How To Plan An Intimate Family Night

It was an enchanting evening. A night where friends bond with family and actually become family. Over 30 friends and family attended. Hot dogs on the grill, The sweet and tangy scent of baked beans and buttery popcorn fill the air. Smiles all around.

The movie was a look back at how the family has grown. Scenes from special events over the past three years including reunions, showers, wedding receptions, talents shows, outdoor activities, achievements, we fondly remembered those gone but not forgotten and enjoyed a special video = celebration of new life and those privileged to act as host.

32 lounge chairs spread across the lawn under the stars,  Hot spiced apple cider warm our hands as the movie of our lives plays on the outer wall of the shed in the backyard. A gentle cool breeze blows as we nestle under the stars  It was one of the most cozy intimate scenes I have ever enjoyed and I encourage all families and family reunion planners to put this on their family activity schedule. Movie night under the stars. A night to remember.

What You'll Need
1. Video of all special events over the last three years or so
2. Video projector and amplified audio device
3. Movie screen
4. Plenty of blankets
5. Grill and cookware
6. Hot dogs, sausage, grilled fruit, chili, beans, popcorn and warm cider
7. Condiments and napkins
8. Cups plates, saucers and flatware
10. Outdoor lounge chairs

The key to making this a special night is simply to plan a movie night in early autumn.out of doors in simply dishes like spicy chili, baked beans with bacon and onions,  pineapple slices right off the grill and hot apple cider as well as an intimate family video. What could be better for a warm and cozy family movie night.

In It To Win It

While I don't like change, I do like learning new things, winning people over,  and the rewards of a job well done. That said I am willing to try new things, taking a fresh look at life and see life from a different perspective if it means getting better results for all involved.

I find that discovering new lands, people, culture, foods and exotic species adds zest to life. Lately I've been learning many new things about life, history and the human condition while researching, producing and directing a new film presentation for my upcoming family night gathering. No this is not just any weekly family night. This one actually includes several different families all under one roof sharing an evening meal and video entertainment together. Why so many families?

As Brenda and I travel the Maryland circuit teaching and being taught, we develop meaningful relationships that last. Our way of keeping in touch is by having family night gathering once every few years. These events encourage mutual support and provide an exchange of guidance and wisdom needed during these challenging time. Our prime objective is to inspire strong family ties, teach kindness and consideration and preserve family and community cohesion. How can we do all that in one night?

After presenting our first film feature we have an open forum. We discuss what we saw, how we felt about it and lessons taught. We ask the right questions to stimulate thought and emphasize comments of practical value.

Successfully building a happy family begins with attitude. An attitude that is contagious. An attitude that inspires. That says I Am In This To Win It.  To aim at being successful as a husband, father, wife and mother. To win the rewards of deliberately sharing mutual filial and loyal love.

To win it requires a trustworthy proven training system, regimen and priority mind set. A life guide, if you will - Personally I find the books of Genesis, Exodus and Proverbs provides the ideal lesson plan that lays the ground work for building a close knit loyal family that stands the test of time.

Here are a few of My Life lessons
Learn and maintain humility - It's a constant process that never ends. If you think you're humble you're probably not.
Live a simple life. Only then will you discover who your family members really are.
Avoid getting caught up in corporate politics and competition, it will only distract you from what really matters - Loving your family from the inside out.
Put some love in it. (Make basic principle of love manifest in all you do.)
Remain united no matter what or who tries to pull you apart.
Cling to hope, celebrate love, honor one another
Take time to look back and cherish fond memories
Take time to look ahead and build new ones
Live in the moment, learn from the past, plan for the future
Save time, save money, save mementos and put away something for the unforeseen
Build resilience and accept challenges
Learn the joy of giving
Celebrate achievements of the heart
Teach your young to feel - To express honor, respect and appreciation
Reward good behavior - Inspire to reach greater heights
Take pride in the challenges you've met and the obstacles you've overcome
Value practical experiences - Reject fantasy and folly.
Quote words of wisdom to your family everyday
Express love for each family member when you end the day

On family night we all come together to enjoy an exciting and inspiring video presentation filled with lessons about family life, love and creation itself.  Last week Brenda, my video editor and respected movie critic, put her stamp of approval on the video feature presentation - The Book of Genesis.   That means the show will go on!  Genesis contains many stories about close knit families who sacrificed much for the sake of loyal love and preserved themselves alive in the process.When she's excited about a presenting our work I am assured that we finally have something worth presenting. While this special event is a mainstay in our bi-annual routine the fact is family night should be enjoyed every night. And that's another story soon to come...

