"No matter what you've done for yourself or for humanity, if you can't look back on having given love and attention to your own family, what have you really accomplished?"-- Elbert Hubbard

I just returned from my aunt's funeral (she was 61 years young) and I must say that funerals usually have us reflecting on the past while weddings gives us hope for the future. However, I want to use my experience at this funeral to not just have me reflect on the past but to give me hope for my future as well.

Why do we appreciate those who have left us after they are gone when they can't hear all the accolades or how much they really meant to us? Why do we concentrate on what spouses are currently doing wrong - in our eyes. Can we recognize their value now and love on them now. Why do we wish for just a little more time with them? What would you do differently and why not do it now? Why not tell our husbands or wives how much we respect them and appreciate what they do for our family. Why not forgive one another and stop sleeping in separate bedrooms. Why not tell our kids that they are great children and hug them more often. WHY?

As Christians, we confess long life and lay hands on ourselves but the bottom line is, when it is your time to go or your loved one, you have no more time with them. Appreciate the gifts (your spouse and children) that God has given you - everyday. I've decided that from this moment on, I will appreciate my spouse, my children and my parents. Because they could be with God but He has graciously allowed them to stay with us a little while longer. Therefore, I will appreciate their life right now. Everyday depositing love - telling my family how much I love them or telling my children what they are doing right instead of wrong, or appreciating my parents for what they've done in my life. I will apologize for what I know I've done wrong and forgive others for what they have done. I will spend time and appreciate my family for who they are - MY FAMILY.

Spending Time with Family

Picture summer time and you will probably envision sitting on the porch, swimming pools, the beach, picnics, family reunions and mostly spending time with your family. Summer is a great time to strengthen the bond with your family. Enjoy the season! Instead of sitting down and eating dinner in front of the television, talking on the telephone for hours, or doing other things that don't allow you a chance to interact with your spouse very much. Get up and take a little walk. Do you remember walking together when you were dating and holding hands? Even if you've never done it, why not do it now? Warm weather opens more opportunities for romance since the days are longer and the nights are warmer.

With kids out of school and many people taking vacations, it is a great time to connect with your family. Although times are hard right now with everything from gas to food being so expensive, most people are not planning a vacation. This shouldn't stop your family from having fun. Children don't care where they go or what they do, they just want to spend time with their parents. Be creative and come up with ideas such as camping in the back yard or in the middle of the living room floor and tell scary stories. Lewis and I did not have family vacations growing up. His family was too poor and my family vacation was going to New Jersey every summer with my father since my parents were divorced. Therefore, we didn't know about family vacations until we were introduced to this concept by another couple. Our first thought was that it would be too expensive. Our second thought was we wanted to give our children something we didn't have - memories of a family spending time and enjoying one another. Thereafter, we started planning family vacations every year.

Family vacations cost money but it also takes planning. If you plan for it a year in advance, you know how much you need to save. Start off small and start with a weekend near your home. Ask friends and family if they know of anyone who has a timeshare or beach house you could rent. Talk with a travel agent who knows how to find good deals. To be honest, we started out with visiting a vacation spot and going on a 90 minute tour just to get 3 days and 2 nights for $99 a night. Family vacations, family reunions, and kids out of school can also be times of stress and fatigue. We can all tell ridiculous stories of failed car trips or a fight that broke out at a family reunion but they provide lasting memories and topics of discussion that you can laugh about later on. Try to keep things light and take the good with the bad. Remember that in a few short years the children will be grown and starting a family of their own. Therefore, take the time to give them YOU and create memories/traditions that they can take with them when they have their own family.

It is important for a couple to spend time with one another to strengthen their marriage. It is just as important to strengthen the bond of family. Make the most of your time with your family year round, but recognize the opportunities for bonding that summer brings.

� 2008 by Jewell R. Powell, www.marriage101.us

Family Activities that are Inexpensive and Fun

Spending time with the family is fun, healthy, and sometimes expensive. In this newsletter we will discuss some of the things we can do with the family that are inexpensive or free.

� Local Festivals - Many local festivals have free entrance. Many festivals
offer very inexpensive food and activities. Not only will it be entertaining, but it is a great way to connect with your community.

� Church Activities - Many churches have activities in the summer. The beauty
of this is that you aren't constrained to your own church. Most churches encourage visitors from other churches to their activities. It's a great way to get to know more people, provide a sense of friendship between churches, and to have fun. For example, most churches would love to see your children at their Vacation Bible School.

� Fun at Home - Don't underestimate the power of a new package of sidewalk chalk! Taking time for fun at home is cheap and easy. Consider making your own 'water park' in the yard. You can splurge on a 'slip and slide' and kiddy pool, or you can use your imagination to set up water activities. Just be sure to keep safety in mind and oversee every minute of water play.

� Museums/Art Galleries - Even small towns often have a small museum. Check out neighboring cities and universities for museums and art galleries. This would make a great outing with kids or a perfect date with your spouse.

� Walks/Bike Riding - walking and bike riding is fun and good for you. If you get tired of walking in your own neighborhood, you may be surprised to find trails available in your area for walking and bike riding. There may be 'treasures' in your area that you have not found. For example, you may take your walk to a children's garden or the well kept grounds of a college.

� Go Swimming - This one is a given in the summer, isn't it? Going swimming with the kids is a staple of the summer. Whether it is a public swimming pool, a lake, or the ocean; it is the stuff that dreams are made of.

� Field Day - Set up your yard with volleyball, badminton, horse shoes, and whatever else you can think of. Turn on some music, invite some friends over, set out some chips and salsa, and you are having fun.

� 'No Work Weekends' - If you need a vacation but don't want to pay the price of gas to go away, consider having a 'no work weekend'. Call it a vacation at home. Screen all phone calls, put away all 'to do' lists, and relax!

� Fun Summer Foods - Plan an afternoon with the kids in the kitchen. Get a few recipes for home made popsicles, fun jello treats, no-bake cookies, etc. Spend the day showing children the ropes in the kitchen and making cool and tasty snacks.

� Camp in the Yard - Another alternative to an expensive and stressful vacation is a camping trip for younger children in the yard. Give them the outdoor experience without breaking the bank or getting a thousand mosquito bites because you left the bug spray at home.

Your imagination is the limit! Don't feel that a tight budget precludes fun for your family. Thank God that you have each other and you can enjoy summer together!

Enjoy your summer and enjoy your family. God Bless
� 2008 by Jewell R. Powellwww.marriage101.us

by Jewell R. Powell, The Marriage Coach and author of Marriage 101: Building a Life Together by Faith. Visit us at www.marriage101.us