Marriage Myths And More... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To UnSubscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ShangyFunList or Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: ShangyFunList@yahoogroups.com or email me here: bcrsystems@earthlink.net ================ *~* Please Consider Giving To ShangralaFamilyFun.com The cost of the website has gone up dramatically due to the ever increasingly wonderful pages and photos being added each week to entertain you and our fellow Christian families. While the ads on the website do help, I don't want to drag the site down with tons of them to pay for it. I need your help! "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo ~ CALLING ALL CARING ANGELS ~ (\/) \/ (\/) .-. .-. \/ ((`-)(-`)) \\ // (\/) \\ // \/ .="""=._))((_.="""=. / ., .' '. ,. \ /__(,_.-' '-._,)__\ ` /| |\ ` /_|__ __|_\ | `)) ((` | | | jgs -"== =="- *~* WE NEED CARING And SHARING Angels *~* >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel? If you'd like to help and be counted as a Shangrala Angel, the easiest way to do that is through online giving. It is easy to use, and most of all, it is secure. Please visit the site, scroll down and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL form page comes up. NOTE: Paypal will generate a 'Quantity 1' and 'Price per item' form. Just ignore the price per item and put whatever it is you desire to give in there. With Paypal, you will have your normal receipt for your 'payment' donation in USD (United States Dollars). You can put a memo in there if you'd like. Any amount is greatly appreciated and needed! PLEASE Visit Shangrala to Help: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/index.html OR If you'd rather send us a donation, Please MAIL it here: Elrhea Bigham 502 S. Harrison Van Wert, OH 45891 *~* THANK YOU! MAY GOD BLESS YOU MOST ABUNDANTLY FOR YOUR GIFT! ================ *~* A REMINDER: PLEASE Send me sweet, interesting, funny, inspiring, family type forwards ANY TIME here... bcrsystems@earthlink.net I Need them, Love them, Use them, and Share them! THANK YOU!! AND For Facebook Users: Please Friend Me / Like Me here... http://tinyurl.com/cma6all AND For Google Plus Users: You can find me here... Shangy Bigham https://plus.google.com/106648555948034085752/posts AND Please Share This email with All Your Friends And Family! ^~^ May God SUPER BLESS You As You Do! THANK YOU! :) -<>- * NOTE: An easy way to adjust the size of print in email or any page is to hold down the Ctrl tab while moving the scroll button on the mouse. You can also use the keyboard to change the font size in your web browser or emails. Hold down the Ctrl key while pressing the + key for larger text or the - key for smaller text! ================ >-->2 HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) Our first too hot to handle new page is from our friend Bunni. This artist is delightful as she brings us new meaning to the old 'pet' rock craze. I'd love to have a basket of these for a lovely rock garden. Be sure to see her wonderful 'pets' here: _ |\_ \` ..\ __,.-" =__Y= jgs ." ) _ / , \/\_ ((____| )_-\ \_-` `-----'`-----` `--` Stone Painting Art http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/stonepainting.html --- ...Awww, these are adorable! Thanks Bunni! Well, she did it. Our friend LouiseAu kept throwing whimsical and hilarious political emails my way until I finally relented and did up a new page with them so we could all revel in their witty smiles. Be sure to also check out the wonderful video here too. Love that song! .--. .--; '. / '. \ | .:. \ '. \ ' ':. '. \ ) ' .:. \ ; / .: ': '. \ | .:' ':. \ ;-"```"-. .'\ ': _;' "._ .' '. .;-'` _ _'.__ / `\ / `'._ /` / \ \ | | ).' '.__.-' \_o/_o/ |/| =} /\ ; =} \/ \ \ \ C) =} '. | /'-/ / \ | / / / .' .' \ _/-| | | / .-' \ | \\ _/_/ | =/` / =|=| \ \ \ | =| | _/_/ / _/_/ \ \ | | | / | | )__\ jgs \__nnn\n\ \__nnn\n\ Humor in Politics 15 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/politics15.html --- ...LOL! What a sweet way to relieve the tension! Smiles make all the stress from the left just disappear - at least for a little while. Thanks LouiseAu! =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: `'::. _________H ,%%&%, /\ _ \%&&%%&% / \___/^\___\%&%%&& | | [] [] |%\Y&%' | | .