Loving God... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To UnSubscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShangyFunList or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net ================ *~* A REMINDER: PLEASE Send me sweet, interesting, funny, inspiring, family type forwards ANY TIME here... bcrsystems@earthlink.net I Need them, Love them, Use them, and Share them! THANK YOU!! AND For Facebook Users: Please Friend Me / Like Me here... http://tinyurl.com/cma6all AND For Google Plus Users: You can find me here... Shangy Bigham https://plus.google.com/106648555948034085752/posts AND Please Share This email with All Your Friends And Family! ^~^ May God SUPER BLESS You As You Do! THANK YOU! :) -<>- * NOTE: An easy way to adjust the size of print in email or any page is to hold down the Ctrl tab while moving the scroll button on the mouse. You can also use the keyboard to change the font size in your web browser or emails. Hold down the Ctrl key while pressing the + key for larger text or the - key for smaller text! ================ >-->HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This super scorching hot new page comes from our friends LouiseA And Geniann. It is one that is sure to give you your aww quota for the day. Be sure to check this out here... ___ / _ \ | / \ | | \_/ | \___/ ___ _|_|_/[_]\__==_ [---------------] | O /---\ | | | | | | \___/ | [---------------] [___] | |\\ | | \\ [ ] \\_ /|_|\ ( \ //| |\\ \ \ // | | \\ \ \ // |_| \\ \_\ // | | \\ //\ | | /\\ // \ | | / \\ // \ | | / \\ // \|_|/ \\ // [_] \\ // H \\ // H \\ // H \\ // H \\ // H \\ // \\Elissa Potier // \\ Budding Photographers! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/buddingphotographers.html --- ...Such a sweet one! Thanks Ladies! -<>- >>>> READER COMMENTS <<<< (\ \'\ \'\ __________ / '| ()_________) \ '/ \ ~~~~~~~~ \ \ \ ~~~~~~ \ ==). \__________\ (__) ()__________) unknown [Politics] >From Our Friend Fran - She Writes: As far as Trump, I have looked at the others, they are politicians and many are corrupt. Trump said they use who ever pays them to make their decisions. I know a politician and she agrees with this. They are saying things not true, any thing to get people to vote for them. I got sick to my stomach when Rubio or whatever his name is, last night stating that since he[Trump] had small hands the rest of his, you know what's were small too. Cruz and Rubio are bullies and Trump is standing up to them. At first I was not sure of Trump but the more the politicians speak the more respect I have for Trump. I am voting for him. They are trying to throw him out so he will not win. If that happens he will run as an Independent and I will vote for him. I did for Perot way back when and he got 20% of the vote. Who knows, maybe Trump can come through. The more I watch the more I am impressed with him. I am sick of the Republicans doing this to an American who is actually trying to make the changes needed to make the government better and more honest. - Fran --- ...Thank You Fran. Honestly, I have never followed politics as closely as I have so far! Before, I didn't even know how a person got to be the nominee for a party! Never knew they were actually 'voted' for in things called 'caucuses'. So this tells you how engaged Trump has made us regular non-political folks. Amazing so far! I think they are all being petty and Rubio is just fighting back on the 'Little Marco' remarks Trump throws his way all the time. I wish Trump was more Presidential and didn't have so much of a liberal past - but that is what makes him so interesting. He is not like the normal politicians that has let us down time and time again. I started lifting it to Father to show us their true colors so we can make the right decision. I was liking Cruz until he lied. I can't handle that... Ted Cruz looses all credibility by doubling down on his campaign lies the Media calls 'dirty tricks' in interview with Fox: http://tinyurl.com/j677oca So I am leaning toward Trump and Rubio - not decided heavily either way. I think Christians should be more concerned on telling fellow Christians that no matter what, they need to get out and vote! People who get mad at who is chosen for the Republican candidate and refuse to vote will only cast their vote for the liar Hillary or the socialist Bernie. That's how we got Obama again when folks wouldn't come out and vote for Romney. Not smart! Romney would have been gazillion times better than Obama for the country. Dividing our vote doesn't help get the right person either. Hopefully we won't have an Independent choice for a Republican Presidential candidate. We either fight the devil in the battle or he wins by default. -<>- / _, ,_ M\M"_,, `"MMMMMm._ `/MMMMMMP^^", MPTMMM`M `-. .'" MMMm "=, `.`"-. .' / S _"^M :Ww. \ `-. .-' .: ".wW\.; :WP^; `-. `-. .-' .-'/ \ :^WP: ; `--' ;\ `-. `. .-' .-' / /; `..' ; \`. `-. \ / .-' .' / ; .-";`"""--5..`-. `-.\ / .' .-' / | .' ; r`) `-. \\ ; / .-' .-' ;_/ ; _ ; `. \; |' .' .' ( _ _ : `-' :\ `./ `-' / .-r-.`Y `-' : / ; ; .-7" `.`7. | .' | : ' ; ; `--..__.'-""/ ;\ \ ,| | | ..--",-' : ; _ _.7`,_J- ; : ;, _,': /; ; _ .' `--.`-.`-'_.-| `. |/ : .'/ : ; | |`". _.-".+. :`"-. `--`"" ,_: `'7 /.-. ; | / | : 7",' ." | : \ : `-. / ;' / | | `--\ /4 ' / .' ; `. ; \ :`"\ .< ; : _.7 ' `. / /.' \ `.___.-"> ;_/ :---"\ `. ' `.-.. `"--' / fsc `.___..--"/ _mMMMm,.' `-.`-.._ ) `"--. .' `---'"mMMMMMMMMm,_ `-----' `"" `" "^`^MMMP^^mm, *~* We Had A SUPER Month Of Caring And Sharing Last Month! >Be Sure To Visit And Share All Of Our New Pages... Sunken Treasure In A Field! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/steamboat.html Craig Alan's People Art! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/peopleart.html Fearless Women! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/fearlesswomen.html Thoughts Into Action 8! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/action8.html Love Stories! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/lovestories.html Magnificent President Tree! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/presidenttree.html Sweet Animals With Flowers! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/animalswithflowers.html Forever Hollywood! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/hollywood.html Forever Hollywood 2! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/hollywood2.html Forever Hollywood 3! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/hollywood3.html Celebrity Private Jets! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/celebrityjets.html .-. _ .--""" / { `.__ ( ( _ .e"8a-. J ' \ `.._, \ /_`\/8P '.--\/8P-' ) .-. \ e8a `.`. `" / o o`._..--' (;88`-.. \ ""`. `--.>#--.._/ `.-. `8_ 8P`. :_e8P .a. _.' |`\_, \ /-. `.` ,8 ^P" e8P 8a 2 '7.__7" \ \ `": `. ,8P _ /_\ ' / ;e8| 98P .-' `7 `--' |`8: .e8a._..e8" .' : : 88P" .8P`88,8P' / Y8/88 eP"| `YP" / `. `M " :-. .' : .'_ ; _.' \ \ '.' `/_.-e8`,.--. `-: : .'"" " 8P : `""`.e8a ; `"""--. / fsc `---' ~ May God Abundantly Bless All Our Thoughtful Contributors! ~ =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: _ ( ) ,,,,, \\ . . , \\ | - D (._) \__- | | | \\|_ , ,---- _ |----. \__ ( ( / ) _ | \/ \. ' _.| \ ( ) | \ /( / /\_ \ // \ / ( / / ) // ( , / / , (_.) |......\ | \, / / ) \--- b'ger /___/___^// >TURNING POINT by Ben Mueller I heard a quote from a body builder once that went something like the following: "Each day you either become a little bit stronger or a little bit weaker, but you never stay the same." My interpretation of this is that every day we should strive to be the best that we can be in all areas of life. Even on days when you are struggling, it is important to remember that it just takes a positive attitude to turn things around for the better. My dad took me to my first Green Bay Packers game when I was eight years old. At the time, I really did not know much about football other than it was a tough guy's sport. All I knew was that the Packers were playing the Cincinnati Bengals and that the Packers were not a very good team. The had lost all previous games in that season and it had been years since the Packers had a winning season. The year was 1992 and I was astonished at the atmosphere and crowd of being at a football game. I thought that it was the coolest thing. On one particular play, the packers quarterback Don Majowski hurt his ankle and had to leave the game. I remember a negative comment from a nearby fan who stated that the Packers had no chance of winning now. Out stepped the Packers back up quarterback Brett Favre. The beginning of the game did not go well for Favre and he ended up fumbling the ball four times and getting sacked often. Despite the fact the he was struggling, Favre kept the team in the game and they were down by six points with less than a minute to go in the game. Favre had the ball and threw a long pass to Sterling Sharpe. Then, with eight seconds to go, Favre threw the winning touchdown to wide receiver Kitrick Taylor. The crowd went wild! Favre ran around the field celebrating, and first year coach Mike Holmgren was as happy as could be. The Packers carried on that momentum for the rest of the season and just missed the playoffs at 9-7. Even though they missed the playoffs that year, the 1992 season was a special season for the Green Bay Packers. It marked the beginning of the Brett Favre era and also the start of a dynasty in which the team would win the Super Bowl in 1996. From that 1992 game forward, Favre began the longest consecutive starts streak for a quarterback in NFL history. As a Packers fan, I have witnessed many up and down seasons since then, but this game helps instill a special memory -- a memory so powerful that I feel like a turn for the better can happen anytime. Who would have ever thought that game would have ended the way that it did? And who would have thought that a great NFL quarterback and team would have been born on that day? -- Ben Mueller __________________________________________________ Ben is a writer and triathlete from Sheboygan, WI. He has had stories published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Runners. =========================================================== >-->From Our Friend LouiseA :) {} {} ! ! II II ! ! ! I__I__II II__I__I ! I_/|--|--|| ||--|--|\_I .-'"'-. ! /|_/| | || || | |\_|\ ! .-'"'-. /=== \ I//| | | || || | | |\\I /=== \ \== / ! /|/ | | | || || | | | \|\ ! \== / \__ _/ I//| | | | || || | | | |\\I \__ _/ _} {_ ! /|/ | | | | || || | | | | \|\ ! _} {_ {_____} I//| | | | | || || | | | | |\\I {_____} ! ! |= |=/|/ | | | | | || || | | | | | \|\=|- | ! ! _I__I__|= ||/| | | | | | || || | | | | | |\|| |__I__I_ -|--|--|- || | | | | | | || || | | | | | | ||= |--|--|- _|__|__| ||_|__|__|__|__|__|__|| ||__|__|__|__|__|__|_||- |__|__|_ -|--|--| ||-|--|--|--|--|--|--|| ||--|--|--|--|--|--|-|| |--|--|- | | |= || | | | | | | || || | | | | | | || | | | | | | || | | | | | | || || | | | | | | ||= | | | | | |- || | | | | | | || || | | | | | | || | | | | | | || | | | | | | || || | | | | | | ||= | | | | | |= || | | | | | | || || | | | | | | || | | | | | | || | | | | | | || || | | | | | | || | | | | | | || | | | | | | || || | | | | | | ||- | | | _|__|__| || | | | | | | || || | | | | | | ||= |__|__|_ -|--|--|= || | | | | | | || || | | | | | | || |--|--|- _|__|__| ||_|__|__|__|__|__|__|| ||__|__|__|__|__|__|_||- |__|__|_ -|--|--|= ||-|--|--|--|--|--|--|| ||--|--|--|--|--|--|-||= |--|--|- jgs | |- || | | | | | | || || | | | | | | ||- | | | ~~~~~~~~~~~~^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^~~~~~~~~~~~ >Divine Reasoning's of Faith (By Oswald Chambers) "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33) Immediately we look at these words of Jesus, we find them the most revolutionary statement human ears ever listened to. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God." We argue in exactly the opposite way, even the most spiritually-minded of us -- "But I must live; I must make so much money; I must be clothed; I must be fed." The great concern of our lives is not the kingdom of God, but how we are to fit ourselves to live. Jesus reverses the order: Get rightly related to God first, maintain that as the great care of your life, and never put the concern of your care on the other things. "Take no thought for your life ... " Our Lord points out the utter unreasonableness from His standpoint of being so anxious over the means of living. Jesus is not saying that the man who takes thought for nothing is blessed -- that man is a fool. Jesus taught that a disciple has to make his relationship to God the dominating concentration of his life, and to be carefully careless about every thing else in comparison to that. Jesus is saying -- "Don't make the ruling factor of your life what you shall eat and what you shall drink, but be concentrated absolutely on God." Some people are careless over what they eat and drink, and they suffer for it; they are careless about what they wear, and they look as they have no business to look; they are careless about their earthly affairs, and God holds them responsible. Jesus is saying that the great care of the life is to put the relationship to God first, and everything else second. It is one of the severest disciplines of the Christian life to allow the Holy Spirit to bring us into harmony with the teaching of Jesus in these verses. --- ...Yes. Thanks LouiseA! , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' Putting God First is easy to do if all you do is lip service. But if you actually practice and live this, then it is something you have to give thought to to make sure you do. We are easily distracted with our work, our family, our animals and as the bible reminds us, the flesh is weak... Matt.26: [41] Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. After all, we know that God is here for us and the bible tells us to trust God in everything we do... Prov.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. Of Course, if we do as the Bible says... Mark 12: [30] And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. We'll have little trouble keeping God first in our life. When we truly love somebody, that person is in our hearts and minds over and over again all day long whether they are with us or not. We kindle our love for God by keeping our thoughts and prayers with Him every day - all through the day as we make our choices and decisions we acknowledge God and thank Him for His help and wisdom so we make the Best choices and decisions according to His Will. Col.3: [14] And above all these things put on charity [the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation], which is the bond of perfectness. [15] And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. [16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. [17] And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. There ya go - do that - and ALWAYS keeping God first will be a piece of cake! :) ============================================================== >-->From Our Friend Jacinto :) __________. /_/-----/_/| __ ( ( ' ' ( (| /'--'\ (_( ' ' (_(|/. .\ / /=====/ /| '||' /_//____/_/ | || (o|:.....|o) | || |_|:_____|_|/' _||_ ' ' /____\ unknown >Thoughts "Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye." ~ Helen Keller "Observe your enemies, for they first find out your faults." ~ Antisthenes The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time. ~ Jack London Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow." ~ Mary Anne Radmacher Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That is why it is called Present. ~ Anonymous "Ideals are like stars; you will not succeed in touching them with your hands. But like the seafaring man on the desert of waters, you choose them as your guides, and following them you will reach your destiny." ~ Carl Schurz "Who dares nothing, need hope for nothing." ~ Johann von Schiller --- ...Good Ones! Thanks Jazz! =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: _____________________________________ |""|""|""|""|""|""|""|""|""|""|""|""|"| | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 | jgs '-------------------------------------' >"Begin Little By Little" By Zelig Pliskin Printed with Permission of Shaar Press Some people feel overwhelmed by the concept of consistently doing acts of kindness. "It seems so difficult to keep thinking about others. I have a lot to do for myself and I can’t always think of others." The solution is to begin little by little. You might not have the time and resources to do all that you would really like to do. Be kind with the time and resources you do have. Every small kind act leads to other and greater kind acts. Every act of kindness makes you a kinder person. Maimonedes tells us how to develop a generous personality. Do many small acts of generosity. Instead of giving a single hundred dollar bill to only one person, change the hundred dollar bill into one hundred singles. Then give them away one by one. These one hundred kind acts are building your character trait of generosity. Just as a building goes up brick by brick, so too you are building yourself act by act. Each of us find certain things easier to do than others. What small act of kindness is easiest for you? Keep doing these acts as regularly as possible. "One good deed leads to another," say the Sages The founder of a major charitable organization with numerous branches began with a few items from his home. He had several vaporizers that he lent out to his neighbors. This grew and grew until the lending of medical equipment free of charge evolved into a national institution of note. Even if a small act of kindness doesn’t lead to major acts of kindness, a small kind act in itself has immense eternal value. Being overwhelmed by thinking too big may prevent you from beginning your journey. Think in terms of one step at a time and you can never tell how far you will eventually go. -<>- 0=========================================================0 |'. FairyMarys .'