Racism In America and More... :) 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 ================ * NOTE: An easy way to adjust the size of print in email or any page is to hold down the Ctrl tab while moving the scroll button on the mouse. You can also use the keyboard to change the font size in your web browser or emails. Hold down the Ctrl key while pressing the + key for larger text or the - key for smaller text! ================ >-->In The 'Shangy' News :) _ We've been getting hit with this over and over again lately in the news and since it was bothering me, I felt compelled to do up a piece on it. So here's my take on... _ (_) <___> | |______ | |* * * ) | | * * (_________ | |* * * |* *|####) | | * * *| * | (________________ | |* * * |* *|####|##############| | | * * *| * | | | | |* * * |* *|####|##############| | |~~~~~~| * | | | | |######|* *|####|##############| | | |~~~' | | | |######|########|##############| | | | | | | |######|########|##############| | |~~~~~~| | | | | |########|##############| | | '~~~~~~~~| | | | |##########JGS#| | | '~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | | | | | | >Racism In America by emb Lately this has been a heavy issue on my heart and I think on many Americans hearts. Now we have many who have an issue against the Confederate flag. More racial unrest in the country I love. This time it was because an evil man took the lives of 9 good people. That is what it boils down to. Not that the man was racist and was white and his victims were black. It was evil vs good. An age old conflict and the devil throws racism into the mix to stir up more hate. But be not deceived by him trying to taint it from what it is. These were all people on his radar he wanted gone because they were all good God loving people. Period. The devil is an expert deceiver. A smoke and mirrors behind your back sort of one that will use tricks, lies and deception to get you to believe something that is far from the truth. We need to unveil his works and remember what the bible says... 1 Pet.5: [8] Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: The devil used the man filled with hate to get rid of the people that were bothering him in this spiritual war of ours. Eph.6 [12] For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness from on high. This weighs heavy on my heart. It is so sad. I pray God will help the families and bless them abundantly for their loss. So terrible of a tragedy. May they get the justice and peace they deserve. I happened to tune into Bill O'Reilly Tuesday and heard his view on this. Check out this video on His Talking points: http://tinyurl.com/nfouqcs O'Reilly brought in Powers and Monica Crowley to react after he argued in his Talking Points Memo that "America haters are trying to brand the country as racist." Powers says she is 'Upset that people think it is crazy to be talking about slavery - that it was a part of this countries history that we 'believe' this instead of that this 'really' happened.' She went on to add, 'How do we overcome this legacy?' Bill explains about all the programs we have in place and laws against racism and that society in America as a whole is not racist. Powers says - 'I don't see how THAT can account for slavery'. Watch the full video here. http://tinyurl.com/o36zojw I think that is the gist of the whole problem here. One side feels we are doing our best to be a nonracial country while others feel that the abomination of slavery can never be fully accounted for. One side seems to not to want to ever forgive white America for what it did back then to blacks. This tears at my heart. I am in no way a history buff or even one who has ever cared for history. I didn't do so well in it in school as I felt it was just a bunch of dumb memorizing of war names, leaders and dates - Boring and not useful for my adult life. Lately though I have been learning of the not so boring facts of America's most bloody and deadly of wars - the Civil War. 'Almost one-third of all Southern families owned slaves. In Mississippi and South Carolina it approached one half. The total number of slave owners was 385,000 (including, in Louisiana, some free [blacks]). As for the number of slaves owned by each master, 88% held fewer than twenty, and nearly 50% held fewer than five.' Selected Statistics on Slavery - Causes of the Civil War www.civilwarcauses.org/stat.htm Also check out this page my son helped me find - States stats: http://www.civil-war.net/pages/1860_census.html From the History Channel I learned... 'In the spring of 1861, decades of simmering tensions between the northern and southern United States over issues including states’ rights versus federal authority, westward expansion and slavery exploded into the American Civil War (1861-65). The election of the anti-slavery Republican Abraham Lincoln as president in 1860 caused seven southern states to secede from the Union to form the Confederate States of America; four more joined them after the first shots of the Civil War were fired. Four years of brutal conflict were marked by historic battles at Bull Run (Manassas), Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and Vicksburg, among others. The War Between the States, as the Civil War was also known, pitted neighbor against neighbor and in some cases, brother against brother. By the time it ended in Confederate surrender in 1865, the Civil War proved to be the costliest war ever fought on American soil, with some 620,000 of 2.4 million soldiers killed, millions more injured and the population and territory of the South devastated.' 