What Is A Patriot?... :) 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 ================ *~* Please Consider Giving To ShangralaFamilyFun.com The cost of the website has gone up dramatically due to the ever increasingly wonderful pages and photos being added each week to entertain you and our fellow Christian families. If every one would chip in $25 or more, we'd be good for the whole year! So Please - I need your help today! 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Harrison Van Wert, OH 45891 *~* THANK YOU! MAY GOD BLESS YOU MOST ABUNDANTLY FOR YOUR GIFT! ================ >-->HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press This too hot to handle new page is from our friend LouiseAu. Lately Mars has been in the news so this is particularly interesting. NASA has a Mars 2020 Mission planned as well. It'll be a Mars rover mission by NASA's Mars Exploration Program with a planned launch on 17 July 2020, and touch down in Jezero crater on Mars on 18 February 2021. Maybe we'll get answers to some of these perplexing questions. Be sure to check this and the video out here... Marvin the Martian ___ /]_/ |\/|.--/'-. \|/:o / /\ ._, \_/_.'0/ _|_ \____]] (>[___]=]]]=== / \___/P{] __// /----\/ (_[-'\__/_ / | | \ '=='='==' ____||||___ snd (_""_/ \_""_) A Look At Mars http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/mars2.html --- ....Wowsers! How intriguing! Thanks LouiseAu! -<>- >A Reminder: Summer is Flea season! You can still protect your sweet pets and save big time with this summer sale from our sponsor of buy one dose get one dose free. Be sure to check them out here... _ \`*-. ) _`-. . : `. . : _ ' \ ; *` _. `*-._ `-.-' `-. ; ` `. :. . \ . \ . : .-' . ' `+.; ; ' : : ' | ; ;-. ; ' : :`-: _.`* ; [bug] .*' / .*' ; .*`- +' `*' `*-* `*-* `*-*' * Frontline for Cats: Buy 4 Get 4 Doses Free + Extra Discount & Free Shipping https://tinyurl.com/y35ypdn3 __ /\/'-, ,--''''' /" ____,'. ) \___ '"""""------'"""`-----' pb * Advantage for Dogs: Buy Online Cheap Advantage For Dogs with Free Shipping in US https://tinyurl.com/y333x3p4 You may always safely click on any ads on our website and have fun checking all our many sponsors products and sale items out. You'll also be helping out our site with every purchase. Thank You! :) =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty. -- John Kennedy American celebrates Independence Day on July 4. Have a safe and joyful Fourth of July! And remember our overseas troops who are paying the ultimate price for our freedom. .-"""""""-. .' __ \_ / / \/ \ | \_0/\_0/______ |:. .' oo`\ |:. / \ |' ; | | |:.. . \_______ | |::.|' , \,_____\ / |:::.; ' | . '| ====)_/===;===========;() |::; | | ; ; | | # # # #:::::: /::::.|-| |_|-|, \ # # # #:::::: /'-=-'` '-' '--'\ # # # #:::::: jgs / \ # # # #:::::: # # # # # # # H A P P Y # # # # # # # # # # # # # # F O U R T H O F J U L Y # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # >WHAT IS A PATRIOT? by Joseph Walker It was football season, about 20 years ago. My then-8-year-old daughter Andrea and I were watching the Sunday night news, which included a report of the day's NFL highlights. "...and the Jets cruise past the Patriots, 34-7. Meanwhile in New Orleans..." "Daddy," Andrea interrupted, "what are patriots?" "It's a football team, honey," I replied, absently. "Sort of." "I know that," she said. "But what does it stand for?" "The way they're playing these days, not much." "Huh?" Obviously, Andrea wasn't much on sports humor. "OK," I said. "A patriot was, you know, like in the days of the Revolutionary War. People who really loved their country, like George Washington, the Minute Men and stuff." "Oh." That was that, I thought, and I returned to the football highlights until... "Daddy, what happened to the patriots?" "I don't know," I said. "A bad trade, a couple of injuries, some lousy draft picks..." "No, I mean the patriots who lived with George Washington. What happened to them?" "Well," I said, "they won the war, they established a great nation and then they all died." "Oh," Andrea said. "So patriots are kind of like dinosaurs, and they're extinct now?" I was losing ground here. But what was I supposed to say? Patriotism hasn't been high on the list of politically correct postures for a few decades. So I turned to the dictionary. A patriot, I told Andrea, is "one who loves his country and supports its authority and interests." "Oh," Andrea said. "Like the man who lives over by the school who flies his flag almost every day? He told us it's because he's proud to be an American. Is he a patriot?" "Yes," I said. "I think you could say so." "And what about Mrs. Davis?" my daughter continued. "Last week at church she was teaching us that song about America, and she was talking about the purple mountains magically and the fruity plains and she started to cry. I think she loves our country too." "That's 'purple mountains majestie' and 'fruited' plains,'" I said, "and yes, I'm sure she does." "Then she's a patriot too! And Bryan (the neighbor in the military) and