Like Hinds Feet And The Unsung Hero.. :) 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!! AND For Facebook Users: Please Friend Me / Like Me here... http://tinyurl.com/cma6all 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! ================ >-->In The 'Shangy' News :) (>, oo / 8 "} > @ < |`.8 .-._/| `-.'`')`_.' ) / / |__, | ( / .' , / `._/ '`- \| -- -`' - --- VK/ejm I'm Dancing A HAPPY 'Yeah Baby' Dance! I am most pleased to report that I have finally succeeded in editing all 980 pages on the web site so that those with cell phones and/or high end devices can view them properly! I am most thankful to you all for your patience and support of the web site even when you had difficulty viewing the pages properly. You are all 'angels' and I thank God for your patronage! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: . _, |`\__/ / \ . .( | __T| / | _.---=======' | // {} `| , , {} \ /___; ,' ) ,-;` `\ // | / ( ;|| ||`\\ ||| || \\ ||| jgs )\ )\ )|| `" `" `"" >LIKE HINDS' FEET by Lee Simonson Joanna likes her tattoos. The young woman from Williamsport, Pennsylvania, was a student at UCLA a few years ago and became quite the athlete. After she won some races, she went out and got a tattoo of a dove placed on her upper right thigh. And why not? Her grandmother's name was Dove, and Joanna's middle name is Dove. She even has the ceramic dove her grandmother gave her when she was a girl. But there is more to the story. She was a rising track star, specializing in sprints and hurdles -- very fast races that saw the runners cross the finish line in seconds. The dove also represented the birds that are released during the opening ceremonies at the Olympics. In fact, she had the Olympic rings, drawn in black, etched into her skin next to the dove. She told everyone that if she ever realized her Olympic dream, she would add color to the dove and the rings. But fate took a cruel turn, and Joanna wasn't good enough to qualify for the 2000 Olympic games. Despite the best coaching and training, she missed out. Moreover, she didn't compete the year after because of an injury. And, she decided to take the next season off to work a Boys and Girls' Club. Joanna was out of sight, out of mind, and getting older. Not a good thing in a sport that is constantly seeing ever younger competitors grabbing the spotlight. But her tattoo was a constant reminder of a dream she refused to give up. As a young girl she grew up idolizing five-time Olympic medalist, Florence Griffith-Joyner, who died in 1998. Joanna had told friends that "Flo Jo" was the most beautiful and glamorous woman she had ever seen and was her inspiration for running. Joanna would keep trying. Last year, Joanna got back in the game and ran as fast as she could. She came in 2nd place at the U.S. Nationals, and won the competition at the 2003 Pan Am Games. Like a phoenix, she was rising from the ashes, and back with a vengeance. Soon after, she finally qualified and earned her right to represent the United States on this year's Olympic team. After waiting so long, could anyone actually stand in her way? Could anyone steal her dream? Well, yes. She wasn't the only fish in the big sea of track and field. In a sport that separates the winners and losers by hundredths of a second, Joanna wasn't even favored to win in Athens. Joanna, at age 27, was good, but maybe not good enough. There were several athletes with equal or better records, including Canadian Perdita Felicien, ranked #1 in the world. Perdita was not only 4 years younger, but she even participated at the 2000 Syndey Olympics. She is a celebrity in Canada and she was setting records all over the place. The icons of the track world were crumbling at her feet. Last week, the runners finally met on the track in Athens. The best runners in the world were all in the same place, at the same time, and about to do what they do best. All eyes were on Perdita, and Joanna was just another face at the starting line. The race would be finished in less than 13 seconds, and the world would know who would take home the gold. The runners heard the starting gun and they were off their marks in an instant. But something bizarre happened. Despite practicing it thousands of times, Perdita tripped over the first hurdle. Her sights were set on the finish line, and yet, her foot caught on the hurdle and she fell to the ground. A moment later, Joanna Hayes dashed across the finish line and set a new Olympic record of 12.37 seconds, breaking the previous 16-year record by 1/100th of second. She didn't even know that Perdita had fallen until after the race was over. Amazingly enough, the favorite in the men's hurdles, Allen Johnson, representing the USA, had a race the next day. He experienced the same fate as Perdita, tripping on a hurdle near the end