Let's Make a Memory!

by Teri Spray

Preserve your memories, leave a legacy for the years to come. It's not hard, just do something!

For those of us who home schooled our children through those "sod-busting years" of the 80's, now we have discovered that we want to be able to reflect on some of the good/bad old days. For instance, did we really make a realistic tabernacle model from wall paper scraps and gold stickers? How about that fort that the kids built for pioneer training, or even that A+ paper you wrote and submitted to the contest.... I enjoy watching my young adult children look fondly at old home school memories. Let's face it, whether you home educate your children for a lifetime or for a year, you are making lifetime memories right now and they deserve to be preserved.

Home School Yearbook
Memories can be preserved through a home school year book. You can use a nice keepsake school photo album like Meredith sells through Creative Memories or go cheap like I do occasionally and simply use colored paper in document protectors in a 3- ring binder. Either way, you can make your own "yearbook" by inserting various photos of activities and projects and samples of work and writing. You will probably find that a variety family activities become highlighted in your home school yearbook as well. After all, it is still about your school year with your family, right? If you considered creating a yearbook of your own, I urge you to go ahead and get one going, you won't regret it.

Traditions
Special traditions distinguish a family from the rest of the world by demonstrating unique character and quality. Family traditions can become a joyous part of your daily life, weekly patterns and holiday customs. Be sure to make a written or pictorial record of your favorite family traditions lest they become lost in the confusion of our chaotic culture. Here are some family traditions worth replicating in your home:

Daily:
Each person at the table adds a part to the mealtime prayer.
Families members hold hands to pray at the table.

Weekly:
Father prays a blessing over each member of his family aloud.
Family enjoys a special Sabbath meal together.
Family night includes no television, video or radio

Monthly:
Family plans a special outing each month.
Family has a monthly planning meeting so schedules coordinate.

Annually:
Family gives a gift each Christmas "that money can't buy" (Written in a card, this can resemble a prayer request, but is purely a way of expressing blessing to one another. For example: "I would give you the gift of a wonderful job, one that would meet your needs as well as bring you fulfillment.")
Family members give gifts of donations to others as presents. (For example, "Mom, on your behalf, I have given $$$ to Feed the Children because I know how much you love and care about hungry children.")

Keep a Diary
This is much less fancy than a yearbook, but can also become a timeless treasure. A diary can be created from lesson plans and record charts, simply add your own reflections to the records (perhaps on the back) and you have a running commentary on your school year.

Time is one part of your life which is impossible to bottle, yet becomes more valuable with age. Moments are precious and should be preserved as much as possible. It is okay to preserve only the good things. That is how our heavenly Father regards our days. Remember, he has cast our repented sins into the "sea of forgetfulness." Feel free to cast your disappointments there as well, and focus on the memories which will encourage and bless your loved ones in years to come.