Happy Blessed New Year... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To UnSubscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShangyFunList Through no fault of my own we suddenly became an adult club in the love and romance directory so you will have to confirm that you are an adult when you go here. I still have no idea how to change this back as it sends me around in a circle when I try! or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net ================ *~* A REMINDER: 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!! ================ *~* HAVE A SAFE, HAPPY, PROSPEROUS, And MOST BLESSED NEW YEAR! *~* __, ,__) __, ,__) __, ,__) (--|__| _ ,_ ,_ (--|\ | _ (--\ | _ _ ,_ _| |(_||_)|_)(_| _| \|(/_(_|_) \|(/_(_|| ( | | ,_| ( (__| This year sure did go by quickly! Here we are, close to it's end. AND if you are like me, You are ready to PARTY ^ _...._ ^ .' '. _...._ ^ / \' '. |X / \ -. \ |X | ^ .-. |'.-. .' \ / \;/ `/\` '. .' / \ ( `/\` / \ \ ^ `) ^ / \ ) ( ^ /'-...-'\ ( \ /-.__ __.-\ ) jgs '._ ` _.' ^ / `"""""` VIVA LA 2012! Thank You Lord! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/thanks.html Drink Responsibly! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/drink.html Yearly Friendship Renewal! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/renewal.html Friends And Health http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/friendhealth.html TSA's Calendar Gals http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/tsa.html Playboy Bunny Calendar http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/calendar.html . . : . '.@.' /^\ / \ /2012 \ @@@@@@@@@ / 6 6 \ ( ^ ,) \ __, /-._ `._____.'\ `--.__ \\/ `/``"""'-. / ) / : | /\ | .--. : / /\2`\ \/ `.__.:.____.-. / / /`\0`\`/ .-"..____.-. \ jgs _.-' /_/ `\1`\ \-. \ `=----' `\2`\--------'""`-. \ `" `-./ `" >New Year To leave the old with a burst of song; To recall the right and forgive the wrong; To forget the things that bind you fast To the vain regrets of the year that's past; To have the strength to let go your hold Of the not worth while of the days grown old; To dare go forth with a purpose true, To the unknown task of the year that's new; To help your brother along the road, To do his work and lift his load; To add your gift to the world's good cheer, Is to have and to give a Happy New Year. - Author Unknown ================ >-->Hot Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This super scorcher comes from our friend Linda. I love the nostalgia of things like this. Amazing to see the changes! Give this time to load and be prepared to be shocked! Ward's 1934 Wish Book http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wishbook.html --- ...So surprising and funny! Thanks Linda! The one that got me the most was the man's shirt ad! 'Worth $1.29 at Today's Cost!' - too rich! LOL! ======================================================= >-->From Heartwarmers: _..@._ .' `\ / - - | / a a /, , | ^ D) ) ||\ , \ .__, /'. '. |\`,'/ .-';`-.___..;.-'\ \ \ _| / | .` _.; | -.`| \ _.-'| | \ ' \ 2 | . .' | | '._/`; 0 \ / /___\. / \ 1 \ | .`;,' _\_ | \ 2 '.| _/___|_/_|_}_ /\__ ' `'. '; \___________/ | ',`'-.,_'. \ | | \/`'. ._,;`'. \ | HAPPY | \ `\.' `| \ || NEW | | .' /-`\/| YEAR! | ;.' . _.'` / || | .' ,-' / / ;`-------`; / .'`; \ ( '._ _.' \ ( \ ` )`'`( \_,()))) jgs .' '. `"""""""""` >HOW SWEET THE SOUND by Ron Gold My name is Frank Thomas Pulver. I'm an ordained Christian minister. My wife, Clara, and I manage a waterfront chapel called The Mission of Friends. We're located on what most people call "Skid Row". I also work within the community, locating and amassing food, used clothing, bedding and furniture. At the mission I counsel homeless men and deliver a sermon each day. Clara, who cooks and does laundry, also plays piano in our dining room/chapel. Together we minister to the basic needs of misdirected souls who find shelter at our mission. As I said, The Mission of Friends isn't really a church -- just a storefront with an almost invisible small sign and the inescapable aroma of good home cooking. We've been here 10 years so the men who need us know us. And we get good daily turnouts. The dining room has three long tables and some 50 hard back bridge chairs. We serve good food -- family style -- on tables dressed with homey paper tablecloths. I personally welcome each visitor with a smile and a hearty handshake. I invite them to sit, relax and enjoy our hospitality. I used to start with a sermon and then say grace but I soon realized that the word of God was a distant second to a good meal -- often the only food these homeless men haave eaten all day. After my post-dinner sermon, I invite the men to the basement where they can shower and get a fresh change of donated clothing. Clara plays popular old time tunes and hymns on the out-of-tune upright piano, keeping time by moving her soft brown curls while she and many guests sing along. I remember one magical evening last March when two neatly dressed men in their seventies entered our mission. "My name is Joey," the smaller balding man said. "This is my pal, Edgar. We're both retired Merchant Mariners. We live on our pensions and we've come to spend time with you and these men. We hope to help you lead them to the good Christian life." Suddenly there was a small commotion as Edgar reached