My Child ... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@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 ================== "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo /~, .-.-.~ ~/.-.-. '. .' ,___.-.-.'. .'~ ~/! ~/, '. .'\ ! ___/,! .-.-. ! \! / .-.-. '. .' ! ,|/ '. .' ! |~ ! ! ~| ! \|/ lc ~"^"~"^"~ *~* HELP! We NEED 2009 Angels for the web site! _ _ (\o/) {\o/} jgs /_\ /_\ >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel? If you'd like to help and be counted as a 2009 Shangrala Angel, please visit the site and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL page comes up. Any amount is appreciated - even just 5 dollars! PLEASE Visit Shangrala to Help: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/index.html OR If you'd rather send us a donation, Please MAIL it here: Elrhea Bigham 502 S. Harrison Van Wert, OH 45891 ~* THANK YOU! GOD'S MOST ABUNDANT BLESSINGS TO YOU! ================ >-->My Child .-"''-. _ .' `( \ @/ ') ,--,__,-" / / \ / / _/ __| , |/ / .~ `\ / \ , | / .~ `\ ` / _/ _/ .~ `\ ~~`__/ / ~ `--'/ / / / / /' /jgs You may not know me, but I know everything about you...Psalm 139:1 I know when you sit down and when you rise up...Psalm 139:2 I am familiar with all your ways...Psalm 139:3 Even the very hairs on your head are numbered...Matthew 10:29-31 For you were made in my image...Genesis 1:27 In me you live and move and have your being...Acts 17:28 For you are my offspring...Acts 17:28 I knew you even before you were conceived...Jeremiah 1:4-5 I chose you when I planned creation...Ephesians 1:11-12 You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book...Psalm 139:15-16 I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live...Acts 17:26 You are fearfully and wonderfully made...Psalm 139:14 I knit you together in your mother's womb...Psalm 139:13 And brought you forth on the day you were born...Psalm 71:6 I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me...John 8:41-44 I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love..1 John 4:16 And it is my desire to lavish my love on you...1 John 3:1 Simply because you are my child and I am your father...1 John 3:1 I offer you more than your earthly father ever could...Matthew 7:11 For I am the perfect father...Matthew 5:48 Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand...James 1:17 For I am your provider and I meet all your needs...Matthew 6:31-33 My plan for your future has always been filled with hope...Jeremiah 29:11 Because I love you with an everlasting love...Jeremiah 31:3 My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore...Psalm 139:17-18 And I rejoice over you with singing...Zephaniah 3:17 I will never stop doing good to you...Jeremiah 32:40 For you are my treasured possession...Exodus 19:5 I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul... Jeremiah 32:41 And I want to show you great and marvelous things...Jeremiah 33:3 If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me... Deuteronomy 4:29 Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart... Psalm 37:4 For it is I who gave you those desires...Philippians 2:13 I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine... Ephesians 3:20 For I am your greatest encourager...2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles... 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you...Psalm 34:18 As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart...Isaiah 40:11 One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes... Revelation 21:3-4 And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth...Revelation 21:3-4 I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus... John 17:23 For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed...John 17:26 He is the exact representation of my being...Hebrews 1:3 He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you... Romans 8:31 And to tell you that I am not counting your sins... 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled... 