Rosa (the friend who was working toward U.S. citizenship) and Chuck (the teenager who... well, I wasn't sure)." "Chuck?" I asked. "He always has a flag on his truck antenna," she explained. "I guess that qualifies him as a patriot," I said. "Everyone I know is a patriot," she said, "because everyone I know loves America!" I could have told her that there are a lot of people who would be quick to point out all of the things that are wrong about America. But then it occurred to me that maybe they complain because they care. Besides, what could be more American than criticizing the government? It's a tradition that goes back a long way -- all the way to George Washington and his fellow complaining patriots. "You're right," I said. "We're a whole country of patriots, each in our own way." "Including those guys?" she asked, gesturing toward the Patriots on the sports report. "EXCEPT those guys," I said. Hey, there's nothing patriotic about losing football games. -- Joseph Walker __________________________________________________ Joe is a Heartwarmer Gem from Utah. =========================================================== .''. .''. *''* :_\/_: . :_\/_: . .:.*_\/_* : /\ : .'.:.'. .''.: /\ : _\(/_ ':'* /\ * : '..'. -=:o:=- :_\/_:'.:::. /)\*''* .|.* '.\'/.'_\(/_'.':'.' : /\ : ::::: '*_\/_* | | -= o =- /)\ ' * '..' ':::' * /\ * |'| .'/.\'. '._____ * __*..* | | : |. |' .---"| _* .-' '-. | | .--'| || | _| | .-'| _.| | || '-__ | | | || | |' | |. | || | | | | || | ___| '-' ' "" '-' '-.' '` |____ jgs~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >-->The Friendship Cake Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christian Teen Talk BY: Sondra Clark I used to listen only halfheartedly when my parents told me I should be thankful for what I had. My friends were girls who had the same interests in soccer and school as me. We all tried to act like individuals, but let's face it... we wore the exact same style of jeans and sweatshirts. In fact, we were all pretty much alike. Things changed when I had the opportunity to go to Africa. After a twenty-one-hour flight, we arrived at our destination -- Bugala Island, Uganda, in the middle of Lake Victoria. The eight-mile-long island had only one rutted road. The people there lived in cow dung huts without running water or electricity. (I won't even describe what the toilets looked like.) While on Bugala Island, I had a chance to meet the girl I sponsored through Childcare International, a Christian relief agency. Her name was Annette, and her parents and relatives had died of AIDS. Through the thirty-dollar donation my family made each month, Annette was able to live in a group home and go to school. Annette and I had been writing letters back and forth for some time. I made sure not to write about our house, my closet full of clothes or the big trips we took. Here was a girl my own age who owned only two dresses and one pair of flip-flops. Before we left for our trip, my mom and I thought about buying Annette a backpack. I'm glad that we didn't because I soon saw she had nothing to put in it -- no stuffed animals, no boxes of markers... no books. When I first met Annette, I had on my favorite khaki shorts, not knowing that most girls in Uganda seldom wear shorts or pants. She hugged me cautiously -- after all, she had never seen a Caucasian girl before. Within five minutes, Annette disappeared into her group home. She returned moments later wearing a faded pair of shorts, trying to look like me. Annette spoke English fairly well, so we could talk, but I panicked. How could I be friends with someone who had never even seen water coming out of a faucet? Surprisingly, it didn't take long for us to form a friendship. She showed me the room she shared with twenty other orphan girls, who by now were all wearing shorts, too. Annette taught me how to play their jump- rope games, and we played the drums together and did craft projects. I found myself having fun with Annette even though she had never seen a video or eaten at McDonald's. Our life experiences couldn't have been more different, yet there we were... hanging out like old friends. On the last night of our trip, the kids there planned a celebration for me. Since they didn't have crepe-paper streamers, they twisted toilet paper along the walls to make decorations. Annette, still wearing her shorts, led the group in singing and dancing. The dancing consisted of shaking the hips back and forth so the grass skirts the girls wore swooshed in a blur of color. The children invited me to join in their dance. Three years of ballet lessons never could have prepared me for what was to come. Trying to mimic their dance, I fell short and resorted to my preschool years of twirling and waving my body wildly to the beating of the drums and chanting of the children. They laughed hysterically at my attempts at African dance. After the dancing and singing, the director of the home announced a special treat -- a frosted cake! He brought out a homemade, one-layer, eight-inch