Give God Thanks... :) 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 ^~^ May God SUPER BLESS You As You Do! THANK YOU! ================ >-->HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This heartwarming to hot to handle one is from our friend Linda. It was just too sweet not to share with you all. Turn up the sound, give it plenty of time to load and check it out here... _________ |=========| __[]__ _ \_______/ +================+ /______\ __(_)__ () \_____/ () `-+ +-----+---+ | |------| /_______\ /__\ | | +======+ | | | | +-+------+-. |=======| <____> | | || || | | | | |o \_|___ __|__//\\__|___|_+======+ | +=========+ |o o||=+ | * * |o o|||| | --%-- |o~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~o||=+ +=====================================+-----------+====+ |==/ ------ \=====/ ------ \===%--||o o||____ // \ L_/__\___//_\__L_/__\_/ %=||o~~~~~~~~o||===\\_____ ||__ /. ___________ . ______/ +==============+ \ \_ || \__/ || || \__/ || //--\\ //--\\\\ \ \ \\\_ \\ / || \ // \\ / || \ // (( <> ))(( <> ))\\_\_\_\_\\\\ \========/ \========/ \____/ \____/ `-----------+ andre dziedzic - targi@angelone.line.org Life Train http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lifetrain.html --- ...awww, so beautiful! I do love trains. Thanks Linda! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: __ _____....--' .' ___...---'._ o -`( ___...---' \ .--. `\ ___...---' | \ \ `| | |o o | | | | \___'.-`. '. | | `---' '^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^' LGB >THE MOST THOUGHTFUL GIFT by Molly Lemmons Daddy spent a good deal of his life in his overalls. He was a builder of houses in the Oklahoma City area when we were growing up and his "carpenter overalls" were his trademark. He always said "a man needs a good pair of overalls to be happy." He wore them in his garden, he wore them hunting, and he wore them fishing. BUT he did not wear them to church. And he probably would have worn them there, too, but for mother?s stern frown if he even entertained such a thought. When I was 11 years old, my older sister and brother and I were surprised with mother?s announcement that she was ?that way? (she would never say the word ?pregnant.") Soon after, our baby sister, Polly Pat was born. Daddy even wore his overalls to the hospital the night the baby was born. Another sister followed in three years, and that completed our family. Yep, you guessed it -- Daddy wore his overalls to the hospital that night, too. The two younger sisters accompanied us two older sisters everywhere and we often pretended they were our baby dolls. Our little brother was left out of this experience and often bawled about his fate as being the only boy out of five children! But we four sisters created a bond like no other, even in spite of our age differences. As mother always said, "You girls seem to have caught up with one another in age!" And indeed, it seems we have. Now that we are grown, we have maintained this closeness, honed by the care giving necessary to give to precious parents as they age. After ten years of ill health, mother died in 1997. Daddy, now alone and lost without his mate of 64 years agreed to go to an assisted living facility. His eyesight almost gone, he feared going completely blind and being a burden on his children. The next year and a half, daddy lived there and maintained a fairly good life, his incredible mind his greatest asset. I visited him every day and watched him struggle to walk the long halls, paper clips in his overall pockets. He'd put 70 of them in one pocket and when he made a round, he'd put one in the other pocket. When he had finished, and all the paper clips were moved, he knew he?d gone a mile. His overalls were torn and frayed, so even though I bought him new ones, he always preferred the "worn out" ones. Daddy died in 2002, and the night he died, I left the manor where he lived and returned home. I didn?t go back to his room. I just left it all there. I later learned that Polly Pat had gone to the home and cleaned out his room, gathering up his clothes, his overalls included, and disposing of them -- or so I thought. The following Christmas after daddy?s death, Polly Pat came to visit and called us all together. She had a surprise for us she said. When we gathered in the living room of Ellen Sue, my baby sister's house, Polly Pat handed each of us a gift. I opened mine first and was so overwhelmed that I could only cry -- tears of joy, sorrow, and loneliness, all combined! There, in my hands, was a quilt made from daddy?s overalls! She had made one for all five of us out of the overalls she took from daddy?s closet the night he died. I got the part of the overalls on which the hammer hook hung, and the bib and straps. I also got the little pocket in which he kept his Bible. As I looked at the bib with the peanut butter stains on it, I remembered how he loved to snack on