4 Traditions 4 Fourth of July

4 Traditions... Issue: 4th of July

In This Issue Mural I love my Country Appreciation Only Red, White & Blue Michelle Fozounmayeh A joy filled wife and mom that enjoys writing, praying, speaking at women events and being an Area Coordinator with the ministry Moms In Prayer International.    Want a quick prayer encouragement on the first of every month? Click "Join our Mailing List" and start recieving Michelle's iPray eVotionals! iPray eVotionals... iStretch iHold On iListen iRest iPray in one accord iNeed a Reminder iFinish Strong iThank God for That iFollow iWork Out iReminisce iPray 4 Protection iPray 4 Purity iSmell a Stain iEmbrace iPraise iLove Deep and Wide iPray 4 Newness iTeeter-Totter We live in a world where we wear many "hats".  Even though we all have many parts of ourselves trying to survive... Many Parts of Me (click link for "hats" script) Traditions do not have to make our world even more hectic!  It's not about doing more... it's about doing less!  It's about doing what matters!

Greetings! Throughout the years I have come to have a deep respect for the role family rituals and traditions have on the healthy state of our family. For many years I worked as a Family Consultant with Once Upon A Family and picked up a few ideas.  Although traditions in our home have had seasons of success and seasons of rest or have had to be modified and/or changed to fit our family's needs, they still exist!   Each issue of 4 Traditions features ideas I have gathered and/or created that you can use or modify to fit your family's needs. M u r a l Decorating for the Holidays is half the fun.  This year, invite the neighborhood children over to create a 4th of July sidewalk mural.  This is a great way to bring out the artist in all your neighbors.  On the day of the big event, supply colored chalk and set them loose on the driveway or sidewalk in front of your house.  Have them work as a team to create a giant flag or colorful fireworks.  The older kids can sketch the outlines, while the younger ones fill in with color. Don't forget to take photos of these masterpieces (with the artist standing in front) and include the picture in an annual Fourth of July photo album. I Love My Country Because... Before you celebrate the 4th of July, sit down with your children and discuss the importance of our freedom, and the truly amazing Country we live in.  Ask them to share why they believe our freedom is so important, and let them know your feelings as well.  Create a lasting family tradition, and save their wonderful comments by writing them down on stars cut out of red, white, and blue construction paper.  The older ones can write on their own stars and even help cut them out.  On the top of each star write I LOVE MY COUNTRY BECAUSE...and then leave space for wonderfully spontaneous answers you will collect over the years.  You can use these patriotic declarations to decorate the tablecloth at your 4th of July Bar-B-Q. Appreciation Visit your local fire department, police department, or any other public service based organization.  Bring them cookies, lunch, or a red, white, and blue Fourth of July cake to let them know that you appreciate their hard work.  Talk to your children about the service that these men and women provide and how blessed we are to live in a courntry where it is available.  Don't forget to mention that they have to work on holidays when the rest of us are having fun.  Your children will learn a valuable lesson and will enjoy visiting a different public service organization, each year.  A photo of your children standing with the policemen, or sitting in the Fire Truck will help keep this wonderful memory alive. Only Red, White & Blue Create a neighborhood tradition and organize a potluck that no one will want to miss.  Invite all of your family and friends to this casual party and give them each a food assignment.  Include all the necessary foods for a successful celebration, and don't forget to mention that everything must be RED, WHITE, AND/OR BLUE.  Foods of any other color will not be permitted, so your guests will have to get creative.  Year after year, people will invent more outrageous recipes.  Just seeing what clever dishes everyone comes up with is more fun than actually eating them.  Add to the festivities by having a contest for the most original dish, and be sure to take a photo of  the patriotic champion with his/her prize-winning recipe in hand. All 4 HIM, MICHELLE FOZOUNMAYEH My Blog