With You Always... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To UnSubscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShangyFunList Through no fault of my own we suddenly became an adult club in the love and romance directory so you will have to confirm that you are an adult when you go here. I still have no idea how to change this back as it sends me around in a circle when I try! or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net ================ *~* A REMINDER: PLEASE Send me sweet, interesting, funny, inspiring, family type forwards ANY TIME here... bcrsystems@earthlink.net I Need them, Love them, Use them, and Share them! THANK YOU!! AND For Facebook Users: Please Friend Me / Like Me here... http://tinyurl.com/cma6all ^~^ May God SUPER BLESS You As You Do! THANK YOU! ================ *~* Wishing You All A Blessed, Happy And Safe Labor Day Weekend! :) >-->HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) This new scorcher comes from our friend Richard. Cracked me up so I just had to do it up to share with all of you! Turn up your sound, give it plenty of time to load and check it out here... .-'''''-. |'-----'| /`-.....-`\ | <_} | | .-\-. | _,._ | /# ` \ | __.-` `"""-. | \ / | ..--' `"-. `)_,._ \ '-'-' / (` )--.-"``` `"-.`'-----'` '-----------' ( ) jgs `-------------` Menu Bloopers! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/menubloopers.html --- ...Oh My! What A riot! Thanks Richard! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: .-"-. * ( + / \ . ) ) ) |# | ( * . ( . \___/ . + .-"-. * /^ + ( / \ ) ( .-"-. ) + . |# | ( * / \ ( ) \___/ ) ( |# | ( ' * /^ ) \___/ ( * ' ( ^\ * ' >ENTHUSIASM! by Eileen McDargh It started at the rental car turn-in location. My friend is a "platinum" with Hertz, a great benefit I discovered when the rental agencies are a considerable distance from the terminal. Our driver grinned as she slide into the driver's seat and said she could hardly wait for school to begin. Turns out she's a school bus driver and with her seniority, she gets to pick her route. Her passion: autistic children. "I just love 'em," she grinned. "I get them again this year." Fascinating. Sincere. And difficult. We stopped to grab a bite of lunch before a long flight. The waitress excitedly nodded when we ordered the cashew chicken sandwich. "It's our new menu. We just got it yesterday. That's a great choice!" She grinned and gave us a two-thumbs up signal. I don't know about you, but I rarely get service help excited by a menu. It was as if SHE personally made the sandwich. Fascinating. Sincere. And standing on your feet all day -- difficult. At an adjacent Frontier Airlines gate, I asked where my plane was and why no rep was attending the gate. "Listen," she laughed, "it's also my gate. I can do amazing things. Watch how quick I get this plane loaded. I'll do the same for yours. You'll see." I did. It was almost 6pm on a Sunday night and folks were cranky and tired. Not my gate attendant. True to her word, she efficiently started the process AND took time to actually read every boarding pass and call the passenger by name. She patted my arm when I went through. "See, Eileen. Told you I could do this." Fascinating. Sincere. And the job of a gate agent is difficult -- very difficult. My seatmate was a young man, a rotating guidance counselor for grades 6-12 in the Costa Mesa, California school district. "There aren't many men in my line of work, and particularly men of color," he remarked offhandedly. "Do you like what you do?" I asked. His eyes opened wide and he offered a wide smile. "I love it. I really feel like I am making a difference. So many of these kids have no one to talk to -- no one to model the right behavior." He proceeded to tell me a series of stories that would break your heart. "It's when they come back after they leave school that is most rewarding. You just never know if what you say today will suddenly click in years later." Fascinating. Sincere. And difficult -- very VERY difficult. In each instance, the joy came from how each connected with another human being. It was the CONNECTION that made the most. Not the money. Not the title. The eyes staring at each other. The hands reaching out to help. Fascinating. Sincere. And maybe, with deliberate intent, we could try it. It might NOT be all that difficult. -- Eileen McDargh ___________________________________________ Eileen is a keynote speaker, recognized work/life leadership expert, and award winning author. Discover your organizational and personal resiliency factor with this free online survey: http://www.eileenmcdargh.com/res_free_surveys.html You can contact her at this number: 877-477-4718. ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend LouiseA :) , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >With You Always (By Steve Troxel) Soon after the death of Joseph and his brothers, the descendants of Israel were forced into Egyptian slavery. For several hundred years, the Egyptians greatly oppressed the Israelites: "But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites and worked them ruthlessly" (Exodus 1:12-13). God heard the prayers of the Israelites and answered by calling Moses to lead the people to freedom: "So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring My people the Israelites out of Egypt" (Exodus 3:10). Moses felt inadequate to answer God's call and began to tell God that maybe He had chosen the wrong person for this leadership position; "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" (Exodus 3:11). At this point, God could have given Moses a motivational speech aimed at building up his self confidence. He could have told Moses of his great potential, and encouraged him to think positively and be more assertive. But Moses' lack of "self" confidence actually made him ideal for this task. Moses would need to trust God, not his own understanding, with absolutely every step he took. But there was one truth Moses still needed to receive. Exodus 3:12 "And God said, 'I will be with you.'" The one thing Moses needed to fully believe in his heart was that he was not alone. He needed to truly understand that God would always be at his side. When Jesus spoke His final commands, He said, "Go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19). Jesus did not need to remind His followers how to present the gospel message or how to fight discouragement; He simply said, "And surely I am with you always" (Matthew 28:20). When we answer God's call, we can be assured we have (or will be provided) adequate ability. God NEVER calls without also providing the tools to accomplish everything in His plan. But even with all the tools, we are often filled with doubts and fears, uncertain of our next step. And yet, we WILL step. We will continue to step along the path of the world or we will trust God and step out with Him in faith. Today, as with every day, we must make a choice. As we choose which way to step, let's remember our Heavenly Father is by our side to love us and guide us along His path. Let's take the step of faith, every day, and remember that He has called, equipped, and given us His promise: "I will be with you always!" --- ...Beautiful! Thanks LouiseA! ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Richard :) , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >IF GOD TEXTED THE 10 COMMANDMENTS 1. No1 b4 me. Srsly. 2. Dnt wrshp pix/idols 3. No omg's 4. No wrk on w/end (sat 4 now; sun l8r) 5. Prnts ok - ur m&d r cool 6. Dnt kill ppl 7. Sx only w/ m8 8. Dnt steal 9. Dnt lie 10. Dnt ogle ur bf's m8. Or ox. Or dnkey. Myob. BJC --- ...TeeHee! Thanks Richard! ======================================================= >-->Story Time For Our Friend Geniann :) (.,------...__ _.'" `. .' .' `, `. `. ` . .' .'/''--...__`. \ . .--.`. ' "-. '. | '' .' _.' .()) .--":/ ''( \_\ ' (()( ''._' ( \ ' ' `. `--' ' `.: . `-.___.' ' `. . _ _ .' ) .____.-' .'`. (--.. .' \ /\ / / `. .' \( \ /|/ `. .' \__/ `. / | o | \ | | | jro >Tommy (a story that will bless you) Father John Powell, a professor at Loyola University in Chicago, writes about a student in his Theology of Faith class named Tommy: Some twelve years ago, I stood watching my university students file into the classroom for our first session in the Theology of Faith. That was the day I first saw Tommy. He was combing his long flaxen hair, which hung six inches below his shoulders. It was the first time I had ever seen a boy with hair that long. I guess it was just coming into fashion then. I know in my mind that it isn't what's on your head but what's in it that counts; but on that day. I was unprepared and my emotions flipped. I immediately filed Tommy under "S" for strange... Very strange. Tommy turned out to be the "atheist in residence" in my Theology of Faith course. He constantly objected to, smirked at, or whined about the possibility of an unconditionally loving Father/God. We lived with each other in relative peace for one semester, although I admit he was for me at times a serious pain in the back pew. When he came up at the end of the course to turn in his final exam, he asked in a cynical tone, "Do you think I'll ever find God?" I decided instantly