Good Evening All, I hope everyone is doing well. I was wondering if anyone has ever heard of a census story. I believe it took place in Kentucky and was about a census worker going from farm to farm. There were a lot of "misunderstanding" type comments such as when asking someone's age they'd say "older than dirt" which would mystify the census taker but really the neighbor's name was "Dirt". If anyone has a copy of this or knows where I can find it I'd really appreciate it. Thanks Patti

Dear My Friends, I want to thank all of you for your kind words and encouragement that I received from so many of you. I can't thank you all enough for the prayers that you have said for my son Matthew. God is good and I pray that your lives will be blessed because you all have been a blessing to me in a time of need. Thank you again!!!! "God Bless You," Lisa My Genealogy Family Webpage: <A HREF="http://www.lisabagin.com/index.html">Fetter Genealogy (www.LisaBagin.com)</A>

Hi -- Great suggestion, but I couldn't manage to post a query. So I sent an email to the "contact" listed on the home web page. I'll let you know if I get a reply. Thanks, Phyllis in NJ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Turk McGee" <turkm.turkmcgee@verizon.net> To: <FOLKLORE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2002 6:19 PM Subject: [FOLKLORE FAMILY] Research > I'm lazy. Here's what I would do. > > http://pub42.ezboard.com/bcustomknifedirectoryforum > > This is a forum for custom knife collectors. I'd join and ask a pro. > See? Lazy > is me! > > Janis > > > Phyllis Cloyd wrote: > > > Hello all -- > > > > I recently inherited a large knife. It is some kind of ceremonial or > > presentation knife. > > > > > > > ==== FOLKLORE Mailing List ==== > A very friendly warm list. > We are one BIG Happy Folk Family. > »§«:*´`³¤³´´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§« >

I'm lazy. Here's what I would do. http://pub42.ezboard.com/bcustomknifedirectoryforum This is a forum for custom knife collectors. I'd join and ask a pro. See? Lazy is me! Janis Phyllis Cloyd wrote: > Hello all -- > > I recently inherited a large knife. It is some kind of ceremonial or > presentation knife. >

Not sure what you have tried to look up on the internet. but you can first start with a search of Sheffield, England and then chek the yellowpages directory of the area, for a Wm. Rogers. I tried looking it up but am having computer problems. Maybe check with the local, civic center if they have one. Erick ----- Original Message ----- From: "Phyllis Cloyd" > Hello all -- > > I recently inherited a large knife. It is some kind of ceremonial or > presentation knife. > > It is approximately 16 inches in length and extremely heavy. Looks similar > to a Bowie knife. Has the blade encased in a rigid metal tipped sheath. > The handle has a metal profile of a knight on the end. Near the hasp is > engraved "by Wm. Rogers Sheffield, England." > > On the blade, in fancy old script, is etched two mottos: > > "Americans ask nothing but what is right and submit to nothing that is > wrong." > > "The United States is the land of the free and the home of the brave > protected by her noble and brave volunteers." > > I contacted the Knights of Columbus and have been told it is not connected > to that organization. > > I checked eBay for anything with similar mottos -- no luck. > > Any suggestions??? > > Thanks, > > Phyllis in NJ >

The Bridge A man walking along a California beach was deep in prayer. All of a sudden, he said out loud, Lord grant me one wish." Suddenly the sky clouded above his head and in a booming voice the Lord said, "Because you have TRIED to be faithful to me in all ways, I will grant you one wish." The man said, "Build a bridge to Hawaii so I can drive over anytime I want." The Lord said, "Your request is very materialistic. Think of the enormous challenges for that kind of undertaking. The supports required to reach the bottom of the Pacific! The concrete and steel it would take! I can do it, but it is hard for me to justify your desire for worldly things. Take a little more time and think of another wish, a wish you think would honor and glorify me." The man thought about it for a long time. Finally he said, "Lord, I wish that I could understand women. I want to know how they feel inside, what they are thinking when they give me the silent treatment, why they cry, what they mean when they say 'nothing', and how I can make a woman truly happy." The Lord replied, "You want two lanes or four lanes on that bridge?" When friends meet, hearts warm...proverb

