Just go with it

A lot of times I will call my daddy and ask him to come eat lunch with me. He's normally pretty quick to plan a day and make the 45 minute drive to Conway. I always love this because I get to spend time with him, and I get a free meal out of the deal! 

Yesterday was his 50th birthday. I devised a plan which included seeing most of my family and getting a free dinner, all while never having to leave my city! You see, I'm about smack dab in the middle between my dad and my brother, so it wasn't too hard to convince everyone to come here. 

Also, there's Golden Corral. 

Growing up, I actually hated this place. I would get so upset when my grandparents wanted to go anywhere with a buffet. Not really sure why, but I hated it non the less. 

Now, I find it kind of fun. You can get steak and a piece of lasagna, then finish it off with Cotten candy or a treat dipped in the chocolate fountain-or both! 

The idea is so nice, but most of the time the execution isn't worth the calories. And let's not even get me started on the cleanliness (or lack there of)... but it's still a fun experience every once in a while though. It's kind of like a ball park hot dog, just go with it. 

This happens to be the third family birthday celebrated at the ol' Corral since I've moved to Conway. I'm not sure how this "tradition" started, but this was by far the the best one yet.  

Take a look and see... 

The birthday crew: 7 out of 8 good sports about the hats... Can't complain too much.

Now time to sneak up on dad with the cake!! Oh look, I broke the candle... 

But Handy Man Marty fixed it up with a little icing! 

Present time!! He's pumped! Or just humoring me. 

Notice my alteration of the typical 5 year old birthday card... 

I really went all out with the "old man" theme...

At this point, he was obviously a little over all of my birthday antics-but hey, you only turn 50 once! 

Happy Birthday, Pops! Hope you had as much fun as I did! 

Spring Cleaning

My week of rest apparently meant I took a week off from everything but the necessities, including blogging. I didn't even wash my hair for the better part of 5 days. Take that Spring Break! I do have the beginning stages of a few different blog post though, so there's that. Possibly expect to see a flood of post in the next few days...

Monday morning and my hair is only one day dirty, there's progress. I've already worked this morning, starting at 5:34am (because I can never get there right at 5:30 as scheduled) and I'm currently on hold with the government healthcare market place... so I'm going to use this hold music as fuel.

This past Saturday night consisted of a full on sleep over. 2 dogs, 3 kids, 4 twenty something girls. All crammed into a two bedroom apartment. Just a cozy little [big] mess.

Typically I make my bed every (mid) morning and I won't go to sleep with dishes in the sink, unless I fall asleep on the couch. You know, the "normal" house keeping task hammered into a person by their parental figures form an early age.

When someone comes to my home for the first time, I like to have at least a 5 minute warning. Long enough to straighten all the pillows, throw the dirty clothes basket in the bathtub behind the shower curtain if need be (no judging here, you know you've done something similar), wipe the counters, push in the chairs around the dining table, brew a cup of coffee, then have a seat so when they actually walk in they truly believe my house always looks like an issue of Country Living.

The second time you come over you will get similar treatment, although the pillows may be a little messy and there's a chance residue from lunch will be atop the counters.

Now, the more frequently you come into my home, chances are I won't even bother putting on real clothes (pajamas and a bath robe are my fav), let alone straighten every pillow or bother to hide the clothes hamper.

During this big sleep over Saturday me and the 3 kiddos popped some pop corn and watched "Yours Mine and Ours". Sorry mom, when you come to big sisters house, no bed time rules! Readers digest version of the movie: huge families marry into one another, 18 kids later - disaster after disaster, happiness.

At the beginning of the movie the mom (who happened to be hippie like and have red hair) said "Homes are for free expressions, not for good impressions." I heard that and thought it was pretty good, intended to write it down, but my hands were covered in some boxed muffin mix as I was preparing for what would be the morning breakfast. So I kept listening as I was stirring. Once the muffins were in the oven and all the dishes were in the dishwasher, I finally settled into the couch with my boy Noah. Then, mid-movie the mom says it again...

"Homes are for free expressions, not for good impressions"

This time I grabbed my phone and jotted it down. I knew it had some significance, in some way.

I started thinking about all of my issues and how I am so concerned with the impression my home gives off to new guest. Those who know me well experience the mess and all its glory, but through that they see me for me. They are a part of that Free Expression.

This got me thinking again, but... on a bit of a deeper level.

