The Global Edition

So here we go... the very last edition of Heidi's  Living Lovely with Family series.  I've really enjoyed participating and I've gathered a ton of great ideas along the way... so thank you, Heidi, for your creativity and your leadership-- it's been fun and awfully beneficial!

For the last installment, we're sharing ways to promote a healthy view of the world and its people... ways to raise our children with a global perspective.  Hmmm, not something I think about every day, yet oh-so vitally important. 

When I first saw the topic for this week, it through me for a bit of loop; it wasn't quite as straightforward as the others.  It required a bit of thought-- there are lots of things we do on a regular basis to try and instill in our children a regard for others around the world, some very obvious and intentional, others a bit more subtle... not necessarily the result of a specific lesson taught.  Instead, simply a part of who we are and what we believe.  As I sat and pondered my response, I quickly came to the conclusion that in today's society, most children, I think, tend to grow up with an extremely limited world view.  They fail to realize that the world actually extends beyond their own tiny sphere (as we like to say in out home-- "It's not all about us!") and that there are people groups on the other side of the globe (even some in their very own communities!) who are struggling just for survival.  Some look just like us and others look as different as night to day.  And yet all are precious in the eyes of God!  As our childhood favorite reminds us, "Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight.  Jesus loves the little children of the world."  

I doubt that our family will ever travel around the world to see for ourselves the many colors of creation, though who knows??  Perhaps the LORD will surprise us by opening a door that we'd never seek out ourselves?  In the meantime, Chris and I are doing what we can at home to teach our children about the whole world and the fact that though we're all different, Christ died for us all.

"For God so loved the world 

that He gave His one and only Son,

 that whosoever believeth in Him, shall not perish,

 but have everlasting life."

John 3:16 

As privileged Americans, we are no more deserving of God's love than any other-- I think it's important that our children realize this!  We are so thankful for the sacrifice Christ made at Calvary, and while we embrace His free  gift of salvation, we must share it with this lost and hurting world.  As followers of Jesus, it's our job to not only care for the less fortunate, but to also share His measureless love at the same time. 

To get us started on a practical front, the boys and I are currently studying world geography several times a week.  My two oldest work together to label a large laminated map as best they can-- continents, countries, oceans, seas-- and after they've exhausted themselves, we add 2 or 3 new locations for the next time.  It's amazing how much they've retained in just a little bit of time!  As part of our studies, we also read about various people groups in books like A Child's Geography: Explore His Earth by Ann Voskamp, Children Just Like Me, the M. Lasek series, Missions Now: Just Add Me! by Clifford Clark [it has recipes, too!], and The Story of the World by Susan Wise Bauer.  We also read about missionaries, too.  We love this book, and are always on the lookout for more quality biographies.  Soon, we'll be diving into the Christian Heroes: Then and Now series for an in depth look into the lives of several missionaries and their walks of faith.

Aside from our studies, our family also sponsors a sweet little Indonesian boy named Owen. Each month, Compassion International uses the money we give to meet Owen's many needs, and those of his family, as well.  They provide food, educational materials, clothing, Bibles, godly instruction, and a whole host of other materials necessary for their survival in today's climate. Together, our family prays for Owen and we write him letters many times each year to encourage him and to share a bit more about ourselves each time.  When his letters arrive in the mail, we all enjoy reading them aloud every time.  It's been a blessing and a privilege-- not to mention an eye-opening experience-- to share a bit of our abundance with him!

At Christmas time, we also take part in Operation Christmas child, a fabulous project organized by Samaritan's Purse, designed to share God's love-- and gifts!-- with those living in desperate conditions.  Their Gift Catalog offers oodles of gift-giving options, too--anything from a handful of chicks to a dairy goat to a box of Bibles, translated in a foreign tongue-- and each year we enjoy picking out just the right gift to, again, benefit those in need.  

When it's all said and done, Chris and I have one main priority, and that is to raise our children to the love the LORD with every fiber of their being and to nurture in them servant hearts... hearts sold out to Christ and set on glorifying Him in all they say and do.  Part of that mindset requires a passion for the lost and the hurting all over the globe, and what better time to model this world view than now?

"Then the King will say to those on His right,

 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father,

 inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 

I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; 

I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; 

I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;

 naked, and you clothed Me;

 I was sick, and you visited Me;

 I was in prison, and you came to Me.'

 "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?  And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?  When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'

 "The King will answer and say to them, 

'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'

Matthew 25:34-40

The Vacation Edition

"No one needs a vacation more than the person who just had one."
--anonymous

Can anyone relate??! You bet I can! Every time we return home from anywhere, Chris and I always comment on our state of exhaustion, and the fact that we're not supposed to be tired, but rested.


