Focus on the Family Magazine - June/July 2024

Reading the Bible
Like a Real Book
Helping Families Thrive in Christ
JUNE / JULY 2024
EMOTION
OVERLOAD
DIY
SUMMER CAMP
Weave fun and learning together
for an unforgettable experience
Page 13

Anything in this .25inch zone is not guaranteed safe from being trimmed off.
Summer entertainment
NEW!
from Adventures In Odyssey
SAFETY VIOLATION ZONE copy in this zone not safe per trim variance (.25 inch).
Ad Title
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Adventures in Odyssey No. 76:
Keep It Together
When Morrie is accused of a serious crime,
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but Emily struggles to believe he’s innocent.
Elsewhere, Jason sends Buck on his first spy
AD FPO
mission, and Jules is invited to join a band—
but it will mean lying to Connie. Friendships
are on the table and loyalties are up for grabs
in six new stories from Adventures in Odyssey!
Audio stories for ages 8+
Full Page
Available as an audio download or CD
at Shop.<strong>Focus</strong>OnTheFamily.ca/AIO
TRIM: 7.75 x 10.5 inch
The Imagination Station
30-Book Value Pack Nos. 1-30
Set kids up for a whole summer
of adventures that whisk them
back in time to face perils
alongside biblical heroes and
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Learning history has never
been so much fun!
30 novels for ages 7+
5-BOOK
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Kids who love a good mystery
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as they join 10-year-old Whit in
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Order today at
Shop.<strong>Focus</strong>OnTheFamily.ca/AIO

JUNE / JULY
table of contents
PHOTO COURTESY OF KATIE DAVIS MAJORS / ILLUSTRATIONX - TATSIANA BURGAUD / ADOBE STOCK - OLEKSANDRA
in every issue
4 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
5 MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT
6 OFF THE SHELF
8 HACKS & FACTS
44 EXTENDED FAMILY
46 MY THRIVING FAMILY
kids & teens
12 I’M BECOMING MY FATHER . . .
And that’s a good thing
by Quinn Pollner
13 DIY SUMMER CAMP
Weave fun and learning together
for an unforgettable experience
by Jenny Nanninga
17 SOCIAL MEDIA & YOUR TEEN’S
WELL-BEING
by Adam Holz
18 THREE QUALITIES TO PASS ON
Cultivate these traits in your kids
by Jesse Neve
couples
20 WHAT ARE YOUR VACATION
EXPECTATIONS?
Plan a getaway you’ll both enjoy
by Sheila Seifert
25 EMOTION OVERLOAD
Working through your feelings
when they overtake rational
thought
by Tara Lalonde
34
13
faith &
inspiration
30 READING THE BIBLE LIKE
A REAL BOOK
How understanding context,
genre and intent can help us
enjoy Scripture and encounter
God in a new way
by Subby Szterszky
34 KATIE DAVIS MAJORS:
MY BIG FAMILY
Together, we’re trusting
God’s plan
by Shana Schutte and Kat Bittner
37 BEHIND THE CAMERA
With <strong>Focus</strong> on the Family’s Film
and Video Production team
by Scott Johnson
41 ENGAGING HEARTS AND
MINDS IN A BROKEN CULTURE
An interview with creator and
host of <strong>Focus</strong> on the Family’s
That the World May Know series
and RVL Discipleship
by Ray Vander Laan
42 MOVIE MESSAGES:
THE JUNGLE BOOK
Seek and find worldviews
while having fun as a family
by Plugged In
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY CANADA 3

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Jean-Paul Beran is
president of <strong>Focus</strong> on
the Family Canada.
I KNOW I’M NOT the only parent who
looks ahead to summer with mixed emotions.
When my daughters were young, I would be
really excited to spend so much extra time
with them, but also wondering how on earth
we were going to fill the hours!
In this magazine, you’ll find many articles
and tips, including how to create your own
summer camp experience (page 13) and how
you and your spouse can plan a vacation getaway
you’ll both enjoy (page 20).
But I also want to highlight two free offerings we have for
you to make the most of your summer vacation.
First, there’s our free video series Kinda Dangerous Family
Devotions with author Tim Shoemaker. As you watch these
four short videos, you’ll be inspired to set up four family
devotions your kids will never forget. Just imagine your kids’
faces when you electrocute a pickle till it glows, shoot streams
of toilet paper into the air, or smash a ripe watermelon at
your kids’ feet—all to teach your kids important spiritual
truths. The instructions are simple and the devos take just
minutes, but your kids will remember the lessons for years!
Visit <strong>Focus</strong>OnTheFamily.ca/FamilyDevos to sign up.
Second, I’m thrilled to tell you we have a new free
Adventures in Odyssey: Boredom Busters for Kids activity
booklet! Your kids will enjoy doing a word search, seek
and find, sudoku, colour by numbers, spot the difference,
Scripture scramble and more! We’ve been creating these
booklets for parents and their children and hear time and
time again how appreciated they are. You can download your
PDF copy at <strong>Focus</strong>OnTheFamily.ca/BoredomBusters.
As always, I want to remind you that if you need any support
to help your family thrive, we’re just a click, email or
phone call away. I invite you to explore the full breadth
of resources and services we offer on our website at
<strong>Focus</strong>OnTheFamily.ca, email us at info@fotf.ca with your
questions or concerns, or call our team at 1-800-661-9800 to
learn more about how we can help.
Blessings,
Jean-Paul Beran
a summer
of fun!
JOSH YONG
president
Jim Daly
focus canada
president
Jean-Paul Beran
chief operating
officer
Ken Windebank
media publishing
director
Kevin Shirin
contributing
editors
Vance Fry
Marianne Hering
Jennifer Lonas
Jeff Masching
cover
photography
AJ Watt
editorial director
Sheila Seifert
managing editor
Andrea Gutierrez
copy chief
Scott DeNicola
associate editors
Sarah Brickens
Faith Wismer
senior art director
Cary Bates
art director
Sally Dunn
designer
Julie Vieux
editorial assistant
Kat Bittner
print production
Gail Wise
circulation
Erika Lynch
focus canada
contributors
Tara Lalonde
Amanda Regan
Subby Szterszky
Amy Van Veen
William Vaxevanis
Thank you!
<strong>Focus</strong> on the Family provides this magazine and
other resources through the generosity of friends
like you. <strong>Focus</strong>OnTheFamily.ca/Donate
For a subscription, go to <strong>Focus</strong>OnTheFamily.ca/
Magazine.
<strong>Focus</strong> on the Family magazine June/July 2024,
Vol. 9, No. 3 ISSN 2471-5921, © 2024 <strong>Focus</strong> on
the Family. All rights reserved. Published by <strong>Focus</strong>
on the Family, a nonprofit organization recognized
for tax-deductible giving by the federal government.
<strong>Focus</strong> on the Family is a federally registered
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To notify us of an address change or to contact <strong>Focus</strong>
on the Family Canada: 1-800-661-9800;
19946 80A Ave, Langley, BC, V2Y 0J8; info@fotf.ca.
Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are
from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version ® (ESV ® ).
Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry
of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All
rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in
any publication made available to the public by a
Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be
translated in whole or in part into any other
language. ESV Text Edition: 2016.
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4
JUNE / JULY 2024

MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT
Highlighting one of the many
ministries of <strong>Focus</strong> on the
Family Canada
99% OF OUR ALUMNI WOULD
RECOMMEND A HOPE RESTORED
INTENSIVE TO OTHERS
ADOBE STOCK - MARCO
PROVIDING MARRIAGE-SAVING INTERVENTION
TO COUPLES IN CRISIS
When couples say their vows on their wedding day, they
never dream they will one day find themselves considering
a separation or even holding divorce papers in their hands.
Couples encounter all kinds of challenges in marriage that
can leave them feeling overwhelmed and hopeless, including
financial strain, infidelity, addiction, blended family
dynamics, years of miscommunication, unhealthy conflict
resolution—the list goes on.
This is a heartbreaking reality for too many couples in
Canada. But we know there’s another option.
<strong>Focus</strong> on the Family Canada’s Hope Restored marriage
intensives provide couples with several days of focused
counseling in a calm, restful setting. Held at our three
retreat centers in Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario, these
intensives are facilitated by Christian marriage therapists
who are trained in the unique counseling approach that
combines a couple’s hearts, minds and faith.
While there are several program options, the one most
recommended by our therapists is the group intensive.
While nearly everyone has initial concerns about sharing
in a group format, couples rave about the experience.
The four-day group intensive includes:
• Approximately 32 hours of counseling with two
therapists in a group setting
• All-inclusive lodging and meals (4 days; 5 nights)
• Course materials
• Follow-up program including two follow-up
sessions over the phone
“This was it: Our last chance. We had tried weekly
counseling, Celebrate Recovery, prayer, but we
were still miserable. . . . The last few years had been
a continuous reactionary cycle, and we were dying
emotionally, physically, spiritually and mentally. . . .
We were beyond hope. Today we really are leaving
with our hope restored: for our marriage, for each of
us as a daughter and son of the most high God, and
hope that we will become the man and woman that
God designed us to be.”
—Hope Restored attendee
Learn more about this program and begin
your registration process today.
HopeRestoredCanada.ca
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY CANADA 5

