Happy July 4th Celebration... :) 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 ================ * 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 AND SAFE 4th OF JULY CELEBRATION! :) JULY 4th and Troop LINKS: Freedom Isn't Free http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/freedom.html Fighter Aircraft http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/fighteraircraft.html Semper Fidelis http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/semperfi.html Liberty Air Show http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/liberty.html Angel Wing Decoys http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/angel.html Proud Of Our Troops 6 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/troops6.html Ray's Freedom Rock 2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/freedomrock2.html Final Toast http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/finaltoast.html Kilroy Was Here http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/kilroywashere.html Daily With The Troops 2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/daily2.html Rescued Squirrel http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/rsquirrel.html =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: .-"""""""-. .' __ \_ / / \/ \ | \_0/\_0/______ |:. .' oo`\ |:. / \ |' ; | | |:.. . \_______ | |::.|' , \,_____\ / |:::.; ' | . '| ====)_/===;===========;() |::; | | ; ; | | # # # #:::::: /::::.|-| |_|-|, \ # # # #:::::: /'-=-'` '-' '--'\ # # # #:::::: jgs / \ # # # #:::::: # # # # # # # H A P P Y # # # # # # # # # # # # # # F O U R T H O F J U L Y # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # >STAND UP STRAIGHT I wrote this poem long before 9/11 happened. I had come to believe that people didn't have enough respect for the American flag and I am the most patriotic person you would ever want to meet. I am the American Flag And I have something to say, Please take time to listen As I speak to my country today, I was in the hands of my first President At Valley Forge in blood and snow, I was there when my nation was born, And I have watched her grow, With wilderness at her back And seas at her sides, And not one friendly nation To help her save her pride, This struggling infant orphan Survived through it all, And always the victor, Now she stands straight and tall, I have earned the right to speak And though most of you forget, Men have fought and died for me, In memory I see them yet, At Normandy, Iwo Jima, Pearl Harbor and Pork Chop Hill, Bravely these men fought for me, Until they fell and then lay still, I draped my honor over their caskets When they died for me, And wrapped them in my love, In deserts, tropics, and on the seas, I went with them to Korea, In Vietnam I flew, Always I came home again, And always I fly over you, Look proudly at my stars and stripes As over this land I wave, This land of hope and freedom, This land of the strong and brave, Salute me when you see me, Stand up straight and tall, I'm the one who saved your freedom, I answered when you called. -- Anita Burney __________________________________________ Anita says, "I am a retired printing and publishing consultant living in Topeka, Kansas. My hobbies are reading, writing poetry, and crocheting. I love living in America and have a great appreciation for our flag and the military people who defend it with their lives." -------- ============;===========;() # # # #:::::: # # # #:::::: # # # #:::::: # # # #:::::: # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # jgs # # # # # # # >REMEMBER ME! I am your flag. Remember me? They still use me to start ballgames. They still use me to sign-off television stations. They still use me to drape caskets of American martyrs. I am your flag. Remember me? My endurance under fire inspired Francis Scott Key to scribe a new nation's anthem to an old British tune. I am your flag. Remember me? I was tearfully surrendered at Bataan and Corregidor. I share an ocean grave with brave sailors on the U.S.S. Arizona. I was raised to emotional heights at Iwo Jima. I am your flag. Remember me? Children pledge me their allegiance in school rooms. Immigrants still view me as the answer to their prayers; their dreams of freedom. I am home to the expatriate. I am your flag. Remember me? Patriots still rally by my colors. Rascals still hide behind my glory. Parades still start with me ... though they're fewer in number -- and not so well attended. I am your flag. Remember me? Betsy Ross tailored me from a dream. And in his Viet Cong cell, an Air Force Colonel named Dramesi stitched me in secret -- from parts of a white blanket, pieces of a blue jacket and strips from red underwear. I am your flag. Remember me? I fly proudly -- full time -- under God... from Pike's Peak and atop memorials in Massachusetts and Virginia. And from the U.S. Capitol -- and from the moon. I am your flag. Remember me? I am a fixture in our nation's embassies. And a concept in the hearts of freedom-loving people throughout the world. I am your flag. Remember me? I still create awesome shivers. I still inspire artists. And Olympic athletes. And great acts of heroism. I am your flag. Remember me? I am the picture of America. And I deserve to be remembered. I am your flag. Remember me! Today. Tomorrow. And forever. -- Ron Gold, Heartwarmer Gem --------- One of the most appalling comments on our present way of life is that half of all the beds in our hospitals are reserved for patients with nervous and mental