-. | || jgs ~~@._|@@_|||_@@|~||~~ `""") )"""` >MARK'S MOUNTAIN BARBECUE by Ken Pierpont Campton is the county seat of Wolfe County, Kentucky. Every Thursday night all summer long there is singin' on the street in front of the courthouse. People sit on the courthouse steps and on lawn chairs on the grass. There's free lemonade as long as it lasts. On the south end of the street is a little barn-looking building on wheels. It is the barbecue trailer from Mark's Mountain Barbecue. Mark mans the stand himself. He sells prize-winning ribs, pulled pork barbecue, and barbecued brisket sandwiches. He also sells a sweet ginger ale they call Ale-Eight-One to wash it down. He serves it ice-cold and it comes in little green glass bottles. The Wolf County cheerleaders work the crown with baked goods, raising money for new uniforms. I have a serious weakness for barbecue, especially on a warm summer evening with singin', free lemonade, and cheap baked goods. Mark sold me a half-dozen BBQ pork sandwiches for the family and I treated myself to a BBQ brisket sandwich. He was a quick study. He sized me up and I'm sure he was a little more generous than usual with my portion size. I gave him a tip. He seemed to appreciate that and then he watched me closely when I bit into the brisket sandwich. "Whata' ya' think o' that brisket?" "Well, I've never had better," I answered honestly. His face lit up with a smile. It was a holiday and we don't get to Kentucky very often. I wasn't sure when I would have a chance to have Mark's Mountain Barbecue again so I went back for seconds for my always-ravenous boys and myself. Mark smiled again and said, "You really have to try my ribs." Without waiting for a reply he went to the grill and pulled off a generous chunk of ribs for me to try. He had a reason to be proud of them. "Whata' ya' say?" "Ummm, good. Real good," I mumbled. "Real, real, good." He picked up a big container and tongs and slapped a huge slab of ribs dripping with sauce into the container and handed it to me. "Take these along with ya'" I walked away with my barbecue windfall’ strains of bluegrass music in the air’ as evening faded into twilight. We'll sing on the street again in September. The color will be creeping into the hills by then. My mouth waters when I think about it. Come to think of it, Mark also sells blueberry cobbler. I wonder if that's as good as his barbecue? -- Ken Pierpont __________________________________________________ Ken is a storyteller, writer, and pastor from Michigan. He met his wife Lois in college. They have been married thirty years and have four sons, four daughters, two grandsons and stories to tell. He is the author of the book Sunset on Summer. He publishes a weekly newsletter. You can subscribe free at http://www.kenpierpont.com =========================================================== >-->From Our Friend LouiseAu :) , ; , .-'"""'-. , ; , \\|/ .' '. \|// \-;-/ () () \-;-/ // ; ; \\ //__; :. .; ;__\\ `-----\'.'-.....-'.'/-----' '.'.-.-,_.'.' jgs '( (..-' '-' >The Good Old Days Do you remember the good old days? Well I sure do! If your memory needs a little nudge, some of these things will take you right back, and I hope bring a smile to your face! Pick up the phone and you heard, "Number please?" And you said, "Randolph 4- 3381." Sometimes you picked up the phone and heard voices! Remember those party lines! We shared the lines! You had to remember your ring before you answered the phone, one long, two short! Playing tag and hide and go seek on a summer evening. Catching lightening bugs in a jar. Sometimes we pinched off the glowing end and put it on our finger for a glorious glowing ring! (I feel so guilty! How could we do that!) Wringer washers! What work that was, and then if you didn't get your arm caught in the wringer you had to lug a basket of wet clothes to the back yard and hang them on the line. Sprinkle bottles...remember how we had to sprinkle down the clothes after they dried and roll them up tight and put them back in the basket? Then came the hard part! We ironed everything! Then came steam irons and we threw out the sprinkle bottle. Do you remember any of these: Window fans, Kick the Can, roller skates with keys, coonskin caps, hula hoops, 45 records, cherry cokes, juke boxes, pony tails, bobbi sox, penny loafers, sideburns, Breck & Halo Shampoo, drive in movies, jacks, going home for lunch, marbles, monopoly, rabbit ears, aluminum glasses, sweater sets, white gloves, and can can slips, the smell of Old Spice, penny candy, and Mother May I. See The USA In Your Chevrolet You'll wonder where the yellow went if you brush your teeth with Pepsodent. Step on a crack...break your mother's back. (I still don't step on cracks) Red Rover, Red Rover, won't you come over. Pepsi-cola hits the spot, 12 full ounces that's a lot. Twice as much for a nickel too Pepsi Cola is the drink for you. Hi! I'm Buster Brown, I live in a shoe! That's my dog Tige, and he lives there too! --- ...LOL! Thanks for the memories LouiseAu! -<>- _ _..._ \':, `._..-""` ) \\ ___/9 \ |/ P 9 | \ | '--. _/ (`'---'_) ()`---'` \ | ', | `'. , ; '-._ /( \ _ `'. | \ | , .' '. \ `\ | | ; / \ \ \ | | |. | | / | | | | `-.\ |"` / .-;.| | _..;._ /-..-' (( .-;. | (( _..`> / `(( _/ '-(( ` .