Randy Southern - 52 Uncommon Family Adventures: Simple and Creative Ideas for Making Lifelong Memories

2019 by
GARY D. CHAPMAN AND CHRISTOPHER HUDSON & ASSOCIATES, INC.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Edited by Connor Sterchi and Peter Blankenship

Interior and cover design: Julia Ryan / DesignByJulia.com

Cover images: puppy: Shutterstock/Neil Lockhart; abstract-pattern: Shutterstock/balabolka; 2: Shutterstock/Roman Siggev; figure illustrations: Julia Ryan

Interior images: all chapter spot-illustrations: Shutterstock/Ron and Joe; abstract-pattern Shutterstock/Neil Lockhart; time/cost/locale icons: Julia Ryan / DesignByJulia.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Southern, Randy, author.

Title: 52 uncommon family adventures / Randy Southern.

Description: Chicago : Moody Publishers, [2019] | Includes index. | Identifiers: LCCN 2019017451 (print) | LCCN 2019019968 (ebook) | ISBN 9780802497987 | ISBN 9780802419392

Subjects: LCSH: Families--Religious life. | Family recreation.

Classification: LCC BV4526.3 (ebook) | LCC BV4526.3 .S68 2019 (print) | DDC 249--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019017451

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C reating adventure in the family keeps life from becoming routine. We are all creatures of habit. We tend to do the same things in the same way, at the same time every day. There is value in being organized, but sometimes we need to break out of the routine and do something a little bit crazy. It is adventure that keeps family life exciting.

Children love adventure, but often parents have to plan it and supervise it. 52 Uncommon Family Adventures is a practical resource for parents. It also has the advantage of relating the five love languages to the various adventures. What could be better than having fun and expressing love to your children at the same time?

I think most parents want their children to grow up with pleasant childhood memories. However, it takes time and a bit of creativity to build such memories. Some of us are more creative than others, but almost all of us could use a little help in coming up with ideas that will be meaningful and fun. Randy Southern gives not only ideas, but explains how to plan for and implement family adventures.

One of the things I think most parents will appreciate is his suggested devotional ideas that accompany each of the adventures. Reading the Scriptures and discussing them in a fun setting gives the children an appreciation for the Bible. It also provides parents with an opportunity to relate the Bible to daily life experiences.

As the coauthor of The 5 Love Languages of Children, I am always encouraged to see unique ways to help parents keep the love languages on the front burner. When parents discover the love language of each child and speak that language often, the child feels loved. When the children understand that their sister has a love language, their brother has a love language, their mom and their dad have a love language, they are learning an insight that will serve them well throughout life. As they practice speaking each others love language, the children are developing a skill that will help them be better parents in years to come.

You may not find time to plan a family adventure each week, but that is not the objective. One of the characteristics of an adventure is that it is not always scheduled. So, surprise the children by saying, Tomorrow night we are going to have an adventure. As they have fun, they will come to anticipate your announcements of adventure night.

Of course you will want to pick from 52 Uncommon Family Adventures those that relate best to your childrens age and stage of development. Some you will find work well with a six-year-old, but not so well with a three-year-old. However, all children love adventure, even grown children who are now parents. So, make the most of this helpful resource as a means of creating memories for your children and for their parents!

WORDS OF AFFIRMATION: Actions dont always speak louder than words. If this is your love language, unsolicited compliments mean the world to you. Hearing the words I love you is importanthearing the reasons behind that love sends your spirits skyward.

QUALITY TIME: Nothing says I love you like full, undivided attention. Being there for a person whose love language is Quality Time is critical, but really being therewith the TV off, fork and knife down, and all chores and tasks on standbymakes him or her feel truly special and loved.

RECEIVING GIFTS: The receiver of gifts thrives on the love, thoughtfulness, and effort behind the gift. If you speak this language, the perfect gift or gesture shows that you are known, you are cared for, and you are prized above whatever was sacrificed to bring the gift to you.

ACTS OF SERVICE: Anything you do to ease the burden of responsibilities weighing on an Acts of Service person will speak volumes. The words he or she most wants to hear: Let me do that for you.