Thanksgiving Story Time & More ... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShangyFunList or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net ================== >-->In The 'Shangy' News :) |=================================================| |//$\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\| |(100)==================| FEDERAL RESERVE NOTE | )| |\\$// ~ '------========------'\$//| |<< / /$\ // ____ \\ \ >>| |>>| 12 //L\\ // ///,,) \\ 3B 2 |<<| |<<| \\ // || <|| >\ || |>>| |>>| \$/ || $$ --/ || 75 |<<| |<<| L38036133B *\\ |\_/ //* |>>| |>>| 12 *\\/___\_//* 1989|<<| |<<\ Treasurer ______/Franklin\__y 12 />>| |//$\ ~|UNITED STATES OF AMERICA|~| |(100)=================== ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ==)| |\\$//\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\/\/\/\//| |=================================================| Everyone nowadays is feeling the shrinking crunch of this financial crisis and ShangralaFamilyFun.com is no exception. The first day the stock market took a dive so did the web site traffic and it's funds took a direct hit too! Although traffic has pretty much returned, the money is still way below par. We are running at half to 2/3rds as much as normal - and have been for the last couple of months. Paul and I try to do it all, but it is a lot easier with a little help from our friends! If you'd like to help and be counted as a Shangrala Angel, please visit the site and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL page comes up. Any amount is helpful - even just 5 dollars! Visit Shangrala to Help: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/index.html OR If you'd rather send us a donation, Send it to me here: Elrhea Bigham 502 S. Harrison Van Wert, OH 45891 *~* A Super Duper Big THANK YOU! {{{HUGGUMS}}} __ / \ _/=Ll=\_ [________] ___ ||/""\|| .'___`. ( 6. 6 ) / /"""\ \ __, ,__, \_--_/ |( 6 6 )| (--| | .-[\~--~/]-. ~\_-_/~ |--| _ _ _ / \ / \ .-' '-. _| | (_||_)|_)\_| / _, `----' ,_ \ /\_____/\ ( |_, | | ,_| \ \| |/ / / ,_/^\_, \ \ >==[]==< / \_(_|-|_)_/ _______, \/__.''.__\/ //=====\\ (--| _, (_, | TT | // \\ | |_ _ ._ |__, , _ ' ',_ _ | || | // \\ _| | |(_|| || \ /_)(_||\/|| |(_| | || | /'---,___,---'\ ( |_, \_, ,_| ,_| |__||__| / / \ \ [__][__] '--,_________,--' jgs |_ || _| |_ | _| (__)(__) (__)__) -<>- >-->Hot Off The 'Shangy' Press :) Well, actually, this is a rework of an old one. But with the Utube video song to go along with the lyrics, this makes the page all the more enjoyable. Just read along as he sings it! Just in time for Thanksgiving! .-""""-._.'| / '.| | / | / | -= | /| ( | |/`< ) ) ( ; -=| _| ) \ \ / ____ /) '._ _.-""-.< .' `\/) / / \ / _ .'`/| _ / | '-._( __\ (__/_/=, ( \| \ -=/ /--;==========` ._,;'\==='-,..__/__/__.' `'--/,/ || ' \ / | / || ' \ \/ . || ; jgs / / || | | . || | / '=------| / ' ; ; ;| `-.___.___.___.___._/ Tell Me A Story - Story Page! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/alices.html -<>- Don't forget to check out our easy recipes for your Thanksgiving Holiday meal plans! Lots of easy to make yummy desserts too! Shangy's Easy-Does-It Recipes! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/easy.html ===================================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: .========. .-| |-. .''-'`_.|__ __ __|._`'-''. / .--'` | [LI] | `'--. \ .' / _.--'''""""'''--._ \ '. /` .' .-' _.----._ '-. '. `\ | / / .' _ _ '. \ \ | | | | / `_ _` \ | | | / / '. | (o)(o) | .' \ \ | | '._| .-""-. |_.' | | | \ / | \ / | \ / | / / | / \ /\/\ / \ | \ \ | | / | '-.( ).-' | \ | | | | | / \`""`/ \ | | | \ \ / | _.-| |-._ | \ / / \ \ | / .' | | '. \ | / / '. './ | .' / \ '. | \.' .' '._| \/ \/ |_.' `'{` , , `}'` { } { } { } { } { } { } \,/ \,/ '. .' jgs '-.__ __.-' { _}""{_ } / \ / \ /=/=|=| |=|=\=\ \/\/\_/ \_/\/\/ THE STUFFING! by Lori Andalee Hinderer I was about 11 when I remember the best part of Thanksgiving day. The time was very early in the day. I called for my mother to come quickly to my bed and she lifted me into my wheelchair. Mom had already started cooking the turkey and the wonderful smell lofted into my room. This smell reminded me that I was in charge of helping mom make the delicious stuffing. She and I chopped up the nice green celery and the perfect onions. We then threw them into a hot pan with about two (maybe more!) sticks of melted butter. I could toss in some sage, parsley, salt, pepper and poultry seasoning. Mother had to pull the turkey out of the oven, as she had to add some hot turkey juice to "our" stuffing. I stirred the vegetables with a big wooden spoon, until they were lightly brown. Then, she poured it all into a huge blue and white bowl that was filled to the top with flavored croutons. We guessed on how many eggs, maybe at least a dozen, were added. She mixed and stirred and mixed and stirred until the favorite time of the day arrived. It was time to taste. Mom gave me a spoon and took one for herself and we both dipped our spoons in. She always asked me, "What do you think it needs?" I would say it needs just a bit more sage, a tad more butter and a lot more turkey juice. Then, we would taste it again. A little more pepper. It went on and on until it tasted just perfect! Mom would stuff the moist dressing into the gigantic bird. She would put what was leftover, into a real dainty casserole dish. Back into the oven went our turkey with of course, the dressing. An hour before dinner was to be served, she would place the stuffing casserole into the oven. I couldn't wait to eat everything -- turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry relish -- and especially, the remarkable dressing. The dressing was the most delicious and luscious Probably, because I helped! I