to a new reality and caused a radical change. Luke 9:23-25 says "And He was saying to them all, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?'" (NASB) Peter, James and John were partners in a small fishing business on the Sea of Galilee. This was their source of support for themselves as well as their families. Yet when they heard the call to become "fishers of men," they eagerly responded; "So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed Him" (Luke 5:11). Matthew (also called Levi) was a tax collector - a Jew appointed by the Roman government to collect taxes from his Jewish brothers. As a tax collector, Matthew made a good living; but he walked away from his life of security when Jesus called: "'Follow Me,' Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed Him" (Luke 5:27-28). In the Old Testament, Abraham moved his entire household to follow God without even knowing where he was being sent (Genesis 12:1-5). Moses, at eighty years old, left the peaceful life of tending flocks to follow God's call to confront Pharaoh (Exodus 3). And Elisha completely destroyed his old way of life when Elijah called: "He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people. Then he set out to follow Elijah" (1 Kings 19:21). Answering the call to follow will always require a change, but the change may not be in physical location, profession, or status. The change may not always bring hardship. King Solomon followed God and was the richest man on earth. Joseph followed God and was the second most powerful man in Egypt. There is definitely a change involved with taking up our cross and following, but the real change occurs in the heart. It's a change where we learn "the secret of being content...whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want" (Philippians 4:12). It's a change where we leave our old values and priorities, and find complete fulfillment through Christ. -<>- ________________________________ | | | | | AMERICA, BLESS GOD! | \)\/)) | | ((\/(/ \)\\< /))|_____________________________ejm|((\ >//(/ \ \\\_/_____,----. ,----._____\_/// / \ `(_]_______ `. ,' _______[_) / `-------------, \ / ,--------------' | \ / | "I believe with all my heart that standing up for America means standing up for the God who has so blessed our land. We need God's help to guide our nation through stormy seas. But we can't expect Him to protect America in a crisis if we just leave Him over on the shelf in our day-to-day living." - Ronald Reagan >Then God Would Bless America Again (by Sheila Gosney) It's a phrase we all hear from time to time like an echo that never goes away. "God Bless America" is often spoken out loud or whispered in the moments we pray. Oh, it doesn't take much of a look around to see that America is in need of the Lord. We've drifted so far...so much has been broken and so much is needing restored. But I wonder if the core of the problem could be in the wording of the very simple phrase. What if we started saying, "America, Bless God" and started seeking God in ALL of our ways! What if we returned to our solid, Christian roots because this country had a Godly foundation! What if God's people stood up against injustice to bring the HONOR of God back to our nation! What if we spoke the TRUTH about sin in God's eyes with courage and fire in our voices! Then we, as a country would return to God's standards and not call sin our personal choices. And what if God's people truly humbled themselves to repent of our complacency and sin. Then our brokenness would be answered with the fire of REVIVAL and God would bless America again!!! "Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people." (Proverbs 14:34 NKJV) SUBSCRIBE INFO Want to receive a Christian inspirational item AND great clean humor in an email to you each day of the week? It's easy and FREE! Read all about Laugh & Lift at http://www.laughandlift.com ================================================================ ____________ __ | | | | | | \ | |___| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | \__/ |__/ |'-========OoO===='-. __ | ||'-.____'-.'-.____'-. (**\ Go ahead! | || | | | | -.' \ Open it! '-| | | | | , .` '-|______|__|______| /__| // || -' -' >A Most Unexpected Gift Story Editor: by Mandy Bodart Joyce Schowalter South Africa Some years ago I lived in a Victorian "street-front" house in Cape Town, South Africa. These terraced houses have a small, paved front area, about a metre wide and four metres long, between the front door and the street. Where I lived, the street was a major walkway for vagrants on their way to shelter under a nearby fly-over. Barely a day went by but someone knocked on the door asking for food. One very cold winter, the knocks became so frequent that I kept a stack of "vagrant bags" next to the front door. Each contained the fixings for a thick soup/stew and clearly labelled "2" or "4", according to how many people could have a decent meal from each bag. The system worked like clockwork until one evening when I opened the door to an atypical vagrant -- a young Rastafarian who didn't have the weathered face and calloused hands of someone who's been on the streets for years. He apologised for disturbing me and seemed embarrassed to ask for food -- also very unusual! As I automatically reached for a "2" bag, it occurred to me to ask him if he had cooking facilities. Our regular vagrants are as organised as cross-arctic explorers, but he just looked so young and inexperienced. "No," he replied. Luckily I remembered that Rastas are vegetarian, and having made a big pot of veggie curry, I gave him some, with directions to where the homeless people camped every night. The next evening he was back. And the next, and the next.... This went on for three weeks. As "You-can-call-me-Bob" had a hearty appetite, I began to fear I wouldn't be able to continue feeding him daily, and decided to suggest that he vary his choice of "restaurant". That evening he appeared at his usual time, but before I could say anything, he thanked me for my hospitality over the last few weeks, explained that he had been stranded in Cape Town and now had a bus ticket back to his family in Port Elizabeth. He would leave in an hour. At the end of this (for him) lengthy speech, he said he wanted to give me the only possession he had of any value. He pushed a large bag of dagga into my hand and ran off before I could say anything. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. There I was holding a large quantity of illegal drugs in my hand, knowing I couldn't burn it because the neighbours would call the cops. I didn't dare put it in the garbage in case it was traced back to me, and at the same time I was so touched that 'Bob' really was giving me his most prized possession! In case you're wondering, I eventually mixed it with sand and dumped it in a municipal bin under cover of darkness. And yes, I remained touched by his generosity, greater far than mine -- for he gave his greatest treasure. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: >Thought for Today A careless word may kindle strife. A cruel word may wreck a life. A timely word may level stress. A loving word may heal and bless. -author unknown -<>- ___ .-'` `'-. _,.'.=== ===.'.,_ / / .___. .___. \ \ / / ( o ) ( o ) \ \ _ / /| '-'___'-' |\ \ (_) | |`\_,.-'` `"-.,_/'| | /| | | \ / | | /\; | | \ / | | _ ___ /\/ | | \ __ /\ | |' `\-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-./` `"-,/\/ | | \ (__) /\ `-'| | `\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \`\ \/ | | \-...-/ `-,_| | \`\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ | | '---' / | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | \_/ | \_/ .--. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | .--. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | / \ | | / / / / / / / / / / / / / / | |/ jgs |`-.___| |/-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'`--| | ,.-----'~~; | | (_(_(______)| | (_(_(_______) | | ,-----`~~~\ ,-----`~~~\ (_(_(_______) (_(_(_______) .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:. >A Thousand Marbles -- Author Unknown The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. Perhaps it's the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, or maybe it's the unbounded joy of not having to be at work. Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable. A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the basement shack with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other. What began as a typical Saturday morning, turned into one of those lessons that life seems to hand you from time to time. Let me tell you about it. I turned the dial up into the phone portion of the band on my ham radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning swap net. Along the way, I came across an older sounding chap, with a tremendous signal and a golden voice. You know the kind, he sounded like he should be in the broadcasting business. He was telling whoever he was talking with something about "a thousand marbles." I was intrigued and stopped to listen to what he had to say. "Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job. I'm sure they pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much. Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends meet. Too bad you missed your daughter's dance recital." He continued, "Let me tell you something Tom, something that has helped me keep a good perspective on my own priorities." And that's when he began to explain his theory of a "thousand marbles." "You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. The average person lives about seventy-five years. I know, some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about seventy-five years." "Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3900 which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime. Now stick with me Tom, I'm getting to the important part." "It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in any detail," he went on, "and by that time I had lived through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays. I got to thinking that if I lived to be seventy-five, I only had about a thousand of them left to enjoy." "So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had. I ended up having to visit three toy stores to roundup 1000 marbles. I took them home and put them inside of a large, clear plastic container right here in the shack next to my gear. Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and thrown it away." "I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life. There is nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight." "Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign-off with you and take my lovely wife out for breakfast. This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure if I make it until next Saturday then I have been given a little extra time. And the one thing we can all use is a little more time." "It was nice to meet you Tom, I hope you spend more time with your family, and I hope to meet you again here on the band. 75 year Old Man, this is K9NZQ, clear and going QRT, good morning!" You could have heard a pin drop on the band when this fellow signed off. I guess he gave us all a lot to think about. I had planned to work on the antenna that morning, and then I was going to meet up with a few hams to work on the next club newsletter. Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife up with a kiss. "C'mon honey, I'm taking you and the kids to breakfast." "What brought this on?" she asked with a smile. "Oh, nothing special, it's just been a long time since we spent a Saturday together with the kids. Hey, can we stop at a toy store while we're out? I need to buy some marbles." -<>- {} oIIo oIIo || || I. || |: _||_ |: .' || `. |: / || \ |: | :: | |: )_ :: _( |: _)( :: )(_ |: ) ._)::(_. ( |: / II \ |: | .-.|| | |: \(___)( / |: hjw `.__\/__.' I' >HOW MUCH MUSIC CAN YOU MAKE? Imagine this. A concert violinist is performing a difficult piece in front of a large audience. Suddenly there is a loud snap that reverberates throughout the auditorium. The audience immediately knows that a string has broken and fully expects the concert to be suspended until another string, or instrument, is brought to the musician. But instead, the violinist composes herself, closes her eyes and then signals the conductor to begin again. The orchestra resumes where they had left off and now the musician plays the music on three strings. In her mind she works out new fingering to compensate for the missing string. A work that few people can play well on four strings, the violinist with the broken string plays on three. When she finishes, an awesome silence hangs in the room. And then as one, the crowd rises to their feet and cheers wildly. The violinist smiles and wipes perspiration from her brow. When silence returns to the great room, she explains why she continued to play in spite of a broken string. "You know," she says, still breathless, "sometimes it is the artist's task to find out how much music you can still make with what you have left." We know what she means, don't we? Maybe we've lived most of our lives and we have only a little time left. Can we still make music? Maybe disease has robbed us of our capacity to work. Can we still make music? Perhaps a financial loss has left us impoverished. Can we still make music? Or maybe a meaningful relationship has ended and we feel alone in the world. Can we still make music? There will come a time when we all experience loss. Like the violinist, will we find the courage to discover just how much music we can still make with what we have left? How much good we can still do? How much joy we can still share? For I'm convinced that the world, more than ever, needs the music only you can make. And if it takes extra courage to make the music, many will applaud your effort. For some people have lost more than others, and these brave souls inspire the rest of us to greater heights. Just how much music can you make with what you have left? - Steve Goodier -<>- __________ ___.--" "\'. ------f" // \\\ | ||| | ||| ----L_-XXX-. .|' "\ -<_____/// \___) -" jjs >Punching Holes By: Vonette Bright Before the days of electricity, streets were illumined by gas lamps attached to tall poles. When Robert Louis Stevenson was a boy, he loved to lean out his bedroom window and watch the lamplighter. The lamplighter would raise his long torch and ignite the wick of each lamp. However, young Stevenson didn't understand how it all worked. He once told his parents, "Look! Here comes the man who punches holes in the darkness! Matthew says, "Let your light shine before others so they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Friend, when you live for Christ, you shine as a light in a dark world. As a result, others will want a relationship with God. Pray for your neighbors. Perform acts of kindness to show you care. You can "punch holes" in your community's darkness too! About the Author: Vonette Bright is the co-founder of Campus Crusade for Christ International and host of Women Today with Vonette Bright, a series of national radio spots which can be found at: http://www.womentoday.org. -<>- | -x- | v . ._, |_ ., `-._\/ . \ / |/_ \\ _\, y | \// _\_.___\\, \\/ -.\|| `7-,--.`._|| / / , /' `-. `./ / |/_.' | |// |_ / |- | | =| | | --------------------/ , . \--------._ jg >NOT PERFECT By: Joseph J. Mazzella I was looking out on the woods that surround my house today as I walked through the melting snow. It seemed so strange to see how the trees looked in the middle of winter. Their black, gray, and brown trunks were twisted, wet, and gnarled. They were full of chipped bark and dead limbs. They seemed almost ugly and as far from perfect as you could get. Still, I knew that in just a few months they would be alive again with bright, green leaves and in a few months after that they would be full of beautiful colors that would delight the heart and uplift the soul. Thinking about this made me smile and reminded me that you don't have to be perfect in order to live a blessed life. God knows that I am far from perfect myself. I make mistakes every single day of my life. I am still a gnarled, empty, tree trunk much of the time. I do try, however, moment by moment and choice by choice to live a good life. I do try each day to choose and to share love and joy. I do try to grow in oneness with God more and more as I travel the path of life. I think, in fact, one of the best moments in my life was the moment that I decided to stop trying to be perfect and to just live in love and joy while sharing all the gifts that God gave me. We all need to stop trying to be perfect. We all need to stop judging ourselves and just love ourselves. We all need to give up on living