Pick a Night Family Night

Good Wednesday morning!

The Gallery pics are just a few more photos of "Things That Make Me Smile." I'm hoping I will see my neighbor's new puppy out and about today. He is precious, and although not a zoo animal, you can't beat good puppy pics in the Gallery.

RANDOMNESS #1 - Fun fact for ya! I LOVE African music. I'm not sure why. It just speaks to me. We were fortunate to see the Broadway version of The Lion King when it came to Birmingham about four or five years ago, and in the middle of the play I remember a group of men on stage in traditional African costume singing the most beautiful song. I was hooked.

Well, when you have a Music Education Major in your home for the weekend, you may find yourself exposed to some other eclectic music choices. I now LOVE Hawaiian music... specifically "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" sung by the late Israel (IZ) Kamakawiwo. It is the most soothing, lovely rendition I have ever heard. Love it.

And there's more! Nick introduced us to Thailand Throat Singing. I know. I know. What is a self-proclaimed Fanilow doing listening to such unusual types of music? I don't know, but I will use the word "soothing" over and over. Maybe that's what my ears need these days. "Soothing." I have no way to describe Thailand Throat Singing, but I did copy a definition which may (or may not) help. "High whistling melodies, expressive warbles, and intense low croaking tones." I will say that definition does not do it justice. It's pretty amazing.

I guess listening to these songs this past weekend would be the "new" things I experienced last week. I wanted you to know food is not the only "new" thing I try.

What can I say? I'm an enigma!

RANDOMNESS #2 - Is it just me, or does anyone else want to RUN to the nearest theater to watch the new movie Babies. The movie chronicles the first year of four different babies from four different cultures around the world. When we saw the preview at The Last Song, Roxie turned to me before I had a chance to say a word and just said, "No." Mikie doesn't want me to see it because he doesn't want to be a new Daddy again at age 48 (almost 49), and that is exactly what this movie is going to do to me... make me want another baby when I'm practically grandmother-age. I should avoid this movie like the plague... but I'm pretty sure I'm sneaking out to see it at least once (maybe twice). Shhh. Don't tell Mike.

Wednesday Wisdom - Today's Wisdom comes from author Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird). Very insightful stuff.

Many receive advice, only the wise profit from it.

Real courage is when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.

The book to read is not the one which thinks for you, but the one which makes you think. No book in the world equals the Bible for that. (Amen, Sister!)

Smart, smart woman, that Harper Lee.

Pick a Night Family Night

We have not done this, but I have read of two families who live by this rule... and seem to have had some success with the Weekly Family Night.

Both families (which do not know each other) picked Monday night as their weekly night to do something together as a family. I like the fact they stay away from the busy weekend. They start with the most basic family gathering... the evening meal.

After the meal, Family Number One picks a piece of paper from a jar and reads it aloud. Whatever is on that piece of paper dictates what the family will do for the evening. It may be a movie night. It may be going for a bike ride. It may be making ice cream sundaes after playing a family game. Of course, the activities in the jar have been contributed by all of the family members. I will also mention, Family Number One now has three teenagers and one pre-teen in the house. Because they have been doing this since the kids were small, it is an unspoken rule no one makes plans for Monday nights.

Family Number Two calls their weekly Monday night get-together Family Talent Show Night. They use Talent Time Themes. "Two favorites are Talents in a Bag -- each person draws a couple of items from a sack and uses them as props -- and Together Talents, where two people team up to do a skit, a song or a dance. We also do Silent Talents (no speaking allowed), Outside Talents (performed in the yard) and Pet Talents (which feature one of the members of our pet family)."

I also like the flexibility Family Number Two uses. "On a busy night, we shorten the show. Each person gets 30 seconds to do something small, such as whistle a tune, show off a school project or recite a brief poem." Family Number Two (Bud and Casey Cluff of Sammamish, Washington) has been featured in this month's Family Fun Magazine.

As with many ideas I share from other folks, I am going to give this a try. It's never too late to introduce a new tradition to the family. Beginning next week, we're going to declare Tuesday night as Faulkner Family Night. We may do something as simple as driving to Sno Biz to enjoy a snow cone or watching an old TV series (Boy Meets World, etc.). Doing something simple and fun as a family doesn't have to last two hours. It can be a 30-minute activity. That's okay.

The main goal is to pick a specific night, write it in ink, and stick with it as best you can!

Have a lovely Wednesday. It is a new day, so if you haven't been able to spend that extra time with family or friends, make a plan (in ink) to carve out some special time in the next day or so... take a kiddo to breakfast, surprise your spouse with a lunch invitation, go to a Thursday night movie (no crowds), serve a family meal on the deck. The possibilities are endless! I'll have a date to share with you tomorrow, Blog Linkage, and what has now become my custom, RANDOMNESS!

Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda