God's Creation And More... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To UnSubscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShangyFunList or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net ================ _ *"_"* __ /`_`\ __ .' '. | / \ | .' '. , / ')\^_^/(' \ , \`--' . (_.> <._) . '--`/ '.__.' '._/ \_/ \_.' '.__.' / , _ , \ \ \_/|\_/ / \ //^\\ / \/` `\/ | | | | | | | | .. ..:::.| | ..::::. .. ..::::..::::... .::::::::| |:::::::::::::::. ::::::::::::::::::.:::::::::::| |:::::::::::::::::. ':::::::::::::::::::::::::::::| |::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::| |::::::::::::::::::' '':::' '::::::::::::::::\_.__./:::::::::::::::'' '':::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::' jgs '::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::'' '':::::'' '''::::::'' *~* Please Consider Giving To ShangralaFamilyFun.com The cost of the website has gone up dramatically due to the ever increasingly wonderful pages and photos being added each week to entertain you and our fellow Christian families. While the ads on the website do help, I don't want to drag the site down with tons of them to pay for it. I need your help! "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo ~ CALLING ALL CARING ANGELS ~ _ ______ / `'. ,-"` '. / /'-.'. ___ .' \ \/ '.\.' ' | .| .'`\ | /`"'--., / \ , _.--'` \/_ | ,----.| _ `_--;` ``` `\-. | | \ | -- C -- _/ \ \ | \ 0 0 / . | | \| ) | '. _.' |.__/ ; \ `'---` / / __ '. .' | (__) /'-._____,-` \ /---'.-""-.\ '. / ||,- \\ ;---`;-._||-= |\ , ."""-. \ ) `|'.___.' \ ___ \'. / '-. \ /`-`-; / \ ,/ `) \ \| \ `` | | \|| / /'.| )_ / || | | \/ .' \ \ .-'/ ` |` |.-' .-~ ~-~-._ |.'` \ ` '-. \___/,__/ ~` _ `~~-., `-.,_\_)`-.,_\) `~-,___ ~___~,,..-~~/ jgs \___/`\____/'._.' *~* WE NEED CARING And SHARING Angels *~* >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel? If you'd like to help and be counted as a Shangrala Angel, the easiest way to do that is through online giving. It is easy to use, and most of all, it is secure. Please visit the site, scroll down and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL form page comes up. NOTE: Paypal will generate a 'Quantity 1' and 'Price per item' form. Just ignore the price per item and put whatever it is you desire to give in there. With Paypal, you will have your normal receipt for your 'payment' donation in USD (United States Dollars). You can put a memo in there if you'd like. Any amount is greatly appreciated and needed! PLEASE Visit Shangrala to Help: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/index.html OR If you'd rather send us a donation, ,________________ / \ \ |.-| | .-', | ,_______ | / | """""| | | O\__.--| '-' | ,=` _|______________| ',,,==` `~~~~|||~~~~~~~` ` ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| ||| \\ |||, // jgs . ..::::\\\||////::::.... '' ' "" ' '"" "" "" '' ""' "'' Please MAIL it here: Elrhea Bigham 502 S. Harrison Van Wert, OH 45891 *~* THANK YOU! MAY GOD BLESS YOU MOST ABUNDANTLY FOR YOUR GIFT! ================ *~* A REMINDER: PLEASE Send me sweet, interesting, funny, inspiring, family type forwards ANY TIME here... bcrsystems@earthlink.net I Need them, Love them, Use them, and Share them! THANK YOU!! AND For Facebook Users: Please Friend Me / Like Me here... http://tinyurl.com/cma6all AND For Google Plus Users: You can find me here... Shangy Bigham https://plus.google.com/106648555948034085752/posts AND Please Share This email with All Your Friends And Family! ^~^ May God SUPER BLESS You As You Do! THANK YOU! :) -<>- * NOTE: An easy way to adjust the size of print in email or any page is to hold down the Ctrl tab while moving the scroll button on the mouse. You can also use the keyboard to change the font size in your web browser or emails. Hold down the Ctrl key while pressing the + key for larger text or the - key for smaller text! ================ >-->3 HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) Our first sizzling hot new page is from our friends Linda and LouiseAu. It is full of vibrant color and stunning photography. Be sure to take a few minutes to check this beautiful one out here: . | . \ | / `. \ ' / .' `. .-*""*-. .' "*-._ /.*" "*.\ _.-*" : ; ____ """"': .. ; _.-*" \ `.__.' / "*-._ .' `-.__.-' `. bug .' / . \ `. / | \ ' | ` God's Most Beautiful 3 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/mostbeautiful3.html --- ...Aww, absolutely gorgeous! Thanks Ladies! Our next two flaming hot new pages are from our friend Bunni. These will give you your aww quota for the day and then some! Sure to give you plenty of smiles and perhaps a few giggles! Check these out here: Adorable . . :"-. .-"; |:`.`.__..__.'.';| || :-" "-; || :; :; / .==. .==. \ : _.--._ ; ; .--.' `--' `.--. : : __;` ':__ ; ; ' '-._:;_.-' ' : '. `--' .' ."-._ _.-". .' ""------"" `. /`- -'\ /`- -'\ :`- .' `. -'; ; / \ : : : ; ; ; ; : : ':_:.' '.;_;' :_ _; ; "-._ -" :`-. _.._ :_ () _; "--::__. `. \"- -"/`._ : .-"-. -"-. ""--..____.' / .__ __. \ : / , / "" \ . \ ; bug "-:___..--" "--..___;-" Animal Selfies 2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/animalselfies2.html Adorable Animal Selfies 3 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/animalselfies3.html --- ...Oh My! How cute! Thanks Bunni! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: _ _ ( Y ) \ / \ / \ /^\ _ ) //^\\ -= (_) =- ( // \\ ) // \\ / \ __ // \\ |=^| // _ \\ __|= |__// (+) \\ /LLLLLLL// ~ \\ /LLLLLLL// \\ /LLLLLLL// \\ /LLLLLLL// |~[|]~| |~[|]~| \\ ^| [|] // | [|] | | [|] | \\ | [|] ^| |_[|]_| |_[|]_| |^ ___|______| | /LLLLLLLLLL|_____________________| /LLLLLLLLLLL/LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL\ /LLLLLLLLLLL/LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL\ ^||^^^^^^^^/LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL\ || |~[|]~|^^||^^^^^^^^^^||^|~[|]~|^||^^ || | [|] | || |~~~~| || | [|] | || || |_[|]_| || | [] | || |_[|]_| || ||__________|| | o| ||_________|| .'||][][][][][|| | [] | ||[][][][][||.'. ."'||[][][][][]||_-`----'-_||][][][][]||"." .(')^(.)(').( )'^@/-- -- - --\@( )'( ).