I read an entry by mommasheperd and it got me wanting to get back to doing something that we used to do many years ago. It was so fun and the special closeness we all felt when we did it was incredible. We began doing it when we did the Honor unit in Konos and continued long after the unit was done. We prepared for and celebrated Sunday/Sabbath each week. It became a weekly holiday (holyday) that we looked forward to all week long. I am long ago rusty on how to efficiently put these together and I may have to remember how to do them as I go along. But, I figure that if you want to do these Days of Delight too, we can get up to speed together. I am going to post what we are doing and you are welcome to use it as a model or copy the ideas and steps to do them with your own family.

Here are the basics. The Day of Delight begins at sundown on Saturday and goes through sundown on Sunday - during high summer sometimes we would begin a bit before sundown since the sun goes down so late. Sundown marking the beginning of honoring Sunday parallels the Jewish Sabbath pattern except the focal day is Sunday not Saturday. By having the Day of Delight begin at sundown on Saturday, you still have plenty of time to get Saturday chores and errands in there and still encourage yourself to shift gears for the day of worship to come.

For us, I prepared the meal during the busy pre-sundown time of Saturday while the rest of the family prepared for Sunday (baths, making sure cloths were ready, etc). I specifically planned the meal to have plenty of leftovers for Sunday so I wouldn't have to do anything more than a simple reheat and serve on Sunday. It was also the only meal of the week in which I made special desserts - these are served after the family Bible Object Lesson Study after dinner.

Another difference between this meal and an ordinary weekly meals is the table setting and music. During the week the table is rather plain and we do not play music in the background. Not so for this meal. To mark the distinctiveness of the sundown begining, it was the only meal all week in which we lit candles. We all really love those little flower candles that you float in water in a bowl. With little ones about, these can be a bit safer too. These would be the table centerpiece. Since the meal was a special weekly celebration of God and His holy day, it made sense that it would have light at the center. It always set such a cozy and holy atmosphere to have other lights down low and the candles lighting our faces. The music is worshipful, peacful, and gentle in the background. In choosing a title, just rememer the mood and tone you want your children to have during the meal and play the one that will harmonize with it. We enjoy nature sounds music such as Woodwinds and Water by Nature Quest, Looking Into the Light by Joanna (Be Thou My Vision and I Ask No Dream always makes me cry - my eyes are stinging just typing in the titles), and Come to the Quiet by John Michael Talbot.

After dinner everyone would participate in the dinner cleanup. It goes so much faster with many hands. Sometimes we used really fancy disposable plates instead of the good china (our blue glass dishes) just to make cleanup easier and faster. Once everything was cleared, we would all gather around for the family Bible study. Don't get the idea of long monologues and bored kids here. No these were quite lively with object lessons and much conversation. These always seemed to stick with them long term. I will post ideas for these in entries to come. After the Bible study is when desert would be served. In the winter months when evenings are long enough to allow it, the day would close with family board games.

Sunday after church we reheat leftovers and use disposable plates. Having a nice selection of Christ oriented entertainments is such a blessing. Read a biography aloud together while the kids play board games or make crafts. Watch a Christian movie together, bring out the Sunday Toy trunk (special toys reserved only for Sunday play). Play more Christian music.

This is a good overview to give you an idea of what a Day of Delight can be. I am determined to do these again with my family and will post throughout the week things to assist you in doing them with your family too. Here are some additional resources that I found helpful that you can look up if you want to run ahead of me and jump in with two feet. This is a good time to explore the Jewish roots to Western Christianity too. You will be awed when you come to understand how the Jewish feasts symbolize Christ.

• A Day of Delight: Making Sunday the Best Day of the Week by Pam Forster (Doorposts)
• KONOS Curriculum. I am not sure which volume HONOR is from since I have long ago debound the units. You should be able to find it at the KONOS website.
• The Hebrew Roots of our faith studies are useful for older kids to do during the week and on Sundays. resources for that: Far Above Rubies Unit 1, Our Father Abraham (there is a 12 week study guide available too), The Seven Festivals of the Messiah)
• Jewish Holiday crafts for Little Hands
• All about Jewish Holidays and Customs (for children). There are many other books about the feasts.
• Have lots of Christian biographies (books and videos) available for perusal for Saturday evening and Sunday. Preview these before giving to young children as sometimes they can be very sad if there is martyrdom. Here are a few to get you started:  Sheffey (Bob Jones University Video Production), The Hiding Place (the book is MUCH better than the movie and makes for a great read aloud) and any books by Corrie Ten Boom, My Glimpse of Eternity (book), The Sound of Music (video) and any of the books authored by Maria Von Trapp, Through Gates of Splendor, etc.