Thank You Vets! ... :) 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 Through no fault of my own we suddenly became an adult club in the love and romance directory so you will have to confirm that you are an adult when you go here. I still have no idea how to change this back as it sends me around in a circle when I try! or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net ================ *~* 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!! ================ "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo ~ CALLING ALL CARING ANGELS ~ . , )). -===- ,(( ))). ,((( ))))). .:::. ,(((((( ))))))))). :. .: ,((((((((' `))))))))))). : - : ,(((((((((((( ))))))))))))))))_:' ':_(((((((((((((((' `)))))))))))).-' \___/ '-._((((((((((( `))))_._.-' __)( )(_ '-._._((((' `))'---)___)))'\_ _/'((((__(---'((' `))))))))))))|' '|((((((((((((' jim `)))))))))/' '\(((((((((' `)))))))| |(((((((' `))))))| |((((((' /' '\ /' '\ /' '\ /' '\ '---..___..---' *~* WE NEED CARING And SHARING Angels For 2011 *~* >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel? If you'd like to help and be counted as a 2011 Shangrala Angel, please visit the site and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL page comes up. 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 ALL OUR ANGELS MOST ABUNDANTLY! ================ .-"""""""-. .' __ \_ / / \/ \ | \_0/\_0/______ |:. .' oo`\ |:. / \ |' ; | | |:.. . \_______ | |::.|' , \,_____\ / |:::.; ' | . '| ====)_/===;===========;() |::; | | ; ; | | # # # #:::::: /::::.|-| |_|-|, \ # # # #:::::: /'-=-'` '-' '--'\ # # # #:::::: jgs / \ # # # #:::::: # # # # # # # H A P P Y # # # # # # # # # # # # # # V E T E R A N ' S D A Y # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # >--->>> MAY GOD BLESS OUR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES <<<---< *~* May You Have A Blessed Safe Veteran's Day And Weekend! *~* >Links For Veteran's Day... Angel Wing Decoys http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/angel.html Dog Warriors http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dogwarriors.html Freedom Isn't Free http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/freedom.html Friendly Fire http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/friendly.html Military Motivational Posters http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/military.html Military WWII Posters http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/militarywwii.html Proud Of Our Troops http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/troops.html Proud Of Our Troops 2 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/troops2.html Proud Of Our Troops 3 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/troops3.html Proud Of Our Troops 4 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/troops4.html Proud Of Our Troops 5 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/troops5.html Proud Of Our Troops 6 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/troops6.html Ray's Freedom Rock http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/freedomrock.html Tinian Island http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/tinian.html USS New York LPD-21 Tribute http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/ussny.html Daily With Our Troops http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/daily.html Daily With Our Troops 2 http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/daily2.html Daily With Our Troops 3 http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/daily3.html Humor With Our Troops http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/humor.html Humor With Our Troops 2 http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/humor2.html Humor With Our Troops 3 http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/humor3.html Humor With Our Troops 4 http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/humor4.html Sleeping With Our Troops http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/sleep.html Why My Son? http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/why.html WWI Human Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/humanart.html -<>- >-->Hot Off The 'Shangy' Press :) We have a red hot one here from our friend John-Paul. The sheer capitalistic audacity of this one will make your head spin, your eyes roll, and your head shake at the wonder of it - or you will be like me and say - 'Ooo, look at that - an awesome Island Paradise!' Check it out here... /\ /\ / '' \ / .o\ ..\ /.' |\ | '. __ ' |_\| \ \___ .__ |_| .--""___\..--"/ |_| | .__.|-"""..... ' / _____|_|_|\__ ________\_______________/______________________..-'::::::::::::::::-.._ hpg '''""""""""""""""''' jgs ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ hpeg@maphya.de ----- Luxury Yacht! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/luxyacht.html --- ...My kind of boat! Thanks John-Paul! -<>- >-->Freebie NOTICE From Our Friend Bunni :) >This Graphics Package Was $90 But It's Free Until 24th... Just sharing this one. Got it from a friend. It's way too big for me but if you're interested here it is till the 24th. :) This Graphics Package Was $90 But It's Free Until 24th November Updated 9. November 2011 - 8:21 Here's a really useful freebie, but it's only available until November 24th so you'll need to act soon. Xara Photo & Graphic Designer v5 used to cost $89, in the days before it was superseded by a later version. At the moment, you can get it totally free. Just head to http://www.magix.com/?id=9192&L=52 and download it. Photo and Graphic Designer is an easy way to design web pages, business cards, invoices, letterheads, and many other graphic formats. You can also edit your existing photographs. Be warned that the download is 365 MB, so it may take some time. It should run on Windows XP and above. You'll need to register the program online within 7 days of installation, after which you can continue using it for free. Editor's Note: During installation this program will by default try to install the Ask toolbar and change your homepage and search provider to Ask.com. The Ask toolbar is not malware but is definitely software most users don't need so we recommend you uncheck all the Ask options during installation unless you specifically want this product on your PC Thanks to user "ChronicChaos" for flagging this. --- ...Thanks for the heads up notice on this one Bunni! ================================================================ >-->From Heartwarmers: We have a fascinating piece for you today -- written 10 years ago, just after the 9/11 attack, in a Romanian newspaper. It's about freedom and what makes America different from the other countries of the world. We will be commemorating Veteran's Day on Friday, and the services of millions of citizen soldiers who have sacrificed their time, and many times their lives, over the past 235 years to buy the freedom we enjoy today -- something that we should not, and cannot, ever take for granted. .:::. ':::' .: .:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.: :. .:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.: :. .:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.: :. .:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._.:*~*:.