Focus On Christ... :) 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 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 For Google Plus Users: You can find me here... Shangy Bigham https://plus.google.com/106648555948034085752/posts AND Please Share This email with All Your Friends And Family! ^~^ May God SUPER BLESS You As You Do! THANK YOU! :) -<>- * NOTE: An easy way to adjust the size of print in email or any page is to hold down the Ctrl tab while moving the scroll button on the mouse. You can also use the keyboard to change the font size in your web browser or emails. Hold down the Ctrl key while pressing the + key for larger text or the - key for smaller text! ================ * NOTE: An easy way to adjust the size of print in email or any page is to hold down the Ctrl tab while moving the scroll button on the mouse. You can also use the keyboard to change the font size in your web browser or emails. Hold down the Ctrl key while pressing the + key for larger text or the - key for smaller text! ================ >-->HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This smoking hot new page is from our friends Linda and Melody. It is sure to give you big smiles all the way through! Give it time to load and check it out here... _,.---""----.,_ .-' __.----...---.; .' .' `'. / .' '. / / `'", `\ .'_,' ,"` `'. /,' .-. \ .' .-. /___\ ( . `, / .-' /___\ |_ | \ '. \ ;| / |_ | \_)_/ | \ \ /| | ; _\_)_/ ` , / | \ / | | / ___ ` .-~`````~-. ,=' | | | ; \ \ /.-' `-._ | /| | \ .'``''--' _.- `\ | .' \ | |; / ' _, \ |-`| | | || / / /_\ /_\ .-~``~-. | | | / || | | \(/ |(| | / | | || ,| | -~~` ;`| .---. | | | / || .-/ | | / .-~`~ \| ( '.| / ;--/ /| / / | \ | -t- | -~'-\ \ `--' `-..-` ; |/| / \ |`._ \ -~` / | \ / /\| | .--' `\ `._`._ / |-~` | / \/\ '.____,.-' `""`-._.' ~-. / / .' .' \ .--._.-'` .'`- _.' (.-' | ( , ',_.-'`"""` | \ \ .-' '-;---;..--' /,----.y | jgs | '. `.__,-' / | | | | |`-.,__, Y | | | | | == | =| | | |- ~ -. | | .- ~ -. | | | | | == | =|~ - ~` | | '~ - ~' | /.-.-.-\-.-\ | | | | | | `""""""`""""`/.-.-.-\-.\-.-.-.-\ /.-.-.-.-.-.\ `"""""""`""`-------' '------------' Adorable Baby Elephants http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/babyelephants.html --- ...So sweet, fun and informative too! Thanks Ladies! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: _.-'~~`~~'-._ .'` B E R `'. / I T \ /` .-'~"-. `\ ; L / `- \ Y ; ; /> `. -.| ; | /_ '-.__) | | |- _.' \ | | ; `~~; \\ ; ; INGODWE / \\)P ; \ TRUST '.___.-'`" / `\ /` '._ 1 9 9 7 _.' jgs `'-..,,,..-'` >WHAT IS A PATRIOT? by Joseph Walker It was football season, about 20 years ago. My then-8-year-old daughter Andrea and I were watching the Sunday night news, which included a report of the day's NFL highlights. "...and the Jets cruise past the Patriots, 34-7. Meanwhile in New Orleans..." "Daddy," Andrea interrupted, "what are patriots?" "It's a football team, honey," I replied, absently. "Sort of." "I know that," she said. "But what does it stand for?" "The way they're playing these days, not much." "Huh?" Obviously, Andrea wasn't much on sports humor. "OK," I said. "A patriot was, you know, like in the days of the Revolutionary War. People who really loved their country, like George Washington, the Minute Men and stuff." "Oh." That was that, I thought, and I returned to the football highlights until... "Daddy, what happened to the patriots?" "I don't know," I said. "A bad trade, a couple of injuries, some lousy draft picks..." "No, I mean the patriots who lived with George Washington. What happened to them?" "Well," I said, "they won the war, they established a great nation and then they all died." "Oh," Andrea said. "So patriots are kind of like dinosaurs, and they're extinct now?" I was losing ground here. But what was I supposed to say? Patriotism hasn't been high on the list of politically correct postures for a few decades. So I turned to the dictionary. A patriot, I told Andrea, is "one who loves his country and supports its authority and interests." "Oh," Andrea said. "Like the man who lives over by the school who flies his flag almost every day? He told us it's because he's proud to be an American. Is he a patriot?" "Yes," I said. "I think you could say so." "And what about Mrs. Davis?" my daughter continued. "Last week at church she was teaching us that song about America, and she was talking about the purple mountains magically and the fruity plains and she started to cry. I think she loves our country too." "That's 'purple mountains majestie' and 'fruited' plains,'" I said, "and yes, I'm sure she does." "Then she's a patriot too! And Bryan (the neighbor in the military) and Rosa (the friend who was working toward U.S. citizenship) and Chuck (the teenager who... well, I wasn't sure)." "Chuck?" I asked. "He always has a flag on his truck antenna," she explained. "I guess that qualifies him as a patriot," I said. "Everyone I know is a patriot," she said, "because everyone I know loves America!" I could have told her that there are a lot of people who would be quick to point out all of the things that are wrong about America. But then it occurred to me that maybe they complain because they care. Besides, what could be more American than criticizing the government? It's a tradition that goes back a long way -- all the way to George Washington and his fellow complaining patriots. "You're right," I said. "We're a whole country of patriots, each in our own way." "Including those guys?" she asked, gesturing toward the Patriots on the sports report. "EXCEPT those guys," I said. Hey, there's nothing patriotic about losing football games. -- Joseph Walker __________________________________________________ Joe is a Heartwarmer Gem from Utah. =========================================================== >-->From Our Friend LouiseA :) _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` >Focus on Christ (Edited -Author Unknown) Once there were three boys playing on the snow-covered ground. Along came a man who suggested that the boys race, with the winner receiving a prize. The boys readily agreed. The man explained the rules for the race. He would stand at the end of the field. When he gave the signal, the boys were to start to run. The boy who had the straightest footprints in the snow would be the winner. The race started and the first boy kept looking at his feet to make sure his steps were straight. The second boy kept looking at his contestants to see what they were doing; but the third boy just ran on with his eyes firmly fixed on the man at the end of the field. The third boy was the winner, because his footsteps were straight in the snow. He had kept his eyes on the goal ahead of him. Life is like that race. If we take our focus off Christ and begin looking down at our circumstances, we will fail. It is easy to get bogged down with the day-to-day struggles that we encounter, but we must realize that Jesus Christ will take care of us. We can never be the man and woman that God wants us to be if we lose our focus on Christ. A focused life is a life built on faith. When we trust God to take care of the circumstances, we will be free of the worry and doubt that will throw us off track. Quote: A man focused on God always knows the direction he is headed. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV) --- ...Good Lesson! Thanks LouiseA! , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' Jesus taught this principle to his disciples... Matt.14: [22] And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. [23] And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. [24] But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. [25] And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. [26] And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. [27] But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. [28] And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. [29] And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. All was good with Peter walking toward Jesus on the water until he got distracted and fear set in... [30] But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. [31] And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? [32] And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. [33] Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God. Jesus Christ is our example - He is our Lord and our savior - he is the one we want to be the most like. Keeping our eyes on Him we will be able to renew our minds to God's word and therefore do God's Will. Phil.2: [5] Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: ============================================================= >-->From Our Friend Jacinto :) (\/) \/ (\/) /))))))))) \/ //) __ __\ ,%%%%%%%%%, C==/_o|^|o_\ ,%%%%%%%%%%%%, | _\ ) %/_ _%%%%%%% \ '---'/ /_o|^|o_\=?%%% _/`-. __.'_ ( /_ @%%, \ \'====' /%%% jgs _'-----' \%%%" / ` >Be With Somebody Who Makes You Happy Let him go, he's not worth your tears, he's not worth your pain, he's not worth the worrying, he's not worth fighting for. He hurt you and broke you, let him go. If he really loved you and wanted to stay, he would've. But if he's dumb enough to let you go, let him walk away. In the end he will remember what he lost and regret what he did. Until then move on and be HAPPY. You Deserve To Be With Somebody Who Makes You'll Happy. Somebody Who Doesn't Complicate Your Life. Somebody Who Won't Hurt You. --- ...Thanks Jass! /:""| .@@@@@, |:`66|_ @@@@@@@@, C` _) aa`@@@@@@ \ _| (_ ?@@@@ ) / =' @@@@" /`\\ \(``` || |Y| //`\ || |.| / | || || |.| \ | || || |.| \| || :| |=: |_|\ ||_|,| |_| \ \)))|| ((( | Yes, If you have worked on the relationship and the person you are with makes you more sad than happy, takes pleasure in seeing you unhappy, or simply acts like you should just get over your feelings and not try to be a better partner with you, then, yes, it is time to move on. If you are looking for a life partner - one to share all your ups and downs with, one who will be there to support you all your life, why stay with a person who makes you feel as if you cannot talk things out with them when they hurt your feelings? You want a someone who will improve your life - be a good partner - not someone who drags you down every day and makes your life miserable. How can you be the best you can be for God and yourself if you are with a person who makes you feel sad and bad about yourself every day? _ mMm _[_]_ /(_)\ (_) //)^(\\//:\\ /(/&@&\)\|~|/ / /-~`~-\ ||| `/ \||| `--------'-'-- Once married, it is up to you both to work things out so that both people are equally satisfied and happy in the marriage. Work on it and keep working on it and ask God to help you both to keep working on it - you made a vow to God and your partner. You must work as hard as you can to make your marriage great! .---. ."""-. // \ \ | .\\\ )' )_| \__/ -( \__ / \ _/ .-;___;-. .-;_(-. / \ / \ /-/| |\-\ /_/| |\_\ \ \| |/ / \ \|___|/ / \ \_____/ / )/\ /|\ /|\ |\\ | | | | | |_____| | | | | | | |_ | _| |-|-| | | | \ | / | | | jgs /-T-\ |__|__| (_/ \_) (_/ \_) Before marriage though - why be hurt and unhappy with a person who is not the person you had hoped they were? Move on to see who might be the better match for your life partner. You owe it to yourself and the other person you are with. They can do better if you can do better! There has to be a better match for them out there too. Don't be selfish. Let them go so they can be more happy too. ========================================================= >-->Sounding Off - From Our Friend Geniann :) In God We Still Trust !!! ____ ___|=--=/ \=--=| :(___.--. .--.___): { __ ' ) ( ` __ )= ""----'Ahas '----"" ====' >Shoe Bomber Sentenced Remember the guy who got on a plane with a bomb built into his shoe and tried to light it? Did you know his trial is over? Did you know he was sentenced? Did you see/hear any of the judge's comments on TV or Radio? I didn't think so.!!! But why not? Why did our media not report this important conviction? This lack of coverage by the media is a grave sign that we are in trouble. Everyone should hear what the judge had to say. Ruling by Judge William Young, US District Court. Prior to sentencing, the Judge asked the defendant if he had anything to say His response: After admitting his guilt to the court for the record, Reid also admitted his 'allegiance to Osama bin Laden, to Islam, and to the religion of Allah,' defiantly stating, 'I think I will not apologize for my actions,' and told the court 'I am at war with your country.' Judge Young then delivered the statement quoted below: Judge Young: 'Mr. Richard C. Reid, hearken now to the sentence the Court imposes upon you. On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you to life in prison in the custody of the United States Attorney General. On counts 2, 3, 4 and 7,the Court sentences you to 20 years in prison on each count, the sentence on each count to run consecutively. (That's 80 years.) On count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years again, to be served consecutively to the 80 years just imposed. The Court imposes upon you for each of the eight counts a fine of $250,000 that's an aggregate fine of $2 million. The Court accepts the government's recommendation with respect to restitution and orders restitution in the amount of $298.17 to Andre Bousquet and $5,784 to American