How To Stop The Madness!

Have you've ever gotten so bogged down with work that you seemed trapped in an occupational maze? Slaving for the man and unforeseen occurrences can easily result in early burnout.  Often family bonds go neglected. Getting back on track may be difficult and even when you put forth some effort to get closer to sons and daughters, mom and dad a perfunctory routine may not do much to keep family bonds strong and meaningful.

Just stop the madness. Get out of the rat race. The days are getting longer and warmer. The sky is bluer. The air is fresher. The birds are chirping and the flowers are in bloom. It's time to think about sharing in some cool activities for spring.

This season plan to get out of the house and do something fun with your family. Steer in the direction of rediscovering and celebrating good old reliable family values. Start by gathering the family at the dinner table. Fix and serve their favorite healthy meal. Now sit down and chow down.  Ask them to brain storm some exciting activities they would like to do this spring and summer. Make definite plans to make it happen. Before you know it they will be back in your arms again.

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Family reunions are not just a one time event experience. the planning process involves planning several events that often engage the family for months at a time and that's the genius behind reunions.
Why not plan your next family reunion now.  To get inspired check out my family reunion planning app. You'll be amazed at the possibilities.

Labor Day Weekend Activities For Kids.

It's Labor Day weekend, and whether you have kids sleeping over or not  you're trying to figure out what to do with a house full of kids high on adrenalin that won't leave you exhausted or break the bank. 

As they wind down children tend to be accident prone, irritable and less attentive to the needs of others. The key to enjoying the weekend is giving them something fun to do that is both intellectually and emotionally stimulating leaving each child with a sense of wonder, discovery and accomplishment.  What might that be? Read the following articles for great weekend activity ideas.

http://familyreunionplanners.blogspot.com/2014/08/best-family-reunion-activity-for-kids-3.html

http://familyreunionplanners.blogspot.com/2014/05/how-to-blow-gazillion-gigantic-bubbles.html

http://familyreunionplanners.blogspot.com/2013_08_01_archive.html

Put Some Love In It.

A long time ago I learned that in order for anything to be meaningful and valuable, be it an act or gift, you have to put some love into it. Since then I try to put some love in everything I do. Including writing this blog. 

People who stay together as a family don't stay together simply by putting family first. They stay together because they've learned to put love in what they do with the family, for family and everyone that touches the lives of each person in that family. So when doing something as simple as making a phone call or planning a meal or something big like planning a social event with friends or family, or something even bigger like raising a child, these are the times to take deliberately action and show just how committed to the task of loving that person you are.

Planning Dinner Time
Brenda and I share dinner time together everyday. We don't just eat together. We put some love in it. We plan our meals together. We consider what we both like eating, the taste and most of all make sure that it's wholesome. While she does most of the cooking I thank her for the meal with a kiss and wash the dishes.  

Making Phone Calls
We don't just call when something is up. We put some love in it. We call each other everyday. During these calls we exchange an expression of endearment before ending the conversation. She calls me Booh. I call her Baah. In addition we don't let anything get in the way of our Friday evening date night. Because we are both frugal we will plan something simple like a picnic and stroll around the reservoir or listen to oldies but goodies in the car with the top open. Or watch a movie or two at home sharing a bowl of popcorn or chips. 

Planning A Gathering
My wife, Brenda, is the kind of person who likes to get up and go. She is ultra social. Most of what I like to do is here at home. I like to paint, do crafts, bake, write and entertain. In this way we are very different, but by putting some love in it we've learned to empower ourselves with these differences. How? 

One day outgoing Brenda asked me to help her plan activities for a social event. She focused on decorating the facility, preparing the menu and organizing banquet style service. I focused on entertaining the guests. I always like to interject a creative wholesome message about family and marriage in what I do without it being too obvious at the beginning. One of the games I created for this gathering is called "Getting to Know You" for engaged or newly wed couples. It's a bunch of questions on cards designed to open a dialog about what each person in the relationship strongly believes in. On first glance the questions are a bit funny or peculiar, but on second glance they have deeper meaning. In most cases the answers inspire a deeper love and regard for the other person in the relationship because it reveals favorable principles, experiences and standards the person is guided by. A good place to start when building a strong house.