*.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .: :. .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .: :. .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .: :. .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:. .: jgs .: .: .: >GREEN WITH ENVY bv Cornel Nistorescu, Romanian Newspaper Executive Why are Americans so united? They don't resemble one another even if you paint them! They speak all the languages of the world and form an astonishing mixture of civilizations. Some of them are nearly extinct, others are incompatible with one another, and in matters of religious beliefs, not even God can count how many they are. Still, the American tragedy turned three hundred million people into a hand put on the heart. Nobody rushed to accuse the White House, the army, the secret services that they are only a bunch of losers. Nobody rushed to empty their bank accounts. Nobody rushed on the streets nearby to gape about. The Americans volunteered to donate blood and to give a helping hand. After the first moments of panic, they raised the flag on the smoking ruins, putting on T-shirts, caps and ties in the colors of the national flag. They placed flags on buildings and cars as if in every place and on every car a minister or the president was passing. On every occasion they started singing their traditional song, "God Bless America!" Silent as a rock, I watched the charity concert broadcast on Saturday once, twice, three times, on different TV channels. There were Clint Eastwood, Willie Nelson, Robert de Niro, Julia Roberts, Cassius Clay, Jack Nicholson, Bruce Springsteen, Silvester Stalone, James Wood, and many others whom no film or producers could ever bring together. The American's solidarity spirit turned them into a choir. Actually, choir is not the word. What you could hear was the heavy artillery of the American soul. What neither George W. Bush, nor Bill Clinton, nor Colin Powell, could say without facing the risk of stumbling over words and sounds, was being heard in a great and unmistakable way in this charity concert. I don't know how it happened that all this obsessive singing of America didn't sound croaky, nationalist, or ostentatious. It made you green with envy because you weren't able to sing for your country without running the risk of being considered chauvinist, ridiculous, or suspected of who-knows-what mean interests. I watched the live broadcast and the reruns for hours, listening to the story of the guy who went down one hundred floors with a woman in a wheelchair without knowing who she was, or of the Californian hockey player, who fought with the terrorists and prevented the plane from hitting a target that would have killed other hundreds or thousands of people. How on earth were they able to bow before a fellow human? Imperceptibly, with every word and musical note, the memory of some turned into a modern myth of tragic heroes. And with every phone call, millions and millions of dollars were put in a collection aimed at rewarding not a man or a family, but a spirit which nothing can buy. What on earth can unite the Americans in such a way? Their land? Their galloping history? Their economic power? Money? I tried for hours to find an answer, humming songs and murmuring phrases which risk of sounding like commonplaces. I thought things over, but I reached only one conclusion. Only freedom can work such miracles! -- Cornel Nistorescu, Managing Director Romanian newspaper, Evenimentul Zilei September 24, 2001 ================================================================= >-->From Our Friend PatDeE :) _ (_) |_________________________________________ |* * * * * |##########################| | * * * * *| | |* * * * * |##########################| | * * * * *| | |* * * * * |##########################| | * * * * *| | |* * * * * |##########################| |~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | |#########################################| | | |#########################################| | | |###################################JGS###| |~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | | | | | | | >Veteran's Day I was asked what the difference was between Memorial Day & Veteran's Day. For those who may not know - Memorial Day is a day to honor those who died in service to their country. Veteran's day is to honor those who served in the military. Be well. Jack B. In honor of Veteran's Day and all those who have, and are, serving. WHAT IS A VET? Some veterans bear visible signs of their service: a missing limb, a jagged scar, a certain look in the eye. Others may carry the evidence inside them: a pin holding a bone together, a piece of shrapnel in the leg - or perhaps another sort of inner steel: the soul's ally forged in the refinery of adversity. Except in parades, however, the men and women who have kept America safe wear no badge or emblem. You can't tell a vet just by looking. What is a vet? He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn't run out of fuel. He is the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38th parallel. She - or he - is the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang. He is the POW who went away one person and came back another - or didn't come back AT ALL. He is the Quantico drill instructor who has never seen combat - but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account rednecks and gang members into Marines, and teaching them to watch each other's backs. He is the parade - riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand. He is the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by. He is the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes whose valor died unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean's sunless deep. He is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket - palsied now and aggravatingly slow - who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the nightmares come. He is an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being - a person who offered some of his life's most vital years in the service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs. He is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known. So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say Thank You. That's all most people need, and in most cases it will mean more than any medals they could have been awarded or were awarded. ©Father Denis Edward O'Brien, USMC .