LET’S HAVE FAMILY FUN.

The occasion of my husband’s retirement was also his birthday. Our daughters and I planned a surprise family meal, with fun to follow.

There were their husbands and children, two close friends, an Indian teenager, my brother and his wife, my husband’s sister, his receptionist and her husband. Young and old together. I prepared the savoury dishes while the girls concocted their delectable desserts.

Delighted grandchildren assisted Grandpa in blowing out the candles, ( all 67 of them ) their happy faces glowing in the candlelight. Then came the games.

We handed out Minties, or wrapped sweets, from which the paper was removed and the sweet soon eaten. The Mintie papers were torn thinly up and down, without breaking, to find the longest streamer. Excitement ran high as we carefully, and laboriously, tore the paper, little by little. First finished was 78 cms ( 31 inches ) . ’Mine’s longer’ called one and we measured 89 cms ( 36 inches ) , while others crept up in length until our Indian teenager friend reached an astonishing 127 cms ( 51 inches ) from that small Minty paper.

Then followed Fizz Buzz, a game taught to my brother and me by our Dad,. over 70 years past. Start the circle counting from one, with every following 5 or multiple of 5 called Fizz. At the same time the numbers containing 7 or multiple thereof called Buzz. It sounds very easy till you reach about 14 to 30, which becomes Buzz ( 14 ) Fizz (15), 16, Buzz (17), 18,19, Fizz (20) , Buzz ( 21 ) 22,23, 24, Fizz (25) 26, Buzz (27) Buzz (28) , 29, Fizz (30). If you aren’t collapsing with laughter, you can continue to Fizz and Buzz as long as anyone is left, for you are ‘out’ if you miss a Fizz or Buzz.

Now it is time for us all to become authors, as a list is called with the words crocodile, shampoo, a car, jar of cream, and a Professor. You can compile your own list. Each one writes a story using those words. As there was an acting Professor among us he was included in the hilarious stories written with great imagination. A more restrained game followed as we see how many words may be formed from the word like ‘establishment’. The ladies always seem to win the word games.

Exhausted we sat back to recover and chat.

To conclude a very happy evening, we read a Psalm of Thanksgiving. The honoured guest shared his testimony of the Lord’s goodness, and both my brother and our close friend prayed with deep feeling and thanks to God for all His goodness, and for this happy occasion.

God has given us the blessing of laughter, and a ‘merry heart makes a cheerful countenance. (Proverbs 15:13 ) ‘ He that is of a merry heart has a continual feast.’

(Proverbs 15:15) ‘A merry heart does good lie medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.’ ( Proverbs 17:22)

Try a family fun night. Make the birthday or an anniversary the reason to make merry together.