__) jgs `"""` `"--'` >Why Dogs Are Special When God had made the earth and sky The flowers and the trees, He then made all the animals, The fish, the birds and bees. And when at last He'd finished, Not one was quite the same, He said "I'll walk this world of mine, And give them each a name." And so He traveled far and wide, and everywhere He went, A little creature followed Him Until its strength was spent. When all were named upon the earth, And in the sky and sea, The little creature said, "Dear Lord, There's not one left for me." Kindly the Father said to him, "I've left you to the end, I've turned my own name back to front, And called you DOG, my friend." --- ...a sweet one! Thanks LouiseAu! =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: _____ (((\\\\\ )_ \\\| / \\|\/ \\( ), & \) ( (( |` \\ ))) _ | \` __| ` | , \ ` , \ | \ ,\ , \ ' \/ \_ \/ \ `_,`-._ ` \ ejm / `-. _ \ ` / ,`. \ === / '== =`. | ==== / | === ` / /========= / | / , /______| / , ======== __-' | = === / ,======= ' - -- ( \ \ \ ` \ ` \ ` \_____ \ / ` _/ / '-- ' >If one day by Ntsiab Si Vaj If one day my tears are running because I'm so hurt inside I know you will be there and I wouldn't have to hide. If one day I see beauty that no one cares to see I know you will be there to cherish it with me. If one day I grow old and nothing seems worth while I know you will be there to share with me your smile If one day my eyes give up and I couldn't see the stars at night I know you will be there to share with me your sight. Because God loves me so much He sent someone true He knows deeply of friendship and He saw it in you. -<>- ____ /^\ / -- ) / | \ (____/ / | | \ / / /_|_|_|_/ / | / / __ __ __ | / /__ __ __ [ ]__[ ]__[ ]. / /[ ]__[ ]__[ ] |__ ____/ /___ __| | / .------ ) | | / / / | | / / / | ~~~~~~~~~~~~-----------~~~~~~~~ldb~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >"Pao, Senhor?" He couldn't have been over six years old. Dirty face, barefooted, torn T-shirt, matted hair. He wasn't too different from the other hundred thousand or so street orphans that roam Rio de Janeiro. I was walking to get a cup of coffee at a nearby cafe when he came up behind me. With my thoughts somewhere between the task I had just finished and the class I was about to teach, I scarcely felt the tap, tap, tap on my hand. I stopped and turned. Seeing no one, I continued on my way. I'd only taken a few steps, however, when I felt another insistent tap, tap, tap. This time I stopped and looked downward. There he stood. His eyes were whiter because of his grubby cheeks and coal-black hair. "Pao, senhor?" (Bread, sir?) Living in Brazil, one has daily opportunities to buy a candy bar or sandwich for these little outcasts. It's the least one can do. I told him to come with me and we entered the sidewalk cafe. "Coffee for me and something tasty for my little friend." The boy ran to the pastry counter and made his choice. Normally, these youngsters take the food and scamper back out into the street without a word. But this little fellow surprised me. The cafe consisted of a long bar: one end for pastries and the other for coffee. As the boy was making his choice, I went to the other end of the bar and began drinking my coffee. Just as I was getting my derailed train of thought back on track, I saw him again. He was standing in the cafe entrance, on tiptoe, bread in hand, looking in at the people. "What's he doing?" I thought. Then he saw me and scurried in my direction. He came and stood in front of me about eye-level with my belt buckle. The little Brazilian orphan looked up at the big American missionary, smiled a smile that would have stolen your heart and said, "Obrigado." (Thank you.) Then, nervously scratching the back of his ankle with his big toe, he added, "Muito obrigado." (Thank you very much.) All of a sudden, I had a crazy craving to buy him the whole restaurant. But before I could say anything, he turned and scampered out the door. As I write this, I'm still standing at the coffee bar, my coffee is cold, and I'm late for my class. But I still feel the sensation that I felt half an hour ago. And I'm pondering this question: If I am so moved by a street orphan who says thank you for a piece of bread, how much more is God moved when I pause to thank him ----really thank him----for saving my soul? --Max Lucado -<>- ============;===========;() # # # #:::::: # # # #:::::: # # # #:::::: # # # #:::::: # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # jgs # # # # # # # >STILL FREE By: Joseph J. Mazzella I winced as I filled up the tank on my car the other day. Seeing another record high at the gas pump didn’t bode well for the rest of the day. I knew too that the food prices would be up again as well. I put just what we needed on the shopping list and nothing more. I had promised my boys that we could eat out first, so we headed to a local fast food place and gazed at the value