'After the Emancipation Proclamation (1863-4)' 'Lincoln had used the occasion of the Union victory at Antietam to issue a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, which freed all slaves in the rebellious states after January 1, 1863. He justified his decision as a wartime measure, and did not go so far as to free the slaves in the border states loyal to the Union. Still, the Emancipation Proclamation deprived the Confederacy of the bulk of its labor forces and put international public opinion strongly on the Union side. Some 186,000 black soldiers would join the Union Army by the time the war ended in 1865, and 38,000 lost their lives.' Read the full of this here at the History Channel: http://tinyurl.com/lwj6ff6 Slavery is not a new thing. It is what drove God to get Moses to help free His people... Exod.5: [1] And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. Pharaoh liked having the slaves and didn't want to free them so God had to take action. Back in the Old Testament days, slavery was by way of wars or battles or by purchase or by choice. Every 7 years, though, all Hebrew slaves according to God's Law were to be set free. Much was done on a work bondage sort of deal. People who wanted something that had no means to pay for it would become an indentured slave. Paying for whatever they wanted through working for whoever was giving it to them for a certain amount of time. Often they had their sons or daughters be slaves to work off their debt. But every 7 years, all Hebrew slaves were to be set free. Pharaoh didn't want to do that so he butted heads with God and ultimately paid the price. Deut.15: [1] At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release. [2] And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the LORD's release. [12] And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee. [13] And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty: [14] Thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: of that wherewith the LORD thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him. [15] And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman [slave] in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day. Today, we don't have God's Law in place. The Law has been fulfilled by Jesus so we are no longer ruled by it. Jesus said... Matt.5 [17] Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. We live now under the age of God's Grace. Eph.2: [5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) [8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of [from] God: But we still are under the age old law of Giving equals Receiving. Some people call this Karma. But God's invisible Law holds true. So what goes around comes around. Evil gets evil, good gets good sort of thing. See this great Teaching: http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Promises/GIVING_EQUALS_RECEIVING.htm Slavery in America was evil. America paid its price for it. And the majority of those who paid the price for slavery were the ones who had either benefited from it or had not done enough to stop it. What goes around comes around - as you give, you receive. The whole country suffered from it's evil doings. It was a heart-wrenching time as it tore families apart. Those who fought were almost all white men and white boys against white men and white boys. Their weapons were crude guns and cannons. The medical care was next to none. Many had to have arms or legs amputated without any anesthesia or pain relief - sawed off. Men who died left behind their wives and children. 'The majority of American women still led daily lives that focused primarily on their families, households, gardens, and crops. On the eve of the Civil War, most women in the United States lived in rural areas and regularly performed exhausting, physical work in and around their homes.' http://library.mtsu.edu/tps/Women_and_the_Civil_War.pdf Woman didn't even have the right to vote and few had outside jobs. Many widows were left with no means to care for their children. There wasn't any welfare or food stamps or any government programs or even much help by way of organizations or churches for these families. Many widows had no choice but to put their children in orphanages where they may or may not have gotten good and proper care. Check the History Channel - Civil War - 150 Years Ago: http://www.history.com/interactives/civil-war-150#/how-they-died It was horrendous. But giving equals receiving and America got what was due to her for her evil ways. Justice was served. Since then, we have come a long way. There will always be evil to deal with because we are living in an evil world. The devil will do all he can to remind us of our past and make us feel guilty for what was done in our past, but we as a Nation have to heal and let God rule our lives and our