Early in our marriage, Danny and I established a yearly theme.
a few of my favorites ~from the early years~ were:
"Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God."
D&C 88:119
"REMEMBER"
(I think we did this a few times...it is my favorite word!)
One of my very favorites...which I would LOVE to do again was from Benjamin Franklin's "thirteen virtues." We chose 12 and focused on a new one each month. I think we tried this two years in a row. I need to find it again.
At this point in our family---the school year seems much more significant than the calendar year, we have decided for that last few years to launch a family theme before the start of school. This year we have chosen~
CHOOSE YE THIS DAY
We hope to focus as a family, I think I need it more than anyone, to live more purposefully. We hope to plan more---recognizing that little every day choices add up to the people we become. Everything that we choose to do...or not to do is a choice.
I love to be motivated by new goals and themes...but it is much harder for me to implement it and remember it all year long (which is obviously the idea!...right!?). This year I decided to make a sign so that we can see it all year long! I found chalkboard fabric at the craft store...bought some dowels to hang it. I tried to free hand a design and didn't like it so I created it on photoshop, projected it on the wall and traced it.
To help this make sense to the girls we gave them each a gift. I chose a book from our collection and wrote them a letter. Each letter expressed how much we love them and what we hope they CHOOSE in this school year.
ELLIE
A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN
by Berry Smith
"If there was only one tree like that in the world,
you would think it was beautiful...but because there are so many,
you just can't see how beautiful it really is."
With so many opportunities we are given...it is easy to see them as ordinary. Remember that they are a gift and
CHOOSE HARDWORK.
KATE
POLLYANNA
by Eleanor H. Porter
"Just breathing isn't living."
In every situation we hope that you will see the good-
see the good in...
your family, teachers, friends
see the good in...
learning, challenges & even struggles
There can be goodness found in everything you experience in your life...
CHOOSE HOPE
SOPHIE
MANNERS CAN BE FUN
by Munro Leaf
"Manners can be fun"
Manners help you and those around you to be happy.
We hope in this school year you
CHOOSE RESPECT
respect for yourself, your family, your friends, your home.
(We LOVE this series of books. This copy was the first one I found at a thrift store...since then I have purchased the recent release of these books at Amazon or Anthropolgie!)
We ended the evening with their outfits laid out. Kate and Sophie tried to go to bed with pink foam curlers in their hair (they found them in the bathroom when they were brushing their teeth) and special father priesthood blessings. It is going to be a wonderful year!!!!!