a perfect life and enjoy living a good and beautiful life. Anne Frank wrote, "Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don't know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is! Let us all live the good news within us then. Let us all grow some bright, green leaves of love in our lives. Let us all share the beautiful colors of peace and joy from our hearts and souls with everyone everywhere. We might not be perfect, but we can still bless the world with the best within us and with the gifts God gives us. -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment Baby http://www.buffalosjokes.com/12142.htm Bike Tumble http://www.buffalosjokes.com/12143.htm Bud http://www.buffalosjokes.com/12144.htm Gorilla http://www.buffalosjokes.com/60529.htm Our Gifts And Callings http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/giftscallings.html Dreamy Ladies http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dreamy.html God's Little Love Notes http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/notes.html Molly The Speckled Pony http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/molly.html Mountain Folk Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/folkart.html Angel Falls http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/angelfalls.html Auto MotorPlex http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/automotorplex.html Beautiful Bridges http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bridges.html Extreme Noodling http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/noodling.html Lighthouses Of The World http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lighthouses.html Visit our site at http://www.inspiredbuffalo.com If you are looking to join any of our other fine e-zines visit www.buffalosjokes.com ================================================================== >-->From Kidwarmers: ..''"", ,,,""""",,, ,,"""'' , ,' oo "" .. __ "" oo ) ` ooo ( o) (o ) .' ` ~~___~" .' `..,_ ." qgp ". ' : .' | `. : _, _____ __ .' .' | `. :------' ) \ """"""" : : . | . | | ( | : : `-----' ; | ) / : `. _ _ : .' \ / . `. `.( "-.-." ) : | | o0 _,-' (_.-`-'._' _ ~ ~ -..__ ( | :: ,--' `. o' | / .oP _' oOoo .' \ oo' ( | ::: : oooooo : \ oo' / | oOP `. oooooo : e :_.' ) \ ::: `._ ooo `. . ~ ~ ~ -.___ | oOP `-'-\ `. _-~-~-~~--. ; : | ""o `-. .~ | .'| \ ___ `-. .' : .'.' | \ : : | | .'.' /sc/""""\_____|...--""": `. .'.' .'.' `. `. .' .' - - - -.__;' `._ `-----'_.' ~~~---~~ >FUNNY THINGS KIDS SAY Joshua, 5, was in the car with his parents on the way to visit his grandparents. He hadn't seen them since Christmas, and he exclaimed, "I have a big happy on my face!" -- Sholee Kreps (mother of Joshua and Ryann) of Gilbert, Arizona Tracee was driving on the freeway past the airport when her 3-year-old daughter Jenna said, "Momma, there's Grandma's house!" Her daughter thought that's where grandmother lived because that's where they always pick her up! (Note: Whenever she visits, grandmother brings tons of "junk" jewelry that she acquired at garage sales. She would be wearing every bit of jewelry that she had acquired since her last visit and when they got home she would ceremoniously remove the "jewels" to give to Jenna.) -- Tracee of Reno, Nevada _ / _ / (o\/--/o) / ,(/. . ) ,/ ,'_/ (Y) ) ,'/ ___,'_(/ \__ ( ,' / \ ,' //\ `-.-./ \ (/ `---.__)/) \ /\ \ \ /\ \__) ) )__\ hjw ( ( ( `97 \ ) ) `--^`--^ Arie, 9, was riding her bicycle on July 4. A big dog came barking at her and she lost control of her bike, crashed and broke her left arm. Her dad had to take her to an emergency care clinic. The doctors put her under to put the arm in place. When they got home, Arie told her mom, "The doctors gave me amnesia." Her mom said, "Don't you mean they gave you an anesthetic?" Her father explained, "No, they gave her amnesia; she doesn't remember a thing!" -- Joyce (grandmother) of Colorado Springs, Colorado The mother of Stephanie, 3, had foot surgery. For several weeks she had to use crutches. When Stephanie saw her mother in the hall one day without her crutches, she said, "Mom, you are all better. You don't have your handles!" -- from Sharon Stark (grandmother of Stephanie) of Kendallville, Indiana ,-"""", .-""""-. / '.__..---..,' ' `. ; _. ; '. ._. ; ; .' '-" "-' `, ; \_; ' ' \_.' ; , , ; ; .-, ,-. ; ; / .-; _..._ ;-. \ ; ; ; ;_/ ,' .-. ', \_; ; ; ___...--"\ ; ; \_/ ; ; / ," `.',_J F_.'.'"--..__ ; `-._'-._/'\_.-'_.-' "-. ; ; ""--.-.--""_ ; ", '-.____..--"""J/(MMMmm>Xx-->From HeartsAndHumor: ____ | | \ | | \________ _|_|____________) /| / | __________) ||__ /____|,' ________| |/_/| _|_______,' )( | | :|)( ejm )( )( >This is Life Changing Ryan stood off stage. His girlfriend Annette and her son Gavin stood off stage just out of view of the audience,. Ryan's nerves fired with excitement and fear. As if in a dream, he heard the judges call for the next performer. Nick Cannon, the host, shook Ryan's hand and said, "OK! Give them what you got, man." The crowd cheered. Ryan walked to center stage and faced the judges: Sharon Osbourne, Howie Mandell and Piers Morgan. Sharon asked his name and where he was from. Ryan told her his name and that he was from Ontario, California. When asked what he was going to do for them, he said, "A little piano and a little vocals for you guys." "Tell me what the dream is." Sharon said. "The dream is to make a living at what you love to do." "Good luck!" Sharon smiled. Ryan walked to his keyboard, sat down and froze. He had ninety seconds to prove to the judges he was worthy of going to Las Vegas to compete in the final stages of the competition. He rolled