(( )^(.) '( )^(`)'.(').( )@/-- -- - -- -\@ (.)'(.),( ).('). ".'.'." ." '.". @/- - --- -- - -\@ '.".'.".'.".'." jgs'' ".".".'.'@/ - -- -- -- -- -\@".'..'".'."'.'.' '.".".''.".''."@/ -- --- --- -- - -\@.".''.".''.".'". >OLD HOUSE, WARM MEMORIES by Kathy Whirity Dusting off the collection of photos that grace our family room wall, I lingered over the water color painting I had done of the old house, a gift to Bill, before it was torn done to make room for the new one. It seems like decades ago that we occupied that small two bedroom, gray sided home. Memories continued to flow freely as I stared at the home that Bill and I had lived in for over 23 years, and also the place where our two daughters grew up. In the painting, the house was depicted in all its summer time glory -- lush pink, red, white and purple flowers overflowed in the flower beds that, by August, resembled tall colorful bushes in all their flowering finery. The proof was there right on the wall. When we bought the house we fell in love with its cozy, lived-in charm. What we learned was that old fashioned charm translated into lots of repairs. That old house was far from perfect but the memories invoked are priceless. I'm particularly remembering back to when the girls were young. It was raining one Saturday afternoon and they wanted to play on their swing set. Bill went to the garage and returned with 4 huge round eye hooks and his trusty power drill. He went to work drilling the heavy duty bolts into the frame of the kitchen doorways. Then he went back outside to retrieve the swings. A few seconds later the girls were happily swinging from the kitchen doorways -- laughing and squealing with delight over their rainy day adventure. Another time Bill came home with an over-sized plastic slide. I foolishly asked him where he thought he was going to put it as our house was way too small to accommodate such a big toy. He gave me a look like I was the loony one and told me it would fit just fine in the front-room. When it was discovered that the slide wasn't slick enough Bill had a solution -- some baby powder sprinkled on the surface and, viola!, It was smooth sliding all the way. Afterwards, my clever hubby vacuums up the powder on the rug, and the front-room was none the worse for wear. I guess the reason for flashing back to these memories is sparked by the fact that we are now grandparents. This new turning point in our lives has definitely brought out the kid in us. Oh, and I'm also looking at familiar hooks in the door frame. We have a double doorway that divides the family room and my home office. Bill sized it up one day and decided it would be a great spot to hang a swing for our granddaughters. At first I balked at the idea. I resisted and then I remembered the fun the swinging sisters had and I relented. The bolts were screwed in and a pink baby swing gets hooked up whenever our little angel Avery wants to go for a ride. Our new house is a perfect home compared to the one we lived in for so many years. It is big, beautiful and can handle any ideas that my dear hubby can concoct. Last Christmas the girls had another painting done, this one of the new house. It is hung right next to the old one, and in between them is a silver heart that says, "Home is where you hang your heart. It doesn't matter if your house is big or small, fancy or plain. It takes love, laughter and joy to make a house a home." I'm looking forward to the years ahead with my grand kids. Those here and those yet to be born. I hope our house will be a home they'll have fond memories of, whether it be sliding, swinging or dancing their way into the future. -- Kathy Whirity __________________________________________________ Kathy is a newspaper columnist who shares her sentimental musings on family life. She and her husband, Bill, live in Chicago where they are enjoying life as grandparents. Visit Kathy's web site at http://www.kathywhirity.com =========================================================== >-->From Our Friend LouiseAu :) __.------. (__ ___ ) .)e )\ / /_.------ _/_ _/ __.' / ' `-.__ / <.--' `\ / \ \c | / / ) GoT x \ | /\ |c / \.- \ \__/ ) /( ( \ <>'\ / _/ _\- `-. \/_|_ /<> / /--/,-\ _ \ <>.`. \/`--\_._) - / `-/\ `.\ / `. / ) `\ \ \ \___/----' | / `( ___________ \ ./\_ _ \ ______________ / | ) '| __________________ | / \ \ ___________a:f / | |____.) / \ a88a\___/88888a. \_ :)8888888888888888888a. /` `-----' `Y88888888888888888 \____| `88888888888P' >Looking at the Heart (By Kerry Doyal) Saul blew it & God rejected him from being King of Israel. Impressive in stature and well begun - even humble - he stumbled badly due to pride and sin. It brought him down low. It always does. Samuel was tasked to anoint Saul's successor. God had picked, He would guide him to the right one. Incredibly, it was none of Jesse's impressive sons in appearance or height. It was the least, the lowliest, the last - the stinking one tending the few sheep. Thus our verse: "But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." - 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV) In a culture driven to death at times by looks, impressions and appearances, God reminds us where He looks - inside. He urges us to not get fooled by the show, by style over substance, fluff over real stuff. Look past the flash, the flesh and think eternally. Also, tend your own inner garden, till your soul's soil. Is your heart tidy, preened, pruned, guarded? God looks past the facade to our real person. He asks us to do the same. --- ...So true! Thanks LouiseAu! It is not so surprising then that some of our worse people are also some of our most charming and attractive people. The BTK killer for instance was never suspected of being a serial killer because of being a boy scout leader, church leader and family man. You can't always tell a person's character by his outward appearance. That is why God looks to the heart of a person to know his true self. God always tells us the truth! Check out these for more life examples: http://www.ranker.com/list/charming-serial-killers/mike-rothschild =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: \ ___/________ ___ ) , @ / \ \ @___, \ / @__\ /\ @___/ \@/ /\__, | /\_, \/ / /\__/ | / \ / @\ / \ ( / \ / / \ _/__|___/___/_______________/__|____\_____________/__/__________|__\__ unknown >Forgiveness "If you are angry, don't sin by nursing your grudge." I have read about "a scene from a movie a few years ago called 'Nobody's Fool.' There's a working man named Donald Sullivan. Everybody calls him Sully. He's about sixty years old, and spent his whole life in the same town. When his parents died, he inherited their house. He never moved in. Instead he left it alone. It was the house where his father beat him as a child. So he has left it alone, and every day he drives by to watch it slowly fall apart. One day he takes one of his friends, a builder, through that broken-down house. "The builder says, 'Sully, you could have saved this place. You could have fixed it up a little bit, rented it out. You could have sold it and put the money in your own pocket. Instead you stick it to your old man. What's it been--thirty, thirty-five years? You're still keeping score? Well, here's the good news: you won.'" Failing to forgive keeps us bound by the past and under the control of the one whom we feel hurt us and towards whom we are still nursing a grudge--even if they are dead! Little by little it will also cause the love in our heart to decay and crumble. Furthermore, nursing grudges can take years off our life. Jesus, the Master Teacher, knew exactly what and why he was saying to forgive seven-times-seventy--meaning to never quit forgiving. Let’s be realistic and realize that "failing to forgive is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die!" It's not only important that we forgive all who have ever hurt us or let us down, but also that we seek forgiveness for ourselves from those whom we have hurt and above all--to ask for and experience God's forgiveness for all our sins and wrongs. When copying or forwarding include the following: "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2008 ACTS International. -<>- \\ ///// | | (| _ _ |) |` | '| | __ | >>>___/\_^__/\___<<< / ||| \ Mike Hertz >The Old Man As I came out of the supermarket that sunny day, pushing my cart of groceries towards my car, I saw an old man with the hood of his car up and a lady sitting inside the car, with the door open. The old man was looking at the engine. I put my groceries away in my car and continued to watch the old gentleman from about twenty five feet away. I saw a young man in his early twenties with a grocery bag in his arm, walking towards the old man. The old gentleman saw him coming too and took a few steps towards him. I saw the old gentleman point to his open hood and say something. The young man put his grocery bag into what looked like a brand new Cadillac Escalade and then turn back to the old man and I heard him yell at the old gentleman saying, 'You shouldn't even be allowed to drive a car at your age.' And then with a wave of his hand, he got in his car and peeled rubber out of the parking lot. I saw the old gentleman pull out his handkerchief and mop his brow as he went back to his car and again looked at the engine. He then went to his wife and spoke with her and appeared to tell her it would be okay. I had seen enough and I approached the old man. He saw me coming and stood straight and as I got near him I said, 'Looks like you're having a problem.' He smiled sheepishly and quietly nodded his head. I looked under the hood myself and knew that whatever the problem was, it was beyond me. Looking around I saw a gas station up the road and told the old man that I would be right back. I drove to the station and went inside and saw three attendants working on cars. I approached one of them and related the problem the old man had with his car and offered to pay them if they could follow me back down and help him. The old man had pushed the heavy car under the shade of a tree and appeared to be comforting his wife. When he saw us he straightened up and thanked me for my help. As the mechanics diagnosed the problem (overheated engine) I spoke with the old gentleman. When I shook hands with him earlier he had noticed my Marine Corps ring and had commented about it, telling me that he had been a Marine too. I nodded and asked the usual question, 'What outfit did you serve with?' He had mentioned that he served with the first Marine Division at Tarawa, Saipan, Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal. He had hit all the big ones and retired from the Corps after the war was over. As we talked we heard the car engine come on and saw the mechanics lower the hood. They came over to us as the old man reached for his wallet, but was stopped by me and I told him I would just put the bill on my AAA card. He still reached for the wallet and handed me a card that I assumed had his name and address on it and I stuck it in my pocket. We all shook hands all around again and I said my goodbye's to his wife. I then told the two mechanics that I would follow them back up to the station. Once at the station I told them that they had interrupted their own jobs to come along with me and help the old man. I said I wanted to pay for the help, but they refused to charge me. One of them pulled out a card from his pocket looking exactly like the card the old man had given to me. Both of the men told me then, that they were Marine Corps Reserves. Once again we shook hands all around and as I was leaving, one of them told me I should look at the card the old man had given to me. I said I would and drove off. For some reason I had gone about two blocks when I pulled over and took the card out of my pocket and looked at it for a long, long time. The name of the old gentleman was on the card in golden leaf and under his name. "Congressional Medal of Honor Society." I sat there motionless looking at the card and reading it over and over. I looked up from the card and smiled to no one but myself and marveled