Happy Blessed Mother's Day Weekend! ... :) 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 ================ *~* 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 ~ .-. _,,,,,_ .-. ( , ' : : ' , ) / : : \ ; 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, 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! ================ *~* Happy Blessed Mother's Day Weekend! .="""=." /__ .. `"." ` `".`: `." <*^*^*>\ : ." (((()\ | : ." < ^((()|| : ." __, /\, = )))/ : ." .-"`{*} \_/ `~)_\/.' ." ." ::{*} \ \ / |: ." / .:. {*} \ \/ / |: ." |:: ' ::{*} \ / |: ." {^"*"^"*"^"*"^"*"^"*"^"*"^} |`"""|._.=" |^=.=^=.=^=.=^=.=^=.=^=.=^| | \ | .:. .:. .:. .:. .:. | | `\ | ' :: ' :: ' :: ' :: ' | / `\ | .:. .:. .:. .:. .:. | | `\ | ' :: ' :: ' :: ' :: ' | | `""-. _ {"*"^"*"^"*"^"*"^"*"^"*"^"*"} \ `\\ jgs `.=^=.=^=.=^=.=^=.=^=.=^=.` `-.__..-.__.-._.-\) >-->HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This super scorcher comes from our friends Geniann and Cloie. It is sure to tickle your funny bone and give you plenty of smiles for your day. Check it out here... IRONIC Isn't It 3? http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/irony3.html --- ...HaHa! Such a funny series! Thanks Ladies! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: 8 8 8 /```| .@@@@@, 8 8 | 66|_ @@@@@@@@, 8 (\/) 8 C _) aa`@@@@@@ 8 \/ 8(\/) \ ._| (_ ?@@@@ 8 |8:\/:~:~) /:~:~: =' @@@@~:~:8 |8::::::/\\/`\;_:::\ (__:::::8 |8:::::| \ '\___/``\\// `\)::8 |8::::|| | '|::/ / ^^ \ \::8 |8::::|| | ' \:| \__/\__/ |::8 |8o:::|\ \ ' |:\_\ /_/:::8o |"8o:::=\ \===::/`\`%%`/'\:::"8o |\"8o~| \_\ \| `""` |:~:\8o \ \"8o\ ))) \ \:::"8o \ \"8o:`. \ \ \:::"8o \|~~~~~| -|| -|mmmmmmmmmmmm~~~~| `~~~~~| || |~~| |~| |~~~~~` jgs | || | |__| |__| | || | \ | \ | |__||__| (~~^\(~~^\ ( \ \ `-._)`-._) `-._)-._) >FINALLY THERE by Melody Cummings My Canadian-born mother died the day I was born -- the result of an auto accident the week before. My father, an alcoholic, was hardly able to care for himself, much less an infant and a 3 year-old toddler. So my aunt and uncle in Oklahoma raised my older brother and me from the time I was a tiny baby. They were so good to us and treated us just like their own. But ever since I was a little kid, about 7 or 8 years old, I had always yearned to go to New Mexico to visit my mother's grave site. I suppose I was searching for some connection to the mother I'd never known. My blind husband is a Blues musician and had been invited to Santa Fe, New Mexico, to play for a fund raiser to benefit Guide Dogs for the Blind. The day after the concert, we set out for the small town -- a four-hour drive away from where I was born. I was finally going to realize my childhood dream of being in a place where my mother had been. Once we arrived, we stopped at a local florist to get some flowers to take to the cemetery. We found a big, beautiful bouquet -- one that I hoped my mother would have loved. After purchasing the flowers, I asked the sales clerk in the florist shop, "Could you give me driving directions to Oaklawn Cemetery?" "Sure," she said, and then wrote down the directions and handed them to me. "Thanks so much," I replied. It was raining that Saturday morning. "Rather fitting for our destination," I thought to myself. When we got to the cemetery, it was closed. Locked up. I asked Morris, "Did you ever in your life hear of a cemetery being closed, especially on a Saturday?" After the initial disappointment that I'd waited 44 years and come all this way just to be denied access, we drove around all four sides of Oaklawn Cemetery looking for, and eventually finding, a gate that was unlocked through which we could walk into the cemetery. We took the flowers and walked in the rain. And we walked and we walked -- up one row and down another. This was not a small cemetery either. The two of us walked together hand-in-hand for over an hour in the rain with no umbrella and no success. We went back to the rental car to sit down and rest. My older brother had visited there several years ago, so I called him from my cell phone. "Robert, we're at the cemetery in Farmington and I can't find mother's grave site. Do you remember where it is? Can you tell me where to look?" "All I can remember is that she's buried on a sloping hill by a big cedar tree," was his reply. I told him, "But now all the roads in the cemetery are lined with cedar trees." I was so let down. It would take forever find it with just that information. "She has a brown headstone," he added. Soaking wet, Morris and I got out of the car and walked in the rain again. This time to an area that we hadn't walked before, checking all the brown headstones. I pondered the many lives represented by those tombstones and the losses suffered by their families, and saddened for my own loss. And then, I saw it -- a brown headstone with her name on it. The headstone read: Florence Anne Henderson July 27, 1925 - June 2, 1960 To Know Her Was To Love Her. We had found it! Morris and I walked through the rain and placed the big bouquet of bright, colorful flowers on her grave. As we stood in front of the beautiful, weather-worn, brown headstone, almost immediately the rain stopped and the bright, midday sun burst through dark gray clouds! I looked up thinking, "Mama, is that you?" Maybe, just maybe, someone above the clouds was watching and was as glad to see me as I was to finally be there. -- Melody Cummings ___________________________________________ Melody lives in Memphis, Tennessee and is a computer programmer. She lives with her husband, "Blind Mississippi" Morris, and stepson, Eurice. They live in a 100+ year old, 3 story home, that they are renovating. ___________________________________________ A--A .-./ #\.-. '--;d b;--' \# \/ / \'--'/ |==| | #| |# | / #\ ; # ; | # | /| ,, #|\ /#| || | \ .-.' |# || |# '.-. (.=.),'| ||# |',(.