Lisa I have prayed for Matthew and you and your family.I'm sure your family will recieve a miracle.I will put you in my prayers tonite too.Our God is a awesome God!Linda My most wanted;Austin >ILL.& Ore. Buss;Holland&USA Ford;Ca. Hazen;Uk & Mass. & Mo.&Ca. Helvey;In.&Mo&Ca. Hulett VA.&N.C.&KY&Mo Hagger;ILL.& Miss. Kunkle;IN.&CA McElroy;ORE. Mitchell;TX Millsaps;N.C.&Mo. Redpath/Ridpath;Scotland,Va.In. Santschee;Switzerland,Ca. ----- Original Message ----- From: <LKaz@aol.com> To: <FOLKLORE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, March 14, 2002 7:06 PM Subject: [FOLKLORE FAMILY] UPDATE & STILL NEED PRAYER Hi Everyone, There were so many of you who prayed for my son Matthew a few weeks ago. He did have to have emergency dialysis and the hospital let his blood pressure go too high with no medication and he had suffered 3 seizures. He is now home and going for dialysis 3 times a week as an out patient and is hooked up to the machine for 4 hours. It has been very hard on him but he is a tropper!!! Tonight we were told that the central line that they surgically put in isn't working correctly. They want to put an artificial vein in his arm to do the dialysis which means surgery next week. Then after 2 weeks another surgery to remove the central line. He is quite upset as we all are. But we still keep our faith and believe that God will take him through this as He has done in the past. I still am believing for a "Miracle." I do know that miracle's happen and I will continue to believe. I am trying to learn to be thankful for today and let God worry about tomorrow!!! Amen!!! Well, I am off to finish up some things before it is time for bed. Please keep Matthew in your prayers. "God Bless You," Lisa My Genealogy Family Webpage: <A HREF="http://www.lisabagin.com/index.html">Fetter Genealogy (www.LisaBagin.com)</A> ==== FOLKLORE Mailing List ==== "second star to the right and straight on 'til morning" »§«:*´`³¤³´´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«

Hello all -- I recently inherited a large knife. It is some kind of ceremonial or presentation knife. It is approximately 16 inches in length and extremely heavy. Looks similar to a Bowie knife. Has the blade encased in a rigid metal tipped sheath. The handle has a metal profile of a knight on the end. Near the hasp is engraved "by Wm. Rogers Sheffield, England." On the blade, in fancy old script, is etched two mottos: "Americans ask nothing but what is right and submit to nothing that is wrong." "The United States is the land of the free and the home of the brave protected by her noble and brave volunteers." I contacted the Knights of Columbus and have been told it is not connected to that organization. I checked eBay for anything with similar mottos -- no luck. Any suggestions??? Thanks, Phyllis in NJ

Keeping Matthew & your family in my prayers. Mary ----- Original Message ----- From: <LKaz@aol.com> To: <FOLKLORE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, March 14, 2002 10:06 PM Subject: [FOLKLORE FAMILY] UPDATE & STILL NEED PRAYER Hi Everyone, There were so many of you who prayed for my son Matthew a few weeks ago. He did have to have emergency dialysis and the hospital let his blood pressure go too high with no medication and he had suffered 3 seizures. He is now home and going for dialysis 3 times a week as an out patient and is hooked up to the machine for 4 hours. It has been very hard on him but he is a tropper!!! Tonight we were told that the central line that they surgically put in isn't working correctly. They want to put an artificial vein in his arm to do the dialysis which means surgery next week. Then after 2 weeks another surgery to remove the central line. He is quite upset as we all are. But we still keep our faith and believe that God will take him through this as He has done in the past. I still am believing for a "Miracle." I do know that miracle's happen and I will continue to believe. I am trying to learn to be thankful for today and let God worry about tomorrow!!! Amen!!! Well, I am off to finish up some things before it is time for bed. Please keep Matthew in your prayers. "God Bless You," Lisa My Genealogy Family Webpage: <A HREF="http://www.lisabagin.com/index.html">Fetter Genealogy (www.LisaBagin.com)</A> ==== FOLKLORE Mailing List ==== "second star to the right and straight on 'til morning" »§«:*´`³¤³´´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«