that on this day, four Marines had all come together, because one of us needed help. He was an old man all right, but it felt good to have stood next to greatness and courage and an honor to have been in his presence. Remember, old men like him gave us FREEDOM for America' America is not at war. The U.S. Military is at war. America is at the Mall. If you don't stand behind our troops, PLEASE feel free to stand in front of them -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Boys To President http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/boystopres.html Presidents Before And After http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/presidents.html Mountain Biking http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/mountainbiking.html Telephone Sheep Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/phonesheep.html Hand Painting Art 2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/hpaint2.html The Blue Ribbon http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/blueribbon.html Lest We Forget http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lestweforget.html Making A Difference http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/makingdifference.html Pay It Forward http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/payitforward.html Proud Of Our Troops http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/troops.html Random Acts Of Kindness http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/actsofkindness.html Short Life Stories http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/lifestories.html That's God http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/thatsgod.html Wisdom For Life http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wisdomforlife.html Amazing Human Body http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/humanbody.html Up Close And Personal http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/personal.html Winter Wildlife http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/winter.html Detroit Steel http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/detroitsteel.html Most Expensive Cars http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/expensivecars.html -<>- >In The News: >From AFA: In August, Judge Reed O'Connor of the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Texas blocked President Barack Obama's transgender bathroom directive. The Obama Administration appealed that decision to the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans. The good news is that, over the weekend, Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ Department of Justice withdrew the appellate motion filed by the Obama administration. This means that Judge O'Connor's ruling will likely stand. This is a victory for our children's safety and the rule of law. Thank Attorney General Sessions for this action to protect our children's privacy and safety. Click below: http://tinyurl.com/gss3mwm -<>- >From TruthOrTradition: New Audio Teachings: Joy and Forgiveness (Jan 2016) by John W. Schoenheit http://tinyurl.com/zltl34n 3 Weeks in Thessalonica (Dec 2016) by Dave Hanson http://tinyurl.com/hvgoz58 Begin with the End in Mind (Nov 2016) Live teaching by Jeff Tyler http://tinyurl.com/hzn3clp Unity (Oct 2016) Live teaching by Dan Gallagher http://tinyurl.com/jrrbwbo Blogs: GOOD NEWS – NOT FAKE NEWS??????? http://tinyurl.com/hz8d9pt Sometimes Narrow-minded is Right-minded http://tinyurl.com/hdfzwow -<>- >Latest From ManhattanDeclarationDigest: http://tinyurl.com/z9smuby -<>- >From Our Friend Linda :) She sent us some great ones we have here... Snow Fun http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/snowfun.html Snow Fun 2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/snowfun2.html Snow Fun 3 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/snowfun3.html --- ...LOL! These are a hoot! Thanks Linda! She also sent us these sweet ones... I Believe... http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/believe.html Wood Carving Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/woodart3.html --- ...Love these! Thanks for the reminder Linda! This guy is a nut but his collection of things from the fifties and sixties is amazing. Guns, hotrods, and Elvis! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9XFqL-3KfU&app=desktop --- ...What a great collector! Thanks Linda! -<>- >From Our Friend Geniann :) She sent us one we have here... Best Friends - Suryia And Roscoe http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/orang2.html --- ...So adorable! Thanks Geniann And she sent us... Rarely Seen Things 3 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/rarelyseen3.html --- ...Thanks Geniann! This is a cool series! I love seeing how things work or are made! Be sure to see them all here... Rarely Seen Things http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/rarelyseen.html Rarely Seen Things 2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/rarelyseen2.html And Finally... Rarely Seen Things 4 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/rarelyseen4.html -<>- >From Our Friend Melody :) Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Chicken and Veggies - The Magical Slow Co http://tinyurl.com/zx7xxcz 10 Heart Health Myths Busted http://tinyurl.com/h34v3bz The Four Stages of Sleep (NREM and REM Sleep Cycles) http://tinyurl.com/zoxjqww --- ...Most Interesting! Thanks Melody! Satan enters 3rd elementary school - Return to OrderReturn to Order http://tinyurl.com/zgmvyvx --- ...This is stupid - we can't have prayer meetings or even mention Jesus Christ at school activities but they think it is OK to have this? Grrrr. Thanks Melody! -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseAu :) 17-year-old magician Rosy from Pompeii, Italy amazes us with a uniquely entertaining magic show at Italy's Got Talent 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QiAHO2wRPGI No man can mess with this woman in heels at a 1947 self-defense class. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbFtFaNkXCc&feature=player_embedded --- ...She's got some awesome moves! Thanks LouiseAu! Visit Melissa's Online Store You can get anything you want (except for Melissa ) at the online store http://pdhomes.net/mall/babylissa/mySTORES/ISELL4.html ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Fran :) _.-'`'-._ .-' _ '-. `-.__ `\_.-' | `-``\| jgs `-.....-A # # >Too Busy for a Friend..... One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers. That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual. On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. 'Really?' she heard whispered. 'I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!' and, 'I didn't know others liked me so much,' were most of the comments. No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another. That group of students moved on. Several years later, one of the students was killed in Vietnam and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student. She had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. He looked so handsome, so mature.. The church was packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin. The teacher was the last one to bless the coffin. As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her. 'Were you Mark's math teacher?' he asked. She nodded: 'yes.' Then he said: 'Mark talked about you a lot.' After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates went together to a luncheon. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher. 'We want to show you something,' his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket 'They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it.' Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him. 'Thank you so much for doing that,' Mark's mother said. 'As you can see, Mark treasured it.' All of Mark's former classmates started to gather around, Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said 'I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home.' Chuck's wife said, 'Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album.' 'I have mine too,' Marilyn said. 'It's in my diary' Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. 'I carry this with me at all times,' Vicki said and without batting an eyelash, she continued: 'I think we all saved our lists' That's when the teacher finally sat down and cried. She cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again. The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don't know when that one day will be. So please, tell the people you love and care for, that they are special and important. Tell them, before it is too late. And One Way To Accomplish This Is: Forward this message on. If you do not send it, you will have, once again passed up the wonderful opportunity to do something nice and beautiful. If you've received this, it is because someone cares for you and it means there is probably at least someone for whom you care. If you're 'too busy' to take those few minutes right now to forward this message on, would this be the VERY first time you didn't do that little thing that would make a difference in your relationships? The more people that you send this to, the better you'll be at reaching out to those you care about. Remember, you reap what you sow. What you put into the lives of others comes back into your own. --- ...Such a beautiful classic! Thanks Fran! ========================================================== , // ,,/ ,.// ,/ ,// / /, // ,/, /, // ,/, /, // ,/,_|_// ,/ ,, ,/, // ,/ /, //, /,/ /, /,.-' '-. ,// ////, // ,/,/, // /// , ,/,/ \ // ,,///, // ,/,/, // , ,/ , ^^^^^|^^^^^ ,// /// /,,/,/, ///, // / // | O , // ,/, //, ///, // ,/ ,/ ,, J\/|\_ |+'(` , |) ^ ||\|||\|/` | /,/ | || ,)// |\/-\|| ||| |\] . / /,, /| . , ///, . /, // ,//, / , / ejm \ \ ). //, ,( ,/,/, // ,/, >Rainstorm Story Editor: by Janet Hounsell Randy Cassingham New Hampshire, USA I live in a small New England Village. One summer's day, I drove slowly along our main street as a horrendous and sudden summer shower threatened. The sky darkened and the wind whipped around warningly. I pulled to the side of the street. A rusticating pick-up truck pulled ahead of me into the next parking place. Open to the weather in its body were what was obviously the family's entire belongings: mattresses on end, baskets and boxes of clothing, and other household goods. "Oh my, those poor people," I thought, observing children in the seat of the truck cab. They were obviously moving from one home to another and their belongings, humble though they were, were going to get soaked! Just then a little old lady whipped by me and into the variety store before which we were all parked to wait out the storm. In minutes, she was out again, tearing the wrapping from a package containing a huge sheet of plastic. She busily rapped on the window of the truck, and motioned the woman driver out and between them they whipped that covering over the entire load in the body of the truck! Rain came down in torrents and the wind whipped around in a demented fashion. Fighting the gale, the two women managed to weigh down the plastic sheet's corners and edges, thereby providing protection for the little family's belongings. Everyone back inside their vehicles, we sat out the brief storm. The sun broke out in all its splendor. I rolled down my window as the little old lady and the young mother emerged to meet at the rear of the pick-up. And I heard the wizened (and soaking wet) little old lady say, "Don't thank me, Just Pass It On when you have the opportunity." =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Our Friend Linda :) How Awesome are we as God's Creation? _---~~(~~-_. _{ ) ) , ) -~~- ( ,-' )_ ( `-,_..`., )-- '_,) ( ` _) ( -~( -_ `, } (_- _ ~_-~~~~`, ,' ) `~ -^( __;-,((())) ~~~~ {_ -_(()) `\ } { } >Fascinating Information about the Human Brain The human brain is the single most complex thing in the known universe. Even in this time of medical wonders, we still have not been able to uncover the full secrets of this incredible organ. However, we do know some things about the most important organ in the body, and here are some interesting ones you should definitely know about: 1. The belief that humans only use 10% of their brains is incorrect. Each part of the brain has a specific function and the average person uses all the various parts of the brain. 