country so that Godly morals prevail and we don't go down any more dark paths. Slavery happened and indeed it was one of our countries worst legacies. But the Civil War proved that we as a Nation will not put up with such unGodly acts and we will give our all to correct them. It was almost all white people risking their life and family to support the black underground railroads, who built their homes with secret chambers to hide black people trying to escape to freedom, and it was almost all white families who wound up paying the ultimate price for the injustice of black slavery and gave their all to correct the evil of their fellow man. Why? Not for greed though as with most things it was a part of it, but largely they did it because they came to realize what God had taught them was true - and yes - 'ALL men ARE created equal' - not just white men. The bible sums it up for us well here... Song Of Solomon [5] I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. [6a] Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: We are not to judge people because of their skin color but rather we are to look at their hearts as to who they are. ========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: , ,'| ( ; ,\ _..-'';,'._,',' ,-' ,-. //,-,:\'. _ ,' _ `-'// >',',-.\ / \ ,' (_) //,',' `-' : /`-'\ /,-. //',' _ | : _ : : `-' _//,' (_) | |\/ \/| : (//') _ ; || || `._.,-. `-' _ (_) / || || ,','/;. (_) ,' || || `-' // \ _.' ||SSt|| // `-..-'' SSt `' >COLOR ME CONFUSED Little Cindi graced me with a gap-toothed grin as she squirted catsup on her plump, juicy, hotdog. Her sweet, squeaky, "Here Auntie have a bite," was drowned out by my tomato-curdling scream. "Ewwwww! What's that?" I stared in horror as a big, PURPLE glop soaked into the bun. "It's our new cool catsup. We have purple and green in the cupboard," Cindi smiled. Color me confused, but the thought of purple catsup made my brow wrinkle almost as much as Granny Clampett's face. Believe me, I am not a catsup snob. In fact, I consider it one of the major food groups and think nothing of dousing fries, potato chips, hamburgers and fish sandwiches in rich, red, catsup. The problem arises when the catsup is not bright red, but Grinch Green or Passion Purple. I know color shouldn't affect the taste, but the thought of purple catsup is enough to give me sweaty palms, dry mouth, and heart palpitations (similar to seeing Brad Pitt on the movie screen). So what's the deal with all these food companies trying to "new and improve" their products? It's getting to the point that I'm afraid to put anything into my grocery cart these days. For instance, I recently stood in the garbage bag aisle and my brain turned to compost as I stared at the brands, sizes, and colors of bags that just get thrown out anyhow. Whatever happened to black cinch sacks for garbage, and clear plastic bags for recyclables? Scented bags, that's what! I actually saw "French Vanilla" scented garbage bags on sale. For only three times the cost of plain old "plastic scented" bags, I could buy a garbage bag that would "soar my senses" with aromatherapy. Somehow the thought of my garbage smelling better than me made me want to yank out my hair, but not my checkbook. So, besides sweet Cindi, who buys this supply of purple catsup and vanilla garbage bags? Probably the same try-anything-once folks who throw a vertically striped jar of peanut butter and jelly into their grocery baskets. Frankly, I find that concept as un-American as a kid who won't eat PB&Js at all. Everyone knows you have to slather creamy, gooey, peanut butter on one slice of Wonder Bread and then spread sweet, sticky, grape jelly on another piece before doing the old "slap and squish". You know, slap the bread together and the squish to join the flavors. The thought of calmly spreading PB&J at the same time should be grounds for court marshal! With all of these bizarre foodstuffs, it scares me to think what the world will be like when my kids (now in their terrible teens) go forth and multiply (after college and marriage) and take their kids to the grocery store. Will the little tykes beg for pink mac-and-cheese? Will the lime-green mustard clash with the purple hot dog nestled in its navy-striped bun? Color me old-fashioned, but no grandkid of mine is going to be served purple oatmeal or green spaghettios. Even if I have to stockpile "normal" foods, I will serve the little sweethearts food that is good, nutritious, and THE RIGHT COLOR. Now, all this talk about food is making me thirsty. Excuse me while I pop the top of a Code Red Mountain Dew. I know this soda "should" be green, but I broke down and tried a free sample the other day and its sparkly cherry taste is just like a kiddie cocktail. See, I'm not so set in my ways. I may never dunk my fries in green catsup, but color me courageous, there may be hope for me yet. -- Darlene A. Buechel ___________________________________________ We congratulate Darlene, as we proudly bestow upon her the title of Heartwarmer Gem. We reserve this honor for our most beloved writers who have consistently contributed outstanding and memorable works that have captured the hearts and minds of our members around the world. Darlene is well known for her humorous and light hearted stories that bring a smile to readers everywhere. And make no mistake. She has her opinions about colors too! She eats her RED catsup on GOLDEN french fries and throws her garbage in BLACK cinch sacks. She hails from Wisconsin. ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Linda :) _ _|_|_ ,|_| |_|_ || | | |_| || | | | | || | | | | _|| | | | | ||)\ ^ ^ ^ | || | | || | | || | | \\ | \\ / ejm )\ ( / \ \ / \ \ \ \ >To my Christian Friends and Family: May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let His presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us through Jesus Christ. --- ...Amen! Lovely! Thanks Linda! ======================================================= >-->From Our Friend Jacinto :) !|| !|||| ,/|||| !|'''| `\ | )\ \ ejm / \ \ \ I Wish You Joy Beyond Compare, If We Never Meet On This Earth, I Will Meet You Over There. When I Check My E-Mails, And View Your Lovely Name, Can't Wait To Read Your Lovely Share, And Know That You Are Always There. When You Hurt, I Hurt Too. I Do Thank God So Much For You, For All The Kind Things You Say, You Always Bring Cheer To My Day. So Friend, Let Me Say How Special You Are, When I Need Help You Are Always There. That's What Makes You Special You See, One Day We'll Share God's Heavenly Tea. --- ...Awww, love it! Thanks Jass! -<>- ..::''''::.. .:::. .;'' ``;. .... ::::: :: :: :: :: ,;' .;: () ..: `:::' :: :: :: :: ::. ..:,:;.,:;. . :: .::::. `:' :: .:' :: :: `:. :: '''::, :: :: :: `:: :: ;: .:: : :: : : :: ,:'; ::; :: :: :: :: :: ::,::''. . :: `:. .:' :: `:,,,,;;' ,;; ,;;, ;;, ,;;, ,;;, `:,,,,:' :;: `;..``::::''..;' ``::,,,,::'' >Be With Somebody Who Makes You Happy *Let him go, he's not worth your tears, he's not worth your pain, * *he's not worth the worrying, he's not worth fighting for. * *He hurt you and broke you, let him go. * *If he really loved you and wanted to stay, he would've. * *But if hes dumb enough to let you go, let him walk away. * *In the end he will remember what he lost and regret what he did. * *Until then move on and be HAPPY.* *You Deserve To Be With Somebody Who Makes You'll Happy. * *Somebody Who Doesn't Complicate Your Life. * *Somebody Who Won't Hurt You'll but Integrated goings each in Love divine harmony peace joy love & care .* --- ...Good Advice! Thanks Jass! Our partners are supposed to be our help meets. Gen.2 [18] And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. Check out this awesome definition of what God wanted for man From woman in Scripture: http://tinyurl.com/oswhcyc ========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: (.,------...__ _.'" `. .' .' `, `. `. ` . .' .'/''--...__`. \ . .--.`. ' "-. '. | '' .' _.' .()) .--":/ ''( \_\ ' (()( ''._' ( \ ' ' `. `--' ' `.: . `-.___.' ' `. . _ _ .' ) .____.-' .'`. (--.. .' \ /\ / / `. .' \( \ /|/ `. .' \__/ `. / | o | \ | | | jro A good friend was waiting nearby while his young son prayed silently before going to bed. Suddenly the boy burst out laughing. "Johnnie!" scolded his father, "Why are you laughing during prayer?" "But Dad," the boy answered, "you told me that prayer is talking to God as to a friend, and I just told him a joke." ------------------------ And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. -Mark 10:13 -<>- ,~~;,~~.~~, (`'` ` ` `, ~~``` ` ` ; |@ , @ | , '; ' ( ' ` ; `._o__/^;' '; ;..' ';.` ; . ' * _ ;.;)_____ . _- \____/ ) )_____ )’ _- __-- \_____/ |-_ -_:-._- __-- ___ |______| --_/:::\_-- _-- / , \---=|:::::|=---------- | , \ __-\:::/-__ -__ / ; | _- | -_sd--__ --- | , |_- . | . -_ --__ / ; | ‘ | ‘ -_ | , ; | ‘ | ‘ - / ; | |__'___^^_______^^ ~~ ^^ >SUMMER LIGHT SHOW By: Joseph J. Mazzella It is going to feel like Christmas in July in the field behind my home for the next few weeks. My backyard buddies, the fireflies have finally returned to put on another Summer light show every evening for all of us to enjoy. It is such a delight seeing their little, golden lights blinking on and off just like the lights on a Christmas tree. It brings me such joy watching my whole backyard and the woods around it twinkle like it is Christmastime while the warm, summer breezes tickle my face. It reminds me that anytime of the year can feel like Christmas if you have love in your heart and light in your soul. Still, there are times I feel a bit sorry for my firefly friends. They shine for only a brief time each Summer and their lights while beautiful last only a moment before fading again. In fact, I sometimes feel like a firefly myself. I try my best to shine long and bright with love, joy, and oneness with God, but it seems at times the most I can do is flicker. I am working hard, though, to leave my light on a bit longer each time and trying my best to make my moments of darkness less and less. I am asking God to help me everyday too and hope to one day shine more like a star and less like a blinker. I hope that you are doing your best as well to shine bright and leave your light on in this life. I pray too that if you can't keep your light on all the time then you are at least blinking as much light, love, joy, kindness, goodness, peace, happiness, helpfulness, laughter, and caring as you can. Perhaps one day all of us will shine together and with God's help will create a summer light show that never ends. Perhaps we will not just help make everyday feel more like Christmas, but make everyday be Christmas. Perhaps one day we all will work together to help the fireflies chase the darkness away forever. -<>- ,"=-. / _),`'". ( /a( ), ) ) C = = ?/ ( )) (_ o-< ) ( `-' \; ( \_ ( | \ ) )| \_/} \ \ \(_;/-|_) )/) `._,--/ / / `!__!! ( (_o)) ---`-._, )--- ------( / |---- | ( | :__/|\_; \ |/ )(\_ /_)--` gpyy \_! >A Mother's Love There are times when only a mother's love Can understand our tears, Can soothe our disappoints And calm all of our fears. There are times when only a mother's love Can share the joy we feel When something we've dreamed about Quite suddenly is real. There are times when only a mother's faith Can help us on life's way And inspire in us the confidence We need from day to day. For a mother's heart and a mother's faith And a mother's steadfast love Were fashioned by the angels And sent from God above. --Author Unknown -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Jesus Laughing Art! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/Jesusart.html Japan's Crop Art! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/cropart.html Friendly Fire! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/friendly.html Boing 787 Dreamliner http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/b787.html Cool Hot Air Balloons http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/hotair.html Amazing Car Show http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/carshow.html Miracle Baby! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/smellofrain.html Dreamy Ladies! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dreamy.html Love Thoughts! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/love.html God's Paintings! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/gpaints.html Here's Your Frog! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/frogt.html -<>- >From The Tea Party News Guess who Flip-Flopped, VIDEO: Ben Carson says "We Are Giving People License to Hate...This Will Destroy Our Nation", and When You Read What Sheriff Joe Said About Obama, You'll want to Pack Your Bags and Move to Arizona http://tinyurl.com/o7pv92s -<>- >From Our Friend Geniann :) Great video of Niagara This is an amazing video and definitely worth watching. There is no way we could ever see Niagara Falls in the manner shown here. Falls taken from a drone copter. Some overhead shots almost give you a sense of vertigo. http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=cfoLYTKObiU --- ...Neat! Thanks Geniann! -<>- >From Our Friend Linda :) God's wonderful wet world- wow http://www.youtube.com/embed/mcbHKAWIk3I --- ...Beautiful! Thanks Linda! -<>- >From our friend Melody :) Explanation of Meat Glue - FaithTap http://faithtap.com/3350/explanation-of-meat-glue/?v=1 This is the cuteness that ensues with a baby elephant http://tinyurl.com/p8f7me3 Check out Lightning Storm - YouTube this is the bad storm i had to drive home from work at 1 am 2 nights ago -melody https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCFpYz4tf7Q --- ...Wowsers! So glad you are OK! Thanks Melody! -<>- >From Our Friend PatDeE :) The automobile driving manual says the average driver's reaction time is .75 seconds or 1 car length for every 10 mph. Test your average reaction time. Be careful, this can be addictive! You will be surprised at how slow you really are. JUST CLICK ON THE DART WHEN THE SHEEP STARTS TO RUN ..... THERE ARE 5 SHEEP - Reaction Test* http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sleep/sheep/reaction_version5.swf --- ...Not an easy one! Thanks PatDeE! -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseA :) If there's a better way to start your day than with a bunch of funny animal shenanigans, I still haven't found it. This video is guaranteed to smear a big ol' smile on your face. So relax, watch the video and enjoy a few minutes of fun times with our animal friends. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gnvzidUAAcM The amazing ladder act by Uzeyer Novruzov impresses the judges and audience of America's Got Talent 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hczEPF5HrZU It has been perhaps the most eventful 100 years in the history of humanity. The world has changed drastically, and we've known much suffering, along with an elevation in individual rights, freedom, and technology. But when seeing it all in the space of 10 minutes, one cannot help but ask: What's next? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxh-sS8Qoco&feature=player_embedded Richard Sidey, a photographer from New Zealand, has a great affinity for the Polar Regions. To satisfy his love for the cold ends of the Earth, Richard joins polar expeditions as a photographer, capturing the raw, untamed beauty that is the Arctic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB46aFmJiB4&feature=player_embedded --- ...Sweet! Thanks LouiseA! 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 ========================================================== .---. .