Story Time ... :) Shangy! >-->Hot off the 'Shangy' Press! How stuff is made has always interested me - amazing how they can put all the stuff together to make a cool thing like a PC Motherboard! [That's why I like cooking and programming - put all the stuff together and you got something cool!] So, I decided to feature a few factories for a quick Virtual online tour. __ . .* , ~#@#%(" .,$ @ ."^ ';" .. ;. : . . ;==: ,, ,.@#(&*.;' ;. : .;#$% & ^^& ;==: & ...... ;. : ,,; : ;==: ._______. ; ; : ;. : ; ###:__. ; ; : _____________________.' `._; : :__.' .' `.___ Alexander Antsiferov Just more ooo's and awww's for our everyday life! Virtual Factory Tours http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/factory.html Factory Tours ==================================================================== >Waiting For The Opportunity Story Editor: by Greg Higgins Joyce Schowalter Illinois, USA When I brought my wife and three children to the Midwestern portion of the USA in late 1999, I made judgments about the people in our new home state that turned out to be far from the truth. Coming from the south, I found the people in Illinois to be generally standoffish and somewhat uncaring -- hardly the type of people I would have as true friends. Nonetheless, we settled into life in Romeoville, Illinois, just north of Joliet. My immediate family had never before had to face a situation that involved serious illness or the risk of losing a life. That changed in late March 2007, when my wife went to the hospital for tests to investigate issues with her sight and hearing. The CT scan revealed anomalies in her brain, so the hospital sent her for an MRI. The MRI verified that there was a brain tumor. The immediate shock of such an event on your life is indescribable. We were numb. How dare something like this turn our life upside down? How do we explain this to our three children -- a boy of 13 and twin daughters age 10? Fortunately, the tumor was of a type that was treatable with surgery. My wife spent 8 days in the critical care unit to bring down the swelling in her brain, following which the tumor was successfully removed with surgery. But what has amazed me is the concern and support that we received from our Illinois friends. My assumptions have been proven spectacularly wrong in the past month. While my wife was hospitalized, I tried to manage the house and our three children on my own. Without exception, our friends offered their support to take our children to scouts, dance class, or whatever they could do to give me time to support my wife. They wanted to help give my children a semblance of a normal life while their mother was away. Meals can be difficult when your family spends most of the evening at the hospital supporting a sick family member. Yet I don't think we missed one meal, because our caring friends brought us more food than we could eat. My wife is a teacher at the local high school. Her peers took up a collection, twice, to help us get through the immediate cash flow issues that come up during these tough times. The overwhelming support from close friends, acquaintances, and even strangers, disproves my initial assumption about the people we see every day. They are caring and supportive, and bring to mind the best attributes of our humanity. It has been said that true friends can be hard to find. They may just be waiting for the opportunity to step up and reveal themselves. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Heartwarming: . >< . o . o ' . >< * >< . . . o __ ,,",". . L" ,|| >< .-'_-||' . . . . / J . . . /o| L L ,-',/ ,J | ``\ .* C -' `-.-JL`.\ LJLJ ` . _|JL| . `--'`-' o * - . -bf- One day a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people can be. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?" "It was great, Dad." "Did you see how poor people can be?" the father asked. "Oh Yeah" said the son. "So what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father. The son answered, "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them." With this the boy's father was speechless. Then his son added, "Thanks dad for showing me how poor we are." Too many times we forget what we have and concentrate on what we don't have. What is one person's worthless object is another's prize possession. It is all based on one's perspective. Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for all the bounty we have, instead of worrying about wanting more. Take joy in all you have, especially your friends. -<>- I want to tell you of an experience I had last night flying home from Atlanta. The pilot came on the intercom and went through the usual announcements telling us that "we're just east of Montgomery cruising at 28,000 feet" and "you've picked a beautiful night for flying, just look at the gorgeous southern sunset out of the right side of the plane." He then, however, said this: "Please bear with me as I deviate from the script, but I want you all to know that simply by coincidence you have been granted both the privilege and honor of escorting the body of Army PFC Howard Johnson, Jr. home tonight. PFC Johnson was killed in Iraq defending the freedoms we all enjoy, and fighting to extend those freedoms to the people of Iraq. We are also accompanied by PFC Johnson's cousin, Marine Major Talley, who has been chosen by the family to escort PFC Johnson home. Semper Fi!" The plane quickly became very quiet, but soon erupted in thunderous applause that lasted for several minutes. It was quite moving, to say the least. As I sat there thinking about what the pilot had said, and visualizing PFC Johnson's dead body riding below me in the belly of that plane, I noticed a couple