Story Time! ... :) 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 ================ *~* Please Consider Giving To ShangralaFamilyFun.com The cost of the website has gone up dramatically due to the ever increasingly wonderful pages and photos being added each week to entertain you and our fellow Christian families. While the ads on the website do help, I don't want to drag the site down with tons of them to pay for it. I need your help! "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo /`"'-,__ \/\)` `'-. // \ .--.\ '. ~ CALLING ALL CARING ANGELS ~ //|-. \_o `-. \---._ || \_o\ _.-.\`'-' `-. || |\.-'` | `. || | \ \ | `\ \| / \ ,\' / \ `' `---' ; `)) .-' | .-.// .-. .' ,;=D / // / \ .' || |..-' | '-' // (( \ .===. _,// '`'--`'---''',--\_/-;-'` jgs `~/^\` '===' *~* WE NEED CARING And SHARING Angels *~* >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel? If you'd like to help and be counted as a Shangrala Angel, the easiest way to do that is through online giving. It is easy to use, and most of all, it is secure. Please visit the site, scroll down and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL form page comes up. NOTE: Paypal will generate a 'Quantity 1' and 'Price per item' form. Just ignore the price per item and put whatever it is you desire to give in there. With Paypal, you will have your normal receipt for your 'payment' donation in USD (United States Dollars). You can put a memo in there if you'd like. Any amount is greatly appreciated and needed! 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! MAY GOD BLESS YOU MOST ABUNDANTLY FOR YOUR GIFT! ================ *~* A REMINDER: PLEASE Send me sweet, interesting, funny, inspiring, family type forwards ANY TIME here... bcrsystems@earthlink.net I Need them, Love them, Use them, and Share them! THANK YOU!! AND For Facebook Users: Please Friend Me / Like Me here... http://tinyurl.com/cma6all AND For Google Plus Users: You can find me here... Shangy Bigham https://plus.google.com/106648555948034085752/posts AND Please Share This email with All Your Friends And Family! ^~^ May God SUPER BLESS You As You Do! THANK YOU! :) -<>- * NOTE: An easy way to adjust the size of print in email or any page is to hold down the Ctrl tab while moving the scroll button on the mouse. You can also use the keyboard to change the font size in your web browser or emails. Hold down the Ctrl key while pressing the + key for larger text or the - key for smaller text! ================ >-->In The 'Shangy' News :) _ (_) <___> | |______ | |* * * ) | | * * (_________ | |* * * |* *|####) | | * * *| * | (________________ | |* * * |* *|####|##############| | | * * *| * | | | | |* * * |* *|####|##############| | |~~~~~~| * | | | | |######|* *|####|##############| | | |~~~' | | | |######|########|##############| | | | | | | |######|########|##############| | |~~~~~~| | | | | |########|##############| | | '~~~~~~~~| | | | |##########JGS#| | | '~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | | | | | | >Tell me a story, tell me a story - OK, OK Here's one: Yesterday I was thinking about our friend Fran's recommendation to join others in thanking our President with a Thank you card today - the 16th - to help overcome all the bashing he has been getting from the left. So I decided to go ahead and get a card ready before I forgot about it. I thought I had a better selection of cards but found I only had one that I could use. Actually it turned out to be the perfect card. An all American scene of a young boy's room with his favorite toys including a baseball in a mitt with his bedroom facing a view of a white Christian steeple from a little small town church. It even had a US flag standing up in the corner! I got a pen started and began writing my thank you on the inside of it realizing that I am on the sloppy side these days since I normally type when I noticed my printing began to fade. Great. I started another pen and had to trace over the faded word. I got the note completed and got out Fran's email to get the address for the envelope... President Donald J. Trump The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Having that all done, I took it into Paul to have him sign it. I told him I was getting it ready ahead of time to send out tomorrow and apologized for it being sloppy. He liked the added touch of the flag and I let him know the card was meant for the President as it was the only one we had that would work. So he signed it and gave it back to me. Paul was taking this Presidential card quite seriously as he signed his whole name instead of just his first name like we normally do on a card. This forced me to do the same - I am even more sloppy when writing over printing! I put it in the envelope and again handed it back to Paul. He said, 'What? You want me to get the stuff on it?' 