Where's The Good Stuff 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 Through no fault of my own we suddenly became an adult club in the love and romance directory so you will have to confirm that you are an adult when you go here. I still have no idea how to change this back as it sends me around in a circle when I try! or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net ================ *~* A REMINDER: PLEASE Send me sweet, interesting, funny, inspiring, family type forwards ANY TIME here... bcrsystems@earthlink.net I Need them, Love them, Use them, and Share them! THANK YOU!! ================ "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo ~ CALLING ALL CARING ANGELS ~ ,, ,, ,\\//, ,\\//, ,\\\///, ,, ,\\\///, \\\\//// ,\\//, \\\\//// \\\/// ,\\\///, \\\/// ###### \\\\//// ###### ////\\\\ \\\/// ////\\\\ /////\\\\\###### /////\\\\\//////\\\\////\\\\ //////\\\\\\/,///\\\/////\\\\\ //////_?_\\\\(_) //////\\\\\\, .'`---`'. _j_///////\\\\\(_) /.'a a \.'`---`'. |: ^ /.'d\ /b \ \' www |: ^ | '._____.'\' VVV / jgs '._____.' *~* WE NEED CARING And SHARING Angels For 2011 *~* >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel? If you'd like to help and be counted as a 2011 Shangrala Angel, please visit the site and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL page comes up. Any amount is greatly appreciated and needed! PLEASE Visit Shangrala to Help: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/index.html OR If you'd rather send us a donation, Please MAIL it here: Elrhea Bigham 502 S. Harrison Van Wert, OH 45891 *~* THANK YOU! MAY GOD BLESS ALL OUR ANGELS MOST ABUNDANTLY! ================ *~* Have a Happy, Blessed, and SAFE Halloween Weekend! :) ___ \--/ .' `"-._ Since this is the time /`-' '-`\ / , `'-_.-. for goblins and bats, / \ / /`'. ,' _ | /.'|/\ /\|'.\ `-' `-. ,' ,'\\/ \/ \, ,' ee`-. Halloween spirits and / ./ ,(_ \ , ghosts and cats, (_/\\\ \__|`--' || ///\\| \ || ////||-./`-.} .--|| Weird happenings and / `-.__.-`_.-.| witches brew, | '._,-'`|___} `; / '. |/ || ,;'` | '.__,.-` || ':, These are the things | | || ,;' I wish for you: / / _,.||oOoO.,_ | | \-.O,o_O..-/ / / / \ May the only ghost | / / \ that comes to stay, | | | , | / | \ ) ( ) / Be the Holy Ghost jgs | \ ,'.(:, ),: (_.'. to guide your way. / /'.' ="`""="="=="= '. `'"---'-.__.'"""` ` "" "" `"" ,, , ,, ,\\//, .--') ,\\//, ,\\\///, ,, / / May the only spirit ,\\\///, \\\\//// ,\\//, | / you chance to meet, \\\\//// \\\/// ,\\\///, /'.\ (_.'\ \\\/// ###### \\\\//// \ / ###### ////\\\\ \\\/// '--. .---' Be the spirit of love ////\\\\ /////\\\\\###### ( " ) and warm friends sweet, /////\\\\\//////\\\\////\\\\ '-' //////\\\\\\/,///\\\/////\\\\\ _ ///////\_?_\\(_) //////\\\\\\, ( \ May the only tricks .'`---`'. _j_/////\\\\\(_) ) ) you are /.'a a \.'`---`'. jgs ( ( .-""-. A.-.A asked to do, |: ^ /.'d\ /b \ \ \/ \/ , , \ \' www |: ^ | \ \ =; t /= '._____.'\' VVV / \ |"". ',--' Be the trick '._____.' / // | || of getting /_,)) |_,)) a friend or two. *~* Have a Happy, Blessed, and SAFE Halloween Weekend! :) ================ >-->Hot Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This too hot to handle one comes from our friends PatDeE and Wesley. It is sure to put some SMILES on all you who love animals and Halloween fun! Be sure to watch the video... _...----. .' .-'` ,''--..; / | _______/________|_______ `-----/// _\ /_ \\\-----` .---./ / o\/o \ \.---. <(_ /// \__/\__/ \\\ _)> _.---. '-. // oo \\ .-' .' .__`\ o /// __..--..__ \\\ / \`\| o-'*'-o //| '\/\/\/\/' |\\ / ; ' \*\|/*/ ;--. """" .-; | _ _ | .-'---'-. / \|||-....(|||`\ | (o) (o) | / \ /\ /\|/ | | .---, |/ \ / ; ' | | / e e \ | '. .' | '-. \ \| ^ |/ '---' | \_ ()._-_.() T R I C K | .._.----/` \ ,/\'._.'/\. ' . | / ``"-/||\ \ / \/ \/ \ O R | | `7, | ^^_____^^ | | . /// _ | |oOO` `OOo| T R E A T ; |' / |_) _ | \| '._____.' |/ / \-| |_)/ \ _ | |:: | '.__ __,; `| \_// \ | |:: | ````` | | \_/ ; |:: | | \ / \::. /_____________| ``'--..___/ '._______.' '-| | |-' | |_ | _| | | | __.-; \ | / /-._|_.-\ \ \_|_/ /`'-.|.-'`\ / jgs /--T--\ / .'. \'-..____.---''''`` (__/ \__) \____/ \___/ Tricks For Treats #4 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/tricksfortreats4.html --- ...Wow! I love this! Thank You PatDeE and Wesley!! I want those lights on my house! =================================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: ___ ___ .'` `""--.._..--""` `'. / .-""-"-""-. \ | / \ | \, | .--.-.--. | ,/ (_'- |` > `| -'_) / | < | \ | (__..---..__) | | (`|\o_/ \_o/|`) | | \( > )/ | | [>=| --- |=<] | | ,\__\ /__/, | |.____.|\==='-'===/|.____.| \_____;_\=======/_;_____/ | _)'.===.'(_ | ; \-._\_/_.-/ ; /\_\_\_\ () /_/_/_/\ '-.._____.-'-._____..-' | /`\ | |_ | | _| _.;____ | | ____;._ jgs /` `| |` `\ '------'--' '--'------' >WHERE'S THE GOOD STUFF? by Joseph Walker I don't know how it is at your house, but when our kids were growing up there were always two questions that invariably occupied an inordinate amount of time and attention this time every year: what were the children going to be for Halloween, and where did Mom hide the trick-or-treat candy? Through the years, I developed a stock answer to the "what should I be?" question. I would look thoughtfully at the asker, whichever of our five children it might be, then say: "Just be a good person." For some reason, they all stopped asking me. I don't know why. But the second question was trickier, because I know how my wife, Anita, does things. She would buy a bunch of Halloween candy as soon as our grocer put it on the