The Million Ways ... :) 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 ================== I Hope you all had a very special blessed Merry Christmas! | + | /^\ + --=<-*->=-- + \·/ | ____ ... + .. ... | | |__,'[] `,__ _' `__ /\|/\ _' `___|_ []| ______|__ __|_ [] | /#\ |[] __| []| | | []| | | | # | | | | | | | | | '.,_#.- - ' . - · - ' - . . - ' - . _ . - ' - . _ _ MAY YOUR PATH ` ' /\|/\ ' ' /\|/\ /#\ LEAD YOU TO PEACE AND ' ' /#\ # ' ' # /\|/\ # HAPPINESS ' ' # /#\ # ' ' # EVERYONE ' ' #________ |OOShy Be Sure To Check Out This Month's New Pages: Christmas Tree! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/redneck.html BibleStudy:The Christmas Story! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/christmasstory.html Who Is This Jesus! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/jesus.html Daily With The Troops 3! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/daily3.html Chalk Art 2! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/chalkart2.html Disney Christmas! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/disneychristmas.html Amazing Grace! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/amazinggrace.html ==================================================================== ____ ___ _.--"""-, / ) / \ .' `\ / _\ / \/ \ / .-' / _ | /.-.--.-.-.)/ / ( )\_ .\|(_._.__._._) / \,' \/ \ \ / : , | 0 _ 0 |/ : \ _/ (_) |`\ ,' `; "\ \ / / | | | /'. '._.' .' / \_,' .( '-----'` .'-. '-._ .-'\ '. [ `''''') ) `\ { ( ( ,\ / /\ '-..-'/ ; .-' ( '. / | .' ) `;---'` | /' /__.-' } / / O ' '----' ; / ! ___ { ! }/ \ ( _--- / | ___----'(__ .-' !\___/ .---' / .-.--' '------'------ --( ____)/ _-' (;(;;---'' (_(_(;; miraculis /jgs >When We Woke Story Editor: By Janis J. Cox Joyce Schowalter Illinois, USA I grew up in Jacksonville, Illinois. My mother worked hard to raise us three kids, but our dad wasn't around much when we were growing up. I can't remember one Christmas as a child when our dad was home with us. We never had Christmas at our house or a tree or anything like that. But it seemed fine, because every Christmas morning our grandparents on our mother's side always came and got our mother and us three kids. We went to their house and had Christmas there. Santa always took our gifts to their house -- or so we were told. Our grandparents saw to it that we always had a good Christmas. One year, when we were about 12, 10, and 8 years old, our mother went to a lawyer to see about a divorce from our father. Of course we children didn't know this at the time. That Christmas eve we went to bed with our coats on because we didn't have any heat in the house. Yet when we woke up on Christmas morning we had heat. It was warm! We went into the front room and there was the biggest most beautiful Christmas tree we had ever seen. Under the tree were all kinds of gifts. Each gift had a name tag, with "To: boy" or "To: girl" written on it. Now we were old enough to not believe in Santa any more -- but this was something strange! How did Santa do this? We decided that there must be a Santa. We had Christmas at our house, and then we went to our grandparents' house and had Christmas again. That was the best Christmas ever. Later, when we were older, our mother told us she had gone to the lawyer about a divorce that year. It was he and his wife who had gotten the tree and bought fuel oil for our heating stove. They brought all those gifts to our house Christmas eve when we were asleep. Now how they ever got all that into our house and we three kids stayed asleep I will never know. You see, we lived in a three-room house that did not have any doors on any of the rooms. They couldn't even have shut a door to stop us from hearing them. Yet somehow we did not hear a thing. I never knew who these people were that did that wonderful Christmas for us. As far as I know, they never even saw us kids. But we have never forgotten them. Not only did they give us a Christmas but they taught us how to be kind to people. I was never able to thank them for what they did, but since then I have tried to help people whenever and however I can. ----------==========----------o----------==========---------- A Happy Holiday Season to you from all of us at HeroicStories. Our gratitude to all our readers who have contributed support to HeroicStories and kept us going: http://www.HeroicStories.com/fund.html And our very best wishes to you all. ----------==========----------o----------==========---------- >-->From InspiredBuffalo: \ () vvvv .-" "-. .'___ `. / /_/_/ \ ____ | /_/_/ | .%%%%%%. | | /%/_/%%%%\_ \ .::::.