over and stole a chicken leg from one man's plate. He then used his left hand to scoop mashed potatoes from a large serving bowl. Then he hoisted a ceramic pitcher and started gulping milk. He smiled, expelled a loud belch and then a thunderous bass laugh. Joey and I went to make peace, while Clara played more upbeat music. Joey, who separated his laughing friend from irate diners, said, "Please excuse Edgar. He's sick. He cannot remember where he is or how to act. I help him dress and shower. I even comb his hair and shave him. He spends a lot of time watching television but doesn't understand whether he's watching news or a comedy. He loves cartoons. They make him laugh." Joey told me, "I believe Edgar can help you in your ministry. This God-fearing wild man, who eats with his fingers and burps loudly, is a former choirboy and what he remembers are the hymns he sang as a young boy. We visit different missions and Edgar sings and people are moved. Will you allow him to sing here tonight?" I agreed. Joey replaced Clara at the piano and began playing some blues chords in stride rhythm. The piano somehow tuned itself! Edgar stood alongside the piano, placing one massive hand atop the upright and began singing. "Amazing Grace," he sang in a pure boy soprano register. "How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! Long was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see." All eyes stared at the large man with the salt-and-pepper pony tail and the naturally sweet boy soprano voice. "'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved; How precious did that grace appear, The hour I first believed." The mission became silent except for the piano, the giant man with the schoolboy voice, and the sound of sobbing guests. The men at the long tables put down their utensils and stared at the massive man with the boyish voice that overpowered the piano. "Yea, Lord," one man cried. "Hallelujah!" another yelled. "You tell it, man!" a black man added. "Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; The grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home." Joey brought the hymn to an end. And I began speaking about home, love and a grace-filled giant with a graying pony tail and a young boy's pure voice. And everyone listened. I turned to thank Joey and Edgar but they had left during my sermon. On the piano keyboard was an envelope with the words, "The Mission of Friends." Inside was a hundred-dollar bill. By the way, the piano remains in perfect tune. -- Ron Gold ___________________________________________ Ron is a Heartwarmer Gem from New Jersey and is retired. You can reach him here: mailto:outthinkresumes@aol.com ================================================================ >-->From Our Friend PeggyT :) __ .'` `'. / \ _ ; __.'` `'. | .'` `'. \ ; / HAPPY \ ; \; NEW ; | | Y E A R | ; _ ; 2 0 1 2 ;-./-_-` '-. /\ /_(;'/ `\() '. ; '.__ .'\|| ' | '. | ),\| \\ \() (\ ; \ \|/ __/ () \ __ \ \||\.~'_ `'.;-.___.~'` _'~. '.__ _/|/|/{ (_`.' '.`_) } `)/`\\\\ \ .' _ 0_._0 _ '. / .,_ \|| } -.' (_) '.- { _{ `\ \|{_ / '.___|___.' \ } //`._ | /` \ | | } }:'-. ()``'"--..==, { ,} \-"-/ .' } {,`-'. (//>`\> {` _./|\._. '-' ._ .~` /` ;'.() //> |> { {///( `-.-.-` ) _.' / '. ||> /> \ \|\);--`( )`--`(` } `\\>_.'> ; _/`/(__.'/`-'.,__/`, .` `"""` .-'` ;-.( \_(; \ .' .--, (`-._ ./ ` '. `-._..~` /o\\ jgs `'-;/``. `;-"`: |oo|| .--._ _.' . \ o ; . | /| /.-. ` . '._ _.' ' \_// ||oo\ `. `'-----` _.~`--..__,..' |\o | .~`'--......--' \'._/ _.~` `.__.-' Maybe someody knows someone who can donate. Blood is Life Peggy "In Memory OF Pets" A Loved One is not gone, until they are forgotten! And to Live in the Hearts of those left behind is to Live Forever! >Canine Blood Bank The Canine Blood Bank needs extra blood. They are really low on blood due to the high demand over Christmas.They are running a collection session on TUES 3RD JAN at Meadow Lane Vets in Loughborough from 10am - 6pm if you or any of your family / friends have a dog who can donate a unit of blood to help other dogs (every unit helps up to four other dogs) No need to prebook. For more info on the criteria for a donor - visit their website www.petbloodbankuk.org Please tell feel free to cros spost to other canine Groups This is particularly poignant for me as it is my 7 month old Golden puppy that the recent post re Von Willebrands relates to & a blood transfusion could save his life at some stage. Thank you to everyone who replied on that post Heather --- ...Great Info! Thanks PeggyT! Here's one link for all: Animal Blood Resources International (ABRI) http://www.abrint.net/ =============================================================== / / ___ (\/_//`) /{ _ .=" "=._.---. / '/ <')_/ ) ." c ' Y'`p 0 0 \ /{ _ (_=)/ / , `. w_/ / \ <')_/ ) ="- | '-. / / / __/ \ (_=)/ _,..._\ )_-\ \_=.\ /, _/ \ \_ ="- `-....