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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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Honoring Your Privacy:
Your privacy is completely and utterly protected.
I will not sell or give away your name or email. You have
my word on it!
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If you no longer wish to receive this Newsletter:
please send an email with the word 'unsubscribe'
in the subject line to:
wistad@chibardun.net
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I would love to hear from you! But please do not reply to
this newsletter. It is sent out automatically and I will
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
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