Happy St. Patrick's Day And More... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To UnSubscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShangyFunList or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net ================ *~* A REMINDER: PLEASE Send me sweet, interesting, funny, inspiring, family type forwards ANY TIME here... bcrsystems@earthlink.net I Need them, Love them, Use them, and Share them! THANK YOU!! AND For Facebook Users: Please Friend Me / Like Me here... http://tinyurl.com/cma6all AND For Google Plus Users: You can find me here... Shangy Bigham https://plus.google.com/106648555948034085752/posts AND Please Share This email with All Your Friends And Family! ^~^ May God SUPER BLESS You As You Do! THANK YOU! :) -<>- * NOTE: An easy way to adjust the size of print in email or any page is to hold down the Ctrl tab while moving the scroll button on the mouse. You can also use the keyboard to change the font size in your web browser or emails. Hold down the Ctrl key while pressing the + key for larger text or the - key for smaller text! ================ >-->HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This red hot new page is from our friend Geniann. It is sure to tickle your funny bone and give you some chuckles as well. Check this one out here... ____, "||||.W.|| // "| ||||^T^|| || /^^\\ \\/^\\ /^^\\ //^^|| /^^\\ || ,-'|| || || ,-'|||| || ,-'|| \\___/\\_/\;_||_ _||_\\_/\;\\__/|,\\_/\; m1a Only In Canada! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/onlyincanada.html --- ...What a funny one! Thanks Geniann! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: Your Irish Blessing: May God give you... For every storm, a rainbow, For every tear, a smile, For every care, a promise, And a blessing in each trial. For every problem life sends, A faithful friend to share, For every sigh, a sweet song, And an answer for each prayer. Happy St. Patrick's Day! You'll love Joe's cute story about his green underwear. It will bring back memories for sure. ________ .##@@&&&@@##. ,##@&::%&&%%::&@##. #@&:%%000000000%%:&@# #@&:%00' '00%:&@# #@&:%0' '0%:&@# #@&:%0 0%:&@# #@&:%0 0%:&@# #@&:%0 0%:&@# "" ' " " ' "" _oOoOoOo_ .-.-. (oOoOoOoOo) ( : ) )`"""""`( .-.`. .'.-. / \ (_ '.Y.' _) | # | ( .'|'. ) \ / '-' | '-' jgs `=========` >ST. PATRICK'S DAY PEACOCK by Joseph Walker I don't know how my green sweater ended up in the same batch of laundry as my white underwear. Mom didn't usually make mistakes like that But there was the evidence, neatly folded in my drawer -- green underwear. "You can't even tell they're green," mom said, defensively, when I asked what in the name of J.C. Penney was going on. "Besides, it's underwear. You don't show off your underwear, do you?" She had me there. Underwear-showing was high on the list of things we tried not to do back in those days. Still, I was an underwear traditionalist. It was the mid-1960s, and in my neighborhood we wore 'em white and tight -- the whiter and tighter, the better. None of that multi- colored, boxer-style, hippie-dippie stuff for us. No, sir. White, tight underwear was the foundation of all that was noble and right in the world. To wear anything else was the first rebellious step on the slippery slope of anarchy. So it was principle, really, that drove my refusal to wear green underwear. I wouldn't be caught dead in it (which, of course, was my greatest fear -- that I would be in an accident, and would be forever remembered by doctors as the boy who died while wearing green underwear). Then came St. Patrick's Day, the day for the wearin' o' the green. In our neighborhood, if someone didn't wear green on St. Patrick's Day, you could pinch him -- hard. But if the guy you pinched was covertly wearing green, he could punch you -- harder. Green underwear provided the perfect opportunity to trade pinches for punches -- the ultimate St. Patrick's Day triumph. So I slipped on the green underwear and hurried through mom's traditional St. Patrick's Day breakfast of green scrambled eggs and green orange juice, and ran to meet George on the way to school. I could tell he was quietly checking me out. At last he pinched me. "Gotcha!" I shouted, and prepared to punch him. "Hey, wait!" George replied. "You gotta prove it!" He was right, of course. You couldn't just say you were wearing covert green -- you had to show it. So I showed him the green underwear -- and then I punched him. He agreed it was a great joke, and volunteered to send victims my way. It worked great on Dean and Albert. Their pinches hurt some, but the pain was offset by the knowledge that I was going to get to slug them. Then George threw a curve ball at me: Gayle. Gayle was the cutest girl in the fourth grade and the object of my pre-adolescent affection. Her light pinch felt like an angel kissing my arm, and I was lost in the magic of her laughing eyes -- until I noticed George and the rest of the guys poking their heads around a corner, urging me to finish off the joke. Talk about your moral dilemmas! In order to play the joke on Gayle I'd have to show her my green underwear, and there was no way I was going to do that. Besides, she was a girl, and I didn't believe in slugging girls -- at least, not one who wasn't my sister. So I just shrugged and blushed and laughed away Gayle's pinch with some innocuous comment about how I'd forgotten it was St. Patrick's Day, and hey -- she could pinch me anytime