of things. Two rows in front of me sat a father holding his daughter, an infant, and they were practicing "ma-ma" and in the row behind me was another young boy, probably 2 or so, learning to count to 10. Now obviously both are too young to realize we're at war, or that one of our dead was with us, but it made me think, and this is the point: These warriors, mostly young, all volunteers, everyday are prepared to give their lives for our future, for a safer, more secure future for people they don't even know, all based on the principle that fighting and dying for this country is worth it. You all know and agree with this, but not everyone does, so I would ask that if you meet anyone that's not "on board" with this philosophy, i.e. the protesters to which Bob refers, that you "correct the situation." By the way, the flight ended with all of us deplaning only to line the windows of the gate house to watch PFC Johnson's body, draped in the American flag, be rolled out of the plane and into a waiting hearse that was surrounded by his family members. (author unknown) ===================================================================== >-->Reminds me of this from Our friend Dels, Casey & MrWu :) WHAT A LETTER!! PLEASE READ WOW ........ is this laying it on the line or what? "Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001 ? Were people from all over the world, mostly Americans, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan , across the Potomac from our nation's capitol and in a field in Pennsylvania ? Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they? And I'm supposed to care that a copy of the Koran was "desecrated" when an overworked American soldier kicked it or got it wet? Well, I don't. I don't care at all. I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11. I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere possession of which is a crime in Saudi Arabia I'll care when Abu Musab al-Zarqawi tells the world he is sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat. I'll care when the cowardly so-called "insurgents" in Iraq come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques. I'll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs. I'll care when the American media stops pretending that their First Amendment liberties are somehow derived from international law instead of the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights. In the meantime, when I hear a story about a brave marine roughing up an Iraqi terrorist to obtain information, know this: I don't care. When I see a fuzzy photo of a pile of naked Iraqi prisoners who have been humiliated in what amounts to a college-hazing incident, rest assured that I don't care. When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank that I don't care. When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and fed "special" food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being "mishandled," you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts that I don't care. And oh, by the way, I've noticed that sometimes it's spelled "Koran" and other times "Quran." Well, Jimmy Crack Corn and ---- you guessed it - - I don't care ! ! ! ! ! If you agree with this viewpoint, pass this on to all your e-mail friends. Sooner or later, it'll get to the people responsible for this ridiculous behavior! If you don't agree, then by all means hit the delete button. Should you choose the latter, then please don't complain when more atrocities committed by radical Muslims happen here in our great country. I am not deleting this, I am sending it on, but only after I add: "Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan I have another quote that I would like to add AND....... I hope you forward this such as I have. "If we ever forget that we're One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under." also by... Ronald Reagan ==================================================================== >-->Stories from my some of my fav authors from InspiredBuffalo: _._ .' '. / \ ___ _.. _.--. | / |.' `'. ;-._ .' `\ .' `\ \| / \ .' `\/ ; / _ \.=..=./ _.' / | `\.---._| '. .-'-.}`.<>.`{-'-. / .--; . ( .' '. \ .---.{ <>()<> }.--..-' / _ \_ './ _. `-./ _},'<>`.{_ `\ ( = \ )`""'\;--. .' .-'/ )=..=;`\`- \ {= (| ) /`. ( / /| \ ) ( =_/ )__..-\ .'-..___.' : '.___..-' \ }/ / ;.____.-;/\ | ` | '--' | .' | \ \ /'. _.' \ ' / |\.\ ; /`--.-' ) .'`-. / \ \ |`| /__.-' \_.'jgs \ \ |-| BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD (Psalm 46:10) God, what does it mean To be still and know You are God? My child, what I mean is: Though the earth be removed, Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with swelling, Though the wind blow, Though the storms rage; IN OTHER WORDS: Though your bills are due, Though they give you a hard time on your job, Though your husband won't act right, Though your wife won't act right, Though your children are disobedient, Though there's sickness in your body, Though your enemies get on your NERVES; Stop your WORRIES! Stop your COMPLAINING! Stop your DOUBTING! Stop your FROWNING! Cease your fears, and dry up those tears! For I'm right there to comfort you, I'm right there to guide you, I'm right there to hold you up, I'm right there to heal you, I'm right there to deliver you. So cast your cares upon me for I careth for you. My child this is what I mean by being still And knowing I AM GOD. FOR I AM GOD ALL BY MYSELF!!! Written by the I AM! ~Author Unknown~ -<>- THE FIRST SECRET OF SUCCESS "Success is dependent upon the glands - sweat glands," says motivational speaker Zig Ziglar. Here's a true story about a man who learned that lesson. Harold was ready to retire. His wife