troubles, patients who have collapsed under the crushing burden of accumulated yesterdays and fearful tomorrows. Yet a vast majority of those people would be walking the streets today, leading happy, useful lives, if they had only heeded the words of Jesus: "Have no anxiety about the morrow"; or the words of Sir William Osler; "Live in day-tight compartments. -- Dale Carnegie >HOUSTON MEDICAL Nobody wanted to be there. Not even one person. However, they were all there, and in a strange way, glad they were. It was the waiting room of the Neuro Trauma Intensive Care Unit (NTICU) at Memorial Hermann Hospital, one of only two "Level One Trauma Hospitals" in Houston, Texas. (Memorial Hermann Hospital is the site of this summer's ABC medical drama entitled Houston Medical.) When a person is critically injured -- when one's life is hanging in the balance due to some traumatic event -- the family should always attempt to see to it that its injured loved one goes to a Level One Trauma Unit, if it's possible. The families in the waiting room of the NTICU almost always appear to be petrified because they know, at any moment, a physician might enter the unit and tell them, "I am very sorry. We tried everything possible, however..." The first few days, as a rule, the families keep to themselves. However, as time passes by, the families usually get to know each other -- they share the joy when there is good news for a family, and they also share their sorrow when there is poor news for a family. The Unit's many families become a "support group" for each other. I have seen it often. As one of the social workers for the hospital, I understand the dynamics of hope and the importance of support. I have seen families volunteer to take a family from out-of-town to their homes so that they could rest and shower. I have also seen strangers pray for the recovery of someone whom they did not even know 24 hours earlier. There are many "miraculous" stories about the families in the NTICU. Unfortunately, there are many times when there is not "a happy ending." On one occasion, a young man was severely hurt and suffered a traumatic brain Injury and was rushed to our hospital. For days, his prognosis was in doubt. His mother was always in the waiting room and I am sure she experienced a roller coaster of emotions, and of course, she breathed a huge sigh of relief when the doctors gave her reason to hope. Then she saw another mother in the waiting room whose daughter had not been given that hopeful prognosis. The daughter, she was told by the doctors, would probably soon pass away as a result of the severe injuries that she had sustained in a car accident. The two mothers were soon linked together -- strangers joined forever by a universal magnet -- motherly pain. They became very close, supporting each other in both good and bad times. Ironically, the predictions for the two mothers were eventually reversed. The young man who was supposed to survive, unfortunately passed away, while the girl who was supposed to die is now making progress in Florida, in her home. Families in the waiting room can eventually develop very close relationships and begin to care for each other. For example, there were two patients -- one elderly gentleman and the other a teenager -- who had been in the Unit for quite some time. Their families got to know each other, and became close. The parents of the teenager were always at the hospital, night and day. But, one night, the teenager's mother returned to her home while his father remained in the waiting room. The next morning she returned to the hospital and said to the wife of the elderly patient, who regularly remained at the hospital night and day, "I was worried about you all night." The elderly woman responded, "I figured you were worried because last night I WAS SLEEPING WITH YOUR HUSBAND IN THE WAITING ROOM AND I WOULDN'T HAVE MISSED IT FOR THE WORLD!" Everyone burst out in deep laughter. Humor can be a great coping mechanism. Yes, life can be very difficult. However, it can also be tempered if one has a support system to help and assist during those strenuous and exacting moments. Support is very important -- especially in the waiting room. -- Michael Jordan Segal -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Segal is a social worker at Memorial Hermann Hospital (which is where the current ABC television series "Houston Medical" is filmed), writer, and well sought after motivational speaker. He married his high school sweetheart, Sharon, and together they have a daughter, Shawn. Mike has had national recognition about his "miraculous" comeback after being shot in the head as an innocent witness to a robbery. You can visit his webpage at: http://www.allworld.net/segal ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend LouiseA :) In Honor Of Independence Day...July 4th ( (_) ### . (#c __\|/__ #\ wWWWw \ \-. (/. .\) /\ /`\/\ /\ |\/ \_) (_| `\.' ; ; `' ;`\ `\; ; . ;/\ `\; ; ;| \ ; .' ' ; / |_.' ; | /) ( ''._;/` | ' . ; |.