Appendix D

“Let the Hunt for Cornflower Corningware begin…”

Make the Most of Life’s Simplest Moments!

Setting the stage…

     Start by reading “No Not One, by Miss Bess.” Make notes on the pages. Take a good look at who you are and who you want to be. Make A Plan. Plans may change. Mine sure did. It’s that first step that counts. You have to start somewhere, with somebody, someday… how else will you guide your family?

     Why not start here and now with Miss Bess. Just give this a try once. Then if you didn’t enjoy it, you don’t have to do it again. However, you need to schedule it today; tomorrow is not a guarantee.

     What is your family slogan? If you had a bumper sticker? What would it say? What would others say your slogan is? Perspective changes everything. This reminds me of a story. 

     You Know You Have Arrived When… My son was driving me to the store last week. On the way we see one of those bumper stickers. It says, Do you follow Jesus this closely? I look at my 27-year-old unmarried son, expecting a snarky comment. 

     Christian comes from the generation of I’m better off single. I can’t make anyone happy. (And you can’t. Only God can.) All girls want today is everything you can give them, and obviously, I don’t make enough. Now a days, enough is never enough. They are always fishing for somebody who has more. They don’t want to get married. Tied down. They always want to keep their options open for someone or something better. As soon as they think they’ve found it, they are done with you. (This is sad but true.)

     So, I’m waiting for it. And, just like the day of the accident, BOOM… he hit me with: Do YOU follow Jesus this closely? They had better be careful what they ask for because if they are asking how closely you follow Jesus, mom?… HANG ON; WE’RE GONNA HAVE TO RAM ‘EM! 

     Amen, and AMEN! Yes, I am here, living proof, to tell you that they hear you. You think they are ignoring you. Maybe they are; maybe they aren’t. Either way, they still hear you.

     The word of God is powerful; it permeates into everything it touches like a vapor in the wind. BE that wind. Carry The Word in you. Let it flow in and out like the breaths you take. That comment from my son was completely unexpected but greatly appreciated. 

     At that very moment, I felt like I had arrived. I felt five feet tall. This was one of the greatest moments in my life. I’m still thinking about it, and I’m still smiling!

     Please keep in mind that they do hear you. All of it. The good and the bad. The happy and the sad. The positive and the negative. They see and hear more than you think. 

     They store all this away. It forms how they perceive life. They will see you happy and sad. Such is life. But be mindful of how you react to situations.           They will process your actions and reactions and form their own way. Make a conscious effort to allow them to see more positive than negative. Give them hope.

     These memories help shape who they are today. Unfortunately, you will find out all too late that they see all the things you thought were hidden too. If you are being abused, not only can they see it, but they can feel it too. They feel as helpless as you do. This is unhealthy for everyone involved. 

This is one of the most embarrassing moments of my life. Narcissists on all sides surrounded me. I couldn’t see it. I thought I was being obedient to God by not judging others.

     No, I was enabling them to destroy my life and theirs. Some day we all have to stand before our maker. When my son yelled at me to Stand Up for myself. Ouch. 

     What does your Bumper Sticker say?  Be honest about your sticker, even if you keep it to yourself. Our goal in life is to be ever-changing, ever-evolving, to be more like Jesus.

     It's Consider this: Would you say that every day, you are either moving closer to or further away from God? So, if you spend time with God only one day a week, on Sunday, who guides you the other six days? Is that like, one step forward and six steps back every week? It's just something to think about.

The Who…

PLAYER #1. __________________________________

PLAYER #2. __________________________________

PLAYER #3. __________________________________

PLAYER #4. __________________________________

PLAYER #5. __________________________________

PLAYER #6. __________________________________

     Let everyone sign their own name. Code names could be more fun. If there are a lot of you, pick teams; the more, the merrier. Build up the excitement the night before. 

     Make this so much fun that they want to invite a friend to be on their team. You will treasure every handwritten note in the years to come. 

     Make it something to look back on. Time is short. It goes by fast. Enjoy your children while you still can!

     Be Careful: People are competitive by nature. If you make this interesting and fun enough, you could be expected to plan one of these for every weekend.

The What…

Log or take photos of the “weirdest” item found. Vote on a Winner. _________________________________________________________ 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Teach them the importance of fulfilling their God-given right and responsibility. Use this as a teaching moment. It’s the perfect opportunity to instill your beliefs, such as what you vote for and why. The Winner Gets:  ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Where…

Pick Place/Area: Thrift Shop, Flea Market, Yard Sale: _________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

     Start by picking an area (up to 30 minutes to start) in a different direction each time. Plan to do some local sightseeing, pack a picnic lunch, or stop on the way home for ice cream. Try to make it something memorable (be creative). 

     PLEASE try not to make this about money. It’s really important that you show your children there are plenty of wonderful experiences to behold that cost little to nothing at all. Nature is a gift. Explore it along the way.

     You can’t put a price on a picnic lunch just about anywhere. BBQ out back. Invite neighbors. Show off the Corningware Blue cornflower that was found on today's adventure.

     Keep the leaves, sticks, stones, shells, extra photos, or whatever mementos were collected from the trip in a baggie on display with that piece of Corningware. Take a photo of the child with the piece. Date it and put it with the group.

The When…

     As often as possible. Accumulate as many Scavenger Hunts/Blessings as you can. Store them in your Family Bible. Schedule it weekly or monthly. Use them on family outings or vacations. Make looking through the book part of your end of the year tradition. Vote on the best trip and why. Make actual prizes and silly awards.