=.) '-' / #)( \ '-' jgs `""` `""` >MY FAVORITE TASK Don't beat on that door. There's no need to shout. I hear loud and clear. I'm not coming out. If I hear, "Mommy, why?" I may lose my mind. Let me have silence. I've got to unwind! No noses to wipe. No picking up toys. No bottoms to clean. No deafening noise. I'm not fixing snacks. Broke up my last fight. Go fend for yourselves. I'm gone for the night. Crying and whining will not work today. I'm staying cocooned in my hideaway. Go get your Dad. It's his turn, I say To soothe bumps and scrapes, Shoo bad dreams away. When I close my eyes I dream of a place -- Candles and music, chocolate and lace. With my eyes open, I can't help but see Stains and the mess of my reality. Is that a dark ring around the bathtub? I long for a place I don't have to scrub. Ten minutes to pray is all that I ask I'll be "Mom" again -- my favorite task! -- Donna J. Shepherd ___________________________________________ Donna is a children's author and inspirational writer. You are welcomed to visit her website, Devotionals by Donna at http://www.donnashepherd.com Her children's writing can be found at Topsy Turvy Land at: http://topsyturvyland.com ___________________________________________ .oOOo. .oOOo. .oO:::::Oo.oO:::::Oo. .oO::o88o::o::o88o::Oo. oO::888888o:o888888::Oo oO::888888888888888::Oo 'oO::8888888888888::Oo' 'oO::88888888888::Oo' 'oO::8888888::Oo' 'oO::88888::Oo' 'oO::8::Oo' jgs 'oO:Oo' 'O' >PROTECT YOUR HEART -- BE HAPPY! BBC Report, April 18, 2005 Every moment of happiness counts when it comes to protecting your heart, researchers have said. A team from University College London said happiness leads to lower levels of stress-inducing chemicals. They found that even when happier people experienced stress, they had low levels of a chemical which increases the risk of heart disease. The research is published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. This shows that people who are happy and unstressed are likely to have less potentially dangerous stress chemicals in their bodies. Researchers tested 116 men and 100 women who were taking part in a major study of thousands of London-based civil servants recruited between 1985 and 1988 when 35-55 years old to investigate the risk factors for coronary heart disease. They carried out tests on people at work, during leisure periods and in the laboratory. People were also asked whether or not they were happy at 33 moments during the day. The researchers then evaluated how often people were happy in the course of the day. Leisure was, unsurprisingly, linked with more happy moments than work. It was found that some people reported they never felt happy, while others reported feeling occasional happiness and those who felt happy most of the time. Levels of cortisol -- a stress hormone -- were 32% lower in people who reported more happy moments. Cortisol has been related to abdominal obesity, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and auto-immune disorders. The researchers also discovered happy people have had lower levels of fibrinogen when they were stressed. Professor Andrew Steptoe, who led the study, said, "What this study shows is that there are plausible biological pathways linking happiness with health." He added, "What we find particularly interesting is that the associations between happiness and biological responses were independent of psychological distress." =========================================================== >-->From Our Friend LouiseAu :) .-"''-. _ .' `( \ @/ ') ,--,__,-" / / \ / / _/ __| , |/ / .~ `\ / \ , | / .~ `\ ` / _/ _/ .~ `\ ~~`__/ / ~ `--'/ / / / / /' /jgs >Take Time To Rest According to a Greek legend, in ancient Athens a man noticed the great storyteller Aesop playing childish games with some little boys. He jeered at Aesop, asking him why he wasted his time in frivolous activity. Aesop responded by picking up a bow, loosening its string, and placing it on the ground. Then he turned to the critical Athenian. "Now, if you can, tell us what the unstrung bow implies." The man looked at the ground for several moments but could think of nothing to say. "If you keep a bow always tight and bent," Aesop explained, "it will break eventually; but if you let it go slack, it will be more fit for use when you need it." People are also like that. That's why we all need to take time to rest. Jesus prescribed time off for His wearied disciples after they had returned from a long period of ministry. (Mark 6:30-31) And in the Old Testament, God set a pattern for us when He "rested from all His work" (Genesus 2:3). Take His example seriously. Start by setting aside a special time to relax physically and renew yourself emotionally and spiritually. You will be at your best for the Lord if you have taken time to "loosen the bow." --- ...A very important lesson. Thanks LouiseAu! _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` I've come to understand that when God gave us rules to live by, they were for our own good and not something He wanted to hang over our head just to see if we would obey him as our Lord and Master. God started us out with this familiar No No: Gen.2: [17] But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. For our own good we were not to eat of it. Why? Because if we did, we'd choose evil over good and loose the one connection we had with God which was His Spirit inside of us. We would die not having His eternal spirit inside us any more. And we all know how that turned out. Mankind chose evil and God had to give us Jesus Christ as our savior so we could again have His spirit and regain eternal life with Him. And then we have this one... Exod.20: [10] But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: Why Rest? The reason is because God loves us and wants what is best for us. All work and no play or rest can lead to a whole host of physical problems. God knows this and so made it a commandment to us. Just as a mother or father would tell a child not to touch a hot pan or hot stove. The child doesn't know or understand why, but does what their parent tells them or winds up suffering the consequences from doing what their parent told them not to. God also told us... Gen.9: [4] But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. We know now that blood can carry all sorts of diseases and illness. Back then, they had no way of knowing it would be unsafe to eat it. God knew and made it a commandment not to eat it. We need to Trust God our Father. He always knows best! ============================================================ >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: H A P P Y M O T H E R' S D A Y 2 0 1 7 ____ |\ /| .' `". | Y | is for the million things she gave me, / | \ ___ | \__.