peanut butter and the pocket reminded me of how he always carried his Bible in his overalls. I threw my arms around my sister and hugged her in grateful thanks for the most thoughtful gift she could have given me. The many hours of love and devotion she put into her handiwork to give us such a therapeutic gift, released tears -- not just of healing, but tears of thanksgiving for Polly Pat, the little baby girl that came along when I was eleven years old. -- Molly Lemmons ___________________________________________ Molly's collection of stories ran for three years in the Mustang, Oklahoma newspaper. The columns, published into a book, called Kind of Heart, is nostalgia about growing up in Oklahoma City in the 1950s. Upon its release, it was reviewed and recommended by then-Governor Frank and First Lady Cathy Keating. You can learn more about her heartwarming book here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0891374744/heart/ref=nosim ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Richard :) , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Bible Study Humor LOT 'S WIFE The Sunday School teacher was describing how Lot 's wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt, when little Jason interrupted, 'My Mommy looked back once while she was driving,' he announced triumphantly, 'and she turned into a telephone pole!' GOOD SAMARITAN A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan. She asked the class, 'If you saw a person lying on the roadside, all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?' A thoughtful little girl broke the hushed silence, 'I think I'd throw up.' DID NOAH FISH? A Sunday school teacher asked, 'Johnny, do you think Noah did a lot of fishing when he was on the Ark ? ''No,' replied Johnny. 'How could he, with just two worms.' HIGHER POWER A Sunday school teacher said to her children, 'We have been learning how powerful kings and queens were in Bible times. But, there is a Higher Power. Can anybody tell me what it is? One child blurted out, ' Aces!' MOSES AND THE RED SEA Nine-year-old Joey was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sunday School. 'Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt . When he got to the Red Sea , he had his army build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely. Then he radioed headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved.' 'Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?' his Mother asked. 'Well, no, Mom. But, if I told it the way the teacher did, you'd never believe it!' THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD A Sunday School teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible - Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters a month to learn the chapter. Little Rick was excited about the task - but he just couldn't remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past the first line. On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Ricky was so nervous.. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said pr oudly, 'The Lord is my Shepherd, and that's all I need to know.' UNANSWERED PRAYER The preacher's 5 year-old daughter noticed that her father always paused and bowed his head for a moment before starting his sermon. One day, she asked him why. 'Well, Honey,' he began, proud that his daughter was so observant of his messages. 'I'm asking the Lord to help me preach a good sermon.' 'How come He doesn't answer it?' she asked. UNTIMELY ANSWERED PRAYER During the minister's prayer one Sunday, there was a loud whistle from one of the back pews. Tommy's mother was horrified. She pinched him into silence and, after church, asked, 'Tommy, whatever made you do such a thing?' Tommy answered soberly, 'I asked God to teach me to whistle, and He did!' ALL MEN / ALL GIRLS When my daughter, Kelli, said her bedtime prayers, she would bless every family member, every friend, and every animal (current and past). For several weeks, after we had finished the nightly prayer, Kelli would say, 'And all girls.' This soon became part of her nightly routine, to include this closing. My curiosity got the best of me and I asked her, 'Kelli, why do you always add the part about all girls?' Her response, 'Because everybody always finish their prayers by saying 'All Men'!' SAY A PRAYER Little Johnny and his family were having Sunday dinner at his Grandmother's house. Everyone was seated around the table as the food was being served. When Little Johnny received his plate, he started eating right away. 'Johnny! Please wait until we say our prayer.' said his mother. 'I don't need to,' the boy replied. 'Of course, you do.' his mother insisted. 'We always say a prayer before eating at our house..' 'That's at our house.' Johnny explained. 