This one struck me as I've bene thinking about "time" a lot
lately.  Thank you all for being my friends.  This is a new email
address; it's good to be back online after almost three months.

With Much Love,
Jude

p.s. Thanks Pam for sending this in to the Happiest People Alive
group.  You're the cat's pajamas!


A Thousand Marbles

The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings.  Perhaps it's the
   quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, or maybe it's
   the unbounded joy of not having to be at work.  Either way, the first
   few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable.

A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the basement ham-shack with a
steaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other.
What began as a typical Saturday morning turned into one of those
   lessons that life seems to hand you from time to time.  Let me tell
you about it:

   I turned the dial up into the phone portion of the band on my ham
radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning swap net.  Along the way, I
came across an older sounding chap, with a tremendous signal and a
golden voice. You know the kind; he sounded like he should be in the
broadcasting business.  He was telling whom-ever he was talking with something
about "a thousand marbles." I was intrigued and stopped to  listen to what
he had to say.

"Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job.  I'm sure
they pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from home and
your family so much.  Hard to believe a young fellow should have to
work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends meet.  It's too bad you
missed your daughter's "dance recital" he continued.  "Let me tell you
something that has helped me keep my own priorities."
And that's when he began to explain his theory of a "thousand
marbles."

You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic.  The average
person lives about seventy-five years. I know, some live more and some
live less, but on average, folks live about seventy-five years.
"Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3900, which is
the number of  Saturdays that the  average person has in their entire
lifetime. Now, stick with me, Tom, I'm getting to the important part.

It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in
any detail", he went on, "and by that time I had lived through over
twenty-eight hundred Saturdays." "I got to thinking that if I lived to
be seventy-five, I only had about a  thousand of them left to enjoy.
So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had.  I
ended up having to visit three toy stores to round up 1000 marbles. I took
them home and put them inside a large,  clear plastic container right
here in the shack next to my gear."

"Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and thrownit
away. I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on
the really important things in life.  There is nothing like watching
your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities
straight."

"Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign-off with you and
take my lovely wife out for breakfast.  This morning, I took the very last
marble out of the container. I figure that if I make it until next
Saturday then I have been given a little extra time. And the one thing
   we can all use is a little more time."

"It was nice to meet you Tom, I hope you spend more time with your
   family, and I hope to meet you again here on the band.  This is a 75
   Year old Man, K9NZQ, clear and going QRT, good morning!"

You could have heard a pin drop on the band when this fellow signed
off. I guess he gave us all a lot to think about. I had planned to work on
   the antenna that morning, and then I was going to meet up with a few
   hams to work on the next club newsletter.

Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife up with a kiss. "C'mon
honey,
I'm taking you and the kids to breakfast."  "What brought this on?"
she asked with a smile. "Oh, nothing special, it's just been a long time
since we spent a Saturday together with the kids. And hey, can we
stop at a toy store
while we're out? I need to buy some marbles...

A friend sent this to me, so I to you, my friend.

And so, as one smart bear once said..."If you live to be a hundred, I
want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live
without you." - Winnie the Pooh.

Pass this on to all of your FRIENDS, even if it means sending it to
the person that sent it to you.

And if you receive this e-mail many times from many different people,
it only means that you have many FRIENDS.

And if you get it but once, do not be discouraged for you will know
that you have at least one good friend...

And that would be ME

~Author Unknown to me

*** eSafe
scanned this email for malicious content ***
*** IMPORTANT: Do not open attachments from unrecognized senders 
***

I live in a Universe that is made of Love. And all that I am comes from the
one source of Love, which is spirit. There's no separation, no distance, no
delay in the loving that this Universe is up to. It's all immediate, total,
holding nothing back. I choose this day to enter into this kind of loving.

I choose to love all people, without exclusion or differentiation. I choose
to hold nothing of myself back. I look at the places I've held myself back
in fear or in hesitation...and I get over it. I enter into my life with a
powerfully renewed passion and a trust in this power of Love...this Love
that heals, that nourishes, that transforms whatever it touches.

I give thanks for this ability to choose to love even that which seems
unlovable, and let it be a great blessing to all life. And so it is.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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A Thought for the Day From Sri Eknath Easwaran
----------------------------------------------

My life is an indivisible whole, and all my attitudes run into
one another; and they all have their rise in my insatiable love
for mankind. -- Mahatma Gandhi


We should be able to make all sorts
of graceful concessions on things that do not matter in life
and yet stand unshakable on essentials. To do this, we have to
be detached from our opinions. I'm not recommending that we be
wishy-washy, or lack strength in our convictions, but that we
cultivate the forbearance not to force our opinions on others.

When we have strength of conviction we will not get rattled when
people question or contradict us. Mahatma Gandhi, for example, was
not in favor of tea or coffee, but he took joy in making a cup of
tea for his wife each morning just the way she liked it. This is
bending gracefully on nonessentials. When it came to essentials,
however, Gandhi was unshakable.  His dedication to nonviolence was
so absolute that he would abruptly call off a successful nationwide
program of noncooperation with the British if he heard any reports
of violence committed by his countrymen, even those who did not
acknowledge him as their leader.

-----

  From Eknath Easwaran, "Words to Live By" (Nilgiri Press, 1997)

http://www.nilgiri.org/Html/Thoughts/today.html

Hi Everyone,

I'll be away from my home computer until March 6th, so will be going to "no
email" status to keep incoming emails at a minimum.  Please feel free to
email me privately at spirit@... if you want to get in touch, while
I'm in Palm Springs, CA.

With Love,
Jude

(White-Bear)
~~~
Judith Leah 'White-Bear' Correll
Earth Walk Fellowship, Animal Psychic Team
http://www.AnimalHealer.org
spirit@...
~~~
Yahoo Msgr: "whitebearsinging"
AOL IM:  "akwhitebear"
MSN Msgr:  "akwhitebear"
~~~
Let everything you do be your expression of Spirit,
and everything you say be your prayer     ~Anon.
~~~