of the race. He was sprawled on the track as he watched his opponents cross the finish line. The man who went on to win the gold medal in that event, Liu Xiang from China, actually asked Allen for his autograph a few years ago. Now maybe Allen will be asking Liu for his autograph! Two champions -- Perdita and Allen -- both defeated by the hurdles they had spent years mastering. The heartbroken Perdita will no doubt see brighter days ahead. One of her friends said the experience would spur her on to prove she can break the world's record. And in four years, she will have another shot at the gold when the Olympics are in China. Sports are unpredictable. Life is unpredictable. Anything can happen to anyone at anytime. The strong can become weak, and the weak can become strong -- in the blink of an eye. It's the reason why "hope" is the most powerful word in the English language. Sooner or later, we all have a shot at the gold. Yes, Joanna likes tattoos. And she will color in the dove and the Olympic rings. She also has another tattoo on her swift legs. It is a passage from the second book of Samuel. It reads, "He maketh my feet like hinds' feet and setteth me upon my high places." (A hind is a female red deer.) She learned that passage when she was younger and has used it for inspiration since. She never lost hope. Today, she wears her gold medal with pride and honor. -- Lee Simonson, Publisher, Heartwarmers ___________________________________________ You can read more about Joanna's incredible race at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5809370/ --- ...This reminds me of this one... Mountain Goats http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/mountaingoats.html ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Fran :) _______ `-----.\ _____, `---- \\ .-./.---` ,__`---. `-` '>---` `,_.-. /`.-` jgs ',___.' " >The Wren Still Sings It was one of those rainy and dreary spring days. Although it wasn't extremely cold, it seemed that the wind caused a chill to come over me. It was the kind of weather that after a few days of it, my mood began to match the gloomy climate. I had finished my chores and was hurrying as fast as I could to get back into the warm house and out of the continuous drizzle when I heard something. I ran on inside the back door to get out of the rain but I turned and peeked back out the screen door. I wanted to see if I could discover the origin of the lovely sound that I was hearing. As I listened, I heard the sound again. I looked over toward the lilac bush and there sat a little wren that had made her nest in the tomato juice can that Mom had hung in the bushes years ago. The wind was causing her house to sway and the rain was coming down harder than ever.Yet, she seemed to look upward as she held on tightly with her tiny bird feet to a small branch and continued her sweet musical solo. Although her world was shaken, the wren still sang. Perhaps we could take a lesson from the birds and learn to make our nests, feed our young, and sing to God. The birds don't ask for better nests or even better material for nests. They don't complain about their lot in life, but they take what God has given them and then they do their best to create something beautiful with it. I have always enjoyed watching birds. I delight in the brilliant red of the cardinal, the beauty of the bluebird, and the unique touch of red on the red winged blackbird. The birds each have a special song of their own to sing. Some have a very brief series of chirps while others have a whole chorus to perform. The Whippoorwill seems to sing her name while the quail simply calls his "bob white". I have a tiny hummingbird's nest that is a work of art. It is so small and beautifully made that I wonder at the perfection of this wee bird's creation. It is completely round and about the size of silver dollar. The outside is foundational with the rougher pieces of sticks and materials at the bottom of the nest. Gradually, the materials become softer until the finishing touch on the very top of the inside of the nest is covered with a soft layer of hair and fur. The birds around us are all different yet they don't seem unhappy with their plumage's nor do they try to look like other birds. The sparrow doesn't rush right out to get his feathers dyed red to look like the cardinal nor does the robin try to peck away on a tree like the woodpecker. The birds seem to be very content as they sing, fly, and work at their job of being a bird. It doesn't seem to me that birds have much trouble with being happy. It must be because they trust their heavenly Father. They don't worry about life. they just live it. The birds neither sow nor reap yet God feeds and takes care of them and we are told that we are of so much greater value than the birds. The