Hi Everyone, There were so many of you who prayed for my son Matthew a few weeks ago. He did have to have emergency dialysis and the hospital let his blood pressure go too high with no medication and he had suffered 3 seizures. He is now home and going for dialysis 3 times a week as an out patient and is hooked up to the machine for 4 hours. It has been very hard on him but he is a tropper!!! Tonight we were told that the central line that they surgically put in isn't working correctly. They want to put an artificial vein in his arm to do the dialysis which means surgery next week. Then after 2 weeks another surgery to remove the central line. He is quite upset as we all are. But we still keep our faith and believe that God will take him through this as He has done in the past. I still am believing for a "Miracle." I do know that miracle's happen and I will continue to believe. I am trying to learn to be thankful for today and let God worry about tomorrow!!! Amen!!! Well, I am off to finish up some things before it is time for bed. Please keep Matthew in your prayers. "God Bless You," Lisa My Genealogy Family Webpage: <A HREF="http://www.lisabagin.com/index.html">Fetter Genealogy (www.LisaBagin.com)</A>

Man vs. Woman A man and his wife were having some problems at home and were giving each other the silent treatment. The next day, the man realized that he would need his wife to wake him at 5:00 AM for an early morning business flight to Chicago. Not wanting to be the first to break the silence (AND LOSE), he wrote on a piece of paper, "Please wake me at 5:00 AM". The next morning the man woke up, only to discover it was 9:00 AM and that he had missed his flight. Furious, he was about to go and see why his wife hadn't woken him when he noticed a piece of paper by the bed. The paper said, "It is 5:00 AM. Wake up." (MEN JUST AREN'T EQUIPPED FOR THESE SORT OF CONTESTS!)

You all have continued to be in my prayers, Lisa. My heart goes out to you and your sick child. I've been there. Pat Las Vegas LKaz@aol.com wrote: > Hi Everyone, > There were so many of you who prayed for my son Matthew a few weeks > ago. He > did have to have emergency dialysis and the hospital let his blood > pressure > go too high with no medication and he had suffered 3 seizures. He is > now > home and going for dialysis 3 times a week as an out patient and is > hooked up > to the machine for 4 hours. It has been very hard on him but he is a > tropper!!! Tonight we were told that the central line that they > surgically > put in isn't working correctly. They want to put an artificial vein > in his > arm to do the dialysis which means surgery next week. Then after 2 > weeks > another surgery to remove the central line. He is quite upset as we > all are. > But we still keep our faith and believe that God will take him > through this > as He has done in the past. I still am believing for a "Miracle." I > do know > that miracle's happen and I will continue to believe. I am trying to > learn > to be thankful for today and let God worry about tomorrow!!! Amen!!! > Well, > I am off to finish up some things before it is time for bed. Please > keep > Matthew in your prayers. > > "God Bless You," > Lisa >