Airlines. The Court imposes upon you an $800 special assessment. The Court imposes upon you five years supervised release simply because the law requires it. But the life sentences are real life sentences so I need go no further. This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes. It is a fair and just sentence. It is a righteous sentence. Now, let me explain this to you. We are not afraid of you or any of your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid. We are Americans. We have been through the fire before. There is too much war talk here and I say that to everyone with the utmost respect. Here in this court, we deal with individuals as individuals and care for individuals as individuals. As human beings, we reach out for justice. You are not an enemy combatant. You are a terrorist. You are not a soldier in any war. You are a terrorist. To give you that reference, to call you a soldier, gives you far too much stature. Whether the officers of government do it or your attorney does it, or if you think you are a soldier, you are not----, you are a terrorist. And we do not negotiate with terrorists. We do not meet with terrorists. We do not sign documents with terrorists. We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice. So war talk is way out of line in this court You are a big fellow. But you are not that big. You're no warrior. I've known warriors. You are a terrorist. A species of criminal that is guilty of multiple attempted murders. In a very real sense, State Trooper Santiago had it right when you first were taken off that plane and into custody and you wondered where the press and the TV crews were, and he said: You're no big deal. You are no big deal. What your able counsel and what the equally able United States attorneys have grappled with and what I have as honestly as I know how tried to grapple with, is why you did something so horrific. What was it that led you here to this courtroom today? I have listened respectfully to what you have to say. And I ask you to search your heart and ask yourself what sort of unfathomable hate led you to do what you are guilty and admit you are guilty of doing? And, I have an answer for you. It may not satisfy you, but as I search this entire record, it comes as close to understanding as I know. It seems to me you hate the one thing that to us is most precious. You hate our freedom. Our individual freedom. Our individual freedom to live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, to believe or not believe as we individually choose. Here, in this society, the very wind carries freedom. It carries it everywhere from sea to shining sea. It is because we prize individual freedom so much that you are here in this beautiful courtroom, so that everyone can see, truly see, that justice is administered fairly, individually, and discretely. It is for freedom's sake that your lawyers are striving so vigorously on your behalf, have filed appeals, will go on in their representation of you before other judges. We Americans are all about freedom. Because we all know that the way we treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties. Make no mistake though. It is yet true that we will bear any burden; pay any price, to preserve our freedoms. Look around this courtroom. Mark it well. The world is not going to long remember what you or I say here. The day after tomorrow, it will be forgotten, but this, however, will long endure. Here in this courtroom and courtrooms all across America, the American people will gather to see that justice, individual justice, justice, not war, individual justice is in fact being done. The very President of the United States through his officers will have to come into courtrooms and lay out evidence on which specific matters can be judged and juries of citizens will gather to sit and judge that evidence democratically, to mold and shape and refine our sense of justice. See that flag, Mr. Reid? That's the flag of the United States of America. That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten. That flag stands for freedom. And it always will. Mr. Custody Officer. Stand him down. So, how much of this Judge's comments did we hear on our TV sets? We need more judges like Judge Young. Pass this around. Everyone should and needs to hear what this fine judge had to say. Powerful words that strike home. Please SEND this----so that everyone has a chance to read it. Light travels faster than sound; that is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak! --- ...Thanks Geniann! This may be old news to some, but I posted this today due to it being a continuation of the same old thing we are getting from terrorists. They treat it like we are at war and we are told it is not. Obama says no ground troops to help those fighting these people who openly despise us and kill innocents and any who do not believe in the same religion they do. Their agenda is to steal, kill and destroy - which is exactly what Jesus said was the agenda of the thief... John 10: [10] The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. |\ |\ |\ |\ || .---. || .---. || .---. || .---. ||/_____\ ||/_____\ ||/_____\ ||/_____\ ||( '.' ) ||( '.' ) ||( '.' ) ||( '.' ) || \_-_/_ || \_-_/_ || \_-_/_ || \_-_/_ :-"`'V'//-. :-"`'V'//-. :-"`'V'//-. :-"`'V'//-. / , |// , `\ / , |// , `\ / , |// , `\ / , |// , `\ / /|Ll //Ll|| | / /|Ll //Ll|| | / /|Ll //Ll|| | / /|Ll //Ll|| | /_/||__// || | /_/||__// || | /_/||__// || | /_/||__// || | \ \/---|[]==|| | \ \/---|[]==|| | \ \/---|[]==|| | \ \/---|[]==|| | \/\__/ | \| | \/\__/ | \| | \/\__/ | \| | \/\__/ | \| | /\|_ | Ll_\ | /|/_ | Ll_\ | /|/_ | Ll_\ | /|/_ | Ll_\ | `--|`^"""^`||_| `--|`^"""^`||_| `--|`^"""^`||_| `--|`^"""^`||_| | | ||/ | | ||/ | | ||/ | | ||/ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | L___l___J L___l___J L___l___J L___l___J |_ | _| |_ | _| |_ | _| |_ | _| jgs (___|___) (___|___) (___|___) (___|___) ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ Obama had our troops instead fighting the deadly Ebola virus outbreak in Africa. Just what our taxes had intended paying for. Our elite combat ready military trained personal were sent to risk their lives on the ground to aide in this fight they hadn't been trained in or signed up for. I hear now too that our military is engaged in a Martial Law training exercise that is terrorizing our own US citizens in rural Texas. As Jade Helm 15 Military Exercise Begins, Texans Keep Watch ‘Just in Case’ CHRISTOVAL, Tex. - Despite the Internet chatter about trains with shackles and Walmart stores being closed to be used as detention camps, this small West Texas town on Wednesday seemed to be surviving the start of Jade Helm 15, the military exercise that some people fear is actually a ruse for a federal takeover of the state. http://tinyurl.com/pjpztol USAToday: Controversial Jade Helm military exercise opens in Texas Operation Jade Helm 15, the summer-long U.S. military training exercise in the Southwest that has stirred conspiracy theories of imminent martial law, kicked off Wednesday in Texas. The operation, involving 1,200 servicemembers, including Special Forces from all four branches, Marine expeditionary forces and the 82nd Airborne Division, is being conducted largely on private property. The overall exercise will take place across Texas, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Utah and New Mexico. http://tinyurl.com/oq6lswo Sounds a lot like these... , _,-""-._ ," ". / ,-, ,"\ " / \ | o| \ `-o-" `-', `, _.