shelves -- you know, right after the Fourth of July. (She did this ever since we got burned one year. We waited until the day before Halloween to buy candy, and there wasn't any good stuff, as in "chocolate candy bars" left. So she started buying it early and hiding it, since the average shelf-life of un-hidden chocolate in our house was about 37 seconds.) For some reason, however, I seemed to be the only one in the family who could never find Anita's Halloween stash. I remember one year catching then 7-year-old Jonathan wandering around the house munching on a trick-or-treat-sized Snickers bar. "Hey, Jon," I asked, "where'd you get that?" "Shhh!" he hissed, spewing a little stream of chocolate-caramel-nut spray. "It's a secret!" "I know!" I whispered. "So share the secret with me!" "Mommy said don't tell." "She meant that you shouldn't tell the other kids," I assured him. "It's OK to tell Daddy." "Mommy said 'specially don't tell Daddy!" "That's right, Dad," said 9-year-old Elizabeth, who had a mini-Milky Way in her hand. "We're not supposed to tell you where the candy is." "But you guys know," I whined. "That's because Mama trusts us," Elizabeth said. "If we tell, she won't trust us anymore." "Besides," Andrea added, "somebody has to not know where it is, or else there wouldn't be any point in hiding it." This is as close as you get to logic with a 16-year-old on a 3 Musketeers high. Just then 18-year-old Joe Jr. walked in with a little bag of Whoppers. "Mom's getting better," he said, swallowing malted milk and chocolate. "It took me four minutes to find the stash this year." "That's because I helped hide it," said 20-year-old AmyJo, maturely munching a Milk Dud. "No more Ms. Nice Guy!" "But what about Mr. Nice Guy?" I asked my children. "What about me?" "What is it you always say to us, Dad?" AmyJo asked. "'I could do it for you, but I love you too much to deprive you of the joy and satisfaction of doing it for yourself.'" She looked at me triumphantly as her brothers and sisters convulsed in laughter around her. She had been waiting for at least 16 years to turn that line around on me, and she was enjoying this. And if you promise not to tell I'll let you in on a little secret: I was enjoying it too. For the first time in my life as a father I realized that some of my teaching was actually sinking in to their chocolate-loving little heads. And it occurred to me that if they were using my own teaching here against me, maybe they were occasionally using it out there against the Big Bad World, too. The thought gave me comfort -- then and now -- my cholatelessness notwithstanding. Which reminds me -- I've got to get down to the store before all the good stuff is gone. -- Joseph Walker __________________________________________________ Check out Joe's website here: http://www.josephbwalker.com ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend PeggyT :) ..___ '-. '. .' \__. .' `. ______________________ .' .----. `==' | / .' / o o .-''''''''''''''''''''''' / / /_.---' | -='-._ ( | | '--=. | | LGB '^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^' >The Carpenter Once upon a time, two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side-by-side, sharing machinery and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch. Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference and finally, it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence. One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I 'm looking for a few days' work," he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?" "Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor. In fact, it's my younger brother! Last week there was a meadow between us. He recently took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll do him one better. See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence an 8-foot fence -- so I won't need to see his place or his face anymore." The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you." The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day -- measuring, sawing and nailing. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all. ___....___ ^^ __..-:'':__:..:__:'':-..__ _.-:__:.-:'': : : :'':-.:__:-._ .':.-: : : : : : : : : :._:'. _ :.': : : : : : : : : : : :'.: _ [ ]: : : : : : : : : : : : : :[ ] [ ]: : : : : : : : : : : : : :[ ] :::::::::[ ]:__:__:__:__:__:__:__:__:__:__:__:__:__:[ ]::::::::::: !!!!!!!!![ ]!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!![ ]!!!!!!!!!!! ^^^^^^^^^[ ]^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^[ ]^^^^^^^^^^^ [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] jgs [ ] [ ] ~~^_~^~/ \~^-~^~ _~^-~_^~-^~_^~~-^~_~^~-~_~-^~_^/ \~^ ~~_ ^ It was a bridge! A bridge that stretched from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work, handrails and all! And the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming toward them, his hand outstretched. "You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done." The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in middle, taking each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox onto his shoulder. "No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother. "I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but I have many more bridges to build." Remember This... God won't ask what kind of car you drove, but He'll ask how many people you helped get where they needed to go. God won't ask the square footage of your house, but