The Family Needs Grandma... :) 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!! AND For Facebook Users: Please Friend Me / Like Me here... http://tinyurl.com/cma6all AND Please Share This email with All Your Friends And Family! ^~^ May God SUPER BLESS You As You Do! THANK YOU! :) ================ >-->From Heartwarmers: .;';. ';. ';..;' ' ';. ' ' .;' .;' - = .;' .;', , , :: .;'.;'.;'.;' .;' .;'.;'.;'.;' .;' AsH ';.';.';.';.;' >A HAND UP by Nancy Eckerson On September 11, 2004, as the country mourned the destruction from the trauma of three years ago, I spent my first day working construction as a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity (HFH). In one short day, I learned how to toenail plywood seams and crown wooden planks, marking each for warps in the wood. I helped unload a truck full of 2 X 10?s, did my share of carrying 4 X 8 sheets of plywood and took more than my share of breaks to get out of the sun. The crew liked me anyway. All in all, I would say that I did myself proud for a 52-year-old spring ? well, summer? oh, okay, nearly autumn chicken. I wasn?t sure when I signed up that I would be much help on such a huge project, but I was pleasantly surprised. All day long, Board Members and the site director told me, ?Just do what you can, no pressure here.? My sun-induced headache passed quickly as soon as I rested in the shade with some delicious lunch, courtesy of HFH. What a great feeling, knowing that I was out there helping someone acquire a home who otherwise might never have one. The future homeowners, a wonderful couple with four children, worked right along beside us. Their excitement was contagious, and their gratitude was humbling. I was proud to be part of the team that would help them get their first home. When I arrived on the job, in the Orleans County town of Albion, I was shocked to find the site was flooded. Five feet of muddy water filled the basement and the trench around the outside, due to Hurricane Frances. I feared the torrential rains of the past week had wreaked havoc with the new foundation. I soon discovered that the professionals who installed the foundation were a clever lot. They had left weep holes in the basement walls. Since they had not been tarred yet, and the land had not been backfilled, there was no worry of permanent damage. One short week ago, I would not have been able to tell you any of this, never having built a house before, or examined a foundation, but look at me now! Habitat for Humanity, now spanning 100 countries, was started 28 years ago. It?s mission: To eliminate poverty housing. By the end of 2005, more than one million people will be living in Habitat homes they helped build and are buying with no-profit, zero-interest mortgages. It?s not a handout -- it?s a hand up for someone wanting a start. One of the ambitious young workers on our Saturday crew had the joy of cooling off in the five-foot trench of muddy water. I'm sure he didn't intend to, but nonetheless, Tyler took a dip in the drink. We, Tyler included, laughed till it hurt. It was so funny to watch him slowly sink up to his knees in the muck. Sharing this hilarious experience knit us together. Not only did we all have a sincere desire to be of service, but we also shared a great sense of humor, and boy, did that help to bond us even more closely. If you want to feel good, and know that you are contributing to making someone?s life better, try volunteering for Habitat for Humanity. You can even choose what days you have time to pitch in, according to your own schedule. No pressure, lots of laughs, and a group of like-minded people making a better world, one home at a time?that?s Habitat. -- Nancy Eckerson ___________________________________________ Five million people are displaced and in need of basic services as a result of the tsunami-earthquake catastrophe that struck in Southeast Asia December 26th, 2004. Habitat for Humanity has a presence in six of the 12 affected countries ?- Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Malaysia and Bangladesh. The organization is working with local Habitat offices and international partner organizations to assess and respond to short-and long-term shelter needs. You can learn more about these efforts and help the victims with your donation to Habitat here: http://www.habitat.org/disaster/2004/asia_tsunami/ ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend LouiseA :) ,--, |__ _ ___/ /\| :__|_|__/ __ ;( )__, ) /-\|__/-\_/ ; // '--; \'/ \'/ \ | ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >Love in Action In her book, Living with Love, Josephine Robertson tells a story: "In 1883, a youthful clergyman, the Rev. Joe Roberts, arrived by stagecoach in a blizzard to minister to the Indians of Wyoming. This great, wild area had been assigned to the Protestant Episcopal Church by President Grant. Soon after Joe Roberts arrived, the son of the chief was shot by a soldier in a brawl, and Chief Washakie vowed to kill the first white man he met. Since this might mean the start of a long, bloody feud, young Roberts decided to take action. Seeking out the tepee, 15 miles away in the mountains, he stood outside and called the chief's name. When Washakie appeared, Roberts opened his shirt. "I have heard of your vow," he said, "I know that the other white men have families, but I am alone. Kill me instead." The chief was amazed and motioned him into his tent. "How do you have so much courage?" he asked. Joe Roberts told him about Christ, his death, his teachings. They talked for hours. When Joe left, the chief of the Shoshones had renounced his vow to kill and resolved to become a Christian. Washakie had seen love in action. Every group which calls itself Christian would do well to decide what it should do to make love visible in the home, church, community, and world. For unless love becomes visible, it is not love at all." --- ...Wonderful story! Thanks Fran! It is what MLK was trying to teach too - we cannot blame all for the actions of one or some. We are all pretty much alike under our skin. ================================================================ >-->From Jerry's Christian Jottings: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' I will be holding a gospel meeting on January 24-26 at the Crestwood congregation, in Crestwood Ky. Said meeting will be focused on sharing the gospel through private studies. I would like to invite any in the Louisville area to attend. . Jerry Blount -<>- ___ (___) /` `\ / /"\ \ \_/o o\_/ ( _ ) `\ /` /\\V//\ / /_ _\ \ \ \___/ / \/===\/ || || || || ||___|| |_____| jgs ||| / Y \ `"`"` >The family needs Grandma! “The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers: not given to much wine, teachers of good things: That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed: (Titus 2:3-5). In this passage, Paul identified the role of Grandma as a key stabilizing factor for a successful home. This is the last line of defense as mapped out by Paul… Grandma! Today this is compounded by the fact that now, in many cases, Grandma hasn’t known marital success or a “settled life” either. I was born in 1955 and graduated in 1973. I was the product of a happy home, as were both my parents. The hoary head (gray head) is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness. Proverbs 16:31 Previous to my generation, divorce was unheard of. When I married, my Grandma started in lecturing me, “In our family, we marry for life!” She was right… She died with the man she had loved all her life. My mother, her daughter, died with the man… (my father) whom she had loved all her life. My father loved my mother till the day she died. With my generation, that presumption has collapsed. There are fewer and fewer of us left. Note from the chart that I was not alone. This situation of crumbling marriages and fragmented families has been in a state of decline though out my lifetime. Most within this generation have not seen a Bible example of how they are supposed to live. For example, most young men coming of age today… literally have not been raised by their fathers! They have been raised by someone else. How can a young man learn how to be a father when he has not seen one… or at least a genuine one? The attached chart shows the rise in the rate of divorce over the last 150 years or so, along with several key Supreme Court cases that have undermined respect for God and the Bible. Notice that as respect for scripture from every level of society has declined, one result has been that success in marriage has all but collapsed. The rise in the divorce rate, aka “rate of failure” in marriage steadily arose along with the rise in the teaching of evolution. In 1925 the teaching of evolution vs creation hit the courts and became a key part of required teaching. A child no longer was the offspring of God, but became recognized as an animal. School discipline began to disintegrate… The “animals” acted