---. /_____\ ( '.' ) \_-_/_ .-"`'V'//-. / , |// , \ / /|Ll //Ll|\ \ / / |__// | \_\ \ \/---|[]==| / / \/\__/ | \/\/ |/_ | Ll_\| |`^"""^`| | | | | | | | | | | | | L___l___J |_ | _| jgs (___|___) ^^^ ^^^ >IT IS THE SOLDIER It is the soldier, not the reporter, Who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, Who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier, Who salutes the flag, Who serves beneath the flag, And whose coffin is draped by the flag, Who allows the protester to burn the flag.? ©Father Denis Edward O'Brien, USMC .---. /_____\ ( '.' ) \_-_/_ .-"`'V'//-. / , |// , \ / /|Ll //Ll|\ \ / / |__// | \_\ \ \/---|[]==| / / \/\__/ | \/\/ |/_ | Ll_\| |`^"""^`| | | | | | | | | | | | | L___l___J |_ | _| jgs (___|___) ^^^ ^^^ >Semper Fi: Martin Savidge of CNN embedded with the 1st Marine battalion was talking with 4 young Marines near his foxhole this morning live on CNN. He had been telling the story of how well the Marines had been looking out for and taking care of him since the war started. He went on to tell about the many hardships the marines had endured since the war began and how they all look after one another. He turned to the four and said he had cleared it with their commanders and they could use his video phone to call home. The 19 year old Marine next to him asked Martin if he would allow his platoon sergeant to use his call to call his pregnant wife back home whom he had not been able to talk to in three months. A stunned Savidge who was visibly moved by the request shook his head and the young Marine ran off to get the sergeant. Savidge recovered after a few seconds and turned back to the three young Marines still sitting with him and asked which one of them would like to call home first, the Marine closest to him responded with out a moments hesitation "Sir, if is all the same to you we would like to call the parents of a buddy of ours, Lance Cpl Brian Buesing of Cedar Key, Florida who was killed on 3-23-03 near Nasiriya to see how they are doing". At that Martin Savidge totally broke down and was unable to speak. All he could get out before signing off was "where do they get young men like this" >"In Flanders Fields" In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. Written in by John McCrae (1915) After witnessing the carnage of WWI John McCrae wrote "In Flanders Fields." McCrae, a Canadian, was a medical officer in the Boer War and World War I. Where are Flanders Fields? Some of the bloodiest battles of World War I took place in the areas of northern France and southwest Belgium known as Flanders and Picardy. The British front line was determined to keep the Germans from traversing Flanders and the Ypres river valley to reach the port of Calais. Troops from both sides were holed up in the Ypres salient, an outward projection of the battle line. Defending British troops were vulnerable on three sides; therefore this was a bloody and dangerous place for a soldier to be. The destruction from the battles in this area reached beyond the battlefield to the towns and roads of the area, and led to the demolition of buildings, roads, and all plant life, leaving only mud. Where do the poppies come in? Noticed as early as the Napoleonic Wars, red poppies grew on the graves of dead soldiers in the fields of northern Europe. Evidently, poppy seeds will lie underground for years and bloom if they are plowed up. In the spring of 1915, red poppies flourished in the fields of the Ypres salient covering the newly dug graves. Where does the poem come in? The scenes of the spring battles in the Ypres salient moved John McCrae, a Canadian doctor, to write "In Flanders Fields." He wrote the poem as he sat in the dressing area (where wounds were dressed) looking out at a field of graves. The poem was later published in Punch Magazine. McCrae died of pneumonia in 1918, a common killer of Great War soldiers. Inspired by McCrae's poem, American Moina Michael wore poppies to honor the war dead. She also began to sell poppies to raise money for disabled veterans. After meeting Moina Michael in 1920, Frenchwoman Madame E. Guérin started selling handmade poppies to raise money for poor children who were living in the aftermath of the Great War. Soon thereafter Field-Marshall Earl Haig, the former British Commander- in-Chief, encouraged the selling of paper poppies to raise funds for veterans. This tradition spread to Canada and then to the United States. --- ...Great Info! Thank You PatDeE! ============================================================= >-->From SermondFodder: ________ |.------.| || MD ()|| //// ||____/\|| F..( '--------' _\ _/ .-----/ '-'`\-----. | '.'.| |__|\ \.'.'| |_'_'__\\ \\_\'_'| |\______/ / |'-'___\ |-----/_/|_|------| jgs| \_)\_) | ARE YOU READY FOR PARENTHOOD? A brief battery of tests for prospective parents MESS TEST: Smear peanut butter on the sofa and curtains. Now dig with your hands in the wet flower bed and rub on the walls. Cover the stains with crayons. Place a fish stick behind the couch and leave it there all summer. TOY TEST: Obtain a 55-gallon box of Legos. (If Legos are not available, you may substitute roofing tacks or broken bottles.) Have a friend spread them all over the house. Put on a blindfold. Try to walk to the bathroom or kitchen. Do not scream, as this could wake a child at night. GROCERY STORE TEST: Borrow at least two small animals (goats are best). Take them with you as you shop at the grocery store. Always keep them in sight and pay for anything they eat or damage. DRESSING TEST: Obtain one large, unhappy, live octopus. Stuff it into a small bag into which you have cut a neck hole and eight arm holes, making sure that the head of the octopus and each arm emerges from the correct opening. FEEDING TEST: Obtain a large plastic milk jug. Fill it half way with water. Suspend from the ceiling with a stout cord. Get the jug swinging. Try to insert spoonfuls of soggy cereal (such as Fruit Loops or Cheerios) into the mouth of the jug while pretending to be an airplane. Now dump the contents of the jug and the cereal bowl on the floor. NIGHT TEST: Prepare by obtaining a small cloth bag and filling it with 8 to 12 pounds of sand. Soak it thoroughly in water. At 8 PM begin to waltz and hum with the bag. Do this until 9 PM. Lay down the bag and set your alarm for 10:00 PM. Get up, pick up your bag, and sing every song you have ever heard. Make up about a dozen more and sing them until 4:00 AM. Set alarm for 5:00 AM. Get