Free Hugs! ... :) 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: 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 smoking hot one is from our friend Geniann. This one will either leave you thinking 'no thanks' or if you are like me, you'll be thinking 'What Fun!' Check it and the video out here... .--') __.--"`"--.,,_ .' .-' , , _,,,_ __,..--''' `""-._ / .' \`'-""-' |-" ` , _.'-.,_ `.,_ _.' / | e e , . / ';-...__ `'-,_ `` _.' _..--\ / ) \ __,.-'. \ `) | `"""` __,.--"'` ___\_Y_ /._____,.-' _.'` `> / / / (((_.--'--""`` '--'___,.-' __.-' .---' / .--' .' (((__..--' jgs ((_(_.-'` ((_(.' WaterCar's Panther! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/panther.html --- ...Oh Yeah! I'd love one of these! Thanks Geniann! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: .-.*_, ."". ."". {*(,\}/___ .-"-, | ' | `;)@\*|" `", _.' \ \ / ."". ."". '((/; | .-' | '. .' | ' | *;-.=-=-=._ .;-, | ' \ / __;____..---/' -,\ ; _,__ '. .' .--';`_ __.-'` _/ / ,-..-" "-, ' / `;---'__0 \ .' /,- \. \-. | / (__) \ _.' \_ - - \ _.-,_ { |-'` / 0 __0 7_/ ({\*,;) \,'-`-' /' |/ (__) \ /*(@-'}) ___",_ __ __,;`.--, |/ |` \_,'-;}`.' `'."".,---.._, ) \ \/ /'_.-"/ _`) |`----'`( (= /`-._ .="-,_ __ _,'` / ', \ =";`--'\ '=. /| ()() __`;.____...-'\. | | /` / |\ '. ` | ()@()* /` ' | ,_/.=\ .; | | '. /-' -##@() | .--, `y-'`\ || '--'/| \ \ \`-` ##)@() \ / `) \ '.||_,.--'/ / / ) |/ *`(\A/)() '. | ,-' } || { |.'.| /_.'./ .-.* { >*< }*) `\__/ _..._| |/ { | (\A/) @(/V\)()@() /`--....--` . `} /{ \___{ >*< }()()##()()*{ { ; } { \ / ###(/V\)()@()(####\) { , } | `--.. ,' #########()()##### \ _,' { / <><><><><><><><><> `,_ ,--'{ \ | | } { } ; \ / jgs / } { \ | / ,-` } `-._ _.-'` { `-. .' _,-``, `\ .' } .`\ \(_(_.' `-.__)_)/ `.-' _.-'`'-._ \' `"""` `""""` >FREE HUGS by Michael T. Smith "Do you want a hug?" the young man asked Ginny. He held a sign in his hand -- Free Hugs. I looked around. There were other people with him. They held their handmade signs high. The message was the same on all of them -- Free Hugs! "Sure!" Ginny smiled and walked up to him. She reached up, wrapped her arms around his neck, pulled him down to her level, and hugged him with all the love she had in her heart. "WOW!" he exclaimed. "That was the best hug I've had all day!" "I'm a hugger," Ginny smiled at him. He looked at me. "How about a hug?" "You got it!" I walked into his open arms. We held briefly and parted. A young lady walked up and hugged Ginny. She turned to me, opened her arms, and hugged me too. Ginny and I stepped back and watched the "free huggers" work their magic with those who accepted them. They offered hugs to anyone and everyone. * * * * Juan Mann returned to Sydney, Australia in 2004, after living in Europe for several years. He was depressed over his parent's divorce. Most of his friends had moved on. It was just him. He sat for months. Alone and depressed, Juan decided to make a difference and reach out. He made a sign that read, Free Hugs, and stood at the Pitt Street Mall -- one of the busiest streets in the center of Sydney. He put his arms anyone who accepted his offer. At first, he left his wallet at home, had a friend watch over him, and expected to be ridiculed. After fifteen minutes, a woman approached him. "My dog died today," she said. "It's also the first anniversary of my only daughter's death. I could use a hug." Juan was quoted as saying, "That first woman, it was more than a hug. It meant something to her." Others joined Mann. They opened their arms to others. His message spread across the city. Afraid of lawsuits, officials banned the free hug movement. But the people protested and more than 10,000 people signed a petition to allow him to continue his mission. Shimon Moore, the lead singer of The Sick Puppies happened to see Juan. They hugged and became friends. Moore borrowed a video camera and filmed Juan giving hugs. When Mann's grandmother died, Moore put the video together with his band's song called, All The Same, and posted the video on YouTube with the following caption: "Sometimes, a hug is all we need. Free hugs is a real life controversial story of Juan Mann, a man whose sole purpose mission was to reach out and hug a stranger, to brighten up their lives." The video was a hit. It spread around the world. Juan has appeared on Oprah and several other major television shows. His idea continues to gain support and grow. After his first day on Pitt Street, Juan wondered if others were doing the same. He found Amma, The Hugging Saint of India. Jason Hunter in Atlanta, Georgia, and Jayson Littman in New York. Jayson started his hugging campaign the same year as Juan. They both felt a need to reach out to humanity. A financial analyst in Manhattan, Jayson believed New Yorkers could use a hug. From 2004 to 2006, he spent one weekend afternoon a month holding his Free Hugs sign in his hands and opened his arms to anyone who needed human comfort. Since then, Jayson's mission has been taken over by others who believe -- hugs for all. On the last Saturday afternoon of the month, you'll find them gathered in Union Square in Lower Manhattan. They hold their signs high and offer their open arms to all who need a human touch. * * * * The huggers worked the crowd. Most people ignored them or shook their heads to indicate they were not interested. Those who opened their arms in return, walked away with a smile on their face. I felt a warmth -- a glow -- fill my heart. Ginny and I were going through rough times. Money was scarce, bill collectors called on a regular basis. We were stressed and worried, but on that afternoon, for a brief moment, it was all forgotten. It took a simple hug to make everything better. -- Michael T. Smith ____________________________________________ Michael lives in Fort Lee New Jersey with his wonderful wife Ginny. He works as a project manager in the telecommunications industry during the day. In his spare time, Michael writes stories for a collection to be called, From My Heart to Yours. You can sign up to get Michael's stories by clicking here: http://visitor.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?m=1101828445578&p=oi ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend LouiseA :) >What Matters In Life: [edited] A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items on the table in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, about 2 inches in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up the remaining open areas of the jar. He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “Yes.” “Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things – God, Jesus Christ, your family, your partner, your health, your children – things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter – like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else, the small stuff.” “If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Worship, Play with your children. Take your partner out on a date. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party, or fix the disposal.” “Take care of the rocks first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.” --- ...A wonderful Classic! Thanks LouiseA! ===================================================== >-->From Our Friend Jacinto :) __ _ / \_/ ) \ ` `\ ; a `-. | ) \ _..' /` <._._ / .'';_;'` \ Thank You God! .' : _/ / '. __..-` / | | \/\ \._ \ \ | ``--J \ | / \ | jgs \__.'-._____.' I thought my dreams were impossible But God said, “All things are possible.” I was lost and confused. I thought l’d never find a solution, God said, “ I will direct your steps” I almost gave up. I thought I couldn’t do it, But God said, “ You can do all things.” I almost quit. I thought my efforts weren’t worth The trouble, but God said, “It will be worth it.” I thought I’d never make it. I thought I didn’t have what it takes, But God said, “ I’ll supply all your needs.” I was worried. I felt trapped beneath a mountain Of despair, but God said, “Cast your worries on me.” I thought I couldn’t do it, because I wasn’t smart enough, God said, “I give you wisdom” --- ...Awww, isn't God Good! Thanks Jass! ============================================================= >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: , __ \/ __ /\^/`\ /o \{}/ o\ If I had a flower for each time | \/ | \ () / I thought of you, my garden | | | `> /\ <` ,,, would be full... \ \ / @@@@ (o/\/\o) {{{}} _ _ '\\//' @@()@@ _ ) ( ~Y~ @@@@ _{ ' }_ || @@@@ _(_)_ wWWWw .oOOo. @@()@@ { `.!.` } || ,/ (_)@(_) (___) OO()OO @@@@ _ ',_/Y\_,' || ,\ | /) (_)\ Y 'OOOO',,,(\|/ _(_)_ {_,_} |\ || |\\|// vVVVv`|/@@@@ _ \/{{}}}\| (_)@(_) | ,,, | | || | |;,,,(___) |@@()@@ _(_)_| ~Y~ wWWWw(_)\ (\| {{{}} | | || / / {{}}} Y \| @@@@ (_)#(_) \| (___) | \| /~Y~ \ \||/ /\\|~Y~ \|/ | \ \/ /(_) |/ |/ Y \|/ |//\|/ jgs\ `\\//`,.\|/|//.|/\\|/\\|,\|/ //\|/\|.\\\| // \|\\ |/,\|/ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >REACH FOR THE LIGHT by Jaye Lewis She could grow anything from seed. She could take tiny seeds with her fingertips, place them into the soil, and coax them to grow. She would carefully water the soil and whisper, "You're going to love the sunshine. You're going to feel the rain. And you are really going to adore the rainbow!" I watched this mysterious woman and marveled at the love she gave to each tiny seed. It was as though the love that she had longed for, and never experienced, poured out of her heart, and into the seed and soil. As if in a strange intimacy, she pulled grace and beauty from the depths, and the little plants would burst forth, reaching for light and air. There was some sort of hushed beauty within her. A secret longing that no one had ever seen nor touched. It was as if she were too shy or too scared to awaken, perhaps knowing that once set free, she would become out of control. I caught a glimpse of that passion when her anger became unleashed, and it could be dangerous to be the one within her grasp. Yet, she was always gentle with growing things. She was a mystery to me -- this repressed, passionate, secret woman, who gave up on life early within my childhood. She seldom bought a living plant. She combed garden catalogs looking for seeds. She mixed her own soil and she started those seeds in any container available. To my mother, anything that had a bottom and an open top was a container. She started seeding in empty egg cartons, milk cartons, and even eggshells. She especially loved to start tomatoes in the eggshells of geese. She'd make a tiny drainage hole with a needle, start the seed in her homemade soil, and when it came time to transplant into the garden, she would gently crush the shell, right before she placed the plant into it's permanent home. "Eggshells sweeten the soil," she would say. Where she found the African Violet seeds, I'll never know. I watched her mix just the right amount of soil ingredients, placing the invisible seed at just the right depth. Then she watered with care and watched it grow. It seemed to me that, overnight, the tiny plants would appear, strong and affirming, to lighten up her life. I loved to watch my mother's face, as those first tiny seedlings raised their heads to smile at her. I suppose that my mother felt safest with her plants. Plants never told her she was worthless. Plants asked for little, and they gave back so much. Plants never came home drunk, like my father did. And they were never disobedient, as I was. My mother would often tell me her secrets for making things grow. I can still hear her voice as she shared her magical recipe for compost or discussed the benefits of one manure over another. I never told her just how beautiful she was at those moments, with her face alight with understanding and knowledge. My mother was a botanist, without a degree. She was a horticulturist, without a following. She cared for growing things with great tenderness, and in spite of the sorrow in her life, I still remember my mother's smile, as some new thing sprang forth before her eyes. I remember her warm, throaty laugh, when she discovered that first robin's nest in spring. I'd stand, spellbound with her, as she counted the eggs that tried so inadequately to imitate the blue in my mother's eyes. She told me stories filled with longing and pathos. I would laugh and cry with her as she spun the threads of her lost dreams, never daring to hope for a future. She was brilliant, and she never knew it. She was a beauty overcome by regret and broken promises. She dreamed impossible dreams that were never uttered, and even less fulfilled. Every once in awhile, that beautiful, passionate woman would peek out through my mother's volatile journey through life -- usually when she was coaxing plants to come out of the dark and encouraging them to reach for the light. -- Jaye Lewis -<>- .--._ / o,-` .-/.--; .'.`/ | |/.' / .'/___.-' .' / \\\_ jgs '-'|/ -'='== >The Wren Still Sings by Pamela R. Blaine It was one of those rainy and dreary spring days. Although it wasn't extremely cold, it seemed that the wind caused a chill to come over me. It was the kind of weather that after a few days of it, my mood began to match the gloomy climate. I had finished my chores and was hurrying as fast as I could to get back into the warm house and out of the continuous drizzle when I heard something. I ran on inside the back door to get out of the rain but I turned and peeked back out the screen door. I wanted to see if I could discover the origin of the lovely sound that I was hearing. As I listened, I heard the sound again. I looked over toward the lilac bush and there sat a little wren that had made her nest in the tomato juice can that Mom had hung in the bushes years ago. The wind was causing her house to sway and the rain was coming down harder than ever. Yet, she seemed to look upward as she held on tightly with her tiny bird feet to a small branch and continued her sweet musical solo. Although her world was shaken, the wren still sang. Perhaps we could take a lesson from the birds and learn to make our nests, feed our young, and sing to God. The birds don't ask for better nests or even better material for nests. They don't complain about their lot in life, but they take what God has given them and then they do their best to create something beautiful with