-, (_, / \ \ /` 9 `\ / \___/ means only that she is growing old, ,_ )| 9 . |` _____ \'. '.\ ,_/ / | _\ \.--.'.___.' `'. | is for the tears she shed to save me, .-' _` a \.--, .' | `""` \ a K ; ,-'\ _.;_ |___| '.__,. (__.'`-._ ) | | is for her heart of purest gold; (_/\ '-. /_ ___ ;-._)-._/ _) |__ / `` \ |___ is for her eyes, with love-light shining, '-._______.-' ___ |_ |_ | |___) | | | | \ means right, and right she'll always be, |__;__/ .-"'-'|--\ Put them all together, they spell "MOTHER", '.___,_|""| A word that means the world to me. jgs \__/ -Howard Johnson >THE BEAUTY OF A MOTHER! 01. When you were 1 year old, she fed you and bathed you. You thanked her by crying all the night. 02. When you were 2 years old, she taught you to walk. You thanked her by running away when she called. 03. When you were 3 years old, she made all your meals with love. You thanked her by tossing your plate on the floor. 04. When you were 4 years old, she gave you some crayons. You thanked her by coloring the dinning room table. 05. When you were 5 years old, she dressed you for the holidays. You thanked her by looping into the nearest pile of mud. 06. When you were 6 years old, she walked you into school. You thanked her by screaming, "I'M NOT GOING". 07. When you were 7 years old, she bought you a baseball. You thanked her by throwing it through the next-door-neighbor window. 08. When you were 8 years old, she handed you an ice cream. You thanked her by dripping it all over your lap. 09. When you were 9 years old, she paid for Arabic lessons. You thanked her by never even bothering to practice it. 10. When you were 10 years old, she drove you all day, from soccer to gymnastic to one birthday party after another. You thanked her by jumping out of the car and never looking back. 11. When you were 11 years old, she took you and your friends to the movies. You thanked her by asking to sit in the different row. 12. When you were 12 years old, she warned you not to watch certain TV shows. You thanked her by waiting until she left the house. 13. When you were 13, she suggested a haircut that was becoming. You thanked her by telling her she had no taste. 14. When you were 14, she paid for a month away at summer camp. You thanked her by forgetting to write a single letter. 15. When you were 15, she came home from work, looking for a hug. You thanked her by having your bedroom door locked. 16. When you were 16, she taught you how to drive her car. You thanked her by taking it every chance you could. 17. When you were 17, she was expecting an important call. You thanked her by being on the phone all night. 18. When you were 18, she cried at your school graduation. You thanked her by staying out partying until dawn. 19. When you were 19, she paid for your college tuition, drove you to campus, carried your bags. You thanked her by saying good-bye outside the dorm so you wouldn't be embarrassed in front of you friends. 20. When you were 20, she asked whether you were seeing anyone. You thanked her by saying "It's none of you business". 21. When you were 21, she suggested certain careers for your future. You thanked her by saying "I don't want to be like you". 22. When you were 22, she hugged you at your college graduation. You thanked her by asking whether she could pay for a trip to Europe. 23. When you were 23, she gave you furniture for your first apartment. You thanked her by telling your friend it was ugly. 24. When you were 24, she met your fiancé and asked about your plans for the future. You thanked her by glaring and growling, "Muuhh- ther, please!" 25. When you were 25, she helped to pay for your wedding, and she cried and told how deeply she loved you. You thanked her by moving halfway across the country. 26. When you were 30, she called with some advice on the baby. You thanked her by telling her, "Things are different now." 27. When you were 40, she called to remind you of a relative's birthday. You thanked her by saying you were "really busy right now." 28. When you were 50, she fell ill and needed you to take care of her. You thanked her by reading about the burden parents become to their children. 29. And then, one day, she quietly died. And everything you never did, came crashing down like thunder on your heart. If She's Still Around, Never Forget To Love Her More Than Ever. And If She's Not, Remember Her Unconditional Love. -<>- For those who are lucky to still be blessed with a living Mom, this is beautiful. For those who aren't, this is even more beautiful. __________________ / _@___@___@___@_ \ |@/ \@| | | | | |@| ,;;;-, |@| | | /;/))))) | | |@| (;/ . .(( |@| .-;;;-. | | ):( > )) | | (((;(::(\ |@| (;)\ = /( |@| ).