And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, (family) we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24:15

Joshua loved the Lord and He was determined to serve the Lord and that included his entire (family), household.  What is a family?  A family is a group of people living together and functioning as a single household, usually consisting of parents and their children.  A household is the people who live together in a single home. It can consist of the other members of the family to which somebody belongs. Example, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.

I grew up in a single family household, with both of my parernts, my three brothers and my grandfather, until he died in 1979.  Grandpop was a Christian man and he raised his children to love, honor and respect the Lord and each other.  Grandpop stood on Joshua's words, "but as for me and my house, (family) we will serve the LORD!

Grandpop, "Quinton Bandera Fulmore",   was a Christian man and and he raised his children and grandchildren with the biblical principles that he learned in God's Holy Word the Bible.  Grandpop was a doer of God's word...he didn't do a whole lot of preaching but he taught us right from wrong.  He was a disciplinarian and he was very strict; you couldn't do what you wanted to do in grandpop's house or outside of his house because if a neighbor caught you doing something that you had no business doing....oh it was just like Grandpop caught you because after the neighbor whoopped you, when you got home, Grandpop got you too!  Not to mention answering to my mother and father.

I was raised in a home where disrespect, disobedience, defiance and rebellion were not tolerated!  Talking back, sucking teeth and rolling eyes wasn't allowed...and if you got caught doing one or all of the above, uhm, uhm, uhm, what a time, what a time you received for exhibiting that type of behavior! I was raised in a home where you did what you were told...without adding your two cents and being honest, you were too afraid to say anything because you fully understood that you were a child and that children needed to stay in a child's place, period! 

I was raised in a home where you did homework everynight and it was checked everynight by my mother.  We had to study and prepare for tests and when we did good, we were commended.  When we didn't do so good, we were able to talk about it and ask for help and we received all the help we needed, in love of course!  There was no such thing as cutting class or playing hooky from school and when school let out at 3:00pm, you better make it home by 3:15pm because anything later, meant you were off doing something that you had no business doing and momma was going to get you!

I was raised in a home that was clean, safe and happy...happy because of the love that we received from Grandpop, my mother and my father.  My parents did a lot with my brothers and I, we had the best of everything because everything we had was giving to us in love!  We ate dinner together as a family, we laughed, talked and played games together.  We went on family outtings together, we went on camping trips, we traveled to different places throughout the US and learned different things, we met a variety of people from  different places, different backgrounds, different nationalities, different religions and beliefts, etc.  We were exposed to a lot of cultural arts and events and we did a lot of things togethere as a family.

The one thing that stands out to me in "regards to having a happy home", was the discipline and firm foundation that we received in God's word, without it, I don't believe that I would be the person that I am today!  Without it, I know that I wouldn't be raising my childen, as successful as I am and to that I say, glory to God!  Thanks Mom, Dad and Grandpop for nurturing my brothers and I, in love!  The seeds that you have sown, have fallen on good ground! 

Eventhough we had a lot of love, my family wasn't exempt from the hurt and pain or the wear and tear of normal family disagreements, arguments and fights but we always worked through our disagreements. Were we a perfect family? No...we had issues just like any other family but it was "LOVE" that kept us together.  Were there some broken fences along the way, sure there were and to be honest some fences are "still broken."  I pray everyday that my "entire family will be restored!"

My prayer is that this website will bring glory and honor to the Lord of Lord and King of KIngs!  If you are a parent and you need help with raising your child/children and you would like to learn how to become  a parent, help is available to you.  If you are in the "Philadelphia area," and would like to attend "Free Parenting Classes that also provide Free Childcare while you attend the classes," please contact me at AriseNshine@aol.com. If you are outside of the Philadelphia area, please check your local directory for Parenting Classes or speak with your child's Pediatrician for further assistance.

Eloquently Speaking About

A "Whole" Family ~ A "Healthy" Home