The Pumpkin Patch And More... :) 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 or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net ================ *~* A REMINDER: For Facebook Users: Please Friend Me / Like Me here... http://tinyurl.com/cma6all AND For Google Plus Users: You can find me here... Shangy Bigham https://plus.google.com/106648555948034085752/posts AND Please Share This email with All Your Friends And Family! ^~^ May God SUPER BLESS You As You Do! THANK YOU! :) -<>- * NOTE: An easy way to adjust the size of print in email or any page is to hold down the Ctrl tab while moving the scroll button on the mouse. You can also use the keyboard to change the font size in your web browser or emails. Hold down the Ctrl key while pressing the + key for larger text or the - key for smaller text! ================ __ __ | |_| |______ _,___ _,___ _ _ \--/ | _ |__ | __ | __ | |_| | /`-' '-`\ |__| |__|__-_,_| ,___| ,___|___, | / \ |_| |_| |_| /.'|/\ /\|'.\ __ __ _ _ \/ | |_| |______| | |______ __ _ __ ______ ______ _,____ | _ |__ | | | __ | | | | --__| --__| __ \ |__| |__|__-_,_|_|_|______|_______|______|______|_| |_| ,-"-._ _.-"-, )'. `-. _,,,_ .-` .'( | `'. `-"` `"-` .'` | \ .-' '-. / _ .' .--. .--. '. '-(-' _ / (.=.| |.=.) \ _ . '._(_) : \_o/ .-. \_o/ : ( )_.' \ : ( ) :.-' ,-''-.; .___ .-`Y`-. ___. ;_.'-, \ '-.\ \ .--( .'. )--. / _./_| '._.-'`'-., _;-'\_/'-;_ ,.-'`'._`/ jgs_.',_.-' / `'''` `.___.' `'''` \ '-.__`-, '. -'/_.-| ; ; | \ _/ ';'` \ / \ /'---', / . '._,__,_,' ',_,__,_,' \ / . .'\ .'\ : \ ; \\\ \\\ ; | : /'._.' \\ /'._.' \\ ' | | ( ______/ ) ( ______/ ) | | : `~~~~~~~` .-. `~~~~~~~` : | | : / `\\ : | | _, ( __/ ) _, : | | : \ : `~~~` : .' | | `-._ _,' | | . \`--._ __.--'// : | | \ `'\\ /` .'/ | ; : `. `~~~~` _.'.' ' ; \ . `-._ _____.'.-' / \ . . `'~~~~~'` . ' / `._ _._ '_._ _._' _.___.' `""` `"""` `""""` `"""` >-->HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This sizzling hot new page is from our friends PatDeE, Geniann and Melinda. It was surprising to me! Not only that there has been just one Queen, but that I was able to name all the presidents pictured. I've never considered myself a history buff since I barely passed the subject in high school. Shhhh - don't tell any one! HaHa! See how many you can name... .+. @ /' \. .: _______ )) ( _:::.__.'_ `:::::: ~ / ,\ .::' :::::' \` \ .'::' :::' ('.\ `-.. :. __::'_______`-.\ ))::._ .'``::::::::: `-'~' `:::' a:f ' US Presidents And The Queen! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/queenofengland.html --- ...An eye opener! Such a regal Lady! Thanks My Friends! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: /} _,---~-LJ,-~-._ ,-^ ' ' ' ^:, : . ' ' : : /| . /\ ' : : . //| // \ ' : : `~` /| `^~` ' ; : ' //| ' : : \-_ `~` , ' : ; . \.\_,--,_;^/ , : : ^-_!^!__/^ , : :, , . , : -ZEUS- ^--_____ . ;` `^''----` >THE PUMPKIN PATCH by Kathy Whirity Years ago when the girls were small, besides the trick or treating of Halloween, a highlight in October was visiting the pumpkin patch. We usually saved this special outing for the Saturday before Halloween. If memory serves me correctly, each year the weather cooperated with sunny skies and fairly warm temperatures. Some years the crisp, cool air of autumn gave us reason to wrap sweaters around our waists, just in case. It was quite a long ride out to the pumpkin patch. The girls would get anxious repeating a familiar phrase, "Are we there yet?" Outside the city and a ways past the suburbs we'd drive until we were out in the country and there we'd find the spectacular farm all decorated for the harvest season. Huge scarecrows could be seen everywhere, greeting young and old alike. A barn converted into a craft store for the occasion had all you could want for the fall festivities. Caramel apples covered in peanuts to sink your teeth into, cider to sip, and popcorn balls to crunch. No trip to the pumpkin patch would be complete without a good old fashioned hay ride. The farmer's tractor pulled the long, wooden seated vehicle out into the middle of the patch as the children sang songs. The ride was bumpy, the songs were severely off key, but the giggle of happy children always made for a joyful ride. When we reached our destination the kids were instructed to only pick a pumpkin they were able to carry. Of course it never failed -- Bill and I would each be lugging an oversized Jack-O-Lantern back to where the tractor waited. I fondly remember all the fun on a far away piece of farmland where the weather signaled the end of summer and the beginning of frost filled nights. The other day Bill and I took a ride that found us passing the same place we picked pumpkins with the kids. Sadly, we witnessed its demise with no signs of the traditional Halloween happenings. Apparently the farmland has been gone for a long time. It is now a sub-division with clusters of homes scattered all around the area. The only trace of hay, apple cider and friendly faced scarecrows to welcome us are in the memories of two aging parents and their now grown daughters. These days we purchase our pumpkins at the local grocery store. Lately we have resorted to painting on smiling faces instead of carving them. They are quite a bit smaller than the gargantuan gourds our children used to choose. Autumn is a special time of caring and sharing. It's a time to be thankful for the harvest that we reap, both nutritional and spiritual. In the harvest of our lives I am grateful for the bounty of love and memories that are mine to forever cherish. -- Kathy Whirity ___________________________________________ Kathy lives in Chicago where she shares her life and love with her husband of 29 years, Bill, their two daughters, Jaime and Katie, and two rambunctious retrievers, Holly and Hannah. Kathy is a newspaper columnist who shares her sentimental musings on family life. =========================================================== >-->From Our Friends Karen and Geniann :) .'