menu. On the counter by the cash register was the half-empty box for a children’s charity. I had often put my extra change in it over the years but this time when the cashier handed the coins back to me I slowly put them in my pocket. I ate sadly still wondering about how high the prices would go when I heard my thoughts echoed by the couple in the next booth. "The prices just keep going up," said the dejected husband. "I know," his wife replied. "Everything costs an arm and a leg these days." In that moment of stress and worry, though, somehow the sweet voice of wisdom sounded in my mind. "God’s love is still free," it said, "and it always will be." I got up then and smiled at the couple. I fished the change back out of my pocket and some bills out of my wallet, walked over and put them in the children’s charity box. "Prices may keep going up," I thought, "but the most priceless thing in the world is still free to us all." The next time you feel squeezed by the price of living remember that the thing that makes life worth living is still free. God loves us and is willing to fill us with His love everyday of our lives. Even when our wallets are empty our hearts can still be full. God will always give us just what we need as well to live, learn, and love. There is no supply and demand with God’s love either because the supply is endless. The more love you give away, the more love you will have. May we all help God share His love today then. It costs us nothing but gives us everything. -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment: Thank You God! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/thankgod.html Random Acts Of Kindness http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/actsofkindness.html Feather Painting http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/feather.html Proud Of Our Troops 8 http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/troops8.html Lean On Me! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/poems/leanonme.html Rescued Squirrel http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/rsquirrel.html Hot Air Balloons http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/index.html Roller Coasters http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/coaster.html Rescued Eagle http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/eaglerescue.html Kilroy Was Here http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/kilroywashere.html Military Dogs http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/militarydogs.html Classic Chevy Collection http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/chevy.html More Abundant Life http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/abundantlife.html Nation's Tallest Flagpole http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/flagpole.html Akiane Through The Years http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/prodigy2.html Are Angels Real? http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/angelsreal.html -<>- >From AFA: Obama's transgender, social experiment requires the military to: * recruit people who identify as transgender, * provide taxpayer dollars to pay for gender transitioning, and * deny conscience protections for members of military who oppose transgender transition efforts. Urge Congress to end military transgender policy http://tinyurl.com/y8rmkefl -<>- >From AmericanPatriotDaily: New Bill Erases Real Marriage - If this passes, they will soon make it a "hate" crime to even use the terms "husband" and "wife" in public. Please sign your "Don't Erase Real Marriage" petition: http://tinyurl.com/yblpv9o6 -<>- >From VoiceOfTheMartyrs: These Christians refuse to give up their faith in Christ http://tinyurl.com/yd7nv6ye -<>- >From BillyGraham: Watch Stories of True Liberty http://tinyurl.com/y8or4xn9 -<>- MILITARY ALERT: State-Of-The-Art Skyshield Weaponry Will Keep Our Borders Safe [VIDEO] Villainous world leaders hell-bent on worldwide domination beware, because the West happens to be in possession of weaponry so powerful that they stand little chance of ever penetrating past its borders. http://tinyurl.com/yae233vx -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseAu :) Do you remember that time you tripped and hope no one noticed? Well if they did, they may have laughed a little. Don't feel bad, we all do it, and it always looks funny from the side. However, if there's no actual injury, then it's just good fun. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=O_xdEPP0syk The extremely graceful 'Duo Resonance' brings something special and loving to their acrobatic act. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLotWKVq4Ig Super Bowl Baby Clydesdales - A Budweiser Story. https://www.youtube.com/embed/PU92XeqhRSA Footage of a hippo rescuing a wildebeest calf and a zebra foal from drowning in the strong-flowing Mara River in Tanzania caused a sensation worldwide. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaU8dbVgneU&feature=player_embedded --- ...Awesome! Love these! Thanks LouiseAu! Visit Melissa's Online Store You can get anything you want (except for Melissa ) at the online store http://pdhomes.net/mall/babylissa/mySTORES/ISELL4.html ========================================================== ,--""""-., .'` ', / | | _ / __,'(,-'/ `\ _. / .=="=| '-. | .'===,=|-. | / /===\==\| \ \ _;' | |====\==\ '.___,u' \__/ |===.##,=\ |==/####\='-.__ \#|#####|`/^|_))._________________ #######/`| |_.-'""""""=' ] #####/\/ /__,________;------.---' jgs `###' |_/ V V >A Most Unexpected Gift Story Editor: by Mandy Bodart Joyce Schowalter South Africa Some years ago I lived in a Victorian "street-front" house in Cape Town, South Africa. These terraced houses have a small, paved front area, about a metre wide and four metres long, between the front door and the street. Where I lived, the street was a major walkway for vagrants on their way to shelter under a nearby fly-over. Barely a day went by but someone knocked on the door asking for food. One very cold winter, the knocks became so frequent that I kept a stack of "vagrant bags" next to the front door. Each contained the fixings for a thick soup/stew and clearly labelled "2" or "4", according to how many people could have a decent meal from each bag. The system worked like clockwork until one evening when I opened the door to an atypical vagrant -- a young Rastafarian who didn't have the weathered face and calloused hands of someone who's been on the streets for years. He apologised for disturbing me and seemed embarrassed to ask for food -- also very unusual! As I automatically reached for a "2" bag, it occurred to me to ask him if he had cooking facilities. Our regular vagrants are as organised as cross-arctic explorers, but he just looked so young and inexperienced. "No," he replied. Luckily I remembered that Rastas are vegetarian, and having made a big pot of veggie curry, I gave him some, with directions to where the homeless people camped every night. The next evening he was back. And the next, and the next.... This went on for three weeks. As "You-can-call-me-Bob" had a hearty appetite, I began to fear I wouldn't be able to continue feeding him daily, and decided to suggest that he vary his choice of "restaurant". That evening he appeared at his usual time, but before I could say anything, he thanked me for my hospitality over the last few weeks, explained that he had been stranded in Cape Town and now had a bus ticket back to his family in Port Elizabeth. He would leave in an hour. At the end of this (for him) lengthy speech, he said he wanted to give me the only possession he had of any value. He pushed a large bag of dagga into my hand and ran off before I could say anything. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. There I was holding a large quantity of illegal drugs in my hand, knowing I couldn't burn it because the neighbours would call the cops. I didn't dare put it in the garbage in case it was traced back to me, and at the same time I was so touched that 'Bob' really was giving me his most prized possession! In case you're wondering, I eventually mixed it with sand and dumped it in a municipal bin under cover of darkness. And yes, I remained touched by his generosity, greater far than mine -- for he gave his greatest treasure. =======HeroicStories======= >-->From LaughAndLift: "Integrity is keeping my commitment(s) even if the circumstances when I made the commitment(s) have changed." - David Jeremiah The Lift /:""| .@@@@@, (\/) |:`66|_ @@@@@@@@, \/ C` _)aa`@@@@@@ \ ._| (_ ?@@@@ ) / =' @@@@" /`\\ \(``` || |Y| //`\ || |.| / | || (\/) || |.| \ | || \/ || |.| \| || :| |=: |_|\ ||_|,| |_| \ \)))|| ((( | (\/) | || |____| \/ | || |____| > )) | || | || | || | || | || |_||__ /~)) jgs (____)) /_/YY >Marriage Myths (By Bob Gass) [Edited] A lot of us are 'myth-informed' about love and marriage. The myth of 'a perfect marriage' is widespread and dangerous among us. By setting up unrealistic expectations, impossible dreams and magic thinking, it misinforms, misleads and disillusions us, preparing us to walk away the moment our fantasy clashes with reality. Only the truth can make us free to find fulfillment in our marriage. Marriage myth 1: The myth of 'viral love,' insists that love is caught, much like a virus. 