Our Family's Favorite Games Over the Last 20 years...

We recently de-cluttered our game closet and realized that times have changed! Of course, we have done it before, but it had been a couple of years, and our teens have grown a lot since then.  Since we just got two new ones and had such a great time, it occurred to me that you might like to know what our favorite games have been over the years besides the obvious like backgammon, dominoes, solitaire and chess.

First of all, we discovered one important thing..we needed a new game of PIT -- It was just worn out!

We had worn the cards to shreds, lost one market corner and broken the bell...if that isn't proof enough of how fun it is, I don't know what is 

 and we didn't want to pass on Clue just yet.

These two games have never grown old even though we have played them since the kids were very young.

The Funnest Version of PIT is the one Tim's dad introduced to his family as a boy.  You put just enough spoons minus one on the table for every player and whenever you 'got a corner on the market', rather than ring the bell, you just quietly removed a spoon and waited to see how long it would take before someone noticed.

We sounded almost like the real stock market--everyone holding up cards at the same time and yelling, "Two! Two! Has any body got Two! Four, four..no one one!!Please someone trade with me!!! 

It's so energetic and fun and certainly does get the idea of how the stock market works across in a very basic way. But the rush for the spoons...is hilarious!

Now, our very favorite little kid games of all time were Don't Wake Daddy ....

and Mouse Trap.

My toddlers absolutely loved these games! We didn't always play them just as they were supposed to be played, but they were so fun and so full of the Oooh, Wow! factor, that it didn't matter.  I cried tears of laughter every time we played these because the kids' reactions were hilarious and priceless. You can get Don't Wake Daddy for $10.00 used at Amazon..so don't panic about the high price tag.

We were discussing what to throw out because the kids had outgrown most of the games in the cabinet with the exception of Apples to Apples (another family favorite),  were no longer interesting to the kids.  It is really fun..and we all love it!

Rebekah mentioned that she had just discovered a couple of new games at a get together with friends from her bible study on campus and begged my hubby to get them for us, which he did.

One of the games was Balderdash. She said they were dying laughing playing this, but I guess that's because they are college kids and didn't have to work so hard to come up with 'fake answers' to bluff each other with, but we still really enjoyed it! Once you learn how to play, it's a lot of fun. 

Basically, the idea for this game is to read a 'weird word', the title to a movie, a person's name, or an odd local law, etc. for the players to identify. Then everyone writes down a fake definition, law, bio or script line for the suggested item. 

The person in charge of that round, the balderdasher, reads the real answer out loud along with all the fake ones. Everyone has to vote on which answer they think is correct.

Most of the time no one knows, right off the bat, what the real answer is because the ideas, people or movies are so obscure it would be impossible. But it's like a multiple choice test--you just guess which one sounds right.  

The goal is mostly to write such a good 'fake' answer that everyone votes for you. It's hilarious! 

I must be good at bluffing..because I got lots of votes for my fake movie story lines and funny definitions! I also got tricked myself  but I tell you, this game stretches the brain! It's great because you don't have to know tons of Trivia...which is a good thing for our family since we don't watch TV, just movies.

The second one, In A Pickle was easier but still a mind bender. It also requires some thinking, but leads to a lot of absurdity..which had us all in stitches. This one is more of a card game with words on the cards. Four cards are placed on the table and like dominoes you have to 'play' off that card.

Whatever card you lay down has to either 'encompass' or enclose the item  or concept on the previous card, or be inside that item.

 This isn't restricted to physical objects but also to ideas.  We really stretched the limits of believability on some of the plays but if the group votes thumbs up on your play..then you can do it.

Christian just can't believe that you can't put a book in a giraffe..what if it's stuffed...what if it's a really big giraffe?? 

Sorry..we all voted thumbs down on that one.  But his friends might have approved, so who's to say?

 http://www.flickr.com/photos/dawnvgilmore/

Anyway, we had a great time the other night learning new games..and after all this talk about having fun..I think we better plan to break out the popcorn and lemonade tonight! How about you? What are your family favorites?

We're always 'game' for a new game!  Have Fun!

Making Time for Your Kids

Child-Training: Doing Your Homework

I'm sure you are totally aware of this, but our kids need us--regardless of age. Our toddlers need us, our kiddos need us, and our teenagers need us. They need time--not just quality time, but quantity time. It's that simple. It took quite a large bonk on the head to wake me up to the fact that my children's needs should come before a career, mission, or hobby. 

