MERRY CHRISTMAS ... :) 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 ================ | + | /^\ + --=<-*->=-- + \ / | ____ ... + .. ... | | |__,'[] `,__ _' `__ /\|/\ _' `___|_ []| ______|__ __|_ [] | /#\ |[] __| []| | | []| | | | # | | | | | | | | | '.,_#.- - ' . - - ' - . . - ' - . _ . - ' - . _ _ MAY YOUR PATH ` ' /\|/\ ' ' /\|/\ /#\ LEAD YOU TO PEACE AND ' ' /#\ # ' ' # /\|/\ # HAPPINESS ' ' # /#\ # ' ' # EVERYONE ' ' #________ |OOShy *~* A VERY MERRY BLESSED CHRISTMAS To YOU And To YOUR LOVED ONES! The Christmas Story http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/christmasstory.html When Was Jesus Born? http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/whenjesusborn.html Who Is Jesus Christ http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/whoisjesus.html Are Angels Real? http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/angelsreal.html Amazing Grace http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/amazinggrace.html Bailey's Jesus http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/bailey.html Christ's Life http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/jesuslife.html Come Adore Him http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/comeadorehim.html Walk With Jesus http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/poems/walk.html Who Is This Jesus http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/jesus.html Jesus Laughing Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/Jesusart.html Salvation Mountain http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/salvation.html Christmas Around The World http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/christmasworld.html Christmas With Pets [GRACIENJ recommends the video at end] http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/christmaspets.html Creation Museum http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/creationmuseum.html Disney Christmas http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/disneychristmas.html Maxine On Jesus http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/maxineonjesus.html Redneck Christmas Trees http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/redneck.html --- Don't Forget ALL The YUMMY Goodies! Visit Shangy's Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html ================================================================= >-->From Heartwarmers: >A HUMBLE LOAF OF BREAD by Bobbi Hahn It seemed like the perfect gift for my father. You know how hard it is for adult children to select gifts for their parents. After all, what do they want and/or need, really? Flannel shirts and ties had been given in abundance over the years, and since he'd retired, shopping became even more difficult. He was passionate about photography, but I wouldn't have had the slightest idea of what sort of equipment he might like. He was a marvelous gardener, but the tiny garden at their row house in Philadelphia (before they were known as town homes) had no need of plants or seeds in December! I had discovered a wonderful cookbook called Visions of Sugarplums, by Mimi Sheraton, and decided to make something for him from it because it contained recipes from all the countries that celebrate Christmas. He was of Czech descent, and the recipe for a sweet, braided bread containing almonds sounded perfect because he loved anything I made, and he also had a sweet tooth. We purchased all of the ingredients, and my husband numbered the braids in the illustration so we'd be able to keep them straight. It smelled divine as it baked, and I was thrilled with its crusty golden color when I removed it from the oven. We were living in Ohio by that time, so I packed it carefully with their other Christmas gifts and sent it off to Philadelphia. I was not prepared for its reception. My father called with lavish praise for the bread, saying he couldn't believe his eyes when he opened the aluminum foil. With great emotion, he told me that when he and his brothers were very young boys, it was traditional for the bread -- called vanocka -- to be prepared every Christmas Eve. I had given him back a beloved childhood memory, all without thinking! Legend said that every living being in the house had to partake of the bread before midnight of Christmas Eve, for luck. So all the dogs and cats, the occasional mouse, and whatever other creatures lived under their roof had to have a morsel. That year, my husband and I began a tradition for our sons by preparing a vanocka for our home, as well. Cats and dogs were treated to a bite, much to the delight of our young sons. I made the bread each Christmas until my father died. That year, I just couldn't bring myself to make it because it brought back memories of how happy I'd made him with such a simple gift, and it broke my heart that he would no longer enjoy it. I haven't made it in the several years since. But this year, I'm going to have flour dust all over my kitchen again, and the scent of baking bread and roasted almonds will fill the air. Our youngest son and his wife will be sharing Christmas with us, and it's time to remember the joy a humble loaf of bread unwittingly brought to my daddy. -- Bobbi Hahn __________________________________________________ Bobbi is a freelance writer, poet and calligrapher who lives with her husband and two cats beside a lagoon on a barrier island off the coast of South Carolina. She says, "The book is still available, so if you're looking for some marvelous, traditional Christmas recipes, find a copy! It's amazing how similar some of the recipes are from one country to another, differing only by a few ingredients. One country might use almonds, another walnuts. I love these traditions!" ================================================================= .%.%.%.%.%.%.%.%.%.%.%.%TS%.%.%.%.%.%.%.%.%.%.%.%.%. .%. \|/ \|/ \\|/::\\|// \\|::\\\\///_ .%. .%. _\\\\||///|::/\\:://////\\/::/|\\\ .%. .%. ///\//// / .:.:.:. \ _\\\|//_/ .%. .%. _::\|:://_ ,;.;,.;,.;, ///|::\ .%. .%. _ ::///\\\\ _(__ _______) _::\\|////_ .%. .%./ \\|\\|///_/ ((|__________| ///||\\\\ \ .%. .%. -////\\\\ ));;;;;;;;;;;;) \_\\\|//_ .%. .%. _\\\/::_ .-.)(.~~ ~~.)))` ///\\\ .%. .%. //::\\ \ ._.))'^ )_( ^`((( _\\\\/// _/ .%. .%. _\\\||/::_ ;;;)))(// \\(()))` / ///||\\\ .