wind, rain, and the storms of life happen to people as well as to birds, but let's try to look up when our world is shaken too, and remember that the wren still sings! "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens; They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!" (Luke 12:24) - By Pamela R. Blaine, April 2004 -<>- The unsung hero https://www.youtube.com/embed/uaWA2GbcnJU --- ...Awww, so heartwarming! Brings tears! Thanks Fran! , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' A sweet reminder for us of two things! Always Trust God: Proverbs 3 [5] Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. [6] In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. We have no worries or fears when our full trust is in God through Jesus Christ our Lord! And if we do, The bible teaches us to 1 Pet.5: [7] Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. We are to pray and give it to God. Check out this teaching: Trust In The Lord http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Basics/Trust_In_The_Lord.htm , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' And the second reminder is Giving = Receiving! Luke.6 [38] Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. To understand this verse better think of brown sugar. Suppose you give a neighbor a cup of loosely packed brown sugar. However when the neighbor pays you back they are so grateful for you helping them in their time of need that they return the cup of brown sugar only they have pressed it down - packing the cup to its fullest and even heap brown sugar on over the top of the cup! So you are not only paid back for your 'gift' but you have way more then you gave! This is God's plan in blessing both those who get a gift and those that give a gift. Both benefit most abundantly from the gift from the heart. Gal.6 [7] Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. [that's why giving is from the heart] [9] And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. [when the time is best - it comes back to you] This principle works for sinner or believer - it is a law that God set up much like the law of gravity. Mostly invisible - doesn't take a rocket scientist to utilize it nor does it take believing or faith in it for it to work - it just does because God set it up that way. Check this teaching out for more on this: Giving = Receiving http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Promises/GIVING_EQUALS_RECEIVING.htm Gal.6 [10] As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. [the believers - our brothers and sisters in Christ] This last verse is cool - it is that 'Kairos Moment' - that opportunity that allows you to help someone and be most blessed by doing so. It is like the video showed us - opportunities arose for the young man to help and bless others - had he ignored them, then his life would not have been as enriched as it obviously was. Check out this teaching for more on this... 'A KAIROS MOMENT' By John Lynn http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/kairosmoment.html ========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: \/_ \, /( ,/ \\\' /// \_ /_/ (./ '` as >WREN ATTACKS ============== The little brown wren saw a reflection of herself in the side mirror of the car and attacked it vigorously. She believed the reflection in the mirror was her enemy and every time the car was brought out of the garage, she attacked. She would look into the mirror, see those foreign wings fluttering, and launch a full body blow. She was consumed by her fury against the mirror but her only reward was exhaustion. She never won the battle. The mirror got smudged and often needed cleaning but it remained unmoved and never retaliated. It remained faithful to its position and continued to do what it was intended for. If you compare the attacks of the little brown wren with attacks against the Bible, you see the same outcome. Every time the Bible is brought out, it is attacked furiously by those people who do not like the image revealed in it. They cannot tolerate the picture of themselves. The smudges made by attackers must often be cleaned but the Bible never moves and never retaliates. It remains faithful to its position and continues to do what it is intended for. Those who value and purpose of the Bible know that 'All Scripture has its use for teaching the truth and refuting error, or for reformation of manners and discipline in right living so that the man of God may be capable and equipped for good work of every kind.' 2nd Timothy 3:16, 17. When the Bible is opened, are you like the attacking wren? Or do you allow it to 'cleanse you from every kind of wrongdoing' and change your image? 