Homeschool Ideas & Tips >
Homeschool Ideas & Tips Newsletter April, 2005

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*** Hello from Charmaine ***  
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Dearest Reader, 
 
About this time of year, most of us start looking back and 
wondering if we accomplished all we had hoped. 
We also start looking ahead to next year: attending 
homeschool conferences and book fairs, purchasing 
curriculum and planning schedules. If you sometimes feel 
like your family is caught between what’s gone by and what 
is to come (with no clear direction of where you’re going) 
then you’ll want to be sure to read this month’s Ideas 
article. I hope this article will inspire you to take the 
time to talk with your family and get clear vision and 
direction for your life together. 
 
Blessings on your day,  
Charmaine  
 
P.S. Don’t miss the info. (below) about my fre*e upcoming 
Teleclass. I’d love to have you join us! 
 
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*** In This Issue ***  
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1. Ideas: The Importance of a Family Vision Statement 
by Charmaine Wistad 
2. Tips: Resources for writing a family vision statement 
3. What's New with Victory Coaching?  
Fre*e Teleclass! 
Minnesota Homeschool Conference 
4. About Charmaine  
5. Quote of the Month  
6. Funny of the Month  
7. The Small Print  
 
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*** Ideas ***  
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The Importance of a Family Vision Statement  
by Charmaine Wistad 
 
Most of us have heard the phrase: “Aim at nothing and 
you’re sure to hit it.” Many also know the scripture from 
Proverbs 29:18: “Where there is no vision, the people 
perish.” But how do these ideas apply to families - your 
family? 
 
Every important organization in the world has some sort of 
vision or purpose statement. The family is the building 
block of all society. Since the family is the most 
fundamental and important organization in the world, it too 
should have a vision statement. Without a vision, families 
tend to drift and sometimes even disintegrate. 
 
Stephen R. Covey, the author of the book Seven Habits of 
Highly Effective Families, describes a vision statement as 
“beginning with the end in mind”. Therefore, the opposite 
of a vision statement (or beginning with the end in mind) 
is to begin with no end in mind - to just kind of let life 
happen without a sense of compass, map or purpose. Doing 
this is not truly living. It’s allowing your family life to 
be “lived” by circumstances, societies values and 
happenstance rather than by your choices to live a certain 
way. 
 
A well written family vision statement will answer life’s 
great questions: Why am I here (purpose)? Where am I going 
(vision)? How will I get there (mission)? What's important 
and right (values)? It is like a compass that guides your 
course. When referred to regularly, it helps to shape the 
goals you set and the decisions you make that will lead to 
your desired destination. 
 
Some families have strong religious beliefs that take 
center stage in forming their family vision. Others have a 
deep desire to touch their community or world and will 
craft their statement to reflect those values. Some 
families find their focus in maintaining tightly knit and 
supportive bonds between the individual members of the 
family. Their statement will help them build a strong sense 
of love and commitment within their own home.  
 
Whatever your family’s personal priorities, seeing them 
written down is an excellent way to gain focus and keep on 
track as a group. The actual process of coming up with an 
official family vision statement can sometimes be the most 
enlightening and beneficial aspect of this whole idea.  
Will a family vision statement guarantee that there will be 
no troubles, detours or mishaps on the way to your desired 
destination? No, there will be bumps in the road and many 
times you will even be off course. But if the desired 
destination remains clear you can always come back to it.  
Without a clear destination the journey will be much more 
stressful and erratic.  
 
Let me leave you with this wonderful story that Stephen R. 
Covey related on his audio tape series:  
Over 50 years ago, before this couple was even married, 
they would sit on the porch, look up at the stars and think 
about their future together. They loved each other very 
much and would talk about all their dreams. In their minds 
they could see their future children – they talked about 
the way they would raise them and what they wanted them to 
be like when they grew up. They discussed what they wanted 
their home to be like when no one was there except their 
family. They talked about how, as the years went by, they 
would fall more and more in love. Then, when it got late, 
he would kiss her goodbye and go home. She would then go 
in the house and write down all the dreams and ideas they 
had talked about. 50 years later, she still had what she 
wrote saved in her cedar chest. Their then adult children 
practically memorized these notes because each year on 
their anniversary, they would read them as a family. They 
would ask the children if they wanted to add anything or 
suggest something new and then she’d write their thoughts 
and ideas down. The children took copies with them when 
they married. She said: everything we wrote has come true 
for ourselves and for our 3 children. 
 
