Family Friendly Glow Party Ideas: Be a Light in the Dark

Oh, the family fun you can create with a few glow products: games, costumes, decor, entertainment and more!  

Over the last five years we have had a rather large GLOW NIGHT event at our Awana Club. (Which is a childrens ministry) Our club typically has 200-400 kids who attend every Wednesday night. This is our BIG outreach event where everyone is encouraged to bring a friend. The kids always have such a GLOWTASTIC blast! It is definitely one of the highlights of the year. 

Whether you are looking to create a simple family fun night, or a large party for the masses, these ideas can be incorporated to bring some serious glow fun! 

Getting GLOW in the atmosphere is easy-peasy. Water bottles (water still in) and glow sticks make a very simple and inexpensive glow light that can be used for decor, or as boundary markers, game pieces, cones, etc. They would also make great bowling pins. The other items in the photo above are upside down glow in the dark dessert bowls. (see below) In addition to decor these could be used for a ball tossing game, with a glow in the dark bouncy ball. 

{source: windy city novelties}

They also have straws, cups and other items available for tableware.

These are probably my VERY MOST favorite glow products that I know of. GLOW CIRCLES. They have a peel n' stick bottom. They come in several colors. They typically run between .50 - 1.00 a piece. Typically the more you purchase the cheaper you can get them. These have a great glow to them, not to mention the endless ways they can be used: name badges,  making glow in the dark words, creating game areas & marking boundaries, establishing a finish line, and so much more.

{source: windy city novelties}

We use these to outline our Awana Game Circles. It is so simple, pop the glow tube in the disk, shake, peel the back off and stick them down on the proper color quadrant. Each quarter of the circle is then glowing in the proper Awana color: Red, Blue, Yellow and Green. 

To create team color pins we use 2 liter soda bottles filled with water and drop in 2 coordinating colored glow sticks. These are then used as their team pin on the circle. We also use a water bottle {smaller bottle than the 2 liter) with one glow stick for the winning team pin in the center square and a 2 liter filled with all four of the teams color in it to replace the orange pin placed in the very center of the circle. For those of you who don't know Awana Games don't even try to wrap your brain around what I just explained. Haha. It is almost a foreign language until you play a game.

Family Glow Game Ideas:

Bowling

Relay Races

{Source: Glow Products}

Glow Golf, Soccer, Badminton, Football, Volleyball 

For relay batons we use Foam LED Lumiton products. They are really inexpensive and are really durable.They have an on / off button. We have used the same ones annually for the last 3 or 4 years. We had a few die last year - so we re-stocked this year.  They run about a $1 a piece now - so super cheap.

{source: windy city novelties}

You can find all sorts of glow costume gear online now- from mohawks to tube wigs, glasses to shoelaces. The list increases daily. It can be a bit shocking what can show up in a glow google search - so if kiddos are looking, you may want to find the safe sites for them first. Eek.

We used EL Wire (see example below) and clear packing tape to create our glow over our black hoodies and pants. We were able to purchase our EL Wire at a pretty low cost - check around before you buy, AND make sure you are comparing the same items, they come in many lengths and color options.

{source: glowsource}

For our glow dance outfits we each used 2- 12' lengths. It ended up being WAY cheaper than buying one 20' long el wire. Like I mentioned earlier, make sure and check around for prices, you just never know.

Watch glow dance video

Our family had so much fun performing this dance video. With more time for planning we could have made it a bit more complicated - although we think it turned out pretty darn cute. Our little guy was  center stage and he will be the first to tell you he has stage fright. As you can imagine this stretched his comfort level a bit. 

My hubby was the guy in all black (you'll see him when those stinkers in the crowd shine their lights on the stage in the middle of the song). The all black outfit kept him hidden most of the time so as he was flipping Nate around in the air it appeared as if he was floating. Now you see why we needed our little guy to be the center stage performer...am I right?