THIS IS FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE IRISH. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Murphy was staggering home with a pint of booze in his back pocket when he slipped and fell heavily. Struggling to his feet, he felt something wet running down his leg. "Please Lord," he implored, "let it be blood!!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Irish Shopping" """"""""""""""""" McQuillan walked into a bar and ordered martini after martini, each time removing the olives and placing them in a jar. When the jar was filled with olives and all the drinks consumed, the Irishman started to leave. "S' cuse me", said a customer, who was puzzled over what McQuillan had done, "what was that all about?" "Nothin', said the Irishman, "my wife just sent me out for a jar of olives!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "You've Been Out Drinking Again" """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" An Irishman had been drinking at a pub all night. The bartender finally said that the bar is closing. So the Irishman stood up to leave fell flat on his face. He tried to stand one more time; same result. He figured he'll crawl outside and get some fresh air and maybe that will sober him up. Once outside, he stood up and fell on his face again. So he decided to crawl the four blocks home. When he arrived at the door he stood up and fell flat on his face. He crawled through the door and into his bedroom. When he reached his bed he tried one more time to stand up. This time he managed to pull himself upright, but he quickly fell right into the bed and is sound asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. He was awakened the next morning to his wife standing over him, shouting, "SO YOU'VE BEEN DRINKING AGAIN!" Putting on an innocent look, and intent on bluffing it out he said, "What makes you say that?" "The pub just called; you left your wheelchair there again." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I've Lost Me Luggage" """""""""""""""""""""""""" An Irishman arrived at J.F.K. Airport and wandered around the terminal with tears streaming down his cheeks. An airline employee asked him if he was already homesick. "No," replied the Irishman. "I've lost all me luggage!" "How'd that happen?" "The cork fell out!" said the Irishman. """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" "Water to Wine" """""""""""""""""" An Irish priest is driving down to New York and gets stopped for speeding in Connecticut. The state trooper smells alcohol on the priest's breath and then sees an empty wine bottle on the floor of the car. He says, "Sir, have you been drinking?" "Just water," says the priest. The trooper says, "Then why do I smell wine?" The priest looks at the bottle and says, "Good Lord! He's done it again!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "The Reunion" """"""""""""""" A man stumbles up to the only other patron in a bar and asks if he could buy him a drink. "Why, of course," comes the reply. The first man then asks, "Where are you from?" "I'm from Ireland," replies the second man. The first man responds: "You don't say, I'm from Ireland too! Let's have another round to Ireland." "Of course," says the second. Curious, the first asks: "Where in Ireland?" "Dublin," comes the reply. "I can't believe it, Me too! Lets have another round of drinks to Dublin." "Of course" The second man can't help himself so he asks, "What school did you attend?" "Saint Mary's", replies the first man. "I graduated in '62." "This is becoming unbelievable!!!" They say in union. About that time, in comes one of the regulars and sits down at the bar. "What's up?" he asks the bartender. "Nothing much," replied the bartender. "The O'Malley twins are drunk again!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "The Brothel" """""""""""""" Two Irishmen were sitting a pub having beer and watching the brothel across the street. They saw a Baptist minister walk into the brothel, and one of them said, "Aye, 'tis a shame to see a man of the cloth goin' bad." Then they saw a rabbi enter the brothel, and the other Irishman said, "Aye, 'tis a shame to see that the Jews are fallin' victim to temptation." Then they saw a catholic priest enter the brothel, and one of the Irishmen said, "What a terrible pity... one of the girls must be quite ill." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Lost at Sea" """"""""""""" Two Irishmen, Patrick & Michael, were adrift in a lifeboat following a dramatic escape from a burning freighter. While rummaging through the boat's provisions, Patrick stumbled across an old lamp. Secretly hoping that a genie would appear, he rubbed the lamp vigorously. To the amazement of Patrick, a genie came forth. This particular genie, however, stated that he could only deliver one wish, not the standard three. Without giving much thought to the matter, Patrick blurted out, "Make the entire ocean into Guinness Beer!" The genie clapped his hands with a deafening crash, and immediately the entire sea turned into the finest brew ever sampled by mortals. Simultaneously, the genie vanished. Only the gentle lapping of Guinness on the hull broke the stillness as the two men considered their circumstances. Michael looked disgustedly at Patrick whose wish had been granted. After a long, tension-filled moment, he spoke: "Nice going Patrick! Now we're going to have to pee in the boat !