up his sleeves, took a deep breath and blew it out. His life flashed before his eyes ... Born the son a father (Richard) who was a vocalist for numerous bands, including the Tropical Stars, in Europe during the 60's, Ryan's talent came naturally. A car accident cut Richard's career short. After two years of rehabilitation, Richard never regained his music career. The financial loss was too much. Richard and his wife moved to the USA, where Ryan was born near northern California on November 21st, 1975. Ryan was an introvert. He wore glasses and proclaimed he was a nerd. His first love was art. His love for drawing and sketching changed when he was fifteen. It was then that he picked up a six-string guitar. Ryan found a new love - music. His dreams of becoming a rock star did not help his schooling. He constantly turned to his guitar instead of his school work. Ryan graduated high school and enrolled in the local college to study information technology. Before he graduated, he was offered employment with Earthlink that was too good to turn down. He left college. In 2009, Ryan lost his job as an IT manager. Ryan went into a deep depression. He didn't want to even get out of bed in the morning. Life was empty. He hated everything and everybody. He wanted to close his eyes and forget it all. Even his instruments felt like a trap. Playing brought emotions he didn't want to feel. He left them alone for years. Annette came to his rescue. Where others gave up, she didn't. Thirty-four, shy and self-conscious, Ryan heeded her words. His instruments, the cause of pain during those dark years, have now become his tools for success. Ryan had no hope or aspirations until being put on America's Got Talent. Ryan sensed the audience grow restless. He blew out another breath, looked off stage at Annette, gathered his courage and began to play. His fingers danced over the keys as he sang a haunting rendition of "In the Arms of an Angel". After the first line, the crowd began to cheer. The cheering grew. Ryan continued to play and sing. Backstage, Annette smiled and nodded, as if to say. "I told you!" Ryan finished the last line of the song he made his own. The audience immediately jumped to their feet and chanted, "Vegas! Vegas! Vegas!" referring to the next level of competition. The crowd quieted. Howie spoke first. "The timbre of your voice and the sound was just so ...it blew me away." Piers said, "I thought that was very impressive. You are very good." Sharon asked, "Ryan, how many times do you perform, say, in a month?" "I ah ...I pretty well play everyday on my little piano in my bedroom." "No! I mean in front of an audience." "Never!" Ryan's response shocked the judges. He was too good not to be famous already. Howie gave him a "yes". Piers said, "One thousand percent, yes!" Ryan knelt, placed his hands together, as if in prayer, and looked at Sharon. "Ryan, I'll see you in Vegas!" She smiled. Ryan bounced around the stage, saying, "Yes! Yes!" over and over. He ran to the backstage, opened his arms and hugged Annette, her son and Nick in one big group hug. He held out his hands to show the shaking. Ryan did it! As the adrenalin subsided, Ryan said, "This is life changing!" My dream is to make a living at what I love doing - writing. Ryan is following his dream. It's never too late for dreams to come true. Ryan is an inspiration to all. NOTE: Ryan was voted off the competition on July 5th, 2011, but he's not quitting. He has the interest of viewers around the world. He will make it and Annette will be right by his side enjoying his journey.. Michael T. Smith Watch Ryan's audition here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgbcIBfXLvk [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=kmvpbfcab&t=mwuvyogab.0.4yfz9igab.kmvpbfcab.3692&ts=S0640&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DlgbcIBfXLvk] Ryan is on his way to being a star. Ryan gave me these links for you to follow him: www.facebook.com/ryanandreasfans [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=kmvpbfcab&t=mwuvyogab.0.4qzpyogab.kmvpbfcab.3692&ts=S0640&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fryanandreasfans] and www.youtube.com/inkrediboy [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=kmvpbfcab&t=mwuvyogab.0.crzpyogab.kmvpbfcab.3692&ts=S0640&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Finkrediboy]. His personal youtube channel. ================================================================== >-->From SermondFodder: ,=""=, c , _,{ /\ @ ) __ / ^~~^\ <=.,__/ '}= (_/ ,, ,,) \_ _>_/~ ~\_(/-\)'-,_,_,_,-'(_)-(_) -Naughty >New Baby "I don't want a new baby." Our oldest son Brian was pretty adamant when I told him his father and I were expecting a third child. We'd survived the first round of sibling rivalry when his younger brother, Damian, was born, so we were surprised that he was digging in his heels over a new baby. We spent about and hour trying to convince him it was a positive thing. Three-year-old Brian made his stand about this new baby, and neither logic nor persuasion could budge him. Puzzled, I finally confronted him with a straight-forward question, "Why don't you want a new baby?" With wide and teary eyes, Brian looked straight at me and said, "Because I like Damian, and I want to keep him." - from Da Mouse Tracks via Doc's Daily Chuckkle. === >From Sermon Fodder and Joke A Day Ministries. To subscribe drop a note to Sermon_Fodder-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or to ajokeaday7-subscribe@topica.com. Please leave this attached if you forward this to friends. -<>- :~-._ _.-~: : :.