`~~~~~~~~~~~`'. ( .'11 12 1'. ) | :10 \ 2: | | :9 @-> 3: | | :8 4; | '. '..7 6 5..' .' ~-------------~ ldb TIME TO FALL BACK THIS SUNDAY! Set your clocks back an hour. --- ...Thanks For the Heads Up Ladies! ============================================================ >-->From Our Friend LouiseA :) , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Is God Showing Through Your Life (Author Unknown) A little girl, on the way home from church, turned to her mother and said, "Mommy, the preacher's sermon this morning confused me." The mother said, "Oh! Why is that?" The girl replied, "Well, he said that God is bigger than we are. Is that true?" "Yes, that's true," the mother replied. "He also said that God lives within us. Is that true, too?" Again the mother replied, "Yes." "Well," said the girl. "if God is bigger than us and He lives in us, wouldn't He show through?" I like that little girl's way of putting it. If God lives in us, then there's no way of keeping Him from "showing through." That's the essence of Christian living - living in such a way that people around will see God in our lives. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16). -<>- __-----__ ..;;;--'~~~`--;;;.. /;-~IN GOD WE TRUST~-.\ // ,;;;;;;;; \\ .// ;;;;; \ \\ || ;;;;( /.| || || ;;;;;;; _\ || || ';; ;;;;= || ||LIBERTY | ''\;;;;;; || \\ ,| '\ '|><| 1995 // \\ | | \ A // `;.,|. | '\.-'/ ~~;;;,._|___.,-;;;~' ''=--' - Daniel C Au - >The Penny (Author Unknown) Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the husband's employer's home. My friend, Arlene, was nervous about the weekend. The first day and evening went well and Arlene was delighted. The husband's employer was quite generous as a host and took them to the finest restaurants. Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance again, so was enjoying herself immensely. As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband. He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment. Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped and a few cigarette butts. Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny. He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure. How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up? Throughout dinner the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She causally mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value. A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many pennies before! What was the point of this? "Look at it." He said. "Read what it says." She read the words "United States of America." "No, not that; read further." "One cent?" "No, keep reading." "In God we Trust?" "Yes!" "And?" "And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin I see that inscription. It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by? When I see a coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is God's way of starting a conversation with me. Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful!" When I was out shopping today, I found a penny on the sidewalk. I stopped and picked it up and realized that I had been worrying and fretting in my mind about things I cannot change. I read the words, "In God We Trust," and had to laugh. Yes, God, I get the message. It seems that I have been finding an inordinate number of pennies in the last few months, but then, pennies are plentiful! And God is patient... May you find your penny today and be reminded that it is 'In God We Trust', --- ...Love these! Thanks LouiseA! , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' I never tire of the penny story. Like the story, we as Christians have a tendency to forget about trusting in God through Jesus Christ our Lord. We get caught up in the snare of the devil and get lost in the details. These two inspirations go well together. If we look at things through the eyes of a child with simplicity, then we can better understand how our relationship with our heavenly Father is supposed to be. God is our spiritual Father. Like any parent, He wants what is best for us and He tells us this here... 3 John 1: [2] Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. As long as we are alive in the flesh, He wants us to prosper and be in good health - ABOVE anything else, that is God's wish for you and me. Nothing to God matters as much as our health and prosperity does! That's how much He loves and cares about us! Prov.3: [5] Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. [6] In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. The devil likes to put in all those doubts and negatives and scatterbrain thoughts into your head. If he can get you to not trust in God, then he can defeat you. 2 Tim.1: [7] For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Fear is of the devil. It is negative belief. If you get to worrying about things, that is negative belief. These negatives are the same as saying - 'I do not trust in God'. Your mouth may say 'I trust in God', but your actions with your believing are saying 'I do not trust in God'. Because, if you really trusted in God, then you would not be afraid and you would not be worrying. Putting your trust in God means that you pray to God to take care of something, then you don't worry about it. You do your best to take care of whatever the problem or opportunity is, and trust in God to take care of the rest. We can only do the best we can. We can't do better than our best. God understands this and is always there for us to handle what we can not as long as we ask him to in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Now this was the part that eluded me for many years. I thought all I had to do was believe. I felt it just had to be a small amount like the bible says, the size of the world's smallest seed - the mustard seed. But what I didn't get was the other part of the asking and you shall receive... James 2: [17] Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. [26] For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. All the believing in the world won't get you any where if you do not follow it up with works - some sort of action! That was my problem. I'd ask God for this or that and then let go and let God like folks said to do, but many times my prayers were not answered. My faith or believing was dead because I didn't follow it up with works. When Jesus cursed the tree - Mark 11: [21] And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. What was the works that Jesus did? He spoke out loud. His action was moving his mouth, tongue and lips and uttering words out loud. This action along with His believing got results. That is what we are told here... James 2: [17] Even so faith[believing], if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Had Jesus simply cursed the tree in his head and believed, then there would not have been works. He stands as our example. Jesus said... John 14: [12] Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. We can do what Jesus did! The only one holding you back is you. Check out these for more understanding: Jesus relentlessly affirmed that the written Word of God is absolute Truth, and that in it are the keys to a purposeful, powerful, joyful, and peaceful life. Jesus perfectly internalized, and lived, the written Word of God, and he said that you can do the same. http://thelivingtruthfellowship.org/jtltf/home The Law Of Believing http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Believing/Believing.htm =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >A Heart that Believes "For it is by believing in his heart that a man becomes right with God; and with his mouth he tells others of his faith, confirming his salvation. For the Scriptures tell us that no one who believes in Christ will ever be disappointed" (Rom. 10:10-11). God says that if you trust Him, you will never be disappointed. You might be facing enormous challenges and problems right now and people may be disappointing you tremendously, but God won't ever do that to you. A true Christian is somebody who gives his heart completely to Jesus. He trusts Jesus 100%. Have you given your heart completely to Jesus without any mental reservations? Or do you have a mindset that wants to follow God only when it's convenient? This is deception. You have to be honest with God. "Lord, I am weak. But Lord, I want to follow You. And no matter what it takes, I will follow You. I surrender my life to You." This is the heart that is completely His. Think about it. Have you really given your whole heart to Him? -<>- ,--. ,--. ( O ) ( O ) `--' \ `--' \ _ >-. / /| `-.__.' Krogg ~~~ HAPPINESS ~~~ When the door of happiness closes, another opens, but often times we look so long at the closed door that we don't see the one which has been opened for us. The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've every had. It's true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it, but it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives. Giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they'll love you back! Don't expect love in return; just wait for it to grow in their heart but if it doesn't, be content it grew in yours. It takes only a minute to get a crush on someone, an hour to like someone, and a day to love someone, but it takes a lifetime to forget someone. Don't go for looks; they can deceive. Don't go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile. There are moments in life when you miss someone so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real! Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do. May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to make you happy. The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. Happiness lies for those who cry, those who hurt, those who have searched, and those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives. Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss and ends with a tear. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past, you can't go on well in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches. When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Always put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably hurts the other person, too. Live your life so that when you die, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying. --Author Unknown --- ...my two cents [Politics] ____ ___|=--=/ \=--=| :(___.--. .--.___): { __ ' ) ( ` __ )= ""----'Ahas '----"" ====' Always put yourself in others' shoes. Walk a mile in their shoes sort of attitude towards others. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you - the golden rule. OK, I get it and I try to do just that when trying to understand another persons point of view. However, there is one thing I do not get. I've been seeing on the news people upset over Trump about his immigration plan. Recently a conservative Hispanic group leader said they would not vote at all if Trump gets the nomination for the Republican party since they will not vote for any liberal Democrat and because of his immigration views, they won't vote for him either. I don't understand why. So I try to put myself in their shoes. I am a US citizen. Say the country from where my ancestors originated from were coming to the US illegally and staying here illegally and working here illegally and a candidate on his platform was saying he will make sure to stop this and send them all back where they came from. Would I be upset at him enough to not vote for him at all? No. I don't know these people. Just because they are the same color as me and come from the same original country as my ancestors did does not make me favor them over every one else. I think that would be racist. I look at it like this. If people sneak on a plane, train or bus without paying and they are found out, then I don't see why anyone would think they are entitled to stay and ride for free while everyone else on board had to go through the process and pay for their right to be there. As a country, we cannot allow everyone and anyone to come over our borders and live here. Our country would be over crowded and our own quality of life would go down into the dumps. Pretty much like China and others who are way over populated. We have to do what is best for all of us, not just for a few. My allegiance is to my country. If they want to come to America, they can do so like all of us did, legally and legally do the work to become a US citizen. -<>- , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >Influence When we hear "entreat me not to leave thee" we automatically think of Ruth and Naomi. We should also think of influence and how powerful it can be. Because of famine in their own land, Naomi and her husband and their two sons left and went to Moab. Naomi's husband died there, as did Naomi's two sons who had married Orpah and Ruth. Now Orpah and Ruth were from the land of Moab. Naomi suffered famine, exile and great sorrow. She wanted to go back to Judah, her homeland, so one day she told Ruth and Orpah to return to the houses of their mothers. Widows had little protection in ancient near Eastern societies, and as a foreigner, Naomi was even more vulnerable in Moab. Naomi said, "The Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me." So, Orpah returned to her people, but Ruth said "Entreat me not to leave thee." Ruth wanted to continue the sweet relationship with Naomi. Also, Naomi had taught Ruth that religion was vital to life. Orpah's return to her own people was assumed to be a return to her former worship. Does your religion lead others to Christ? Does your life and the way in which you treat others influence them for good? One morning a little clock in a shop window in a small town stopped for a half hour. Children on their way to school stopped to play and others talked because they all believed they were early. They were all late because they had been lead astray by the clock they depended on. You and I may think we have little or no influence, but we need to remember "none of us liveth to himself." Any small act we do could possibly lead another person astray. The spread of early Christianity was not as much due to great preaching as it was to the personal testimony of plain ordinary men and women who went out to tell others the story of the difference that personal knowledge of Jesus Christ made in their lives. A school bus driver noticed a child without a coat one frosty morning while she was waiting for the bus. The bus driver asked the child what color coat she would like to have. Then after school that day, the bus driver handed the child the coat of her dreams. That bus driver saw beyond one child. She started a nonprofit organization which provides many school children with school supplies, coats, haircuts