2. Have you ever had such a headache it felt like your brain is going to explode? That's not actually your brain hurting, because the brain has no pain receptors at all. Mother nature assumes you don't need it because it's never exposed (thankfully) and is usually protected by our thick skull. 3. You must think that your buttocks are the fattiest part of the body, but it is, in fact, the brain with the highest % of the body, about 60% of it is fat. 4. The brain has a texture similar to tofu, and enough liquid to fill a 2 liter (half a gallon) tank. 5. Thought creates 'pathways' that connect different parts of the brain. The more we repeat a thought, the more that pathway will become more central, wide and stable. That is why it is important not to think over and over about negative things, because they become permanent, and strong, pathways in your mind, and the chances are will force themselves on you more and more. (Also why it is good to repeat what you have just learned) 6. We think about 70,000 thoughts a day. A large part of these are automatic' thoughts that we repeat a lot, using our most 'established' thought pathways. 7. Most people dream about 4-7 dreams a night. 50% of those dreams are forgotten in the first minutes after waking. And the one we remember is usually one we were either just dreaming or a mix of all the dreams we had put together. No wonder they always seem so confusing. 8. Sleep is usually the time the brain uses to organize and put together the memories it has accumulated throughout the day. And so, in many cases, before making big decisions it's better to 'sleep on it'. 9. The messages between the various brain cells (neurons) are passed in the form of weak electrical pulses. The brain creates 23 watts of electricity while awake, enough to light a light bulb. 10. While we laugh, about 5 areas light up in the brain simultaneously. So its no laughing matter, laughing. 11. The reason tickling makes us laugh is that the brain becomes 'surprised' by this kind of touch, which is first interpreted as a threat. The uncontrollable laughter is actually a panic response by the body. That is why it's not possible to tickle ourselves. 12. The human brain has more 'wrinkles' and crevices than those of other animals. In this way, the brain gets more surface space while staying at around the same size, and it is part of the reason for our increased intelligence. 13. Brain cells (neurons) are not only found in the brain but exist everywhere in the body the brain needs to send orders to, and all of them are connected to the brain. 14. Some archaeological findings think that our cranium has gotten smaller over the ages, but that doesn't mean our brain has become less powerful, only more efficient. 15. The brain alone uses 20% of all the oxygen we breathe and over 25% of the sugar we consume. Meaning, deep thoughts might cost the body resources just like sports can. Who said chess players are not athletes too? 16. The female and male s#xual hormones cause a different brain to develop. Studies have found significant differences in the brain functions of male and female during social situations, decision making, pressure situations and more. 17. The brain isn't fully developed until the teen years are over. Multitasking, showing empathy and good decision making are some of the skills that develop a little later. This, we're sure you'll agree - explains A LOT. 18. The brain is constantly changing. Damage to one part of it may cause that part to change to a different location in the brain, especially if you are a baby or a child. Beyond that, every thought, experience or skill we encounter and learn changes the structure of our brain. 19. Memories aren't built in a linear progression. We only remember pictures' or moments, and we put together a story from them ourselves. That is why it's tricky to trust your memory, because you may have done some editing' without knowing it. --- ...Fascinating! Thanks Linda! ========================================================== >-->From Kidwarmers: _.--. .-"`_.--.\ .-.___________ ."_-"` \\ ( 0;------/\"'` ,."=___ =)) \ \ / \ `~` .=`~'~) ( _/ / / \ =`---====""~`\ _/ / \ `-------"` / \ jgs / \ ( ) '._ _.' '----' >THE FUNNIEST THINGS KIDS SAY Sharon's twin daughters, Katie and Cera, are from China. Last year, when they were 5, Katie came home from school with this announcement: "Thomas said he knows babies come from Mommy's tummy. But not me -- I came from China!" -- Sharon Stroh of Angola, Indiana Here is another story from Sharon. This past Christmas she took Katie and Cera to Fairview Missionary Church's Bethlehem Marketplace. Once again the event was a huge success, drawing large crowds and conveying the feeling of an actual visit to Bethlehem 2,000 years ago. Katie and Cera were very impressed with all the sights and sounds. A few days later they drove by the church on the way to go shopping. All the cars and trucks which had transported animals were gone. Looking out the window Cera proclaimed, "There is no one in Bethlehem!" While getting out of the shower, a friend of Melva's went from the bathroom to the bedroom to get her underwear. As she entered the bedroom from the bathroom, her 11-year-old son entered the bedroom from the hallway. Since she was on the way to get her underwear, she of course had nothing on and he saw a completely naked mother. He was surprised and screamed at the top of his lungs. Since she didn't know he was there and he screamed, Melva's friend then screamed at the top of her lungs. After getting dressed she went to talk to him and said, "I am so sorry you had to see me naked like that." He replied, "That's OK, Mom, just be glad Daddy didn't see you like that!" -- Melva Brown of Oxford, Ohio .