%%%%%%%%(_{}-o `. .::::::::%%%%%%%%/ `-._/:/_/::::::\%%%%%' o-3_)::::::::::|"""" \::::::::::/ `::::::::' `````' hjw Merry Christmas Everyone! Nancy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For He's a Jolly Good Fellow, For He's a Jolly Good Fellooooow... / _/_ \_ __ \\_ / \_/ ,< ==-o _| * \ __, /_) \_\__// * / ^\-' //\ \ \\ \ ') /_) ),-. // \\ (( )) * _\\ //_ . ..((__)(__))..b'ger >Twas the month before Christmas* Twas the month before Christmas* *When all through our land,* *Not a Christian was praying* *Nor taking a stand.* *See the PC Police had taken away,* *The reason for Christmas - no one could say.* *The children were told by their schools not to sing,* *About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.* *It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say* * December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.* *Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit* *Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!* *CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod* *Something was changing, something quite odd! * *Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa* *In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.* *As Targets were hanging their trees upside down* * At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.* *At K-Mart and Staples and Penney's and Sears* *You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.* *Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty* *Are words that were used to intimidate me.* *Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen* *On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !* *At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter* *To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.* *And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith* * Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace* *The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded* *The reason for the season, stopped before it started.* *So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'* *Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.* *Choose your words carefully, choose what you say* *Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS ,not Happy Holiday ! Please, all Christians join together and wish everyone you meet MERRY CHRISTMAS Christ is The Reason for the Christ-mas Season! -<>- .-. \_/ .-. \.-\/=\/.-/ '-./___|=|___\.-' .--| \|/`"`\|/ |--. (((_)\ .---. /(_))) `\ \_`-. .-'_/ /`_ '.__ __.'(_)) / \ // | |__.'/ \ /--'` jgs .--,-' .--. '----. '----`--' '--`----' >TOOTHLESS GRIN I was doing some last-minute Christmas shopping in a toy store and decided to look at Barbie dolls for my nieces. A nicely-dressed little girl was excitedly looking through the Barbie dolls as well, with a roll of money clamped tightly in her little hand. When she came upon a Barbie she liked, she would turn and ask her father if she had enough money to buy it. He usually said "yes," but she would keep looking and keep going through their ritual of "do I have enough?" As she was looking, a little boy wandered in across the aisle and started sorting through the Pokémon toys. He was dressed neatly, but in clothes that were obviously rather worn, and wearing a jacket that was probably a couple of sizes too small. He, too, had money in his hand, but it looked to be no more than five dollars or so, at the most. He was with his father as well, and kept picking up the Pokémon video toys. Each time he picked one up and looked at his father, his father shook his head, "no." The little girl had apparently chosen her Barbie, a beautifully-dressed, glamorous doll that would have been the envy of every little girl on the block. However, she had stopped and was watching the interchange between the little boy and his father. Rather dejectedly, the boy had given up on the video games and had chosen what looked like a book of stickers instead. He and his father then started walking through another aisle of the store. The little girl put her Barbie back on the shelf, and ran over to the Pokémon games. She excitedly picked up one that was lying on top of the other toys, and raced toward the check-out, after speaking with her father. I picked up my purchases and got in line behind them. Then, much to the little girl's obvious delight, the little boy and his father got in line behind me. After the toy was paid for and bagged, the little girl handed it back to the cashier and whispered something in her ear. The cashier smiled and put the package under the counter. I paid for my purchases and was rearranging things in my purse when the little boy came up to the cashier. The