Elephant Rope, Daddy Day, And More .. :) 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!! AND For Facebook Users: Please Friend Me / Like Me here... http://tinyurl.com/cma6all AND Please Share This email with All Your Friends And Family! ^~^ May God SUPER BLESS You As You Do! THANK YOU! :) ================ >-->HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This summer scorcher is from our friend LouiseA. These are so wonderfully rich and lavish, it is no wonder they are part of our fairy tales! Check them out here: P F~ /\ /\ /__\ /__\ |. | |n | :_|__|_: :_| |_: p |. | | n| p p /\ |. | | | /\_____/\ /__\ |. | |n |_=_|. . . .|_=_=_=_=_=_=_|. | |n |. .| ___ |. . . . . . .|. | |n | | | | | |. | __|__|___|_|___|_|_____________|__|__ / / / \ Anthony Thyssen/fsc Romantic Castles 2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/castles2.html --- ...Ooo, they'd so much fun to explore! Thanks LouiseA! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: | --====|====-- | .-"""""-. .'_________'. /_/_|__|__|_\_\ ;'-._ _.-'; ,--------------------| `-. .-' |--------------------, ``""--..__ ___ ; ' ; ___ __..--""`` jgs `"-// \\.._\ /_..// \\-"` \\_// '._ _.' \\_// `"` ``---`` `"` >GRACE AND STYLE by Lea MacDonald It was noon on a Sunday as I recall -- the day a Mustang P-51 was to take to the air. They said it had flown in during the night from some U.S. airport. I marveled at the size of the plane dwarfing the Pipers and Canucks. It was much larger than in the movies. She glistened in the sun like a bulwark of security from days gone by. The pilot arrived by cab, then stepped into the flight lounge. He was an older man, his wavy hair was grey and tossed... looked like it might have been combed say, around the turn of the century. His bomber jacket was checked, creased, and worn, it smelled old and genuine. Old Glory was prominently sewn to its shoulders. He projected a quiet air of proficiency and pride devoid of arrogance. He filed a quick flight plan to Montreal -- to the Expo-67, Air Show -- then walked across the tarmac. After taking several minutes to perform his walk-around check the pilot returned to the flight lounge to ask if anyone would be available to stand by with fire extinguishers while he "flashed the old bird up -- just to be safe." Though only 12 years old at the time, I was allowed to stand by with an extinguisher after brief instruction on its use. "If you see a fire point then pull this lever!" I later became a firefighter, but that's another story. The air around the exhaust manifolds shimmered like a mirror from fuel fumes as the huge prop started to rotate. One manifold, then another, and yet another barked. I stepped back with the others. In moments, the Packard-built Merlin engine came to life with a thunderous roar -- blue flames knifed from her manifolds. I looked at the other's faces and there was no concern. I lowered the bell of my extinguisher. One of the guys signaled for us to walk back to the lounge. Several minutes later we could hear the pilot doing his pre flight run-up. He taxied to the end of runway 19, out of sight. All went quiet for several seconds. We raced from the lounge to the second story deck to see if we could catch a glimpse of the P-51 as she started down the runway. There we stood, eyes fixed to a spot half way down 19. Then, a roar ripped across the field, much louder than before, like a furious hellspawn set loose -- something mighty was coming this way. "Listen to that thing!" said the controller. In seconds, the Mustang burst into our line of sight. Its tail was already off and it was moving faster than anything I'd ever seen. Two thirds the way down the runway the Mustang was airborne with her gear going up. The prop tips were supersonic. We clasped our ears as the Mustang climbed hellish fast into the circuit to be eaten up by the dog-day haze. We stood for a few moments in stunned silence trying to digest what we'd just seen. The radio controller rushed by me to the radio. "Kingston radio calling Mustang?" He looked back to us as he waited for an acknowledgment. The radio crackled, "Kingston radio, go ahead." "Roger Mustang. Kingston radio would like to advise the circuit is clear for a low level pass." I stood in shock because the controller had, more or less, just asked the pilot to return for an impromptu air show! The controller looked at us. "What?" he asked. "I can't let that guy go without asking. I wouldn't forgive myself!" The radio crackled once again. "Kingston radio, do I have permission for a low level pass, east to west, across the field?" "Roger Mustang, the circuit is clear for an east to west pass." "Roger, Kingston radio, we're coming out of 3000 feet, stand by." We rushed back onto the second-story deck, eyes fixed toward the eastern haze. The sound was subtle at first, a high-pitched whine, a muffled screech, a distant