it. I have always enjoyed watching birds. I delight in the brilliant red of the cardinal, the beauty of the bluebird, and the unique touch of red on the red winged blackbird. The birds each have a special song of their own to sing. Some have a very brief series of chirps while others have a whole chorus to perform. The Whippoorwill seems to sing her name while the quail simply calls his "bob white". I have a tiny hummingbird's nest that is a work of art. It is so small and beautifully made that I wonder at the perfection of this wee bird's creation. It is completely round and about the size of silver dollar. The outside is foundational with the rougher pieces of sticks and materials at the bottom of the nest. Gradually, the materials become softer until the finishing touch on the very top of the inside of the nest is covered with a soft layer of hair and fur. The birds around us are all different yet they don't seem unhappy with their plumages nor do they try to look like other birds. The sparrow doesn't rush right out to get his feathers dyed red to look like the cardinal nor does the robin try to peck away on a tree like the woodpecker. The birds seem to be very content as they sing, fly, and work at their job of being a bird. It doesn't seem to me that birds have much trouble with being happy. It must be because they trust their heavenly Father. They don't worry about life. they just live it. The birds neither sow nor reap yet God feeds and takes care of them and we are told that we are of so much greater value than the birds. The wind, rain, and the storms of life happen to people as well as to birds, but let's try to look up when our world is shaken too, and remember that the wren still sings! "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens; They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!" (Luke 12:24) By Pamela R. Blaine, © April 2004 -<>- __ _,, /\\\ sSSSs \_ ( s\_SS (\/`"`\.__/`"`\/) \/|_(\/'-')=(\/ /,| |__\ /\ //||__ ||\\//` \\'--.) \\`` jgs (/ (/ >THE GREAT WEDDING OF '46 by John A. Bruman I'm pretty sure it was early summer in 1946. Tommy was the son of the pastor of our family church. He and I were both 5 years old, and we often played together over at the parsonage while our mothers looked after materials for Vacation Bible School or other church business. In a rare moment of just talking, Tommy began telling me about his latest adventure as a preacher's son a few days earlier. He tried to describe how he had been a "ring bear" in a wedding his father performed. "What's a ring bear?" was my natural question. At that age, I had heard about bears in general, as well as polar bears and grizzly bears. This was a new one. "Don't you know anything? It's a bear that gives the groom a ring so he can marry a girl!" he explained with all the patronizing impatience his young age could muster. "What's a groom?" I asked. This must have convinced him I was without doubt a hopeless imbecile. "Here, I'll show you." Tommy suddenly shifted into his familiar take charge directorial mode and proceeded to stage his latest production... "First you have to stand here in front of me with a girl." He called for his little sister to come join us and made her stand next to me. She was decked out for the occasion in what I later learned were training panties, bare feet, a bib, and a half-empty glass baby bottle in one corner of her mouth, supported by her left hand. "Suzy, you stand here next to John... and stand still!" He hastily draped a dish towel from his mother's clothesline over her head as a make-shift veil, and ran inside quickly for a Bible. Not knowing what was about to transpire, Suzy and I dutifully held our positions until Tommy returned with a Bible. "My dog Snappy can be the ring bear," he instructed. While retrieving a Bible from the house, he had also collected a ring of some sort (probably from his mother's dresser), tied a piece of ribbon around it and hung it around Snappy's neck. Thankfully, the ribbon was just enough of a nuisance that Snappy didn't try to eat the ring. Although annoyed by the presence of the ribbon, Snappy obediently sat down next to Suzy, and awaited Tommy's next command. "Now I have to read a bunch of stuff out of the Bible," Tommy explained. He mumbled several disjointed but familiar words about love, God, and faith, then reached down and gathered the ring from around Snappy's neck. He then handed the ring to me, and said, "Now you put the ring on Suzy." I tried. The ring was many sizes too big, so I decided to drape the ribbon loop around her neck, as I had seen Tommy do with the dog. Suzy momentarily removed the bottle from her mouth long enough for me to get the loop over her head. Tommy then reopened his Bible, intoning in his best 5 year-old make believe baritone voice, "Holy, holy, holy, faith, God and stuff." With the formality and sense of ritual that would easily suffice for dubbing a knight, Tommy raised his right hand over our heads, and proclaimed, "I now make you married! Now you gotta' kiss Suzy" he decreed. "I don't wanna," I said. "That's just too bad, you are married, and that's what you gotta' do!" "I don' wanna' eeder!" Suzy complained. Out of total frustration with this suddenly recalcitrant couple, Tommy put one hand on his hip, shook his finger at Suzy and I and scolded, "Now see here, it says in the Bible you two gotta' kiss or it's a sin, and that's all there is to it!" Tommy and I were about even in intellectual development at that age, but his father was our Pastor. Tommy's father and mother were held in such esteem by my parents, I viewed Tommy and Suzy in a kind of mystic awe. Because they were the offspring of our Pastor, they undoubtedly had a direct communication channel to the Almighty himself. Certainly more direct than any of us mere mortals! Therefore, this sudden scolding from Tommy had all the force and power of a threat of fire and brimstone damnation to anyone who dared disobey. After all, he had read out of the Bible hadn't he? Certainly these were the solemn pronouncements of God himself! Tommy's rather vociferous outburst resounded all the way into the house, stirring the curiosity of the two mothers inside. They both came around the corner of the house just in time to see Suzy dutifully look up at me and pucker her milk coated lips, while I steadied her with a hand on her shoulder, and obediently kissed her full on the mouth. To this day, the smell and taste of warm, stale milk has held a certain sense of fear and foreboding. Many years later, I couldn't escape its vague recollection whenever I kissed one of my own children's milk-tinged lips. Then and there, the deed was done. Suzy and I were married! Officiated by Tommy, accompanied by Snappy the dog as our ring bear, and witnessed by two surprised, mothers-in-law with tears (of barely controllable mirth) glistening their eyes. Tommy's mother made a valiant attempt at scolding Tommy for using her ring and dish towel, and mumbled something about weddings being very sacred and not suitable for childish make believe. Meanwhile, my mother beat a hasty retreat into the house lest an uncontrollable outburst of laughter ruin her friend's lecture. Tommy, Suzy and I now are all enjoying senior citizen discounts at restaurants and hotels. Snappy the ring bear is long gone. I can imagine his eventual funeral was more than ably officiated by "Reverend" Tommy. I've been told Tommy is retired someplace in the Napa Valley region, from a career in TV news reporting. I often wonder if my "first wife" ever remembers me, and the great wedding of '46. -- John A. Bruman -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Breeze And Buttons! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/breezeandbuttons.html Best Buddies! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bestbuds.html Me And My Pony! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/mypony.html We Three Friends! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/threefriends.html Road Train Trucks! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/roadtrain.html Mother Horse's Love! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/motherslove2.html Light Bulb Illusion Art! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lightbulbart.html Amazing Horse Trainer! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/horsetrainer.html Molly The Speckled Pony! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/molly.html Kennel Club Dog Contest! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/kennelclubdog.html -<>- >From Our Friend PatDeE :) Well mannered dog! .. For all ages !!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub1Dc3NHZ3s ...very well mannered. --- ...HaHa! Thanks PatDeE! -<>- >From Our Friend Bunni :) Such a nice one. I thought you might enjoy it http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_rR_Rdb1CTE --- ...Beautiful! Thanks Bunni! -<>- >From our Friend Linda :) Wonderful video! Wouldn't this be fun to do... hmmm, or maybe not! http://tinyurl.com/98co2g2 --- ...TeeHee! Yeppers. Looks fun! Thanks Linda! -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseA :) Sergii Popov & Mykola Shcherbak are up and coming Russian acrobats now becoming popular around the world and known for their incredible strength. This is them appearing in the 37th Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demaine. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0pIYVw6uFbU These '80s stars look a lot sillier without any background music. Do you recognize this classic music video? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_li_d_YviZ4&feature=player_embedded Music video by Celtic Woman performing 'Amazing Grace.' These girls are magnificent singers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HsCp5LG_zNE --- ...Lovely! Thanks LouiseA! 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 CupO'Cheer: _..._ .~ `~. / } \ _.'`~~/ {_,} -( ,'-,___.' .-. / |_ /| __| |__ / ` |_/ [__ __] / \ / | | / '--;_ | | _\ `\ | | / |`-.___. / | | ^^^jgs^^^`--`------'`--`^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >ONE MINUTE FOR A LIFETIME Every man can tell you how many goats or sheep he possesses, but not how many friends. ~ Marcus Tullius Cicero (106BC - 3BC) Roman statesman When was the last time you took a friend to a movie, that for an instant relieved them of burdens they carried? When was the last time you made them see another side, and they realized that things weren't so bad after all? When was the last time you inspired them to do better and to feel better? When was the last time you told a joke that made your friends eyes water from the laughter? When was the last time you did one of those things for a friend? It is a difficult job. It's hard enough to do those things for ourselves and those under our own roof, harder still for friends. It's even more difficult to do these things each day. Suppose you could do that... Each day... For a friend? Would you? "With all that I have to do, how can I do that every day for friends?" you ask. We are all so busy. There is so much to do and so little time and money. We are harried, hurried, worried, and buried. We are often buried with the stuff of life and survival. How many of your friends do you know that need the daily boost? as seen in Inspiration Plus -<>- >FREE REFILLS By Dawn Scott Jones There probably isn't a mother alive who doesn't love McDonald's. Not for the cuisine, mind you, but for the convenience. Due to today's busy lifestyles, many moms frequently take advantage of this fast-food phenomenon. At one time I was among the millions who do, and I have to admit, my kids loved it, too. It was amazing how my tots could spot those golden arches from their backseat vantage point! They would squeal with delight at the prospect of "driving through." The real thrill came, however, when we actually pulled in, parked and went inside. Here, I could catch a quick but pleasant lunch with a girlfriend while the kids romped happily in the play area. It was great to be able to enjoy an adult conversation with another battle-weary mom who had spit-up on her collar. But the REAL attraction for the moms was free refills. We could sip on soft drinks for a couple of hours without running dry. For one brief interlude in our hectic day, we could fill and refill our cups as often as we liked. Who would ever have guessed that McDonald's could be such an oasis? Though I actually am NOT a big proponent of today's fast food, I AM in favor of finding an oasis, a secret place where one can be refreshed. With our lives moving at such an incredibly fast pace, we are left with precious little time to do the things that replenish us spiritually, emotionally and physically. The endless juggling of appointments, family obligations, meetings and schedules can completely drain us, leaving us feeling stressed out and anxious. Recently I was made aware of a staggering statistic: More than 70 percent of all doctor visits are stress-related. And a large percentage of those who suffer from stress-related issues are women. We must be careful not to become the next victims! We must find a time and a place to get refilled. Because I have met so many women who feel overwhelmed at the multitude of "hats" they wear, I am especially sensitive to their plight. They are wives, mothers, schoolteachers, financial advisors, chefs, and chauffeurs -- all in their spare time. Most of them also work full time outside their homes. Jesus gave a mouth-watering invitation to one woman who was so stressed out she found herself off-schedule by at least 3 hours. Though most women came to draw water from the well in the cool of the morning, this frazzled woman didn't show up until noon. In any event, Jesus gave her an appetizing offer of refreshing cool water when He said, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who I am, you would ask Me, and I would give you living water. People soon become thirsty again after drinking this [natural] water. But the water I give them takes away thirst altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life" (John 4:10, 13-14, NLT). Jesus was extending free refills of strength and power to any weary person who would