When we say yes, to

children, we say no to a lot of other things..

 or we end up with conflict, lack of relationship and discipline issues later. Child-training takes time and is much better done at home than in public. Kids need affirmation, routine, a schedule, discipline and mothering.

Child Training Takes Time! and lots of it!
You can either spend time NOW training your children to come when called (like out of the balls at McDonald's), to not touch certain things, to stay close to mommy in the store, etc. OR you will spend MUCH MORE TIME a year from now fighting with a two year old who is about to kill themselves by running out in the street for a game of 'catch me if you can--who cares about the speeding cars'..like my dear oldest son...a future Marine! Watch out world..here he comes!

Training Shows You Care
If you really love your child..you will train them...so that everyone else can love them too. Training takes time and attention and it's an investment that will pay off big time for both of you. It's a gift you give to your children. Training doesn't happen by accident, though, it requires your focus. I did very little sewing, crafting etc. when the kids were little. I did a LOT of training!

Do it Early...Like Pulling Weeds
I took all five kids with me everywhere. They were happy, bubbly, normal, and would have dearly loved to have run through the aisles shouting and singing, but they had been trained to keep all of that energy within until we got home and out into the back yard or the playground.  Proper training will eliminate 95% of all discipline issues in your home and prevent many a spanking or time out etc.  As I told my daughters-in-law, if you pull out a weed while it is tiny...it's no big deal. If you wait till it's a big honkin' thing, you will need a shovel! So train while they are little, and they won't even think to rebel when they are two! Two year olds can be quite stubborn!

Quick Book Review

I know we all have our methods but the one that 'rescued' me when I was trying to raise five little children...all at one time was To Train Up a Child by Michael Pearl. The thing I loved about his book was rather than emphasize a long drawn out dialogue and discipline session for EVERY infraction, he emphasizes TRAINING  your child not to do things that they shouldn't for their own protection, your peace of mind, and an orderly home where the world doesn't revolve around their schedule (except for legitimate needs), but around the needs of the whole family, including mom and dad.

What is Training?  Training is putting a child in a situation for the express purpose of teaching them not to do it any more and then helping them walk through how to properly handle the situation. It's not spanking per se or being upset at the child or saying they did anything wrong at all. It's putting them through the paces so that they learn how to obey..long before they understand right and wrong at all. I hate to make a mediocre comparison, but it's very like dog training. The difference is our children soon get old enough that you can also teach them...explaining why this or that is right and wrong and animals don't. But as Michael Pearl says,

"If you wait until they really understand right and wrong to begin training, you will have a rebel on your hands!"

They will be firmly set in their ways. (I'm not talking about laid back easy going kids here...just the average boy or girl with the normal amount of "Let's do it my way" in their blood.)

Kids' Activities...What are Their Dreams?

It's important to help our kids pursue their dreams...but don't sign them up to a bunch of activities just because your friends are doing it! We didn't have the money for our kids to do everything (thank goodness), so we planned that when they were somewhere between 12 and 14, that we would spend whatever time or money it took to help them pursue their most important gifting. (They also contributed by earning money.) I spent several years prior to that, trying to discern what that gifting was for each child. For some children, that was not hard to figure out, but for others, it was very difficult.

One Child at a Time...For the most part, that allowed me to stay home with the little ones and we all went to the oldest ones' activities and cheered them on and helped serve and participate in their glory. Then we would move on to the next one's needs.By the time they were ALL older, we could juggle somewhat, but, for the most part, they each had their day in the sun. We did soar planes, Civil Air Patrol, horseback riding and speech and debate.

 My youngest child, Christian, has had a part in all these activities and benefited from them, but his turn is next and I assume that it's going to be basketball. He did do band this year because a relative paid for the lessons, but he didn't care for it.  He much prefers basketball. Sigh... but I've always known we were headed in that direction and I'm committed to not 'grow weary in well doing.'  His first word was 'ba-ll" said with two syllables which is appropriate for a Texan child.:o)  He slept with balls..not teddy bears, just as Jacob slept with trucks. I don't claim to understand boys...just accept them! :o)

The results of  choosing the 'right' thing for your kids, rather than several good things is that you are not spending your days going crazy!

Simplify their Activities
To many of us find ourselves running hither and thither and constantly doing school in the car, with no time for homemaking, relationship with hubby, or ministry.  It's hard to have good relationships with the kids and to really meet their needs when everyone is stressed out from long hours in the car. Simplifying their activities and keeping them to a minimum allows for a better family unity and better management of your family's time, money, and other resources.