'Yes.' He was the one with the stamp and the return address stickers. We made a joke about not licking the envelope because we didn't want our DNA with the folks in Washington. Then I left to go to the bathroom. When I got out I headed to my computer to finish my web work. I noticed our rug in front of the front door that kept the drafts out was moved so I went back to Paul and asked, "Did you put that out in the mailbox?" He answered yes so I reminded him it wasn't supposed to go out until tomorrow. Folks with gripes were sending their cards out today on the 15th. I quickly went out and braved the frigid wind to retrieve the card when to my chagrim, I found the mail person had whisked it away and deposited our day's mail in the box instead. I got the mail and took it in to Paul and asked, 'Did you at least seal the envelope?' He answered, 'Yes, I put moisture to it.' So anyway, we wound up doing our Patriot duty for our dear President Trump, howbeit a day early. I encourage you to do the same today. :) -<>- >HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This super red hot new page is from our friends Melinda and PatDeE. It is sure to give you your dose of awws for the day along with a plenty of smiles and perhaps even some chuckles. Check it out here... __ / \`\ __ | \ `\ /`/ \ \_/`\ \-"-/` /\ \ | | \ | (d b) \_/ / \ ,".|.'.\_/.'.|.", / /\' _|_ '/\ \ | / '-`"`-' \ | | | | | | \ \ / / | jgs \ \ \ / / / `"`\ : /'"` `""`""` Look Who's Talking 10! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/talking10.html --- ...Such a cute and humorous series! Thanks my friends! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: ,-'~~~~-. .-~~~~`-. .' \ / `. ,-'` \ / `-. / , `\/ .' \ ( `\ || /~ ) ~. `\ || /` .~ `~~._____ `\ || /` ____.~~` ___!!!GOOD>THE WAITING GAME by Kathe Campbell Nature had shaped my face at 20, and a good life reshaped it by 50. But at 75, instead of charismatic laugh lines about my mouth and eyes that twinkled charm, energy, and youthful ideals, worry wrinkles were haunting me. Coping with a bad case of jitters, I picked up the phone to make an appointment with my doctor, for I had found a good size lump on my thigh. A lump, I pondered. Just what I need. I've lost an arm, now I'm about to lose a leg. How wonderful, as I pictured myself a sorry crippled old prune keeping my little ranch and stock in good fettle. Along with rheumatoid arthritis and spinal stenosis, just one more thing to raise my walking drugstore status. My doctor inspected the lump and advised sending me headlong under a gargantuan machine resembling some medieval torture device. "I really don't think it's anything to worry about, Kath," he remarked as I pulled on my jeans to begin that awful waiting game. Whether my doctor was worried about me or not, those were the words I liked hearing. It was an expression of reassurance that allowed me to return to daily routines without anxious wondering what lab reports would bring. When feeling uptight, I'll simply take deep breaths to avoid sleepless nights and panic, and probably heal easily in these days of modern miracles... or so I told myself. But, alas, unable to think past worrywart butterflies, I pushed in a half dozen CD's and plunged into a major kitchen and pantry make-over. Saving aside a box for the food bank, and reorganizing drawers and cupboards made one afternoon fly. The next day I tackled the linen closet, and day three found me fine tuning two bathrooms. Physical exercise and wearing myself to a frazzle left me gratified, and did wonders for my disposition. Now if I should suddenly call it a day, the grandkids could say, "Yes, our Granny kept such a lovely home!" Four eternal days passed with fear creeping in like hoar frost, characterized by episodes of chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath and profuse sweating. Should I call the doctor's office? How long can it take for a lab crew to check out those samples? Surely the old adage, "no news is good news," has merit. There was no doubt about it, despite my doctor's reassurances, I was dying. Still a miserable wreck, I crawled into bed exhausted, but woke up wired in the middle of the night, pacing about, my befuddled canine pal dogging my every step. Wooziness and nausea consumed me, and I had trouble reading the newspaper or absorbing a movie on TV. My imagination was on a rampage again, and if I wasn't sick before, I was doing a bang-up job giving myself a full-blown panic attack. The following day I again bugged my sweet daughter with my tale of woe, did my volunteer duty, and the dog and I took a little ride in the truck to drive out worry demons. But in the end, can the amazing truth be that the God of the whole world might be interested in little ole' me? It must be so, for He said, "fear not," and I knew somebody up there had His eye on this pitiful sparrow. When I heard the doctor's nurse on the phone, I froze. Why was Maura calling, and not my doctor? "The x-rays, ultra sounds, and lab results show nothing, Kath. Doctor says all is well. It's just a large non-invasive fatty lump. Watch it, and if it changes, be sure to come in, OK?" Heaving a giant sigh, worry wrinkles gone in a flash, and feeling like a kid again, I trumpeted aloud to my faithful pooch as he felt my relief and jumped in circles... "Now wasn't that just the dumbest? Getting myself all tied up in a dozen knots over this crazy thing, Corky? I'll not be putting us through that again!" Wanna bet? -- Kathe Campbell __________________________________________________ Kathe lives her dream on a Montana mountain with her mammoth donkeys, a Keeshond, and a few kitties. Three children, eleven grands and three greats round out her herd. She is a prolific writer on Alzheimer's, and her stories are found on many ezines. Kathe is a contributing author to the Chicken Soup For The Soul and Cup of Comfort series, numerous anthologies, RX for Writers, magazines and medical journals. =========================================================== >-->From Our Friend LouiseAu :) . -|- | /A\ //^\\ ,// _ \\, |/`/_\`\| | , | | /^\ | |//'\\| ,//` _ `\\, ,//` .'