You Can and More ... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShangyFunList or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net =========================== >--->In The 'Shangy' News :) _ _ ( ` )_ ( ) `) (_ (_ . _) _) _ ( ) _ . ( ` ) . ) ( _ )_ (_, _( ,_)_) (_ _(_ ,) Being stuck inside the house due to a nasty winter snow, sleet, and ice storm, I was able to get quite a few things done on the web site. >Our Friend Bridget sent us a new Recipe - Cheesy Brats Stew! It is under the Beef & Noodles listing. You may have to refresh your browser to view it. Easy-Does-It Home Recipes http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/easy.html --- ...A Super Yummy sounding one! Thanks Bridget! ----- Have YOU Got A good Recipe? Please SHARE IT WITH US HERE: Share A Recipe -<>- >Hot Off The 'Shangy' Press :) ___ ___ /::_\._./_::\ _={::(_>[_]<_)::}=_ _~ ^--~/:i:\~--^ ~_ .d^ /:/ \:\ ^b. .d^ (;/ \;) ^b. I'M i| ,___ |i ii / /^\ ,___ q&&&p ii POPPING UP EARLY ii \__), ^^ _, \ *+*+*+* ii |i / @ @ \\_/ x=X=X=X=x i| THIS YEAR || { -.x.- } pXoXoXoXq || /=============================\ { \\\\\\\\\\\\\\i////////////// } \ - x - x - x - x - x - x - x / | / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / | |x - x - x - x - x - x - x -| | \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ | |- x - x - x - x - x - x - x| | / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / | -keely- \ - x - x - x - x - x - x / ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Our friend Kerrie alerted me to the fact that Easter is just around the corner! It comes early this year. While I was checking that out, it led to this page's cool Easter facts and pictures from around the world. Good Easter http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/easter.html -<>- Having the extra time also meant time to update the Animated Gallery with fun Easter images. Animated GIFS http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/agifs.html ~*~ As Always, Please Pass These Around. THANK YOU! ~*~ -<>- >You know what Else was Cool about Tuesday? . o . . __O__/ _ / / _H_ W / (")/ '\/\ (.) | ( . ) ( ` ( ` ( ' ) ( ` ) VK Here in Northwest Ohio we were having all this super nasty wintry mix of weather yet people made sure to go to the polls and do what they could for the good of this country! Does my heart good just thinking about them! I happened to catch a live viewing of our election building on the news and saw the people there. God Bless them! I told Paul that I could tell these people sure didn't want a crazy world church dude in charge of the country and were making sure by going out and casting their two cents in the pot! Praise God. Gotta love the American People! How could I tell who they were voting for you say? Well, most of them there were ones just off work and you could tell they were older citizens. Not the young kids that Obama seems to have won over with his promise of 'change' that we all say "Yeah, Right" to. Hillary again won hands down at the Ohio debate last night. http://www.buckeyestateblog.com/who_won_the_ohio_democratic_debate >LIKE BEING HIT IN THE FACE WITH A SNOWBALL... BBBBBB BB BB BB BB BB dBBb BBBBb dBP BB BB BB BB BB BB dB""Bb BB BB dBP BB BBBBBB ?BbdBBbdBP dBBBBBBb BBBBP dBP BB BB BB ?BBBBBBP BB BB BB BB BB BB ?P ?P BB BB BB dBP _.O ,-O .-" .-" .-" ..-O .-" _..--"" .... _...._ ..--"" ...+++''' .' `. ___..O - ' ... / \ __...---"" ...++''' ; SAD b - ' : BUT BB -------O . TRUE! dBP __ .... +._ .dBB'_ """""----O ...++'''...... `*8BBBP' ""--.._ - ' ...++''' ``-._ ""O - ' dBBBb| | |dBBBb `-._ dBBBBBBb dBBBBBBb `O dBBBBBBBBBb dBBBBBBBBBb dBBBBBPBBBBBBbdBBBBBB"BBBBBb It is sad. I took a poll and they asked if I had to vote in the democratic poll, who would I vote for between the two - Hillary or Obama? I sadly had to say Clinton. At least she isn't evil or misrepresenting herself. She has little to offer but she is up front about it! Obama says he is Christian but his church is all for the One World Church thing. A Christian minister does not give an award to a man who openly says he is proud to be referred to as being like Hitler and says he hates whites and Jews, but that is exactly what Obama's so called Christian Church leader did when giving their Church's Outstanding Achievement Award to this Islam Leader. That tells me Obama is Not who he says he is as he just