-'`------)))`=-'"`'" `-./ ) | ~^~ ( / _, ,__) ____ ____ ,_) (-|__| _ ,_ , (-|__) _ _, _ ,_ (-/ _` _ _,-|- _| |(/_| |/_) _|__)(/_(_|\/(/_| _\__)(_)(_| | ( |_, ( ( >Elves On a Ladder Truck Story Editor: by Thomas Horne Joyce Schowalter Maryland, USA December 24, 1988 our firehouse ambulance was racing in response to a baby being shaken out a window three stories in the air. Police were also en route. Dispatch relayed that the baby was being used to extort money from the mother. On arrival we indeed saw a baby being waved out a window by his feet three stories up. As we ran up the stairs my partner said, "Distract the guy for a minute, I'll get the baby." A crying 5-year-old child opened the door, "He's hurting my brother!" I entered, speaking as calmly as I could. Wild-eyed, the assailant said, "Don't touch me, cop, or I smash the brat." I said, "I'm a firefighter. I only want to check the baby." Suddenly a pair of hands appeared and grabbed the child. From the apartment's kitchen, my driver had gone out the window and reached across to grab the child -- three stories up. Wild Eyes looked at his now-empty hands, charged past me and escaped. Breathing raggedly, I surveyed a desperately bleak room. One bare bulb, broken furniture, an empty drawer for a crib. My partner came in holding the baby very close to himself, saying over and over, "He's all right. He's all right." We gathered up mother and two other children. Downstairs we met an army of police officers. As we loaded up the family, the officers took the perpetrator's description. With the madman's picture etched into my brain, I described him from top to bottom. After transporting the family to children's hospital, we took another call. When the officers caught the assailant he fought, bruised two officers, and ended up needed stitches. Back at the station, a senior firefighter asked me for every detail. When I finished, he said, "You can't fix the world but you can mend parts of it," and got our shift together. "We have a family to care for," he said. "It's Christmas eve! Most stores are closed," we chorused. The captain replied, "I think this shift could pull it off on Christmas day." No one argued further. Groups went to the grocery, a toy store, and a child care supply store. Between us, we assembled Christmas for a family that needed everything. Next item, the only unpurchased Christmas tree left from our department's tree sale fund-raiser. The crew shortened that poor scraggly thing and trimmed it to a decent shape. A 24-hour pharmacy yielded lights and ornaments. We called the hospital and found the baby's evaluation would take several more hours; the family would be sent home in the morning. At 11:00 p.m. we were finally ready. But back at the apartment building, the apartment door had a double-cylinder jimmy-proof lock. We laddered the apartment, and hauled all the supplies up the ladder. Two different police officers came by with more items. We all agreed that at least for one day, the baby's brother and sister and yes, even his mom, could believe in Santa Claus. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From CupO'Cheer: o . . o . , . o__ L\ o .-""-. (==) |\_ / (--> \ |~~| o .\ \'--.)_>_=/_( | | Don't Party Too Hardy! . \ )`-._/|_,( | | o _| \ (_ ( \ /|()| o . , `.\ ) \_/\ \//` `\ ____/ ;`__/\ (__'./ \ |===/, ==\======/==|; ____ ; \ _,' o . '-..-' o /||` `|| `'-.__ o' __.-'` || _/\_ || `'..'` ||` `|| || ||PARTY!|| || || || jgs || | \____/ | _.' '._ | | < > \_.-""-._/ `""""""` `""""""` >WHEN NOBODY'S LOOKING Written by Bob & Debby Gass 'Glancing this way and that and seeing no one...' Exodus 2:12 NIV When Moses killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand, he looked around to make sure no one was watching. Ever done something wrong when nobody was watching? We all have! Mark Roberts says he counseled people whose business travel made them vulnerable. 'An executive found that...away from home, she was inappropriately flirtatious, even though she loved her husband and wanted to remain faithful to him. A high-powered professional struggled not to watch pornography in hotel rooms even though he was not tempted...at home. The internet sets innumerable ethical traps... By frequenting an online chat room, a wife became entangled in an emotional relationship with a man who was not her husband. In all of these cases, the sense that "no one was watching" allowed people to sin in ways they would never have done in ordinary, observed life.' Here's what you need to realize: (1) God sees you when nobody else does. When you couple that with a desire to please Him and not grieve Him, it makes a difference in how you act. (2) 'The godly offer good counsel...' (Psalm 37:30 NLT). If you know you're vulnerable in a certain area, share it with someone who will pray for you and hold you accountable. (Nowadays there are even computer programs that will monitor your Internet activity and send a report to others). (3) Avoid situations that afford you too much privacy. One woman closed her personal bank account and opened a joint account with her husband because her spending was out of control. God created you to live in relationship with others, and the more open and honest you are, the less likely you'll be to stray. SoulFood: Josh 22-24, John 16:19-33, Ps 147:1-11, Pro 29:1-5 as seen in The Word For Today -<>- >OPEN YOUR HEART I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. --Psalm 119:11 Noted Bible teacher E. Schuyler English told about a Bible distributor, Michael Billester, who visited a small town in Poland shortly before Word War II. Billester gave a Bible to a villager, who was converted after reading it. The new believer then passed the book on to others. This cycle of conversions and sharing of faith continued until 200 people had become believers through that one