The Game of Life Newsletter ~*~ April 1999 ~*~

Hi guys!!!! =) Well, the new issue is finally here!!! March was a pretty decent Month for me (as long as we don't talk about HP! ugh!) I learned how to make tags and buttons using Paint Shop Pro 5!! I started making buttons to use on the April page, but it got placed on a back burner and time escaped me. =( So.. you will have to wait until the MAY issue to see my "new found talent" LOL!. I have also set up a web site on Geocities (which is also where you are now viewing this page). The webpages that are currently on AOL's server will stay there, but all new pages will go on my Geocities space. This link will take you to the MAIN page of my site.. from there, you can navigate through it...
Christy's World of Love and Smiles
http://www.oocities.org/Heartland/Farm/1628
ALL comments and suggestions welcome! =)
This issue, I don't want to overload you with graphics or have this issue be too "busy", but rather simply share with you... and hopefully touch your heart.
Please take a moment during this season ~ whether you are celebrating Easter, Passover, or the joys that nature is bringing your way ~ to stop and "smell the roses" and be thankful for the blessings that make up each day of your life.
Lots of Love n Smiles, Christy

I want to start off the newsletter by sharing one of my favorites with you.... Thank you so much John for getting me a copy of this. =)

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for....
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a
fool for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon.
I want to know if you have touched the center of the sorrow....
if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have
become shriveled and closed from fear or further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain....
mine or your own....without moving to hide it ..
or fade it.. or fix it. I want to know if you can be with joy....
mine or your own... if you can dance with wildness and
let the ecstacy fill you to the tips of your fingers
and toes without cautioning you to be careful, be realistic
or to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true.
I want to know if you can disappoint another
to be true to yourself... if you can bear the accusation
of betrayal and not betray your own soul.

I want to know if you can be faithful and therefore be trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see beauty even when
it is not pretty every day and if you can
source your life from God's presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure... yours and mine...
and still stand on the edge of a lake and shout to the silver
of the full moon.... Yes!

It doesn't interest me to know where you live
or how much money you have. I want to know if you can
get up after the night of great despair, weary and bruised to
the bone and do what needs to be done for the children.

It doesn't interest me who you are... how you came here.
I want to know if you'll stand in the center of the fire
with me and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom
you have studied. I want to know what sustains you
from the inside when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep...
.in the empty moments....

OriahMountain Dreamer

(c)From Dreams Of Desire 1995..by Oriah House-
all rights reserved-published by Mountain Dreaming

Down In Fuzzy Junction
By: John / EagleLinx1@aol.com
~ Game of Life Co-Editor~

Howdy Y'all,
Well, Lookie here, it's almost Easter Time already! Time for the women folks to be going out and getting purty new Easter dresses down to the feed store! Also, lets not forget the true meanin of this time of year. And, NO ladies it aint about jest an excuse to get a new spring, Sunday go to meetin dress either! And NO it aint an excuse to gather round after church at the picnic up on the hill to talk about what Mrs. Pendergrass's dress looks like or the fact that it makes her look like an old milk cow that aint been milked in a while! Nopers, Easter brings up connotations of several thangs. First off it signals what might be kinda considered the beginning of WhiteBass a spawnin! And, of course, that means.... YEP FISHING!!!!!!
Secondly it means Spring Training is well under way and soon we will be knee deep in baseball! =) And Thirdly, Its time to go to hidin Eggs (pronounced AIGS) for the kiddies to find. Now with this part I is gonna give y'all some hints and advice dug out of my hat of wisdom. This mainly comes from hard learned lessons!
A.) Count how many Aigs ya gonna hide! Reason: That way you aint a lookin for them till May or June when they get hot and all bloated and bust! Note: they are very easy to find when they get to this point!
B.) Make a map of all your hidin places! Reason: See Item A.
C.) Dye em all in real bright colors! Reason: See Item A.
D.) Count how many kids (and adults) is gonna be lookin fer em! Reason: See Item A.
E.) Don't go lettin kids eat em aforen you count em! Reason: You'll be lookin till May or June for the ones that aint there no more cuz you will be scairt half to death that that they will bust open when it gets hots and they get all bloated!
F.) Don't let pets near the hidin grounds! Reason: See Item E.
G.) Avoid Sugar Eggs! Reason: Kids will be pinging off the walls and will be wired for Days! Nother Reason: Ants will find em and build Shrines in your Honor in your backyard from all the excess Energy they have from all the sugar!
And Fourthly, lets not forget the real meaning of Easter! It is to remember that our Lord and Savior gave His Life so that our sins would be forgiven! Y'all have a Happy Easter and don't be eatin too much at the Picnic after Church! Also, say a lil prayer that maybe Mrs. Pendergrass will find a better feed sack to wear this year!

