Into The Storm... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To UnSubscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShangyFunList Through no fault of my own we suddenly became an adult club in the love and romance directory so you will have to confirm that you are an adult when you go here. I still have no idea how to change this back as it sends me around in a circle when I try! or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net ================ *~* A REMINDER: PLEASE Send me sweet, interesting, funny, inspiring, family type forwards ANY TIME here... bcrsystems@earthlink.net I Need them, Love them, Use them, and Share them! THANK YOU!! 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THANK YOU! :) ================ *~* May You Have A Very Safe And Blessed Mother's Day Weekend! -====- .--. .--._ /.-. \ ( __) /-'/.\-\ ( / -( /_/-/.-\ \( | _/ /_/_/ /-'\ \) (\ /\ /_' / /-/ `\(_ ) ) /\/ /_/_/-'/ \\ '-' / /_'/_/-' | '.__.' /_'/_/' / | /_/-' | \ / \ _.-' \ (` / jgs '----'`'------' =+= Mother's Day Links! =+= Animated Mother GIFS http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/agifs_k-o.html Cost Of Children! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/costofchild.html Give Me Flowers! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/poems/flowers.html For All Mothers And Fathers! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/mum.html Miracle Baby! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/smellofrain.html Baby's Firsts! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/babyfirsts.html Price Of Children! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/child.html Notes To God! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/cnotes.html Animal Moms! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/animalmoms.html Animal Moms 2! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/animalmoms2.html Baby Thoughts! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/babythoughts.html Best Parents! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bestparents.html Kid Lessons! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/kidlessons.html Kids Being Kids! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/kids.html Mother Horses Love! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/motherslove2.html Mother Squirrel's Love! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/motherslove.html Pucker Up Baby! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/babypucker.html -<>- >-->HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This piping hot one is from our friends LouiseA And Bunni. More adorable cute ones for your aww for the day! Check it out here... 0=========================================================0 |'. FairyMarys .'| | '. _______________________________________________ .' | | | /\ /\.-. . .| | | | '. ________| ` `.' .`. | /______________ .' | | | | | \ `/ >>-' -`* - | | | | | | / ,\ ' / | \ ____ | | | | | | `-'`.:`. | | | | | | | | > ,`. | | | | | | | | /-. /.' `. |____| | | | | | | / _> `- : |\_/| | | | | | | /` / /-. |q p| /Ł | | | | | ,| / ((___/ __> ( 0 )"""\ __ | | | | | \/` / } |"^"` | ;`'()__)| | | | | |\ /'\ .--.( || /=\\ | `\:'.`,\| | | | | .' -\\--\\-- \\--------"'" -'"""'---//--"//'. | | | |' DS & jgs '| | | .'------------------------------------------------ '. | |.' PetShop '.| 0=========================================================0 Aww Animals 10! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/animals10.html --- ...So sweet! Thanks Ladies! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: ,"=-. / _),`'". ( /a( ), ) ) C = = ?/ ( )) (_ o-< ) ( `-' \; ( \_ ( | \ ) )| \_/} \ \ \(_;/-|_) )/) `._,--/ / / `!__!! ( (_o)) ---`-._, )--- ------( / |---- | ( | :__/|\_; \ |/ )(\_ /_)--` gpyy \_! >EVERY SENSE A MOTHER Having her there to raise me was an act from up above. I'll always believe my mom sent her to my dad, my siblings, and to me. I was only 7 years old and my birth mom had been gone for a year after passing away from leukemia. Even though my dad said he wouldn't marry again, I knew that he would. She had two daughters of her own and when my dad married her, the total kid count grew to five -- a big jump for all of us. She told us we could call her "Sandy" or "mom", whatever we were more comfortable with. I immediately took to calling her mom, eager for her guidance and love. She treated us like her own, never singled us out and tried to be fair in her decisions. "You kids love to hear me yell!" was something I frequently remember her saying when we were growing up. I know now she was trying to teach us to be responsible. So, if the dishes weren't done when she came home from work, or our clothes were in a big pile on our bedroom floor, it was her job to discipline us. She was a particular kind of person, not overly so, but to the point where she wanted things neat. And I guess if I had been the mother and I came home to see the kids watching TV while the kitchen was piled with dirty dishes, I would be upset too. (In fact, I know I would be, now that I am a working wife and have my own dishes to do!). I would have to say that if anyone understood her the best, it was me. I hated to hear her yell, so I did what I could to make sure she wouldn't. I did my chores, made my bed, and put logs in the wood-burning stove. But I wasn't perfect and when I made mistakes, boy did I regret them. I'm probably making it seem like she was a real witch, but she wasn't. When we were kids, it probably seemed that way to us. But isn't it strange as we get older, how clearer things become? My step-mom has a heart of gold. I remember, on numerous occasions, her punishing us for something bad we did, and after a couple hours of feeling guilty about it, she would let the punishment slide. But she always let us agonize a little bit about it, to learn our lesson and think about what we did wrong. Now I'm married and out of the house. Sometimes she makes me feel guilty about not coming to see her more often. I know it's because she misses me, and because she loves me just as much as I love her. She may not be my birth mother (and she's never tried to replace her), but she's been a mother to me in every sense of the word. She's always treated me like her own and for that I'm grateful. She has been a blessing to me from day one. I thank God, and my Mom, everyday -- I'm sure she discussed it with Him up in Heaven -- for bringing her into my life. -- Lynn M. Lombard ____________________________________________________ Lynn is 24 years old and lives in Akron, New York with her husband, Douglas. She has written several Heartwarmers, and was most recently the subject of an Easter story, Connections, which can be found at: http://dispatch.mail-list.com/archives/heartwarmers/msg00575.html Lynn will be one of the writers speaking at the Heartwarmers Conference. ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Jacinto :) -=====- _..._ .~ `~. ,_ / } ,_\'--, \ _.'`~~/ \'--,_`{_,} -( '.`-.`\;--,___.'_ '._`/ |_ _{@} / ` |-';/ _ / \ / | _ {@}_ / '--;_ _ {@} _Y{@} _\ `\ {@}\Y/_{@} Y/ / |`-.___. / \Y/\|{@}Y/\|// ^^^jgs^^^`--`------'`--`^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >Quotes: The best preparation for tomorrow is do todays work superbly well. ~ Hazer. The tragedy of life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. ~ Benjamin Mays Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction. ~ John F. Kennedy Love does not claim possession, but gives freedom. ~ Rabindranath Tagore The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another. ~ William James Happiness is mostly a by-product of doing what makes us feel fulfilled from true heart within . ~ Dr. Benjamin Spock -<>- .-""-. _______ .-""-. .'_.-. | ,*********, | .-._'. / _/ / **` `** \ \_ \ /.--.' | | **,;;;;;,** | | '.--.\ / .-`-| | ;//;/;/;\\; | |-`-. \ ;.--': | | /;/;/;//\\;\\ | | :'--.; | _\.'-| | ((;(/;/; \;\);) | |-'./_ | ;_.-'/: | | );)) _ _ (;(( | | :\'-._; | | _:-'\ \(((( \ );))/ /'-:_ | | ; .:` '._ \ );))\ " /(((( / _.' `:. ; |-` '-.;_ `-\(;(;((\ = /););))/-` _;.-' `-| ; / .'\ |`'\ );));)/`---`\((;(((./`'| /'. \ ; | .' / `'.\-((((((\ /))));) \.'` \ '. | ;/ /\_/-`-/ ););)| , |;(;(( \` -\_/\ \; |.' .| `;/ (;(|'==/|\=='|);) \;` |. '.| | / \.'/ / _.` | `._ \ \'./ \ | \| ; |; _,.-` \_/Y\_/ `-.,_ ;| ; |/ \ | ;| ` | | | ` |. | / `\ || | | | || /` jgs `:_\ _\/ \/_ /_:' `"----""` `""----"` >Dreams: Dreams are a big part of our Lives and You must do whatever it takes to make them a Reality; by the plans you make, the course you take, and the things you do. Don't dwell on past mistakes. Leave yesterday behind, along with all it's problems, worries and doubts. Realize you can't change the past, but you can start a new tomorrow. Don't try to do everything at once; take one step at a time, Don't ever be afraid to try the Impossible no matter what others may think. Remember you are Unique in your own special way & its goings. Don't ever stop Dreaming! Don't ever stop wanting what's right for you'll ! --- ...So Sweet! Thanks Jacinto! ======================================================== >-->From Our Friend Linda :) .-""-. .-""-. .'_.-. | | .-._'. / _/ / _______ \ \_ \ /.--.' | | `=======` | | '.--.\ / .-`-| | ,ooooo, | |-`-. \ ;.--': | | .d88888/8b. | | :'--.; | _\.'-| | d8888888/888b | |-'./_ | ;_.-'/: | | d8888P"` 'Y88b | | :\'-._; | | _:-'\ \.d88(` ^ _ ^ )88b./ /'-:_ | | ; .:` '._ \.d88888\ _ /88888b / _.' `:. ; |-` '-.;_ .d88888888b.___.d8888888b.` _;.-' `-| ; / .'\ | 888888888P' 'Y888888888b'| /'. \ ; | .' / `'.8888888P' `"---"` 'Y88888888'` \ '. | ;/ /\_/-`Y888888| |8888888P-\_/\ \; |.' .| `; Y88888| | | |888888P;` |. '.| | / \.'\_/Y8888| :--"""--: |8888P`_/'./ \ | \| ; | ; |/8888| | | |8888\| : | ; |/ \ | ; | /d8888\.'-.....-'./8888b\ | ; | / `\ | |`d8888P' / ;|: | \ 'Y88888`| | /` jgs .-:_/ Y8;=' .' / ' . : '. '888P`\_:' | \``` .' ; \ `: \ \ ' `'. .--'\ | ' ' . `-._ /`;--' /_.' . `-. | `--` / \ \ \ .' ' '-. | \ ' ' __\ | '. . _.-' `) / '-._ _.-' `| .-` _.' `'--....____.--'| (` _.-' / | | \ `"` \__/ \__/>Memo from God I am God. Today I will be handling all of your problems. Please remember that I do not need your help. If life happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, do not attempt to resolve it. Kindly put it in the SFGTD (something for God to do) box. All situations will be resolved, but in My time, not yours. Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold onto it by worrying about it. Instead, focus on all the wonderful things that are present in your life now. If you find yourself stuck in traffic; Don't despair. There are people in this world for whom driving is an unheard of privilege. Should you have a bad day at work; Think of the man who has been out of work for years. Should you despair over a relationship gone bad; Think of the person who has never known what it's like to love and be loved in return. Should you grieve the passing of another weekend; Think of the woman in dire straits, working twelve hours a day, seven days a week to feed her children. Should your car break down, leaving you miles away from assistance; Think of the paraplegic who would love the opportunity to take that walk. Should you notice a new gray hair in the mirror; Think of the cancer patient in chemo who wishes she had hair to examine. Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering what is life all about, asking what is my purpose? Be thankful. There are those who didn't live long enough to get the opportunity. Should you find yourself the victim of other people's bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities; Remember, things could be worse. You could be one of them! Should you decide to send this to a friend; Thank you, you may have touched their life in ways you will never know! --- ...So inspirational! Thanks Linda! =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: * * *%%* ,,,,, *%%* *%%%%%* W*W*W*W *%%%%%* *%%%%%%%* {//"\\}*%%%%%%%* *%%%%%%%%%*{{/6.6\}}*%%%%%%%%%* *%%%%%%%%%%%*{{( = )}}*%%%%%%%%%%%* *%%%%%%%%%%%%*}}}}) ({{{{*%%%%%%%%%%%%* *%%%%%%%%%%%* {{{{ }}}} *%%%%%%%%%%%* *%%%%%%%%%* We are each of us *%%%%%%%%%* *%%%%%* angels with only one wing*%%%%%* jgs *%%* And we can only fly *%%* * embracing each other. * -Luciano Decrescenzo >A Lesson from Bees by Arthur Gordon I was surprised when our friend Charlie joined our prayer group. Charlie wasn't a joiner. So the next time I saw him I asked him about it. "Well," said Charlie, "I had problems and I was praying about them, but I didn't seem to be getting anywhere. Then one day I read an article about bees. When it gets too hot in a hive, a group of worker bees all face in one direction, anchor themselves to the floor, and fan their wings rapidly. One bee alone wouldn't make much of a difference, but a lot of bees can produce an air current strong enough to draw fresh, cool air into the hive and blow the stale air out. "So, I said to myself,'If a group of bees working together can activate a healing current that changes everything for the better, maybe a group of people can do the same thing.'" This devotional is excerpted from Daily Guideposts book of devotionals, now available on OurPrayer.org. -<>- .----. //""""\\ (( '__' )) ))-__-(( (.-. `\)) /( " ) , \ \)`"`() / / (___)==(\/ | | | | | | | | | | jgs | | """"""" >Moms don't always get a good night's sleep By Greg Miller Only a few short weeks had passed since the angel Gabriel had told Mary that she was going to become a mother. After the angel's announcement, Mary could think of nothing but God`s message to her. She sang to the Lord songs of joy and thankfulness. Mary remembered Gabriel`s words, "Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." The angel told her that she had "found favor with God." Gabriel said that Jesus, Mary's Son, "shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee , and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." Early in Mary's pregnancy, she began talking with one of her closest friends, Lydia, who also was going to have a baby. While Mary and Lydia were on their daily walks, they talked about being a good mother. "Do you want a boy or a girl?," Mary asked. "Either is fine with me," Lydia said. "I just want the baby to be healthy. Do you want a boy or a girl?" "God's angel appeared to me and told me I'm going to have a son!," Mary beamed. "That's great!," Lydia exclaimed. "What else did the angel say?" "That is all I'll say for right now," Mary grinned. "But I will tell you that I plan to be a good mother. I will pray for Him every day. I will share God's Word with Him and teach Him the ways of God. I want to make sure that my Son is very close to the Father." "I`m going to be a good mother, too," Lydia said. "I'm going to bathe my baby every day, and give him or her all the opportunities for a great life that I can. My child will be special." "My son will be special, too," Mary replied with a smile. "Very special!" "Being a good mother is important," Lydia said. "And I feel a mother should get enough sleep every night. I hope my baby always sleeps through the night, so I can get the rest I need in order to provide proper care." "I realize the need of getting a good night's sleep in order to properly care for my son," Mary said. "But babies don't always sleep through the night, so I realize that there will be some days that just won't be possible. On those days, I'll probably be fulfilling my motherly duties while half asleep!" -<>- ___ ((((\\\ 9_9 3)) \= (( __) (__ ,' \_/ `. / :|: \ / / :|: \ \ \ \..:|:../ / `._\_, __/_.' .-)\\-///-. || L || || ^ || |/-->&<--\| | (._.) | | ( @ ) | | /|`"'|\ | //(_\___/_)\\ \\_()___()_// `+---I---+' |\(_)|(_)/| _|j"""""""|j_ | |_______| | |_| |_| hjw >-->SOMEBODY SAID- - - - - Somebody said it takes about six weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby . . . somebody doesn't know that once you're a mother, normal is history. Somebody said you learn how to be a mother by instinct . . . somebody never took a three-year-old shopping. Somebody said being a mother is boring . . . somebody never rode in a car driven by a teenager with a driver's permit. Somebody said if you're a "good" mother, your child will "turn out good"... somebody thinks a child comes with directions and a guarantee. Somebody said "good" mothers never raise their voices . . .somebody never came out the back door just in time to see her child hit a golf ball through the neighbour's kitchen window. Somebody said you don't need an education to be a mother . . . somebody never helped a fourth grader with his math. Somebody said you can't love the sixth child as much as you love the first... . .somebody doesn't have six children. Somebody said a mother can find all the answers to her child-rearing questions in the books . . .somebody never had a child stuff beans up his nose. Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labour and delivery... somebody never watched her "baby" get on the bus for the first dayof kindergarten. Somebody said a mother can do her job with her eyes closed and one hand tied behind her back . . . somebody never organized seven giggling Brownies to sell cookies. Somebody said a mother can stop worrying after her child gets married... somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to a mother's heartstrings. Somebody said a mother's job is done when her last child leaves home... somebody never had grandchildren. Somebody said your mother knows you love her, so you don't need to tell her. . . somebody isn't a mother. -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Street Legal Airplane http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/transition.html Road Train Trucks! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/roadtrain.html Expensive Hotel Rooms http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/ehotels.html Amazing Bus Stops http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bus.html Amazing Tree Houses http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/treehouses.html Life's Little Oops 3 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/whoops3.html -<>- >From Our Friend Karen :) This has to be one of the cutest ever--such training!!? Saying ‘Grace’ before dinner... You donąt have to understand Mandarin Chinese to appreciate this. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=604775426257928 --- ...Teehee! Adorable! Thanks Karen! -<>- >From Our Friend Linda :) The Makeover http://www.youtube.com/embed/tiAZ01dkcdc?feature=player_embedded --- ...Love It! TeeHee! 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 ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend LouiseA :) _ *"_"* __ /`_`\ __ .' '. | / \ | .' '. , / ')\^_^/(' \ , \`--' . (_.> <._) . '--`/ '.__.' '._/ \_/ \_.' '.__.' / , _ , \ \ \_/|\_/ / \ //^\\ / \/` `\/ | | | | | | | | .. ..:::.| | ..::::. .. ..::::..::::... .::::::::| |:::::::::::::::. ::::::::::::::::::.:::::::::::| |:::::::::::::::::. ':::::::::::::::::::::::::::::| |::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::| |::::::::::::::::::' '':::' '::::::::::::::::\_.__./:::::::::::::::'' '':::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::' jgs '::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::'' '':::::'' '''::::::'' "God knows that some lessons can only be learned over time. There are some things we cannot understand. Some things must be concealed. Sometimes it is necessary that we spend time doing nothing but waiting for God to show Himself or speak to us. God knows that it is in these times, when we have the least amount of control, that we can exercise the greatest amount of faith. In these times we are left to choose between trusting God, or wallowing in despair and self-pity. We can worry or we can trust. We can keep going or we can give up. There are some things we just can't control. And in those times we learn to trust." - Rocky Henriques >Into The Storm By Steve Troxel Immediately after feeding five thousand men, plus women and children, with five loaves of bread and two fish, "Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side" (Matthew 14:22). The disciples had begun to cross the Sea of Galilee when a storm arose which caused them to "strain against the oars" (Mark 6:48). It was the middle of the night, and after already rowing about three and a half miles they found themselves fighting against the wind and waves. Why had this happened? The disciples had done exactly what Jesus told them to do and now they were facing a major struggle. They had clearly heard and obeyed but they were still confronting a very difficult situation. The story continued as Jesus walked on the water, called Peter out of the boat to join Him, and then miraculously calmed the storm. But couldn't the struggles have been avoided by telling the disciples to simply wait until morning to travel? This wasn't the first time the disciples faced a storm with Jesus. During a prior boat ride, Jesus had been asleep when the storm arose: "The disciples went and woke Him, saying, 'Lord, save us! We're going to drown!'" (Matthew 8:25). When Jesus calmed the wind and waves of this first storm, the disciples asked each other "What kind of man is this?" (Matthew 8:27). During the first crisis, the disciples saw Jesus as an amazing man. But now, in the middle of the night, when Jesus again calmed the storm, the disciples began to understand. Matthew 14:33 "Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, 'Truly You are the Son of God.'" As was the case with the disciples, Jesus often sends us into a storm for the purpose of revealing Himself and drawing us closer to His side. While in the middle of a storm, we can see God's love and witness His ability to protect, strengthen, and guide. "These {storms} have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed" (1 Peter 1:7, bracketed text added). Our Father loves us very much. He loves us enough to give us His Son as a sacrifice for our sin; enough to give us His Spirit as our guide; enough to never leave us, and enough to finish the good work He began in our lives. Let's receive His love and learn to rejoice in ALL things. Let's learn to look with new eyes and see His hand working around us each and every day. Let's praise Him and look for new revelations of His love, even as we are sent into the storm. --- ...Awww, a wonderful inspiration! Thanks LouiseA! ============================================================= .