can still taste it today as my mouth waters. Every year at Thanksgiving that was my job -- to help make the stuffing taste great! Even when I could no longer stir, crack the eggs, cut the celery and onions, etc., my mom would always give me a taste and ask me, "What does it need?" It was a special time. Not only for Thanksgiving but a special time for my mom and me. I am thankful to her for allowing me to help make the stuffing. It was a time I'll always remember. A time I will always hold dear to my heart. -- Lori Andalee Hinderer ____________________________________________ Lori says, "I'm 47 years "young!" I have a rare form of muscular dystrophy since birth. I love to read books on tape and writing in my journal is rewarding. Due to warm Arizona, I moved here over ten years ago. I dedicate my story to my Mother." ____________________________________________ ,-=-. [[_ @~] ((a a)) ` = ' _.-) (-._ /( ("+") )\ / \ \./ / \ (=<( \/8\/ )>=) \ \- 8| -/ / \/_> 8|<_\/ ;-.__;,-; | | | | | | | | '-.___,;' ) ) / ' |( ) ( \_ /_|^--' gpyy \_! THE FORGOTTEN SOLDIERS by Roger Dean Kiser Many years ago in a little dark corner of a cold stainless room, sounds echoing off the large walls, I stood peeling potatoes for the soldiers who were going off to war. No generals were saluting and no parades were honoring me. No one in the Pentagon even knew that I existed. It appeared that I was the only one who felt the job I was doing was important. With fingers that sometimes bled from a slipping knife, or the scars I wore from the sharp potato peeler, I continued pushing forward to complete my assigned task. As the buckets would fill with nutrients for the heroes, my skinny seventeen year old body would lug them to a muscle bound cook who would dump them into a large steam vat full of hot water. "You can eat when the mess hall has been cleared and cleaned," he told me. "Why aren't we important like everyone else?" I asked him. He just stood there with a somewhat blank, sad expression on his face. As I turned to walk away he said, "You're important to me kid. Without you I couldn't do my job." "Yeah, but without us they couldn't do their job," I replied. He stopped stirring the large pot, sat the large wooden paddle down on the stainless table and walked over to the telephone. After talking for several minutes, he hung up the phone and ordered me to follow him. Five minutes later, I was standing in the captain's office with the cook and the supply sergeant, known as the Toilet Paper sergeant. I didn't say a word as the cook and the captain battled in a very heated discussion. "We will no longer eat cold food long after the other men are finished. The mess hall radio will not be turned off until we have eaten our meal. We will be treated in the same respectful manner as are all other soldiers," blurted out the sergeant. "And so it shall be," said the captain, as he stood up from behind his desk. As the three of us were leaving, the captain appeared at the doorway. "SOLDIERS!" he yelled. As we turned around, the captain raised his hand to his forehead, giving us a salute. The cook smiled, we returned the salute, and the three of us continued back to our assigned duties. The next morning, when I entered the kitchen to peel potatoes, I saluted the cook. "That is not really necessary," he told me. "Oh, yes it is," I told him. When I give thanks this year for all that I have been given, I shall thank ALL soldiers. -- Roger Dean Kiser ===================================================================== >-->From Newsmax: \\ ///// | | (| _ _ |) |` | '| | __ | >>>___/\_^__/\___<<< / ||| \ Mike Hertz Dear Patriotic American, This Thanksgiving thousands of severely burned, blinded or paralyzed troops will be struggling to put food on the table. By clicking here ... http://tinyurl.com/5q6lhg you can make a tax-deductible donation to the "Thanksgiving Thank You" meals project, sponsored by the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes. Our "Thanksgiving Thank You" project was created to provide meals for our wounded heroes and their families over Thanksgiving weekend. And by clicking here ... http://tinyurl.com/5q6lhg you can send a special Thanksgiving THANK YOU and GET WELL card to a disabled serviceman or woman. A THANK YOU and GET WELL card from you can help in their healing and let them know you're thankful for the sacrifices they've made. (You can even type in a personal greeting if you like!) My name is General Chip Diehl (Ret.), and I'm writing to you on behalf of the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes. The Coalition was formed in 2004 to provide emergency financial aid to severely wounded troops and their families in crisis. The sputtering economy, combined with rising food and gas prices, has hit our wounded troops especially hard. In fact, requests for emergency aid have skyrocketed by over 300 percent in the past few months. Your gift to the Coalition's "Thanksgiving Thank You" project could help a disabled servicewoman like Kristi P. After receiving an emergency aid check from the Coalition's donors, Kristi wrote back to say: "Your gift brought tears of Thanksgiving to my eyes . . . It felt like God was smiling upon me and reminding me that what I gave really did matter." You can make a young serviceman or woman just like Kristi P. feel like God is smiling upon them over Thanksgiving weekend. All you have to do is click here to send them a thoughtful THANK YOU and GET WELL card. Then click here to make a donation to help put Thanksgiving dinner on their family's table. They were there for us, and now we need to be there for them. With respect and gratitude, Brigadier Gen. Arthur F. "Chip" Diehl III U.S. Air Force (Ret.) P.S. As I mentioned, thousands of troops who have been severely wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan will have trouble putting food on the table this Thanksgiving, and they need your help. So please click here to make a tax-deductible donation to the "Thanksgiving Thank You" project, sponsored by the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes. Your gift will help feed the family of a severely burned, blinded or paralyzed serviceman or woman over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. =================================================================== >-->From Our Friend Viv :) ...For those who like their Christmas before their Thanksfgiving... DANCING SANTA REINDEER Click here: http://www.glenn.tapley.us/MC.swf HAVE VOLUME ON AND ENJOY --- ...A sweet classic! Thank you Viv! -<>- _,--"^^"-.,_ _.