-' .:) | | ( .' : | |,- .:: | | ,-' .;| jgs_/___,_.:_\_ [I_I_I_I_I_I_] | __________ | | || | | || | _| ||_|__|_|| |_ /=--------------=\ / \ | | >America The Beautiful I'm glorious America I'm beautiful and free I offer many lovely things In a land of Liberty I like to watch how people Enjoy all that they see But most of all, I like to watch How they take care of me I wave a flag of stars and stripes In red and white and blue I'm proud and I am happy To be flying over you. Many lives were shed for me And many more will pay If people start forgetting They want me here to stay. Count your blessings every night Be honest, good, and true And I'll be proud to recognize An American like you. --- ...Sweet! Thanks LouiseA! -<>- , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Looking Like A Christian (By Alan Smith) A little old Jewish lady is flying out of New York City on her way to Miami Beach. She looks at the businessman sitting next to her and asks him, "Excuse me sir, but are you Jewish?" The man responds politely, "No, ma'am, I'm not Jewish." After a little while, she again asks him. "You're really Jewish, aren't you?" Again he responds, "No, ma'am, I am not Jewish." Barely 10 minutes later, the little old lady asks him once more, "Are you sure you're not Jewish?" Finally, in exasperation and in a final effort to shut her up, he replies, "OK. Yes, ma'am, I am Jewish." "Funny," she says, looking puzzled. "You don't look Jewish!" Makes me wonder. If anyone approached me and asked me, "Are you a Christian?" and I answered, "Yes", would they be inclined to say, "Funny, you don't look like a Christian"? I'm not talking about looking like the world's stereotype of a Christian -- a sour-looking guy with a scowl on his face, not enjoying life at all. I merely wonder if my Christianity is something that can be seen by the people who see me every day. I know what I believe, but is that belief translating into action? Can anyone tell? "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16) Do you look like a Christian? --- ...aww, thanks LouiseA! __________________ / _@___@___@___@_ \ |@/ \@| | | | | |@| ,;;;-, |@| | | /;/))))) | | |@| (;/ . .(( |@| .-;;;-. | | ):( > )) | | (((;(::(\ |@| (;)\ = /( |@| ).`\):):) | | )):) .'):) | | < (:(:( |@| .:(:\_(_)( |@| = `\:):\ | | /`::) `\ | | '--')(:(:) |@\_/___________\_/@| )(::)"( jgs \___@___@___@___@___/ .' (::)) / / ;;-` \/ / | Reminds me of my having my daughter when she was little to look in the mirror and look deep in her eyes. I told her she could see the Glory of the Lord - that sweet awesome twinkle of light - that God in Christ in her Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ - in her eyes. Made her smile every time! 2 Cor.3: [18] But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Jacinto :) . : . __________ '. : .' / /\__.__'.:.' . jgs \_________\/ . .':'. . .' : '. ' : ' >Thoughts Never expect things to happen.. Struggle and make them happen. Never expect yourself to be given a good value create a value of your own ~ Unknown "An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made, in a narrow field." ~ Niels Bohr "You must learn from the mistakes of others. You can't possibly live long enough to make them all yourself." ~ Sam Levenson Most great men and women are not perfectly rounded in their personalties, but are instead people whose one driving enthusiasm is so great it makes their faults seem insignificant. ~ Charles A. Cerami "Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it." ~ Dennis P. Kimbro --- ...Thanks Jass! That last one reminds me of this one... 90/10 Principle http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/giving.html ======================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: .''. .''. *''* :_\/_: . :_\/_: . .:.*_\/_* : /\ : .'.:.'. .''.: /\ : _\(/_ ':'* /\ * : '..'. -=:o:=- :_\/_:'.:::. /)\*''* .|.* '.\'/.'_\(/_'.':'.' : /\ : ::::: '*_\/_* | | -= o =- /)\ ' * '..' ':::' * /\ * |'| .'/.\'. '._____ * __*..* | | : |. |' .---"| _* .-' '-. | | .--'| || | _| | .-'| _.| | || '-__ | | | || | |' | |. | || | | | | || | ___| '-' ' "" '-' '-.' '` |____ jgs~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >Happy Birthday, America Happy 4th of July (United States of America's Independence Day). Celebration of our Freedom! "Ragged Old Flag" By John R. Cash (C) 1974 House of Cash, Inc. I walked through a county courthouse square, On a park bench an old man was sitting there. I said, "Your old courthouse is kinda run down." He said, "Naw, it'll do for our little town." I said, "Your old flagpole has leaned a little bit, And that's a Ragged Old Flag you got hanging on it." He said, "Have a seat," and I sat down. "Is this the first time you've been to our little town?" I said, "I think it is." He said, "I don't like to brag, But we're kinda proud of that Ragged Old Flag. "You see, we got a little hole in that flag there when Washington took it across the Delaware. And it got powder-burned the night Francis Scott Key Sat watching it writing Say Can You See. And it got a bad rip in New Orleans With Packingham and Jackson tuggin' at its seams. "And it almost fell at the Alamo Beside the Texas flag, but she waved on though. She got cut with a sword at Chancellorsville And she got cut again at Shiloh Hill. There was Robert E. Lee, Beauregard, and Bragg, And the south wind blew hard on that Ragged Old Flag. "On Flanders Field in World War I She got a big hole from a Bertha gun. She turned blood red in World War II. She hung limp and low by the time it was through. She was in Korea and Vietnam. She was sent where she was by her Uncle Sam. "She waved from our ships upon the briny foam, And now they've about quit waving her back here at home. In her own good land here she's been abused -- She's been burned, dishonored, denied, and refused. "And the government for which she stands Is scandalized throughout the land. And she's getting threadbare and wearing thin, But she's in good shape for the shape she's in. 