--'`'--` `--`---' | _) ,' ' _ / _ \ ` \ _ \ | -_) ./ , `, ___|\___/_|_|_|_.__/_|\___| / / \ (_)))_ _," _))))_, --------(_,-._)))------------------------------- n4bis Real Military Zombie Apocalypse Training Halo Corp Navy Army Marines https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J28vaK977RU Soldiers Train To Shoot Zombies During Ebola Emergency https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4Rr6cmcWts (())) /|x x| /\( - ) ___.-._/\/ /=`_'-'-'/ !! |-{-_-_-} ! (-{-_-_-} ! \{_-_-_} ! }-_-_-} {-_|-_} {-_|_-} {_-|-_} {_-|-_} ZOT ____%%@ @%%_______ Thanks Obama for keeping America safe from Zombies. Thank God we have people who know the real threat and do something about it saving real lives! Train heroes 'gave us an example of what is possible,' says French President http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/24/europe/france-train-shooting/ May God super bless them and all who stand up for the innocent! =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: Say these two sentences to yourself out loud and feel the difference, !|| !|||| ,/|||| !|'''| `\ | )\ \ ejm / \ \ \ a. "God, Please grant me with abundance of wealth" b. "God, I am ready to receive abundance of wealth". Can you tell the differences? By praying to be wealthy, asking for it is not enough. But sentence (b) projects a condition where you are ready to receive God's gift which are freely available thru out the world, ready to be received and picked up. Your subconscious mind will tell you that you are already wealthy, that it is there to be gained and received. And for those who are not seeking for wealth, try substitute the word wealth with 'love', 'peace in within oneself', 'patience'... Now tell me the differences. I am ready to receive love. I am ready to be loved I am ready to love as much as I can. I am ready to receive calm and patience within myself. I am ready to be healthy. I am ready to meet someone and be loved. I am ready to commit myself to a relationship. I am ready to have a loving, trusting relationship. I am ready to have an understanding family/parents/father/mother. Own your prayers. Who else will own them, if not you? -<>- _ _|_|_ ,|_| |_|_ || | | |_| || | | | | || | | | | _|| | | | | ||)\ ^ ^ ^ | || | | || | | || | | \\ | \\ / ejm )\ ( / \ \ / \ \ \ \ >The Prayer Garden By Donald Mecham Prayer is our most precious thoughts, our most creative ideas. A garden on the other hand is a place where material things are manifested and allowed to grow. A Prayer Garden, be it in your mind while you are tilling the soil, or an imaginary one, as you create your images of the natural beauty that come to your mind. To find it we have only to quiet our mind and prayerfully go within and allow our thinking to flow with that of the Universe. Through this process our ideals are born and enriched. It is these Ideals that make up the foundation for our life. Symbolically a Prayer Garden represents the many aspects of our life for good, including the way we help others. The challenges, the anticipations, of what we would like to manifest are always a happy one. In going through the lesson of life, it is vital to keep a prayer attitude alive for our best understanding, learning until the lesson or lessons are completed. Priority choices are important in choosing what you wish to manifest. First comes the thought or picture in your mind. Next! What were we doing when the thought came to us? Should we act on that thought? It is here where we need to start making choices, knowing these choices will determining our destiny. Balance is most important for serenity. In our learning process it is sometimes necessary to be out of balance at times, possibly going to the ultimate extremes, depending on the chosen lesson. As we are learning, our emotional and physical balance gradually comes back to us as we come to a completion of our lesson. If we seem to never have a balance, it could be that we are not willing to accept what our lesson is or we have a multitude of lessons we are attempting to learn at the same time. In any garden, seeds or plants will grow better if planted with a prayer from the heart. Our loving caring attention is what does it best. Likewise when we give to the world the best that we have the best will come back to us. It is the Natural Law of the Universe. It will do us well to plan our garden carefully. The Laws of Nature will not be broken. In the Universal structure, any manifestation into the Physical Realm is guided or governed by the Divine Natural Universal Laws of our Universe. What we take from the Universal Substance, we enhance by adding our own creativity as we progress. In the oneness of it all, this is the way we connect and are connected to Our Universe. We learn by observing others, and how they live their lives. As they are examples for those who wish to follow them, we should remember we are probably an example for others too. A prayerful heart is a thankful heart. Our Spiritual dedication to our garden can be measured by asking ourselves the following questions. What have we seen or been in manifesting our garden? Who are we and what do we see now? How much have we progressed? How can it be measured? There are several spiritual yardsticks or tools to use. The first perhaps is to remember that everyone is not working on the same lesson. The second perhaps depends on how much background knowledge we already have on what we are learning. The third is to consider the difficulty or challenge it is for ourselves in comparison to how sincere we are in finding solutions to the lesson or lessons. We would find as we prayerfully tend our garden, we pulled out the old weeds, discarded the old ideas or ideals, and replace them with new plantings or ideals. In using The Divine Principles the weeds will be replaced with Roses, because of your prayerful thoughts. What does your Prayer Garden, your Life, look and feel like today? Do you like what you are now? Are you happy with your progress and the direction it is going? If not, it is good to remember, you are the only one who can change it for the better. Prayerfully Loving ourselves is the answer. -<>- __ .'