she wanted. My buddies were outraged until it occurred to them to send more girls my way. Eventually, every girl in the fourth grade pinched me, including Colleen, whose father was a dentist so she naturally enjoyed inflicting pain. By the end of the day I was a St. Patrick's Day peacock, with black and blue arms to go with my red face and green underwear. I remember that day every year at this time, and I think about what a painful thing it is when principles collide. All we can do is decide which principle gets the greater value. And then prepare to be pinched. -- Joseph Walker __________________________________________________ Joe is a Heartwarmers Gem from Utah. =========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Fran :) >Quotes: "Through waves and clouds and storms His power will clear your way; Wait for his time; the darkest night Shall end in brightest day." - Paul Gerhardt A love for humanity came over me, and watered and fertilized the fields of my inner world which had been lying fallow, and this love of humanity vented itself in a vast compassion. - Georg Brandes It's the inevitable price of imperial arrogance making leaders feel invulnerable till they no longer are, and it's too late. - Stephen Lendman -<>- __...._ .-"` `\ / | | | \ | \ __...--'| \.-' |_..-, __\___...---'`_..-' (_______....--'\ / `\ (o \__ | | __) _ _ \ /`\ \ | (_Y_) _ '-.\_,| | T-._/ (_A_) _../`'T T-'` | | \__ _| .' | | | | \___ | /_\`\ / | | | | \ `/-`\ --| | \ | | | | /`----' |--' \ `\ \_; |`-.......-` .-.-'. \_LI ; / / /`-._ |`-\ \ jgs _/_/ / | \ \ ( ( ;.__ / \__,\__ `"`""` `""""` `.__._`; >Green Trees and Red Dirt Have you ever seen prettier colors Than green trees and red dirt earth? Somehow they seem so perfect together The seasons like new kind of birth. Rain leaving squishy wet puddles Lying across the red dirt roads The countryside getting a drink As the rainy season quickly unfolds. Barns out in the middle of the fields Of the green sweet pastureland Machinery whacking off the grass As it falls where it stands. Bales of hay awaiting the farmer To gather it up once again Year after year it's a cycle One in which a farmer depends. Bales of hay awaiting the farmer Carefully constructed white fences Gather around the old farm As the sky blackens for oncoming storm. Another day in the country Ah yes, it brings me great comfort Cause there's nothing prettier in my world Than Green trees and red dirt! - Marilyn Lott © 2006 --- ...Thanks Fran! I loved seeing the red dirt when I went out West as a kid. So awesome to me! Never forget my awe at God and His beautiful creation! -<>- .__=\__ .__==__, jf' ~~=\, _=/~' `\, ._jZ' `\q, /=~ `\__ j5(/ `\./ V\\, Unknown .Z))' _____ | .____, \)/\ j5(K=~~ ~~~~\=_, | _/=~~~~' `~~+K\\, .Z)\/ `~=L | _=/~ t\ZL j5(_/.__/===========\__ ~q |j/ .__============___/\J(N, 4L#XXXL_________________XGm, \P .mXL_________________JXXXW8L ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~YKWmmWmmW@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >Story Time - THE PAGES LONG FORGOTTEN John stepped into the used bookstore and smiled as he smelled the old pages. Here was a wealth of old stories, history waiting to be read, and a host of other joys. On a back shelf, he found what he was looking for... They'd served their use to those who once held them dear, but now gathered dust in the darkest corner of the store. They were Italian, American, French and Greek. They contained secrets from around the world. There were collections of chicken, beef, pastries, bread, and desserts. They waited, hidden in a little explored part of the store, and hoped someone discovered their treasures. John knew what to do. He picked one up, held the spine in his hand and let the book fall open. They always opened to the most used pages, the recipes loved by lost generations. The page in front of him was for a recipe called "Beef-filled cornbread." The picture showed a delicious layer of meat and cheese, layered with cornbread and covered with a hot sauce. The pages were stained with splatters of tomato sauce. It was obviously a favorite of the previous owners. He'd try this one. Those used the most are the best. He found several other books, each with its own marked pages, and carried them to the counter to make his purchase. "I hope you found something you like," the cashier said. "Oh yes. Very much! I'm sure these are exactly to my taste." He paid for his purchase, left the store and carried them in a bag on his way ton work. In the locker room, he placed his books on the top shelf and changed into his scrubs. The recipes would wait. He had a duty. Freshly dressed, he walked his floor. "Hello, Mrs. Smith!" He smiled at the elderly lady sitting in the sun room reading a book. In her day, she must have been a beautiful woman. She still was, for a woman in her eighties. "How was your day?" "Horrible!" she growled. He sat beside her, held her hand and looked into her eyes. "My grandson didn't visit me," she continued. "He promised me he'd be here today." She adjusted her shawl and tried to hide the tears about to spill from her wizened eyes. "Maybe tomorrow," he replied. "You know how busy these young people are." He noted the tear in the corner of her eye and changed subject. "Mrs. Smith, didn't you tell me you lived during the great depression?" A smile came to her face. "Oh, yes. What a time that was. There was no work, ya know. But we