on a little shock therapy. "No!" I said very emphatically. "Why not," he responded, "I thought that was the product you were pushing." I let him get five steps from the classroom door and then I called out, "Tommy! I don't think you'll ever find Him, but I am absolutely certain that He will find you!" He shrugged a little and left my class and my life. I felt slightly disappointed at the thought that he had missed my clever line -- He will find you! At least I thought it was clever. Later I heard that Tommy had graduated, and I was duly grateful. Then a sad report came. I heard that Tommy had terminal cancer. Before I could search him out, he came to see me. When he walked into my office, his body was very badly wasted and the long hair had all fallen out as a result of chemotherapy. But his eyes were bright and his voice was firm, for the first time, I believe. "Tommy, I've thought about you so often; I hear you are sick," I blurted out. "Oh, yes, very sick. I have cancer in both lungs. It's a matter of weeks." "Can you talk about it, Tom?" I asked. "Sure, what would you like to know?" he replied. "What's it like to be only twenty-four and dying? "Well, it could be worse. "Like what?" "Well, like being fifty and having no values or ideals, like being fifty and thinking that booze, seducing women, and making money are the real biggies in life." I began to look through my mental file cabinet under "S" where I had filed Tommy as strange. (It seems as though everybody I try to reject by classification, God sends back into my life to educate me.) "But what I really came to see you about," Tom said, "is something you said to me on the last day of class." (He remembered!) He continued, "I asked you if you thought I would ever find God and you said, 'No!' which surprised me. Then you said, 'But He will find you.' I thought about that a lot, even though my search for God was hardly intense at that time. (My clever line. He thought about that a lot!) "But when the doctors removed a lump from my groin and told me that it was malignant, that's when I got serious about locating God. And when the malignancy spread into my vital organs, I really began banging bloody fists against the bronze doors of heaven. "But God did not come out. In fact, nothing happened. Did you ever try anything for a long time with great effort and with no success? "You get psychologically glutted, fed up with trying. And then you quit. "Well, one day I woke up, and instead of throwing a few more futile appeals over that high brick wall to a God who may be or may not be there, I just quit. I decided that I didn't really care about God, about an afterlife, or anything like that. I decided to spend what time I had left doing something more profitable. I thought about you and your class, and I remembered something else you had said: 'The essential sadness is to go through life without loving.' "But it would be almost equally sad to go through life and leave this world without ever telling those you loved that you had loved them. "So, I began with the hardest one, my Dad. He was reading the newspaper when I approached him. 'Dad.' 'Yes, what?' he asked without lowering the newspaper. "Dad, I would like to talk with you." 'Well, talk.' 'I mean. It's really important.' "The newspaper came down three slow inches. 'What is it?' 'Dad, I love you, I just wanted you to know that.' Tom smiled at me and said it with obvious satisfaction, as though he felt a warm and secret joy flowing inside of him. "The newspaper fluttered to the floor. Then my father did two things I could never remember him ever doing before. He cried, and he hugged me. "We talked all night, even though he had to go to work the next morning. "It felt so good to be close to my father, to see his tears, to feel his hug, to hear him say that he loved me. "It was easier with my mother and little brother. They cried with me, too, and we hugged each other and started saying real nice things to each other. We shared the things we had been keeping secret for so many years. "I was only sorry about one thing--that I had waited so long. "Here I was, just beginning to open up to all the people I had actually been close to. "Then, one day I turned around and God was there. "He didn't come to me when I pleaded with Him. I guess I was like an animal trainer holding out a hoop, 'C'mon, jump through. C'mon, I'll give you three days, three weeks.' "Apparently God does things in His own way and at His own hour. "But the important thing is that He was there. He found me! You were right. He found me even after I stopped looking for