-"~^`~-. .-~`^~"-._ ,="`"-._ .----. _.-"`"=, ;_ "-. (0 )( 0) .-" _; .' `~"=,_ '.\ \/ /.' _,="~` `. ;_ "-. _.-) (-._ .-" _; : ^~"-.,___.' ( ) `.___,.-"~^ ; : _: `--' :_ : '._,-~"` :': :': `"~-,_.' '.,_.-`. .'`-._,.' jgs :__.-`-.______.-'`-.__; // \\ (((~ ~))) >Thanksgiving Puzzle http://www.alighthouse.com/flashgames/thanksgiving2008puzzle.html --- ...I did it! It wasn't exactly easy as you have to keep moving the pieces out of the way, but it was fun! Thank You Viv! -<>- >ONE WORD Riddle Okay you brainiacs, here is a brain teaser for you. What nine letter word in the English language is still a word when each of the nine letters is removed one by one? Take a few minutes to try and come up with a nine letter word that fits the bill, then watch the video. --- ...I uploaded this file to our Files in our club - Check it out here WordRiddle http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShangyFunList/files/ --- ...Cool! Thanks Viv! ================================================================== >-->Recipes From Our Friend Jo Ann :) _..._ .~ `~. / } \ _.'`~~/ {_,} -( ,'-,___.' / |_ /| / ` |_/ / \ / / '--;_ _\ `\ / |`-.___. / ^^^jgs^^^`--`------'`--`^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ...Somthing to be thankful for... >'Warshing Clothes Recipe' -- imagine having a recipe for this ! ! ! Years ago an Alabama grandmother gave the new bride the following recipe: This is an exact copy as written and found in an old scrapbook - with spelling errors and all... WARSHING CLOTHES Build fire in backyard to heat kettle of rain water. Set tubs so smoke wont blow in eyes if wind is pert. Shave one hole cake of lie soap in boilin water. Sort things, make 3 piles 1 pile white, 1 pile colored, 1 pile work britches and rags. To make starch, stir flour in cool waterto smooth, then Thin down with boiling water. Take white things, rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard, And boil, then rub colored don't boil just wrench and starch. Take things out of kettle with broom stick handle, then Wrench, and starch. Hang old rags on fence. Spread tea towels on grass. Pore wrench water in flower bed. Scrub porch with hot Soapy water. Turn tubs upside down. Go put on clean dress, smooth hair with hair combs. Brew cup of tea, sit and rock a spell and count your Blessings. ============ ========= ========= ========= ========= Paste this over your washer and dryer next time when you think things are bleak, read it again, kiss that washing machine and dryer, and give thanks. First thing each morning you should run and hug your washer and dryer, also your toilet ---those two-holers used to get mighty coldd! For you non-southerners - wrench means, rinse :) AND WE THINK WE HAVE IT ROUGH --- ...Thank You Jo Ann! Yes! Thank God for all the good things he gives us! -<>- >Holiday Cheesecake Presents Makes: 32 servings, one bar each 1-1/2 cups HONEY MAID Graham Cracker Crumbs 1/3 cup butter, melted 3 Tbsp. Sugar 3 pkg. (8 oz. Each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened 3/4 cup sugar 1 tsp. Vanilla 3 eggs Decorating gels Colored sprinkles PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Mix crumbs, butter and 3 Tbsp. Sugar; press Firmly onto bottom of 13x9-inch baking pan. BEAT cream cheese, 3/4 cup sugar and vanilla with electric mixer on Medium speed until well blended. Add eggs; mix just until blended. Pour over crust. BAKE 30 min. Or until center is almost set. Cool. Refrigerate 3 hours Or overnight. Cut into 32 bars. Decorate with gels and sprinkles to Resemble "presents." Store leftover bars in refrigerator. HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Chips And Macadamia Pieces Cookies Ingredients: * . 6 tablespoons butter, softened * . 1/3 cup butter flavored shortening * . 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar * . 1/3 cup granulated sugar * . 1 egg * . 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract * . 1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour * . 1/2 teaspoon baking soda * . 1/2 teaspoon salt * . 1-1/3 cups (8-oz. Pkg.) HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Chips and Macadamia Pieces Directions: 1. Heat oven to 350 F. 2. Beat butter and shortening in large bowl until well blended. Add Brown sugar and granulated sugar; beat thor oughly. Ad d egg and Vanilla, beating until well blended. Stir together flour, baking soda And salt; gradually beat into butter mixture. Stir in baking pieces. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet. 3. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool Slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. About 3-1/2 dozen cookies. CHOCOLATE COOKIE VARIATION: Decrease flour to 1 cup; add 1/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa or HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Cocoa. --- ...This one looks real interesting and Yummy! Thank You Jo Ann! -<>- >For Those SWEET Enough! - SugarLess Applesauce Cake 1 c. raisins 1 c. diced dried fruit 2 c. water 2 c. flour 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. nutmeg 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 2 eggs 1 c. unsweetened applesauce 2 tbsp. liquid sweetener 3/4 c. vegetable oil 1 tsp. vanilla 1/2 c. chopped nuts Combine raisins and fruit with water. Cook uncovered until soft and water is evaporated. Cool. Combine flour, soda, salt and spices. In bowl, combine eggs, applesauce, sweetener, oil and vanilla. Add nuts and fruit mixture Stir into dry ingredients and blend thoroughly. Pour into greased 10-inch tube pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 mins or until tests done. --- ...Looks like another yummy one! Thank You Jo Ann! ==================================================================== >-->Check Under the Hood , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' "But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips." Colossians 3:8 "The root issue you are dealing with is fear. The physical symptom is control, and when you cannot control, you get angry because of unmet expectations." These were the words I spoke during a conversation in a restaurant to my friend who was separated from his wife. He described his anger and how he never saw some of these characteristics in his life until he entered this marriage. A friend once said to me, "Anger is like the lights on a dashboard. They tell you something is going on under the hood. You must find out the source of the problem." Whenever we have expectations of another person and those expectations do not materialize, our tendency is to get angry. The source of the anger is often the fear that the unmet expectation will negatively impact us. We fear that our finances, our well-being, our image, or any number of things may be impacted by the unmet expectation. My friend's wife had not met his expectations in many areas of his life, so then, many times it resulted in harsh words that damaged his wife's self-esteem. Now, it was leading to a marriage crisis. Jesus often spoke of living as though we were dead. How can you live as though you are dead? "In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 6:11). It is a choice each of us must make. Once you become dead to that which stirs an emotion in you, God is free to change that situation. Until then, you can expect God to allow that situation to remain until you reckon yourself dead to the effects of the issue that causes you to struggle. Is there something that causes anger within you? Ask God what the source of that anger is. You might be surprised at what you find. Then ask God to give you the grace to reckon yourself dead to that issue. You will find new freedom in your relationships and your own peace of mind. TGIF Today God Is First, Copyright 2002 Os Hillman. ~~~ Posted from: Marketplace Leaders =================================================================== >-->From InspiredBuffalo: _.-._ /| | | |_ || | | | | || | | | | _|| ` | \\`\ ; \\ | \\ / jgs | | | | | | >10 Ways to Pray for Barack Obama (By J. Lee Grady) [Edited] It’s over. We’ve reached the end of the longest, angriest and most nerve-wracking presidential campaign in American history. Finally the “I approved this message” ads have ceased. The endless robot phone calls have stopped ringing. The debates, and the annoying post-debate comments from “experts,” are history—until the next election cycle. More than half the nation is celebrating today while others are mourning. We are a divided nation, split into unhappy fragments by abortion, gay marriage, global warming, a failed economy and an unpopular war. Those who voted for Barack Obama have claimed a historic victory; some on McCain’s side are already looking for scapegoats. Politics is politics. But when I got up this morning, I turned all my attention to the fact that Jesus Christ is still on the throne. His government is what is most important. Regardless of who sits in the Oval Office, the Bible says “the nations are like a drop from a bucket” to God (Is. 40:15, NASB). That includes the United States. We may boast about being “the greatest nation on earth,” but He who sits in heaven has a different perspective. Let’s take a big sigh of relief now and remember that God is sovereign. I’ll admit this election did not turn out as I had hoped. I supported McCain primarily because I am pro-life and I prefer his small-government mindset. But now that the election is over, I’m not going to harbor bitterness toward Obama supporters or go into attack mode. Obama has been elected president of this country, and that means I have a biblical responsibility to support him in prayer — even if I challenge his policies. Whether you voted for Obama or not, you need to pray for him. Here are 10 ways I plan to intercede for him regularly: 1. Pray for Obama’s protection. We already know that some weird, neo-Nazi fanatics in Tennessee plotted to kill Sen. Obama during his campaign. Let’s pray that racist hatred is not allowed to spread. Let’s cancel every assassin’s bullet in the name of Jesus. May civility triumph over bigotry. 2. Cover his wife and daughters in prayer. It is not easy to live under constant media scrutiny. Pray for Obama’s wife, Michelle, and their two daughters, Malia and Natasha, as they face invasive cameras, nosy reporters, maniacal fans and dangerous enemies. Obama is not only a politician but also a husband and a father. 3. Pray that Obama will govern with God’s wisdom. God rewarded Solomon because he asked for wisdom instead of wealth, long life or vengeance on his enemies (see 1 Kings 3:11-12). Pray that Obama will order his priorities like that. Despite Solomon’s tragic character flaws, his legacy was wisdom. We can ask God to give our president the same grace. 