He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home. God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet, but He'll ask how many you helped to clothe. God won't ask how many friends you had, but He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend. God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived, but He'll ask how you treated your neighbors. God won't ask about the color of your skin, but He'll ask about the content of your character. God won't ask why it took you so long to seek Salvation, but He'll lovingly take you to your mansion in Heaven, and not to the gates of hell. God won't ask how many people you forwarded this to, but He'll ask why you were ashamed to pass it on to your friends... --- ...So True and a Great Story! Thank You PeggyT! ================================================================ >-->From LaughAndLift: "Conversion without discipleship is openly implied in much of our evangelical teaching. It has become strangely possible to be Christ's without taking up the cross." - C. D. 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""MMMmm.. _,mMMMM""" ""MMMMMMMMMMMMMM"""" >Silent Witness (by Krista Ryals, 12 years old) [Edited] We say that we are Christians and that we are walking in God's ways, but do we really walk in them every single day? When we go to parties and people pressure us to drink, do we ever take that time to really stop and think? The Lord is always watching everything we do, and when we tell people we are saved He knows if it is really true. We think it does not matter what we do when no one is around, but God is always standing there even if He does not make a sound. He walks with us through good times and carries us through bad, and when we let Him down He forgives us even if what we did makes Him really sad. We tell our friends we love Him and that heaven is where we'll go, but if God asked us today would we really know? When we stand before God on our judgment day, Will we be embarrassed by things He might say? Just remember when you go out the Lord is always standing there, He is our silent witness with whom our lives we share. -<>- "Your most profound and intimate experiences of worship will likely be in your darkest days-when your heart is broken, when you feel abandoned, when you're out of options, when the pain is great - and you turn to God alone. It is during suffering that we learn to pray our most authentic, heartfelt, honest-to-God prayers. When we're in pain, we don't have the energy for superficial prayers." - Rick Warren The Unfolding of a Rose - we have here... Rose Petals http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/poems/rose.html 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 ================================================================ >-->From Our Friend PatDeE :) Philip Kaulfuss . : . . : | : . . | | | , \ | | / . ,-'"""`-. . "- / __ __ \ -" |==| I |==| - --- | _`--^--'_ | --- - |'`. ,'`| _- \ "---" / -_ . `-.___,-' . / | | \ .' | | | `. : | : . : . >The "Green" Thing Checking out at the store, the young cashier suggested to the older woman that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment. The woman apologized and explained, "We didn't have this green thing back in my earlier days." The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations." She was right -- our generation didn't have the green thing in its day. Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled. But we didn't have the green thing back in 'our' day. We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks. But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in 'our' day. Back then, we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that young lady is right. We didn't have the green thing back in 'our' day. Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Montana. In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she's right. We didn't have the green thing back in 'our' day. We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. But we didn't have the green thing back in 'our' day. Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus, and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint. But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then? Please forward this on to another selfish old person who needs a lesson in conservation from a smart aleck young person. Remember: Don't make old people upset. We don't like being old in the first place, so it doesn't take much to make us cranky! --- ...LOL! Thanks PatDeE! Way too many disposable things these day - throw away mop covers even! And yes, I noticed too that the gov. is thinking of giving welfare people money to buy disposable diapers. Why should we pay for these people to have that luxury? If they buy cloth diapers once they only need to wash them. {I used to have to do that when taking care of my niece - it didn't kill me.] Disposable diapers cost tons of money and are a real 'green' problem too! Check out these diaper facts: http://www.realdiaperassociation.org/diaperfacts.php AND Be Sure To Check out These Cranky Old Person's Views... Maxine On Jesus http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/maxineonjesus.html Maxine On Fall http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/maxineonfall.html Maxine On Halloween http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/maxineonhalloween.html ============================================================ >-->From SermondFodder: | \ | / \ / ,d8b, ., (')-")_ 88888 --- ;';' ';'. ('- (. ')98P' ';.,; ,; '-.