To see more of John's work, please visit:

From: Alex / Smile4Kid@aol.com

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
MAKE A CHILD SMILE
http://www.makeachildsmile.org
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Hello to all,
The Featured Kids of the Month page for April is already up!!!
Meet Brandon and Nicholas!!
Don't forget, of course, to send them a card!!!
**Reminder: April 12th is Justina's birthday!!!
(July/98 Featured Kid)
Please send Justina a birthday card!!!
Hugs
Alexandra

A little background for those of you not familiar with Alex or the Make a Child Smile project..... Every month, Alex features 2 new children on the website. These are children that are not as fortunate as most of us health-wise. Although they may have the natural love and joy of a child, life has placed upon thier shoulders a burden heavier than we would ever want to carry. The purpose of featuring these children is to give each of us an oppurtunity to bless them... by sending them a card or a letter... You can send a little toy surprise or a music tape if you want, some of the children are blind and especially touched by music. You only do what you feel you want to do... you can spend as little as 33 cents (for postage). Your letter will
Make a Child Smile.
Alex ~ Thank You for all the hard work you do and all the love you express and for enabling each of us to express love to these children. =)

From: wendyww@webtv.net

GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT LIFE THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED
1. No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.
2. When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.
3. If your sister hits you, don't hit her back.
They always catch the second person.
4. Never ask a 3-year old to hold a tomato.
5. You can't trust dogs to watch your food.
6. Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.
7. Puppies still have bad breath even after eating a tic-tac.
8. Never hold a dustbuster and a cat at the same time.
9. School lunches stick to the wall.
10. You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
11. Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.

GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT LIFE THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED
1. Raising teenagers is like trying to nail Jell-O to a tree.
2. There's always a lot to be thankful for if you take time to look for
it. For example, I
am sitting here thinking how nice it is that wrinkles don't hurt.
3. Reason to smile: Every seven minutes of every day, someone in an
aerobics class
pulls a hamstring.
4. The best way to keep kids at home is to make the home a pleasant
atmosphere...and
let the air out of their tires.
5. Families are like fudge...mostly sweet with a few nuts. (Meredith,
as you are finding,
the Harris Family comes with "extra nuts".)
6. Middle age is when you choose cereal for the fiber, not the toy.
7. The more you complain, the longer God lets you live.
8. If you can remain calm, you don't have all the facts.
9. Eat a live toad first thing in the morning, and nothing worse can
happen to you the rest of the day.
10. You know you're getting old when you stoop to tie your shoes and
wonder what else you can do while you're down there.

Submitted By: Rosebudd48

THIS PUTS EASTER IN PERSPECTIVE.

"JEREMY'S EGG"

Jeremy was born with a twisted body, a slow mind and a chronic, terminal illness that had been slowly killing him all his young life. Still, his parents had tried to give him as normal a life as possible and had sent him to St. Theresa's elementary school. At the age of 12, Jeremy was only in second grade, seemingly unable to learn. His teacher, Doris Miller, often became exasperated with him. He would squirm in his seat, drool and make grunting noises. At other times, he spoke clearly and distinctly, as if a spot of light had penetrated the darkness of his brain. Most of the time, however, Jeremy irritated his teacher.