OFF THE SHELF
Summer-Reading Tracker
Kids can color in one shape
on the kite for each book
they read this summer.
summer reading
for the family
SCHOOL’S ALMOST OUT. Now’s
a great time for your family to pick a few
good books for reading in the shade of a
tree or during a summer road trip.
One way to choose a good book you
haven’t read is to research the author. After
all, knowing why a book was written can
help you choose the best content for
yourself and your kids.
Here’s a look at two authors—whose
books are in this issue’s summer reading
list. They explain why they wrote their
books and their dedication to passing
on their faith to others.
“Years ago, a young woman
told me that the Christian
parents for whom she babysat
said that she could read
their children a fun story, so
long as she read them a Bible
story first.
“ ‘Why shouldn’t the Bible
story be the fun story,’ I
replied. And that is what
inspired the ‘Clever Cub’
series.
“Yes, they accurately tell
Bible stories. Yes, they
demonstrate how parents
can share the Bible with their
kids. And, yes, they’re fun!”
—Bob Hartman
“I wrote Running on Empty to
finish Izzy’s story that began
in The Me You See. Izzy went
on a journey to find herself
but made some poor decisions
along the way. To keep
from getting hurt again, she
clung so tightly to God’s rules
that she forgot all about His
love. Through Izzy’s story, I
want my readers to discover
how wide and long and high
and deep is the love of Christ”
(Ephesians 3:18-19).
—Jill Williamson
These books
and more can be
found at Shop.
<strong>Focus</strong>OnTheFamily.ca.
PICTURE BOOKS
Clever Cub Is Amazed by God
by Bob Hartman
Clever Cub Learns to Obey
by Bob Hartman
He Is There
by Audra Haney
FOR TEENS
High Water #4: The Second Storm
by Tim Shoemaker
The Chosen Graphic Novel:
Season 1
by Dallas Jenkins
Running on Empty
by Jill Williamson
BOARD BOOKS
VeggieTales God’s Great Big
Love for You
by VeggieTales
Snuggle Up Devotions & Prayers
Compiled by Barbour Staff
Today I Feel Like a Jelly Donut
by Katie Kenny Phillips
FOR TWEENS
BabbleLand Breakout
by Mike Nawrocki
Courage at the Castle
by Marianne Hering
What a Croc!
by Bill Myers
FOR ADULTS
Amazing Grace
by Bruce Hindmarsh &
Craig Borlase
The Chosen: Novels 1-3
by Jerry B. Jenkins
RVL Discipleship: The Study
by Ray Vander Laan
ILLUSTRATIONX - VICKY SCOTT
6

kids &
teens
“YOU CAN BE BRILLIANT
IN YOUR FIELD, BUT IF
YOU AREN’T KIND TO
OTHERS, YOU’LL NEVER
GET ALONG IN LIFE.”
—JESSE NEVE, PAGE 18
ADOBE STOCK - GOLDEN_HIND
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY CANADA 7

KIDS & TEENS / HACKS & FACTS
AGES 0 TO 3
KINDNESS
KISSES
My husband and I have been
working with our 1-year-old
son to help him be gentler
with his infant brother. I might
lay the baby near my child’s
play area so they can interact
under my watchful eye. The
boys are often bathed together,
so I encourage my older boy
to point to the baby’s belly
button, toes, knees, elbows,
etc. Whenever I’m holding the
baby, we encourage our son
to kiss the baby’s head. Doing
these things helps my toddler
develop a relationship with
his little brother and prevents
him from feeling jealous or as
though he’s being replaced.
—Kimmy Lanning
37%
of children are
potty trained
between ages
2 and 2 ½.
source: Huckleberry, 2022
POTTY
PREPAREDNESS
When it came to potty training my daughter, I decided
not to rush it. Some of my friends’ kids were potty trained
by 2 ½, but I didn’t feel that Addie was ready at that age.
One day we flew to Texas, and I realized she had stayed
dry long after we had arrived at our destination. She was
ready.
After we returned from our trip, I gave her a pair of underwear.
She promptly put them on and had only a handful of
accidents after that. Four months later, she was completely
potty trained.
egg carton treasures
—Lisa Johnson
One thing I love to do with my boys is to go on an outdoor
adventure and collect objects along the way. I start by telling
my boys what to look for, such as pinecones, acorns,
leaves, sticks, flowers and rocks. We bring an empty egg
carton to store all the treasures we find. My 3-year-old can
sort them into groups in the egg carton while my 1-yearold
explores the textures of the items. Later we unload
the treasures and examine them further, talking about the
amazing things God created.
—Alyssa Gale
STOCKSY - LAUREN LEE / ADOBE STOCK - ТИМУР КОНЕВ
8
JUNE / JULY 2024

HACKS & FACTS / KIDS & TEENS
puppet play
Our kids loved playing with hand puppets, and they’d
put on little shows for me and my husband, or they’d
have the puppets “sing” along to the music on the
stereo. At first, this puppet play started out as a fun
family activity, but as the kids became more skilled,
it led us to develop a family puppet ministry at our
church. We even performed at several other churches.
—Victoria L. Stankus
AGES 4 TO 7
crayon confession
When my daughter stole something from preschool,
she seemed to have no idea she had done anything
wrong. When I asked her where the shiny gold
crayon had come from, she answered, “From school.
Isn’t it pretty?” This incident provided an opportunity
to talk about understanding why taking it was
wrong, leading to confession, repentance and forgiveness.
The next day she brought the crayon back
to her teacher and apologized for taking something
that belonged to the school. Her teacher kindly forgave
her and smiled knowingly at me. To this day,
my adult daughter remembers how she learned an
important lesson from that gold crayon.
—Darci Steiner
grumpy to grateful
One day my 5-year-old daughter was grumpy. So
I began to recite things for which I was thankful:
“Thank You, God, that we have dishes and food for
breakfast. And thank You that we had honey with our
meal. Thank You that we can go to the grocery store.”
She and her older sister began to chime in, “And
thank You that we can go to the library,” one said.
“And that we have books.”
“And a baby.”
“And a birthday party.”
By the end of chore time, we were all reminded
that the goodness of God brings joy and extends far
beyond our feelings.
—Rebecca Dolph
SHANNON ASSOCIATES - DANNY SCHLITZ / ADOBE STOCK - BULLRUN
JOY
JOURNAL
We taught our children to
recognize the things that
bring them joy by letting
them pick out a journal,
which they used to record
two things each day that
helped them feel joy or
happiness. They’d also
write down things they
were thankful for. If a child
was too young to write,
she could draw a picture
instead. We’d take a walk or
play outside and take note
of flowers, birds, animals,
butterflies—things that God
created that brought us joy.
At dinner we’d share one
thing that we found joy in.
—Tricia Couffer
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY CANADA 9

KIDS & TEENS / HACKS & FACTS
AGES 4 TO 7
NATURE’S
MATERIALS
To inspire our kids to play outside more,
my husband and I encourage them to
use nature’s materials for creative projects.
They might use sticks and rocks to build
a bridge for toys, or design a stronger,
longer-lasting snow sculpture. Afterward,
we talk about their designs, discussing why
their approach may have worked or why
it didn’t, and brainstorm ways to build it
better next time.
—Amberly Clowe
Popsicle verses that stick
Summer is the perfect time to make your own
Popsicles that give your kids a chance to get into
the Bible. I look up encouraging Bible verses with
messages about not being afraid or worried—such
as Isaiah 41:10, which reminds us that God is with
us and will strengthen us. After writing the book
and chapter of different Scriptures on wooden
craft sticks, my kids help me fill small Dixie cups
with different juice flavors. Apple juice and grape
juice work well. Then we cover each cup with foil
and poke the sticks upright through the foil, making
sure the verses are not in the juice but higher
on the handle. Once frozen, everyone gets a treat
while we look up the different Bible verses and
read them aloud. It’s a great way to cool down in
the summer and spend some time in God’s Word.
—Jared Hottenstein
be the friend
Applying the principle of the Golden Rule from
Matthew 7:12, I often tell my girls to be the friend
they want to have. If my older daughter deceives
her younger sister into giving up the bigger
brownie, I ask, “How might you feel if a friend did
that to you?” If I’m met with a shrug, I help her by
asking, “If a friend did that to you, would you feel
happy or sad? Would you feel as if you could trust
your friend?”
It’s an opportunity to remind my daughters how
important trust and honesty are in a friendship.
Then we say it together: “Be the friend you want
to have.”
—Kelly Carlson
SHANNON ASSOCIATES - DANNY SCHLITZ / STOCKSY - LEXIA FRANK
10
JUNE / JULY 2024

HACKS & FACTS / KIDS & TEENS
BEDTIME
ATTENTION
When my daughter was younger, she
used to tell me all the happenings of
her day in great detail. But when she
was around 9 years old, I became
concerned that she was not sharing
as much as she used to. A friend suggested
we plan for an earlier bedtime
to give the opportunity to linger longer
during our prayer. My husband
and I found that it helped us be more
present and available to my daughter
instead of rushing through prayers. All
three of our children have benefited
from this cherished time when they
know they have our undivided attention
and are free to ask us anything.
—Courtney Smith
AGES 8 TO 12
ADOBE STOCK - BRANKA
“Children between the ages of
6 and 12 should get nine to
12 hours of sleep each night.”
source: American Academy of Sleep Medicine
the beauty of rest
When my kids were young, I fiercely protected their need for rest and free
time. However, by the time they reached 9 and 12, I started impulsively
agreeing to every activity that came our way. My mom pointed out that
downtime is not optional; it’s a necessary component of good physical and
mental health that our family was neglecting. Tweens especially need time
to process, decompress and rest. Somehow, I had let our activities get out
of control.
So we shifted to quiet nights after school and one activity on the weekend.
It was difficult at first. My kids were afraid they would lose their friends
(they didn’t), and I was afraid that other parents wouldn’t understand our
choices (they did). The slower pace allowed us time to grow as a family.
—Claire Robson
a good learning
experience
When I was a child, a friend
and I ruined a recipe for egg
salad by using onion powder
instead of chopped onions.
I will always remember my
mom’s perfect response. She
said, “Don’t worry. It was a
good learning experience. We
have more eggs. Try it again.”
I frequently use the words,
“Well, it’s a good learning experience,”
when my kids make
mistakes. When I found my
son next to a giant mess on
the kitchen counter, he looked
up at me and said, “Well, it’s
a good learning experience,
right, Mom?” Indeed. I’m very
thankful for my mom’s example
to me in my life, and I’m
excited to pass it on.
—Jesse Neve
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY CANADA 11