'Cause she's been through the fire before And I believe she can take a whole lot more. "So we raise her up every morning, take her down every night. We don't let her touch the ground and we fold her up right. On second thought, I do like to brag, 'Cause I'm mighty proud of that Ragged Old Flag." Happy Birthday America! -<>- ___ /` _\ | / 0|--. - / \_|0`/ /.`'._/) - ~ -^_| /-_~ ^- ~_` - -~ _ - ~ -| | - ~ - ~ - jgs \ \, ~ - ~ \_| >LIFE AT THE POOL By: Joseph J. Mazzella I used to love to swim as a boy. My home was just a short walk away from the local pool and I used to spend most of my Summer days there. I would head out early with just my trunks and a towel. I always got there before it opened and then stayed until closing time. It was four hours of pure joy. I loved to dive in that cool, clean water. I would swim, splash, play games with my friends, talk, laugh, and only dry off during the breaks. I always walked home in the evenings with a smile on my face too. As a boy I thought Summertime at the pool was about as good as life could get. There were some people who came to the pool that I never could understand, however. They would show up everyday carrying around and watching over these huge, heavy bags full of stuff. They would be all dressed up in fancy swimsuits. That always had on hats, sunglasses, and sandals. They would cover themselves in lotion but then sit in the shade of umbrellas. They spent most of their time near their bags, sitting in chairs, and watching other people swim. If they did dive in the pool it was only for few minutes before retreating back to their stuff. I often wondered why they even came to the pool at all. Sometimes I think that life at the pool is a lot like life in general. Some people spend so much time carrying around and worrying about their stuff that they hardly get to swim at all. They just sit in the shade and watch their bags while everyone else soaks up the sun and delights in the day. Don't become one of them. Life is for living not for sitting with your stuff. Dive deep into God's love today. Swim all day long in joy. Play, love, laugh, and celebrate life with everyone around you. Make everyday of your life as good as it can get and help others to do the same. I want you to walk home to God with a smile on your face, because the bag isn't coming with you. -<>- o /\ /::\ /::::\ ,a_a /\::::/\ {/ ''\_ /\ \::/\ \ {\ ,_oo) /\ \ \/\ \ \ {/ (_^____/ \ \ \ \ \ \ .=. {/ \___)))*) \ \ \ \ \/ (.=.`\ {/ /=; ~/ \ \ \ \/ \ `\{/( \/\ / \ \ \/ \ `. `\ ) ) \ \/ jgs \ // /_/_ \/ '==''---)))) >America The Beautiful This is a poem written by the Alabama Judge, Roy Moore, who was sued by the ACLU for displaying the Ten Commandments in his courtroom foyer. When he refused to have the Ten Commandments removed, he was stripped of his judgeship. America the Beautiful, or so you used to be. Land of the Pilgrims' pride, I'm glad they'll never see. Babies piled in dumpsters, Abortion on demand. Oh, sweet land of liberty, your house is on the sand. Our children wander aimlessly poisoned by cocaine. Choosing to indulge their lusts, when God has said abstain. From sea to shining sea, our Nation turns away From the teachings of God's love and a need to always pray. We've kept God in our temples, how callous we have grown. When earth is but His footstool, and Heaven is His throne. We've voted in a government that's rotten at the core. Appointing Godless Judges who throw reason out the door. Too soft to place a killer in a well deserved tomb. But brave enough to kill a baby before he leaves the womb. You think that God's not angry, that our land's a moral slum? How much longer will He wait before His judgment comes? How are we to face our God, from Whom we cannot hide? What then is left for us to do, but stem this evil tide? If we who are His children, will humbly turn and pray, Seek His holy face and mend our evil way. Then God will hear from Heaven and forgive us of our sins, He'll heal our sickly land and those who live within. But, America the Beautiful, if you don't - then you will see, A sad but Holy God withdraw His hand from thee. --- ...So true! When God is not put first - evil happens! >From Our Friend Melody :) Oklahoma Supreme Court orders removal of Ten Commandments monument http://tinyurl.com/oq7pt96 --- ...Sad - It's such a beautiful monument - I'd be proud to display it! Thanks Melody! >From The Tea Party News: Representative Warns of Terror Attack in U.S. over July 4th Holidays http://tinyurl.com/n9k3jnx -<>- .--.-,-.-.-,-.--. | \ / | | \ / | | .===,=,===. | _/\_; .-'`^`'-. ;_/\_ ( /` /_________\ `\ ) | | |===========| | | | | | | | | | | | , | | | | | ;_{_________; | | | |/===`>========\| | | ;-._<`________.-; | | | | U | | | / | |___________| | \ | | |jgs | '-------------------------' >ARE YOU READY TO BE SURPRISED? Are you ready to be surprised? Life is full of surprises - to those who are aware. History records amazing coincidences in the lives of two of America's founders - Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. You are aware that Jefferson labored for two weeks writing the Declaration of Independence. He showed his drafts to Adams and Benjamin Franklin, who edited it, honed Jefferson's ideas and refined the document. When it was finally finished, he brought it before the Continental Congress for approval. And America remembers her birth date, of course, as July 4, 1776. Jefferson and Adams spent the next 50 years debating ideas about how this new nation should govern itself and what it should eventually become. Their