The song we used was a zippy re-make of "This little light of mine" by Rapture Ruckus. We thought it spoke the exact we were trying to encourage share with the kids. SHINE bright out there - be a light in the dark. People are attracted to light - they find it beautifully captivating. 

I know I would love to be found beautifully captivating to others. You know that kind of captivating that isn't prideful, or shallow, but that deep, rich, safe harbor type of captivating. Not me, myself, but Jesus in me shining for others to see. I am also learning I already am beautifully captivating to my Abba Father - no matter how good I am at allowing his light to shine in all the areas of my life. He delights in me. I need to work on living that out and letting it shine. 

"Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we’re proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, “Light up the darkness!” and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful." -2 Corinth. 4:5-6

-Simply Sublime

Job vs. Ministry: Volunteer Appreciation, Recognition & Encouragement Idea

I have been digging deep into the recesses of our filing cabinets finding hidden treasure. Oh, okay, most of it could probably be filed in the trash bin now. Still, in one particular drawer I have uncovered quite a few folders containing sweet memories of passions that have been buried over time, along with a scattering of successfully completed events that we hoped to be inspired by to re-create one day in the future. 

I figured by increasing my posts I could decrease my paper clutter. So, here I am tossing out one of the many Ministry Inspiration Folders onto the web. 

Over the years my husband and I have been what some might call "Leaders of Leaders". Our main ministry has been helping to encourage and lead people who are diving heart first into the areas God is calling them to serve.  It is so exciting to be a part of that process, being on the front lines watching this newly found passion find it's feet to start running. 

At the same time there is another part of ministry we have enjoyed just as much, or possibly even more. That part would be helping leaders who feel dull, unmotivated and lost rekindle the flame of serving with the passion that once lit up their hearts. There is something so tender, vulnerable and uplifting in watching someone go from feeling discouraged & unusable to uncovering the truth that they have a beautiful offering just waiting to bestow.  

The main area of ministry my husband and I have served in together over the last 20 years is in the Awana Children's Ministry with 75 leaders, in the last 5 years we have also added International Missions. Sprinkle in MOPS, Marriage, Men's and Women's Ministry and we have quite a collection. 

No matter the areas all leaders need to be reminded often of their purpose & their value. Without the heart of the ministry as the focus the many tasks to check off in ministry can become the driving force.  With eyes focused on the tasks it seems like the blink of an eye before most leaders begin to feel the weight of burnout upon their shoulders. It isn't long until their eyes have completed shifted to the illuminated EXIT sign above the door - eagerly anticipating their departure.  

So, where do we find the blinders that keep their eyes fixed in the right direction? The answer is, we don't. It has to be born out of the hand and heart of our loving Father in order to be authentic. You can, however, encourage them greatly by frequently reminding them of WHO they are serving, WHY they are serving and WHERE they should be fixing their eyes. 

A few years ago I found this poem and decided to create a Volunteer Appreciation around it. 

It is hard to read in the picture, so here it is:

Some people have a JOB in the church.

Others involve themselves in a MINISTRY.

What's the difference?

If you are doing it just because no one else will, it's a JOB.

If you are doing it to serve the Lord, it's a MINISTRY.

If you quit because somebody criticized you, it was a JOB.

If you keep on serving, it's a MINISTRY.

If you'll do it only if it does not interfere with your other activities, it's a JOB.

If you are committed to staying with it even when it means letting go of other things, it's a MINISTRY.

If you quit because no one praised you or thanked you, it was a JOB.

If you stay with it even though nobody recognizes your efforts, it is a MINISTRY.

It's hard to get excited about a JOB.

It's almost impossible not to be excited about a MINISTRY.

If our concern is success, it's a JOB.

If our concern is faithfulness, it's a MINISTRY.

An average church is filled with people doing JOBS.

A great and growing church is filled with people involved in MINISTRY.

Where do we fit in?

What about us?

If God calls you to a MINISTRY, don't treat it like a JOB.

If you have a JOB, give it up and find a MINISTRY.