up and make breakfast. Keep this up for 5 years. Look cheerful. PHYSICAL TEST (WOMEN): Obtain a large bean-bag chair and attach it to the front of your clothes. Leave it there for 9 months. Now remove 10% of the beans. PHYSICAL TEST (MEN): Go to the nearest drug store. Set your wallet on the counter. Ask the clerk to help himself. Now proceed to the nearest food store. Go to the customer service counter and arrange for your paycheck to be directly deposited to the store. Purchase a newspaper. Go home and read it quietly for the last time. FINAL ASSIGNMENT: Find a couple who already has a small child. Lecture them on how they can improve their child's discipline, patience, tolerance, toilet training, and table manners. Suggest many things they can improve as well. Emphasize to them that they should never allow their children to run riot. Enjoy this experience. It will be the last time you'll have all the answers. Via daily humor... To Join: Daily-Humor-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ==== From Sermon Fodder and Joke A Day Ministries. To get a regular dose of Christian humor and a modern-day parable send an email to Sermon_Fodder-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or to ajokeaday7- subscribe@topica.com. It's OK to share our stuff, but please leave this attached if you forward this to friends or post on the net. =================== >Starting Now I recently got a very encouraging update from a friend who is battling cancer. It was great to hear he is doing well and prepared to meet life's challenges, whatever they may be. At my last conversation with him I had held off mentioning that during the last year I lost two great friends to cancer. They both did all the right things by going to the doctor quickly when they had what appeared to be fairly minor health issues. The one thing that they both gained over most of the rest of us is that they had time to share the importance of life with the people around them. The truth, as I'm sure you've figured out, is that in reality we're all dying. Some folks just get a bump in life that reminds them take a more serious look at what they're doing and their relationships with people around them. I was able to visit my friend Baird about a month before he died and share that around 1975 he said something to me that was of great significance in my life. In a very few words he indicated that he trusted me without question. When I told him about the comment during our last visit be barely remembered it and said, "I'm sure I meant it at the time, but I don't recall saying that." What was to him a forgotten casual conversation had a profound impact on my life. Still does. Some of you are aware I had some misgivings about making the move from running my own business for 18 years to a job in state government. The pay is lower, but my state job allows me to accumulate substantial comp time. Taking time off when I was running my own business was always a hassle. Because of my comp time, I was able to take some significant time off last fall to spend several days hanging out with my friend Terry who died in December. Among other things, some friends joined me to kidnapped him from the hospital for a run to Parker's Drive-In for a chocolate shake he had requested. The several days I was available gave his wife a break from the daily grind and allowed me to spend some quality time with him. Terry was a great friend through some tough times and sent me critical work when my business was just starting up and things were slow. Over the years we worked on projects that were fun and financially beneficial to us both. Spending substantial time with Terry over the last weeks of his life both broke and blessed my heart. His wife later shared with me that had she not had the free time during that period to keep things running, it would have been difficult for their family business to survive. She's now doing well operating it on her own with the help of a family friend. What I saw as casually helping Terry during a tough time actually turned out to help her carry on his legacy. This summer as Beth and headed to Jackson, TN, to watch granddaughter KJ play in a softball tournament, I started trying to contact my great friends Doug and Margaret who lived there. Doug and I traveled together a lot during my days as TV report. Even after I left televison Doug would occasionally call me to work as a news producer when his satellite uplink truck was contracted to cover major stories for the national TV networks. When I didn't get a response to an email to Doug before the first trip in May, I stepped up efforts to locate them before a trip in late June. I was crushed to find that Doug had died suddenly in April of what appeared to be a heart attack. It took me until last week to find that Margaret had immediately moved to Nashville to be closer to one of their daughters. We had a great visit by phone Saturday. Beth and I plan to run down to visit her in the next month or two. Those experiences reminded me that most of us get caught up in the busy day to day things of life and let more important stuff slide to the wayside. As Lee Iacocca put it: The most important thing in life is to make sure you don't forget the most important thing in life. It took losing some great friends over the last year to remind me to let the other friends I have know how much I appreciate them. I'm starting now. Keith Todd The Sermon Fodder Guy =============================================================== >-->From Our Friend Johanna :) _ (_) <___> | |______ | |* * * ) | | * * (_________ | |* * * |* *|####) | | * * *| * | (________________ | |* * * |* *|####|##############| | | * * *| * | | | | |* * * |* *|####|##############| | |~~~~~~| * | | | | |######|* *|####|##############| | | |~~~' | | | |######|########|##############| | | | | | | |######|########|##############| | |~~~~~~| | | | | |########|##############| | | '~~~~~~~~| | | | |##########JGS#| | | '~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | | | | | | >With Regrets: I had to forward this one! It figures... It's a mixed-up world we live in. Sad, but true! Charlie Sheen is 45 and his story is still all over the news because he is a substance abuser, an adulterer, and sexually promiscuous. Lindsay Lohan is 24 and her story is all over the news because she's a celebrity drug addict and thief. While.............. .---. /_____\ ( '.' ) \_-_/_ .