Anyhoo. Vacation.... that's this week's theme at Living Lovely with Family. Heidi, over at Mt. Hope Chronicles, is really hoping to gather a few out-of-the-box vacation ideas, and hopefully a few affordable ones, too (especially ideas for those on a shoe-string budget... and who isn't these days?!). Unfortunately, I don't have much experience on either front-- the one mega vacation we took as a family required months and months of saving (and sadly, it'll be a very long while before we save enough for a repeat performance!), and our other vacations have been supplied by our wonderfully generous parents.

Over the past few days, though, mom and I have been discussing this very subject, and together we've come up with a few possible ideas:

1. Plan a stay-cation... a few days or maybe even a week full of day trips in our surrounding area. No need for hotels or even expensive restaurants-- breakfast at home and picnic lunches will do just fine. And since we live in northern Virginia, our family has excellent access to all sorts of fabulous stuff-- like the Smithsonian museums in Washington D.C. and the battlefields in Manassas; the fabulous aquarium in Baltimore and the gorgeous harbor district in Annapolis. A day trip into Richmond is an easy drive, and there's a wonderful children's museum there to boot. Even Williamsburg is doable, and we have wonderful friends nearby. Grin. So, lots of opportunties for fun... right in our own backyard!

2. Take advantage of family in friends who live in other places (== free lodging!). For instance, mom and dad live in the mountains and there are all sorts of unique opportunties to discover and explore in their neck of the woods. Mom is always on the look-out for more neat finds... why not recruit others to help in that process?? Like other family members, perhaps, or close friends. Surely they'd be tickled to participate and contribute to a little family fun (I think?!). Another for instance-- a few years ago my in-laws moved to South Dakota, and while my oldest two have visited their new home, the rest of us have not. I'd love to haul my entire crew out there for an extended visit, as I know there's a ton of cool stuff to see and do out west! Surely, when the time is right, they'd be willing to help create an itinerary for us as they are much more familiar with the area (and we'd have a free place to stay!).

3. Chris would love-- absolutely love-- to rent an RV for a traveling tour of the U.S. (I'm not sure if this qualifies for a shoe-string-budget or not, what with gasoline expenses and all. I guess I'll find out one day if we really look in to it!). Back in college, he and his buddies rented one for spring break and drove to the Florida Keys, and ever since then, he's been itching to do it all again (with us though... not them!). While the idea has grown on me over time, I'm still a bit hesitant... would we all survive?? That's a lot of us (don't forget the dog) cooped up in a tight space, leaving no route of escape when the male members of the family start snoring (that includes the dog). Just kidding. But seriously, I'd really, really like to tour New England-- Boston and Martha's Vineyard and the coast of Maine, too. Oh, and then there's Jackson Hole, Wyoming and the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park. So many, many wonderful places that I'd love to see (and that I'd love to see with my family)...

Well, that's about it from this end. Hopefully, other readers will step up to the plate with oodles of helpful ideas; I'll certainly be checking in frequently (to Heidi's blog) because our family could surely benefit from the creativity of others!! Especially in these tough economic times, inexpensive-- yet fun!-- would be ideal :)

In the meantime, here's a little peak at the vacation adventures we've found thus far:

A year and a half ago, Chris and I took the boys on our first big vacation... we went to the greatest place on earth, and let me just tell you, it truly is the best! We went to Disney World, and it was utterly fantastic. Incredible. Unbelievable. A must-do. Really, and worth every penny!

We traveled to Orlando the week following Thanksgiving and it was absolutely perfect! Delightful temperatures, all week long, and the crowds... well, there were none (relatively speaking, of course)! Also, all the Disney parks had already been decorated for Christmas, making them even more magical than we'd imagined.

Another huge Orlando hit-- Seaworld! Top-notch shows (we all left with a desperate passion to become dolphin trainers!), phenomenal displays, gorgeous landscaping, and a fabulous new roller coaster-- which Chris had to experience alone. Sigh. Noh & Big Man weren't tall enough, Bub wasn't interested, and I couldn't ride (I was 7 months pregnant at the time). Ever the trooper, Chris "suffered" alone, while Noh-man stood drooling at the gates.

"My soul is full of longing

For the secret of the sea,

And the heart of the great ocean

Sends a thrilling pulse through me."

--Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Aahhh... the beach! We love the beach, and every year we're blessed with a trip or two to the coast. For years now, Chris's mom has been taking us to North Myrtle Beach for a week's vacation and it has been a highlight of every summer. And last year mom and dad took us to Cape May for a week in July-- a return to mom's old stompin' grounds-- and it was an incredible treat! This summer, we're looking forward to a week in both places. The only down side-- the return trip home. How I'd love to own a little cottage near the shore-- a place to hang our hats (or our suits) for weeks on end as we soak up the sun, savor the fresh ocean breezes, and enjoy the peace and tranquility that is the beach!

