to have Courage....In Family Life, In Spirituality, In Health, In Living Simply

I'm on a journey...... as we all are. Learning, remembering, re-discovering about health, spirituality, relationships, emotions and the mind.

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Miss You, Chelle!

Kisses from your Mama.
Ya U!! 

Question for You:  Are you missing somebody special today??

A Lovely Sunday for Family Time

 The wind went right through you.  Laars seemed to labour taking in a breathe and quickly followed after Toveli who headed for home.  It was short & sweet but an invigorating sprint in the sunshine.

And then mama made some Almond Milk Hot Chocolate.  Yummy.

Question for You:  If you drink hot chocolate, what is your favorite kind?

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Diabetes Can Be Managed or Reversed Naturally

I already did a post on the Simply Raw DVD which shows people reversing diabetes by eating 100% raw foods.

Here Dr Mercola talks about the prevelency of diabetes and how one must stay away from grains.  Give a listen.....

Friday, January 29, 2010

Sunshine, Sunglasses & Cancer

Why I'm really game to move south of here!




And if you insist on wearing sunglasses, Paul Nison says to remove your sunglasses while eating as they otherwise interfere with the optic nerve, signaling the body that it isn't the time of day to be eating and digesting.

Question for You:  Are you 'addicted' to wearing sunglasses?  Honestly?

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Maret's 10th Birthday


Happy 10th Birthday, Maret Chavon.  We sure love you.
Rauchelle gave her a necklace made from a bullet Rauchelle found while out camping with Sarah in Arizona.  Chelle's been wearing it ever since, but she gave it to Maret for her birthday.  As you can see, Maret was thrilled.  She actually jumped up into Chelle's arms and wrapped her legs around her sister.
The dinner menu of choice by Maret was actually baked potatoes and Caesar salad.  Fairly healthy, to make room for chocolate cake and ice cream!

Question for You:  Do you remember celebrating your 10th Birthday?

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

What is Your Underlying Belief about Health?

Is our health pre-determined by our genes?  Or do we have responsibility ourselves to build our own health?

Question for You:  What do you think about this video?  Do you believe our health is determined primarily/partially/marginally/not-at-all by genetics?

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Eating Raw Food Diet to Overcome Diabetes

We watched the Simply Raw DVD about reversing diabetes in 30 days, and were encouraged again to improve our family's eating habits to improve our health.  Although we don't suffer from any known diabetes in our immediate family, we do have members in our extended family that are considered borderline diabetics.  And I've heard that there are many people who are diabetic but just haven't been tested for it as of yet.  It is undiagnosed.

Well, I am confident that no one in my family will become diabetic as we pay attention to the way that we eat.  And being armed with information such as is revealed in the Simply Raw DVD, I know that we can keep our diets healthy to avoid many common diseases.

If you haven't seen this DVD yet, I encourage you to especially for those already diagnosed with diabetes.  The stories in this DVD are absolutely amazing.  It follows 6 people over a course of 30 days who go to a health centre where they stay during that period of time, and they are each carefully monitored (along with their medications) and physically evaluated.  They each are able to drastically cut-back or totally eliminate the insulin and other pharmaceuticals they were taking previously, and watch unwanted pounds of fat melt off of their bodies.  It is a difficult adjustment to change their eating habits to whole and raw foods, but what changes it brings to more than just their diabetes!

Watch it!   Simply Raw is worth the investment to improve the lives of those you love.

Question for You:  If you had a disease like diabetes, would you truly be willing to drastically change your eating habits to try and reverse it?  Or would you rather continue living the way you are and just add medications to your daily routine?

Monday, January 25, 2010

Creating a Sleep Sanctuary



Lots to consider.  Don't become overwhelmed. Just start taking steps....even baby steps.  Do what you can do to start with, always working yourself towards better health.

Nobody is going to take care of your health, except YOU!
Start today.

Here's another video, covering alot of the same stuff, just reinforcing things we can do to cut down on radiation bombarding us.

