What Goodness Looks Like

Goodness: A quality or act inspiring joy, comforting and putting at ease, rightness of heart. A helpful service rendered on behalf of others.

Ever wondered what goodness looks, feels, tastes and smells like? A child once said it's like freshly baked bread. Perhaps she meant the aroma of browned and buttered bread pulled straight from the oven. Or when it's served up with a warm smile and that bubbly joy you feel when family gather to feast at the same table?

Nothing comes close to that warm, lighthearted feeling you get when the moms are baking and cooking in the kitchen using recipes from their grandmother's mother. The guys are arguing sports stats in the living room and the kids are cackling and laughing while at play just outside the front door. You smile at it all. Put your feet up on the recliner and sip lemonade from a tall icy glass. A cool breeze blows through an open window and tickles your face. "This", you blithely sigh... "This is good."  This is family. How much goodness is in your life? Your parents? Your children? 

There was a study conducted over a 40 year time span by various social science study groups. The study centered on whether giving makes the giver happier. The evidence was overwhelmingly conclusive. It does. There is a certain happiness in giving and a deeply abiding joy when the giver sees the good results that meaningful practical gifts have on the receiver over an extended period of time. In fact such giving can actually cure deep emotional ills and improve health and the wellbeing of both giver and receiver. Who knew?

Somewhere along the way someone in our past decided to start what became an age old tradition. To impart goodness in the lives and hearts of those they loved most. Their motivation? An ancient promise... "There is more happiness in giving than in receiving."

The past has passed. But we can learn a lot from it. There is the present, and with that the ability to deeply impact the future for good once again.  This privilege falls on us. Why not make the most of it?  The question now is how? Keep searching and you will find.
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Isn't it about time for a family reunion? Find inspiring family reunion planning instructions, event organizing checklists and fun, meaningful activity ideas go here.

Fun November Activities

Incoming! November 2013. One of the most beautiful months of the year. Crimson gold maple, emerald green pine, vivid amber and copper leaves. Beside being awestruck by the autumn scenery how do you plan to enjoy the month? Get you plans down quick, November will pass as quickly as it has come. Consult the activity calendars of local community groups online.

Activities may include local fund raiser bake sales featuring the season harvest. While you're attending grab not one but two sweet potato pies, a gallon of apple cider and caramel candy apples on a stick. During the month of November trees pass from green to brilliant tones as if each tree was kissed by the fiery sunset sky.

Soon every leaf will find it's way to veritable ground. That said, it's time to plan a fun family leaf raking party. In the neighborhood I grew up trees were a plenty so there was always work to be done stuffing scores of leaf bags until you drop. And drop we did... canon balling right into a mountainous pile of leafs.

Throwing fun leaf raking parties was also our specialty. It was a fun but practical way to get all the kids together, organize games and races while getting a big job completed in little time. The biggest task was feeding the masses of energetic helpers. Pizza, grilled hot dogs and hamburgers washed down with apple cider easily gets the job done. Getting inspired? When planning your Leaf raking party consider the following:

Things you need:

1. A big yard with leaves galore!
2. Rakes and whisk brushes
3. Leaf bags
4. A grill
5. Food and drinks
6. Camera for photos and video
7. Lot's of kids and those young at heart
8. An activities and game itinerary
9. Two food tables and chairs
10. Waste containers

Activities:
1. Biggest Leaf Pile Contest - Form teams and try to rake the biggest pile
2. Leaf Pile Dome Jump - Try to jump in the center of the pile and remove the dome
3. Leaf Bag Relay Race -  Fill as many leaf bags as possible
4. Leaf Bag Filling Race - Try to find remaining leaves and fill your bag as high as possible
5. Leaf Bag moving -  Move as many leaf bags to designated spots

Recording The Event:
1. Take photos and video of each event
2. Use video as play by play documentation
3. Make a sports cast game video just for fun
4. Create a slideshow of the event
5. Use photos for scrapbook keepsake

When making your video consider using creative ways to present it. Many video and slideshow applications contain filters and motion settings just like the professionals use. Use grey-scale, slow motion and fade in and out sequencing. I like to start out with normal motion, then cut to slow motion and fade into a still life scene and turn it grey-scale as a way of capturing and holding the memory in time. The presentation really comes to life when background music is added.