%. .%. / ////|\\\ ``( )()((O))((;(;)` _\\\/////::.%. .%. _\\\\/////_ ); );)) ((;) ;)~ //::\\\-\ .%. .%. _\\\||//_/ `( ,( ;) ; ,( _\::\///_ .%. .%. ////|\\ `\| ) ( ) |/~ ///\\\\_ .%. .%. \\::\_\\\||///_ ~\| ( ( / \\\|///// .%. .%. ::// ////\\\\ \)/ / ////::\\\ \ .%. .%. \_\\\\:://_ \ / _\::\//::/_ .%. .%. / //::\::\ \\|//\|::\|/////\::\\ .%. .%. _\::||//_\|/\\|//|\\\|/|//________ .%. .%. ////\\\ //\\//_::/|\\/// \ |ooShy.%. .%.%.%.%.%.%.%.%.%.%.%.%TS%.%.%.%.%.%.%.%.%.%.%.%.%. >-->THE GIFT A story about an old Bendix washing machine helped one man get through the valley of loss. His parents acquired the washer when John Claypool was a small boy. It happened during World War II. His family owned no washing machine and, since gasoline was rationed, they could ill afford trips to the laundry several miles away. Keeping clothes clean became a problem for young John's household. A family friend was drafted into the service, and his wife prepared to go with him. John's family offered to store their furniture while they were away. To the family's surprise, the friends suggested they use their Bendix while they were gone. "It would be better for it to be running," they said, "than sitting up rusting." So this is how they acquired the washer. Young John helped with the washing, and across the years he developed an affection for the old, green Bendix. But eventually the war ended. Their friends returned. In the meantime he had forgotten how the machine came to be in their basement in the first place. When the friends came to take it away, John grew terribly upset -- and let his feelings be known. His wise mother sat him down and said, "Wait a minute, Son. You must remember, that machine never belonged to us in the first place. That we ever got to use it at all was a gift. So, instead of being mad at it being taken away, let's use this occasion to be grateful that we had it at all." The lesson proved invaluable. Years later, John watched his eight-year-old daughter die a slow and painful death of leukemia. Though he struggled for months with her death, John could not really begin healing from the loss until he remembered the old Bendix. "I am here to testify," he said, "that this is the only way down the mountain of loss...when I remember that Laura Lou was a gift, pure and simple, something I neither earned nor deserved nor had a right to. And when I remember that the appropriate response to a gift, even when it is taken away, is gratitude, then I am better able to try and thank God that I was ever given her in the first place." His daughter was given to him to love and nurture. She never belonged to him, but he had the awesome privilege of sharing her life for a while. When he realized that simple fact, everything changed. He could now begin healing from the tragedy of her loss by focusing instead on the wonder of her life. He started to see Laura Lou as a marvelous gift that he was fortunate enough to enjoy for a time. He felt grateful. He found strength and healing. He finally knew he could get through the valley of loss. We all experience loss -- loss of people, loss of jobs, loss of relationships, loss of independence, loss of esteem, loss of things. What if you view that which is lost as a gift you were given for a time? Perhaps that simple choice of trying to reframe your loss will change sad memories into thankful ones. And perhaps it will get you unstuck and back on the road to healing and wholeness. ~~Steve Goodier ========================================================= >-->From ACLJ: I'm deeply grateful for the opportunity Christmas presents - to express my appreciation for your exemplary support this year in standing with us to protect the gifts of faith and freedom in our country ... And to join with my ACLJ colleagues in warmly wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! It is our prayer that you and your loved ones experience a meaningful time of reflection and renewal and that your home is filled with the fullness of His joy this Christmas season. God's richest blessings to you now, and in the new year to come. ''For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.'' (Isaiah 9:6) Jay & Pam Sekulow Signature ==================================================================== >-->From Liberty Counsel: Before mentioning anything else, let me take this occasion to wish you and your family God's richest blessings this Christmas! We greatly appreciate the vital part you play in Liberty Counsel's defense of life, liberty and family. And we are deeply grateful for your friendship, especially during this blessed season. We will soon conclude our 2009 "Friend or Foe Christmas Campaign" - our seventh consecutive seasonal effort to expose and confront the secularists' "War on Christmas." This year's campaign was somewhat overshadowed by the landmark battle raging in the United States Senate over Harry Reid's version of the ObamaCare "reform" bill, but our annual Christmas Campaign was nonetheless more active than any previous year. This year we answered requests for over 50,000 (!) "I Love CHRISTmas" static window clings, clearly demonstrating that Americans want to keep Jesus at the heart of our national Christmas observance. We are also pleased to report that the number of retailers and other companies that now stand on the "Nice" side of our "Naughty or Nice" list is about double the "Naughty" companies that want to profit from Christmas while pretending it doesn't exist. We have made great progress on this front through our annual campaigns, especially given the fact that those proportions were reversed when we began in 2002! And we had great success in 2009 getting misguided public officials to rethink policies that censored Christ out of Christmas with the simple issuance of a demand letter. Sometimes, as in our handling of a situation in the Minos School District in New York, such matters can be set straight in just a few days. This year, Christian Educators Association International joined Liberty Counsel in our Christmas campaign. This collaboration was so effective that both organizations are looking forward to continuing our joint effort in 2010. But for now, we pause to thank God for friends like you who celebrate the true meaning of this glorious season, and who help defend the proclamation of the Gospel year round. Again, thank you, and may God bless your celebration of our Savior's birth! Mathew Staver, Founder and Chairman Liberty Counsel ============================================================ >-->From Our friend Jo Ann :) ....................................................... : .