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you... 1 John 4:10 I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love... Romans 8:31-32 If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me... 1 John 2:23 And nothing will ever separate you from my love again... Romans 8:38-39 Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen... Luke 15:7 I have always been Father, and will always be Father... Ephesians 3:14-15 My question is...Will you be my child?...John 1:12-13 Will you accept Jesus Christ and say He is your Lord?... Romans 10:9 Do you believe in your heart that I raised Jesus from the dead?...Romans 10:9 Do this, and we will be together and you will be my child forever... Romans 10:10 I am waiting for you...Luke 15:11-32 Love, Your Father, The Almighty God ============================================================== >-->From InspiredBuffalo: __ __ /| `-' |\ /_| o.o |_\ | o`o'o | | o^o | |_______| Riitta Rasimus ALL THE ADVICE YOU'LL EVER NEED A popular T-shirt reads, "Upon the Advice of My Attorney, My Shirt Bears No Message at This Time." Perhaps the counsel of others is occasionally heeded, but I know that advice is not something people crave. Which is why it is sometimes said that free advice is worth about as much as you pay for it. Or put another way: "Plain advice is free. The right answer will cost plenty." Our penchant for not wanting advice holds true across the generations. President Harry Truman once said, "I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it." Nor is our aversion to advice just a peculiar sign of the times. As one boy wrote in an essay on the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates: "Socrates was a man who went around town giving his advice and opinions, so...they poisoned him!" What this student lacks in historical accuracy he more than makes up for in his sense about how well most advice is received. Not all advice should be discarded, however. Nor should we overlook wisdom from unlikely sources. Like the "uneducated." And the aged. I have a faded letter clipped from a newspaper many years ago. The author published some counsel given him by his grandmother who had died some 60 years prior, and who had never attended school. She offered it printed on a slip of paper, accompanied by the words, "All the advice you'll ever need to have a good life." I find it worth remembering. Here is what she wrote: ___________ .;---------./| // S O A P // | |'---------'| / jgs | | / '-----------'` "Wash what is dirty. ______ _ ,',----.`. '.`-. .-' '----. || `.`-'--------| ;; `.|--------|// \ / '--------' SSt Water what is dry. \\\\ c oo | .U __=__ ,,, |. __|___ oo ; ||_/ / / U= _ 0 \_/__/__E o /. .| | (___ || |~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'----'~| I---||| |-----------------------| I ||| | c(__) | ^ '--'' ^ ^ Petrus Heal what is wounded. /`. ___ /`. `.___ _.---'__ `./ `. O| ,' _.:-:-:`. `. `. | ,' ,':-:-:-:-:`. `. `. `. ,' ,':-:-:-:-:-:-:`. `. `. > ,' ,':-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:`. `.__.-' ,' ,':-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:\ \ ,' ,':-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-| | ,' ,':-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-| | ,' ,':-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-/ | ,' ,':-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-;' / ,' ,':-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-;' ,' ,' ,':-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-;' ,' ,' <:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-;' ,' `. `.:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-;' ,' `. `.:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-;' ,' `. `.:-:-:-:-;-:-:-:-;' ,' `. `.:-;-:-:-:-;-;' ,' `. `.:-:-:-:-,' ,' `. `.:-:-,' ,' `. `-:' ,' `. ,' hjw `.,' Warm what is cold. . / \ / . \ / / \ \ / / \ \ / / \ \ / / \ \ / / \ \ / / ,--._ \ \ / /___'o--o' \ \ / /#####| \ \ / /######|~~~~~~~~~~\ \ / `-----------------' \ `-----------------------' jrei Guide what goes off the road. : ;; / | / | .' : .-' ' _.-' / .-*" / _ .-' .' _.-*?' .' .' .-" .' __ .' , .-' .-+. .' _.-*".' / \ .-' _.--**""**-. .-' _.y-:-" .' : `+. .*""*. `. :-. -. \ .' ; .--*""*--. / __ ` _.--. \ |$| -.` -.;/ _.-+. : .' :*" "*..*" y`-' $| ;*" _( \ / +----/ / .'.-'---+ .-._.+' `. -'_.--. :- "_( `*-: | \/\/\/ | /) ` .'___ ' "_( ; `._| | \ )` .'.' `./_" ( : \| G o t t a | (`._..--**" : .- ; `"' \ | | `----**"T"" " `+. | `. | L O V E | ' .' : _.-*"*- | | / / ' .-*" _ | M e | __..-'\ / bug "+,'___..--| |--**"" `-.