Question for You:  How do you think your sleep area would rate for it being free from these frequency bombardments?

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Kreamy Curry Salad Dressing Recipe

Question for You:  Do you have a favorite ethnic food?

The Importance of Sleep





In today's world its a challenge to find real darkness, and to get sleep during the right hours.  Dr Mercola gives tips for how to accomplish this and encourages to overcome the challenges.  Sleep is That Important!

As a side note, I remember years ago reading a book (I think it was 'Taking Charge of Your Fertility') that mentioned that for some women to regulate their cycles and achieve conception, they might have to do very specific things to black out their sleeping spot, like putting foil in the windows, removing digital clocks or any source of light (no matter how little it seems),  even blocking light from coming in around the bedroom door.  Any of this could interfere with her fertility.  The point that I remember is that a woman's cycle would naturally be in-sync with the phases of the moon, in days before electricity!

What I hear Paul Nison saying in regards to his Daylight Diet isn't so much about the health of the food that we eat, but how and when we eat so that we get a good rest at night while sleeping which is when our bodies cleanse and rebuild.....and that's where our health really comes from.  The quality of our sleep.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

The Myth of the Perfect Parent

The Myth of the Perfect Parent | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

I was informed of this article via a parenting forum I lurk at sometimes.  And I can so identify with much of the confusion, worry & fret, and the measuring of success we do as parents.  We may judge others, but I know I can be awfully harsh on myself.

Listening to freebelievers and thegodjourney plus reading some of the books I've read recently (The Misunderstood God, & He Loves Me!) are helping me keep my mind on the pure Love of my Father who Loves me (and my children) with abandon.  He's absolutely crazy for us, singing and dancing over us with joy, and He wants our own joy to be full......of Him.  I walk and rest in that love and the grace He bestows.

I am quite aware that we haven't been perfect parents, but I think I'm learning these days that I don't need to freak-out about some of the things that I used to, or feared that I would freak-out about if they were ever to happen in our family.  God's Love and Grace are so great to carry us through anything, and at the same time we can be anxious about no-thing!!!  That isn't a brag about us.....it's a brag on how Big and Awesome our Father is!!!

I currently have a situation in which there is constant practice for me to leave it with Abba....to learn to be anxious about no-thing.  I have stated my concerns as I felt it was a mom's responsibility, and now the decisions here on out are not mine to make.  I need to learn to stand back more.  To watch and pray, and to speak less and love more without so many words.  A new stage.  A new place to grow.


"We are not sovereign over our children—only God is. Children are not tomatoes to stake out or mules to train, nor are they numbers to plug into an equation. They are full human beings wondrously and fearfully made. Parenting, like all tasks under the sun, is intended as an endeavor of love, risk, perseverance, and, above all, faith. It is faith rather than formula, grace rather than guarantees, steadfastness rather than success that bridges the gap between our own parenting efforts, and what, by God's grace, our children grow up to become."  (from the article 'The Myth of the Perfect Parent')

Question for You:  Is there something in particular that you have learned recently about parenting that you could share?

Friday, January 22, 2010

The Centrality of the Home

Oh my!!

Here is a hot audio by Voddie Bauchum.  You might not like it.  But there is truth here.  It might 'hurt' if you are involved with or run a Youth Group at your church.  It might hurt if you have stopped with having 2 children, or maybe 3.  Voddie hits hard, but this is a message that needs to be heard. 


This audio is the foundation of Voddie's book Family Driven Faith.  It's about how we are to Evangelize and Disciple the Next Generation.  How are we doing it?  Well, statistically the church has failed.  At this rate there will be just a handful of Christians in a few more generations here in America.

Question for You:  How do you think it is best to pass on your values to the next generation?




Thursday, January 21, 2010

The Gratitude Dance

A Happy Heart Does Good Like a Medicine. (the Bible)
Doing something like this always makes people at our house Happy!!

Question for You:  What are you grateful for today?