scream. Moments later the P-51 burst through the haze, her airframe straining against positive Gs and gravity, wing tips spilling contrails of condensed air, prop-tips again supersonic as the burnished bird blasted across the eastern margin of the field shredding and tearing the air. At about 400 miles per hour, and 150 yards from where we stood, she passed with an old American pilot saluting. Imagine... a salute! I felt like laughing, I felt like crying. She glistened, she screamed, the building shook, my heart pounded. Then the old pilot pulled her up and rolled, and rolled, and rolled out of sight into the broken clouds and indelibly into my memory. I've never wanted to be an American more than on that day. It was a time when many nations of the world looked to America as their big brother -- a steady and even-handed beacon of security who navigated difficult political waters with grace and style -- not unlike the old pilot who'd flown into my memory showing America at her best. Consider this story a reciprocal salute to the old American pilot who wove a lifelong memory for a young Canadian. -- Lea MacDonald ___________________________________________ Lea lives in a small town in Ontario, Canada, and he says, "I've been doing a lot over the past few years, including working to give something back to the community that has treated me and my family so well. I was promoted to Captain with the fire department, and worked to help promote a wonderful band in this area called Bauder Road. Currently, I am working on a new innovation for the flooring industry, opening a retail flooring store, and working hard to start a record label." You can email him by clicking here: mailto:leamacdonald@wapda.com ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend LouiseA :) _..--""-. .-""--.._ _.-' \ __...----...__ / '-._ .' .:::...,' ',...:::. '. ( .'``'''::; ;::'''``'. ) \ '-) (-' / \ / \ / \ .'.-. .-.'. / \ | \0| |0/ | / | \ | .-==-. | / | \ `/`; ;`\` / '.._ (_ | .-==-. | _) _..' `"`"-`/ `/' '\` \`-"`"` / /`; .==. ;`\ \ .---./_/ \ .==. / \ \ / '. `-.__) | `" | =(`-. '==. ; jgs \ '. `-. / \_:_) `"--.....-' >The Elephant Rope As a man was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime, break away from their bonds but for some reason, they did not. He saw a trainer nearby and asked why these animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away. “Well,” trainer said, “when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.” The man was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn't, they were stuck right where they were. Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before? Failure is part of learning; we should never give up the struggle in life. Never be afraid to keep trying! Success is something that we have to keep trying at. Everyday is a second chance. Use your new day to start or do something awesome! --- ...Oh so true! Thanks LouiseA! This story reminds me of a couple of things... , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' #1: The Bible teaches us: Prov.22: [6] Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. That is why it is so important to instill godly morals and biblical teachings into our children at an early age - always using the agape love - or love of God in the Renewed mind in manifestation. #2: The bible also teaches us to have faith or believing in ourselves... Matt.17: [20] And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. A grain of mustard seed is the smallest seed on earth. Here Jesus says all we need is believing the size of a mustard seed and 'nothing shall be impossible' to us. Interesting too is that He used the word 'shall' instead of the word 'will'. Why? Because in the bible when you read the word 'will' it means it isn't definite - possibly could change. When you read the word 'shall' it means 'absolutely without a doubt'. So Jesus used the word 'shall' so that they would know there was no 'ifs' about it. #3: It, of course, reminds me of my own bible teaching here: Never Give Up! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/nevergiveup.html ============================================================ >-->From Our Friend Jacinto :) , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' Cultivating with the seeds of gratitude, we can harvest happiness. "Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." --- ...So Profound and True! Thanks Jass! That makes it easier to understand why the bible teaches Us: Eph.5: [20] Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Phil.4 [6] Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 1 Thes.5: [18] In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Also check out this wonderful teaching: http://tinyurl.com/lpk8qbr ====================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: .---------------------------. /,--..---..---..---..---..