hasn't had that good of a Christian upbringing. So I don't trust him one bit. I'll be voting Republican this year anyway. Suits my morals just fine. :) OUR CHRISTIAN STAND http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/christianstand.html ====================================== >JibJab has FUN New St.Pat's Day Videos: _____________ ( ) | | ( ) %%%%%%% |____-----____| ( ) %%%% %%%% | \___/ | ( ) %%%% %%%% _______________________ ( ) %%% %% %%% \\ // ( ) %% %% (o)(o) %% \\__~~~_______~~~__// ( ) %% ____ %% / \ %% |\ |(0) (0)| /| ( ) % / __ \ %% / \ .. ) % |\ \| (. .) |/ /| ___ %% / / \ \ %% /\__/ %% \ ||| , ||| / [ ] % ( \ \ \/%% / % |||| \_______/=============| | %% \ \__ \/ %% __ %% ||||| --- ||||| \_/ % \ \/ /%% /__\ % ||||| ||||| ||||| %% \__ ' /\ %%// \> %% ||||||||||||||||| %% \ /\ \_%% %% ||||||||||||| %%% \_/ \__/%% %%% ||||||||| %%%% %%%% ||||| %%%% %%%% %%%%%%% One Lucky Leprechaun! Star as the leading Leprechaun in this all new animation, then send it to your friends and family. They'll be green with envy! http://tinyurl.com/2zwk87 Irish Step! Upload five faces to this dance and prepare to get jiggy with it. With our Irish Step Starring You!, it's easy being green this St. Patty's Day! http://tinyurl.com/2n66uk ====================================== >-->Anyone out there lacking Self Confidence? /\ , {Oo\{o\ .=. {o: \:.\ / \ {O:' \:.-'_.-\_)____ {o:. /`~('-./-----.\ }o: // /| `/\ {O:'// /-' /\/\ }o-/( <___ \'/ /\/\/\ If You Believe... /o./ ;--._)====* -\/\/\/ `"`\ \ /.\ `""` \ \ \ \ jgs /`\ ) |/| | _// \| | / || |/ / | `\| ' Christians amaze me. I hear it all the time. They say stuff like: "Don't expect me to do public speaking!" "No teaching for me!" "Me? Go out and Witness?" "I can't do THAT!" "Sorry!" And the list goes on. I think my mom pretty well instilled the 'I CAN' bug in me. She was in an auto accident when I was in the fifth grade. She was out on a date when she and her driver boyfriend fell asleep coming home. The car hit a tree and she was thrown from the car with the door severing her right arm under the elbow as it closed after ejecting her. She was badly hurt requiring skin grafts. The doctors said she would never walk again and she lost her right arm. She could of accepted what they said, but instead she said no. I have 4 kids who depend on me. I can't be laid up and have them taking care of me! She willed herself to walk again and dance. She willed herself to work again and went back to the same factory making seals at the press using an artificial arm with a metal hook at the end that she was able to open and close to replace fingers. Her hardest thing was learning to write with her left hand since she had always been right handed. But she learned. She proved where there is a will God will help you find a way. After all, it is God who tells you you can do ALL things through Christ who will strengthen you. Every time you say you can't, you are calling a God a liar. It is time Christians stop using excuses for their own weakness and start saying I CAN like God says they can. God is NOT a respector of persons. What one person can do SO CAN YOU! This was drilled into me later by my bible teacher. I mean, I couldn't rationalize. There was no way I was going to call God a liar just because I was too chicken to do something everyone else was expected to do. You know - little things like teach the Word and witness and a variety of other things like that 'ALL things' kind of stuff. But when it gets right down to it, you have to realize Suzy or Joe or Sally or Tom or Ted or Betty aren't any better of a Christian then you are. SO why can't You do what They do? This goes for anything in life. If it is according to God's Word then it is according to God's Will so that means you CAN DO it. Just tap into that God In Christ In YOU power you have inside of you! >You want to quit smoking? Those of you who want to quit smoking for instance. YOU CAN DO IT because I did it and I am no better then you. It did not take me years to quit or months or even weeks. One week and I quit an over 30 year habit. So can you. If you have the freedom to smoke all that you want whenever you want then you can quit just like I did. email me and I'll send an email back detailing how I did it. No drugs. Just God and will power. That is all you'll ever need :) God through Jesus Christ your Savior and YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS! ------ Of Course - Wisdom and NOT tempting the Lord your God are EXPECTED! No jumping off the empire state building or stuff like this :) Duct-taping several Twinkies to your chest will not stop a bullet. Research into the fired-projectile-halting characteristics of MoonPies, however, will have to wait until I get out of the hospital. --James Knowles ------ YouTube: Self Image http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dtk5qs3HvlI /`"'-,__ \/\)` `'-. // \ .