cake. Annette and I cut up the cake, and all 120 kids excitedly waited for the rare treat of sweet cake. I figured the Costco- size sheet cakes were on another table. After all, we had to serve over a hundred kids. Instead, Annette cut the eight-inch cake into smaller and smaller pieces... these were really small pieces! I then went around and passed them out, and each child picked up a tiny piece with his or her fingers. Everyone smiled at me as they ate their miniature piece of cake. No one asked for seconds, and no one tried to sneak two pieces. They were simply happy with what they had. Annette made sure I had a piece of cake, too. The next day, while leaving the island, I thought back on that cake. In the United States, my friends would have complained about the tiny piece of cake "We want a bigger piece! Where's the ice cream?" I found myself happily eating a few cake crumbs next to Annette. It wasn't about the sugar rush. It wasn't about the frosting. It was about the friendship. =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: _ _|_|_ ,|_| |_|_ || | | |_| || | | | | || | | | | _|| | | | | ||)\ ^ ^ ^ | || | | || | | || | | \\ | \\ / ejm )\ ( / \ \ / \ \ \ \ >Hello God Hello God, I called tonight To talk a little while I need a friend who'll listen to my anxiety and trial. You see, I can't quite make it Through a day just on my own... I need your love to guide me, So I'll never feel alone. I want to ask you please to keep, My family safe and sound. Come and fill their lives with confidence For whatever fate they're bound. Give me faith, dear God, to face Each hour throughout the day, And not to worry over things I can't change in any way. I thank you God, for being home And listening to my call, For giving me such good advice When I stumble and fall. Your number, God, is the only one That answers every time. I never get a busy signal, Never had to pay a dime. So thank you, God, for listening To my troubles and my sorrow. Good night, God, I love You too, And I'll call again tomorrow! -<>- _________________________ (, ______________________ ) | | || | | @@@@ || @@@@ | | @@@@@@@ || @@@@@@@ | | @@ - - || - @@@@ | | @ c/ || '_ @@@ | | _@| |_ || __\@ \@ | | ( \ )/_\ /_ || _\\ (/ ) @\_/) | | \ \|) / \) || |(__/ / /| | | |\_/ ( -/ || \___/ ----/_| | | / \ || ,: '( | | : _/| || |: \ | | : | || |: ) | | : | || |: | | |_______'____,_|_______|| |_____,_| .---('________________________)--. | / ( |____ __________ _| | /\ ) |___| -o- | |__| -o- | ( \| / |___| -o- | |__| -o- | | /'=. b'ger|________| |__|______| '=>/ \ / \ /|/ ,___/| >The Mirror Man A Fable by Peter Murphy Lady Twilight felt angry. It was one of those days when she was doing her best to be nice to everyone but nobody was being nice to her. What if people could be friendlier she thought to herself as she wandered through the open air market. It was a warm, sunny day so there was no use blaming the weather. In that case it must mean that people just do not like me, she decided. The chatter of voices was all around while she sat at a table by the side of the shopping crowd. She sipped a glass of green juice and felt very alone despite all the shoppers rushing about the street. Just then she spotted a young man and the newspaper headline on his paper ... Lead And They Will Follow. Twilight finished her drink and wandered along the street, feeling heavy, tired and still a little angry with this world full of unfriendly people. She turned to the left and walked right past the mirror man, he was there every week selling mirrors of all shapes and sizes. He was singing away to himself until he spotted Twilight, then the sparkle left his eyes and his face froze into a stern harsh expression. She glared at him and out of the corner of her eye she caught her reflection in a mirror. She looked so angry and so bad tempered that she even surprised herself. So shocked was she by her look of rage that she burst out laughing. The mirror man started laughing too and the two of them laughed until it hurt. With a sore belly, Twilight bade farewell to her friend and skipped along through the market with an inner happiness and a smile for everyone she met. Something weird happened though. At this end of the market everyone wanted to talk to her, and most people seemed pleased to see her. People went out of their way to help her and it was a pleasure dealing with these nice people up this end of the street. She walked past a news stand and there was that headline again ... Lead And They Will Follow. Something clicked - so that is how it works. Smile and people will smile back, give first and then you will receive. The world is like a mirror and people reflect back to you what you give out. Although not everyone will be nice back the odds certainly are in your favor if you take the risk and give first. Lead and let others follow your example. People want to be liked, let them know that you like them and they will feel safer with you and the quality of communication will improve dramatically. Lady Twilight smiled and the world smiled back. -<>- ,-`"-=') =/////// ,== _,_(((((-`6\ ==.