"A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in."

--Robert Orben

"The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever."

--Jacques Cousteau

"Sponges grow in the ocean. That just kills me. I wonder how much deeper the ocean would be if that didn't happen."

--Stephen Wright

"Don't grow up too quickly, lest you forget how much you love the beach."

--Michelle Held

"Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink the wild air."

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Family is not an important thing, it's everything."

--Michael J. Fox

The Yearly Edition

"What an enormous magnifier is tradition!  How a thing grows in the human memory and in the human imagination, when love, worship, and all that lies in the human heart, is there to encourage it."

Thomas Carlyle

This week's installment of Living Lovely with Family is all about yearly traditions.  Heidi posted about her family's wonderful traditions at Mt. Hope Chronicles, and several others have shared as well. It's really been a lot of fun-- this sharing of ideas-- and encouraging, too!  There really are so many fun things to do with family, big things and little things, that build lasting memories... and that's what this series is all about!  So if you're interested in reading any of the other posts, check out the links on Heidi's blog.  

In our family, many of our yearly activities are tied tightly to our vacations (but since that's the topic for next week, I'll save the vacation pics until then) and the holidays.  Being with family-- both the immediate & extended-- is important to me.  Very important.  I truly am a "the-more-the-merrier" sort of gal when it comes to celebrating special occasions with loved ones.  So whether it's sharing some turkey with all the fixin's around the Thanksgiving table or a hamburger and hotdog around the grill on the 4th of July... family is where it's at!

A few other activities that have inhabited special spots on our calendar are:

Trunk or treating at Big Man's preschool on (or around) Halloween.  My older two enjoy handing out candy to the little ones, though this past year they were a bit disappointed that we hadn't decorated our van to "compete" with the one parked next to us.  For the next couple years, we'll have to occupy ourselves with a new tradition (as Big Man will no longer be in preschool); but then it will be Lolli's turn and we'll all be able to enjoy this fun once again!

Every year, as we prepare for Christmas, we make several batches of homemade donuts to eat while we decorate the tree.  Mom and dad started this tradition years ago, and to this day, we all look forward to this scrumptious treat at least once (and hopefully a time or two more) during the holiday season.  

Then, on Christmas Eve night, the kiddos always open one gift each-- and it's always a present from Gramoggie & Poppa.  And every time, it's a new pair of Christmas jammies!  We love this great tradition that Gramoggie started before the kids were even born (I get a pair, too :)

And every year, we spend a chuck of our Christmas holiday with mom and dad at their house.  It just wouldn't we Christmas if we didn't!  Unfortunately, Chris's folks live very far away so we don't always get to see them then, but we look forward to their visits when they do make it east!

As Easter approaches, we always dye hard-boiled eggs to enjoy around the table (last year we didn't have any green ones, though, because Big Man ate the green dye tablet!  He quickly realized it wasn't candy.), and then we stuff plastic ones with goodies to hide and hunt outdoors.  The boys have already requested money inside the plastic eggs this year instead of candy!  

After Easter comes and goes, summer is never too far away, and that means... a Memorial Day picnic to kick off the season and then a pool party to wrap it up.  At the tail end of summer, Uncle Don & Aunt Francie always host an annual get-together, and there we gather with Chris's side of the family for a day of tremendous fun!  Even though most of us live within a couple hours of each other, hectic schedules and individual commitments prevent us from getting together on a more regular basis.  So when a date is set for this gathering, we black it out, insuring that nothing else conflicts with this special day :)

We love this time together with family... 

...and good eats 

... and a dip in the pool

... and a show of tricks

...and of course-- a Michael Phelps pose or two :)

One other summer tradition that we've maintained for quite a few years now is a family favorite for oh-so-many reasons... the county fair!  Funnel cakes, salty french fries, giant sodas,  hair-raising rides, and all the people-watching a gal could want :)  In years past we've gone with my folks to their county fair; last year we went to our own. Of course, when I made arrangements with some good friends to all go together, neither of us realized that the day we chose was "Dollar Day."  Evidently, the rest of the county did know that little fact because they were all there!  We didn't get to ride too many things because the lines were so long, but being there together-- and with friends, to boot-- made it all worthwhile!