The way I feel when someone new enters my home could be compared to the way most people feel when coming before God. We are so concerned with tidying up and sweeping our issues under the carpet, we sometimes don't even allow God in. Not to the real us, anyway. I did that for years. I would sweep my sin away, acting as if it never happened. The moment I truly came face to face with this mighty graceful God I serve I realized, He is the ultimate housekeeper. Not only is He here to help us clean house, but He wants to. He longs to take our baggage (hidden laundry hampers and all), to set us free from the need to cover things up in our lives. He desires to be welcomed into our mess. 

I want to encourage you to stop being so concerned with how you present yourself before The Lord, because His deepest desire is that you simply come before Him. Acknowledge who He is, glorify Him. Then watch as His grace unfolds around you.  

The Scripture says "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up", what a fabulous promise from God! You can find that in James 4:10. If you keep reading the book of James, in chapter 5 there is a verse that completely changed my view of who God is and how He viewed me. Verse 16 says, "therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective".

Healing. So often we only associate the word healing with physical elements, but why limit Gods healing power to that of only the body? How much more does He want to heal our spirits, our souls? 

From the moment He healed the entire person of who I was, I have never been the same. Walking in bondage is no fun, but God can set you totally free if only you allow Him to clean a little house.

My prayer for you today is that you do a little spring cleaning, in whatever area of your life that needs it most. 

- Kris 


PS... 55 minutes later, the market place finally put me through to a real person! Hurray! Health Insurance is one step closer... 

Mini Van Blues

I must warn you, I'm feeling a little sassy today.

Don't mind me, just eating no bake cookies straight from the pan, drinking beer right out of the bag. In this picture you see the signs of a stress free Friday night. Little did I realize what was in store over the next two days...

Saturday morning I got up to complete my last homework assignment due before officially being on spring break. I got up at 10am (my sweet golden hour). That would have been glorious, but the night before I didn't go to sleep until nearly 5am! WHAT is wrong with me?! Also, my body has decided to act like the rest of me (mind & spirit) and turn into an old woman! Last week I had major issues with my shoulder, and now my back is caught in some twisted up tangle. I have no idea what I'm to do about all of this, other than embrace the change that comes with age. I can now tell when the weathers changing by my body's reaction... Thankfully I live in a state that has constant weather patterns. Sarcasm! It's more like this...

Saturday afternoon I ventured to the local discount days for dogs (for those who didn't know, that's an alliteration). My trusty friend Kelsey and the two younger sisters and I embarked on this adventure with the two dogs in toe.

We only managed to snag this one group selfie because it was to tasking to even think of photo opps once inside. Just imagine over a hundred dogs of all shapes and sizes waiting to be stuck, pricked and prodded with yearly vaccines and such. Now add in ADD Baby Deacon and my spazzing back muscle, oh the fun we had!

From there, I had to rush home and load my car with the extra furniture in my apartment because.... *drum roll please*..... I got a new roommate who comes with all kinds of goodies!! Seriously, the upgraded latte making Keurig and all.

Then off to little rock I went. I called grandma as I was pulling into the driveway, she kept me company while me and my hurting back unloaded my furniture obsession into the family storage facility. Really, it's just a warehouse. I would show you a picture, but I forgot to snag one.  Instead I will let you take a gander at the whole Kirkpatrick homestead. (thanks, google earth images!) That 2nd warehouse, thats where the furniture hoarders unite!

Grams jumped a ride to the gas station that was only half a mile down the road so we could have 5 precious minutes of "us time". Any date with Grams is a good date, no matter the length. Period. I dropped her off and went on my way to my next stop - babysitting these two goofy guys!

Please notice our somewhat matching Ray bans! Only the cool kids get spectacles like this.

Due to my inner tire well deciding to disassemble itself from the vehicle and land among my tire for the duration of a 1 hour car ride, I had to go back to grandmas and swap cars in the middle of the night. At least I got another mini date with grams, right? Daddy's gonna look at my car over the next few days so I will be rocking the mini van! Now, if this doesn't further prepare me for motherhood, I'm not quiet sure what will.

As I'm about to walk out of grandmas house (its nearly 1am mind you), she digs into her pocket as serious as can be and hands me two quarters. She says "now use this to call me if you have any trouble". Just as soon as the words left her mouth, we both started laughing because she realized pay phones are so out of date.

.
Is she not the cutest thing you've ever seen?


Sunday morning I had to rise extra early (6am) for a store wide work meeting. I'm a little nerdy about my love of Home Depot. Who wouldn't love a company that promotes "pie in the face" contest? Here is our management team, in all their glory.
 