| /,,...\\\C _| .--. ((((\\\\\` _, /;_| )9 )))))./ `. / } _\,_ ,-'))) \ / /=-. ,-./ \/ '))) . /\_/ / \ (,-.%\ / /-' ') \/\ / ( \ (/ \ ' /( ' `-/ \( \ ,- / ( `-' \ . / / \ \ &_) /\ \ | ( /--.- \ \----,------=;% | _/ _); `. ` `-. .`\ ) +++/ \ ,," %&-. ; \\| `-` `-=.;_,.__.__\_,/ )_/___+_/_________\,"(_//_(__)______:-._) gpyy >No Big Deal by Deborah Hayes Lewiston, Idaho, USA When you have kids, you want to make sure they learn about responsibility, looking out for others and doing the right thing, but you may never get the chance to see if your kids got the message. When you are a single parent, working and raising kids alone, it can be even more daunting, since your time with your kids is sometimes so limited. I am one of the lucky parents who did get the chance to find out what my kids had learned. When my twin sons were in fifth grade, they were appointed Safety Patrol Officers; responsible for helping their fellow students cross safely at one of Spokane's busiest intersections. There was usually grumbling about having to get up early and be to school before the other kids arrived, but they were proud of their badges and the job they had been selected to do. A few weeks into the school year, I was at ! school for open house, when the Safety Patrol Advisor took me aside, saying, "You must be so proud of Tim!" I agreed, of course, but asked why she would say so. She went on to tell me how earlier that morning, a car had run a red light at the intersection; as the driver tried apply the brakes, they locked, and the car swerved and jumped the curb near where the children were beginning to cross. Tim yelled for to the kids to get back, and then placed himself between his charges and the oncoming car. Fortunately, the driver was able to regain control of his car and managed to get back onto the street, seconds before he would have hit Tim! Thankfully, nobody was hurt. The kids there on the corner were pretty rattled, but impressed with their fellow student. For me, hearing the story, even secondhand, was terribly frightening, but I was so proud, I could hardly contain myself. My son never mentioned it, but! when I finally asked him about the events of that morning, he just shrugged it off, saying, "No big deal, Mom." I was happy to hear what he had done, and was pleasantly surprised to learn that he wasn't making a big deal of it. He had simply done what he saw as his duty, and he had done it quietly. In my book, that describes perfectly what we expect of a hero. I may sometimes become exasperated with teenage shenanigans and attitude, but when I remember fifth grade, I no longer wonder if my kids got the message. -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: The Blue Ribbon http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/blueribbon.html Sweet Humanity http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/sweethumanity.html Will Roger's Quotes http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/willrogers.html Pay It Forward http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/payitforward.html Attitude Is Everything! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/attitude.html Military Dogs http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/militarydogs.html We The People http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wethepeople.html Eagle Statue Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/eagleart.html Nation's Tallest Flagpole http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/flagpole.html Statue of Liberty http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/statueofliberty.html Love Stories http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/lovestories.html Proud Of Our Troops http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/troops.html Ricochet's Soul Vision http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/ricochetvision.html Eagle rescue http://www.shangralas.com/eaglerescue.html SUMMER INDEX! https://tinyurl.com/y4xyz2w8 TROOPS INDEX! http://www.shangralas.com/911andtroopsindex.html -<>- The Sower Magazine - Free Online http://thesowermagazine.com/ President Trump plans to address the nation from the Mall on the Fourth of July, upending tradition and bringing changes to the annual event. Details have been sparse, but here's what we know: http://tinyurl.com/y2sb8m7b Tucker Carlson Tonight – 6/26/19 - In Japan! https://topnewsshow.com/tucker-carlson-tonight-6-26-19-fox-news/ Clint Eastwood Defies Woke Hollywood Ban On Filming In Georgia http://tinyurl.com/yy68btgz Westwing News: https://www.whitehouse.gov/westwingreads/ WhiteHouseNews: https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600daily/ Latest From AFA: http://tinyurl.com/j7lakqw Students For Life https://tinyurl.com/yd5nxmu6 Latest From OperationRescue: http://www.operationrescue.org/ Latest Product Alert: Sausage, Blood Pressure Medication, Fireworks http://www.emergencyemail.org/products/?fmt=text Latest Health Alert: Metal