"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Friday, January 9, 2009

Our NEW plan

Thank you all who posted kind support over our church dilemma. I did want to say though that this isn't a "new" happening. We left shortly after the boys came home. It is that it just rears its ugly head sometimes. This was one of those times. And there are times I just sigh and know that we "wont make sense" to everyone, but we didn't grow our family through adoption for popularity either. :) And, I do have to say that there were many wonderful people that we left at this church, unfortunately the ugly were louder and more demanding of getting in the last word and having their opinions heard. We still have friend there, we just now associate outside of those walls.

But we have a new plan. Addie has really been wanting to attend the youth program at the church we are now attending. She didn't want to cause us extra work driving to a different town in order to attend youth ... we are going to do this. It is important.

Noah- well, is Noah and if he never had to leave our house he wouldn't. He is autistic- he doesn't do new and exciting...

The littles? well they would want to go, but they are too young to know...

Sooo... new plan...
Sunday evening is devo night- as a family. Age appropriate- to challenge the older kids and help us as we teach some concepts to the littles. Our boys knew of God- there was a very large picture of Jesus in their birthfamily's home. This is a great start. There will be a weekly helper- in birth order each week...

Wed night will be "family" night. 5 different categories and a revolving weekly helper (same helper as Sunday) . We will have : game night, cooking night, 4H night, individual project night, and family project. Each week we will tailor it to the different age levels. 4H night for example- Addie and Noah can be working on their swine advancements while the littles are working on learning the parts of a duck. Some weeks it may be an outing. We brainstormed ideas last night and the kids are excited. We have put these times on the calendar... Addie is up first- she drew cooking. She is busy planning a cooking project to involve everyone. Sunday we begin... Maybe the fruits of the spirit... maybe lying... haven't decided. May depend on the "issues" of the week! :) We'll keep you posted.

5 comments:

ellerbee eight said...

Oh Denise, I think we sometimes run parallel lives. We left our church of many, many years after we got home with our new kids due to some really mean and hurtful things said by not only kids but leadership of the church as well. Granted, ALL of it was said out of stupidity and not out of malice, it still hurt and made us feel like we weren't in the right place. I think your idea sounds great. The best thing about our families is that we have learned that you have to make it work the way it is... it's not going to be like everyone else. We have evolved sister! AMEN!

Sandee said...

Oh I love these ideas..... I am interested in hearing how it goes. I am thinking of staring "story time" at night. And rather than individual reading, which they do now, have from 7:30 to 8, Momma reads a story, then they are off to their rooms for 30 minutes until I come around and tuck them in ....lights out.

I like the family night Idea...and the devotion night. Both awesome.

Would love to hear how you do chores...do you have a chore list...and meals....

Learning from you....now that I will be 5!

Rebecca said...

Where oh where do you get all of your energy?
I'm telling you...it looks like you are always having such a good time as a FAMILY! It is just awesome and inspirational. Really.
I love family night. No matter how old I get, I love family night. Played the Wii (is that how you spell it?) with my dad the other night. We were all laughing so hard that I just about had an, er, accident. We were racing cows. Or were they bulls? Whatever. Family night rocks!

GAR said...

Sounds like a wonderful alternative! Almost like homeschooling... :) We have started having family night on Wed. nights too.

Kristine said...

I cannot believe that! It makes me so mad how some people claiming to know God act. I am sorry that happened to you but am glad you are still following the Lord and teaching your children how to be loving & accepting. Hope it goes great!