--------. <<<<*>>>> .--------. / .-----. \ ,#####, / .-----. \ / /{{{{{{{`. \ #_ _# / .`}}} }}}\ \ / /{{ {{{ {{ ".\|6` `6|/."}} }}}} }}\ \ { {{ {{{ {{{{ {{;| u |;} }} }} }} }}} } { {{{{ {{{{ {{{{ \ = /}}} }} }} }}} } } { { {{{ {{{{{ {{{|\___/|} }} }} }}}} }} } { {{{ {{{ {{____/: :\____}}}}}} }}} } { {{{{.'"""`.-===-\ /-===-.`"""'.}} } } { {{{/ ""-.-"" \}}} } jgs \ \/' '\/ / >"You Can Do It!" Story Editor: by Ted Edinger Joyce Schowalter Louisiana, USA I grew up on a small North Dakota town back in the 50s and 60s. My brother-in-law was a farmer, so we kids were taught at an early age to drive tractors and other vehicles. I started driving tractor for my brother-in-law during the summer of my 11th birthday. One summer day near that time my dad's pickup needed to be moved, so he told me to back it up. Unfortunately, I backed into our swing set, bending the A-frame but not damaging the pickup. I was scared because I wasn't sure how Dad would react. Dad wasn't mad, but came over and moved the pickup himself. Then as a teenager I worked for Jim Seitz during the summer on his farm. Jim had a self-propelled windrower that we used for cutting hay during the summer and grain during fall harvest. I loved to drive the windrower that cut the grain and laid it in rows so the combine could come along to pick it up and harvest the grain. One day, I drove the windrower to get gas from the big farmyard fuel tank. The fuel tank was mounted on a big metal frame 12 feet high. I ran into the frame, breaking one of the machine's wooden slats. I stopped the machine and got off. I assumed Jim would back it up for me, as my father had. To my surprise, Jim said, "Get back up on that machine -- you can do it." And I did! Talk about a confidence builder -- my self-confidence went sky high that day. During harvest, Jim had me do custom windrowing with that same machine, which pushed my confidence level up several more notches. I would take off the drive chains, bolt on a special hitch, then hitch it to a pickup truck and pull the windrower backward down country roads to whatever fields needed to be cut that day. Many other little gestures of confidence -- plus the "can do" attitude Jim had toward me -- carried me through some hard times. In particular, he helped me get through my army basic training. One day my actions weren't to our Drill Sergeant's satisfaction. He made me stand next to a wall and beat my head against it while repeating, "I'm a dud, I'm a dud, I'm a dud." While I was doing this, the image of that summer day on the farm and Jim telling me "Get back up there, you can do it!" came flooding back to my mind. I knew the words the sergeant was making me say weren't true; he didn't break my spirit! Jim's "can do" attitude helped me through basic training, advanced individual training, and jump school. From that training, I became an airborne military policeman with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. It just goes to show what a huge impact can be created by small gestures of faith and confidence in a person. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Kidwarmers: * __ *________________________* * .oO/**/oo. * / _____________________\ * * OOO/**/OOOOo. * / / = - = - = = } OOO/**/OOOOOOO_ / /- = -- == === - - -- } * OOO/**/OOOOOP`( \ / / == - == -= -= -= - =- -= -} * OOO/**/OOP ') ,--,__,-"- =-= -== -=- =- -=} OO/**/OP / \ / / _/`---. =-= - -= } * __Y/**/OP , |/ / `"-_~~~~~~~~`__ ( \*/OP / \ , | / _/ (.`"""-. )__ * ( ^"'`\ ` / _/ _/ / `"'-. .)__ ' (. ') `\ ~~`__/ / ; ) ( ' `---' . . / ___) . " - (__) ( . (____ ----' ____) (__________) . ( .' ) ) ( . ( . ) ______) ----'_____) __) ) '-(____(__)___________) (________). (___________)jgs >FUNNY THINGS KIDS SAY Clifton, 3, was interested on how big he was getting. Almost every day he would go to his mother Donna, stand as tall as he could and say, "Look how big I am!" One day as he did this, standing as tall as he could, saying again how big he was he said, "Look how big I am! My legs go all the way up to my butt!" -- Donna Parker of Connecticut Kelley, Paula and Paula's daughter Morgan, 6, went to visit Paula's grandmother at the nursing home. It was the day before Valentine's Day and they were having a party with an Elvis impersonator