---. ,';' `.';' `.. f :Bo. ` d88: `\ /d88P' `\ ; /d888P' `. ',d8&8P' : ;d8&7' | :8: | qx >In the Hearts of Mankind Story Editor: by Bruce McCormick Joyce Schowalter Mississippi, USA My wife, three young daughters and I were starting dinner at 7:00 p.m. on Oct. 21, 2001, when I smelled a hint of smoke. As my wife's candles had caused this before, I wasn't alarmed, but started looking around. Coming back from the kitchen the smell was stronger. Suddenly my wife and I both noticed a thin haze near the ceiling of the family room where we were eating. Against everything I've been taught, I opened the laundry room door. Two feet of black smoke rolled from the ceiling with a roaring fire several feet away. (The fire could easily have been embedded in the smoke, I was fortunate.) Our small kitchen fire extinguishers were worthless against the blaze; with a larger extinguisher we could have stopped it. I called 911 and cleared everyone out of the house. Adrenaline flows and you feel like you're not watching reality. You smell smoke. You hear the loud popping of things breaking inside as the fire grows. You watch firemen climb onto the roof and cut holes with chainsaws. As fire leaps from new holes it created in your roof, a sick feeling grows in the pit of your stomach. What should have been controllable is destroying your home. In the midst of this surrealistic horror something incredible happened. I have no explanation for what happened, as I'm reclusive, not someone who associates easily with others. People from the neighborhood started showing up with clothing. One family took our daughters in. Another took in our two big Labrador dogs. People we'd never seen brought us coats, a chair for my wife, food to eat, a sweater for me. One family gave us a piece of paper with a prepaid hotel reservation -- something I'd not even thought of. Over several weeks more families -- some we knew, most we didn't know -- prepared dinner and brought it over. They lent and donated furniture for our rental house, gave us clothing, provided toys for our children, and some included us in their prayers. Unknown individuals and groups took up collections and sent us money. Though so very embarrassing to accept, it was so very welcome, for we were not in the best financial state, and our insurance firm wasn't easy to work with. We had to bear implications that we could've started the fire ourselves from the insurance company investigators. I learned what emotional shock means. Often I would cry just describing the situation to people. I had no comprehension of the kindness of friends and strangers until this happened. I had done nothing to deserve this kindness. Their outpouring was from their hearts, and at their expense -- just to help. I can't thank them all personally, for some I never met, but I am so thankful for them, they were our angels. I have learned a lesson of human spirit and what is in the hearts of mankind: a lesson to be remembered forever. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Kidwarmers: __,---, .---. /__|o\ ) .-"-. .----.""". / 6_6 `-\ / / / 4 4 \ /____/ (0 )\ \_ (__\ ,) (, \_ v _/ `--\_ / // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ (( )) {( )} (( )) {{ }} =======""===""=========""===""======""===""=========""===""======= jgs ||| ||||| ||| ||| | ||| | '|' | >THE FUNNY THINGS KIDS SAY Ella, 3, asked, "Mom, how did you know my name was Ella when I was born?" She also asked one day, "Mom, why didn't you and Daddy invite me to your wedding?" - Erin Doucette of Fort Wayne, Indiana Landyn, 5, came home from school and said, "Mommy, I got a new favorite food. I had Salisbury steak today and it was yummy, but it didn't have any berries in it!" - Korey Call (mother of Landon) of Kendallville, Indiana During the Trinity Preschool graduation Tammy was able to share some memorable quotes from the preschoolers. A quote that seemed appropriate as an innocent reminder for Memorial Day came during the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance. After holding the flag, one of the preschool boys in Tammy's class said, "You know, Mrs. Comparet, we can't let the flag touch the ground because we have to honor the good men!" It was a great reminder of the men and women who risk their lives for our freedom. - Tammy Comparet of Kendallville, Indiana Every Sunday, without fail Joe took his niece and nephew to church. After church he would stop at the bakery across the street for hard rolls and then cook a nice breakfast at home for the entire family. One Sunday Joe's mother, who lived with them, was very ill and Joe was afraid to leave her alone for even the hour or so. Therefore he dropped the kids off at church leaving strict instructions that Brian, 3, was to mind his older sister Pamela, 7, and not leave the church until Joe came back for them. When Joe returned, Pamela was furious. She said she would NEVER go to church with Brian again! Pamela explained, "Everyone was quiet as the priest was preparing communion and suddenly Brian started singing "~Tiny bubbles, in the wine, makes ya feel happy, makes ya feel fine.'" Pamela said when she told Brian to be quiet he just started singing louder! Joe wrote, "The Sunday night before, the legendary Hawaiian singer Don Ho was on the Ed Sullivan Show and I guess he made quite an impression on Brian." - Uncle Joe Stanford of New Haven, Connecticut ,. (\(\) ,_ ; o > {`-. / (_) `={\`-._____/` | `-{ / -=`\ | `={ -= = _/ / `\ .