Bible! When Billester returned to Poland in 1940, this group of Christians met together for a worship service where he was to preach the Word of God. It was usually his custom to ask for testimonies, but this time Billester suggested that several in the congregation stand and recite verses of Scripture. One man stood and said, "Perhaps we have misunderstood your request. Do you mean verses or chapters?" These Polish villagers had not memorized a few select verses of the Bible, but instead whole chapters and books. Thirteen people knew Matthew, Luke, and half of Genesis. And another person had committed the entire book of Psalms to memory. That single copy of the Bible given by Billester to the one new believer had certainly done its work. In this story, transformed lives bore witness to the power of the Word of God. Are you passionate about learning and memorizing God's Word? Are you sharing what you know with those who do not know Jesus? 1 John 2:5 says, "But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him." Determine today to hide the Word of God in your heart and pass along its truth to those you come in contact with each day. PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask the Lord to open your heart to His Word so that you can hold tightly to its truth. Pray that He would give you opportunities to share the Bible with others. as seen in Daily Living For Seniors -<>- >A PASSING ACQUAINTANCE Edgar Guest, a renowned American poet at the turn of the century, tells of a neighbor by the name of Jim Potter. Mr. Potter ran the drug store in the small town where Edgar Guest lived. Guest recalled that daily he would pass his neighbor and how they would smile and exchange greetings. But it was a mere casual relationship. Then came that tragic night in the life of Edgar Guest when his first born child died. He felt lonely and defeated. These were grim days for him and he was overcome with grief. Several days later Guest had reason to go to the drug store run by his neighbor, and when he entered Jim Potter motioned for him to come behind the counter. "Eddie," he said, "I really can't express to you the great sympathy that I have for you at this time. All I can say is that I am terribly sorry, and if you need for me to do anything, you can count on me." Many years later Edgar Guest wrote of that encounter in one of his books. This is how he worded it: "Just a person across the way--a passing acquaintance. Jim Potter may have long since forgotten that moment when he extended his hand to me in sympathy, but I shall never forget it--never in all my life. To me it stands out like the silhouette of a lonely tree against a crimson sunset." --Brett Blair, www.eSermons.com -<>- _.--""""'. .' `\ / \ _/_ _,__ __ __/ | |`_o)/ ` ` | ; | )/o\> \ / ;"`""`""`"""`";.""-. .' .--._.--. / ' \ / / _ _ \ |'. '| / | / \ / \ | \__'/ ; .-' \o/ \o/ '-. ; | | () .-"""-. () | | ; | \ / | ; \ ; \ / ; / /`\ \ \ / / /`\ / .:`""--....Y....--::` .:\ \:' .:' .:' .:' .:'/| /'._.:' .:' .:' .:'.;':\ / ``;--::.___::.--;``` | \ / / \ |':.| ; | | \ ':| | | _..._ | \ \ | \ .' o o'. / |:. | \ './ o.-"-. o\.' \ ':.\ ;. `-; ;-' .;\ | | `-._ _/ \_ _.-' | |:. | | | ```\o (>0<)` /``` | |/__':/ ; \ '._/`\).' / ;77777 \ \ /```\ / / \ '. .' / \ `-.__ __.-' / '. ``` .' jgs /`-._ _.-'\ / , ``;---;`` , \ | / | | | | \ | '-'|__/\_/ \_/\__|'-' >MRS. G IN 3B The notice was posted next to the tenants' mailboxes in the apartment building I'd just moved into in Brooklyn, New York. "A Mitzvah for Mrs. Green," it read. "Sign up to drive Mrs. G in #3B home from her chemotherapy treatments twice a month." Since I wasn't a driver, I couldn't add my name, but the word mitzvah lingered in my thoughts after I went upstairs. It's a Hebrew word that means "to do a good deed," or "an act that expresses God's will." It is more than that, really, more like a commandment to do things for others. And according to my grandmother, it also had another meaning. This was the one she was always pointing out to me because she'd notice how shy I was about letting people do things for me. "Linda, it's a blessing to do a mitzvah for someone else, but sometimes it's a blessing to let another person do something for you." Grandma would be shaking her head at me right now. Several of my friends at the graduate school I attended nights had offered to help me settle in after the moving men left, but I'd said I could manage. Letting them help would have interfered with my image of myself as a capable and independent woman of 21. Snowflakes had been tumbling past my window for several hours when it came time to leave for class. I pulled on two sweaters, a coat, a wool hat and boots, bundling up for the trek to the bus stop that the real estate agent had dismissed as a short stroll. Maybe in May it was a stroll, but in this December storm it was a hike. As I topped off my outfit with a blue scarf that Grandma had crocheted for me, I could almost hear her voice: "Why don't you see if you can find a lift?" A thousand reasons why popped into my head: I don't know my neighbors; I don't like to impose; I feel funny asking for favors. Pride would not let me knock on a door and say, "It's a 10-minute ride by car but a long wait for the bus, and it's a 30-minute bus ride, so could you possibly give me a lift to school?" I trudged to the bus