Raising Our Children
Regarding raising children. We knew early on that it would be hard work. When Brenda became pregnant it was then that we put some love in it. How. To start, our children were the result of our commitment and love for each other, not the other way around. The training we gave them was carefully thought out, both by consulting the ultimate guidebook on child rearing the bible. The book contains helpful advice that would have otherwise taken me years to figure out if I figured it out at all. Things like: 

1. "Treat others as you want to be treated"
2. "There is more happiness in giving than in receiving."
3. "Don't think more of yourself than it is necessary to think."
4. Regarding being loyal to ones wife: "Drink water out of your own cistern. Don't give away your dignity to another woman. Be happy with the wife you married when young." 
5. "Children are like arrows" - They need to be guided in the right direction.
6. "Love hopes all things. Love endures all things. Love does not keep account of the injury." 

If I were asked, what was the secret to staying married to your wife for so long? I would say. "We did not just stay together. We learned early on to put some love in it."

Planning a family reunion? To get  more information about Fimark's Family Reunion Planner Social web app click on the link on this blog page or access the profiles page.

Hot Fun In The Summertime

The weather was the hottest in 30 years. Real feel 100 degrees! A real scorcher if I should say so myself and for a time we wondered if anyone would show up.

A no-show would be no surprise considering that the night before a brutal thunder storm moved with winds as high as 80 miles per hour. The severe storm knocked out power lines over a wide 30 mile radius and downed large 20 year old trees.

Many of the invitees were without power in their homes while others had to contend with structural damage. When we arrived at the park we were glad to see that no trees were down and the pavilions were in good condition. Still we noticed that the power outlets were dead. That meant our well planned surprise mini concert would have to be postponed. Not a disappointment. We would have more time to rehearse and present it during our September event. Just one more thing to look forward to.

Still we fired up the grill, blew up and hung decorative balloons and streamers, started up the bubble blowers and made sure we had plenty of iced water and cool water games. Then we waited, and waited and waited.

A few hours later a few showed up. An hour later more arrived. In time over 60 filled the two pavilions. The congregation annual Family BBQ had begun. This summer the event would be held at MeadowWood Park in Huntvalley MD.

The small park with lots of grassland was a first for us. It had a large playing field, cool shady pavilions and a small stream and cross bridge that local kids used to catch crayfish.

Family, friends and friends of friends attended. Everyone from little ones to our eldest were fully involved in the activities of the day.

As usual Brenda and I did much of the planning organizing and directing. We like to do something different each year and build anticipation weeks in advance. Wonderful memories were made, old friendships rekindled and new ones made.


Our activity list was as follows:
1, Face Painting
2. Bubble Games
3. Water Balloon Toss
4. Card Games
5. Prizes and Rewards


1. Face Painting - Face painting is indeed a craft requiring some practice. What you need is soft oil based face paint found at any party planning store or craft store. Small soft sponges. Soft bristle paint brushes work well. Stencils for making starts and heart shapes. Paper towels and soapy water for clean up.

2. Bubble Games - Kids will play with this for hours. What you need are various bubble wands in all shapes and sizes. A large flat tub full of bubble solution. Water and towels to wash soapy hands and faces.

3. Water Balloon Toss - Water balloons are a wonderful way to cool off in the hot sun. You'll need at least one hundred balloons for 10 minutes of fun. Small balloons are preferred as they are easy to handle and throw. Multiple colors make for a more attractive display that kids can't resist. Avoid over filling the balloon as they will burst as soon as they are handled. Fill the balloons with cool water only and place in a cool shady place until the games begin.




The most exciting activity of the day was throwing water balloons at each other mainly to cool off. The kids and kids at heart loved it.


After the games were over we offered stuffed bears, flamingos and monkeys to all the kids who helped clean up the water balloon fallout. They quickly cleaned up and excitedly claimed their prized rewards with great glee. The kids seemed to like the long armed stuffed monkeys best of all.

For more ideas for your summer reunion look inside Fimark's Family Reunion Planner Social web app. Follow the link on this page or access it from my profile.


Looking for more fantastic family reunion activity ideas? Find 7 fresh ideas at... http://familyreunionplanners.blogspot.com/2011/06/family-reunion-idea.html