Home from the meeting by 8am, asleep in a matter of moments. Waking up from my mid morning slumber long enough to tell the family I wouldn't be attending church... then back sleep.

I wake up to a phone call from the new rooms saying shes on her way with all of her stuff! I'm not quiet sure what was said, but a few minutes later I was out of bed and ready to face the day. Again.

And that looked something like this: get dressed, ibuprofen, walk Deacon, move some stuff, ice on back, move more stuff, Sonic Happy hour, mattress on top of van, fight between friends, working it out between friends (because that's what friends do), deliver bed, unpack kitchen, unpack bedroom, dinner at Cracker Barrel, unpack more of kitchen and bedroom, shower, coffee (excuse: had to learn how to work the fancy new machine), finally... BED.

I am thankful for good friends and family who were a part of this very busy, unpredictable weekend.

Now, I embrace this week titled "Spring Break". Even though I may not be skiing in the mountains, laying on the beach, or hiking the grand canyon, I welcome it non the less. I welcome you, sweet week of relief. I welcome you with open arms and tired eyes.

A Collectors Kitchen

Many of my best memories have been made around a dinning room table or a kitchen counter. In my grandmas kitchen for instance, there's this specific corner of the counter that I've claimed as my own. From the time I was old enough to climb up and sit on it, that's been my place. Even when she insisted I not sit on the counter. To this day, as a grown woman, if its late at night and grandma's cooking something up, you will find me sitting on her counter. There are numerous kitchen bar stools across most of Arkansas that have significance or hold a special memory too, some on a nearly weekly basis. I'm just a sucker for good kitchen conversations.

I am always one for the  nostalgic side of things. I love for items of everyday use to be linked to people or memories that brighten my day.

Take a look at this special little spoon.

A friend of the family left this at our house more than 10 years ago, I tried to return it but because I liked it so much she insisted on me to keeping it. When I moved out on my own it got added to my collection of random assorted silverware. I love that when I use it I think of her, it just makes me happy.

It's hard to even start on the collection of coffee cups I have, although lately its taken a massive hit in numbers. There's the cup I got from Yellowstone, then broke it, then I went back the next summer and got the same one again. There's a few from grandma, including a pink elephant. A cup my memaw gave me with all the Nashville whereabouts listed, and of course the beloved cup from Wyoming. Lets also not forget my "Cowgirls Rule" favorite.

Yes, my kitchen is a collection of happy memories. Some might criticize most items don't match, or there being no full set of any one thing, but I seriously wouldn't want it any other way.

I mean take a look at these special guys. Grandma gave me these, passed down from her kitchen. I can remember sitting on her counter watching her put them to use. Many soups have been ladled and eggs fried, oh the stories they have to tell.  

Fried eggs you say? I love to cook a piece of bread with a fried egg in the middle, but calling it "boat food" (because Brandi's dad grew up eating this while fishing in Alaska) makes it taste that much better.

And the finished product....

                                               does this make me a food blogger now?

How about those families who have passed down entire dish sets to me over the years? I'm now on my third set of "hand me downs". I love that. (not to worry, I've passed the previous two sets down to someone else so they are being well taken care of).

I am currently adding to my kitchen collection, acquiring special little items to attach later made memories to. I think my favorite purchase in all these years would have to be my salt and pepper shakers.

                                         Hello, who wouldn't just love these little love birds! 

I am a fan of entertaining. Maybe that's why, in some way, I enjoy this blog. I entertain you with my thoughts. I love even more to cook while entertaining. Emotionally, that's my happy place.

Notice the very present "messy bun" kitchen up-do? Happens on the regular. No apologies.

It is an extraordinary feeling being comfortable enough in someone else's home to cook for them. Something about knowing where to find a special ingredient or a mixing bowl in another woman's kitchen, it's like a right of passage. So for those of you who have given me the honors, thanks! And for those who I've refused to let in my kitchen, or done so reluctantly... I'm going to work on that....

Now go, cook something memorable!

Food. Sex (in the city). Clothes. College.

Why do I have this sudden voice on the ol' world wide web, and how do I plan to use it?

That is the question of the hour. 

I can't be a food blogger. Don't get me wrong - I LOVE food and I can thrown down in the kitchen. But I can't see myself taking the extra time after I complete every step to snap a photo. I'm ready to just get it done and get it in my mouth. Holla!

I can't be a Carrie Bradshaw type either, maybe 3 years ago. Is that really how long it has been since I've been on a real date? Oh my...
       