Him." "Tommy," I practically gasped, "I think you are saying something very important and much more universal than you realize. To me, at least, you are saying that the surest way to find God is not to make Him a private possession, a problem solver, or an instant consolation in time of need, but rather by opening to love. "You know, the Apostle John said that. He said: 'God is love, and anyone who lives in love is living with God and God is living in him. "Tom, could I ask you a favor? You know, when I had you in class you were a real pain. But (laughingly) you can make it all up to me now. Would you come into my present Theology of Faith course and tell them what you have just told me? If I told them the same thing it wouldn't be half as effective as if you were to tell it." "Oooh... I was ready for you, but I don't know if I'm ready for your class." "Tom, think about it. If and when you are ready, give me a call." In a few days Tom called, said he was ready for the class, that he wanted to do that for God and for me. So we scheduled a date. However, he never made it. He had another appointment, far more important than the one with me and my class. Of course, his life was not really ended by his death, He made the great step from faith into vision. He found a life far more beautiful than the eye of man has ever seen or the ear of man has ever heard or the mind of man has ever imagined. Before he died, we talked one last time. "I'm not going to make it to your class," he said. "I know, Tom." "Will you tell them for me? Will you ... tell the whole world for me?" "I will, Tom. I'll tell them. I'll do my best." So, to all of you who have been kind enough to read this simple story about God's love, thank you for listening. And to you, Tommy,I told them, Tommy, as best I could. If this story means anything to you, please pass it on to a friend or two. It is a true story and is not enhanced for publicity purposes. --- ...A sweet classic! Thanks Geniann! ========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: .-. --"--===================== | | | ____ ________ |` | | | | | | | | | | | |@=- | |@=- | | | | | | | | | | | |=@ | |____| |________| | ` | & | ____ ________ | ______ |___| | | | | |/ \ | | |@=- | |@=- | ||_ _O| | | | | | | ||L)O( )| | | |____| |________| ||o(>O<)| __|___|___________________||______|___ VK >WORKING IN JOY By: Joseph J. Mazzella When I was a boy we had a wood stove that heated the house in the Winter. Keeping that stove full was no small task. My Dad, two brothers, and I would spend days cutting up trees on our land to fill the woodshed. It was hard work splitting up the logs, tossing them into the back of the pickup truck, and stacking them into cords. We never complained however. We spent the time laughing, joking, and teasing each other. We knew that hard work was a part of life and was best done in joy. We knew too that this hard work would keep us warm during the long, cold Winter to come. Putting food on our tables and heat in our homes is only a small part of our real work in this world, though. Our greatest work here is the hearts we touch, the good we do, and the love we share. Our hands may be able to lift a log into a truck, but our smiles can lift another's heart in joy. Our arms may be able to carry a load of wood, but our kindness can help someone carrying a heavy load in their life. Our skills and talents may be able to make us some money, but our love, goodness, and oneness with God can help to make this world a better place forever. Leo Buscaglia said, "To work in love is to work in joy, to live in love is to live in joy." Don't be afraid of a little hard work then. Do all of your work in love and in joy. Work at giving, work at loving, and work at living happily ever after, day by day and choice by choice. God put us here to grow, to learn, to work, and to love. God put us here to find joy in our efforts and to share love in our lives. Do all of your work with a smile on your face, with love in your heart, with joy in your mind, and with light in your soul. If you do so your work will become play, your life will become joy, and God will always work through you. -<>- \ /\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \ /\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \ /\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \\ \ / /\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \\ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \\ () - - /\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \ /\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \\ \ /\\\\\\\\\\\\ \\\\ //\\\\\\\\\\\ \\\\\\///\\\\\\\\\ \\\\\\/\\\\\\\\\\\\ (\_ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ / \ | \ \ \ | | / / == ==== == >Let It Go By T. D. Jakes There are people who can walk away from you. And hear me when I tell you this! When people can walk away from you: let them walk. I don't want you to try to talk another person into staying with you, loving you, calling you, caring about you, coming to see you, staying attached to you. I mean hang up the phone. When people can walk away from you let them walk. Your destiny is never tied to anybody that left. The bible said that, they came out from us that it might be made manifest that they were not for us. For had they been of us, no doubt they would have continued with us. [1 John 2:19] People leave you because they are not joined to you. And if they are not joined to you, you can't make them stay. Let them go. And it doesn't mean that they are a bad person it just means that their part in the story is over. And you've got to know when people's part in your story is over so that you don't keep trying to raise the dead. You've got to know when it's dead. You've got to know when it's over. Let me tell you something. I've got the gift of good-bye. It's the tenth spiritual gift, I believe in good-bye. It's not that I'm hateful, it's that I'm faithful, and I know whatever God means for me to have He'll give it to me. And if it takes too much sweat I don't need it. Stop begging people to stay. Let them go!! If you are holding on to something that doesn't belong to you and was never intended for your life, then you need to...... LET IT GO!!! If you are holding on to past hurts and pains ...... LET IT GO!!! If someone can't treat you right, love you back, and see your worth..... LET IT GO!!! If someone has angered you ........ LET IT GO!!! If you are holding on to some thoughts of evil and revenge...... LET IT GO!!! If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction...... LET IT GO!!! If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs or talents LET IT GO!!! If you have a bad attitude....... LET IT GO!!! If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better...... LET IT GO!!! If you're stuck in the past and God is trying to take you to a new level in Him...... LET IT GO!!! If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship....... LET IT GO!!! If you keep trying to help someone who won't even try to help themselves...... LET IT GO!!! If you're feeling depressed and stressed ........ LET IT GO!!! If there is a particular situation that you are so used to handling yourself and God is saying "take your hands off of it," then you need to...... LET IT GO!!! Let the past be the past. Forget the former things. GOD is doing a new thing for YOU! LET IT GO!!! Get Right or Get Left .. think about it, and then LET IT GO!!! "The Battle is the Lord's!" -<>- >From LynnLynn's Links: Melva http://silverandgoldandthee.net/Misc_files/Wh.html Animals on Trampolines Via Richard http://dogwork.com/trampoline-animals#.Uhuu3QtmcWA.email I KNOW I'VE BEEN SEALED/PAGE BY MARLENE/GOSPEL http://www.wtv-zone.com/summerhoosier3/html1/IknowIveBeenSealed.html Delightful Day http://www.adreamandasmile.com/Frdshp-6/Delightful_Day.html Scientists Unveil New Species! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/newspecies.html -<>- Soap Carving Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/soapart.html Koalas In A Heatwave http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/koalas.html Amazing Dog Houses 2! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/doghouses2.html Miracle Fawn - Rupert http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/rupert.html Aww Animals 4 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/animals4.html High Tech Toys http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/techtoys.html Peek-A-Boo Panda! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/panda.html Here's Your FROG! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/frog.html -<>- >From Our Friend Richard :) He sent us one we have here... Wood Chip Art! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/woodart.html --- ...Awesome! Thanks Richard! -<>- >From Our Friend Wesley :) b r i d g e b u i l d e r s http://tinyurl.com/q2gkygn --- ...Wow! Thanks Wesley! -<>- >From Our Friend Linda :) US Marine Corps Makin Island A true story about 19 marines killed on an island (defending against the Japanese). They had to retreat, so asked the islanders to please bury them for us. Years later, they checked and found a man who had been a teenager then and remembered where they were buried. They sent a C130 and an honor guard over there and found all 19 had been buried with their helmets on, their rifles in their hands, in perfect condition. The islanders had really done a wonderful job. As they were loading the bodies, a voice from out of nowhere started singing "The Marine Hymn"...gave everyone goose bumps. Turns out, the voice was from a man who spoke no English but remembered a song the Marines taught him when they landed. Very touching. They got all 19 and their photos are at the end. This of course was WW2! IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THIS - BE SURE YOU'RE SITTING DOWN. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE GESTURES FOR WHICH THERE ARE NO WORDS. Click on link below! http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=C6f_FvZpm3g --- ...God Bless Our Troops! Thanks Linda! -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseA :) The Nebraska Corn Huskers football coach freaked out his whole football team at a mandatory meeting. They have a strict "no cellphone" policy at meetings. The coach basically ran a statue of liberty play on his team. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPhnp6KcTzs&feature=player_detailpage --- ...HaHa! Thanks LouiseA! -<>- >From Our Friend Geniann :) Video clip of a woman adding a quart of oil to her car… http://i.imgur.com/gpALGIH.gif I guess maintaining a vehicle is a lot like like cooking?!!! --- ...LOL! Like salad! Thanks Geniann! Visit Melissa's Online Store You can get anything you want (except for Melissa ) at the online store http://pdhomes.net/mall/babylissa/mySTORES/ISELL4.html ========================================================== >-->From Our Friend Linda :) / , /\ \|/ /\ |\\_;=._//| \." "./ //^\ /^\\ .'``",/ |0| |0| \,"``'. / , `'\.---./'` , \ /` /`\,."( )".,/`\ `\ /` ( '.'-.-'.' ) `\ /"` "._ : _." `"\ `/.'`"=.,_``=``_,.="`'.\` jgs ) ( >Seniors OK As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I have seen too many dear friends leave this world, too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging. Whose business is it, if I choose to read, or play, on the computer, until 4 AM, or sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 50, 60 &70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love, I will. I will walk the beach, in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves, with abandon, if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set. They, too, will get old. I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And, I eventually remember the important things. Sure, over the years, my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break, when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But, broken hearts are what give us strength, and understanding, and compassion. A heart never broken, is pristine, and sterile, and will never know the joy of being imperfect. I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver. As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong. So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day (if I feel like it). MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART! --- ...Awww, so sweet! Abundant Blessings to you Linda and all our friends! Put God First in your life and everything else will fall into place! =============================================================== __i |---| |[_]| |:::| |:::| `\ \ \_=_\ jsm >Lost, Found, and Returned Story Editor: by Sarah, Luke's mom Eri Izawa Massachusetts, USA Perhaps I was moving too fast that day in July 2005. I did not hear my PDA (electronic planner) slip from my purse and fall to the ground in the parking lot. My PDA stores my phone numbers, appointments, photos, meeting and birthday reminders: in short, it's my "electronic brain." More than that, though, my PDA helps me with my son, Luke, who is on the autism spectrum. He's a "runner"; taking off in public places. Several times I've needed to plead with museum or store staff for help locating Luke. Daily pictures show exactly what Luke has on that day, his exact height and current hairstyle. My PDA is more than just a handy gadget; it helps me cope with daily challenges others only imagine. The loss of my PDA sank in over the next few days. I listened for my daily alarms. I looked under furniture, sorted my purse, and even cleaned the car; no planner to be found anywhere. On Friday I asked Jenna, my son's sitter, to keep an eye open around the house. With a built-in camera, removable memory chip, and a few games, the PDA would be a nice find for someone. I was beginning to think