`\):):) | | )):) .'):) | | < (:(:( |@| .:(:\_(_)( |@| = `\:):\ | | /`::) `\ | | '--')(:(:) |@\_/___________\_/@| )(::)"( jgs \___@___@___@___@___/ .' (::)) / / ;;-` \/ / | >Mother The young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is this the long way?" she asked. And the guide said "Yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning." But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, she fed them and bathed them, and taught them how to tie their shoes and ride a bike and reminded them to feed the dog and do their homework and brush their teeth. The sun shone on them and the young Mother cried, "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this." Then the nights came, and the storms, and the path was sometimes dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her arms, and the children said, "Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come." And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary. But at all times she said to the children, A little patience and we are there." So the children climbed, and as they climbed they learned to weather the storms. And with this, she gave them strength to face the world. Year after year, she showed them compassion, understanding, hope, but most of all, unconditional love. And when they reached the top they said, "Mother, we would not have done it without you." The days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old and she became little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And the mother, when she lay down at night, looked up at the stars and said, "This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned so much and are now passing these traits on to their children." And when the way became rough for her, they lifted her, and gave her their strength, just as she had given them hers. One day they came to a hill, and beyond the hill, they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And mother said: "I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk with dignity and pride, with their heads held high, and so can their children after them." And the children said, " You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates." And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said: "We cannot see her, but she is with us still. A Mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence." Your Mother is always with you. She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street, she's the smell of certain foods you remember, flowers you pick and perfume that she wore, she's the cool hand on your brow when you're not feeling well, she's your breath in the air on a cold winter's day. She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep, the colors of a rainbow, she is your birthday morning. Your Mother lives inside your laughter. And she's crystallized in every tear drop. A mother shows every emotion, happiness, sadness, fear, jealousy, love, hate, anger, helplessness, excitement, joy, sorrow, and all the while, hoping and praying you will only know the good feelings in life. She's the place you came from, your first home, and she's the map you follow with every step you take. She's your first love, your first friend, even your first enemy, but nothing on earth can separate you. Not time, not space, not even death! May We Never Take Our Mothers For Granted -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Give Me Flowers http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/poems/flowers.html Animal Moms http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/animalmoms.html Miracle Baby http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/smellofrain.html Baby's First http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/babyfirsts.html Tears Of A Woman http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/womantears.html Mother's Index http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/momsanddadsindex.html Does God Choose His Children? http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/choosehischildren.html Jesus Laughing Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/Jesusart.html Playing With Words http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wordplay.html The 23rd Psalms http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/psalm23.html 90/20 Principle http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/giving.html Love Thoughts http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/love.html Dreamy Ladies http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dreamy.html Church Mouse Wisdom http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/churchmouse.html Our Valuable ANCHOR http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/ouranchor.html Amazing Human Progress http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/humanprogress.html For The Joy That Was Set Before Him http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/joy.html Top Reasons To Smile http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/smile.html -<>- >In The News: I couldn't believe this one! Super Scary! Start watching around 33:40 to see what I mean... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaImwuI1Ez4 Many of us are dancing a jig! Finally after being told last year that people with money and power aren't held to the same standard of law as the rest of us in American, we see Justice being served! And it is long overdue! Watch Sean's report on this here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re8kYD1ySY4 Franklin Graham: How You Can Stand for Persecuted Christians http://tinyurl.com/kkz7rx3 Hilsdale College: Lessons from Ancient History I write to invite you to join me in studying the beginnings of Western civilization by taking a new free online course we launched this spring. The course is called “Athens and Sparta.” http://tinyurl.com/mbrod5p -<>- Happy Mother's Day http://heavens-gates.com/momsday/ Mother's Day Prayer http://www.andiesisle.com/mothersday.html -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseAu :) Cats are so agile and dextrous, it's easy to think they are always so. But it is because of their amazing skill and flexibility that cats can sometimes get... a little overconfident, shall we say. This hilarious compilation of cats being clumsy will persuade you of that fact. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_teB4ujKzdE&feature=player_embedded Eating out at a restaurant, going to a fancy show and dancing the night away... Sounds like the perfect date right? Not when Mr. Bean is involved! Watch what happens as he goes on stage with a magician and later puts on his dancing shoes. Going out on a date has never been so funny! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31A5-ThrllI&feature=player_embedded Duo Catalexi perform a beautiful aerial dance on the famous French television show of Patrick Sebastien "Le Plus Grand Cabaret Du Monde", The World's Greatest Cabaret. These amazing aerial artists are Catherine Audy and Alexis Trudel who created their act in 2009 and have been performing worldwide since. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wbkwk7g7Bzk --- ...Wonderful! Love these! 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 ========================================================== .----. //""""\\ (( '__' )) ))-__-(( (.-. `\)) /( " ) , \ \)`"`() / / (___)==(\/ | | | | | | | | | | jgs | | """"""" >This is For Her Story Editor: by the Michigan Father Joyce Schowalter where December. 2011. Michigan. Times are tough, especially in small areas. I drove to a blighted part of the city with boarded-up homes. We were five months behind on electric payments and I'd been calling to delay the shut-off for one more week. Twice they delayed payment. At the zeroth hour I pulled up to the building, preceded by a black woman driving a rusted, crumbling beater that shuddered to a stop. I walked in behind her, cash in hand, and waited in line. My children bounced on chairs nearby. Two women behind bulletproof acrylic windows took money. But only one line moved. Delaying the other was a long conversation from a young white mother with a baby on her hip. She wore pajamas and a sweater, was good-natured and laughing. "Well, so..." she said, "you know how it is. I mean, they just sit there in a pile, right? I don't know where they go. I don't know, I probably lost it." The woman behind the two-inch thick bulletproof Plexiglas nodded, unspeaking. Her nameplate said "Ella". The young patron continued," I mean, I GUESS the payment plan is good. But that's... how much again??" "Fifty dollars," the woman behind the Plexiglas prompted. The young mother said, "Yeah... fifty. Dollars, I mean. And if we miss that today then what? Fifty?" Ella confirmed, "Yes, fifty. The payment plan we arranged." "Boy, how could it be so much?" A long pause. "So what happens if we don't have the...?" Ella: "Fifty dollars. Well, that's when the account needs to be discontinued." The woman with the baby on her hip looked at the floor during the whole conversation. Talking in a low voice, but in a silent room of people waiting. She talked as though every second she talked was another second the power stayed on. As though somehow in this circular conversation the situation would resolve itself. Momentarily irritated one woman was taking so much time, I then felt some shame. I'd just wait calmly. Clearly the young woman with the baby was just buying time. Seconds. Moments. Avoiding the inevitable: her power would be shut off in the morning. Slowly the line crawled. My children became more animated and impatient. The woman with the baby kept talking. Then the woman in front of me went up to the counter -- the woman who drove the rusted beater. She handed the teller a check. "This is for her," and pointed at the young mother with the baby. The woman who wrote the check left. She bee-lined to her beater and drove off. The two tellers looked at one another confused. One said to the young mother, "Well, I guess, Merry Christmas." The woman with the baby looked at the floor, "I don't think she pointed at me. I don't know her." "She paid your electric bill," said a teller. "Next!" And the people in line who'd been staring blankly burst out in a joyous murmur. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From LaughAndLift: "If we don’t teach our children to take a no, someone who loves them far less may take on the job." - Henry Cloud & John Townsend in their excellent book, "Boundaries" .{{}}}}}}. {{{{{}}}}}}}. {{{{ {{{{{}}}} }}}}} _ _ {{{{{ }}}} 6 6 }}}} {{{{C ^ {{{{ }}}}}}\ '=' /}}}}} {{{{{{{;.___.;}}}}}} {{{{{{{) (}}}}}}' jgs `""'"': :'"'"'` `@` >Motherhood (by Howard W. Kramer) [Edited] "Bob, come here right now. Hurry! The baby just kicked. Put your hand right here and feel it. Isn't it exciting? Just think, our little baby is alive right here." Especially for first-time mothers and fathers, a baby's first significant movement is truly an exciting event. A mother bonds with her child even before the baby is born. The God who created earth and heaven with all its wonders, in His all-encompasing wisdom and power, gave us the miracle of reproduction and birth. On this Mother's Day we thank God for mothers - especially those who have acknowledged Him & have looked to Him in their lives. We thank God for mothers who wanted us and who sacrificed to provide us with food and clothing and much love. We thank God for mothers who made certain that their children were provided with the "one thing needful," that is, the Gospel truth that the Savior loved us and made us His own by His sacrifice on Calvary's cross. The miracle of birth was only the beginning of many blessings God has showered on us through our mothers. Prayer: "Heavenly Father, thank You for a mother who nurtured me before and after my birth. Bless all mothers who show Your love to their children. In Jesus Christ's name. Amen." -<>- .