/\'. .'-/__\-'. .'--/____\--'. .'--./______\.--'. .'--../________\..--'. .'--.._/__________\_..--'. .'--..__/____________\__..--'. .'--..___/______________\___..--'. '========'================'========' [_|__] [_|__] =[__|_]=====""=====[__|_]==. [_|__] '| [_|__] | [__|_] |' [__|_] | [_|__] .--JL--. [_|__] '===O [__|_] \====/ [__|_] [_|__]_.-| .; |-._[_|__] [__|_]'._ \__/(_.'[__|_] [.-._] [_.-.] [_.-.'--..____..--'.-._] (o) [(_.' .-. .-.'._)\ (o) (\'/) [ .-. (_.'.-. (_.' .-.](\'/) ;: [ (_.'.-. (_.' .-. (_.'| ;:' ;: [ .-. '._) .-. '._).-. ] ;:. [(_.' .-. '._) .-.'._)] (o) /.-. (_.'.-. (_.' .-.];:(o) (\'/)['._).-. (_.' .-.(_.'] (\'/) [ (_.'.-. .-.'._) \ ;: ;:' '-._ '._) '._) _.-' LGB `---..____..---' ;:` ;:' ;:'.:; ;;" >IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck (written after she found out she was dying from cancer.) I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day. I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. I would have talked less and listened more. I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded. I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace. I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth. I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband. I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains. I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life. I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime. Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle. When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner." There would have been more "I love you's." More "I'm sorry's." But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it. Live it and never give it back. Stop sweating the small stuff. Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what. Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us. Let's think about what God HAS blessed us with. And what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally. I hope you all have a blessed day. -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: __ .--._,' `\ (__.' '-, / /_ _ \ __|e)e) | .'_ ; ,`) | (_) | /_.----._.' / \_/\___/ ,d8` \ / .-\\,oo8P` ; | / |;"` | | | || , _ /`'. \ './/'\. .' /.--;'-. | '--'.-._;' .' .-' /'-;` \ (((. .-'\ (((_.' \ ) jgs '._).'`--' `-` In honor of National Dog Day... Some of our Dog pages: Dogs!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dogs.html Cameo Dogs!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/cameodogs.html Dog Warriors!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dogwarriors.html Why Dogs Bite People!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dogsbite.html Adorable Wrinkled Puppies!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wrinklypuppies.html Ricochet The Surf Dog!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/ricochet.html Just Have Faith!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/faith.html Super Puppies!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/puppy.html Lily And Maddison!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/greatdanes.html Why God Gave Us Puppies!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/whypuppies.html K9 9/11 Heroes!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/k9-11.html Why We Love Dogs!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/whydog.html Dog Eat Dog World!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dogeatdog.html Dogs As Best Friends!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bestfriend.html Pets Left Home Alone!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/petshome.html My Bulldog Life http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/mydoglife.html Dog Days Of Summer!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dogdays.html My How You've Grown!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/grown.html Sgt.Stubby War Dog Hero!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/stubbywardog.html Dog Rescue Stories!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dogrescues.html -<>- >From Our Friend Geniann :) She sent us ones we have here... About Dogs and People http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/aboutdogs.html Following, are photos taken by Professionals that most visitors are unable to capture with their cameras. Beautiful Grand Canyon http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/grandcanyon.html --- ...Awesome! I do so love the Grand Canyon! Thanks Geniann! "If this huge influx of mostly low-skill workers provides some benefits to the economy as a whole—especially by keeping our workforce young, in contrast to an increasingly geriatric Europe and Japan—it also threatens to depress further the wages of blue-collar Americans and put strains on an already overburdened safety net.” - Obama in 2006 https://www.facebook.com/FAIRImmigration?ref=stream&fref=nf --- ...Sad state! Thanks Geniann! -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseA :) "Dogs Who Lost The Fight Against Sleep" is a funny video about man's best friend who just wants to go to bed after a hard day of being a dog. Anyone that's worked or played hard all day knows exactly how these tired dogs feel. This video compilation of sleepy dogs is brought to you by America's Funniest Videos in collaboration with BuzzFeed Video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKOtwfbvzmg&feature=player_embedded A compilation of cute and funny sleepy dogs that don't want to wake up and get out of bed. These lazy dogs are doing everything they can to stay in their warm and cozy beds for a few extra minutes of sleep. I personally think this is some sort of learned behavior that they get from the Cat who does nothing but lie around the house all day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQjJT1-wOfw&feature=player_embedded --- ...So cute! Thanks LouiseA! -<>- >From Our friend Melody :) He Put Milk & Gelatin Into A Bowl... http://tinyurl.com/o99t7ob When He Put His Hands In The Water, http://tinyurl.com/neabkt6 --- ...Awww, thanks Melody! At first I thought this was one of those fish I saw on a show. You pay to put your feet into water with a bunch of these guys in there and they give you the perfect foot massage! The fish get rid of all your foot skin problems by nibbling away the rough dry edges! 