It was a Friday night and Tim and Sherry Hawley were going out 77 alone. No babies, no toddlers, no 5-year-olds.

Eating dinner together in a restaurant without their three young sons seemed almost a strange idea to the Santa Maria couple as they stood inside Bethel Lutheran Church on Oct. 8, but they appeared excited to give it a try.

"I/m really going to enjoy this," said Sherry, noting she and her husband/s reluctance to hire baby-sitters due to the expense and uncertainty of who might be watching their boys.

Tim said he was looking forward to the chance to "go out and eat in peace," minus the extra energy and effort it takes when they bring the kids along.

"We love our children very much," he said, "but we also need a break from them."

Bethel Pastor Carl Nielsen understands how difficult it can be to raise a family these days, especially if both parents are working. That/s why he feels so passionate about supporting parents through the church/s Parents/ Night Out.

Parents/ Night Out, he said, gives moms and dads, whether married or single, the opportunity for some time alone.

"It/s so wonderful to say to parents, /You don/t need to do anything, or bring anything,/" just drop off the kids and enjoy the evening, he said.

Nielsen greeted parents as they entered the church on Oct. 8, and told them to "have a great date," on their way out.

This was the church/s seventh Parents/ Night Out, and by some preliminary accounts appeared to be one of the highest attended so far.

Parents began arriving with children in tow at 6 p.m.

Just 20 minutes later, at least 20 children, ranging in age from babies to teenagers, had been registered. Those 2 years old and younger were able to stay in the church/s nursery.

"So far it looks like it/s going to be a glorious time," said volunteer and Bethel church member Carol Sauer about 15 minutes into the evening.

It was the first Parents/ event she and her husband, Leroy, had volunteered at, and their first job of the evening was monitoring the parking lot.

"We don/t know what/s in store back there," she added, referring to the activities inside the church.

As could be expected, there was a lot of activity and noise inside the church. The bevy of volunteers kept things running smoothly, guiding the children separated into groups by age, into the various rooms with activities.

A few minutes before the first group arrived at his station, Former Bethel Pastor Jerry Trelstad was eager to begin the activity he was leading that evening 77 Mexican Train dominoes.

"We know some of the inner movements (of the game)," said Jerry, decked out in his "train conductor/s hat," of him and his wife, Mavis.

The children who attended were in good spirits, too.

Kayla Sauer, 11, had been to previous Parents/ Night Out events. She said she was not only looking forward to playing games with the other kids, but also sharing in some spiritual time.

"It/s fun to hang out at the church and at the same time learn about religion," she said.

The main reason for the evening, to give parents a break from their children, wasn/t lost on her, either.

She knew it was important to give her mom a break.

"She needs time on her own," Kayla said, thinking on how her mom might spend that free time. "She/ll probably go shopping."

Katie Drom, 11, added, "It/s a way to forget about what happened during the day and just have fun 77 away from your parents."

Even 5-year-old Dylan Hawley seemed to come around after some time.

A few minutes after his parents left, he said he "wished his parents were there with him."

During dinner, though, he was as happy as the others while munching on his food.

Parents/ Night Out is open to all local parents at no charge.

"It will be a big help to us," Tim said.

Other Parents/ Night Out events are scheduled on Nov. 19 and Dec. 17. For more information, phone the church office at 922-6601.

* Staff Writer Britt Fairchild can be reached at 739-2220 or by e-mail at bfairchild@pulitzer.net.

Oct. 17, 2004