===. / _/\ \ \/e.e\/ _ ( _ ) / \ _)---(_ \ | / `~` \ /`/ /\/ \/\ / / /| |\_/ \ \\_____/ \ \, L | \_| | | | _|_ | | | | jgs |__|__| (___|___) >Straight For That Voice (By Ron Hutchcraft) (John 8:28-29) I was speaking at a church in the new area where our ministry has moved, and in the process, I was introducing some of our staff and our family. I started with my wife - after all, none of the children would have been possible without her. And then I was starting to introduce our daughter and son-in-law and our family treasure, 18- month old grandson Jordan. I saw them standing at the back of the church. Now, while I was talking about them, I suddenly noticed a little head bobbing along past the tops of the pews, and I thought I recognized those curls. It quickly became apparent to me - and then to everyone in the church - that little Jordan was on his way to where his grandfather was. Oh, that big choir up in front...they didn't phase him. All those big people in the pews...they didn't phase him. His father's pursuit didn't phase him. He marched up that aisle like a man on a mission . . . climbed laboriously up the three steps to the platform . . . and he walked right up to the pulpit. I picked him up, whispered that I love him, and he was satisfied. Then - and only then - was he willing to go with his Daddy back to where they were. Later my daughter said, "Dad, from the time he heard your voice, there was no stopping him. Getting to that voice was all that mattered!" Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about STRAIGHT FOR THAT VOICE. Now, there were lots of people in that sanctuary right then - but only one as far as Jordan was concerned. He heard my voice - and he was totally focused on being where I was. That's how I want to be with the Lord I say I'm following. It's how He wants all of us to be. Jesus models this magnificent obsession in our word for today from the Word of God in John 8:28-29. He says, "...I do nothing on My own but speak just what the Father has taught Me . . . the One who sent Me is with Me . . . for I always do what pleases Him." See, there was just one voice that mattered to Jesus, one person's approval - His Father's. There was never a decision about "which voice should I listen to? Who should I make happy?" The only question was - "What's my Father saying? What does my Father want?" That settled it. The Apostle Paul was a man who went straight for one voice - and He showed us the way to simplify and clarify thousands of daily choices we make. In Galatians 1:10, Paul says, "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men?" Paul's saying, "There's a lot of people in this room - but only one Voice I care about." Listen to his bottom line: "If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." He knew it was a choice - please Jesus or please people. It still is a choice. I saw in my grandson that morning in church a determination to respond to one voice and only one. He walked by all kinds of people . . . he walked toward things that otherwise would have probably intimidated him - because he wanted to be wherever that Voice was. That is a beautiful picture of what it means to belong to Jesus Christ . . . to really be a follower of Jesus. All that matters to you is what He's saying . . . where He's going . . . what will make Him happy. Once you know that, you know what to do, and you know where to go. Has someone else's voice become more important to you than your Savior's voice? Has someone else's approval crowded out His? Has the crowd distracted you or kept you from being where His Voice is? Remember what your Shepherd said: "My sheep listen to My voice . . . and they follow Me" (John 10:27). Sound like the type of relationship you've been looking for? Find out more about how this relationship with God can be Yours for Life! If you're not sure you belong to Jesus Christ, and you'd like to make sure, check out YOURS FOR LIFE at: http://www.hutchcraft.com/yours-for-life/presentation/alpha [Copyright © Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc. Permission to reproduce this material is automatically granted on the condition it will be used for non-commercial purposes, will not be sold, and will be distributed for the sole purpose of expanding the Gospel.] SUBSCRIBE INFO Want to receive a Christian inspirational item AND great clean humor in an email to you each day of the week? It's easy and FREE! Read all about Laugh & Lift at http://www.laughandlift.com ========================================================== >-->From Kidwarmers: || __ || ||=\_`\=|| || (__/ || || | | :-"""-. ||==| \/-=-. \ || |(_|o o/ |_ || \/ " \ ,_) ||====\ ^ /__/ || ;--' `-. || / . \ ||===; \ \ || | | | || .-\ ' _/_/ |:' _;. (_ \ / .' `;\ \\_/ |_ / ||| |\\ / _)=====||| | || / /| ||/ / // \_/|| ( `-/ || ||======/ / \\ .-. jgs || \_/ \'-'/ || || `"` ||======|| || || >THE FUNNIEST THINGS KIDS SAY Kathryn was playing office with her daughters Julia, 3, and Alyssa, 5. When Kathryn pretended to be their boss, she told them to type out reports on their computer keyboards. Kathryn told them to do the reports quickly or she would fire them. Later Julia asked her older sister Alyssa, "If Mommy fires us, will we get burned?" -- Donna Moller (Grammy) of Katy, Texas Janet, who has grown children, was working as a nanny. Katie, 5, wanted to know how long she had been a mommy. When Janet told her 29 years, Katie replied, "Do you know what you are doing yet?" -- Janet Funk of Prairie Grove, Arkansas Margie was talking with her cousin about the death of an older man and wondering how old he was. Her granddaughter Dawn said he was real old because he was in the Veterinary Hospital! -- Margie Dunn of Macclesfield, North Carolina Here is another one from Margie. Her granddaughter Heather, 5, was coming from church singing, "Are You Washed In The Blood?" Margie asked Heather, "Are you washed in the blood? She looked at Margie and said, "NO! I wash in the bath tub!" Recently Debbi's mother-in-law sent Anna, 15, a check for her birthday. A week later, Kelly, 13, told Debbi that Gramma wanted Debbi to get to the bank so that the check could clear her bank. Faith, 10, exclaimed, "Gramma's leaving Anna all her money! She's not even dead yet!" She thought Gramma was clearing OUT her bank account, and giving it all to her big sister. -- Debbi Armstrong of Orlando, Florida _..._ \':, `._..