-. ## ) * _.-+*'`*+-._ ,## _ _ #. ;### ((.;;.)) ##: .=._.; ,-*:;;:*-. *##:._.=, >##; *-')_@@_(`-* ;###< ---------------`****------(o `` o)-----*****'-------------e:l `-""-' Kelly, 3, lives in the country. One day his grandparents drove out in the country where they live. When they arrived he tried to say something, and Shari said, "What happened, you can't talk?" He looked up, so cute, and said, "Someone stole my voice away." -- Shari Mallory-Maxa (grandmother of Kelly) of Austin, Texas Ethan, 12, was tossing a ball up and down to pass the time away. Deanie, 10, joined him. When it was Ethan's turn and he kept the ball to himself too long, Deanie complained, "It's my turn to throw up!" -- Kellie Holland (Ethan and Deanie's mom) of Essexville, Michigan A few weeks ago, Wendy's children, Marcy, 6, and Coby, 4, were discussing politics with their mother. Wendy told them who she voted for, and Coby announced that he voted for Barack Obama. When Wendy explained that he must be at least 18 years old to vote, he replied, "Mom, when you weren't looking, I went up to my room, and I voted for Barack Obama!" -- Wendy of Corunna, Indiana . : . . : | : . . | | | , \ | | / . ,-'"""`-. . "- / __ __ \ -" |==| I |==| - --- | _`--^--'_ | --- - |'`. ,'`| _- \ "---" / -_ . `-.___,-' . / | | \ .' | | | `. : | : . : . Every morning when Calvin 2 gets up and it is sunny he tells his parents, "The sun is up." At night he will say, "The sun is not up, but I don't need go bed," and when it is cloudy he will say, "The sun needs to come from the clouds." -- Lorraine Belt (mom to Calvin) of Las Vegas Over the weekend Stacy was putting a bed together; she almost had it done when Marcus, 4, came in and said, "Wow, Mom, you can make beds, too!" -- Stacy Fry of Kendallville, Indiana Milinda and her 3-year-old daughter were rooting for the Colts to win their playoff game. The little girl wanted to know which team they were rooting for. Milinda told her the white (jersey) team. The Colts lost. The next weekend they were watching football again and Milinda's daughter started rooting for the team in the white again. Milinda told her this time they were rooting for the team with the black jerseys... the Steelers. Without hesitation Milinda's daughter said, "Mommy, we can't root for the Steelers because they are not very nice if they steal!" -- Milinda Abel of Auburn, Indiana .::""-, .::""-. /:: \ /:: \ |:: | _..--""""--.._ |:: | '\:.__ / .' '. \:.__ / ||____|.' '.||____| ||:. | |:. | ||:. | |:. | ||:. | |:. | ||:. | _..---"````````'---. |:. | ||:. | ` \:. | ||:. |: : .--._.-""-; ||:. |: : _.---``````---/ '. _.`. ||:. | .-' _,'```'-...' _ .-'.' '-. ||:. .-' .' '. . ' '. `'. ||: ;.' .`' _. '`'-. '. . ''-._ ||:. : '. .' '. . ' ' '.` '._ ||:. : '. .' .::""-: .''. ' . . ' ' :::""-. ||:. ' ..' . /:: \ '. . '. /:: \ ||: : . .' '.|:: | _.:---""---.._' |:: | ||. ; .: '\:.__ / .' '. \:.__ / ||: ; : '. . ||____|_.' '._||____| ||: ;__: '. .' ||:. | ||:. | ||:___| \ '. : ||:. | ||:. | [[____] '. '.-._||:. | ||:. | '. : ||:. | ||:. | '. : ||:. | ||:. | '-: ||:. | ||:. | '._||:. |________________________||:. | ||:___|'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-'-.-||:___| jgs [[____] [[____] Imogene's husband was bedfast for five months and passed away in November. Their 4-year-old great-granddaughter, Raven Elizabeth, came to see him often and he adored her. He was fortunate to have a complete air-controlled bed with several controls and Raven learned all of them. He would tell her what position he would like to be in and she would take him there. After he passed away, Raven's mother explained that Pap-Paw had gone to heaven to live and she would not be able to see him any more. She cried and cried and said, "My poor Pap-Paw." After a while she wiped her face, composed herself and asked, "Did he take his bed?" -- Imogene Johnson of Ligonier, Indiana Trevor, 3, keeps his family laughing. This past summer he was at his Grandma Fox's house. When she asked him to pick up his toys, he said, "I can't. My back is killing me." -- Grandma Angie Klarke of Bluffton, Indiana When Trevor's parents announced they were going to have a new baby, Trevor asked, "Does that mean you're giving Isabella away?" (Isabella is his 16-month-old sister.) One day Trevor pointed to his Grandma Klarke's kitchen cabinet and insisted on "mashed potatoes." It was a strange request. He usually asks for candy. Finally, his Grandma Klarke figured out he wanted the game Mr. Potato Head! Doris was caring for Tyler for the day. After he visited the bathroom he came up to Doris and said, "Mamaw, I know where you keep your spare teeth." He had looked in her denture cup and had seen her lower denture soaking. -- Doris J. Reesor (great-grandmother of Tyler) of Battletown, Kentucky /'=----= ______ (( || "--.__." " @>||_____________// _______ /^\"""""""""""//\========) _--"""--/-. "\ // _\-:::-/_-. ." .-"""-/ "_\ "\ == // ;::\:::/::".\ ; / _/ " \\ "\-+//--..._\_/:::::\\ . ; o . || ( ()/)======(o)::::::. . \ ; .| -|.;____...."b:::::; . -._ _ - ; == :::::::::::; "-..____.' ls ":::::::' One day quite awhile back Larry was conversing with his middle son Brandon. "What kind of video games did you have when you were a little boy, Dad?" Brandon asked. Imagine the shock Brandon went through when Larry told him they didn't even have TV. "What did you do, Dad, I mean for fun?" Larry replied, "We played outdoors, Son." (Larry says the shocked look on his face was worth a thousand words!) -- Larry A. Houston Here is another story about "way back when." Ogden, 6, was watching TV with his little brother. The program mentioned an event in the year 2001. Ogden turned to his little brother Alton and said, "Did you hear that? The year 2001... That was the Olden Days!" -- Diane Schlemmer (grandmother of Ogden and Alton) of LaGrange, Indiana Having a grandchild who loves vegetables and anything that tastes weird or unusual, Roger decided to cook sausage and sauerkraut for supper. As the smell traveled throughout the house, Madison, 5, came walking into the kitchen and said, "Papa what's that de-gusting smell?" "You will love it," Roger replied. Sure enough she loved the meal but at supper she continued to tell Papa that the smell was "de-gusting... just like him." -- Roger Kiser of Georgia _.