Found in Infant Formula http://www.emergencyemail.org/health/?fmt=text Click To Give: https://tinyurl.com/y2abb8d2 -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseAu :) Gao and Liu’s unique and beautiful acrobatic ballet routine impressed the judges and audience of Asia's Got Talent and received the Golden Buzzer from Melanie C. https://youtu.be/Bn1ly_ApPd8 --- ...Incredibly beautiful! Thanks LouiseAu! -<>- >From Our Friend Victor :) Father and daughter recreated Jurassic Park with $100,00... It's official: this video is the most adorable way to relive the best moments from the original Jurassic Park. http://tinyurl.com/l63nvx2 --- ...WoW! Thanks Victor! Reminds me of these... LEGO Church http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/legochurch.html Volvo LEGO Car http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/legocar.html 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 Geniann :) . .' \ .' . .' ...'.` ___.-. .' ...'.' _.---' `..' ...'.' __.---' .' ...'.' .--' .' ...'.'. /` .' ...'.' `. / .' ...'.' `. / .' ...'.' `-. / .' ...'.' `. / ` _.-.' ...' `-._____.-' / / .' ...' /` /.'. ...' / .' .`.' \ / .' ...' | \ / /\ .' ...' \ | / / .' ...' / \ | /_/ .' ...' / | | |' `._..' .-------.__________.' .' .'---- .' | | | .' .... | | .' ...'| \ __.' | ___ / \...' \_`------------------._____ ___.---' / .-' | | \__/ `--.__ _.-' /.-' \__/ `------' ' VK >Too Busy for a Friend..... One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers. That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual. On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. 'Really?' she heard whispered. 'I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!' and, 'I didn't know others liked me so much,' were most of the comments. No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another. That group of students moved on. Several years later, one of the students was killed in Vietnam and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student. She had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. He looked so handsome, so mature. The church was packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin. The teacher was the last one to bless the coffin. As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her. 'Were you Mark's math teacher?' he asked. She nodded: 'yes.' Then he said: 'Mark talked about you a lot.' After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates went together to a luncheon. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher. 'We want to show you something,' his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket 'They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it.' Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him. 'Thank you so much for doing that,' Mark's mother said. 'As you can see, Mark treasured it.' All of Mark's former classmates started to gather around. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, 'I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home.' Chuck's wife said, 'Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album.' 'I have mine too,' Marilyn said. 'It's in my diary' Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. 'I carry this with me at all times,' Vicki said and without batting an eyelash, she continued: 'I think we all saved our lists' That's when the teacher finally sat down and cried. She cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again. The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don't know when that one day will be. So please, tell the people you love and care for, that they are special and important. Tell them, before it is too late. And One Way To Accomplish This Is: Forward this message on. If you do not send it, you will have, once again passed up the wonderful opportunity to do something nice and beautiful. If you've received this, it is because someone cares for you and it means there is probably at least someone for whom you care. If you're 'too busy' to take those few minutes right now to forward this message on, would this be the VERY first time you didn't do that little thing that would make a difference in your relationships? The more people that you send this to, the better you'll be at reaching out to those you care about. Remember, you reap what you sow. What you put into the lives of others comes back into your own. Blessings to you. --- ...Such a Sweet Classic! Thanks Geniann! ========================================================== __.------. (__ ___ ) .)e )\ / /_.------ _/_ _/ __.' / ' `-.__ / <.--' `\ / \ \c | / / ) GoT x \ | /\ |c / \.- \ \__/ ) /( ( \ <>'\ / _/ _\- `-. \/_|_ /<> / /--/,-\ _ \ <>.`. \/`--\_._) - / `-/\ `.