In The Broken Places... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To UnSubscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShangyFunList Through no fault of my own we suddenly became an adult club in the love and romance directory so you will have to confirm that you are an adult when you go here. I still have no idea how to change this back as it sends me around in a circle when I try! or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net ================ *~* A REMINDER: For Facebook Users: Please Friend Me / Like Me here... http://tinyurl.com/cma6all ^~^ May God SUPER BLESS You As You Do! THANK YOU! ================ >-->In The Worldly News: >Good News From AFA: Trail Life USA is the Christian alternative to the Boy Scouts of America http://action.afa.net/Detail.aspx?id=2147539334 -<>- >-->HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This super scorcher is from our friend PatDeE. It has such awesome photos and history of our Lady Liberty that I couldn't resist sharing it with you all. Give it plenty of time to load and check it out here... ( (_) ### . (#c __\|/__ #\ wWWWw \ \-. (/. .\) /\ /`\/\ /\ |\/ \_) (_| `\.' ; ; `' ;`\ `\; ; . ;/\ `\; ; ;| \ ; .' ' ; / |_.' ; | /) ( ''._;/` | ' . ; |.-' .:) | | ( .' : | |,- .:: | | ,-' .;| jgs_/___,_.:_\_ [I_I_I_I_I_I_] | __________ | | || | | || | _| ||_|__|_|| |_ /=--------------=\ / \ Statue Of Liberty! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/statueofliberty.html --- ...Sweet! Thanks PatDeE! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: ___ /| |||| .-"` `"-. } | __ |||| |||| .' .-'`'-. '. } | / \ |||| \ / / .' '. \ } | ;(); \ / || / ; ; \ \| \ / || || | ; ; | || || %% %% | ; ; | %% %% %% %% \ ; ; / %% %% %% %% \ '. .' / %% %% %% %% '. `-.,.-' .' %% %% jgs %% %% '-.,___,.-' %% %% >TABLE FOR TWO by Nancy B. Gibbs I remember quite well a day 17 years ago. That day our twin sons, Chad and Brad, loaded their car and left home to attend college. I got up early that morning and cooked breakfast while wiping away tears. I sat our "table for five" and realized how all of our lives were about to change. I noticed how quietness engulfed our kitchen that morning. The five of us sat down to breakfast. Nobody had anything to say, however. Not one of us knew what to say. Sure, the boys would be coming home on the weekends, but even so, I knew our family life would never be exactly the same again. The boys rambled around each room of the house to make sure they hadn't forgotten anything they needed. I packed a cooler with drinks and their favorite cold snacks. I found a box and filled it with essential food items. When my mind tricked me into thinking they might go to bed hungry that night, I emptied my wallet and placed the little bit of cash I had in their hands. We all walked outside. Chad and Brad gave me big hugs and quickly got into their car. I waved as they drove away. When I couldn't see their car any longer, I began to sob. I sat down on the driveway, placed my face in my hands and cried harder than I had cried in a long time. My husband Roy tried to console me, but I could see grief in his eyes, as well. Five years later, we went through many of the same emotions when our daughter, Becky moved away from home. We had become somewhat accustomed to our "table for three." We were sad that it would soon become a "table for two." There are many parents dreading this time of year. Bittersweet feelings will be present. While these parents feel pride and joy for their children, they will also feel a sense of grief. Painful moments will fill their minds. While I cannot adequately explain the feelings, I can still remember how I felt when we began that new chapter in our lives. The new chapter meant the telephone didn't ring as much. The house was quieter. I longed to see messy bedrooms once again. I would have loved to referee another sibling squabble. The worse feeling I had was the thought I was no longer needed. Of course, I was proud that my children were self-sufficient. I knew down deep they wouldn't starve. But I would have loved to have gotten up early and prepared lunches just one more time. I needed to be needed. Time rocked on, however. Roy and I are now accustomed to the quaintness of our table for two and we enjoy our lives together. Every night is date night for us. Our dinner table is usually at someone's restaurant. As an added bonus "dinner for two" is much more affordable than dinner out for an entire family. I have to admit I still miss our children and the old times we had together. But I also have to say I better enjoy the time I spend with the man of my dreams than ever before. Change is not always easy. If you are one of those parents who have just said goodbye to a child headed off to college, let me prepare you for some hard and lonely days, weeks and even months. But let me also say that a new chapter in your life is just ahead. Hold on tight until then. Look to God for direction and strength. Renew your vows to the one you love. And when you go to your favorite restaurant say with a strong voice and a great deal of courage, "Table for two, please." Roy and I have always enjoyed each other's company, but after the children moved away, we found a great amount of strength in each other. Some things have changed over the years. Our love for one another has grown stronger with each passing day. Together, Roy and I are now doing things we never dreamed possible. Our children oftentimes talk about how we are busier and happier than we have ever been before. Could it be because we fell deeper in love as we spent quality time together at our table for two? We can find good in every situation when we give every situation to God. -- Nancy Gibbs ____________________________________________ Nancy and Roy, from Georgia, work together in the ministry. Nancy is a writer, author and Christian motivational speaker. Roy is a