To-Do List: Tool or Task-Master?

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If you are like me, you have a daily to-do list. You write down everything you want to accomplish, and you feel a sense of success with each added item you get to cross off. Sometimes, when days get hectic, the to-do list is an anchor and allows you to feel some sense of control over those things which are totally out of your control.

If you’re anything like me, a to-do list is a necessary productivity tool. But sometimes you probably notice that it becomes more of a stumbling block. Here are some things that I have noticed about my to-do list:

1. My to-do list is not always in order of priority, although it should be. Often times, I put things I “want” to do before things that need to be done.

2. Sometimes, the absolutely necessary tasks of daily life are not even found on my to-do list! I write down things like “do laundry,” “Doctor’s appointment” and so on, but have never seen an action item like, “Read Bible verses with the children about positive communication,” or “Send Marc an e-card just to say I Love You.” Hmmm…

3. The to-do list can become not a tool, but a burdensome taskmaster. What if it doesn’t all get done? How can I maximize, multi-task, and get more done?? Well, maybe the things that I think are important, didn’t really need to get done today. Did I pray about my to-do list? And do I remain in prayer about my to-dos throughout the day? Am I letting God show me the way He wants me to go, or am I going full-speed ahead with my own plans? (Sigh…)

4. While I am “doing,” what are my children “doing?” The to-do list most assuredly does not help us with “being.” Instead, in my rush to do more and have the children cooperate with my plans, I can be irritable and get frustrated. Soon, everyone is speaking abruptly to one another and the atmosphere is far from peaceful. Or, maybe I am simply not investing enough in the children and in our relationships, and we do not experience the joy that God wants for our family.

I knew that today would be a busy day. There is suddenly a lot going on in the Carrier home, and much needs to be done. But in my early-morning time with the Lord, as I prepared my mental “to-do” list, I asked God for wisdom and continual guidance. I wanted my plans to be His plans so I could be sure that all the truly important “stuff” would be accomplished. And I developed a totally new To-Do list based on Proverbs 31, which would help me stay focused on both eternal and practical priorities. I think it will help me to be productive, yes, but also help my productivity be pleasing to God.

It’s all part of “pressing on.” 🙂

WFMW: (Homeschool) Freebie of the Day!

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We have not been blogging regularly but hopefully will be getting back into a routine sometime soon. Works for me Wednesday is as good a re-starting point as any.

I was kind of at a loss for tips, then remembered a wonderful Web site that of course you will want to check out RIGHT AWAY! 🙂 It’s called “Homeschool Freebie of the Day” and it’s TOTALLY FREE. When you sign up for Freebie notifications, you will receive an email every Monday letting you know what all of the week’s goodies are–so you can pick and choose which ones you will want to grab. Of course, it’s designed for homeschoolers, but there are resources that even non-homeschoolers will love–like audio story recordings, an ebook about herbal remedies, and more.
Trick is, the freebies are only available for ONE DAY–and then they’re gone! So it’s best to sign up for the Monday reminders and then make a note of the days when you want to go back to the site to get the free download.
Enjoy!

"System Restore" to the Rescue!

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We are playing “catch-up” a bit here at the Carrier home. Marc has been away on business for a good portion of the last six weeks. Some standards have had to be relaxed a bit, and there has probably not been as much consistency as there should be in some areas. Some of that is because my “mother’s heart” was feeling a little too much sympathy for the children (with missing their Dad and all), and part of it was simply that by the end of many of those L-O-N-G “solo” days, I was feeling exhausted and just didn’t want to deal with things the way that I should have. Not to mention, I often went to bed too late, got up too late in the morning—and missed altogether too many of my daily “quiet times.”

So this week, with Dad back at the helm, we are trying to return to some sense of normalcy—being more proactive and consistent in our discipleship efforts, raising the standards as far as diligence and quality of work (which has been one of the unfortunate casualties of this season), and simply trying to enjoy one another in the midst of all the “to-do’s.”

Have you ever gone through (or are you going through) a season where things have gotten far more out of whack than you would like—and maybe through no fault of your own, but simply circumstance? Or, like us, have you been “lazy” for too long in some areas, and now want to get back to a place where you once were?