(PjP)' \ '.';.' | \ | >Healthy Texas At the urging of his doctor, Bill moved to Texas for the healthier climate. After settling in, he met a neighbor who was also an older man. "Say, is this really a healthy place?" "It sure is," the man replied. "When I first arrived here I couldn't say one word. I had hardly any hair on my head. I didn't have the strength to walk across a room and I had to be lifted out of bed." "That's wonderful!" said Bill. "How long have you been here?" "I was born here." - from Cybersalt Digest === >From Sermon Fodder and Joke A Day Ministries. To get a regular dose of Christian humor and a modern-day parable send an email to Sermon_Fodder-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or to ajokeaday7- subscribe@topica.com. It's OK to share our stuff, but please leave this attached if you forward this to friends or post on the net. =============== More Texas Several years ago as more newcomers flocked to the state a bumper sticker that said simply, "Native Texan" became a common site around the Lone Star State. Not to be outdone by the "attitude" of native Texans, many newcomers adopted a bummer sticker that said with an equal amount of Texas Pride, "Wasn't Born in Texas, But Got Here As Fast As I Could." =============== .--..-""""-..--. ///`/////////\`\\\ ||/ |///""\\\| \|| ## ( 6. 6 ) ## /_\ \ _. / /_\ _`) (`_ /` '--' `\ / _,,_ \ / /` `\ \ /\_/ / 6 6\ \_/\ \ \/\ Y /\/ / \ \/ `'U` \/ / \( \ / )/ |\_/ \_/| / ____ \ \ ( || ) / (__)||(__) | || | |__||__| jgs |==||==| /~`//~`/ / // / `""` `"` The Shopping Trip Mahala (my 6-year-old with Down Syndrome) and I went to the grocery store one morning and as we entered, I noticed a lady in, maybe, her 60's and she was obviously upset over something. I put Mahala in the buggy with her Teddy Bear and started shopping. As I gathered a few things, I went to put a bag of potatoes in the buggy and realized I was going to have to get Mahala out to make room for the groceries. As I put the potatoes in the buggy, I heard Mahala behind me. She had walked up to the lady and said, "What's wrong, Darlin'?" Then she hugged the lady's legs and repeated, "What's wrong?" The lady knelt down and said, "Nothing, baby, I'm just a little upset." Mahala then hugged her and handed her bear to the lady and said, "Here, have my bear." Mahala then walked back to our buggy. In a few minutes the lady approached us and gave Mahala back the bear and thanked her. Mahala said, "You're welcome... It's OK, Baby!" Then the lady said to me, "Can I talk to you?" I told her of course she could. She said, "I got a phone call this morning and my daughter's newborn baby was tested for Down Syndrome. We won't have the results back for 2 weeks. I couldn't understand how this terrible thing could happen to us. God sent your daughter to me to let me know it is going to be OK. Thank you for choosing today to get your groceries." I got chill bumps all over... I was speechless! ~A Mountain Wings Original by Jerri Ludlam Via Da Mouse Tracks ================================================================ >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: .--. .--. / ' .\ |'. ( .-. \ \ . ` /\. /`. / ) ( `.' .' '--'` (\ \.' .' ) \`. \ _/ _..--' `. \ /`'<_/ : )"'``..`-3 : :. `"'. ) / |-.'' (_.-._ | / ( .'`--..J ' |-'( |_| | : >` '. .'' : | Y | < | : > ' \ `_ : '` \ / :- ' || : / ./: | \ .'J /_ ) : | '% | a:f /.-.`). : I | / ( \ ) : .^) `-' `..-' (`"' / ===' >MAKING SENSE OF LIFE By: Joseph J. Mazzella "Does life ever make sense?" This was a question asked to me by a friend the other day. Like all of us this lady had seen a lot of suffering, a lot of injustice, and a lot of insanity in this world. She had seen parents having to bury their children, good people having to go through cancer, and hard working souls having to struggle to make ends meet. She had seen wars, famines, and natural disasters. She had seen cruel and selfish people prosper while others with more caring hearts dealt with loss and tragedy. As she looked me in the eyes and asked me that question, I smiled back and said the first words that came from my heart: "only when you love." I think now that those words must have been sent to me by God, because the wisdom in them eased her mind and touched her heart. We talked peacefully a while longer and she thanked me before going on her way. In truth, only love can make sense of this life. It is only when you love that you can grow better and more caring from the pains life brings you. It is only when you love that you can face injustice with a passion to make things better. It is only when you love that you can meet the insanity of the world with the sanity of your soul. Love helps you to see the precious value of every life no matter how limited or how brief. Love helps you to face a life threatening disease with a greater joy for living. Love helps you to see that true wealth comes from the soul and not the things you own. With love in your life you realize the senselessness of war and the pricelessness of peace. With love in your heart you see every famine and natural disaster as a call to help others even more. With love in your soul you feel God's love everywhere as well. If you want to make sense of this life then just love. It won't stop the questions, but it will help you live the answers. It won't fully explain this life, but it will get you ready for the next. -<>- wannahug? _ _ / _ (o\-~-/o) _ (o\ ( 9 9 ) /o) \ \( (Y) )/ / \ ) ( / / \ _____/ )_( \____ hjw =_==( (===) )=_= `97 | \ ) ( / | \|vVv(__/,v#\__)V/|/|#.. >Less