Valentine's Contest: Finalist #4
And the final Valentine's Contest Finalist - Bethanne:
Valentine's Day has always been about doing something special for my family. Ever since my mom helped me make a chocolate cake from scratch, Valentine's Day was not complete without making something chocolate for my family. I would also enjoy preparing them an elegant meal and serving it on our china. The theme was red, with things like meatloaf with ketchup, red jelly for the fresh rolls, and did I mention the chocolate dessert?
But more recently Valentine's has turned into a less formal party for my 10+ nieces and nephews. We have the children over while their parents go out, and there is no picking them up when the evening is over. The kids get to spend the night at grandma and grandpa's, and the parents get a quiet night and morning at home!
In the afternoon, we will have Valentine's games and a mini party for a snack. The featured drink is strawberry milk! This year I'm planning the main activity to be baking sugar cookies. I'll prepare the dough ahead of time then the children can roll and cut their cookies. When they are baked, the children get to decorate and of course eat them!
For the meal I'm planning something everybody can help with--"pigs in a blanket"--the children love helping to put the dough around these. We'll also have heart shaped Jell-O cutouts and carrots (I had to fit a vegetable in!). This isn't health food, but who says you have to eat healthy at Grandma’s?! And of course I will have to serve something chocolate, probably "decorate your own cupcakes"!
The formal china will be exchanged for easy clean up of paper plates. There will be no white tablecloth or candles, but there will be oh! so much love.
I enjoy planning this party even more then my formal dinner. I love spending time with my nieces and nephews, and even though there might be lost sleep from helping them in the night and a dirty house when they leave, some things are easy to over look when you’re doing something for the ones you love.
-Bethanne Busenitz, 17
Labels: For the unmarried
posted by Crystal Paine at 9:04 AM
10 Comments:
Oh my goodness! I would LOVE this! You are so thoughtful. It is sometimes difficult to fully enjoy time together as a couple when you're trying to rush home in time to pay the babysitter and get the kids to bed. I think it would be EASY if I knew my girls were having that much fun! Blessings to you...and your lucky nieces and nephews...
Phebe
This is such a lovely ministry to your siblings and nieces and nephews. I would love that, too! And having them overnight is a real treat for both the children and parents. You are a real blessing in your family!
Christy W.
Bless you. The time spent with your nieces and nephews will be memorable for everyone - and a time of bonding in all those vital relationships.
You've truly displayed a servant heart - similar to what Jesus would do.
Darlene
I'm Bethanne's older sister (she is youngest of six). I can truly say that this evening is a big ministry to our family. Our seven children really look forward to this outing. Bethanne's menu for the evening is always a highlight, not to mention the slumber party afterward. My husband and I plan to enjoy an evening, home alone! Thank You Bethanne!
Charlene
That is so thoughtful! As a mother with 3 young children, I would be very grateful for an evening/morning like this. Especially when my children were spending time with relatives who have their best interest in mind.
Bethanne,
That is a beautiful idea and such a blessing to the children as well as their parents! You are a delight to your family, I can tell! Thank you for sharing such a wonderful and thoughtful idea!!
You are such a sweetheart! You are blessing so many with this little ministry for Valentine's day!
Your siblings, nieces, and nephews too!
A very thoughtful thing to do, and such a blessing to others!
It is refreshing to see someone like yourself who reaches out to love your cousins. God bless you, Bethanne. I am sure you are a wonderful blessing to your family!
Awesome and thoughtful idea! The time for the parents to have alone for that much time is wonderful. Keep up the encouraging work you are doing!
I loved reading about this idea--what a great blessing you are to your family members! I would love to have an evening "off" like this and I'm sure your siblings really appreciate it--as well as it being a blast for your nieces and nephews!!
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