We have written about the “re-boot” as a short-term solution for improving the atmosphere and tone in the home. We use this method and highly recommend it. However, when life’s circumstances sneak up on you (or maybe snowball) and you are dealing with more than just adjusting attitudes—what do you do?

As I have been thinking about where we are at, and how we have dealt with that issue personally this week, I see the necessity of something more like a “system restore.” You know, when your computer has been working just fine, and then suddenly you notice lots of glitches or shut-downs. Or maybe you installed a new program and suddenly there are quirks in your system. You aren’t sure what is wrong or how to fix it, exactly. Maybe, like me, your first instinct is to re-start the computer. But that doesn’t work! My next step is normally to do a system restore. It’s pretty simple, actually—just choose a “restore point” (before those pesky problems cropped up!) and have the computer return to the settings that were saved from that day and time. Bingo! It almost always works for me. Then, if I want to install that new software, or if I was trying to work on something in particular, I return to it—usually without a problem.

When we go through seasons of difficulty (such as we have for the past month and a half) and then begin to see problems—and particularly when we know that that there are no “quick fixes,” but rather painful realities of simply buckling down and persevering in our relationship with God and with one another—it is easy to get discouraged. To feel like throwing in the towel, because it’s too overwhelming. And the feeling of guilt is there, too, which certainly does NOT help matters!

Enter “system restore.” I decided early this week that this was our only solution. I needed to ditch the guilt and the “if only’s,” and START OVER—just return to what we had previously been doing, even though in my mind’s eye there was no way to just clean a slate that had gotten a bit sloppy. So we went back to solid training, genuine encouragement and positive relationships, and corrective discipline as necessary. No talking about it—just doing it. And of course, things always get worse before they get better, don’t they? All of us are feeling a bit stretched, but I remain encouraged—because we are simply getting back to a place we have already been. It feels a bit like Revelation 2:5 (though certainly not in context!): “Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.”

Sometimes seasons in life change us, or change what we are doing (and not necessarily for the better). I suppose the tendency is to over-psychologize or to swing the pendulum to the opposite extreme (sometimes causing MORE problems)—but there should be none of that with a “system restore.” We must simply be willing call a “do over,” and then do even the “hard” things when life suddenly seems messed up. Just get back going in the right direction!

Now, back to the computer analogy…after a “system restore,” you will usually go back to whatever it is that you were doing, right? If you had installed a new program that caused glitches, or if you had changed an existing program that was messing things up, you will re-visit that after a system restore, and try again to do the new thing. Sometimes those changes are necessary to upgrade and optimize your system.

Well, one thing that we have done is to slightly revise our use of the Core Value Progress Chart along with the “system restore.” (The CVPC is available as a free download when you sign up for our e-newsletter here.) In The Values-Driven Family, we talked about using the CVPC as an as evaluative a tool twice each day for our children’s character training—and it still is just that. However, we are now several children removed from the writing of the book and life has gotten immeasurably busier. Some time ago, we decided to do the charts just in the evening, and then only on weekdays. That worked fine for quite a while. Now, however, we have been feeling consistent pressure during the bedtime routines to “make it all happen.” With another child now using the CVPC (we’re up to five of age) doing charts is a bit of a chore! But it is such a valuable way to encourage Christlike character that we are not willing to abandon it.

As we have been striving to return to normalcy this week and get back-to-basics, I have also re-done the Core Value Progress Chart. Instead of each child having his/her own, I made up a single “master list” for ALL of the children. That alone makes going through the charts much easier. What we have also done, however, is to put the chart in a plexiglass refrigerator frame and I attached a wet-erase (not dry-erase) marker to it. This makes the chart totally re-usable each week—I love the idea of not using so much paper!