| | '. _______________________________________________ .' | | | /\ /\.-. . .| | | | '. ________| ` `.' .`. | /______________ .' | | | | | \ `/ >>-' -`* - | | | | | | / ,\ ' / | \ ____ | | | | | | `-'`.:`. | | | | | | | | > ,`. | | | | | | | | /-. /.' `. |____| | | | | | | / _> `- : |\_/| | | | | | | /` / /-. |q p| /£ | | | | | ,| / ((___/ __> ( 0 )"""\ __ | | | | | \/` / } |"^"` | ;`'()__)| | | | | |\ /'\ .--.( || /=\\ | `\:'.`,\| | | | | .' -\\--\\-- \\--------"'" -'"""'---//--"//'. | | | |' DS & jgs '| | | .'------------------------------------------------ '. | |.' PetShop '.| 0=========================================================0 >Pets are for life! If this doesn't make you cry, I don't know what will. Pets are for LIFE.... A man in Grand Rapids, Michigan incredibly took out a $7000 full page ad in the paper to present the following essay to the people of his community. >HOW COULD YOU? By Jim Willis, 2001 When I was a puppy, I entertained you with my antics and made you laugh. You called me your child, and despite a number of chewed shoes and a couple of murdered throw pillows, I became your best friend. Whenever I was "bad," you'd shake your finger at me and ask "How could you?" -- but then you'd relent and roll me over for a belly rub. My housebreaking took a little longer than expected, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those nights of nuzzling you in bed and listening to your confidences and secret dreams, and I believed that life could not be any more perfect. We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream (I only got the cone because "ice cream is bad for dogs" you said), and I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day. Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate. I waited for you patiently, comforted you through heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions, and romped with glee at your homecomings, and when you fell in love. She, now your wife, is not a "dog person" -- still I welcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy. Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement. I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them, too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I spent most of my time banished to another room, or to a dog crate. Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became a "prisoner of love." As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes, investigated my ears, and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them and their touch -- because your touch was now so infrequent -- and I would've defended them with my life if need be. I would sneak into their beds and listen to their worries and secret dreams, and together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway. There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories about me. These past few years, you just answered "yes" and changed the subject. I had gone from being "your dog" to "just a dog ," and you resented every expenditure on my behalf. Now, you have a new career opportunity in another city, and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You've made the right decision for your "family," but there was a time when I was your only family I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said "I know you will find a good home for her." They shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand the realities facing a middle-aged dog, even one with "papers." You had to pry your son's fingers loose from my collar as he screamed "No, Daddy! Please don't let them take my dog!" And I worried for him, and what lessons you had just taught him about friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility, and about respect for all life. You gave me a good-bye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline to meet and now I have one, too. After you left, the two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming move months ago and made no attempt to find me another home. They shook their heads and asked "How could you?" They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you that you had changed your mind -- that this was all a bad dream... or I hoped it would at least be someone who cared, anyone who might save me. When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited. I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day, and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room. A blissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table and rubbed my ears, and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had run out of days. As is my nature, I was more concerned about her. The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her, and I know that, the same way I knew your every mood. She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured "How could you?" Perhaps because she understood my dog speak, she said "I'm so sorry." She hugged me, and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn't be ignored or abused or abandoned, or have to fend for myself -- a place of love and light so very different from this