'Some enchanted evening' when you happen to be in the right place at the right time, it will zap you. You'll 'catch the bug' and enter a lifetime of unending bliss! The trouble is, when we're worn out taking care of three kids, two jobs and a second mortgage, the 'virus' subsides. In the whirlwind of dishes, nappies and daily routines, something has to give. So romance vacates center stage and reality takes over. When it does, we confuse romance for true love and mistakenly think it has moved out and that we need to follow it. The truth is, love does not die because romance bows to reality. If two people who once 'fell' in love are willing to 'stand' together in love through the challenges and opportunities of family life, romance can grow again, stronger and more resilient than ever. Love based solely on romance doesn't work when 'for better' meets 'for worse.' Romance based on a decision to love 'till death us do part' is the only love that's dependable, consistent and trustworthy. Romance brings us together, this kind of love keeps us together! Marriage myth 2: The myth of the 'right person,' suggests happiness in marriage depends entirely on finding the right person. It's said to be a matter of luck, Cupid, the alignment of the stars, the moon hitting your eye like a big pizza pie, etc., occasionally even God. Just find the right person and they'll make your life supremely happy, romantic, excited, fulfilled, blissful. They will become, as the song says, 'that old black magic' that holds you in its spell, leading you into the enchanted land of endless love. It's all up to them. And nothing ever felt more convincingly real or right! Despite the advice of friends and family, we'll 'give away the farm' and turn ourselves inside out to keep this addictive, magic happening. When it stops (and it does), one of three things happen: 1) we cry, manipulate, bribe, and later blame, vilify and consider them phonies for changing on us and making us miserable. 'He's not the man I married,' we complain. He may not be the person you expected him to be (that person doesn't exist outside your myth) but he is the one you married and the problem isn't all his 2) we label him 'the wrong person' and either search for the right one or give up on the opposite gender as being false, faithless and fickle 3) we learn the truth: there is no right person to make us happy always. At that point we're set free to find happiness by looking to God for our joy [instead of a fellow frail human!] Marriage myth 3: The myth of 'the full box,' suggests that when we marry we inherit a big box filled with self-replacing good things, guaranteeing effortless unending marital bliss. This box is supposed to contain romance, physical fulfillment, generosity, true love, and being served 'in the style to which we've become accustomed.' Ideally, we can dip in and take what we want from a never-depleted supply. Instant, low-maintenance satisfaction guaranteed! And it seems to work initially, so we believe the myth. Until one rainy day we dip into the box and come up empty. At that point we feel shock, disappointment, anger, despair and hopelessness and conclude that our partner failed, fooled or forsook us. Why else would the box be empty? At that point the myth suggests, 'It's time to find another box!' Or you could listen to the liberating truth: a) marriage is a big box, an empty one. Your job is to make enough deposits to guarantee sufficient withdrawals for a rich relationship. Jesus said: '... The amount you give will determine the amount you get back' (Luke 6:38 NLT) b) you must start by asking, 'What would I like to have in the box?' Then you deposit that into the box. Then you ask, 'How much of it do I want in the box?' Then you deposit enough to generate that amount. You see, the box is only a container; it didn't fail and you didn't get a bad box. Accepting this truth frees you to make your marriage rich and rewarding by becoming a giver, not just a taker! Marriage myth 4: The myth of the 'marriage-go-round,' says you can hop on and off marriages when you're bored, discontented, stressed out, or get a better offer. Today we're conditioned to instant gratification. If we don't like the rules we'll take our ball to another playground. We're a 'disposable' society; whatever doesn't perform satisfactorily will be replaced rather than repaired. Tragically, we transfer this mentality to our relationships and replace the people in our lives who don't play the game our way. Each generation becomes less likely to be tolerant, patient, hard-working, flexible and creative in marriage, and more likely to trade in what they're unwilling to work on. The myth of the marriage- go-round tells us we don't have to grapple with our marital issues. Just replace it! But the truth reveals that the myth doesn't work. Over 50% of first marriages end in divorce, 65% of second ones, and more than 70% of third ones. Clearly, when it comes to marriage, the more we do it the worse we get at it! In fact, with few exceptions, the painful numbers indicate that statistically you have a better chance of finding happiness in your current marriage with all its challenges than if you move on to another one. God's way is your best option. Always! When He says, '... [whom] God hath joined together, let no man put asunder' (Matthew 19:6), He intends that in working and growing through the obstacles and opportunities of your marriage, you'll become a better partner and end up building a happier marriage! SUBSCRIBE INFO Want to receive a Christian inspirational item AND great clean humor in an email to you each day of the week? It's easy and FREE! Read all about Laugh & Lift at http://www.laughandlift.com ========================================================== >-->From Kidwarmers: .