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Susan Alexander Yates

Susan Alexander Yates

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Want to Plan a Fun Family Get-Together? Here’s Help!

by Susan Alexander Yates

Have you ever wondered at God’s timing? I have.

Last March, just when the world was about to go into lockdown, I released a book all about planning family get-togethers — get-togethers that would be nearly impossible for the next year!

Let’s just say that from a marketing perspective, that was pretty terrible timing.

But I’m sure God knew what He was doing.

With all of us facing new challenges, I pivoted, and created a free resource called Camp at Home with more than 100 ideas to help you survive all the time in isolation with your little ones. (More than 1,500 of you have downloaded that! If you haven’t yet, you can grab a copy here.)

And now, we rejoice to see restrictions begin to lift! Many grandparents are fully vaccinated and able to hug their grandbabies again! 

We’re able to start thinking about travel — and dreaming about family get-togethers!

If you’re longing to be together as a family again, the book I released last year — Cousin Camp — will help you plan a fun event that will draw your family into deeper relationships with each other and the Lord.

Click here to order.

If you’ve been following me for a while, you probably know the story behind this book. For more than a decade, John and I have hosted an annual summer camp at our farm for our grandkids. We started with 5 grandchildren from 3 different families and the last several years we have had all 21 grandkids attend.

With cousins spread out in different states, we wanted them to have time to get to know each other, to develop life-long friendships. And, of course, to deepen their relationship with God.

Over the years I’ve gotten lots of questions about the practical side of hosting a camp — and I cover all of that in the book — but there’s also a spiritual side. Here’s the thing: a close-knit family doesn’t just happen, you have to work at it. Likewise, a godly legacy doesn’t automatically flow down through the generations by osmosis. 

The great news is that these goals — a loving family, a godly legacy — while they take some strategic planning, can be nurtured with FUN! And Cousin Camp is all about fun! (Like whipped cream fights, obstacle courses, and bigger-than-life ice cream sundaes!)

kids and grandparents eating a big ice cream sundae out of a gutter

Our county’s largest ice cream sundae — made in a gutter lined with tin foil!

I give you tons of ideas in the book for fun and games, and Bible studies, too. I tell you about the buddy system (how older cousins look out for younger cousins), the journals each child keeps, and the tradition we have of each child choosing a unique nickname every year.

Every family is different, so these ideas are designed to be adapted to your situation.

Do you want to plan a special family time this summer? Cousin Camp is great for:

  • Grandparents who want a blueprint for hosting a camp for their grands
  • Grandparents who may not be ready to host an overnight camp, but want to be able to plan a special day for their grands
  • Anyone planning a gathering of extended family — a family reunion or holiday get-together, looking for fun ideas and possibilities
  • Aunts or uncles who want to plan a camp for nieces and nephews
  • Anyone who wants to host an event for neighborhood kids
  • Moms who need ideas to help keep young children occupied this summer

Grab your copy of Cousin Camp today and start planning an event for your family!

John and Susan Yates family, 50th anniversary

Now is the perfect time to get started if you want to host something this summer. 

And boy, do we need it after this last year. 

I hope this book is a blessing to you and your family!

PS: Order a copy now for yourself, and one to gift for Mother’s Day, too! Click here to order.

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April 21, 2021 · Leave a Comment

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Hello, I’m Susan.

Susan Alexander Yates

I’m a wife (of more than 50 years), mom to five children (including a set of twins), and grandmother to 21 (including a set of quadruplets!). My favorite time of the year is when all my kids and grandkids are together for a week of “cousins and family camp” in the foothills of the Shenandoah Mountains of Virginia.

Read more…

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One Verse:

“The eternal God is your dwelling place,
and underneath are the everlasting arms.
And he thrust out the enemy before you
and said, ‘Destroy.“ (Deuteronomy 33:27)

One Thought:

God I love it that you gave your children simple pictures to understand complicated truths. Thank you for your everlasting arms that are under me, under _____ right at this moment. Place this picture in the front of my mind as I live this day.
Did you know that we can't succeed at spiritual gr Did you know that we can't succeed at spiritual growth on our own? We can't just grit our teeth and make ourselves more like Christ? ⁣
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This was a surprising lesson for me as a new believer!⁣
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Read about it in my devotional on @club31women this week. Link in bio, or go to club31women.com/devotional/
One Word: Broken One Verse: And he took bread, One Word: Broken
 
One Verse:

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19

One Thought:

There is so much brokenness in our world. I am broken. So is _____. One thing all humans have in common is our brokenness. Jesus, you are intimately familiar with brokenness. Your body was broken for me, for _____. You understand the pain of brokenness but it is in your brokenness that we can begin to experience wholeness.
Recently I’ve been thinking about a new personal Recently I’ve been thinking about a new personal discipline I want to adopt in this new year. I want to do one thing every day for someone else. It’s a practical application for loving our neighbors as ourselves. It also enables us to get our focus off our selves and onto someone else and this brings us joy. It might be a text or email or postcard or call or cookies left on someone’s front door. This joy of giving fills our cup. It’s also a great thing to involve your whole family in. It helps our kids learn to be other-centered rather than self-centered. Two special friends just sent me these flowers and they have brought me great great joy. Thank you for choosing to bless me. I have learned from your generosity.
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One Verse:

“To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27
 
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You are a God of mystery. It’s a glorious mystery. I can’t explain you even though sometimes I want to. Your mystery is part of what makes you so much greater than man. Thank you that you, with all of your glorious mystery, have chosen to dwell in me.
It’s so much fun to give away some of our old tr It’s so much fun to give away some of our old treasures! I just gave my old Girl Scout badge sash to my young friend Helen, who is a Girl Scout. It brought both of us so much joy and reminded me of how special it is to give things away. I  highly recommend it.

#girlscout #girlscouts
I received this pic and note from one of my nieces I received this pic and note from one of my nieces last week:⁣
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Link in bio or go to susanalexanderyates.com.
One Word: Shows ⁣ ⁣ One Verse:⁣ ⁣ “But G One Word: Shows ⁣
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One Verse:⁣
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“But God shows his love for us in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8⁣
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If you, God Almighty, would send your Son to die for me in my own wickedness, then how much more will you show me how to make the decision I need to make.⁣
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Copyright © 2023 · Susan Alexander Yates · All Rights Reserved
Calligraphy by Jessica Blanchard · Paintings by Christen Yates
Blog and Ask Susan Photo by Natalie Puls Photography · Books Photo by Cambria Elizabeth

FREE Ebook: 100 Activities for Your Kids!

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