` \ ! / '. .` \ ! / '. : : __ ,-"""-. __ __ ,-"""-. __ : : `-...-' `-...-' : : ' / '____ ` \ ` ' / ,---. \ ` : : / )))) /=====\ : : ( /'e( )a` \ \ : : ) / _/ \_ ) \ : : ( / (_ _) _\__ \ : : )/ \`-`\ _ /\ /\ _/'-' ,-.\/ : : '| \___)_| / \ |_|jj_/, ) : : | |/ \|-----','/ : : \ | ,-"-. |-----' / : : / `--.___| `-.-' `-----'=<\ : : / | ,-. ||||||||\ : : | | \""""""""""""/ |||||||| : : __/ | \__________/ |||||||\_ : : __/ | / / \ \ |\\\\\\\\\__.-. : : .-'_/___________/ /_/ \_\ \\\\\\\\\/_____`-, : : `""""""" : : ,.,-.,-. ,--. ,.,-.,.,-. ,. ,. : : ||/||/|| //_\| ||/`'||/`' || || : : || || || ||--' || || || / | : : || || || \\,-. || || ||//|| : : `' `' `' `--' `' `' `-' || : : // : : ,. ,. ,-.// : : || () || `--' : : ,--. ||,. ,.,-. ,. ,--.||-. ,.,-.,-. ,-. ,--.: : //`-' ||/\\ ||/`' || ((`-'||`' ||/||/|| //-\\ ((`-': :|| || || || || \\ || || || || || || \\ : : \\,-. || || || || ,-.)) || || || || \\-|| ,-.)) : : `--' `' `' `' `' `--' `' `' `' `' `-^-``--' : hjw :......................................................: With this touching homemade video comes a wish that our troops will return safely to the loving arms of family and friends. http://www.sonnyradio.com/a-soldiers-gift.html -<>- ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 88 * _,_, * * * * * * 88 88 * * / | \ __ ,__ ,__ , 88 88 * * ( | )/__) | '| '/ | * * 88 88 \, / \__, | | \__| 88 88 * * * * | * * 88 88 * * _ * ,~ | 88 88 * _)\_ * * ('v)_, * 88 88 * ) \(___ * (/\(``/ 88 88 * `)oO' `. * \/_>' * * 88 88 * _j_ _j_ ,-^^-. * 88 88 * ,' _____ `y \ * 88 88 * `.,'^ ^`.,| | * * 88 88 * * / Q _ Q \|__..__| 88 88 : . /,' . ; || * * * 88 88 * * * \ `Oo.oO' / || * 88 88 ( `-.___.-'`. || * * 88 88 * * * /`.__, \ _`.|| * 88 88 * // `---)_ )| * * 88 88 * ,'/ O (_____(-i * * 88 88 * * ( | o `````|__) 88 88 * `| Q ||| * * * 88 88 * | ||| * 88 88 * * \ ///\\ * * * 88 88 * * \ / `==' * 88 88 ------`- -'-----hjw------ 88 88 __ , , 88 88 / `|_ .__ * _ |_ ._ _ __, _ 88 88( | \ | ' |` / \ | | | \ / | / \ 88 88 \__,| / | | _/,_/ \_,| | / \__|,_/,_/ 88 88 88 8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' >So, You Want A White Christmas... John Lennon: So This is Christmas .pps (Happy Christmas) And what have you done Another year over And a new one just begun Ans so this is Christmas I hope you have fun The near and the dear one ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czQDPLuIQfI -<>- _/_ \_ __ \\_ / \_/ ,< ==-o _| * \ __, /_) \_\__// * / ^\-' //\ \ \\ \ ') /_) ),-. // \\ (( )) * _\\ //_ . ..((__)(__))..b'ger >The True Story of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer A man named Bob May, depressed and brokenhearted, stared out his drafty apartment window into the chilling December night. His 4-year-old daughter Barbara sat on his lap quietly sobbing. Bobs wife, Evelyn, was dying of cancer. Little Barbara couldn't understand why her mommy could never come home. Barbara looked up into her dad's eyes and asked, "Why isn't Mommy just like everybody else's Mommy?" Bob's jaw tightened and his eyes welled with tears. Her question brought waves of grief, but also of anger. It had been the story of Bob's life. Life always had to be different for Bob. Small when he was a kid, Bob was often bullied by other boys. He was too little at the time to compete in sports. He was often called names he'd rather not remember. From childhood, Bob was different and never seemed to fit in. Bob did complete college, married his loving wife and was grateful to get his job as a copywriter at Montgomery Ward during the Great Depression. Then he was blessed with his little girl. But it was all short-lived. Evelyn's bout with cancer stripped them of all their savings and now Bob and his daughter were forced to live in a two-room apartment in the Chicago slums. Evelyn died just days before Christmas in 1938. Bob struggled to give hope to his child, for whom he couldn't even afford to buy a Christmas gift. But if he couldn't buy a gift, he was determined a make one - a storybook! Bob had created a character in his own mind and told the animal's story to little Barbara to give her comfort and hope. Again and again Bob told the story, embellishing it more with each telling. Who was the character? What was the story all about? The story Bob May created was his own autobiography in fable form. The character he created was a misfit outcast like he was. The name of the character? A little reindeer named Rudolph, with a big shiny nose. Bob finished the book just in time to give it to his little girl on Christmas Day. But the story doesn't end there. The general manager of Montgomery Ward caught wind of the little storybook and offered Bob May a nominal fee to purchase the rights to print the book. Wards went on to print, 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer' and distribute it to children visiting Santa Claus in their stores. By 1946 Wards had printed and distributed more than six million copies of Rudolph. That same year, a major publisher wanted to purchase the rights from Wards to print an updated version of the book. In an unprecedented gesture of kindness, the CEO of Wards returned all rights back to Bob May. The book became a best seller. Many toy and marketing deals followed and Bob May, now remarried with a growing family, became wealthy from the story he created to comfort his grieving daughter. But the story doesn't end there either. Bob's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, made a song adaptation to Rudolph. Though the song was turned down by such popular vocalists as Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore , it was recorded by the singing cowboy, Gene Autry. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was released in 1949 and became a phenomenal success, selling more records than any other Christmas song, with the exception of "White Christmas." The gift of love that Bob May created for his daughter so long ago kept on returning back to bless him again and again. And Bob May learned the lesson, just like his dear friend Rudolph, that being different isn't so bad. In fact, being different can be a blessing. --- ...Aww, Sweet! Thank You Jo Ann! ====================================================================== >-->From CupO'Cheer: >CHRISTMAS LIGHTS IN HEAVEN At Christmas time we trim our tree With gifts and candy canes And go for joyful sleigh rides Down sparkling snow filled lanes. We fill our homes with tinsel Our hearts with Christmas cheer We're all a little nicer At this lovely time of year. Stores are filled with shoppers Streets are trimmed in green Carolers on each corner Tis' quite a lovely scene. But we cannot know the beauty The splendor or the love Of Christmas time in heaven With our Saviour up above. The light that shines from Jesus Stands out from all the rest Of all the Christmas time displays His is by far the best. Like diamonds shining in the sun You'll find His flaming light Like a million candles burning In the middle of the night. The colors found in heaven Have such a wondrous glow And you'll find a world of beauty Where the golden rivers flow. There won't be gifts or mistletoe Nor stately Christmas tree But the throne of God will glisten With the Blessed Almighty. Author/Written By: Marilyn Ferguson ©2001 -<>- ^ _ ^ | { \ 0 / } ---*--- { /|\ } |\ { /|||\ } | /---------------\ {/ ||| \} | \ / \ ||||| | \ \ / _ \ ||||||| *^* o | \ \ \ / O| _ \ / \ |0| (=) | /| - / \ | ) |\ ## /|\ 0 | \ \ \ | (\ | |\/| | (|\ /|||\ === \ \ ___ || | | | | __|| \[=]/ /o\ \ /o=/| || | | | /\___ | | || ||| =O= |---|/ / |\| | | \ |\| o/ \ ||| ||| |---|| |___\ | | || | | |__\ / \ ||| | | >A GIFT FOR A SON © Vickey Stamps 12/22/09….11:00 a.m. It was Christmas again. Todd loved the time of Christmas, finding it his favorite of all. It was tough sometimes to get through it for he was handicapped. A drunk driver had crashed into him in his car a year ago. Now he had no sensations or movement, other than that above the waist, and with a stroke that had followed, despite his being a young parent, and, from complications of that accident, even at forty he had been left with full use of one arm and limited use of the other. The therapists had encouraged him to find things to do with his arms. Perhaps he could bring back full use of the stronger arm once more, if he used it often. His wife and son were so patient with him. He felt such a burden to them, but love was there and love would see them through all this somehow. He’d wheeled around the Christmas tree, hanging the ornaments as best he could, along with the tinsel. He’d helped Marti wrap the few gifts. Once each week, she’d take down the family Bible from its place on the mantle, and he’d read the story of Christmas, Only one more week to go. He had been promised some times of complete privacy by Marti and their ten year old son. There was something he had planned for Christmas for Scott, and not wanting to see the sadness in Marti’s eyes, if he failed to complete the task, he had asked her to give him this time alone. All his life, he had heard that needlework things were for girls. He had heard boys and men were lesser beings if they indulged in such silly things. He had heard different points of view as well. The physical therapists had given him knitting needles with yarn a couple months ago, showing him how to hold and work them despite the limitations.. Bright yarn was made available. He had struggled to use them. Often and in frustration, He would throw them to the floor of the therapy room. Finally he had grasped a way to make the needles work. He practiced every day. Now in the privacy of his room, he reached under the bed where he had hidden both needle and yarn in a sack. He began to knit. Only one day left and the gift was complete. He’d even been able to give it a washing and shaping that it might look almost store bought. The hat was green. Scott’s hair was red. It should look perfect on him. Above the brim were two small images of a simple square-like home. Above the knit-in home with its brown yarns, was a chimney with a small wisp of red going upward. It was meant to show the fire within the home, for surely there would be warmth in the home. He’d even knitted in a knob for the door to show a welcoming. Between the homes Scott’s name had been spelled out in inch and a half white letters. He hoped Scott would see the unspoken message of love and warmth. There wasn’t much Todd could do for his boy…but he had done this much. His weak arm felt stronger. Perhaps he had been given a gift in making one for his son. He would get some boyish looking Christmas wrap and place it under the tree. All he could give Marti this year was love, from the bottom of his heart…Sometimes love was enough. It certainly was two thousand years ago. Todd would look forward even more to reading the Christmas story to his small family. LIFE WAS GOOD -<>- `==..) ._}} , ,' /.\ ,} " - _ * . . ._`=:,;'.( / ', )`v;' " - _- /8\ . ) \,;' `-.`.,' ' /_,',/ - - . _ - " . \ / /8:,\ ``< // ) `. ';.-' " -.--*-- /888:. `.`V/ _.' , , ;' ^ / \ /'V"?:. \ \ .-' .- ,-') / \ . . /`./ `? } V ' ,-' )`( ^ /\ ' ` ^ ,' ' \ `., / ^ ( ( ) / \ '` ^/ \ \ ^ .-" , _^ / `' '^/ \ )` ( ' `/ Y ' ! ` ` /^ ^ -"""--....___..--" /,' ,' ' / ' ` (=)=) ' \ `/ \ \ !V' HO! . - ' . . /_...--. ||| ` \ / , ` \"` HO! _ ' ' /' ,'__.--,'_`.|| ` `.' ! ` ! HO! , , , , ,-'--.--,' (_) `: __.-/, `\ (/ (/ (/ ','__..--,'_________:. / / ` \ \ _@, ._,--'\) ,--'\) ,--'\) /__...--'|-----------|` '-._ ! _.-` ]Xxx/ /|"/> /|"/> /|"/> _. .__. | ___ .--. | . 'T^T` _| L__| | [_] |[]| | . _____.- .-. _________|.,,_..