ask. It is clear that He does not intend for us to carry a heavy load of concern and busyness. His words of invitation still ring out to us today as He says, "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28). It is in finding quiet times of escape that we can be renewed and refreshed. We must unplug from our electrically charged schedules to be replenished and to rest. Even our mighty God rested after creating the universe (see Gen. 2:2), and His son Jesus withdrew to quiet places just to hear the voice of His Father. Intentional solitude is crucial. I believe the Lord wants to draw us into a secret place of refuge where He can speak into our dry and thirsty souls. He gives us free refills whenever we take the time, separate ourselves and call on Him. Whenever I get alone with Him, I find my life is put in order. Somehow the clamor and demands are silenced. In the stillness, He is there. I encourage you to make the time to slip away. After all, "You deserve a break"—not only today, but every day! as seen in Inspiration Plus -<>- __ _,--="=--,_ __ / \." .-. "./ \ / ,/ _ : : _ \/` \ \ `| /o\ :_: /o\ |\__/ `-'| :="~` _ `~"=: | \` (_) `/ jgs .-"-. \ | / .-"-. ----{ }--| ; /,.-'-.,\ |--{ }---- (_)_)_) \_/`~-===-~`\_/ (_(_(_) >ONLY A DOG Do you remember thinking it was time that the kids learned some responsibility and scanning the newspaper ads for a cheap dog for sale? Do you remember bringing home this little ball of shivering fur and putting her out in the yard on a chain that was too heavy on a night that was too cold? Of course you don't remember this. After all, she is "only a dog." Do you remember this baby crying because she was afraid and alone? Do you remember screaming at her to be quiet and finally going out there to hit her to drive home the lesson? Of course you don't remember this. After all, she is "only a dog." Do you remember the many times you noticed her water bowl was empty and her food bowl was covered with mold and thinking that it was the kids' job to take care of her? Do you remember seeing that her coat was dull and lifeless and, in many places, chewed away down to the skin because of the parasites no one took the time to rid her of? Of course you don't remember this. After all, she is "only a dog". Do you remember her first heat and the neighbor's male visiting her night after night? Do you remember thinking that letting her have the puppies would be a good experience for the kids? Do you remember that every one of those pups died because their mother was no more than a puppy herself? Of course you don't remember this. After all, she is "only a dog". I know you remember the animal control officer coming to the house, accusing you of animal cruelty and taking her away because you couldn't understand what all the fuss was about. After all, she is "only a dog." I thought you might be interested in how this girl is doing today. You see, once she found a home that gave her love, attention and proper care, she blossomed into a beautiful, loyal companion. To these people, she is much more than "only a dog." She became a therapy dog and now goes to nursing homes and hospices where she brightens the lives of the infirm and dying. To some of these people, she has given hope. To others, she's given them a reason to keep living. To even others, she's given them the will to die peacefully, with a smile on their lips. To these people she is much more than "only a dog." Just last week, she helped find a little boy that was lost in the woods. She spent a long, cold winter's night, lying over him to keep him warm and risked her own life to protect his. To this little boy and his family, she is much more than "only a dog." What is the difference? Why did that filthy, flea-ridden animal chained in your backyard suddenly become so important to so many? Because she never gave up her trust in people and she never once thought, "After all, he is only a human." author unknown as seen in Inspiration Plus -<>- >JUDGE GENTLY,JUDGE GENTLY Pray, don't find fault with the man that limps Or stumbles along the road. Unless you have worn the shoes he wears Or struggled beneath his load. There may be tacks in his shoes that hurt Though hidden away from view. Or the burden he bears placed on your back Might cause you to stumble too. Don't sneer at the man who's down today Unless you have felt the blow That caused his fall or felt the shame That only the fallen know. You may be strong but still the blows That was his if dealt to you In the selfsame way, at the selfsame time Might cause you to stagger too. Don't be too harsh with the man that sins Or pelt him with word or stone Unless you are sure - yea, doubly sure - That you have no sins of your own. For you know, perhaps, If the tempter's voice should whisper as soft to you As it did to him when he went astray It might cause you to falter too. -- Author Unknown as seen in Inspiration Plus -<>- _ ____ __ / \ .' '. ____......------""""""""````` `\ | `::-/'-....-'\--""``` | | :: | | | | ,:'-\.-''''-./--..___ / jgs \_/ '.____.' ````````````"""""""------------' >A BALLPARK PROMISE By Steve Kelley, Walnut Creek, California As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I would have given anything to take them back. I looked at that youngster beside me in the car, pixie face eager beneath her baseball cap. Knowing just how much 10-year-old Erin missed her dad, wanting to do something special for her, I'd invited her to go with me that afternoon to watch the Giants play the Chicago Cubs at Candlestick Park. I'd never seen a kid so excited. We'd been driving across the Bay Bridge when she suddenly piped up, "Maybe we'll catch a foul ball!" And like an idiot I'd said, "Well, honey, now that your dad's in heaven, maybe he'll mention that to God for you." Just a throw-away remark, but I saw that she took it seriously and I wanted to bite my tongue off. A child's faith is tested enough when a parent dies without some dolt planting pipe dreams. "You mean," Erin asked in an awestruck voice, "you can talk to God even about baseball?" I switched subjects fast, talked about some of the great times our two families had had together. We were like one family, really, next-door neighbors for 11 years, each couple with three kids the same ages, Craig and I close as brothers in spite of being so different. It was our differences, in fact, that made the relationship so great. Craig could repair anything—electrical circuits, clogged plumbing. When my kids had a bike wheel come off, they wouldn't waste time with me, they'd go straight to him. As for me, sports were my thing, especially baseball. I'd gone to college on a baseball scholarship, been drafted by the California Angels to a minor-league contract right out of school. After four years I was aspiring to a spot in the major leagues when I damaged my rotator cuff. That ended my professional career, but not my love of the game. We made a deal, Craig and I: Things that needed fixing, he'd do, coaching the kids was my job. All six of them were great little athletes, but Erin was something else. Lots of speed, a pitcher's concentration