earthly place. And with my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my "How could you?" was not directed at her. It was directed at you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of you. I will think of you and wait for you forever. May everyone in your life continue to show you so much loyalty. A Note from the Author: If "How Could You?" brought tears to your eyes as you read it, as it did to mine as I wrote it, it is because it is the composite story of the millions of formerly "owned" pets who die each year in American & Canadian animal shelters. Please use this to help educate, on your websites, in newsletters, on animal shelter and vet office bulletin boards. Tell the public that the decision to add a pet to the family is an important one for life, that animals deserve our love and sensible care, that finding another appropriate home for your animal is your responsibility and any local humane society or animal welfare league can offer you good advice, and that all life is precious. Please do your part to stop the killing, and encourage all spay & neuter campaigns in order to prevent unwanted animals. Please pass this on to everyone, not to hurt them or make them sad, but it could save maybe, even one, unwanted pet. Remember...They love UNCONDITIONALLY. -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: About Dogs and People!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/aboutdogs.html Dogs As Best Friends!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bestfriend.html A Butterfly's Story!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/butterflystory.html Growing Old!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/growingold.html The Black Dot!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/blackdot.html Hill Of Crosses!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/hillofcrosses.html Thank You God!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/thankgod.html One Word Essay!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/essay.html Thank You Lord!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/thanks.html The Blue Ribbon!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/blueribbon.html Inspiring Seniors!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/inspiringseniors.html Butchart Gardens!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bgardens.html God's Instructions!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/instructions.html Friends And Health!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/friendhealth.html Playing With Words!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wordplay.html God's Most Beautiful!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/mostbeautiful.html -<>- >From Our Friend Linda :) Please take 2 minutes to watch this. You won't be sorry. WHISPERS... https://www.youtube.com/embed/zf_0jzPQ8lo?rel=0 A doctor dad https://www.youtube.com/embed/7tyT4glkvBs --- ...Go Bush! God Blessed Bill with that piper! Love this! Thanks Linda! -<>- >From Our Friend Melinda :) Roads Tunneled Into Earth by Time Holloways, also called sunken lanes, are one of the few examples of infrastructure made by humans that still serves its original purpose. http://tinyurl.com/gv4khg5 Venezuela collapses into food police state; biometric scanning into government database now required to purchase food http://tinyurl.com/h8fy45r --- ...Wowsers! Thanks Melinda! -<>- >From Our Friend PatDeE :) Would you feel completely comfortable walking across it? It is replaced every year. In the video one guy is singled out as being the architect which, in this case, means he was taught how to build the bridge by his father. That’s fine but the question is – who designed & built the first one? Did some guy centuries ago look at the gorge & say to himself – if we took some grass & made cables we could build a bridge here? While it looks like great fun to build the bridge every year I wonder if anyone gave a thought to building something a bit more permanent? Well the locals are happy with it & that’s what counts. Plus there is a festival thrown in for work well done. http://tinyurl.com/o268ptj --- ...Pretty neat! Amazing! Thanks PatDeE! 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 ========================================================== \\\\ c oo | .U __=__ ,,, |. __|___ oo ; ||_/ / / U= _ 0 \_/__/__E o /. .| | (___ || |~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'----'~| I---||| |-----------------------| I ||| | c(__) | ^ '--'' ^ ^ Petrus >Thanks, Dr. Mike! Story Editor: by Nancy L. Middleton Joyce Schowalter Connecticut, USA I've been a maternal-child nurse for over fifteen years, and also worked in a pediatrician's office, so often my family comes to me for advice on children's health. My nephew, "Bill", his wife, "Deseray", and their daughters went to a general practitioner doctor who didn't believe in ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) as a legitimate diagnosis. Because my son has ADD and benefited from treatment, they asked if the doctor I work for would evaluate their older daughter's "classic" ADD symptoms. My boss suggested they instead see his colleague, Dr. Mike Blefeld, who specialized in ADD. They were pleased with his care for her, and Jessica was transferred to his practice. The rest of the family stayed with their first doctor. In September 2001, Bill and Deseray were concerned about their younger daughter. Ashley's energy level was low, she seemed pale, and one day she had a strange rash on her chest. Her parents thought she might have hives and followed telephone advice from their doctor. Her symptoms persisted and she had a fever, so they insisted on their daughter being seen in the doctor's office. Unfortunately, she was given