'But this is Grandma's house and she knows how to cook!' --- ...TeeHee! Thanks Richard! ============================================================== >-->From Our Friend Bunni :) , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Scriptures All men are like grass and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall but the word of the Lord stands forever. 1 Peter 24-25 We are God's house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. Read Hebrews 3:6 For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotton Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but Have everlasting life. John 3:16 We will never have to offer another sacrifice since the Lamb of God was once for all. Read Hebrews 10:10 (We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.) We truly have become a generation of people who worship our work, who work at our play, and who play at our worship. Read Luke 6:12 In the old testament, when a king or leader would humble themselves before God, their people would! We must pray for the leaders of our countries, whether we like them or not. Our country cannot come to its knees before God unless its leader does. Make it a daily habit to pray for the President of the United States and other country leaders, that their hearts will be humble before God and that they will want HIS will for the people. If this isn't done, countries and people will decay. We must have a Godly leader. Read Luke 6:12 --- ...Good ones! Thanks Bunni! ============================================================ >-->From Our Friends Geniann and Bunni :) _ _|_|_ ,|_| |_|_ || | | |_| || | | | | || | | | | _|| | | | | ||)\ ^ ^ ^ | || | | || | | || | | \\ | \\ / ejm )\ ( / \ \ / \ \ \ \ >Prayer... "Hi Lord, it's me. We are getting older and things are getting bad here. Gas prices are too high, no jobs, food and heating costs too high. I know some have taken you out of our schools, government and even Christmas, but Lord I'm asking you to come back and re-bless America. We really need you! There are more of us who want you than those who don't! Thank You Lord, I Love you." If you agree, send it on---if not just delete. Only you & the Lord will know. "Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil - it has no point." --- ...Amen! Thanks Ladies! ============================================================= >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: __ // \ \\_/ // sjw''-.._.-''-.._.. -(||)(') ''' >Buzzards, Bats and Bumble Bees If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top. **************************** The ordinary bat which flies around at night, a remarkably nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash. **************************** A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself. **************************** In many ways, there are lots of people like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. They are struggling about with all their problems and frustrations, not ever realizing that the answer is right there "Above" them. Remember, "Little is much when God is in it". -- Author Unknown -<>- ,--. \ _\_ _\/_|_\____.'\ -(___.--._____( \ \ \ \ `--' jg >Bad Flight? ============ "That was a bad flight huh?" my father-in-law stated as he picked up my family from the Tampa airport. It was a rainy windy day. As we crossed the bridge heading to Clearwater, the waves angrily crashed against the seawall. The flight was bumpy. The flight attendants had to sit out much of the flight because the plane tossed and turned like a child's sleepless night. Bad flight? Not in my book. Life is relative. I am a pilot. I have flown about 75 hours in a private plane. I am not that experienced, but I have had enough experience to know a bad flight. I fly a Cessna 152. That is a motorized wheelbarrow with wings. It has two seats and a back shelf to put your bags. Your bags can't be too heavy or it could shift the plane's center of gravity. That can cause you to literally tumble out of the sky. That's a bad flight. My instructor told me any flight that I walk away from is a good flight. Life is relative. The 152 is often tossed and turned with NO WIND. On a hot day the thermals rising from the ground can make the plane just drop suddenly. Your stomach is rammed up into your throat when that happens. I am not a cursing man but the first time the plane did that while I was up in the air alone I said "Holy ..." Yes, Holy Moses. When the plane hit an air pocket and dropped, I yawned. It was a multi-million dollar plane being flown by pilots with thousands of hours of flight time. They had the best equipment. As we dipped and rocked like a roller coaster, I looked over at my six-year old and said, "Weee!" He laughed and said, "Weee!" We often think things in life are bad, yet we have come through them safe and sound without so much as a scratch. At worse, we have been able to walk away. Bad flight? Not in my book. Life is relative. ~A MountainWings -<>- >From LynnLynn's Links: Melva http://silverandgoldandthee.net/V/Lil.html Poems Of The Week http://inhisservice.bravesites.com/ Soaring With Eagles Via Robert http://www.youtube.com/embed/wChk5nY3Kzg Marlene/newpage/gospel http://www.wtv-zone.com/summerhoosier3/html1/DriftingToFarFromTheShore.Html ARMSLIST - Gun Classifieds Via Dianne http://www.armslist.com/ Scott Weaver Toothpick Art! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/toothpick.html Auto MotorPlex! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/automotorplex.html Scientists Unveil New Species! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/newspecies.html -<>- Walking In Power http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/walkingpower.html Last Day! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/lastday.html Lean On Me! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/poems/leanonme.html Attitude Is Everything http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/attitude3.html Think Happy Thoughts http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/happythoughts.html Jesus Clinic http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/clinic.html Red Hat http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/redhat.html Advice For Living http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/advice.html Beaches In India http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/beaches.html -<>- >From Our Friend Geniann :) She sent us one we have here... Kilroy Was Here http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/kilroywashere.html --- ...TeeHee! A sweet reminder! Thanks Geniann! -<>- >From Our Friend Bunni :) BABY & ME http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfxB5ut-KTs ... ...LOL! So darling! Thanks Bunni! 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 LouiseA :) , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Here I Am Again, Lord (by Melanie Chitwood) "So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT) I had resolved the previous week to be consistent in exercise and healthy eating. I had made this resolution many times before, only to revert to old patterns before the week's end. As I sat outside on the porch with my Bible and journal, I felt discouraged as I remembered the previous night's overindulgence in, once again, my favorite chocolate chip cookies. I wanted to have a quiet time, I wanted to talk to God in prayer and to read Scripture, but I felt somewhat ashamed. I thought to myself, Here I am again, Lord, with the same old problem. Aren't you tired of me, Lord? I'm tired of me, so surely you must be, too. I'm tired of dealing with the same old problem over and over again. Then God whispered to me, Talk to Me. Just pray and see what I can do. So I did. In the quietness of the morning, God reminded me of His thoughts toward me, not my own thoughts. God never gets tired of us, and His compassions are new every morning. As the verses in Hebrews 4 remind us, God understands. What comfort. Better yet, as we look at today's key verse we're invited to "come boldly to the throne of our gracious God." Sometimes when I feel ashamed of myself, I am tempted to run from God rather than come humbly to His feet. I'm tempted to believe the lie that God is tired of me or has much more important issues to deal with. However, if I believe and act on these lies, I am missing out on the truth of whom God is and the reality of the kind of relationship He wants to have. If I mistakenly believe that God is just tired of dealing with me, then I go away with just more of the same - more discouragement, more anxiety, more fretting. Worse yet, I'll be missing out on what He is ready to give. I'll miss out on His love, His grace, and His power. Whatever problem we face, God's very own power, the same power that raised Christ from the dead, is available to us. Our God is intimately acquainted with us, gracious and patient. He is ready to give all His resources to us, His children. Isn't that amazing? Let's press on in truth and faith and "take the mercy, accept the help" (Hebrews 4:16 The Message). Then we'll see what God can do with a heart that trusts Him. "Dear Lord, help me not to run from You when I feel ashamed or discouraged. Help me to believe that You always love me and are always ready to give me Your Help. Thank You for Your patience and Your loving kindness. In Jesus' Name, Amen." Application Steps: Sometimes we don't turn to God because of independence or self-reliance. Take some practical steps to stay dependent on God. For example, resolve to pray about the situation each time you think about it. Ask a friend to hold you accountable. Memorize a verse that will help you apply God's truth to your situation. Take one small step each day to remedy the problem. Reflections: Are you facing a recurring problem or challenge, which leaves you discouraged? Have you actually asked God for His help, or have you