administrations argued philosophies and legislation. Sometimes the two men were contentious, but later in life they seemed to develop more of an appreciation for each other. Though they lived far apart, they faithfully corresponded. Surprisingly (and coincidentally), they both died the same day! Adams is said to have uttered, just before he died, "Thomas Jefferson survives." He couldn't have known that Jefferson himself died only a few hours earlier. Do you know what that day was? July 4 - Independence Day. Do you know what year? It was 1826, exactly 50 years from the signing of the Declaration of Independence. And the coincidences don't end there. Couriers were dispatched with the news of the great men's deaths. From Braintree, Massachusetts the messenger with news about Adams traveled south. Jefferson's messenger came north from Monticello, Virginia. Do you know where they met? In Philadelphia ... under the shadow of the great hall where both men's lives were so dramatically shaped, and where they labored to give birth to a nation. Coincidence? Perhaps. But historians of the day often attributed these coincidences to providence - as a good omen for a new nation. Our lives are full of surprises and amazing coincidences, though we may not always take notice. Whether or not we see the hand of providence in coincidence, life teems with the remarkable. Learn to notice what others do not see, and you can expect to be surprised. Learn to notice what others do not see, and what you see will amaze. By Steve Goodier -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Beautiful Aerial England http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/england.html Dog Warriors!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dogwarriors.html Willis (Sears) Tower!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/willist.html Ostional Sea Turtles!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/seaturtle.html Real Fantasy Trees 2! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/trees2.html World's Largest Web!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/web.html Akiane Child Prodigy!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/prodigy.html Nyiragongo Lava Lake!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lavalake.html World's Largest Things!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/largest.html Scientists Unveil New Species!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/newspecies.html Amazing Street-Legal Airplane!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/transition.html What Your GPS Won't Show You!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/gps.html Amazing Homes Around The World!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/ahouse.html -<>- >From Our Friend Geniann :) Happy Independence Day! "Battle Hymn of the Republic" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpZ3jPMM5Ac --- ...Inspiring! Thanks Geniann! -<>- >From Our Friend PatDeE :) F Flight https://www.youtube.com/embed/0px9HFIVYjY?feature=player_embedded As we celebrate Independence Day, July 4th Food City, a Food Chain, is located in the Southeast, headquartered in Bristol, TN. This is a great commercial. Not a word spoken, and none needed. Very few commercials deserve to go viral. This one does. Take 1 minute & Click here... http://stg.do/OdQg --- ...Sweet! Thanks PatDeE! -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseA :) Usually, "Dancing with the Stars" focuses on celebrities and reality stars on the dance floor, but this performance is different. Noah Galloway is an injured Iraq War veteran, and his dance is an amazing tribute to all of our soldiers and an inspiration to us all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw4vvXnRxE0 With a small Cessna plane, we go on a tour over some of the hottest spots in the US, and unsurprisingly, find a lot of both urban and natural beauty in the way! http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=KcuDdPo0WZk These beachgoers were in for a surprise when hundreds of pelicans decided to go fishing at the same time. Swimmers have to watch out as the birds dive-bomb the water. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kI4j1edfSSY Singer and songwriter Donnalou Stevens performs an older ladies love song that is both funny and filled with words of wisdom at the same time. Getting older isn’t necessarily a lot of fun for many people but you can’t prevent it so you might as well have some fun laughing in your old age. There are so many funny lines you might need to listen to the song several times to hear them all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4QzHeUE-CM&feature=player_embedded Some older women in a park decided they want to have some fun with some younger men that are walking or jogging by their park bench. I’m sure these guys didn’t expect this to happen but they seemed to appreciate the humor in the situation and played along with the ladies as they realized it was Just For Laughs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4l-7DR85y6g --- ...LOL! I love this! Thanks LouiseA! Visit Melissa's Online Store You can get anything you want (except for Melissa ) at the online store http://pdhomes.net/mall/babylissa/mySTORES/ISELL4.html ========================================================== >-->From Laugh&Lift: ..........*=*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=*.......... ..........=*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*=.......... ..........