Once a year during the first week in July every year for the next 150 years or so, you are invited to come and participate in a ‘Gathering’. Its purpose is to strengthen family relationships, bring out the best in each other, develop deeper friendship bonds, promote family history, along with enjoying each other’s company for a couple of days. It will be a 2 day project / event.
Each year the preparation for this event will involve lots of interaction between our families. These assignments are for the whole family with the Mom & Dad calling the shots. For example AJ & Andy should work with their Mom, Cindy to help her fulfill her assignment. David you have the most kids so you get lots of assignments.
Day one will be a date at the Temple with each participant taking a family name through, or doing the Temple work for a family name. Maybe as the younger generation gets older, they can do ‘baptisms for the dead’ on ‘Day One’ along with our temple work, etc. Day two will be a get together for lunch/dinner with games, food and a program.
The focus will be for the forbearers of Tim & Rona , Tim & Rona’s snotty kids, their kids, & their kids, & their kids, & etc. and anyone else who would like to participate.
Assignments:
1.) Could a representative from each family (David, Cheryl, Cindy) unit contact me & let me know when during the first week of July 2009 which two days would be best, & a head count, and make sure all is invited?
2.) Grandpa Tim & Grandma Rona, at the dinner ‘get-together’ would you put on a 10 minute presentation on what it was like to be a kid in your time & what advice you would give to your growing family?
3.) Cindy, could you be in charge of contacting and receiving a ‘bio’ on each family unit and what is going on in their lives? Maybe get pic’s, birth dates, where they work, major events in their lives, their addresses, emails, blogs, maybe each kid could write 3 things they want to do with their lives by the time they’re 30; etc. Then make copies & pass it out at the ‘gathering’. If you can put this all together maybe I can make copies at my work (black & white).
4.) Cheryl & Ron, could you put on a 5-7 minute presentation on Grandma Sophie & Grandpa Marion? Invite Rusty & Jamie, & bring some of your melt in your mouth desert.
5.) David & Deanna, could you put on a 5-7 presentation on Grandpa Clarence, Grandpa Elmer(Jack) & Grandma Eva? & come up with a motto, crest or coat of arms for this gathering? & Have Wilhelm bring a German wiener for everyone (just kidding). Davey & Nate are assigned to bring a ‘date’.
6.) Crystal & Rob, could you make food assignments for day two? Maybe bring your own meat & a dish to share & a six pack of beverage. Work with Matthew & Jen to get grills & such there
7.) Michael & Amanda, could you come up with several games for the kids & an adult game where no one gets hurt? Work with Heather & Jared on the songs
8.) Matthew & Jen, could you find a place large enough for all of us and get tables & chairs, shade, and mild temperatures?
9.) Erica & Scott could you put together a family tree type thing; a large one to hang up & a smaller version to pass out to each family one or two pages? Maybe go back a couple of generations before Tim & Rona then draw everyone else in down to the present.
10.) Heather & Jared, could you come up with a few songs for the kids to sing? (Like primary type) & an opening and closing song for the program.
11.) Kallie & McKay, could you have materials there for everyone who wants to write a note to our active missionaries & service men? Then make sure it gets to them.
12.) Willem & Jen, could you have a small reward put together for the person who loses the most ‘%’ of body fat in the ‘Family Fat butt’s dieting group’? Announce the winner & etc. Maybe the prize could be crinkled twinke.
13). I thought for the next few years I’d make the assignments & ask for your help in getting this going. So if you have suggestions, or want to do certain things please let me know for future years. Maybe after that a committee of the ‘just married generation’ (Michael, Matthew, Crystal, Erica, Heather, Kallie, Rusty, Jamie, Danny, Jennifer… Etc.); could take over then, and make this even better.
14.) If you have a suggestion on how to make this better let me know. I’ve seen this in other families developed to the point that the family group buys a house, or gives a substantial gift to new couples who get married in their family. This is on top of whatever Mom & Dad do for their kids. Some family groups have a perpetual Mission fund, or a college fund set up. While other families, have an emergency fund or medical fund or what ever. Some families have a genealogy fund /project or buy ground for a family park. While other families meet in different and exotic locations each year. Lots & lots of possibilities. This is just a beginning and we can make it as small or big as we want to. Right now there are no dues or any stuff like that. Let’s just get together, here in Utah County, at least once a year and have a good time. This event is in addition to what you individually have going on.
On ‘Day one’, lets met at the Mt. Timp Temple in Af @12:45 for a picture out front, and hit the 1:30pm endowment session (got to be in the chapel dressed, pick up the family name card at the main floor desk, dress & upstairs by 1:15pm,… Crystal). Here in Utah we don’t have that new program set up yet, so you have to use the Temple ready program and let the Temple know about a week in advance of the name you want to do, so they can print it on the right paper & have it ready for you. Temple phone # is 1-801-763-4540. Maybe after the session we can have a bite down in the cafeteria.
On day two, meet for the dinner & program. The program will consist of a prayer, song, eating, the presentations, games, & activities.
Let me know what you think. Are there other assignments we need to pass out?
Like having a ‘designated diaper changer’???
Does anyone not want to take an assignment?
Please get back to me soon. Thanks
Cliff
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