   ----segue----

I'm not yet a wife or mother, so that's out of the question, unless you want to receive a daily update on my four legged child.

He is pretty spectacular. 

Although I love a good Pinterest board full of the latest fashions, I'm no fashionista. No, don't have deep enough pockets for that. And lets be honest, I use Pinterest for food creations, cheap laughs, and cute animal pictures.

I could dedicate an entire website to my lack of enthusiasm for completing college, but I fear what backlash could {would} come of it. You know, the "You HAVE to finish, Kris! You are SO close!" So that's not it either....

Here I sit, trying to define what it is I am doing, when in reality there is no true definition. I'm just a girl, living life, sharing those experiences a day at a time. Hopefully making someone else laugh along the way.

I will admit to always pointing the post towards God, but I hope my life is something that resembles that in itself. I want people to look at me, and only see the God who lives inside of me.

So, here I am. (here's my shells Lord!)

Stay awhile, won't you?

As of lately, the word pioneer keeps coming up. Every day someone uses the word or I see it in a book, or I hear it on TV, social media, newspapers, in class.. the word is everywhere. Pioneer. The last time a word kept popping up it was more than just a word- it was a country. In less than a year God put me there-in said country. Since the first time I heard that word India, so much has changed. Because of this I've learned when something keeps showing up around me to look into it. To pray over it. To ask God what it's importance is to me.

First: I went to the dictionary to get the literal meaning of the word pioneer.

Webster says:

1. a person who helps create or develop new ideas, methods, etc.
2. one who is first among the earliest in any field of inquiry, enterprise, or progress.

3. someone who is one of the first people to move to and live in a new area

4. To lead the way for (a group). 

Second:  I started to look in my life and see if the description fits anywhere. It does! Surprise!

I am typically the first friend to come up with crazy spontaneous ideas. I am the first child, the first grandchild. I was the first of my immediate family to go to college or leave the country for any reason. I am the first of my family to follow after God, seeking His full will of my life.

I am the first of many areas, I am a pioneer in many ways. I would be foolish to believe it stops here, foolish to limit God to only using me for those few "first".

While Ree Drummond may have coined the name Pioneer Woman, I too am a pioneer woman. I am fairly confidant she would be ok with me calling myself this too (as long as I don't try to market myself as she has, right?). Yes, I am ok placing myself in any category she's in. Seriously, who wouldn't love a person that says "Chilled white wine is definitely on my love list". Sign me up!  

My grandmother recently told me "you're going to be 27, you're no longer a child, you're a woman. Time is marching on." Oh, how very true that is.  Thanks for the reminder, Grams!

I have no idea what I will be pioneering my way through, but what an adventure this will surly be.

Stay Tuned. 

Building Bridges

What do you think of when you hear the word "Nation"? Do you think of a place you call home, a flag you proudly display on regular occasion holding those stars and stripes? Yea, me too. Or I did. So much so that I have a pretty awesome copy of the Declaration of Independence hanging on my living-room wall. True story.

And to put the icing on the cake, I proudly display the Pledge of Allegiance...

  
Remember, I did have those dreams of living in the White House one day. 

I want to share a story with you, something that made me realize I no longer view the word "nation" as what I always have before. Before I can do that I have to give you a little back story.

I briefly mentioned this class I am taking a little while ago. It is an in depth course on the purpose of missions. But it is SO much more than that. Through the first 5 weeks of the course, the instructors have laid the foundation of who God is, what His purpose was (is) in certain actions, and what His desires are for the entire world. They have done all of this by simply explaining scripture in the rawest way I've ever heard it.


To try, in my own words, and sum this up in one simple posting would be nearly impossible. But I can tell you a few key factors. First would be this: we are blessed so that we may bless others. Plain and simple. Abraham was blessed by God so that his descendents may receive that blessing and in turn, teach the gospel to others which would bless them with eternal life. And then there is this; when God says the word Nation as in "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19) He is not merely meaning political nation states such as America, France, China or the likes there of. No, He specifically means the people groups inside each of those political nations. This is proven within other scriptures when the Bible tells us "this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14) We know the end has not come. So this can only mean the word nation does in fact mean "people group".


Ok, now that we are on the same page about what a nation is in the biblical understanding, I can continue on with my story...

I went to a local Chinese place for lunch Friday, one I've driven by a thousand times but never eaten. They were just opening up when I got there so I knew I would have to wait a few minutes. I looked over the menu, placed my order, paid, then took a step back to wait for the food. All while doing that, another customer came in. She had called her order in (why didn't I think of that?). She paid, then we stood there waiting together.