Original ---->> Denise Jo 7 Up www.7up.com A-1 Sauce www.a1steaksauce.com Alpine Lace Cheese www.alpinelace.com Arm & Hammer www.armhammer.com Armor Fresh Pork www.freshpork.com Ball Park Franks www.ballparkfranks.com Bertolli Olive Oil www.homearts.com/sites/bertolli Betty Crocker www.bettycrocker.com Birdseye Veggies www.birdseye.com Bob Evans www.bobevans.com Boboli www.boboli.netaxis.com Bumble Bee Tuna www.bumblebee.com Butter Buds www.butterbuds.com Butterball www.butterball.com Carnation Milk www.carnationmilk.com Castleberrys www.castleberrys.com Cattlemen's BBQ www.cattlemens.net Chex Cereals www.chexmix.com College Inn Broth www.collegeinn.com Contadina www.contadina.com Cool Whip www.kraftfoods.com/coolwhip Crisco www.crisco.com Dannon Yogurt www.dannon.com Dean Foods www.dfamboy.com del Monte Brands www.delmonte.com Diamond Walnuts www.diamondwalnut.com Dole www.dole.com Domino Sugars www.dominosugar.com Duncan Hines www.duncanhines.com Eagle Brand Milk www.eaglebrand.com Edy's Grand Ice Cream www.edys.com Fleishmann's www.breadworld.com Franco American www.francoamerican.com Franks Hot Sauce www.franksredhot.com FritoLay www.fritolay.com Ghirardelli Chocolates www.ghirardelli.com Godiva Chocolate www.godiva.com Good Seasons www.kraftfoods.com/goodseasons/fresh_ideas.html Gortons Fish www.gortons.com Grandmas Molasses www.grandmasmolasses.com Green Giant www.greengiant.com Healthy Choice www.healthychoice.com Hellman's Mayonnaise www.brands.bestfoods.com/hellmanns Hershey's Chocolate www.hersheys.com Hidden Valley Ranch www.hiddenvalley.com Holland House Wine www.cookingwine.com HoneySuckle www.honeysucklewhite.com Hormel www.hormel.com/Hormel Idahoan www.idahoan.com Jello World www.kraftfoods.com/jell-o/world Jet Puffed Marshmallows www.smore.com Jif Peanut Butter www.jif.com Jiffy Mixes www.jiffymix.com/jiffy Johnsonville Sausage www.johnsonville.com JollyTime Popcorn www.jollytime.com Jones Sausage www.jonessausage.com Keebler Hollow www.keebler.com Kikkoman Soy www.kikkoman.com Kozy Shack Pudding www.kozyshack.com Kraft www.kraftfoods.com La Choy www.lachoyfoodservice.com Land-O-Lakes www.landolakes.com Libbys www.senecafoods.com/libbys Light & Fluffy www.nwpasta.com/light Louis Kemp Seafood www.louiskemp.com Magic Seasoning www.chefpaul.com Malt-O-Meal www.malt-o-meal.com Marsmallow Fluff www.marshmallowfluff.com McCormick www.mccormick.com Minute Rice www.kraftfoods.com Miracle Whip www.kraftfoods.com/miraclewhip Motts www.motts.com Musselmanns www.knouse.com/luckyleaf/ Nabisco www.nabisco.com Nestles Toll House www.tollhouse.com Newman's Own www.newmansown.com Ocean Spray www.oceanspray.com Old El Paso www.oldelpaso.com Ortega www.ortegafoods.com Oscar Mayer www.kraftfoods.com/oscar-mayer P&R Pasta www.nwpasta.com/rossi Philly Cream Cheese www.kraftfoods.com/philadelphia Pillsbury www.pillsbury.com Post Cereals www.kraftfoods.com/postcereals Progresso www.progressosoup.com Quaker Oats www.quakeroatmeal.com Ragu www.ragu.com Ready Crust www.readycrust.com Real Lemon www.realemon.net Reddi Whip www.reddiwip.com Rice-A-Roni www.ricearoni.com Ronzoni www.nwpasta.com/ronzoni Rosetto www.rosetto.com San Giorgio www.nwpasta.com/sangiorgio Sargento Cheese www.sargento.com Seapak Seafood www.seapak.com Skippy Peanut Butter www.brands.bestfoods.com/skippy Smuckers www.smucker.com Starkist Tuna www.starkist.com/food/recipebox/index.html Stouffers www.stouffers.com Stove-Top www.kraftfoods.com/stovetop Success Rice www.successrice.com Sue Bee Honey www.suebee.com Sure Jell www.kraftfoods.com/surejell Swanson Broth www.swansonbroth.com Sweet & Low www.sweetnlow.com Sweet One www.sweetone.com The Turkey Store www.turkeystore.com Thorn Apple Valley www.tavi.com Tabasco Sauce www.tabasco.com Total Cereal www.totalcereal.com Tropicana Juice www.tropicana.com Turkey Hill www.turkeyhill.com Tyson Chicken www.tyson.com Velveeta www.kraftfoods.com/velveeta Welch's www.welchs.com Yoplait Yogurt www.generalmills.com/yoplait Moses started out as a basket case too!