Looking for some family fun winter vacation activities everyone's bound to enjoy?
http://familyreunionplanners.blogspot.com/2013_02_01_archive.html

Something else new. Starting January 2015 I will include in each post an excerpt from our book Fimark's Family Reunion Planner Keepsake, my reunion event planning eBook, which is also part of Fimark's Family Reunion Planner Social Web App.

Get more info at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYVwNPDrOVw

If you have any questions about the content of this article contact Mark at fimarkhome@gmail.com

Happy Sunday Evening

Happy Sunday evening to you. I hope each of you are having a cozy relaxing night with your loved ones. It's a coconut cake and warm coconut milk night for us. What ever you do, just keep putting some love in it. http://familyreunionplanners.blogspot.com/2013/11/put-some-love-in-it.html

Making Family Night A Hit

1. Family Night - A Big Hit
2. Making It All Work
3. Surprise Surprise
4. Food Glorious Food

Family Night - A Big Hit
This is an exciting time of year for me and Brenda. We are planning our annual Family Night with family and friends of the family. We started this traditional gathering in order to celebrate family values, present good parenting ideas and connect closer with our youth while giving them an opportunity to reveal their hidden talents, interests and their more mature side. 

Since the very first annual Family Night it's been anxiously anticipated among families in several groups in our community. 

It's amazing what gathering purely for the sake of connecting can do to the spirit of a child. Often teens distance themselves due to misunderstanding what a busy schedule of hard-working parents can do to them. This often leads to unspoken heartache and disappointment, making the parents job even more difficult. But when family members come together to prepare for Family Night doing what they all love doing most wounds quickly heal.

Making It All Work
Four key factors to making this work for each family member are:

1. Get the youth involved in the planning, writing and organizing process. 
2. Make sure there are plenty of eats the young folk and parents like and allowing them to clown around while taking snack breaks each hour or so. 
3. Set up the show in dinner theater fashion. 
4. Have the participants serve meals and soft-drinks to the older ones so they can connect with them in a special way.

One of the biggest hits of a our semi-formal family night affair is the Talent Show. Every second is savored and parents are proud of whatever their children do. Another hit is a well prepared drama complete with dignified comedy, cuteness and bitter-sweet situations.

Surprise Surprise

This years event will feature a movie taken of lasts years Family Night drama with added footage and a slideshow segment of all our kids growing up from infancy. 
To add some snap and surprise there's sneak peak "guess who" footage of the parents when they were the same age as their children. 

The folks were thinking about getting warm and staying warm throughout the coming winter months. Coats, jackets hat's, caps, scarves and gloves are on the top of the list. Brenda's even started knitting again. 

I decided to feature an adventurous knitting class scene in the drama. How could I knitting class scene possibly be exciting and adventurous.? We pulled it off. 

Read about the history of knitting and weaving and you'll see for yourself what a fascinating journey this artistic way of life has taken from the days of old to our time. According to the reviews the knitting scene went off quite well and now folks are seriously considering having a weaving/knitting class of their own once or twice a month.

Read about the history of knitting and weaving and you'll see for yourself what a fascinating journey this artistic way of life has taken from the days of old to our time. According to the reviews the knitting scene went off quite well and now folks are seriously considering having a weaving/knitting class of their own once or twice a month.
Read about the history of knitting and weaving and you'll see for yourself what a fascinating journey this artistic way of life has taken from the days of old to our time. According to the reviews the knitting scene went off quite well and now folks are seriously considering having a weaving/knitting class of their own once or twice a month.


Food Glorious Food

What inspires good spirited merriment better than a good hot meal. Depending on the season and economy we either have a potluck meal presentation where all the invited guests bring a dish or we will have it catered. Frankly they seem to prefer the variety in potluck banquet style dinners. 

Fimark's new Family Reunion Planner Social application soon to be released will feature a Family Recipe Collector via a Pinterest app. You can share recipes, get recipe ideas and comment on them. 

Take a sneak peak at some of the recipes that will be featured at http://pinterest.com/fimarkhome/family-recipes/

Planning and Decorating
We get our planning and decorating ideas, music and supplies and gift ideas browsing online stores around this time to take advantage of Black Friday Week specials. 

Happy Family Reunion and Family Night Planning!

Mark and Brenda

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Family Night Theme Music just 0.99
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