only a very cursory exam, the rash wasn't looked at and the family left the doctor's office feeling as if they had been an annoyance to him. Concerned about Ashley, my nephew called Dr. Blefeld and asked if he would see her even though he had only seen her sister once and Ashley wasn't even his patient. Mike asked them to come in immediately, with no hesitation about the formalities that Ashley was not his patient, he barely knew the family, etc. He was immediately concerned that Ashley had tiny bruises (often mistaken for a rash and known as petechiae) on her chest and an enlarged spleen. He drew blood and sent Bill to the lab with the sample for analysis. With the results returned, he had to give the family the frightening news that Ashley had leukemia. He admitted Ashley to Yale-New Haven Hospital that very evening, and turned her over to "Dr. Joe", a personable, well-liked pediatric hematologist. Ashley started right in with tests and chemotherapy treatment. When all this happened, I was off work due to a car accident. Several months later I finally returned to work at the Newborn Nursery and Labor and Delivery unit. I immediately thanked Dr. Blefeld for recognizing the need for my great-niece to be properly evaluated, and for not using the excuse that she wasn't his responsibility because she wasn't his patient. Because of pressures from managed health insurance and a more litigious society, many medical practices today are run in a rigid, corporate manner. It's heartening to know that doctors like Dr. Blefeld continue to practice medicine as an art and a science, with compassion and flexibility, and not just as a business. Thank you, Dr. Mike! Ashley's treatment brought her into remission, where she remains today. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Our Friend Fran :) _________________________________________________________ ||-------------------------------------------------------|| ||.--. .-._ .----. || |||==|____| |H|___ .---.___|""""|_____.--.___ || ||| |====| | |xxx|_ |+++|=-=|_ _|-=+=-|==|---||| |||==| | | | | \ | | |_\/_|Black| | ^ ||| ||| | | | | |\ \ .--. | |=-=|_/\_|-=+=-| | ^ ||| ||| | | | | |_\ \_( oo )| | | |Magus| | ^ ||| |||==|====| |H|xxx| \ \ |''| |+++|=-=|""""|-=+=-|==|---||| ||`--^----'-^-^---' `-' "" '---^---^----^-----^--^---^|| ||-------------------------------------------------------|| ||-------------------------------------------------------|| || ___ .-.__.-----. .---.|| || |===| .---. __ .---| |XX|<(*)>|_|^^^||| || , /(| |_|III|__|''|__|:x:|=| | |=| Q ||| || _a'{ / (|===|+| |++| |==| | | |Illum| | R ||| || '/\\/ _(|===|-| | |''| |:x:|=| |inati| | Y ||| ||_____ -\{___(| |-| | | | | | | | | | Z ||| || _(____)|===|+|[I]|DK|''|==|:x:|=|XX|<(*)>|=|^^^||| || `---^-^---^--^--'--^---^-^--^-----^-^---^|| ||-------------------------------------------------------|| ||_______________________________________________________|| Qryz John stepped into the used bookstore and smiled as he smelled the old pages. Here was a wealth of old stories, history waiting to be read, and a host of other joys. On a back shelf, he found what he was looking for... They'd served their use to those who once held them dear, but now gathered dust in the darkest corner of the store. They were Italian, American, French and Greek. They contained secrets from around the world. There were collections of chicken, beef, pastries, bread, and desserts. They waited, hidden in a little explored part of the store, and hoped someone discovered their treasures. John knew what to do. He picked one up, held the spine in his hand and let the book fall open. They always opened to the most used pages, the recipes loved by lost generations. The page in front of him was for a recipe called "Beef-filled cornbread." The picture showed a delicious layer of meat and cheese, layered with cornbread and covered with a hot sauce. The pages were stained with splatters of tomato sauce. It was obviously a favorite of the previous owners. He'd try this one. Those used the most are the best. He found several other books, each with its own marked pages, and carried them to the counter to make his purchase. "I hope you found something you like," the cashier said. "Oh yes. Very much! I'm sure these are exactly to my taste." He paid for his purchase, left the store and carried them in a bag on his way to work. In the locker room, he placed his books on the top shelf and changed into his scrubs. The recipes would wait. He had a duty. Freshly dressed, he walked his floor. "Hello, Mrs. Smith!" He smiled at the elderly lady sitting in the sun room reading a book. In her day, she must have been a beautiful woman. She still was, for a woman in her eighties. "How was your day?" "Horrible!" she growled. He sat beside her, held her hand and looked into her eyes. "My grandson didn't visit me," she continued. "He promised me he'd be here today." She adjusted her shawl and tried to hide the tears about to spill from her wizened eyes. "Maybe tomorrow," he replied. "You know how busy these young people are." He noted the tear in the corner of her eye and changed subject. "Mrs. Smith, didn't you tell me you lived during the great depression?" A smile came to her face. "Oh, yes. What a time that was. There was no work, ya know. But we survived." "How did you get by?" "Well, we all worked together. Everyone worked together. We helped each other." She frowned. "It's not like today, where people are too busy to worry about anyone but themselves. In those days, we worked together. If you didn't, you starved."n "It must have been a hard time, Mrs. Smith. I don't know how you did it." "I didn't," she grinned. "We did. We did it together, the neighbors and my family." He left her smiling and hoped her grandson paid a visit the next day. He