just been thinking about the problem? Have you been running away from God? Have you been still before God lately? Power Verses: Galatians 5:1, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage." (NKJV) Ephesians 1:18-19, "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength." (NIV). Hebrews 6:1, "So come on, let's leave the preschool fingerpainting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. Grow up in Christ." (MSG). --- ...A good reminder. Thanks LouiseA! , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' Some of us like to blame God for all our troubles wondering why God let this or that happen in our lives. Other of us take the opposite view and want to not bother God with anything saying whatever happens to me happens. Both are not good Christian stands as they are not biblically correct - not what God wants us to do. Understanding that the god of this world is NOT God Almighty: Which we are told in verses like this one... 2 Cor.4: [4] In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. So we cannot be blaming God for what the little g god of this world does. That is not God's fault. And we cannot be blaming God for our troubles if we didn't ask him to help us with them in the first place. God wants us to bother him and directs us to do so! 1 Pet.5: [7] Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us simply: Mark.11 [23] For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. [24] Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. The key to believing is Action James 2: 17 "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." faith [believing] without works [action] is dead [worthless or useless] because it is alone or by itself. We need to give our troubles to God and believe [with works] that all is taken care of and it shall be. -<>- , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Give God Thanks I think that it's human nature to look at the dark side of things. We think that grass is greener on the other side, especially when things are not going the way we want. But remember, when we complain and get negative God cannot work with that type of attitude. There are many examples in scripture where doubt and being negative tie the hands of God. God is a God of faith, and either we believe in Him and His power working in our lives, or we don't. Paul stated in Heb. 13:15 (Amplified Version), "Let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name." Why did he say a sacrifice of praise? It is considered a sacrifice when during difficult times our mind and emotions are full of negative things but we choose to praise God. It is during these times when we don't understand what is going on in our life but we continually praise God, not for the negative things but in the middle of the negative things. As we do this, we are declaring to God that we know that He is bigger than any problem we have. We are declaring that we fully understand that God is in control even when we are not. I encourage you today that you look around you and begin to give thanks to God for the many blessings that you have. God is able to meet all of your needs as you praise Him. Choose to be happy and give thanks! --- ...Most Important reminder too! Thanks LouiseA! Eph.5: [20] Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Phil.4 [6] Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 1 Thes.5 [18] In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. ============================================================== \| ... -:. //||\\ _. `::::' Q Q ``::::::+. ._"__.' \ ____ `==' _._ .' ` .' .:- .-. ` .' '.') ' _` /||. __.--|_.' ' : ( \/' /\\ /,=-U' ' : `. `. /U ' ' . ( -._.---" ....-----( ' . ` -. ) .:\:::\ '`. ` ` .' _ ( .:::::::::....--`--..-' \ ( ``-.\:::'' \ \ \\ ""\\-' `..:.\ `:-=/) `(::) ` .:::/ a:f_______________________________ |::/ _________ ______... .."\\/ .......------"""""" __.. . \\ -. _ . __..--'' .-' `+ () `-' __..---""" ..........|_ `-. . '' ....:::::::::::::.\.' ) . .-' ````::::::''''.""" . .-' . . . . >A Vastly Improved Outlook Story Editor: by The Traveler Joyce Schowalter California, USA My siblings had planned this spring 2004 pack trip through the Grand Canyon for two years. I was breaking up with a man I adored, yet no way would I miss this trip. Mr. Wonderful called the day before the trip to say he wasn't going -- so I should make my own arrangements to get to Arizona from California. That was something of a problem. I'm far from wealthy, and my 52-year-old eyeballs aren't up to driving in unfamiliar territory. But a family edict is a family edict: I made it. The canyon was spectacular, the weather perfect, the company a hoot. Although we're all middle-aged and several decades from our last wilderness experience together, we comported ourselves quite competently. Sore, tired, yet full of a sense of having accomplished a small miracle, we gathered at a restaurant