And rather than wait until the evening to do a post-mortem review of the children’s day, I am more proactively trying to note (and encourage) positive behaviors throughout the day and check (or “X,” for negative behaviors) each child’s chart accordingly. It is a good opportunity to encourage an as-needed change in direction, actually. It is nice to be able to glance over the chart at lunch time and say, “Gee, I did notice that you were being a little bossy to your sister. That would normally give you a ‘ding’ on your chart (which is what we accidentally started calling those X’s…), BUT, if you can make some progress with speaking more kindly and lovingly this afternoon, we’ll be able to give you a check instead. Let’s try to do it God’s way!”

All in all, this process revision has been working very well. It provides more consistency in our biblical values training and streamlines the evening routines (with not so much of the charts to do for each child, many things already having been noted throughout the day).

We take the opportunity to evaluate our family’s progress (particularly in spiritual and character growth, but also on the practical to-do’s) on a regular basis. The more often we do this, the more likely we can make small changes (like the “re-boot”) that can keep us moving in the right direction. However, when we go through prolonged seasons that have more far-reaching consequences, a “system restore,” with some thoughtful changes in routine, may be in order. Don’t be discouraged if this is the case in your family. Instead, be thankful that the Lord continues to guide you and give you wisdom in making necessary changes. Trust that He will continue to work all things for good. And in all things, remain diligent—both in day-to-day tasks and (especially) in the spiritual disciplines that are necessary for abundant life.

Works for me Wednesday: Character Training

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My husband and I were talking about character training this morning–specifically, encouraging our children to grow in their faith and in their relationship with God so that they more consistently display Christlike character.

Marc remembered reading somewhere a statement that has stuck with him. I’m not sure this is a direct quote, but it goes something like this: “The average Christian has more knowledge than ability to perform.” How true this is! We study the Bible, read the differing “interpretations” of scholars and authors, sometimes research the church fathers and historical doctrinal positions…but all too often, this knowledge merely puffs us up. When the rubber meets the road, we still find ourselves unable to exhibit a character that reflects our stated belief in God and in the Gospel of Christ.

In our discussion this morning, we were focusing on this statement as it relates to our children. As parents, we strive to impart “knowledge” of God’s Word to our children. We read the Bible each morning and afternoon, encourage them to have their own quiet time with the Lord, and try to talk about the Word consistently, as it applies to everyday situations.

BUT, knowledge has its limits. As such, the more important element of character development (for our children) is discipleship. It is through the process of discipling our children in the faith and in Christlike character that they see how to put God’s Word into practice in a way that is REAL for them. Unfortunately, it is not an instantaneous process. It is just that–a PROCESS. We often want “quick fixes” and immediate results, but with character training there is most definitely seed time and harvest–with emphasis on “TIME.” It demands great patience from us as parents.

Lately (for a number of reasons) we have been seeing traits in our children that we wish would just go away. I have caught myself wondering if the process of Biblical discipleship has its limits. But, of course, that attitude simply reflects my own shortcomings. I just have to confirm again, to myself, that God’s Word is true and He is faithful. And as we wait for fruit on the different seeds we have sown, prayers of faith are important. In fact, I think they are essential. Unfortunately, the element of prayer, and the necessity of patience, is easy to overlook. After all, it is human nature to want to “DO” something!

What works for us–even on those days when it doesn’t SEEM like it–is us doing our part, and then (through prayer and patience) trusting God to do His. One tool that we have found particularly helpful is using a character training/values chart with our children on a consistent basis. It is available as a FREE DOWNLOAD when you sign up for the Values-Driven newsletter at www.valuesdrivenfamily.com. Of course, you can subscribe to receive the free downloads, and then are free to unsubscribe at any time–but we hope you will stick with us. 🙂 We try to send out bi-weekly emails of information and encouragement for families, with free downloads that we have found useful, reviews of products from Christian publishers, and announcements of our own product sales for those who have interest.

Make sure to visit Rocks in My Dryer for more WMFW tips.

Must-See Video

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Marc and I were both greatly impacted by a YouTube video that our friends Derek and Lisa Guyer shared on their blog, Rise of the Home. It vividly portrays just what Christ has done for us. Honestly, it brings tears to my eyes every time I see it. After you watch the video, please head over to visit Derek and Lisa. Their story is phenomenal and through their testimony and the power of God, broken marriages and families are on the road to restoration. Praise God!