| '|,| . ' / /) / / _/_ /) . . . .. _/_, _ // . _ /| / _ / _ // _ Seal _ '/ _(/_(/_(_/ ) / |/_(_(_(_(_(_(/_ --`-'-------------/)--`-'-------------------- (/ >THE VOICE OF CHRISTMAS By Bob Perks He had been a long time member of the church but refused to show up for services let alone join. He was an integral part of the Christmas Choir, but would not attend rehearsals. Still, everyone looked forward to seeing him once a year. So much, in fact, they would hold a seat for him at the candle light service every Christmas Eve. Many of the congregation would arrive early to get a good seat nearby the gentleman. Was it his personality? No, he really kept to himself rarely sharing a word with anyone. It was his voice. "Oh Holy Night" was his song. Throughout his life he often wished for the chance to perform it at a local church. Although the spirit of Christmas had left his heart years ago with the passing of his wife, this one song, those special lyrics, belonged to him. It was said that it was her favorite song and although poor, the richness of his voice was his gift to her. This church, that night, was always theirs. As the service progressed anticipation would build. Everyone joined in singing "Silent Night," "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem" and others. Then the big moment would arrive. The choir would stand, the church organ would begin to play. "O holy night, the stars are brightly shining" was the intro sung by the 12 member choir. Then, as if Heaven had open its doors, the choir softly faded and the man began to sing... "It is the night of the dear Savior's birth! Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn." You could feel the excitement as music began to build to the refrain... "Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born! O night, O holy night, O night divine!" By this time there was never a dry eye. After the service the man would blend into the crowd and exit the rear door. The tradition lived on until a month before Christmas that year. He had joined his love, his reason to sing. "What will they do?" one of the elders asked. "Who could take his place?" No one. No one would dare attempt to fill his spot. It would be difficult indeed to come close to that long treasured moment. "We will do the song in his memory" the choir director declared. "But who among us will sing his part?" "God had blessed us with his voice and His earthly choir is not made of only one single voice," he assured them. "He will bless us again." That Christmas Eve, as everyone filled the church, you could hear the choir warming up in the basement. A small piano began playing followed by, "O holy night, the stars are brightly shining" then silence. The minister began by welcoming everyone and in particular the visitors, "Family and friends who return home each year." "In the center of the church you will notice a single seat holding a bouquet of Christmas flowers. It is in memory of a man we called, "The Voice of Christmas." The service began building to that very moment they all waited for. Lights dimmed and a young child holding a single candle in his hand walked toward the front. The organist began the intro and the choir stood to sing, "O holy night, the stars are brightly shining.." There was a sudden hush and the faint sound of one small voice singing... "It is the night of the dear Savior's birth! Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn." The organ stopped. The choir remained standing as everyone looked to see where the voice was coming from. "Over there! I couldn't believe it. That beautiful voice was the child. The child holding the candle." He slowly, nervously turned around toward the crowd and said, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..." and he began to cry. The choir director rushed to his side and assured him everything was fine. Then the young boy said, "I always sang along but no one could hear me. Some man was always louder than me." Laughter filled the church. The minister declared, "God has indeed answered our prayers. We are blessed once again with "The Voice of Christmas." The organist began again as the young boy was lifted up to sing and they all joined in... "Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born! O night, O holy night, O night divine!" We are each called to be His Voice not only at Christmas but all year long. "I believe in you!" Bob I encourage you to share my stories but I do ask that you keep my name and contact information with my work. If you would like to receive Bob's Inspirational stories, please visit http://www.IWishYouEnough.com and submit your email address. ***************** "I Wish You enough!" © 2001 Bob Perks To SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cheer316@sc.rr.com. =============================================================== >-->From InspiredBuffalo: .|, -*- '/'\` /`'o\ /#,o'`\ o/`"#,`\o /`o``"#,\ o/#,`'o'`\o /o`"#,`',o\ o`-._`"#_.-'o _|"|_ \=%=/ hjw """ >Forgotten Dog's Christmas 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse The stockings were hung by the chimney with care In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there The children were nestled all snug in their beds With no thought of the dog filling their head And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap Knew he was cold, but didn't care about that When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter Away to the window I flew like a flash Figuring the dog was free of his chain and into the trash The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below When, what to my wondering eyes should appear But Santa Claus - with eyes full of tears He un-chained the dog, once so lively and quick Last year's Christmas present, now painfully thin and sick More rapid than eagles he called the dog's name And the dog ran to him, despite all his pain "Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN! On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONNER and BLITZEN! To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall! Let's find this dog a home where he'll be loved by all." I knew in an instant there would be no gifts this year For Santa Claus had made one thing quite clear The gift of a dog is not just for the season We had gotten the pup for all the wrong reasons In our haste to think of the kids a gift There was one important thing that we missed A dog should be family, and cared for the same You don't give a gift, then put it on a chain And I heard him exclaim as he rode out of sight "You weren't given a gift! You were given a LIFE!" - Author Unknown -<>- . " -. ' . . ( . () .' `. `|,. |"| ( | |\| | ) ( | |\| _ .\|, _ | ) _.->J ->J|/, . \""-""/Vl/z '-tX|b|\|\~\k\~yJr/' '^-j/PZ=\R>p/T|' ._-sFK)/|'" _-zH|/| --%/| | itz '/| | _M_ ,'"_ "`. / (_) \ ; .: | .