~^o._ ________---------________ _.o^~.:.: : ::.`?88booo~~~.::::::::...::::::::::::..~~oood88P'.::.: : ::: `?88P .:::.... ........:::::. ?88P' :::. : : :::. `? .::. . ...........:::. P' .:::. : : ::: ... .. ... .. .::::......::. :::. : ` :' .... .. .:::::. . ..:::::::....:::. `: .' :.. ____:::::::::. . . ....:::::::::____ ... : :... `:~ ^~-:::::.. .........:::::-~^ ~::.:::: `.::. `\ (8) \b:::..::.:.:::::::d/ (8) /'.::::' ::::. ~-._v |b.::::::::::::::d| v_.-~..::::: `.:::::... ~~^?888b..:::::::::::d888P^~...::::::::' `.::::::::::....~~~ .:::::::::~~~:::::::::::::::' `..::::::::::: . ....:::: ::::::::::::,' `. .::::::: . .::::. ::::::::'.' `._ .::: . :::::. :::::_.' `-. : . ::::: :,-' :. :___ .:::___ .:: ..--~~~~--:+::. ~~^?b..:::dP^~~.::++:--~~~~--.. ___....--`+:::. `~8~' .:::+'--....___ ~~ __..---`_=:: ___gd8bg___ :==_'---..__ ~~ -~~~ _.--~~`-.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~,-' ~~--._ ~~~- -~~ ~~~~~~~~~ _ Seal _ ~~- >OLD DOGS - A FABLE One day an old German Shepherd starts chasing rabbits and before long, discovers that he's lost. Wandering about, he notices a panther heading rapidly in his direction with the intention of having lunch. The old German Shepherd thinks, "Oh, oh! I'm in trouble now!" Noticing some bones on the ground close by, he immediately settles down to chew on the bones with his back to the approaching cat. Just as the panther is about to leap, the old German Shepherd exclaims loudly, "Boy, that was one delicious panther! I wonder, if there are any more around here?" Hearing this, the young panther halts his attack in mid-strike, a look of terror comes over him and he slinks away into the trees. "Whew!," says the panther, "That was close! That old German Shepherd nearly had me!" Meanwhile, a squirrel who had been watching the whole scene from a nearby tree, figures he can put this knowledge to good use and trade it for protection from the panther. So, off he goes. The squirrel soon catches up with the panther, spills the beans and strikes a deal for himself with the panther. The young panther is furious at being made a fool of and says, "Here, squirrel, hop on my back and see what's going to happen to that conniving canine!" Now, the old German Shepherd sees the panther coming with the squirrel on his back and realizing the squirrel has probably given away his secret thinks, "What am I going to do now?," but instead of running, the dog sits down with his back to his attackers, pretending he hasn't seen them yet, and just when they get close enough to hear, the old German Shepherd says... "Where's that squirrel? I sent him off an hour ago to bring me another panther!" Moral of this story... Don't mess with the old dogs... Age and skill will always overcome youth and treachery! Brilliance generally only comes with age and experience. Of course, I am in no way insinuating that you are old, just 'youthfully challenged'. ================================================================== >-->From CupO'Cheer: >GOD CARES ABOUT YOU MORE THAN YOU CAN FATHOM [edited] Luke 12:4-12 _ .'` '`. .-", @ `, `. '-=; ; `. \ : `-. / '; `. / .' `. | ( `. `-.._ \ \` ` `. \ `-.._ `. ;`-.._ `-`._.-. `-._ `-._ `..' `-.```. `-._ `-.._.' `--..__..-`--' `-.,' `._)`/ / / /--( -./,--'`-, ,^--( hjw/gs ,--' `-, “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” -- [Luke 12:6-7] One of the things I most love about Texas is the vast, varied collection of wild birds in my adopted home state. I’ve read that Texas has more species of birds than any other state, and I’m apt to believe it. The colors and sounds of wild birds, not to mention their playful antics, delight my soul. Sparrows, however, aren’t terribly exciting. As I write this reflection, ironically enough, I’m sitting on my back porch, watching a half-dozen sparrows flitter around a bird feeder. They’re small and indistinct, mostly brown in color. They chirp a bit, but don’t have a particularly interesting song. I’m happy to feed the local sparrow population. At least they don’t hog up the bird seed like those dratted doves. But, to be honest, sparrows are pretty much a dime a dozen. That’s the way it was in the time of Jesus, who, to my knowledge, never visited Texas, though he did know a thing or two about birds. In Luke 12:6 he asks, “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins?” That’s even less than a dime a dozen. Sparrows, it turns out, were sold in the first-century marketplace as food, but only to the poor, who couldn’t afford a better meal. Sparrows had very little nutritional or financial value. Yet, Jesus explains, “God does not forget a single one of them” (12:6). Even something as insignificant as a sparrow matters to God. This, it turns out, is good news for us: “So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows” (12:7). At first glance, this doesn’t seem to be such good news after all. If sparrows are worth next to nothing, a whole flock of them doesn’t add up to much. Is Jesus saying that God cares for us, but only a little bit? Not at all. That’s the point of the cryptic line nestled in the middle of the sparrow analogy: “And the very hairs on your head are all numbered” (12:7). Numbered, that is, by God. God knows everything about you and cares about every part of you, even the individual hairs on your individual head. That’s how much you matter to God...a whole lot! Thus, if God cares even about a relatively worthless sparrow, how much more does he care about you? That is Jesus’ point here. God cares about you far more than you can fathom! QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION: What helps you to