'Heaven' offers season of family

If you like to feel warm all over and need to revive your faith in family values, the season premiere of "7th Heaven" may be just where you want to turn. The successful show is based on the Camden family and how all nine members pull together to get through the day to day trials of life.

In the last season, Eric and Anne Camden received a blessed gift of twins, turning their already large family of five children into yet an even bigger bunch of seven. With more mouths to feed the pressure of how to care for the family grows.

At the same time, however, the strength and love of each member proves that the family is going to make it no matter what.

Eric Camden is a father to his family as well as to the community. His role as local minister tends to add stress, while at the same time installing a greater sense of selflessness to the character.

Mrs. Anne Camden continues her loving role as a concerned mother, checking to make sure that each of her seven children: Matt, Mary, Lucy, Simon, Ruthie and the twins, are as happy and on the right path.

As the oldest, Matt is faced with big decisions in his passage to adulthood. He wants to be a good role model for his younger siblings. Mary and Lucy continue their roles as the good-hearted, yet trying teens. Simon is in the throws of puberty and shocks the family with an impulsive change in his appearance while Ruthie is just reaching the "big girl" stage.

Although the twins add pressure to the family's financial situation, their roles are not yet clearly developed. However, they are soon to receive their own room which will finally give their exhausted parents a little bit of privacy since their birth.

Somehow this large family combats all the odds and still comes out on top. There are moments of tension and doubt but with faith everything works out.

The season premiere is a great test of the Camden Family. It deals with the immediate Camden family as well as the stress of Eric's family. His parents return from an around the world adventure, in addition to the revelation of his sister's big secret.

The show is a must see if you are missing some family togetherness time in your college lifestyle. The premiere is a good lead into another season of happy endings.

09-20-99