moved down the hall and stepped into Mr. Walker's room. "Hey, Walk! How's things?" He used the name Walk, as all the others in the center called him. It made Walk feel comfortable. Mr. Walker looked up from a puzzle he leaned over. "Could be better, John. This damn puzzle has me stumped. These eyes aren't what they used to be." "I know, Walk. Just take your time. There's no rush." "There is too," Walk chuckled. "I need to finish it before I die." "Not too soon I hope," John said. "Say! Have I told you about the guy who walks into a bar with a giraffe under his arm?" John chuckled. Walk loved a good joke. "I don't believe you have." Walk's face broke out in a smile. "You see, this guy walks into a bar with a giraffe under his arm. He has a few beers. The giraffe falls asleep on the floor. The bartender looks down, sees the giraffe and asks, 'What's that lying on the floor?' The guy says, 'That's not a lion! That's a giraffe.'" Walk broke into a laugh that turned into a coughing spell. John slapped him on the back. "Come on, Walk. Cough it up." Walk got himself under control. "You're OK now. I got your back." "I know about covering someone's back." Walk sat straight in his seat. "I was in WWII ya know." "I heard that. Did you have a hard time?" John asked. "John, you have no idea. It was the winter of '41, or was it '42. I can't remember now. Snow was up to here." Walk pointed to his thigh. "We were on the front. The enemy was close" Thirty minutes later, John said, "WOW! That's a story, Walk. I knew you were in the war, but I don't think I ever thanked you. I want to say, Thank you. You made us safe." "Ah, stop it. It was nothing," Walk turned to his puzzle, too embarrassed to continue their talk. He and others knew what they did, but don't want to take credit. It's an unspoken rule between the veterans. They did what they had to. John continued on his rounds, held hands, shared hugs and listened. Here they were, like the cookbooks, sitting in dark corners, ignored. John knew what to do. He held them, let their hearts fall open,nand found the pages stained with use. They are the most valued. They are the pages long forgotten. - Michael T. Smith --- ...Sweet! Thanks Fran! ========================================================== >-->From Kidwarmers: _ .-*"""*.).' .-' `. ,*' _.' `. .' .-*':', , '": .' : /-. : |/\`"* \; : ' ' \`$ -' / / .'.___ `. / : : `.`*-. .'`.__.-'`. ; | \ `-. ; : ; `| : \ `. : \ ;+"*:*| . \ `-. `. ;`. ; : \ `. `.: `.:`-..-: \ \ `*-. ;`-..-' \ `. ` ' . `-. /`-._ ;`*-..'\`. : | : . `-._ `. : | ; __.-*', [bug] ; `*-.._.-*' : ; / ' : ; .' `./ / .', :/ / .' / /.'\ / .' : .` `-.. / :: /`-. / `' .. `-._.' ; '; .' | ;: : | : , |`**'; ; : : :*-._, : : : ; ; : ,--+'`*+*; : ; . `*' : .'.`._: `*---*--.'`.' : : .-' `.__.' >THE FUNNIEST THINGS KIDS SAY When she was a teenager, Felicita went to Puerto Rico on a summer vacation. She remembers hearing a mother yelling at her child who was running a short distance from their home. The mother yelled, "You little brat. You are so bad. You have no shame." The 5-year-old turned around and put his hands on his hips. Then he said, "You are right. But I must have come out like someone if I am all you say I am!" -- Felicita Dejesus of Brooklyn, New York Joyce's husband is very interested in politics, always listening to talk shows. One day their 4-year-old asked very seriously, "Mom, what's the difference between a Repellican and a Democrap?" -- Joyce Riffle of Fairmont, West Virginia Here is another one from Joyce. When her now 13-year-old daughter was only 2 she was constantly asking questions. One summer day, they were packing for a camping trip and her daughter was asking one question after another. So Joyce gave her some chewing gum, which kept her mouth occupied for a while. The 2-year-old wandered off and sat on a stump beside the clothesline. The landlady asked her, "What do you have in your mouth, dear?" The 2-year-old replied, "I've got gum." The landlady said, "Who gave it to you?" "My mother gave it to me," the little girl replied. The landlady said, "That's nice. She must be a good mommy." The too-wise 2-year-old replied, "She tries." Twyla is a special education teacher in a Texas school district. She teaches the 3 and 4-year-olds. One day she had a new Vietnamese student who was autistic. He had stood up for an hour and would not sit down. Finally, in desperation, Twyla asked Victoria, who was also Vietnamese, "Will you please tell him to sit down?" Victoria marched over to the little boy and yelled in perfect English, "Sit down, Boy!" -- Joan Henry (sister of Twyla) of Texas _ (_) | . . |L /| . _ _ . |\ _| \--+._/| . (_) / ||\| Y J ) / |/| ./ J |)'( | ` F`.'/ _ -<| F __ .-< (_) | / .-'. `. /-. L___ J \ < \ | | O\|.-' _ _J \ .- \/ O | | \ |F (_) '-F -<_. \ .-' `-' L__ __J _ _. >-' )._. |-' `-|.' /_. \_| F /.- . _.< /' /.' .' `\ /L /' |/ _.-'-\ /'J ___.---'\| |\ .--' V | `. ` |/`. `-. `._) / .-.\ VK \ ( `\ `.\ When their four children were still at home, Betty's family discovered camping because it made an affordable vacation. They went every summer to Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains and always camped beside a river. James, 4, asked his father one night, "Dad, does God turn off the river at night before He goes to bed?" -- Betty Edmonds of northeast Indiana When Kayla was 8, her mother let her fill out the sticker for the front door that said, "In case of emergency, these animals live in the home. Please save them, too." In the place to list the animals, Kayla wrote, "2 dogs, 1 hamster, and 3 SPIDERS." -- Erika Kiefer (cousin of Kayla) of Emeryville, California Daryl had to explain to her two granddaughters, Curissa, 6, and Corie Lynn, 5, that a beloved great uncle was now in heaven. They asked why everyone dies. Daryl explained that all living things die and added that she was getting older and that someday she too would die. Curissa looked at Daryl and said, "Grandma, you're not old yet -- only half old, you've got time!" -- Daryl Messenger of Byron, Illinois Barb was born in Sisters Hospital. When she was 4 her mother was expecting their fourth child. They had two boys, ages 3 and 18 months, that were born in another local hospital. Barb climbed into bed with her mother and said, "Mom, could you please go back to Sister Hospital because I am sick of brothers!" (Happily, they did have a sister for Barb.) -- K. Brown (mother of Barb) of Grand Island, New York ,------------. ,.