and food. That bus driver had to be willing to give up something. We each need to be willing to sacrifice something in order to give a warm hug, a kind word or a compliment to someone. Eric Liddell was the star of the 1924 Olympics. He became a missionary to China and later died in a Japanese prison camp during W. W. II. Eric Liddell doesn't fit the image of the modern athlete with fame and fortune. He put his medals aside and took on sacrificial service. Dave Thomas died in 2002. He was a hard working man who was respected for his down-to-earth values. Dave Thomas was influenced greatly by his grandmother. Your influence affects many whom you may never know about! Drop a pebble in the water, and its ripples reach out far; And the sunbeams dancing on them may reflect them to a star. Give a smile to someone passing, thereby making his morning glad; It may greet you in the evening when your own heart may be sad. Do a deed of simple kindness; through its end you may not see, It may reach, like widening ripples, down a long eternity. -Author unknown -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Christ's Life!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/jesuslife.html Thank You God!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/thankgod.html No Words Needed!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/nowords.html My Precious Child!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/mychild.html Blind Woman Sees!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/blindsees.html Amazing Blind Artist!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/blindartist.html Akiane Child Prodigy!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/prodigy.html Church Mouse Wisdom!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/churchmouse.html Attitude Is Everything 3!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/attitude3.html Creation VS Coincidence!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/creationvscoincidence.html BIBLE: Return To Me - God!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/return.html Alzheimer's Through Artist Eyes!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dementiaandart.html BIBLE: Our Valuable ANCHOR!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/ouranchor.html FALL & HALLOWEEN INDEX http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/halloweenindex.html -<>- >From Our Friend Geniann :) Good cheer in a Moscow Streetcar.!!! IF this is for real then I can only say; "W~O~W THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN RUSSIA!" Some years ago, I dare say they'd have been sent to Siberia! http://www.youtube.com/embed/s_IHDJQudmo?rel=0 --- ...Sweet! Thanks Geniann! -<>- >From Our Friend Melody :) A word to rioting Muslims https://dotsub.com/media/72457cbc-fe18-4053-ae3f-6c7639cf4e79/embed/ What's Bad About Ramen Noodles? http://foodrevolution.org/blog/ramen-noodles/ An Ingredient based Recipe Search Engine - Recipe Puppy http://www.recipepuppy.com/ --- ...Great Links! Thanks Melody! -<>- >From Our Friend Melinda :) Rescued Deer http://tinyurl.com/nf76tn2 Ben Carson Drops Truth Bomb About Planned Parenthood http://tinyurl.com/qg4vc3d Health News http://www.naturalnews.com/ --- ...Good info! -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseA :) Physical strength can be used for many things. It can be used for labor and heavy lifting. It can be used in anger, for violence and bullying. It can be used to defend those that need defending. It can also be used, as this video will show you, for some great acts of beauty. This couple of acrobats do just that in this gem of a performance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7-UTRIln9Pk Hand In Hand Dance performed by amazing Chinese dancers Ma Li and Zhai Xiaowei is simply beautiful to watch. I'm sure you're going to notice right away that Zhai Xiaowei only has one leg but then when you see that Ma Li only has one arm I think you'll realize how special this dance is. The music is composed by San Bao and is originally from a very popular TV episodes in China, named Qian Shou. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTrb6i7gJAk&feature=player_embedded --- ...Quite Beautiful! Thank You 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 ========================================================== _____ / \/_ //\__(\_\ |\ ^ ^ | .//_O \O_ \ \_ (_) / \ \_/ / __/\ /\__ / \ \ / / \ / \/\/\/ \ / | . | \ / | . | \ JRO >A Message From Your Neighbor Story Editor: by Anonymous Joyce Schowalter USA I cannot walk very far without tiring out or just plain collapsing, because I have multiple sclerosis along with post polio syndrome. I drive an old junker car, and one day I just had to go to the supermarket; they had a sale on I couldn't pass up. I took my car, and when I came out of the supermarket, the car would not start. I was in a tizzy. I went inside to use the telephone to get AAA to come out and start my car, but there was a young lady there who said she would come around and jump my car battery. She got a gentleman from the back of the store she called "Grandpa". They brought her car around and got my car started. I was on my