survived." "How did you get by?" "Well, we all worked together. Everyone worked together. We helped each other." She frowned. "It's not like today, where people are too busy to worry about anyone but themselves. In those days, we worked together. If you didn't, you starved." "It must have been a hard time, Mrs. Smith. I don't know how you did it." "I didn't," she grinned. "We did. We did it together, the neighbors and my family." He left her smiling and hoped her grandson paid a visit the next day. He moved down the hall and stepped into Mr. Walker's room. "Hey, Walk! How's things?" He used the name Walk, as all the others in the center called him. It made Walk feel comfortable. Mr. Walker looked up from a puzzle he leaned over. "Could be better, John. This damn puzzle has me stumped. These eyes aren't what they used to be." "I know, Walk. Just take your time. There's no rush." "There is too," Walk chuckled. "I need to finish it before I die." "Not too soon I hope," John said. "Say! Have I told you about the guy who walks into a bar with a giraffe under his arm?" John chuckled. Walk loved a good joke. "I don't believe you have." Walk's face broke out in a smile. "You see, this guy walks into a bar with a giraffe under his arm. He has a few beers. The giraffe falls asleep on the floor. The bartender looks down, sees the giraffe and asks, 'What's that lying on the floor?' The guy says, 'That's not a lion! That's a giraffe.'" Walk broke into a laugh that turned into a coughing spell. John slapped him on the back. "Come on, Walk. Cough it up." Walk got himself under control. "You're OK now. I got your back." "I know about covering someone's back." Walk sat straight in his seat. "I was in WWII ya know." "I heard that. Did you have a hard time?" John asked. "John, you have no idea. It was the winter of '41, or was it '42. I can't remember now. Snow was up to here." Walk pointed to his thigh. "We were on the front. The enemy was close." Thirty minutes later, John said, "WOW! That's a story, Walk. I knew you were in the war, but I don't think I ever thanked you. I want to say, Thank you. You made us safe." "Ah, stop it. It was nothing," Walk turned to his puzzle, too embarrassed to continue their talk. He and others knew what they did, but don't want to take credit. It's an unspoken rule between the veterans. They did what they had to. John continued on his rounds, held hands, shared hugs and listened. Here they were, like the cookbooks, sitting in dark corners, ignored. John knew what to do. He held them, let their hearts fall open, and found the pages stained with use. They are the most valued. They are the pages long forgotten. - Michael T. Smith --- ...Aww, such a great story! Thanks Fran! I have a special love for old rich leather bond books and of course our old Veterans. Perfect! Reminds me of my poem here... To Begin With... http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/poems/begin.html =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: St. Patrick's Day is an enchanted time -- a day to begin transforming winter's dreams into summer's magic. - Adrienne Cook -<>- .-"""""-. \ / |.-----.| __|_______|___ HAPPY '--;-'```'-;--' ST. PATRICK'S / / 6_6 \ \ DAY ! ( ( _) ) ) / ( ( .__. ) ) ( `._`-'_.' ) /`'-._`"`_.-'`\ | /___```___\ | \ |___|L|___| / \/ `"` \/ /..,_______,..\ / /\ \ | ,-' `-, | \ `\ ,-'` / jgs __LI`--`\|`.__/ ( /\ LI\ `.___,-'` \ | '.__/ >ST. PATRICK'S DAY Although much of the life of the patron saint of Ireland is shrouded in legend, he was probably born around the year 389. What we do know about him comes from his book, "The Confession", which he wrote near the end of his life. It begins, "I am Patrick, a sinner, most uncultivated and least of all the faithful...My father was Calpornius, a deacon, a son of Potitus, a presbyter, who was at the village of Bannavem Taberniea." He was born it seems in the Severn Valley in England; British, not Irish. He was doubtless educated in pre-Anglo-Saxon Britain under a Christian influence with a reverence for the Roman Empire, of which he was a citizen. His father was a landowner and together with his family he lived on their estate. At the age of sixteen, when he claimed he "did not then know the true God," he was carried off by a band of Irish marauders. Irish tradition says he tended the herds of a chieftain in the county Antrim. His bondage lasted for six years during which time, as he wrote, "turned with all my heart to the Lord my God." (Note: as is custom all slaves were to be set free on the 7th year) He fled 200 miles to the coast of Wicklow, and encountered a ship engaged in the export of Irish wolf-dogs. After three days at sea the traders landed, probably on the west coast of Gaul, and journeyed twenty-eight days through the desert. At the end of two months Patrick parted company with his companions and spent a few years in the monastery of Lerins. After returning home from the Mediterranean the idea of missionary enterprise in Ireland came to him. He seems to have proceeded to Auxerre where he was ordained by Bishop Amator and spent at least fourteen years there. While in Ireland Patrick was both an evangelist of the gospel of Jesus and an organizer of the faithful. He battled heresy as well as engaged in trials of skill against Druids. There is some evidence that he traveled to Rome around 441-443 and brought back with him some valuable relics. On his return he founded the church and monastery of Armagh. Some years later he retired, probably to Saul in Dalaradia. In modern times St. Patrick's day has become primarily an ethnic holiday celebrating Irish heritage in much the same way as Columbus Day is a celebration of Italian ethnicity in the United States. You can't close down the schools on St. Patrick's Day without showing ethnic bias. So Massachusetts's Suffolk County closes the schools to commemorate March 17, 1776, the day the British cleared out of Boston. For the record, they call it Evacuation Day. - Bill Petro, your friendly neighborhood historian "How come St. Patrick got a day named after him with a parade and St. Joseph only got some children's aspirin named after him?" -<>- .