NLP Family Day: A Picnic with a Purpose!

What a wonderful Saturday morning many of us enjoyed last week. The weather was perfect as many Aspen Grove families came out to enjoy friendship, fun games and food with families in the neighborhood served by North Littleton Promise.

The morning started with the early arrival of Luis, an elementary student who is a regular participant in NLP programs. I asked if his mom or dad was planning to come, to which he quickly and matter-of-factly replied, "No. My dad abandoned me when I was little, and my mom has to work today." Sweet, eager Luis then helped us get all of our games ready and jumped right in for the rest of the days' activities. Aspen Grove dads played relay games and soccer with him. Aspen Grove moms and kids ate lunch with him and laughed over amazingly huge bubbles, water balloons being launched from a football field away, and outrageous face painting. I think it was a good day for Luis.

It was also a good day for Maureen Walker and Vioneth Ramirez, the two NLP staff who joined us. A couple of families who did not yet have a connection to NLP were with us, and Maureen and Vioneth were able to get to know them and tell them of NLP's work with kids in the neighborhood. Maureen and I also met for the first time the parents of a boy who has been attending NLP's Kids Club on Tuesdays for a long time. It was a delight to brag to them about what a wonderful son they have and all the specific ways we have appreciated his presence at Kids Club.

And what a wonderful time for our church family. Gathering together for a relaxing time of play was something many of us needed to reconnect with each other. I saw several families meeting for the first time and sharing a meal together or laughs over how close that water balloon actually came. It was a great picture of our body being the hands and feet of Christ, doing our part to change the world right here in Littleton. We're looking forward to another family day, another picnic with a purpose! Until then, you can live or re-live our fun day by clicking on the video slide show below.

A huge thanks to the volunteers who helped make the event a reality: Ken & Cherril Serdy, Misty Rhodes, Sara Weyandt, Jamie Pickett, Laurie & Bruce Swanson, Andrea Swanson, Barb & Jack Srnec, Ashley Kenney, Tammy Michaels, Chris & Christina, Angel Vick, Lindsay Scanlan, Chris Martin, Carolyn Smith, Jeremy Clemons, David Craig.