way... or so I thought. I was repeating the entire time, "Just let me get home," because obviously the battery was giving out again. I had just turned onto my street, 11 blocks from my home, when the car died again. I got out, put the hood up, and hoped someone would stop. No one stopped. Guys going to work came by and waved, but they didn't stop. One of my neighbors came by and said she couldn't stop because she was late for something or other, and that I should walk back home to get my husband. I can't walk that far. Then a pickup truck came along, driven by a lady I had never seen before. She asked me if anyone was helping me. I was near tears and told her no, no one would stop. She asked what she could do for me. I asked if she would go to the end of the street. If there was a blue truck in the parking lot, then please knock on the first door and tell my husband my car was broken down a few blocks away. She did just what I asked, then went on her way. She asked for nothing; she just wanted to help. My husband was home, and luckily his brother was visiting. They came down, hooked a chain to my car and pulled me home. The alternator was out, which is why the battery had died so quickly. Later I timed the drive to my house, up to my door, and back to where I was stranded. Without speeding, it took two minutes. My neighbor was convinced that she could not have taken two minutes out of her schedule to help me. Yet a lady who didn't even know me helped get me back home. It is truly a terrible feeling to be stranded with people driving past you, and be unable to walk anywhere because of a disability. However, the lady who did help me out "recharged" my faith in people who are strangers. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Our Friend Geniann :) (.,------...__ _.'" `. .' .' `, `. `. ` . .' .'/''--...__`. \ . .--.`. ' "-. '. | '' .' _.' .()) .--":/ ''( \_\ ' (()( ''._' ( \ ' ' `. `--' ' `.: . `-.___.' ' `. . _ _ .' ) .____.-' .'`. (--.. .' \ /\ / / `. .' \( \ /|/ `. .' \__/ `. / | o | \ | | | jro >A Lesson in Forgiveness Forty-three years seems like a long time to remember the name of a mere acquaintance. I have duly forgotten the name of an old lady who was a customer on my paper route when I was a twelve-year-old boy in Marinette, Wisconsin, back in 1954. Yet it seems like just yesterday that she taught me a lesson in forgiveness that I can only hope to pass on to someone else someday. On a mindless Saturday afternoon, a friend and I were throwing rocks onto the roof of the old lady's house from a secluded spot in her backyard. The object of our play was to observe how the rocks changed to missiles as they rolled to the roof's edge and shot out into the yard like comets falling from the sky. I found myself a perfectly smooth rock and sent it for a ride. The stone was too smooth, however, so it slipped from my hand as I let it go and headed straight for a small window on the old lady's back porch. At the sound of fractured glass, we took off from the old lady's yard faster than any of our missiles flew off her roof. I was too scared about getting caught that first night to be concerned about the old lady with the broken porch window. However, a few days later, when I was sure that I hadn't been discovered, I started to feel guilty for her misfortune. She still greeted me with a smile each day when I gave her the paper, but I was no longer able to act comfortable in her presence. I made up my mind that I would save my paper delivery money, and in three weeks I had the seven dollars that I calculated would cover the cost of her window. I put the money in an envelope with a note explaining that I was sorry for breaking her window and hoped that the seven dollars would cover the cost for repairing it. I waited until it was dark, snuck up to the old lady's house, and put the envelope of retribution through the letter slot in her door. My soul felt redeemed and I couldn't wait for the freedom of, once again, looking straight into the old lady's eyes. The next day, I handed the old lady her paper and was able to return the warm smile that I was receiving from her. She thanked me for the paper and said, "Here, I have something for you." It was a bag of cookies. I thanked her and proceeded to eat the cookies as I continued my route. After several cookies, I felt an envelope and pulled it out of the bag. When I opened the envelope, I was stunned. Inside was the seven dollars and a short note that said, "I'm proud of you." ~ The Author is Jerry Harpt ~ --- ...Inspiring! Thanks Geniann! ========================================================== >-->From Laugh&Lift: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >God's Greatness - A Source of Comfort (from In Touch Daily Devotional by Dr. Charles Stanley) (Based on Psalm 89:1-10) David's heart-felt cries for help fill the Psalms. His prayers are a blend of requests and worship that recall the Lord's greatness, power, and protection. Praying with a recognition of God's amazing attributes reminds us that He has the wisdom, strength, and compassion to meet all of our needs. "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?" (Psalm 139:7). God is