One day, she called his parents and asked them to come to St. Teresa's for a consultation. As the Foresters sat quietly in the empty classroom, Doris said to them, "Jeremy really belongs in a special school. It isn't fair to him to be with younger children who don't have learning problems. Why, there is a five-year gap between his age and that of the other students!" Mrs. Forrester cried softly into a tissue while her husband spoke. "Miss Miller," he said, "there is no school of that kind nearby. It would be a terrible shock for Jeremy if we had to take him out of this school. We know he really likes it here." Doris sat for a long time after they left, staring at the snow outside the window. Its coldness seemed to seep into her soul. She wanted to sympathize with the Foresters. After all, their only child had a terminal illness. But it wasn't fair to keep him in her class. She had 18 other youngsters to teach and Jeremy was a distraction. Furthermore, he would never learn to read or write. Why spend any more time trying? As she pondered the situation, guilt washed over her. "Oh God," she said aloud, "here I am complaining when my problems are nothing compared with that poor family! Please help me to be more patient with Jeremy."

From that day on, she tried hard to ignore Jeremy's noises and his blank stares. Then one day he limped to her desk, dragging his bad leg behind him. "I love you, Miss Miller," he exclaimed, loudly enough for the whole class to hear. The other children snickered, and Doris's face turned red. She stammered, "wh-why, that's very nice, Jeremy. Now please take your seat."

Spring came, and the children talked excitedly about the coming of Easter. Doris told them the story of Jesus, and then to emphasize the idea of new life springing forth, she gave each of the children a large plastic egg. "Now," she said to them "I want you to take this home and bring it back tomorrow with something inside that shows new life. Do you understand?" "Yes, Miss Miller!" The children responded enthusiastically - all except for Jeremy. He just listened intently; his eyes never left her face. He did not even make his usual noises. Had he understood what she had said about Jesus' death and resurrection? Did he understand the assignment? Perhaps she should call his parents and explain the project to them.

That evening, Doris' kitchen sink stopped up. She called the landlord and waited an hour for him to come by and unclog it. After that, she still had to shop for groceries, iron a blouse and prepare a vocabulary test for the next day. She completely forgot about phoning Jeremy 's parents.

The next morning, 19 children came to school, laughing and talking as they placed their eggs in the large wicker basket on Miss Miller's desk. After they completed their math lesson, it was time to open the eggs. In the first egg, Doris found a flower. "Oh yes, a flower is certainly a sign of new life," she said. "When plants peek through the ground we know that spring is here." A small girl in the first row waved her arms. "That's my egg, Miss Miller," she called out. The next egg contained a plastic butterfly, which looked very real. Doris held it up. "We all know that a caterpillar changes and turns into a beautiful butterfly. Yes, that is new life, too" little Judy smiled proudly and said, "Miss Miller, that one is mine." Next Doris found a rock with moss on it. She explained that the moss, too, showed life. Billy spoke up from the back of the classroom. "My daddy helped me!" He beamed. Then Doris opened the fourth egg. She gasped. The egg was empty! Surely it must be Jeremy 's, she thought, and, of course, he did not understand her instructions. If only she had not forgotten to phone his parents. Because she did not want to embarrass him, she quietly set the egg aside and reached for another. Suddenly Jeremy spoke up. "Miss Miller, aren't you going to talk about my egg?" Flustered, Doris replied, "but Jeremy - your egg is empty!" He looked into her eyes and said softly, "yes, but Jesus' tomb was empty too!" Time stopped. When she could speak again. Doris asked him, "Do you know why the tomb was empty?" "Oh yes!" Jeremy exclaimed. "Jesus was killed and put in there. Then his Father raised him up!"

The recess bell rang. While the children excitedly ran out to the schoolyard, Doris cried. The cold inside her melted completely away. Three months later Jeremy died. Those who paid their respects at the mortuary were surprised to see 19 eggs on top of his casket...............all of them empty.

Healthy Living
By: Susan / Susan909@aol.com
~ Game of Life Co-Editor~

EATING SMART

The craze to graze: How to snack with nutrition in mind.

