November is a beautiful month with a hint of winter in the air. Crops have been harvested and either put in storage, or sent to processing plants or mill. Football is the main sport of the month with faithful fans cheering teams to final playoffs. This month, focus on family and the blessings God gives.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever” (Psalm 136:1).

Are you a thankful person? How many things do you have to be thankful for in your life? Do you remember to say thank you to God?

Sometimes we forget how blessed we are to have all things God gives us each day. Saying thank you is a simple thing that means a lot. Make sure each member of your family is one who says thank you to others and to God!

This time of year can be special for the Christian family. Here are some suggestions for making this time more meaningful. Perhaps these suggestions will be helpful in building your own family traditions. Just try one or two this year.

Activities

• How Many Guessing Game – Fill a jar with Halloween candy and have each person write down a guess as to how many pieces are in the jar.

• Pin the Stem on the Pumpkin Game – Learn how easy it is to play this fun pumpkin-themed Halloween game.

• Pumpkin Passing Game – This pumpkin game is similar to the traditional musical chairs party game.

• Halloween Memory Game – Set out several Halloween or autumn related items and see how many your guests can remember.

• Candy Wrapper Race – All you need to play this game is some wrapped candy and mittens. It can be played with individual racers as a relay race.

• Carve a pumpkin for others and then take it to a family who has no children, someone in a convalescent hospital or a widow.

• Take a box of food for a needy family. Include an uncarved pumpkin or take it to missionary family in your church.

Halloween can be a special family time for the Christian family. Here are some suggestions for making this time more meaningful. Perhaps these suggestions will be helpful in building your own family traditions. Just try one or two this year.

Party Ideas:
Try these party ideas to provide kids a safe place on Halloween night.

• Circus, Circus – Have a “let’s pretend” circus complete with three rings, circus animals, and acts.

• Pumpkin Patch Party – Meet in a pumpkin patch or create a patch in your back yard. Carve pumpkins, hold a seed-spitting contest, and eat pumpkin pie.

• Costume Ball – Have a sports night where different balls are used for activities, such as a football throw or a three-person basketball game. Come dressed in costumes, of course.

• Armor of God Party – Make or purchase armored costumes. Discuss spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:12-13).

• Living Library – Have a parade with costumed characters from favorite books. Create rooms based on themes from books such as Tom Sawyer, Jurassic Park, or 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

• Pie Fair – Have pie judging, pie eating, pie throwing, a pie raffle, and a pie walk.

• Cider Squeeze – With this apple theme, have apple pies, caramel apples, and apple games such as bobbing for apples and apple rolling.

• Fiesta! – Have a piñata, tacos, chips, luminaries, and Mexican music.

• Noah’s Ark – Have kids come in animal costumes. Choose someone to dress as Noah. Serve animal crackers. Talk about Christians’ responsibility to care for the animals God has created.

September is the time to get back into the routine of school and schedules. Summer is over and fall is on the way. Your child will be developing new friendships, learning and having fun. This can be a stressful time of adjustment—you can choose the attitude for your family!

Remind your child how Jesus grew when he was a boy.

“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52).

Read about Jesus in the temple in Luke 2:41-52. Talk about what it means to be in favor with God and man. When we are obedient and make the right choices we will find favor as well. Have each child write the Luke 2:52 in their best penmanship. Young children can trace the verse and older children can make bubble letters or any kind of decorated art piece. Display the Bible verse in a prominent area in your home and discuss as your child begins the first full month of school.

Watch for signs of stress—plan fun activities for the weekends. Enjoy life together!

Mark Feinburg, a professor at the Prevention Research Center for the Promotion of Human Development says, “Negative sibling relationships are strongly linked to aggressive, anti-social and delinquent behaviors, including substance use. On the other hand, positive adjustment, including improved peer and romantic relationship quality, academic adjustment and success, and positive well-being and mental health.”

Families who are committed and spend time together can prevent these negative effects. Parents who demonstrate love, forgiveness and grace teach children how to have healthy relationships.

I am the Lord your God who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go (Isaiah 48:17).

Have you ever heard of being teachable? What would happen if you went to school but you decided you would not learn anything? You do not pay attention in class, you do not complete your work, and you just sit at your desk all day and do nothing. Besides getting in a lot of trouble, you would not learn anything! Being teachable means we don’t act like we already know it all but that we are ready and willing to learn everything we can. God wants to teach us about His Word so we will know the right choices to make in life.

You have an incredible opportunity to teach your children to love and obey God. What are you doing to be teachable? Are you using teachable moments to reach your own children? What do you need to change in your schedule to make this happen?