The Cold and Flu Season

It's still here, in the northern hemisphere.  And I unfortunately got a nasty cold.  I know it was due to a few lifestyle factors that weren't in place this past week as I was away from home for a whole week, not doing what I normally am doing.  The things that changed this week for me were:

*not having fresh juices every morning
*flying across 4 time-zones
*return flight was a red-eye in which I got hardly any sleep that whole trip
*drank Brita-filtered city water rather than fresh well water
*didn't sleep with my grounding sheet
*ate more cooked foods (and even meats) than I normally do

I think the change in my sleep was the number one factor for getting this cold, and then there was emotional stress I was under.  It wasn't just one thing, but a combination of things that set me up for the virus getting a hold.  It's just the way it was.  But in this video by Dr Mercola he will give suggestions for both lifestyle to avoid sickness, and supplements to overcome. 



Now that I've been home and able to attack this nasty cold, I am feeling much better today.  I made sure to get lots of rest by going to bed early and staying in bed longer than normal, drinking lots of clean water, fresh juices (including celery which is great for colds/flu), all raw foods, doing a high-enema, and not eating after 2pm yesterday (which sets me up for a better sleep because I'm not working at digestion while sleeping).  I also used oil of oregano on my throat and massaged it into the soles of my feet, and took licorice root tincture for upper respiratory congestion.  Today I feel more like myself.  For me this cold was short lived.  It started to show itself on Sunday (which was aggravated by the red-eye flight that night), then Monday it really developed, and Tuesday I felt nasty.  Wednesday I still felt awful but I worked diligently at taking care of myself, and today I feel virtually recovered.

Question for You:  What is the #1 thing you do to try and avoid illness?

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Potty Talk

Every parent has a funny and embarrassing story to tell concerning at least one of their children, and this story below is certainly one that beats most.  Enjoy and have a laugh!!
**********************************

Potty Talk by Shannon Popkin

My little guy, Cade, is quite a talker. He loves to communicate and does it quite well. He talks to people constantly, whether we’re in the library, the grocery store or at a drive-thru window.
People often comment on how clearly he speaks for a just-turned-3-year-old.  And you never have to ask him to turn up the volume. It’s always fully cranked.

There have been several embarrassing times that I’ve wished the meaning of his words would have been masked by a not-so-audible voice, but never have I wished this more than last week at Costco.
Halfway, through our shopping trip, nature called, so I took Cade with me into the restroom. If you’d been one of the ladies in the restroom that evening, this is what you would have heard coming from the second to the last stall:

‘Mommy, are you gonna go potty? Oh! Why are you putting toiwet paper on the potty, Mommy?  Oh! You gonna sit down on da toiwet paper now?  Mommy, what are you doing?  Mommy, are you gonna go stinkies on the potty?’

At this point I started mentally counting how many women had been in the bathroom when I walked in. Several stalls were full … 4? 5? Maybe we could wait until they all left before I had to make my debut out of this stall and reveal my identity.

Cade continued, ‘Mommy, you ARE going stinkies aren’t you?  Oh, dats a good girl, Mommy!  Are you gonna get some candy for going stinkies on the potty? Let me see doze stinkies, Mommy!  Oh .. Mommy! I’m trying to see in dere. Oh! I see dem. Dat is a very good girl, Mommy. You are gonna get some candy!’

I heard a few faint chuckles coming from the stalls on either side of me. Where is a screaming new born when you need her? Good grief! This was really getting embarrassing. I was definitely waiting a long time before exiting.

Trying to divert him, I said, ‘Why don’t you look in Mommy’s purse and see if you can find some candy? We’ll both have some!’

‘No, I’m trying to see doze more stinkies.
Oh! Mommy!’ He started to gag at this point. ‘Uh oh, Mommy.  I fink I’m gonna frow up. Mommy, doze stinkies are making me frow up!! Dat is so gross!!’

As the gags became louder, so did the chuckles outside my stall.  I quickly flushed the toilet in hopes of changing the subject.  I began to reason with myself:
OK. There are four other toilets.  If I count four flushes, I can be reasonably assured that those
who overheard this embarrassing monologue will be long gone.