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 ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Fran :) _--_ dMb __(._ ) d0P < (D) .MP .~ \ /~```M-. .~ V Mo_ \ -------============((((}{) ( (___. {:)-./ ~._____.(:} '94 the wolfe / .M\ / "" \ | /\ | / / \ \ / / \ \ \__/ \__/ / / | | .^V^. .^V^. +-+ +-+ >A Simple Explanation of Baseball This is a game played by two teams, one out the other in. The one that's in, sends players out one at a time, to see if they can get in before they get out. If they get out before they get in, they come in, but it doesn't count. If they get in before they get out it does count. When the ones out get three outs from the ones in before they get in without being out, the team that's out comes in and the team in goes out to get those going in out before they get in without being out. When both teams have been in and out nine times the game is over. The team with the most in without being out before coming in wins unless the ones in are equal. In which case, the last ones in go out to get the ones in out before they get in without being out. The game will end when each team has the same number of ins out but one team has more in without being out before coming in. --- ...Oh, now I get it - it's just a matter of knowing the ins and outs! Thanks Fran! -<>- .-""-. / __ \ | \/ | \ || / |||| {==} jgs {==} >SUMMER LIGHT SHOW It is going to feel like Christmas in July in the field behind my home for the next few weeks. My backyard buddies, the fireflies have finally returned to put on another Summer light show every evening for all of us to enjoy. It is such a delight seeing their little, golden lights blinking on and off just like the lights on a Christmas tree. It brings me such joy watching my whole backyard and the woods around it twinkle like it is Christmastime while the warm, summer breezes tickle my face. It reminds me that anytime of the year can feel like Christmas if you have love in your heart and light in your soul. Still, there are times I feel a bit sorry for my firefly friends. They shine for only a brief time each Summer and their lights while beautiful last only a moment before fading again. In fact, I sometimes feel like a firefly myself. I try my best to shine long and bright with love, joy, and oneness with God, but it seems at times the most I can do is flicker. I am working hard, though, to leave my light on a bit longer each time and trying my best to make my moments of darkness less and less. I am asking God to help me everyday too and hope to one day shine more like a star and less like a blinker. I hope that you are doing your best as well to shine bright and leave your light on in this life. I pray too that if you can't keep your light on all the time then you are at least blinking as much light, love, joy, kindness, goodness, peace, happiness, helpfulness, laughter, and caring as you can. Perhaps one day all of us will shine together and with God's help will create a summer light show that never ends. Perhaps we will not just help make everyday feel more like Christmas, but make everyday be Christmas. Perhaps one day we all will work together to help the fireflies chase the darkness away forever. By: Joseph J. Mazzella --- ...Aww, such a heartwarmer! Thanks Fran! =========================================================== ____ _ .-;\)___\ |_| \_/ ,---\ | | / _/ e e \_/ _%&&%%&_ |(` >| ___T__\______/__ \| =/ '====\\\ ^/====='_/ ,--' `\ \ .'`._ ( \ \ / ``\ \ \/ / ) ) \`'._/ -'.-'\ \__/ / \-'\______ /._'-./ \ ___`'-. /` | '-.\ '--`` /-\\\ /` / | ( ) | / / | \ (-------------- / '-._ | /'-.'# # # # `._ `'-._/ /#__#__#__#__#__ ;";-..__ | | # # # # # ; | |``-' |# # # # # / ;\ | |__#__#__#__#__#__ .' / / / || || jgs /' .' | | || || / .' | | || || ,| / \ | || || \\\/( (`-/\__ || \__`\ [_--.__\ || >Unforgotten Sacrifice Story Editor: by Maddy Jonas Joyce Schowalter New York, USA In June of 1993 I had just graduated from Towson State University, outside of Baltimore, Maryland. I got a job waiting tables at a restaurant near the college. Money was tight and the only place I could afford to live was a local motel that rented rooms by the month. To keep costs down, I ordered the daily special at work -- whatever it was. The $5 price tag was discounted 50 percent for employees. I ate half for lunch and saved half for dinner. Evenings were busy with the dinner crowd and summer school students looking for cheap drinks and free munchies. Being the new kid, I got the lunch shift. The lunch shift "crowd" was very slow -- almost non-existent. One very hot afternoon a man wearing a long dirty coat came in. His hair was scraggly and he apparently hadn't shaved in weeks. No one wanted him at their station so I said I'd serve him. Very quietly, so I strained to hear him, he politely asked for a cup of coffee and the $5 lunch special. I figured that $6 bill was a lot of money to him -- it was certainly a lot of money to me. As I placed his order in the kitchen, my colleagues told me not to waste time with him. He'd probably skip out on his bill. He most certainly, they said, wouldn't leave any tip. I tried to remember that he was a customer like everyone else, and checked on him as I would any other customer. He sat quietly. Unlike other customers dinning alone, he had nothing to read. He just stared at his coffee or off into the distance, perhaps remembering a better time. He ate his food slowly and deliberately, savoring each bite in his mouth. The meal was probably more than just sustenance to him. It offered a quiet and cool place to sit and relax, even if for a brief moment. When his plate was empty, I stopped by to refill his coffee and drop off his check. There's no rush, I told him. It wasn't like I had people lining up for his table, why make him leave? I took a ladies room break. Upon returning, my customer was gone. The others laughed, reminding me they'd warned me of being stiffed. I silently went over to clean off the table, leaving the check holder for last. When I lifted it, change came tumbling out. The $6 bill had been paid in full with well-worn and crumpled bills. I sat to count the coins -- $1.20 entirely in nickels and pennies. It was worth so much more to me. As I stared down at the change in front of me, I realized that through quite probably a great sacrifice, my customer had taught me an invaluable lesson. We make an impact on every life we interact with. It is our choice as to what kind of impact we want to make. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Our Friend Cloie :) sSSSSSs SS,, SSSS S< ?SSS S> SSS ___)(____ (((.\/;)))) \||, )(\'||.