--.\ '. //|-. \_o `-. \---._ || \_o\ _.-.\`'-' `-. || |\.-'` | `. || | \ \ | `\ \| / \ ,\' / \ `' `---' ; `)) .-' | .-.// .-. .' ,;=D / // / \ .' || |..-' | '-' // (( \ .===. _,// '`'--`'---''',--\_/-;-'` jgs `~/^\` '===' I Am Who I Am http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/poems/Iam.html WANT-A-BE http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/poems/want.html ---- John 14:13,14 "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." NEVER GIVE UP http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/nevergiveup.html ===================================================================== >You Never Know Who Story Editor: by Chuck Keller Joyce Schowalter Missouri, USA We'd moved to St. Louis, but the Veteran's Administration (VA) said if I wanted to stay in queue, I'd better get myself to the appointment I'd made at the VA medical facility in Marion, Indiana. So after working Wednesday, May 30, 2007, I drove the five hours to Marion. While I sat in the waiting room another man sat down beside me. We started talking. He said he was a Marine. He still looked strong at about 60, had sandy brown hair which was graying, and a quiet voice. His right eye was gone and the face and skull around it were deformed because of an obviously horrible injury. I didn't ask how or what happened because some of us don't like to talk about or remember some things. What I did ask was if he was in Vietnam. He said he was. I asked when. He said 18 months in 1967 and 1968. That's when I was there so we began to talk about places and things. He was in recon, which is tough and dangerous work. We talked about the troops in Iraq and the PTSD they will face. We talked about how loud noises still make us jump after 40 years. Recently in a store someone dropped an empty pallet behind me that hit the concrete floor with a very loud bang. My heart stopped -- as it always does when I hear sounds like that. He nodded agreement. We discussed a woman's son, back from Iraq for July 4th, 2006. He formerly enjoyed fireworks immensely, but couldn't stand them now. That will be a sad -- and profound -- fact of life for many people returning after service in this war. I asked if he made it to Danang. He said that's where they took him when he was hit and lost his eye. That was the third time he was wounded so it finally sent him home. I told him I might've carried him off the chopper and taken care of him before his surgery. I was a Navy Corpsman at Danang hospital, in the Receiving Unit. We ran out to the choppers, took the wounded into our Quonset hut, and tried to save their lives. We stopped bleeding, started IV's, stabilized them enough to give them a chance to live, and prepared them for surgery. When it was my time to see the doctor, I told him Semper Fi and walked away. After seeing the doctor I came out and the Marine and I happened to walk along side by side for a minute. He said, "Doc, if you ARE the one who carried me and saved my life... thanks." I just nodded and our paths parted. I hadn't felt better than that in a long time. That former Marine said something else very profound during our conversation. "You never know who the drunk sitting at the bar might be, or the homeless guy on the corner. He might have saved your life once." He was right. =======HeroicStories======= >What is Maturity? ____ _[____]_ Maturity is the ability to control anger and settle ( '7') differences without violence or destruction. __)(^_ Maturity is patience. It is the willingness to pass / ,C^D,\ up immediate pleasure in favor of the long-term gain. / /||:||\\ Maturity is perseverance, the ability to sweat out a \ \|/:\|// project or a situation in spite of heavy opposition `\\~~~|/ and discouraging setbacks. ,##\7|\ \ Maturity is humility. It is being big enough to say, |#| \ \ "I