and a throwing arm every guy in her Little League division envied (she played on a boys' team). It made a special bond between the two of us, all the more important in the six months since her dad's death from Hodgkin's lymphoma. I'd never forget his final words to me in the hospital room a few hours before the end. "Keep a watch over my kids, Steve." As if he had to ask! As we pulled into the parking lot at Candlestick, Erin chattered away, my thoughtless remark hopefully forgotten. Soon we were settled into our seats halfway between home plate and third base, Cracker Jack boxes in hand. The pitcher warmed up, and we prepared for our private contest. When I first started taking kids to ball games I'd invented a way to pass the slow moments between pitches. Each of us would call out a guess as to what would happen. "High pop-up to right field!" Or, "Line drive to center!" Ninety-nine percent of the guesses were wrong, of course, but when someone did predict correctly, he or she got a point toward an extra hot dog or a souvenir program. Erin was calling, "Swing and a miss on a curve ball!" unfazed by a score of zero. It was a wonderful afternoon, a close game with some spectacular plays. Like the baseball fanatics we were, we'd both brought our mitts, though Erin—to my vast relief—hadn't spoken again about a foul ball coming our way, the notion apparently forgotten as quickly as it came. It was in the bottom of the ninth, game nearly over with two outs and the batter up, that she stood up suddenly and sang out, "High foul ball right to us!" I laughed at the certainty with which she could still make these pronouncements. There was a crack as the batter connected with the ball, sending it high over the third-base line. A second later the laughter died in my throat as I watched the trajectory of that ball, saw it spin, curve to the left, and begin a slow downward arc right toward us. All around us people were on their feet, arms raised, grabbing for it. I'm a tall guy, six-foot-five. I leaned forward and stretched my hand up. The ball slapped into the fingertips of my mitt. Erin was jumping, laughing, crying, brushing away tears with her own mitt. I started crying too, the two of us shouting, hugging each other, staring at that miraculous ball. Erin looked at the ball, that is. I was seeing something more wondrous still. I was watching a child's first encounter with the God we can talk to even about baseball. as seen in Inspiration Plus -<>- To SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cheer316@sc.rr.com. ========================================================= .---. /==()=\ #_ _# ( e` `e ) | U | \ = / |\___/| ___/: :\___ /` < `\ /` > `\ / `\ |_| /` \ ; [MD] \| |/ |I! ; jgs | | | |"""| | | | \ / \___/ | | | Y | | >The Amazing Doctor Story Editor: by A. Dawn McConkey Pat Fletcher Ohio, USA The day our son was born turned out to be quite a nightmare. We had no idea that he had a serious heart defect and a plethora of other problems. The medical staff also wasn't prepared. There were no specialists on hand, so no one was ready when the little guy turned blue and stopped crying. Later, a man I'd never seen before entered my room with my husband in tow. Standing at the foot of my bed, Dr. Sushant explained that Children's Hospital had sent a mobile ICU to transport Jacob to a better-equipped hospital. He explained dreadful things about my child, speaking softly but in a positive and upbeat manner with a smile on his lips. From some doctors, this behavior may have seemed condescending at such a dark hour, but from Dr. Sushant, his sincere faith that my little boy would be fine was highly contagious. When he said something, I just believed it. I developed a staph infection the next day and was further devastated because I was unable to be released to join my son. Dr. Sushant was by my side when I woke up. His face was worried, but he still had that smile. He said, "We almost lost you, now you get better because Jacob needs you." I later learned that Dr. Sushant had been the hospital's on-call pediatrician when Jacob was born. It was because of him that my son survived. Then he spent the day at the hospital out of concern for a mother who was being separated from her very sick infant. He visited me twice a day because he was calling Jacob's hospital up to four times a day, and he wanted to come and tell me in person what the doctors were telling him. He drew pictures of Jacob's heart to explain what was going on and how it would be corrected. The nurses said he loved our family and he didn't want me to be scared. These days, it's rare to find a doctor who remembers a face from one visit to the next. For months Dr. Sushant saw Jacob every two weeks. He kept in constant contact with Jacob's other doctors. He came to Jacob's parties, even showing off Jacob to his sweet wife. His billing office was instructed to write off any amount that wasn't paid by insurance. He once went so far as to offer to put us up in his home when we were worried about losing our home to medical bills. He was laughing at the time, but I don't think he was kidding. Dr. Sushant is a wonderful person, one whose every move is fueled by love. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Kidwarmers: _ _ ((`'-"``""-'`)) ) - - ( / (o _ o) \ \ ( 0 ) / _'-.._'='_..-'_ /`;#'#'#.-.#'#'#;`\ \_)) '#' ((_/ #. .# '#. .#' jgs / '#. .#' \ _\ \'#. .#'/ /_ (((___) '#' (___))) >THE FUNNY THINGS KIDS SAY A number of years ago when Sylvia's children were little they took them and a little friend of theirs to the circus. After the circus was over, they bought them helium balloons and Sylvia tied them to their wrists. When they returned home and the little boy's parents came to pick him up, they went to the barn to talk about a new horse they had purchased. All of a sudden the adults heard an outlandish scream. They rushed outside. The little boy was pointing to the sky. He wailed, "Mommy, my balloon fell UP!" (He had decided he did not want it tied to his wrist any more.) -- Sylvia Bailey of Princeton BC, Canada Chris noticed that the kids were using the word "butt" way too much and the children were told not to use the word any more. A few days later, Amber, 4, noticed a lot of cigarette butts all over the ground. She looked up at Chris and said, "Chris, look at all those cigarette heinies!" -- Chris Garrin of Cornelia, Georgia Megan, 3, was outside while her father was working in the yard. She was barefoot and the ground was hot on the driveway. She told her daddy, "My feet have a headache!" -- Mary True (mother of Megan) of Fort Wayne, Indiana ,===,._ | `", | / ,-..-"-.=-,,_/ /,- \.""-`\ )_ \_ - '--' \ / 0 __0 7_/ |/ _ (__) \ /`| |/(@) |` _.-"\-; '. \ # \/ /'_.-" \ \ `)\ .="#,_ __ _,'` ;-'-.`) __`;.#/|/ \/ \. | /` # | () |\ _.-"`` | .--# |'--' `-`\|-'` \ / `)\ `./ \| '. | .-#\ \ \ \ `\__/# \ |_ /`-. /| / # \|`-` . ` } / .#-, | ; ,} / / # `' , .} / /`\ # _,-' //` `#_ ,--'{ (( _,;` { } jgs `""` / } { ,-'` } `-._ .' _,-``, `\ (_(_(_.' `-.