Still I Rise

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise

I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise

Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

~Maya Angelou

>Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2004 17:56:41 -0500
>From: The Daily Guru <TheDailyGuru@...>
>
>Thursday, February 12, 2004
>
>The mind brings all kinds of miseries. The first: the mind is never in the
>present, it goes on missing the present. And only the present is! The mind
>is always in the past -- always and always in the past. Or always in the
>future -- always and always in the future. The mind goes on jumping from
>the past to the future, from the future to the past. It never stays here,
>now. The mind is like the pendulum of a clock -- it goes on moving from
>one polarity to another polarity but never stays in the middle.
>
>One has to get out of this trap of the past and the future -- because the
>door opens in the present; the door opens at this moment, either now or
>never. And the door is open, but our eyes are wavering. We look into the
>past, we look into the future -- and the present is very, very small
>between these two, and we go on missing it.
>
>Unless you drop the mind you can never be in tune with existence, you
>cannot pulsate with the pulse of the universe. If you don't drop the mind
>you go on living in a private world of your own creation; you don't live
>in the real world.
>
>
>
>                            THE DAILY GURU
>
>
>
>**************************************************************
>The Daily Guru is a FREE service, however if you would like to
>make a donation to us, or even make a tithe, it would be much appreciated...
>
>You can make donations bt clicking on this link:-
>
>https://www.paypal.com/xclick/business=thedailyguru%40hotmail.com&no_note=1&tax\
=0&currency_code=USD
>**************************************************************
>To "SUBSCRIBE" to TheDailyGuru, visit this link:-
>http://www.TheDailyGuru.com
>**************************************************************
>To "UNSUBSCRIBE" to TheDailyGuru, click on this Link...
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>**************************************************************

Be Happy

I watched and listened to an irate customer berate a young fast food
restaurant clerk. Young minimum wage workers appear to be fair game. The
angry man grew red in the face as he yelled at the young man.

What was the young man's sin that deserved this wrath? He gave the man
onion rings instead of french fries.

I advised the man to calm down, that he was making a scene. He told me to
mind my own blankety-blank business. He quieted down only after he saw the
looks being given to him by the other customers.

I don't understand such behavior.

If you are having a bad day, that's a shame. Get over it. You are not going
to make your day better by ruining the day of another.

Misery needs to stop loving company.

Our days are not going to be perfect. Find a bless in the mess.

A neighbor once told me, "You might as well be happy, no one cares if you
ain't." He is the same guy who was fond of saying, "If ignorance is bliss,
how come there aren't more happy people?"

The older I get the more I value time and good folks. The more I want my
loved ones to be happy. The more I want to spend my time being happy.

We owe it to our loved ones, our friends and our co-workers to be happy.

Warren Zevon said it well in one of his songs, "Enjoy every sandwich."

My mother was one who enjoyed every sandwich. She found joy in the joy of
others. She believed in a principle called "Santosa." I doubt that she'd
even heard of Santosa, but she lived it. Santosa means finding contentment
regardless of outer circumstances. "It's good enough," was something often
said by my mother. She knew that things turn out best for those who make
the best out of the way things turn out. She had a gift for appreciating
life's pleasures. She rejoiced in a light breeze on a hot day, the song of
the crickets and the full moon that illuminated the night. She felt that
there was no reason to be unhappy when you could be happy. She taught by
example that one of the best things we could do in life is to find
happiness and then share it with others.

I don't enjoy watching depressing movies or disturbing TV programs. I don't
want to hear about any more conspiracy theories. I don't want to hear
negative campaign ads. I don't want to listen to personal attacks on those
willing to take leadership roles. I don't want to hear mean-spirited talk
show hosts attack all who do not agree with them.

What makes us happy?

Perhaps it is as the cartoonist Charles Schulz said, "Happiness is a warm
puppy." I do know that my dog is happy. It is easy to make my faithful
canine companion happy. All I have to do is to say, while leaving the
house, "You can go." James Thurber observed that, "Dogs are obsessed with
being happy." Dogs need no reason to be happy. That's because they have
every reason to be happy.

We are told that money cannot buy us happiness. The stories in the
supermarket tabloids-if only a few are true--have proven that. This is no
reason for pessimism. No one will ever be rich enough to be able to afford
to be pessimistic.

Good memories make us happy. Memories provide more beginnings than endings.

We gather good memories from our experiences.

We should spend more on experiences and less on things.

Travel produces great experiences and wonderful memories.

We need to seek happiness, not pleasure. Pleasure alone does not bring
happiness--as anyone who has ever been on a diet because of an appetite for
fattening food can attest.

We need to choose to be happy. We need to find joy in green lights, the
antics of chipmunks, rainbows and the smell of sunshine.

Barrow, Alaska is located 330 miles north of the Arctic Circle and is the
USA's northernmost city. It is a place where polar bears roam and the
minimum temperature is below freezing for 324 days of the year. Barrow is a
place that when the sun sets on November 18, it does not rise again until
January 23. That is a lot of darkness.

4400 people live there. How can they do that--with all that darkness?

Ernie Banks said, "If you aren't happy in one place, chances are you won't
be happy any place."

The residents of Barrow survive by remembering that the sun does not set at
all between May 10 and August 2. The residents are given 82 days of
sunshine. They survive by enjoying the northern lights that dance across
their darkened sky. The aurora borealis brightens their world.

We should all rejoice with the light rather than find sorrow in the darkness.

Be happy.

Al Batt, © 2004

Al Batt is a husband, father and grandfather who lives on a farm near
Hartland, Minnesota. He is a writer, speaker and storyteller. He writes a
newspaper column. He does a regular TV and radio show, contributes to many
magazines and newspapers, and is an avid birder. You can write Al at:
<mailto:SnoEOwl@...>SnoEOwl@...