\ / `. / ) `\ \ \ \___/----' | / `( ___________ \ ./\_ _ \ ______________ / | ) '| __________________ | / \ \ ___________a:f / | |____.) / \ a88a\___/88888a. \_ :)8888888888888888888a. /` `-----' `Y88888888888888888 \____| `88888888888P' >Thieves Who Created Gifts Story Editor: by Jim Walker Anne Wilson California, USA On December 14, 2007 my small car was burglarized while I was inside the supermarket buying baby food with my daughter Audrey. Audrey was 11 months old, totally blind, and had just had surgery for five heart conditions two months before. A Santa Clara County, California, firefighter named Gina witnessed the break-in. When I returned to the car after shopping Gina was already on the phone describing the two suspects to the Campbell police department. Officer Gracie responded to the call and started the investigation. Both Officer Gracie and Gina fell in love with Audrey, and were moved when hearing of her health situation. I was so impressed with their help that I gratefully sent commendation letters to the chiefs of both their departments. Ten days later, Officer Gracie called and asked if I would be home that afternoon, as she had a thank you card for the letters. I laughed and said I didn't need a thank you card, but would be home by 3:00 p.m. if she wanted to drop by. My two sons had been looking at our Christmas tree for a few days, asking when they were going to see some presents under it. We could only tell them that Santa would surely bring something. The answer came in the form of our public safety Christmas angels. That afternoon Gracie, Gina, and Gina's boss all showed up... and surprised us with five bags of gifts. Unknown to us, the policeman's association and the firefighter's association had gotten together and purchased gifts for our whole family, including a different car seat for baby Audrey and toys designed for a blind child. They brought a tool set for me because, the police chief said, "A man has to have his tools," and mine had been stolen from the car. What had been a nearly bare Christmas tree was now filled with gifts from these wonderful women and their departments. While there, Gina's boss took baby Audrey right out of my arms and said, "My 13-year-old son is blind. I know every agency and every person in this valley to get Audrey all the help she needs! There are camp trips and tons of resources for this special little angel." Who would have thought this would come out of a car burglary? These public safety officers give all day in their jobs, and still find time to do things like this. I am truly amazed at the giving nature of these wonderful women and their departments; they are commendable examples of the true caring heart. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From LaughAndLift: Hope -- that bubbling ingredient in life which is like carbonation in a drink, giving it zest, keeping it in motion, always pushing it up." - DePree "O Lord, You alone are my hope . . ." - Psalm 71:5 (TLB) ___________________________ /_ __ ___ ___ ____ _\ _ |__)(__)(___) (___)/| o| (_| (S) | || <|\ | | [,-._______________||__/||,-.] | `-' ejm98 |/ \__\`-' o _ | _]| _ c ;(*) |[_ (*).; >"I've Learned What I Can Do!" (Author Unknown) [Edited] Roger Crawford had everything he needed to play tennis - except two hands and a leg. When Roger's parents saw their son for the first time, they saw a baby with a thumb-like projection extended directly out of his right forearm and a thumb and one finger stuck out of his left forearm. He had no palms. The baby's arms and legs were shortened, and he had only three toes on his shrunken right foot and a withered left leg, which would later be amputated. The doctor said Roger suffered from ectrodactylism, a rare birth defect affecting only one out of 90,000 children born in the United States. The doctor said Roger would probably never walk or care for himself. Fortunately Roger's parents didn't believe the doctor. "My parents always taught me that I was only as handicapped as I wanted to be," said Roger. "They never allowed me to feel sorry for myself or take advantage of people because of my handicap. Once I got into trouble because my school papers were continually late," explained Roger who had to hold his pencil with both "hands" to write slowly. "I asked Dad to write a note to my teachers, asking for a two-day extension on my assignments. Instead Dad made me start writing my papers two days early!" Roger's father always encouraged him to get involved in sports, teaching Roger to catch and throw a volleyball, and play backyard football after school. At age 12, Roger managed to win a spot on the school football team. Before every game, Roger would visualize his dream of scoring a touchdown. Then one day he got his chance. The ball landed in his arms and off he ran as fast as he could on his artificial leg toward the goal line, his coach and teammates cheering wildly. But at the ten-yard line, a guy from the other team caught up with Roger, grabbing his left ankle. Roger tried to pull his artificial leg free, but instead it ended up being pulled off. "I was still standing up," recalls Roger. "I didn't know what else to do, so I started hopping towards the goal line. The referee ran over and threw his hands into the air. Touchdown! You know, even better than the six-points was the look on the face of the other kid who was holding my artificial leg." Roger's