__)_)/ Rebekah, 7, threw a little tantrum. They were reading scriptures as a family and Rebekah kept fiddling with things and being disruptive. After several attempts to get her to sit still her mother said, "Bekah, please just stop touching things and sit still!" Rebekah flopped down on the bed, sulking for a few seconds. Then she suddenly spun around and yelled, "How do you expect me to stop touching things when there are millions of cells and atoms around me that I can't help touching! Mom, I'm made up of atoms!" -- Tiffani Schreiner (mother of Rebekah) of Bloomington, Minnesota Rosie's sister, MacKenzie, 7, had a recent stay in the hospital. She is telling everyone that her "applectomy" from having her pancreas removed, is getting better. (She had appendicitis.) -- Aunt Amy of Butler, Pennsylvania Three-year-old Rosie was visiting her Nanny and Poppy. Her cousin, Trevor, 4, came to play with her. At one point, they both needed to use the potty. While Trevor used the big boy potty, Rosie was using her potty chair (in the same room, under supervision. Rosie said to Trevor, "Oh, you have one of those too, just like my brother Stetson." __ / \ /'. / | ||'.\| | || \\ / /\ __ \\ \\'```'-._ ; | /\ \ \'./` __ `D | _/ /\_| \ .__|' ` -.| | ,' \ \ .| - - | \____,..-` \ _Y_ __/ / / `---'"""` `\ \| . __.._/ | '-.__.-""``.-./ |\ | ( _.'` |\ || .-| `` || || | ; || // jgs '-'\ //` `"""""""""`"""""` Mary saw her grandson, Elric, 3, scratching his head. "If your head is itching you had better get your hair washed when you take your bath," Mary said. He answered, "No, I could just scratch it!" -- Mary Breeding of Tucson, Arizona Isaiah , 3, was in bed with his parents. His daddy was using him as a pillow. "Daddy, get off of me; I'm not a pillow; I'm a person," he said. His father asked, "Well, what's your name, Person?" Irma said, "Tell him 'My name is' and then tell him what it is." So Isaiah said, "My name is what it is!" -- Irma Cisneros (mother of Isaiah) of Phoenix, Arizona Zach, 4, called his grandfather one night after watching an I.U. basketball game. Zach said, "Papaw, I.U. won on my TV. Did they win on yours?" -- Iris Cash (grandmother of Zach) of Berne, Indiana One day Iris was talking to her daughter on the phone. Her granddaughter Brittany kept asking her mother to go outside. Her mother replied that she would go outside as soon as she was done talking with Iris. Brittany grew impatient and said to her mother, "My tummy is growling to go outside!" One very cold morning Dad checked the thermometer. "What does it say?" asked Nathan, 5. Dad replied, "It says it's zero, Nathan." Nathan then asked, "Does that mean it's nothing outside?" -- Nathan S. of Monroe, Indiana .-. _,,,,,_ .-. ( , ' : : ' , ) / : : \ ; 0.---.0 ; \ / _ \ / \ | (_) | / ." `\ -'- /` ". / `"""""` \ / .' .-== '. \ / / .-=='\ \ ( / \ ) '-;`. .';-' jgs /_ `-.______ .-` __\ /` `\ / `\ / `\ \ | / \ | / `'--'` `'--'` Jean's daughter-in-law said they have a new rule at their house: No food beyond a certain point. Kaylea Dawn, 5, saw her mother go beyond that point and asked, "Shouldn't you and Daddy obey that rule, too?" -- Jean Felfe of Spicewood, Texas The other weekend when Jean's granddaughters were visiting, they were getting disagreeable with each other. Jean decided to work on a craft with them, but they missed their Pawpaw and were asking where he was. "Maybe he left because you were arguing," Jean said. Kaylea, 5, piped up, "He wouldn't run off. He's my sunshine." Her Pawpaw taught her to sing that song. On their way to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, the family was talking about what they wanted to see first. Caleb, 5, said, "First I want to see the fish and sharks in the aquarium, then the elephants and gorillas, and oh, we can't forget to see the Tangarangs!" (Orangutans) -- Patricia Stover (Caleb's mom) of Red House, West Virginia .-. _ _./.- ) ( `\ .--.' '. .' `'._ | C e_ / `\ '-. e/o \_a ,_/ | \_u/ o\a | \. \/_/.-.__/ .;."-...-' \ \'-. .' \ .' / '. / '--.--' / \ | \__..-'` |) (| | \ /-. \ __ / '.""-.__.' \ ;` `\--; | \'. /`| | | | | | \ \_; | \ ))) / | '._/ jgs \ )))""` ((( / `"""` `"""` James shares some funny moments from when he attended a recent presentation by fourth-graders at Wayne Center Elementary. His son's class did a program titled, "Indiana Hall of Fame." They had picked a famous Hoosier -- either by birth or somehow related to the state -- and gave speeches as if they were that person accepting the honor. James' favorite comments were: From a fourth-grade girl portraying Tony Stewart: "If you're one of the other drivers, you're a loser. If you're one of their fans, you're a loser, too." The boy portraying Bears QB Rex Grossman dropped the football he was holding -- twice! Marvin Harrison: "I'm famous because I won the Super Bowl and also because I was in the police blotter, but that's behind me now." Suzy takes her 22-month-old granddaughter, Stella, to church along with Suzy's mother. One Sunday they were sitting quietly listening to the speaker. Stella squatted down to pick up a crayon she had dropped. Then she very quickly stood up and said loudly, "Shut up!" Everyone chuckled but Suzy was mortified. Later that day when Suzy was playing with Stella, Stella sat on the floor, picked up a toy and stood up very quickly, saying "Shut up!" Suzy then figured out that she was saying "Stand up!" -- Suzy Payne of Springfield, Oregon When Barb's niece was 6 a very close friend of Barb's passed away suddenly. Barb was horribly depressed. Nikki came up to Barb and said, "I know what might make you feel better. Make a list and write down all of the good things and all the good memories you have of him and it will help you through it." Imagine that coming from a 6-year-old! -- Barb of Warrington, Pennsylvania _.-`\ _ _.-' HI \.-{_}-. .'__________\ , , _) \_Y_/ .oOo.() .'`\ _/`\ _Oo()oO()Oo_ _(_\/_(_\_/ |: _-=_= = _:| / \___/ |:=_ =-_-=_ :|_.' | | | jgs '-(@)----(@)-' (__|__) Barb has a customer who has three boys and a girl. She is expecting another baby and found out it's another boy. When she told her children, her daughter Marina cried, because she wanted a sister so badly. Her little brother Mark, 4, calls girls Dora and boys Diego, or Eggo for short. Mark said to Marina, "It's OK, Marina, I have a Dora in MY belly for you!" Where Barb works she hands out sheets of stickers to the kids who come in. One day, she decided to ask Mark, 4, if he knew her name, since he only calls her Dora . He replied "Sticker Girl!" So now she is known to them as the sticker fairy! (They were going to name the new baby after Barb, so they're lucky it's a boy, Barb says.) Faith, 9, is doing a play in music class. She and a friend are debating which one should get to be Mother Goose. Faith was in the middle of cutting her chicken at dinner one night when she suddenly said, "Who thinks I would make a good Mother Goose?" With only a slight pause she added, "And I have a knife." (Kidding, of course!) -- Debbi Armstrong (mother of Faith) of Orlando, Florida Stephanie, 8, asked her mother, "Who is going to be our president next year?" Her mother replied that George Bush will be our president until January and then we will have John McCain, Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. Stephanie replied, "I don't really like George Bush. I like Abraham Lincoln. He's my favorite!" -- Sharon Stark of Kendallville (grandmother of Stephanie of Peoria, Ill.) .