--. `. //___||___||___||___||___||___\_| [j__ ######################## [_| \============================| .==| |"""||"""||"""||"""| |"""|| /======"---""---""---""---"=| =|| |____ []* ____ | ==|| // \\ // \\ |===|| hjw "\__/"---------------"\__/"-+---+' >Benny: The Man on the Bus This is a parable about leadership. A teacher assigned her 12th graders an essay about a leader they admired. Most kids wrote about famous people, but one student turned in this: Benny: The Man on the Bus I’ve been taking a public bus to school for years. Most passengers go to work and never talk to anyone else. About a year ago, an elderly man got on the bus and said loudly to the driver, “Good morning!” Most people looked up annoyed, and the bus driver just grunted. The next day the man got on at the same stop and again said loudly, “Good morning!” to the driver. On the fifth day, the driver greeted the man first with a cheerful “Good morning!” and Benny replied loudly, “My name’s Benny. What’s yours?” The driver said his name was Ralph. That was the first time any of us had heard the driver’s name. Soon all the passengers began talking to each other and saying hello to Ralph and Benny. After a month, Benny extended his cheerful greeting to the whole bus. Within a few days, his “Good morning!” was returned by a whole bunch of “Good mornings.” The entire bus seemed friendlier. If a leader is someone who makes something happen, Benny was our leader in friendliness. A month ago, Benny didn’t get on the bus. Some of us thought he had died. No one knew what to do. The bus got quiet again. So I started to act like Benny by saying “Good morning!” to everyone, and they cheered up again. I guess I’m now the leader.. This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts. -<>- ---_ ......._-_--. (|\ / / /| \ \ / / .' -=-' `. / / .' ) _/ / .' _.) / / o o _.-' / .' \ _.-' / .'*| \______.-'// .'.' \*| \| \ | // .'.' _ |*| ` \|// .'.'_ _ _|*| . .// .'.' | _ _ \*| \`-|\_/ / \ _ _ \*\ `/'\__/ \ _ _ \*\ /^| \ _ _ \* ' ` \ _ _ \ ASH (+VK) \_ >Out Of The Corner Of My Eye I love to watch animals play. I get so much enjoyment from our three dogs playing tag, swimming in their little kid's pool, chasing butterflies, things like that. We have two large bird feeders, and mornings I sit on my porch and watch different species eat their morning breakfast. We also have cows in the big field across from us, and I laugh when I see a little calf follow its mother when she walks around. Everywhere we look, there is something to smile about when watching animals. Unless... We have a large porch on our house. There are large pine trees all around the back of our place. Tonight hubby and I were eating our supper on the porch on our picnic table. A daily ritual is to watch our rooster eyeball two different branches of pine trees, trying to decide which one he wants to use to fly up into the tree. He always flies before the sun goes down. I am told they have poor eyesight when it starts to gets dusk. So each day this time of the year, the rooster flies into the tree around 6:15. We were eating when we saw him do his prancing and dancing to decide which branch to get on. He flew up, let out his cock-a-doodle-doo to let the whole neighborhood know he's going to get ready for bed. Suddenly the rooster flew down to the ground. Something we've never seen him do before. He began this running around, acting nothing like he does any other time. We are in the drought area, and it had rained for 15 minutes so my husband said he was probably going to try and find some worms. I didn't think that was it, because the sky was darker and the rooster never waits that long to fly in the tree. I was watching him when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a movement. It came from the three-foot bathroom window which has a jealousy type window. Each year for fifteen years since we've lived here, two birds come in spring and build nests on both sides of the window. We've watched them as they set on their eggs, hatch the eggs and then tend to their babies until they get flying lessons telling them it's time to spread their wings and fly. This year was no different. One bird hatched her eggs already, and they have left the nest. But the second bird had four babies in the nest, and just yesterday I watched in the window as she fed them. They are just getting their little feathers now. When my eye caught movement, I thought it was the mother bird at first. I didn't say anything to my husband, since his back was to the window. I turned my head and saw something stick out from the window ledge. It didn't look right. I then told hubby that something was by the bird nest, and it was too large to be the mama bird. He turned and said, "It's just the knob to crank the window." He turned back to his plate, I looked at the window and again, something moved that was too large for a bird. I