am wrong." |#| / / And when right, the mature person need not experience jgs |#|/_/ the satisfaction of saying, "I told you so." |#|\ \ Maturity is the ability to make a decision and stand (#_\`' by it. The immature spend their lives exploring endless possibilities; then they do nothing. Maturity means dependability, keeping one's word, coming through in a crisis. The immature are masters of the alibi. They are confused and disorganized. Their lives are a maze of broken promises, former friends, unfinished business, and good intentions that somehow never materialize. Maturity is the art of living in peace with that which we cannot change, the courage to change that which SHOULD be changed - and the wisdom to know the difference. =================================== >-->From HeartWarmers: Yesterday Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said he would be willing to serve another term. Greenspan said, 'Where else would I get a job in this economy?'" -- Conan O'Brien, comedian There's more and more talk about the economy. Rising gas prices are causing a strain on family budgets and a slow real estate market is causing concerns, even though there are some great deals out there if you are a buyer! And yet, many in this generation have little sense of history. Seventy-five years ago, the word "sacrifice" meant something completely different than it does today. It's all in your point of view. For example, we recently saw a news program about a consumer agonizing over being forced to buy a smaller SUV to save on gas. Interesting. Years ago, the same consumer wouldn't even have owned a car and would have been losing sleep trying to figure out how to put food on the table. Even Starbucks is reporting slower sales. Why? Because people are "cutting back" and not spending $4 on a cup of coffee! A recession to a teenager these days means they don't have a "Bluetooth" wireless connection for their cell phone. And pity the poor kid who has an mp3 player that just plays music -- what about the games and video? Sacrificing is paying less than $100 for a pair of sneakers! We hope today's fine story from Clara will help put things in perspective. There are millions of similar stories... What's yours? ----------- >MEARS FAMILY STORE by Clara Wersterfer Bernard Mears had arrived in America in his mother's arms. He was two years old in 1878. The Mears family were all hard workers and made a place for themselves in the land of opportunity. Bernie was smart and wanted to be his own boss. When Bernie was 25 he took a wife. Bernie had saved some money and decided on a dry goods and grocery store combined. He and Marie found an empty building to rent and proceeded to fill it with inventory. There was an apartment upstairs. They were not blessed with children, so the two of them worked side by side to become established and build a trade. Marie had a knack for arranging the merchandise to appeal to customers and Bernie didn't mind the long hours. He was happy, life was good. The business thrived until the great depression hit the entire country. No one had money to purchase pretty things or even food. In 1930, Marie had a heart attack and left Bernie alone. Following Marie's death, which Bernie felt was brought about from worry about the store, he lost interest in everything. He was keeping odd hours of opening and closing the store. He had few customers and did not make them feel welcome. Bernie wandered about the store, dusting a bit and sweeping the floor. His inventory remained almost the same, as nothing much was sold. After awhile, he stopped sweeping and dusting. The grocery part still had canned foods but little else. Bernie was loosing weight and not eating much once his fresh meats and cheeses were depleted. A deep depression set in. He had lost Marie, his true love, and now his business seemed lost as well. Why did he want to live? A few houses down the street lived a family who had also fallen on hard times. They seldom had three square meals a day. Julie, the youngest girl was fourteen. Julie worried about Mr. Mears getting so thin. At meal time, she would take a portion of their meager meal to Bernie. She would stay and talk to him, dusting and cleaning. After several months Bernie began to improve. He still had no customers to speak of, but from what he had left in the store, he would sack a