crooning to the women. Morgan has a grandmother named Judy who is a huge fan of Elvis. When Morgan saw Judy the next day she said, "Grandma, you're going to be so happy! Elvis isn't really dead, he's living in the nursing home with Granny, and I got his scarf for you!" (It was a souvenir that they bought at the party!) -- Kelley Barnes of Camden, Ohio With all the celebrations such as Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, etc. Aaron, 5, asked his mother, "Why isn't there a Happy Kids Day?" When Aaron wanted to wear a special shirt to pre-school, they discovered it had a tear in it. His mother, Christina, told him to wear a different shirt. "Put a Band-Aid on and it will be OK," Aaron said. Christina Smith of Kendallville, Indiana A 5-year-old, traveling on a beautiful road through a forest, asked, "How many trees are there?" "Only God knows that," his mother said. He replied, "Yeah, He can make as many fingers as He needs." -- His Aunt of Killeen, Texas .-. <~~~~~> .-. .-. <*****> .-. .-. <+++++> .-. / _ \.-----./ _ \ / _ \.-----./ _ \ / _ \.-----./ _ \ | /:\(((((()))/ \ | | / \((())))))/ \ | | / \((/. .\))/ \ | ||' :(( '_' )): `|| ||: :(( '_' )): `|| || :(( o )) : || ||: \`---'/ :|| || : )))---((( : || ||: (('---')) || || :/' ) `\: || || ((( _ ))) :|| || (((\ /))): || ||: / (,) \ || ||: :/ /|\ \: || || : / ^ \ :|| || / ,__[_]__, \:|| || / ,/\|/\, \ :|| || / \\\ /// \: || ||:\___)_._(___/ || ||: \___/ \___/ || ||: \__\\V//__/ || || : || ||: || || : || || : || || :|| || :|| || / | | \ || || / | | \ || ||: / | | \: || ||:| | | |:|| ||:| | | |:|| || | | | |:|| | / | | \ | | / | | \ | ||/ | | \|| |/ | | \| |/ | | \| |/ | | \| | | | | | | | | | | | | jgs |~~~~~| |*****| |+++++| ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Ian had been in kindergarten for about two months and had been behaving excellently. One day when his mother picked him up from school she commended him for being so well behaved. "Yeah," he said, sounding somewhat scared and looking very wide-eyed, "if you're bad you go to the principal's office, and do you know what they do there... They have a big vat of hot water and all the bad kids get put in it!" His mother was confused. "The school doesn't boil kids," she said. "YES, THEY DO!" Ian said quickly. "Mrs. Brown told Marrissa that if she didn't stop acting up she'd have to go to the office and she'd be in hot water!" -- Christie (Ian's mom) of Jacksonville, Florida Christopher and Sharon got stuck in traffic. Christopher is not used to traffic because they live in a rural area. At first he was fascinated by all the cars, then he grew bored and wanted to know what was going on. Sharon explained about all the people who were getting off work and heading home. "It's called rush hour," she said. Christopher looked puzzled and asked, "Why do they call it that, Mee Maw? No one's rushing! They are all sitting still!" -- Sharon Sell of Waxahachie, Texas Twins Erinn and Brandon, 3, were told by their mother, Marina, that she was pregnant. When asked what they would like -- a brother or a sister -- Erinn said she would have to think about it. Brandon thought for a moment, and said, "I want a truck ... a BIG red truck!" -- Submitted by Donna Schiavello for Marina of Toronto, Canada .--,.-, /.-',\:.\ .===. ,;;,;;, /; \\:.\/ _) ;;;;;;;;; |' \\:( _,`'> ';;;;;' |; \\(_/ ._= ';' |; ;/ /`|\ /, _/ |-' `\ /; __//( \_,;;,;;, |; __/ / \ /);;;;;;) | _/|/ / \/`';;;;;' ,;;,;;, |/ / ( ';' ;;;;;;;;; ( .-, \ ';;;;;' ) /`\ ) \ ';' '._/|/| |.' jgs _// \| | / || |/ / | `\| ' One winter day Starr went to pick up her son Daniel, 3, who was very excited. "Do you see the cornflakes falling?" he asked. (He meant snowflakes!) -- Starr Ottinger of Greeneville, Tennessee Rodney, 5, is full of questions about God. He has asked if God had a bellybutton and if angels burp. One day after a baptizing in church, Rodney and his mother were passing a pond with cows in it, and he said, "Look, those cows are baptizing!" -- Georgetta Tinnin of Moore, Oklahoma Donnie, 9, loved to go around kissing girls. His mother was so exasperated with him that she told him he was forbidden to kiss any girls until he is 20. In the car one day, Donnie was overheard telling his school friend, Lavendar, "I can't kiss you, but you can kiss me!" -- Bobbi (Donnie's cousin) of Malaysia <*****> ."^". ,;;;, ."^". {.'^'.\//a a\\/.'^'.} {{ (( L )) }} {{ \ = / }} {{ .