---._ _.-~ ~-._ _.-~ ~-._ _.-~ ~---._ _.-~ ~\ .-~ _.; :-._ _.-~ ./ }-._~-._ _..__.-~ _.-~) `-._~-._~-._ / .__..--~_.-~ ~-._~-._\. _.-~_/ _..--~~ ~-. \`--...--~_.-~/~~ \.`--...--~_.-~ ~-..----~ Kari was making lunch for her son Ethan and her niece Ainsley, both 4. Ainsley asked what they were having and Kari said she was going to make them grilled cheese. Ethan ran into the kitchen and said, "But Mom ... I don't want girl cheese, I want boy cheese!" -- Kari Reith of Huntertown, Indiana Karlee, 2, had soiled her BIG GIRL panties. Her mother s pent the entire cleanup time going over the whys and hows of using the toilet. When cleanup was finished she said, "Karlee, next time you have your big girl panties on and you need to poopy where are you going to go?" Without missing a beat Karlee answered, "To a hiding place." -- Alyce Sherman (grandmother of Karlee) of Glenvil, Nebraska When Abby, 4, and Reed, 7, kept referring to parmesan cheese as "sprinkle cheese" their father insisted that their mother keep correcting them. Several days later as they were eating pizza, Abby asked, "Can you please pass me the Papa John cheese?" -- Jeaneen (grandmother to Reed and Abby) of Bluffton, Indiana _. ,-.,-"`""-./ \ / \ `-.| .:::.:::. \ / `-._ ::::::::: | "=\ ':::::' | .==" |o_|_ ':' | _o. ` (_) ,;;;,;;;, ; \\ ;;;;;;;;; \ _. /|-. ';;;;;' \ ` `'---'/ \ ';' \ .--._ /-' | ,-`. / `-._( / `-._`-._\ `\ '\ ( ` `'._ _, | \ / ~-. `| | | / `;-.| | | .' \ /| | / .'-. '. | \ | .' `-._ '. | /"` `\ jgs / `"--.,_'-._\-.___.'_ ; / `""";--' `. | / .'` \ /""-. ; / \""-, \ | / | \ | \ | '. |/ '. \ .'`-. / '._ '.,___,.;' '-.___.' `"""----------'` Stella, 2, has decided that she can't touch/kiss/hug "boys!" This includes her Dad and Grandpa. While getting ready for bed one night, Nana told her to give hugs and kisses to Grandma and Grandpa. She was very willing to kiss Grandma, but would have nothing to do with Grandpa. Nana told her to at least blow Grandpa a kiss, which she was more than happy to do. When she finished she said, "There, now that wasn't so bad, was it!" -- Suzy Payne (Nana) of Springfield Oregon While eating dinner one night, Mommy got up to get herself some more water. She asked everyone at the table, one by one, if they needed anything while she was up. Each person answered, "I'm good." When it came to Stella, Mommy asked her if she needed anything to which she replied (with a BIG smile on her face), "I'm not good!" Lydia is a 2nd grader in the school district where Beth teaches. She loves to join Beth to work in her middle school. While Beth works, Lydia sometimes explores the hall areas. A colleague happened to be working there too during one of Lydia's recent visits. She later told Beth that she came upon Lydia in a locker area in another wing, hiding behind a pillar. Beth's colleague greeted her and Lydia said a whispered hello. The woman whispered back, "Are you hiding from someone?" Lydia nodded. "Who?" she asked. Lydia jumped up, pointed her finger and said, "You!" -- Beth Fryer (grandmother of Lydia) of Lebanon, Pennsylvania Logan's parents were trying to get him to use "please" and "thank you." One night at dinner with Logan's grandparents, Logan's father asked Logan, "What words do Mommy and Daddy like to use?" Logan, 2, thought for a second and said "Time out!" -- Dolores Tichenor (Logan's great-aunt) of Angola, Indiana _....._ /::::::.\ /xx::::::.\ |#xx|n|:xx| \##x/xxxx#/ | |\-.-.|\#/#####/ | . |.-,-/| /\__V_\'|B""""|\-.-|| :o. /_v_=\ \ \ /, |0| o,o|/ / /==o=|\ \ \|o.- |0|_.O-- |||\_|=_=/]/ ||o.o|| \[\_v_|.-'\.' |(_)=)-=== \]=-=|/ | @ \-' \ '=: \V| m|--e-+------ |=O==| '._|=._\| |\_\_v_E)| '/\ '/==..__ / |//'. | |=>o<=| |-\"\ /-=/ '. | './-\_/-\ |_o| '.___.' _/._/ |-|_ _|._/ \_.| \_/\ /:__o| |o_:\ /:_o| |o_:. /:_o| l42 Three-year-old twins Tyler and Gregory went with their mother to meet their father at a pizza place for the lunch buffet. The boys both wanted pepperoni pizza, but there was none. When more pizzas were brought out, Tyler asked if any were pepperoni. Their dad Eric responded, "No it looks like they brought out everything but pepperoni." Tyler said, "Ewww, butt pepperoni -- that's gross. I don't want that." Nicole and her husband just started laughing. And needless to say Tyler didn't eat pepperoni that day! -- Nicole Beuchel (mother of Tyler and Gregory) of Fort Wayne, Indiana Note: You are welcomed to use, copy and share these stories, but please reference http://www.funnykids.com as the source. ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend LouiseAu :) .0. / \ ; \_/ ; | | | | | | _______; ;_______ `======='\ /`=======` \ / _ | | _ _( \____|=|____/ )_ ( .---. .---. ) `-' / \ '-' / HUG \ ; ; | .---.|__, jgs : / :--' .--\ \ | `" `"".-' < =""` `"== `""""""` =""` `"""===="""` =""` `""==="""` >BYE FOR NOW By Heather Spears Kallus Goodbye seems so final – seven letters in a row, “Bye for now” feels better – this I do know. When parting ways from this earth or simply for the day, Bye for now is comforting – that I must say. Bye for now provides a chance to meet again somehow, To give or get another hug – that time, it will allow. Bye for now offers hope to all the ones we love, That simple phrase might be a gift directly from above. Days can feel oh so long, but years are short indeed, Ask anyone who’s lost a love – “Just one more day,” we plead. All the memories in our hearts, tucked away, we keep, Special ones leave a mark, one that’s surely deep. So, let’s not say goodbye. Let’s change the way we part, Let’s say, “Bye for now.” It’s softer on the heart. Whether it is in a text, long e-mail, or note, Let it be remembered – bye for now is what we wrote. Or when our time on earth has met its final date, It’s bye for now, not goodbye – see you at The Gate! --- ...Excellent! 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