The ART in FIRE

Getting Connected 2 Family

Feature

By DD Macedo

Getting Connected 2 Family

Families Finding the Right “Connections” for Comfort and Joy!
It’s a special time of year when we think of family more than ever.  The holidays and the choices we make for them will determine how we remember them in years to come.  Many of us will struggle with hard times, or perhaps the loss of a loved one this year. There are many emotions and reasons this time of year can be very special or very challenging. But this year, we have a new way to find each other for comfort and joy!
A local business start-up is bringing families together through the most popular way to connect, social networking.  Lyle Meendering, John Anderson and Kenneth Leach started this business:  Connecting 2Famillies.com as a way to reach out and help families find each other.  They each have businesses of their own but felt the need for this kind of a family network is just as important as the popular singles online networks.  This quest for the next “Facebook for families” website started as the brain child of Lyle due to his own personal experiences.  A native of Iowa, Lyle headed to California 20 years ago with no job prospects and nothing but what he could fit in his car. After sharing his vision with John on their way to a Sacramento Kings Basketball game 2 ½ years ago, they felt there was a need to connect like families together.  Thus, Connecting2families.com began.
Connecting 2Families.com is a web based company located here in Visalia. It gives families an opportunity to connect and build relationships via a family compatibility profile. The profile enables families to find other families with common interests, shared circumstances and values.   Yes, this is very similar to the successful dating and compatibility web sites you see and hear about only it is for families.
When Lyle took on this venture he felt a strong need out there to offer families support and hope in a safe environment. The family can be any type and configuration to make a connection. Single moms or dads needing to connect or even extended families who deal with health situations, all perhaps feel they are alone in their unique situation. With the 3 Step guidelines in Connecting2 Families.com, it makes connections with other families experiencing the same lifestyle simple.
Step 1.  General Family Profile and initial compatibility- this step is designed to capture the basic interest, values, dynamics and intent of the user/family.
Step 2.  Life issue Profile and deeper compatibility – This step brings about a deeper level of compatibility and sense of hope to a particular life issue they are facing.
Step 3.  Connection – This step enables a connection and helps manage the relationship to gain the greatest rewards.  In the end, connections can be achieved by the completion of Step 1 and 2 as the use/family sees fit.
The process takes a few minutes of time when you register and fill out the profile.  What makes this great for families is the atmosphere you can participate in.  Outside of the potential lifetime connections, a unique feature of this site gives users the ability to build their own “Family Room”.
With Connecting2 Families.com you can go inside the “Family Room” and feel safe- unlike some of the current social websites.   Hanging out in this “Family Room” has a whole new meaning, especially when you are visiting on the site with your BFFF (Best Family Friends Forever).   The site even offers security for you as parents to let your children have their own room. What that means is if you have a child wanting to get on Face book, MySpace or other similar sites, now you can give them a similar opportunity but with the parental control you desire. The difference is you are connected to other families and their children based on similar interests, values and lifestyles.  They can post pictures, blog and communicate with friends that you allow into your connection.   It is all under your control. You let in the families that you approve based on similar profiles and your level of connection preferences.
Another popular feature is the calendar for the family. It’s a great way to share time and keep organized. This feature alone is amazing.  Being interconnected in this day and age is a challenge.  Think of how great it would be for your own family to use this site if family members have moved far away. The cousins don’t get to visit in person but can now go online to a safe place that you have made for them!
“The opportunities to grow and meet other like families are numerous if you have relocated and don’t know anyone”, says Lyle.  The site can be shared by zip code or as far away as across the world, it is up to you.  Millions of families can now get connected with others within their neighborhood or across the country by simply defining their traveling interests.
All profiles are kept secure and the programs are easy to use.  So moms and dads out there that have been concerned check out the site and see what you think.  It will be a place “on-line” that you can be happy about no matter what your family situation is.  You can check out Connecting2Families.com and go through a quick tour. The actual sign-up takes less than 10 minutes and you can register for free!
Here are a few comments from families and their thoughts about Connectin2Families.com:
“Right now I am feeling like we are the only ones having to deal with these issues.  So I think this would help us see that there are others out there”

“I think this is a neat idea of connecting families.  To many parents feel they are sailing this ship on their own”
“I am always looking for ways to speak to my teen boys about Christ”
“Finding a family with similarly aged children that enjoy the same things we do to share future adventures with”
“Parenting concerns, advice and just wisdom from other parents who have raised their kids successfully in this crazy world”
“I would love to meet other families that are going through the preschool years right now.  I just need to talk to someone who is Christian and understands my day to day issues raising twins – boy/girl”
“Be able to share our good times and hard times with each other and give good advice that helped get us through the hard times”

Perhaps you have something to share with one of these families. It could be a new challenge, unique situation or happy event.   The way of the world is online at every turn, now you have a Family Room to go to that has a place for everyone, no matter how big the family or what kind of family you are!
We are sharing the site in hopes that more families will enjoy becoming connected in a new way. While we all have special circumstances surrounding our lives none of us are without tears, pain or special needs. We don’t have to be alone in them any longer. Go to connecting2families.com and find other families to share with, to grow with and become more connected than ever.