told him it was NOT the window handle, that something was moving. He turned again, then he saw movement. He got up from the table, walked to the end of the porch, closer to the window as I was getting up from the table. "You're not going to like this," he said. I got closer and said, "It's a mouse." "Not a mouse," he said. "Oh no, it's a stinking bat," I said. "It's not a bat either," he said. Right then it moved, and I saw it stick its head out. A baby bird was in its mouth. "SNAKE!" I screamed. "Oh my, there's a snake in our window," I yelled. My husband ran to get the ladder. My son came running when I called him, with a machete knife he keeps in the house for situations like this, he told me. My daughter-in-law wanted to help any way she could. And I stood frozen, watching that snake try and eat that little bird. It made me sick. My husband got a rake, a shovel, a flashlight, and told me to stand back. Standing back was not a problem. He reached up with the rake and tried to make the snake drop the bird. It did. But when it dropped it, a live baby fell out of the nest. My daughter-in-law scooped that little thing up and held it in her hand. I told her there were four babies yesterday in the nest. Today, there was only two when we saw the snake. The snake became vicious when the bird dropped from its mouth. It struck out at my husband. I was yelling, "Get off the ladder, let me call animal control," and he's yelling back," I'll get that sucker and kill it." "Go get your gun," I said. "WHAT?" he asked. "I'd blow a hole through the window if I tried to shoot at the snake," he said. "No, shoot it when you get it down off the window ledge," I said. My son informed me that he was going to chop it in half with his knife when it dropped from the window. The snake fought. It was coiled, it struck. It was gnarled up, it struck. My husband was trying to knock it down. I have a large pair of clippers I use to take down weeds and good size limbs. I grabbed those and said, "Here, cut that sucker in half." My husband looked at me like I was nuts and said, "The handles are too short." I knew that, but well you know, men like to show we women how tough they are, and I thought that would be wonderful if he could cut him in half. If it were me on that ladder, I'd want something with a ten foot handle. My clippers only have about an eighteen-inch handle. I ran inside the house and ran to the bathroom window to see the snake crawling up my window. I saw the rake touch him, and I saw him strike again at my husband. I ran back out on the porch and told him again to get his gun. His gun is a replica of an old Colt 44. It has to be loaded with powder and the little balls. He said by the time he got the gun loaded, the snake could get off and we'd not know where it went. "I'm calling animal control," I said. "No you're not," he said, "I'm going to get this stinking snake." There we were, I standing on the porch, watching, taking pictures with my digital camera. My neighbor, who is 80, was standing by me saying, "I hate snakes." My son had his knife ready, and my daughter-in-law was holding the only remaining little bird, and there hubby was on the ladder, with the rake trying to get the snake tangled up in it to get him down. He grabbed the snake, and it started to crawl through the rake "teeth" and I screamed, "Drop it." It struck fast, several times. I saw the tail. We all did. It didn't have any rattles. Suddenly hubby hooked it and it's head got caught, and he slung it down to the ground. Quicker than you could blink an eye, faster than a machete can be swung, that snake slithered through the little opening where our air conditioner hose comes out from under the house. "Oh, that's wonderful, " I said. "Now I'll be up all night, what if it gets in the duct work and comes into the house through a vent." "It won't come near the vent, it's too cold, they won't go where it's cold," hubby said. A few minutes ago, my friend down the road called. "How was your weekend," she said. I replied, "Why don't you ask me what have my last four hours been like." I then told her what happened. our news has been warning us in this drought, snakes are looking for water, and there have been several incidences of them getting into homes. Just this past weekend, a man where I work was bitten by a copperhead. Within minutes, he became violently ill. Instead of getting someone to get him a park ranger, he picked up his cell phone and called his wife. "I just got bit by a snake at the park," he said. "Do you think I need to go to the hospital?" Precious seconds lost in that phone call. Instead of sending someone to the office, which was not that far, he walked, causing the venom to move in his blood stream quicker. He collapsed right near me on a picnic table. I saw the ambulance folks remove his shoes. By this time, the man was getting delirious