about reporting the PDA as missing -- but where had I lost it? When did it actually go missing? I began research on a unit to replace it. Saturday we got a phone call from Jenna; someone named Joe had called her to ask if she knew anyone who might have lost a PDA. Jenna first thought it was a prank call, then remembered me. Half expecting my electronics to be offered for a ransom, I called Joe. Instead of money, Joe wanted to determine that the PDA was really mine. I told him how to access recent pictures of my son. Within the hour we met at Burlington Mall food court. Joe, Chris, and Tim, young men on the verge of adulthood, returned my planner without asking for anything in return. They had spent their Saturday calling random numbers stored in the planner. With over 400 numbers to try, making phone calls to track me down took courage, persistence, and luck. They eventually called someone who knew about my missing planner, Jenna. Joe, Chris, and Tim, by returning my planner, gave me back so much more than just a cool gadget. For every Joe, Chris, Tim, and Jenna in the world, if you're reading this, please know you are my heroes. Thank you. Your actions reaffirm my belief in the goodness of people. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From Kidwarmers: __ | .' ,^-. ;`-./ .' \ _ \`--'_ \ ." `"-,\ `". : .' ..-'""`T-._.' ; ; //O O / _ ) `.; .' {' )`"--..-' 7. : ; \' _ `.\ `{ ; .'.' \`. 7 /;_ .'.' :[`7. .=`./ `-, .'.7 `.\/`5 / /`.`., : ,'[_/| |[//_ `"| : \\ |\. `| (`7' {=\{_) J : |`.J :\ (`"`-/) {=; | .' : : `: :`. `, |`} |"\ ;j`. / | | ; j""| :`} `-.'; )': .-' : ; l/ / `-' `.7 ___ l_.' `" :-"//\\`: |_.\\//_| /j }"""{ l\ ,'/.' `.\`. }.'' .-. ``.{ // .' `. \\ :/ / \ \: / / \ \ : / \ : | ; : | ; | | | fsc >THE FUNNY THINGS KIDS SAY Lydia, 5, was driving with her grandmother. She noticed a dead animal lying in the middle of the road. "It's so smooshed I'm not sure what it was," her grandmother said. Lydia replied, very seriously, "It had a long tail... I know! I bet it was a baby kangaroo!" -- Beth Fryer (grandmother of Lydia) of Lebanon, Pennsylvania Clarissa is now 11 but her family still teases her about something she said when she was 6 years old. They were out driving and pointed to a dead raccoon on the side of the road. Clarissa said, "You know what I want to know? It's why animals come up to the side of the road to die?" -- Virginia Pearson (mother of Clarissa and Caitlyn) of North Dakota Here is another story from Virginia. Caitlyn, 2, is starting to potty train. One evening while getting Caitlyn into bed Virginia stepped into something wet in the girls' room. She asked Caitlyn if she had wet. Caitlyn replied, "No, Mom, it was just gas!" (__) ) (..) /|\ (o_o) / | \ ___) \/,-|,-\ //,-/_\ ) ' ' (//,-'\ ( ( . \_ gnv `._\(___`. '---' _)/ `-' Bette remembers back almost three decades when her grandson Eric's dog was found dead in the road. The next day Eric's mother was crying over the loss of the dog. Eric asked her why she was crying and she said, "I guess I feel bad about Red dying and I will miss him." Eric, 4, said, "Don't cry. Red will grow again. Daddy and I planted him last night." -- Bette Potts (grandmother of Eric) of Arizona When it came time for Emma's fifth birthday her grandmother called and asked if she could take her out to lunch to celebrate. Emma has had many nice restaurant experiences. She is mannerly and knows how to order for herself. When asked where she would like to go, she chose B-Bop's which is a drive-thru hamburger place. Grandma was disappointed and said, "Oh, Emma, I wanted to take you to a nice place where we could sit down" ... to which Emma replied, "OK, Grandma, we can go to McDonald's instead." -- Melody Taninies of Iowa Last week Sandi took her 3-year-old grandson Max to the drive thru window of a local eatery for some chicken nuggets, which he adores. He asked if he could please hold the sack while Sandi drove. So Sandi passed the sack to him in the back seat. In her rearview mirror she saw him peek into the sack, then pop a chicken nugget into his mouth. She asked him to pass her one, but he said, "Tooooo hot, Nana." "But you're eating one," Sandi replied. Without a moment's hesitation, Max blurted out, "Just drive, Nana!!" -- Sandi Pound of Florida ? . ' _ -- ~~~ -- _ _______ .-~ ~-.{__-----. : / \ | | : O O : | | /\ /------' j { {/~-. .-~\~~~~~~~~~ \/ / |~:- .___. -.~\ \ \ / /\ \ | | { { \ \ } } \ \ { { \ \ | \ \ \ \ / } } \ \ /\ \ \ \ /\ \ { { } } { { \ \ \ \/ / \ \ \ \ / / } } \ \ }{ { \ \ } } / / { { \ \{\ \ } { { / / } } } }\\ \ / / \ \ `-' { { `-'\ \`-'/ / `-' `-' `-' `-' Susan was chastising her son Jacob, 3, for making a mess. He looked at her very intently and said, "I am sorry, Mama. I am just a man!" -- Susan Hale of Anadarko, Oklahoma Peter Hoen of the Netherlands loves the innocence of this story a colleague, the mother of five, shared with him. His colleague decided to have "the sex talk" with her 9 year-old daughter. She discussed the facts of life, explaining that only after a couple gets married should they actually sleep together. The next day her daughter's friend came over to play and have a sleep-over as they had done many times before. Suddenly she remembered her mother's talk. She told her friend he would have to sleep in her brother's room, because only when a man and a woman were married could they sleep together, and they weren't married yet. The little boy looked at her daughter with big, beautiful blue eyes and said, "That's O.K., I'm not a man yet." Elizabeth, 4, lives next door to Don and Edith. When she was 2 her mother introduced Edith and her husband to Elizabeth as "Don and Edith." Elizabeth still thinks Edith's name is "andEdith" (all one word!). That story is from Edith Cox of Nevada, Missouri, who says, "Two years is a long time to be called 'AndEdith.'" Mindy and her husband were keeping their 2-year-old grandson, Chastin, overnight. Mindy put him to bed but he kept popping up and running into the livingroom where she was watching TV. He climbed onto Mindy's lap and wanted to know when she was going to bed. She told him, "Grandma's not ready yet. I have to put my nightgown on, wash my face and put cream on my face." He wanted to know why she was putting cream on her face, so she told him that Grandma was getting wrinkles. He sat there.thinking that statement over. Then he looked at her and asked, "Grandma, are you going to shave the wrinkles off your face?" -- Mindy Lang of Cromwell, Indiana Hannah, 4, told her mother one evening, "Oh Mom, don't forget to water your planets!" -- Tausha Mason (mother of Hannah and Kara) of Kendallville, Indiana .-c. _ .., _ ( ")\ ['" 6'-' __\ / \ /_ snd `----' '-._\ Here is another one from Tausha. One day Kara, 8, noticed the new design on our paper currency and said, "Mom, this $10 bill looks different." Little Hannah said, "Yeah, that's because it was made in China!" Ragan set her 3 1/2 year-old in the living room to work on writing on her alphabet while Ragan was in the kitchen. Two minutes later she heard, "Yeah, yeah!" She ran to see what the big deal was and she said, "Mommy, Mommy, I made a K all by myself!" She then raised her hands in the air and said, "Praise the Lord... Amen!" -- Ragan Thomas of Aurora, Colorado MacKinsey, 3, was discussisng heaven with her mother Twila. Twila told MacKinsey she would have wings in heaven. MacKinsey said she did not want wings. After a short pause MacKinsey asked if her sister Chesni was going to have wings? Her mother said, "Yes." Then MacKinsey asked if Twila was going to have wings? The answer was yes. MacKinsey thought for a brief moment and said, "OK, I'll have wings too, but are they going to be spicy?" -- Carolyn Dilts (grandmother of MacKinsey) of Pleasant Lake, Indiana .-c. _ .., _ ( ")\ ['" 6'-'-->HANG IT ON THE CROSS If you have a secret sorrow a burden or a loss, An aching need for healing, Hang It On the Cross. If worry steals your sleep and makes you turn and toss, If your heart is feeling heavy… Hang It On the Cross. Every obstacle to faith or doubt you come across Every prayer unanswered… Hang It On the Cross. For Christ has borne our brokenness and dearly paid the cost To turn our trials to triumph Hanging on the Cross. -author unknown >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->BECOMING A CHRISTIAN HOW TO BE A CHRISTIAN! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->FULL LENGTH - FREE On line AUDIO MP3 Christian Foundational Class http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=61 NEW LIFE IN CHRIST! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->This is for all you who love food and DARE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. These are Tried and True, Yummy to the Tummy, good old fashioned home cooking recipes that are EASY to do Visit Shangy's Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html Home Recipes >Got A good Recipe? SHARE IT HERE: Share A Recipe ************************************************************************ >TO SUBSCRIBE: Visit Here This Weeks regular Shangy emails OR For the Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ************************************************************************