----. _.'__ `. .--(#)(##)---/#\ .' @ /###\ : , ##### `-..__.-' _.-\###/ jgs `;_: `"' .'"""""`. /, JOE ,\ // COOL! \\ `-._______.-' ___`. | .'___ (______|______) >THE FUNNIEST THINGS KIDS SAY Sharon was talking with her niece Ivana, 4, about preschool, because Ivana had just started. Ivana started telling about her trip to the library and the books she borrowed. Sharon asked, "Are they good?" Ivana said, "I don't know. We didn't eat them." -- Sharon Courchesne of Canada Dylan was having a particularly difficult day in kindergarten. Every time he turned around, it seemed as though he was in trouble for talking, getting out of his seat or bothering other students. When class ended, his teacher took him aside to talk to him about his behavior. Dylan listened politely, then warned the teacher, "If you think I'm a problem, just wait till my little brother gets here!" -- Dennis Smith (Dylan and Dalton's PawPaw) of Oak Ridge, North Carolina Dalton, Dylan's little brother, now 4, was visiting Nanna and PawPaw last summer. He asked for something to drink. PawPaw reached into the cupboard and took down a Barbie glass. As soon as Dalton saw the glass, he flatly refused to drink from it, saying, "That's a girl glass." Now when he visits and asks for something to drink, he insists on "a boy" glass. Dalton considers Nemo and Sponge Bob to be acceptable. __,=,__ .~`` .` `.``~. | . . |____ `-;=============;""""` ( (. _).) \ | | \ `-.___.' / '._ _.' /`''''\ / \ | |/\/\/\/|.-. |-|/\/\/\/|;' ) (__/_______| _) #########'._) jgs |==|=|__ ,,,(______)_),,,, ,,,;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;,,,, ,,,;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;,,, ,;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;, Lynne remembers that they called ointment/diaper rash medication "ouch-y" juice. It came in tubes. When her son was 2 Lynne injured her knee and had it wrapped in a bandage. Mitch asked why it was wrapped and Lynne explained to him that she had hurt her knee. He immediately ran into the bathroom and returned with the toothpaste, crying, "Ouch-y juice, ouch-y juice!!" to help Mom feel better. -- Lynne Harkness of Longmont, Colorado Natalie was in the car with her daughter Brooke, 4, and her grandmother. Natalie's grandmother said, "Let's go get something to eat." Natalie replied, "I'm tired of eating fast food." Brook, who was in the back seat, piped up, "Well, let's get slow food!" -- Natalie Janas of Medina, Ohio Here is another one from Natalie. She was watching cartoons with Brooke. Woody Woodpecker came on and Brooke asked who it was and Natalie told her. A few days later Woody Woodpecker was on TV again and Brooke asked, "Mommy, is that Woody Wood Pickle? _,,_ __ d888888bd888b d88888888888888B 8888888P`Y8888P Y888888 (, \_ ,_Y88( ) Y888888b __\ '8"888P (_ jgs | .---' ~;~~\~ .=. \ (_ _) \ |=| \ _ /| | \ /_\/ | | | .-'--/_/------'-. `-.,___________,.-' | || |___|| |___|| .'""'';.__ (_________)) Justice, 2, was visiting his grandmother. He got into the refrigerator and burned his finger on the light. It wasn't bad, but he kept crying and crying. Finally his mom said, "Justice, that's getting old." A little while later his grandmother asked him if it felt any better. He said, "No, Ma-maw, it's getting old". -- Patricia Stover (grandmother of Justice) of Red House, West Virginia Blake, 7, was helping his grandmother Michele clean out family mementos, papers, etc. from her hutch. As he handed her each item, he asked Michele what it was, who it belonged to, where it came from and how old it was. Michele was pleased that he was so interested in family history, thinking he might begin to appreciate the value of keeping things over time for the next generation. One batch of papers was yellowed and crackling with age. Blake handed them very carefully to Michele and said, "Gee, Grandma, these must be REALLY old. They must be from... um ...1999!" -- Michele Rathke of Albion, Indiana Eva, almost 2, was eating lunch at the table and looking out the window. She said with excitement to her mother, "Look! It's mashed potatoes! In the sky!" (She was pointing out some very plump, fluffy white clouds.) -- Krista Bayer (mother of Eva) of Sandstone, Virginia _ ______ / `'. ,-"` '. / /'-.'