love of sports grew and so did his self-confidence. But not every obstacle gave way to Roger's determination. Eating in the lunchroom with the other kids watching him fumble with his food proved very painful to Roger, as did his repeated failure in typing class. "I learned a very good lesson from typing class," said Roger. "You can't do everything - it's better to concentrate on what you can do." One thing Roger could do was swing a tennis racket. Unfortunately, when he swung it hard, his weak grip usually launched it into space. Roger stumbled upon an odd-looking tennis racket in a sports shop and accidentally wedged his finger between its double-barred handle when he picked it up. The snug fit made it possible for Roger to swing, serve and volley like an able-bodied player. He practiced every day and was soon playing - and losing - matches. But Roger persisted. He practiced and practiced and played and played. Surgery on the two fingers of his left hand enabled Roger to grip his special racket better, greatly improving his game. Although he had no role models to guide him, Roger became obsessed with tennis and in time he started to win. Roger went on to play college tennis, finishing his tennis career with 22 wins and 11 losses. He later became the first physically handicapped tennis player to be certified as a teaching professional by the United States Professional Tennis Association. Roger now tours the country, speaking to groups about what it takes to be a winner, no matter who you are. "The only difference between you and me is that you can see my handicap, but I can't see yours. We all have them. When people ask me how I've been able to overcome my physical handicaps, I tell them that I haven't overcome anything. I've simply learned what I can't do - such as play the piano or eat with chopsticks - but more importantly, I've learned what I can do. Then I do what I can with all my heart and soul." Follow up Note from Chris: You know, while a nice "feel good" story, there's some deep lessons in here for us as Christians. We are each given gifts by the Lord: we excel in certain things, and not so well in others. The Lord gives us gifts that we might use them to further His Kingdom here on earth. As a Christian, we are to be constantly growing. But sometimes we get discouraged thinking things like: "I don't know how to be used by the Lord" and "What can I do for the Lord?" and "I don't have a pastoral gifting or a worship leader gifting - so what can I do?" And sometimes we get so hung up on these things that we neglect the things that the Lord HAS gifted us with. No, he doesn't gift us all to be a pastor, but he does gift in a LOT of other ways. There are certain things that I do well, and therefore I should do them with all my heart and soul, and not worry so much about the rest. And there are certain things that you do well (whether you think you do or not!) and you should do them with all your heart and soul and not worry about the rest. And ultimately, whatever we do, whether it is fixing a computer, painting someone's house, encouraging someone, administrating, or being a pastor or worship leader, it should ALL be done to give God the glory (one way or the other) because He is the one who has given us these gifts and we are to use them to serve God! This is a vital realization. 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 ========================================================== , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >-->HEALED AND WHOLE by Carol Parrott One day I dug a little hole And put my hurt inside I thought that I could just forget I'd put it there to hide. But that little hurt began to grow I covered it every day I couldn't leave it and go on It seemed the price I had to pay. My joy was gone, my heart was sad Pain was all I knew. My wounded soul enveloped me Loving seemed too hard to do. One day, while standing by my hole I cried to God above And said, "If You are really there -- They say, You're a God of Love!" And just like that -- He was right there And just put His arms around me He wiped my tears, His hurting child There was no safer place to be. I told Him all about my hurt I opened up my heart He listened to each and every word To every sordid part. I dug down deep and got my hurt I brushed the dirt away And placed it in the Master's hand And healing came that day. He took the blackness of my soul And set my spirit FREE! Something beautiful began to grow Where the hurt used to be. And when I look at what has grown Out of my tears and pain I remember every day to give my hurts to Him And never bury them again. --- ...1 Pet.5: [7] Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah Shangy! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -->ShangyFunList AD RATES: $20 will get your a message (of up to 40 words) out to all self-subscribed readers and $5 more will give you the same message also put up for all web site readers. Email me to secure dates. 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