cashier rang up his purchases and then said, "Congratulations, you are my hundredth customer today, and you win a prize!" With that, she handed the little boy the Pokémon game, and he could only stare in disbelief. It was, he said, exactly what he had wanted! The little girl and her father had been standing at the doorway during all of this, and I saw the biggest, prettiest, toothless grin on that little girl that I have ever seen in my life. Then they walked out the door, and I followed, close behind them. As I walked back to my car, in amazement over what I had just witnessed, I heard the father ask his daughter why she had done that. I'll never forget what she said to him. "Daddy, didn't Nana and Paw Paw want me to buy something that would make me happy?" He said, "Of course they did, honey." To which the little girl replied, "Well, I just did!" With that, she giggled and started skipping toward their car. Apparently, she had decided on the answer to her own question of, "do I have enough?" I feel very privileged to have witnessed the true spirit of Christmas in that toy store, in the form of a little girl who understands more about the reason for the season than most adults I know! May God bless her and her parents, just as she blessed that little boy, and me, that day! -- Sharon Palmer, Tennessee -<>- . | . \ | / `. \ ' / .' `. .-*""*-. .' "*-._ /.*" "*.\ _.-*" : ; ____ """"': .. ; _.-*" \ `.__.' / "*-._ .' `-.__.-' `. bug .' / . \ `. / | \ ' | ` >THE MILLION WAYS By: Joseph J. Mazzella After almost two weeks of constant cloudiness I saw the sun again today. It was like greeting an old friend that I hadn’t seen in years. It lit up not only the sky and the Earth but my soul as well. I smiled towards the Heavens and thanked God for this beautiful sight. I knew too that it was just one of the million ways that God says, “I love you” to us everyday. In fact, if I started writing on all the ways that God lets us know just how much He loves us then I would never stop. I would like to share just a few of them with you here, though. There are those unexpected hugs from our kids, that shining light in another’s eyes when they love you, the laughter of a child, a puppy licking your hand, a kitten purring on your lap, a new baby’s smile, and the first songs of the birds in the Spring. There are also the delightful smells of Spring flowers and Fall leaves, plus warm sweaters, warm hearts, and hot chocolate on cold, Winter days. Let’s not forget either inspiring books, encouraging words, beautiful music, and the peace that prayer brings. We are also blessed with caring friends, good-hearted neighbors, and compassionate strangers who bring us comfort in times of need. Then we have all those obstacles that make us steer off the wrong road and onto the right path as well as all those problems that make us stronger, better, and more loving people. God’s wondrous love flows through all of these things and through our own hearts and souls as well. That is why I find the best way to start any day is to say, “I love you too dear God and I thank you for my life here.” God loves us all so much. He says it in a million ways everyday of our lives. His love is all around us and within us as well. His love watches over us in this life and His love promises us an even greater life to come. His love and the joy it brings are His gifts to us. Let’s make them our gifts to each other as well. -<>- Links for Your Enjoyment Finalized MTG Minutes http://www.buffaloschips.com/ghjkikl.htm First Day At The Rifle Range http://www.buffaloschips.com/ghjkillo.htm First IT Consultant http://www.buffaloschips.com/gdfde.htm Fishing Boat http://www.buffaloschips.com/gdrese.htm Fastest Gun Ever http://www.buffaloschips.com/ghjuhj.htm Fed Ex http://www.buffaloschips.com/gjkik.htm Fests http://www.buffaloschips.com/gkilo.htm FFs http://www.buffaloschips.com/ghjuik.htm Hot Dog Chase http://www.buffaloschips.com/gklok.htm Subscribe send a blank email to: the-inspired-buffalo-subscribe@yahoogroups.com =============================================================== >-->From Our Friend PatH :( This is wonderful, but it could also go for men as well. Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!!! Luv ya all. --- / , /\ \|/ /\ |\\_;=._//| \." "./ //^\ /^\\ .'``",/ |0| |0| \,"``'. / , `'\.---./'` , \ It's The Cat's Meow! /` /`\,."( )".,/`\ `\ /` ( '.'-.-'.' ) `\ /"` "._ : _." `"\ `/.'`"=.,_``=``_,.="`'.\` jgs ) ( ...OK Pat - A little Christ filled editing will do it - and viola: !|| !|||| ,/|||| !