and did not know his name. They got him in the ambulance quickly and sped away to the hospital. I am a nervous wreck tonight, knowing that snake went under my house. I went around and was closing vents when my husband asked what I was doing. I just looked at him, and he replied, "We'll bake in this heat if you close the vents off." "So we'll bake," I said. "I can't sleep with that thing under the house," I told him. I have no idea if I'll sit up all night or not. Maybe I'll play pogo until my eyes droop. I just know I feel very uncomfortable tonight. We think the rooster saw the snake in the tree, and that's why he came back down after he'd gone up for the evening. We think the snake crawled out on a long limb, got onto our roof and crawled over to the window near the bathroom. Perhaps he saw the baby birds in the nest. Tonight, I'm watching out of the corner of my eye for any movement in my house. Note: From our description, neighbors said the snake was probably a water moccasin... very poisonous... By Sharon Bryant -<>- i Track it! I_-_ ' I(")_____. <\. ,----~ :/_( ( ,) uU `-.---U`= lL (~~/> - a:f - >ALIVE AND PRESENT Architect Frank Lloyd Wright once told of a childhood incident that may have seemed insignificant at the time, but had a profound influence on the rest of his life. It happened when he was nine years old. It was winter. Young Frank was walking across a snow-covered field with his uncle. As the two of them reached the far end of the field, his uncle stopped him. He pointed out his own tracks in the snow, straight and true as an arrow's flight, and then young Frank's tracks meandering all over the field. "Notice how your tracks wander aimlessly from the fence to the cattle to the woods and back again," his uncle said. "And see how my tracks aim directly to my goal. There is an important lesson in that." Years later the world-famous architect liked to tell how this experience had greatly contributed to his life's philosophy. "I determined right then," he'd say with a twinkle in his eye, "not to miss most things in life, as my uncle had." He determined to be alive and present. To be fully aware and squeeze as much life out of each moment as possible. We will miss most things in life if we live in the past. Let us learn from the past, but not live there. We will miss most things in life if we live in the future. Let us plan for the future, but not live there. We will miss little if we live in the present. And we'll have more fun along the way! By Steve Goodier -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: I Believe... http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/believe.html Alcohol And Drug Use FAQ: What does the Bible say about using drugs and alcohol, other than for diseases and cooking? http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/alcoholanddrugs.html About Dogs And People http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/aboutdogs.html Sgt.Stubby War Dog Hero! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/stubbywardog.html Crop Circles 2009 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/mystery2.html Empire State Building http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/empire.html Awesome School http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/gschool.html Amazing Air Cars http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/gschool.html Micro Folk Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/microart.html -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseA :) These pooches are so dog-tired and dreaming their doggy dreams, we get a front-row seat to the cutest and funniest show in town! http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BW9B5ZuRdAw Whale watching almost turned into whale petting when a whale decided to get up close and personal with a couple of kayakers. Now that's a once-in-a-lifetime experience! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRmrQGHhdCM&feature=player_embedded During a non-stop, dynamic, superbly choreographed dance exhibition, this amazing performing duo, Elena and Victor, puzzle a flabbergasted audience with staggering, flashing costume transformations, which happen in front of our incredulous eyes in fractions of a second. Their elegant metamorphoses is simply unbelievable. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=yNhDG3n-5MY If this rendition of 'The Prayer' doesn't make you sigh then I don't know what will. This beautiful musical performance by Josh Groban and Charlotte Church is bound to please all ears listening, human or divine. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QzDOEWoBJNs --- ...beautiful. Thanks LouiseA! -<>- >From Our Friend Karen :) This about drove me nuts. Now it's your turn. http://flash.pcastuces.com/jouer.asp?Id=26 --- ...TeeHee! Thanks Karen! Visit Melissa's Online Store You can get anything you want (except for Melissa ) at the online store http://pdhomes.net/mall/babylissa/mySTORES/ISELL4.html ========================================================== ,--. \ _\_ _\/_|_\____.'