few cans to take to Julie's family. In early spring, Julie saw her father planting a garden. This gave her an idea. She suggested to Bernie to make a garden in the big space beside the store, which they had once thought would become a parking lot, and sell the produce really cheap in the store. It would help the neighbors and also Bernie to have money for new merchandise. They would plant half the garden space now and half in three weeks giving them fresh produce for a long time. Julie prayed hard as they placed the seeds in the ground. When the seeds sprouted, Julie looked anxiously at the rows and there were no empty spots. They all came up and produced the best crop of vegetables Bernie had ever seen. Julie gave another prayer of thanks. You might say those two had the idea for the first Dollar Store as they reduced the prices until nothing in the store cost more than a dollar with many items a penny or nickel. They soon became well known in the community for having the best prices and finest produce in town. They also extended credit to their neighbors and accepted various items as trade for merchandise. The two of them worked hard throughout the 1930s and made a very successful business. Julie earned a salary. As the economy picked up, so did sales at the store. Bernie was now in his 66th year. Julie was doing most of the work while Bernie clerked a bit and kept books. They had hired a man to plant and tend the garden. One afternoon when Bernie closed his ledger, he smiled at Julie. "We are now knee deep in black ink, Julie. Our hard work has paid off. Please give me a dollar bill." Julie had no idea why he wanted a dollar, but pulled one from her purse and gave it to him. Bernie smiled. "Julie, you now own this store. I have given it much thought, and since my parents have passed and my sister married well, there is no one I want to leave it to, or who deserves it more. You saved me and the store years ago. As soon as the paperwork to transfer title to you is complete, I plan on going out and seeing the rest of this great country." Julie thanked him and added that she would always keep the name of Mears Family Store, and he could come back when he wanted to. A few days later, Bernie packed and loaded his car and left among many tears and good luck wishes from the neighbors. Many postcards, letters and phone calls would be forthcoming over the years. Bernie would meet many interesting people in his travels, and view wondrous things. Julie sighed, wiped her hands on the big white butcher apron she wore and went back to work. She sat down at Bernie's big desk and thought to herself, who would ever imagine a Jewish man, a part Indian girl and a few seeds would have survived the worst this country could throw at them and come out on top? We truly reap what we sow. -- Clara Wersterfer ____________________________________________ Clara resides in Texas. ================================================================= >-->From InspiredBuffalo: . `. | `. | | _ __________ | ( ) ._ `-n |/ (_,/ / /\, `-n. `--`' / /\, `-n-.\\_ (, \< `-=======. //\_,)) .'|------. \`( )') .'| |------. \ V / .' | |------. ) ( | | r------ ( [ _\ | r-' | | )/ \) | r-' | | L \>r-' | .=======-' | .------|`. .------| `. .------| |`. _ ___a:f_______ ------n | `. ( )_._ `-n | | /, .-,) `-n | | ( | `-n | /, )-' _ `-|=(< \|. _ .-'\\ _ .'|- `) | ( ) .-' \\ ( ) .'| |----- . |`-,-' `>-'/ .' | |------. \\_ _, ;____/ : | r------ ) )\ .-' /. ( | r-' | / /| \.-' /,\ \ | r-' | //'\| \\ > r-' ' ------------------- ------------------ Doers vs. Watchers "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless." Dr. J.B. Gambrel tells an amusing story from General Stonewall Jackson's famous valley campaign. Jackson's army found itself on one side of a river when it needed to be on the other side. After telling his engineers to plan and build a bridge so the army could cross, he called his wagon master in to tell him that it was urgent the wagon train cross the river as soon as possible. The wagon master started gathering all the logs, rocks and fence rails he could find and built a bridge. Long before daylight the wagon master told General Jackson that all the wagons and artillery had crossed the river. General Jackson asked where the engineers were and what were they doing. The wagon master's only reply was that they were in their tent drawing up plans." It has been said that there are three kinds of people: those who make things happen; those who watch things happen; and those who don't know that anything is happening! -<>- >POTLUCK DINNERS By: Joseph J. Mazzella .