"The Bon" Teens are good kids!
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| Mon, 10-23-2006 - 4:36pm |
My DH and I always host a bonfire for our youth in the fall. This year it was to be an exceptionally big fire b/c we had a few storms in the spring and the pile just kept growing. So the kids were really excited. When DH called Sunday am for the fire permit, he was told no - too windy. I told the youth we couldn't have the bonfire but that we would just cookout instead. I expected disappointed but the clown in the group immediately dubbed the event "the bon" (bonfire w/o fire) and everyone was good.
Anyway, our bon went great. We had 13 kids and 5 chaperones (counting us and the bus driver). They played a game called "I'm Quackers" that I found on egadideas.com (great Web site for youth and children's ideas) and they played football. We made the guys play with one hand behind their backs as a reminder that they are bigger than our girls. They had a ball.
When it got dark, DH grilled and they all came inside to eat. After food, we went back out and they laid down in the grass in a big circle and closed their eyes and listened while I read Psalm 148. Each person in the circle was then asked to give praise to God for one thing. Then they opened their eyes and saw the most beautiful starfilled sky that God could have given us. There were even a couple of shooting stars reported. It was a very simple devotion but I think it was a perfect close to a wonderful evening.
Most of the kids are very intimidated by DH but I've been telling them how difficult it is for him having DD gone. As they were loading up on the bus, a couple of the girls very shyly stopped and hugged DH and told him thanks. One of those girls has been in some minor trouble the past few weeks and I've spent alot of time listening to her mom - I was so proud of that girl. She was very nervous but put DH's sadness first. She realized that all night long he was wishing DD was there with them. That moment alone made all the brownie crumbs and grass and mud on my living room and kitchen floors worth it.

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Perhaps you and DH could fill up the 'empty nest' time and take up 'fishing' again now that your girls are away at college ... tee hee ... maybe you'll even try to catch something now ... (teasing)
Julie
You're very welcome! I must be on a roll today 'cuz I had DD in stitches today after school. It's a good day when you can make your teenager laugh, right?
I don't know what made me think of your 'fishing' days today, but I do know that thread was one of the funniest ones ever on this board. I remember sitting here all alone in the house and howling with laughter! Remembering, it makes me giggle all over again.
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