Family Activities
Doing an activity that the whole family can participate is the best way to build family unity. Everyone of us loves square dancing. We all graduated from square dancing lessons and are members of one of the few 'all teen' square dance clubs in Texas. (Teens and their parents.) It's great fun! We also love to camp, cave, and pretty much everyone does speech and debate. Doing things together, brings us together!

Remember, most kids would rather have more time with mom and dad, than any outside activity you could sign them up for!

To celebrate Easter...Wildflowers and Poetry

a good day to remember whose 'hands' we are in...

Today is Easter and I wanted to share the rest of the photos I took while on our walk yesterday...and a poem I wrote a very long time ago.

I love it when my heart feels like spring-time..

and I sense the Lord's presence is near..

I sing as I work, and the blessings of God

seem ever so precious and dear.

But sometimes.. I find myself struggling...

and burdened with trouble and care...

and though I know that God loves me..

my heart and my mind despair..

Yet the Lord, in His infinite foresight..

who loves me and wants me to grow...

allows the testing and trials..

that I, his wisdom, would know.

Bluebonnets by my daughter, Rebekah

So I pray for a heart that's submissive..

and for patience and strength to endure..

but most of all for FAITH in my Lord..

and joy for the lessons I'll learn..

Just remember...when the darkness surrounds you...

when you're troubled with sorrow or fear..

It's the Lord, whose hands hold you firmly..

and he treasures in a bottle your tears.

 Bluebonnets by my daughter, Rebekah

In His Hands.. by Donna Rodgers1991

This poem was written during a difficult situation that I struggled with as a young wife and mother. It was only the first of many trials I would face over the years. Don't we all? Today, I had to face, yet again, the fact that life will not always be easy.

Again I have to remember that I'm frail and flawed. And again I'm reminded by the Lord, that I cannot walk one single step alone without tripping and falling.  

I'd just as soon skip this trial..one that promises to last for a lifetime...but I thank you anyway, Lord, that you are holding my hand. Thanks for reminding me of that today...again...

 See how the lilies of the field grow? They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'

For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Matthew 6:28-33

A beautiful spring afternoon with just hubby and me...

I have to apologize for forgetting all about Show and Tell yesterday. I'm afraid the spring flowers and the unexpected absence of the kids totally distracted me! I've been trying to play 'catch up' from our trip all week!  Today, well..it's beautiful around here...exquisite actually! Days like this are why we moved out here to the country. My daughter decided to drive her siblings to a debate meeting from 10-2pm today. Suddenly, Tim and I were alone. The house was so so quiet!  Talk about great timing--I had just posted about that very thing yesterday!


And the temperature outside is absolutely perfect today. Tim asked me to go for a walk on our land...He showed me where he and Christian mowed around the pines in the front pasture so the kids would have a safer place to shoot..right into a hill of sand. We now have a neighbor on our left side and we don't want to shoot in his direction. There is hunting property facing west, so that's where Tim has the boys aiming now.

The blackberry bushes are growing wild all over the place and my legs got scratched up. Jeans are much better for trekking around here than capris are.The bees are all over one of the trees near the deck and hum continually .... and they seem so happy! All of the trees are blooming except my peach tree. I took a few pictures because the blooms last such a short time and I'm always missing them! I guess I just don't get the camera out quick enough.

Tim and I had lunch on the deck this afternoon and had a really nice long talk...about blogging of all things! We also talked about his work and a major hurdle he had just overcome with keycoding on Linux.  Of course, I was just 'sooo' interested!  Actually, I was probably more interested than you might think. With the company being so small, we've gotten to know his business very well..especially since Tim has worked from home all of these years.

Anyway, we talked about how we are going to make our own private 'campsite/picnic' spot in the front pasture which is now quite wooded. It's in a really strange spot, but Tim was so excited to show it to me. When we first bought this land a few years ago, everything was mowed down, but we really wanted wooded land. We've kept the back land mowed as pasture, but the front three acres are growing very fast!

The original landowners had dug a huge pit for a pond, but they dug too deep and got through the clay into the sand. Sadly, the pond never held water for long.  (We have an ornamental pond, but it's not huge like the tank.) Now the pine trees have grown up around it and into it so that only the very bottom has no trees.

Once you walk into it, the world seems a million miles away...and that's where Tim wants a private picnic spot. It makes me think of Narnia somehow.