everywhere. He is not limited by time or space, which means that we have never been away from His awareness for so much as a single moment. Even when we feel isolated or friendless, we are not alone, because God's presence covers the world. "Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite" (Psalm 147:5). God knows everything. When we bend our knees to pray, He is already aware of the feelings and needs we are about to mention. So we can be certain that when we ask for direction, He will provide clear guidance if we are submitted to His will. "With [God] there is no variation or shifting shadow" (James 1:17). God's character is constant. Since we can always trust that He will be faithful, reliable, and merciful, we're able to place confidence in Him in any situation. When a believer recalls an attribute of God that meets his need, he places the focus of his prayer on the Lord rather than on the request. By mixing praise into our prayers, we end up asking for less, worshiping better, and receiving more because our emphasis is in the right place. SUBSCRIBE INFO Want to receive a Christian inspirational item AND great clean humor in an email to you each day of the week? It's easy and FREE! Read all about Laugh & Lift at http://www.laughandlift.com --- ...One thought... Just think of this: _ _|_|_ ,|_| |_|_ || | | |_| || | | | | || | | | | _|| | | | | ||)\ ^ ^ ^ | || | | || | | || | | \\ | \\ / ejm )\ ( / \ \ / \ \ \ \ Over 2.5 billion people say they are Christians today. Yet God is always there for each and every one of us. Think of all the times God was there for you in your life. All the prayers He has answered, all the times He has taken care of your needs. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, he hears each and every prayer we pray and according to Revelations, God not only hears them and acts on them, He is saving them too... Rev.5: [8] And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. Rev.8: [3] And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. [4] And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. How awesome is our Heavenly God and Father? Words cannot express. ========================================================== >-->From Kidwarmers: >THE FUNNIEST THINGS KIDS SAY __ | +| ,,,|__| $$$ , , $$C > $$$; _< _______/ /_ ___ | |__` \~/o\ _,]-]___]-----> | / \( ) )\/.-// _( \ ) / \ | //| / ,/ \/ '/ o \ / o \ /______/\_\ \ || / \ || / \ || / / )( \ |/ \| :] [: o| |o /o| |o\ b'ger `-' `-' Danyelle, 5, reported to her Papa, "Mema had a flu shot. Otherwise she might fly away!" -- Sally Morris (grandmother of Danyelle) of Wellington, Florida Here is another one from Danyelle: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America... DALMATIAN under God..." This was the conclusion of Mary Paige's bedtime prayer one day last week: "...And please help Jacob not to throw up in school tomorrow and stink up the whole classroom like he did today. Amen." -- Melva Brown (grandmother of Mary Paige, 7) of Oxford, Ohio Carly, 3, is already comparing how handsome each of the Disney princes are. She thinks Prince Eric of The Little Mermaid is "the handsomest of all." Carly's daddy got a Halloween mask that scared Carly. Once her daddy took the mask off, she got up into his arms, looked him in the face, and said, "Daddy, you don't need a scary mask -- you need a handsome mask!" -- Debbi Armstrong (friend of Carly's family) of Orlando, Florida ___ ___ .'` `""--.._..--""` `'. / .-""-"-""-. \ | / \ | \, | .--.-.--. | ,/ (_'- |` > `| -'_) / | < | \ | (__..---..__) | | (`|\o_/ \_o/|`) | | \( > )/ | | [>=| --- |=<] | | ,\__\ /__/, | |.____.|\==='-'===/|.____.| \_____;_\=======/_;_____/ | _)'.===.'(_ | ; \-._\_/_.-/ ; /\_\_\_\ () /_/_/_/\ '-.._____.-'-._____..-' | /`\ | |_ | | _| _.;____ | | ____;._ jgs /` `| |` `\ '------'--' '--'------' Shae, 3, said to his mother the other day: "Mom, I smell something." His mother didn't smell anything, and she told him so. But Shae insisted, "Mom, I smell something. I smell pretzels in the bag downstairs in the pantry." -- Anne (grandmother of Shae) of Cherry Valley, Illinois Recently Dart's beloved dog Sheltie died. Waverly, 9, has mounted an impressive campaign to get a new puppy. Dart keeps saying, "No, my heart can't take it when they die." Amberlyn, 3, heard the "I want a puppy" conversation and she asked what will they would name the new doggy. Dart said, "I don't know, we aren't getting another dog right away." Amberlyn said decisively, "I know, we'll name him Ringo." Waverly and Dart looked at each other and she said, "Ringo? Ringo! Actually I like that!" Dart agreed that it's a nice name and added that it reminds her of the drummer from the Beatles, Ringo Starr. Waverly said, "Yeah, I remember her!" Amberlyn said, "No! It's like this... 'There was a man who had a dog and Ringo was his name!'" -- Dart of San Diego says, "I'm still saying no dog, but I know it's only a matter of time until a Ringo comes to live with us!" The other day Denise and her 6-year-old daughter were going down a tarred road that later turned into a dirt road. They came upon a sign that said "Dead End" and the 6-year-old asked, "Mom, is that where you go to die?" -- Denise of Pillager, Minnesota .