‘Mommy! Would you get off the potty, now?  I want you to be done going stinkies! Get up! Get up!’
He grunted as he tried to pull me off.

Now I could hear full-blown laughter.  I bent down to count the feet outside my door.

‘Oh, are you wooking under dere, Mommy?  You wooking under da door?  What were you wooking at, Mommy?  You wooking at the wady’s feet?’

More laughter. I stood inside t he locked door and tried to assess the situation. ‘Mommy, it’s time to wash our hands, now. We have to go out now, Mommy.’

He started pounding on the door. ‘Mommy, don’t you want to wash your hands? I want to go out!!’

I saw that my ‘wait ‘em out’ plan was unraveling. I sheepishly opened the door, and found standing outside my stall, twenty to thirty ladies crowded around the stall, all smiling and starting to applaud.

My first thought was complete embarrassment, then I thought, ‘Where’s the fine print on the ‘motherhood contract’ where I signed away every bit of my dignity and privacy?’
But as my little boy gave me a big, cheeky grin while he rubbed bubbly soap between his chubby little hands, I thought, I’d sign it all away again, just to be known as Mommy to this little fellow.


(Shannon Popkin is a freelance writer and mother of three.  She lives with her family in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she no longer uses public restrooms)


Question for You:  Do you have a funny potty story?

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Monday, January 18, 2010

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Falling Away


This is a painting on a bathroom floor.  Quite unnerving, though.  I'm not sure I could be relaxed enough to complete the job I had entered the bathroom to do!!  That's if I could even walk into this room to start with!!

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Vibrational Lifestyle

I am fascinated with the little bit I understand about frequencies/vibrations in our food, our thoughts, our world.  So I was thrilled when I heard this video Paul Nison did with Rico Cortes.  He even spoke about the issue of not mixing linen and wool together, which has been something I 've been pondering recently as that was a directive in the Torah.

Enjoy listening, and Be Blessed.


Here is an article about vibrations of linen and its healing properties.  You can learn more from Rico at Wisdom in Torah.
And both Zipporah Reshel Designs and Rawganique sell linen along with cotton and hemp products.

Question for You:  Do you ever wear linen/flax?

Friday, January 15, 2010

Unfamiliar Places & Faces

SOMEWHERE'S NEW

Being here is unfamiliar.

I've never been 'here' before.

Daughter engaged.  Becoming a mother-in-law.  Having a relationship with another family that we become related to thru marriage.  Wondering how it will look when these 2 diverse families' offspring meld and become a whole new identity as their own little family, starting as a couple, and likely welcoming littles in the course of time.

I hardly know this son.  It's kind of awkward.  Being committed to being 'family' but not knowing one another.  Trying to figure one another out.  What makes him tick?  What is he really thinking?  What does he really mean by what he just said?

Likely, he wonders about me, too!

BABY LOVE

As the unborn grows and develops in secret, our love for him/her grows.  We become more attached, more concerned, more moved and effected by their life and the events that take place with them.  We wonder what they will look like, what they will become, what their personality will be like.  But one thing is decided already, without even meeting them face to face yet.

Love.  We have decided to Love.

The best way we know how to Love.

MAKING ROOM

Well, we're having a new son.  And although he towers over me in stature, there is a place in my heart for Micah already.  I have given heart space that's for him, to grow more and more Love for him.   His personality is already developed, his mind is made up, and he's got an opinion.

I can make room for all of that.  I choose to make room.

Like a new mom..... fumbling around a little bit, apprehensive of how to get that newborn arm down that sleeve without breaking the baby, needing to learn how to relax and enjoy the moment....that baby-moon.....I need to relax and enjoy this moon of getting to know Micah.  And there is certainly some fumbling, some uncertainties of what is expected, and where the lines are not to be crossed.  How to share my heart, my concerns, my opinions, without shoving that arm down a sleeve it just doesn't want to go.  Doesn't even need to go?