*=*=*=*=*=h a p p y 4 t h o f j u l y=*=*.......... "Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." - Albert Einstein >"Victory" (Author Unknown, found in God's Little Devotional Book) Perhaps more than any other leader in the twentieth century, Winston Churchill rallied a nation to believe in what it could do. His speeches during World War II not only express resolution, but a profound peace of mind and a feeling of "rightness." Here are some of his words to England and the world: "You ask what is our policy? I will say: It is to wage war, by sea, land, and air, with all our might and all the strength that God can give us . . . You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: Victory . . . at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival . . . "We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender." What wonderful words to adapt to any fight against evil and sin! "Success comes in "can's"; Failure comes in "cant's!" "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." - Philippians 4:13 --- ...How we should feel about ISIS! -<>- Jesus: not a law-giver, a life-giver. , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Deeply Personal (By Ron Hutchcraft) [Edited] It's a special thrill for a follower of Jesus Christ to be able to walk where Jesus walked. That's why, for many of us, a visit to the Holy Land is a special memory or a special dream. Years ago, one of America's premier preachers - his name was Dr. Robert G. Lee - paid his first visit to Israel. Every place was special, but when his tour group went to Golgotha, the place where many believe Jesus was crucified, he couldn't contain himself. He suddenly started running ahead of the group to get there. The guide had to run to catch up with him, and he asked him breathlessly, "Sir, have you been here before?" Dr. Lee paused and then he answered, "Yes, I have been here before. Almost 2,000 years ago." I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Deeply Personal." Dr. Lee wasn't talking about some time-travel experience he'd had. He was talking about his deep feeling that when Jesus was dying on that cross, he was totally identifying with what Jesus was doing there. It was his sin Jesus was paying the price for there. The great painter, Rembrandt, must have had that same sense when he painted his rendition of Christ's crucifixion. When his friends pointed out that a man in the crowd there looked like Rembrandt, he replied, "Well, that is me." Once a person comes to understand what Jesus was really doing on that cross, His death becomes a deeply personal event and a totally transforming event. It's what the great Apostle Paul was describing in Galatians 2:20, our word for today from the Word of God. He says, "The life I live...I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." There are many people who wear a cross or who know all about the cross who have never been to the cross. In other words, they have never, in their heart, made their way to Jesus' cross and said, "For me. What He did there is to pay for every sin I've ever committed, for every wrong thing I've ever done." It's at that point that you realize Jesus is your only hope of being clean, being forgiven, of ever having a relationship with God, your only hope of going to heaven someday. And you surrender yourself to this Son of God who gave His life for you. I wonder if there's ever been a time like that for you; when you move beyond Jesus' brutal death as being just a historical event, or just a religious event, commemorated by some religious observance - when Jesus' sacrifice on that cross becomes for you a deeply personal "for me" event. Our churches are filled with people who know about the cross, who appreciate what Jesus did there, but who have missed the only thing that will change your eternal address from hell to heaven; that personal transaction at the cross where you make the Savior your Savior. "For me, Jesus...it's for me." If there's never been a time when you actually gave yourself completely to Jesus as your only hope, don't wait another day to get that settled. Your soul is at stake. Your eternity is at stake. Right where you are, tell Jesus that you are putting your total trust in Him to forgive every sin, and to change your life, and to take you to His heaven someday. If you want to begin that relationship with Him you might just say these words: "Jesus, I'm yours because you died for me, and you're alive today. I'm yours." It may very well be that your journey has led you to this day as the day you begin your relationship with Jesus Christ and move from having Him in your head to having Him in your heart. [Permission to distribute this material via email, or individual copies, is automatically granted on the condition it will be used for non-commercial purposes, and will not be sold. To reproduce "A Word With You" transcripts in any other format, including Internet websites, written permission is needed.] 