-------. |(~\o/~)| _.||\/X\/||._ ,-" || \ / || "-, ,' () ||o X o|| () ', / () ,-|| / \ ||-, () \ : o ,' ||/\X/\|| ', o ; .----------._)~ ~(_.----------. |\/)~~(\/\ (~\ /~) /\/)~~(\/| |(X () X) >o >-X-< o< (X () X)| |/\)__(/\/ _(_/|\_)_ \/\)__(/\| '----------' ) ( '----------' ; o ', ||\/~\/|| ,' o ; \ () '-|| \o/ ||-' () / ', () |(~\X/~)| () ,' '-._ ||\/ \/|| _.-' '|| \_/ ||' || X || ||\(/\/|| ||=)O(=|| ||/\/)\|| || X || || / \ || ||/\X/\|| jgs |(_/o\_)| '._____.' >I Refuse I refuse to be discouraged, To be sad, or to cry; I refuse to be downhearted, and here's the reason why: I have a God who's mighty, Who's sovereign and supreme; I have a God who loves me, and I am on His team. He is all-wise and powerful. Jesus is His Son's name; Though everything is changeable, My God remains the same. My God knows all that's happening; Beginning to the end; His presence is my comfort; He is my dearest Friend. When sickness comes to weaken me, To bring my head down low, I call upon my mighty God; Into His arms I go. When circumstances threaten to rob me of my peace; He draws me close unto His breast, Where all my strivings cease. When my heart melts within me, and weakness takes control; He gathers me into His arms, He soothes my heart and soul. The great Creator is with me. My life is in His hand. The "Son of God" is my hope. It's in His strength I stand. I refuse to be defeated. My eyes are on my God; He has promised to be with me, As through this life I trod. I'm looking past all my circumstances, To Heaven's throne above; My prayers have reached the heart of God I'm resting in His love. I give God thanks in everything. My eyes are on His face; The battle's His, the victory mine; He'll help me win the race. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!!!! Pass it on! "Vision is not seeing things as they are, but as they will be..." -Unknown -<>- >"Bent" "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." Romans 5:8 (NLT) Matchbox 20 had a hit song called "Bent." Radio stations still play it, just not quite as much. In this particular song, Rob Thomas -- the lead singer and songwriter for the band -- manages to capture the emotion behind what seems to be a universal problem. Here are a few lines: If I fall along the way Pick me up and dust me off And if I get too tired to make it Be my breath so I can walk Can you help me - I'm bent I'm so scared that I'll never Get put back together... I started out clean but I'm jaded Just phoning it in Just breaking the skin Shouldn't be so complicated... Matchbox Twenty - Bent Official Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsSbICySio4 Can you identify? No matter how hard you try, you seem to keep messing up? When you step back from your life to take a look, it seems like you're always coming up short? You watch the news and wonder what this world is coming to? You're tired of the struggle and just want to phone it in? You long for life to be simple - the way it's supposed to be -- rather than so complicated? You wonder if a life like yours is really worth God paying attention to -- or better yet, saving? Your capacity for wrong-doing scares you? God knew we would have feelings like this. That's why He sent Jesus into the world... so that these realities wouldn't leave us hopeless. Yes, we are human. Yes, we are sinners. And yes, we are bent. But the good news is that God's grace covers our condition. His grace not only enables us to face life here, but it also promises that one day -- in the kingdom of heaven -- we will be put back together... we will be whole. -<>- , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >THE MEANING OF LIFE By: Joseph J. Mazzella What is the meaning of life? This is a question that has bothered saints and sinners and poets and philosophers since the beginning of mankind. It is a question that sooner or later is asked by each of us in our own lives. As I have grown a lot older and a tiny bit wiser, however, I have come to realize that this question has about 6 billion answers on Earth right now, because each of us has to find the meaning in our own life. How can we do this? The great psychiatrist and survivor of the Nazi concentration camps,Victor Frankl said that we can find meaning in our lives in several ways. We can find it in what we do to make this world a better place. We can find it in the love that we give to other people. We can even find it in our pain, fear, suffering, and death when we use these things to become better, stronger, and more loving. It doesn't matter how long we live either because as Frankl says even a short life "could be so rich in joy and love that it could contain more meaning than a life