\ -(___.--._____( \ \ \ \ `--' jg >Chris's Wings Story Editor: by Jean Ang Anne Wilson California, USA In December 2001, my husband and I took our son Christopher on a flight from Seattle to Los Angeles. Chris had Duchene's Muscular Dystrophy. When we boarded in Seattle, the pilot, Gary, asked if we wanted to show Chris, 15, the cockpit. My husband carried him in for a look. Chris' face lit up as he told us when he became well he wanted to be a pilot. It made me cry. During our flight the entire crew was great to Chris. When we landed, Gary asked for our address to send Chris a card. Chris was so excited Gary wanted to write to him. Several weeks later Chris received a beautiful card. Pinned to it was a pair of wings. Gary wrote that he'd earned them while in the service and wanted Chris to have them. We put the wings on Chris and he didn't want to take them off. All he did was talk about the pilot that sent them. He even took them to school to show his friends. Three months later Chris had his 16th birthday. That Saturday there was a knock on the door. It was Gary, who said he was on the way to LA for a flight. He wanted to see how Chris was doing and had a surprise -- he'd brought Chris one of his old pilot jackets. Chris was just beside himself. We immediately put the wings on the jacket and took pictures of Chris wearing it. I'd never seen him so excited. The jacket was his most prized possession. Six months later, on August 10, 2002, Chris passed away. We sent Gary an email about Chris's death, but sadly it was returned. Four years later I found a web page looking for stories about wonderful customer service experiences while traveling on Alaska Airlines. Now was my chance to let the airline know about Gary and what he'd done for Chris. My letter was published on the web site. The next week, I received an email from the airline asking my permission to publish my letter in their upcoming In-Flight magazine. I was honored and thankful that Gary would be recognized for what he'd done. I received a call from Gary two months later asking if he could come over as he had something for me. When he arrived, he opened a box containing a model of a 737 Alaska Airline airplane. There was also a note from Alaska's CEO thanking me for writing the letter. Gary has since been promoted to Captain. This experience taught me the importance of being kind to one another. My older son became a pilot and teaches flying lessons. He is living Chris's dream -- because of the incredible kindness of one person. I will never forget how Gary made one special boy very proud, and how he made such an impact on our whole family. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Kidwarmers: >THE FUNNY THINGS KIDS SAY o o | | . . ._._. _ .===. |` |` ..'\ /`.. |H| .--. .:' `:. //\-...-/|\ |- o -| |H|`. /||||\ || || ._.'//////,'|||`._. '`./|\.'` |\\||:. .'||||||`. `:. .:' ||||||||||||[ ]|||| /_T_\ |:`:.--'||||||||||`--..`=:='... jv The Crager family recently spent three fun-filled days at Cedar Point and Soak City. The days were filled with thrill rides and swimming along with visits by Snoopy and Linus. During their last breakfast together they were around the table and Nancy asked everyone what their favorite part of the vacation was. Joe, 4, and Reece, 6, were the last to respond. In unison they said, "The fire alarm we had last night with the three fire trucks that showed up at our hotel!" -- Nancy Crager of Corunna, Indiana Madison, 3, was at the hospital for the birth of her new baby brother. While waiting for the birth her "Mamaw" Joyce took took her to the viewing window to show her what her new brother was going to look like. She pointed out a couple babies to Madison saying, "See, there is one and over there is another." Then Madison spotted a couple more and excitedly exclaimed, "They are everywhere, this must be where they make them!" -- Great "Mamaw" Jean Reesor of Battletown, Kentucky Here is another one from Jean. When she arrived at the hospital Madison asked her, "Did you ride the alligator?" She meant the elevator. __ | _] .--||-----. | || | _____|__||_____| \ | || || || || || jgs || || ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Ron and Nancy were going on vacation for a week so they offered to pay their granddaughter Elena, 7, $10 to walk over and pick up their mail and newspaper every day while they were gone. Elena's request was, "Ok, Grandma, how about $20?" -- Nancy Hashberger of Kendallville, Indiana RustyAnne taught her children to not fear thunderstorms and lightning. When David was 4 and Rebekah was 2 she told them when they see the flash of light it is God taking their pictures. The next thunderstorm that came along, there they were, side by side at the window, and every time the lightning flashed, they would smile really big, for their "pictures!" -- RustyAnne Yakel of Woonsocket, Rhode Island Katherina was really tired from tidying up the apartment. She asked her 4-year-old son Timothy to go lie down and rest for a while. He was really rowdy and didn't want to settle down. Then Katherina went to lie down. About 10 minutes later, he came to Katherina and said, "Mommy! My tummy is not tired!" -- Katherina Potter of Palatine, Illnois .'''