4. Ask God to keep our president humble. Many great American leaders became corrupt after they moved to Washington. The fatal attraction of fame, wealth and power proved irresistible. The only thing that will guard a man or woman from this pitfall is humility. May God deliver President Obama from the curse of pride. 5. Pray for wise and righteous advisers to surround him. Even the best leaders have failed because they trusted the wrong people. Pray that Obama will not select his counselors based on party, race, pedigree or political cronyism but on Godly character and proven wisdom. Pray also that he will not allow secret traitors into his inner circle. 6. Ask for the spirit of reconciliation. Some segments of our deeply divided society want nothing to do with Obama now that he has won the presidency. Even some Christians will be tempted to harbor resentment and nurse political grudges throughout his term in office. Pray that God will grant forgiveness and healing so that leaders on all political levels can have constructive dialogue. 7. Pray that Obama will adopt pro-life [and pro-Bible] convictions. Many politicians have changed their views on key issues while in office. In the 1800s some leaders who favored slavery later denounced it. In the 1950s some who opposed racial integration later became champions of it. Even though Obama won approval from many voters because he sanctions abortion, God could soften and change his heart. 8. Bind all evil forces assigned to manipulate our president. The specter of Islamic terrorism looms over the United States, and dark forces are ready to infiltrate. Our only hope lies in prayer to the God who is able to expose and outwit the schemes of the wicked. This is truly a time for spiritual warfare, and intercessors must not come off the wall in this hour! Pray that no foreign government, terrorist organization or demonic principality will use Obama as a tool. We must stand strong against the spirit of antichrist that promotes dictatorship, persecution of Christians and hostility toward Israel. 9. Pray that Obama’s door will remain open to the church. The loudest voices of secular culture—from Bill Maher in Hollywood to atheists in academia—would be happy if religion were removed from public life. Pray that Obama, who claims to have a personal faith in Jesus Christ, will unapologetically welcome Christian leaders into his company and seek their counsel. And pray that false religious leaders (who claim to know Christ but deny His power) will not have his ear. 10. Pray that our nation will enjoy God’s peace and blessing during the Obama administration. The apostle Paul instructed early believers to pray for all in authority “so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Tim. 2:2, NASB). [Pray] for America to experience peace and prosperity so that we can continue to export the gospel to the nations. This must happen whether a Democrat or a Republican is in the White House. As we cry out for God’s mercy on our wayward nation, pray that He will allow us to be a light to the world as we finance global missions, feed and heal the world’s poor and share Christ’s love at home and abroad. -<>- .---. /_____\__ .===. _ _ `\/6.6\/--` / _/\ \ / )%.===.%( \ ( _ ) \/6.6\/ | // ,,, \\ | ,'---', ( _ ) \/ \/6.6\/ \/ .===. / _ \ _)---(_ /\ ( _ ) /\ / ,,, \ /\/ (_) \/\ / `~` \ ^^ /()-()\ ^^ ( /6.6\ ) .=@=. \ | (_) | / /\/ \/\ / /o o\ \ )( _ )( / \ \| |/ \ | | / (._\ Y /_.) (_/;---;\_) \ 6.6 / |_____| \|_____|/ (O_`&`_O) / `"*"` \ ( _ ) | | | | L | / / \ \ ( (_.@._) ) .-'---'-. | | | |__|__| / ()/^\() \ /'._\|/_.'\ / . . \ \__|__/ | | | /. . . . . . .\ /. . . . . .\ _/ /| , |\ \_ |_|_| |_|_| `"`"`|`|`|`"`"` `"`"|"|"|"`"` (__/{`"==="`}\__) jgs _|_|_|_ _|_|_|_ _|_|_|_ _|_|_|_ /\_ _/\ (___|___) (___|___) (___|___) (___|___) _| /`"`\ |_ ( \ / \ / ) \_/ \_/ >September, "1960".............. Get your hanky out........You've been warned!!..... In September 1960, I woke up one morning with six hungry babies and just 75 cents in my pocket. Their father was gone. The boys ranged from three months to seven years; their sister was two.. Their Dad had never been much more than a presence they feared. Whenever they heard his tires crunch on the gravel driveway they would scramble to hide under their beds. He did manage to leave $15 a week to buy groceries. Now that he had decided to leave, there would be no more beatings, but no food either. If there was a welfare system in effect in southern Indiana at that time, I certainly knew nothing about it. I scrubbed the kids until they looked brand new and then put on my best homemade dress, loaded them into the rusty old 51 Chevy and drove off to find a job. The seven of us went to every factory, store and restaurant in our small town. No luck. The kids stayed crammed into the car and tried to be quiet while I tried to convince who ever would listen that I was willing to learn or do anything. I had to have a job. Still no luck. The last place we went to, just a few miles out of town, was an old Root Beer Barrel drive-in that had been converted to a truck stop. It was called the Big Wheel. An old lady named Granny owned the place and she peeked out of the window from time to time at all those kids. She needed someone on the graveyard shift, 11 at night until seven in the morning. She paid 65 cents an hour, and I could start that night. I raced home and called the teenager down the street that baby-sat for people. I bargained with her to come and sleep on my sofa for a dollar a night. She could arrive with her pajamas on and the kids would already be asleep. This seemed like a