1st John 1:9 By Just a Minute team writer Elizabeth Price. -<>- >A Keeper Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away. I can see them now, Dad in trousers, tee shirt and a hat and Mom in a housedress, lawn mower in one hand, and dish-towel in the other. It was the time for fixing things. A curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress. Things we keep. It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All that re- fixing, eating, renewing, I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew there'd always be more. But then my mother died, and on that clear summer's night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more. Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away...never to return. So... While we have it... it's best we love it... And care for it.... And fix it when it's broken..... And heal it when it's sick. This is true... For marriage.... And old cars.... And children with bad report cards..... Dogs and cats with bad hips.... And aging parents.... And grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it. Some things we keep. Like a best friend that moved away or a classmate we grew up with. There are just some things that make life important, like people we know who are special.... And so, we keep them close! I received this from someone who thinks I am a 'keeper', so I've sent it to the people I think of in the same way... Now it's your turn to send this to those people that are "keepers" in your life. Good friends are like stars... You don't always see them, but you know they are always there. Life is too short, appreciate what you have, one day it will be no more. The happy times with our family and the memories will be no more. Best years are with our parents enjoy every moment. Honor thy mother and father. Life is to precious to waste. -<>- ,--. / & \ C (.c.)) \ ~ / 7--\ / \ //\/\/\\ ||\/\/\| c3#####P | | |_ (###)#) ool >WET PANTS Come with me to a third grade classroom..... There is a nine-year-old kid sitting at his desk and all of a sudden, there is a puddle between his feet and the front of his pants are wet. He thinks his heart is going to stop because he cannot possibly imagine how this has happened. It's never happened before, and he knows that when the boys find out he will never hear the end of it. When the girls find out, they'll never speak to him again as long as he lives. The boy believes his heart is going to stop; he puts his head down and prays this prayer, "Dear God, this is an emergency! I need help now! Five minutes from now I'm dead meat." He looks up from his prayer and here comes the teacher with a look in her eyes that says he has been discovered. As the teacher is walking toward him, a classmate named Susie is carrying a goldfish bowl that is filled with water. Susie trips in front of the teacher and inexplicably dumps the bowl of water in the boy's lap. The boy pretends to be angry, but all the while is saying to himself, "Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord!" Now all of a sudden, instead of being the object of ridicule, the boy is the object of sympathy. The teacher rushes him downstairs and gives him gym shorts to put on while his pants dry out. All the other children are on their hands and knees cleaning up around his desk. The sympathy is wonderful. But as life would have it, the ridicule that should have been his has been transferred to someone else - Susie. She tries to help, but they tell her to get out. You've done enough, you klutz!" Finally, at the end of the day, as they are waiting for the bus, the boy walks over to Susie and whispers, "You did that on purpose, didn't you?" Susie whispers back, "I wet my pants once too." May God help us see the opportunities that are always around us to do good. -<>- ____ .//\\\\`-. ////\//''``\ ||\|//' $ $| |\|\\' ') \\\\ `---/ `\\-.__.-' ( o| |\ \_o| occcococo| \/ \|ococccocoo 8P""83338| `-'|8338833838 8aad8' ,baa----`/ I8388383 8838883838888ad88838838838 8888888888888888888888(FL) >God Loves Me - Here's Proof (By Roy Irwin) During one of our first dates my wife and I were getting to know one another better by sharing stories about ourselves, our faith, and how we came to know Jesus and His love. It was during one of these conversations that my wife remarked with great certainty, "I know that God loves me. I've got a dollar to prove it!" Having piqued my curiosity, she continued to share about one of the darkest, loneliest times of her life. It was at the end of a long, exhausting week where each day at work had been difficult. She was tired, depressed and felt alone. Now driving back to an empty home at night in the rain she remembered that she had to pick something up at the store. It was just too much to bear. Standing in the checkout line she was overcome with emotion. She kept her head turned to hide her moist eyes. As the tears welled up inside of her she cried out this silent