Subject:   The Heart



  >                    "Tomorrow morning," the surgeon began,
  >
  >                          "I'll open up your heart..."
  >
  >
  >
  >                      "You'll find Jesus there," the boy interrupted.
  >
  >
  >
  >                      The surgeon looked up, annoyed "I'll
  >
  >                      cut your heart open," he continued,
  >
  >                        to see how much damage has been done..."
  >
  >
  >
  >                   "But when you open up my heart, you'll
  >
  >                      find Jesus in there," said the boy.
  >
  >
  >
  >                     The surgeon looked to the parents, who
  >
  >                      Sat quietly. "When I see how much
  >
  >                      damage has been done, I'll sew your
  >
  >                     heart and chest back up, and I'll plan
  >
  >                              what to do next."
  >
  >
  >
  >                    "But you'll find Jesus in my heart. The
  >
  >                         Bible says He lives there. The
  >
  >                      hymns all say He lives there. You'll
  >
  >                             find Him in my heart."
  >
  >
  >
  >                    The surgeon had had enough. "I'll tell
  >
  >                       you what I'll find in your heart.
  >
  >                     I'll find damaged muscle, low blood
  >
  >                         supply, and weakened vessels.
  >
  >                   And I'll find out if I can make you well."
  >
  >
  >
  >                    "You'll find Jesus there too. He lives there."
  >
  >
  >
  >                              The surgeon left.
  >
  >
  >
  >                  The surgeon sat in his office, recording his
  >
  >              notes from the surgery, "...damaged aorta, damaged
  >
  >                pulmonary vein, widespread muscle degeneration.
  >
  >               No hope for transplant, no hope for cure. Therapy:
  >
  >                    painkillers and bed rest. Prognosis:, "
  >
  >                    here he paused, "death within one year."
  >
  >
  >
  >                     He stopped the recorder, but there was
  >
  >                    more to be said. "Why?" he asked aloud.
  >
  >                        "Why did You do this? You've put
  >
  >                   him here; You've put him in this pain; and
  >
  >                   You've cursed him to an early death. Why?"
  >
  >
  >
  >                     The Lord answered and said, "The boy,
  >
  >                        My lamb, was not meant for your
  >
  >                     flock for long, for he is a part of My
  >
  >                          flock, and will forever be.
  >
  >                 Here, in My flock, he will feel no pain, and
  >
  >                    will be comforted as you cannot imagine.
  >
  >                    His parents will one day join him here,
  >
  >                         and they will know peace, and
  >
  >                        My flock will continue to grow."
  >
  >
  >
  >                     The surgeon's tears were hot, but his
  >
  >                      anger was hotter. "You created that
  >
  >                     boy, and You created that heart. He'll
  >
  >                           be dead in months. Why?"
  >
  >
  >
  >                     The Lord answered, "The boy, My lamb,
  >
  >                      shall return to My flock, for He has
  >
  >                      Done his duty: I did not put My lamb
  >
  >              with your flock to lose him, but to retrieve another
  >
  >                                  lost lamb."
  >
  >
  >
  >                       The surgeon wept.. The surgeon sat
  >
  >                        beside the boy's bed; the boy's
  >
  >                 parents sat across from him. The boy awoke and
  >
  >                   whispered, "Did you cut open my heart?"
  >
  >
  >
  >                            "Yes," said the surgeon.
  >
  >
  >
  >                      "What did you find?" asked the boy.
  >
  >
  >
  >                        "I found Jesus there," said the surgeon.
  >
  >
  >
  >                   ~ Author Unknown

My Dear Dogs and Cats,



I have a few issues I'd like to bring to your attention:



·        When I say to move, it means go some place else, not switch
positions with each other so there are still two of you in the way.

·        The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The
other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print
in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming
your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the
slightest.

·        The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack.
Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help,
because I fall faster than you can run.

·        I cannot buy anything bigger than a king size bed. I am very sorry
about this. Do not think I will continue to sleep on the couch to ensure
your comfort. Look at videos of dogs and cats sleeping, they can actually
curl up in a ball. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other
stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking
tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize
space used is nothing but sarcasm.

·        My compact discs are not miniature Frisbees.

·        For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom.
If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is
not necessary to claw, whine, try to turn the knob, or get your paw under
the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I
entered. In addition, I have been using bathrooms for years; canine and
feline attendance is not mandatory.

·        The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other animals'
butts. I cannot stress this enough. It would be such a simple change for
you.

·        To pacify you I have posted the following message on our front
door:



Rules for Non-Pet Owners Who Visit and Like to Complain about Our Pets:



1.      They live here. You don't.

2.      If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the
furniture.

3.      I like my pet a lot better than I like most people.

4.      To you, it's an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who
is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.

5.      Dogs and cats are better than kids. They eat less, don't ask for
money all the time, are easier to train, usually come when called, never
drive your car, don't hang out with drug-using friends, don't smoke or
drink, don't worry about buying the latest fashions, don't wear your
clothes, don't need a gazillion dollars for college, and if they get
pregnant, you can sell the results.



Thank you.

The Very Best Christmas Present

One snowy morning, a few weeks before Christmas, Mr. Floogle's doorbell rang. It was the mail carrier. He had a big orange cat in his arms. "Is this your cat?" asked the mail carrier."I found it in your mailbox." "No," said Mr. Floogle," I live alone. And, furthermore, I don't like cats." "Meow," said the cat, looking cold and sad. "I can't keep it," said the mail carrier. "Oh, bother ," said Mr. Floogle. Then he looked at the cat. "Meow," said the cat, looking back with big yellow eyes. "Well, I guess I can keep it for today," said Mr. Floogle, "but tomorrow it must go."

Mr. Floogle took the cat in and gave it a saucer of milk. Then he went about his chores. "Meow," said the cat as Mr. Floogle washed the dishes. "It's no use trying to talk to me," said Mr. Floogle. "I don't like cats." So the cat kept quiet and just watched. Mr. Floogle whistled while he washed the dishes. "That's funny," he said to himself," I haven't whistled in years." The day passed, and it was time to go to bed. The cat curled up beside Mr. Floogle and said "Meow ." "It's no use trying to talk to me,"said Mr. Floogle. "I don't like cats." So the cat just lay there, purring gently. The purring put Mr. Floogle to sleep as soon as he closed his eyes.

The next morning Mr. Floogle took the cat out in his car and drove to a dairy farm nearby. "This is where I will leave you. You'll like it here," Mr. Floogle said. "I just don't like cats," Mr. Floogle said to himself as he drove away. Mr. Floogle went to bed that night and said, That's that!"

But the next morning, very early, the doorbell rang. It was the dairy farmer. He had a big orange cat in his arms. "Is this your cat?" asked the dairy farmer. "I found it in one of my empty milk cans." "No," said Mr. Floogle, who was surprised to see the cat again. "I don't like cats." "Meow," said the cat, looking hopeful. "I can't keep it," said the dairy farmer. "Oh, bother," said Mr. Floogle. Then he looked at the cat. The cat looked back and purred. "Well, I suppose I can keep it for today," said Mr. Floogle with a sigh, "but tomorrow it must go."

Mr. Floogle took the cat in and gave it a scrambled egg for breakfast. Then he went to sit in his chair. "Meow," said the cat as it played with Mr. Floogle's robe. "It's no use trying to play with me," said Mr. Floogle. "I just don't like cats. So the cat just played with a piece of paper as Mr. Floogle watched. "Silly cat," he said to himself.

The next day Mr. Floogle took the cat out in the car again. "I will take you far away this time so that you won't come back," he said. Mr. Floogle drove and drove until he came to a flying school. There were several other cats around. "You'll have plenty of company here," said Mr. Floogle. "Meow, said the cat. "No, you can't stay with me," answered Mr. Floogle." I told you, I don't like cats." Mr. Floogle left the cat at the flying school and drove home again. "That's that!" he said.

The next morning, while Mr. Floogle was working on his house, someone jumped right onto his roof! It was a sky diver. She had a big orange cat in her arms. "Is this your cat?" asked the sky diver. "It jumped right out of the plane with me as we flew over your house." "No," said Mr. Floogle, rolling his eyes. "It's not my cat, it never was my cat, and I don't want it to be my cat!" "Well, I can't keep it," said the sky diver. "And anyway, it seems to like you." Oh, bother," Mr. Floogle said with a sigh. "Well, I guess I'll have to keep you for today," he said, "but tomorrow you must go for good!" Mr. Floogle went back to his work. "Meow," said the cat as it lay in the sun. "Oh, really?" said Mr. Floogle."Well, I didn't miss you." "Meow," said the cat softly. "Stuff and nonsense," said Mr. Floogle.