Best Trip: __________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

Worst Trip: ________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

What would you do differently?: _________________________________

_________________________________________________________

Suggestions for possible trips?: __________________________________

_________________________________________________________

Who found the most pieces of Corningware?: _______________________

_________________________________________________________

Their Prize:  ________________________________________________

Who found the most unusual piece?: ______________________________

_________________________________________________________

Their Prize: ________________________________________________

The Why…

What’s your why? What do you hope to gain from these adventures? _________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

     Christ died to give us life. A more abundant life. So live. Live a life worthy of His death. Don’t merely exist. There is another way. A better way. Only you can make it happen.

Extra Credit: Did everyone get to write something down about this adventure? ________________________________________________

Did you put it all away in your Family Adventure Bible? _______________

The Now… The Fellowship

     Remember, you were searching for a piece of Corningware Cornflower for your “collection.” You almost forgot. You purchased a great piece of cookware that can be passed down from generation to generation at a great price.      Time to give it a good wash. Got stains that won’t come out? Try Barkeeper Friend and a piece of cloth. 

     You can even take a photo of the before and after. Kinda what we looked like before and after God removed our sins. Great dinner conversation. Give your kids an opportunity to tell you what they think has improved in their lives. And, if you haven’t complained about anything during the day, they just might also spill what they need help with.

     Was anything memorable or enlightening said? Write it down. You may need to look back on that. _____________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

     Life is about connections more than collections. Choose a recipe, add it to your day in your book with a Recipe Page or use a Recipe Card. Food is an opportunity for fellowship. Smells can hold keys to unlock those memories.  

     Green bean casserole has a memory. So do yams with marshmallows. Make them throughout the year, especially when you see they are going through a tough time, to bring back those feelings of comfort and family.

     No one leaves the house while dinner is being prepared. Everyone gets a task. This is a group effort. Many young adults are shackled to fast food today because they can’t boil water to make spaghetti or fry an egg to put on toast. Get them used to the kitchen now. They can do their own laundry at a young age too.

     MAKE IT AN EVENT TO REMEMBER… set the table. While you're at the thrift shop, look around for some inexpensive dishes - matching or not. Pick a color scheme. Grab a tablecloth or two. Cloth napkins?  Yes, please. I’ll have to add a section on setting a table and table manners. 

     Put those dishes on that table, and wow! Photo time. Take plenty throughout the day. No color printer. Spend the money to order them and have them sent to you.  Use photo pages to include them in your book. 

Light a candle. Of course, Christian radio is available at home and in your car. You can never get too much Jesus! Amen. Create a feeling. Then do this again and again. 

     Teach them how to create that comfortable feeling using all their senses. This will be invaluable to them when they meet anxiety and its friend depression. Teach them how to put that at bay early on. It’s never too early.

Attention to detail. Required.

     When you sit down to the table, relax. Enjoy. Laugh. Engage. Don’t get up. Do not answer the phone. All phone calls can wait. You are with your family now. Show them how important they are to you. Demand this in return. 

     Leave a seat for the Lord or anyone He sends your way. Teach them about hospitality. Let everyone in your life see and know that God comes first. Family second. Then work. Then others. This is a deal breaker.

     Do you have a family member or know of an elderly church friend who eats alone? Great time for fellowship. We are all going to the same place. Might as well get to know each other now. Food always tastes better when shared. Invite them for dinner.

     Check with your Pastor/Mrs. Pastor. Ask if someone in the church needs to be blessed with a freezer meal. Ask the Lord to put someone on your heart.

That is how this all started you know. I spotted Tammy and her husband Simon from across the room. I watched them. I studied her. I immediately noticed how she carried herself. I watched how she engaged with others. I knew she was many years younger than me, but I also knew she had something to offer me. I made a beeline for her. 

     She saw me coming. Like she knew everything I was going to say before I opened my mouth. That is the power of God. That is the power of prayer. Things happen without the need for mere mortal words. I immediately blurted out, ' You have something to offer me. I can learn something from you.’ Then she said, ' Are you my answer to prayer?' I have been praying for someone to come alongside.   That's when I said, 'Here I am.' We laughed. God smiled.  The rest is history.

     Life has shown up since then, but she sends these short few word text pictures at exactly the right time! I need to tell her that. She is also the one who introduced me to Amy, from Arising Women and Arising Authors. 

     See how God works? No repentance, no submission, no humility, no Tammy, no prayer, no positioning, no asking for help, no Amy, no offering help, no book, no submission, no Miss Bess… everything is connected.

God is Holy. Show Respect.

     If you call yourself A CHILD OF GOD, when you approach God, you need to give Him more respect than you would give to anyone else. Don’t treat Him like your friend. Do not try to work Him over or win Him over. He sets the example. You follow. This is the only way to have a joyous life. 

     The Bible says to respect your parents, and life will go well for you… How do you approach God? How is your life going? There is a correlation. 

     How do you feel when your children disrespect you? How about when they do it in front of other people? How about when they say they won’t do it again, over and over, but they still continue to? This is exactly how God feels about you and me.

     Do remember to pray and give thanks for the wonderful time you had together. Say something nice about each person’s involvement in the day. Show them their position and value in your family’s team. Build their self-esteem by acknowledging their strengths. They may not see in themselves what you see.

     Make valuable, uplifting memories. Replace those old negative memories with new positive ones quickly and easily. Bind them in an album. The Bible says what is bound on earth is bound in Heaven. Bind your family with the love of Jesus. Start your binder today.