KIDS & TEENS / HONORING DAD
Quinn (right) with his dad, Tracy,
and his brother, Spencer
The Pollners on a
family vacation in 2004
I’m becoming
my father . . .
And that’s a good thing
BY QUINN POLLNER
THE OTHER DAY I was drinking
some sparkling water—the brand my
dad loves and frequently enjoyed when
I was growing up. The same flavorless
beverage I hated as a kid. I never
understood why he liked it so much.
But now I find myself buying that same
sparkling water and drinking it regularly.
When did I start liking this stuff? I
wonder. Am I becoming my father?
This got me thinking about how
kids dread becoming like their parents.
Whatever the reasons, it’s a fear every
generation shares. But the funny thing
about growing up is that as we gain
experience and perspective, we begin
to appreciate the things our parents
said and did. That day as I sat there
drinking what is now my favorite sparkling
water, I couldn’t help but think
of all the crazy things my dad used
to do that I’m doing now. Like keeping
a back scratcher in the car because
I never know when I’ll need one. Or
keeping every box from every product
I’ve purchased because I might need
to return something—even if it’s 30
years old.
I also think of the kind of man my
dad has always been. A man who can
figure out how to fix anything when
it breaks. A man who is brave and
loves adventure. A man who knows
that a hard day’s work is good for the
soul, and that a sense of accomplishment
is its own reward. A man who is
respected and knows the importance
of earning that respect. A man who
loves art and culture, as well as the
beach and the mountains.
When I look in the mirror, I’m
beginning to see reflections of the
man who raised me. A dedicated
father, a devoted husband and a good
friend. A man who stands up for what
he believes in and fights for the ones
he loves. A man who never misses
an opportunity to teach and lead by
example. A man of reverent faith, vast
wisdom and deep humility, with a
great sense of humor. One of the best
fathers a kid could ever ask for.
So, yeah, maybe I am becoming my
father . . . and I’m very OK with it.
Quinn Pollner is an avid reader of <strong>Focus</strong> on
the Family magazine.
COURTESY OF QUINN POLLNER
12
JUNE / JULY 2024

EVANGELISM / KIDS & TEENS
DIY SUMMER CAMP
Weave fun and learning together
for an unforgettable experience
BY JENNY NANNINGA
ILLUSTRATIONS BY TATSIANA BURGAUD
FIRST AND SECOND GRADERS decked out in
safety goggles cheer in the backyard as vinegar-and-bakingsoda
volcanoes erupt into bubbles. A preschooler gasps at
the foam rainbow she created, and an older group of kids
engages in a lively discussion about acids and bases.
Katie was initially hesitant about hosting her own science
camp. Would the kids enjoy it? Would anyone come? But
now she’s glad she went ahead with it. Everyone is having
a blast.
There are plenty of organized summer camps for kids, but
time constraints and finances, as well as differing ages, personalities
and interests, can present challenges. So why not
custom design a summer camp that will delight your children
and their friends? Here are some ideas to get you started.
Themed camps
The key to planning an unforgettable camp experience for
kids is thinking outside the box. Katie researched online
and at the library to see what other camps offered. Then she
channeled her natural curiosity, her love of art and science,
and her propensity for making messes into organizing a free
Messy Art and Silly Science camp.
After coming up with some creative camp ideas, such
as a slime-and-bubbles day and a chemical-reaction day,
she gathered supplies and organized each day’s activities.
Lessons included a demonstration with impressive explosions,
a shared activity and a lot of time for free exploration.
Katie especially liked the idea of a themed camp where
she could sit back and watch kids explore, learn and develop
meaningful friendships. Though the campers’ ages varied,
she made sure children had someone their age to bond with.
If you have a penchant for art and science like Katie, you
could design your own art or science camp. Or you might
consider other themes like these:
• garden camp
• nature camp
• music camp
• adventurers camp (think pioneers, explorers,
missionaries)
• sports camp
• build-it-yourself camp (think LEGOs, projects, creative
constructions)
• family camp
• cousins camp
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY CANADA 13

KIDS & TEENS / EVANGELISM
You might want to invite other parents
to participate in the crafts and
activities so you can get to know your
neighbors better or spend time with
friends. Parents could even join you in
planning the camp activities and helping
with the preparations.
Katie decided to host a weeklong
camp with different art-and-science
activities for each day. But you might
prefer hosting a themed camp for a
single day or a few mornings or afternoons
during the week. That’s the
beauty of designing your own summer
camp.
Vacation Bible school
Jaime and Sarah noticed there was a
lack of vacation Bible schools in their
area, so they hosted one for friends
and family. “The inspiration for our day
camp sprung from our desire to bring
our community together and give our
young children and their friends some
memorable, tangible connections
to God’s goodness and love,” Sarah
says. “Rooting our activities in various
nature metaphors found in Scripture,
we made these connections through
the beauty of plants, seeds, flowers and
other elements of the natural world.”
Their friends joined in, using their
unique skills to help plan and organize
a Taste and See camp, with a focus
on Psalm 34:8 (“Taste and see that the
Lord is good”). Then they prepared by
gathering supplies they needed and
setting up activities.
Each day included crafts, songs, storytelling
and sensory-rich activities
designed to teach children about God’s
goodness through the five senses.
Donning a beekeeper’s suit and exploring
how bees make honey taught kids
about the sweetness of God and His
Word. Reading about God’s tender
care for sparrows and lilies reminded
them of His great love for them. And
a seed-planting activity helped them
understand what it means to abide in
Christ. At the end of each day, children
had something to take home (a potted
plant, a magnet, a bookmark) that
would remind them of the lesson.
Participating families chipped in to
cover supply costs and snacks. Moms
enjoyed hanging out together, hearing
the songs and Bible stories, and watching
their children make crafts. One day,
the moms even cut sandwiches into
butterfly shapes. The kids loved it.
Getting help
Creating an unforgettable
camp experience for your
kids and their friends calls
for a team effort. Working
with your children on
planning, setting up and
running your summer
camp is a great way to
increase family time and
connection. Recruiting
other parents to pitch in
not only lightens the load
but also opens doors for
developing new or deeper
friendships. Don’t be shy
about asking for help!
Need more fun
ideas? Check out
KidsOfIntegrity.com
for free lesson
plans!
14
JUNE / JULY 2024

EVANGELISM / KIDS & TEENS
LISTEN NOW!
Overcoming Summer
Boredom With Kid Smarts
Dr. Kathy Koch offers practical
and creative ideas for challenging
your kids’ imaginations.
<strong>Focus</strong>OnTheFamily.ca/Radio
Profit-based camps
If planning and organizing are your
thing, you could expand your reach
and put on a profit-based summer
camp for your community. If you have
teens, you even could wrangle them
into helping so families don’t have to
pay for child care for kids too young to
attend. Or you might create a one-of-akind
summer camp that could evolve
into a seasonal family business.
Lori decided to host a horse camp
on her property. For 11 weeks each
summer, children enjoy horse-filled
fun, four days a week, from 9 a.m. to 1
p.m. “It was always a dream of mine to
combine children and horses together
because I love both,” she says. The
camp also provides plenty of exercise
for the horses, as well as some side
income for Lori’s family.
She hired teen wranglers to help
out, and her husband acts as cooky,
the camp chef. Campers not only get
to ride the horses, but they also learn
about safety and general horse-care
principles. Every day is jam-packed
with fun activities—making crafts,
singing songs, eating tasty snacks and
exploring the ranch. Kids even earn
reward badges for helping with ranch
chores like mucking horse stalls.
“My job is to love on the kids,” Lori
says. “I want to make their experience
here positive, memorable, fun
and safe.”
Safety
Planning a summer camp
is the perfect time to renew
your first-aid certification
or take a CPR course.
Knowing you’re equipped
to handle safety issues that
arise will set parents’ minds
at ease. When choosing a
location for your camp, be
aware of any water hazards
or other dangers,
and always inform parents.
If you’re charging for
your camp, you may need
to add a liability rider for
added insurance coverage
on your house in case
something goes wrong.
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY CANADA 15

16
AD
MAKE
FAMILY
⅓
DEVOTIONS
a
BLAST
FOR YOUR
KIDS!
Set up four family devotions your kids
will never forget, with help from our
free video series with Tim Shoemaker,
author of The Very Best, Hands-On,
Kinda Dangerous Family Devotions.
Ad Title
SIGN UP FOR FREE TODAY!
<strong>Focus</strong>OnTheFamily.ca/FamilyDevos
<strong>Focus</strong> on the details
No matter which kind of camp you
decide to host, you’ll have some details
to figure out. The more you prep ahead
of time, the smoother things will run.
You want a summer of fun, not worry,
so make sure to check the following
tasks off your list to ensure a memorable
camp experience.
Choose a setting and time
Finding a safe and convenient location
for your camp is a top priority. You’ll
also need to schedule a time that will
work for everyone. You could have
camp every morning during the week
or every evening to beat the summertime
heat. A weekend camp might
work better if you want parents to join
in the fun. Or you could plan a weekly
event to spread the fun (and chaos)
throughout the summer.
Plan activities
Choose activities you know kids will
enjoy, and organize them in blocks
of time, such as welcome time, playtime,
lesson time, memorization time,
snack time, music time and game
time. Arranging activities in the same
order each day will add structure to
the fun. Good organization and flow
are essential if you want your camp to
be well run.
Prepare supplies
Make a list of supplies and materials
you’ll need for each activity, and
gather them ahead of time. Examples
include the dye for tie-dye camp
shirts, water balloons for a team battle
and ingredients for snow cones and
face paint.
Advertise
Finally, spread the news about your
camp among friends and family.
Announce it in the church bulletin and
give them to neighbors. Your kids may
want to help you send personal invites
via snail mail as well.
Summer camp is the stuff of happy
childhood memories. Don’t miss the
opportunity to create those memories
in your own backyard.
Jenny Nanninga is a wife and a mama to five
daughters. She lives in California where she
spends her days homeschooling, baking bread
and chasing around way too many animals.
Final day
To make a big splash, plan
something special for the
last day of camp. For example,
if you host a family camp,
have each family put on a skit,
sing a song or make up a silly
game for your camp finale.