lasting eighty years." It took me a while, but I found the meaning in my own life. I found it in loving God, myself, my family, my community, and everyone in this world. I found it in sharing my love, joy, and oneness with God every second that I can today, tomorrow, and forever. I found it in showing the whole world that they can do the same through these simple words that I write. What is the meaning of your life? Look for it. It is there waiting for you in the depths of your heart and soul. Then embrace it and spend the rest of your life living it. God gives each of us a purpose, a meaning, and a mission in our lives, and if we are still alive then we aren't done with them yet. -<>- >Unfolding Of A Rose A young, new preacher was walking with an older, more seasoned preacher in the garden one day and feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was inquiring of the older preacher. The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals. The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the WILL OF GOD for his life and for his ministry. Because of his high respect for the older preacher, he proceeded to TRY to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact... It wasn't long before he realized how impossible it was to do so. Noticing the younger preacher's inability to unfold the rosebud while keeping it intact, the older preacher began to recite the following poem... Rose Petals http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/poems/rose.html -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Home, James!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/homejames.html Rainbow Art!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/rainbowart.html Maxine On Jesus!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/maxineonjesus.html Butchart Gardens!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bgardens.html Beautiful Scotland!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/beautifulscotland.html Rainbow Photo Art!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/rainbowphotoart.html Maxine On St. Patrick's Day!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/maxineonpatday.html St. Patrick's Day Animations http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/agifs_p-t.html -<>- >Please Visit/Follow Me On StumbleUpon: https://tinyurl.com/ydhk2o74 Some of Shangrala's Best Pages http://www.amazfamily.com/index.html -<>- An upset, yes, but a short victory lap for Democrat Lamb in Pennsylvania (Like a Wolf in Sheep's clothing - More like a Republican than a Democrat) https://tinyurl.com/ycyslejo WhiteHouseNews: https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600daily/ Latest From AFA: http://tinyurl.com/j7lakqw Latest From RightAlerts: http://rightalerts.com Latest At FoxNews: http://www.foxnews.com/ Latest From MRC News: https://tinyurl.com/ya6uruck Latest From TrueDailyNews: http://truedaily.news/category/news/ Get your free digital Guide to the Constitution from The Heritage Foundation https://tinyurl.com/ycnjzfgg -<>- >From Our Friend Melody :) Welcome to Earth 2 [HD] - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IgnirKhXbU&feature=player_embedded --- ...Quite Beautiful! Thanks Melody! -<>- >From Our Friend Geniann :) That One Time a Parachuting Soldier Took Down a Zero Fighter Plane With Nothing but a Handgun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FVcwpB9Fmc --- ...Awesome! Thanks Geniann! Find it here too: Owen John Baggett Killed Japanese Pilot in Mid Air-Reported as Truth! https://www.truthorfiction.com/owen-john-baggett-killed-japanese-pilot-mid-air/ -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseAu :) For Coca Cola, it’s important that the product tastes the same across the nation. But as a fan of Coke, you know that it tastes different sometimes. Have you ever wondered why fountain drinks taste better than those that come in bottles? And why McDonald’s coke tastes the best? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xev6mmpd_9E --- ...Interesting! Thanks LouiseAu! Years ago when going out West, Coke was often the only one of the two available at most restaurants. Being a strong fan of Pepsi, I found it was OK because the Coke was less harsh and tasted a lot like Pepsi. I figured that was why there were so many Coke fans down south and more Pepsi fans up north. May be changed now. 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 ========================================================== ,"=-. / _),`'". ( /a( ), ) ) C = = ?/ ( )) (_ o-< ) ( `-' \; ( \_ ( | \ ) )| \_/} \ \ \(_;/-|_) )/) `._,--/ / / `!__!! ( (_o)) ---`-._, )--- ------( / |---- | ( | :__/|\_; \ |/ )(\_ /_)--` gpyy \_! >Thanks, Dr. Mike! Story Editor: by Nancy L. Middleton Joyce Schowalter Connecticut, USA I've been a maternal-child nurse for over fifteen years, and also worked in a pediatrician's office, so often my family comes to me for advice on children's health. My nephew, "Bill", his wife, "Deseray", and their daughters went to a general practitioner doctor who didn't believe in ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) as a legitimate diagnosis. Because my son has ADD and benefited from treatment, they asked if the doctor I work for would evaluate their older daughter's "classic" ADD symptoms. My boss suggested they instead see his colleague, Dr. Mike Blefeld, who specialized in ADD. They were pleased with his care for