Homemade Memories

There are so many opportunities for families to create lasting memories. In our family we stay very busy. But every couple of weeks we make time for a special trip for the day or a "mini-vacation" to a nearby place. These times are fun and create excitement for everyone.

Our favorite is to explore new areas and eat picnic lunches in the park. Sometimes we will stop at a local restaurant instead. We like to visit local libraries and see what they have going on. The kids love to go and read new books while they are there. Last week we went to Prescott, AZ. Prescott is about 3 1/2 hours from our house. We had a package to mail, so we all filed into the old post office and admired the beautiful building. A boiling thunderstorm prevented our planned picnic in the local park, so we ate at a local Italian restaurant instead. We had a wonderful meal together. The kids loved the bread sticks! We drove through the town and looked at the beautiful Victorian homes and found the library. This provided us with a look at the World History Time Line they have painted along the sidewalk in front of the library. Very nice! We had a nice day and drove home that evening. We stopped at a park along the way and the kids played on the playground and we had a picnic for our supper. A local square dancing class was practicing, so we watched them for about an hour. The day was a lot of fun, didn’t cost a lot of money and we enjoyed our time together as a family. Family traditions make family time really special. Children look forward to traditions. Children love having the full attention of their parents. Holidays provide special days for us to plan traditions. Most families have traditional meals for Thanksgiving and Christmas and perhaps Easter. But look at your calendar and see what other special days you can make "annual" family holidays. Here are some ideas to help you get started:

• Family Worship In our family, we consider worship time as a time to be reverent and quiet. We expect the children to sit up straight and listen to what is being said. They are welcome to talk. They just can’t be jumping around, slumping, ignoring the worship or, basically acting irreverent. This may sound painful, but really, they don’t mind. When we pray we have everyone kneel down and close their eyes. First we have opening prayer lead by one child. Everyone can pray, if they want. Next we pick two or three songs. We purchased the same song books that they use during Sabbath School. This provides familiar songs for them. We try to sing at least one new song to learn each night. We read a Biblical story and then close with prayer. Your family might want to add other activities to family worship. We want our children to know how to worship our Lord, how to pray, and how to be reverent. It is so important! In our family, we consider worship time as a time to be reverent and quiet. We expect the children to sit up straight and listen to what is being said. They are welcome to talk. They just can’t be jumping around, slumping, ignoring the worship or, basically acting irreverent. This may sound painful, but really, they don’t mind. When we pray we have everyone kneel down and close their eyes. First we have opening prayer lead by one child. Everyone can pray, if they want. Next we pick two or three songs. We purchased the same song books that they use during Sabbath School. This provides familiar songs for them. We try to sing at least one new song to learn each night. We read a Biblical story and then close with prayer. Your family might want to add other activities to family worship. We want our children to know how to worship our Lord, how to pray, and how to be reverent. It is so important!
• Family Communion Have Dad read the story of the Last Supper from the Bible. (Luke 21) Have Prayer. Discuss what the meaning behind the story. Pass the unleavened bread and the grape juice around the table. Be sure that reverence is expressed.
• First Day of Fall Have a special meal each year to celebrate the first day of fall. Having the same meal each year is a nice tradition. I suggest: chili, baked potatoes, crackers or corn bread, and baked apples with cream. Provide toppings for the chili and or baked potatoes such as cheese, sour cream, onions, chives, vegetarian bacon bits. Have your children plan in advance and make special place mats for each member of the family. Gather fallen leaves from your yard. Place the leaves in between clear contact paper. Or have them color contruction paper instead. Cut out leaves from red, yellow, brown, and green construction paper and attach yarn to make a leaf garland to hang in the kitchen and/ or around the house.
• Family Breakfast Make breakfast a special meal for the whole family to enjoy. Get up a little earlier and cook special pancakes, muffins, or your favorite recipe. Gather the family together and read a verse from the Bible. Ask God to be with you throughout the day and to help you each be witnesses for him. This teaches your children a good habit of devotion time before the day begins. Explain to your children that if they ask God to bring someone into their path that they can witness to, He will! When it happens, remind your children of their answered prayer.
• May Day Brighten someones day each year by surprising a neighbor with flowers on their door. Have your children decorate one side of white paper with a spring theme. Then, make a cone shape with the paper and tape in place. Punch a hole on each side of the cone and tie with a string of yarn. Fill with fresh, dried or silk flowers. Get up early on May 1 and place the boquet of flowers on a neighbor’s door knob so that they will find it when they open their door.
• Family Night One night a week have a family night. Turn off the TV. Begin the evening with a favorite meal. Have the kids help cook and clean up! Afterward, have a short worship with singing and praise. Plan an activity for family night. Bible Trivia is wonderful. Play Scrabble or Boggle. Pop popcorn. Have a Family Night Box. Each member of the family writes down on slips of paper something he or she would like to do on Family Night. Fold the sheets of paper and place in the box. Each night draw to see what you will be doing. Make sure everyone gets a turn. If some of the ideas require planning, draw the week before so that you can know ahead of time. Make sure that you spend time talking to your children. This is a great way to get to know them better.
• Recommended Books
  
• Let’s Make Memory by Gloria Gaither and Shirley Dobson
• Family Celebrations by Ann Hibbard
• My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers
• Dear Lord, They Want Me to Give the Devotions! by John D. Schroeder and Shane Groth
• 365 Bible Stories for Children by Melanie M. Burnette
• Close to Home - 52 Devotions to Build Character in Your Children by Bonnie Bruno