H.A.B.I.T.S. for the New School Year

I was out wogging this beautiful morning.  I used to be a runner.  Four miles a day.  That was the month before my 20th class reunion.  I've taken extended, intermittent breaks from the concrete and treadmill.  I'm trying to get back into the routine.  When I'm outdoors, I'm a wogger.  Walk the hills, jog the rest.  Oh, somewhere in there I gained back the 15 pounds I had dropped when I was a runner.  Funny how that works.  I need another reunion on the horizon!

Wogging outdoors can be a highly creative time for me.  I've composed songs and come up with all kinds of homeschooling ideas while burning calories.  Today, I was talking to God about the upcoming school year, which begins on Monday at Riverwood Academy, when I looked at a neighbor's mailbox and saw the number 1111.  I hadn't noticed it before.  I love that number.  I don't know why, but I often see it on clocks or on the treadmill and it makes me smile and think of God.  Like He's winking at me. 

My idea came just after 1111.  I was thinking about some of the unproductive habits we've formed in the lazier hours of the summer and how we need to focus on developing or rediscovering good habits.  So here's my idea:

• During our family meeting on Sunday, we'll brainstorm words that begin with the letters in HABITS.  Health, Attitude, Benevolence, Inspiration, Training, Service, perhaps.  I want the whole family to pitch out ideas. 

• Once we settle on a word to represent each letter, we will take some time the next week to find Bible verses that correspond, and they will become our memory verses for the first part of the school year.  I am planning to use this wonderful notecard review system this year. 

• We'll talk about how to apply each concept as issues arise. 

• I will buy big wooden or cardboard letters spelling "Habits" at Hobby Lobby and spray paint them silver.  We'll write the chosen word on each letter along with the verse reference.  Then I will hang them in our living room.  Giant letters are so trendy right now, anyway.  This will serve as a daily reminder of what we are striving for.  When we stop noticing them, I'll spray paint them blaze orange.  Ha!  I found this example on Pinterest:

I'll post the final project when we're done.  In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy the last 4 days of my loosy-goosy, messy, lazy, sugary summer. 

Godspeed to my fellow homeschoolers.