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 =============================================================== >A Friend in a Stranger Story Editor: by Bonny Yegon Joyce Schowalter Kenya In April of 2001, I was pick-pocketed in Nairobi, Kenya, and I lost not only a very expensive phone but also all my contacts. I reported the matter to the police station because I knew my phone had a phone tracker and could be tracked. The police were not really very helpful, since they told me that they would recover the phone and keep it as court evidence and I might never get the phone back. They gave me some paper work to take to my service provider to begin tracking my phone. I reacted by giving up the process, and bought another phone. One month later, the police informed me that my phone had been tracked to Tanzania, a neighbouring country, and they were waiting for my go ahead to begin recovery. I told them that I would not wish to proceed since I would not get my phone back. And more so, the time and money I would spend in court would be more than the phone. They persisted that they wanted to go ahead and even offered me the number of the present phone owner in case I wanted to try it out. I called the phone number and was surprised to get a very innocent college girl who had been given the phone by a friend as a gift. She was so concerned to learn that the phone was being tracked by the police, and promised to send it back. I was very skeptical and offered to withdraw the case from the police and let her own the phone. She did not want anything to do with owning a stolen phone, because of her personal Christian beliefs, and insisted on sending it back. As a Kenyan who has fallen victim to pick-pocketing before I did not put my hopes up. But I gave the girl the authority to choose what to do and even offered to help her disable the phone tracker. One weekend I was surprised to get a call from her that she had sent me the phone and wanted nothing from me in return -- not even the amount she spent on sending it. I did not know people like her still exist, and she changed my way of looking at people. I might not be able to repay her, but I hope I will one day get a chance to help someone out, too. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Kidwarmers: _ (_) <___> | |______ | |* * * ) | | * * (_________ | |* * * |* *|####) | | * * *| * | (________________ | |* * * |* *|####|##############| | | * * *| * | | | | |* * * |* *|####|##############| | |~~~~~~| * | | | | |######|* *|####|##############| | | |~~~' | | | |######|########|##############| | | | | | | |######|########|##############| | |~~~~~~| | | | | |########|##############| | | '~~~~~~~~| | | | |##########JGS#| | | '~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | | | | | | >THE FUNNIEST THINGS KIDS SAY Alex, 4, and Grandma Cappy were playing. Alex got angry with something she said and walked off to his room. A few minutes later he came out and asked, "Grandma Cappy, are you ready to behave now so we can have some fun?" Guess where he got that from? -- Grandma Cappy of California PaPa had spent hours putting up grandson Shawn's new trampoline. He was sitting beside it watching Shawn do his " routine" when Shawn asked, "Papa, when I grow up and have a son, will you be dead yet?" Papa replied, "Well, I certainly hope not!" Shawn replied, " Good, then you can put one of these up for him!" -- Alice Riley (grandmother of Shawn) of Tennessee The other day Susan overheard her son Jacob, 4, and her husband, Matt, talking in another room. Matt had quietly asked Jacob if he wanted some more soda. Jacob is not allowed more than one cup of pop in a day and he knows it. He just looked at his dad and said, " My head says yes, but my Mommom says no!" -- Susan of Oklahoma When Dana (now 39) was 3, Pat asked her for a good night kiss. She shook her head and said, "Nope -- I just ran out of kisses." -- Pat Cameron (mother of Dana) of Washington State _..._ ||||||| ||||||| _|*****|_ ( '-...-' ) {`;-----;`} {(| a a|)} \| _\ |/ \ - / jgs '{_}` Dee Dee was taking Emily to preschool summer school. All of a sudden Emily said, "Look, Mom, there are those old fashion dryers." Dee Dee was driving and couldn't get a close look so she asked Emily what she meant. Emily said, "Those poles over there." (Clotheslines!) Then Emily added, "I bet those are really old. At least 1995." Talk about feeling old. -- Dee Dee Boyd (age 42) of Missouri While visiting a local amusement park the other week, Claire, 4, was very excited and wanted to go on every ride. She pointed to the roller coaster and exclaimed, "I want to go the roller toaster!" -- Alison Hummel (mother of Claire) of Pennsylvania One Sunday morning while at church, Nolan, 2, had to go to the bathroom. The service was about to end. When Nolan re-entered they were about to have the benediction prayer. Everyone bowed their head and closed their eyes and the prayer began. When Nolan looked over at his grandmother, LeeLee, he said in his loudest voice, "Wake up, LeeLee!" -- Lisa Billingsley of Scaly Mountain, North Carolina _ (_) |_________________________________________ |*%%*%%*%%*%%*%%########################### |%*%%*%%*%%*%%*%########################### |*%%*%%*%%*%%*%%########################### |%*%%*%%*%%*%%*%########################### |*%%*%%*%%*%%*%%########################### |%*%%*%%*%%*%%*%########################### |*%%*%%*%%*%%*%%########################### |########################################## |########################################## |########################################## |########################################## |########################################## |###################################JGS#### |~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | | | | | | | Marti was reviewing vocabulary words with her first grade class at school. She wrote the word " garage" on the board and asked if anyone could read the word and tell what it means. One little girl said, "It's a building where you keep your car." Before Marti could tell her that she was