God does not want us feeling stuck with a JOB,

But excited and faithful to Him in a MINISTRY.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5 : 16-18)

How did we use this in our ministry you ask? 

Our event was a total surprise to our volunteers. Since gathering them all together on one day, in one place can be quite a feat we challenged  ourselves to find a way we could get to them on a club night. We DID IT! When our leaders stepped into their designated area to work with the kids we announced we needed them in the other room. {We decided to bring in some temporary volunteers to run our game time.} They were a bit bewildered but as they walked into this serene, beautifully lit up room they were greatly surprised and honored to see we had something special in store for them. EVERYONE was able to participate and feel blessed at some phase through the night.

For decor we had decked out one of our rooms all things Valentine's Day (it was a few days prior to the actual day). We had dessert, candles and cards on the tables, along with the sheet comparing Ministry to a Job.  

In addition we wanted to give them an opportunity to spur their own memories of why they volunteer and give them an opportunity to encourage others. We gave them a cute little sheet of paper to journal a special story of something that impacted their hearts in the time they had been volunteering.  They would then turn the sheets in with the intended purpose that we would be able to share these stories with all of the leaders. Stories are POWERFUL - they are reminders that we are a part of a bigger picture. The part we play impacts others...always. Sometimes we get so busy we forget the simplicity of a story. 

This was a pretty simple and meaningful way to reach our leaders with a loving reminder of their importance. They were in the middle of it, so the ministry was fresh on their brains. It was a beautiful thing. 

Sometimes there just aren't options to pull something like this off. That's okay - pray. The very, most POWERFUL thing you can do for your leaders, EVER,  is to pray for them. God will give you the vision and heart to know how to encourage them. God is the all-knowing KING of CREATIVITY! 

-Simply Sublime

"Culture is Defined and Inspired by It's ART": The Anima Series

"Culture is Defined and Inspired by it's ART."  Listen people - there are some AH-mazing new videos out by a group of artists who are INCREDIBLE!!! In the last month or so they have been popping out some suh-weet ART for the eyes and ears. Whether you are 8 or 80 you will be encouraged and inspired by the artists who are choosing to use their talents to do Kingdom Work!They will be the first to say they aren't worthy to be called that - but they are laying it out there with willing hearts. It is a breath of fresh air. From the SPOKEN WORD, to MUSIC, to DRAMA, to DANCE this group is bringing their offering of talent to us in a real, refreshing and life-giving way.

Two of my favorite videos they have posted are Who You Are: A Message to ALL Men & Who You are: A Message to ALL Women.  The videos are simply precious and complete truth. If only our hearts could fully receive the love God has for us, we could find our true value in Him and operate in that fully. Oh how beautiful would it be for a sea of people to wash this earth living that kind of life? I am praying people can watch these videos and be inspired to LIVE LIKE THAT! 

Sometimes digging in God's word and receiving, or even understanding what it is saying to us can be a challenge. I think of young girls who have so many other things speaking into them from our culture - magazines, love songs, media. Boys struggling to be ENOUGH when our culture is telling them what being successful looks like. And don't you think for one minute I believe these are only issues for the young - this is a human crises that taints all ages. It has no age restrictions. We need to be soaking in truth to offset the loud voices barraging us in our culture. How refreshing to have these videos as opportunities to learn the truth of what the Bible is full of - God's LOVE & Truth.

The ANIMA Series has videos posted on you tube that range in style and should have something that will appeal to all.  Like most budding artists they could use some support to launch their Collaborative Worship album - if you watch their 10 x 10 campaign video you will learn more about this. They have their Kickstarter campaign open and ready to go too.

They are planning to reveal a new video every FRIDAY - whoop, whoop. I am really excited to make this a weekly "Check it out" moment with our family. What an inspiration this can be to our kids to remind them God created them with a variety of gifts just waiting to be used for His Glory! Let's tap into that.

BE INSPIRED PEOPLE!

-Simply Sublime

Family Summer Challenge: DIY Bible Verse Pennant Flag Project

Can you hear the birds chirping? 