| : .:; \ `._ .:/ `._ ..:;' """ >One of the Best Presents I Ever Received Christmas 1994, my wife had died in September. I did not want to put a tree up, but the kids were all for it. So we dragged out the box of ornaments and the tree. In the box with the tree was a notebook. I opened the book. It was a semi-journal from my deceased wife. It was her way of being there that Christmas. In this notebook, she wrote how much she loved me and what a difference I had made in her life. I had a great difficulty in reading the words through misty eyes, yet felt warm and close to her. She went on and wrote about the fact she was dying and how she wanted to thank me for being there for her and with her. That year for Christmas dinner, I set a place for her at the table. She was present with us that Christmas and had given me a present I will always treasure. I have learned to write about my life, about my friends, because in doing so, I can share the magic that has been given me. Merry Christmas one and all. B.J. Cassady Copyright ©2001 B.J. Cassady -<>- |L ,' ` /.o `, `, |-`, -', ' `,'_) '\ ,' `-`, _`o,- (_)/ '_ ' o `-, / ,-L `-' _`-`_ , `'. ;. (,' `| `.-. \ ,``_' (_) o `' ,` '_ ,|\ o _ \ /..-(_)' |','..-`(_)-` | | -bf- --' `-- >75 Cents In September 1960, I woke up one morning with six hungry babies and just 75 cents in my pocket. Their father was gone. The boys ranged from three months to seven years; their sister was two. Their Dad had never been much more than a presence they feared. Whenever they heard his tires crunch on the gravel driveway they would scramble to hide under their beds. He did manage to leave $15 a week to buy groceries. Now that he had decided to leave, there would be no more beatings, but no food either. If there was a welfare system in effect in southern Indiana at that time, I certainly knew nothing about it. I scrubbed the kids until they looked brand new and then put on my best homemade dress, loaded them into the rusty old 51 Chevy and drove off to find a job. The seven of us went to every factory, store and restaurant in our small town. No luck. The kids stayed crammed into the car and tried to be quiet while I tried to convince who ever would listen that I was willing to learn or do anything. I had to have a job. Still no luck. The last place we went to, just a few miles out of town, was an old Root Beer Barrel drive-in that had been converted to a truck stop. It was called the Big Wheel. An old lady named Granny owned the place and she peeked out of the window from time to time at all those kids. She needed someone on the graveyard shift, 11 at night until seven in the morning. She paid 65 cents an hour, and I could start that night. I raced home and called the teen ager down the street that baby-sat for people. I bargained with her to come and sleep on my sofa for a dollar a night She could arrive with her pajamas on and the kids would already be asleep This seemed like a good arrangement to her, so we made a deal. That night when the little ones and I knelt to say our prayers, we all thanked God for finding Mommy a job. And so I started at the Big Wheel. When I got home in the mornings I woke the baby-sitter up and sent her home with one dollar of my tip money-- fully half of what I averaged every night. As the weeks went by, heating bills added a strain to my meager wage. The tires on the old Chevy had the consistency of penny balloons and began to leak. I had to fill them with air on the way to work and again every morning before I could go home. One bleak fall morning, I dragged myself to the car to go home and found four tires in the back seat. New tires! There was no note, no nothing, just those beautiful brand new tires. Had angels taken up residence in Indiana? I wondered. I made a deal with the local service station. In exchange for his mounting the new tires, I would clean up his office. I remember it took me a lot longer to scrub his floor than it did for him to do the tires. I was now working six nights instead of five and it still wasn't enough. Christmas was coming and I knew there would be no money for toys for the kids. I found a can of red paint and started repairing and painting some old toys. Then I hid them in the basement so there would be something for Santa to deliver on Christmas morning. Clothes were a worry too. I was sewing patches on top of patches on the boys pants and soon they would be too far gone to repair. On Christmas Eve the usual customers were drinking coffee in the Big Wheel. There were the truckers, Les, Frank , and Jim , and a state trooper named Joe . A few musicians were hanging around after a gig at the Legion and were dropping nickels in the pinball machine. The regulars all just sat around and talked through the wee hours of the morning and then left to get home before the sun came up. When it was time for me to go home at seven o'clock on Christmas morning, to my amazement, my old battered Chevy was filled full to the top with boxes of all shapes and sizes. I quickly opened the driver's side door, crawled inside and kneeled in the front facing the back seat. Reaching back, I pulled off the lid of the top box. Inside was whole case of little blue jeans, sizes 2-10! I looked inside another box: It was full of shirts to go with the jeans. Then I peeked inside some of the other boxes. There was candy and nuts and bananas and bags of groceries. There was an enormous ham for baking, and canned vegetables and potatoes. There was pudding and Jell-O and cookies, pie filling and flour. There was whole bag of laundry supplies and cleaning items. And there were five toy trucks and one beautiful little doll. As I drove back through empty streets as the sun slowly rose on the most amazing Christmas Day of my life, I was sobbing with gratitude. And I will never forget the joy on the faces of my little ones that precious morning. Yes, there were angels in Indiana that long-ago December. And they all hung out at the Big Wheel truck stop... THE POWER OF PRAYER. I believe that God only gives three answers to prayer: 1. 'Yes!' 2. 'Not yet.' 3. 