And so with that in mind, I leave off with this "lovely" thought (and for any who might read this, please know that I mean this in the most sarcastic sort of way... sometimes this sort of humor just makes me chuckle):

"If you ever start feeling like you have the goofiest, craziest, most dysfunctional family in the world, all you have to do is go to a state fair.  Because in five minutes at the fair, you'll be going, 'you know, we're alright.  We are dang near royalty.' "

--Jeff Foxworthy

The Seasonal Edition

Special treats, random surprises, and seasonal activities... that's the topic for this week's edition of Living Lively with Family.  I had a grand time searching back through my photo archives for ideas, and after peeking at Heidi's post (her photography is fabulous, by the way!), I decided to follow her lead and let the pictures tell the story.  So here goes-- the seasonal edition as it applies to us~ 

Apple picking every autumn...

And sampling a few, just to make sure they pass the test :)

Hikes through the woods as the leaves fall from the trees,

field trips to the battlefields to climb on the cannons,

fun with pumpkins after a trip to the pumpkin patch,

and paintball wars when Uncle Dave comes to town.

Then, as winter sets in, there's skating at the ice rink right up the street

and skiing at a resort not too far away.

(Of course, Lolli & I opt for hot cocoa in the lodge instead of skis on the slopes!)

And then... gradually... the warm weather returns :)

We all love taking a day trip to the zoo, and last year we discovered the Virginia Safari Park, where the animals eat straight from our hands!

Treks to the river...

and rides around one of our favorite beach towns... neither ever disappoint!

When the scorching heat of summer settles in we head to the pool, sometimes for a quiet swim...

and sometimes for a big splash!

And of course, a chocolate ice cream cone at the beach is always a treat!

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven."

Ecclesiastes 3:1

The Weekly Edition

"There is no doubt that it is around the family and the home that all the greatest virtues, the most dominating virtues of human society, are created, strengthened and maintained..."

--Winston Churchill

Living Lovely with Family, Heidi's new blog series over at Mt. Hope Chronicles, is up and running again with it's second installment... the Weekly Edition.  What are some things we do as a family on a weekly basis (or perhaps 2-3 times/month) that are special and meaningful to us??  That's what Heidi wants to know :)

In our family, we attend church together every week.  As members of a very large church, we have lots of church service options-- we used to attend regularly on Sunday mornings; that's just what Chris and I were used to doing as children and newlyweds.  Nowadays, however, Saturday night services abound, and thankfully, our church provides one... and we like it a lot!  The format is the same as that on Sunday morning so we're not missing out on anything by going then, and it really is a nice way to cap off our Saturday. What started as a convenience (working around travel soccer schedules) has turned into a regular part of our routine, even though we no longer have travel soccer on our regular docket :)

  

Let's see, a few other weekly activities... of course there's Costco night!  A large pizza (a large yummy pizza!) that feeds the entire family for $9.95... it's a no-brainer!  Plus we get to shop together and the boys get to rummage through the movie and video game bins with daddy-- it's a boy's paradise!  It's also a dinner out for us all with no kitchen clean-up for me... a win/win all the way around :)  [Of course, if we don't make it to Costco for dinner with daddy, the kiddos and I head over during the late morning to get our shopping done and fill our bellies with free samples!]

On weekends, there's always work to be done around the house... little repairs, extra projects, and of course, yard work in summer.  All three boys have practically run the wheels off their little bubble-blowing lawnmower in years past as they've helped dad "mow the grass."  The guys try to catch a little football action, too, both on tv (when it's in season) and at the park across the street.  Sometimes it's baseball.  Sometimes soccer.  And sometimes it's just a wrestling match in the front yard.  In nice weather, we also attempt to get outdoors for a family walk-- sometimes around the neighborhood and sometimes on one of the many trails in our neck of the woods. 

Weekly, we also spend lots of time at the boys' sporting events. Between soccer and swimming, most of our Saturdays (and many of our Sundays) have been spent around the field or at the pool (though I think soccer has been crossed off our list in favor of swimming).  During the summer, the boys' team competes every Saturday.  During the school year, their year-round team competes once or twice-- and sometimes even 3 times-- a month (and those meets run all weekend long!).  We have a lot of fun cheering the boys on from the sidelines, and we also enjoy the time we spend just "hanging out" in between events. 

And of course in the summer months the kids and I spend every day at the pool... there's just no other way to enjoy the outdoors here in summer!  Several nights a week we'll make it a late day so that dad can come swim after work, and once a week (generally), we'll trade in our Costco trip for a pizza dinner at the pool.  That's always a lot of fun!  

All in all, I think the best thing about our "weekly" activity list is that, just like our daily one, we're all together... and that's a wonderful blessing!

Where will our country find leaders with integrity, courage, strength-- all the family values-- in ten, twenty, or thirty years?  The answer is that you are teaching them, loving them, and raising them right now."

--Barbara Bush