stop, reaching it just as a bus went by. Three weeks later, on the night of my final exam, the snow was falling steadily. I slogged through oceans of slush to the bus stop. For an hour, I craned my neck, praying desperately that a bus would come. Then I gave up. The wind at my back pushed me toward home, as I prayed, Dear God, how can I get to school? What should I do? As I pulled Grandma's scarf more tightly around my neck, again I seemed to hear that whisper: Ask someone for a lift! It could be a mitzvah. That idea had never really made sense to me. And even if I wanted to ask someone for a good deed, which I did not, there wasn't a soul on the street. But as I shoved the door of my apartment building open, I found myself face to face with a woman at the mailbox. She was wearing a brown coat and had a set of keys in her hand. Obviously she had a car, and just as obviously, she was going out. In that split second, desperation overcame pride, and with my breath coming out in white puffs in the freezing hallway, I blurted, "Could you possibly give me a lift?" I hurriedly explained, ending with, "I never ask anybody for a lift, but ... An odd look crossed the woman's face, and I added, "Oh! I live in 4R. I moved in recently. "I know," she said. "I've seen you through the window. Then, after an almost imperceptible hesitation, "Of course. I'll give you a lift. Let me get my car key. "Your car key?" I repeated. "Isn't that it in your hand?" She looked down. "No, no, I was just going to get my mail. I'll be right back." And she disappeared upstairs, ignoring my "Ma'am! Please! I don't mean to put you out!" I was terribly embarrassed. But when she came back, she spoke so warmly as we plodded our way to a garage across the street that I stopped feeling uncomfortable. "You know the way better than I," she said. "Why don't you drive?" "I can't," I said. Now I felt inept again. She just laughed and patted me on the hand, saying, "It's not so important," and then I laughed, too. "You remind me of my grandmother," I said. At that, a slight smile crossed her lips. "Just call me Grandma Alice. My grandchildren do. And you are ...?" As she maneuvered her car—one of those big cars, like a tank—down the slushy streets, I introduced myself. When she dropped me off, I thanked her profusely and stood there waving as she drove away. My final exam was a breeze compared with the ordeal I'd gone through to get to it, and asking Grandma Alice for help had loosened me so that after class I was able to ask easily, "Is anyone going my way?" It turned out that while I'd been waiting for a bus every night, three fellow students passed my apartment house. "Why didn't you say something before?" they chorused. Back home as I walked up the stairs, I passed Grandma Alice leaving her neighbor's apartment. "Good night, Mrs. Green. See you tomorrow," the neighbor was saying. I nodded to them and was four steps up the staircase before the name registered in my brain. Mrs. Green. The woman with cancer. "Grandma Alice" was Mrs. Green. I stood on the stairs, my hand covering my mouth, as the ... grotesqueness was the only word I could think of ... of what I had done hit me: I had asked a person struggling with cancer to go out in a snowstorm to give me a lift to school. "Oh, Mrs. Green," I stammered, "I didn't realize who you were. Please forgive me." I forced my legs to move me up the stairs. In my apartment, I stood still, not taking my coat off. How could I have been so insensitive? In a few seconds, someone tapped on my door. Mrs. Green stood there. "May I tell you something?" she asked. I nodded slowly, motioning her toward a chair, sinking down onto my couch. "I used to be so strong," she said. She was crying, dabbing at her eyes with a white linen handkerchief. "I used to be able to do for other people. Now everybody keeps doing for me, giving me things, cooking my meals and taking me places. It's not that I don't appreciate it because I do. But tonight before I went out to get my mail, I prayed to God to let me feel like part of the human race again. Then you came along ..." —Linda Neukrug as seen in Inspiration Plus -<>- To SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cheer316@sc.rr.com. ================================================================= >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: _...._ .' '. / _ _ \ | O O | ; ; .-;-. \ '--' / /\.7./\ .-. '. .' .-./\/ )/ (_ \ ) ( / _)/ ` \ '-' '-' /\/ '. () .'\/ | | |/ | () | ; ; | () | ; /\ ; _ / / \ \ _ jgs / ` .' '. ` \ \___.' '.___/ >The Fairy's New Year Gift by Emilie Poulsson Two little boys were at play one day when a Fairy suddenly appeared before them and said, "I have been sent to give you New Year presents." She handed to each child a package, and in an instant was gone. Carl and Philip opened the packages and found in them two beautiful books, with pages as pure and white as the snow when it first falls. Many months passed and the Fairy came again to the boys. "I have brought you each another book?" said she, "and will take the first ones back to Father Time who sent them to you." "May I not keep mine a little longer?" asked Philip. "I have hardly thought about it lately. I'd like to paint something on the last leaf that lies open." "No," said the Fairy; "I must take it just as it is." "I wish that I could look through mine just once," said Carl; "I have only seen one page at a time, for when the leaf turns over it sticks fast, and I can never open the book at more than one place each day." "You shall look at your book," said the Fairy, "and Philip, at his." And she lit for them two little silver lamps, by the light of which they saw the pages as she turned them. The boys looked in wonder. Could it be that these were the same fair books she had given them a year ago? Where were the clean, white pages, as pure and beautiful as the snow when it first falls? Here was a page with ugly, black spots and scratches upon it; while the very next page showed a lovely little picture. Some pages were decorated with gold and silver and gorgeous colors, others with beautiful flowers, and still others with a rainbow of softest, most delicate brightness. Yet even on the most beautiful of the pages there were ugly blots and scratches. Carl and Philip looked up at the Fairy at last. "Who did this?" they asked. "Every page was white and fair as we opened to it; yet now there is not a single blank place in the whole book!" "Shall I explain some of the pictures to you?" said the Fairy, smiling at the two little boys. "See, Philip, the spray of roses blossomed on this page when you let the baby have your playthings; and this pretty bird, that looks as if it were singing with all its might, would never have been on this page if you had not tried to be kind and pleasant the other day, instead of quarreling." "But what makes this blot?" asked Philip. "That," said the Fairy sadly; "that came when you told an untruth one day, and this when you did not mind mamma. All these blots and scratches that look so ugly, both in your book and in Carl's, were made when you were naughty. Each pretty thing in your books came on its page when you were good." "Oh, if we could only have the books again!" said Carl and Philip. "That cannot be," said the Fairy. "See! they are dated for this year, and they must now go back into Father Time's bookcase, but I have brought you each a new one. Perhaps you can make these more beautiful than the others." So saying, she vanished, and the boys were left alone, but each held in his hand a new book open at the first page. And on the back of this book was written in letters of gold, "For the New Year." -<>- .---------. _ |:: [-=-] | | | |_________| |~| |_| ,;;;;, I\ ,__ ,;;;, __, ///\\\\\ I |{ / . . \ } / " \\|| I | ) ( _ ) ( \_= _/// I |{___'-. .-'___}\___ )_\ I ||~/,'~~~~~,\~~|'---(( \ I \ // \\ | \ \ \ I \/ // | | /-/ I (/ (/ | |/||\ I | | | | I | | |____/ I :-----_o_-----: || | I | /~~|===|~~\ | (( | jgs I || |===| || ||_/ /^\ "~ '^^^' "" ((__| >Florence Nightingale Her friends couldn't figure her out, and her parents thought she should be happy as a young lady of fashion, but Florence Nightingale determined to be a nurse. Finally Florence's determination won out. She entered a school in Germany, took training as a nurse, and loved every moment of the hard life. Her mother never could understand Florence's insistence on working in the dirt, misery, and suffering of the hospitals of England. In the early 1800's many nurses were untrained, coarse, ignorant women who were sometimes cruel to their patients. But bad as conditions were in England, Florence soon would be involved in something worse. In 1854 the Crimean War broke out between Russia and Turkey. England sent troops to help Turkey, and soon the news came back that in the first battle thousands of English soldiers had been killed or wounded. Florence saw in this a still greater opportunity to help the sick. With permission from the War Department, she sailed with a party of nurses to Turkey. She thought she knew what she was getting into, but when she smelled the foul air of the barracks being used as a hospital, saw the dirt and the lack of common ordinary items she would need, such as bowls, towels, soap, chairs, and tables, she was appalled. Often the wounded men were left lying in the uniforms they had worn on the battlefield. Florence jumped right into the challenge. She didn't know about germs, but she knew about cleanliness. She set up a laundry, scrubbed the floors, organized a schedule for the nurses, including the preparation of good meals, and saw to it that the medicines and supplies sent to the hospital from England actually got to the wounded soldiers. After the war Florence determined that the whole army medical system must be reformed, and she saw that this was done. She helped establish an army medical school, as well as a top-notch nurse's training school. Florence Nightingale's determination hadn't let her take it easy when she was young, and that determination kept her busy and happy until she died at the age of 90. Her life was rich and full, because she determined to do her best. Source: Climbing Jacob's Ladder, by Jeanne Larson & Ruth McLin, C Copyright 1979 by Review and Herald Publishing Association -<>- Links for Your Enjoyment Domaci Mazlicek http://www.buffaloschips.com/012118.htm Drum Girls http://www.buffaloschips.com/012119.htm Escape Rescue http://www.buffaloschips.com/012120.htm Ever See A Snake Yawn http://www.buffaloschips.com/012121.htm Faryl Smith Britain's Got Talent http://www.buffaloschips.com/012122.htm Disney Character Bushes http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/disneybush.html Christianity http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/christianity.html Our Gifts And Callings http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/giftscallings.html The Bible http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/thebible.html Medical Health Test http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/medical.html Building Advertising Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/buildingads.html Balloon Party! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/party.html Extreme US Spas http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/topspas.html Floating Hotel http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/fhotel.html Maxine On Jesus http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/maxineonjesus.html Who Is Jesus Christ? http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/whoisjesus.html God's Bumper Stickers http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/gbumper.html Quit Smoking! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/quitsmoking.html Life's Little Oops 3! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/whoops3.html Veteran Mesothelioma Center http://www.asbestos.com/ ________________ '------._.------'\ \_______________\ .'| .'| .'_____________.' .| | | | | Scooby _.-. | . | | * (_.-' | | | Snacks | .| | * * | .' |______________|.' LGB Hi. I saw Doris prayer request for her poor little dog. Just recently I came across a couple of websites for prayer requests for pets. I thought maybe you could pass these links along to her. I am hoping she will be as glad to find them as much as I was. Hugs, Michelle http://www.petprayerlist.org/PrayerRequests.htm http://prayersforpets.org/index.htm http://www.sayaprayerformypet.com/ ------------- Thank you Michelle! I am sure that many of our members will apreciate these links! Nancy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you are looking to join any of our other fine e-zines visit http://www.buffaloschips.com/ =============================================================== >-->From Kidwarmers: >THE FUNNY THINGS KIDS SAY .---. .--. ___/ \ / `.-"" `-, ; ; / O O \ / `. \ /-' _ J-.__; _.' (" / `. -=: `: `, -=| | F\ i, ; -| | | | || \_J fsc mmm! `mmM Mmm' A friend of Kathleen's was teaching her first grade class about endangered animals. One endangered animal is the elephant. After a long discussion, a little girl raised her hand and asked, "Why don't they just plant more elephant seeds?" -- Kathleen of Pennsylvania Five-year-old Makenzie drew a picture of her newly acquired step-father. When she showed it to her grandmother, Grandma asked what he was standing on. Makenzie looked at her grandmother in disbelief. Quite exasperated, she said, "It's a step; he's my step-father!" -- Sally Hershiser (grandmother of Makenzie) of Ohio Sean came home from kindergarten and asked his grandmother if she had any marbles. She told him, yes, and she would show him how to play when the weather got better. He said that his teacher lost her marbles and he wanted to bring her some. (His teacher had misplaced something and had said in frustration, "I've lost my marbles!") -- Barbara Gocus (grandmother of Sean) of Oregon Billie was with her friend's grandson, Phoenix. One evening they were looking at Christmas lights. Phoenix was awestruck. When they came to a house with an angel on top of the manger scene, he exclaimed, "Look, Billie, the Tooth Fairy!" -- Billie Vaughn of Texas ___ __ / ::.:\ /::::'-.|::::&&&&& |::::::.\\ .&&&&/ \ \ ::..::\\:&&? <,( \ ::::. \\ && _/ /::'.:::. \\&&.|._ | ..:'-.- / )___\ \ \ ::: /./|))))) ' '-..-'./ \ --| \\ || ) .| \\. |\ /___| \_) |_)///|\\\ ||||\\\' \ | | _.\ / /.__ .-' \/ | |/ '-. / . .( | | . . \ _|_ . \ | | . _|_ / '-. #)|)|# . -' \ | . ##/ | |### . | | . . ####\|\|#### . . | \___ .-'########## '-.___/ | . *####* . | \ . . / . . .\ . . / \ / . . .\ . / '-( . . .)-.' ' ----- ' / / / / ( ( \ \ \ \ ) ) / / FLOWER FAIRY - Peter Bier - A number of years ago Fern took her 8-year-old son Tim into the K-Mart to buy Christmas presents. He walked in and said, "I smell toys!" Fern also tells about when her boys were 4, 6, 9 and 11 and she took them to a mall where they had their picture taken to be made into a calendar, a surprise for their dad for Christmas. On the way home, Fern carefully instructed them not to "spill the beans." But 4-year-old Ted couldn't contain his excitement and ran into the house shouting, "Hey, Dad, guess what the 'beans' are!" -- Fern Boldt of Ontario and South Carolina One day after church, Mandy and her husband were discussing the sermon that day. It was about grace. Zackery, 4, had sat through the service and listened to everything the pastor had to say. Mandy's husband said he needs grace every day at work. Zackery, who was listening intently, said, "Every day Daddy has grace because when he comes home he can't touch his pants because they are full of grace. (He meant grease!)" -- Mandy Cline of Butler, Indiana .'|_.- .' ' /_ .-" -. '> .- -. -. '. / /|_ .-.--.-. ' > / / (o( o( o ) \_." < '-'-''-' ) < ( _.-'-. ._\. _\ '----"/--.__.-) _- \| AoS "V"" "V" When Wendy's son was about 3 or 4, they had some neighbors the next street over who had several St. Bernard dogs. One day Wendy's son came running into the house yelling, "Mommy, the sardines are loose down the street!" He was really scared that the big "sardines" were running loose without the owner. He is now 34. -- Wendy Harmon of Virginia Mary's brother and his family enjoy hosting the family Christmas Eve get-together. They serve a variety of goodies, including shrimp, cheese and vegetable trays, several meats and meat dishes, a number of salads, including German Potato Salad and many desserts. Tabitha, 3, asked grandpa if he would fix her something to eat? "Sure I will," he said. "What would you like?" Tabitha replied, "Cereal." -- Mary Jansen (great-aunt of Tabitha) of Kendallville, Indiana /\ , {Oo\{o\ .=. {o: \:.\ / \ {O:' \:.-'_.-\_)____ {o:. /`~('-./-----.\ }o: // /| `/\ {O:'// /-' /\/\ }o-/( <___ \'/ /\/\/\ /o./ ;--._)====* -\/\/\/ `"`\ \ /.\ `""` \ \ \ \ jgs /`\ ) |/| | _// \| | / || |/ / | `\| ' Mike was in kindergarten when a local dentist came to school to talk to the kids about dental hygiene. When Mike got home he reported, "Mom, the Tooth Fairy was at school today!" -- Sue Strausbaugh (mother of Mike) of Gas City, Indiana Christian, who likes to "borrow" DVDs from his grandparents, said, "Grampy, did you come to get your movies back? 'Cause I only have 'Kangaroo Jack' and 'The Green Hog' (The Incredible Hulk)!" -- Linda Davis (grandmother of Christian) of California, Pa. Joshua, 3, attends a Baptist preschool. To get the children thinking about the real meaning of Christmas, the teacher had them make Happy Birthday Candles to Jesus. When he got into the car after school, Joshua excitedly told his mother about his candle. Then he added, "I just don't know how we are going to get His cake up to Him in heaven!" -- Wendy Palmisano (mother of Joshua) of Melbourne, Fla. /\ \/ XX XX XX ,...............XX..............,. ,aaaaabbbba"""""' XX """""bbbbbbaaaaaa. MMaaaa XX aaaaMM M.' "MPPPPPbbbbbbaaaaaaa. ..aaaaabbbbbbbbPPPMP"" M M. M MM MM"PPPPPbbbbbbbbPPMMP"" MM ; M M. IP P M M P M M.b Id ,aa, Iaa, daa, P ,Pada b d Paa, ,aa, b d M M.b ,d d'`b I ;a d ;a b d daa, d daI, d b d d "a d'`b b d M Mbbaad daab daa' daa' b d d a d d a d baad d a daab d M M.b .d d b d d d daa; d daa' d b d d ,a d b d M M.b. d d b d d d d a d d "a d b d daa' d b d M Md.. . , , d daa' d d a M Ma,..,.a. , , ,aM `PMMMbbbbbaaMaaaaa;.., ..;aaaaaabbbbbMMMP' `"PMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMP"' unknown Ruth was helping the students in her four-year-old Sunday School class to make Christmas ornaments. It was a bit hard. Luke said in a very matter-of-fact way, "This is just too constipated (complicated!)" -- Ruth Rechenbach of near Cincinnati, Ohio ================================================================ , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >-->AS PLANNED Not everything always goes exactly as I have planned, and so I must turn them over to God’s loving hand. I have totally messed up more than a time or two, in the things that I have attempted to do. No matter the thought, the prayer, or planning I apply, the fact that I mess up cannot be denied. But that’s alright I’m only a human being you see, and I have a Heavenly Father watching over me. A Heavenly Father who knew every mistake I’d ever make, before the very first breath He allowed me to take. He knew and He created me just the same, and offers forgiveness in Jesus’ name. Not only is He forgiving but He lovingly guides and directs too, once I learned to surrender through and through. Every day He’s changing me from within bit by bit, and then lovingly making me aware of it. Letting me see the accomplishments He’s made in me, as He prepares me to be all He wants me to be. I can’t take any credit I could never have changed on my own, I can only strive to share the love he’s so kindly sown. So I reach out to those hurting and feeling despised, hoping to help you open your eyes. Hoping to share what’s being offered from God above, the most absolute and perfect love. Won’t you call on Him or search in His Holy Word today, asking Him to help you understand all He has to say? Won’t you ask Him to take you by the hand, guiding you to salvation as planned? --Barbara Philbrook -<>- , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >A Prayer for the New Year Come, Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Risen Christ, Be with us today and always. Be our Light, our Guide, And our Comforter. Be our Strength, our Courage, And our Sanctifier. May this new year be a time Of deep spiritual growth for us, A time of welcoming Your graces and gifts, A time for forgiving freely And unconditionally, A time for growing In virtue and goodness. Come, Holy Spirit, Be with us today and always. In Jesus Christ's Name, Amen. >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah :) Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->BECOMING A CHRISTIAN HOW TO BE A CHRISTIAN! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->FULL LENGTH - FREE On line AUDIO MP3 Chriistian 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 DARRE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. These are Tried and True, Yummy to the Tummy, good old fashioned home cooking recipes that are EASY to do :) Visit Shangy's Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html Home Recipes >Got A good Recipe? 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