as such… slowly at first… loyalty, fidelity etc… “human” traits slowly began receding. School prayer was outlawed… So young “animals” were no longer allowed to address their creator. Next, it became legal to destroy children in the name of civil rights. If our children are but “evolved cattle” then, it logically follows that parents should have the right to choose death for their children… as they choose death for their cattle or their pets. We put animals to sleep when it is “kinder” than letting them live. Said children were declared to legally be “non-persons” in much the same fashion as slaves had once been. Note the visible, measurable effect these decisions have had on the viability of marriage and stability! That which makes us human (different) has bit by bit been undermined and then repudiated. For this article, we could track the decline of marriage, the rise of violence, the collapsing economy, the rise of welfare… each of these things is interrelated. It is a package deal. Respect for God, respect for our country, respect for ourselves… Civilization has slowly begun to unravel. Why? … These events did not occur in a vacuum “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. “ Proverbs 1:7Text Box: Supreme Court Case notes Scopes replaced “Creation” with “evolution” as the public explanation of our existence…Redefining who we are. Engel is the first of two cases that year. One outlawed school prayer, the other bible readings. Roe v Wade redefined “when” we are human. Teaching us to ignore the plight of the helpless. Bowers upheld a Georgia law criminalizing sodomy. Lawrence reversed Bowers decriminalizing sodomy . My generation began experimenting with the fundamental foundations of society itself. This is an experiment that has failed! I joined the rank of “Grandparent” some 10 years ago. I grew up through the rebellion of the sixties. I have watched the explosion of drugs, divorce, and finally of violence. My own sister was murdered over a divorce. During my lifetime, as a nation, we have “sown the wind, and have reaped the whirlwind!” (Hosea 8:7) My point is this: My grandparents are all gone. I am now old enough that my friends are beginning to gradually die off. The newest ranks of grandparents are no longer the last bastion of stability and happiness! In earlier years, when a marriage fell apart, Grandma was there. But today, too often Grandma is divorced, single and struggling as well. Today, most (yes most) grandmas have very little to offer. They have lost the moral high ground to give the lecture that my grandma gave to me. Soon… no one alive will remember what once “was”… As no one now alive remembers a time when families were an unshakeable bedrock of our society. A bedrock that was so stable that only one ended in divorce for every thirty four marriages. It was shameful to fail at marriage. It was shameful for a man to walk out on his family, or for a woman to throw out her husband and expect the government to “raise” her kids. What is “normal?” Chaos has taken the place of stability… and soon living memory will fade. We will not remember what “could be”… If we choose God’s way. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth , that shall he also reap . Galatians 6:7 How long has it been since we kicked God out of school, then from public discourse? A local newspaper article appeared a few years ago that said our area (Wichita, KS) has one of the highest divorce rates in the nation, 7 divorces for 10 marriages. I guess that is fair, we are also a national center for late term abortions. We have gone from 1 divorce in 34 marriages... to a point where basically half of all marriages fail everywhere. But in our area it is nearing 3 out of 4! One modern definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different result. God through Hosea had warned us of exactly this situation. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” Hosea 4:6 Time is running out for us as a people! Never in recent memory has the frailty of human reasoning been more obvious. Never has the need for Jesus Christ (and His leadership!) been more clearly demonstrated. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. Jesus (2000 yrs. ago) My grandmas have both been dead for many years… If our society is to survive, the older women of this day must gather their grandchildren and demand that they undo what our generation has done! Our young people must know t Jerry Blount The Pillar church of Christ 316-320-4321 www.JerrysChristianjottings.com -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Value Of Life http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/poems/value.html Our Gifts And Callings http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/giftscallings.html Jesus Clinic http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/clinic.html Value What You Have! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/valuewyh.html Luxury Yacht! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/luxyacht.html Microscopic! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/micro.html Why God Gave Us Puppies! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/whypuppies.html Building Advertising Art! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/buildingads.html Wieliczka Salt Mine! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/saltmine.html Chainsaw Woodcarving Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/woodcarving.html Under His Wings http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wings.html Identity Theft! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/identitytheft.html -<>- >From Our Friend Fran :) She sent us one we have here... There Has To Be http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/poems/therehastobe.html --- ...Sweet! Thanks Fran! -<>- >From Our Friend Linda :) Baby Sings Elvis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p963CHfp21c --- ...OH My! I love her expressions and Hi Daddy's! Thanks Linda! -<>- >From Our Friend Melody :) The Dingman Collection http://www.youtube.com/embed/6IYISQ6DVwk AMAZING GRACE IN CHEROKEE - NATIVE AMERICAN - YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_qFbNskjCI&feature=related --- ...Ooo, most beautiful! Thanks Melody! -<>- >From Our Friend Fran :) People Vs Winter http://www.youtube.com/embed/xKy2lLNQYrI?rel=0 --- ...TeeHee! Thanks Fran! -<>- >From Our Friend Geniann :) OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY MADE THIS AND IT JUST CAME OUT AND HAS HAD 6 MILLION HITS. http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=JVAhr4hZDJE&vq=medium#t=19%2a Thank you Oklahoma. I hope 100 million watch this! Oklahoma State University is located at Stillwater, Oklahoma. This is without a doubt the best video that has come out and apparently 6 Million others think so too because there have been 6 million hits in 4 days. Please watch it again and again and send it on to others. I believe the pendulum has started to swing so let's keep it going. *This is very well done.* OUR THANKS GOES OUT TO THE GREAT OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY FOR THIS OUTSTANDING JOB. --- ...Thanks Geniann! -<>- >From Our Friend PatDeE :) California Drought Threatens Entire Country - 3 Pictures Show How Bad It Really Is http://tinyurl.com/llx2juf --- ...In our Prayers! Thanks PatDeE! -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseA :) This one-of-a-kind video is the first ever penguin colony flyover - actually shot by a bird! That's just what you get when you disguise your camera as a delicious, unguarded egg! http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=IdR-WlciBlo --- ...What A delight! Thanks LouiseA! Visit Melissa's Online Store You can get anything you want (except for Melissa ) at the online store http://pdhomes.net/mall/babylissa/mySTORES/ISELL4.html ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Linda :) May you paint this world with your colors so bright and cheerful. May all you do? be so beautiful. -Linda / / _/ (_) / / | | | | | | | (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) (_) _ _ (_)_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (_))(_) (_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)(_)@< >The Necklace The cheerful little girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them, a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. “Oh mommy please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please?” Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl’s upturned face. “A dollar ninety-five. That’s almost $2.00. If you really want them, I’ll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday’s only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma.” As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace. Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere, Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green. Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night as he finished the story, he asked Jenny, “Do you love me?” “Oh yes, daddy. You know that I love you.” “Then give me your pearls.” “Oh, daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess, the white horse from my collection, the one with the pink tail. Remember, daddy? The one you gave me. She’s my very favorite.” “That’s okay, Honey, daddy loves you. Good night.” And he brushed her cheek with a kiss. About a week later, after the story time, Jenny’s daddy asked again, “Do you love me?” “Daddy, you know I love you.” “Then give me your pearls.” “Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper.” “That’s okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you.” And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss. A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek. “What is it, Jenny? What’s the matter?” Jenny didn’t say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, “Here, daddy; this is for you.” With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny’s daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny. He had them all the time… He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her the genuine treasure. So it is, with God. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that he can give us beautiful treasures. Are you holding onto things that God wants you to let go of? Are you holding on to harmful or unnecessary partners, relationships, habits and activities that you have come so attached to that it seems impossible to let go? Sometimes it is so hard to see what is in the other hand but do believe this one thing. God will always give you something better then what you had taken away from you. You just need t trust in Him. --- ...So heartwarming! Thanks Linda! ============================================================ ,"=-. / _),`'". ( /a( ), ) ) C = = ?/ ( )) (_ o-< ) ( `-' \; ( \_ ( | \ ) )| \_/} \ \ \(_;/-|_) )/) `._,--/ / / `!__!! ( (_o)) ---`-._, )--- ------( / |---- | ( | :__/|\_; \ |/ )(\_ /_)--` gpyy \_! >My Turn to Break Down Story Editor: by John Stevens Clayton Bennett Florida, USA I've been in the pressure cleaning business since 1979, and one of my accounts was a large grocery store chain in Florida. One day in 1984, I came out of a store after dropping off the invoice for the previous night's work, and spotted a woman walking with two small children. She was probably in her early thirties, with dishwater-blonde, shoulder-length hair. One of her children was a boy, about six years old; the other, a girl, looked like she was about four. When her little family arrived at their car, I heard it try and fail to start -- and then the battery went dead. In my truck, I had a battery load tester as well as tools, so I asked her if I could help. She just broke down and started crying. She said her husband had died without insurance, so she and her children were going back home -- somewhere in New England. The young woman had purchased a quart of milk, bread and bologna. She gave it to the children, who acted as if they hadn't eaten in a while. She said she only had $10 to her name, and was going to try begging for money when she ran out of gas. The weather was terribly hot, and the air conditioner in her car didn't work. Her car battery had a dead cell, so I removed the whole battery. Then I went to a parts store, bought a new battery, and installed it in her car. I remember wondering if that old car would make it up to New England, but I could only do so much. Just to make sure she'd be able to get somewhere, I dumped two 5-gallon cans of gas in her tank and gave her $50 in cash. Wouldn't you know it, she started crying all over again. She told me she couldn't afford to repay me right then, so I gave her my business card and told her to pay me when she could. She just kept thanking me over and over and over. I figured I'd never see that money again, but at least I felt good by helping her and her children. My late wife of 27 years used to get halfway mad at me, because I was always stopping to help disabled motorists, who most of the time simply ran out of gas. I just helped because I could. In all those years, only one person took the time to repay me. Almost three years after helping that young mother I received a letter from an unknown address. I opened it to find a money order for $95 and a short note. It was from that young woman, telling me she was finally back on her feet, and thanking me again for helping her when she was broke and broken down. She said she would never forget my kindness. Now it was my turn to shed the tears. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Kidwarmers: ___....___ _,--''' ```--._ ,' `. /_,_,_,_,_,_,_,_,_,_,_,_,_,_,\ _,-----._ || ,'( / `. || (__ __/_/._,'_) || ( _,/ `. ,' `. ) || (_ | o . o |-') || `-| | |-' || \ O / || ____ `.___,' ____|| ,' / /`._____)===(_____,'\ \ || ( ( ( (| `-'/_|_\`.' |) ) )|| \_\_\_| _______ |_/_/_|| | || [_______] || | || | ||_,' ,' `. `._|| |/ | | ||__,-' `-.__|| |\__| | | \ / | / / | | \ / | / \ \ \_________/ |__,' \ \ |_________| \ \' `-. ,\ `. ' : `. `.`. / `--' ' . \ / ' , ' \ \ \ | | | . | | |_______________________| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | -.| | -.| ( ) ( ) |`- | |`-- | | | | | | | | | | | | | jrei |__ _| |____| (____) (____) >THE FUNNY THINGS KIDS SAY T.J., 3, went outside to play. He was wearing a red sweater. After a while he went inside and his mother asked him where his sweater was. He said, "My friend Mary has it. She was cold." Sonya, his mother, asked, "What friend Mary?" He said, "The one in the front yard." Sonya went outside and saw T.J.'s sweater wrapped around Mary in the plastic nativity scene. (T.J. is 19 now, but the story still makes family members smile when they see nativity scenes in people's yards.) -- Danette (aunt of T.J.) of Dallas, Texas Thirty years ago while living in Memphis, Dennis worked with a woman who had a small son named Chris. At the family Christmas party, Chris' dad dressed up in the Santa suit. The disguise worked fine until Chris grasped Santa's left hand and announced to the entire room, "Hey, Santa's wearing Daddy's watch!" -- Dennis Smith of Oak Ridge, North Carolina Here is another story from Dennis Smith. The Morgan Holt family was gathered around the Thanksgiving dinner table when Diane asked Elizabeth, her 6-year-old niece, when she was coming to visit her. Elizabeth put down her fork, looked thoughtful for a few seconds and replied, "As soon as I get me driver's license." -- Dennis heard the story from Elizabeth's grandmother Carleigh, 8, was helping her grandmother put out the Hummel nativity set. They carefully put the baby Jesus in the manger, along with Mary and Joseph, followed by the shepherds and sheep. Then Carleigh picked up the next piece and asked, "Where does the Gene go?" "What Gene?" her grandmother asked. "This one," she said, holding out one of the Wise Men who had a bottle in his hand. She thought he was a genie! -- Judy Hoffman (grandmother of Carleigh) of Table Rock Lake, near Branson, Missouri .-----. .'`-. / ,-- | .- `-. ,' ,-' `. _.-' ,-.`.) ; / ,=---`--+' .- -. `. ( \ ,' =,- ,' ( o ) | /\ : : / =,-' / \-' ;(o : \ | ' ; ( `--' \ ; \ | = | \`--+ --. `( `+ =/ : : `. `. \ ' =/ \ `--. '-. `. `. \ =; `._ : ( `-. `. `. \ = ; `._.' `-.-`-._\ `-. \= ' _.-'_) (::::) `+ -. `--7' `--`..' ( : .' ; \ | | / \ | _.-| +---' `--+ `. \ \ /`. '-.-\ `--. / /#### `----.' ( ,-'############\ \\/###############; \###############/ kOs |--------------| _.--------- :::::::::::::::|_.-'' ::::::::::_.-'' .-''..'---'-------'' Dallas, 8, lost a tooth. He put it under his pillow and found his money the next morning. But he had doubts. "Is the Tooth Fairy real?" he asked his mother. She had heard from child experts that the right age to tell the truth is when they start asking. So she said, "No, Dallas, the Tooth Fairy is just a story. It's really me that takes your teeth and leaves you money." He didn't bring it up again, and the next time he lost a tooth he played along. About six months later, a few weeks before Christmas, he asked, "Is Santa Claus real?" His mother started to answer, "Well, Dallas..." A look of horror crossed his face and he said, "Is this going to be like the Tooth Fairy? DON'T TELL ME!" And he enjoyed one more year of believing. -- Dianne (mother of Dallas) of Seattle Logan, last week, said to his mother, "The gig is up, Mom. The cat is out of the bag. I no longer believe in Santa Claus but I will keep the spirit alive, as you say, for Jared." (Jared is his 3-year-old brother.) Logan continued, "I know you are going to tell me that if I don't believe, then I won't get any presents." His mother was dumbfounded and had no comment. -- Debbie (mother of Logan) of Ypsilanti, Michigan Taylor's dad is no longer with them. The other night, Taylor prayed, "Dear God, will you please send me a new Daddy so Mommy doesn't have to mow the yard?" -- Cristy of West Virginia _, _ .' `. ___.