back on top of the canyon rim for a celebratory dinner. Halfway through, my brother-in-law looked me square in the eye and said, "We're not taking you to the airport." I was flabbergasted! We'd all met in Phoenix, and driven four hours into the canyon together. One naturally assumed we'd return to the airport to catch our respective flights home together. Apparently my flight, an hour and a half before the others, would entail everyone leaving at 9:30 a.m. versus 11 AM, and that just wouldn't work for them. Or something. Eccentric family dynamics notwithstanding, there was neither taxi service nor shuttle vans from the canyon to the airport. I'd just spent the week backpacking. I had no cash. My credit card was maxed out. My sibs were unsympathetic. I was broke, physically exhausted and spiritually drained. And I was stranded. In tears, I walked back to the hotel to try to figure out how to get home. I walked into the lobby at night, totally distraught. The woman at the front desk noticed my sniveling and asked what was wrong. When I told her, she went into action. Roberta W grabbed a phone and started calling. The Phoenix tour bus wasn't running, so she called her son. He couldn't get away to drive me, so she called a co-worker. As I watched slack-jawed, she arranged to switch shifts with him the next morning. "Be here at eight tomorrow, I'll take you. Go get some sleep." She showed up on the dot, and gathered my stuff into her van. I'll bypass the personal travails this dear woman was dealing with, and the challenges she's overcome. The long drive into Phoenix was filled with her wonderful stories and cheerful observations. Not only did I make my flight in plenty of time, I did so with a vastly improved outlook on life and its vicissitudes. I've no idea what motivates a person to spend her day off driving across a state in aid of a clueless stranger, but Ms Whitt's astounding generosity put the previous evening's pettiness into a perspective I have not forgotten. I'd like to publicly thank her for the lesson she imparted. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Kidwarmers: ___________ _.--^^^ ^^^--._ \`--...___________...--'/ / \_ _ / (_`,_' ) / ) `\ /_____ _ / '. | | ^^^^-----------^^^^ | `, | \,_ `-/ | ,&&&&&V | ,&&&&&&&&: | ,&&&&&&&&&&; | | |&&&&&&&|\ |_____ _| | |_)_ \ ^^^^-----------^^^^ | | ;_/ | -Felix Lee- \ '--' `,.--. | `---...___________...---' \_ | |--' `-._\__/ >THE FUNNY THINGS KIDS SAY During a terrible thunderstorm recently, Stephanie, 5, asked her mother, "Why does God make thunder and lightning?" Her mother said, "Thunder and lightning show God's power." Stephanie said, "We have seen enough. He can stop it!" -- Sharon Stark (grandmother of Stephanie) of Kendallville, Indiana Brayton, 3, had recently conquered potty training. He had not had accidents during the day for quite some time, and he decided he was too big to wear a training pant to bed. One night they spent an evening in the basement due to bad thunderstorms. The next morning Brayton's monther was awakened by the 3-year-old holding his wet pajamas and underpants. "Brayton, did you potty in your pants?" his mother asked. Brayton replied, "No, I rained in them!" -- Tina Alley (mother of Brayton) of Auburn, Indiana A small thunderstorm went through the area and Michelle was busy unplugging the major electronic equipment such as the TV's and computers. Her boys were in tow and became frightened by the thunder. Michelle told them that was just the angels in heaven. The phone rang and Michelle didn't want to use the handset because of the storm, so she hit the speaker button. It was her sister-in-law, Becky. Michelle told her they were having a storm and she would need to call her back. Immediately after Michelle hung up, Bobby, 4, asked, "Mommy, why did the angel call?" Michelle replied, "That wasn't an angel, it was Aunt Becky." He said, "Oh, I don't know that angel." -- Michelle Hunter of Angola, Indiana Myrle's 5-year-old granddaughter loves to sit on her lap and play. One day she was on Myrle's lap and just fell over. Myrle told her to get up. The 5-year-old said, "No, I faded!" (She meant fainted.) -- Myrle Brown of Hazlehurst, Georgia Samantha, 3, was with her grandmother in a busy area. Her grandmother told her to stay right beside her, but Samantha let go of her hand. When her grandmother scolded her for letting go of her hand, Samantha said, "I'm just testing you, Grandma!" -- Erin Meyer (mother of Samantha) of Fort Wayne, Indiana Stefanie recently brought her children, Kellie and Katie, to Washington D.C. to see a show. Debbie, Stefanie's sister, works in Washington D.C. and she met them after the show. Kellie, 7, wanted to see the White House, which is near Debbie's office. So Debbie took them there. On the way home Stefanie asked her daughters what they saw in Washington that was important. She was hoping they would say, "The