New Baby!

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We were excited to welcome another member to the Carrier family last Thursday afternoon. We’re a little late in getting pictures up, but as you can see, he is very cute!! We were unaware of the birth, which tells you that it went well. We cleaned up Mommy and made sure baby was nursing properly. Our five year-0ld daughter had the honor of choosing a name. It’s official–he’s “CUTIE.” 🙂

Works for me Wednesday: Improving the Home Atmosphere

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My husband has been away on business quite a bit lately. We’ve been managing pretty well, although when Marc came home this past weekend, I told him I could really use some help dealing with the evening routines. By day’s end, Mom is tired, even if no one else is. And, it seems, I get the least cooperation from the children when I most need it. So if there is a time when I get overwhelmed, that would definitely be it.

Yesterday was a great day in many ways. But of course, by the time we started our evening routines, I was worn pretty thin. When (in the midst of dinner preparations) I discovered a mass of potting soil dumped over the window sill and onto off-white carpet, I nearly lost it. No, I think I DID lose it. From there on, it seemed to be one thing after another. When we sat down for our family devotions, I apologized to the children for my irritable mood. I had to laugh when my seven year-old said, “If it was morning time, we could re-boot and everything would be fine. Since it’s already bed time, there’s not much we can do.”

So I was reminded of a trick that really WORKS FOR ME. It’s called the RE-BOOT, and it greatly improves the atmosphere of our home (as long as we remember to do it when needed.) If you have been following along as we blog the book, “The Values-Driven Family,” you’ve already seen it. But, it’s worth repeating. I’m going to paste it below–a direct excerpt from VDF so that I don’t have to re-invent the wheel. Visit Rocks in my Dryer for more WFMW tips!
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Improving the Mood: Dealing with Irritability and Frustration

Has this ever happened in your home?: the baby cried at 4 AM and you couldn’t go back to sleep; the dog got sick on the carpet; the toddler who was partially potty trained peed on the floor three times in a row, for the first time in over a week; the older siblings are perpetually whining and arguing. And as for getting any housework done…! As a result, you are barking out commands to “behave” and “be quiet.” In response to your irritable orders, the children are in a crabby mood, too. You see that there is no end in sight. Yet, it’s only 9:45! You know you’re not going to make it through the day.

This is a very slight exaggeration of a true story—this was us one day! I (Marc) was busy working in my office and took it all in. My pregnant wife then went to the grocery store, children in tow. When she got home, she said that the kids exhibited the worst behavior she had ever experienced with them. I, of course (being the sensitive man that I am), responded, “I could have predicted that.”

You see, when everyone is worn thin and everybody is in a bad mood (frustrated, tired, or just plain irritable), things do not just change by themselves. In fact, you can expect the tone in the home to go from bad to worse, if left unchecked. After this incident, I talked to my wife, all the while thinking that the situation was somewhat what it feels like when my computer is acting up. It can be painfully slow or some features can simply stop working. So how do I respond (being as patient as I am with computers)? I click faster and harder and get frustrated that things just seem to slow down more—or, ultimately, the computer just seizes. How do I get things back to normal again? Reboot: Control—Alt—Delete! Immediately I saw how the concept can also apply to the family.

First, control the situation. Recognize that the environment is not healthy and that the team can’t continue down this path. In our home, we stop everything and call a REBOOT. Everyone gathers in a room and sits down. I (or Cindy, if I am not there) tell the family that the mood is dismal and must change.

Next, alter the path. Ask the family if they want to have a blessed day. Ask them if they feel blessed now. Then tell them that we need to start over and live by the core values so that we can experience the joy, peace, and success God has in store for us that day.

Finally, delete the past. All misdeeds are forgiven. Children receive a clean slate for their encouragement charts and full opportunity to get all their marks. Every person (moody adults included) must give every other member of the family hugs and kisses and tell them they are sorry for being crabby or for doing whatever it was they had done to contribute to the mood crisis.

