July 2010
Summer is here and with it comes our newsletter full of ideas for family=
fun and real down to earth advice that can help your life be a little bit =
better. Find useful information and chances to share your ideas in each of =
these sections: Get Together includes family a=
ctivities and tips for the upcoming season. Fun w=
ith a Point is an activity with a lesson built in. Great for creating t=
eaching moments with your family. Keepin' Up off=
ers advice to help you keep up with the variety of challenges daily life br=
ings your way. ![3D"Chal=](3D"http://powerinthefamily.org/newsletter/2010)
Constru=
ctive Concepts explains specific principles that can help make your fam=
ily happier, your relationships stronger and you a better person. And final=
ly Give a Little lists opportunities for you t=
o share ideas that can help us help other families. This section includes o=
ur current contest you can enter simply by sharing your ideas with us. We h=
ope you find these resources helpful and share them with your family and fr=
iends. Find even more information and resources on our website.
Get Together<=
/B>
family activities and tips for the upcoming season
Sidewalk Art
Whether you have a Picasso at home or not, decora=
ting the driveway is something fun and creative for kids to do. Here are so=
me ideas to keep sidewalk art inexpensive and=
involve the kids in making their own sidewalk paint<=
/A> with inexpensive household ingredients. Go ahead and get creative this =
summer!
Road Trip Tips
Taking a trip this summer=3F Think=
twice before you plug the kids into the iPod or DVD player for the whole t=
ime. You might miss out on a great family bonding time. Find great activity=
suggestions for car or plane and print out your own activity book or trave=
l I Spy. Try out some tasty travel friendly food and find some helpful tips=
for planning your drive. You'll find that with a little preparation your t=
ravel time can be part of the great memories. (read more)<=
/P>
Consider a Pass
Whether your family enjoys the zoo, the pool o=
r certain museums check out the benefits of getting an annual pass. With a =
pass there is no need for stressful all day trips to the zoo to get your mo=
ney's worth, you can just go for a couple of hours. Many passes have benefi=
ts as well and usually it only take a few visits to equal the membership fe=
e.
Summertime Snacks
I scream! You scream! We all scream for ice =
cream! Try out some homemade ice cream that not only sati=
sfies the taste buds but keeps the kids occupied as well. In fact, invite t=
he neighbors over or plan a family reunion and have your own Ice Cream Olympics. And what goes better with ice crea=
m than cupcakes. The kids are sure to love these cupcake monst=
ers they can decorate themselves.
t=
op
Fun With a P=
oint
an activity with a lesson built in
A "Good Cookie" Family
Each member of the family chooses what =
they want to put into the family. Those choices are like the ingredients fo=
r cookies. If the choices are good the cookies will be good and if the choi=
ces are bad the cookies won't be as good as they could be. (see the activity)
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Keepin' Up<=
/A>
advice to help you keep up with daily life
Managing your Money
Concern about money can burden a happy mar=
riage. In fact, it is considered to be one of the major causes of divorce. =
In most cases, the trouble you are having with money is mainly a behavioral=
problem, not so much a problem with money. Because that is true, you can c=
hange your financial situation if you want to. It is usually your choice.
There are many ways to manage family finances. Some of them work and oth=
ers do not. Those plans that do work generally require a lot of effort to l=
earn how to do them well, just like most of the other good things you do in=
your life. These 10 steps WILL put you in control of your family finances =
if you spend the time and effort required to do them. (read more)
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Cons=
tructive Concepts
specific principles to make your family hap=
pier, your relationships stronger and you a better person
Choices you Make
Have you ever thought about the choices you m=
ake each day=3F Not just the big decisions, but each of the individual choi=
ces. To hit the snooze again=3F Which shirt to put on=3F To have breakfast=
=3F What to have for breakfast=3F To pray before you eat=3F To wash your di=
sh afterward or just leave it in the sink=3F To tell your kids you love the=
m=3F To yell at someone because you can't find the car keys=3F To give your=
spouse a kiss before you leave=3F That isn't even all of them before you e=
ven leave your house in the morning. And that doesn't even include the larg=
er choices you might be pondering... Should I ask her to marry me=3F How do=
I talk to my son about his poor choices=3F Should I take half day off to g=
o to my daughter's ball game=3F How can I tell my spouse I'm sorry=3F Shoul=
d I take that other job offer=3F There seem to be big decisions and little =
decisions, but when it comes down to it, they are all still choices we make=
. (read more
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/P>
Give a Little=
help us help others and our current contests
Share your Thoughts
We hope you will share with us=
your thoughts or questions about what you read in this newsletter.
Contest
Think back to this past school year and the ways you o=
rganize your family during the busy days of the school year. This broad top=
ic may include morning routines, coming home from school activities, organi=
zing school work and things to do or anything else that keeps the family ru=
nning smoothly when the kids are so involved. . Share your ideas with=
us. When you send in your ideas, your name will be entered in the draw=
ing for 2 Coleman adult size sleeping bags.
Congratulations to Connie Jones who was the winner of our last contest! =
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