The Greatest Social Service

"Perhaps the greatest social service that can be rendered by anybody to this country and to mankind is to bring up a supportive family."

Annual Family Reunion Planning Month

Happy Autumn!

November is Annual Family Reunion Planning Month.

"Generations pass like leaves fall from our family tree. Each season new life blossoms and grows benefiting from the strength and experience of those who went before."

This is the time of year to start your family reunion projects and bind family bonds closer than ever. Ask each household member for suggestions about family reunion activities. Hold a trial run of suggested activities to test the fun factor. Start interviews and collect poems, recipes and amazing stories as told by each member of the family three or more generations deep. Make a video family history documentary. Include photos, videos, heirlooms, music and stories unique to the tribe. Most of all, enjoy Family Reunion Planning Month.

And happy family reunion planning!

Looking for great activity ideas, planning tips, samples an templates? Fimark's Family Reunion Planner Social web app has that and more. Get details an access from this blog's Profiles section.

Reunion Arts and Crafts Printables Page

Are you one of those artsy crafty types. Like to copy, edit, print, cut and paste? I hope you enjoy using the family reunion planning art and craft ideas, printables and templates featured on our arts and craft page designed especially for you.  Here you can download flyers, printable family reunion booklets, templates for invitations and banners as well as and clipart.

For the past 10 years we've strived to offer you everything you need to plan your family reunion. As the years passed our family reunion planning presentations just kept getting better and better. Why? Because we aspire to inspire you. So what's new? Take A look.

Now you can view everything you need to start your family reunion arts and crafts project on one page. Here is a print screen graphic with all the fantastic features. Best of all it's a part of Fimark's Family Reunion Planning Social web app. You can access the reunion planner app from this page too. Check it out here.  Enjoy!

World Healing - One Family At A Time

"No two people - no mere father and mother, are enough to provide emotional security for a child. He needs to feel himself one in a world of kinfolk, persons of variety in age and temperament, and yet allied to himself by an indissoluble bond which he cannot break if he could, for nature has welded him into it before he was born."
Pearl S. Buck

If the world could focus on providing the emotional security all sentient life thrives on there would be much less suffering, healing, true love and more happiness. The only place to start is with the family. Learn to prioritize family principles, support and nurture your mate and children. Learn how to inspire, engage and assure. From this core springs happiness and all best that life has to offer.

When we decide, no matter how we came into this world, or how our children did, to show them how valued they are to us and help them learn not only to survive but thrive as a person deeply loved, valued and supported, then we begin to heal a big part of this world, present and future.  That's the beauty of family reunions. It get the ball rolling - World Healing - one family at a time.

"Keep families united and you heal a significant part of the world."

                                                              - Mark Angelo Askew

Join the movement.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=artttVA-Jxg

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.

5 Fun DIY Autumn Decor Craft Ideas

It's that 'get warm and cozy' time of year. A time for breaking out the sweaters and knitted caps. A time to watch the wind curl a splendid bouquet of autumn's rich beauty, tastes and scents and feast on the fruit of harvest season.

A well tended fall garden gives up so much harvest that after baking and canning for the winter it's time to think about using nature's lovely seasonal remnants for craft ideas.

That said, while many crafters begin the season planning creative scrapbooking projects, others are eagerly making use of falls natural effects to produce magnificent decor for home, parties and festivals. Unlike any other season, autumn gardens provides more natural decorative materials ideal for the home.

Here is a short list of natural materials and supplies you can start collecting to use for your next DIY home decor craft project.

1.  Acorns

2.  Apples
3.  Cinnamon Sticks

3.  Dried Fruit

4.  Dried Oak Leaves

5.  Dried Sentenia Grass

6.  Dried Wheat Stalk
 7. Dried Tree Branches

8.  Gourds

9.  Pine Cones and Needles

10.  Tumbleweeds
11. Foam Rings
12. Glue Sticks and Gun
13. Mason Jars
14. Flat vases
15. Small Stones and Pebbles

Here are a few fun fall craft decor ideas you can do yourself using the above material list. 