good arrangement to her, so we made a deal. That night when the little ones and I knelt to say our prayers, we all thanked God for finding Mommy a job. And so I started at the Big Wheel. When I got home in the mornings I woke the baby-sitter up and sent her home with one dollar of my tip money-- fully half of what I averaged every night. As the weeks went by, heating bills added a strain to my meager wage. The tires on the old Chevy had the consistency of penny balloons and began to leak. I had to fill them with air on the way to work and again every morning before I could go home. One bleak fall morning, I dragged myself to the car to go home and found four tires in the back seat. New tires! There was no note, no nothing, just those beautiful brand new tires. Had angels taken up residence in Indiana ? I wondered. I made a deal with the local service station. In exchange for his mounting the new tires, I would clean up his office. I remember it took me a lot longer to scrub his floor than it did for him to do the tires. I was now working six nights instead of five and it still wasn't enough. Christmas was coming and I knew there would be no money for toys for the kids. I found a can of red paint and started repairing and painting some old toys. Then I hid them in the basement so there would be something for Santa to deliver on Christmas morning. Clothes were a worry too. I was sewing patches on top of patches on the boys pants and soon they would be too far gone to repair. On Christmas Eve the usual customers were drinking coffee in the Big Wheel. There were the truckers, Les, Frank, and Jim, and a state trooper named Joe. A few musicians were hanging around after a gig at the Legion and were dropping nickels in the pinball machine. The regulars all just sat around and talked through the wee hours of the morning and then left to get home before the sun came up. When it was time for me to go home at seven o'clock on Christmas morning, to my amazement, my old battered Chevy was filled full to the top with boxes of all shapes and sizes. I quickly opened the driver's side door, crawled inside and kneeled in the front facing the back seat. Reaching back, I pulled off the lid of the top box. Inside was whole case of little blue jeans, sizes 2-10! I looked inside another box: It was full of shirts to go with the jeans. Then I peeked inside some of the other boxes. There was candy and nuts and bananas and bags of groceries. There was an enormous ham for baking, and canned vegetables and potatoes. There was pudding and Jell-O and cookies, pie filling and flour. There was whole bag of laundry supplies and cleaning items. And there were five toy trucks and one beautiful little doll. As I drove back through empty streets as the sun slowly rose on the most amazing Christmas Day of my life, I was sobbing with gratitude. And I will never forget the joy on the faces of my little ones that precious morning. Yes, there were angels in Indiana that long-ago December. And they all hung out at the Big Wheel truck stop.... THE POWER OF PRAYER. I believe that God only gives three answers to prayer: 1. 'Yes!' 2. 'Not yet.' 3. 'I have something better in mind.' God still sits on the throne, the devil is a liar. You maybe going through a tough time right now but God is getting ready to bless you in a way that you cannot imagine. This prayer is powerful, and prayer is one of the best gifts we receive. There is no cost, but a lot of rewards. Let's continue to pray for one another. Here is the prayer:.... Father, I ask You to bless my friends, relatives and email buddies reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of Your love and power. Amen. -<>- , .--'|} / /}} .=\.--'`\} //` '---./` || /| \\| | |\_\\/ \__/\\ \\ jgs \| In A Second Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul, Rev. John R. Ramsey tells how in one church a certain person provided him with a rose boutonniere for the lapel of his suit every Sunday. At first he really appreciated it but then it sort of became routine. Then one Sunday it became very special. As he was leaving the Sunday Service a young boy walked up to him and said, "Sir, what are you going to do with your flower?" At first the preacher didn't know what the boy was talking about. When it sank in, he pointed to the rose on his lapel and asked the boy, "Do you mean this?" The boy said, "Yes, sir. If you're just going to throw it away, I would like it." The preacher smiled and told him he could have the flower and then casually asked what he was going to do with it. The boy, who was probably no more than 10 years old, looked up at the preacher and said, "Sir, I'm going to give it to my granny. My mother and father divorced last year. I was living with my mother, but she married again, and wanted me to live with my father. I lived with him for a while, but he said I couldn't stay, so he sent me to live with my grandmother. She is so good to me. She cooks for me and takes care of me. She has been so good to me that I wanted to give her that pretty flower for loving me." When the little boy finished, the preacher could hardly speak. His eyes filled with tears and he knew he had been touched by God. He reached up and unpinned the rose. With the flower in his hand, he looked at the boy and said, "Son, that is the nicest thing that I've ever heard but you can't have this flower because it's not enough. If you'll look in front of the pulpit, you'll see a big bouquet of flowers. Different families buy them for the Church each week. Please take those flowers to your granny because she deserves the very best." ... {@} * {@} {@} * {@} * {@} : * {@} * {@} * .; {@} * {@} * {@} * {@} * ; * ; {@} * ; * : ;\ \ \ \| / / /; \\ \ Y/ / / `_\ |/ _' / \\Y// \ ( ,-}={-, ) \_//((\_/ //))(\ (/ )) (( valkyrie \) Then the boy made one last statement which Rev. Ramsey said he will always treasure. The boy said, "What a wonderful day! I asked for one flower but got a beautiful bouquet." That's the thankful spirit. That's the gratitude attitude. And it's that attitude that should guide our giving and our lives. Like that boy's granny, God has blessed us so much. God has been so good to us that giving shouldn't even be a question. It should just flow from us naturally. Rev. John R. Ramsey, Second Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul. Adapted by Billy D. Strayhorn, "The Gratitude Attitude" -<>- Wrong Gift http://www.buffaloschips.com/72210.htm Hama Rat http://www.buffaloschips.com/72211.htm x352 http://www.buffaloschips.com/72212.htm Vick Really http://www.buffaloschips.com/61616.htm Vid 01298 http://www.buffaloschips.com/61617.htm Walk The Dog http://www.buffaloschips.com/61618.htm Water Bill http://www.buffaloschips.com/61619.htm Why Women Hate Sports http://www.buffaloschips.com/61620.htm Subscribe send a blank email to: the-inspired-buffalo-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ==================================================================== >-->From AndyChaps: ** Good Advice ** ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully. TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, theirconversational skills will be as important as any other. THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want. FOUR. When you say, "I love you", mean it. FIVE. When you say, "I'm sorry", look the person in the eye. SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married. SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight. EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much. NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely. TEN. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling. ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives. TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly. THIRTEEN. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?" FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk. FIFTEEN. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze. SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson. SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and responsibility for all your actions. EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship. NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it. TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice. TWENTYONE. Spend some time alone. -<>- Read: Matthew 4:12-22 They immediately left their nets and followed Him. —Matthew 4:20 The sign alongside the road in England said, "Changed Priorities Ahead." When I asked the taxi driver what it meant, he said, "It has to do with how you give way to the traffic in the roundabout just ahead. You yield to a different driver than usual." Long after we negotiated the traffic circle, I continued to ponder the sign. I saw it as a vivid three-word summary of what it means to follow Christ. When Jesus called Peter and Andrew to be His disciples, "they immediately left their nets and followed Him" (Matthew 4:20). At that moment, it was as if God placed this sign on the road of their lives: Changed Priorities Ahead. He does the same in our lives as we hear Christ calling us to follow Him. Jesus taught that our natural concern for material needs must be replaced by seeking God's kingdom first and trusting Him to provide (6:33). When He associated with "sinners" and invited a despised tax collector to become one of His disciples, He challenged our prejudices (9:9-13). Jesus also rebuked our jockeying for position when He said, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all" (Mark 9:35). When we follow Jesus Christ, we discover that changed priorities are necessary to negotiate the road ahead. —DCM Today Christ calls, "Come follow Me! Do not look back to yesterday; Fresh grace I'll give to do My will, My joy you'll find as You obey." —DJD When we accept Jesus' invitation to follow Him, our whole life changes direction. --rbc@gospelcom.net ©2000 RBC Ministries---Grand Rapids, MI 49555 ====================================================================== >-->From PetWarmers: _=,_ o_/6 /#\ \__ |##/ ='|--\ / #'-. \#|_ _'-. / |/ \_( # |" snd C/ ,--___/ MISSY'S TRIP Sixteen hundred miles is a long way to ride in a car, especially when you're a dog. It seems like forever. Take my word for it -- I'm a dog and my name is Missy. It all started when I heard strangers bought our house. Were they going to leave me with the new owners or pack me up in a moving box too? Mom and dad's kids and grandkids came by. They talked about mom and dad going back home to Illinois. I wondered if mom and dad were going to take me to Illinois too. I sat and listened. "Wonder how Missy will like going back? Think she will remember the old home place?" My human brothers and sisters must think I'm pretty dumb! "Woof, Woof." I'm smart you know -- Illinois is the state we lived in before we moved to Arizona. Then one day a great big truck loaded up everything we owned! I wondered if they were going to put me in it. But they didn't. Betty and Bill -- they're my mom and dad, you know -- I heard them say we were going to ride in our van. Boy I was sure glad. I didn't want to ride with that strange man in the moving truck! Mom and dad's kids and grandkids came by after everything was loaded up and everyone started kissing and hugging and crying. I wagged my tail and started giving the grandkids kisses too. I wondered if they were coming with us, but they didn't. I was sad. I really, really, like them. My mom and dad and