president's house." Instead, Kellie said, "Do you mean Aunt Debbie?" -- Debbie Samler of Prince Federick, Maryland Sandi was babysitting for her 2-year-old grandson, Max, who is learning manners. Max pointed to a box of crackers, indicating he wanted one. So Sandi said, "Say the nice word (meaning please)." Max looked at Sandi with a puzzled expression and said sweetly, "Nice word." After laughing out loud, Sandi said, "Nana meant that the nice word is please." Quickly Max raised his hand (as he had been taught to do in nursery school when he had a request) and said, "Please." -- Sandi of Florida Karen's 7-year-old grandson and his family went out to dinner at a fancy restaurant to celebrate Karen's birthday. The 7-year-old had to go to the potty. When he got off the stool to reach the tissue the stool flushed automatically. He yelled at the stool, "Hey, do not flush. I am not done yet." Then he sat back down. When he got up again the stool flushed again. This time he yelled at the stool, "I told you I wasn't done yet. Can't you hear me?" All the men in the restroom were laughing. -- Karen of Illinois On a very hot day Lana said, "My leg pits are sweaty!" (She meant the area behind her knees). -- Jane Storey (mother of Lana who is now 19) of Ontario, Canada Emily, 5, greeted her mother Jodi at the door. Jodi had brought one of her office plants home to nurse back to health because it had spider mites. Afraid of bugs, Emily carefully looked over the plant and said, "I don't see any spiders, Mommy, where are they?" Jodi told her that they weren't spiders like she knew, they were spider mites and that they were too small to see. Emily replied, "Too small to see, they must be really clumsy!" -- Mark Brayton (father of Emily) of Kendallville, Indiana _ ___ _ /`.`. .-=""_;_""=-. .','\ | \`.`#"'.-" ; "-.`"#'.', | \`=>-Y ,( O_;_O ) , Y-<'/ `--'\#>-`-'_;_`-'-<#/`--' _ / .:::::. _ \ _ .-' `-'i-_ |:::::| `i-' `-._ ' .-j' `:::::' `-j-. .' `L' "T" `j-. `. ,-'|\.___:___./| ` | `.____ .' | \ / _.. `. .' .-## `-. |=`.___.'| .' ## `. /_ =#`. .#b # \ .####.. .-._##". .'### \ | /###""" / ; `=##\,## "#b .j. / /==--.. / ; \/ "## " / `-._.' /##==-._ | ; | ##b / |########= | _..-d#b! "# / >###"" .=-+###" d###"`-._ .' |#" ,d## d### ##" `+. / d### d### #" \ .d8#o. / ###" ## \ | .' ### `. | ##" "# .'`. | /#b _# =# d\ \ "# __.--' ; `-.____/ (###b \#8 ##\ `.___..---'| ; | "##8/ \" d###\ hjw |=-""###| ; | `" \=##" ; |8#b "#/ ; / | =##| ;####b= / ; | |,#=,_| /""" | ; ; |#####| |_ -=##/ ; | | ,-=| |##b / ; / |_.d##| ;###=/ ; / |#####| | __ `. ; /. |`""""| /d####=- \ ; / b. | =##"\ /########= \ ; | ###-. \",=___\ _.,/##"" -==\ | ####" `. \####""8b#" #/ _d#8##b d"| / ###" #\ `#" ### ##|_d###""""8###| / #" _,"###| `.##" ###.\_.= _____ /-.'#, -=######/ `---""" `-. __####.'.' _d8' .-" "-< ( --'--._ .' .----._`.`-. `. | ,' \| `-. \ \( .' `---....__.' `---"""' Janice's granddaughter Sara just started second grade. The teacher has a bell on her desk which asked the students not to ring unless she has stepped out of the room and they need her. One student rang it because she had to go to the bathroom. Then Sara rang it, and got into trouble. When Janice asked Sara why she rang it, Sara said, "'Cause the other girl did." (Janice says that happened on the first day of school -- it's going to be a long year, she says!) -- Janice Finley of Arab, Alabama ========================================================== ,,,,, ////""\ . (((/ m m -|- __ )))c = ) | (__) ////-./~` . [] (((( `.`\ :: [] )))`\ \)).-;.' .------, [] (() `._.-'` _( )[] )/ `. | .'`^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^))\`.----'`[] jgs ( \' { ~ - ~~ _ ~ - ~~ - ~ - (( | | [] .-.--\ \ { )) | | [] |_;_._`\ |{ ((__|_|-----[] | ; ``` ;{ )) [] | /``-.____/ `~~~[]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'-' [] `' (__) (__) >-->Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Many of you are familiar with the childhood prayer "Now I lay me down to sleep," but I was little surprised to learn that it is a shortened version of an Old English prayer, which goes like this: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, bless the bed that I lie on. Before I lay me down to sleep, I give my soul to Christ to keep. Four corners to my bed, four angels there a spread, two to foot, and two to head, and two to carry me when I'm dead. I go by sea, I go by land, the Lord made me by His right hand. If any danger comes to me, Sweet Jesus Christ, deliver me. He's the branch, and I'm the flower, pray God send me a happy hour. And if I die before I wake, I pray that Christ my soul will take. >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->BECOMING A CHRISTIAN HOW TO BE A CHRISTIAN! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->FULL LENGTH - FREE On line AUDIO MP3 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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