-""` ) \\ ___/9 \ |/ P 9 | \ | '--. _/ (`'---'_) ()`---'` \ | ', | `'. , ; '-._ /( \ _ `'. | \ | , .' '. \ `\ | | ; / \ \ \ | | |. | | / | | | | `-.\ |"` / .-;.| | _..;._ /-..-' (( .-;. | (( _..`> / `(( _/ '-(( ` .__) jgs `"""` `"--'` Beth's granddaughter Lydia, 8, is pleased that her dog is getting along OK with the new neighbor dogs. She says he "mostly ignoys them." Knowing their dog, Beth would say it's a perfect word, for he probably sometimes ignores, sometimes annoys those new friends! -- Beth Fryer of Lebanon, Pennsylvania Beth's daughter works in the emergency room at their local Good Samaritan Hospital. Lydia, however, reports that Mom works at the "Good Samerican Hospital." Lark, 2, and her brother, Koen, 5, were spending the night with Nanna and PawPaw, who had fixed them some fresh strawberries. They were both giving the strawberries their best efforts. Nanna noticed that Lark's strawberries were all gone, and she asked, "Lark, what happened to your strawberries?" Lark showed her sticky fingers and replied, "I ate them down my mouth." -- Dennis Smith (PawPaw) of Oak Ridge, North Carolina Dennis adds: "Ever since we were little shavers, my Daddy had told me and my two younger brothers that thunder was The Tater Wagon (Potato Wagon). I passed this valuable knowledge on to my son, now 35, my daughter, 38 and all the grandchildren. Sandy Pound's story about Alex and "the angels bowling" dredged that one up from my childhood memories." __ _,--="=--,_ __ / \." .-. "./ \ / ,/ _ : : _ \/` \ \ `| /o\ :_: /o\ |\__/ `-'| :="~` _ `~"=: | \` (_) `/ _ .-"-. \ | / .-"-. _ (_'-{ }-| /,.-'-.,\ |-{ }-'_) (_.=(_)_)_)=\_/`~-===-~`\_/=(_(_(_)=._) jgs "Our children and grandchildren are grown, but we remember some of their funny remarks," writes Marilyn. For example, when Gail was 3 Marilyn met her Sunday School teacher on a July day. The teacher told her the class had sung Happy Birthday to Gail. "Are you sure it was my Gail?" Marilyn asked. "Her birthday is in December." It seems Gail was envious of the other children! -- Mrs. Ross (Marilyn) Noble of Kendallville, Indiana At another meeting with the teacher Marilyn was told that the teacher was having trouble understanding Gail. The teacher mentioned that her Aunt Pat "had been advertised." Finally, they figured out she meant baptized! At the age of 5, when she was told that she had another brother Gail said, "If Mommy had gone to Jesus instead of Dr. Kurtz I would have had a sister!" Their son Ross L. was a lover of tools from an early age. While working with his daddy in the basement when he was 6, he cried when he hit his thumb with a hammer. That brought a lecture from his dad about being careful when using tools. A little while later his father ran a screwdriver into the palm of his hand. As he was walking up the steps holding a bloody hand, he heard, "Daddy, you have to be careful using tools!" Cheryl overheard a conversation in the church office where she works. A young couple and their two young children are moving to Mississippi for a new job. The grandmother said the 2-year-old is telling everyone they are going to live with "Miss Sippi." -- Cheryl Moore of Cabot, Arkansas .-o=o-. , /=o=o=o=\ .--. _|\|=o=O=o=O=| \ __.' a`\=o=o=o=(`\ / '. a 4/`|.-""'`\ \ ;'`) .---. ) .' / .--' | / / .-._) '\ _.' / /`-;__.' / jgs '--.____.\ /--.___.-' `""` Janet has two stories about her grandnephew Elijah, 3. They were at Janet,s parents, house for Easter. Elijah was wearing a white shirt and tie and everyone commented how cute he was. His mother, Aimee, said he had been wearing a suit earlier that day when they took him to church. He calls it his wedding suit and they don,t know where he came up with that. They go to a Catholic church. The priest had given the kids lollipops. When Elijah got home some of the other family members asked where he got the lollipops. He said, "At the wedding." And when he was asked whose wedding, he said, "Father Vinnie's." ("I wonder what Father Vinnie's reaction will be when Aimee's mom tells him what Elijah said," Janet added.) At brunch, Elijah was asked if he wanted eggs. He said, "No, eggs are for brownies." (He had recently helped his babysitter to make brownies.) -- Janet Colby of Brockton, Massachusetts Donna took some old bread out of the freezer to feed the fish in the pond, so the bread was starting to thaw when she handed a piece to Emily. She took the slightly wet bread and asked, "Why did you put butter on the bread?" -- Donna Kensky (grandmother of Emily) of Fort Wayne, Indiana Here is another one from Donna. Three-year-old McKenzie's Mom reads a Bible story to her every night. So one day McKenzie packed up her purse and got up to leave the room. When her Mom asked, "Where are you going?" McKenzie said, "I'm going to the tabernacle, like in that Bible story!" Nicolas Hatfield, 4, was fishing with his father and had just caught a fish. A reporter who was shooting video commented that it looked like he just caught a bluegill and Nicolas responded, "No, I caught a fish!" -- Lindsay Brown of KPC Media Group of Indiana * ,MMM8&&&. * MMMM88&&&&& . MMMM88&&&&&&& * MMM88&&&&&&&& MMM88&&&&&&&& 'MMM88&&&&&&' 'MMM8&&&' * _ |\___/| \\ =) ^Y^ (= |\_/| || ' \ ^ / )a a '._.