her, and Jessica was transferred to his practice. The rest of the family stayed with their first doctor. In September 2001, Bill and Deseray were concerned about their younger daughter. Ashley's energy level was low, she seemed pale, and one day she had a strange rash on her chest. Her parents thought she might have hives and followed telephone advice from their doctor. Her symptoms persisted and she had a fever, so they insisted on their daughter being seen in the doctor's office. Unfortunately, she was given only a very cursory exam, the rash wasn't looked at and the family left the doctor's office feeling as if they had been an annoyance to him. Concerned about Ashley, my nephew called Dr. Blefeld and asked if he would see her even though he had only seen her sister once and Ashley wasn't even his patient. Mike asked them to come in immediately, with no hesitation about the formalities that Ashley was not his patient, he barely knew the family, etc. He was immediately concerned that Ashley had tiny bruises (often mistaken for a rash and known as petechiae) on her chest and an enlarged spleen. He drew blood and sent Bill to the lab with the sample for analysis. With the results returned, he had to give the family the frightening news that Ashley had leukemia. He admitted Ashley to Yale-New Haven Hospital that very evening, and turned her over to "Dr. Joe", a personable, well-liked pediatric hematologist. Ashley started right in with tests and chemotherapy treatment. When all this happened, I was off work due to a car accident. Several months later I finally returned to work at the Newborn Nursery and Labor and Delivery unit. I immediately thanked Dr. Blefeld for recognizing the need for my great-niece to be properly evaluated, and for not using the excuse that she wasn't his responsibility because she wasn't his patient. Because of pressures from managed health insurance and a more litigious society, many medical practices today are run in a rigid, corporate manner. It's heartening to know that doctors like Dr. Blefeld continue to practice medicine as an art and a science, with compassion and flexibility, and not just as a business. Thank you, Dr. Mike! Ashley's treatment brought her into remission, where she remains today. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From CupO'Cheer: >QUOTES Gratitude. More aware of what you have than what you don’t. Recognizing the treasure in the simple—a child’s hug, fertile soil, a golden sunset. Relishing in the comfort of the common —a warm bed, a hot meal, a clean shirt. --Max Lucado So what is the worst thing you ever did? What is the one thing you hope no one ever finds out about you? When you have that evil deed fixed in your mind I want you to ask yourself if God can forgive you. David says, "[God] does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us" (Ps. 103:10-12). --Richard Exley "...For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more" (Jeremiah 31:34). Whenever the insistence is on the point that God answers prayer, we are off the track. The meaning of prayer is that we get hold of God, not of the answer. --Oswald Chambers Our enemies will pursue us deliberately into our very prayer rooms. The only way in which we can gather and keep collected our distracted minds and our roaming thoughts is to center them about Jesus Christ. By that I mean that we should let Christ lay hold of, attract, captivate, and gather about Himself all our interests. Then our sessions of prayer will become real meetings with God. --O. Hallesby The Bible is like a telescope. If a man looks through his telescope, then he sees the worlds beyond; but if he looks at his telescope, then he does not see anything but that. The Bible is a thing to be looked through, to see that which is beyond; but most people only look at it; and so they see only the dead letter.--Phillips Brooks Don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshiping what’s right with God --Mark Batter -<>- , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >GOD'S PROVISION: CONTENTMENT by Rick Warren But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 1 Timothy 6:6-7 (NIV) God promises to meet all your financial needs, if you (1) ask him for help and (2) learn to be content -- If you've ever seen a baby born, you know they don't come into the world with a whole lot. They're not holding onto cigars, cars and a stock portfolio. They don't come into the world with anything but a little umbilical cord and that quickly gets cut. And then, at your funeral, you don't take anything with you. The Bible teaches that we should learn to be content. What is contentment? Contentment means my happiness is not dependent upon circumstances. Most people get caught into "when" thinking: "When I get a certain job ... When I can retire ... When I get the house paid off ... When I get the bills paid off ... then I'll be happy!" God says, "No, once you get there, you'll always want something else." If you don't learn contentment, you'll never be happy. You'll always want more. "Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can't take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content." (1 Timothy 6:6-8, NLT) Tomorrow we'll look at faithful giving, another condition for answered prayer. Courtesy of www.purposedriven.com -<> vv vvv^^^^vvvvv vvvvvvvvv^^vvvvvv^^vvvvv vvvvvvvvvvv^^^^^^^^^^^^^vvvvv^^^vvvvv