//(( \\/(/(\||/))\)) \)/)))||(((/(( " (((||))//' )))||'|\` (((||))) )))||((( (((||))) )))||((( jgs ((((||)))) || || |/ |/ /=) /=) /_/|/_/| >AND THEN IT IS WINTER You know. . . time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all. I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams. But, here it is... the winter of my life and it catches me by surprise...How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go? I remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like. But, here it is...my friends are retired and getting grey...they move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me...but, I see the great change....Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant...but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd be. Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore... it's mandatory! Cause if I don't on my own free will... I just fall asleep where I sit! And so...now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did! But, at least I know, that though the winter has come, and I'm not sure how long it will last...this I know, that when it's over on this earth...it's NOT over. A new adventure will begin! Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn't done...things I should have done, but indeed, there are many things I'm happy to have done. It's all in a lifetime. So, if you're not in your winter yet...let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly! Don't put things off too long! Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not! You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life...so, live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember...and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past! "Life" is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. Make it a fantastic one. LIVE IT WELL! ENJOY TODAY! DO SOMETHING FUN! BE HAPPY! HAVE A GREAT DAY! REMEMBER:.... "It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver. "LIVE HAPPY IN THIS YEAR AND EVERY YEAR! LASTLY, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING: TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU'VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU'LL EVER BE SO - ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS. ~Your kids are becoming you....... ~Going out is good.. Coming home is better! ~You forget names.... But it's OK because other people forgot they even knew you!!! ~You realize you're never going to be really good at anything ~The things you used to care to do, you no longer care to do, but you really do care that you don't care to do them anymore. ~You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV blaring than in bed. It's called "pre-sleep". ~You miss the days when everything worked with just an "ON" and "OFF" switch. ~You tend to use more 4 letter words ... "what?"..."when?"... "what?" ~Now that you can afford expensive jewelry, it's not safe to wear it anywhere. ~You notice everything they sell in stores is "sleeveless"?!!! ~What used to be freckles are now liver spots. ~Everybody whispers. ~You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet.... 2 of which you will never wear. ~But Old is good in some things: Old Songs, Old movies, and best of all, OLD FRIENDS!! Stay well, "OLD FRIEND!" Send this on to other "Old Friends!" and let them laugh in AGREEMENT!!! It's Not What You Gather, But What You Scatter That Tells What Kind Of Life You Have Lived. --- ...TeeHee! So true! Thanks Cloie! ========================================================== >-->From Kidwarmers: O _|_ ,_.-_' _ '_-._, \ (.)(.)(.) / _, `\_-===-_/` ,_ > |----"""""----| < `""`--/ _-@-\--`""` |===L_I===| \ / _\__|__/_ jgs `""""`""""` >THE FUNNIEST THINGS KIDS SAY Kimberley was lying down with her little girl, Hailey, 4. Hailey had her head on Kimberley's chest. Hailey broke the silence when she looked up and said, "Mommy, your heart just kissed me!" - Kimberley Householder of Fort Wayne, Indiana One of Sharon's grandsons started school this year. He always gets up around 4:30 or 5 a.m. and climbs into his father's chair and rocks and watches TV. His mother tells him, "Connor, you can't be doing this. You need to get your sleep; school will be starting in a few days. And you won't get to take a nap." One day he replied, "Well, then, I won't be able to go to school if I can't take a nap. I have to have my nap!" - Sharon Kissinger (grandmother of 22) of Kendallville, Indiana Stella, 6, and Mommy were talking. Stella: I'll bet you can't wait 'til I'm a teenager. Mommy: Actually, I can. Stella: Why? Mommy: Because I like you being sweet. Stella: I'll still be sweet when I'm a teenager. I'll just have an awkward way of showing it. - Stella's "Nana" of Springfield, Oregon _ _ (,\- )_ /` b `-D | ,__/ \,_____,' / \ /_|--|___|\ / \ \ |\_) / _'-' / | / \ / \| |` \__ | /_\ ___) jgs (____) The Lomont sisters (Joyce, Pat and Karen) have 11 grandsons between them, so there are always "boy stories" to be told. Karen's youngest grandson, Nicholas, is off to pre-K this year. He had been long awaiting it because of two older brothers. The first day he came home to announced "there were no video games!" in a disappointed voice. On the second day, all ready for school with his back pack on, when his mother and grandmother drove him to the front of the school he exclaimed in a shocked voice, "You aren't going to leave me here, are you?" - Joyce Lomont Crowl of Clear Lake, Indiana A rural Auburn, Indiana, resident called me with a story he remembered from about 50 years ago. He took his young son for a ride in Fairfield Twp. (north of Corunna) where there are quite a few hills. His son, 2 or 3 at the time, asked, "Dad, what's under those hills?" After many days of rain, Rosie, 7, observed on a sunny afternoon, "All the clouds must be in China!" .-"""-. / \ \ / .-"""-.-`.-.-.< _ / _,-\ ()()_/:) \ / , ` `| '-..-| \-.,___, / \ `-.__/ / jgs / `-.__.-\` / /| ___\ ( ( |.-"` `'\ \ \/ {}{} | \| / \ , / ( __`;-;'__`) `//'` `||` _// || .-"-._,(__) .(__).-""-. / \ / \ \ / \ / `'-------` `--------'` Chloe, 4, found a picture of herself and Minnie Mouse at Disney World. That prompted Chloe to ask her dad if they could all go back to visit Minnie Mouse. Her dad said, yes, someday. Chloe went running into the kitchen where Lisa was making dinner and said, "Hey, Mom, we're going to Disney World. Go put your shoes on!" Rosie, 7, was riding in the van with her mother. Her mother was practicing the song "Oh My God You Guys" from "Legally Blonde." When she finished, Rosie informed her mother, "You just broke one of the 10 commandments -you took God's name in vain." - Rosie's Aunt Amy of Butler, Pennsylvania --- ...Good for this little girl! Out of the mouths of babes. :) Chloe, 4, was riding to preschool with Lisa one morning and saw a "No Left Turn" sign (arrow going up and then left with a line through it). Chloe said, "Hey, Mom, did you know that sign means you can't go up, you can only go down?" - Lisa Billingsley of Scaly Mountain, North Carolina Jennifer's friend's little girl, Kate, was eating a grilled cheese sandwich. Kate paused and looked at her mother. "Mama," she said, "this grilled cheese sandwich is SOOOO good … it burns my heart with love!" -Jennifer Decker of Angola, Indiana Josh, 7, asked his grandmother what things were like when she was growing up. "Were George Washington and Abraham Lincoln nice to you?" he asked Gale. "Did they carry your books or pull your pigtails?!" - Gale Spence (grandmother of Josh) of Angola, Indiana _ .