The Atkinson family joined in on the JOLT-ON! 2024 Memorial Game Days starting on Ethan’s birthday, May 30th, this year. They very thoughtfully were inspired to share LEGO together as a family and with others over these ten days. Here is their update from Nichole…

“Thinking about you and your family today. On Ethan’s birthday the kids thought it would be nice to pick out a new Lego set to work on together. We found the house from the movie Up!, which they felt was just perfect. Then they found Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy and then they were torn. So, they wondered what I thought we should do and were certain I wouldn’t let them have both, but thinking about how they’re only little for a little while and they were actually agreeing on these things, and why we were even having the discussion, I couldn’t say no.

We came home and had dinner and the younger 2 rediscovered (sort of accidentally) a Lego Avengers game for Switch and they played that for hours. They know Ethan loved Splatoon and told me it was okay because they found a Lego video game! So it was like they were doing both! So we worked on the Lego’s together as a family and finished the Up! House over the next 2 nights.

Since Ethan’s birthday they’ve finished both Lego sets together and reminded each other why they are doing them and told and shown our various visitors through the last 10 days why there are Lego’s everywhere and who they are for. The Up! House is now proudly displayed in the China cabinet so it won’t get wrecked, as they worked so hard on it for me to remember Ethan’s birthday and Heaven Day this year.

I miss that contagious smile, the sweetheart of a kid and young man he was… talking video games and young love with him. I miss a complete Wang family unbroken by tragedy, but I love you all so completely.”

Nichole Atkinson

Thank you all for joining us in the LEGO challenge! Your random acts in LEGO sharing over these ten days is so very thoughtful. We are blessed that you all chose to remember Ethan and share his legacy with others. It is just like Ethan to find LEGO in everything… life, play and video games!We will be sending you our 2024 memorial stickers and magnets in gratitude for joining us!

Are you catching on? Where in the country will we see Random Acts In Lego next?…

There is more to our intention of Random Acts In Lego sharing than just handing out LEGO’s everywhere this week! On Friday, June 7th, we gathered together with friends to reminisce and play games. Of course it’s games! That is Ethan’s capacity… he brought people together through games and LEGO has always been a great way to share the fun of games with friends.

On this night, gathering with Ladies in our community, we enjoyed snacks and fellowship around the theme of LEGO games:

• LEGO “I SPY”
• Left Center Right (Dice Game) with LEGO bricks
• LEGO Creator Board Game (a building classic released in 1999!)
• LEGO Bingo (we ran out of time for this one but it was on the list!)

Winners received a small LEGO set to keep or share forward. There are so many more game ideas from LEGO… do you have any favorites to share?

Watch out for our next RAILs Inspiration…

An update came in from Campus House today! It is great to share how they are putting to use the LEGO’s and DUPLO’s within the kids ministry. Here is the update from Tiernan McDivit, Sunday School Coordinator:

“I used some of the DUPLO’s to teach in the nursery the other day and wanted to share with you 🙂 

I’ve been teaching lessons about the characteristics of Jesus this summer, and this past Sunday’s lesson was Jesus loves God’s House (the story about young Jesus in the temple). I had a temple out of LEGO’s in front of us. Then I gave each of the kids an alphabet DUPLO with their initial on it, and talked about how when we have Jesus in our hearts, we are also being built into God’s house (1 Peter 2:5). They each got to add their block to our temple. 

The kids really enjoyed using the DUPLO’s and played with them for awhile after the lesson! And I enjoyed using them to teach. 
Thank you again for this gift! It has been a blessing!” 

Tiernan 

If you are a Purdue University student attending in West Lafayette next Fall, check out Campus House and serving opportunities! Hope to see you there and to share the love of Christ with the kids of Campus House!

If you knew Ethan, you know his capacity for Lego! It has been two years since Ethan took his last giant LEAP into Heaven … In this second year, we have been carefully investing our time and resources into the friends and communities that Ethan cared so much about.

In honor of the engineer and builder that Ethan was and will be forever, we have chosen to theme this years Memorial Game Days on one of the favorite activities both our sons enjoy, building with Lego’s. To those who choose to remember Ethan with us, we invite you to have some creative fun with these iconic bricks.

If you do not have any Lego’s, feel free to participate with any other fun activity that builds fellowship with those you care about. Please also consider sharing a photo or short story with us. When you do, we will send you a JOLT-ON! commemorative sticker or magnet as our thanks.

WHAT: JOLT-ON 2024 Memorial Game Days remembering Ethan through the world of Lego

Ethan had earned a Material Science Engineering degree (Polymer focused) with the dream of working for Lego. He often enjoyed building, creating and teaching with LEGO’s throughout his 22 years.

WHEN: May 30th through June 9th, 2024

This time period starts on Ethan’s Birthday and ends with his Heaven day. You are welcome to extend out into the year ahead if your timeline of remembering is further along in the calendar.

SCHEDULE: Wang Family Events to Remember

Our Family will remember Ethan with the following activities and will share them here during the Memorial Game Days:
-Support Campus House Kids with Lego Learning sets
–RAILs: Random Acts In Lego… sharing bricks with others!
–Droid Builds, a free build activity originally created by Ethan
-Create a 25-30 second Lego Stop-Motion Video
-Record a time-lapse video of our Memorial Lego Build on June 8th-9th

HOW: Set aside time to remember Ethan and engage in a Lego themed activity

Here are some creative ideas to encourage you to join us…

• grab a bin of your own Lego’s and build free (Ethan) style…
• check out Lego Insiders and download Lego coloring pages to share with little one’s in your life
• donate a Lego set or two to a local charity or children’s center in memory of Ethan
• play a Lego board game (Heroica, Lego Chess, Creationary, Lego Creator) with friends
• play a Lego video game (the many Lego Star Wars comes to mind)
• host a watch party showing Lego Batman or The Lego Movie… there is probably one showing on a streaming service right now!
• into video making? Use your Lego’s to create a Lego themed 30 second or less stop-motion video like Elizabeth’s or inspired by the one Ethan and Noah made together back in 2016!
• need some laughter? Watch the recent Lego Star Wars 25-Second Film Festival created by all the fans for the 25th Anniversary of Lego Star Wars.

We are looking forward to all the ways you are remembering Ethan as this second year comes to a close! Please share in the comments below. If you have a file or image to include, please email it to jolton@wfour.net and we will add it to your comment post.

NOTE: Comments are moderated and posted within 24 hours.

As we prepare to remember Ethan as of the 2nd anniversary of his Leap Day, please check back for more information on what we are doing to bring forward his Legacy in 2024…

JOLT-ON! 2024 Memorial Game Days