NBFamilies: Got a case of the Mondays?

Since Sankie shared with us a night in the life of a faith talk in his home yesterday (click here to read...It's hilarious), I thought we'd hook you up with our fun night this week (though no fat lips, much to learn and grow from).

What do Mondays mean to you? I know for most it's the first day of the work week and thus really tiring or just not something to look forward to... Not so in the Berg home!! We have recently moved our "Berg Family Fun Night" from Friday to Monday because of unmovable "stuff". Though the day has changed the importance and passion has not!! This past Monday night was no different though it had a few snags...

The routine has been: Dad gets home from work (Charleigh gives dad a hug & kiss), Kids are finished with homework (which I'm still trying to figure out with 1st & 2nd graders), Mom has dinner ready and we sit to eat. Bursting with excitement, I got off early this week and went home to find two older kids having breakdowns over the homework, a stressed out mom (who has recently started a new job at a law office) and a youngest ingrained in the amazing yet frustrating iPad (Father's Day present that now looks like gumby)... Berg Family Fun Night has begun!!

With this I threw out the suggestion to eat leftovers, which apparently, wasn't the idea since the oldest kids had apparently made plans to go out to eat "since it's Berg Family Fun Night Daaad"!! After saving a few dollars and putting the dishes in the sink, the family made its way to the backyard which was originally part of the lesson from the 14-week Faith Talk curriculum the NBFamily Pastor's have been working on (Week 2: 'creation scavenger hunt' read more here). However, having a pretty crazy couple of weeks the yard had been neglected and thus caused Dad to go into "work/clean-up mode". After putting the last tree branch into the trash can I noticed it had gotten dark during our time outside... Oops!! Frustrated with myself and embarrassed that I got so focused on other things, I asked everyone to sit in the living room. After a brief apology to my wife (Hindsight this would have been a great 'Faith Walk' to have apologized to her in front of the kids, as well as to the kids themselves... Next time may the Spirit give me such humility!) I began to read Genesis 1. When Jax jumped up: "Dad, I'll be right back", to which Rae followed: "Me too", which was then followed with (from me): "Guys sit back down now!", followed with a (from Court): "Baby, they're probably getting their Bibles" (Something we made into a recent Berg Family Fun Night... helping the older kids pick out their first 'real' Bible)... Blew it again, and it's only been 2 minutes!!

When they returned (Court was right) they were so eager to read each verse of the story of creation. Not sure if you have new readers in your home but for us its the most amazing thing to watch and listen to your kids read... when there is no schedule!! But with me blowing it on time for the night, letting them read an entire chapter from Genesis was both really cool and really stressful. Jax: "Then God said, leeeeet there be an ex-ex-ex-ex", Dad: "Expanse", Jax "expanse, be-be-between the waters, sep-sep-sep-sep", Dad "SEPARATING", Jax: "separating... that doesn't make since!" Though it took much longer than what we typically shoot for with our Faith Talks', about 10 minutes total, it was well worth it (but had to remind myself to enjoy this moment and not rush through it).

Finally, after finishing our reading and knowing I blew the outdoor scavenger hunt we decided to do an indoor scavenger hunt. Recently I was introduced to a new song called "the Fox" (click here to watch the whole video, which is totally recommended). Equipped with the most recent pop-culture we watched the video pausing to ask when each thing we saw was created and here's the dancing the concluded our evening:

Quick five question quiz on Creation:

1) When was the sun put in place?

2) When were the trees created?

3) When were the dogs made?

4) When were fish created?

5) What does the fox say?

After watching the video a couple times, dancing and having a blast, the kids went to their bedrooms and Court & I were able to go lay next to each of the kids individually pray for/with them and kiss them goodnight. So, in the end, it was a good night... I can't wait to catch another "case of the Mondays"!!

May God continue to give us a passion to lead our children the way He has called all of us to... May we all look for ways to love our children in each of their unique ways... May we be willing to share God's love with all of those around us... May we find "God Family Fun Nights" with you each week... May you continue to bless the body of Christ we call New Beginnings!!

Want to here about other past "Berg Family Fun Nights" or just grab some ideas? (Click here)