prayer, "God, forgive me for my lack of faith. I know that your word says that you love me, but right now I don't feel it. I really need to know that you love me." It was at just that moment that the Cashier handed my wife her change - a single dollar bill. As she took the dollar, she noticed it had writing on it. A closer look revealed these handwritten words: "I LOVE YOU!" As I've shared this story over the years I'm often asked if I think that it was just a coincidence that the dollar had this message on it. I don't think so. We have this promise from the Bible in Philippians 4:19 "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (NIV) After reading this verse many people tend to think of God just meeting their financial needs. But for my wife, her need at that particular moment was just to know that God loved her and that He was still with her. God met her need through a timely, personal message delivered at just the right moment. 2000 years ago God delivered another personal message to mankind when He sent His only Son Jesus Christ to earth - demonstrating His love for us all and meeting the biggest need that we have - the need to have our sins forgiven. Today we still have the framed dollar bill. Though the writing has faded over the years, it has been a constant reminder that God does indeed love us, that He keeps His promises, and that He meets us where we are, especially in our time of need. It echoes with a promise from Jesus found in Matthew 28:20 "...And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (NIV) How about you? Do YOU know that God loves you? It's true! "For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him should not be lost, but should have eternal life." John 3:16 (Phillips Translation) "Dear Lord God, thank you for your promise found in Jeremiah 31:3: "...I have loved you with an everlasting love." (NIV) We believe it and know that You love us. Help us to receive that love. Amen." (Copyright 1999 Argyle Giraffe Productions. This may not be resold or used for the enhancement of any product sold without the written permission of Argyle Giraffe Productions.) -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Old Barns, Old People, Old Friends!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/barns.html I Believe! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/believe.html God's Instructions http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/instructions.html Blue Ribbon http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/blueribbon.html Life Train http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lifetrain.html No Words Needed http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/nowords.html Pay It Forward http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/payitforward.html Tears Of A Woman http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/womantears.html Wisdom For Life http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wisdomforlife.html Mirror Reflection http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/mirror.html Dolphin Rescue http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dolphinrescue.html -<>- >From Our Friend Linda :) Saigon Rush Hour Traffice - Truly Amazing Things have not changed, it was just like this in '67 & '68, only older vehicles and many more pedi-cabs, Lambrettas, and Vespas (motorized pedicabs). The day after Tet there was not a vehicle or person to be seen anywhere in the city except for military convoys. Mike. This is really amazing, amazing, amazing Vietnam - there is orderliness in total disorder! This would never work in the USA! http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/4phFYiMGCIY?rel=0 --- ...No wonder the majority has bikes! Easier to maneuver! Thanks Linda! We certainly were busy watching the news right after 9/11, but never saw this... Watch till the end, you won't regret it. BOATLIFT, An Untold Tale of 9/11 Resilience - YouTube http://www.youtube.com/embed/MDOrzF7B2Kg?rel=0 How the Mars rover got there http://www.youtube.com/embed/XRCIzZHpFtY?rel=0 --- ...Wow! Interesting! Thanks Linda! -<>- >From Our Friend Fran :) Church Bloopers http://www.mamarocks.com/church_bloopers.htm --- ...TeeHee! Thanks Fran! -<>- >From Our Friend RichardF :) Ginger Cat vs The Paper Army http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol1wxsN411k --- ...LOL! Too Funny! Thanks RichardF! -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseA :) A beautiful acrobatic performance from Cirque Du Soleil's new show 'Amaluna. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jCp-TxSABMo Celtic Woman performing "You Raise Me Up" live at the Slane Castle in Ireland. Slane Castle is located 45 km northwest of Dublin, Ireland. David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Queen, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, R.E.M., Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Neil Young, Madonna and many others have performed at the concerts held each year in August, with up to 100,000 people attendending. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Yfwlj0gba_k Russian acrobatic team 'The Cats' with their beautiful performance of 'Memory' at the French TV Show 'The Worlds Greatest Cabaret.' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAPkB_g02N8&feature=player_embedded --- ...Great links! Thanks LouiseA! -<>- >From Our Friend Melody :) Things Your Fast Food Worker Won't Tell You | Reader's Digest http://tinyurl.com/ln5dk26 Cooking With Greens Slideshow: http://tinyurl.com/ngu4uqp --- ...Good info! Thanks Melody! 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 Vastly Improved Outlook Story Editor: by The Traveler Joyce Schowalter California, USA My siblings had planned this spring 2004 pack trip through the Grand Canyon for two years. I was breaking up with a man I adored, yet no way would I miss this trip. Mr. Wonderful called the day before the trip to say he wasn't going -- so I should make my own arrangements to get to Arizona from California. That was something of a problem. I'm far from wealthy, and my 52-year-old eyeballs aren't up to driving in unfamiliar territory. But a family edict is a family edict: I made it. The canyon was spectacular, the weather perfect, the company a hoot. Although we're all middle-aged and several decades from our last wilderness experience together, we comported ourselves quite competently. Sore, tired, yet full of a sense of having accomplished a small miracle, we gathered at a restaurant back on top of the canyon rim for a celebratory dinner. Halfway through, my brother-in-law looked me square in the eye and said, "We're not taking you to the airport." I was flabbergasted! We'd all met in Phoenix, and driven four hours into the canyon together. One naturally assumed we'd return to the airport to catch our respective flights home together. Apparently my flight, an hour and a half before the others, would entail everyone leaving at 9:30 a.m. versus 11 AM, and that just wouldn't work for them. Or something. Eccentric family dynamics notwithstanding, there was neither taxi service nor shuttle vans from the canyon to the airport. I'd just spent the week backpacking. I had no cash. My credit card was maxed out. My sibs were unsympathetic. I was broke, physically exhausted and spiritually drained. And I was stranded. In tears, I walked back to the hotel to try to figure out how to get home. I walked into the lobby at night, totally distraught. The woman at the front desk noticed my sniveling and asked what was wrong. When I told her, she went into action. Roberta W grabbed a phone and started calling. The Phoenix tour bus wasn't running, so she called her son. He couldn't get away to drive me, so she called a co-worker. As I watched slack-jawed, she arranged to switch shifts with him the next morning. "Be here at eight tomorrow, I'll take you. Go get some sleep." She showed up on the dot, and gathered my stuff into her van. I'll bypass the personal travails this dear woman was dealing with, and the challenges she's overcome. The long drive into Phoenix was filled with her wonderful stories and cheerful observations. Not only did I make my flight in plenty of time, I did so with a vastly improved outlook on life and its vicissitudes. I've no idea what motivates a person to spend her day off driving across a state in aid of a clueless stranger, but Ms Whitt's astounding generosity put the previous evening's pettiness into a perspective I have not forgotten. I'd like to publicly thank her for the lesson she imparted. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Kidwarmers: //((~;; \\ \`_ ,' )) _~o) '; ( ) (''-___ ,_- | | ;---__ | )-|===| \ ~--|====|~~| |====\\\'._ |______\ \ \ |_|__|( ~~---/~\/\ /~_/____ \ ______--/\/\\_ W< >THE FUNNY THINGS KIDS SAY Marialuisa was in grade two. Before leaving for school in her little town in northern Italy, she looked out the window at the chickens in the courtyard and exclaimed, "Beate voi galline che non andate a scuola!" (O blessed are you chickens who don't have to go to school!) -- Adua Zampese (older sister of Marialuisa) of Toronto Last week's column ("Hurricane Fantasia") was dedicated to the people who are recovering from hurricanes. Debbie tells about her daughter Kellie and her family who lives in Jacksonville, Fla. As a result of the hurricanes they were without power for quite a while. Debbie was talking on the phone to little Alexis. "It's dark, Gammy," Alexis said. "My lights are broke!" -- Debbie in Tuscaloose, Alabama Neil found his son Jonah, 4, asleep on the couch one morning last