Almost 150 years ago, President Lincoln found it necessary to hire a private investigator - Mr. Alan Pinkerton. He was actually the beginning of the Secret Service. Since that time federal police authority has grown to a large number of agencies - FBI,CIA, INS, IRS, DEA, BATF, SS, ATF, etc. Now Congress is considering a proposal for another agency: The " Federal Air Transportation Airport Security Service." Can't you see it now? The new service in their black uniforms with their initials in large white letters across their backs? FATASS .·:*´¨`*:·..·:*´¨`*:·. *: * Richiele * * *·. .·* `*·-:¦:-*´ ³´`*:»§«:*´`³

What Would I Say to a Younger Me? By Jim Warda Looking at my high school yearbook picture, I wondered what I would say if I could go back twenty years and talk to him? What would I tell him about the years ahead, about the ways he would change and what would remain? The face in the picture was unlined. His eyes were bright and so sure he'd live forever. His hair was long, just right for the time for a guy in a band. But today, when I showed it to my son and he saw the wide lapels and denim sportcoat, he just grimaced. Would I tell young Jim that he'd marry a beautiful Italian girl who dances and bakes? Would he see in my eyes the love that he'd one day have for his three children? Would I tell him that soon he'd revel in the way words tumbled and fell across the page? Would I let on about the suffering that inevitably would come, that is as much a part of life as breathing? And, what would his questions be to me? Would he need to know what not to do, what not to say, who not to trust? Would he ask about our parents, our family, our friends? Would he want to know how I went from wearing jeans and T- shirts to Dockers and a tie? Or if he ever made it as a rock star? If he did, I'd sit him down and gently explain that he hadn't become a musician. But, then I'd smile and tell him that he was doing exactly what he was supposed to do, saying the things that had been strong but silent in his heart down those long high school halls. And I wonder. Would he be proud of who he'd become? What would you say to a younger you? .·:*´¨`*:·..·:*´¨`*:·. *: * Richiele * * *·. .·* `*·-:¦:-*´ ³´`*:»§«:*´`³

> A TRUE HERO > Bob Butler lost his legs in a 1965 land mine explosion in Vietnam. He > returned home a war hero. Twenty years later, he proved once again that > heroism comes from the heart. > > Butler was working in his garage in a small town in Arizona on a hot > summer day when he heard a woman's screams coming from a nearby > house. He began rolling his wheelchair toward the house but the > dense shrubbery wouldn't allow him access to the back door. So he > got out of his chair and started to crawl through the dirt and bushes. > I had to get there, he says. It didn't matter how much it hurt. > When Butler arrived at the pool there was a three-year-old girl > named Stephanie Hanes lying at the bottom. She had been born > without arms and had fallen in the water and couldn't swim. > Her mother stood over her baby screaming frantically. Butler dove > to the bottom of the pool and brought little Stephanie up to the deck. > Her face was blue, she had no pulse and was not breathing. > Butler immediately went to work performing CPR to revive her while > Stephanie's mother telephoned the fire department. She was told > the paramedics were already out on a call. Helplessly, she sobbed > and hugged Butler's shoulder. > As Butler continued with his CPR, he calmly reassured her. > Don't worry, he said. I was her arms to get out of the pool. It'll be okay. > I am now her lungs. Together we can make it. Seconds later the > little girl coughed, regained consciousness, and began to cry. > As they hugged and rejoiced together; the mother asked Butler > how he knew it would be okay. > The truth is, I didn't know, he told her. But when my legs were blown off > in the war, I was all alone in a field. No one was there to help > except a little Vietnamese girl. As she struggled to drag me into > her village, she whispered in broken English, It okay. > You can live. I be your legs. Together we make it. Her kind words > brought hope to my soul and I wanted to do the same for Stephanie. > There are simply those times when we cannot stand alone. > There are those times when we need someone > to be our legs, our arms, our friend. > > > > Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling five balls in the air. > You name them - Work, Family, Health, Friends and Spirit - and you're > keeping all of these in the air. > You will soon understand that Work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it > will bounce back. But the other four balls - Family, Health, Friends, and > Spirit are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be > irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will > never be the same. > You must understand that and strive for balance in your life. How? Don't > undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we > are different that each of us is special. Don't set your goals by what > other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you. Don't > take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as if > they were your life, for without them, life is meaningless. Don't let your > life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future. By > living your life one day at a time, you live ALL the days of your life. > Don't give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really > over until the moment you stop trying. > Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is this > fragile thread that binds us to each together. > Don't be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn > how to be brave. > Don't shut love out of your life by saying it's impossible to find time. > The quickest way to receive love is to give; the fastest way to lose love > is to hold it too tightly; and the best way to keep love is to give it > wings. > Don't run through life so fast that you forget not only where you've been, > but also where you are going. > Don't forget, a person's greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated. > Don't be afraid to learn. Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can > always carry easily. > Don't use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved. > Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way. > > > > > On a morning television show there was a segment on pets. > People brought their favorite pets. > One pet was a hairless cat - curious to be sure, > but by most standards not beautiful. The host cautiously asked. > " But isn't it ugly?" The somewhat offended pet owner remarked, > " Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." > Perception is largely what forms our lives. > Life truly is created by not only what we see and feel, but also, > how we see and feel. What is a catastrophic failure to one, > is an opportunity to learn to another. > What is perceived as God or Higher Power > picking on them to some people, > is God or Higher Power assisting them to be strong in others. > What is a failed childhood to one person, > is a college of survival skills to another - > where all graduates have Ph.D's. > It is not what happens or happened to us that matters, > but how we view those happenings. > I am responsible for my own perceptions of the world, > I accept the fact that the world I see is largely the world I make. > > > > > Sometimes in life our halo slips > > So what do we do then? > > Just reach right up and straighten it, > > And start all over again. > > .·:*´¨`*:·..·:*´¨`*:·. *: * Richiele * * *·. .·* `*·-:¦:-*´ ³´`*:»§«:*´`³