-' /` {`-,__.'===,_ //` `\\ jgs // `\= Katie, 3, had a new Easter dress to wear to church. It came with a matching doll dress. Because "Wolfie" is her favorite stuffed animal, Katie dressed her wolf in the dress. She insisted on taking Wolfie to church so that she could see Jesus. When they got home from church, Katie reported that "Even though the teacher told us that Jesus is alive, we didn't see Him!" - Bonnie Scarlett of Tacoma, Washington Here is another Katie story. They were getting ready to go to school and daycare, and her older sister Hayley had already closed the trunk of the car. Since big sister Sabrina needed to put her backpack in the trunk as well, Bonnie popped the trunk. When Katie tried to close it, Bonnie told her, "Please leave it open, Sabrina needs to get in there." To which Katie responded, "Why does Sabrina get to ride in the trunk?" Just after saying the blessing before dinner Nolan, 6, said, "Mom, I don't think there will be green beans in heaven." - Lisa Billingsley (mother of Nolan) of Scaly Mountain, North Carolina When Joyce's daughters were small there was a new package of Oreos in the cookie jar. Their father asked for some and a glass of milk. When Joyce went to get the cookies she was surprised to see all of the vanilla centers had been licked out and the outside cookies replaced whole in the cookie jar. Joyce asked Beth, about 3, "Who ate the center of the Oreos?" She replied, "Jennifer did it." The only problem was her sister was only 6 months old at the time. - Joyce Siedentop of Wall, New Jersey _ ( `''--. .-. `'-. `\| | _ `\ /` ) _.'- ._ (_ ;-.-. '. `\ / / \ '.(` __\o_\o_/ ,`) .-'`` `""-. \ `''--.___, `\ } / / .-` ; } /_/.'`-....-'| } _ _ `"` / / .' \.' \ / / | / / _ __..--/` (__ _..----.._/ L.-' ) .--...--'' /` ` .--. _ `-. (_ __. /` -. ' `\`""--.,_) (_'__. { ) | '._ - _{ .' ,_/ '--'` { .' ,_/ \ (_, ._.' '. / | '-. _ | / `-||.--;\__/ jgs __ __||_ ||_ (_.``` "` `)(`" `-.__ _ (_.-' .-""` '-. -.`_) '.__.' \ ) ) '--'`"` Kate, 4, is always looking out for her mother. Her mother overheard her tell her dad for Mother's Day: "Your job is to take me to the store, and MY job is to pick out a present. We need to get (Mom) a nice present AND a card." - Jennifer Decker (friend of Kate and family) of Angola, Indiana Here is another Kate comment. About the royal wedding, Kate said, "I don't like the flowers. I don't like her gown, and the CROWN IS SUPPOSED TO BE GOLD! I'm going to throw her in the dungeon!" Ryan and his wife took the family on an Easter vacation which included stopping at the Biltmore Mansion. As they were driving up to the mansion, Adian, 7, gasped and said, "Is that where God lives?" - Darlene Clark (great-grandmother of Adian) of Lehigh Acres, Florida Stella, 4, has extremely soft baby teeth. She recently had a lot of dental work done. As there was so much, they put her in a surgery center and put her to sleep to do it all at once. This in itself was very stressful on the household, but one of the "stress relief" moments was the day after. Part of the dental work was six silver caps on her molars. With caps, she cannot eat any "gummy" candy or her gummy vitamins! She is totally distraught over this and being the drama queen that she is, was kicking up a fuss over "never getting to eat gummies again!" Her grandmother told her that when she was a teenager she would be able to eat gummies again. With a very straight face, Stella put her hands on her hips and said, "Well, it's a long way from here to there!" - Suzy Payne (Nana) of Springfield, Oregon \ | / '. .-=-, .' -- = ( ) = -- .' '-=-' '. / | \ .=""=. .=""=. / _ _ \ / _ _ \ | d b | | d b | \ /\ / \ /\ / ,/'-=\/=-'\, ,/'-=\/=-'\, / / \ \ / / \ \ | / \ | | / \ | \/ \ / \/ \/ \ / \/ '. .' '. .' jgs _|`~~`|_ _|`~~`|_ ^^^~^^^~^~/|\^~/|\^^~^^~^~^^^~/|\^^/|\~^~^~^~^~^~^ Here is another one from Suzy. Stella helps Grandma and Nana with baking quite often. She makes bread and rolls with Grandma and it's kind of become the thing to make banana bread with Nana. Stella walked into the kitchen and saw some brown bananas on the counter. She turned and said, "I definitely see banana bread in our future!" Zoie was at her father's home having a family dinner. Steamed carrots were among the food items on the table. Zoie was reluctant to try the carrots. Zoie's dad Kyle was trying to get her to take one bite to try them. Kyle said, "Bunnies love to eat carrots." Zoie refused the bite. Kyle said, "Rudolph eats carrots." Still no bite. After several more attempts, Kyle said, "Carrots are good for your eyes and they help us see better." Zoie looked puzzled. Then she told her dad, "I don't want carrots in my eyes, Daddy!" - Julie Conley (Nana of Zoie) of LaGrange, Indiana Here is another story from Julie. Zoie and her dad attended a wedding. Sitting on her dad's lap she was good, taking the ceremony all in. After the bride and groom kissed, Zoie looked at her dad and asked, "Are Nana and Pappy (her grandparents) married?" Her father said yes. "Are we married now, too, Daddy?" Zoie asked. , .-; , |\ / / __, |\ '.`-.| |.'