This method is exceptional! It really works. We have done this and have turned the tone 180 degrees in our home. Rebooting is a staple part of maintaining peace and joy in our home. It helps parents and children alike to recognize that peace, joy, and success are a choice. We as a family unit can set a joyful and loving tone in the home. Implementing this method encourages everyone in the family to come on board as a team and choose to take advantage of the new start offered.

This is a great reflection of the grace that God extends to us through Christ, offering a fresh start when we’ve chosen the wrong path and come to him in repentance. We urge you to try this method in order to reduce the expression of negative emotions that threaten to wreak havoc in your home. The Bible says, “Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting with strife” (Proverbs 17:1)—this is so true! Little else matters in a home with a negative tone.

From the Values-Driven Mailbag

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I am in the process of going through some of my email folders. I have a bad habit of dumping correspondence into folders and then never actually “doing” anything with it. I guess I just hate to delete (forever) something that I might need or that has been meaningful to me at some point.

One of the things that we love about Values-Driven is getting feedback from folks about how our resources have benefitted their family. The comments and questions are also fun for us to field and we enjoy adding a bit more dimension to our online endeavors. As I was clearing out my Values-Driven correspondence folder, I re-read this one and laughed all over again. I thought I would post it, just because. Enjoy!

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(Comment:)

Help! My boys hate each other! Actually just a little prayer for my sanity as a homeschool mom would be great!

(Response:)

I, too, have days when I feel like all my kids do is bicker. ARRRGGGH!! But, the good days outnumber the bad. Unfortunately, when my children seem to be having difficulties in this area, I often have to look in the mirror–and it is painful. If my children are being short with one another, chances are I’ve been irritable and not responding to them in a kind manner–or maybe I’m just barking out orders because we’re in a rush to get somewhere. When they’re arguing about who-had-what (“that’s mine!”), very often it’s just a root of selfishness that I see in my own self as well (I want to sit down and relax for a minute; No, I can’t help you right now!…).

On the other hand, children are children…and folly is bound in the heart of a child. They are children of God with their own sin nature and their own weaknesses and failings. So even though, very often, “the apples don’t fall far from the tree,” in other instances, it’s just necessary for me to be more diligent in training. It takes a lot of patience to disciple your children, as I’m sure you’re aware. It’s easy to get lax, to want to give up. Usually I see “backslides” in behaviors when the children have been doing really well for a while and I “reward” them by relaxing the standard or not doing some of the usual teaching & training that we’ve become accustomed to. So it’s important to always stay the course, consistently pointing our children to God’s Word and the Christlike character that is His goal for us as maturing Christians.

Unfortunately, we are a “quick fix” culture (myself included). We want the maximum results with the minimum effort. We want it NOW–not 18 years from now! But, God gave us our children for many years, for a good reason. They need that many years of gentle, patient, loving, and persistent training, encouragement, and discipline. There are ups and downs! I hope you will stay encouraged in this wonderful journey. Enjoy your children and expect them to enjoy each other! I will keep you in prayer–I know how you feel! If you have any specific questions, I’ll be happy to do my best to answer.

God bless you!

Cindy Carrier

(Reply:)

Thank you so much! You really nailed it with the irritable mom, the ‘just-a-minute’ mom, and the ‘reward-the-good-behavior-by-being-lax mom’….are you spying on me????? LOL!…I’m learning!!!!! Thanks so much for your resources!

"You Never Forget Your Coffee!"

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For quite some time, it has been my habit to get up early and spend some time with the Lord before the hustle-and-bustle of the day. Because I get up early (sometimes as early as 4:30, other times not until 6:00 or so), I very much enjoy a cup of coffee as I read my Bible and pray. (However, just for the record, I do limit my caffeine intake to that ONE cup.) After my coffee and quiet time, I take my vitamin (SuperMom!) and sometimes a St. John’s Wort capsule, then start drinking my daily quota of water. I find that these things keep my moods relatively stable, my energy up, and my mind fresh.