-""""-. // )=*=( =\T_= / ~ ~ \// / \ `"`\ ~ / ~ / | | |~ \ | ~/ /| | | |\ \ ~/- \ ~\ \| | |_|/| || | // /` jgs_/\_//_// __//\_/\_/\_((_|\((_//\_/\_/\_ | | | | \_) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | A few Saturdays ago James, took his family to a wedding. Their sons were producing the usual wailing and gnashing of teeth about having to dress up. James was explaining or perhaps lecturing) to their oldest son Josh, 12, that the whole point of the wedding is to honor the bride and groom on their special day, and that when he and Shannon got married James was in a black tuxedo on a 95-degree day because, "I love your mother and part of showing love is dressing up." Josh replied, "Boy, I'm glad I wasn't there when you got married!" -- James Tew of Kendallville, Indiana A few years ago Monica was a volunteer usher at a local community theater. It was a matinee performance and there were quite a few children in the audience. After intermission, it took a while for the curtain to rise after everyone was seated and the auditorium had gone dark. Suddenly, into the expectant silence, a child's voice piped up with: "We're ready!" Roaring laughter ushered in the second act. -- Monica Ackerman of the San Francisco Bay area Lexi, 6, deeply misses her grandfather Greg who died last year. Every holiday that passes she talks about Grandpa not being able to share the special holiday with their family. A few days before Easter Lexi told her mother about "Happy Friday" when there would be no school. "It's Good Friday," her mother Tara Ortiz corrected her. "Good Friday is the day Jesus died." Lexi looked crestfallen. "Jesus died? Oh no! He won't be with us for Easter... Well, at least he made it to Valentine's Day!" -- Carol Ernsberger (grandmother of Lexi) of Kendallville, Indiana Last year when Nicole was 7 and in first grade her mother Karen was showing Nicole's grandparents the way to school because they were going to have lunch with her there the next day. Nicole was helping her mother give directions and she said, "You turn at the big rocks." They were all puzzled. "The ones with the words on them," Nicole explained. Karen then realized she was talking about the cemetery. On the main street through Brownsburg there is a large cemetery on both sides of the street. The corner at the end of the cemetery is where you turn to go to Nicole's school! -- Grandma and Grandpa Beadle of Fremont, Indiana When Brenda's grandson Logan Christian was 5 (he is currently 7) was spending the evening at his grandparents, home he asked if he could watch the "Brer Rabbit" video and then made a second request to watercolor. Brenda asked him which one of the two he wanted to do. He looked up at Brenda and replied, "Grandma I have two eyes; I can do two things at once." -- Brenda Haddix of south of Bluffton, Indiana .-. _ _./.- ) ( `\ .--.' '. .' `'._ | C e_ / `\ '-. e/o \_a ,_/ | \_u/ o\a | \. \/_/.-.__/ .;."-...-' \ \'-. .' \ .' / '. / '--.--' / \ | \__..-'` |) (| | \ /-. \ __ / '.""-.__.' \ ;` `\--; | \'. /`| | | | | | \ \_; | \ ))) / | '._/ jgs \ )))""` ((( / `"""` `"""` Here are two more stories that Brenda and her husband still laugh at. Grandson Bobby Haddix (now age 16) was 5 and Brenda was fishing with him on a windy day. He caught his first fish and Brenda unhooked it and dropped it into a bucket that contained muddy water. He looked up at Brenda and said with all sincerity, "Grandma, why did you put my fish in chocolate water?" Bobby was around the same age when Brenda and her husband went to pick up their fifth-wheel camper where it was being serviced. Bobby and Brenda waited patiently in the truck while his grandfather paid for the service and hooked up the camper. As they drove away, Bobby was in the back seat looking out of the back window of the truck and exclaimed, "Hey, look it is coming with us!" Note: You are welcomed to use, copy and share these stories, but please reference http://www.funnykids.com as the source. ========================================================== _,.---""----.,_ .-' __.----...---.; .' .' `'. / .' '. / / `'", `\ .'_,' ,"` `'. /,' .-. \ .' .-. /___\ ( . `, / .-' /___\ |_ | \ '. \ ;| / |_ | \_)_/ | \ \ /| | ; _\_)_/ ` , / | \ / | | / ___ ` .-~`````~-. ,=' | | | ; \ \ /.-' `-._ | /| | \ .'``''--' _.- `\ | .' \ | |; / ' _, \ |-`| | | || / / /_\ /_\ .-~``~-. | | | / || | | \(/ |(| | / | | || ,| | -~~` ;`| .---. | | | / || .-/ | | / .-~`~ \| ( '.| / ;--/ /| / / | \ | -t- | -~'-\ \ `--' `-..-` ; |/| / \ |`._ \ -~` / | \ / /\| | .--' `\ `._`._ / |-~` | / \/\ '.____,.-' `""`-._.' ~-. / / .' .' \ .--._.-'` .'`- _.' (.-' | ( , ',_.-'`"""` | \ \ .-' '-;---;..--' /,----.y | jgs | '. `.__,-' / | | | | |`-.,__, Y | | | | | == | =| | | |- ~ -. | | .- ~ -. | | | | | == | =|~ - ~` | | '~ - ~' | /.-.-.-\-.-\ | | | | | | `""""""`""""`/.-.-.-\-.\-.-.-.-\ /.-.-.-.-.-.\ `"""""""`""`-------' '------------' >-->REFLECTIONS OF A MOTHER I gave you life, but cannot live it for you. I can teach you things, but I cannot make you learn. I can give you directions, but I cannot be there to lead you. I can allow you freedom, but I cannot account for it. I can take you to church, but I cannot make you believe. I can teach you right from wrong, but I cannot always decide for you. I can buy you beautiful clothes, but I cannot make you beautiful inside. I can offer you advice, but I cannot accept it for you. I can give you love, but I cannot force it upon you. I can teach you to share, but I cannot make you unselfish. I can teach you respect, but I cannot force you to show honor. I can advise you about friends, but cannot choose them for you. I can advise you about sex, but I cannot keep you pure. I can tell you the facts of life, but I can't build your reputation. I can tell you about drink, but I can't say "no" for you. I can warn you about drugs, but I can't prevent you from using them. I can tell you about lofty goals, but I can't achieve them for you. I can teach you about kindness, but I can't force you to be gracious. I can warn you about sins, but I cannot make you moral I can love you as a child, but I cannot place you in God's family. I can pray for you, but I cannot make you walk with God. I can teach you about Jesus, but I cannot make Jesus your Lord. I can tell you how to live, but I cannot give you eternal life. I can love you with unconditional love all of my life . . . and I will!!! Always, Mom >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 ************************************************************************