MEDIA / KIDS & TEENS
UPCOMING REVIEWS
For reviews of these and other titles,
visit PluggedIn.com, <strong>Focus</strong> on the Family’s
media review and discernment website.
INSIDE OUT 2
What new
emotions will
follow Riley into
her teen years?
SCHEDULED RELEASE:
JUNE 14
ADOBE STOCK - DRAZEN / IMDB
SOCIAL MEDIA & YOUR
TEEN’S WELL-BEING
BY ADAM HOLZ
THERE’S A GROWING consensus among health-care
experts that social media can lead to adverse mental health
outcomes among teenagers, including depression, anxiety,
suicidal ideation and even suicide.
Some might think that sounds alarmist, but the evidence
is piling up. Researchers, including Dr. Jean Twenge, a San
Diego State University professor of psychology, connect the
skyrocketing rates of psychological distress among adolescents
to the overuse of social media and the comparison game
it perpetuates. Constantly comparing their appearance and
life experiences to the perfectly filtered photos and enviable
posts of others leads to self-esteem problems among teens
who believe they don’t measure up. Related to that is the need
for affirmation via “likes.” Without those coveted upvotes of
approval, some teens experience feelings of depression.
Then there’s the obvious fact that staying up late texting and
interacting online can lead to sleep deprivation. Finally, kids
who spend hours interacting online are, almost by definition,
less likely to be developing relationships face to face and learning
important social skills that come with that interaction.
Even though social media may be the new normal among
teens, research suggests it’s coming at a significant price to
our young people’s mental health. That’s why Plugged In will
continue to focus on these trends and what science is saying
about them. We’ll keep helping you and your family move
toward healthy boundaries when it comes to the way technology
influences our lives, values, behaviors and relationships.
Adam Holz is the director of Plugged In and a contributing author to
Becoming a Screen-Savvy Family: How to navigate a media-saturated world—
and why we should.
DESPICABLE ME 4
Are Gru and his faithful minions
ready for another adventure?
SCHEDULED RELEASE:
JULY 5
TWISTERS
How close can a group
of storm chasers get to
monster tornadoes?
SCHEDULED RELEASE:
JULY 19
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY CANADA 17

KIDS & TEENS / HACKS & FACTS
ADULT KIDS
three
qualities
to pass on
Cultivate these
traits in your kids
BY JESSE NEVE
DURING A FAMILY vacation,
I watched my adult kids on
the beach. Our three sons inherited
my husband’s height. My
daughter, Sarah, has my passion
for writing (and ice cream!).
These comparisons got me
thinking about a different kind
of inheritance that I’ll pass on to
future generations—the actions
our kids have seen us demonstrate
and that they may pass on
to my grandkids. Here’s what I’d
like this inheritance to be:
PRAY. Always. About everything.
I’ve said or written these
words to my kids over the years.
When someone is faced with a
big decision or a hard time, pray
about it. If times are smooth and
you’re filled with joy, say prayers
of thanksgiving.
I know my words are being
heard. When Sarah had to navigate
a grown-up situation, I knew
the decision was for her to make,
but I gave her a hug and said,
“Just keep praying. God knows
the plan.” Through tears, she
answered, “I know, Mom. I will.”
BE THERE for your people. If your
grandma has work to be done, do it for
her. If your sister needs a ride from the
airport, drive her. Whoever “your people”
are, be there for them. My adult
children don’t all live in the same place,
but when Daniel was fixing his motorcycle’s
carburetor, Jon lent a hand.
When Sarah asked for assistance with a
project, her brothers offered their time.
BE KIND to everyone. You can be
brilliant in your field, but if you aren’t
kind to others, you’ll never get along
in life.
When my son Ben was young, he
declared, “I’m going to be both smart
and kind.” And he appears to be succeeding.
He selflessly focuses on
other people and offers help when
he sees a need.
There are dozens of other things I’d want my children to pass along. But if my
descendants only inherit these three gifts, the world would be a little bit better off.
And they’d benefit, too.
Jesse Neve is a wife and a mother of four. She writes so that others can catch the glimpses of joy that
God sprinkles in all of our lives.
STOCKSY - VICTOR TORRES
18
JUNE / JULY 2024

couples
ADOBE STOCK - SASHA_BRAZHNIK
“I FEEL SEEN, LOVED AND EMPOWERED BY GOD.”
—TARA LALONDE, PAGE 25
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY CANADA 19

COUPLES / CONNECTION
WHAT ARE YOUR
VACATION EXPECTATIONS?
Plan a getaway you’ll both enjoy
BY SHEILA SEIFERT
ARE YOU and your
spouse longing to get
away? You might agree
that a vacation is just what
you need, but your expectations
could be totally
different. Answer the
following questions
together to figure out
what a dream vacation
looks like for both of you.
Your philosophy
The first step in planning a successful
vacation is answering this question:
For you, what is the point of a vacation?
(Rank your top three choices in order of importance.)
To visit family
To get a break
from our dayto-day
routine
To rest and be
refreshed
To do new things
and share new
experiences
To have fun as
a couple and
find new ways
to laugh together
To leave expectations
behind and
see what happens
Other:
To get the most
out of every
moment away
from home
by having a
detailed
schedule
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20
JUNE / JULY 2024

CONNECTION / COUPLES
Talk about the kinds of
activities you both circled.
As you plan time away,
concentrate on
including them.
What you like to do
If you were to plan a weekend away for both of you,
what is something you’d like to do together?
(Circle your top five choices individually. Cross out four activities you each wouldn’t want to do.)
Attend a concert
or cultural event
Invite friends over to play
a game or watch a movie
Spend time on the water
(lake, river, ocean)
Attend a sporting event
Just be with each other
Talk
Become a tourist
in our own town
Read a book we’re
both interested in
Try any activity that
requires signing a waiver
Cook a meal together
Relax at home
Visit a new restaurant
Do something we
haven’t done before
Return to a place that
has good memories
Visit with extended
family or friends
Enjoy an outdoor activity
(hiking, biking, camping)
Shop
Watch a new TV show
Explore a new destination
Serve others in need
Work on a hobby
ADOBE STOCK - JACOB LUND, GOIR, PRASANNAPIX
Have a spa day
Have dinner with close friends
Sightsee
Sit on the shore
and enjoy the sun
Other:
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY CANADA 21

COUPLES / CONNECTION
Don’t be surprised
Discussing each other’s expectations for your vacation in
advance will help you avoid disappointment. Ask each other
the following questions to clarify your expectations:
What’s the first thing you’d do after
arriving at your vacation destination?
Engage in something physical
(run, hike, bike)
Enjoy the view
Explore nearby historic sites
or outdoor attractions
Explore our accommodation’s
amenities
Get a snack at a local eatery
Plan dinner out, with interesting
stops along the way
Stop at a souvenir shop
Take a nap
Visit with family or friends
Other:
How much time do you
want to spend alone
with each other?
Talk about
your vacation
expectations.
A few hours a day
Every waking moment
I don’t think we need much
time with each other. We can
enjoy different activities and
reconnect afterward.
I’d like to be together most of
the time, but we don’t have to
be doing the same activities.
Other:
What travel
companions
would you like
to join us on
our vacation?
Only you
Our kids
Extended family
Our family pet(s)
Mutual friends
New friends we
meet on this trip
ADOBE STOCK - SVITLANA, BOBEX73, MARY MARKEVICH, ITAKDALEE
22
JUNE / JULY 2024

CONNECTION / COUPLES
Making vacation fun
Get to know your spouse’s vacation preferences
Local coffee shop:
Where have you always wanted to go
that you’ve never been before?
City:
What might we
do to grow closer
together spiritually
on this vacation?
Outdoor attraction:
Region:
Ask God to show us
who needs a word
of encouragement
each day
New or exotic restaurant:
Country:
Find a church
service in the area
Pray for the
people around
us on this trip
Historic site:
Show:
Set aside individual
quiet time with God
Where do you
think would be the
best place to stay?
What would you like
to do that you’ve
never done before?
Start the day by
reading Scripture
and praying
together
Attend a marriage
conference such
as Resist the Drift
A house rental
Hike a new trail
Other:
A roadside motel
Play a new sport
ADOBE STOCK - PHIVE2015, BERKAHJAYAMATERIAL, DRAZEN, TIRLIK
An all-inclusive resort
A high-end hotel
A hostel
A tent
The home of
family or friends
Tackle a new
challenge
Try a new
activity or food
Other:
Talk about how you
can cultivate spiritual
growth as a couple
during your trip.
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY CANADA 23