This moon is a time for us to get to understand one another, to know patterns of behavior in each other, and learn to communicate.

TRUE LOVE

Time will make it all happen, naturally, when we decide to Love.  Without strings attached.  Without expectations.  Without exerting control.  Without manipulation.  For none of those things denotes Love anyways (although they seem part & parcel in relationships today that claim to have love).

My hearts cry is that Real Love is made manifest in me.
Uploading Love Hearts Pictures, Images and Photos

Love that suffers long and is kind;
Love that does not envy;
Love that does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
Does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
Does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
A Love that never fails.

(see I Corinthians 13)

I Love unfamiliar places and faces.  Just sometimes it's uncomfortable for the first while.

But then they become your friend.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

The Familiar Places

STOMPING GROUNDS

I grew up under these western clouds, surrounded on the north by the coastal mountains, the valley on the east, and the ocean both south and west of me.  The city air mixed with ocean breezes is common to me.  I know the streets around here, but there's new intersections with lights, and sometimes I want to STOP where there used to be a 4-way sign.  This is where I graduated from a high school that saw its death and destruction years ago.  Where I skipped classes to cruise the beach.  This is where I lived when I met my lover.   Where we steamed up the car windows with our first kiss.  Where we walked in drizzle and in sunshine along the pier, and ate our fish 'n chips too close to the pesky seagulls for my comfort. This is where we were wed one Friday night nearly 24 years ago, and later we publicly dedicated ourselves to raising our baby to know and Love her Heavenly Father.

I've got alot of memories here.  It's a familiar town.

(see next post for The Unfamiliar)

Question for You:  Where is one of your favorite familiar places?

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

The 'Furious Love' of God

Patricia King interviews the producer of 'Furious Love', Darren Wilson.

Alot of what Darren and Patricia talk about are spoken of in books I've recently read. "The Misunderstood God" by Darin Hufford, and "He Loves Me" by Wayne Jacobsen, and even "The Shack" by Wm. Paul Young of which I am presently re-reading.

The Love of God is not just a nice cozy word and idea to think about when we consider Jesus coming as a babe to eventually give up his own life on the cross so that we can one day go to heaven.  The Love of God is soooooo wide and deep and thick and tall.  There is no way around it, or over it.  There is no figuring it out.  No way to explain it in words.

One must Experience it.

That's the cry of my heart these days.  Not to Do Anything.  Just experience Him and His love. 

To be Lost in His Love.

Question for You:  Did you have opportunity to see 'The Finger of God'?

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Everette's Birthday

I was heading out to spend about 5 days with Layne to have opportunity to meet her fiance, and with the way her work week goes I was trying to fit my days best around her days off, and with the biggness of this country I had to traverse it meant I had to catch a flight early on the morning of Everette's birthday.  So, we decided to head to Halifax the day before and spend the night in a hotel/inn we had spotted many times before.  And that's what we did.  We had a great 1 day away alone before I left for the rest of the week.   Oh, how I miss him when we aren't together.  But the reunion is always something wonderful to look forward to.
My Chauffer!  Through the snow.



The Inn where we stayed, and the view from our patio as the sun sets on another wintery day in Atlantic Canada.







4 am on his birthday, getting ready to take me to the airport.  What an awesome partner he is.

Happy Birthday, Babe!

Raw Food Kids video

Sergei Boutenko made this video to explain to youth a bit about eating raw foods, and the diseases that can be avoided or healed by eating wise, which includes moderation.





Also for children, check out Rachel Ruth Unruh's book "McGrew and the Big Zyme Meet" to introduce children (and adults) to the world of enzymes and more eating healthy.

Besides the fact that I love the name Zion, this is a precious little girl who has something to share about the yummy lifestyle of eating raw.  Talk about 'character'.

Question for You:  Do you let your children create food for the family?  If so, what is their favorite thing to make?