-"`'V'//-. / , |// , \ / /|Ll //Ll|\ \ / / |__// | \_\ \ \/---|[]==| / / \/\__/ | \/\/ |/_ | Ll_\| |`^"""^`| | | | | | | | | | | | | L___l___J |_ | _| jgs (___|___) ^^^ ^^^ Justin Allen 23, Brett Linley 29, Matthew Weikert 29, Justus Bartett 27, Dave Santos 21, Jesse Reed 26, Matthew Johnson 21, Zachary Fisher 24, Brandon King 23, Christopher Goeke 26 and Sheldon Tate 27...... are all Marines that gave their lives this week for you. There is no media for them; not even a mention of their names. Honor THEM by sending this on! I DID. WILL YOU? ~~~~~~~~~~ ? --- ...May God bless all their Families. Thank You Johanna! .---. /_____\ ( '.' ) \_-_/_ .-"`'V'//-. / , |// , \ / /|Ll //Ll|\ \ / / |__// | \_\ \ \/---|[]==| / / \/\__/ | \/\/ |/_ | Ll_\| |`^"""^`| | | | | | | | | | | | | L___l___J |_ | _| jgs (___|___) ^^^ ^^^ I looked this up because as with anything on email, we just never know if it is real or memorex - here is what I found: "I rarely re-post something like that, but I felt this was compelling so I checked it out in more detail. It turns out that all 12 were killed serving in Afghanistan between July 10 and 16, not this week, all were Americans except Brett Linley, of Birmingham UK, who served in the 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment,The Royal Logistic Corps. Nine of the 12 served in the US Army, not the Marines. Extensive searching found no record of Justus Bartett, but I was able to find an obituary for 27 year old Marine Staff Sgt. Justus S. Bartelt , of Polo, Ill, and I concluded that his name was likely transcribed incorrectly at some point. Here are more details on each individual with references. God Bless them and their families for their courageous self sacrifice." Read the full of this here: http://tinyurl.com/26zsltp ============================================================ >-->From Our Friend Jo Ann :) .---. ___ /_____\ /\.-`( '.' ) / / \_-_/_ \ `-.-"`'V'//-. `.__, |// , \ |Ll //Ll|\ \ |__// | \_\ /---|[]==| / / \__/ | \/\/ /_ | Ll_\| |`^"""^`| | | | | | | | | | | | | L___l___J jgs |_ | _| (___|___) ^^^ ^^^ >LOVE THIS TEACHER A lesson that should be taught in all schools . . And colleges.... Back in September of 2005, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a social studies school teacher at Robinson High School in Little Rock, did something not to be forgotten. On the first day of school, with the permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she removed all of the desks out of her classroom. When the first period kids entered the room they discovered that there were no desks. 'Ms. Cothren, where're our desks?' She replied, 'You can't have a desk until you tell me how you earn the right to sit at a desk.' They thought, 'Well, maybe it's our grades.' 'No,' she said. 'Maybe it's our behavior.' She told them, 'No, it's not even your behavior.' And so, they came and went, the first period, second period, third period. Still no desks in the classroom. By early afternoon television news crews had started gathering in Ms. Cothren's classroom to report about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of her room. The final period of the day came and as the puzzled students found seats on the floor of the deskless classroom, Martha Cothren said, 'Throughout the day no one has been able to tell me just what he/she has done to earn the right to sit at the desks that are ordinarily found in this classroom. Now I am going to tell you.' At this point, Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it. Twenty-seven (27) U.S. Veterans, all in uniforms, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. The Vets began placing the school desks in rows, and then they would walk over and stand alongside the wall. By the time the last soldier had set the final desk in place those kids started to understand, perhaps for the first time in their lives, just how the right to sit at those desks had been earned, Martha said, 'You didn't earn the right to sit at these desks. These heroes did it for you. They placed the desks here for you. Now, it's up to you to sit in them. It is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, to be good citizens. They paid the price so that you could have the freedom to get an education. Don't ever forget it.' By the way, this is a true story. And this teacher was awarded Teacher of the Year for the state of Arkansas in 2006. Please consider passing this along so others won't forget that the freedoms we have in this great country were earned by U. S. Veterans. Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go. --- ...Awesome Story - And our founders would have told you it is God who gives us our Heroes and our Veterans! Thank You Jo Ann! =================================================================== >-->From Laugh&Lift: "God gave us a free choice because there is no significance to love that knows no alternative." - James C. Dobson The Lift .0. / \ ; \_/ ; | | | | | | _______; ;_______ `======='\ /`=======` \ / _ | | _ _( \____|=|____/ )_ ( .---. .---. ) `-' / \ '-' / HUG \ ; ; | .---.|__, jgs : / :--' .--\ \ | `" `"".-' < =""` `"== `""""""` =""` `"""===="""` =""` `""==="""` >Rejoicing Over Me? (By Van Walton) [Edited] Zephaniah 3:17, "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." (NIV) Quietly I entered my son's room. In the gray shadows I could barely outline the form of his sleeping body. Peace and calm hovered over his bed, a vast difference from the energy that sparked around him in the midst of his active day. Walking back and forth from the head of his bed to the window where I could look up to the endless sky, I prayed over him and held him up to heaven. I praised God for this precious child, a most wonderful gift to me and my husband. As I listed his wonderful qualities, such as a peaceful nature, a ready smile, always a loyal friend, never an unkind word, I asked God to keep watch over him. I begged for protection. "Don't ever let anything bad happen to him. Keep him healthy. Most of all keep him close to You, Father. " With my prayer over I automatically turned to leave the room. Stepping toward the door, I realized that I didn't want to leave. I relished the time I could spend just looking at him breathe, while I took in every feature of his innocent face. The simple pleasure of watching him as he lay still filled me with [such] contentment. Oh how I loved this boy. Then a tune came to me, a tune I used to sing when he was a baby. "Skinny marinky dinky do, skinny marinky do, I love you. I love you in the morning and I love you in the night..." I finished that song and began another. I don't know how long I lingered. When I left and closed the door behind me, I felt refreshed, like I had somehow accomplished a good thing. Look at your children the next time they are sleeping. Watch them in their moments of zero activity. Do they bring you pleasure while they sleep? Doesn't your heart swell with wonder and overwhelming love? Don't you smile with joy and pride? Isn't that