One thing that I really appreciate about my husband Thad is that he is committed to building a strong family life.  A couple of months ago, realizing how tough it is to get us all together at the same time even for a few hours, he decided to start a Family Night each week on Thursday.   We still don't have it down to a science (and it’s still rare for all 12 of us to be here!), but we try to have a yummy dessert, some good conversation, a short time in the Bible, and maybe a game if one of us can be creative enough to think of something that is good for a wide age range. A few weeks ago, out of desperation, I pulled out the zip lock bag of Scrabble tiles (the box has long since been destroyed) and pulled out five at random.  Each of us had to make up a sentence where the words started with the letters -- the sillier the better.  For example, when I picked the letters U, W, U, R and E, someone wrote, "Unicorns wrestle under rhinoceroses' ears."  Some of our other sentences were about pink flamingos and such.  We played that game for several rounds, and I think it will make an encore soon.  Another week, we were running late, so on the spur of the moment, we asked Julia to tell us about her new job and about her weekend trip to Gainesville to see the Auburn/Gator football game.   Thad and I have also taken the time to share with our children chapters of our own life stories, especially our testimonies of God working in our lives.

Last night for Family Night, we loaded several of the kids in the van and went to see the encouraging new movie Pilgrim’s Progress: Journey to Heaven, which is set in modern times.  We found out when we got there that this was its world premiere! I even got to shake hands with the producer, Danny Carrales, who was sitting across the aisle from us.  The movie is playing at the Greater Orlando Christian Film Festival, which is hosting free showings of several movies up through next Thursday at the Regal Cinema in Winter Park Village. You can find more info at www.GreaterOrlandoChristianFilmFestival.com.  For those who don’t live in the Orlando area, but are still interested in the movie, you can click here:  www.PilgrimsProgressTheMovie.com .   

Recently I realized that Family Night would also be a good opportunity for our younger children to recite the Bible memory verses they get in Sunday School.  Usually these get lost in the shuffle of getting home from church.  I decided to bring along a sturdy folder to church so we could immediately put all Sunday School papers in there for safekeeping.  Then we can review them during the week, and actually put those memory verses to good use!

As for desserts, we try to have something yummy.  Usually it is something simple like brownies, apple pie (bought at Sam's Club) or ice cream.   We do try to be a little creative once in a while, too.   Thad and I had been to Starbucks on our date a few weeks back and ordered their apple caramel drink.  We decided we could make it just as easily at home for Family Night.  We simmered a gallon of apple juice with cinnamon sticks and cloves, ladled it into mugs, spooned on dollops of whipped cream, and drizzled caramel sauce on top of that.  Yum!  Similar to this, we always have wassail for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, which is the same hot apple juice & spice concoction with cranberry juice and a little orange juice concentrate added in, too.