|'. `\\, ,//` |-|-| `\\, ,//` [_|_] `\\, |/T T\| | _ __ __ _ | | /_\ | | | /_\ | | |_| | .|. | |_| | | |__|__| | jgs '----[_______]----' ======= ====== ======= >Beautiful story.... The brand new pastor and his wife, newly assigned to their first ministry, to reopen a church in suburban Brooklyn , arrived in early October excited about their opportunities. When they saw their church, it was very run down and needed much work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas Eve. They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting, etc, and on December 18 were ahead of schedule and just about finished. On December 19 a terrible tempest - a driving rainstorm - hit the area and lasted for two days. On the 21st, the pastor went over to the church. His heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about 20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high. The pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor, and not knowing what else to do but postpone the Christmas Eve service, headed home. On the way he noticed that a local business was having a flea market type sale for charity, so he stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful, handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth with exquisite work, fine colors and a Cross embroidered right in the center. It was just the right size to cover the hole in the front wall. He bought it and headed back to the church. By this time it had started to snow. An older woman running from the opposite direction was trying to catch the bus. She missed it. The pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later. She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the pastor while he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and it covered up the entire problem area. Then he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was like a sheet. "Pastor," she asked, "where did you get that tablecloth?" The pastor explained. The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials 'EBG' were crocheted into it there. They were. These were the initials of the woman, and she had made this tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria . The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor told how he had just gotten "The Tablecloth". The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do people in Austria When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave. Her husband was going to follow her the next week. He was captured, sent to prison and she never saw her husband or her home again. The pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth; but she made the pastor keep it for the church. The pastor insisted on driving her home. That was the least he could do. She lived on the other side of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day for a housecleaning job. What a wonderful service they had on Christmas Eve. The church was almost full. The music and the spirit were great. At the end of the service, the pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many said that they would return. One older man, whom the pastor recognized from the neighborhood, continued to sit in one of the pews and stare, and the pastor wondered why he wasn't leaving. The man asked him where he got the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one that his wife had made years ago when they lived in Austria before the war and how could there be two tablecloths so much alike? He told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for her safety and he was supposed to follow her, but he was arrested and put in a prison. He never saw his wife or his home again in all the 35 years between. The pastor asked him if he would allow him to take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten Island and to the same house where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier. He helped the man climb the three flights of stairs to the woman's apartment, knocked on the door and he saw the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine. True story - submitted by Pastor Rob Reid who says God does work in mysterious ways. I asked the Lord to bless you as I prayed for you today, to guide you and protect you as you go along your way. His love is always with you. His promises are true, and when we give Him all our cares we know He will see us through. --- ...Love this classic! Thanks LouiseAu! It certainly is a wonderful tale, whether true or not. =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: .------, =\ \ .---. =\ \ | C~ \ =\ \ | `----------'------'----------, .' LI.-.LI LI LI LI LI LI LI.-.LI`-. \ _/.____|_|______.