--""-._ | Alice's `. __/ `. | Adventures in | _,**" "*-. `. | Wonderland | ,' `. \ `---------------' ; _,.---._ \ ,'\ \ : ,' ,-.. `. \' \ : The Mad Hatter | ;_\ (___)` `-..__ : | ;-'`*'" `*' `--._ ` | ; /,-'/ -. `---.` |" /_,'`--='. `-.._,-" _ (/\\,--. \ ___-.`: //___ /\'''\ ' | |-`| ( -__,' '. `--' ; ; ; ;/_/ `. `.__,/ /_,' /`.~; _.-._|_/_,'.____/ / ..--" / =/ \= \ / / ;._.\_.-`--'-._/ ____/ \ / /._/|.\ ." `*--'._ "-.: : :/".A` \ | | |. `. : ; |. `. \SSt Quinn's father was getting dressed and said to 2-year-old Quinn, "Do you know where I got this shirt? My sister bought it for me." To which Quinn replied sadly, "I don't have a sister." But after a few seconds she perked up and declared, "Mommy has to go to the store and buy me one!" -- Angela Cox (mother of Quinn) of Lee's Summit, Missouri Connie was visiting Hanni who told her about her grandchild Lara, 5. After Lara had opened all the presents, she turned to Oma (Hanni) and in all seriousness told her (translated from the German), "Oma, my other grandmother gave me a better present, but don't worry, I still love you!" -- Connie in Vienna, Austria Note: You are welcomed to use, copy and share these stories, but please reference http://www.funnykids.com as the source. ========================================================== _ _|_|_ ,|_| |_|_ || | | |_| || | | | | || | | | | _|| | | | | ||)\ ^ ^ ^ | || | | || | | || | | \\ | \\ / ejm )\ ( / \ \ / \ \ \ \ >-->DIVINE INTERVENTION Lord Hard-times are here We are steeped in fear Enveloped by daily worry Our lifelines are blurry. Our labors seem in vain With so little to gain If any employment at all The earnings are small. Many homes will be taken Or in despair forsaken Because employment is rare And our savings bare. Families are torn asunder For they're leaden under The oppression of their debt And every dawn is a threat. Leaders refuse to lead today And won't get out of our way They hinder us at every turn As we watch our lives burn. Pockets empty we come to you With prayer long overdue For it is only you precious Lord That can relieve the discord. In praise from faithful voices We pray for better choices And plead you come to our aid For we are helplessly afraid. Poverty spills over the earth There is little of any worth And the resolution is not in us, It is in your love Lord Jesus. We live by the sweat of our brow And Savior we need work now, We stand ready with sleeves rolled, Father let your mercies unfold. With empty pantries but a full heart Lord we pray for a fresh start, It is divine intervention we need, It is for tender mercies we plead. ©Written By: Kenneth J. Ellison 12-28-10 -<>- .---. .---. ,';' `.';' `.. f :Bo. ` d88: `\ /d88P' `\ ; /d888P' `. ',d8&8P' : ;d8&7' | :8: | qx >THE BLESSINGS OF A STORM I did not know His love before, The way I know it now. I could not see my need for Him, My pride would not allow. I had it all, without a care, The "self-sufficient" lie. My path was smooth, my sea was still, Not a cloud was in my sky. I thought I knew His love for me, I thought I'd seen His grace, I thought I did not need to grow, I thought I'd found my place. But when the way grew rough and dark, The storm clouds quickly rolled; The waves began to rock my ship, My anchor would not hold. The ship that I had built myself Was made of foolish pride. It fell apart and left me bare, With nowhere else to hide. I had no strength or faith to face The trials that lay ahead, And so I simply prayed to Him And bowed my weary head. His loving arms enveloped me, And then He helped me stand. He said, "You still must face this storm, But I will hold your hand." So through the dark and lonely night He guided me through pain. I could not see the light of day Or when the storm might wane. Yet through the aches and endless tears, My faith began to grow. I could not see it at the time, But my light began to glow. I saw God's love in brand new light, His grace and mercy, too. For only when all self was gone Could Jesus' love shine through. It was not easy in the storm, I sometimes wondered, "Why?" At times I thought, "I can't go on." I'd hurt and doubt and cry. But Jesus never left my side, He guided me each day. Through pain and strife, Through fire and flood, He helped me all the way. And now I see as never before How great His love can be. How in my weakness He is strong, How Jesus cares for me! He worked it all out for my good, Although the way was rough. He only sent what I could bear, And then He cried, "Enough!" He raised His hand and said, "Be still!" He made the storm clouds cease. He opened up the gates of joy And flooded me with peace. I see His face now clearer still, I felt His presence strong. I found anew His faithfulness, He never did me wrong. Now I know more storms will come, But only for my good, For pain and tears have helped me grow As naught else ever could. I still have so much more to learn As Jesus works in me; If in the storm I'll love Him more, That's where I want to be. Written By: Wendy Greiner Lefko >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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