-----. _.----"""""""----._ _.---//-"""-\\---._ .------.___ ( ) ( (/ `-' ) ( ___|-|`"""---..___..---""| _|`"--._________.--"'|_ `---'""" | | (_| |_) | | `--) (--' ________ | | | | _.--""""" """"----._ | | | (_ _)--.-------------. | | \`""---...________...----'/__/___ || `-.__ __.-' \___ __/ ""-----"""""""--`' `""-----""' ""`-----------'"" When I was a boy our church would sometimes have potluck dinners in the church basement. Tables would run from wall to wall as sixty people would crowd in for the feast. The serving table would always be groaning under the weight of all the different dishes people brought. There would be baked ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, rolls, lasagna, green beans, brown beans, corn bread, pies, and cakes ready to fill every stomach and warm every heart. Children would be running in and out while adults talked and laughed and enjoyed being together. Soon grace would be said and the plates would be stacked high with all the fantastic food. It was such a wonderful time. Everyone was happy. The happiest of all seemed to be the Mothers and Grandmothers who had spent so much time cooking the wonderful delights before us. They got to not only enjoy the dinner themselves but also to see everyone else enjoying the meal they had prepared. And that is what gave them their most joyous smiles. Life can be a lot like a potluck dinner at times. There are so many different and wonderful things to feast upon. There are so many delicious dishes to delight in. The greatest joy of all, though, comes from sharing what you bring to the table. The most lasting happiness of all comes from feeding others from your own heart, soul, and mind. Are you ready to bring your own course to the feast of life? God gave you something special to prepare and to share. It is up to you, however, to bring it to the table. You are the cook of your own goodness, your own love, and your own life. Put on your apron then, throw in a dash of delight, and make it the best dish you can. Then bring it to the table and set it down with a smile. You will be amazed at how much it will add to the feast. You will be overjoyed at how much you will nourish the souls of everyone around you. LINKS: Just a bit short http://www.buffalosjokes.com/3218.htm kissing test http://www.buffalosjokes.com/3219.htm Ladder accident http://www.buffalosjokes.com/3220.htm Home Security http://www.buffalosjokes.com/3210.htm Home Style http://www.buffalosjokes.com/3211.htm How I Quit Smoking http://www.buffalosjokes.com/3212.htm To Subscribe send a blank email to: the-inspired-buffalo-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ================================================================= >-->From SermondFoidder: _..._ ___ .:::::::. `"-._.-''. , /:::::::::\ ': \ _._ \:-::::::::::::\ :. | /|.-' /:::\ \::::::::\:::::| ': | | / |:::| `:::::::|:::::\ ': | `\ | __ |\::/\ `-:::-|::::::| ': | .`\ .\_.' `.__/ | |::::::\ ':. | \ ';:: /.-._ , / |:::::::| :. / ,`\;:: \'./0) |_.-/ ;:::::::| ': | \.`;::. `` | | \::::::/ :' / _\::::' / / \::::| :' / ,=:;::/ | \:::| :' | (='` // / | \::\ `: / '--' | /\ | \:::. `:_|.-"""-. \__.-'/::\ | '::::.:::...:::. '. /:::| | '::/::::::::::::. '-.__.:::::| | |::::::::::::\::..../::::::| / |:::::::::::::|::::/:::::::// \:::::::::::::|'::/::::::::/ /\::::::::::::/ /:::::::/:| |::';:::::::::/ |::::::/::; |:::/`-:::::;;-._ |:::::/::/ |:::| `-::::\ `|::::/::/ jgs |:::| \:::\ \:::/::/ /:::/ \:::\ \:/\:/ (_::/ \:::;__ \\_\\___ (_:/ \::):):)\:::):):) `" `""""` `""""""` >SKUNKS I'VE RUN WITH - Ever run with a skunk? A newspaper story once related that a mother of eight from Darlington, Maryland, had been visiting next door. When she returned home she went into the living room where she saw her five youngest children huddled in the center of the floor - on her new carpet - very much involved with something wiggly and squirmy. The perplexed mother looked closer. To her total dismay, she discovered that the children were gathered around a family of skunks. In her horror she screamed, "Run, children, run!" They did. Each child grabbed a skunk and ran. I know I've