week. When Jonah called Neil at work later in the day, Neil asked Jonah why he had left his bed. Jonah said, "I had a really scary dream. Want me to tell you about it? Well, there was this big hairy monster... No, wait a minute. It was Mommy!" -- Neil Grepke of Kendallville, Indiana Melva's 7-year-old granddaughter was in a school without her big sister for the first time. She is in the second grade and her sister had moved on to middle school. The school is only two blocks away and she assured her mother that she could walk by herself. However, her mother was concerned because there are no sidewalks. Finally, her mother agreed -- but said she would stand at the corner and watch her. After getting two houses from home, the 7-year-old turned around and started walking backwards. "See, I can even walk backwards!" she told her mother. Her mother quickly replied, "How will you see the cars?" The 7-year-old replied, "Oh, I forgot about that!" -- Melva Brown of Oxford, Ohio `_-@@@-_ |, _ - - - ~-_--; |~ = . _ . = | | | ( ) - -__\ _ /,_-- -_ _-~ .-'--`-_ ~/ . | | |~| |____(,,) /________\ |_|__| _~__~___\ Donald was in first grade and just learning to read. He asked his mother if he could go to meet his father who would be coming home from work. He wanted to show him his new overalls. Minutes later Donald returned home without his father. His mother asked him why he was back so soon, alone. He said, "I saw a sign and it said STOP!" -- Sr. Lita Camozzi (sister of Donald) of Toronto It's the start of a new school year in Beth's 6th grade class and her students are sharing "Me Bags" to introduce themselves to their new classmates and to Beth. One boy brought a country/western CD and said that he likes that kind of music. They talked about the song titles, and that led to some discussion about the fact that many country songs have a drinking theme. Beth jokingly commented, "And we complain about rap!" Another boy blurted out, "Yeah! Country's just like rap, except with a banjo!" -- Beth Fryer of Lebanon, Pennsylvania While making deviled eggs for Labor Day, Melissa got out the paprika. Her 5-year-old daughter Daysha asked what it was. Melissa said it was paprika and Daysha said, "Just like Carlos." Melissa asked her what she meant and Daysha said, "Carlos is Paprikan just like the stuff you are using!" (Their friend Carlos is Puerto Rican!) -- Melissa Buchanan of Youngstown, Ohio __--_ //~-----\|/ _----__ . / /-~~---~\\\ /______, | / `c ` . ||| | | | (.. _ ..|||| _O----| | \ _ _ | || `- |___| /~` `\ `__ _/ |||/||~~| .' '~\ |||||||--| | |_| |||||||( | |____| | |______``` |____``` | | | |_|_| .'\\,\\_) /_/___| MacKenzie, 4, was describing her new baby sister Rosie (a preemie). "Poppy, Rosie has a mall head," said MacKenzie, who can't pronounce "small." Poppy responded, "Of course she does, she gets that gene from her Nanny and Mommy." -- Amy (aunt of Kenzie) of Butler, Pennsylvania After her daughter passed away, Nancy had her two young grandsons, ages 2 and 4, living with her. "I wish I had written down more of what they did and said, but that was a very difficult time for all of us," Nancy recalls. She remembers attempting to teach Gary, 3, to whisper. One evening after reminding him to "talk softly, please whisper," he declared in his typical three-year-old no-nonsense tone, "I like to talk loud!" "Why?" Nancy asked. Gary answered matter-of-factly, "It makes you listen to me!" -- Nancy Johnson of Laverne, Oklahoma When Gary, 6, repeatedly failed to pay attention, Nancy asked, "Was your mind somewhere else?" He looked surprised and replied, "No, my mind's right close to mine ears." Pnina, 17 months, was playing on the bed (with supervision, of course!) with one of their pet hamsters. She put the sheet over the hamster, and said, "Geebeegoo! Geebeegoo!" (Peek-a-boo!) -- Brandel D. Falk (Pnina's mother) of Jerusalem, Israel ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend RichardF :) _ _ (\o/) {\o/} jgs /_\ /_\ >Angel Giggles I lay upon my back outside And watched the clouds float past Chirping birds sang a lullaby And I closed my eyes at last. A tiny sound on the wind Caught me by surprise A soft and happy giggle Made me open up my eyes! The source, to my amazement Was far up in the sky Two laughing little Angels Were slowly drifting by. With rosy cheeks and dimpled smiles And wings of fluffy white Tiny flowers in their hair Oh! What a wonderful sight! I didn't move a muscle For I wanted them to stay The music of their laughter Brought such wonder to my day. Off they drifted out of sight But in my mind will stay The day I heard the Angels giggle On this magic, special day! ~ Charlotte Anselmo ~ --- ...aww, so sweet! Thanks RichardF! >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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