1. Make an acorn, pine cone and leaf reef.

2. Make a glowing mason jar decoupage using electric candles and maple leaves.

3. Decorate apple spice and cinnamon candles with dried grass, wheat and flowers.

4. Make colorful patterns with lintels in mason jars.

5. Make beautiful dry wheat stalk and tree branch centerpieces 

Enjoy beautifying your home while adding that special touch of rich spicy and earthy essences of autumn's bounty all season long.

Want something to write home about? Why not throw a party? An autumn/fall season themed party. Family fall fests are the reason to bring family together and feast on your autumn garden of delights.

To get creative and inspiring event planning ideas get Fimark's Family Reunion Planner Keepsake book, or if you prefer to do your event planning online get Fimark's Family Reunion Planner Social web app. Everything you need to plan a memorable fall reunion.

Planning The Best Family Fall Fest Ever!

So you're planning a family fall fest and want it to be the absolute best fall fest ever? There are seven keys to making your fall festival a success. The keys are revealed in my recent weekend experience while throwing a fantastic fall fest bubble show.

It was a crisp sunny day. Benches and colorful flowers lined the restful parklike setting on the lawns of the JHU office field. Gigantic moon bounce play sets filled the spacious grassy yard with splashes of fun festive colors. It's the annual Fall Fest staff appreciation day at Johns Hopkins University. A day of celebration and a veritable JHU family reunion.

This story really began when I got the idea to start handcrafting my own bubble wands. first was the bubble spray wand. It sprays hundreds of bubbles in seconds with one gust of wind. Then I designed the hoop wand that creates giant tube shaped bubbles and large bubble balls. My next creation was the tri-ring shaped wand that generates strong, long reptilian shaped bubbles and large bubble clusters.

Hoop Bubble Wand

Multi-Spray Bubble Wand

Tri-Ring Bubble Wand

By 3:30 pm families and their children began to spring from the office building doors and parking lots bursting with sounds of  excitement and awe. Wow! Ooh! Yeah! The family fun begins. That said, a fall fest should provide plenty of exciting child activities.


Brenda and I set our bubble gear for our biggest bubble show to date. And what a show it was. Scores of kids came running from all directions to see the spectacle of glistening bubble clusters, gigantic gleaming crystal spheres floating in the air. Amazed adults stopped by to eyeball the bubble floats and try out our circle of brightly colored bubble wands. Before we knew it there was a tactile hands on affair with bubbles flying everywhere, long tube bubbles and wonderful breezy bubbles sprays all in use by young children, pre-teens and the young-at-heart.

Our tubs of bubble juice quickly became frothy tubs of soap suds as kids and parents dipped and shook and wiggled their bubble wands desperate to create their own bubble formations. Laughter and cheers filled the air. Everyone was living in the moment.

As the DJ played our favorite tunes, children could not resist dancing, prancing, running and jumping while reaching out to catch every flying bubble in sight. It was enchanting and wonderful to behold. A fall fest at it's best.

When planning a fall fest add a special touch with seasonal decorations. Rent an outdoor venue with plenty of space to rip roar and run. In addition to bubbles and high wind bubble wands throw up some kites and have a face painting booth. Hey rides are fun for the whole family.

Here are a few more tips to make your fall fest the best ever.

1. Have a DJ present fun festive family oriented music
2. Serve hot dogs, fried chicken and plenty of drinks
3. Rent two or more moon bounce play sets
4. Hire a professional Bubble Master
5. Serve apple cider, nutmeg and pumpkin pie
6. Decorate with leaves, dry arrangements, cinnamon sticks, hay, squash and pumpkins
7. Include outdoor games such as the great bubble chase, bubble race and bubble toss.

Check out the fall fest event planner in Fimark's Family Reunion Planner social web app, ebook or paper back book available at Amazon.com

Living in the Baltimore Washington area? Want to add the special touch to your festival or family event? Contact Brenda at 443 813 0865 and ask how to book an Angelo and Marie's Fantastic bubble show.