Eating mini-meals through out the day, or grazing, is now an accepted and sensible way to ensure that you get the calories and nutrients you need. This can be especially beneficial for diabetics, children, teenagers, the elderly and dieters who for various reasons may not be able to eat in the more traditional way. Eating smaller, nutritious meals and snacks helps stabilize blood sugar levels.

The secret is to make sure the snacks you eat are not high calorie, high fat, low nutritional foods. This is easy to do if you skip the potato chips and candy bars and follow the same dietary guidelines that you do with your regular meals. If you're watching your weight, grazing may be a good alternative to the three big meals a day. You can treat yourself to two to four low calorie low fat snacks a day.

Here are some ideas that may help you put nutritious snacks into your diet.

If you don't have time to fuel up with breakfast, choose some grain based snacks like whole wheat bagels or fat free crackers, have them with yogurt or cottage cheese.

Pack a snack to take with you to work or school. That way even if you don't have time to eat on your way out of the house, you can snack when you get where you are going.

Fresh fruits are always the best choice along with vegetables. And you can virtually eat as much as you want without blowing your daily fat or calorie allowance.

Frozen yogurt is fat free, low in calories and yummy to boot! It's my favorite healthy snack food.

Sugar free Jell-O, with strawberries, or bananas in it, total calories is about 120 and it is very filling.

One celery stalk stuffed with nonfat cream cheese or cottage cheese.

A whole grain muffin with some low fat jam on it.

One cup of low fat bean, lentil, or vegetable soup. Progresso and Healthy Choice make some delicious soups.

No time for lunch? Or you need a mid day pick me up, stash a supply of healthy snacks in your desk, gym bag, car, purse. Try pretzel sticks, fat free granola bars, baby carrots with fat free ranch dip, rice cakes.

Grabbing a healthy snack late in-the afternoon may prevent you from doing something dumb when the hunger pains strike and dinner is several hours away.

Have fun grazing and snacking, be creative! Try something entirely new
And pat yourself on the back for every new idea you get.

Related Links:

Prevention FoodScanner
http://healthyideas.com/cooking/foodscanner30/
Use this to evaluate your diets strengths and weaknesses.

Snacking Well May Slow Aging: Advice from Wom...
http://healthyideas.com/cooking/news/990311.news.html
More on mini meals in here.

CHOICEdm Nutrition Bars and Beverage for diabetics Fake Fat: The Skinny On Olestra
http://www.choicedm.com/

Why Snacking is Good for You
aol://4344:915.wdalw005.8061557.507054246
On AOL Only =(

InteliHealth - Home to Johns Hopkins Health I...
aol://4344:1655.ihnutr.12413202.573066834
On AOL Only =(
Assessing your diet

I have met many people on the Internet, all of them wonderful, many of them suffering from some sort of chronic illness or disability. They have inspired me, made me take a closer look at my life, helped me to realize just how grateful I am to enjoy good health. There are two very important events coming up that I hope you may get involved with. One is a Bike ride, " The tour de Cure" it is the nation's largest cycling event to fight againist diabetes. More than 50,000 riders participate in the Tour de Cure events in over 30 states in this country. You can share your strength for a day, should you decide to ride. All money raised pays for activities to prevent and cure diabetes, and to improve the lives
of all people affected by diabetes. On May 1st, I will be riding in Riverside, CA for the Tour de Cure. Check out their web site to find out where the ride will be held in your area.
Tour de Cure© 1999
http://www.diabetes.org/tour99/
Everyone wins when we all get involved. Thanks to my special friend John, for helping me understand how I can help make a difference.

The second important event is the Multiple Sclerosis Walk held around the US in April. Can't walk????? You can volunteer to help in many ways. What can you do this year?????
You can find all the information you need at their web site.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society
http://www.nmss.org/index.html

A Lifetime of nutrition
What and when your kids should eat

Nutritional needs change throughout our lives depending on age. Of course, food alone isn't the key to a longer and healthier life. Good nutrition should be taught very early to our children. Teach them to make it a natural part of life, teach them to choose well. It will reap rewards not only in their good health but in every aspect of life, throughout their life time.