Stress "A relaxed attitude lengthens a man's life." I remember reading about a small bridge in a rural area. Its load limit was ten tons. It served its community very well for thirty years until a twelve-ton truck tried to cross it. The added stress was beyond the bridge's capacity--it collapsed under the extra load. We're all like that. Each of us has a limit as to how much stress we can handle before we break. It is well documented that too much stress is a killer. Thus we need to know just how much we can handle and learn to limit the load we carry. However, even though my load limit may be "ten or fifteen tons," if I'm not flexible and able to bend with the winds of adversity and learn how to go with the flow of life's circumstances, I may collapse well below my load limit. Furthermore, as the Bible taught three thousand years ago, we also need to learn how to have a relaxed attitude in the midst of stressful and pressured situations. While it isn't easy, in a nutshell we need to limit the load we attempt to carry, eat right, exercise regularly, work hard but take time to relax, laugh a lot, cry when we are sad, never bottle up negative emotions but learn to express them in healthy ways. And above all, we need to learn to commit and trust our life to God every day! -<>- -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment Idiot http://www.buffalosjokes.com/22619.htm Important Message http://www.buffalosjokes.com/22620.htm Hot Cup http://www.buffalosjokes.com/22617.htm Hot Drink http://www.buffalosjokes.com/22618.htm Skateboard Crunch http://www.buffalosjokes.com/22644.htm Asian Crocodile Hunter http://www.buffalosjokes.com/032924.htm The Bright Side http://www.buffalosjokes.com/032925.htm Thieves http://www.buffalosjokes.com/032926.htm Top Model http://www.buffalosjokes.com/032927.htm Haunting http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/haunting.html A KAIROS Moment http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/kairosmoment.html I Believe In You http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/ibelieveinyou.html Dog Warriors http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dogwarriors.html Playing With Words http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/wordplay.html Woman Cops Around The World http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/womancops.html Transparent Butterfly http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/butterfly.html Visit our site at http://www.inspiredbuffalo.com If you are looking to join any of our other fine e-zines visit www.buffalosjokes.com ======================================================= >-->From Our Friend Kulwon2 :) _ \`*-. ) _`-. . : `. . : _ ' \ ; *` _. `*-._ `-.-' `-. ; ` `. :. . \ . \ . : .-' . ' `+.; ; ' : : ' | ; ;-. ; ' : :`-: _.`* ; [bug] .*' / .*' ; .*`- +' `*' `*-* `*-* `*-*' >Story Time! Abbey and Me I will tell you a success story about a little old girl kitty named Abbey. When I was diagnosed for Stage 3A lung cancer I decided to go online to see if I could find the oldest girl kitty that was soon due to be put down. I could not get a boy cat because I am still in mourning for KC and Macky, my two beloved male cats. I found one online and went over to a nearby Humane Society and met her. They had her in a large cat carrier that was just large enough for a small litter box, food and water bowls and enough room for her to stand and lay down. I mentioned it and they said they let those with no room to move around, out of the cage an hour or so a day. I took her out and could tell from her actions that we were not bonding, but I knew I was going to take her. They gave me a discount because she was past 10 years and she had been there 4 months and was scheduled to be put down. They put her in a cardboard cat carrier and I took her home. Then I went out and bought a big covered litter box, a bed, bowls and food. I took it home and couldn't find her for a bit. She was on the fridge. She wasn't using the litter box and would only come off the fridge to eat. So I bought a standard litter box without the top and she started using it. I thought it was probably because she was so confined for a long period of time. Every time I went by the fridge I would put my hand up and talk to her. I would talk to her constantly when I was in the kitchen and also when I was in the living room doing my exercises. She was now a challenge and still not bonding, but I was determined, in a sense it took my mind off of my cancer. I had her about 2 or 3 weeks and one night I was sitting watching TV and she came in, jumped up and settled in my lap. I petted her a little but not much, I was letting her make the rules. I took out the small litter box and put back her fancy one and she used it. After a couple of weeks I realized that she didn't like to be held and I thought it was because she had been declawed in the front, and really used the back ones to get away from whoever picked her up. I was getting scratched bad. So I decided to carry her to bed at night. It took almost a week for me to find out how she liked to be carried and I would hold her two back feet together so she would not scratch me. In no time we made it a game and she would run and hide from me and I would talk to her and she would let me catch her. She was totally bonded to me and I was enjoying her. I went through a treatment of Chemo and Radiation, a break then another treatment of Chemo. I had few problems other than a sore throat during my treatments. My doctor