. '(("""))' '((O.O))' '; o ;' .("|((, / | || (_ | |/ ,'..,' : ScS @[.,..' \ `, | | | Kas was taking care of her 5-year-old grandson, Weston. He asked why her tummy was so big, and Kas told him she was getting older, weighed too much and had a sickness that makes her tummy swell. He thought for a minute and then asked, "Are you going to have a baby?" Kas told him no, she was too old. Weston got a big frown and said, "Darn!" (He had overheard his mom saying there won't be any more babies and he saw Grandma as his last hope! -- Kas Quimby of Elma, Washington When Reagan, 2, eats all her food her mother says, "Reagan, you ate it all. You are such a piglet!" Reagan laughs but lately she has an answer all her own. She replies, "Mommy, you're a pooh!" Just the other day on the way to work, she changed it a bit. After the usual piglet exchange, she replied, "Mommy, you not a pooh. You a Mommy." Then a few minutes later, "Mommy, I not a piglet, I a Reagan!" It made her mother Melanie laugh all the way to work and definitely made her day. -- Melanie Berryhill of Orlando After Debbie's grandmother's funeral, the ladies of the church had a luncheon for the family members. Debbie's mom was helping Sarah, 9, fill her plate. When they got to the cinnamom roles, Debbie's mom told Sarah that they were wonderful. They had been made from scratch. Sarah replied, "No thank you, Grandma, we don't eat scratch at my house!" -- Debbie of Liberty, Missouri. (Sarah is now 23 and loves to hear the story.) _ _ / / | /_/ / \_\/ \ \ \ _;______ \_; ,'o `. [_, )& `._ / jrei ll`--'ll JoAnne is a widow. Her son Brian, 10, asked what she wanted for her birthday. Without even thinking, she said, "A boyfriend or you know a guy friend to hang around with us." Without batting an eye Brian replied, "Mom, I only have two days ? I don't think that.s enough time to get you one!" -- JoAnne of New Jersey While at the dinner table Fisher, 6, informed his mother, father ans sister, Hunter, that he wants to be on TV and help do the weather when he grows up. His mother said, "Oh, you want to be a meteorologist?" With a look of disgust Fisher asked, "A meat eater ologist??" -- Linda Smith (grandmother of Fisher) of Orland, California Mackenzie, 6, was telling her grandmother about the little bump on her face. "This is my beauty mark," Mackenzie said. "I have some, too," her grandmother said. "No," Mackenzie replied, "yours are wrinkles!" -- Myrle Brown (grandmother of Mackenzie) of Georgia _()_ )( _..-''''''-.._ .' . ' ` . `. .' . . `. .-. : . ...... . : : : . .' ) ( `. . : `. @: . : < > : . : .-----. `.: . :--`--'--: . :.' `. .---:: . : .--. *: . :: _ : .'.' `:. . : :__. : . .' : '.`: : : : -. : `._ `.______.' _.' '`._ .' ' jgs `. `'' .' ``-......-'' `. ``` .' `---' `-----' Diane and her husband Bill took their two daughters, Sabrina, 5, and Christy, 1, to DisneyWorld. They were thrilled to have lunch with Cinderella. Later Chrissy wasn't feeling well. Sabrina asked, "What's wrong with her?" Her father said, "She caught a bug." Sabrina walked a few steps and asked her father again, "Did she eat it?" -- Phyllis Smith (grandmother of Sabrina and Christy) Jared, 3, saw his mother plucking her eyebrows. With a very confused look he said, "Mommy, what are you doing to your brains?" With a smile his mother replied, "Oh, Honey, I am plucking my eyebrows." Mystified, Jared said, "You're not going to be smart any more if you keep taking your brains out!" -- Debbie Pipkin (mother of Jared) of Belleville, Michigan Courtney is only 2 but she is forever doing and saying things that delight her parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. One of her great-grandmother's favorite Courtney memories was following a family dinner in a restaurant. They had all bowed their heads while one of the men led a prayer thanking God for providing the good food and other blessings. Immediately after the prayer little Courtney quietly got down from her booster seat and walked around the table to where "Great-grandmommie" was seated, and on tiptoes, placing her little hands on each side of her mouth, whispered, "God is in the sky, but we can't see Him." -- "DJ" (Great-grandmommie) of Meridian, Texas ,ae, ,88888e ,a888b.9888888i 888888888888888 88888888888888Y '8888888888888' "S888888888" unknown "7888888Y "e88j "Y When Nick was small he didn't like