Children often develop strange or irregular eating habits. They become bored with their usual foods or may even want the same food everyday. Children are usually more interested in exploring their world, than they are in are in eating. And the bottom line is when they get hungry, they will eat.....

Nutrition for stages and ages links.

AOL Links:
InteliHealth - Newborn Growth and Nutrition

InteliHealth - Transitional Feeding

InteliHealth - Ages 1 - 6 .

InteliHealth -The Elementary School Years

InteliHealth - Adolescense .

The Nutrition Pro - Moms Online

Internet Links:
FK-MarApr99
http://nutritionforkids.com/emlnews/FK-MarApr99.htm
--Feeding kids newsletter

The Healthy Refrigerator
http://www.healthyfridge.org/kidsrec.html
-- Having fun with kids in the kitchen

Thank you Susan for all of this wonderful information!!

Submitted By: AmySL1@aol.com

YESTERDAY - TODAY - TOMORROW

THERE ARE TWO DAYS IN EVERY WEEK ABOUT
WHICH WE SHOULD NOT WORRY.TWO DAYS SHOULD
BE KEPT FAR FROM FEAR AND APPREHENSION.

ONE OF THESE DAYS IS "YESTERDAY"
WITH ITS MISTAKES AND CARES,
ITS FAULTS AND BLUNDERS,
ITS ACHES AND PAINS.

YESTERDAY HAS PASSED FOREVER BEYOND OUR CONTROL.
ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD
CANNOT BRING BACK YESTERDAY.

WE CANNOT UNDO A SINGLE ACT WE PERFORM.
WE CANNOT ERASE A SINGLE WORD WE'VE SAID.
YESTERDAY HAS GONE.

THE OTHER DAY WE SHOULD NOT WORRY ABOUT
IS "TOMORROW" WITH ITS POSSIBLE ADVERSITIES,
ITS BURDENS, ITS LARGE PROMISE, AND POOR PERFORMANCE.

TOMORROW'S SUN WILL RISE EITHER IN SPLENDOR OR
BEHIND A MASK OF CLOUDS -
BUT IT WILL RISE.

UNTIL IT DOES, WE HAVE NO STAKE
IN "TOMORROW,"
FOR IT IS YET UNBORN

THAT LEAVES ONLY ONE DAY, "TODAY."
ANYONE CAN FIGHT THE BATTLES OF JUST ONE DAY.
IT IS ONLY WHEN YOU AND I ADD THE BURDENS
OF TWO AWFUL ETERNITY'S "YESTERDAY"
AND "TOMORROW" THAT WE BREAK DOWN.

IT IS NOT THE EXPERIENCE OF "TODAY"
THAT DRIVES PEOPLE MAD. IT IS THE REMORSE OR BITTERNESS
FOR SOMETHING WHICH HAPPENED
"YESTERDAY," AND THE DREAD OF WHAT "TOMORROW" MAY BRING.

LET US, THEREFORE, LIVE BUT ONE DAY AT A TIME.
Author Unknown

Angel Hugs (AOL Chat Room)
A grief support room for those suffering from a loss or any other problems impacting their lives.

From TinaBTalks@aol.com
(who recieved it from A1Angel4u2@aol.com)

THE 2nd TEN COMMANDMENTS
1. Thou shall not worry,
for worry is the most unproductive of all human activities.
2. Thou shall not be fearful,
for most of the things we fear never come to pass.
3. Thou shall not cross bridges before you come to them,
for no one yet has succeeded in accomplishing this.
4. Thou shall face each problem as it comes.
You can only handle one at a time anyway.
5. Thou shall not take problems to bed with you,
for they make very poor bedfellows.
6. Thou shall not borrow other people's problems.
They can better care for them than you can.
7. Thou shall not try to relive yesterday for good or ill,
it is forever gone. Concentrate on what is
happening in your life and be happy now!
8. Thou shall be a good listener,
for only when you listen do you hear different
ideas from your own. It is hard to learn
something new when you are talking,
and some people do know more than you do.
9. Thou shall not become "bogged down" by frustration,
for 90% of it is rooted in self-pity
and will only interfere with positive action.
10. Thou shall count thy blessings,
never overlooking the small ones,
for a lot of small blessings add up to a big one
~author unknown~

If Questions
Compiled by: Linda / Linda1000@aol.com
~ Game of Life Co-Editor~

March Question:
If you could have chosen your own first name,
other than your current one, what would it be???