-'\`-`/'-. }} {{ / \_/ \ }} {{ / \ }} {{/ /| |\ \}} {| | | | | |} {\___| >===;=< |___/} {{(_/ | : | \_)}} {{ _/| : |\_ }} {{ _/ | : | \_ }} jgs {{/ | : | \}} `-` | : | `-` | : | | : | | : | |___:_| (_/ \_) Donna asked Brett, 4, what he wanted for breakfast. His answer was, "Grandma, can I have some eggs, but don't let them hatch." That meant he wanted boiled eggs. -- Donna of Muncie, Indiana In order to keep things under control at her little boys' birthday parties, Judy allows them to invite the number of guests that equal their ages. Therefore, when Jack was turning four, he could only invite four guests. As they were discussing his choices, Judy tried to include his older brother as one of his four guests. Jack immediately voiced his objection and shook his head. "Ryan doesn't count! Ryan doesn't count!," he said. "He's... he's... he's my LIFE!" -- Judy Weiss of Bloomington, Minnesota Barb is well-known as an avid bridge player. One day Kari, 4, asked, "Grandma, do you like to play bridge?" "I LOVE to play bridge!" Barb replied. "Do you walk over the bridge or do you run under it?" asked Kari. -- Barb Davis of Kendallville, Indiana _......._ :_ _: ,______ ''''''' ______, {_=_-=._'-. .-"""""-. .-'_.-=_=_} {-=_- `'.\ / \ /.'` =_-=} {-_= \\| (_((_(( |// =_-} {-_=- \( (* *) )/ =-_=} {_-=_=- ) ) ^ ( ( -=_=-_} {_=_-=- (_\ '-' /_) -=-_=_} {_-_=_ `) (` -_=_} {_-= .-`\ /`-. -=_} {_= / ^ \ =_} '-/ _.=. .=._ \-' \/_) ` (_\/ /\ /\ jgs / '. .' \ / '.' \ / \ / \ ';';';';';';';';';' | | | | | | |-|-| / / \ \ `"` `"` Marie, tired from a week of sick children, missed work and interrupted sleep, was dismayed when she was pulled over for a traffic violation during a brief errand with Joshua, 2. Joshua, on the other hand, was delighted because Marie had been teaching him that "police officers are our friends." Joshua seemed a bit confused when Marie responded to his excitement with a tired, "No, Josh, this is not a good thing." But he lightened the mood considerably when the police officer approached the car and asked for Marie's license. "He talks!" Josh exclaimed. -- Marie of Athens, Georgia ========================================================== ,"=-. / _),`'". ( /a( ), ) ) C = = ?/ ( )) (_ o-< ) ( `-' \; ( \_ ( | \ ) )| \_/} \ \ \(_;/-|_) )/) `._,--/ / / `!__!! ( (_o)) ---`-._, )--- ------( / |---- | ( | :__/|\_; \ |/ )(\_ /_)--` gpyy \_! >-->REFLECTIONS OF A MOTHER I gave you life, but cannot live it for you. I can teach you things, but I cannot make you learn. I can give you directions, but I cannot be there to lead you. I can allow you freedom, but I cannot account for it. I can take you to church, but I cannot make you believe. I can teach you right from wrong, but I cannot always decide for you. I can buy you beautiful clothes, but I cannot make you beautiful inside. I can offer you advice, but I cannot accept it for you. I can give you love, but I cannot force it upon you. I can teach you to share, but I cannot make you unselfish. I can teach you respect, but I cannot force you to show honor. I can advise you about friends, but cannot choose them for you. I can advise you about sex, but I cannot keep you pure. I can tell you the facts of life, but I can't build your reputation. I can tell you about drink, but I can't say "no" for you. I can warn you about drugs, but I can't prevent you from using them. I can tell you about lofty goals, but I can't achieve them for you. I can teach you about kindness, but I can't force you to be gracious. I can warn you about sins, but I cannot make you moral I can love you as a child, but I cannot place you in God's family. I can pray for you, but I cannot make you walk with God. I can teach you about Jesus, but I cannot make Jesus your Lord. I can tell you how to live, but I cannot give you eternal life. I can love you with unconditional love all of my life . . . and I will!!! Always, Mom -Author Unknown >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->FULL LENGTH - FREE On line AUDIO MP3 Christian Foundational Class http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=61 NEW LIFE IN CHRIST! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->This is for all you who love food and DARE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. These are Tried and True, Yummy to the Tummy, good old fashioned home cooking recipes that are EASY to do Visit Shangy's Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html Home Recipes >Got A good Recipe? 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