--. .--. | = o\ | = o\ \= =_/ \= =_/ )= \____ )= \____ ; = _|__-\ ; = _|__-\ |= ----.\ |= ----.\ ('.==| ('.==| / \=\=\ / \=\=\ _.' /=/\=\_ _.' /=/\=\_ _jgs_..-' /__) \__)__..-' /__) \__) Love is not love until you give it away... Jonah kissed a girl at preschool the other day. The next day as he prepared for school, his father Neil reminded him, "No kissing!" Jonah reacted with a scowl, so Neil continued, "Mommy and Daddy will give you all the kisses you need." Jonah replied, "Yes, but then I have to give them away!" -- Neil Grepke of Kendallville, Indiana Vern is the 68-year-old grandfather of eight. About five years ago when their youngest daughter was living with them, their 5-year-old grandson brought Vern one of his electronic toys that had quit working. He told Vern it needed batteries. Vern noticed that the battery compartment had a small phillips screw holding it securely closed. He reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a small screwdriver that was reversible. The straight slot side was sticking out so he pulled the shaft out and reversed it revealing the number "O" phillips tip. After opening the compartment and installing two new AAA batteries, Vern had the toy going in minutes. Jonah stared at the screwdriver and said, "That's amazing. I have never seen one of those!!" Vern said, "Jonah, you are only five years old. There are a lot of things that you haven't seen!" -- Vern Burke, Chesapeake, Virginia Every Friday Beverly has the pleasure of the company of their granddaughter, Phoebe, 4. One day when Beverly was knitting, Phoebe asked what she was doing. Beverly explained that she was knitting a scarf. Phoebe immediately asked: "Is it for me?" Beverly replied that it was for (her other granddaughter) Becky's 15th birthday. Phoebe thought for a moment and said: "I like that color. I don't think we have a scarf in that color at my house!" Of course, she does now! -- Beverley Ellis of Hackham West, Australia ###, ,##, ,##, # # # # # # ### # # # # # # # # # # ###' '##' '##' .--, / ( / \ / \ / 0 0 \ ((() | () | ())) \ () ( .____. ) () / |` \_/ \ `""` / \_/ `| | `.'--'.` | \ `""` / \ / `. .' , jgs |` | _.'| | `-' / \ .' `.____________.-' Miggy Boy, 3, was playing with his mother. Suddenly he pointed at her breast and said, "Mama, what's this?" As a mother who doesn't encourage baby talk, she said, "It's my breast." With the innocence that only a child has, he asked, "What's inside?" -- Nina Pascual (mother of Miggy Boy) of Singapore Dave always said every morning as he left for work, "I have to go to work and make money." When Celeste was very young she had visitation with her father. He asked her if she knew what he did at work. She said, "Yes, you make pigment for paint." Then her father asked her if she knew what Dave, her stepfather, did. Celeste said, "Yes, he makes money!" -- Sheila Herdman (mother of Celeste) of Bluffton, Indiana When Celeste was 16 and a new driver she was very excited about her first trip by herself to the mall in the big city. Her mother meticulously wrote directions about how to get there. About three hours after she left, Celeste called home and said, "Mom, you forgot to give me directions on how to get home!" .-----. .' - - '. / .-. .-. \ | | | | | | \ \o/ \o/ / _/ ^ \_ | \ '---' / | / /`--. .--`\ \ / /'---` `---'\ \ '.__. .__.' `| |` | \ \ '--. '. `\ `'---. | jgs ,__) / `..' Note: You are welcomed to use, copy and share these stories, but please reference http://www.funnykids.com as the source. ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Fran :) ,{{}}}}}}. {{{{{}}}}}}}. {{{{ {{{{{}}}} }}}}} _ _ {{{{{ }}}} m m }}}}} {{{{C ^ {{{{{ }}}}}}\ '=' /}}}}}} {{{{{{{{;.___.;{{{{{{{{ }}}}}}}}}) (}}}}}}}}}} {{{{}}}}}': :{{{{{{{{{{ {{{}}}}}} `@` {{{}}}}}}} {{{{{{{{{ }}}}}}}}} }}}}}}}} {{{{{{{{{ jgs {{{{{{{{ }}}}}} }}}}} {{{{ {{{ }} >Point Of View I've heard it said, "Don't go to bed while hanging on to sorrow. You may not have the chance to laugh with those you love tomorrow. You may not mean the words you speak when anger takes its toll. You may regret your actions once you've lost your self control. When you've lost your temper and you've said some hurtful things, think about the heartache that your actions sometime bring. You'll never get those moments back, such precious time to waste, and all because of things you said in anger and in haste. So if you're loving someone and your pride has settled in, you may not ever have the chance to say to them again... "I love you and I miss you and although we don't agree, I'll try to see your point of view, please do the same for me." - Author Unknown --- ...Awww, so true! Thanks Fran! __ __ | |_| |______ _,___ _,___ _ _ \--/ | _ |__ | __ | __ | |_| | /`-' '-`\ |__| |__|__-_,_| ,___| ,___|___, | / \ |_| |_| |_| /.'|/\ /\|'.\ __ __ _ _ \/ | |_| |______| | |______ __ _ __ ______ ______ _,____ | _ |__ | | | __ | | | | --__| --__| __ \ |__| |__|__-_,_|_|_|______|_______|______|______|_| |_| jgs98 >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->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 ************************************************************************