~ God's Grace ~ There once was a man named George Thomas, pastor in a small New England town. One Easter Sunday morning he came to the Church carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit. Eyebrows were raised and, as in response, Pastor Thomas began to speak... "I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright. I stopped the lad and asked, "What you got there, son?" "Just some old birds," came the reply. "What are you gonna do with them?" I asked. "Take 'em home and have fun with 'em," he answered. "I'm gonna tease 'em and pull out their feathers to make 'em fight. I'm gonna have a real good time." "But you'll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will you do?" "Oh, I got some cats," said the little boy. "They like birds. I'll take 'em to them." The pastor was silent for a moment. "How much do you want for those birds, son?" "Huh?? !!! Why, you don't want them birds, mister. They're just plain old field birds. They don't sing. They ain't even pretty!" "How much?" the pastor asked again. The boy sized up the pastor as if he were crazy and said, "$10?" The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill. He placed it in the boy's hand. In a flash, the boy was gone. The pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy spot. Setting the cage down, he opened the door, and by softly tapping the bars persuaded the birds out, setting them free. Well, that explained the empty bird cage on the pulpit, and then the pastor began to tell this story. One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation. Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting. "Yes, sir, I just caught the world full of people down there. Set me a trap, used bait I knew they couldn't resist. Got 'em all!" "What are you going to do with them?" Jesus asked. Satan replied, "Oh, I'm gonna have fun! I'm gonna teach them how to marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to drink and smoke and curse. I'm gonna teach them how to invent guns and bombs and kill each other. I'm really gonna have fun!" "And what will you do when you get done with them?" Jesus asked. "Oh, I'll kill 'em," Satan glared proudly. "How much do you want for them?" Jesus asked. "Oh, you don't want those people. They ain't no good. Why, you'll take them and they'll just hate you. They'll spit on you, curse you and kill you. You don't want those people!!" "How much? He asked again. Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, "All your blood, tears and your life." Jesus said, "DONE!" Then He paid the price. The pastor picked up the cage he opened the door and he walked from the pulpit. Notes: Isn't it funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Isn't it funny how someone can say "I believe in God" but still follow Satan (who, by the way, also "believes" in God). Isn't it funny how you can send a thousand jokes spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Isn't it funny how when you go to forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it to them. Isn't it funny how I can be more worried about what other people think of me than what God thinks of me. I pray, for everyone who sends this to their entire address book, they will be blessed by God in a way special for them. And send it back to the person who sent it, to let them know that indeed it was sent out to many more. .·:*´¨`*:·..·:*´¨`*:·. *: * Richiele * * *·. .·* `*·-:¦:-*´ ³´`*:»§«:*´`³