sometimes made the same mistake. Instead of leaving a potentially smelly situation alone, I decided to "run" with it. Many of my problems have been the result of my own poor choices and bad judgment, though I may be tempted to blame someone else. A skunk I'll sometimes run with is "the easy way" when there may be a clear "better way" which seems just too difficult at the time. Another skunk is "instant gratification" -- the I-want-it-now decision that often turns out to reek in the long run. Or I allow fear or guilt to influence my decisions, which almost always guarantees an outcome that stinks. You see, many of my troubles are just the result of "stinking thinking." I really can't blame anyone or anything else. I get seduced by a furry, little skunk and run with it. But smelly decisions make for smelly problems. Better to run from those skunks than with them! Like me, have you ever run with skunks? Or the more important question is...if you're running with one now, will you put it down? Our lives can smell pretty wonderful when we begin to make better decisions, and we'll have no one to blame for the improvement but ourselves! __________ This reading is found in Steve Goodier's popular book PRESCRIPTION FOR PEACE 60-second readings to help you build a better life. You Can Get It by calling (877) 344-0989 or by going to http://lifesupportsystem.com/books.html ---------- >If you know a Veteran, thank them. If you are a Veteran, THANK YOU!. ======================================= __ @@;, ( ; ? : ); _| |_ | | || | | _| |_ | \ \ \/ || \/ ___ / / | __| |\ __||____||___||______/| | ||| | |_______ _________| | ||| ||| |____ | | ____| ||| Design by \ \______ ) | | / ______/ / || | | | | | /___| || Samule J. Neptune || | | |_ /| | |\ _| || || || | \__, / | | | \<__/ | || >Dinner Alone By Lori Kimble I was sitting alone in one of those loud, casual steak houses that you find all over the country. You know the type--a bucket of peanuts on every table, shells littering the floor, and a bunch of perky college kids racing around with longneck beers and sizzling platters. Taking a sip of my iced tea, I studied the crowd over the rim of my glass. My gaze lingered on a group enjoying their meal. They wore no uniform to identify their branch of service, but they were definitely "military:" clean shaven, cropped haircut, and that "squared away" look that comes with pride. Smiling sadly, I glanced across my table to the empty seat where my husband usually sat. It had only been a few months since we sat in this very booth, talking about his upcoming deployment to the Middle East. That was when he made me promise to get a sitter for the kids, come back to this restaurant once a month and treat myself to a nice steak. In turn he would treasure the thought of me being here, thinking about him until he returned home to me. I fingered the little flag pin I constantly wear and wondered where he was at this very moment. Was he safe and warm? Was his cold any better? Were my letters getting through to him? As I pondered these thoughts, high pitched female voices from the next booth broke into my thoughts. "I don't know what Bush is thinking about. Invading Iraq. You'd think that man would learn from his old man's mistakes. Good lord. What an idiot! I can't believe he is even in office. You do know, he stole the election." I cut into my steak and tried to ignore them, as they began an endless tirade running down our president. I thought about the last night I spent with my husband, as he prepared to deploy. He had just returned from getting his smallpox and anthrax shots. The image of him standing in our kitchen packing his gas mask still gives me chills. Once again the women's voices invaded my thoughts. "It is all about oil, you know. Our soldiers will go in and rape and steal all the oil they can in the name of 'freedom'. Hmph! I wonder how many innocent people they'll kill without giving it a thought? It's pure greed, you know." My chest tightened as I stared at my wedding ring. I could still see how handsome my husband looked in his "mess dress" the day he slipped it on my finger. I wondered what he was wearing now. Probably his desert uniform, affectionately dubbed "coffee stains" with a heavy bulletproof vest over it. "You know, we should just leave Iraq alone. I don't think they are hiding any weapons. In fact, I