unconditional love? Don't you think God may very well feel the same way about us? Isn't that what He's saying in Zephaniah when He reminds us that He delights in His children? The Bible says that God loves His children unconditionally. There is nothing we can do to get Him to love us more. He loves us because we are His. Children learn in catechism classes that our "chief aim is to glorify God." We glorify Him by stepping into relationship with Him and accepting that we are His. I find it hard to believe that God can love me, that I can't earn His love. What about you? Do you really believe that God loves you just the way you are? Next time you doubt God's love for you, reject the thought and accept His truth. He rejoices over you with singing! "Dear Lord, Help me know You are good. I can hardly imagine that I would be worthy to approach the King of heaven, yet You encourage a relationship with me. Help me understand and accept that You delight in me. Lord, I know I cannot do anything for You to love me more. I pray my trust and obedience would be an acceptable offering. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen." SUBSCRIBE INFO Want to receive a Christian inspirational item AND great clean humor in an email to you each day of the week? It's easy and FREE! Read all about Laugh & Lift at http://www.laughandlift.com ============================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: ..@@@@@@@.. .@@@@@@@@@@/@@@@. @@@@@@@@@@@/@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@' '@@@@@ @@@@@@'=. .===. `@@@ @@@' .--. .--. @@ @ (()__) (_()_) @ (( / \ )) | (_ _) | jgs \ __.-. / '._ '--' _.' `-------' >A Time to Be Silent A pilot had turned off his radio in order to elude the enemy, but as he came across the channel, he turned it on again and began turning the dial to find the proper frequency, which changed from time to time. His plane was almost out of petrol, and he was terrified of what might happen if he ran out and did not find his way precisely toward the goal he was seeking. As he twiddled the dial, he broke out in perspiration. Finally, he caught a faint signal and adjusted the dial. The signal came in strong and clear. He changed his flight path onto the signal and landed safely at his airport. We're all trying to do that in life. We're trying to pick up those signals that tell us who we are, what direction we ought to be headed, and where home is. As we fiddle with the dial and adjust the signal receiver in our lives, we begin to hear in the stillness and the quietness a voice telling us where home is. We are able to readjust our patterns and head homeward. That's the promise of the text. If we will be still, we will know that God is God; we will know which way to go toward God. -- John Killinger -<>- ,;;;;;;;;;, /////////\\\\ |// __ __ \\| \/=(_o)^(o_)=\/ (_ (___) _) \ \_____/ / `-._ _.-' __.-)_(-,__ ./' \_\_/_/ `\. / > | //\ | < \ / \ | |/| | / \ / |\ | |/| | /| \ / /| \ | |/| | / |\ \ ( ( | \| |/| |/ | ) ) \ \| Y |/| Y |/ / \ | o| |/| |- | / `\ | | `^` | | /' `| o|=[Ll=|- |' | / \ | ~~|` \ `|~~ >AH, THERE YOU ARE By: Joseph J. Mazzella I misplaced my joy this morning. I woke up to find it missing like a set of lost keys. I started looking for it everywhere. I looked for it in the morning paper. It wasn’t there. I looked for it in my books. It wasn’t there. I looked for it in some music. It wasn’t there. I looked for it while I ate breakfast, got the kids ready for school, and headed out the door this morning, but I couldn’t find it anywhere. When I finally got back home I decided to take a walk. I thought that if I couldn’t find my joy then at least I could get some exercise. The last leaves of Autumn were thickly covering the ground. I walked for awhile on this beautiful, crunchy carpet and breathed in the fresh, cool air. It was so peaceful and wonderful. After walking for a bit I stopped and smiled. I suddenly knew where to look. I glanced down and saw my joy peeking up at me from deep inside my soul. It had been sitting there right next to my love and God’s love just waiting for me to find it. "Ah, there you are," I said. Then I laughed at myself for not knowing where to look all along. It is amazing how we so often look for joy in every single place except the only place where it can truly be found, within ourselves. We are like a person running around searching for the glasses that are perched on the top of his head. We need to stop the search. We need to look deep into our souls and see the joy that has been sitting there all along. It isn’t hidden and it isn’t hard to find. It is there shining brightly right next to God’s love and our love. It is just waiting for us to smile down and say, "Ah, there you are." Reach down and grab that joy today. Choose it, rejoice in it, and live in it. Take it along with your love and God’s love and share it with the world. And if you ever misplace it again remember where to look for it first. -<>- _ __ / \Y \ __/______\__ `~~// 6 6\~~` C 7 | \ '='/ \__/ /\ |\ .-`\_\_//\ /-. `|o |\ __ | | | | \ |\/ / | | |o | \ /`\_/ | | | | Y / | | |o |\ / \ \ | | `--' \ \__|o_| `\ /I=[]=| >I Believe I believe that life was meant to be embraced, not just endured; Treasured, not just tolerated; Savored, not just survived; Advertised, not just avoided; Illuminated, not just ignored; And most of all, I believe that life was meant to be CELEBRATED! - Author Unknown -<>- .---. /==()=\ #_ _# ( e` `e ) | U | \ = / |\___/| ___/: :\___ /` < `\ /` > `\ / `\ |_| /` \ ; [MD] \| |/ |I! ; jgs | | | |"""| | | | \ / \___/ | | | Y | | >THE WAY WE SEE IT The eye doctor instructed her patient to read a chart on the wall. He looked at it and read, "A, B, F, N, L and G." The doctor turned the light back on and wrote in her notebook. "How'd I do, Doc?" the patient wondered. She replied, "Let's put it this way -- they're numbers." "But Doc," he argued, "this is the way I see it!" Much of my happiness or unhappiness is a result of my perception. "This is the way I see it," I tell myself. I see some problems as challenges that energize me to action and others as obstacles that stop further progress. It's just the way I see it. And sometimes I see new situations as fun, and other times I see them as fearful. The busyness of my life can be OK if I see it that way, or it can be a major source of stress. And an unexpected intrusion in my schedule can be an irritant or, if I see it that way, possibly the most important thing I could do that day. Even an embarrassing mistake can be the beginning of a new learning or an occasion to berate myself. It's in the way I see it. One of the greatest blocks to my happiness is forgetting that it is not always about what is happening to me -- it's