pastor, evangelist, musician and is currently running for state representative. They have raised three wonderful children and are now enjoying being grandparents to three lovely little ladies. Nancy speaks at women's conferences, teas and banquets across the country. You can visit her website here: http://www,nancygibbs.com ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend LouiseA :) ______ ____ /_____/\ /___/| / \ \ __| | |__ / /\ \/| /__| |/__/| | | || | ||___ ___|/ | |/_| | | | | | | __ | | |__|/ | | || | | | | || | | |__|/ |__|/ >A very special teacher I had a very special teacher in high school many years ago whose husband unexpectedly died suddenly of a heart attack. About a week after his death, she shared some of her insight with a classroom of students. As the late afternoon sunlight came streaming in through the classroom windows and the class was nearly over, she moved a few things aside on the edge of her desk and sat down there. With a gentle look of reflection on her face, she paused and said, "Before class is over, I would like to share with all of you a thought that is unrelated to class, but which I feel is very important. Each of us is put here on earth to learn, share, love, appreciate and give of ourselves. None of us knows when this fantastic experience will end. It can be taken away at any moment. Perhaps, this is God's way of telling us that we must make the most out of every single day." Her eyes beginning to water, she went on, "So I would like you all to make me a promise. From now on, on your way to school, or on your way home, find something beautiful to notice. It doesn't have to be something you see - it could be a scent-perhaps of freshly baked bread wafting out of someone's house, or it could be the sound of the breeze slightly rustling the leaves in the trees, or the way the morning light catches one autumn leaf as it falls gently to the ground. Please look for these things and cherish them for although it may sound trite to some, these things are the "stuff" of life. The little things we are put here on earth to enjoy. The things we often take for granted. We must make it important to notice them, for at any time ... it can all be taken away." The class was completely quiet. We all picked up our books and filed out of the room silently. That afternoon, I noticed more things on my way home from school than I had that whole semester. Every once in a while, I think of that teacher and remember what an impression she made on all of us, and I try to appreciate all of those things that sometimes we all overlook. Take notice of something special you see on your lunch hour today. Go barefoot. Or walk on the beach at sunset. Stop off on the way home tonight to get a double-dip ice cream cone. For as we get older, it is not the things we did that we often regret, but the things we didn't do. ~Author Unknown~ --- ...Sweet. Thanks LouiseA! -<>- _..._ .~ `~. / } \ _.'`~~/ {_,} -( ,'-,___.' .-. / |_ /| __| |__ / ` |_/ [__ __] / \ / | | / '--;_ | | _\ `\ | | / |`-.___. / | | ^^^jgs^^^`--`------'`--`^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >Your Life is Jesus to Someone (Author Unknown) "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." - John 13:35 YOUR LIFE is Jesus to someone, though tattered and torn it may be. Though often times weak and unstable, you're all of God someone will see. YOUR TONGUE is Jesus to someone. That idle, insensitive word reflects to at least one searching heart an idle, insensitive Lord. YOUR GOALS are Jesus to someone. What you put first, they believe, are the goals of God for the Christian. Your life is all they receive. YOUR FAITHFULNESS... that's Jesus to someone. Their judgment of how God is true, rests unquestionably in the faithfulness they see day by day in you. YOUR LOVE is Jesus to someone -- that someone who is seeking to know that Jesus will follow and guide and befriend wherever in life they might go. SO BEWARE lest others blaspheme God by what you say or do, for the only Jesus that someone may see is the Jesus they see in you. --- ...Great Lesson! Thanks LouiseA! _______ / /_ / -/- / / / / / / /_______/ / jgs ((______| / `"""""""` The apostle Paul wrote... 1 Cor.10: [23a] All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: "all things are not expedient" The definition of "expedient" is: Appropriate to a purpose. Something that is a means to an end. Our purpose or our means to an end is as defined here... 1 Cor. 10: [31] Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. [32] Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: [33] Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. We try not to offend others or do what is not expedient - not becoming of a Christian - because people look to us as models. We try not to offend others so we might bring more to the Gospel of Christ so they might be saved. All things are lawful - we as Christians are heaven bound and all hell can't stop us - but all things are not expedient - not becoming of a Christian. We certainly don't want to stand before for Lord and have Him say "if you hadn't done this, Johnny would have been saved years earlier.' We don't want that as part of our legacy. ============================================================ >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: _.-/`) // / / ) .=// / / / ) //`/ / / / / // / ` / || / \\ / )) .' jgs // / / >In the Broken Places I believe it was Ernest Hemingway who coined the phrase "growing strong in the broken places." When a bone is broken, for example, the calcium buildup that "welds" the bone together makes that the strongest part of the bone. When our life is committed to God and we bring our broken parts to him for healing, we, too, become strong in the broken places. Another aspect on being broken is in the words of Vance Havner who said, "God uses broken things. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume . . . it is Peter, weeping bitterly [after his failure of denying Jesus], who returns to greater power than ever." -<>- _....._ .' `'-. / (- J-E-S-U-S ->< '._ _,.-' \ jgs ````` >"Our Greatest Wealth" We are born with two eyes in front because we must not always look Behind, but see what lies ahead beyond ourselves. We are born to have two ears; one left, one right; so we can hear both Sides, collect both the compliments and criticisms, to see which are Right. We are born with a brain concealed in a skull. Then no matter how poor We are, we are still rich, for no one can steal what our brain contains, Packing in more jewels and rings than you can think. We are born with two eyes, two ears, but one mouth for the mouth is a Sharp weapon. It can hurt, flirt, and kill. Remember our motto; talk Less, listen and see more. We are born with only one heart; deep in our ribs it reminds us to Appreciate and give love from deep within. ~Author Unknown~ -<>- .======. | INRI | .========' '========. | _ xxxx _ | | /_;-.__ / _\ _.-;_\ | | `-._`'`_/'`.-' | '========.`\ /`========' | | / | |/-.( | |\_._\ | | \ \`;| | > |/| | / // | | |// | | \(\ | | `` | | | \\jgs _ _\\| \// |//_ _ \// _ ^ `^`^ ^`` `^ ^` ``^^` `^^` `^ `^ >Clean Blood The day is over, you are driving home. You tune in your radio. You hear a little blurb about a little village in India where some villagers have died suddenly, strangely, of a flu that has never been seen before. It's not influenza, but three or four fellows are dead, and it's kind of interesting. They're sending some doctors over there to investigate it. You don't think much about it, but on Sunday, coming home from church, you hear another radio spot. Only they say it's not three villagers, it's 30,000 villagers in the back hills of this particular area of India, and it's on TV that night. CNN runs a little blurb; people are heading there from the disease center in Atlanta because this disease strain has never been seen before. By Monday morning when you get up, it's the lead story. For it's not just India; it's Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and before you know it, you're hearing this story everywhere and they have coined it now as the "Mystery Flu". The President has made some comment that he and everyone are praying and hoping that all will go well over there. But everyone is wondering, "How are we going to contain it?" That's when the President of France makes an announcement that shocks Europe. He is closing their borders. No flights from India, Pakistan, or any of the countries where this thing has been seen. That night you are watching a little bit of CNN before going to bed. Your jaw hits your chest when a weeping woman is translated from a French news program into English: "There's a man lying in a hospital in Paris dying of the mystery flu. "It has come to Europe." Panic strikes. As best they can tell, once you get it, you have it for a week and you don't know it. Then you have four days of unbelievable symptoms. Then you die. Britain closes it's borders, but it's too late. South Hampton, Liverpool, North Hampton, and it's Tuesday morning when the President of the United States makes the following announcement: "Due to a national security risk, all flights to and from Europe and Asia have been canceled. If your loved ones are overseas, I'm sorry. They cannot come back until we find a cure for this thing." Within four days our nation has been plunged into an unbelievable fear. People are selling little masks for your face. People are talking about, "What if it comes to this country", and preachers on Tuesday are saying, "It's the scourge of God." It's Wednesday night and you are at a church prayer meeting when somebody runs in from the parking lot and says, "Turn on a radio!! Turn on a radio!!" While the church listens to a little transistor radio with a microphone stuck up to it, the announcement is made, "Two women are lying in a Long Island hospital from the mystery flu." Within hours it seems, this thing just sweeps across the country. People are working around the clock trying to find an antidote. Nothing is working. California, Oregon, Arizona, Florida, Massachusetts. It's as though it's just sweeping is from the borders. Then, all of a sudden, the news comes out. The code has been broken. A cure can be found. A vaccine can be made. It's going to take the blood of somebody who hasn't been infected, and so, sure enough, all through the Midwest, through all those channels of emergency broadcasting, everyone is asked to do one simple thing: "Go to your downtown hospital and have your blood type taken. That's all we ask of you. When you hear the sirens go off in your neighborhood, please make your way quickly, quietly, and safely to the hospitals." Sure enough, when you and your family get down there late on that Friday night, there is a long line, and they've got nurses and doctors coming out and pricking fingers and taking blood and putting labels on it. Your wife and your kids are out there, and they take your blood type and they say, "Wait here in the parking lot and it we call your name, you can be dismissed and go home." You stand around scared with your neighbors, wondering what in the world is going on, and that this could be the end of the world. Suddenly a young man comes running out of the hospital screaming. He's yelling a name and waving a clipboard. What? He yells it again! And your son tugs on your jacket and says, "Daddy, that's me." Before you know it, they have grabbed your boy. "Wait a minute, hold it!" And they say, "It's okay, his blood is clean. His blood is pure. We want to make sure he doesn't have the disease. We think he has got the right type. Your son could save the world." Five agonizing minutes later, out come the doctors and nurses, crying and hugging one another, and some are even laughing. It's the first time you have seen anybody laugh in a week. An old doctor walks up to you and says, "Thank you, sir. Your son's blood type is perfect. It's clean, It's pure, and we can make the vaccine." As the word begins to spread all across that parking lot of folks, people are screaming and praying and laughing and crying. But then the gray-haired doctor pulls you and your wife aside and says, "May we see you for a moment? We didn't realize that the donor would be a minor and we need.....we need you to sign a consent form." You begin to sign and then you see that the number of pints of blood to be taken is empty. "H-h-h-how many pints?" And that is when the old doctor's smile fades and he says, "We had no idea it would be a little child. We weren't prepared. We need it all, sir." "But...but..." "You don't understand. We are talking about the world here. Please sign." "But can't you give him a transfusion?" "If we had clean blood we would. Can you sign? Would you sign?" In numb silence you do. Then they say, "Would you like to have a moment with him before we begin?" Can you walk back? You ask yourself. Can you walk back to that room where he sits on a table saying, "Daddy? Mommy? What's going on?" Can you take his hands and say, "Son, your mommy and I love you, and we would never ever let anything happen to you that didn't just have to be. Do you understand that?" And when that old doctor comes back in and says, "I'm sorry, we've got to get started. People all over the world are dying." Can you leave? Can you walk out while your son is saying, "Dad? Mom? Dad? Why have you forsaken me?" And then next week, when they have the ceremony to honor your son, and some folks sleep through it, and some folks don't even come because they go to the lake, and some folks come with a pretentious smile and just pretend to care. Would you want to jump up and say, "MY SON DIED! DON'T YOU CARE?" Is that what God is saying? "MY SON DIED. DON'T YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I CARE?" -<>- .---. /_____\ ( '.' ) \_-_/_ .-"`'V'//-. / , |// , \ / /|Ll //Ll|\ \ / / |__// | \_\ \ \/---|[]==| / / \/\__/ | \/\/ |/_ | Ll_\| |`^"""^`| | | | | | | | | | | | | L___l___J |_ | _| jgs (___|___) ^^^ ^^^ >WIFE'S REQUEST I was sitting alone in one of those loud, casual steak houses that you find all over the country. You know the type--a bucket of peanuts on every table, shells littering the floor, and a bunch of perky college kids racing around with long neck beers and sizzling platters. Taking a sip of my iced tea, I studied the crowd over the rim of my glass. My gaze lingered on a group enjoying their meal. They wore no uniform to identify their branch of service, but they were definitely 'military:' clean shaven, cropped haircut, and that 'squared away' look that comes with pride. Smiling sadly, I glanced across my table to the empty seat where my husband usually sat. It had only been a few months since we sat in this very booth, talking about his upcoming deployment to the Middle East That was when he made me promise to get a sitter for the kids, come back to this restaurant once a month and treat myself to a nice steak.. In turn he would treasure the thought of me being here, thinking about him until he returned home. I fingered the little flag pin I constantly wear and wondered where he was at this very moment. Was he safe and warm? Was his cold any better? Were my letters getting through to him? As I pondered these thoughts, high pitched female voices from the next booth broke into my thoughts. 'I don't know what Bush is thinking about. Invading Iraq. You'd think that man would learn from his old man's mistakes. Good Lord. What an idiot! I can't believe he is even in office. You do know, he stole the election.' I cut into my steak and tried to ignore them as they began an endless tirade running down our president. I thought about the last night I spent with my husband, as he prepared to deploy. He had just returned from getting his smallpox and anthrax shots. The image of him standing in our kitchen packing his gas mask still gives me chills. Once again the women's voices invaded my thoughts. 'It's all about oil, you know. Our soldiers will go in and rape and steal all the oil they can in the name of 'freedom'. Hmmm! I wonder how many innocent people they'll kill without giving it a thought. It's pure greed, you know.' My chest tightened as I stared at my wedding ring. I could still see how handsome my husband looked in his 'mess dress' the day he slipped it on my finger I wondered what he was wearing now. Probably his desert uniform, affectionately dubbed 'coffee stains' with a heavy bulletproof vest over it. 'You know, we should just leave Iraq alone. I don't think they are hiding any weapons. In fact, I bet it's all a big act just to increase the president's popularity. That's all it is, padding the military budget at the expense of our social security and education. And, you know what else? We're just asking for another 9-11. I can't say when it happens again that we didn't deserve it.' Their words brought to mind the war protesters I had watched gathering outside our base. Did no one even appreciate the sacrifice of brave men and women, who leave their homes and family to ensure our freedom? Do they even know what 'freedom' is? I glanced at the table where the young men were sitting, and saw their courageous faces change. They had stopped eating and looked at each other dejectedly, listening to the women talking. 