. ___ .' \ \/ '.\.' ' | .| .'`\ | /`"'--., / \ , _.--'` \/_ | ,----.| _ `_--;` ``` `\-. | | \ | -- C -- _/ \ \ | \ 0 0 / . | | \| ) | '. _.' |.__/ ; \ `'---` / / __ '. .' | (__) /'-._____,-` \ /---'.-""-.\ '. / ||,- \\ ;---`;-._||-= |\ , ."""-. \ ) `|'.___.' \ ___ \'. / '-. \ /`-`-; / \ ,/ `) \ \| \ `` | | \|| / /'.| )_ / || | | \/ .' \ \ .-'/ ` |` |.-' .-~ ~-~-._ |.'` \ ` '-. \___/,__/ ~` _ `~~-., `-.,_\_)`-.,_\) `~-,___ ~___~,,..-~~/ jgs \___/`\____/'._.' Emilee is 2. The other evening her mother was getting her ready for bed and Daddy came in the room. Emilee was studying his face and asked what was on it. He had not shaved so his face was covered in stubble. Her mother told her they were whiskers because he had not shaved. Emilee looked at him very seriously and with his face in her hands she said, "Daddy, I love your wickers." -- Miranda (mother of Emilee) of West Virginia Cali, 3, had a friend who had a hurt foot. She came to her mother, Cathy, and told her that Anna had a hurt foot and then she said, "I reckon it has a bone in it." -- Cathy of Dillard, Georgia After being sent to her room for washing the entire bathroom with toilet paper, Mya, 5, was asked repeatedly why she did it. She finally replied, "My mind told my hands not to do it, but my hands did it anyway." -- Connie Miles of Purdy, Missouri Maureen and her 4-year-old daughter Stephanie went to visit a great aunt of Maureen's. Stephanie had never met Aunt Marion before and kept asking for her name and that of her husband. "Why don't we call him married?" Stephanie asked. Maureen didn't understand the question. "Well," Stephanie said, "you keep calling the lady Aunt Married Onion but you only call the man Uncle Joe. Why don't you call him Uncle Married Joe?" (Stephanie thought Marion sounded like "Married Onion!") -- Maureen of Stillwater, New Jersey Note: You are welcomed to use, copy and share these stories, but please reference http://www.funnykids.com as the source. ========================================================== .-"""""""-. .' __ \_ / / \/ \ | \_0/\_0/______ |:. .' oo`\ |:. / \ |' ; | | |:.. . \_______ | |::.|' , \,_____\ / |:::.; ' | . '| ====)_/===;===========;() |::; | | ; ; | | # # # #:::::: /::::.|-| |_|-|, \ # # # #:::::: /'-=-'` '-' '--'\ # # # #:::::: jgs / \ # # # #:::::: # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # >-->Freedom is Not Free Why do we call it freedom When freedom is not free. The cost was blood and sweat And tears that bought our liberty. Look beyond our nation's banner Waving proudly in the breeze Across the plains and mountains Thru the valleys, o'er the seas. And see a people of variety Living side by side In God we trust, our motto Just laws our leaders' guide. Yet some still take for granted They neglect to understand How great a sacrifice was made To dwell in this free land. For many left their loved ones Their friends, their families Standing true to oaths once taken To defend our liberties. Holding fast they fought for freedom Both at home and then abroad Spilling blood upon the waters O'er the ground on which they trod. Wounded from the many battles In mire and blood their bodies lay The dead with mouths wide open Forming words they'd never say. Seeing eyes no longer seeing Gearing ears no longer hear Hearts once beating stilled and quiet Loved ones close no longer near. And though their hopes and dreams were shattered Let their deaths not be in vain We must keep forever burning Freedom's torch, the victor's flame. For they died for you, America Your freedom was not free For t'was their blood and sweat and tears That bought your liberty. So when you speak again of freedom May your hearts be filled with pride And your gratitude for those Who for your freedom fought and died. -Cheryl Berger >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah Shangy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->FULL LENGTH - FREE On line AUDIO MP3 Christian Foundational Class http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=61 NEW LIFE IN CHRIST! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -->This is for all you who love food and DARE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. These are Tried and True, Yummy to the Tummy, good old fashioned home cooking recipes that are EASY to do Visit Shangy's Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html Home Recipes >Got A good Recipe? SHARE IT HERE: Share A Recipe ************************************************************************ >TO SUBSCRIBE:Visit Here This Weeks regular Shangy emails OR For the Yahoo ShangyFunList: To Subscribe send a blank email to ShangyFunList-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ************************************************************************