This place is set up where you can see everything in the kitchen, which would normally provide comfort to a person wanting to purchase food. After a moment the other customer looked at me and said "did you see her [meaning the woman working] wash her hands?" Honestly, I hadn't even thought of it, but when she brought it up I realized I didn't see her wash her hands. Starting to feel a little germ-a-foby, I watched as the other customer demanded a refund telling the worker how disgusting it was for her to not wash her hands before preparing our food. The woman behind the counter offered, in very broken English, to wash her hands and remake the food (even in this cross cultural barrier, I could sense the embarrassment). The customer refused, got her refund, then left in an obvious state of frustration. The worker had to explain to the other two people in the kitchen area what happened. They were speaking their native language, so I can't be sure of exactly what was said, but body language and tone have heavy influence.

I stood there, going over everything that just happened in my head. Over it and over it. As I'm watching these people try to regroup, I notice the woman go back to the sink to wash her hands several times as she begins preparing another dish. My heart began to sink deeper and deeper.

Don't get me wrong, I always hope what I'm eating from any restaurant is high quality, state of the art, perfectly cleaned, handled, and prepared food. But here, I all I could think of were these people and how that worker must be feeling. I started praying out loud (not loudly, just enough for the enemy to hear and know I was declaring it a place for The Lord) for the Holy Spirit to comfort these people, especially that woman. I immediately thought of these three workers as a nation, and one that statistically hasn't truly been shown who Christ is or what He did for them. In that moment, God allowed me to feel just a little of what He feels for these people. He opened my eyes to the longing He has for every person to know Him. There in the Chinese restaurant, I truly learned the difference in a nation state and a nation people group.

I watched as the recent situation took a tole on the woman. I saw her get frustrated. I knew God wanted her to feel adequate, to feel loved. I then noticed the tip jar. Now, I'm not one to skimp out on a tip, I actually tip over most of the time (years of working in the food industry here). But to excessively tip is not really my norm either. I opened my wallet to the cash department. I normally don't have cash, but this day I did. I saw the options, a one dollar bill and a twenty. My meal was only 8$, and that was because I added an egg roll (those little tasty treats are sure to be in heaven). I knew what I wanted to give, then I knew what God wanted me to give. 

I shut my wallet.

I stood there, still waiting on my food, knowing God had told me what to do. So I had a choice, do I bless this woman or disobey God? Hesitating for only a second, I folded up the 20 and waited. When the lady handed me the to-go order, she wouldn't even look me in the eye. I made sure to get her attention then placed the money in her hand. With a verbal thank you on my part and a big smile on hers, I was on my way. As I approached the door I heard her exclaim with joy to her co-workers. I got in the car and was immediately reminded by the Holy Spirit that we are blessed so we may be a blessing to others.

Once I got home and finished my lunch, I opened the fortune cookie. This is what it said "Our deeds determine us, just as we determine our deeds". Kind of fitting, I suppose.

You can call it paying it forward, or you can get super spiritual about it. Either way we are called to do more than average with what we are given; be it our money, our time, or our talents. I know many people have blessed me with all of those things over the years and my life has been heavily impacted because of their generosity. Will that 20$ truly keep me from being able to maintain my current lifestyle? Not at all. But what it did do is show someone a little kindness who probably needed it more in that moment than I even realized. It created a small bridge over a great culture barrier and allowed God the opportunity to love on one of His children. 
 

Taking out the trash

You've heard the saying "what goes in must come out". I like to believe that's talking about a lot more than just food. Try music, or television- those both effect the way we percieve things. Remember the too much Greys Anatomy issue (I still sometimes believe I could be a surgeon).

I've become slightly obsessed with reading other peoples blogs. I blame Facebook for this, because so many people can "share" a link so easily. I don't necessarily think my problem is a bad problem to have though. As I read each post, I am constantly expanding my mind with the ideas of others. I am learning how people view issues I've only somewhat considered. I am growing interested in things I've never heard of. I am laughing out loud. I am learning new methods of food preparation and the value I place on family. I am getting emotionally involved, and I am being challenged in my faith in the best possible way. I am growing. Now if only I could find the motivation to latch on to those exercise inspired blogs!

My rapidly growing appetite for more challenges me to not only accept what I believe, but to look into it and find the root of why I believe it. Through this, I am learning more of who I am. I am learning more of who I want and don't want to become. And because my "root" is the Bible, I am learning more of who God is and who He wants me to become.