For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been hit-or-miss on the morning quiet time. The reasons vary. Mostly I think it’s because Marc has been away on business four days out of the seven, and I typically take advantage of the quiet nights after the kids go to bed to work on various projects. I tend to stay up a bit too late, actually. So my morning wake-up call is usually one of the children, at which point my time with the Lord is distracted at best. Truth be told, it usually doesn’t happen at all, at that point. Of course, we still have morning and evening devotional times as a family–but it’s not the same.

I’ve also gotten more than two-thirds the way through many days lately, only to realize that I have yet to drink a glass of water. Oh, and I haven’t taken my vitamin yet! Breakfast? No, I didn’t eat yet today, either. Hmmm…put all these things together and it’s no wonder that I feel like I’m bouncing from one thing to another, slightly distracted, occasionally irritable, and definitely not at the top of my game.

I recall one day recently when I was more than a little crabby, so my husband went through the checklist with me: “Did you take your vitamin?” (No). “Did you take a happy pill?” (That would be the St. John’s Wort, thanks…NO). “Are you drinking your water?” (NO). “Did you have breakfast?” (Um, NO). At which point he merely raised his eyebrows and kind of smirked, saying, “But I bet you had your coffee. You never forget your coffee.”

And as a friend of mine recently reminded me, we sure do make time for the things that are important. I would say that all of these practical things–and especially the spiritual–ARE important. But I sometimes make half-hearted efforts and excuses when it comes to attending to them as I should.

But, oh, I always do have my morning coffee.

No-TV Family Fun

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I remember a young mother with two children under the age of three commenting to me that she was really trying to find things for the whole family to enjoy together (besides incessant games of Candy Land, which of course are of limited fun for the parents, anyway). And in a recent conversation with a friend of mine, she wondered what our family does with all of our “free time,” since we don’t watch TV.

Of course, now that the weather is getting nicer, it’s prime outdoor time. The options for “things to do” as a family are becoming a bit more varied than they were in the cold and snow of Winter. It seems a good time to delve into the topic of “family fun” and talk about some options.

Before enumerating a list of such fun things, it’s important to examine one’s definition of “fun.” I think our definition might be a little different from the average. Frankly, our culture seems consumed with entertainment, and it’s no more than a manifestation of the sinful nature. (What will please “me?” What will make “me” happy?) But Scripture clearly teaches us that we are to put God first, and then to “consider others better than ourselves.”

Another problem we have seen is that work is viewed simply as a necessary evil. We count the hours until the end of the day…plan our next vacation…and often endure as drudgery what should be meaningful and profitable labor. Aren’t we supposed to “work with all our heart, as working for the Lord, not men?”

With those thoughts in mind, let’s consider what we can do for fun as a family! Personally, we have a lot to do around our home. We typically WORK together for FUN! And, honestly, the work is enjoyable, most of the time. Many parents seek to avoid this, saying, “Let kids be kids,” but the truth is that we’re preparing them to be adults, and they will need to know how to work. Not only that, but we do want them to enjoy their work! We’ve found that working together as a family builds camaraderie between all family members and also imparts a wonderful attitude of diligence in the children. As we work, we are training them in valuable skills. But more than that, we sing. We talk. We praise God for His good gifts. What’s not to enjoy?

We have goats and chickens and rabbits, and we enjoy them while we labor to take care of them. We just had some baby rabbits born, and they sure are cute! We brought one in to play with it for a while last night. The kids also have fun collecting and counting the chicken’s eggs, watering the animals (and oftentimes each other!), and running the goats out to their daily pasture.

We are putting in our garden right now, which is cooperative work for the whole family–but a lot of fun!. Very often, we simply enjoy walking around the yard, seeing what’s growing, picking flowers, and just appreciating the blessing of it all.

We are blessed to have a quad that we drive around our property as well–that often adds an element of fun to splitting and stacking wood and general yard clean-up. We also “mow the lawn as a family”–one of my 5 year-old’s frequent requests and a favorite activity, because my husband drives the lawn tractor and the rest of us pile into the trailer. We dodge tree branches, watch forgotten toys get mulched by the mower, pick flowers as they race by, and generally enjoy each other and the beauty of God’s creation. But, yes, our lawn is getting mowed, too!