Take our
AD
FREE
marriage
⅓
assessment
Coming home
Good vacations create special memories.
Answer this question to find out how each of you
would like to remember your vacation together:
What mementos of this trip
would you like to return home with?
(Circle your top three choices.)
Photos
A T-shirt or hat
A ticket stub from a concert
or sporting event
Seashells or a jar of sand
from the beach we went to
A magnet
A ceramic mug
Good memories
Other:
Local crafts
Jewelry
An outfit
Start today!
<strong>Focus</strong>OnTheFamily.ca
/MarriageAssessment
Talk about what
time away means. Then
describe what a successful
vacation might look
like for each of you.
24
Ad Title
The point of a couples’ vacation is drawing closer
together. How you do that is totally up to you. But a bit
of preparation to learn how each of you defines a good
vacation can enrich your time together. Safe travels!
Sheila Seifert is the senior editorial director of <strong>Focus</strong> on the Family and Brio
magazines. She and her husband, Glen, enjoy vacationing with their adult kids and
extended family.
ADOBE STOCK - RANGIZZZ, NDABCREATIVITY

DEALING WITH DIFFERENCES / COUPLES
emotion
overload
Working through your feelings when
they overtake rational thought
BY TARA LALONDE
ILLUSTRATIONS BY HAO HAO
ONE DAY VERY EARLY in our
marriage, after I had put the groceries
away, my husband, Vince, began
reorganizing the fridge and cupboards
so things were in their “proper” place.
We had been adults for more than a
decade prior to getting married and
had our own ideas about these things.
I instantly started fuming at him,
“Things don’t always have to go your
way! I am a capable adult, too!” Vince
argued back with all the reasons that
his ways were right. Naturally, this
pressed more of my buttons, and as
my emotions escalated, my reactions
became less like the adult I was trying
to convince him I was and more like a
defensive teenager.
Emotional reactions
At that moment, I wasn’t able to
explore what had set me off so
strongly, but I recognized my reaction
was way out of proportion. You see, I
not only wanted Vince to behave differently,
but I also wanted him to be
different. This was an emotional reaction,
not a rational one, and boy was
it strong! And it put me at odds with
both Vince and his Maker. I was in a
no-win situation, but I realized I had
a choice: I could keep trying to get his
attention and escalate the conflict so
he would have to listen to me (that
never works, by the way), or I could do
something different.
Thankfully, I had already bought
into the concept of taking personal
responsibility, so I went to the bedroom
and pulled out my journal. Even
today I find that journaling is the best
way to process my feelings when I am
worked up. Writing helps me focus my
thoughts and reconnect to God so I
can hear from Him.
God’s gentle nudge
That day, I poured out all my complaints
to the Lord in writing and
asked if He was seeing all the things I
was experiencing with Vince. I felt His
loving presence with me, and I knew
He understood.
Then, as I continued to pray and ask
for perspective, I felt a gentle conviction
and wrote in my journal what I
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY CANADA 25

COUPLES / DEALING WITH DIFFERENCES
EMPOWERED TO LOVE
by Robert S. Paul and Tara Lalonde
When life throws us curveballs, how do
we move from stressed and stretched to
energized and inspired? Robert Paul and
Tara Lalonde equip husbands and wives
with practical, biblically based tools to
transform their personal lives and grow
their marriage into something they’ll
both love.
Shop.<strong>Focus</strong>OnTheFamily.ca
sensed God saying to my spirit:
Tara, I know this is hard for you, and
it is painful. Vince is My son, and I will
grow him when and how I choose—
that is not your business. I want you
to be the wife I am calling you to be,
regardless of how or if Vince shows up.
Wow! That got my attention. I have
never forgotten that gentle reprimand.
I believed that I couldn’t have
a happy marriage or be the wife I
longed to be if Vince didn’t get on
board with all the good and helpful
how-to tips I had learned. Thankfully,
God redirected my focus to my own
responsibilities, and together we
began His renovation projects on my
heart and life.
I’m not saying the differences in
how Vince and I approach life doesn’t
sting sometimes, or that we don’t
offend each other on occasion. But
I am saying that even when Vince
hurts me and our differences are
challenging, I don’t have to force my
way on him. I can return to God for
comfort, loving reassurance and a
useful perspective change that helps
me grow as He intends. I can surrender
to His power and what He is
doing rather than giving all my power
away by focusing on what Vince is or
isn’t doing according to my design.
As a result, I feel seen, loved and
empowered by God.
Tara Lalonde is the co-author of Empowered to
Love and has a Ph.D. in professional counseling
from Liberty University. She is currently working
as a marriage therapist with <strong>Focus</strong> on the
Family Canada’s Hope Restored program.
Adapted from Empowered to Love: Discovering
your God-given power to create a marriage
you both love by Robert S. Paul and Tara
Lalonde. © 2024 <strong>Focus</strong> on the Family. A <strong>Focus</strong>
on the Family resource published by Tyndale
House Publishers Inc.
Visit HopeRestoredCanada.ca
for help with your marriage.
26
JUNE / JULY 2024

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COMING IN JULY
A stronger you,
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a stronger marriage
Full Page
When you know how to bounce back from
the stresses of daily life, you can protect
your marriage from those stresses, too!
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Discover transformative, biblically based strategies that
boost your well-being and resiliency as an individual
and help you bring your best to your spouse and your
marriage as well.
Guided by professional counsellors from <strong>Focus</strong> on the
Family’s Hope Restored marriage intensives, you’ll learn
how to care for yourself so you can truly thrive, and how
to care for your marriage to nurture ever-deeper love
and trust as a couple.
27
by <strong>Focus</strong> Canada counsellor
TARA LALONDE
EN
Scan to order online at Shop.<strong>Focus</strong>OnTheFamily.ca
or call 1.800.661.9800

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Restore hope
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FOR YOUR
marriage
Full Page
TRIM: 7.75 x 10.5 inch
<strong>Focus</strong> of the Family Canada’s Hope Restored
is a personalized program for restoring hearts
and rebuilding marriages.
Facilitated by registered Christian therapists, Hope Restored
offers a unique, holistic counselling approach that combines
the heart, the mind and a couple’s faith, addressing the root of
the problem and starting couples on a path toward healing.
These intensives are available at our retreat centres in Alberta,
Manitoba and Ontario.
28
“Thanks so much for the
intensive. It really helped
my husband and me. We
appreciate the tools that
we can use to improve
our marriage and we find
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—HOPE RESTORED ATTENDEE
Start restoring your marriage today!
EN
HopeRestoredCanada.ca | 1.833.999.HOPE (4673)

faith &
inspiration
“I’M CALLED TO SERVE MY
FAMILY, AND I WANT TO
DO THAT TO THE BEST
OF MY ABILITY.”
—KATIE DAVIS MAJORS, PAGE 34
ADOBE STOCK - XIMICH_NATALI
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY CANADA 29

FAITH & INSPIRATION / READING THE BIBLE
reading the Bible
like a real book
How understanding context, genre
and intent can help us enjoy Scripture
and encounter God in a new way
BY SUBBY SZTERSZKY
THERE’S AN ANCIENT STORY about the Greek oracle at
Dodona, the less famous cousin of the one at Delphi. Once upon a time,
a king came to Dodona to consult the oracle about his fate in an upcoming
battle.
“Shall I go out to face my foe?” the king asked.
“Go. Return. Never perish in battle,” replied the oracle.
Taking this as a guarantee of success, the king went out to meet his
enemy—and was promptly killed, his army scattered. One of his surviving
troops came back to Dodona, begging an explanation.
“You misheard,” said the oracle, repeating her prophecy. “Go. Return
never. Perish in battle.”
The story is a dark humorous take on how vague wording and punctuation
(to say nothing of modern sound-bite editing) can be used to make a
statement mean any number of contradictory things. Horoscopes and fortune
cookies use the same trick: short, ambiguous phrases, free of context,
STOCKSY - XÈNIA BESORA SALA / ADOBE STOCK - MAXICONS
30
JUNE / JULY 2024

READING THE BIBLE / FAITH & INSPIRATION
which can be interpreted however the
reader desires.
As Christians, we need to be careful
we don’t apaproach the Scriptures in
the same way. God’s Word is intentionally
given to us as a complete text, and
while many of us find comfort in single
verses that offer insight or wisdom in
the moment, we need to avoid finding
a verse (or even a phrase) and removing
it from its contextual moorings to
support a belief or justify an action.
Nobody reads any other kind of
writing this way. People don’t pick
up books or magazines and pore over
them for short, epigrammatic snippets
to interpret any way they choose. They
approach the text as a unit, in context,
aware of its style and intent, seeking to
learn something or to find enjoyment,
or to encounter the mind of the author.
And that’s just how the Bible should
be engaged—like a real book.
This is why the apostle Peter warns
the church about individuals who twist
the Scriptures to their own destruction
(2 Peter 3:16). Throughout church
history, heresies have been born and
individuals gravely harmed by the misuse
of Scripture pulled out of context.
It’s imperative, therefore, to ask the
right questions when approaching any
text, especially a passage of Scripture:
• What is the immediate setting?
• What comes right before and
after it?
• How does it fit with the rest of
the book?
• Under what circumstances was
it written?
• What is its place and function
in the overall scheme of
God’s Word?
conventions of tone, grammar, structure,
and so on. Some make extensive
use of symbols and metaphors while
others deal mostly in facts. These stylistic
cues are evident to both authors
and readers. Nobody confuses a
historical novel with a furniture catalogue.
If asked to produce a financial
report, an employee won’t write a
love letter by mistake.
And so it is with the Bible, a collection
of 66 documents written by
different human authors in a variety
of settings over a span of 1,500 years.
ADOBE STOCK - MINIWIDE
Context
In TV courtroom dramas, there’s a
standard scene in which a lawyer will
ask a witness to read aloud from a transcript.
She instructs the witness to read
only the highlighted passage; if he tries
to read further or to explain what he
just read, she cuts him off. She’s not
interested in the truth, only in shaping
it to build her case.
Journalists at times use the same
tactic, creatively editing an interview to
make it say something other than what
was intended. It’s not uncommon to
hear interviewees protest, sometimes
with good cause: “My comments were
taken out of context.”
When it comes to the proper understanding
of any communication,
written or spoken, there’s no single factor
as important as context. Without it,
even apparent statements of fact can
be made to mean practically anything.
When it comes to the proper
understanding of any communication,
written or spoken, there’s no single
factor as important as context.
Genre
Throughout their lives, most people
have to write a variety of things for different
occasions: term papers, job
applications, notes to loved ones, public
speeches, work reports. Similarly,
they’ll read books of different kinds,
whether out of necessity or choice:
textbooks, novels, poetry, biographies,
travel guides, instruction manuals.
All these genres have their own
It contains a diverse palette of genres:
history, poetry, prophecy, law codes,
letters and more. These genres cannot
be read with a one-size-fits-all
approach. History must be allowed
to speak as history, not as myth or
metaphor to comply with modern prejudices.
On the other hand, poetry must
be permitted its full effect, not dissected
phrase by phrase, its metaphors
reduced to wooden literalisms.
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY CANADA 31