to wear shoes and would get splinters in his feet. His mother tried to get them out with a pin, but he would cry and move around too much. So she waited until he fell asleep and then would remove them. One day when he got another splinter his mother told him that he had to get it out or it might sink deeper and go through his body. He looked at her and said, "Please get it out quick. I don`t want it to stab my heart and let all the love out!" -- Cindi Abbinanti (mother of Nick) of Mt. Oliver, Pennsylvania Ben, 4, started attending church with his mother. He was his usual fidgety self. One day while looking around during mass, he spotted the very large crucifix with the body of Jesus. At a particularly quiet part of the service, Ben yelled out, "Jump, Jesus, jump!!" His mother was horrified, but the other parishioners will remember that particular day with a smile. -- Melody Taninies (friend of Ben's mother) of Ankeny, Iowa ========================================================== |><|~|><| /(((9)))\ //) -_- (\\ (((( ._. )))) ))))---(((( ((((`---')))) (___|xXxXx|___) \ | | / / ^ ^ ^ \ / \ (_._._._._._) \ | / ( | ) | | | hjw |-|-| /`-^-'\ (__,^.__) >-->Daddy Day Her hair up in a ponytail, Her favorite dress tied with a bow. Today was Daddy's Day at school, And she couldn't wait to go. But her mommy tried to tell her, That she probably should stay home. Why the kids might not understand, If she went to school alone. But she was not afraid; She knew just what to say. What to tell her classmates, On this Daddy's Day. But still her mother worried, For her to face this day alone. And that was why once again, She tried to keep her daughter home. But the little girl went to school, Eager to tell them all. About a dad she never sees, A dad who never calls. There were daddies along the wall in back, For everyone to meet. Children squirming impatiently, Anxious in their seats. One by one the teacher called, A student from the class. To introduce their daddy, As seconds slowly passed. At last the teacher called her name, Every child turned to stare. Each of them were searching, For a man who wasn't there. "Where's her daddy at?" She heard a boy call out. "She probably doesn't have one," Another student dared to shout. And from somewhere near the back, She heard a daddy say. "Looks like another deadbeat dad, Too busy to waste his day. The words did not offend her, As she smiled at her friends. And looked back at her teacher, Who told her to begin. And with hands behind her back, Slowly she began to speak. And out from the mouth of a child, Came words incredibly unique. "My Daddy couldn't be here, Because he lives so far away. But I know he wishes he could Be with me on this day. And though you cannot meet him, I wanted you to know. All about my daddy, And how much he loves me so. He loved to tell me stories, He taught me to ride my bike. He surprised me with pink roses, And taught me to fly a kite. We used to share fudge sundaes And ice cream in a cone. And though you cannot see him, I'm not standing all alone. "Cause my daddy's always with me, Even though we are apart I know because he told me, He'll forever be here in my heart" With that her little hand reached up, And lay across her chest. Feeling her own heartbeat, Beneath her favorite dress. And from somewhere in the crowd of dads, Her mother stood in tears. Proudly watching her daughter, Who was wise beyond her years. For she stood up for the love Of a man not in her life. Doing what was best for her, Doing what was right. And when she dropped her hand back down, Staring straight into the crowd. She finished with a voice so soft, but its message clear and loud. "I love my daddy very much, He's my shining star. And if he could he'd be here, But heaven's just too far. But sometimes when I close my eyes, It's like he never went away." And then she closed her eyes, And saw him there that day. And to her mother's amazement, She witnessed with surprise. A room full of daddies and children, All starting to close their eyes. Who knows what they saw before them, Who knows what they felt inside. Perhaps for merely a second, They saw him at her side. "I know you're with me Daddy," To the silence she called out. And what happened next made believers, Of those once filled with doubt. Not one in that room could explain it, For each of their eyes had been closed. But there placed on her desktop, Was a beautiful fragrant pink rose. And a child was blessed, if only a moment, By the love of her shining bright star. And given the gift of believing, That heaven is never too far. -- Author Unknown >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->FULL LENGTH - FREE On line AUDIO MP3 Christian 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 DARE 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 ************************************************************************