Can you smell the the flowers blooming?

Summer is upon us. 

It's the time of year we all look forward to when we can finally get our ahhhhhh on. 

Our schedules relax a bit.

The kids have their eyes fixed on one thing and that is to:

PLAY! 

As much as I am looking forward to this respite, I am also sensing an urgency to press in and grab a hold of God with every ounce of my being. A call to keep our family focused and centered on things with eternal value. This is what spurred on the concept of this project. 

It began with the idea of each family member picking a verse for our whole family to memorize together. My thought was we would memorize one verse a week. Then God gave me this great picture of the scriptures on a pennant flag garland. So as we each picked our verses I designed a pennant shape on my design software and placed the text along with the keyword each verse represented. 

Next I printed them out and cut them in actual size so I could trace them onto a white tea towel. You could use any fabric but I like the texture and rough edges of a washed tea towel. It gives it a lil' vintagey feel. 

I placed the computer printed paper under the tea towel and am tracing the text underneath onto the tea towel with a sharpie pen. Since this will not need to be washed I didn't need a fabric pen - just a regular sharpie pen.

As fabric moves and shifts there are bound to be imperfections but I like the character this adds. You will notice in the above photo the fabric is longer on top than the paper pattern - I was going to have it go over the top of the banner and around the back - but changed my mind (yeah - go figure) I later trimmed it to the same size as the paper. 

Voila - the scripture pennants are ready - now for the colorful backing addition.

Check out the scraps we have on hand, just waiting for a fun project like this.

Now for the difficult part, picking which fabrics you want to use with which verses, making sure they coordinate nicely on the garland. I used pinking shears (because I like the look) and trimmed the fabric about a 1/2" larger then the tea towel panels - except for the top where I had about 1.5 inch larger so I could fold it behind and create a pocket to run the twine through.

Sewing the white panel to the colored backing. 

Now it is time to sew across the top back of the flag so there is a secure place to run the twine through. 

Here they are all sewn ready to be strung.

 I decided to use natural twine. I played with the idea of ribbon, white rope...but decided these would pair nicely with the craft look of the finished product.

I used a safety pin in the twine so that I could easily move the twine through the back pockets of the pennant flags. 

and here they are all strung and ready to hang. 

We hung them in a doorway of our house where we will frequently be reminded to memorize away. The wee ones are SO excited they each have their verse they picked out on display for us to work on. They can't wait to begin.

The kids decided we will be starting with the flag on the right and work our way to the left. Don't even ask me, I have no idea and can't begin to tell you how much this goes against my personal wiring - but I LOVE that they are excited and have a plan for our family to work through this together. 

Hoping this little family project of ours inspires you to channel your inner creativity and make a fun family plan to keep God the focus as you rejuvenate over the summer. 

-Simply Sublime!

Children's Seder Meal Activity Sheet: Passover Celebration

Tonight we are having our first...
Family & Friends Passover Celebration. 

It has been REALLY heavily placed upon my heart that our role as parents is to be "THE" spiritual leaders in the family. We need to be deliberate in seeking out opportunities to show our children how to live this thing out. I was thinking the other week about this and realized I do a pretty good job of bringing God into our regular daily life. We talk about him all the time & pray. We could do a lot better at serving him. We don't however create very many special events or celebrations where we thank Him for all he has done. 

This Easter provided a great opportunity for us to start a new tradition of PRAISE. We decided to invite friends and our family to a dinner where we would remember and thank God for all he has done. 

Not coming from a Jewish decent, and not being close to a family that is, the whole evening is a whirlwind of fresh concepts and activities. So, I have been researching for weeks to see what a Christian Passover Meal would look like.  We also wanted to have a large focus on the kiddos - keeping it to a level that would soak into their minds and hearts.   So I found a great game to play on the 10 plaques of Egypt. All you need is a printer and paper to create it. Here is the link: 10 Plaques of Egypt Game

Then this morning I had a brainstorm.... so here is what I whipped up. Feel free to use it if you would like!