-' '-. / \ |,-,-,-,-,| ___ | _)_(_ | (/ \) | _\_/_ /) / \_/ \// |( )\/ ||)_( |/ \ n| | / \ | |_|___| \|/ jgs _/L\_ Nancy and her husband were going kayaking with Nora, 8, and Ethan, 6. Roger commented that it would not work for Nancy to share a kayak with either of the kids this year (they have grown and perhaps Nancy, too). Nancy said, "I know. I'm too fat." Ethan assured Nancy she is NOT fat. When Nancy argued that she was, Ethan said, "You're not fat, Grandma, you're just poofy!" - Nancy Schall of Lake Pleasant, Indiana Joyce recently had a flash back while doing the dishes … as the days are getting shorter, she is beginning to notice tiny white spiders busy building their homes in the house … for the winter? She doesn't really know why there are so many right now but it brought back the memory of her youngest son, Michael, who was about 4 at the time. Joyce overheard him talking to the neighbor girl and telling her about his pets! They had no pets at that time, so Joyce was curious and peeked around the corner. Michael and Michele were down on their knees at the front entrance door, examining the spider webs that had congregated there! Needless to say, Joyce did a thorough cleaning that day!! - Joyce Lomont-Crowl of Clear Lake, Indiana Marti's teenage daughter, Abby, has been enjoying babysitting this summer, but one of her charges clearly doesn't understand the concept. Recently, Janson, 4, asked, "How come every time you come over, we have to pay you?" - Marti Suddarth of Corydon Breann is 7. Her mother goes to school. One day Breann's mother said, "I cannot find my makeup bag." Breann replied, "Mom, you are not going to a fashion show." - Zelma Feltner (grandmother of Breann) of Kendallville _____ __ .-'` `'-. __ / _'-._.-'--, ,--'-._.-'_ \ | / ' .' .--.\ /.--. '. ' \ | || .' .:/____\\ //____\:. '. || \,/. | \o/ | | \o/ | .\,/ ,-`/ :. '.___.| |.___.' .: \`-, ,--`/. '::' / / \ \ '::' .\`--, ,'--'| :. /` / \ `\ .: |'--', ,'`. \ ':.:' /` (`'---'`) `\ ':.:' / `', ,' _ '-..--'| . '. .' . |'--..-' ', `.-` \ .' `:` '. / `-.` `.-'_ . _ \,__.--'--.__,/ __ . _'-.` ' `/.-' ''-) (-'' '-.\` | | jgs | | \ / '.________.' Being election year, Rose's neighbor's yard is sporting a lot of political signs. When her neighbor's grandson, Ronnie, 4, came to visit, he reported, "Grandma, you are growing signs!" - Rose Geiger of South Lyon, Michigan Three-year-old Kaleb momentarily threw Carol a curve when he told her that Jeremy's parents took him to the zoo. (Jeremy is Kaleb's uncle, thus Jeremy's parents are in fact Kaleb's grandparents. Apparently Kaleb had learned the significance of the relationship and was using his new knowledge.) - Carol Young of Albion, Indiana Connor, was visiting his grandparents over the weekend. He will turn 2 on Sept. 2 so his grandfather asked him what he wanted for his birthday. After thinking a minute, he replied "birthday cake." When his grandfather asked him what else he wanted, he replied "ice cream." They will have to put their heads together to come up with a birthday gift for him! - Anne (grandmother of Connor) of Cherry Valley, Illinois Emerson, 5, is finally going to kindergarten after being in pre-kindergarten three years due to a December birthday. While talking about how he would now go to school five days a week he turned around and told his daddy, "I only need three days since I am smarter than the average bear." (He heard this from Mawmaw.) .'\ /`. .'.-.`-'.-.`. ..._: .-. .-. :_... .' '-.(o ) (o ).-' `. : _ _ _`~(_)~`_ _ _ : : /: ' .-=_ _=-. ` ;\ : : :|-.._ ' ` _..-|: : : `:| |`:-:-.-:-:'| |:' : `. `.| | | | | | |.' .' `. `-:_| | |_:-' .' jgs `-._ ```` _.-' ``-------'' Emerson, 5, went to a fast food restaurant with Daddy. When they got to the drive up window they handed Daddy an extra drink. Emerson popped up from the backseat and said, "They screwed up another order." When Daddy asked, "Where did you learn that?" Emerson replied, "Mommy says it every time they screw up." Daddy told him, "Mommy should say they messed up the order." After a couple of seconds Emerson said, "Screwed is the same thing right?" Needless to say Mommy has been talked to by Daddy. - Janet Funk of Prairie Grove, Arkansas Note: You are welcomed to use, copy and share these stories, but please reference http://www.funnykids.com as the source. ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Fran :) _.._ .--'` .-,) .' / , / / /\ ; ; | `.__..__ | | | `''-\ ; \ ` \ '. `. '--.,__ __..-'-. '. ``` `. '. `. `\ _.._ \ `\ _.' '-._ .__ | `\ .'/ .-' `\ | \ .' : .-. | / \ _ / \ /_ | /_..-`"-. ; / '. | . ) .-')_/` \.'` \ | ; \ /_.' .'_.' .-. .-./ .--._/ ; | _ '-'` ` / /o )(o ( ( __ / ; ( ' /// _) |'. `'` `'-; \ ` _ //// ,__ / `, _) '. ' ( `--.__.\ '. `"` / .-' '. ' .-) /-.__.'`-. ( . / \ ' __.' / / \ '---' | `-.'-=\.' / _._\ \ / '===/ /`'._.' _\_ \-.__.-' jgs `| /`-...--''' | \__/`-._ __.-'` `"""""` >Life Is A Journey Life is a journey through many terrain From gardens of pleasure to deserts of pain From an ocean of love to a jungle of hate From mountains of glory to canyons of fate There's a highway for joy and a highway for sorrow A road for today and a road for tomorrow So choose your path wisely and walk with care If you follow your heart, you'll find your way there I've been to the garden and planted seeds there I've been to the desert and felt the despair I've swam in the ocean and drank of it's wine I climbed up the mountain to touch the sky I went to the canyon and started to cry I've traveled both highways, Both today and tomorrow I've basked in the joy and wallowed in sorrow My path has been chosen and I've walked it with care I followed my heart and I'm on my way there So I'll just keep walking till I find what I'm after To mountains and oceans and Gardens of laughter. ~ Author Unknown ~ --- ...Sweet - step by step! Thanks Fran! > 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? 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