FAITH & INSPIRATION / READING THE BIBLE
Intent
Thanks to the lingering influence of
postmodernism, it has become unfashionable
in academic literary circles
to speak of authorial intent. We cannot
know for certain what an author
intended or even what his text truly
means, hardline postmodernists will
insist. All we can do is bring our own
interpretation to the text, drawn from
our own cultural biases.
Such an idea doesn’t bear up under
scrutiny, however. The intent behind a
traffic sign or warning label is clear—or
at least it had better be. Writers aren’t
engaged in a fool’s errand. They have
something to say and usually succeed
in saying it, relying on the reader’s ability
to understand what they meant.
To be sure, every reader brings his or
her personal and cultural assumptions
to a text. But that doesn’t make
it impossible to derive the text’s true
meaning, or render it open to every
feasible interpretation.
The human authors of Scripture
wrote with purpose. They each used
their own style and voice to speak into
their own situation, addressing the
issues of their day. At the same time,
they were instruments in God’s hands,
writing the words He wished to convey,
both to their generation and to future
ones as well.
There’s undeniable mystery here.
And yet, discovering the intent of the
divine and human authors is one of the
great rewards, as well as joys, of reading
Scripture.
biography or travelogue is at least as
pleasurable as a novel, if not more so.
There are even those who derive the
greatest pleasure from a book on mathematics
or theoretical physics.
All well-written books can be beautiful
on their own terms, regardless of
subject. They have the power to move
the mind, inspire the imagination, and
delight the eye and ear with their artful
use of language.
This is to be expected. God loves
beauty and creativity. He made a
world teeming with it, and humans
who can respond to it and produce it
themselves. His Word is full of stirring
narratives, beautiful songs and elegantly
framed wisdom. It’s not meant
to be merely absorbed and analyzed,
but rather to be savored and enjoyed.
Bible readers do themselves a disservice—not
to mention dishonor to their
God—when they fail to do so.
Encounter
People who love books often describe
the reading experience as encountering
the author. They don’t just mean
the author’s ideas; they mean the
author herself or himself. Through the
words on the page, the author’s mind,
heart and personality appear. The
result is a kind of intimacy, an acquaintance
or even a friendship made over
distances of time and place.
In the Scriptures, readers encounter
the poetic soul of David, the grief
of Jeremiah, the historical care of Luke,
the love of John.
But of course, the Bible is far more
than just a human book, written by
mortal authors who are long gone. It’s
also the eternal Word of the living God,
through which He reveals His mind
and heart, His character and purposes.
In his book A Peculiar Glory, John
Piper makes a compelling case that
the Scriptures are not so much a picture
of God, but rather a portal through
which to see God. Piper likens it to the
difference between a painting of the
mountains hanging on a wall, and a
large window opening onto a breathtaking
vista of those same mountains.
And that’s precisely what the Bible,
read as a real book, offers the reader:
direct, life-shaping encounter with the
God of the universe in all His beauty
and glory, ultimately displayed in the
person of His Son, Jesus.
Subby Szterszky is the managing editor of
<strong>Focus</strong> on Faith and Culture, an e-newsletter
produced by <strong>Focus</strong> on the Family Canada.
© 2024 <strong>Focus</strong> on the Family (Canada)
Association. All rights reserved.
Enjoyment
Reading for pleasure is generally associated
with reading fiction as a leisure
activity, perhaps lying on a beach
with a cold drink and a pile of novels.
But that’s far too narrow a definition.
For many readers, a history book,
ISTOCK - MIKHAIL SELEZNEV
32
JUNE / JULY 2024

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FAITH & INSPIRATION / COMMUNITY
Katie
Davis Majors:
my
big
family
Katie
at home
Together, we’re
trusting God’s plan
BY SHANA SCHUTTE
AND KAT BITTNER
34
JUNE / JULY 2024

COMMUNITY / FAITH & INSPIRATION
2021 family portrait
Children walking near
the Amazima school
Compelled by love for the culture and country, Katie
founded Amazima Ministries International in 2008 to
serve the orphaned, poor and vulnerable in Uganda.
Their mission is to make disciples of Jesus through
authentic relationships, excellent education and
strengthened communities.
Visit Amazima.org
to learn more.
COURTESY OF KATIE DAVIS MAJORS, LEXIE GILMORE PHOTOGRAPHY / ADOBE STOCK - OLEKSANDRA
KATIE DAVIS MAJORS was just 18
when she went on a three-week mission trip
to Uganda during Christmas break. She and
her mom served at an orphanage caring for
abandoned or orphaned babies. That experience
had such a deep impact on her life
that less than a year later, she postponed her
plans for college and returned to her beloved
Uganda to assist teaching in a preschool and
kindergarten classroom.
Moving to a foreign country wasn’t at all
what Katie had imagined for her life. She had
planned to go to college, get married and
have kids—in that order. But God had other
plans in mind.
Parenting before marriage
Katie’s love for the children of Uganda led
her to start a nonprofit community ministry
called Amazima. She desired to continue
her work caring for children who had no family
to call their own. It was in this passion that
she took a leap of faith at age 23 to become
an adoptive mom to 13 Ugandan girls. During
that season of her life, she was so focused
on raising her daughters and serving with
Amazima, she had no thoughts of romance
or marriage. But then she met Benji Majors,
another missionary serving in Uganda who
was from her hometown. When Benji showed
an interest in her, she said no several times,
but once again, God had other plans.
Benji began engaging with each of Katie’s
daughters through their personal interests,
such as soccer or Scrabble. He even helped
one of the girls prepare for her first job interview.
“It was fun watching Benji get to know
the girls and their interests. He truly wanted
a relationship with them,” Katie says. That’s
when she knew Benji was the one for her.
Katie and Benji married in Uganda in 2015,
and afterward, Benji adopted all 13 girls. Later,
two biological sons were added to the happy
mix. Katie and Benji deeply rooted their family
in the Ugandan community, where people
place a high value on relationships. Katie says,
“These people knew our family and watched
our kids grow up. We had meals together,
cared for each other’s kids and drove each
other places. Even the guys who worked at the
coffee shop and the grocery store were part of
our community experience.”
Katie and Benji planned to live in Uganda
for the rest of their lives, but they soon discovered
that God had a different plan for them.
Changes and challenges
In 2021, after living in Uganda for more than
10 years, Katie and Benji felt God calling them
to move back to the United States. Seven of
the girls had already moved to Tennessee to
attend college, but this change of plans wasn’t
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY CANADA 35

FAITH & INSPIRATION / COMMUNITY
Katie with
students at the
Amazima School
easy for Katie. Initially she “kicked and screamed” because
she’d surrendered everything when God called her to
Uganda. “It felt a bit unfair,” Katie recalls.
The move to Nashville was challenging for the family.
Community didn’t come as naturally as it did in Uganda, so
they had to be intentional about cultivating it. They were
finding that building relationships was harder for them in
the States because forging deeper relationships requires
spending time with people, but that’s difficult when everyone
is rushing to the next commitment. “In Uganda, when
someone comes to your house, you make them a cup of
tea, and then you sit and listen,” Katie says. That’s what she
misses the most.
The kids were homeschooled before moving to the States,
but now that they attend school, they’re involved in different
activities. Benji and Katie weren’t prepared for such an
abrupt change—or feeling so scattered. “This was a big shift
for us,” Katie admits.
Making connections
Being intentional about building relationships has helped
the family make connections in their community. Katie
and Benji are thankful for a church and small group where
people make time for each other and want to be involved
in one another’s lives. People stop by each other’s houses
unannounced and enjoy spontaneous meals together. They
even carpool and share rides to their kids’ events.
Benji is also intentional about preserving connections
with Ugandan culture. “He searched high and low for
weeks and finally found a 50-kilo bag of posho, a staple
food in Uganda,” Katie recalls. “We never got excited about
eating it there, but you’d think we’d won a prize when Benji
brought it home.”
Katie and Benji are always looking for ways to keep
Uganda alive in their children’s hearts. They speak Luganda
at home and cook a lot of traditional foods. They even celebrate
birthdays the traditional Ugandan way, such as
showering the birthday person with buckets of water. “We
have definitely kept that tradition because it’s so funny,”
Katie says.
Passing on faith and serving others
Katie and Benji are intentional to pass on their faith to their
children, along with hearts for serving others. In Uganda,
serving was modeled for the kids through Amazima and
SAFE ALL ALONG
by Katie Davis Majors
As a missionary, wife and mom of 15, Katie Davis Majors
knows how easy it can be to give in to fear and worry.
How can we live with joy and confidence? God has
promised us a peace that transcends all understanding.
Accept His promise, trusting that we are safe all along.
Shop.<strong>Focus</strong>OnTheFamily.ca
their community. Since moving to Nashville, the family
has relied on their church not only as a place to serve and
to share the love of Jesus, but to also find respite, relationships
and support for their family. At their new church,
their family has been knit closer together in their service
to others. They’ve joined with a ministry that delivers
meals to people in need. And during the winter, they give
coats and boxes of food to the homeless. Katie’s church
has been an invaluable resource in the same way that it is
for many foster and adoptive families.
Through their shared faith, she also endeavors to model
the qualities she wants her children to learn. A question
she once heard made a lasting impression on her view
of parenting: “How will your children know that Jesus is
the center of your life if they’re the center of your life?” As
a couple, Katie and Benji have made serving as a family
their priority rather than their lives revolving around their
children. “I’m called to serve my family,” Katie says, “and
I want to do that to the best of my ability. But God has
called me to other things, too. I can bring my whole family
along with me as I follow His plan. I think that’s valuable
for our children. In the end, what we do as parents matters
a lot more than what we say.”
Shana Schutte is an author and former host of a nationwide radio
program on CSN International.
Kat Bittner is an editorial assistant for <strong>Focus</strong> on the Family magazine.
COURTESY OF KATIE DAVIS MAJORS / ADOBE STOCK - OLEKSANDRA
36
JUNE / JULY 2024