Martha, however, was less enthusiastic. As she explained to a friend, "Harold has never done anything that required physical exertion. He never played golf, mowed the lawn or even washed the windows. When he retires, he will sit in his easy chair and expect me to bring him his food." But to Martha's surprise, soon after he retired Harold joined a health club. And one night, when he arrived home from exercise class, he announced, "I signed up for the wrestling tournament. I am going to wrestle Friday night." Martha was shocked. "Please don't do it, Harold," she begged. "You're not in shape. You will be so beat up they will have to carry you home!" However, he couldn't be dissuaded and she told him that if he went through with his "lame idea," she was not going to watch. She stayed away that Friday evening as Harold wrestled. Then about 10:00 p.m., just as she predicted, two men practically carried Harold home. He lay down on the couch, every muscle strained and bruised. Before she could speak, he sputtered, "Don't say a word, Martha! This is not the worst of it. I won tonight. I have to wrestle again tomorrow night!" Harold worked hard for his success, but he may not have been ready to succeed! He proved, however, that when you combine sweat with the belief that you can do a certain thing, tremendous results will often follow. In fact, I believe Harold may have even surprised himself. As Dr. Norman Vincent Peale said, "People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret of success." Have you discovered that secret? --Steve Goodier -<>- >DAY ONE OR DAY TWO By: Joseph J. Mazzella I had two very different days recently. The first one was really rough. My body hurt and ached. I felt grouchy and irritable. My pets seemed to be constantly underfoot. My kids were arguing a lot. Everyone I met on the street looked sullen and unfriendly. The sunshine outside even hurt my eyes. The day was so full of stress and worry that I couldn’t even sleep that night. The second day was wonderful. My body felt energized and healthy. I was laughing and smiling the whole day long. My pets were lovable and affectionate. My children warmed my heart with their kind words and tender hugs. Everyone I saw outside seemed to have a smile and a happy wave to share. The sun peeking through the clouds made my soul light up as well. The day’s problems were handled easily with humor and joy and I slept like a baby that night. In truth, however, the only real difference between those two days was me. It was me who made the first day so rotten and it was me who made the second day so glorious. It was me who just idled through the first day grumbling about the world. And it was me who spent the second day thanking God for my life, sharing my love with everyone I could, and giving my joy to the world. I am glad that God forgives me for all the day ones I have had in my life. Thankfully, they are becoming fewer and fewer as time goes on. I am so delighted too that God has given me so many day twos to enjoy and share with others. I hope as well to make every single day I have left in this world a day two kind of day. What kind of day do you want to live today? What kind of day do you want to live for the rest of your life? Each day here is a glorious gift from God. It is up to us, however, to "rejoice and be glad in it." Don’t just idle through your days then when you can really live them. Don’t just exist in a day one when you can love, laugh, sing, dance, pray, enjoy, and delight in a day two. -<>- Dear Lord, Thank you for the little things That fill my heart with hope. For thinking of these little things Sure seems to change the scope… Budding flowers, seedling trees, A warm afternoon and a cool summer breeze; The lady bug, the butterfly Big puffy clouds in a baby blue sky; The clover patch, the honey bee, A Sunday brunch or afternoon tea; The sparkle of a midnight star; And wishing on it from afar; The calming effect of an evening rain, As it taps against the window pane. For all these things I can’t complain! So, when my life seems rough to me I think of all your kindness brings, And I find my spirits lifted up, For you truly give my soul its wings. ~ unknown ~ -<>- Postive Thinking In an episode of Star Trek that caught my attention - the crew landed on a planet where anything that was created; all they had to do is think about it, and it become a reality. The planet was a vacation destination for rest and relaxation. Naturally, they are in a good mood, when they arrive and their thoughts are all about having fun. At the beginning, everyone is having a fantastic time. They're creating wonderful things and having the time of their life. This good time continues for a while, but after a time things start to change. As the crew gets tired, they start creating negative situations. They create things they do not desire. In this episode the villain becomes themselves or their own thoughts. The very thoughts that in the beginning created a wonderful life for them are now making their lives miserable. What struck me is that "Star Trek" was analyzing real life, because this is exactly what we do in our lives everyday. We start out in something new and have all this positive energy, in the beginning. Whether it's a new job, a new relationship, moving to a new area, or a new project, we start off with zeal and passion. After some time, we grow tired. Our positive energy turns negative and our thoughts begin to work against us. Before you know it – you start thinking negatively toward the situation. Your thoughts created by your own mind create the things you don't really want. In the end, it is your negative, self- destructive