------,______|_|_____) / / =/ / =/ / =/ / jgs /_____,' >A Matter Of Focus by Catherine Marshall in "Touching the Heart of God" [My friend Marge had an experience] aboard a plane bound for Cleveland, waiting for takeoff. As she settled into her seat, Marge noticed a strange phenomenon. On one side of the airplane a sunset suffused the entire sky with glorious color. But out of the window next to her seat, all Marge could see was a dark and threatening sky, with no sign of the sunset. As the plane's engines began to roar, a gentle Voice spoke within her. "You have noticed the windows," He murmured beneath the roar and thrust of the takeoff. "Your life, too, will contain some happy, beautiful times, but also some dark shadows. Here's a lesson I want to teach you to save you much heartache and allow you to "abide in Me" with continual peace and joy. You see, it doesn't matter which window you look through; this plane is still going to Cleveland. So it is in your life. You have a choice. You can dwell on the gloomy picture. Or you can focus on the bright things and leave the dark, ominous situations to Me. I alone can handle them anyway. And the final destination is not influenced by what you see or feel along the way. Learn this, act on it and you will be released, able to experience the "peace that passes understanding." -<>- __________ / ;~~~~~~`\ ____/ |________\________ / : `\ |> .--.:^^ .--. _<) {____/ .. \___________/ .. \____} \ '' / \ '' / jgs '--' '--' >Windshield wipers! One rainy afternoon I was driving along one of the main streets of town, taking those extra precautions necessary when the roads are wet and slick. Suddenly, my daughter, Aspen, spoke up from her relaxed position in her seat "Dad, I'm thinking of something." This announcement usually meant she had been pondering some fact for a while and was now ready to expound all that her six-year-old mind had discovered I was eager to hear. "What are you thinking?" I asked. "The rain, she said, "is like sin, and the windshield wipers are like God wiping our sins away. After the chill bumps raced up my arms, I was able to respond. That's really good, Aspen." Then my curiosity broke in. How far would this little girl take this revelation? So I asked... "Do you notice how the rain keeps on coming? What does that tell you?" Aspen did not hesitate one moment with her answer: "We keep on sinning, and God just keeps on forgiving us" I will always remember this whenever I turn my wipers on. Isn't it distressing to know that when you forward this message you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it to them. Funny how I can be more worried about what other people think of me than what God thinks of me. Are you thinking? Are you going to send it to two people? Are you going to send it at all? On the other hand, are you just going to delete this very profound message? -<>- _/\. /_ .^\ / ^. \ _.'^ . ^'. /_. / _\ --.`_~^ - .. /_/ ^ \`\_ ~ ~_ -~_`^ -~ ~^ _~~^~ _ ~^~_~ ^ -/.'_ / | '. \ /\_ '--.. '---.. .". /`-/___^ ^ \ `\ .'^.\_ '-. ~. / | \ '.'. ^ `--^--'|##|'---`-' /_. \ _\ -.__ ~ '. '---. / I \ _ ___ .;;``\/. ' /_/ ^'. _ ^~./ I \ ~^-, .;;;;`\;;, \// . /_, / _\ --.. _ ~ ^~ - / I \ - ~/;;;' `-----;._ .' \ '. ~- ^ ; ,;";, ;. |;;' _., /_.' ^. '_\ ~ '-. '. ; /_|_|_\ ; : \;;' .-' \ . _/'^ . ^ \_ _ '-. '. '. | [_______] | ; |;' / | / _/ | '\ '. '. ; : ; | (| ' ' |) | : /;;' _,=\__..--` /_/ ^.' ^ \ '._\ '. : ; | \_-_/ | \;,=" ___ ' . .' -/ | '. `\ : : ;: |.--"\=/"--.()))" ._ ,;;; `\ /`-/ -^.' ^\ ` -.`\ : ; : (_\ | _;=",./ |;;, |. \ .' --'-,^ .'-.---^-` ; : : ; / |_,="` |-; --. `;;,__/'._//.-' \\|###| / . ' : : _((()/ | \ | .~~._ `''-.. ' `// ' ' __ _.=" ||\__/ \__/|| ^~ `\ ' . . ' .--'` \=" ||`;;;;;;;`||.--~~~^^^~-. .--^, `\ .' . | / .-~~-.| \';;;;;'/ | .--~. -' ___ `\ |/.-- \ _.-'~^~' | `-===-' | ^~~. ,;;;;`\ ://, ' . ;' ,~~^. |^ , ~ - _ ~ .~~-. /::, `\~. `-. _. ~. `~ ^ -~^ - ^ ; _/;;, | : ~. '-._ .__. ~.__ .-~~~--._ .-/;;, \ ^. jgs '._ `=._ ^~._ .__, ;^~ _.-' ~~. .--~~-.__.^ ~. '. >YOUR WORDS MATTER (c) Ridgely Goldsborough Amidst much groaning and moaning, we carried one of our two kayaks from the bayside of the key to the beach two hundred yards of sweat and hand chafing. Loaded down with paddles and life preservers, we herded the kids to water's edge. Captain Linus on the bow, oarsman Dad behind him, first mate Camille next in line and oarswoman Mom at the stern into the waves we surged. After a few wobbly moments in the break, the crew settled. We began to scour the depths for the Gulf's finest cow rays, turtles, fish of assorted sizes and our family favorite dolphin. "Look, Momma," squealed Camille. Two hundred yards offshore we spotted the gently undulating fins, rising and falling like the waves they glided through. "Let's go play with them," Linus called out. We dug into the water and pulled away from the coastline. At three boat lengths, we violated their comfort zone. Repeatedly they dove until we slowed behind them and gently kept pace. Suddenly, the lead male leapt high into the sky, spun and crashed into a trough. ,-._ _.-' '--. .' _ -`\_ / .----.`_.'----' ;/ ` jgs /_; ._ ._ ._ ._ _.-._)`\_.-._)`\_.-._)`\_.-._)`\_.