Mood:  crushed out

Subscribe to Families Again

Mood:  chillin'

Does your family have problems or hidden secrets that are like "dirty laundry"? The whole family knows that they are there, but no one talks about them. They especially don't talk about them outside of the family. My family's like that, and I'll bet yours is as well.

How should we deal with it? What should we do? It's not healthy to keep all of our problems inside, but how do we let it all out?

Well, this is a serious subject, but I have a good way to begin a family discussion into not holding things inside and forgiving one another. The other day I had the great privilege to pre-screen a special movie that is going to be shown this Saturday, September 3 on NBC at 8pm ET/7pm CT. Game Time: Tackling the Past is part of Wal-Mart and P&G's Family Movie Night series.  And, it's fantastic! It deals with all of the above problems in a fun and entertaining way.

Jake Walker is a professional football player who, because of a family emergency, is called back to his small, North Carolina, hometown. A hometown and a family that he rarely visits anymore because of secrets from the past that are never talked about. You know...the family's dirty laundry. But, an injury of his own, along with the family crisis, forces Jake and his family to confront the hurtful past and present.

I know that this is cliché, but Game Time:Tackling the Past really does have something for everyone. There is football for the guys (and some gals), a little romance and drama for the gals (and some guys), and some comedy for everyone. But, most of all it's a really good family movie that you won't be afraid to sit down and watch with your kids. Like I said before, it's also a great discussion starter to talk about communication and how important it is to talk through your problems, hurts, and disagreements.

But, that's not the only reason I'm excited about this film. While pre-screening this film, a group of us had the great pleasure of being able to chat with one the stars, Catherine Hicks. You probably remember her from the long running family TV series, Seventh Heaven. Didn't she seem real on Seventh Heaven? Well, she's just as down to earth in real life. We chatted about the great cast of the film, where it was filmed (in North Carolina of course ), and how important family is to her. You can find out more about Catherine Hicks, the rest of the cast and the film itself by checking out the Family Movie Night website by clicking here - http://bit.ly/nCZtG8. Before you do, though, take some time to watch the movie trailer below.

Looks good doesn't it? You can also get more information on all of the great Family Movie Night specials on Facebook by clicking http://www.facebook.com/familymovienight.

Don't forget! The premiere of Game Time: Tackling the Past is on Saturday, September 3 on NBC at 8pm ET/7pm CT. Have a great time watching, and let me know what you think after the movie's over.

“I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Dad Central Consulting - www.dadcentralconsulting.com - on behalf of P&G and received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

Subscribe to Families Again

Mood:  hug me

Yes, I know how to spell celebration. I just wanted my title to look good.

Sadness 

It truly has been a week of sadness, sickness and celebration though. It all began last Wednesday night. While out with some friends, Sarah got a call from another friend about a terrible accident that had happened in our small town. Five youths from the church that we used to attend were on there way to evening service when the drive lost control of his truck and crashed into a tree. In an instant five families were changed. Two families are with out their son and daughter tonight. One family has a daughter that will be hospitalized for some time and have a long road to recovery. Two other families have children to hug, but those children will have emotional scars for the rest of their lives. We knew four of the five teens. We are friends with their families. We hurt with them.

John Allen put it best the other night when he and I were talking about the accident. He told me he knew why God allowed the accident to happen. When I asked him why, he said so that more people would be saved through the testimonies of these young people. He said that if he ever had to die so that even one person would be saved it would be worth it. Sometimes I wonder if my kids are really "getting it". I thank the Lord that in this case John Allen did "get it".

Sickness 

Then, on Friday, I took Joshua and Jacob to therapy in Cookeville. Soon after Jacob went back his therapist came back out to the waiting room to tell me that he was sick in the restroom. Sure enough he was white as a ghost. He slept much of the day.

That night John Allen caught the bug and had to miss a big shooting match on Saturday. I was upset because he missed it. I was wondering if he was just nervous and that is why he was ill. Until the next day.

That's when Sarah got sick with the exact same symptoms. So, I had to swallow crow and apologize to John Allen for doubting him. Ah well, even fathers have to learn from their mistakes sometimes.

Celebration

On a lighter note! We are blessed with two boys that are very good at shooting. Both are on a competitive BB gun team. Since John Allen is older, he is obviously the better shooter. He's expected to make the national team this year and perhaps win the state match.

Although, Joshua is probably a much better shooter than John Allen was at this age, he seems to get caught in the shadow of his older brother. Well, because John Allen was sick and couldn't compete, Joshua was out of the shadow and able to shine. And shine he did! Although he still doesn't have the score to qualify him for the shoot off (top eight overall), he was able to make the top five in the prone and sitting positions and...get this...he WON the GOLD MEDAL in the sitting position!

Really, he only had one really bad shot in the standing position and one bad shot in the kneeling position. Otherwise he could have been in the top five in each of them as well. It's the fifth component of the score that really drags him down...the dreaded test.

Each competitor has to take a test on the rules and other gun safety items. Sometimes the questions can get tricky. It might be a two part question with the first part true, but the second part false. In that case, the shooter should mark false on this fifty question true/false test. Joshua often doesn't listen to the complete question or gets mixed up and ends up marking the wrong answer. If we could get him to slow down and listen, I know he could score higher on the test. Well, in two weeks it's the state match. Prayerfully John Allen will be able to compete, and we can practice some test questions with Joshua. Who knows what might happen?

Subscribe to Families Again

Mood:  don't ask

I promise I didn't mean to lie, but my tie in post that ties the last couple of posts together is going to have to wait until tomorrow. All three boys are sick again.

You read about Joshua's panic attack a couple of nights ago. Well, today Sarah took him to our Dr. and he has a double ear infection. Then Joshua began complaining of his ear hurting. He's been coughing the past few days and when I took his temperature it was low grade, so he has an appointment tomorrow morning. Then, this evening, John Allen came in from spending time with one of his friends, and promptly got very sick. It was not a very pretty site if you know what I mean.

On top of all of that, one of Sarah's lady's has a son-in-law with cancer that is in the hospital. She has no car, so Sarah's been picking her up and staying with her. Please pray for the whole family. The son-in-law is young with two young boys. The cancer is pretty serious and the family is taking it hard.

So, that's what my day has been like. I'll try to write the tie in post tomorrow. Some of you may have figured it out by now though, but if not....

Subscribe to Families Again

Mood:  a-ok

As most of you know, these past three weeks have been tough ones. It began when my elderly mother passed away on February 14. What a Valentine's Day my mother had. She got to spend it with my father and her Heavenly Father.

Soon after that we all came down with the flu. It was one of those cold system like flus where you are congested in the head and coughing a lot.

Finally, on February 18, Sarah's mom called and said that the Dr. was sending her to the hospital immediately with heart problems. After many tests and tries at various medications they finally decided to put a pacemaker in on February 25. Today she had her checkup and is doing fine. Sarah has been with her this whole time with the boys and I making a visit for a couple of days. The boys and I came home Tuesday morning and Sarah is coming home Saturday! Prayerfully, life will get back to a semblance of normal again.

Thanks again for your prayers and continued prayers for our family.

Tim

Subscribe to Families Again