“I’m bored!” “There’s nothing to do” Have you heard similar complaints from your kids lately? Probably, since August is usually accompanied by high temperatures, high humidity and high-maintenance kids who still have several weeks to go before school starts again. Are you looking for ways to entertain the kids and at the same time build a strong family? Then you might want to check out our new book, The Connected Family, (Howard Publishing) at www.marriagealive.com for some practical fun ways you can connect with your kids in these hot humid days.

Based on a great body of family strengths research, The Connected Family, looks at seven of the characteristics of strong families and offers you a smorgasbord of fun, easy and practical ways to strengthen your family in these vital areas. Real ways, real families interact to build family strengths. Take your pick from the many suggested tips and family projects and have fun insuring that the following seven statements describe your family!

1. Strong families spend time together.
2. Strong families encourage one another.
3. Strong families talk to each other.
4. Strong families handle stress and disagreements with grace.
5. Strong families work together and promote responsibility.
6. Strong families grow together spirituality and worship God together.
7. Strong families play and have fun together.

If you’re near a radio Aug 3-4th, you can catch us on HomeWord with Jim Burns talking about how to connect with your family. You can go to www.HomeWord.com to find your local station and air time. The program can also be heard on-line on the broadcast dates. So join us for this two part series.

To help you connect to your family today, plan a “dinner time shuffle”. First tip—actually sit down and eat together. Second tip—let everyone sit in someone else’s place and then act like the person in whose place they are sitting. This can be fun and quite revealing!

So don’t give in to the heat and humidity. You can use these hot summer days to connect with your children and put more life into your family life. And strengthening your family, will help to strengthen your marriage!

Blessings,

Claudia & David Arp

P.S. If you are near the Phoenix, AZ area of the country, join us August 10th for a half day of training in how to start a marriage ministry in your church using 10 Great Dates and other resources. For more information see the link below.

Get all the Upcoming Seminars and Speaking Events
at www.MarriageAlive.com