It’s not always work, though! We have an occasional picnic right in our own back yard, and play outdoor sports like basketball, baseball, swimming, and so on. Dad and the boys do target shooting, often with friends. We have a ravine in our back yard which makes fun hunting for critters like salamanders, snails, and other back yard wildlife. Even though there’s no big fish, the boys love bringing their poles and catching minnows!

Granted, you may not have the “homesteading” atmosphere that we have here. However, you can still explore the great outdoors at a local reserve or state forest. Find a park near your home. Talk walks in your neighborhood. Go to the home of some friends where you are able to “spread out” and enjoy nature, once in a while. Plant a window box garden of herbs or flowers in a sunny window instead of outdoors. Honestly, don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you need to do expensive or high-impact things. Just make it a point to enjoy whatever you do as a family.

When it’s cold or rainy, we often do indoor “work projects” that are learning experiences as well: electrical, plumbing, tiling, building of all kinds (large- and small-scale). Even if the younger children can’t “do” anything, they go-fer tools, get tickled at off-moments, and simply enjoy the togetherness. You can see from Isaiah’s lamp project that he even does these “work projects” in his own free time.

Even if you’re not skilled in some of these areas, there are probably little “home improvement” projects that you can experiment with around the house. It can be fun to try, and learn, as a family! Get a do-it-yourself book out of the library and explore a site like DoItYourself.com.

You might also check out some fun (and relatively inexpensive) gadgets and gizmos at a site like American Science and Surplus. I’m sure there are others, but this is one of my favorites. Our oldest also just likes getting “junk” and taking it apart. How about taking apart a clock to see how it works? Think of the possibilities for family fun!

Music is also great fun for the whole family. We are very much NOT musically inclined, but we have a few hymn books with accompanying CDs as well as CDs with praise songs that we enjoy singing during family devotional times or at other times during the day. If you can play instruments, that is awesome family fun! We also play musical games like Ring Around the Rosie, London Bridge, Hokey Pokey, and Pop Goes the Weasel–especially to entertain the little ones.

And what about ministering as a family? For us, that is more than rewarding and something we try to do frequently. We’ve made cookies and cards with Scriptures in them to bring downtown to workers at the local post office and bank. We regularly open our home for dinners, Bible studies, and other events and we work together to neaten up the house, prepare food, and especially pray for the needs of those who will attend.

Even when indoors, we make an effort to “make the most of every opportunity,” doing fun things that are also profitable. We watch educational movies (even Biology 101 from Westfield Studios was a surprise hit–great videography and advanced teaching–but enjoyed by everyone in the family!). We also play board games, although we have only a few that everyone can play, given the disparate ages and stages of our children. Variations of bingo are fun, I Spy (the board game) is good, and then there’s charades, “The Journeys of Paul” from Cactus Games, and Bible trivia. We also enjoy “20 Questions,” and, yes, the occasional game of Candy Land.

And, Dad is a great story teller. He tells funny, challenging, and always engaging tales that of course include many of the children in the plot. The children also take their turns in creative storytelling.

We also read books aloud. We’ve been blessed by reading my grandfather’s biography–his life story of growing up in Oklahoma during the Great Depression, fighting in World War II and then being a prisoner of war of the Japanese for 3-1/2 years. We also read the free Voice of the Martyrs/Kids of Courage magazines every time they come out, and Foxe’s Book of Martyrs as well. There are eternal lessons there, which are of great value–and we simply enjoy spending the time together as we are blessed by those stories. We also try out some of the classics on occasion–whatever seems most interesting at the moment.

I don’t want you to think that you must do these certain things. Everyone’s circumstances are different, of course, and I suppose my description of our “family fun things to do” would look radically different if we were in another locale. However, I would challenge you to look at where you are and what you do there, and to consider all of those things in light of eternity and in light of God’s plan and purpose for your family. I would urge you to “make the most of every opportunity,” both in work and in play. And try to simplify! Find things to do that cost less money, involve less driving, and allow you–as a family–to focus on each other and enjoy God, His creation, His people, and His blessings to you.

Feel free to leave comments about your “family fun” that might give others some additional ideas!