--. .-""-. |,=._\..-"""""-.' -. | \.-' .---.---. ';./ .' //o\ /o\\ '. / \'-'__ '-'/ \ | / (__) \ | \ | ( | / '. \_-.__.-_/ _.-' "--.__'.__.'__..-"; / '----' , '. .-"" ( _..-"` \ .---/ _\----(_ _.;. '--(_(_(_\--. .--/ .-"-' ,`| - ' | | | \_\_\_/ / / ' _\ .-| |_ __ /=' ' .' `. | | ./` `\ .' . | ooo___| |_|_ooo .-' \ (_'---. .---'_) / ' jgs '.__.' | | '.___.' ' . ' | | ' ' ' | | ' \| === ' . |_|-. . \| Carol keeps her granddaughter Keli, 4, every Saturday night and takes her to church on Sundays. Keli's dog Sierra died and Carol explained that Sierra is probably in heaven with God and enjoying all the other animals. One night after they had gone to bed Keli said, "Grandma, we forgot to say our prayers." So out of bed they climbed and they both knelt. Keli said, "I'll go first, OK?" In a steady voice Keli said, "Dear God, you know that dog Sierra that is up there with you, well I want her back. Amen." -- Carol Long of California Five-year-old Brianna was spending the night with her grandma and grandpa. GG (Grandma Barbara) was putting Brianna in bed which was under a window. Kissing her goodnight, GG was about to leave the room when Brianna began playing with the curtains and said, "Tonight I am making sure the curtains are closed so no one can see me... and come get me, because I'm so cute." GG said, "Brianna, you shouldn't say things like that." Brianna replied, "But GG, why not? I look in the mirror everyday!" -- Barbara Roney (Brianna's grandmother) of Portland, Oregon After seeing the great tea party Julia, 2, set up in the den, older sister Alyssa, 4, exclaimed, "Oh, my gosh!" Julia asked, "Why you say, Oh, your gosh!?'" -- Donna Moller (Grammy) of Katy, Texas _,.---""----.,_ .-' __.----...---.; .' .' `'. / .' '. / / `'", `\ .'_,' ,"` `'. /,' .-. \ .' .-. /___\ ( . `, / .-' /___\ |_ | \ '. \ ;| / |_ | \_)_/ | \ \ /| | ; _\_)_/ ` , / | \ / | | / ___ ` .-~`````~-. ,=' | | | ; \ \ /.-' `-._ | /| | \ .'``''--' _.- `\ | .' \ | |; / ' _, \ |-`| | | || / / /_\ /_\ .-~``~-. | | | / || | | \(/ |(| | / | | || ,| | -~~` ;`| .---. | | | / || .-/ | | / .-~`~ \| ( '.| / ;--/ /| / / | \ | -t- | -~'-\ \ `--' `-..-` ; |/| / \ |`._ \ -~` / | \ / /\| | .--' `\ `._`._ / |-~` | / \/\ '.____,.-' `""`-._.' ~-. / / .' .' \ .--._.-'` .'`- _.' (.-' | ( , ',_.-'`"""` | \ \ .-' '-;---;..--' /,----.y | jgs | '. `.__,-' / | | | | |`-.,__, Y | | | | | == | =| | | |- ~ -. | | .- ~ -. | | | | | == | =|~ - ~` | | '~ - ~' | /.-.-.-\-.-\ | | | | | | `""""""`""""`/.-.-.-\-.\-.-.-.-\ /.-.-.-.-.-.\ `"""""""`""`-------' '------------' Do you remember hard tack candy? Norma, 78, shares a story from when she was about 7. Her much older sister was listening as Norma was given some money by their mother to buy some hard tack candy. "For the life of me" Norma says she couldn't understand "why Mother and my sister collapsed in laughter" when she repeated what she thought was her mother's instructions, You want heart attack candy, Mom?'" -- Norma of Pataskala, Ohio When Matt was 2 he asked his mother Kristine for a big truck for Christmas. So for his present from Santa they bought him a big rig truck that took batteries, so it made sounds and would move a little with a push of a button. When the batteries died they had to explain that the car was not broken but would not work until replaced. Matt would push the truck but it would only fall on its side. The next morning they were watching the morning news and there was a story of an accident. They showed a picture of a big rig that was on its side. Matt said, "Look Mommy, he ran out of batteries too!" -- Kristine of Lake Isabella, California ========================================================== _ *"_"* __ /`_`\ __ .' '. | / \ | .' '. , / ')\^_^/(' \ , \`--' . (_.> <._) . '--`/ '.__.' '._/ \_/ \_.' '.__.' / , _ , \ \ \_/|\_/ / \ //^\\ / \/` `\/ | | | | | | | | .. ..:::.| | ..::::. .. ..::::..::::... .::::::::| |:::::::::::::::. ::::::::::::::::::.:::::::::::| |:::::::::::::::::. ':::::::::::::::::::::::::::::| |::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::| |::::::::::::::::::' '':::' '::::::::::::::::\_.__./:::::::::::::::'' '':::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::' jgs '::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::'' '':::::'' '''::::::'' >-->On Highway 109 by Selena Readmond A drunk man in an Oldsmobile They said had run the light That caused the six car pileup On 109 that night. When broken bodies lay about And blood was everywhere, The sirens screamed out ulogies, For death was in the air. A mother, trapped inside her car, Was heard above the noise; Her plaintive plea near split the air: "Oh, God, please spare my boys!" She fought to loose her pinned hands; She struggled to get free, But mangled metal held her fast In grim captivity. Her frightened eyes then focused On where the back seat once had been, But all she saw was broken glass and Two children's seats crushed in. Her twins were nowhere to be seen; She did not hear them cry, And then she prayed they'd been thrown free, "Oh, God, don't let them die!" Then firemen came and cut her loose, But when they searched the back, They found therein no little boys, But the seat belts were intact. They thought the woman had gone mad And was traveling alone, But when they turned to question her, They discovered she was gone. Policemen saw her running wild And screaming above the noise In beseeching supplication, "Please help me find my boys! They're four years old and wear blue shirts; Their jeans are blue to match." One cop spoke up, "They're in my car, And they don't have a scratch. They said their daddy put them there And gave them each a cone, Then told them both to wait for Mom To come and take them home. I've searched the area high and low, But I can't find their dad. He must have fled the scene, I guess, and that is very bad." The mother hugged the twins and said, While wiping at a tear, "He could not flee the scene, you see, For he's been dead a year." The cop just looked confused and asked, "Now, how can that be true?" The boys said, "Mommy, Daddy came And left a kiss for you." He told us not to worry And that you would be all right, And then he put us in this car with The pretty, flashing light. We wanted him to stay with us, Because we miss him so, But Mommy, he just hugged us tight And said he had to go. He said someday we'd understand And told us not to fuss, And he said to tell you, Mommy, He's watching over us." The mother knew without a doubt That what they spoke was true, For she recalled their dad's last words, "I will watch over you." The firemen's notes could not explain The twisted, mangled car, And how the three of them escaped Without a single scar. But on the cop's report was scribed, In print so very fine, An angel walked the beat tonight On Highway 109. >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 ************************************************************************