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Dan Buettner on Longevity

Over at Raw Food Rehab one of the members posted this video by Dan Buettner and I thought it was full of great information concerning centenarians from around the world.  You'll learn some trivia about different cultures, but more than that you can learn keys to how to have a long, healthy and mobile life.  It not only covers what and how to eat healthily, but it also talks about social circles, a sense of purpose for their life, and how to move naturally through the day.


You can check out Blue Zones to read more.

Question for You:  Do you envision yourself living to a ripe old age?

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Shabbat Family Fun in the Snow








Daddy did the photography because he wanted to keep his butt dry!!





                                                                                      Ended with a snowball fight, attack on mama. 

Friday, January 8, 2010

Support for the Raw Food Lifestyle

There's a social group sorta like facebook that allows those who are interested in or are already living a raw food lifestyle (whether high-raw or not, vegan or not) to find support and encouragement for day to day living outside of society's norm.  It's a place to learn, to stretch yourself, to use accountability to whatever level you are comfortable with, to ask questions and share recipes.  You can share goals, pictures, testimonies, whatever, as long as it is uplifting and modest.  It's even a safe place for children!

Check it out:  Raw Food Rehab

Question for You:  Do you participate in a social group centered around food, health and/or fitness?

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Lickety Lips

How do you stop a child from licking their lips, particularly after they've made them chaffed by licking them?  As you can see from all these photos, Laars is having an issue with his lips.  In every photo he's got his finger on the sore, and throughout the day he keeps licking it.  He rubs it with his sleeves and makes the chaffing worse, and some days it spreads above his upper lip, almost looking sometimes as if he's getting a fever blister its so bright red and puffy.

As the other children have all seemed to go through this, I know that 'This too shall pass' but I find it frustrating, especially when he licks and rubs until it bleeds, and then it cracks when he shows his pearly whites.

Any great suggestions out there?  I put emu oil on it this morning and then played some singing and hand-games with him to allow time for it to absorb in before he rubbed it all off with his sleeve.  Argh!


Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Teeth

While I was out shopping with Everette yesterday, the children were busy with the camera taking photos. 
They continued awhile after we got home, and it seems that a smile with teeth showing was the theme.  So, here you
have it.....The Johnson Teeth Show.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

A New Look

Okay, I admit, it isn't likely I would have a beautiful looking blog page except for the help of my golden girl....Danaka Hope.  She's alot like her older sister, Layne, kinda into the computer and history stuff, and they are the ones I ask for that kind of help.  Now that Layne doesn't live at home nor even in the same time zone as us,  Danaka is often the one I call for help to in regards to computer stuff, and here she comes to the rescue.

So today Everette & I went grocery shopping.  When we returned home I learned a few things I hadn't been aware of. Danaka had been on my computer while I was away, which was fine, but I noticed there was a tab for a blog I didn't recognize the name of.  Big Family in a Big World.  I went there only to discover that a couple of days ago Danaka had started another blog of her own.  I was staring at it.  And it looked beautiful.  Here she was, 3 or 4 days into having a new blog and it was looking great.  So I had her show her mama how to get a nice template like that.  And viola!!!  But the choices.  I think I'd like to change it as often as I change my underwear.  But I won't.  I'll show some sort of self-control.  At least for a few days.

The Ceremony & Symbolism

Most people enjoy a good party, but your wedding is more than a party.  Most of your guests come to hear you exchange your vows with one another, recognizing that this is the most important part of your day.  Other areas of the service need attention, but be sure to really take care about what you exchange in your vows.  Don't make a pie crust promise.  Marriage is not a contract or promise.  It is meant to be a covenant.





Below are plenty of links about elements to include in the service and the symbolism which is often threaded throughout the entire wedding day, from a white wedding gown (red for other nationalities), unity candles, the kiss at the altar.  These may or may not be important issues with you.  You may find you want to include them simply because they look like they may bring an element of fun, such as the groom breaking the glass, but when you look at the symbolism it has a deeper meaning in history that you may or may not want to include in your day.  Or the symbolism might be steeped in a belief that totally goes against your spiritual beliefs and therefore you will want to avoid it, although it might be common in ceremonies these days.  I suggest you be wise about symbolism, and do some homework.  Just because it is 'common' does not mean you want to include it in your special day.