I loaded in our van. They had my blanket and pillow in the back seat and my food and water in the floor and that's all the room I had! We drove and drove and drove. They stopped every once in awhile and let me out in all these strange places to potty. Lots of other dogs had been there -- I smelled them. I marked my spot though so they would know I had been there. We all have good noses you know. Everyday before it got too dark we would stop and go into these strange places they called motels. Mom and dad always took in my pillow, blanket, food and water. They would make me a bed and we would all go to sleep for awhile. When it got light outside, we got up and loaded back in the car and drove all day again. I always got to take little breaks at these places daddy called rest stops. Once in awhile, I got to visit with new friends for a few minutes. It seemed like there were a lot of us dogs going to Illinois, or someplace. We dogs are becoming world travelers you know. One day, we were driving and dad said, "There is a PetsMart." Mama said, "We ought to stop and let Missy go in and give her a break." Daddy said, "That's what I thought." "OH BOY, PetsMart! Woof, Woof!" Man did I ever get excited. That is my favorite place in the whole wide world! We went inside and I smelled all those neat things and got to visit with all the other dogs. I pranced around wagging my tail and standing up on my hind feet showing off. Everyone was looking at me saying how cute I was. Mom and dad got me a new collar and a treat. Then it was time to leave. We got back in the car and drove and drove. We finally pulled into a driveway and I got a whiff of something that smelled awfully familiar. Mama and daddy got out and opened the door for me and I jumped out. "Oh, Boy! We're home!" I smelled all these great smells -- even a faint whiff of myself. Illinois is home, I knew it! "I'm back everybody. I'm back, woof, woof!" There is no place like home, except, well, maybe PetsMart! -- Betty King ____________________________________________ Missy lives with Bill and Betty in Illinois. Since her mama is a Heartwarmer Gem, she decided to try her hand at writing too! ==================================================================== >-->Don't Worry "Don't worry about things--food, drink and clothes ... Don't be anxious about tomorrow. God will take Care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time." It's Monday morning. The weekend is over. The alarm Clock blares out its hideous jangle and suddenly you Are snapped into the world of reality. First comes the Struggle to get out of bed, then the rush to get to School or work on time, and then comes the stress of Trying to juggle all one's seemingly endless Responsibilities. Or just the opposite may be true for Those out of work. Is this how your week starts? And aren't these Pressures mild compared to the ones you face as the Day and week wear on? We live in a world of ever-increasing stress and Worry with school, work, and family, financial, Social, and relational pressures. Not many people are Free from worry of some kind. Worry and anxiety are major problems of Contemporary society. In excessive amounts they can Take years off your life. Some people like to think that things don't bother Them. "No problem," they say as they put on a brave Front and reach for the aspirin or alcohol bottle to Deaden their fears, worries, and anxieties. However, it isn't possible to deaden inner anxiety. Unresolved, it will reveal itself in many ways. For instance, George withdraws when he is upset, Hurt, or uptight. Susan talks endlessly to cover her Anxiety. Bill chain smokes to avoid facing his. Harry Attacks when he feels threatened. Jack dominates, and Jill procrastinates. Dennis is a constant complainer. Joan is a compulsive eater, Fred a compulsive drinker, Tom a compulsive worker, and Frank a compulsive Gambler--all because of unresolved worry and anxiety. Anxiety may also express itself in a physical way. Stuttering, abdominal pains, high blood pressure, a Twitch, allergies, ulcers, nervous stomach, tension Headaches--all have been named by doctors as symptoms Of anxiety and worry. Yes, sooner or later unresolved worry and anxiety Will win out. When one fails to creatively talk out His worries, he will act them out in some destructive Way. Long ago the Bible pointed out that "a relaxed Attitude lengthens a man's life." Jesus himself said, "So I tell you, don't worry about everyday Life--whether you have enough food, drink, and Clothes.... Don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow Will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough For today." And the Apostle Paul wrote, "Don't worry about Anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God What you need, and thank him for all he has done. If You do this, you will experience God's peace, which is Far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live In Christ Jesus" However, it's one thing to know about God's peace And another thing to experience it. And as E. Stanley Jones said, "Worry is the interest we pay on Tomorrow's troubles." ------------ If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice. -- Meister Eckhart ---> Visit my CyberHome - ALWAYS OPEN HOUSEE :) Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/index.html Shangrala ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->Bigham's Computer Rescue - PC Sales & Seervice 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 DAARE 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: This Weeks regular Shangy emails OR Send a BLANK email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ************************************************************************