The next morning Mr. Floogle looked at the cat and said "I really must get rid of you today. You know I don't like cats." He thought and thought about what to do. All of a sudden Mr. Floogle had the best idea of all! "Since you were found in my mailbox," he said, "I will let the post office take care of it!" That very same day Mr. Floogle took the cat to the post office. "I want to mail this cat somewhere far, far away," he said to the postal clerk. "How about the North Pole?" said the postal clerk. "That's far, far away and we have a nice warm post office there." Mr. Floogle looked down at the cat. The cat reached up and licked his face. "Stuff and nonsense," said Mr. Floogle as he wiped off the kiss. Then, without knowing why, he suddenly asked, "Will they take good care of it at the North Pole Post Office?" "Of course," answered the postal clerk, looking offended. "We always take good care of the mail, especially at Christmastime!" And, without another word, he took the cat into the package room.

The next day the cat did not come back. It did not come back the day after, or the day after that. "Well, I guess that's that!" said Mr. Floogle as he washed the dishes. He tried to whistle, but nothing came out. More days passed, and still the cat did not come back."Well," said Mr. Floogle, a little quietly, "I guess that's that." He climbed into bed, but for some reason he couldn't fall asleep. "Stuff and nonsense," he murmured. "I'm just not tired."

Now, it just so happened that the next day was Christmas Eve. Mr. Floogle watched from his window as people hurried to and fro, their arms filled with presents. "Stuff and nonsense, he sniffed. Mr. Floogle didn't have any friends, so he never expected any presents for Christmas. Just then, for no good reason, he thought of the cat. "I wonder what that silly cat is doing now." he mused as he sat in his chair. "It's a good thing I don't like cats," he said to himself, "or I might miss it."

Just before midnight Mr. Floogle went to bed. But when he got under the covers he couldn't get to sleep. When he finally did go to sleep, he started to dream. He dreamed he was doing his chores and the cat was watching him. He dreamed that he was sitting in his chair and the cat was playing with his robe. He dreamed that he was in bed and the cat was purring beside him. He smiled to himself and reached over to pet it. Then he woke up and remembered that the cat was gone. All of a sudden he felt very sad and lonely. "Stuff and nonsense," he whispered as he laid his head upon his pillow. "I don't even like cats."

Just then someone rang his doorbell. He ran down to answer it. It was Santa Claus! He had a big orange cat in his arms. "Is this your cat?" asked Santa. "I found it hiding in my sled at the North Pole." Mr. Floogle had been so used to saying no that he almost said it again. But suddenly he cried, "Yes! yes! It is my cat!" "Meow," said the cat. "I'm glad you're back, too," said Mr. Floogle, stroking the cat's soft fur. Then Mr. Floogle turned to Santa. "But how did you know it was my cat?" he asked. Instead of answering, Santa just gave Mr. Floogle a wink and a nod and hopped into his sled. Mr. Floogle waved good-bye as Santa's sled disappeared over the treetops. "Meow," said the cat. "I missed you, too," said Mr. Floogle. "Meow," said the cat. "Merry Christmas to you, too," answered Mr. Floogle as he gave his cat a big hug. "You're the best Christmas present I could ever get."

 

Send kindness
+++++++++++++++++++
Send a little kindness out into the world today. And it
will grow. The kindness you give never goes away. The more
you give, the more you have.
Genuine kindness is one of the best investments you can make.
For your return on the investment of kindness has no limit.
Even when it seems that others don't appreciate the kindness
you offer, it has much value. Though it may not be noticed at
first, true kindness cannot continue to be ignored for long.
In kindness, there is a power, a level of confidence and self
assurance that is difficult to deny. Even when all else has
failed, kindness can make a difference precisely because it
speaks with such strength.
Send a little kindness out into the world today. And you'll
create real value that cannot be denied.
Ralph Marston