and I discussed what was best for me if the PET scan showed the tumor had shrunk further. He didn't want me to move to another coastal area because I would still cough if I went near the beach, nor did he want me to go to a desert or a smoggy area. I decided to move to San Jose to be near my grandson's if the results were good. He okayed my move to San Jose saying the air was good there and I began my planning. When I decided to move I thought I had better concentrate on finding her a home. She was a fun little girl, very sociable. I had taught her how to come when I would say, "Abbey, birdy num nums." That meant she was getting a treat. I knew her fear of pet carriers, so I went down and bought one of the red canvas ones with the black netting on the side. I'd seen the movie stars use them to carry their pets on the planes, or just around Hollywood. It had a zipper on top to stick her head out. She loved it. I would leave it in the living room with the zipper open so she could walk in and nap. I contacted a no kill shelter where I used to volunteer and let them know I would pay the shelter $300 if they found a home for her. They would also take her if I failed. I hated to do this because some "no kill shelters" do not kill but sometimes they "transfer" cats that are older, have a bad attitude or are problem to another that is NOT a no kill and they are put down. You really need to know about some of the stuff that goes on. Some people showed an interest in her and it was getting time for me to pack to move. so I made an appointment with this vet who had taken care of my "boys". I wanted all of her shots current. We were the first appointment. I had been in when I first got her so I could get the food for her and the gals knew me. They cracked up when I brought her in, in her cat carrier with her name on each side in black indelible ink. She was showing off. The vet was late and he came out to the waiting room and stopped short and started laughing. There she was in the carrier with the front flaps down where she could get out, but instead she was sitting inside with her head out the hole in the top and she said meow. I took her in the treatment room and he said the tech's had told him I wanted shots because I was moving and she was going to the no kill shelter. He said, "you can't do that to her." I asked him what he meant. He said, "turn her over to me and I will personally find this little lady a home." I knew he would do that because he had made home visits to treat Macky at times when he was really sick. He never charged for the home visits. I signed the papers and went home to get all of her things and took them back to the vets. She was running loose with two other of the in-house cats that live there and was happy as a lark. I went back the following Monday and they had a huge cage with her litter box, her nice carpet piece, toys food and still space to play. There was 2 women sitting on the floor talking to her. I opened the cage and called to her. She came over and smelled my hand then went back to the women. I was hurt but happy that she was working the crowd. I didn't go back, but before I left I talked to the vet and told him that I would like to put $300 dollars on hold for whoever adopted so they'd have help with her expenses, but they were not to know until she was adopted. I left and didn't go back. About 2 weeks after I arrived in San Jose, I got a call telling me that Abbey had a new family. She said Abbey's new mom said she would like to talk to me. I called her and she said she and her two children loved Abbey. She slept with the woman at night on the second pillow on her bed and she was a very happy cat that love to watch TV. I had mentioned that if Jeopardy came on that she didn't like Alex Trebek and would jump down and go lay down behind the chair, but she loved Wheel of Fortune, the Pit Boss, Paroles and Pit Bulls and most other programs with movement and music. The woman said she tested her and it was true, she really liked TV, but not Jeopardy. She said Abbey would be loved and cared for as long as she lived. I was happy. So I think the 8 months I had her really changed her from a very unhappy and confused cat to a really sweet loving little girl. I have always been able to train cats and I was so happy that I did make a difference with her. Wish I could do it again but no cats are allowed where I now live. Those eight months also changed me from someone who was very frightened to face my cancer treatments. Instead I had little time to think about it since I had my Abbey, my yoga and a great support group. Myself? I have fond memories of Abbey and feel really great knowing that she is going to live a full life and not have to worry about being confined or put down before her time. I was not expected to do as well as I did, the doctors were not sure that I would see 2011 when the treatments first started. I think Abbey helped me relax and to laugh and that helped me heal. It is now August 2011 and I feel great. The tumor shrunk from a 8.6 cm to a 3.0 cm. I have to have scans every 4 months and just had one in June and it was good, my cancer is the same and not growing. I still have Abbey with me, I just have to lean back and close my eyes and I can see that silly little girl. - Carol Clarke --- ...Awww, such a sweet story! Thank You Kulwon2! ================================================================= __________________ /\ ______________ \ /::\ \ZZZZZZZZZZZZ/\ \ /:/\.