MINISTRY HIGHLIGHT / FAITH & INSPIRATION
Blain operates the jib camera
for a large-scale production.
REC
SALLY DUNN - FOTF
behind the
camera
With <strong>Focus</strong> on the Family’s
Film & Video Production team
BY SCOTT JOHNSON
“LIGHTS . . . CAMERA . . . ACTION!”
Most of us hear those words, in that order, and
immediately think of a movie set. Whatever the
project, from a feature-length film to a short mobile
phone clip posted on social media, creating a video
involves a fascinating blend of art and science. And
when creative people are guided by their Creator,
applying their talents to honoring Him and drawing
others to Him, the end result is powerful.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then
many pictures strung together in a compelling
video package, capturing the attention and touching
the heart, are virtually priceless. Few people
understand that better than the small but dedicated
members of <strong>Focus</strong> on the Family’s Film & Video
Production team.
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY CANADA 37

alive from new york
Behind the stage,
Patrick, lead
producer, and
Trent, technical
director, work at
SeeLife 2021 in
Dallas.
LIVE EVENTS &
LIVESTREAMS
The control room is where
Trent talks to each camera
team member to get different
shots during events.
The team films live
interviews backstage
at SeeLife 2021.
A longstanding legacy
<strong>Focus</strong> on the Family debuted in March 1977 as a weekly
radio broadcast hosted by Dr. James Dobson, who was soon
inundated with more speaking invitations than he could
accommodate. A plan was developed to film one of Dr.
Dobson’s seminars and release it as a series for public viewing
in churches. An event in San Antonio, Texas, was taped
in September 1978 and released by Word Publishing the following
year as the seven-part <strong>Focus</strong> on the Family film series.
It’s estimated that up to 80 million people viewed these original
film presentations, greatly expanding the ministry’s reach
during its early years.
Throughout the following decades, <strong>Focus</strong> on the Family
established an internal film production team and released
a wide variety of video projects. A 1985 event in Cincinnati,
Ohio, was filmed and turned into the multipart series Turn
Your Heart Toward Home. Unique videos expanded on the
stories of popular broadcast guests such as Mike Adkins (A
Man Called Norman) and Guy Doud (Molder of Dreams).
Specialized video content for children was developed,
including the ground-breaking McGee and Me! series that
combined live-action footage with animation. A fully animated
version of Adventures in Odyssey brought <strong>Focus</strong> on
the Family’s beloved audio drama to the screen. And Th e
Last Chance Detectives mysteries captivated young imaginations
and sparked a series of fiction books.
The films team also works with ministry partners to create
and launch highly impactful study series.
• Teacher and historian Ray Vander Laan takes viewers on
location to the lands of the Bible through more than 90 episodes
of That the World May Know.
• Audiences can also “attend” Ray’s classroom discussions
of biblical context by videostreaming his latest collaboration
with <strong>Focus</strong> on the Family, RVL Discipleship: The Study.
• Millions of young people overseas have been influenced
by the No Apologies abstinence education curriculum
offered by <strong>Focus</strong> on the Family’s global associate offices.
• Three TrueU installments have helped prepare Christian
students for the faith challenges they’ll likely encounter on
university campuses.
<strong>Focus</strong> on the Family’s core objectives of strengthening
marriages, equipping parents and defending the sanctity of
life are supported through numerous video releases. Some of
the most popular titles include Date Night Challenge, Ready
to Wed, Alive to Thrive (suicide prevention), Launch Into the
Teen Years and Marriage 911.
COURTESY OF PATRICK DUNN AND BLAIN ANDERSEN, SALLY DUNN - FOTF / ADOBE STOCK - NAPUN
38
JUNE / JULY 2024

MINISTRY HIGHLIGHT / FAITH & INSPIRATION
“Our team is unique because we
support the ministry as a whole.”
— Patrick, lead producer
Brittany coaches Ray Vander Laan with the script
in an interview for RVL Discipleship: The Study.
Patrick addresses a live
audience before filming.
CONTENT &
CURRICULUM
COURTESY OF PATRICK DUNN AND BLAIN ANDERSEN, SALLY DUNN - FOTF / ADOBE STOCK - NAPUN
Film
members
work on
set with
Sixto
Porras of
Enfoque a
la Familia.
The films team has also been on the cutting edge of video distribution
of live events. The ministry regularly hosts on-campus
conferences that are sent to remote viewers.
Projects big and small
These high-visibility projects certainly keep the team’s camera
operators busy, but there’s much more happening behind the
scenes. Patrick has been with the films unit as a producer for
more than 20 years.
“Our team is unique at <strong>Focus</strong> on the Family because we
support the ministry as a whole,” Patrick says. “We do the
outward-facing bigger projects along with the marketing
support and live-event logistics that go along with them. The
related promotional pieces and impact stories that millions
of people watched online—all of that was our team traveling,
doing interviews and editing what was filmed.”
Across <strong>Focus</strong> on the Family, other departments have
started producing their own video content, such as clips
for social media. But if there’s a project that has a camera
attached, the films team will likely be the ones involved. At
any given time, the crew is working on more than two dozen
distinct assignments.
Patrick highlights one of the more enjoyable side-projects:
“For more than 10 years, we’ve done regular video shows for
the Adventures in Odyssey Club,” he says. “We get to loosen
up and have a little more fun, be silly, and do what’s basically
an entertaining TV episode for kids 8 to 12 years old.”
Another key activity for the films team is connected to the
daily <strong>Focus</strong> on the Family broadcast. For the past several
years, most interviews have been simultaneously captured
using eight cameras positioned around the studio and control
room. Video of the edited broadcast is posted to <strong>Focus</strong>
on the Family’s YouTube channel.
Once a month, the ministry’s staff in Colorado Springs,
Colorado, gathers for an in-house chapel service. The films
team collaborates with other departments to livestream each
service to the employees of 14 international associate offices
along with those working elsewhere in the U.S.—at five
<strong>Focus</strong> on the Family retreat centers, the Family Central bookstore
in Michigan and a small team in Washington, D.C.
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY CANADA 39

FAITH & INSPIRATION / MINISTRY HIGHLIGHT
Patrick directs a shot outside the
Ark Encounter for the Adventures in
Odyssey Club with Blain and Bob.
Maurice uses a piñata
for a “B-roll” prop
as John (below)
edits footage for
the Adventures in
Odyssey Club.
IN STUDIO &
ON LOCATION
John edits a
promotional video.
Noah, Silas and Blain record a
four-camera interview.
A Spirit-led process
For each product that’s released, the films team enjoys a
sense of accomplishment when an original idea or vision
culminates with a finished movie or video. And, as Patrick
admits, each project involves an enormous amount of time,
effort, creativity and prayer along the way.
“We seek God’s guidance as everything goes through the
production process,” Patrick says. “Starting with the concept,
we’ll need to determine whether we need scripting.
What is this feature going to look like? Sound like? Feel like?
How do we want to capture it? How many cameras? What’s
the shooting style? What’s the lighting? What are the sets, or
is it a location shoot? We use all those answers to organize
the filming.”
And that’s just part of getting a project underway. After
countless hours of shooting, the raw footage moves to editing.
“We consider the pace of the edits: Do we use music or no
music? What style, and when does it come in? Are there other
little things we can add in, like animations or graphics? All
that goes into shaping the final cut.”
Patrick’s description of the result will resonate with anyone
with an artistic bent: “You get to this point where you’re
watching the screen and you say: ‘That’s it.’ You just know
Josh and Blain set up
for an interview.
it. You tweak and rework, and then it just flows—it rolls and
lands. It’s exciting! I love to see something when we’ve finished
and know it works and does what it needs to do.”
Art for someone else
For the films team, the creativity involved with their work
is part of what makes the process rewarding. Ultimately,
though, they understand that their artistic efforts are a small
part of a much bigger picture.
“We know that on the other end of everything we do is a
person watching,” Patrick says. “Someone who needs to hear
the message that project communicates. Someone who’s
dealing with something or needs to come alongside someone
else who’s facing a situation. Someone who’s looking for
help, hope and encouragement. And we always remember
that God can use what we’ve made to make a big difference
for them. That’s a great feeling.”
Scott Johnson is a senior writer in the Ministry Values division at <strong>Focus</strong> on
the Family.
COURTESY OF PATRICK DUNN AND BLAIN ANDERSEN, SALLY DUNN - FOTF
40
JUNE / JULY 2024