.-' \`'-: `; : / `-._'. \'| ,_.-=` ` ` ~,_ '--,. .-. ,=". / { 0 )`;-.} | '-' /__ | / \_,\| | ( __ / ' \ /\_ /,'`| ' .-~"~~-. |`.\_ | / ' , / \ _/ `, \| ; , . | , ' . | \ `, | | , , | : ; : | _\ `, \ |. , | | | | | \` `. \ | ' |\_|-'|_,'\| _\ `, `\ ' . ' | | | | | __ \ `, | , ' |_/'-|_\_/ __ ,-;` / \ `, \ . , ' .| | | | | _/' ` _=`| `\ `, \ , | | | | |_/' .=" / \` `, `\ \/|,| ;/' .=" | \ `, `\' , | ; /' =" _/ `\ `, .-""-. ': /' =" / jgs _`\ ;_{ ' ; /' =" / _\`-/__.~ `.8.'."`~-. =" _,/ __\ { '-.|.'.--~'`}" _/ \ .="` }.-~"'u'-. '-..' __/ _/ ." { -'.~('-._,.'\_,/ / ." _/'`--; ; `. ; .=" _/' `-..__,-' __/' ` The 4-year-old regularly in Carol's charge colored Carol a picture (scribbled with exclusively red crayon) of a little boy dressed like a pirate and wielding a sword. Carol complimented him profusely and displayed it on her refrigerator. Each time he visited he would ask, "You like that picture?" Again and again Carol reassured him and praised his work. Six months later, he asked again if Carol liked the picture and she repeated the compliment. This time he further asked, "You like all that blood?" (referring to the red crayon). Carol said, "Gross, you never told me that it was blood!" - Carol Young of Albion, Indiana Zelma was babysitting Cheyenne and Odin, both 3. Cheyenne was playing a game and Zelma told her she had to share it with Odin. Cheyenne looked at Zelma and said, "Zelma, you aren't my best friend any more until you change your attitude!" - Zelma Feltner of Kendallville, Indiana Cheyenne was pretending to talk on the phone. She was "calling" Zelma and she said, "Zelma, you need to come in the room with me so that you can hear me because too many people are instructing me." (She meant interrupting.) __ /` ,\__ | ).-' / .--' / / , _.==''` \ .'( _.=' | { `` _.=' | { \` ; / `. `'=..' .=' `=._ .=' jgs '-`\\`__ `-._{ Zelma's granddaughter Breann, 6, was sick with a bad cold. Breann overheard her mother telling someone, "Breann looks bad. Under her eyes it is all puffy." Later Breann put eye shadow under her eyes. When her mother asked why she had eye shadow on, she said, "Mom, I am trying to hide those bubbles under my eyes." Conversation between siblings: Jaedan, 10: What else could we give Mom for Mother's Day? What would make her really happy? Whitney, 6: We could clean our rooms and go the whole day without fighting. Jaedan: No way! We can't do that! Whitney: Why not? Jaedan: Cuz then she will want us to do that every day! - Joan Householder of Albion about the children of her niece Kim Householder of Fort Wayne. Here is a story from Kim, mother of Jaedan and Whitney. Whitney was standing in the window holding her Easter basket. Kim asked her what she was doing. Whitney replied, "Waiting for Jesus. You said He came back to life today." Kim said, "Oh, is He coming here?" Whitney replied, "Yes, I told Him last night when I said my prayers since He died for me He could have my candy this year!" ___ .' '.__ ( o {__) __ '-. .' \ ._.' __.' '. ' .-' /\ ) ( (__} o ) .-') _ | ``'"'` \ '.__. /` .' .' ' \ {`'- } (`--') _.'--`\ jgs'. '-._ / `-.{ _ ) ``^^`^`^`^^`^^`^``^`^````^`^^^`^`^^`^^`^^ Ethan, 10, was on an ACRES nature hike this spring. A hiker overheard Ethan comment, "I like to eat edible things from the forest. And I like to eat non-edible foods too. Sometimes I make mistakes." - Ethan is the son of Corey and Nadine Kline of Kendallville, Indiana In anticipation of their first visit to friends in their new home, their 3-year-old called to give Carol directions. The 3-year-old told Carol, "It is a red house with a long basement and when you see the pig farm you are there." Carol whined and asked, "Is this a LONG ride?" She hesitated and truthfully said, "Yes, it is." Carol lamented, "Oh, no!" The 3-year-old quickly said, "Just take a nap." - Carol Young of Albion, Indiana __...---..._ /) .-' .'^;._ .' .' . '. /.-'-._ .' ' '. '. .' ' `\ .-""-. \/_.._ : \ / \ //-. ' | _.-'\ o | // \/.----. | ;-. '._._)__, | // ` _;.,_`\/ ,_\_ `'._.-. / ; // .--""`` __/_ \ ` \/ \// / -.___/ `--,' / './ `'-,_/ \` .' , | -' , `-;._/ `"``'-'-\ '-._/--' '. \ , '. \ )`.-, // //\ `-. ( ||_// '._ / '--' _ ;`;----.. _.--'` (( `/ /. .-\ \--. jgs |`==./_)) ((__\_\_)) .-'`-=..__/ .-;______,| ((______ // ((_______ // '=======` `========' After visiting a few hours at the home of friends, their 3-year-old daughter went up to Carol, cupped her hands around Carol's ear and said, very discreetly, "Carol, you have been here for a long time and you haven't gone to the bathroom yet!" Carol said maybe the comment was a result of the girl's parents trying to potty train her younger brother. Note: You are welcomed to use, copy and share these stories, but please reference http://www.funnykids.com as the source. ========================================================== .-.-"````"-.-. ,-._._ \ / _._.-, '. '-. \ / .-' .' \ \ \ / / / \ \ \ / / / \ | | | | / | \_/ \_/ | | | ; ; jgs \ / '.__ _ _ __.' ``` \ / ``` / \ d b \/ "You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you." -- Dale Carnegie >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? 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 ************************************************************************