more about the way I see it. Like Marcel Proust said, "The real voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." It's in the way we see it. -- Steve Goodier http://stevegoodier .blogspot. com/ -<>- Links for Your Enjoyment Copperfield Hans Betsy http://www.buffaloschips.com/12w3.htm Costa Rica Vacation http://www.buffaloschips.com/12qa.htm Cowboy http://www.buffaloschips.com/12we.htm Crabz http://www.buffaloschips.com/12ere.htm Cyril takaya Matrix http://www.buffaloschips.com/12sd.htm Dad Blanket http://www.buffaloschips.com/12gh.htm Cleveland http://www.buffaloschips.com/sdsd.htm Close a Bag without using a baggie tie http://www.buffaloschips.com/lkjhg.htm Dean Martin & John Wayne http://www.buffaloschips.com/kdjd.htm Dean martin & George Gobel http://www.buffaloschips.com/jdhg.htm Stretching For The Lord http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/stretching.html Overseer http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/overseer.html HERO http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/hero.html Lest We Forget http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lestweforget.html Maria The Goose http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/goose.html Walk With Jesus http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/poems/walk.html Adam In Paradise http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/adam.html Cat Spot Tips http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/catspots.html Until We Write Again http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/write.html Subscribe send a blank email to: the-inspired-buffalo-subscribe@yahoogroups.com =============================================================== | \ | / _\_|_/_ .'` `'. / __ __ \ ; / _\ / _\ ; | |(_/ |(_/ | | \_, \_, | ; .-"""-. ; \ / \ / _ __ __ .-`| |`-. __ __ _ / \/ \/ \ / \ / \ / \/ \/ \ =jgs=-=\_/\__/\__/=-===-=-'._ _.'-:=-=-==\__/\__/\_/=:=-== : : : ``` : : : : : : : : : =-==:==-:--===:==:==-===:==:=---=:=-:-===-=:==:--==-:==:--== : : : : : : : : : : : : =:==:==---:=-=:==-=:-===:==-=:--=:==--:==-=:==--:==-:==--:== >Positive Reverberations... For Decades Story Editor: by Mary Young Joyce Schowalter Georgia, USA My childhood was less than ideal -- in fact, I was the only girl in my immediate family who did not run away from home during adolescence. After high school I moved 300 miles away for college, but quickly had second thoughts about whether I belonged there. Coming from a blue-collar family and an easy rural high school to a white-collar university that gave a "C" for work that would be a "B" at another school, I felt like a misfit financially, culturally, and educationally. Somehow I made it through my freshman year, and headed back for year two. I'm so glad I went back, because that was the year I met Barb. Barb seemed the exact opposite of myself, and everything I wished I could be. She was popular, out-going, confident, talented, and artistic. One day I watched Barb doodle, making beautiful calligraphic swirls while waiting for class to start. I sighed, thinking how Barb could do anything she wanted to: draw, paint, sing, play guitar, even calligraphy. I was lucky to be able to read the notes I took in class -- forget about anyone else being able to read them. Barb heard me sigh, and asked what was wrong. "I wish I was artistic," I replied. "Mary," she said in amazement. "You ARE artistic!" "No, I'm not. I can't draw or do calligraphy. I can color inside the lines, but that's about it." "Well," she said. "I think you're artistic." I figured she was just being nice, but still, if Barb said it, there must be something to it. I knew I was creative -- I'd been writing poems and short stories since I was 12. But artistic? I could barely draw stick figures, and crafts I tried came out looking clunky. But if Barb thought I was artistic, there must be something to it, even if I thought my only artistic abilities were with words. It was 1980 when Barb said those words to me. Thanks to her, I learned to recognize my artistic abilities: the way I instinctively frame a field of wildflowers for the best possible photograph, and my ability to see beauty in unexpected places, like sun-dried sea oats hanging from their stem, backlit by the morning sun=8A The summer of 2009 I wrote Barb and reminded her of that conversation, and let her know her words are still working their magic. I had ripped out a closet in my bedroom for more space, and needed to choose colors, wall hangings and draperies. I felt totally inadequate -- interior decorating has never been my forte. Just as I was about to give up, I heard Barb's voice in my memory, "Mary, you ARE artistic!" With her words ringing in my head, I found the perfect color for the walls, the perfect pictures for the walls, and the perfect drapes to tie it all together. Thanks, Barb, for believing in me all those years ago. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From KidWarmers: _____ _.-'" "'-._ ,-".-. .-."-. ,' .-. .-. `, / / _\ / _\ \ .-. | | ( | | ( | | .-. .-----\ \ | '---' '---' | / /-----. :---- |--| ', ,' |--| ----: :---- '-`|--| ^"-.,_______,.-;^ |--|`-' ----: '---....' | _ `-' | '....---' | [ '-"-.-"-. | \ | .-. .-. | / `. | | | | | | ,' `._ [___]|__]|__] _,' `--.._____..--' / / \ \ jgs / / \ \ .---'"=="\ /"=="'---. ( | | ) '--------' '--------' THE FUNNY THINGS KIDS SAY Casey, 5, was taking a shower. His mom, Traci, asked him if he had rinsed all the shampoo out of his hair. Casey replied, "I'm not sure. I can't see up there!" -- Traci Walker of Lebanon, Tennessee When Traci and her younger sister Allison were little, their mom overheard them singing a song they had learned in church. The lyrics went: "The angels beckon me from Heaven's open door." Traci and Allison were singing: "The angels peck on me from Heaven's open door!" -- as told by their mother Edith of Lebanon, Tennessee .-.-. .-.-. \V/ \V/ _|I|_ _|I|_ .' '. .' '. / \ / \ : ; : ; | | | | | 0 0 | | 0 0 | | | | | | )___( | | )___( | | `-` | | `-` | _[`'-._ _.-'`]_ _[`'-._ _.-'`]_ /#`-._B/o\1_.-`#\ /#`-._B/o\2_.-`#\ /# .# #`| #`# #. #\ /# . # #|# # # . #\ /# #:# # |o# # #:# #\ /# #: # #|o # # :# #\ /# # |# # | # # #| # #\ /# # | # #|# # # | # #\ (# # #|# # |o# # #|# # #) (# # #| # #|o # # |# # #) /`".#/|# # | # # #|\#."`\ /`".#/| # #|# # # |\#."`\ \,_/ |#-#-|-#-#-#| \_,/ \,_/ |-#-#|#-#-#-| \_,/ |~#~#~#~#~#~| |#~#~#~#~#~#| | # # Y # # | |# # #Y# # #| | # #/^\# # | |# # /^\ # #| jgs | # #| |# # | |# # | | # #| |_#_#| |#_#_| |#_#_| |_#_#| (.---.) (.---.) (.---.) (.---.) `---` `---` `---` `---` Bailey, 6, is quite the talker and loves to use new words as he learns them. There's just never a quiet moment when he's around -- especially when riding in the car. One day after his grandmother, Lyne, picked him up from school, he was really quiet and Lyne could tell something was on his mind. She put some music on that she knew he liked. No comments from Bailey. Lyne turned the volume up ... nothing from Bailey. Finally, Lyne made the music quite loud. Bailey turned with a scowl on his face and said, "Mama, do you mind? You're messing up my constipation!" -- Lyne Hitt of Statesboro, Georgia Sally took her grandson Ross, 4, to church and he wanted to sit in the balcony. On their way up the stairs, the minister came flying down the stairs, his robes billowing out. Ross asked, "Was that God?" -- Sally Hershiser of Kent, Ohio _, _.=~`/ .-~ / ( / /,.---.\_ .-. , .-"` '-, | \_,'; / .-="` `"=. | : ; / .-. .-\ `,: :.' / / | / \ |: : / |-, | |-,| `, '.,' \O|_/ \O|| \: \ / \, .---....-') '._______,/ `/_.-~' .' \-----'/ jgs /_.-~'_.-'_`-._ `\_/ / /__,.-' `. `~"---`--'` `._,-'~-,) Two of Theresa's foster children are a brother and a sister, ages 2 and 3. A couple of nights ago the 2-year-old started crying very hard for no apparent reason. Since he had a cold, Theresa suspected that he had an ear infection. But before driving him to a clinic, she decided to check with his sister. "Did you hit your brother?" she asked the 3-year-old. She hastily replied, "NO!" Then after some serious thought she added, "I hit him yesterday..." -- Theresa Gibbs of Green Bay, Wisconsin Bev asked her grandson Michael, 2, if he would like some graham crackers to eat. He said, "Me don't like them!" Bev tried to correct him and said, "I don't like them." He replied, "Yea, me don't like them either!" -- Bev Garber of Lima, Ohio .=~~~~~~~=. {:.. } \::._:._.:. / `~| O |~` .'`~~~~~~~`'. / o o \ : )(_)( ; \ '.___.' / `.,__`=' _,.' jgs /__\V/__\ /\\ / / \ \/`\/ Debbi was with her children at a small fair and stopped by a table offering a free drawing for a new boom box. As the girls were handed a piece of paper to fill out their names and addresses, Anna had one question for the man running the booth: "What do we have to draw?" She thought she needed to draw a picture on the paper. -- Debbi Armstrong of Orlando, Florida Marlena's father-in-law, who loved to fish, died from cancer when her youngest son was 3. Brady understood death pretty well for a 3-year-old because they had lost a few pets. One day as they passed by the cemetery, Brady said, "I bet Grand-Dad is up in heaven catching dead fish!" -- Marlena Roye of Pampa, Texas ____ .--' `'-. / \ | | | | \ .-"""-. | / `'-. | /' \ | | _,-'"-._) |____/ .-'` ()_/' /|===/ / ()_,.-"__"-. /` `~~/ / '` \/ | | '` ./' / | ./'\ '-' .' \ ./'._ `-._ .'| jgs `--' `".,_`""""`/\/ `"-.,/ Alex, 9, and his mother were doing some yard work in the back yard. Mom was cutting the branches and Alex was taking them down to the edge of the street for the waste pickup. After one trip seemed to take Alex an extraordinary amount of time, his mother called out his name. When he hollered back, she asked him if he'd "gotten lost." She was trying to be funny about his dawdling. He very seriously replied, "Mom, I've lived here for eight years. Do you really think I could get lost just walking to the front of the house?" -- Sandi (mother of Alex) of Florida Jacquie's little girl was feeling poorly. That night when her dad came home, she went and sat on his knee, looking for some sympathy. Her dad said, "You poor thing. Are you feeling sick and weak?" She said in a sorry voice, "No, Daddy, just today!" -- Jacquie of Alabama .-""""--. / ) / --"` / _`:---. | .-' `\ \ / .----'./ \ : ,-' ~(.).)\ \_| \ ._) | / | \.__, / _.--' )`///-,-' / / _| (_\\ | (____/____) \ ___/ | _ `---( ` ) `-, .' (__.'._/'._/ |`| | __/ / / // | `--. || /_____) jgs `=---` Megan, 4, went out to dinner with her family to a favorite seafood restaurant. On the way to the restaurant, Megan's family had discussed ordering Hush Puppies, a specialty at the restaurant. When the waitress got ready to take Megan's order she replied, "I don't want any of those hush doggie things!" -- Laura Ellis of Elk Grove, California ================================================================= >-->From Our Friend John-Paul :) ======;===========;() #######:::::: #######:::::: #######:::::: jgs #######:::::: ############# ############# ############# ############# ############# ############# >THE FINAL INSPECTION The soldier stood and faced his God, Which must always come to pass. He hoped his shoes were shining, Just as brightly as his brass. 'Step forward now, soldier, How shall I deal with you? Have you always turned the other cheek? And to my Church have you always been true?' The soldier squared his shoulders and said, 'No, Lord, I guess I have not. Because those of us who carry guns, Can't always be a saint. I've had to work most Sundays, And at times my talk was tough. And many times I've been violent, Because the world is dreadfully rough. But, I never took a penny, That wasn't mine to keep... Though I worked a lot of overtime, When the bills just got too steep. And I never passed a cry for help, Though at times I shook with fear.. And sometimes, God, forgive me, I've wept many unmanly tears. I know I don't deserve a place, Among the people here. Many never wanted me around, Except to calm their fears If you've a place for me here, Lord, It needn't be all that grand. I never expected or had too much, But if You don't, I'll understand. There was a hush all around the throne, Where the saints had often trod. As the hopeful soldier waited silently, For the judgment of his God. 'Step forward now, you valiant soldier, You've borne your burdens well. Walk peacefully now on Heaven's streets, for you've already done your time in Hell' If you care to offer the smallest token Of recognition and appreciation For our military, Please pass this on and Pray for our men and women Who have served, and are Currently serving our country. And pray for those who have given The ultimate sacrifice for freedom.... "Live Simply, Love Generously, Care Deeply, Speak Kindly, Leave The Rest To God" I Wish You Enough! Marvin W. Tubbs --- ...God Bless Our Vets! Thank You John-Paul! >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah :) Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->BECOMING A CHRISTIAN HOW TO BE A CHRISTIAN! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -->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 andd DARE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. These are Tried and True, Yummy to the Tummy, good old fashioned home cooking recipes that are EASY to do :) Visit Shangy's Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html Home Recipes >Got A good Recipe? 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