Etched in my Mind By Brian Brookheart It was one of life's short-notice opportunities. A schedule change created an opening for me to speak for Operation Starting Line. I was delighted to receive the call that they needed me in Texas. Operation Starting Line is a combined effort of more than a dozen prominent Christian ministries, including the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Prison Fellowship Ministries and Promise Keepers. The goal of this evangelistic, discipleship and post-release program is to touch every prisoner in the United States within a five- year period. The events in Texas consisted of five teams who visited thirteen prisons. I was part of a team of five, which included an ex-prisoner - me. My job was to tell my story of transformation from a life filled with poverty, despair and drug addiction into a successful businessman. My mother raised three children on a meager, monthly welfare check while my father served time in a maximum- security prison. Our house was filled with rats, mice and roaches. My environment led me to a life of crime in a struggle to survive. I recounted how Jesus transformed me from a Class X felon into a success. On Friday we did two shows at a minimum-security prison. The next day, we went to a maximum-security facility. While we were setting up in the yard, the chaplain told us that if a riot broke out we were to go to the brick wall and put our backs against it and let the riot police do their jobs. The unit was filled with boys, eleven to nineteen years old, who were serving thirty- to forty-year sentences. During the show, someone started a fire in the kitchen. When we returned two days later, we heard that many guards had quit because it was so dangerous. We went to "the hole" (the administrative segregation unit) to speak to the guys in their cells. There I met a heavily tattooed seventeen-year-old "gang-banger" serving forty "ag" years. That meant he had an aggravated sentence and had to serve about thirty years before he could see the parole board. In the hole, I sat on the floor and read the Bible with a sixteen-year-old gang-banger serving a ten-year sentence. When I asked him why he joined a gang, he looked at me like I was crazy and said, "Everyone I know is in a gang." I looked into his sad eyes and realized that only God could heal the hurts in this young man's heart. The incredible waste of a valuable life overwhelmed me. I asked him if he would like to accept Jesus into his heart. He eagerly responded, "Yes," and we prayed together. It was one of the most moving moments I had ever experienced. On April 9, my team asked me to do "the close." Afterward, I told them that it was my birthday and there was nothing else that I'd rather be doing. Then I thanked them and began to walk away. As I turned my head toward the crowd, I was humbled to see the inmates, who were on their feet, blessing me with a standing ovation. The men were touched by my simple, heartfelt compassion. I realized that my job was simply to tell them my story and let the Lord take care of the rest. A young man named Steve, came up to me after the show and showed me the scars on his hands where rats had bitten him as a child. He had previously accepted the Lord, but struggled with his daily walk. My heart was breaking for him. As I reflect on these inspiring events, I think of the inmates' hearts that were touched by the hope that my life represents. Twenty-three years ago, I really was a seventeen-year-old convicted Class X felon. Moments before I cried out for the Lord's help, I was lying in my bunk, thinking about killing a prison guard. Now the pain of yesterday is wiped away. I am happily married, live in a new house and drive a fine car. My life is blessed and radically transformed. Steadfast hope is a driving force that will keep prisoners seeking the face of God, giving him time to answer their prayers and implement his will in their lives. At those events, Jesus touched many lives - including mine. My heart will forever see the faces of those inmates light up when I explained where I have been and where the Lord continues to take me. Their faces are etched in my mind forever. .·:*´¨`*:·..·:*´¨`*:·. *: * Richiele * * *·. .·* `*·-:¦:-*´ ³´`*:»§«:*´`³

Hello Erick from New Zealand I apprecite the many 'tips' you post on Folklore I have a problem you might know the answer to When I try to print out messages frim Outlook Express they print in HUGE fonts. I have tried all te usual 'cures' resetting, re-installing, checking both printers (2 different printers give same result) and nothing I do can make the printing fonts a normal size This does not happen when I print from Hotmail Any help would be much appreciated form anyone reading this as well as Erick Regards Jean NZ