I am a fairly nice person. Generally people like me-unless they can't handle the sarcasm because that comes in massive waves. I like to make people laugh and if I love you, you know it. I am protective of those I care about. Just an all or nothing kind of girl here.

I recently offended someone greatly, although my intentions were never to do so. This person is someone I once considered a dear friend. I've tried to work things out, over and over. I've sought council on the issue. I've prayed over the issue. I've had other people pray over the issue. I gave it to God in total surrender. Through all of this I reached one conclusion: I will not trash talk them, especially on social media. I am taking out the trash. Because someone has to. I refuse to stoop to a level of immaturity via social media outburst for momentary relief of pent up frustration. 

I do hope and pray they get the help they need. My flesh wants to reveal every detail of this awful situation to anyone willing to listen, but the Holy Spirit reminds me that this person too is a child of His. I am also reminded that I will be held accountable for my actions and reactions. So when my gut instinct is to use hurtful words, I take a step back and realize this is much bigger than me. I choose to speak life. I choose to respect people, even if they do not respect me. I do this because my grandma tells me I am better than that, I do this because I can here Renita's voice telling its the right thing to do. More importantly, I do this to honor God because the covenant He created with me is much greater than any vengeful word I could ever utter.

My pastor once said "Hurting people hurt people, healed people heal people." That has stuck with me all this time because it has proved to be more than true. Obviously we know Christ does the healing, in all ways possible, but the general idea is; if someone has received that healing power of Christ they will share it with others bringing them the truth in which they too can be healed. Just as, if someone is hurting they will find a way, be it intentional or not, to hurt those around them. This only reveals they are going through something so terrible (emotionally, physically, spiritually) they feel a moment of relief to cause someone else the same hurt.

On days I have wanted to be hateful God reminds me, He loves this person and I need to show them His love too.When you realize this place in your life, loving those you want to love the least, this gives God an opening to move in ways you've never considered. He will move in ways so big you will be blown away, speechless. I am now waiting for my "speechless" moment. I see big things happening all around me. I am thankful He is faithful and as I've been praying for this particular situation He is honoring my request and answering my prayers. Not only is He answering my prayers, but He did so in such a way I never imagined... But I am also thankful He has allowed me to go through this, because it has taught me so much and through it all, it has draw me closer to Him.

I don't want to ever have to reach a point of desperation before I call out to God. I want to walk in constant communication with Him, allowing Him in on every situation and decision.

I want to walk boldly for the Lord.

Seat of Shame

So I saw this eCard...

I tried to find it again, but to my disappointment- I couldn't.

It said something along the lines of "You never realize how lame your life is until someone ask what your hobbies are."

And becuase of that, I got to thinking. Sure, I have many "hobboies" or things I really enjoy doing, but the bulk of my time is spent with family. That is my family-family, my adoptive family, and those few friends who have somehow turned into family. You know what?

I wouldn't want it any other way. 

I'm an extremely competitive person, I also tend to run with an idea once its presented. When Noah suggested a toilet seat as the consolation prize in a recent game, I ran with the idea-straight to the hardware store (good thing I work for one!). Then the construction began...

We collectively decided the "biggest loser" of each family played game would have to wear the beloved "Seat of Shame" during the next game. Perhaps you think it's not a big deal.  I mean, how many games can one group of kids actually play...

In one weekend, I'm pretty sure the count of seat wearers tallied to 4 (some wore it more than once).

Don't let those faces fool you, they totally love it.

There were other victims, but they opted to wear the sparkly bedazzled Seat of Shame for the entire game rather than have their picture taken. May have been a smart move considering graduation slide shows are only a few years away.  

One of the greatest parts of this little invention? When someone has lost the game, they aren't as disappointed because they become the center or attention.

I have recently be introduced to an entire slew of family friendly games. Among my favorites would be Ticket to Ride and 7 Wonders, although I've yet to win either. Then for the more grown up crowd there is the rather crass, but often times hilarious, Cards Against Humanity. Just think apples to apples in adult form. (caution: if you lack a sense of humor or the ability to shake things off, don't attempt that last one)

I encourage you, put away the iPad, drop the remote, gather up the gang and commit to spending the evening engaged in a good old fashioned board game. Also, I challenge you (competitive nature here) to attempt your own newly instated family (or friend) tradition involving game night, then share it with me.

It will be hard for you to top that lego man, left over game piece, bedazzled Seat of Shame.