know that God cares for you? Do you really believe that God cares for you more than you can count? If you truly believed this, what different would it make in your life? PRAYER: Dear God, even though I delight in the birds of your creation, I must admit that I don’t often think of you as sharing in this joy. I’m encouraged by the thought that you care, not just for the beautiful birds like cardinals, goldfinches, and blue jays, but also for ordinary, everyday sparrows. Indeed, if you care so much for them, how much more do you care for me! Please help me to live each day with the reassurance and encouragement of your care. May I remember that you are concerned, not just about the big, important parts of my life, but also about what seems small and insignificant. Help me to live each moment as if every square inch of creation mattered to you...because now I know it does. Thank you, in Jesus Christ's name I pray, Amen. -- Mark D. Roberts Received from: The High Calling Daily Reflection To Subscribe: http://www.thehighcalling.org/reflections -<>- _,,aaaaa,,_ _,dP"'' `""""Ya,_ ,aP"' `"Yb,_ ,8"' `"8a, ,8" `"8,_ ,8" "Yb, ,8" `8, dP' 8I ,8" bg,_ ,P' ,8' "Y8"Ya,,,,ad" ,d" a,_ I8 `"""' ,8' ""888 dP __ `Yb, dP' _,d8P::::Y8b, `Ya ,adba8',d88P::;;::;;;:"b:::Ya,_ Ya dP":::"Y88P:;P"""YP"""Yb;::::::"Ya, "Y, 8:::::::Yb;d" _ "_ dI:::::::::"Yb,__,,gd88ba,db Yb:::::::"8(,8P _d8 d8:::::::::::::Y88P"::::::Y8I `Yb;:::::::""::"":b,,dP::::::::::::::::::;aaa;:::8( `Y8a;:::::::::::::::::::::;;::::::::::8P""Y8)::8I 8b"ba::::::::::::::::;adP:::::::::::":::dP::;8' `8b;::::::::::::;aad888P::::::::::::::;dP::;8' `8b;::::::::""""88" d::::::::::b;:::::;;dP' "Yb;::::::::::Y8bad::::::::::;"8Paaa""' `"Y8a;;;:::::::::::::;;aadP"" ``""Y88bbbdddd88P""8b, _,d8"::::::"8b, ,dP8"::::::;;:::"b, ,dP"8:::::::Yb;::::"b, ,8P:dP:::::::::Yb;::::"b, _,dP:;8":::::::::::Yb;::::"b ,aaaaaa,,d8P:::8":::::::::::;dP:::::;8 ,ad":;;:::::"::::8"::::::::::;dP::::::;dI dP";adP":::::;:;dP;::::aaaad88"::::::adP:8b,___ d8:::8;;;aadP"::8'Y8:d8P"::::::::::;dP";d"'`Yb:"b 8I:::;""":::::;dP I8P"::::::::::;a8"a8P" "b:P Yb::::"8baa8"""' 8;:;d"::::::::d8P"' 8" "YbaaP::8;P `8;d::;a::;;;;dP ,8 `"Y8P"' Yb;;d::;aadP" ,d' "YP:::"P' ,d' "8bdP' _ ,8' Normand ,8"`""Yba,d" ,d" Veilleux ,P' d"8' ,d" ,8' d'8' ,P' (b 8 I 8, Y, Y,Y, `b, ____ "8,__ `Y,Y, `Y""b, ,adP""""b8P""""""""Ybdb, Y, ,dP" ,dP' `"" `8 ,8" ,P' ,P 8' 8) ,8' 8, Yb ,aP' `Ya Yb ,ad"' "Ya,___ "Ya ,ad"' ``""""""`Yba,,,,,,,adP"' `"""""""' >HAPPINESS If you are not happy with what you already have, how can you expect to become happy by getting more? Instead of expecting that happiness will come to you from the outside, choose to send it out from the inside. If you've been waiting for some thing or event or condition before choosing to be happy, there is no need to wait any longer. Go ahead, choose to be happy, and then you'll move more effectively toward whatever you desire. Having the good and valuable things you desire is not a cause of happiness. It is an expression of happiness. Happiness is not yours when you chase it or put conditions on it. Happiness is yours when you allow it. Choose right now to allow it. Choose to be happy and genuinely thankful about who you are, what you're doing, what you have and where you're going. And right away, that positive attitude on the inside will begin to build and improve the factors on the outside. Allow happiness, and allow your life to run in a positive, fulfilling direction. ~ Ralph Marston -<>- ____ ___|=--=/ \=--=| :(___.--. .--.___): { __ ' ) ( ` __ )= ""----'Ahas '----"" ====' >A TRICK A young man, a student in one of our universities, was one day taking a walk with a professor, who was commonly called the students' friend, from his kindness to those who waited on his instructions. As they went along, they saw lying in the path a pair of old shoes, which they supposed to belong to a poor man who was employed in a field close by, and who had nearly finished his day's work. The student turned to the professor, saying: "Let us play the man a trick: we will hide his shoes, and conceal ourselves behind those bushes, and wait to see his perplexity when he cannot find them." "My young friend," answered the professor, "we should never amuse ourselves at the expense of the poor. But you are rich, and may give yourself a much greater pleasure by means of the poor man. Put a coin into each shoe, and then we will hide ourselves and watch how the discovery affects him." The student did so, and they both placed themselves behind the bushes close by. The poor man soon finished his work, and came across the field to the path where he had left his coat and shoes. While putting on his coat he slipped his foot into one of his shoes; but feeling something hard, he stooped down to feel what it was, and found the coin. Astonishment and wonder were seen upon his countenance. He gazed upon the coin, turned it round, and looked at it again and again. He then looked around him on all sides, but no person was to be seen. He now put the money into his pocket, and proceeded to put on the other shoe; but his surprise was doubled on finding the other coin. His feelings overcame him; he fell upon his knees, looked up to heaven and uttered aloud a fervent thanksgiving, in which he spoke of his wife, sick and helpless, and his children without bread, whom the timely bounty, from some unknown hand, would save from perishing. The student stood there deeply affected, and his eyes filled with tears. "Now," said the professor, "are you not much better pleased than if you had played your intended trick?" The youth replied, "You have taught me a lesson which I will never forget. I feel now the truth of those words, which I never understood before: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" -- Author Unknown To SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cheer316@sc.rr.com. ============================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: .