-._ "Whoa," Linus yelled. "I want him to do that again." "Ask him," Ali counseled. "Use your mind and make a wish." I watched my son concentrate, gaze across the sea and softly say to himself: "Come back and do another show. Come back and jump again." And then they surrounded us, a pod of eight leapfrogging through the surf. Once. Twice. Three times. Four soaring twirls, completely air born. Spectacular. Magnificent. They snorted hellos through their blowholes. In all her years on this island, Ali had never witnessed anything so magical. They swam on. Wait. Linus craved more. "Maybe another day," said Ali. Armed with confidence and determination, Linus focused his attention. "I'm gonna' tell them again," he proclaimed. "One more show." His brow fixed in thought, Linus mumbled to himself before looking up. On the horizon, within seconds, a colossal vault, as if to salute us adieu, one final glimpse goodbye. "Told you," Linus beamed, triumphant. We could debate for hours the true influence mind over a group of swimming mammals. I choose to believe in his charm and spell. You might draw a different conclusion. One fact remains Indisputable the impact of a few emboldening words on one small boy's beliefs. He will face the world with his head held a tad taller and his shoulders slightly further back because of a mother's Encouragement as would we all. Fortunately, this phenomenon continues throughout adulthood. Declarations of courage, expressions of spirit, pledges of the heart every utterance bears a torch, lighting the way or burning it. Nothing sits in a vacuum. We have much power to pick up a wounded soul, spur on a frightened yet hopeful comrade, challenge a friend to not give up. Watch what comes out of your mouth. Criticism damages far more than it heals. Kindness builds. Insensitivity destroys. Only three feet separate a pat on the back from a kick in the rear. One helps. The other hurts. Which would you rather feel? Your words matter. -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Where God Wants Me! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/wheregodwantsme.html The Black Dot! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/blackdot.html Blind Woman Sees! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/blindsees.html The Blue Ribbon! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/blueribbon.html Butterfly's Story http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/butterflystory.html Christ's Life! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/jesuslife.html Dog Rescue Stories! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dogrescues.html Girl Gets New Ear! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/girlgetsear.html Hill Of Crosses! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/hillofcrosses.html In Days Past! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dayspast.html Love Stories! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lovestories.html Proud Of Our Troops! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/troops.html Sgt.Stubby War Dog Hero! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/stubbywardog.html Random Acts Of Kindness! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/actsofkindness.html True Heroes! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/trueheroes.html Short Life Stories! http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/lifestories.html Woman - Darkest Before Dawn! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/womandbd.html -<>- >From TruthOrTradition: New Video Teachings: Kindness - Being Kind to Others http://tinyurl.com/zvzzrdz ?Hearts of Flesh http://tinyurl.com/zvl7cyl How to make Teachings that Stick http://tinyurl.com/j7sr83j What is The Prophetic Perfect in the Bible? http://tinyurl.com/jrse5c6 Are You Really Saved? http://tinyurl.com/ho24xo8 -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseAu :) Why I Am A Republican... https://www.youtube.com/embed/n_YQ8560E1w?autoplay=1 Dogs Who love water... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCz8YLgHuI8 --- ...Love the commentary and LOL! So cute! Thanks LouiseAu! 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 ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Bunni :) ..--""| | | | .---' (\-.--| |---------. / \) \ | | \ |:. | | | | |:. | |o| | |:. | `"` | |:. |_ __ __ _ __ / `""""`""|=`|"""""""` |=_| jgs |= | >A letter from the Post Office... We don't know who replied, but there is a beautiful soul working in the dead letter department who understands Love. Our 14-year-old dog Abbey died last month. The day after she passed away my 6-year-old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to Heaven God would recognize her. I told her that I thought that we could, so she dictated these words: Dear God, Will you please take care of my dog? Abbey died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I'm happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her. She likes to swim and play outside. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her. Love, Meredith We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey & Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had. Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith’ in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, ‘When a Pet Dies' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note: Dear Meredith, Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help and I recognized her right away. Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in so I'm sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by. Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I'm easy to find. I am wherever there is love. Love, God Don't say you're too busy to forward this. Just go ahead and do it. --- ...Aww, a tear jerker of a sweet story! Thanks Bunni! ========================================================== /'=----= ______ (( || "--.__." " @>||_____________// _______ /^\"""""""""""//\========) _--"""--/-. "\ // _\-:::-/_-. ." .-"""-/ "_\ "\ == // ;::\:::/::".\ ; / _/ " \\ "\-+//--..._\_/:::::\\ . ; o . || ( ()/)======(o)::::::. . \ ; .| -|.;____...."b:::::; . -._ _ - ; == :::::::::::; "-..____.' ls ":::::::' >Asphalt and Altruism Story Editor: by Rose Kelly Joyce Schowalter Georgia, USA I remember when I first got my bike, at about 8 or 9 years old. My mother, father, and five older brothers saved up for it. I was so happy because I could follow my brother, Khanh, around the block. We rode around with the neighborhood kids. Since I was the youngest of the group I was always behind. One day Khanh, two other kids and I were riding up and down a steep hill. We were on our last run because it was getting late. Half-way down the hill my right foot slipped off the pedal. I tried to get it back on but I just couldn't. Everybody was getting farther and farther away. I panicked and screamed for my brother but he couldn't hear me. At the curve at the bottom of the hill I knew I had to do something. I couldn't slow down, lost control and toppled over. I skidded and tumbled on asphalt for a few yards. I finally rolled to a stop face down. I was afraid to move. Everyone heard the bike crash and came running. My brother rolled me over and one of the kids said I was bleeding. I'd lost my shoes along the way. I was bleeding around the toes, ankles, shin, knees, elbows, shoulders and fingers. I had cuts on my face and head, but the most severe was a deep cut on my chin. It was split open to the bone. My brother was torn between staying with me or going to get help. Finally one of the kids ran to my house. He returned with my brother Sonny. Sonny panicked because of the blood, too. No one knew what to do. There were no adults around; no one was home. As we stood there a few cars passed by. Some slowed down to see what happened but nobody stopped to help. Sonny left to call my parents and 911. As we waited, a car pulled up and asked what had happened. Hearing the story, the gentlemen stopped his car, got out, and talked to Khanh. Khanh picked me up, got in the car with me in his arms and then the man drove us to our house. Sonny was on the phone with my brother Nick, who was at work. The man told Nick which hospital he would take me to, and then drove us there. The doctor gave me five stitches on my chin, cleaned up my cuts and scrapes, and made me take some medicine. By the time I was patched up my whole family had arrived to take me home. The gentlemen had already left, and I never knew his name. I had wanted to thank him for stopping and going out of his way to make sure a stranger was safe. Now as an adult I try to help people when I can... because someone helped me when they didn't have to. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Our Friend Geniann :) .--. /.-. '----------. \'-' .--"--""-"-' jgs '--' ( Just a nice story. Enjoy ) A young man learns what's most important in life from the guy next door. Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days. "Jack, did you hear me?" "Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said... "Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him. "I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said. "You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said. "He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important. Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said. As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away. The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time. Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture. Jack stopped suddenly... "What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked. "The box is gone," he said "What box?" Mom asked. "There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most,'" Jack said. It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it. "Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom." It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox: "Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read. Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. "Mr. Harold Belser" it read. Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside. "Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved: "Jack, Thanks for your time! -Harold Belser." "The thing he valued most was.. my time" Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" Janet, his assistant asked. "I need some time to spend with a friend," he said. "Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time!" Think about this. You may not realize it, but it's 100% true. 1. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.. 2. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you. 3. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep. 4. You mean the world to someone. 5. If not for you, someone may not be living. 6. You are special and unique. 7. When you think you have no chance of getting what you want, you probably won't get it, but if you trust God to do what's best, and wait on His time, sooner or later, you will get it or something better. 8. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good can still come from it. 9. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look: you most likely turned your back on the world. 10. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you. 11. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks. 12. Always tell someone how you feel about them; you will feel much better when they know and you'll both be happy. 13. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they are great. Send this letter to all the people you care about, if you do so, you will certainly brighten someone's day and might change their perspective on life... for the better. To everyone I sent this to, "Thanks for your time. --- ...Awww, love it! Thank You Too Geniann! ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Linda :) THIS IS SUCH A NEAT STORY....JUST HAD TO SHARE IT WITH YOU! _...::::::..._ .::::::::::::::::::. .::::::::``__``::::::::. |:::::( (__) ):::::| Record \:::::::..____..:::::::/ '::::::::::::::::::::' jgs `--::::::::::::--` ```````` Back in the 50's there was a well known radio Host/comedian/song writer in Hollywood named Stuart Hamblen who was noted for his drinking, Womanizing, partying, etc. One of his bigger hits at the time was "I won't go hunting with you Jake, But I'll go chasing women." One day, along came a young preacher holding A tent revival. Hamblen had him on his radio show Presumably to poke fun at him. In order to gather more material for his show, Hamblen showed up at one of the revival meetings. Early in the service the preacher announced, "There is one man in this audience who is a big fake." There were probably others who thought the same thing, But Hamblen was convinced that he was the one the preacher Was talking about (some would call that conviction) But he was having none of that. Still the words continued to haunt him until a couple Of nights later he showed up drunk at the preacher's Hotel door around 2AM demanding that the preacher Pray for him! But the preacher refused, saying, "This is between you and God And I'm not going to get in the middle of it." But he did invite Stuart in and they talked until About 5 AM at which point Stuart dropped to his Knees and with tears, cried out to God. But that is not the end of the story. Stuart quit drinking, quit chasing women, Quit everything that was 'fun.' Soon he began To lose favour with the Hollywood crowd. He was ultimately fired by the radio station when He refused to accept a beer company as a sponsor. Hard times were upon him. He tried writing a couple Of "Christian" songs but the only one that had Much success was "This Old House", Written for his friend Rosemary Clooney As he continued to struggle, a long time friend Named John took him aside and told him, "All your troubles started when you 'got religion,' Was it worth it all?" Stuart answered simply, "Yes." Then his friend asked, "You liked your booze so much, Don't you ever miss it?" And his answer was, "No." John then said, "I don't understand how You could give it up so easily." And Stuart's response was, "It's no big secret. All things are possible with God." To this John said, "That's a catchy phrase. You should write a song about it." And as they say, "The rest is history." The song Carl Stuart Hamblen wrote was "It Is No Secret." "It is no secret what God can do. What He's done for others, He'll do for you. With arms wide open, He'll welcome you. It is no secret, what God can do...." By the way... The friend was John Wayne. And the young preacher who refused to pray for Stuart Hamblen? ....That was Billy Graham. --- ...What a wonderful story! Thanks Linda! Full facts on this one... https://www.truthorfiction.com/stuarthamblin/ ========================================================== >-->From Kidwarmers: .-. __ / \ __ ( `'.\ /.'` ) '-._.(;;;)._.-' .-' ,`"`, '-. (__.-'/ \'-.__)/)_ \ /\ / / ) '-' | \/.-') , | .'/\'..) |\ |/ | \_) \ | | \_/ | \ / \|/ _, jgs / __/ / | _/ _.' |/__/ \ >THE FUNNIEST THINGS KIDS SAY When Gayle's kids were little, they would all cuddle in a double bed with a twin on the top bunk. One night Jamal, 4, was sound asleep in the top bunk next to the wall. Marzieh (MAR-zee-yuh), 7, was really sick with a cold. Gayle was holding her with both arms as she coughed. "Mom, did you know that when you cough the germs travel up to 9 feet?" Marzieh asked. Gayle replied yes, she did know. Marzieh continued, "So if I'm here, and he's there... will I get him?" -- Gayle of Sacramento, California Blake, 5, had a stomach virus. The next morning he was feeling better, but weak, so he stayed home from school. In the middle of the day he was bored and wanted to play some games on the computer. He asked, "Mom, can I play on the computer or will I give it a virus?" -- Meme(Blake's