|'''| `\ | )\ \ ejm / \ \ \ Dear God: The person reading this is beautiful, classy and strong and I love them. Please help them live their life to the fullest! Please promote them and cause them to excel above their expectations! Help them shine in the darkest places where it is impossible to love. Protect them at all times, lift them up when they need you the most and let them know when they walk with you, they will always be safe. Thank You Father, in Christ's name, Amen Love you !!!! Live your life in such a way, that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, Satan shudders and say's "Oh Hell They're Awake!!!" --- ...Sweet! Thanks PatH! ===================================================================== >-->Form Our Friend Pam :) .----------------------_._------------------------------------------. | d888b . * | | . * _ ?888P_ . | | ,-~~-'-/_~~~\.`-~:8o. * | | ,' .:8bv' .:88. . | | / .:88 .:8b . . . | | . / .:8P .:8b | | ,' .:8P\ .:88. Merry Christmas | | ,=' .:88 \ __:88g_ | | -._ .:8| | _..-~,~ ~;' and * | | ~o..__ .:8| | _-~ ?8b_ _.-' | | ~~ ~~--.:88 /:___...(888) Happy New Year | | * `^' . | | _ _ . _______________________ . | | _(\)(/)_____/\_`_\ \/_______________\ | | |`.)XX(=====/ /,---\*\----------------\ _ Seal _ | | |||`()_\____\// \ / \ \`. \ . | | `| | Y \___\ \________________\ * | | `|_________\ / / / / | | . \/___/_/________________/ . | `-------------------------------------------------------------------' --- ...Thank You Pam! ===================================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: >A CHRISTMAS MEMORY by Diane Dean White We were living in a new home in the South among the pecan trees. After our first Christmas with mistletoe and pine cones I gathered and displayed in a basket by the fire place, I felt a thrill in our home for the special Celebration. But the next year I realized that our relatives all lived up north and I wanted so badly to return to the snow and loved ones for Christmas. My parents had purchased a cottage on Lake Michigan about the time we moved south and they would be celebrating an old fashioned Christmas there. Steve and I knew it would be a long trip with three young children but it would be great to be with my brother and family and mom and dad. We went easy on the gifts that year and had things packed and set out for our trip. The cottage was nestled off a main road and down a couple of dirt roads, and the drive back was on a small lane flanked on each side by all kinds of trees. Ahead, we spotted the cottage, overlooking Grand Traverse Bay. There was a fire in the living room and all kinds of goodies on the table. They had waited for so we could all go into the woods to find the perfect Christmas tree. I remember seeing more trees than I could ever imagine, and the five grandchildren chose the one they wanted. It looked a bit straggly to me but I think in their eyes it was beautiful. We placed it on a sled and located the right spot inside and went to work. With popcorn, and homemade decorations from the woods and cranberries, the tree looked lovely when we were done. Walks along the beach covered with snow and sliding down a nearby hill were fun activities for the kids, ages 4 to 8. We made Christmas cookies and frosted them, and on Christmas Eve after the stockings were hung, my hubby gathered some very attentive children around him who were eager to hear the Christmas Story -- the only light in the place was a blazing fire. Unbeknown to me, my brother had arranged for our neighbor, an older man named "John" to become Santa that night. With a glowing fire and five little sleepy children, suddenly there were bells heard outside. My brother exclaimed, "Everyone hide! I think it's Santa, and he won't leave gifts if he sees you." As fast as I've ever seen, those kids hit the floor and hid under the game table, behind chairs and sofas and waited to watch Santa. Through the front patio sliding door came Santa, with his bag of gifts that were placed around the tree. Santa spoke about each child by name and then he spotted the cookies and milk. He ate a few and then talking with himself decided he must be on his way. I couldn't hear even a soul breathing. But all of a sudden our youngest who was four, said, "Don't forget the reindeer, Santa!" And ignoring the voice, Santa said, "Oh, ho, ho, here are some carrots for the deer." And with the bells jingling and more ho-hos, Santa left through the slider. The children all understood why Santa couldn't come down the chimney, we had a fire going and he would have been burned! It wasn't hard to get those five kids up the ladder and into their bedrooms that night. And what dreams they had I can only