'Well, I, for one, think it's just deplorable to invade Iraq, and I am certainly sick of our tax dollars going to train professional baby-killers we call a military.' Professional baby-killers. I thought about what a wonderful father my husband is, and of how long it would be before he would see our children again. That's it! Indignation rose up inside me. Normally reserved, pride in my husband gave me a brassy boldness I never realized I had. Tonight one voice will answer on behalf of our military, and let her pride in our troops be known. Sliding out of my booth, I walked around to the adjoining booth and placed my hands flat on their table. Lowering myself to eye level with them, smiling I said, "I couldn't help overhearing your conversation. You see, I'm sitting here trying to enjoy my dinner alone. And, do you know why? Because my husband, whom I love with all my heart, is halfway around the world defending your right to say rotten things about him." "Yes, you have the right to your opinion, and what you think is none of my business. However, what you say in public is something else, and I will not sit by and listen to you ridicule MY country, MY president, MY husband, and all the other fine American men and women who put their lives on the line, just so you can have the 'freedom' to complain. Freedom is an expensive commodity, ladies. Don't let your actions cheapen it." I must have been louder than I meant to be, because the manager came over to inquire if everything was all right. 'Yes, thank you,' I replied. Then, turning back to the women, I said, 'Enjoy the rest of your meal.' As I returned to my booth applause broke out. I was embarrassed for making a scene, and went back to my half eaten steak. The women picked up their check and scurried away. After finishing my meal, and while waiting for my check, the manager returned with a huge apple cobbler ala mode. "Compliments of those soldiers," he said. He also smiled and said the ladies tried to pay for my dinner, but that another couple had beaten them to it. When I asked who, the manager said they had already left, but that the gentleman was a veteran, and wanted to take care of the wife of "one of our boys." With a lump in my throat, I gratefully turned to the soldiers and thanked them for the cobbler. Grinning from ear to ear, they came over and surrounded the booth. "We just wanted to thank you, ma'am. You know we can't get into confrontations with civilians, so we appreciate what you did." As I drove home, for the first time since my husband's deployment, I didn't feel quite so alone. My heart was filled with the warmth of the other diners who stopped by my table, to relate how they, too, were proud of my husband, and would keep him in their prayers. I knew their flags would fly a little higher the next day. Perhaps they would look for more tangible ways to show their pride in our country, and the military that protect her. And maybe, just maybe, the two women who were railing against our country would pause for a minute to appreciate all the freedom America offers, and the price it pays to maintain its freedom. As for me, I have learned that one voice CAN make a difference. Maybe the next time protesters gather outside the gates of the base where I live, I will proudly stand on the opposite side with a sign of my own. It will simply say, 'Thank You!' To those who fought for our nation, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know. Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders. Pass this on to as many as you think will respond. 'Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.' When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our ground, air and navy personnel in every area of the Middle East. -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Poetry Page: Lean On Me http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/poems/leanonme.html Gas Price Humor! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/gasoline.html Freaky Art Vans: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/artvan.html Driftwood Horses http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/horses.html Rarely Seen Africa! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/africa.html Extreme Rednecks http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/eredneck.html Desert Skiing http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/desertskiing.html Hot Air Balloons! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/hotair.html Germany's Waldgeist Restaurant http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/germanyr.html Just Have Faith! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/faith.html Cano Cristales River http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/cristales.html Classic Chevy Collection http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/chevy.html -<>- >From Our Friend Annie :) Let's Roll! http://revducketts.webbywarehouse.com/Poetry/Lets_Roll.html --- ...Love this! Thanks Annie! -<>- >From Our Friend Geniann :) She sent us one we have here... Who Is This Jesus http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/jesus.html --- ...Pretty awesome! Thanks Geniann! Rust-Oleum NeverWet, Superhydrophobic Coating That Makes Everyday Materials Repel Liquid http://tinyurl.com/pwq86he --- ...Wouldn't that be cool! Thanks Geniann! -<>- >From our Friend PatDeE :) PLEASE Watch ASAP before it's removed! http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=G44NCvNDLfc --- ...interesting! Thanks PatDeE! -<>- >From Our Friend Linda :) A Killer In Your Fridge ~ Sweet Poison…A MUST READ | Rhonda Gessner http://tinyurl.com/m5lgrq3 --- ...Thanks for the info Linda! Yep. No telling how someone my react to something - my sister-in-law and her doctors couldn't figure out what was making her so sick. She lost so much weight it was getting dangerous - finally a specialist had her try going off her blood pressure medication that she had been using without problem for years. She stabilized and her stomach problems ended. She has now recovered fully. Praise God! If He hadn't had thought of that, she might not be with us today. Ever hear the saying, "They don't build them like they use too! Wait till you click on this link and read about an 84-year old and how he spends his day in "Grandpa's Garage". http://kansastravel.org/grandpasoldfordgarage.htm Don't forget to click on pages 2, 3, & 4 after you see 1st page! --- ...Wowsers! Thanks Linda! Visit Melissa's Online Store You can get anything you want (except for Melissa ) at the online store http://pdhomes.net/mall/babylissa/mySTORES/ISELL4.html ========================================================== _______________________ |jgs |h_ __ | ||=|##L_ |________________.====._||_|__._] `(_)(_)` `(_)(_)"""="=(_) >Prince of the Road Story Editor: by John S. Joyce Schowalter New Jersey, USA It was about 1984, when cell phones weren't in common use, and truckers were renowned for helping travelers in need. My brother was heading home from Connecticut in the wee hours of the morning. He was very tired and fell asleep at the wheel on the Merritt Parkway. The old style guardrail ripped his car in two, folding the car in half just behind the front seats. The front wheels/axles were literally in line with the rear wheels and axles. The accident was witnessed by a trucker, who used his CB radio to call for aid. My brother seemed pretty banged up. Police and emergency vehicles all arrived at the scene and my brother was taken to the hospital. After being x-rayed and examined at the emergency room, my brother was ready to leave. He had miraculously only sustained bruises and cuts; very minor injuries considering the accident. My brother was looking for a phone to call home, when to his amazement he saw the trucker who had seen it all happen in the lobby waiting for him. The trucker asked him about the injuries and then asked where he lived and how he planned to get home. My brother told the trucker he lived in New Jersey and didn't yet know how he'd get home. He needed to find a payphone. The trucker replied, "I'll take you home." Over 100 miles later, a full size tractor-trailer rumbled into a quiet neighborhood, and the trucker made good on his word. My brother was home. My brother offered to reward the trucker for his incredible support. Our parents' house was very large so it was evident my father was well to do. I'm sure the trucker must have known he could get a very decent reward... if he accepted. He did not. He refused to even be compensated for the fuel he had used. My brother headed to the house as the trucker pulled away, never to be seen or heard from again. The incredibly kind and unselfish actions of this man have stayed with both my brother and me all these years. My brother and I have had good lives and we routinely perform random acts of kindness to this day. I was not even there and was forever moved by this man's actions. One day, if an opportunity arises, I will give of myself as the trucker gave of himself. I wish I had met him. I'd love to see him face to face today and tell him of the way he affected me. My deepest thanks and appreciation go to this unknown man for the help he gave my brother -- and the men he helped us become. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Kidwarmers: ( ____ .-. .-""-. .'` _ `'-,//`|-. / ,-'-.`. | \ `. ( `\ | ` \ \ `.) \ | \_@ .=` \ | | / .=\ \ | / \ | | .\ ,____ ==; | \ __.-;.__.'--'`"-, | | `"` / _ \ '=| | | _.' \_) / / | \ ( _ '=_.' | \ \ .-`` `---'` | _ \ \ | = , , / ,_( )) ) `| \__.-'` / \' / .--. /` |nnn / \ / =/ \ ( jgs / ;""""`nn| ( \_ \ ) (nnn__.' '-nnn-' _( |` `"""` >THE FUNNY THINGS KIDS SAY Nolan, almost 4, was at day care on Sept. 2 and they were creating the big calendar for the month. For the day that was his birthday they put a birthday cupcake on the calendar and told everyone it was going to be Nolan's birthday. Nolan said, "My birthday is in Nextember." -- Lisa Billingsley of Scaly Mountain, N.C. _,.---""----.,_ .-' __.----...---.; .' .' `'. / .' '. / / `'", `\ .'_,' ,"` `'. /,' .-. \ .' .-. /___\ ( . `, / .-' /___\ |_ | \ '. \ ;| / |_ | \_)_/ | \ \ /| | ; _\_)_/ ` , / | \ / | | / ___ ` .-~`````~-. ,=' | | | ; \ \ /.-' `-._ | /| | \ .'``''--' _.- `\ | .' \ | |; / ' _, \ |-`| | | || / / /_\ /_\ .-~``~-. | | | / || | | \(/ |(| | / | | || ,| | -~~` ;`| .---. | | | / || .-/ | | / .-~`~ \| ( '.| / ;--/ /| / / | \ | -t- | -~'-\ \ `--' `-..-` ; |/| / \ |`._ \ -~` / | \ / /\| | .--' `\ `._`._ / |-~` | / \/\ '.____,.-' `""`-._.' ~-. / / .' .' \ .--._.-'` .'`- _.' (.-' | ( , ',_.-'`"""` | \ \ .-' '-;---;..--' /,----.y | jgs | '. `.__,-' / | | | | |`-.,__, Y | | | | | == | =| | | |- ~ -. | | .- ~ -. | | | | | == | =|~ - ~` | | '~ - ~' | /.-.-.-\-.-\ | | | | | | `""""""`""""`/.-.-.-\-.\-.-.-.-\ /.-.-.-.-.-.\ `"""""""`""`-------' '------------' "Readers might enjoy a story about my first year of teaching which led to 33 more years in the classroom before I closed those doors," wrote Mrs. Parker. "My first class was a 3rd grade in Wichita, Kansas. Marlyn sat right in front of my teacher's desk. On the desk was a live green leafy plant. One day I came in to find that someone had torn a hole in one of the leaves. I proceeded to tell the class how disappointed I was that someone would tear a hole in a plant which was there for everyone's enjoyment. When I returned later in the day, Marlyn had put a piece of scotch tape over the hole. "Many years later, I was teaching first grade in Cheyenne, Wyoming. I had one little girl who nearly every day would throw her arms around my hips and say, "I don't know why I love you so much. I just do.' "Another year at that school I thought I would just die if I had to have a particular little boy in my class whom I knew from his bad behavior on the playground the two previous years. As luck would have it, he was on my class list. I thought I was going to be stuck with him the whole year. However, in the classroom he was a totally different child. He was my best helper and worked diligently in all subject areas. I guess he must have liked me, too, as whenever I was on the playground for my duty day, he would go around the playground chastising any of the boys who were being naughty. He would say, "You need to stop that. We should all be nice to Mrs. Parker.' It's surprising how much better the behavior on the playground improved that year as he was a very popular child. "From this experience, I learned not to judge children from how they behave on the playground, and he became my all time favorite student... Teaching is a wonderful profession, and I'm glad that I was able to spend 34 years having so much fun." Jean tells about her granddaughter Becka. Becka's Sunday School teacher asked the class, "Who can say John 3:16?" Becka, who takes things quite literally, spoke up and said, "I can. John 3:16." -- Jean Felfe of Spicewood, Texas ___ __ __ [_ | / \ / \ / /_| () | () | _|____]\__/ \__/_ _.