BROKEN CULTURE / FAITH & INSPIRATION
engaging
hearts
and minds
in a broken
culture
AN INTERVIEW WITH
RAY VANDER LAAN,
the creator and host of <strong>Focus</strong> on
the Family’s That the World May
Know series and RVL Discipleship
RAY JOINED JIM DALY
in the studio to talk about living out
our faith and sharing His hope and
truth to a hurting world. Ray chose
to answer Jim’s questions using
Paul’s words found in 1 Corinthians.
I occasionally run into people who
say, “I don’t read, watch or enter
conversations about anything I
don’t agree with.” But as Christians,
we are to engage others, not to criticize
or judge. Although we stand
strongly on God’s Word, we need
to know our culture so well that we
know how to speak God’s truth in
“their language.” I think what God
has called us to do is not to simply
tell our culture about Jesus. Yes,
that’s important. But God also wants
us to be living witnesses.
Jesus came to show us what it
looked like if we would live out our
faith as His disciples. And then He
sent out His community to be light,
to be living witnesses and to be
priests to put Him on display.
In 1 Corinthians, Paul explains
that he came to the church in
Corinth not with human wisdom,
but in weakness and with great fear
and trembling (2:1-3). He essentially
says, “Not many of you were
wise. Not many of you were rich.
Not many of you were well-known. I
picked the nobodies” (1:26-27). And
as a house church formed, Corinth
became a Christian center. And it
was not simply because they were
telling others about Jesus, but
they were also showing what Jesus
looked like. I think Paul realized
that God chose His people, not to
tell the world who He was, but to
show the world who He is. And I
think that’s the touch point.
BRINGING BIBLICAL TRUTH TO A BROKEN CULTURE FREE VIDEO SERIES
Each of us can help expand God’s kingdom through humility, faith and love—
even in a world that seems increasingly hostile to the truths of Scripture. Join
renowned Bible teacher Ray Vander Laan as he looks to the first century and the
apostle Paul for guidance on how believers today can shine the light of Christ to
those around them.
Visit <strong>Focus</strong>OnTheFamily.ca/BrokenCulture
to sign up for this free video series.
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY CANADA 41

FAITH & INSPIRATION / MEDIA
movie messages:
The Jungle Book
Seek and find worldviews
while having fun as a family
BY PLUGGED IN
ILLUSTRATIONS BY TOM BONSON
ABSOLUTE MONARCHY
features a leader who
controls almost every
aspect of a nation.
FATALISM is the
belief that there’s no
point in taking action
because events are
predetermined.
THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY
bombards us with obvious and subtle messages.
But we often don’t recognize them as worldviews
or notice how they skew our thinking. To help you
and your family identify varying worldviews in the
culture, play this game of Movie Messages while
watching the classic animated film The Jungle Book.
ALTRUISM
prioritizes the
happiness or
safety of others
above our own.
MACHIAVELLIANISM,
named after the writer
Niccolò Machiavelli,
is about using and
deceiving people for
your own gain.
Directions
1. Give every player a set of 10 worldview cards
(at right). Additional sets can be found at
<strong>Focus</strong>OnTheFamily.ca/Magazine.
2. Watch The Jungle Book until you reach an incident
on the game board. Then pause the movie.
3. Each player chooses a card that matches the
worldview identified in the movie and places it
facedown. Then players turn over their cards to
reveal their answers.
4. The correct cards are removed from play. The
cards deemed incorrect are returned to each
player, and the movie continues.
5. This game doesn’t cover every worldview in
this movie. Players who have guessed wrong
can catch up by calling out the correct worldview
if it comes up again in the movie. (This
can only be done with worldview cards that
have been removed from play.)
6. The first player to get rid of eight cards is the
winner.
Note: For young children who aren’t ready to play this
game, a good way to start worldview training is with a
casual comment like this: “That’s cynicism. Our God is
a God of hope, not distrust.”
CYNICISM regards
people and systems
as untrustworthy.
EPICUREANISM is a
sort of high-minded
hedonism in which
pleasure is thought to
be very important, but
the highest form of
pleasure is to be free
from anxiety and pain.
MILITARISM stresses
that societies need to be
strong, and they need
to use that strength to
protect their interests.
MISANTHROPISM
takes a dim view of
humanity overall,
often based on
preconceptions of
humanity’s flaws.
42
JUNE / JULY 2024
Be sure to first check out Plugged In’s
review to see if The Jungle Book is
right for your family.
<strong>Focus</strong>OnTheFamily.com/ JungleBook
ETHICAL EGOISM
contends that when
we find what is best for
ourselves, our actions are
inherently right, even if
they harm others.
SECULAR HUMANISM
tells us that humankind
is the highest moral
authority, and as such,
people alone can
determine what is “right.”

MAKE
YOUR WAY
THROUGH
THE JUNGLE
FOR ITS
HIDDEN
MESSAGES.
START
3:10
BAGHEERA DISCOVERS
MOWGLI AND NEARLY
LEAVES HIM.
13:27
THE ELEPHANTS
ENTER THE
PICTURE.
25:21
BALOO SINGS
ABOUT THE “BEAR
NECESSITIES.”
32:30
KING LOUIE
INTRODUCES
HIMSELF.
42:17
BAGHEERA
AND BALOO
TALK ABOUT
SHERE KHAN.
Additional worldview cards
can be found in the Parents Guide
to Movie Messages.
<strong>Focus</strong>OnTheFamily.ca/
Magazine
55:35
KAA WANTS
MOWGLI TO
“TRUST IN ME.”
1:00:35
KAA
TELLS OFF
MOWGLI.
1:07:45
BALOO
GRABS SHERE
KHAN’S TAIL.
END

HACKS & FACTS / VACATION
EXTENDED FAMILY
group
guidelines
When our family gathers
for a reunion vacation,
we follow a few simple
guidelines so we don’t
get burned out around
one another but still
prioritize family fun.
Here’s what we do:
• Each family plans
breakfast and lunch
on their own.
• We gather as a group
for dinner only once
or twice.
• Couples take turns
cooking and planning
dinners.
• Couples who have
young kids get to go on
a date while the rest of
the family watches
their kids.
• We bring along board
games and jigsaw puzzles
for together time.
• We set family limits on
screen time in the evenings.
This ensures
no one misses sweet
opportunities to talk
with grandparents
about the day’s events.
—Kari Ballard
BETWEEN VISITS
My youngest two children were always so shy around people they didn’t know,
including relatives who live far away that we only saw once a year.
Between visits, we’d connect through phone calls, FaceTime and by sending
letters and photos back and forth. Before a visit, we’d talk with our children
about how excited we were to see our family and how much they love us. We
had the kids pick out a gift or treat to share when we got there.
The increased communication made extended family vacations go smoothly
from day one.
—Tricia Couffer
SHANNON ASSOCIATES - DANNY SCHLITZ / STOCKSY - STUDIO FIRMA
44
JUNE / JULY 2024

VACATION / HACKS & FACTS
65% of those who responded say that
gatherings with family or friends bring them
more joy than trips without loved ones.
source: OnePoll survey, 2022
EXTENDED FAMILY
ADOBE STOCK - ZINKEVYCH
SCHEDULED SUCCESS
When three generations of us get together for our annual family vacation,
it can get hectic. It’s also a lot of fun. Over the years, we’ve done
camping trips and family camp at my parents’ home during the holidays.
One key to our success is using a shared, cloud-based planning document.
This allows everyone to contribute ideas for the week as well as
sign up for various responsibilities. Filling out shared documents keeps
us from repeating meals and makes sure everyone has snacks they like.
The list helps us to be purposeful with our time and to plan activities
that each child and adult will enjoy. We plan at least one fun craft: One
year was tie-dyeing shirts and another was building birdhouses. There is
typically a lake or beach day and a day of hiking. Certain activities have
become a tradition, such as our cornhole tournament, family scavenger
hunt and kids Olympics, all planned and run by the parents.
Each family brings something unique to the extended family time.
One of my brothers has played music for a sing-along. Another led a
morning devotion. I have brought picture books and read-aloud books
for the kids. The week is loud and fun and full of memories. The main
ingredient is togetherness.
—Jenny Nanninga
52 %
of reunions
are held in
someone’s home.
source: Work Smart Live Smart
thinking of others
When our extended family of 19
squished into a home for a week,
we decided to do a fruit of the
Spirit study. Each day, I attached
a piece of paper with the name
of one fruit to the fridge for
everyone to look at during the
day. Then I offered coloring
pages and a craft for spiritual
fruit. It was a great way to wind
down and focus on being kind
and thinking of others as more
important than ourselves.
—Grace Thomas
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY CANADA 45

MY THRIVING FAMILY
toothless
My daughter lost both front teeth in
the same week! —Theresa from South Dakota
Remi, 7
Cousins show off their toothless grins.
—Melody from Texas
Lynette, 6, and Elias, 6
Four front top teeth gone, and our son
still sports an adorable grin.
—Lakita from Kentucky
Mack, 5
The last of our sons to lose his first tooth.
Time has passed so quickly!
—Carrie from Colorado
Declyn, 6
Our son proudly wears his toothless smile.
—Ann from Ohio
Joseph, 5
SEND US PHOTOS
OF YOUR CHILD'S
FIRST BIRTHDAY
Email photos to info@fotf.ca.
Include his or her name,
age and province,
and add “First Birthday”
in the subject line.*
* Largest photo possible. Professional photos are not accepted.
ADOBE STOCK - ELENA_GARDER, YOKUNEN
46
JUNE / JULY 2024

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