__.' "" +----------------+ Love people who are least lovable, because they need it most." Enough days spent refreshing, healing, warming, guiding and loving will add up to a good life, significant and well lived. -- By Steve Goodier -<>- ,o888b,`?88888 Nathan Wain 88888P',d888o, ,8888 888 ?888 N.Wain@student.canterbury.ac.nz 888P 888 8888, 8888888P' 888 888 `?8888888 888P' 888 Peace! 888 `?888 `88 O d888 (Through superiour firepower) 888b O 88' `?._ _.o88888 88888o._ _.P' >Serve Two Masters? "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon" Matt 6:24 Picture this. I knew a man who had two jobs. Both employers want this fellow to work weekends. Not only do they want him to work weekends, they want him to work the same hours on the weekend. Obviously this guy has a problem. He is trying to satisfy two bosses, and it is impossible. His situation is a bit like the little boy who was sitting on the fence between corrals with a mean massive bull in each. Which way was he to go? If he jumped off to the right, the red bull would get him. If he jumped to the left, the brown bull was waiting. The only thing he could do was try to shimmy down the fence to a place where there was no bull, and not fall off before he got there. We do that sometimes. We straddle the fence trying to take advantage of two different worlds. We may have an alcohol problem, but we think we can drink wine with a meal and not get into trouble. Ask any recovering alcoholic if that is possible and the answer is likely to be a resounding, "NO!" Is it possible for someone trying to kick the cigarette habit to wean himself off the weed one at a time? Possible, but not likely. Is it possible to lose weight and keep it off by not eating? Not without a serious lifestyle change involving increased exercise (I know because I have lost hundreds of pounds over the years, but they seem to find me every time and bring a lot of friends back with them! ) Jesus was right; we cannot serve two masters. Oh, we may get by with it for a time, but eventually one or the other will take control and we will invariably loose because the fleshly master will have the greater draw. We will love the one and hate the other. One last word: if we desire to serve our Lord, Jesus Christ, we must continually break our ties with satan. Just like losing weight, stopping smoking, quitting drinking, we will have a struggle on our hands, and it may be a prolonged struggle. But this is a battle we can win, if we are willing to choose the right Master. If you are struggling today, choose Jesus. He is the only Master who can help you win the war, and His victory parade is out of this world! Hallelujah, Amen and Amen. -<>- + | /\\ | || -----| |/\ / \ ------/ ^^ \ O O | || | | || | ------------- unknown >New Pastor In Town A new pastor moved into town and went out one Saturday to visit his parishioners. All went well until he came to one house. It was obvious that someone was home, but no one came to the door even after he had knocked several times. Finally, he took out his card, wrote on the back "Revelation 3:20" and stuck it in the door. The next day, as he was counting the offering he found his card in the collection plate. Below his message was a notation "Genesis 3:10." Upon opening his Bible to the passage, his face turned red, and he let out a roar of laughter. Revelation 3:20 reads: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me." Genesis 3:10 reads: "And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked." -<>- .-. __/ ( , '-.____\ u=='/ \ /_/ \ .-'' | ( ____/_____ _>_/.-------- \/// // snd // >Remembering a Childs Love The story goes that some time ago a man punished his 5-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of expensive gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became even more upset when the child pasted the gold paper so as to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift box to her father the next morning and said, "This is for you, Daddy." The father was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found the box was empty. He spoke to her in a harsh manner, "Don't you know, young lady, when you give someone a present there's supposed to be something inside the package?" The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said, "Oh, Daddy, it's not empty. I blew kisses into it until it was full." The father was crushed. He fell on his knees and put his arms around his little girl, and he begged her to forgive him for his unnecessary anger. An accident took the life of the child only a short time later and it is told that the father kept that gold box by his bed for all the years of his life. And whenever he was discouraged or faced difficult problems he would open the box and take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there. In a very real sense, each of us as human beings have been given A golden box filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, family, friends and God. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold. -<>- ,'-', :-----: (''' , - , ''') \ ' . , ` / \ ' ^ ? / \ ` - ,' `j_ _,' ,- -`\ \ /f ,- \_\/_/'- , `, , , /\ \ | / \ ', , f : :`, , <...\ , : ,- ' \,,,,\ ; : j ' \ \ :/^^^^' \ \ ; ''': \ -, -`.../ ' - -,`,--` \_._'-- '---: Storm >Realize Life Now I blame Alan Jackson. The country music star's wistful "Remember When" was on the radio, as I was driving Beth to school this morning. Yeah, I know, "Remember When" is a romantic song about marital memories. I get that, but the whole notion of looking back fondly swept over me, as I glanced at my daughter. Suddenly it hit me: we are exactly halfway through her high school career. Fifteen months ago she was a nervous, timid sophomore trying to pick out the perfect outfit to wear on her first day of high school. Fifteen months from now she'll be wearing a cap and gown and confidently moving on to... who knows what? Who knows where? I don't think she noticed the tears in my eyes as I reached over and patted her hand. But she did smile at me, that wide- eyed, joyful smile of hers that resonates with happiness, innocence and love. And for a moment I thought I was looking at her older sister, Amy. This is partly because Beth and Amy look a lot alike. But it is also because it doesn't seem like so long ago -– could it possibly be 11 years? -– that Amy was in the car next to me as I drove her to high school. Amy would've been singing along with Alan Jackson, because Amy was always singing. And she would've been wearing a baseball hat, because she got up late and didn't have time to do her hair. That baseball hat used to bug me, but now, the memory of it makes me smile. I blink, and suddenly it's as if Joe Jr. is sitting in the car next to me. We're driving home from basketball practice at the high school, and he says he will starve to death if I don't stop at Wendy's and buy him a triple cheeseburger. Since we're a good five minutes away from home, and since dinner is probably 15 or 20 minutes from being on the table, I stop. I mean, I couldn't let my child starve, could I? The burger is gone before we get home, and it doesn't put a dent in his appetite for dinner. His contented burp is still echoing in the car. I can hear it even if nobody else can. I blink again, and now it's Andrea sitting next to me. And if Andrea is sitting next to me, and we're driving to school, I'm laughing. For some reason Andrea felt it was her moral obligation to entertain me as I drove her to school each morning. Mostly she would do it with her voices and accents. She was an actress, and she loved experimenting with different sounds she could make. And I loved listening to her. I would smile all the way to work after dropping her off. And now, even seven years later, I'm still smiling. Only now I'm smiling at Beth. To her, it's just another morning on the way to school, but to me, it's suddenly important, and I want to remember every detail: the smell of the strawberry yogurt she's eating while we drive, the sight of her trying to heft her huge pink book bag to her shoulder (why has she adjusted the strap so it hangs so low?), the pleasant sensation of her lips brushing my cheek as she kisses me good-bye, the sound of Alan Jackson singing on the radio: "We won't be sad, we'll be glad for all the life we've had, and we'll remember when." Near the end of Thornton Wilder's classic "Our Town," a character is given the opportunity to go back in time to relive a simple, ordinary day of her life. She is stunned by how little we appreciate the everyday wonders of life and the people with whom we share it. "Oh, earth," she exclaims, "you're too wonderful for anybody to realize you!" Please don't let this be so for you and your loved ones. Realize them now. Savor each moment with them for what it is: a glorious, wondrous gift from God. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to take Jon, our youngest, to junior high. I just hope Alan Jackson isn't singing on the radio. Joseph Walker valuespeak@msn.com -<>- _ _ _ . ' `. \`. .' `. \ \ `. / `. \ | | \ ,-----. / \ ,---._/ ,'\ /.----. `. /`. ,' \,-' | |.----.`. \ / `. / |___,'| | .----. `.\ /`. / / / /.----. `. |/ `. / /_ _ / /_ _ -. `. \_.-**-./ | `./ (_-_-_) `. \_.-**-. )_.._ \____/ /`. \_.-**-. ) `-.._`-. /`. \ /`. `/) `-.._ | | \ / `. /`.`-.._ / /`. /`. /|\ `. / | ( | `. / ) `. `._.' \) | / ( `. \ / `. /`. / )_ \ /__ |/ / `-. \_| | `. / ( )_/ \ \/ LGB ),-' `----' >THE SWEETEST SOUND By: Joseph J. Mazzella My youngest son doesn’t speak much. His severe autism has always made language a struggle for him. Even though he is sixteen years old now his vocabulary remains very limited. His sentences are simple ones that only let us know his basic needs. Even these sometimes fail and he will need to grab our hands and show us what he wants. Still, his light-hearted laughter, delighted smile, and shining eyes can speak volumes at times. Often I only have to look at him to share in his joy. He may not be Shakespeare but his heart says so much. To me he will always be a gift from Heaven. I can remember last Summer helping him to get his room ready for bed on a warm August evening. As it often can be with families dealing with autism it had been a long day full of ups and downs for us both. There had been both laughter and joy and frustration and tears. Now as the sun was finally setting his eyes started to droop as he changed into his pajamas. I smiled at my sleepy son and leaned forward to kiss his forehead. Gently taking his face in my hands I looked him in the eyes. "I love you son", I said. His eyes sparkled for a moment and a smile appeared on his face. Then I heard him say more clearly than he ever had before, "I love you." Those beautiful words sang in my ears and flew into my heart. It was the sweetest sound I had ever heard. At that moment I fully saw with my eyes, ears, and heart the wonderful, bright, shining soul that lives within my son. __,,,__ ,-""-,-" "-,-""-, /,-' , .-'-.7.-'-. , '-,\ \( / _ _ \ )/ '-, { (0) (0) } ,-' / > .---. < \ |/ .-' \___/ '-. \| {, / ,_ _, \ ,} \ {, \ / ,} / ',\. '---' ./,' _.-""""""-._ _.-""""""-._ .' `._.` '. _/_ _ \ .'` `\ | | \ / | | | ; | / |_| | \ ;'---' _ ___ _ _ ___ ; '. ; | | / \| || || _| _ ; `-\ | |_ | | || |/ /| _| .' `, `\ |___|\___/ \__/ |___| | \ \ _ _ \ | jgs `\ | | | /` _/ ,-""-. .'`\ | | | /`-,-'` .-""-, / `\.' `\ \___/ /` './` \ ; .--. \ '\ /' / .--. ; | ( \ |, '\ /' | / ) | \ ; } ;\ /; ` { ; / `;\ \ _.-' \ / `-._ / /;` \ \__.' _.-' Y `-._ '.__// '.___,.-' `-.,___.' May you always bless your life with the sweet sound of "I love you" as well. Fill your home with its beautiful music. Let it float to Heaven on your prayers to our Father. Share its glorious, healing words with the world. Use it to touch the lives and brighten the hearts of all those you love. It truly is the song of the angels and the very voice of God. -<>- Links for Your Enjoyment Feather Painting Art 2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/feather2.html Road Train Trucks! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/roadtrain.html DWELLING ON THE PAST! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/dwellingonthepast.html Modern Sayings: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/modernsayings.html Between Day And Night http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dayandnight.html Glock with Drum Mag http://www.buffaloschips.com/gfrtg.htm Goal http://www.buffaloschips.com/ghytr.htm Good Ole Boys http://www.buffaloschips.com/gmkji.htm Good Job http://www.buffaloschips.com/gjuik.htm Girl Vs desert Eagle http://www.buffaloschips.com/gjuki.htm Global Warming and the Classroom http://www.buffaloschips.com/gjiuk.htm Global Warming http://www.buffaloschips.com/gnjji.htm Glock http://www.buffaloschips.com/ghuyt.htm Subscribe send a blank email to: the-inspired-buffalo-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ======================================================================= >-->From SermondFodder: ,--. / & \ C (.c.)) I could use a "Do Over" \ ~ / 7--\ / \ //\/\/\\ ||\/\/\| c3#####P | | |_ (###)#) ool When I