thoughts that create the things you don't want in life. By not controlling your thoughts, you stop having positive thoughts and most important of all - you stopped creating the things you want in life To Subscribe send a blank email to: the-inspired-buffalo-subscribe@yahoogroups.com =============================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: BABY BOOMER DREAMS by Dotsie Bregel When I was a little girl I dreamed about getting married and having kids. This wasn't the "in thing" for a gal raised during the 60s and 70s. Mothers who felt trapped at home in loveless marriages and/or without careers told their daughters the world was their oyster. They inspired them to do something with their lives and not be dependent on a man. I was madly in love with my high school sweetheart while friends were speaking of going away to college and pursuing careers. The plan was for my beau to get into optometry school and then we'd marry. The dream came true. At 21 years old, I went down the aisle -- the happiest gal on the face of the earth. God was on my side, although I was clueless. It sickens me now to think I didn't want to get married in a church. God was the farthest thing from my mind. After working four years while hubby pursued his degree, God decided to get our attention. It started when a dear friend committed suicide, followed by my husband's difficulties with diabetes preventing him from finishing his state boards. Add to that, undiagnosed infertility, and we realized we weren't in control of our lives. It was a rude awakening for a young couple who thought they were on top of the world. We searched for ministerial advice and by the grace of God a minister family friend chose to speak with us. My childhood dream of marriage and a family was fulfilled when we chose to adopt two children from Korea, and then quickly became pregnant, giving us an instant family. For many years, I lived the dream of being a stay-at-home mom to my three children but started getting scared thinking about the empty nest that was just around the corner. I didn't want my mother's midlife. I loved her dearly. I knew she had much to offer this world because of all she had so lovingly given. I wanted her to fly from her empty nest, but many in her generation thought their jobs were over when the kids left home. Mom's midlife caused me to prepare for mine. Ironically, she was diagnosed with cancer, given six months to live, lived seven, and died surrounded by her family. Immediately following her death, I was forced to create my midlife because my kids were soon leaving the nest. I needed to "get a life" as I so flippantly told Mom during my teen years. (Forgive me God for such disrespect.) I had not considered what I would do when the kids left home. One stage at a time, but what next? My only dream was to marry and have kids. I'd never considered the possibilities of another dream at midlife. After hunkering down at the kitchen table with my Bible, journal, and prayer folder, I pleaded with God for a purpose, and together, we came up with a plan. I launched a website to give baby boomer women a voice. I wanted us to have a place online to connect, encourage and support one another. It is now the number one site on all search engines for "baby boomer women". I've since launched the National Association of Baby Boomer Women at nabbw.com where women are empowered to claim their midlife passions and live them. For all women who have dreamed of more, I encourage you to: Draw near to Him. Be honest. Tell God you're searching and need His guidance. Reveal your fears. Listen Allow Him to make known the gifts He's already given you. Live out your dream through Him at midlife. He already knows your dream. All you need to do is take time to listen and then bravely and with courage, follow. It's time to become the midlife masterpiece He's envisioned for you. -- Dotsie Bregel ___________________________________________ Dotsie Bregel is the Founder of the National Association of Baby Boomer Women at: http://www.nabbw.com ================================================================== >-->JOE FOWLER AND THE BIG QUESTION When Walt Disney decided to proceed with his new concept of a theme park in Anaheim, California, he told his staff, "I know who we need to be the chief construction engineer." The immediate staff response was, "Who? Tell us who and we'll get him right away." "I don't know his name... but I do know who he is. Whoever put the United States Navy back in the war in 1942 is the man I want. Find him!" was the Disney declaration. (For those of you who missed it, we lost most of our fleet in the early days of December 1941 at the beginning of World War II, and someone had masterminded the effort to make us competitive. By the end of the year 1942 we were afloat again, sailing into the Pacific, and winning the war.) The staff discovered the champion of that naval cause was Joe Fowler. Admiral Joe Fowler, fifty years old and retiring from the service. At first he declined the Disney invitation because he couldn't stand California and his wife hated mice. But he reconsidered to get the expense paid trip and time with his wife in exchange for one afternoon's listening to a foolhardy dream. But it only took that one afternoon in 1952 to catch the imagination and steal the heart of the Admiral... and he signed on for the project. He was the chief construction engineer for the twenty-five million dollar job. Twenty years later when Walt Disney wanted to open a sister theme park in Florida, retired Admiral Joe Fowler again was the was the boss of it all. A one hundred million dollar investment being managed by a 70 year old man. Ten years later... when EPCOT Center was planned on the Disney World property in Florida, guess who the chief construction engineer was. You're right... 