imagine. It was something in a child's life that would remain a memory forever. That Christmas Eve, thirty years ago, is often talked about. We never had another one at the cottage, and now the rustic beginnings have turned into a beautiful home. A stairway replaces the ladder that went into the bedrooms and "John" is having Christmas in heaven with dad. The youngest of the grandchildren is 34 and married, as are others, and another generation of grandchildren enjoy activities at the cottage. We won't forget that special time so long ago when we saw the magic of Christmas take place In the heart of each child. -- Diane Dean White ______________________________________________ Diane and her husband Stephen are the parents of three grown children and three grand gals. They make their home on the Carolina Coast where Diane continues to do freelance work; a weekly column, and is the author of two books. She also contributes to Chicken Soup and other publications. You may visit her website at: http://www.dianedeanwhite.com ==================================================================== >-->From SermondFodder: ,,,,, ////""\ . (((/ m m -|- )))c = ) | ////-./~` . (((( `.`\ :: )))`\ \)).-;.' (() `._.-'` Jesus Be Our Guest A LITTLE GIRL OF FIVE WAS SAYING GRACE AT THE DINNER TABLE, SHE PRAYED LIKE SHE HAD HEARD OTHERS PRAY, '' COME LORD JESUS, BE OUR GUEST,'' TURNING SUDDENLY TO HER MOTHER, SHE SAID, ''BUT MOTHER, I DON'T WANT JESUS TO BE OUR GUEST!'' '' WHY NOT, DEAR? ASKED HER HORRIFIED MOTHER. TO WHICH THE LITTLE ONE REPLIED, ''WELL, A GUEST ONLY COMES TO VISIT SOMETIMES. I WANT JESUS HERE ALL THE TIME!'' -<>- ,%&& %&& % ,%&%& %&%& %& %& %&% &%&% % &% % &%% %&% &% %&%&, &%&% %&%& %& &%& % %%& %&%& %&%&% %&%%& &%&% %&% % %& &% %%& && %&% %&%& %&% %&%' '%&% %&% %&&%&%%'% % %& %& %&% &%% `\%%.' /`%&' | | /`-._ _\\/ |, |_ / `-._ ..--~`_ |; |_`\_ / ,\\.~` `-._ - ^ |;: |/^}__..-,@ .~` ~ `o ~ |;: |(____.-' '. ~ - ` ~ |;: | \ / `\ //. - ^ ~ |;: |\ /' /\_\_ ~. _ ~ - //- jgs\\/;: \'--' `---` `\\//-\\/// The Wasted Day Charles Francis Adams was the United States ambassador to Great Britain during the Lincoln administration. He had the habit of keeping a daily diary. He also taught his son, Brooks, the value of journaling his activities in a diary. One memorable day, eight-year-old Brooks recorded, "Went fishing with my father, the most glorious day of my life." It must have been, for the next forty years Brooks repeatedly mentioned it in his diary. His father also wrote about the fishing trip. His own diary on that pivotal day for his son reads, "Went fishing with my son; a day wasted." Did he ever know that a single day spent with Brooks may have been the most well spent day of his life? He may have felt that, as a United States ambassador, his time was extremely valuable. But history seems to show that some individual time spent with his son may have turned out to be one of his most valuable investments. Which raises the question...is there an important way you can spend some time today? By way of WITandWISDOM(tm) TO SUBSCRIBE: Send a blank e-mail: subscribe-wit-wisdom@xc.org -<>- . , )). -===- ,(( ))). ,((( ))))). .:::. ,(((((( ))))))))). :. .: ,((((((((' `))))))))))). : - : ,(((((((((((( ))))))))))))))))_:' ':_(((((((((((((((' `)))))))))))).-' \___/ '-._((((((((((( `))))_._.-' __)( )(_ '-._._((((' `))'---)___)))'\_ _/'((((__(---'((' `))))))))))))|' '|((((((((((((' jim `)))))))))/' '\(((((((((' `)))))))| |(((((((' `))))))| |((((((' /' '\ /' '\ /' '\ /' '\ '---..___..---' >Katie Has a Guardian Angel By Michelle Wilson The 700 Club It was Tuesday, September 26, no different from any other day. During mid-afternoon, Karen Daily prayed with her youngest daughter Katie before her afternoon nap. This is something she did everyday. "I prayed with her and we sang a little song, 'Jesus Loves Me', said Karen. "We asked for forgiveness of sins and that God would send an angel to protect her. This is something that with having five children I just knew that I needed a little extra pair of eyes watching," said Karen. As Karen tended to Katie, her husband Bud was assigned to shuttle duty. His job was to take the other children to their various after-school activities. ____________ ____//__][__\\___\ (o _ | -| _ o| Let's Go!! `(_)-------(_)---' "We got all of the kids out in the car and one of them said, 'Dad, I forgot my cleats.' I said, "Well, we're too much of a rush, I'll come back and get you. And we started backing up the car," said Bud. Unbeknownst to Karen and Bud, two-year-old Katie awoke from her nap and slipped out the front door and ran towards the family's