http://www.greatday.com/motivate/

> A Christmas Story
  >
  > Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those
  > who squandered their means
  > and then never had enough for the necessities. But
  > for those who were
  > genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all
  > outdoors. It was from him that I
  > learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving,
  > not from receiving.
  >
  > It was Christmas Eve 1881. I was fifteen years old
  > and feeling like the world
  > had caved in on me because there just hadn't been
  > enough money to buy me the
  > rifle that I'd wanted for Christmas. We did the
  > chores early that night for
  > some reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra
  > time so we could read in
  > the Bible.
  >
  > After supper was over I took my boots off and
  > stretched out in front of the
  > fireplace and waited for Pa to get down the old
  > Bible. I was still feeling
  > sorry for myself and, to be honest, I wasn't in much
  > of a mood to read Scriptures.
  > But Pa didn't get the Bible, instead he bundled up
  > again and went outside. I
  > couldn't figure it out because we had already done
  > all the chores. I didn't
  > worry about it long though, I was too busy wallowing
  > in self-pity.
  >
  >
  >
  >
  > Soon Pa came back in. It was a cold clear night out
  > and there was ice in his
  > beard. "Come on, Matt," he said. "Bundle up good,
  > it's cold out tonight." I
  > was really upset then. Not only wasn't I getting the
  > rifle for Christmas, now Pa
  > was dragging me out in the cold, and for no earthly
  > reason that I could see.
  > We'd already done all the chores, and I couldn't
  > thnk of anything else that
  > needed doing, especially not on a night like this
  >
  >
  >
  >
  > But I knew Pa was not very patient at one dragging
  > one's feet when he'd told
  > them to do something, so I got up and put my boots
  > back on and got my cap,
  > coat, and mittens. Ma gave me a mysterious smile as
  > I opened the door to leave
  > the house. Something was up, but I didn't know what.
  >
  >
  > Outside, I became even more dismayed. There in front
  > of the house was the
  > work team, already hitched to the big sled. Whatever
  > it was we were going to do
  > wasn't going to be a short, quick, little job. I
  > could tell. We never hitched
  > up this sled unless we were going to haul a big
  > load.
  >
  > Pa was already up on the seat, reins in hand. I
  > reluctantly climbed up beside
  > him. The cold was already biting at me. I wasn't
  > happy. When I was on, Pa
  > pulled the sled around the house and stopped in
  > front of the woodshed. He got off
  > and I followed. "I think we'll put on the high
  > sideboards," he said. "Here,
  > help me." The high sideboards! It had been a bigger
  > job than I wanted to do
  > with just the low sideboards on, but whatever it was
  > we were going to do would be
  > a lot bigger with the high sideboards on.
  >
  > After we had exchanged the sideboards, Pa went into
  > the woodshed and came out
  > with an armload of wood---the wood I'd spent all
  > summer hauling down from the
  > mountain, and then all Fall sawing into blocks and
  > splitting. What was he
  > doing? Finally I said something. "Pa," I asked,
  > "what are you doing?" You been by
  > the Widow Jensen's lately?" he asked. The Widow
  > Jensen lived about two miles
  > down the road. Her husband had died a year or so
  > before and left her with
  > three children, the oldest being eight. Sure, I'd
  > been by, but so what? "Yeah," I
  > said, "Why?" "I rode by just today," Pa said.
  > "Little Jakey was out digging
  > around in the woodpile trying to find a few chips.
  > They're out of wood, Matt."
  >
  > That was all he said and then he turned and went
  > back into the woodshed for
  > another armload of wood. I followed him. We loaded
  > the sled so high that I
  > began to wonder if the horses would be able to pull
  > it. Finally, Pa called a halt
  > to our loading, then we went to the smoke house and
  > Pa took down a big ham and
  > a side of bacon. He handed them to me and told me to
  > put them in the sled and
  > wait.
  >
  > When he returned he was carrying a sack of flour
  > over his right shoulder and
  > a smaller sack of something in his left hand.
  > "What's in the little sack?" I
  > asked. "Shoes. They're out of shoes. Little Jakey
  > just had gunny sacks wrapped
  > around his feet when he was out in the woodpile this
  > morning. I got the
  > children a little candy too. It just wouldn't be
  > Christmas without a little candy."
  >
  > We rode the two miles to Widow Jensen's pretty much
  > in silence. I tried to
  > think through what Pa was doing. We didn't have much
  > by worldly standards. Of
  > course, we did have a big woodpile, though most of
  > what was left now was still
  > in the form of logs that I would have to saw into
  > blocks and split before we
  > could use it. We also had meat and flour, so we
  > could spare that, but I knew we
  > didn't have any money, so why was Pa buying them
  > shoes and candy?
  >
  > Really, why was he doing any of this? Widow Jensen
  > had closer neighbors than
  > us; it shouldn't have been our concern. We came in
  > from the blind side of the
  > Jensen house and unloaded the wood as quietly as
  > possible, then we took the
  > meat and flour and shoes to the door. We knocked.
  > The door opened a crack and a
  > timid voice said, "Who is it?" "Lucas Miles, Ma'am,
  > and my son, Matt. Could we
  > come in for a bit?"
  >
  > Widow Jensen opened the door and let us in. She had
  > a blanket wrapped around
  > her shoulders. The children were wrapped in another
  > and were sitting in front
  > of the fireplace by a very small fire that hardly
  > gave off any heat at all.
  > Widow Jensen fumbled with a match and finally lit
  > the lamp. "We brought you a
  > few things, Ma'am," Pa said and set down the sack of
  > flour. I put the meat on
  > the table. Then Pa handed her the sack that had the
  > shoes in it.
  >
  > She opened it hesitantly and took the shoes out one
  > pair at a time. There was
  > a pair for her and one for each of the
  > children---sturdy shoes, the best,
  > shoes that would last. I watched her carefully. She
  > bit her lower lip to keep it
  > from trembling and then tears filled her eyes and
  > started running down her
  > cheeks. She looked up at Pa like she wanted to say
  > something, but it wouldn't
  > come out.
  >
  > "We brought a load of wood too, Ma'am," Pa said. He
  > turned to me and said,
  > "Matt, go bring in enough to last awhile. Let's get
  > that fire up to size and
  > heat this place up." I wasn't the same person when I
  > went back out to bring in
  > the wood. I had a big lump in my throat and as much
  > as I hate to admit it, there
  > were tears in my eyes too.
  >
  > In my mind I kept seeing those three kids huddled
  > around the fireplace and
  > their mother standing there with tears running down
  > her cheeks with so much
  > gratitude in her heart that she couldn't speak. My
  > heart swelled within me and a
  > joy that I'd never known before, filled my soul. I
  > had given at Christmas many
  > times before, but never when it had made so much
  > difference. I could see we we
  > re literally saving the lives of these people.
  >
  > I soon had the fire blazing and everyone's spirits
  > soared. The kids started
  > giggling when Pa handed them each a piece of candy
  > and Widow Jensen looked on
  > with a smile that probably hadn't crossed her face
  > for a long time. She finally
  > turned to us. "God bless you," she said. "I know the
  > Lord has sent you. The
  > children and I have been praying that he would send
  > one of his angels to spare
  > us."
  >
  > In spite of myself, the lump returned to my throat
  > and the tears welled up in
  > my eyes again. I'd never thought of Pa in those
  > exact terms before, but after
  > Widow Jensen mentioned it I could see that it was
  > probably true. I was sure
  > that a better man than Pa had never walked the
  > earth. I started remembering all
  > the times he had gone out of his way for Ma and me,
  > and many others. The list
  > seemed endless as I thought on it.
  >
  > Pa insisted that everyone try on the shoes before we
  > left. I was amazed when
  > they all fit and I wondered how he had known what
  > sizes to get. Then I guessed
  > that if he was on an errand for the Lord that the
  > Lord would make sure he got
  > the right sizes.
  >
  > Tears were running down Widow Jensen's face again
  > when we stood up to
  > leave.Pa took each of the kids in his big arms and
  > gave them a hug. They clung to him
  > and didn't want us to go. I could see that they
  > missed their Pa, and I was
  > glad that I still had mine.
  >
  > At the door Pa turned to Widow Jensen and said, "The
  > Mrs. wanted me to invite
  > you and the children over for Christmas dinner
  > tomorrow. The turkey will be
  > more than the three of us can eat, and a man can get
  > cantankerous if he has to
  > eat turkey for too many meals. We'll be by to get
  > you about eleven. It'll be
  > nice to have some little ones around again. Matt,
  > here, hasn't been little for
  > quite a spell." I was the youngest. My two brothers
  > and two sisters had all
  > married and had moved away. Widow Jensen nodded and
  > said, "Thank you, Brother
  > Miles. I don't have to say, "'May the Lord bless
  > you,' I know for certain that
  > He will."
  >
  > Out on the sled I felt a warmth that came from deep
  > within and I didn't even
  > notice the cold. When we had gone a ways, Pa turned
  > to me and said, "Matt, I
  > want you to know something. Your ma and me have been
  > tucking a little money
  > away here and there all year so we could buy that
  > rifle for you, but we didn't
  > have quite enough.
  >
  > Then yesterday a man who owed me a little money from
  > years back came by to
  > make things square. Your ma and me were real
  > excited, thinking that now we could
  > get you that rifle, and I started into town this
  > morning to do just that. But
  > on the way I saw little Jakey out scratching in the
  > woodpile with his feet
  > wrapped in those gunny sacks and I knew what I had
  > to do. Son, I spent the money
  > for shoes and a little candy for those children. I
  > hope you understand."
  >
  > I understood, and my eyes became wet with tears
  > again. I understood very
  > well, and I was so glad Pa had done it. Now the
  > rifle seemed very low on my list
  > of priorities. Pa had given me a lot more. He had
  > given me the look on Widow
  > Jensen's face and the radiant smiles of her three
  > children.
  >
  > For the rest of my life, Whenever I saw any of the
  > Jensens, or split a block
  > of wood, I remembered, and remembering brought back
  > that same joy I felt
  > riding home beside Pa that night. Pa had given me
  > much more than a rifle that
  > night, he had given me the best Christmas of my
  > life.