>"''-..-. `-. ; .--""" .-._@; ; !_.--..._ .' / .[_@'`'. ; / : .' ; :_.._ `. : ; ;[ _T-" `.'-. `-. \ .-: ; `.`-=_,88p. _.}.-" `-.__.-' \ /L._ Y",P$T888; "" .-'_.-' / ;$$$$$$]8P; \ / / / "Y$$P" ^" fsc ;\_ `.\_._ ]__\ \___; Taylor, who is 6, was eating fish one day and suddenly started to spit the fish out. She said, "Mommy, this fish has wires in it." (She meant bones.) Madison, was playing children's games on her grandmother's computer. Her grandmother was using her sewing machine, which sits next to the computer. Suddenly, Madison asked, "Grandmom, can you turn down the volume on that machine?" -- Ruby (grandmother of Madison) of Marion, Illinois And here are some favorites from years ago when I first started my column. These kids are all teens or in their 20's now... _________ ,'' ``. / \ | ,---------. | | /--.\ | /,--\ | | /`-._\\|//_,-'\ | |/._ _ _____ _ _.\| / \ |=/#\=| / \ (_`-._\|=\#/=|/_,-'_) / ._'-.___,-'_, \ / / `-.\_/.-' \ \ : ( , | | . ) \ | \ | ||| | / | | \| ||| |/ | | ,-'| ||| |`-. | |/| |____\|/____| |\| \'--|___((_))___|--|/ |\_|-_ \\|//__-|_/ | | |_ -\|/- ._| / |\ |____/ \____| |\ ; \ | | | | |; / .| | | | || | || | | | \ ; || -.| | -.| / | ;| - | |-- | /\ ; ; | | | | || / | | | | | / \ | / |___| |___| \ | /__,--.(=--)_(-- )_,--\_\ / ) ( \ jrei / ,' '. \ (_,' '._) At a Christmas Eve program a 5-year-old whispered: "Grandma, why doesn't that baby Jesus ever get any older? I've been to five of these programs!" A few weeks before Christmas Lindsay came home from first grade and told her mother: "I believe in Santa Claus. And I believe in the elves. But those flying deer. I don't buy those flying deer!" Elizabeth, 3, was helping her mother Melinda wrap a present for her father. While wrapping, Melinda told Elizabeth about keeping the present a secret so it would be a surprise. After the present was wrapped, Elizabeth proudly put it under the tree. When her father asked her if he could shake it and guess what's inside, she said, "No, T-shirts don't rattle!" Niccole, 4, was afraid of Santa. When she saw him greeting children in a department store, she said to him, "I'm NOT sitting on your lap! If you give me your phone number, I'll call you when I have time!" c,_.--.,y 7 a.a( ( ,_Y) : '---; ___.'\. - ( .'"""S,._'--'_2..,_ | ':::::=::::: \ . f== ;-,---.' T Y. r,-,_/_ | |:\___.---' '---./ |'` ) \ , ':;,.________.;L / '---------' | | \ L---'-,--.-'--,-' T / \ Y | Y , | | \ ( | ( ) \,_L 7-./ ) `, snd / _( '._ \ '---' '--' Luke, 4, wanted a Christmas chore. His parents told him he could water the Christmas tree every day. The next morning when they woke up they saw Luke using a sprinkling can from the garden to water the tree -- presents and all! Rebecca, 5, said she thought the Christmas tree must be a girl because it has a skirt. Adam, 4, sang "Frosty the Snowman" this way: "...with a torn tob pipe and a runny nose..." ========================================================== >-->From Our Fried LouiseA :) _.--._ \ ** / (<>) . ) ( . )\_.._/ /\ \_.._/( (*_<>_ _<>_*) )/ '' \ \/ / '' \( ' ) ( ' ( ) ) ( (<>) / ** \ /.-..-.\ >Peace In His Presence (By Linda Wolovich) In this world of uncertainty Where tomorrow may never be We have a HOPE that we can cling to That we find only, Lord, in Thee! With You, we need not fear No worries to consume our minds For each moment lies in Your hands With You, PEACE is what we'll find! We may lose our worldly possessions Relationships may come and go BUT Your Presence is ever abiding Your blessings will ALWAYS flow! As we stay obedient to Your Word With dedicated hearts and lives to You We know NOTHING will ever be too great, Lord - You will FOREVER see us through! So we'll cast ALL of our cares upon You We'll fret not what tomorrow will bring For the Lord watches over His children With You we KNOW we can face ANYTHING! >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 and DARE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. These are Tried and True, Yummy to the Tummy, good old fashioned home cooking recipes that are EASY to do Visit Shangy's Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html Home Recipes >Got A good Recipe? SHARE IT HERE: Share A Recipe ************************************************************************ >TO SUBSCRIBE: Visit Here This Weeks regular Shangy emails OR For the Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ************************************************************************