Responses to March Question:

What name would I choose??
Definitely my moms Middle name ... old world name.. and I think so elegant... Adelaide.

Tessa Elizabeth,, because it is my gramma's name and I love it and her so much...

If you could have chosen your own first name,
other than your current one, what would it be???
I would have chosen Sandra, ( I named my daughter that)
cause I love the nickname Sandi ... Hugs, Janice
(that's not all that bad either..lol)

My response would be I would love my name to be Mary-Kathryn Elana Paluzzi
That would cover both my grandmothers. I love those names ..Beth

ANYTHING BUT LYNDA(just kidding Linda)
--- No really, I love the name Elizabeth

If you could have chosen your own first name,
other than your current one, what would it be???
My full first name is Jacqueline. I do believe that Jacqueline
is a very pretty name, BUT, as a child growing up, it was very
difficult learning how to spell. My mom used to call me *Jake*,
but friends and family called me *Jacqui* or *Jackie*, and I
don't think that it is a very sensual sounding name. I haven't given
much thought to the name that I would choose, but it would
probably be something like *Dawn*. I really like the
name *Diana*, as well. Jacqui

Hello my name is Barbara ann and i love the name Nyla.
thank you and mayGod always bless you. BARBARA

It would be Elaine, which is my middle name. Alice is my first,
tho I've never been known by that name. However, whenever I
have to use my entire name for business purposes, the person will
always refer to me as Alice. Parents - let this be a lesson to you!!!! :)

I would have picked Lauren..My name is Lorraine, which I shorten to
Lorrie, and I always told my mom that she heard me wrong when
I was trying to tell her what to call me. I have to admit that Lorraine
is a better name than the one she thought of first.
She wanted to name me after her grandmother, Lorancy.

I think Silas. Whenever I write fiction I always use that name for myself.
I got it from the Jefferson Airplane song.. Good Shepherd:
"One for Paul, One for Silas...."
I relate to the sidekick. Doug
ALEXIS MARIE

April Question:
< I will be adding the April Question soon and wil let y'all know when it has been added... I have misplaced the book I get them from.>

Send your April Question responses to Linda1000@aol.com by April 25th to be included in the May 1999 Issue. No email addresses or screen names will be used.

The Basic Of Life
By 4Him

We’ve turned the page,
for a new day has dawned
We’ve re-arranged
what is right and what’s wrong
Somehow we’ve drifted
so far from the truth
That we can’t get back home

Where are the virtues
that once gave us light
Where are the morals
that governed our lives
Someday we all will awake
and look back
just to find what we’ve lost

CHORUS
We need to get back
To the basics of life
A heart that is pure
And a love that is blind
A faith that is fervently
grounded in Christ
The hope that endures for all times
These are the basics,
we need to get back
To the basics of life

The newest rage
is to reason it out
Just meditate
And you can overcome every doubt
After all man is a God, they say
God is no longer alive

But I still believe
in the old rugged cross
And I still believe
there is hope for the lost
And I know the rock of all ages will stand
Through changes of time

REPEAT CHORUS

BRIDGE
We’ve let the darkness
invade us too long
We’ve got to turn the tide
Oh and we need the passion
that burned long ago
To come and open our eyes
There’s no room for compromise

We need to get back
To the basics of life
A heart that is pure
And a love that is blind

REPEAT CHORUS

Help wanted!!!!!
If you are interested in one of the following Co-Editor positions, please e-mail me by clicking on the one that interests you.
=)