vvvvvvv^^^^^^^^^vvv^^^^^^^vvvvvvvvvvv^^^vvv vvvv^^^^^^vvvvv^^^^^^^vv^^^^^^^vvvv^^^vvvvvv vv^^^^^^^^vvv^^^^^vv^^^^vvvvvvvvvvvv^^^^^^vv^ vvv^^^^^vvvv^^^^^^vvvvv^^vvvvvvvvv^^^^^^vvvvv^ vvvvvvvvvv^^^v^^^vvvvvv^^vvvvvvvvvv^^^vvvvvvvvv ^vv^^^vvvvvvv^^vvvvv^^^^^^^^vvvvvvvvv^^^^^^vvvvvv ^vvvvvvvvv^^^^vvvvvv^^^^^^vvvvvvvv^^^vvvvvvvvvv^v ^^^^^^vvvv^^vvvvv^vvvv^^^v^^^^^^vvvvvv^^^^vvvvv vvvv^^vvv^^^vvvvvvvvvv^vvvvv^vvvvvv^^^vvvvvvv^^vvvvv^ vvv^vvvvv^^vvvvvvv^^vvvvvvv^^vvvvv^v##vvv^vvvv^^vvvvv^v ^vvvvvv^^vvvvvvvv^vv^vvv^^^^^^_____##^^^vvvvvvvv^^^^ ^^vvvvvvv^^vvvvvvvvvv^^^^/\@@@@@@\#vvvv^^^ ^^vvvvvv^^^^^^vvvvv/__\@@@@@@\^vvvv^v ;^^vvvvvvvvvvv/____\@@@@@@\vvvvvvv ; \_ ^\|[ -:] ||--| | _/^^ ; \ |[ :] ||_/| |/ ; \\ ||___:]______/ ; \ ;=; / ; | ;=;| ; () ;=;| (() || ;=;| / / \;=;\ unknown >I WISH The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned. PSALM 34:22 Barbara and I planted a maple tree outside our bedroom window about 10 years ago. I don't know what kind of water supply it tapped into, but this tree has just grown like crazy. It's absolutely magnificent! Around the end of October every year, its leaves turn a brilliant yellow and orange that look almost electric—like it's plugged into a light socket. One fall afternoon, I was outside in that part of the yard, and I said to myself, Why didn't we plant more of these trees? Imagine how gorgeous our place would look up here with a few more scattered around? But we didn't. And I can't go back 10 years and do things differently. Regretting to plant a tree is one thing. Regrets in life are quite another. I don't have to ask if you've ever felt that way. You may look back over your life and think, Why didn't I save my purity for marriage? Why haven't I been more consistent in my parenting decisions? Why have I let myself get so busy and distracted from important things? Why didn't I put a stop to this one particular sin years ago instead of letting it linger and defeat me my whole life? Why didn't I obey God when He made it so clear what He wanted me to do? Why didn't I do what He said? Why didn't I surrender my life to Jesus Christ sooner? The truth is, all of us wish we'd have done some things differently. We all live with a measure of regret and disappointment. The only difference is whether we let ourselves moan for the past or be thankful for where we are . . . and decide to make choices today that will result in a life of no regrets later. DISCUSS Think back over a few of your greatest regrets. What have you learned from these that you can apply today? PRAY Thank God that He is a God who forgives even our greatest regrets and gives us faith, hope and courage for the future. as seen in Moments Together For Couples -<>- To SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cheer316@sc.rr.com. ========================================================== >-->From LaughAndLift: "Until individuals are aware of the gravity of their sin, they will not be awed by the reality of grace." - Allistair Begg The Lift .--. .--. : (\ ". _......_ ." /) : '. ` ` .' /' _ _ `\ / 0} {0 \ | / \ | | /' `\ | \ | . .==. . | / '._ \.' \__/ './ _.' jgs / ``'._-''-_.'`` \ `--` >Ignoring The Warnings (By Rocky Henriques, www.timothyreport.com) Police say an Asiatic black bear bit off a woman's fingers recently (March 2010) at Lincoln Park Zoo in Manitowoc, Wisconsin after she ignored barriers and warning signs to try to feed the animal. The 47-year-old grandmother lost a thumb and a forefinger, and two other fingers were partially severed. Alcohol may have been a factor. Sometimes you just have to wonder about folks. With all the warning and caution signs around, you would think that the woman would have realized trying to feed the bears with her bare hands was not a smart thing to do. Even without the warning signs, she should have known better! Which leads me to wonder: how many times have I ignored the warning signs God has placed in front of me? How often do I just casually go on my merry way, thinking that of all the people in history, this surely doesn't apply to me? When God speaks a word of warning to our spirits, we should pay close attention. When God says "Don't" it's not because He's trying to steal our fun. It's because He always knows what is best, and is trying to steer us away from the bear cages of our lives. Keep your fingers where they belong! But most importantly - keep your heart pure by obeying God's Word. "How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word." (Psalm 119:9 NIV) -<>- A man came up to D.L. Moody after one of his messages and said to Moody, "I counted eighteen grammar mistakes in your message." Moody said, "I'm using all the English I know for the Glory of the Lord; What are you doing with yours?" The Lift , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Seeing God In Your Circumstances (by Theodore Epp) Philippians 1: 12-21 The life of the indwelling Christ enabled Paul to be free from worry and self-care during his imprisonment, which could have led to death. Paul was bold and unashamed and was concerned only that Christ would be magnified in his body regardless of what awaited him--life or death. There was no wavering on his part. We tend to think that these tremendous qualities were true only of the great men of God, such as the Apostle Paul, but that it is impossible for us to attain them. Somehow Satan blinds our eyes to the fact that we can have the same determination to