'I have something better in mind.' God still sits on the throne, the devil is a liar. You may be going through a tough time right now but God is getting ready to bless you in a way that you cannot imagine. Prayer is powerful, and prayer is one of the best gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards -<>- >Prayer We thank You, O God, for the love You have implanted in our hearts. May it always inspire us to be kind in our words, considerate of feelings, and concerned for each other's needs and wishes. Help us to be understanding and forgiving of human weaknesses and failings. Increase our faith and trust in You and may Your prudence guide our life and love. Bless our marriage, O God, with peace and happiness, and make our Love fruitful for Your glory and our joy both here and in eternity. -Author Unknown -<>- ____ ___ _.--"""-, / ) / \ .' `\ / _\ / \/ \ / .-' / _ | /.-.--.-.-.)/ / ( )\_ .\|(_._.__._._) / \,' \/ \ \ / : , | 0 _ 0 |/ : \ _/ (_) |`\ ,' `; "\ \ / / | | | /'. '._.' .' / \_,' .( '-----'` .'-. '-._ .-'\ '. [ `''''') ) `\ { ( ( ,\ / /\ '-..-'/ ; .-' ( '. / | .' ) `;---'` | /' /__.-' } / / O ' '----' ; / ! ___ { ! }/ \ ( _--- / | ___----'(__ .-' !\___/ .---' / .-.--' '------'------ --( ____)/ _-' (;(;;---'' (_(_(;; miraculis /jgs >FINDING CHRISTMAS I've been looking for Christmas. What? You didn't know it was missing? Well, it has been... For 12 months or so. I've been looking for it ever since Halloween, when the first Christmas decorations began decking the halls... er, aisles at local shops and stores. Merchants put out the Christmas candy and the Christmas cards. They stacked the shelves with lights and tinsel and stuffed bears that sit in a rocking chair and sing "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" when you push a button. I like Christmas decorations, even in late October, and I've been wandering up and down the seasonal aisles every week for nearly two months. I found some good stuff, but I didn't find Christmas. Evidently Christmas isn't in the decorations. So I started looking for Christmas on the radio. Two local radio stations have been trying to out-Christmas each other with holiday music non-stop since Valentine's Day. OK, that's a slight exaggeration, but not by much. They've been playing Christmas music for a long time and, to be honest, I've actually been enjoying it this year. There's nothing quite like hearing Nat King Cole sing "The Christmas Song," or Karen Carpenter sing "Merry Christmas, Darling." This is good stuff, and I fully expected to find Christmas as I sang along with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on "Joy to the World." I love doing that. It makes me feel... I don't know... joyful. But it didn't help me find Christmas, because Christmas isn't in the music. This means it must be at the mall. At least, that's what I figured as I drove to one of my favorite shopping Meccas to do my Christmas shopping. My "Christmas shopping" means shopping for Anita. "Anita's Christmas shopping" means shopping for me, our five children and four-going-on-five grandchildren, her parents, our collective brothers and sisters, our friends and pretty much everyone else. This is what is known as "balance" in our relationship. I knew exactly what I wanted to get, and the store had plenty of what I was looking for. My shopping was quick and painless, as long as you don't count the "Favorite Things" incident. Whenever I hear "My Favorite Things" by Barbra Streisand over the mall Muzak machine, I have to stop whoever is closest to me to complain that that really isn't a Christmas song, and I don't know why they keep playing it with the other Christmas music. For some reason the person I complained to sort of complained to mall security about me. Go figure. I found Anita's present at the mall, and I found a new friend (evidently the whole "My Favorite Things" thing bugs mall security, too). But I didn't find Christmas, because Christmas isn't at the mall. Then the other day, I was thumbing through my Bible. I paused in the second chapter of Luke in the New Testament: "And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed… And Joseph also went... unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem... To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child... And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger..." I flipped through a few more pages and read about this same miraculous child as a remarkable man, and the extraordinary things that happened to him in a place called Gethsemane. And on a hill called Golgotha. And in a stunningly empty garden tomb. And suddenly, there it was: Christmas! It wasn't in the decorations. It wasn't in the music, and it wasn't at the mall. It was in a few simple, familiar words laden with meaning. But somehow those words and the powerful reality of their message made the decorations seem more beautiful, the music more lovely and the mall less... you know…mall-ish. I guess that's what happens when you find Christmas. It finds YOU. And it makes everything better... By Joseph Walker -<>- Links For Your Enjoyment: Man Cheats DEA http://www.buffaloschips.com/asgs.htm Missile http://www.buffaloschips.com/gkhjg.htm Peanut Butter Jelly Time http://www.buffaloschips.com/sdfsdv.htm OK http://www.buffaloschips.com/dsijj.htm Oops http://www.buffaloschips.com/yuiu.htm In The Blink Of An Eye http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/eye.html Here's You Frog http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/frog.html Amazing Dog Houses 2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/doghouses2.html DC Tea Party http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/teaparty.html Proud Of Our Troops2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/troops2.html Subscribe send a blank email to: the-inspired-buffalo-subscribe@yahoogroups.com =================================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: () vvvv .-" "-. .'___ `. / /_/_/ \ ____ | /_/_/ | .%%%%%%. | | /%/_/%%%%\_ \ .::::.