The Celebrating Family: Your Spiritual Roadmap to Family Healing and Happiness

What People are Saying

An incredibly useful book! A step-by-step blueprint which gives you all the information you need to build a healthy, loving extended family.

Nick Ruben, Attorney, and Author of How to Be a World-Class Listener

I loved what I read. The book is a delightful mix of philosophy and information from a variety of sources blended with personal family experiences, packed in with practical ‘hands on’ tips on how to achieve peace within your family unit and ultimately yourself. It’s a delicious book.

Roz Carson, Teacher, Masters in Psychoeducational Processes

I really enjoyed reading this book. It truly has had me thinking about how I can cultivate family ties.

Sue Wenger, Teacher

Our people found it substantial and inspiring. Good Work!

John Brendler, Family Therapist, Founder of Building Bridges, and Co-author of Madness, Chaos, and Violence: Therapy with Families at the Brink

I thought this was a great read!! I felt personally challenged by Steps 2 and 3. I want to be a better person, husband, father, brother, and uncle. I think many, many people will be blessed by what John and Sallie Raezer have written.

Tim Neilson, Former Social Worker

The Celebrating Family

Your Spiritual Roadmap to Family Healing and Happiness

John Raezer

Sallie Raezer

Stewart Eckert Press

Copyright © 2023 by John and Sallie Raezer

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording,

or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the authors, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Published by Stewart Eckert Press

To contact the authors about speaking, consulting, or ordering books in bulk, visit TheCelebratingFamily.com

ISBN (paperback): 979-8-9882333-0-5

ISBN (ebook): 979-8-9882333-1-2

Edited by Valerie Costa

Cover and Book Design by Christy Day, Constellation Book Services

Contents

Foreword

Introduction

The Benefits of a Celebrating Family

Overview of Your 8-Step Program

Step 1: Build Your Team

Step 2: Master the Skills That Demonstrate Respect for Others

Step 3: Adopt the Principles That Demonstrate Love for Others

Step 4: Explore Family Bonding Strategies

Step 5: Review Bonding Strategies that Work for You

Step 6: Master Event-Planning Skills

Step 7: Establish an Annual Family Party Event

Step 8: Gather Feedback About Your Annual Event and Implement Improvements

Overcoming Threats to the Celebrating Family

Conclusion

Acknowledgments

Bibliography

For James, Kara, Laurie, John, and Julie,

each one a gift from God.

Foreword

John and Sallie Raezer have produced a groundbreaking book about family bonding. Every year, forty-five family members enjoy a six-hour-long Christmas party and several other get-togethers, and trips. In beautiful detail, the Raezers describe family activities such as members speaking to the group about their past, future, and, importantly, their present moment. The family members celebrate their time together by singing songs (including the Raezer fight song, The Holy City), eating great dishes of all varieties, introducing innovative recipes discovered, researched, and tested, and emphasizing family spirituality in augmenting closeness.

Some of the Raezers’ principles of family bonding include being there for one another, cooperating, forgiving, healing, celebrating, listening, serving, and sharing responsibilities. The goals of the energetic work of this project are to promote the development of a healthy family (excellent support for ill members), an emotionally strong family, kindness, and love. As judged by attendance and engagement, the project is a resounding success.

Not only is family bonding achieved, but this work (and fun) could become a model for other families, and family therapy. Schools and classes within schools might encourage bonding by applying some of the principles and activities clearly described in this book. Many churches and Sunday schools could use these ideas. Book clubs and other groups might implement aspects of this model that are appropriate in their context. Neighborhoods, villages, small towns (and larger ones), small and large businesses, governmental entities, and different organizations may adapt the ideas to their particular needs.

The most immediate clinical use could be as part of family therapy. Families can benefit from more attachment, kindness, and love. Skilled psychotherapists may bring creative activities, music, and food, as well, to their process. Therapy, in general today, may have too many analytic and intellectual components rather than positive affective elements.

The useful bonding strategies that the Raezers have presented—celebration, travel, tradition, affection, outings, and support—can be emphasized by therapists in addition to standard approaches. John and Sallie have given us a set of practical tools with which we can enhance the lives of families and various other groups.

–Arthur M. Freeman III, M.D.

Clinical Professor of Psychiatry,

Tulane University School of Medicine

Former Dean, LSU Medical Center, Shreveport

Introduction

Do you feel distanced from a family member? Are there family members you don’t speak to? Does your family fight when they get together? Does anyone remember your birthday? Do you spend the holidays alone?

Can you envision the joy of closeness instead of isolation? Can you imagine family parties that are full of fun and laughter? Do you wish to have an exciting, connected family life?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, you want what we call a Celebrating Family, where family members love spending time together on a regular basis. Get-togethers tighten family bonds, the deep-rooted connections people have to one another.

Creating a Celebrating Family is not a matter of happenstance or luck. You need a great game plan that you can execute. Our 8-Step Program presents the required skills and principles that will transform your family into one that works together as a team. Learn the strategies that promote bonding and love. You will be able to plan family events that will produce special memories and ultimately celebrations. Our mission is to provide you with the concepts, tools, and methodology to fulfill your dream of a bonded Celebrating Family.

Why did we write this book? Its genesis came from conversations with friends about our annual family Christmas party. When hearing us talk glowingly about this event, many responded by asking, How is it possible that you have gotten forty to fifty members of your family together every year for twenty years when so many live far away? You need to write a book to tell us what you did.

One event in particular helped motivate us. Our nephew mentioned to his employer that he would be taking a day off to attend our Christmas party. His boss