Promote November's Family Reunion Planning Month.  Family is a big deal. Support and nurture our most precious resource the Family as only family can. Have a Family Fall Fest or plan your next family reunion.Get more information and ideas in the reunion event planning book, 'Fimark's Family Reunion Planner Guidebook and Keepsake'

 You'll find great deals on family reunion cruises this time of year at http://bookcheapcruises.fimark.net.  Looking for ideas for gifts and awards? http://prepaid-gift-cards.fimark.net

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.

Keepsake Journal vs Family Reunion Planner

All I can say is wow!  We did it. We really did it.  A work I am truly proud of.  It's one thing to have a keepsake memento and another to have a family reunion planner, and still another to have a reunion journal. Fimark's newly released Family Reunion Planner Guide Book & Keepsake has all of that and more.

As you carry out the three stages of planning your reunion from conception to organizing to managing according to one of the four theme planners provided in this new release, you will also have the luxury of following the timeline planner because there are sections for all of that. In addition you can record the highlights of each planning stage.  There's a journal included in the planner for that.

Of course you're bound to collect some words of wisdom, support and a few recipes along with way. Yes, there's a section for that too.

Keeping a record of your experiences while planning the event will certainly contribute to meaningful content when writing the Chairman welcome letter and the opening and closing words at the luncheon/dinner program. The journal and recipe section will also provide content ideal for your next family reunion newsletter.

All things considered the planner is specifically designed to be kept, used, shared and passed on to next generation and many generations to come. Some may consider it to be an heirloom in and of itself.

So what does Fimark's newly released Family Reunion Planner not have? If you're using the Book along with the CD application I would have to say, nothing. Having said that, you really do have everything you need to plan a memorable family reunion this year and family events for decades to come.

The new hardbound and softbound planner can be ordered at Lulu.com. It is also formatted as an ebook in pdf format and as a stand alone application on CD for your laptop and desktop. You can also download it on your netbook. 

Happy Family Reunion Planning!

Don't have the Family Reunion Plannner?
Order the book or download it at http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/fimark123

Cute Family Reunion Cruise T-shirt

I love designing family reunion t-shirts. Check out the cutest Family Reunion Cruise T-shirts.

Zazzle offers quality custom family reunion and seasonal festival promotional materials, favors, gifts, invitations, flyers and more from Fimark Home Online. Home of Fimark's Family Reunion Planner 3.0.

High Customer Satisfaction - Quick Overnight Shipping Available - Secure Shopping Cart
No Minimum - Shipping Discounts - Volumn Discounts - Coupon Codes
Custom Design Features - Send Design To Reunion Attendees

And that's why I use them. http://www.zazzle.com/zzibcnet*?rf=238710760040489359?

New Family Reunion Planner Features

It goes without saying, getting some of these projects accomplished will only do you good. Take a look at your calendar and make definite plans to see them thru.

There's nothing better that seeing good for all your hard work. Yet nothing is more frustrating that being brought to a complete stand still simply because you don't have the resource of guidance to complete the task.
Well we've been considering how we can make your time more productive by putting helpful features at your fingertips.

We're pleased to announce that Fimark's Family Reunion Planner 3.0 has two new features to greatly improve your planning productivity.

1. A new Help application that guides you through the reunion planner application.

2. A Family Reunion Store Panel featuring reunion project materials, supplies, decor, favors, gifts and more.

If you haven't accessed your personal online Family Reunion Planner now is the time to check out the new features.
Don't have access to Fimark's Family Reunion Planner 3.0? Get access now at http://family-reunion-planner.fimark.net/family-reunion-planner.html