Do you remember happy times from your childhood? Have you shared them with your family? Children love for you to share your memories because the words bring them joy and a sense of security.
If your family needs a boost of energy, turn off the computer. Your social media friends can wait until tomorrow. Mute the cell phone. Let the calls go to voice mail.
Activities from years ago probably play a powerful role in your life today. The stories, funny moments and time spent together helped you grow closer to each other.
Choose to become intentional about making more memories?
Sit down as a family and make a list of 10 things to do on a budget by New Year’s Eve. The fun part will be creating the list…and marking them off the list one at a time.
10 ideas:
- Staycation: Your hometown has local treasures you might not have explored. State and municipal parks are a good place for hiking, picnics, camping and sight-seeing. Look for restaurants you have not tried. If you have a resort hotel nearby, check in to weekend specials and use the amenities.
- Biking: Right out your backdoor, there’s an open opportunity to go places and to stay in shape.
- Flea market: Someone else’s junk might be your treasure.
- Make homemade pizza: Try different recipes, styles and ingredients. If you like thick, try thin. If you like pepperoni, try veggie.
- Visit friends: When’s the last time you visited your bff instead of messaging or texting her? Spend an afternoon together with her family.
- Write and illustrate a short story: Remember a special time in your lives with words and pictures.
- Bible study: Set a verse to music. Memorize the verse and the song lyrics.
- Make a flower bed: Give each family member a plot. Plant seeds, vegetables or blubs and watch them grow.
- Pick fruit: Find a farm that grows your favorite fruit. Pick your own, take them home and make pies or desserts.
- Sports: Kids remember trips to the ball game. Have peanuts, popcorn and Cracker Jacks. Sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” during the seventh-inning stretch.
You can make memories that will last a lifetime. The more you put into it, the more you’ll know how to spend your time, energy and resources.
Real life goes by in a blur. Make the most of it.