-"| | | | |"-._ _.-"| | | | | | |"-._ _.-"| | | | | | | | |"-._ _.-"`| | | | | | | | | | |`"-._ _.-" | | | __|.-~|~-.| |_..|.__| | | | | "-._ " | | | |' | ` | \|~"~| | |`-.| | | | | " | | | /| _ | |) |\ | | | |\ | | | | | | | /`| a)| | | | | | | | `\| | | | | | |:` | | /| | | | | | | | | | | | |`-.||` |.-.| ( | |/ |. | | | `;|\ | | | | |`-.|`--|_.'|.;\|__/| | | .| | ||\\ | | | | _ | |:--| | | | | /| |/ | | .'| \\| | | |("\| /|/ | | | | | ' | | | | / | :|; | | |`\'|_/`| | | .\| |/`~|=-.| | |/ | `| | | | `|_.'| | | /`| || | |\ | |( | | | | | | | | |/ |\ || | | `Y| /| \ | | | | | | | | | /| Y || | | || /`| \| | | | | | | | /| | | | || | | || | || | | | | | | | | "-|-" |/__|| | | /_|_| |/__| | | | | | | | | |'""| | | '"|" |"""| | | | __|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|__jgs Here are more stories from Jean. Her granddaughter, Kaylea Dawn, 5, was absorbed in coloring. Her mother told her to do something. Kaylea replied, "I can't. I'm busy." Another time, when her dad was driving the family car, Kaylea asked, "Daddy, why don't you let Mommy drive the car when you are in it?" He replied, "She doesn't drive like I want her to." Kaylea said, "Well, it's her car!" And here's a story from Jean from a long time ago. There used to be a commercial that asked, "Do blondes have more fun?" Jean's daughter, Jeanne Marie, 6, piped up and said back to the TV, "No, they don't. You can ask me!" Martha's son's job requires him to travel every week. Kristen, 3, was watching her father pack and she asked where he was going. He told her Cedar Rapids and she said, "Daddy, I want to go see the rabbits, too!" -- Martha Winkler of Missouri Barbara's granddaughter, Brianna, 9, had a very busy summer. As soon as school was out she and her parents left for a vacation in Disney World. Then it was Bible camps, sports camps and a cheerleading camp. Brianna said, "Oh Gigi, I'm tired! I need a vacation before I go back to school since I was so busy all summer and didn't get a chance to rest." -- Barbara Roney (Gigi) of Portland, Oregon | : . | | ' : ' | | . | ' | | .--._ _...:.._ _.--. , ' | ( , ` ` , ) . | '-/ \-' | | | o /\ o | :| \ _\/_ / : ' | /'._ ^^ _.;___ | /` `""""""` `\= | /` /= .| ; '--,-----'= | | `\ | . | \ \___ : | /'. `\= | \_/`--......_ /= | |`-. /= : | | : `-.__ /` . | |jgs . ` | '| | . : ` . | | Brianna had her back-to-school haircut appointment scheduled. Her grandmother asked how much of her long hair she was going to have cut off. Brianna said, "Only the part that gets tangled all the time!" Jakob Spence, 5, just started Kindergarten. To see what he was learning his grandmother asked him what two plus two equals. Jakob replied, "It's four, Grandma, and if you don't know that you need to go back to school!" -- Grandmother Gale Spence of Angola, Indiana When Lisa's nephew Tyler was about 2, Lisa cared for him one evening so his mom and dad could enjoy some time alone. Lisa decided to walk with Tyler around the block. He was little, with little legs, so she figured they'd just go around the block. As they came around the last corner, he started saying, "Auntie Weesa, isn't it really funny?" She asked, "What's funny, Tyler?" He replied, "Well, isn't it just so funny (he was obviously absolutely mystified) -- when we left, our house was back there (pointing behind them) and then we walk and walk, and now my house is up there!" And he pointed ahead to his home! -- Lisa Lowe of Arvada, Colorado Here's another one from my friend Lisa. When their daughter Andra was about 4 and her big sisters, ages 12 and 14, were cleaning the living room, Deva, 12, tried to give Andra some helpful guidance about her sweeping and vacuuming skills. Not being the kid who liked to take direction from big sisters, Andra whirled around in a huff, hands on hips and proclaimed, "I wasn't born yesterday you know!" __,__ .--. .-" "-. .--. / .. \/ .-. .-. \/ .. \ | | '| / Y \ |' | | | \ \ \ 0 | 0 / / / | \ '- ,\.-"`` ``"-./, -' / `'-' /_ ^ ^ _\ '-'` .--'| \._ _ _./ |'--. /` \ \.-. / / `\ / '._/ |-' _.' \ / ; /--~' | \ / .'\|.-\--. \ \ / .'-. /.-.;\ |\|'~'-.|\ \ \ `-./`|_\_/ ` `\'. \ '. ; ___) '.`; / '-.,_ ; ___) \/ / \ ``'------'\ \ ` / '. \ '. | ;/_ jgs ___> '. \_ _ _/ , '--. .' '. .-~~~~~-. / |--'`~~-. \ // / .---'/ .-~~-._/ / / /---..__.' / ((_(_/ / / (_(_(_(---.__ .' | | _ `~~` | | \'. \ '....' | '.,___.' The Walmart greeter was trying to get credit applications to incoming guests. A father and son walked by and she called out to the father, "Would you like to apply for a Walmart credit card?" The little boy, about 4-years old, turned around and very calmly called back to her, "Yes, I would." -- Martha Cortez of La Feria, Texas Jacob, 3, was sitting in front of Chloe, 4 months, and talking to her. When Chloe put her fingers in her mouth Jacob told her, "Don't bite your finger, it will hurt." Then he put his finger in his mouth and bit it and said, "See it hurt!" -- Cathy Chastain-Gragg (childcare provider of Jacob and Chloe) of Dillard, Georgia Dennis' father, known affectionately as "Mr. Dewey," died last year after a short illness at the age of 86. Recently Glenn, a child in the neighborhood who just turned 6, said he wanted to drive Mr. Dewey's golf cart. Glenn was told Mr. Dewey had died and was in heaven and no longer had a golf cart. Glenn thought for a moment, then stated very seriously, "Yes he do, Mrs. Betty. He's up there in heaven driving all over." -- Dennis Smith of Oak Ridge, North Carolina (friend and former neighbor of Betty Pergande of Antioch, Tennessee) Dennis was playing with his grandson Koen in the front yard, vanquishing imaginary lions and tigers, when Koen noticed the bird bath was dry as a chip. He turned to Dennis and asked, "PawPaw, why isn't there any bird water?" |_| _ _ T T /;;\.