station wagon. "I felt the car run over something and I felt the bump as the car lifted up and ran over it and I thought, 'Oh, no, I ran over the cat.' That's when I saw Karen running out the front door in a panic. I didn't know what had happened at the moment," said Bud. What happened was every parent's worst nightmare. Bud had just run over his little girl Katie. She had run behind the driver's side of the 3,000-pound station wagon at the exact moment Bud began to back up. Katie was hit by the bumper and pinned underneath the left rear tire. "Seeing her was a horrible sight. I got to her and I tried to pull her out, but the car was sitting on her whole left side of her chest from her shoulders down to the top of her legs. I was thinking it has to get off her chest. That was the main thing, all of her vital organs are there,'' said Karen. "All I saw was the arm and the leg sticking out from underneath the tire. And I went into a panic. I had no idea what to do and I asked Karen, 'What do I do?'" said Bud. In a panic, Bud quickly backed up the station wagon. Karen watched as the car rolled off of Katie's fragile body. "Katie remained conscious the whole time. She was crying and I scooped her up. I told her, 'Everything's going to be all right. It was an accident'. But inside, I was thinking, 'Things aren't going to be all right,'" said Karen. "Katie said, 'Daddy, you runned over me.' And it was like what do I say? How do I deal with this?" said Bud. The only visible signs of injury on Katie were surface bruises. No one knew the extent of her internal injuries. While waiting on paramedics Bud and Karen cried out to God for help. "I remember just looking up at the ceiling and screaming, 'God we need you now.' We needed to get back in control, we needed God to just come and help us," said Karen. Distraught, Bud went inside to pray. "I walked in the house and into the bedroom where my oldest daughter was pacing back and forth, wringing her hands because she was so upset. I said, 'Well, we pray every night before we go to bed, and God answers our prayers, let's pray'. And we knelt down for a minute and we prayed," said Bud. Paramedics arrived and rushed Katie to the trauma center. Pediatric surgeon, Dr. Ronald Hill prepared for the worst. "This is the kind of thing that just makes you sick at your stomach and you're afraid of what you're going to find and so I left immediately and went to the emergency room," said Hill. After a thorough examination the doctors were astounded. "The CAT scans show that the left side of Katie's body is flattened down more that the right side where she had been run over. There's no evidence of any internal bleeding or other injury to the organs. The neck and chest x-ray and were surprisingly normal as well," said Hill. "Medically speaking there isn't any way to explain this. If you take a station wagon and run over a little two-year-old girl, and the results are a little bruising and some minor scratches, there is no way we can explain that. It was a miracle that Katie wasn't killed," said Hill. "The doctors came out and said, 'Katie, you must have a guardian angel, there's nothing wrong with you.' I was so grateful that everything was going to be all right. I really felt certain that we would be out of the woods then," said Karen. "A load was lifted off my shoulders because it meant she wasn't going to die," said Bud. Katie was on her way to recovery, but her father Bud was wracked with guilt over what had happened to his little girl. "I couldn't believe that I'd run over my girl. It was almost impossible to believe that it happened and for a long time afterwards I kept asking God, 'Why?' He gave me a scripture. He said, 'What Satan intends for evil, God will use for his glory.' And that's the scripture that I hung on for grace from him," said Bud. Today as the Daily family looks back over the events of what could have been tragic, they realize that God was in control. "Someone said to us, 'Why didn't you jack up the car?' Common sense leaves you in a time like that. You just react," said Karen. "Everything was wrong and yet the amazing part was how God worked it out. When I backed up I stood a chance of rolling over her head and at the time I didn't even think about that," said Bud. "If there's one lesson to learn, and there were a lot of them here, God is able to do anything. When every situation, every circumstance is out of control, know that there is the Lord who will intervene," said Karen. "He'd given me back my little girl whole and complete, she had a scrape on the back of her leg. She was whole and I was