was about 7 years old, long before supermarkets were large warehouses to buy food, my father seasonally bought large amounts of can goods and boxed items from a grocery distribution center. We had a large family and having a good supply of this type of food on hand was a blessing every dinnertime. Each quarter my dad would assemble the crew for action. Two kids would go with him and pick out the food while two or three others would stay home with mom and make room for the incoming grub. One specific day I was designated to go along with dad and make the selections, pack the station wagon (way before mini vans) and bring the mass quantity of food home. We were right on schedule when we pulled into the yard. The car doors flung open and we lined up like a fire brigade. I was in the middle and just coincidentally the sidewalk was under my feet. Box after box was shuffled into the house. Just then oops! Three months of grape jelly slipped out of my hands and as I tried to recapture it, it tipped over and splat! The glass jars spilled all over the concrete sidewalk. My dad had a short fuse and from start to finish it was just under one second. As I think back to that "tragedy" in my life I often chuckle at the price I paid growing up that day as my dad chewed me out for carelessness. If one could go back I guess I would request a "do over" so I wouldn't have had to pick up all that sticky jelly imbedded with glass at such a tender age. But guess what, I passed the test. After raising four children I believe Carol will attest to the fact that I didn't drop one grocery bag the entire time we shopped for our family. I believe my Heavenly Father is similar. Before I became a Christian there were plenty of things that I did which if I had the opportunity I would request a "do over." But God understands when I accepted His Son the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal savior he just said, "My son you have passed the test. Now go and don't do it again." Remember the six simple rules to happiness with God: 1. Free your heart from hatred. 2. Free your mind from worries. 3. Live simply. 4. Give more. 5. Expect less. 6. Love everyone as Christ loves you. Prayer: Father, thank you for accepting me as I am. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen! Scripture: John 8:11b And Jesus said, "Neither do I. Go and sin no more." © 2001 All rights reserved Pastor Bill ====================================================================== >-->From AndyChaps: _____ .---...-. ,' -. `. ,' _____...' / - _ - \ : .' _ _ \\ : ' _)' : | :-(_).(_):: (_ ;) | | -' || \ _ / ; | _ || `..___..' `-'..____.'`' ;._: _; :_ / \ SSt ,' `' `. SSt ** What You Give Away ** You only get to keep what you give away It's a universal law: You have to give before you get. You must plant your seeds before you reap the harvest. The more you sow, the more you'll reap. In giving to others, you'll find yourself blessed. The law works to give you back more than you have sown. The giver's harvest is always full. Those that obtain have little. Those who scatter have much. Nature does not give to those who will not spend. -<>- __,=,__ .~`` .` `.``~. | . . |____ `-;=============;""""` ( (. _).) \ | | \ `-.___.' / '._ _.' /`''''\ / \ | |/\/\/\/|.-. |-|/\/\/\/|;' ) (__/_______| _) #########'._) jgs |==|=|__ ,,,(______)_),,,, ,,,;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;,,,, ,,,;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;,,, ,;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;, ** "I Believe in You!" ** (Used By Permission...Andychap@aol.com) A message of Hope, stories from the road. by Bob Perks **Perks Pearl of Wisdom:** "Yesterday" and "tomorrow" mean nothing compared to "now." You "should have" and "will" are empty without action and follow through. Those are things that make today so valuable. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow? Show me the guarantee." Bob Perks ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ All stories are copyrighted 2001 Bob Perks. Today's Message: "You don't, do you?" "How sad," I thought. "This was meant to read by someone, somewhere, but certainly not me." I wondered if he had left other notes for her to find or was this the one, the only one. I want to believe there were more. There just had to be. I love old ornaments, glittery reminders of days lost somewhere along the way. I buy them at yard sales and flea markets. I collect old Santa's and Clowns, too. I won't buy just any one. It has to be special, not necessarily collectible and certainly not expensive, just unique. I have no idea where I got this stuff. It was all in a box marked "$5.00 takes all!" I took it for $4.00. Like all the other treasures I find, I just stuck it up in the attic until I could find the time and place to put it on display. We were so run down this year, I never found the time nor the place for these, but my curiosity got to me as we were packing up our Christmas for 2001. I found the box sitting in the corner of the attic and it seemed to call me. Maybe it was just that I needed a break and looking through this old stuff would give me an excuse to linger a little longer. It was a hodge podge of ornaments and Christmas trinkets someone declared trash and I saw treasure. An old silver ornament with "Noel" printed on it in red glitter. A few small plastic Santa's of no great value and a collection of plastic animals that most likely adorned a train display perhaps beneath their tree. Then there was a small glass candle holder that held a red votive candle. The hand painted base featured a winter scene that included a small cabin in the woods, a pond with ice skaters and a tall pine tree decorated for the holiday. I held it in my hand, staring at the picture imagining myself there floating across the ice, then snuggling in front of a fire place as the cold winter night set in. Suddenly the glass top fell to the floor and bending over I reached to see if it was damaged. As I did, a small paper fell. It apparently came out of the candle base. I expected to find a tag, or company name. Instead I discovered a note...a love note. "How sad," I thought. "This was meant to be read by someone, somewhere, but certainly not me." "Honey, if you are reading this and I am not there, please know that I love you. As I was packing away the decorations this year I felt this unexplainable need to do this. I know that I tell you I love you many times each day, but I wondered what it would be like if suddenly I was gone and I didn't have the chance to tell you one more time. So I wanted to leave this note for you to say thanks for all the love, all the joy, all the passion you put into my life. I wanted you to know I loved you with every breath I took and I will for eternity. This Christmas candle served as our centerpiece for decades. I thought this was an appropriate place to leave this note, for you were the centerpiece of my life. Thanks, my love! Forever yours, Bob" I folded the note and placed it back in the holder. I wondered if he had left other notes for her to find or was this the one, the only one. I want to believe there were more. There just had to be. Then it struck me. A love like this could never have been summed up in one single note. When you love someone that deeply, you don't hesitate to tell them. You don't waste a moment together, you don't simply assume that they know how you feel. You don't take it all for granted. You don't walk out the door in the morning without a final "I love you!" You don't go through an entire day without calling just to say "hello." You don't pass up an opportunity to say something positive and encouraging to someone you love that deeply. You don't wait until tomorrow to tell them how important they are to you...for tomorrow may never come... _ ______ / `'. ,-"` '. / /'-.'. ___ .' \ \/ '.\.' ' | .| .'`\ | /`"'--., / \ , _.--'` \/_ | ,----.| _ `_--;` ``` `\-. | | \ | -- C -- _/ \ \ | \ 0 0 / . | | \| ) | '. _.' |.__/ ; \ `'---` / / __ '. .' | (__) /'-._____,-` \ /---'.-""-.\ '. / ||,- \\ ;---`;-._||-= |\ , ."""-. \ ) `|'.___.' \ ___ \'. / '-. \ /`-`-; / \ ,/ `) \ \| \ `` | | \|| / /'.| )_ / || | | \/ .' \ \ .-'/ ` |` |.-' .-~ ~-~-._ |.'` \ ` '-. \___/,__/ ~` _ `~~-., `-.,_\_)`-.,_\) `~-,___ ~___~,,..-~~/ jgs \___/`\____/'._.' You don't, do you? "I believe in You!" Bob Perks Bob@BobPerks.com Please don't remove my name! If you are about to copy this story to share with your friends, please leave my name, email address. It is the very least I ask for the time and talent God gave to me and I have given to you freely. 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