We think it will be a great camping spot for the grandkids plus a perfect get away, when the weather is nice, for some quiet time and maybe even a 'date' or two! This afternoon, he and the boys will move the picnic table out there...and then..guess where I'll go for quiet times...you guessed it! Of course, this nice weather won't last very long and then it's going to be too hot. But for now..it's just about....perfect!

But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another,

and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. I John 1:7

Making Hubby and a Clean Home a Priority

Photo by Keratin Jimbara Spa and Resort

Hubby First 

One of the first priorities after our spiritual well being, is our relationship with our hubbies. Did you think I was going to mention your children? Well, I'm afraid not, thought most of us might think so. You may not realize it yet, but the kids really must not come 'first'. A child-centered home will inevitably end up being a miserable place to live in. We, parents, are so tempted sometimes, to give our 'all' to the kids without thinking twice about it. And it sounds so reasonable...right? But it's simply not true.



Someone to Look Up To
There is nothing more critical to the healthy development of a child, than to know that there is someone more important than themselves--someone who is 'in charge.' Those 'someones' are your hubby and you! The needs of your marriage relationship must come before that of your kids. The kids will be gone someday...hubby won't be. We need to do all that we can to build and strengthen our relationship with our husbands. Not just for the sake of that relationship, but also because children, whose parents are in constant conflict, are the most vulnerable to difficulties in their teen years. For that reason alone, your marriage is important and needs your attention!

For SAHWS and SAHMS...Doing Our Part

One of the most common sources of conflict, that I'm aware of is the tug between our own responsibilities or activities, and our husbands' needs and requests. However, if a man has made the commitment  to work all day to provide a home, food, clothes, money for the kids' activities, and our hobby supplies, then there is a very natural understanding, that we, too, should put in our eight hours of work. 


I know what you are thinking, "But I work all day! The kids are after me 24-7!"  Maybe so, but I know that you know..that we often have a lot of choice about how to spend our time. This is a choice that our husbands do not have. Normally, they can't pursue a hobby, while working, or take a nap, or decide to do it 'tomorrow' and work all day on a project.


I know, in my heart of hearts, that I owe my dear hubby a reasonably clean house, something to eat at the end of the day, clean socks and underwear, a neat, cheerful wife (not stressed out), and the respect of not nickle and dime-ing the budget to death until there is nothing left and he doesn't even get the chance to participate in the decision of how and where the money will be spent.

Work Before Play

That is why I have the priority list I do: devotions, hubby, kids, house, school, dinner, laundry. The same rule that applies to my kids, applies to me--Work before Play! Not only that, but my hubby needs to be able to ask me to do an errand or chore without me having a fit and considering it an imposition or interruption. It's the least I can do, to hold up my end of the bargain. I have always know this, but I know some of you may not. Now doing it is another thing and I've had plenty of failure in this area, but usually, feeling impatient at my hubby's requests sets off alarm bells in the back of my mind. I'm probably getting sidetracked again!

Marriage is not a 50-50 proposition!

That is the way most people would naturally look at it. And no one ever thinks that the other guy did his 50%. But after 23 years of marriage, I can assure you that marriage is a 100-100% proposition. We need to give our all, knowing that sometimes one or the other of us won't be able to hold up our end of that bargain at certain times in our lives. We actually make a 'promise' to the Lord when we say our wedding vows, that we will love that man until death do us part, regardless of the circumstances. We leave the accounting up to Christ and obey Him by not keeping score--the essence of true love and marriage unity.

I know..those circumstances can be horrendous..and there are provisions in God's word for those. But for most of us, we just end up in pity parties because our faithful, somewhat distracted hubbies aren't 'sensitive' enough or 'romantic' enough. Let's at least do our 8 hours worth of work before we decide to play and be the helpmeets we were called to be. Hubby shouldn't be hunting for clean socks or rummaging through the fridge because I'm blogging or sewing. He shouldn't have to worry that I'm wasting money frivolously or not looking after the kids but rather expecting them to look after themselves. Doing our part will beget a lot of affection on the part of our hubbies. To demand that affection while serving ourselves is short-sighted and truly unreasonable.

And don't forget to spend some of that evening time just visiting with your hubby. Get out now and then for some fun! Cheap dates are still fun ones!! Sometimes Tim and I just watch a movie after the kids have gone to bed. Sometimes, a walk around the block (or now down the road) is just what we need to get away from all the noise and 'input' from five lively teenagers.  (Guess what, eventually, they figure out what you are saying..and spelling out the words doesn't work either!)  It may take some planning, but we always take a little time to talk over the day. It makes all the difference in the world!  Our favorite anniversary get away trip..is to ship the kids out to family and friends and stay home!  The house stays clean...grilling is easy...and the stars are beautiful at night!  It's just a little taste of what life will be like when we will be on our own again. Yes, there will be grandchildren visiting and family events to participate in...but sometimes we will actually be 'alone'!!! 