~Author Unknown to me

Merry Christmas to all of you!
With Love,
Jude (White-Bear)

An older lady gets pulled over for speeding...
 
Older Woman: Is there a problem, Officer?
 
Officer: Ma'am, you were speeding.
 
Older Woman: Oh, I see.
 
Officer: Can I see your license please?
 
Older Woman: I'd give it to you but  I don't have one.
 
Officer: Don't have one?
 
Older Woman: Lost it, 4 years ago for drunk driving.
 
Officer: I see...Can I see your vehicle registration papers please.
 
Older Woman: I can't do that.
 
Officer: Why not?
 
Older Woman: I stole this car.
 
Officer: Stole it?
 
Older Woman: Yes, and I killed and hacked up the owner.
 
Officer: You what?
 
Older Woman: His body parts are in plastic bags in the trunk if you want to see.
 
The Officer looked at the woman, slowly backed away to his car and called for back up. Within minutes 5 police cars encircle the car. A senior officer slowly approaches the car, clasping his half drawn gun.
 
Officer 2: Ma'am, could you step out of your vehicle please! The woman steps out of her vehicle.
 
Older woman:  Is there a problem officer?
 
Officer 2: One of my officers told me that you have stolen this car and murdered the owner.
 
Older Woman: Murdered the owner?
 
Officer 2: Yes, could you please open the trunk of your car, please.
 
The woman opens the trunk, revealing nothing but an empty trunk.
 
Officer 2: Is this your car, ma'am?
 
Older Woman: Yes, here are the registration papers. The officer is quite stunned.
 
Officer 2: One of my officers claims that you do not have a driving license.
 
The woman digs into her handbag and pulls out a clutch purse and hands it to the officer.
 
The officer examines the license. He looks quite puzzled.
 
Officer 2: Thank you ma'am, one of my officers told me you didn't have a license, that you stole this  car and that you murdered and hacked up the owner.

Older Woman: Bet the liar told you I was speeding, too!
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Your own special greatness
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Your life has a purpose, something uniquely suited to who you
are. The more closely you align your day-to-day priorities with
that purpose, the more fulfillment you'll know.

When the priorities you've chosen stray away from your purpose,
then life becomes filled with frustration. When you put your time
and effort into things that don't really matter, it brings on a
painful, gnawing emptiness.

If something is truly important to the core of your being, then
there is most certainly a way to make it happen. When you make
the effort and spend the time on what really matters, the rewards
will be great indeed.

It will never be easy to follow your purpose. For by its very
definition, your highest purpose demands the best that you have
to offer. Yet following that purpose will fulfill you in a way
that nothing else can. To every extent possible, align your
priorities to who you truly are. Let your own special greatness
light up this world.


Ralph Marston

The reflection you see
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Be the value you wish to have. Be the positive difference you'd
like to see in the world.
When you're tempted to complain, think of a way to re-frame that
complaint into a positive suggestion, proposal or offer. When you
want others to understand your own concerns, put your efforts into
better understanding the concerns and perspectives they have.
What are the qualities and values you would most like to see in
the people around you? Develop and project those qualities in your
own affairs, and live those values yourself.
Be slow to take offense and quick to offer encouragement. Find
pleasure not in the misery of others, but rather in making a
positive, meaningful difference for those around you.
For your world is a mirror. The reflection you see depends on
the person you are.
Ralph Marston
.............................................................................

~~~
Judith Leah White-Bear
Earth Walk Fellowship, Animal Psychic Team
http://www.AnimalHealer.org
spirit@...
~~~
Yahoo Msgr: "whitebearsinging"
AOL IM:  "AKwhitebear"
~~~
Let everything you do be your expression of Spirit,
and everything you say be your prayer     ~Anon.
~~~

How good it can feel


Pause for a moment and just think one thought. Think of how good it can feel to be alive.

Yes, you can argue that life is ripe with pain, with discomfort
and dismay. Yet the only reason you even notice those things is
because they are exceptions to the rule.

In fact, when the skies turn gray and the world seems so cold,
pause for a moment and consider one thing. Consider how good it can feel to be alive.

Even on the down days, there is a goodness to life that cannot be denied. Even on the down days, there is a part of you that knows
the troubles won't last forever.

Think of the people you love, the beauty you've seen, the faith
and hope that truly keep you going. And remember how incredibly good it can feel to be alive.

Pause for a moment and put things in perspective. You have life, and it can be so very good.
Thanks Margie




I am thankful I can walk;

there are those who have never taken their first step.



I am thankful I can see the beauty all around me;

there are those whose world is always dark.



I am thankful I can hear music playing;

there are those who entire life has been spent in silence.



I am thankful my heart can be broken;

there are those who are so hardened they cannot be touched.



I am thankful I can move about freely and express my beliefs;

there are those who live in constant fear.



I am thankful I have been loved;

there are those for whom no one has ever cared.



I am thankful I can work;

there are those who have to depend on others for even their most basic needs.



I am thankful to wake up in the morning and take a deep breath of fresh air;

there are those who never got that far.



I am thankful for the opportunity to help others;

there are those who have not been so abundantly blessed as I.