\ \ /:/\:\ \ /:/Z/\:\ \ /:/Z/\:\ \ /:/Z/__\:\ \____/:/Z/ \:\ \ /:/Z/____\:\ \___\/Z/ \:\ \ \:\ \ZZZZZ\:\ \ZZ/\ \ \:\ \ \:\ \ \:\ \ \:\ \ \:\ \ \:\ \ \:\ \_\;\_\_____\;\ \ \:\ \ \:\_________________\ \:\ \ /:/ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ/ \:\ \ /:/Z/ \:\ \ /:/Z/ \:\ \/:/Z/ \:\ \/:/Z/ \:\/:/Z/________\;\/:/Z/ \::/Z/_______itz__\/Z/ \/ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ/ >The Brightly Covered Box Story Editor: by Tara Don Shields Thomas Wheeler Colorado, USA It was 1980. I was 7, and we lived in a small town in Colorado. My father, a construction worker, had injured his knee at work badly enough that it required surgery and almost a year of rehabilitation therapy. Because his knee had been previously injured in high school, the company claimed it was a pre-existing condition and would not pay for his surgery and rehabilitation. My father was unable to work, and my mother was a stay-at-home mom, so she didn't have a paycheck coming in either. We were relying on our savings and the money my mother could earn by babysitting children in the neighborhood, but there wasn't very much to spare, and the doctors' bills were piling up. Shortly before Christmas, my parents sat us five kids down and explained that there wouldn't be much of a Christmas that year. They were sorry, but there was just no money for presents. We could each ask Santa for a small gift, but that was all we would be able to have that year. I remember being sad and disappointed. Christmas morning came, and we got up early to see if Santa had come. In the living room of our house were our few presents and a stocking for each of us with some candy and fruit. Beneath the tree were only a few wrapped gifts. It was tempting to feel sorry for ourselves, but we could be grateful that at least we had a warm house to live in and food to eat. A bit later, the doorbell rang. On the front porch was a large box wrapped in Christmas paper. I remember the feeling of excitement and amazement when we saw that big box covered in bright paper. We looked around trying to find the people who had left it, but no one was there. Mystified, my parents brought it inside and all the kids tore into it. Inside we found toys, clothes, and food for the entire family. Apparently, someone from the neighborhood had seen my family's struggle and gathered these items for us. What's more, they had left their own Christmas celebration on a cold morning to bring Christmas cheer to us. The items they brought us that Christmas morning were nothing especially valuable or exciting, but the love in that package was a priceless gift. Every year as Christmas approaches, I see the donation centers and gift registries set up for those less fortunate. I always do my best to contribute at least a little, because I remember what an enormous difference that can make in a family's life. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From KidWarmers: THE FUNNY THINGS KIDS SAY ,_ _, '._.' '-, (_) ,-' '._ .:. _.' _ '|Y|' _ ,` `>\ /<` `, ` ,-` I `-, ` | /=\ | ,-' |=| '-, )-( jgs \_/ Scottie loved to help his grandma do "stuff." It always turned into a real adventure because Grandma was known to disregard the instructions and put things together her way. Things could become interesting, to say the least. One day they decided to put together a bookcase for Grandma's office. Scottie had his favorite plastic tool set but like most 4-year-olds he was more in the way than a help. Grandma was having no luck getting the bookcase together. After about a hour, Scottie, with all the seriousness he could muster, asked, "Grandma, can we read the corrections now?" -- Brenda Ice (mother of Scott) of North Augusta, South Carolina , `-. \ .-' ,-"`````""-\__ | / '-.._ _.-'` '-o, _>--:{{< ) |) .-'' '-.__.-o` '-._____..-/` | \ jgs ,-' / `-. ` Sam, 5, came home from kindergarten and told his mother that he had to put his head down on his desk. When his mother asked him why, he said, "Because I was talking, but I didn't know I was talking because I was whispering and I couldn't hear myself!" -- Cindy Lockwood (grandmother of Sam) of Bluffton, Indiana ^^ .-=-=-=-. ^^ ^^ (`-=-=-=-=-`) ^^ (`-=-=-=-=-=-=-`) ^^ ^^ ^^ (`-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-`) ^^ ^^ ( `-=-=-=-(@)-=-=-` ) ^^ (`-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-`) ^^ (`-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-`) ^^ (`-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-`) ^^ (`-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-`) ^^ (`-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-`) ^^ (`-=-=-=-=-=-=-`) ^^ ^^ jgs (`-=-=-=-=-`) `-=-=-=-=-` Gordie, 2, went to his grandparents' bedroom, where they were still in bed. "Grandpa, do you always sleep with Grandma?" he asked. Of course Grandpa answered, "Yes, I do." After giving that some thought, Gordie said, "Well, move over and let another man in!" -- Arlie (aunt of Gordie) of Victoria, B.C. .-=-. .-=-. ( 0 \V/ 0 ) \ O / `.__ # __.' .' # '. jgs (o /#\ o) )/' '\( ( ) The following situation has made Lyne stop and think about how she prays. One afternoon after picking up her grandson, Bailey, from school, he began telling her about a fear that he had. He asked Lyne to pray that God would keep him from being afraid any more. Lyne assured him that she would pray for him but explained he could pray for himself, too. "I don't know how," he said. "Oh, sure you do," Lyne replied, "just pray like you hear me and Papa pray." "Well," Bailey said, "do I say 'Father, I come before you' or 'Father, I come after you?' I forgot." -- Lyne Hitt of Statesboro, Georgia _ _ (o\ /o) /::\ o o /::\ /:'':\ \___/ /:'':\ /:' ':\/6 . 