We weren't sure what to expect since we know the Maxwells to be a little different than us and even wondered how Cam and Ali would do.
This was the line up:
We definitely had to overcome some obstacles in our thinking as we clearly didn't "fit in" in the way we were dressed or the number of children we had with us! It didn't take long though. The Maxwell kids made us feel so welcome and right at home. They were pleasant, confident, good listeners, and made us feel like we had known them all along- despite the fact that Alissa and I were wearing pants!
The four of us met up for lunch and all of us had completely enjoyed the sessions. God used this time for us (especially Matt and I) to do some serious thinking about where we are headed as a family. My dad often talks about a conference he and my mom went to when I was only a year or two old and says it was a turning point in their life and it helped shape their thinking and the way they decided before God to raise their family. I would say this did the same thing for Matt and I. (better late than never!)
I wish I could share. It's too much though. So much to think about! One practical take-home that doesn't reveal too much about how we were personally convicted, is how our kids are spending their time. After thinking about it, and evaluating what their 12-14 waking hours per day are spent doing, we realized that things could be different. Three of the Maxwell boys purchased a house- debt free. They learned early on to spend their time learning how to do things that are productive. Not one of them went to college, but they developed skills in electrical engineering, computer, and other things that allowed them to make more money than your average teen who finds a job at a fast food restaurant or retail store. They learned to save their money and spend it on things that had real value. Two things that stood out to us that the Maxwells did was to take their kids out of organized sports, and get rid of their television. That allowed for the kids time to be more productive, for them to spend more time together as a family, and also to keep from feeding a self-centered appetite. That might be too radical- maybe it is, maybe it isn't. But, the principle is profound.I can't even say enough about the joy that was emanating from them! They did not look like social misfits. They are happy, successful, functioning people who are living an others-centered life and bringing glory to God.
The kids were encouraged in their seminars to make wise use of their time, to invest into their sibling relationships, to trust their parents, to be content, to look for a way to productively spend their free time, to love God with all their hearts and not buy into worldly philosophies.
The Maxwells are going to be in NH this weekend and if we could go again and bring another set of our kids we would! It was that good.
This just scratched the surface. If you want to know more, e-mail or call me- or go to the conference yourself! It's not the Maxwells who changed us- it's God. He just used them to show us where we were going off course and steered us back to His ways. At the end, Steve Maxwell said, "Don't leave here and make changes because the Maxwell's said you should. Go to God's Word. Make the changes HE wants you to make in your families."
When we got home, Brianna had an incredible full course meal waiting for us. Meatballs, spaghetti, grilled vegetables, homemade bread, oven roasted potatoes, and apple cake for dessert. She had done five loads of laundry and taken very good care of all the kids. We are truly blessed!
So glad you got to go to this conference! It's sounds very inspiring. And that Brianna, she is a wonder!!! That meal sounds amazing:)
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