-Simply Sublime

More Chalkboard Art Quote: Kind Words & Love in Action

The newest creation and my favorite so far: {Probably because I ADORE Mother Teresa} 

Here is another one I made up yesterday. This one was inspired by a friend's facebook quote they posted. I LOVE the message! Would be a great daily reminder to actually

<------ live.it.out------="">

Memorizing the Word, Transforming the MIND with James: Mercy Triumphs by Beth Moore

SCRIPTURE MEMORY BOOK

click to purchase in my etsy store

Feeling crafty? Below I have a HOW-TO create your own handcrafted version.

I LOVE a good Bible Study - in addition I LOVE to create systems, projects - to bring a concept to life.   Well in this new study I am participating in at our Church - Beth Moore's 

James: Mercy Triumphs 

there are several different levels you can choose to participate in. One option in the study is to memorize the entire book of James. Yes you read me right.... the ENTIRE book. Now we do have 5 months to accomplish this - so broken down enough this is VERY DO-able! The key would be to finding a system that works, a system that you will stick with. 

Many people have offered creative ideas about how to accomplish this. Sheet protectors with a chapter per page. Index cards. Use the first letter of each word to spur your memory. For the auditory learners say it out loud to yourself. All of these GREAT! 

Well I decided to take the ideas I knew would work for me and PRETTIFY them. Yeah - I made that word up. I like it though! Don't you? 

After a few minutes cutting and pasting scripture into my graphic program I decided to see if anyone else had  already accomplished this & had it to share out in cyberland. Sure enough I found this lovely blog by Laura @ Lauraboggess.com who created 3 x 5 cards. 

(you may need to scroll down her page a little to find this link - it is a hotlink that says "PDF" after some photos of her journal with the cards posted on the pages.)

On this blog Laura decided to spread verses out over 54 weeks but to keep it simple I decided I would memorize 2-3 of her weekly cards each week to fit them into my 5 month timeline. This made my task at hand SO MUCH easier. 

I printed out one copy of the cards and trimmed each one down to the size of the border. There are 54 cards total. Once they were all stacked up Week 1 to Week 54 I began trimming my craft paper to 3 1/2" x 5 1/2". 

As this was my first attempt I ended up making my pages one sided, one week card placed on the front of the page and the back of each page is blank. (for the current ones I am making for friends I decided to put the weekly cards on the front and back of each page to decrease the number of pages total = less materials)

Once I had enough craft paper cut I began using a wee bit of adhesive to tack the scripture cards onto the craft paper - just enough to hold it in place temporarily. After this phase was completed it was time to run them through my heat sealer. I LOVE ME SOME Laminated Pages!!!! Did I sound like Beth there? :) 

As with all laminated projects trimming with a small border of the protector left around the edges is important to keep the seal - also remember to round corners as they can be quite sharp. 

I have a Zutter Binder System for Wired binding projects and I always DELIGHT in the finished product when using it. Love the finished look. You could also one hole punch the corner and use a ring binder. or use two or three ring binders down the side to hold them together. 

As you can see this is my first book I made which is quite thick - the new ones are about half the thickness of this one. Which will make them so, so easy to pack around in your bag, everywhere you go.  Now here is what makes this SUBLIME.... are you ready?

This great tip came from my Mentor...With the laminated pages you can have whoever checks you use a DRY ERASE pen and highlight areas you need to improve on without interrupting you mid-way. How AWESOME is that? No really... 

and isn't this just the CUTEST?

If you don't have access to a heat sealer you can go to your local office supply store and they can laminate for you. They can even bind it. Now - this is just my idea of what will work for me. I love it SO MUCH I want to pack it in my bag, hold it, even HUG it!!! I know call me crazy. 

-Simply Sublime!

UPDATE: I have created a thinner, easier to pack around version and I have it for sale in my etsy store. So if you don't feel like making your own you are just one simple click away from being able to buy one or link here.