6\/:' ':\ (o:. '( ._. )' .:o) _.-'''-. `\:. \ / .:/` .' '. `\:. /`---'\ .:/` : : `)://`===`\\:(` '. .' /:(/\-===-/\):\ '. .' /:'.,/ /^\ \,.':\ '..' jgs /:.:/(_/ \_)\:.:\ .''._ (::/` : `\::) .' `-....-'` \o) '. (o/ .' ^ '. ^ .' `'''''''''` Jill, 3, was trying to remember the name of the restaurant she wanted to go to. She finally came up with Tigers Thinking. After a lot of thought, her clever parents came up with the correct name -- Lion's Choice. -- Mary Garrett of St. Peters, Missouri __ \_} .-./--. /# ^^ \ __ | | ("_\ .-. .-. /) \ / \\_//^\\_//^\\_// jgs `"`"` `"` `"` `"` One of the favorite past times for the kindergarten girls, at Orlando Junior Academy, is collecting acorns on the playground. One day, Michelle, 5, went into the classroom after recess to show her newest "treasure" to her teacher. "Mrs. Hudak," said Michelle, "this is an eggcorn. You plant it in the ground and it hatches and a baby oak tree pops out." -- Debbi Armstrong of Orlando, Florida \_/-.--.--.--.--.--. (")__)__)__)__)__)__) jgs ^ "" "" "" "" "" "" Sami, 5, was taking a bath and her mother put conditioner on her hair. After a couple of minutes, Sami asked, "Can we wash off the air conditioning yet?" -- Christine Colombo (mother of Sami) of Syracuse, New York .-. ()I() "==.__:-:__.==" "==.__/~|~\__.==" "==._( Y )_.==" .-'~~""~=--...,__\/|\/__,...--=~""~~'-. ( ..=\=/=.. ) `'-. ,.-"`;/=\ ;"-.,_ .-'` `~"-=-~` .-~` |=| `~-. `~-=-"~` .-~` /|=|\ `~-. .~` / |=| \ `~. jgs .-~` .' |=| `. `~-. (` _,.-="` |=| `"=-.,_ `) `~"~"` |=| `"~"~` |=| |=| |=| /=\ \=/ ^ Tia, 11, was watching television with her mother when a commercial for A1 steak sauce came on. After the commercial, Tia said, "You know, Mom, for the longest time I thought the commercial was for Al (short for Albert) steak sauce!" -- Tracy File (mother of Tia) of Fremont, Nebraska / jgs () || || __ \\ / > \\ ||` .-"||". \\/ _//. `\ ( (-' \ \ \ ) | | `" / / / / | ( _ \ `.-.-.'o`\ '.( ( ( .--' `"`"'` One Monday morning, Peta was discussing news from the weekend with her pre-school students. South Africa is plagued by a nasty crime element at the moment and Peta often hears crime stories. Megan said very seriously, "Peta, the secretary to God was not doing his job properly." Taken aback and thinking that she hadn't heard correctly, Peta asked, "Who wasn't doing their job properly?" Megan's response was once again "the secretary to God was not doing his job properly." Unsure as to what religious instruction she was receiving at home, Peta cautiously asked, "Why do you say that Megs?" She replied, "because the bad men came in and stole all the things from the house." It took Peta quite a while to realize that she was talking about the security guard in her complex! -- Peta-Ann Small of South Africa ___ --. .` '. \ ,_ | | .""""""|\'.""""""-./-; |__.----| \ '. |0 \ __/ / / /| \ '.____|__| `""""""""`"|`""'---'| \ jgs .---' /_ |_ Lynnette had to take her two children to work with her one Saturday. One of her fellow workers made swords and shields out of cardboard for the kids, and they were running through the place having fun. Sean, 6, had gotten a soda pop. Then he resumed play, leaving the open can in the lunch room. A co-worker thought he'd play a trick on Sean and tease him to see what would happen. So he asked, "Sean, is that your pop in the lunch room? I was thirsty so I took a drink. I hope that is OK with you." Sean's quick response was, "I don't care. I already spit in it!" -- Joyce (grandmother of Sean) of Coloraado Springs, Colorado .-"-. .----.""". / 6_6 /____/ (O )\ \_ (__\ `--\_ / // \\ // \\ (( )) {{ }} =======""===""=========================================""===""======= jgs ||| ||| ||| '|' >-->If you never... If you never felt pain, Then how would you know that I'm a Healer? If you never went through difficulties, How would you know that I'm a Deliverer? If you never had a trial, How would you call yourself an overcomer? If you never felt sadness, How would you know that I'm a Comforter? If you never made a mistake, How would you know that I'm forgiving? If you knew all, How would you know that I will answer your questions? If you never were in trouble, How would you know that I will come to your rescue? If you never were broken, Then how would you know that I can make you whole? If you never had a problem, How would you know that I can solve them? If you never had any suffering, Then how would you know what Jesus went through? If you never went through fire, Then how would you become pure? If I gave you all things, How would you appreciate them? If I never corrected you, How would you know that I love you? If you had all power, Then how would you learn to depend on me? If your life was perfect, Then what would you need Me for? THANK YOU GOD >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah :) Shangy! ----------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ----------------------------------------------------------- -->BECOMING A CHRISTIAN HOW TO BE A CHRISTIAN! ----------------------------------------------------------- -->FULL LENGTH - FREE On line AUDIO MP3 Christian Foundational Class http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=61 NEW LIFE IN CHRIST! ----------------------------------------------------------- -->This is for all you who love food andd 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? 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