I hope this article and story will inspire and encourage 
you to take the necessary steps to write your family vision 
statement. Be sure to read the next section of this eZine 
to learn of some excellent resources to help you get 
started. 
 
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*** Tips ***  
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Here are some excellent resources to help you write your 
family vision statement: 
 
*Fr*ee Teleclass:  
Charmaine Wistad of Victory Coaching is offering a fr*ee 
one hour teleclass on “How To Create and Write Your Family 
Vision Statement.”  
The teleclass will meet on:  
April 26, 2005 at 9:00 p.m. EDT, (8:00 p.m. CDT, 7:00 p.m. 
MDT, 6:00 p.m. PDT) 
For more information and to register visit: 
http://www.victorycoaching.citymax.com/register.html 
or email Charmaine at: wistad@chibardun.net 
 
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families : Building a 
Beautiful Family Culture in a Turbulent World 
by Stephen R. Covey ISBN #0307440087  
 
How to Develop a Family Mission Statement  
(Audio Cassette, 1996) 
by Stephen R. Covey ISBN #1883219280  
 
Many families find it very helpful to hire a life coach to 
help them work through this process. See information below 
for information on Victory Coaching. 
 
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*** What's New with Victory Coaching? *** 
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As I mentioned in my last eNewsletter, I recently presented 
a workshop at a homeschool conference on writing a family 
vision statement. I am now offering this same workshop as 
a Fr*ee Teleclass. I hope you’ll join us. 
 
“How to Create & Write Your Family Vision Statement” 
April 26, 2005 at 9:00 p.m.EDT, 
(8:00 p.m. CDT, 7:00 p.m. MDT, 6:00 p.m. PDT) 
For more information and to register visit: 
http://www.victorycoaching.citymax.com/register.html 
or email Charmaine at: wistad@chibardun.net 
 
Minnesota Homeschool Conference 
Once again I will have an exhibitor’s booth at the 
Minnesota Assoc. of Christian Home Educators Annual 
Conference. This year it is being held in Rochester MN on 
April 15 & 16. If any of you are planning to attend, 
please stop by my booth (#607) and say hello. I’d love to 
meet you in person! 
 
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*** About Charmaine ***  
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Charmaine Wistad has successfully homeschooled her two 
children from pre-school through high school. Now she is 
turning her attention toward helping other homeschooling 
moms.  
 
Through regularly scheduled telephone coaching sessions,  
Charmaine helps homeschool moms identify and define their 
ideal homeschooling lifestyle, then make a plan and set the 
realistic goals to achieve it. She also provides the 
accountability necessary to carry through and have true 
victory. Charmaine helps homeschool moms THRIVE - not just 
survive.  
 
Be sure to visit her website:  
www.victorycoaching.citymax.com  
You are invited to try a fr*ee no-obligation telephone 
coaching session. You'll be amazed at how much can be 
accomplished in just one session!  
 
Email to request your fr*ee sample session at: 
wistad@chibardun.net 
 
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*** Quote of the Month ***  
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“Vision is the beginning point for leading every journey. 
Vision focuses. Vision inspires. Without a vision the 
people perish. Vision is our alarm clock in the morning, 
our caffeine in the evening. …..Vision becomes the glasses 
that tightly focus all of our sights and actions on that 
which we want tomorrow to be. .....The vision is the 
framework for leading the journey.” 
 
~ Ralph C. Stayer ~ 
 
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*** Funny of the Month ***  
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The following are different answers given by school-age 
children to the given questions: 
 
What ingredients are mothers made of?  
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and  
everything nice in the world, and one dab of mean.  
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they 
mostly use string. I think. 
 
What kind of little girl was your Mom?  
1. My Mom has always been my Mom and none of that other  
stuff. 
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would 
be pretty bossy.  
3. They say she used to be nice.  
 
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***The Small Print ***  
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If you enjoyed this newsletter, please forward it to  
everyone you know. Thanks!  
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I will not sell or give away your name or email. You have  
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I would love to hear from you! But please do not reply to  
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not receive your reply. Instead, send your comments and  
ideas for future issues to: wistad@chibardun.net  
 
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Homeschooling Ideas and Tips Copyright 2005,  
Victory Coaching  
www.victorycoaching.citymax.com  
All rights in all media reserved.  
The content of Homeschooling Ideas and Tips  
may be forwarded in full without special permission  
provided it is used for nonprofit purposes and full  
attribution and copyright notice are given. For other  
purposes, please contact:  
 
Charmaine Wistad  
P.O. Box 343  
Spooner, WI 54801  
wistad@chibardun.net