so grateful that I vowed to the Lord that I would tell of His wonders. I owed him everything. He had won my heart," said Karen. "There's hardly a day that doesn't go by that I see the grace of God. There were no extra prayers, there was no leading somebody to the Lord, and there was just the love of a Savior and the grace of a Savior. I see grace everyday I see Katie. I see the love of Christ in her eyes, in her life," said Karen. "The doctors think that it was a miracle that I didn't have any injuries just my left side was squished down. I say, 'thank you Jesus'. I love Jesus because he saved my life,' said Katie. =================================================================== >-->From ChristianWords: Our pastor related this story in his sermon today: There was a woman with several children doing her Christmas shopping. The hustle and bustle was getting to her. The roads to the stores were all blocked, people cut her off and beeped their horns. It the stores, it was no better. Her children were asking for everything they saw and they were acting up due to their lack of patience in waiting for Christmas Day. People were pushing to get to merchandise, cutting in lines, and the crowds were pressing in. The merchandise in the stores was a mess and she couldn't find the right sizes. She couldn't find the right gifts for people she loved. ,---------. ||"""""""|| || || |/-->&<--\| | (._.) | | ( @ ) | | /|`"|\ | Look out - here I come! //(_\___/_)\\ \\_()___()_// `+---I---+' |\(_)|(_)/| _|j"""""""|j_ | |_______| | |_| |_| hjw It all came to a head when she had to wait several times for the elevator because others would push and get on before she was able to get her stroller into the elevator. When she finally got on, the elevator was packed full and hot. Then her child started to whine. In desperation she yelled "Whoever invented this Christmas thing should be strung up and shot!" The people in the elevator became uneasy and still. Then, after what seemed like a decade of disturbing silence, a calm voice from the back said, __ /_/\/\ \_\ / /_/ \ "Don't worry ma'am, we've already crucified Him." \_\/\ \ \_\/ unknown Suddenly a thoughtful peacefulness fell over all those in the elevator and all at once everyone realized the reason for the season. ====================================================================== >-->A TREASURE BOX By: Joseph J. Mazzella _.--. _.-'_:-'|| _.-'_.-::::'|| _.-:'_.-::::::' || .'`-.-:::::::' || /.'`;|:::::::' ||_ || ||::::::' _.;._'-._ || ||:::::' _.-!oo @.!-._'-. \'. ||:::::.-!()oo @!()@.-'_.| '.'-;|:.-'.&$@.& ()$%-'o.'\U|| `>'-.!@%()@'@_%-'_.-o _.|'|| ||-._'-.@.-'_.-' _.-o |'|| ||=[ '-._.-\U/.-' o |'|| || '-.]=|| |'| o |'|| || || |'| _| '; || || |'| _.-'_.-' |'-._ || |'|_.-'_.-' jgs '-._'-.|| |' `_.-' '-.||_/.-' Everyone of us in this world carries a little treasure box within our souls. This box is full to bursting with every good thing imaginable. All that we ever wanted from life lies within it. It has love, joy, peace, and happiness in it. It is also full of optimism, enthusiasm, cheerfulness, and merriment. There is faith, kindness, gentleness, and patience in it as well. There is room too in it for ecstasy, rapture, forgiveness, and trust. Energy, vitality, delight, and oneness with God are packed to the top of it. Even wonder, laughter, fun, and hope lie in this glorious box. All we have to do is open this box everyday and all of these things are ours for the choosing. Sadly, most of us barely even crack the lid in our lifetimes. I am not sure why this is so. Perhaps there is too strong a belief out there that good things like love, joy and happiness shouldn't come easy. Perhaps there are too many people who think good things must be earned from people and things outside of us and not simply chosen from within ourselves. This is so sad, because the box remains within us all: precious gift from God just waiting to be opened, enjoyed, and shared with the world. Don't leave that glorious box, full of goodness, that lies within your own soul closed then. Open it up. Let its joy, love, and countless good things out. Enjoy them, revel in them, and then share them with everyone you meet. God didn't intend for the treasures of your soul to be locked away. God wants you to give them to the world and rejoice in the wondrous cycle of giving, receiving, and loving that will result from your gift. The treasures of the our souls are as eternal and limitless as God's love for us. It would be a shame to leave them locked away when we can instead live in them and share them always. joecool@wirefire.com ====================================================================== >-->From HeartTouching: >"Slow Down Therapy" . `: : : . __.'