Don't mistake me--we love our kids...but we love each other too!! We work hard to make sure we haven't forgotten who is #1 in our hearts...each other! 

Five Big Blogging Mistakes You Must Avoid But Probably Won’t

This was a fabulous article and I just had to share it with you. Some things are too good to keep a secret! I promised Brent I would tell you about his website and share this article with you...so here is half of it..you'll have to drop by to get the rest at his website. :o)

by BRENT RIGGS on December 9, 2009  

It is often more helpful to know what NOT to do. Here are five common blogging mistakes that you should avoid (but most will not):

Sloppy Writing

u don’t got to be a wurld CLass writer butt u do gotta not be a slob whin righting.
The biggest turn off with content is not a lack of professional writing skills.  Good stories and ideas can overcome a lack of writing style. However, it is always a turn off when we lack of diligence concerning those things we CAN control: punctuation, captilization, avoiding those “texting” abbreviations, and generally typing like an adult rather than a scatterbrained adolescent.


Clean up your typing. Use capitals and punctuation. Take advantage of your spell checker. Write in short sentences and short paragraphs just to be safe. Avoid cutesy cultural “texting” words unless they clearly add to the style and message.

Crappy Photos

The best writing, best design and best content ideas in the world are quickly ruined when we put no effort into making our photos and images as good as they can be. Not everyone can have worldclass, fantastic images but pretty much anyone can avoid putting up lousy photos that show very little effort or concern.
Here is a recent post about good image work: http://www.mcklinkyblog.com/200909/six-tricks-for-great-photos-on-your-blog/ and the next issue of SeriousLife Magazine will be dedicated to teaching you and showing you how to have great photos on your blog. Be sure to get your free subscription to SeriousLife and we’ll let you know when the issue comes out next week.

And there are three more BIG MISTAKES...Check out this fabulous article at Brent Riggs' On Building a Better Blog http://www.mcklinkyblog.com/200912/five-big-blogging-mistakes-you-must-avoid-but-probably-wont/

First Things First..

Good Priorities: The Key to Time Management

When it comes to priorities, we each have our own set. Without clearly defined priorities, we will find ourselves saying "Yes" to everything. Burnout and over-commitment are the guaranteed results.  My set of priorities comes from my personal understanding of God's word. For me, the scriptures clearly say, "Let the wives love their husbands, love their children, be good, pure, keepers at home..that the word of God be not maligned (given a bad name)."

My priorities, as I have always understood them to be, are the Lord first, my husband,  my children, my neighbors, my church and me too, of course!

What does this look like on a daily basis? Well, you can check my sidebar to see how it looks for me. I put it on my side bar so that I wouldn't forget that the blog comes at the end of the priority list..not at the beginning! 

The key to time management is to do the important things first and then let the other things fill in the gaps. But if you don't know what those important things are, how are you going to decide what should be first? If the day goes awry by 2pm, who cares..as long as hubby is happy, the laundry, dishes, and supper have been given their fair share of attention, and the kids have been helped with their various needs and academic pursuits.

What are our Priorities?

Spiritual Health brings Mental Health

If I don't have devotions, the very FIRST result, is misplaced priorities. Time management is a joke at that point. When we get our hearts focused on the Lord first, He fills the very deepest needs of our soul, affirming His unconditional acceptance of us. We don't need kudos near as much, and can then be free to serve those we have been appointed to serve for HIS sake, as a love offering to him. We can trust the Lord to give us time for our projects (as privileges) at the end of the day. If the time isn't there, it wasn't meant to be done that day.

Just as important, we will have His grace to trust that He will care for us, no matter what difficulties may come--and they will come--that's real life. We will have the grace to respond lovingly to the weaknesses or bad attitudes of family members who may be having a rough day too. The key word, is responding rather than reacting. When I have an eternal perspective, I'm much more likely to respond. Reactions and conflict, are the natural result of a mind focused on things that don't matter in the long run. And talk about a waste of time! Not all conflicts are waste of time, though. They can be the catalyst for better understanding of the needs of those around us. But those conflicts can be handled much better when you are remembering not to 'return evil for evil, but rather give a blessing instead".


Do you have difficulties with attitudes when you get too busy for quiet time?