Along the way

You can get things done without enjoying yourself. You can also enjoy yourself without getting anything done. However, the best approach is to get things done while also enjoying yourself. That's the way to reach long term success, building one accomplishment on top of another. If you aim to simply enjoy yourself without getting anything done, then the result is -- you don't get anything done. You may be very positive and cheerful, at least for the moment, but after a while it will seem quite empty. On the other hand, if you're driven to achieve, without any consideration for the quality of your life along the way, that can be empty, too. Sure, you'll get what you want. But you're also likely to get burned out and resentful. Make the effort, move toward your goals, and delight in the moments along the way. When you enjoy the journey there's never any reason to stop.
Ralph Marston

Wrapping Presents With the Help of Your Cat

By: Mark Jefferson

---

1. Clear large space on table for wrapping present.
   
2. Go to wardrobe and collect bag in which present is contained, and close door
   
3. Open door and remove cat from wardrobe,
   
4. Go to cupboard and retrieve rolls of wrapping paper.
   
5. Go back and remove cat from cupboard.
   
6. Go to drawer and collect transparent sticky tape, ribbons, scissors labels etc.,
   
7. Lay out presents and wrapping materials on table, to enable wrapping strategy to be formed.
   
8. Go back to drawer to get string, remove cat that has been in the drawer since last visit and collect string.
   
9. Reopen drawer and re-remove cat.
   
10. Remove present from bag.
    
11. Remove cat from bag.
    
12. Open box to check present, remove cat from box, replace present.
    
13. Lay out paper to enable cutting to size,
    
14. Try and smooth out paper, realise cat is underneath and remove cat.
    
15. Cut the paper to size, trying to keep the cutting line straight.
    
16. Throw away first sheet as cat tried to chase the scissors, and tore paper.
    
17. Cut second sheet of paper to size. By putting cat in the bag the present came out of.
    
18. Place present on cut to size paper
    
19. Lift up edges of paper to seal in present, wonder why edges now don't reach, and realise cat is between present and paper. Remove cat and retry.
    
20. Place object on paper, to hold in place, while cutting transparent sticky tape.
    
21. Spend next 20 minutes carefully trying to remove transparent sticky tape from cat with pair of nail scissors.
    
22. Seal paper down, with transparent sticky tape, making corners as neat as possible.
    
23. Look for roll of ribbon, chase cat down hall, in order to retrieve ribbon.
    
24. Try to wrap present with ribbon in a clever two directional turn.
    
25. Re-roll up ribbon and remove paper that is now torn, due to cat's enthusiasm to chase the end of the ribbon .
    
26. Repeat steps 13-20 until down to last sheet of paper.
    
27. Decide to skip steps 13-17, in order to save time and reduce risk of loosing last sheet of paper. By retrieving old cardboard box, that you know is right size for sheet of paper.
    
28. Put present in box, and tie down with string.
    
29. Remove string, open box and remove cat,
30. Put all packing materials in bag with present and head for lockable room.
    
31. Once inside room, lock door and start to re-lay out packing materials.
    
32. Remove cat from box, unlock door, put cat outside door, close door and re-lock.
    
33. Repeat previous step as often as is necessary. Until you can hear the cries from the cat outside the door.
    
34. Lay out last sheet of paper. (I know this is difficult in a small area such as the toilet. But try your best)
    
35. Realise cat has already got to the paper. Unlock door go out and hunt through various cupboards, looking for sheet of last years paper, until you remember that you haven't got any left, due to cats help with wrapping last year.
    
36. Retire back to room lock door, and sit on toilet whist trying to work out how to make torn sheet of paper look halfway presentable.
    
37. Seal box, wrap with paper and start repairs by very carefully seal down tears with transparent sticky tape. Now tie up with ribbon and decorate with bows to hide worst effected areas.
    
38. Label, then sit back and admire your handiwork, congratulating yourself on making good of a bad job.
    
39. Unlock door, and go to kitchen to make drink and feed cat.
    
40. Spend next 15 minutes looking for cat, before coming to the final obvious conclusion.
    
41. Unwrap present, untie box and remove cat.
    
42. Retrieve all thrown away sheets of wrapping paper, feed cat and retire back to room for last attempt, making certain you are alone and the door is locked.
    
43. Find least torn and wrinkled sheets of paper, along with the ones that the pattern matches the closet.
    
44. Vainly try and wrap present, in patchwork of paper. Tie with the now tattered ribbon and decorate with the now limp bows. Label and put present in bag, for fear of anyone seeing this disaster.
    
45. At time of handing over present smile sweetly at receivers face, as they try and hide their contempt at being handed such a badly wrapped present.
    
46. Swear to yourself that next year, that you will get the store to wrap the damn thing for you.
    
    

Copyright: © Mark St Jefferson November 1999

 

"Only when the last tree is cut down
Only when the last river is poisoned
Only when the last fish is caught
Will we discover that money cannot be eaten."

--Cree Prophecy

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~~~^~~~May our visions soar on the wings of eagles~~~^~~~

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"How shall I help the world?"

"By understanding it," said the Master.

"And how shall I understand it?"

"By turning away from it."

"How then shall I serve humanity?"

"By understanding yourself."


Anthony de Mello, SJ


MORSEL:
                  I am not what I ought to be.
                  I am not what I want to be.
                  I am not what I hope to be.
                  But still, I am not what I used to be.
                  And by the grace of God, I am what I am.

                          ... John Newton (1725-1807)

~~~
Judith Leah White-Bear
Earth Walk Fellowship, Animal Psychic Team
http://www.AnimalHealer.org
spirit@...
~~~
Yahoo Msgr: "whitebearsinging"
AOL IM:  "AKwhitebear"
~~~
Let everything you do be your expression of Spirit,
and everything you say be your prayer     ~Anon.
~~~

YOUR FUTURE IS A BIG ADVENTURE.
-----------------------------------------------
Prepare for your future, don't live in the past.
Savor your good memories,
and use any bad ones as lessons in life.
You need to focus on your future not on your past.

Carve out a niche for yourself in your imagined future.
Think, feel and see yourself as successful.
To achieve any goal in life,
you need to project your end result.

Think of the elation, the satisfaction,
the joy you'll feel when you reach your goal.
Carry these ecstatic feelings with you every day
and they'll bring your desired goals into view.

Sooner or later, you can win, if you think you can.
The cards you are dealt in life
are less important than the way you play them.
Everyday you're offered a new deal and new cards.

Success is out there for you.
Don't wait for it to come to you, go out and find it.
----------------------------------------------
©2003 by Max Steingart
(Your Daily Motivation)

Reproduce freely but maintain © notice

YOUR DAILY MOTIVATION

Saturday, October 18, 2003

REALITY IS SOMETHING YOU RISE ABOVE.
-----------------------------------------------
You're more important than any of your problems.
You're bigger than anything that can happen to you.

Great things are accomplished when you believe
that what's inside of you is superior to your circumstances.
What you have outside you counts less
than what you have inside you.

Courage is a special kind of knowledge.
It's the knowledge of how to fear what ought to be feared
and how not to fear what ought not to be feared.

True courage is a result of reasoning.
A brave mind is always impregnable.

Nothing external to you has power over you.
----------------------------------------------
©2003 Written by:MotivationMentor@...

Reproduce freely but maintain © notice
---

Subject: CANDLE

> THIS IS A REALLY COOL STORY AND NOTICE,

> AT THE END, THE DATE THE CANDLE WAS STARTED.