Vows are commonly rewritten.  You can include your personal touch by altering traditional vows or go ahead and rewrite them all together.  Make them yours.
 
Traditional Wedding Ceremony
Wedding Ceremony Readings
My Wedding Vows
Heart of the Wedding

4 Most Popular Types of Wedding Ceremonies
Symbolism in a Wedding Ceremony from doves & rings to jumping the broom & stomping on the glass.
Symbolism of the Wedding Cake
Wedding Ring Symbolism, more than eternal love
Symbolism of Flowers 
Best Wedding Sites traditions, customs, symbolism
Jewish Ceremony

    Monday, January 4, 2010

    Wedding Receptions & Food

    You can get an overview of common elements to a typical wedding reception here.   Use what info you want from there, toss the rest, and be sure to add your own flare to the event.


    WHAT TYPE OF PROGRAM

    My favorite part of our reception was when a friend of Everette's presented me with a baby bib and a story about Everette and food and how messy he could be, and then for proof she unrolled a poster she'd had made of Everette's face dripping with a watery lemon meringue pie that she had thrown in his face for his 21st birthday.

    I recall at one of my brother's receptions a timed game they had to play.  While the bride had to hammer a wooden box together, the groom had to change a doll's diaper that was full of 'peanut butter poop', so they would be able to identify with each others supposed marital roles.


    There can be an open-mic which allows people to share a special word of edification, or tell a silly story and reminisce.  This can be done in addition to or in place of making toasts.  It is a good idea to have a Master of Ceremonies who can keep things going without big lulls, but also be able to encourage long-winded people to pass the mic along.

    Lots of receptions have music of one sort or another.  Live music alone or with a dance floor.  DJ's and pre-recorded music.  Your pick. 

    You can have somebody (or yourself) arrange for some type of games to play, with tables competing against other tables.  It helps break the ice if people don't already know one another that are sitting at the same table.  You could have an impromptu talent show.  Or contests for costumes if it was that kind of theme party.

    Receptions, in essence, are just like a lot of other parties.  Make it a party that you would like to host, and people will get as much fun out of it as they put into it. 



    FOOD

    Food is usually the most expensive part of a wedding plan, unless of course you don't invite many people at all.  But there are choices that can fit into any size budget. Below are a few links for different kinds of receptions and the food and style for serving. 


    Things to consider:
    *time of day of reception
    *level of formality
    *the venue you have chosen
    *a theme you chose for your wedding
    *financial budget

    Some venues will provide sample menus available to choose from with a variety of prices per plate. Consider vegetarians, vegans, or those with food allergies.

    Styles to consider:
    *formal sit-down catered
    *buffet (food prepped by friends or yourselves or catered)
    *bbq
    *picnic
    *pot-blessing
    *dessert only
    *finger-foods
    *cocktail party



    We know of a couple who had a really informal reception where they had soup and rolls served up by themselves.  It was more than just home-down nourishment for their guests.  It was a humble act of service in which they wanted their marriage covenant to be symbolized by.

    We've also heard of a couple who hired a bus to pick up homeless people and bring them to their reception as per a Bible parable.  They wanted to share their abundance with other children of God.



    The Best Wedding Reception Ever 
    Pros & Cons of Buffets, Sit-down Dinners & other Catering Ideas
    Wedding DNA consider food options and meeting budget
    Wedding for 125 break down of what was needed for DIY reception
    A Finger Food Reception
     Set up an Amish Wedding Meal

    BBQ Ideas 
    Amish Wedding Traditions home-cooked meals for 200-600 guests!
    Jewish Reception including challah and the Hora
    A Summer Picnic Wedding planning in progress


    Question for You: What is your most memorable thing about a wedding you've been to?