bet it's all a big act just to increase the president's popularity. That's all it is, padding the military budget at the expense of our social security and education. And, you know what else? We're just asking for another 9-ll. I can't say when it happens again that we didn't deserve it." Their words brought to mind the war protesters I had watched gathering outside our base. Did no one appreciate the sacrifice of brave men and women, who leave their homes and family to ensure our freedom? Do they even know what "freedom" is? I glanced at the table where the young men were sitting, and saw their courageous faces change. They had stopped eating and looked at each other dejectedly, listening to the women talking. "Well, I, for one, think it's just deplorable to invade Iraq, and I am certainly sick of our tax dollars going to train professional baby killers we call a military." Professional baby killers? I thought about what a wonderful father my husband is, and of how long it would be before he would see our children again. That's it! Indignation rose up inside me. Normally reserved, pride in my husband gave me a brassy boldness I never realized I had. Tonight one voice will answer on behalf of our military, and let her pride in our troops be known. Sliding out of my booth, I walked around to the adjoining booth and placed my hands flat on their table. Lowering myself to eye level with them, I smilingly said, "I couldn't help overhearing your conversation. You see, I'm sitting here trying to enjoy my dinner alone. And, do you know why? Because my husband, whom I love with all my heart, is halfway around the world defending your right to say rotten things about him." "Yes, you have the right to your opinion, and what you think is none of my business. However, what you say in public is something else, and I will not sit by and listen to you ridicule MY country, MY president, MY husband, and all the other fine American men and women who put their lives on the line, just so you can have the "freedom" to complain. Freedom is an expensive commodity, ladies. Don't let your actions cheapen it." I must have been louder that I meant to be, because the manager came over to inquire if everything was all right. "Yes, thank you," I replied. Then turning back to the women, I said, "Enjoy the rest of your meal." As I returned to my booth applause broke out. I was embarrassed for making a scene, and went back to my half eaten steak. The women picked up their check and scurried away. After finishing my meal, and while waiting for my check, the manager returned with a huge apple cobbler ala mode. "Compliments of those soldiers," he said. He also smiled and said the ladies tried to pay for my dinner, but that another couple had beaten them to it. When I asked who, the manager said they had already left, but that the gentleman was a veteran, and wanted to take care of the wife of "one of our boys." With a lump in my throat, I gratefully turned to the soldiers and thanked them for the cobbler. Grinning from ear to ear, they came over and surrounded the booth. "We just wanted to thank you, ma'am. You know we can't get into confrontations with civilians, so we appreciate what you did." As I drove home, for the first time since my husband's deployment, I didn't feel quite so alone. My heart was filled with the warmth of the other diners who stopped by my table, to relate how they, too, were proud of my husband, and would keep him in their prayers. I knew their flags would fly a little higher the next day. Perhaps they would look for more tangible ways to show their pride in our country, and the military who protect her. And maybe, just maybe, the two women who were railing against our country, would pause for a minute to appreciate all the freedom America offers, and the price it pays to maintain it's freedom. As for me, I have learned that one voice CAN make a difference. Maybe the next time protesters gather outside the gates of the base where I live, I will proudly stand on the opposite side with a sign of my own. It will simply say, "Thank You!" (*Lori Kimble is a 31 year old teacher and proud military wife. A California native, Mrs. Kimble currently lives in Alabama) To those who fought for our Nation: Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know. 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