grandmother) Joan Henry of Sulphur Springs, Texas Keri's 3-year-old son had picked up the telephone to play with it. Keri asked him who he was talking to and he said, "Danielle, she is my friend." (Danielle is actually one of Keri's girlfriends.) He had been "talking" to her for about a minute when he started yelling. Keri asked him why he was yelling at Danielle. He replied, "I'm not yelling at Danielle. I am yelling at the lady who is telling me to hang up and try again." -- Keri A Amici of Orchard Park, New York When visiting Aunt Rachel, Kendall's mother took some donuts for the family. Kendall was allowed to have one, but was told the rest of the donuts were for the other members of the family. Later that afternoon, there were some donuts left and Kendall wanted another one. "May I have one of those circles with the hole?" she asked. -- Rebecca Hayes (Kendall's grandmother), Newtown Square, Pennsylvania __...._ .-"` `\ / | | | \ | \ __...--'| \.-' |_..-, __\___...---'`_..-' (_______....--'\ / `\ (o \__ | | __) _ _ \ /`\ \ | (_Y_) _ '-.\_,| | T-._/ (_A_) _../`'T T-'` | | \__ _| .' | | | | \___ | /_\`\ / | | | | \ `/-`\ --| | \ | | | | /`----' |--' \ `\ \_; |`-.......-` .-.-'. \_LI ; / / /`-._ |`-\ \ jgs _/_/ / | \ \ ( ( ;.__ / \__,\__ `"`""` `""""` `.__._`; Shannon had a pretty serious cold and was losing her voice. Jhett, 4, was very concerned. He grabbed Shannon's hand and asked in a sweet voice, "Mommy what happened to your noise?" -- Shannon Dougherty of Lyons, Oregon Every summer the company Phyllis' husband Bill worked for had a plant picnic. Bob, 2, had to go to the bathroom so Bill took him. Bob couldn't quite reach so Bill put his hand on his tush to push Bob closer. Then Bill had to use the facility. All of a sudden he felt a little hand on his rear end and a little voice saying, "Here, Daddy, I help you!" -- Phyllis Smith of Delaware The family traded their Taurus for a new Taurus, about the same color. While visiting the grandkids, Janice asked Christopher, 8, to look out, and tell her what he saw. He said, "Your car." Janice asked him to look out again, and tell her what else he saw. He said, "It's clean!" -- Janice Finley of Arab, Alabama _ _ _.=;;;;;;/ '.,-,.' \ .:="` _ _\_.'\_/'._/ //_ _ (_I_) / | \ ||(_I_) (_>@<_)/_/_\ \ |(_>@<_)_(_I_) (_I_)\|_ |_(_I_)_I_)-_.(_>@<(_I_) (_I_)-(_>@<_(_I_)_I(_>@<_) (_>@<_)-(_I_(_>@<_)=_(_I_) (_I_)_-=_==_(_I_)=__=-/ \-=_=-_-=_-_=__=-_=/ jgs \_=-_-_==-_=-__=-/ '-==--===-===--' Maureen is trying to teach her daughter Stephanie, 3, good values and she is beginning to incorporate God into their discussions of right and wrong. Last week when Stephanie was being naughty, Maureen asked, "Do you think God would be happy to see you doing what you are doing?" Stephanie quickly replied, "No, He is probably sticking his lip out right now and pouting about it!" -- Maureen of Stillwater, New Jersey At the dinner table the other night they were enjoying steak. Kristen's daughter Ryan, 3, asked what kind of animal steak comes from. Kristen told her that beef comes from a cow. Then Ryan said, "and chicken comes from chickens and pork comes from a porcupine!" -- Kristen Johnson of Kendallville, Indiana .-"""""-. \ / |.-----.| __|_______|___ HAPPY '--;-'```'-;--' ST. PATRICK'S / / 6_6 \ \ DAY ! ( ( _) ) ) / ( ( .__. ) ) ( `._`-'_.' ) /`'-._`"`_.-'`\ | /___```___\ | \ |___|L|___| / \/ `"` \/ /..,_______,..\ / /\ \ | ,-' `-, | \ `\ ,-'` / jgs __LI`--`\|`.__/ ( /\ LI\ `.___,-'` \ | '.__/ Chloe, almost 9, is starting to "bud." Her mother took her bra shopping but Chloe won't wear the bras they bought, "because Daddy's boobs are bigger and he just wears a shirt." -- Taania (mother of Chloe) of South Africa Note: You are welcomed to use, copy and share these stories, but please reference http://www.funnykids.com as the source. ========================================================== ________ .##@@&&&@@##. ,##@&::%&&%%::&@##. #@&:%%000000000%%:&@# #@&:%00' '00%:&@# #@&:%0' '0%:&@# #@&:%0 0%:&@# #@&:%0 0%:&@# #@&:%0 0%:&@# "" ' " " ' "" _oOoOoOo_ .-.-. (oOoOoOoOo) ( : ) )`"""""`( .-.`. .'.-. / \ (_ '.Y.' _) | # | ( .'|'. ) \ / '-' | '-' jgs `=========` >-->IRISH BLESSINGS May you always have walls for the winds, a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire, laughter to cheer you, those you love near you, and all your heart might desire. --- May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields and, Until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand. --- May you have love that never ends, lots of money, and lots of friends. Health be yours, whatever you do, and may God send many blessings to you! >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->FULL LENGTH - FREE On line AUDIO MP3 Christian Foundational Class http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=61 NEW LIFE IN CHRIST! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->This is for all you who love food and DARE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. These are Tried and True, Yummy to the Tummy, good old fashioned home cooking recipes that are EASY to do Visit Shangy's Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html Home Recipes >Got A good Recipe? 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