-""-._,;;\ | | \;'` `';;/ .=;=| .' < /;;;)|/ ,;, ,;;, \ /;;/|_|| ;;e; ;e;; | |;;;|T-T\ `'`_ `'` / |;;;\| |_\ . Y . .; \;;;|=/;;;._ `""""` .;;\ ';;|_\;;;;;;,....,;;;;;| /T-Y/';;;;;;;;;;;;;;;/ ||=/\/`\;;;;;;;;;;;;| ||/\/ `'''''''` / \/ / ,;;;;;, \ /;;\| ;;;;;;;;|| |;;;;\__ _.,/;;;;;;;/'| /\;;;;/;;;;;;;;;;;;;' / / /\;;;\;;;;;;;;;;'` / /\/ \;;;;r;'''`'----'` / jgs\;;;;;;\ |\;;;;;/ |_|`""` |=| Koen's father is a regular blood donor. Over the years he has collected many T-shirts with the Red Cross logo and other graphics. Koen was looking at one of the shirts when he asked his dad, "Did you get this shirt when you 'don't needed blood?'" McKenzie, 2, said her teeth hurt. Her mother Kristin is never sure if McKenzie really is in pain because sometimes she says her stomach hurts and Kristen thinks McKenzie just wants medicine. So when McKenzie asked for medicine for her "hurting" tooth Kristen didn't give her any. McKenzie kept saying her teeth hurt so Kristin got the medicine bottle out... but she put pickle juice in the medicine cup and told McKenzie to smell the medicine first. After one sniff, McKenzie said, "I don't want that, I want the other medicine." Kristin said, "This is all we have. Do your teeth still hurt?" McKenzie said "no" and walked away. -- Donna Kensky (grandmother of McKenzie) of Fort Wayne, Indiana Trevor, 5, and Rosie, 4, went to Cedar Point with their grandparents. After standing in line for a long time, they made it to the front of the line to be told they needed an adult. Quickly, Trevor yelled, "Wait, wait, Poppy come here!" Poppy appeared at the front of the line and Trevor informed the ride operator, "See, we can go on now because we have a human..." -- Aunt Amy of Pennsylvania _-. _.._ _.-'` .-; \ \-'` ` _..-' _.-\_\-'`__...__..' -' __.--'` / _.'` \_ _/ | \ ; \ .-'```'-. \" \ / " " \ \" \| ".--.--. | \_ ; / _ _ \ ; | ( ( e _ e ) ) \ '-| T |-'_ \" \ = /" `\ \ '-...-' , " \ Y " " \ \ |" . " \ " \ | " _.-' " ) \ "/\._;' "_.;` \_\_\.> ".''` | /_/|_) .' " /---.. \ '--' " " `\ .-""-.> " , " | / " " " | / \ " \ " _.`--...-'| "/ '." \.-' / " .' '-. " \ __.' .' jgs ) `\ (_ "( / /\_) `\ \ (((_/ \_))) WINNING STORIES: Adian's father made pancakes. Adian, 5, said, "Daddy, these pancakes are too hot." Of course, Daddy said to wait for a minute and they would be cool enough to eat and he continued cleaning up in the kitchen. When he returned to the dining table, Adian's pancakes (plate and all) were nowhere to be found and Adian was watching TV. As Daddy returned to the kitchen he stopped and howled with laughter... the plate of pancakes was neatly set on the floor, in front of a fan! -- Great Grandmother Darlene Clark of Lehigh Acres, Florida This story was told at a Texas camp meeting by the Rev. Scott Graham: "I am very privileged to have my wife and daughter with me. My daughter helps keep me grounded -- sometimes she gets grounded! You know the Bible kinda cautions us about thinking of yourself more highly than you ought. That's what kids are for! When she was in Kindergarten, on Easter Sunday morning ... I came out of the pastor's office to head down to behind the platform to where all the platform participants were going to be gathering... My darling little girl was all frou-froued up for Easter. She had the curls and the frilly dress and the whole thing, you know? So I just stopped and made over her a little bit and she said to me (she had started Kindergarten and all, you know), she said, "Daddy, I can spell your first name!' I said, "Well, that's wonderful, Sweetheart, let me hear you do that!' She got it! S-C-O-T-T. I said, "Awww Sweetheart that's so good!' She said, "Well, it's on the screen up there.' I looked and it was just like that. And I said, "Ah, you cheated!' She said, "Awh, Daddy! I've seen your name LOTS of places!' I felt pretty good about that! I was thinkin' Youth Congress flyers, General Conference programs, Camp Meeting slots! And I asked, "Darlin', where have you seen Daddy's name?' She said, "TOILET PAPER HOLDERS!' There you have it! To everyone else I might have been this high flutin' youth official, but to her, I'm just paper products, that's all! So I am glad that she is here to help keep me straight this week!" -- Joan Henry of Sulphur Springs, Texas ========================================================== \ | / -- * -- / | \ /') ./') ('\. ('\ /' /.--''./'') (''\.''--.\ '\ :--'' ; ''./'') (''\.'' ; ''--: : ' ''./') ('\.'' ' : : ''./' '\.'' : :--''-..--'''' ''''--..-''--: dp >-->My Hand in God's Hand (by Florence Scripps Kellogg) Each morning when I wake, I say, "I place my hand in God's today!" I know He'll walk close by my side my every wandering step to guide. He leads me with the tenderest care when paths are dark and I despair, no need for me to understand if I but hold fast to His Hand. My hand in His! No surer way to walk in safety through each day. By His great bounty I am fed! Warmed by His love, and comforted. When at day's end I seek my rest and realize how much I am blessed, My thanks pour out to Him, and then I place my hand in God's again. >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->BECOMING A CHRISTIAN HOW TO BE A CHRISTIAN! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->FULL LENGTH - FREE On line AUDIO MP3 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 ************************************************************************