Sunday, August 25, 2013

choose ye this day


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!!!!!

4 comments:

Tebbs Family said...

You're amazing!!! (That's why your kids are truly beautiful little people--their wonderful mom is showing them how to live the good life and be good people.) Sometimes I wish we could have a "do-over" with our kids after I learn all these things along the way :D Thanks for your inspirational posts!

Charla Anne said...

I love this idea. What a special thing to do for your girls. The party and pictures are beautiful.

Misty said...

You are amazing and have beautiful daughters! I love changing the focus of goal setting to coincide with the school year instead of the calendar year. We always encourage our kids to set goals around Christmas time that they will spend focusing on for the new year, but I like the school year being a new start. Thank Heavens for father's blessings. That is something I never had and feel so blessed that my kids get to benefit from it. I love how you tied the books into a quote and individualized it for each child and her specific needs. You are an amazing mom!

Stueller said...

I love this, I love A tree grow in brooklyn... beautiful book, and your girls are so beautiful!