-~*~--,. .-. .-~-. ./OOOOOOOOO\.'OOO`9~~-. .`OOOOOO.OOM.OLSONOOOOO@@OOOOOO\ /OOOO@@@OO@@@OO@@@OOO@@@@@@@@OOOO`. |OO@@@WWWW@@@@OOWWW@WWWW@@@@@@@OOOO). .-'OO@@@@WW@@@W@WWWWWWWWOOWW@@@@@OOOOOO} /OOO@@O@@@@W@@@@@OOWWWWWOOWOO@@@OOO@@@OO| lOOO@@@OO@@@WWWWWWW\OWWWO\WWWOOOOOO@@@O.' \OOO@@@OOO@@@@@@OOW\ \WWWW@@@@@@@O'. `,OO@@@OOOOOOOOOOWW\ \WWWW@@@@@@OOO) \,O@@@@@OOOOOOWWWWW\ \WW@@@@@OOOO.' `~c~8~@@@@WWW@@W\ \WOO|\UO-~' (OWWWWWW@/\W\ ___\WO) `~-~'' \ \WW=*' __\ \ \ \ \ __\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \\ \\ \ \ >ARE YOU SURROUNDED BY NEGATIVE PEOPLE? Remember this story the next time someone rains on your parade A New York woman was at her hairdresser's on Park Avenue getting her hair cut prior to a vacation in Rome with her husband. She mentioned the trip to the hairdresser, who responded, "Rome? Why would anyone want to go here? Italy's crowded, dirty and full of Italians. You're crazy to go to Rome. So, how are you getting there?" "We're taking Continental," was the reply. "We got a great rate!" "Continental?" exclaimed the hairdresser. "That's a terrible airline. Their planes are old, their flight attendants are ugly, and they're always late. So, where are you staying in Rome?" "We'll be at this exclusive little place over on Rome's left bank called Teste..." "Don't go any further. I know that place. Everybody thinks it's gonna be something special and exclusive, but it's really a dump, the worst hotel in the city! The rooms are small, the service is surly and they're overpriced. So, whatcha doing when you get there?" "We're going to go to see the Vatican and we hope to see the Pope." "That's rich," laughed the hairdresser. "You and a million other people trying to see him. He'll look the size of an ant. Boy, good luck on this lousy trip of yours. You're going to need it." A month later, the woman again came in for a hairdo. The hairdresser asked her about her vacation in Rome. "It was wonderful," explained the woman, "not only were we on time in one of Continental's brand new planes, but it was overbooked and they bumped us up to first class. The food was wonderful, and I had a handsome 28-year-old steward who waited on me hand and foot. And the hotel -- it was great! They'd just finished a $5-million remodeling job and now it's a jewel, the finest hotel in the city. They, too, were over-booked, so they apologized and gave us their owner's suite at no extra charge!" "Well," muttered the hairdresser, "that's all well and good, but I know you didn't get to see the Pope." "Actually, we were quite lucky, because as we toured the Vatican, a Swiss Guard tapped me on the shoulder and explained that the Pope likes to meet some of the visitors and if I'd be so kind as to step into his private room and wait, the Pope would personally greet me. Sure enough, five minutes later, the Pope walked through the door and shook my hand! I knelt down and he spoke a few words to me." "Oh, really. What did he say?" He said, "Where'd you get that awful hair cut?" ================================================================== ,"=-. / _),`'". ( /a( ), ) ) C = = ?/ ( )) (_ o-< ) ( `-' \; ( \_ ( | \ ) )| \_/} \ \ \(_;/-|_) )/) `._,--/ / / `!__!! ( (_o)) ---`-._, )--- ------( / |---- | ( | :__/|\_; \ |/ )(\_ /_)--` gpyy \_! >-->A MOTHER'S PRAYER (Author Unknown) "Precious Heavenly Father, Give me patience when little hands tug at me with their many demands. Give me gentle hugging arms to help protect them from rebellions harm. Give me wisdom from above to teach these little ones of Your love. Give me strength, Your love not to spare that they may obey and live under Your care. Give me a spirit . . . quiet and meek let my words show kindness as I speak. Give me the ability to teach from the heart to help my children learn Your Word from the start. Give me the words You'd have me say to teach my children how to pray. Give me time, special moments to share that they may know, "Mommy really does care." Give me hands that work willingly a steadfast example that I may be. Give me courage to stand in Your might to teach my little ones to always do right. Give me boldness to do all these and more that I may not be ashamed when I stand at Your door. Thank You Father, In Jesus Name I pray, Amen." >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah :) Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->BECOMING A CHRISTIAN HOW TO BE A CHRISTIAN! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->FULL LENGTH - FREE On line AUDIO MP3 Chriistian Foundational Class http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=61 NEW LIFE IN CHRIST! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->This is for all you who love food and DARRE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. These are Tried and True, Yummy to the Tummy, good old fashioned home cooking recipes that are EASY to do :) Visit Shangy's Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html Home Recipes >Got A good Recipe? SHARE IT HERE: Share A Recipe ************************************************************************ >TO SUBSCRIBE: Visit Here This Weeks regular Shangy emails OR For the Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ************************************************************************