%%%%%%%%(_{}-o `. .::::::::%%%%%%%%/ `-._/:/_/::::::\%%%%%' o-3_)::::::::::|"""" \::::::::::/ `::::::::' `````' hjw >IN THE NAME OF CHRISTMAS by Maria Harden Sometimes people amaze me, for different reasons, but recently it was a good kind of amazement. As a group, our office at work does a couple of Christmas Cheer hampers, targeting families in need. This year, it is two families from a Women's Shelter. One is a mom with five children, the other mom has four children. They live in suites at the shelter because it's a safe haven for them -- a life away from the abuse they have endured at the hands of their husbands or boyfriends. Donations to the hampers have been rather sparse so far, although we still have several days before the delivery date. It will pick up. It always does. One of the men who works on my floor came to me with an $80 cash donation. It was money, he said, that had been given to him in memory of his mother who passed away last December 21. He had saved it while pondering a suitable charitable organization to donate it to, and decided on this women's shelter. A very generous and kind man to think of this. His mother would have liked it, he said. The money will be used towards gifts or clothing for the children, and gift cards to grocery stores. Meanwhile, our office receives a daily newspaper, delivered in any weather by a faithful carrier. Yesterday, we got a card from the newspaper carrier wishing us a Merry Christmas and advising us of his contact information in case of a delivery problem. He also enclosed a self-addressed envelope if we should wish to provide him with a gratuity. My first thought was, "Oh yeah. Merry Christmas, and where's my tip?" But then I realized he delivers to downtown businesses and most likely never gets a thank you, let alone a gratuity. My workplace pays the invoice but I have never seen anything additional included. It made me think of that movie "Pay It Forward" that came out a few years ago. When I get my paper delivered at home, my paper carrier gets a much deserved gratuity at Christmas, so I thought I would surprise the office paper carrier and send him one myself. After all, 'tis the season, right? I slipped a twenty dollar bill into the envelope and mailed it off with an unsigned note of appreciation. I know it's not much but I hope he at least appreciates the thought. The man at work who made the generous donation in the name of his mother made me think of passing it on. Maybe the carrier will be inspired to do something for someone else too. I'd like to think so. In the spirit of Christmas, I encourage you to pay it forward or pass it on if you are so inspired. Do it because you want to, without expecting anything in return. Do it in the name of Christmas! -- Maria Harden __________________________________________________ Maria has written for Heartwarmers in the past, as well as other on-line publications and anthologies. She is not afraid to say those two words that seem to be banned from daily vocabulary these days -- Merry Christmas! ================================================================= >-->FUN Links: .!, .!, ~ 6 ~ ~ 6 ~ . ' i ` .-^-. ' i ` _.|,_ | | / .-. \ | | '|` .|_|.| (-` ) | .|_|. / \ ___)_(_|__`-'__|__)_(______ /`,o\)_______________________o_( /_* ~_\[___]___[___]___[___[_[\`-. / o .'\[_]___[___]___[___]_[___)`-) /_,~' *_\_] [_[( ( /`. * *\_] [___\ _\ / `~. o \] ;( ( ; [_[_]`-' /_ * `~,_\ (( )( ;(; [___] / o * ~'\ /\ /\ /\ /\ [_[_] / * .~~' o\ ||_||_||_|| [___] /_,.~~'` * _\_||_||_||_||___[_[_]_ /`~.. o \:::::::::::::::::::::\ / * `'~.. * \:::::::::::::::::::::\ /_ o ``~~.,,_\=========\_/=========' / * * ..~'\ _|_ .-_--. /* o _..~~`'* o\ ( (_) ) `-.__.~'`' * ___.-' `----' ":-------:" hjw \_____/ Christmas eCard http://acxiom.p.delivery.net/m/p/bmg/hol/flash2_index.html >From Our Friend Sandi :) A beautiful Christmas e-card. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=2007134554829&source=jl999 --- ...Nice! Thanks Sandi! -<>- >From our Friend Wesley :) BBC News - US Military tracks Santa's Christmas Eve journey http://tinyurl.com/ye6kmjo --- ...Gotta know these things! Thanks Wesley! -<>- >From LynnLynn Links: NORAD Track Santa http://www.noradsanta.org/en/index.html Christmas Time http://www.carolspoetry.com/christmastime.html Melva/Silent Night http://silverandgoldandthee.net/V/S_N.html Rick w/ A Christmas Hymn http://www.wtv-zone.com/Cruise_2000/rm/Christmas_Hymn.html Marlene/Oh Holy Night http://summerhoosier.250free.com/HTML3/Oh_Holy_Night.html Christmas Chimes http://wandascountryhome.com/christmas/chimes/ WE THREE KINGS http://www.wtv-zone.com/Mary/WETHREEKINGS.HTML Joan w/ Walk in Wonderland http://alongpoetryroad.com/walkinwonderland.html If You haven't joined LynnLynn's mailing List yet, send a blank e-mail to LynnLynns-links-subscribe@Yahoogroups.com ================================================================= "The immense step from the Babe at Bethlehem to the living, reigning triumphant Lord Jesus, returning to earth for his own people--that is the glorious truth proclaimed throughout Scripture. As the bells ring out the joys of Christmas, may we also be alert for the final trumpet that will announce his return, when we shall always be with him." - Alan Redpath .----------------------_._------------------------------------------. | d888b . * | | . * _ ?888P_ . | | ,-~~-'-/_~~~\.`-~:8o. * | | ,' .:8bv' .:88. . | | / .:88 .:8b . . . | | . / .:8P .:8b | | ,' .:8P\ .:88. Merry Christmas | | ,=' .:88 \ __:88g_ | | -._ .:8| | _..-~,~ ~;' and * | | ~o..__ .:8| | _-~ ?8b_ _.-' | | ~~ ~~--.:88 /:___...(888) Happy New Year | | * `^' . | | _ _ . _______________________ . | | _(\)(/)_____/\_`_\ \/_______________\ | | |`.)XX(=====/ /,---\*\----------------\ _ Seal _ | | |||`()_\____\// \ / \ \`. \ . | | `| | Y \___\ \________________\ * | | `|_________\ / / / / | | . \/___/_/________________/ . | `-------------------------------------------------------------------' >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah :) Shangy! --------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS --------------------------------------------------------------------- -->This is for all you who love food andd DARE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. These are Tried and True, Yummy to the Tummy, good old fashioned home cooking recipes that are EASY to do :) Visit Shangy's Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html Home Recipes >Got A good Recipe? SHARE IT HERE: Share A Recipe ************************************************************************ >TO SUBSCRIBE: Visit Here This Weeks regular Shangy emails OR For the Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ************************************************************************