glorify Christ in our lives that Paul had in his. The same Christ indwells us, not only to give us the desire to glorify Him but also to enable us to have the boldness to carry out that desire. Having told of his desire to please Christ in everything, whether through life or through death, Paul said, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Phil. 1:21). This was the basis for Paul's being able to live victoriously in Christ. He was not concerned about drawing attention to himself; rather, he wanted to glorify Jesus Christ in everything. All of Paul's life was focused on Jesus Christ. It is good for each of us to weigh his or her activities and ask, "Are the things I am doing all done to further my own interests, or are they really glorifying Christ?" "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself up for me" (Gal. 2:20, NASB). SUBSCRIBE INFO Want to receive a Christian inspirational item AND great clean humor in an email to you each day of the week? It's easy and FREE! Read all about Laugh & Lift at http://www.laughandlift.com ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend LouiseAu :) .-"^`\ /`^"-. .' ___\ /___ `. / /.---. O .---.\ \ | // '-. _o/0\o_ .-' \\ | | ;| \ (0\|W|/0) / |; | \ || |\_) \~_~_~/ (_/| || / \ | \ . \ ; .-.^.-. ; / . / | / '\_\ \\ \ \ \ / ' \ / / / // /_/' \\ \ \ \ \ / / / / // jgs `'-\_\_\ \ / /_/_/-'` ` '. .' ` ` >Revisiting Irish SMILES Here's to me, and here's to you, And here's to love and laughter- I'll be true as long as you, And not one moment after. And may you be filled with plenty of blarney to keep you smiling always! --- ...TeeHee! Thanks LouiseA! -<>- _ _ (_(_) /(_) (-----. |= | _|=____|_ (_________) 8" "8 (8 6 6 8) 8 7 8 88-=###, _ jgs "888"`##,|#| `###' >Irish Wishes For You May your mornings bring joy and your evenings bring peace... May your troubles grow less as your blessings increase! May neighbors respect you, Trouble neglect you, The angels protect you, And heaven accept you. May the lilt of Irish laughter lighten every load. May the mist of Irish magic shorten every road... And may all your friends remember all the favors you are owed. May those that love us, love us. And those that don't love us, May God turn their hearts. And if he doesn't turn their hearts, May he turn their ankles, So we'll know them by their limping. May misfortune follow you the rest of your life, and never catch up. May you have food and raiment, a soft pillow for your head. May you be forty years in heaven before the devil knows you're dead. May you have the hindsight to know where you've been, The foresight to know where you are going, And the insight to know when you have gone too far. -<>- _ _ (_(_) (_)\ .-----) |= | _|____ |_ (_________) 8" "8 (8 6 6 8) 8 7 8 jgs 88-=-88 "888" >Irish Toasts Here's to me, and here's to you, And here's to love and laughter- I'll be true as long as you, And not one moment after. May the lilt of Irish laughter lighten every load. May the mist of Irish magic shorten every road... And may all your friends remember all the favors you are owed! May your troubles be less And your blessing be more And nothing but happiness Come through your door Here's to our husbands and boyfriends. May they never meet! or ,-'~~~~-. .-~~~~`-. .' \ / `. ,-'` \ / `-. / , `\/ .' \ ( `\ || /~ ) ~. `\ || /` .~ `~~._____ `\ || /` ____.~~` ___!!!GOOD>- ________ .##@@&&&@@##. ,##@&::%&&%%::&@##. #@&:%%000000000%%:&@# #@&:%00' '00%:&@# #@&:%0' '0%:&@# #@&:%0 0%:&@# #@&:%0 0%:&@# #@&:%0 0%:&@# "" ' " " ' "" _oOoOoOo_ .-.-. (oOoOoOoOo) ( : ) )`"""""`( .-.`. .'.-. / \ (_ '.Y.' _) | # | ( .'|'. ) \ / '-' | '-' jgs `=========` >May God give you... For every storm, a rainbow, For every tear, a smile, For every care, a promise, And a blessing in each trial. For every problem life sends, A faithful friend to share, For every sigh, a sweet song, And an answer for each prayer. God keep you safe, God keep you warm God keep you and yours from all harm. May He bless your kith and kin, the hearth, the house and all within. There's the joy of dear Killarney In these blessings meant for you, There's a bit of Irish blarney, There's a touch of magic, too. There's a hope that love and laughter Will steal your heart away And a prayer that all you're wishing God grant you and yours today. --- ...Awww, so sweet! Thanks LouiseAu! .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. __, ,___) _____) _____ ,_) ,_) ______) (--|__| _, _ _ (--(__-|- (--|__)_-|-,_' _ |_/ ', (--| \ _, _| |(_||_)|_)(_| ____)|. _| (_|| | |(_ | \ /_) _|__/(_|(_| ( | | ,_| ( ( \_, ( ,_| .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->FULL LENGTH - FREE On line AUDIO MP3 Christian Foundational Class http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=61 NEW LIFE IN CHRIST! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->This is for all you who love food and DARE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. These are Tried and True, Yummy to the Tummy, good old fashioned home cooking recipes that are EASY to do Visit Shangy's Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html Home Recipes >Got A good Recipe? SHARE IT HERE: Share A Recipe ************************************************************************ >TO SUBSCRIBE:Visit Here This Weeks regular Shangy emails OR For the Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ************************************************************************