80 year old Joe Fowler! Managing a project that would cost a thousand million dollars... that's a billion with a "B"! Eighty years old... this is the man who said, "You don't have to die until you're ready to die!" You understand that? If you have a dream... you can keep on going. Never, never stop stretching your soul. What made Walt Disney so secure in the leadership of Joe Fowler? Let this incident open the door of your understanding. If you have visited Disneyland in California, then you have seen the Pirates of the Caribbean, a white-knuckle ride down two waterfalls and then an exciting cruise through a pirate battle. The day before the ride was to open, Walt Disney took a preview tour. "This show can't open! It's not ready." The staff replied, "Ready? Of course it's ready! Everything is up to specifications and all the inspections are completed and passed." "It's still not ready," he insisted. "We have a bayou restaurant here and no fire-flies." It is impossible to have a bayou property without lightning bugs!" "What do you want us to do about that?" came the quick question. "I don't have any idea," Walt said. "Call Joe. He'll know." When Joe was contacted, he only had one question. Not "how many does he want?" or "how shall we suspend them?" or "does he want incandescent, florescent, or reflective light?" None of those questions. Walt Disney wants fire-flies? Joe Fowler asked only one question . . . WHEN?" =======HeartWarming======= >-->THE PILOT SMILED ~; ,/|\, ,/' |\ \, ,/' | | \ ,/' | | | ,/' |/ | ,/__________|-----' , ___.....-----''-----/ jgs \ / ~~-~^~^~`~^~`~^^~^~-^~^~^~-~^~^ ~-^~^-`~^~-^~^`^~^-^~^`^~^-~^ You might be tossing about in a sea of despair. You might even feel as if your life may crash about you and you will never again be healed, whole or happy. They say Robert Louis Stevenson told the story first. It's worth retelling: It seems a storm caught a seafaring vessel off a rocky coast. The wind and waves threatened to drive the boat to its destruction. In the midst of the terror, one daring passenger, contrary to orders, made his way across the ship. Groping along a passageway, he found the pilot house. There he beheld an intriguing sight; the ship's pilot was lashed to his post. Secure against the raging elements, he held the wheel fast, turning the ship, inch by inch, once more out to sea. The pilot saw the watcher and smiled. The daring passenger found his way below deck where other passengers huddled. Encouragingly, he said, "I have seen the face of the pilot, and he smiled. All is well." There are times we need to hear that. Especially when we feel tossed about by a raging storm, it helps to remember that the pilot smiles. Can you imagine the pilot smiling now? © 2001 Steve Goodier ===================================================================== "They say 'make the best of a bad situation.' I believe that the bad situation makes the best of you. Anyone can be their best when things are good. The true measure of your abilities are when you are facing the worst things in life." Bob Perks: <> "I believe that everyone is the keeper of a dream -- and by tuning into one another's secret hopes, we can become better friends, better partners, better parents, and better lovers." -- Oprah Winfrey >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Wow Baby :)Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->Bigham's Computer Rescue - PC Sales & Serrvice You can trust us to provide you with quality computer sales and repair. We've been servicing the Van Wert area since 1981 and can help you with all your computer needs. Please phone us at 419-238-5806 ************************************************************************ -->This is for all you who love food and DARRE 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: Subscribe ************************************************************************ >TO UNSUBSCRIBE: Remove ************************************************************************ -->Want to ADVERTISE in The Shangy FUN List Publication? >To ADVERTISE: Advertise ************************************************************************ -->Missed Any of These Teachings? 'BABES IN CHRIST','IN The Beginning', 'Crossing The Line','NEVER Give Up', 'FEAR - Feeling Kind Of Buggy', 'HAUNTINGS', 'Christianity And The Renewed Mind', or 'Curse Of The Law' --BE SURE TO Tell me which one you want or yyou'll get them all :) >For a Lesson: Teaching ************************************************************************ --Want TIPS to help TEACH A CHILD TO BE SAFEE and STOP ABDUCTIONS? Child Help ************************************************************************ --PHYSICIAN FORMULAS = THE BEST PLACE TO GETT IT: Wanta know more? >Visit their Web Site: PhysicianFormulas ************************************************************************ PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS They keep our service "priceless" -->LET'S Have FUN and Do Some SHOPPING!! We've got patches, Phones, Almonds, and Chains, Furniture, Chocolates, Cheese, and Games. Clothing, flowers, dishes, and shoes, Desserts, Cherished Teddies, and Auto Tools. We've got NCAA, NFL, MLB, and NBA, Disney, Name a star, Movies, and KinKade. Jewelry, furs, leather, and lighting, Music, instruments, and magazines at best pricing. >Beat The Crowds - Let Your MOUSE Do the Walking! :) http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/yellow.html Get It Here ***********************************************************************