>

> Diane, a young university student, was home for the summer.

> She had gone to visit some friends one evening and time passed

> quickly as each shared their various experiences of the past year.

> She ended up staying longer than planned, and had to walk home alone.

> She wasn't afraid because it was a small town and she lived only a few

> blocks away.

>

> As she walked along under the tall elm trees, Diane asked

> "God" to keep her safe from harm and danger.

> When she reached the alley, which was a short cut to her

> house, she decided to take it.  However, halfway down the

> alley she noticed a man standing at the end as though he

> were waiting for her.  She became uneasy and began to pray,

> asking for "God's" protection. Instantly a comforting feeling

> of quietness and security wrapped around her, she felt as

> though someone was walking with her. When she reached the

> end of the alley, she walked right past the man and arrived home safely.

>

> The following day, she read in the newspaper that a young girl had

> been raped in the same alley just twenty minutes after she had been there.

> Feeling overwhelmed by this tragedy and the fact that it could have

> been her, she began to weep.  Thanking the Lord for her safety and to

> help this young woman, she decided to go to the police station.

> She felt she could recognize the man, so she told them her story.

> The police asked her if she would be willing to look at a lineup to

>  see if she could identify him.  She agreed and immediately

> pointed out the man she had seen in the alley the night before.

>

> When the man was told he had been identified, he immediately

> broke down and confessed.

>

> The officer thanked Diane for her bravery and asked if there was

> anything they could do for her. She asked if they would ask the man

> one question.  Diane was curious as to why he had not attacked her.

> When the policeman asked him, he answered, "Because she wasn't

> alone. She had two tall men walking on either side of her."

>

> Moral of the story...  Don't underestimate the power of Prayer!

>

> Gives ya goosebumps doesn't it!

> To all of you who mean something

> to me, I wish you happiness.

>

> The Candle Of Love, Hope & Friendship

>      ()

>    |---|

>    |---|

>    |---|

>    |---|

>    |---|

> --------

>

> This candle was lit on the 15th of September, 1998.

> Someone who loves you has helped keep it alive by

> sending it to you. Don't  let The Candle Of Love,

> Hope and Friendship die!  Pass It On To All Of Your

> Friends and Everyone You Love!  May God richly

> bless you as this candle lights your path.  Keep hope alive.

>

WHENEVER YOU FEEL DOWN AND YOUR WORLD IS CRUMBLING IN - LOOK TO YOUR FRIENDS AND YOUR BEST FRIEND IS GOD!  HAVE A BLESSED FOREVER - BETTY


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Subject: Special Letter

     Sally jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out of the
     operating room.
     She said: "How is my little boy? Is he going to be all right?
     When can I see him?" The surgeon said, "I'm sorry. We did all
     we could, but your boy didn't make it."
     Sally said, "Why do little children get cancer? Doesn't God
     care any more? Where were you, God, when my son needed you?"
     The surgeon asked, "Would you like some time alone with your
     son?
     One of the nurses will be out in a few minutes, before he's
     transported to the university." Sally asked the nurse to stay
     with her while she said good-bye to son. She ran her fingers
     lovingly through his thick red curly hair.
     Would you like a lock of his hair?" the nurse asked. Sally
     nodded yes.
     The nurse cut a lock of the boy's hair, put it in a plastic bag
     and handed it to Sally.
     The mother said, "It was Jimmy's idea to donate his body to
     The university for study. He said it might help somebody else.
     "I said no at first, but Jimmy said, "Mom, I won't be using it
     After I die. Maybe it will help some other little boy spend one
     more day with his Mom." She went on, "My Jimmy had a heart of gold.
     Always thinking of someone else. Always wanting to help others if he
     could."
     Sally walked out of Children's mercy Hospital for the last
     time, after spending most of the last six months there. She put the bag
     with Jimmy's belongings on the seat beside her in the car. The drive
     home
     was difficult. It was even harder to enter the empty house. She carried
     Jimmy's
     belongings, and the plastic bag with the lock of his hair to her son's
     room. She
     started placing the model cars and other personal things back in his
     Room
     exactly where he had always kept them. She laid down across his bed and,
     hugging his pillow, cried herself to sleep.
     It was around midnight when Sally awoke. Laying beside her on
     the bed was a folded letter. The letter said: "Dear Mom, I know you're
     going
     to miss me; but don't think that I will ever forget you, or stop loving
     you, just 'cause I'm not around to say I LOVE YOU. I will always love
     you,
     Mom, even more with each day. Someday we will see each other again.
     Until
     then, if you want to adopt a little boy so you won't be so lonely,
     that's
     okay with me. He can have my room and old stuff
     to play with. But, if you decide to get a girl instead, she probably
     wouldn't like the same things us boys do. You'll have to buy her dolls
     and
     stuff girls like, you know. Don't be sad thinking about me.
     This really is a neat place.
     Grandma and Grandpa met me as soon as I got here and showed me
     around some, but it will take a long time to see everything.
     The angels are so cool. I love to watch them fly. And, you know
     what?
     Jesus doesn't look like any of his pictures. Yet, when I saw
     Him, I knew it was Him. Jesus himself took me to see GOD! And guess
     what,
     Mom?
     I got to sit on God's knee and talk to Him, like I was somebody
     important.
     That's when I told Him that I wanted to write you a letter, to tell you
     good-bye and everything. But I already knew that wasn't allowed. Well,
     you
     know what Mom? God handed me some paper and His own Personal pen to
     write
     you this letter. I think Gabriel is the name of the angel who is going
     to
     drop this letter off to you.
     God said for me to give you the answer to one of the questions
     you asked Him 'Where was He when I needed him?' "God said He was in the
     same place with me, as when His son Jesus was on the cross. He was
     Right there, as He always is with all His children. Oh, by the way, Mom,
     no
     one else can see what I've written except you.
     To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper.
     Isn't that cool? I have to give God His pen back now. He needs it to
     write
     some more names in the Book of Life. Tonight I get to sit at the table
     with
     Jesus for supper. I'm, sure the food will be great. Oh, I almost forgot
     to
     tell you. I don't hurt anymore. The cancer is all gone.
     I'm glad because I couldn't stand that pain anymore and God couldn't
     stand
     to see me hurt so much, either. That's when He sent The Angel of Mercy
     to
     come get me. The Angel said I was Special Delivery!
     How about that?
     Signed with Love from: God, Jesus & Me.
     Let's see Satan stop this one. Take 60-seconds and send this to
     five
     other people,
     within the hour, you will have caused a multitude of believers
     to
     pray
     to
     God for each other. Then sit back and feel the Holy Spirit work
     in
     your
     life for doing what you know God loves.