right, another student chimed in, "Or boxes!" -- Marti Kramer Suddarth of Corydon, Indiana Mom and Dad reminded Big Brother not to push on 3-year-old Natalie's stomach because she was feeling sick. Later in the evening, as she laid down, Natalie said, "Daddy, if a bad man comes into my room and pushes on my stomach, I want you to call the police!" -- Matt Getts (father of Natalie) of Kendallville, Indiana Ever since JoAnne's niece Arianna was born in 2002, she has been JoAnne's " princess." Recently she announced to JoAnne, "Guess what I want to be when I grow up... I want to be a doctor, a veterinarian, a gymnast, and a ballerina. BUT ... guess what else... I will always be your princess!" -- JoAnne Johnson of Chews Landing, New Jersey A recent Kidwarmer reminded Beth of a story about her daughter Betsy. When she was about 8, Betsy asked, "Where is Charter?" Beth told her she had never heard of it and asked why she wanted to know. "Well, I keep seeing buses that are going there," Betsy said. Apparently they had been around quite a few chartered buses! -- Beth Fry of Lebanon, Pennsylvania Here's a much more recent story from Beth. She was reading with her granddaughter Lydia. The books include several pictures of objects that begin with a certain sound, followed by a page with a short list of other such words, without pictures. Beth read to her the list of "sh" words, many of which were difficult for her, but at the last one, Beth said, "I bet you can sound this one out!" She gave Beth a puzzled look, so Beth whispered, "SH-U-T." Lydia proudly whispered back, "Frog." Alyssa, 3, had "Bambino" (Italian for " small child") spaghetti for lunch with Grammy and Grand Dad. She explained to her Mommy, Kathryn, that it is spaghetti topped with butter, milk and cheese. She added, "It's so good it makes your heart ache." -- Donna Moller (Grammy) of Texas God graced Misti's life with an amazingly curious little man. Matthew is the type of kid that you definitely go check on when it "gets quiet" in the house. When Matthew was 6 they were sitting in Sunday service as they passed out communion. The church partakes in communion as a group and it was very quiet as everyone placed the wafer in their mouths. Matthew was chewing his making a grimacing face and announced quite loudly, "Can't they put some cheese on these or something? They taste awful!" -- Misti DeShields (mother of two) of Shawnee, Oklahoma Heather took her two daughters to Black Pine Animal Park. When they were done they went to Heather's parents' house to visit. Their grandma asked them what animals they saw at the zoo and Alexys, 3, replied, "We saw a lion, but it didn't have a scarf on it (referring to the mane)!" -- Heather Antal of Kendallville, Indiana Alice tells about her grandson Hayden who was with her when the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were checking MV stickers and seatbelts. Hayden was in the back seat and told the officer, "You don't need to put my Grammy in jail. She fastened me in!" -- Alice Hilchie of Nova Scotia, Canada .:::. ':::' [[[[[[[[[[[[ INDEPENDENCE DAY 2015 ]]]]]]]]]]]] .: .:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .: jgs .: .: .: Here are more stories from Alice. When Hayden spent the night Saturday, Alice had to take him home early on Sunday so she told him they would go out for breakfast. When they arrived his babysitter's father was there and asked Hayden if he would get him some breakfast. Hayden said, "No, the lady (waitress) will." The father said, "But I have no money so will you pay for my breakfast?" Hayden put his hands in the air and said, "No, I left my wallet at home." (In imitation of his Grampy!) Alice and Charlie went out for supper. They joined Hayden's family. When the waitress came, Hayden said, "Lady, could you please bring me some grass with my chicken fingers... Can I have the grass you gave Grampy?" (He meant the parsley Grampy had at the restaurant the last time they were there!) Terry's 4-year-old granddaughter, Gabby, and son spent a week at the beach in Panama City in Florida. They were eating at a wonderful seafood restaurant when Gabby told her mom she needed to go to the bathroom. She rushed through the door to the bathroom and hurriedly locked the door so her mom could not get in. Her mom was trying to peek under the door when Gabby announced she was finished. She was told to flush the toilet. Her mom waited and waited and was getting ready to knock on the door when Gabby flung it open. She looked up to her mom and said, "Go tell them the toilet is broke and it needs some new batteries." She was waiting for the sensor to flush the toilet like they have at Wal-Mart. -- TerryAnn Fielding of Brandon, Mississippi Note: You are welcomed to use, copy and share these stories, but please reference http://www.funnykids.com as the source. ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend LouiseA :) ======;===========;() #######:::::: #######:::::: #######:::::: jgs #######:::::: ############# ############# ############# ############# ############# ############# >Our Many Blessings When we count our many blessings It isn't hard to see, That life's most valued treasures Are the treasures that are free. For it isn't what we own or buy That signifies our wealth, It's the special gifts that have no price Our family, friends, and health May Your Blessings Be Many! --- ...Amen! Thanks LouiseA! >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? 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