_ .' : _.--' `-._.' .-'.. .. `. : .-. .--.`. : : : : : : : : :`;; :`; ; : `.`O;' `O;.' : .' .---. .--. ; . : '._ :' ; :: : .-`-.; . .' .': `. ``` `. :-' : : `-.__ ._ _.' : ; : ;``` : `. _.-.' . ``-._ : `.-' : : `-. : _.: ` `-._ `, `._.-' ; `.`-. ;_, _., : `.: ;' ;-' ; : ``.___.' : : ;_..--' `. ; `-.__ ...' : : : jgs :-:__; : : : .-~~~--..__: : :___..---.. .'.' : `, :,' : `; ; `: _.'`._ :,' `~~~'----'' `'-.____....' 1. Slow down; God is still in heaven. You are not responsible for doing it all yourself, right now. 2. Remember a happy, peaceful time in your past. Rest there. Each moment has richness that takes a lifetime to savor. 3. Set your own pace. When someone is pushing you, it's OK to tell them they're pushing. 4. Take nothing for granted: watch water flow, the corn grow, the leaves blow, your neighbor mow. 5. Taste your food. God gives it to delight as well as to nourish. 6. Notice the sun and the moon as they rise and set. They are remarkable for their steady pattern of movement, not their speed. 7. Quit planning how you're going to use what you know, learn, or possess. God's gifts just are; be grateful and their purpose will be clear. 8. When you talk with someone, don't think about what you'll say next. Thoughts will spring up naturally if you let them. 9. Talk and play with children. It will bring out the unhurried little person inside you. 10. Create a place in your home...at your work...in your heart...where you can go for quiet and recollection. You deserve it. 11. Allow yourself time to be lazy and unproductive. Rest isn't luxury; it's a necessity. 12. Listen to the wind blow. It carries a message of yesterday and tomorrow and now. Now counts. 13. Rest on your laurels. They bring comfort whatever their size, age, or condition. 14. Talk slower. Talk less. Don't talk. Communication isn't measured by words. 15. Give yourself permission to be late sometimes. Life is for living, not scheduling. 16. Listen to the song of a bird; the complete song. Music and nature are gifts, but only if you are willing to receive them. 17. Take time just to think. Action is good and necessary, but it's fruitful only if we muse, ponder, and mull. 18. Make time for play_the things you like to do. Whatever your age, your inner child needs re_creation. 19. Watch and listen to the night sky. It speaks. 20. Listen to the words you speak, especially in prayer. 21. Learn to stand back and let others take their turn as leaders.There will always be new opportunities for you to step out in front again. 22. Divide big jobs into little jobs. If God took six days to create the universe, can you hope to do any better? 23. When you find yourself rushing and anxious, stop. Ask yourself "Why?" you are rushing and anxious. The reasons may improve your self_understanding. 24. Take time to read the Bible. Thoughtful reading is enriching reading. 25. Direct your life with purposeful choices, not with speed and efficiency. The best musician is one who plays with expression and meaning, not the one who finishes first. 26. Take a day off alone; make a retreat. You can learn from monks and hermits without becoming one. 27. Pet a furry friend. You will give and get the gift of now. 28. Work with your hands. It frees the mind. 29. Take time to wonder. Without wonder, life is merely existence. 30. Sit in the dark. It will teach you to see and hear, taste and smell. 31. Once in a while, turn down the lights, the volume, the throttle, the invitations. Less really can be more. 32. Let go. Nothing is usually the hardest thing to do _ but often it is the best. 33. Take a walk_but don't go anywhere. If you walk just to get somewhere, you sacrifice the walking. 34. Count your friends. If you have one, you are lucky. If you have more, you are blessed. Bless them in return. 35. Count your blessings - one at a time and slowly --author unknown ================================================================= "Half our life is spent trying to find some -thing to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save." - Will Rogers. "When you have got an elephant by the hind leg, and he is trying to run away, it's best to let him run." --Abraham Lincoln ---> Visit my CyberHome - ALWAYS OPEN HOUSSE :) Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/index.html Shangrala ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->Bigham's Computer Rescue - PC Sales & SService 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. 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