New Year Family Home Evening Idea | The Red Headed Hostess

Since its the new year, and we are all on the “new goals” bandwagon… here is a fun idea you can do with your family tonight:

Make a Family Time Capsule

1-  Find a small box, pens, pencils, ,markers, tape, envelopes, a bowl and paper

2-  Write the following questions on small pieces of paper and put them in the bowl.

  • What is your favorite memory from 2011?
  • What is the funniest thing that happened in 2011?
  • What is the most important lesson you learned last year?
  • What was one of your greatest challenges last year?
  • What is something that you improved in, or became better at, last year?
  • What is something you gained a stronger testimony about?
  • What is a prayer that was answered in your life?

3-  Give everyone a piece of paper and then take turns pulling the questions out of the bowl, answering the questions on your own paper as you go.

4-  Go around and share your answers

5-  Previously review, then share one or all of these stories from Heber J. Grant’s life about how he achieved excellence:  Heber J Grant – aim high – goals

6-  Have everyone write a letter to themselves for 2012.  Have them include the spiritual, physical, social, etc. goals that they have, what they want to get better at in their lives, and specifics about the kind of year they hope to have.

7-  Seal up their letters in individual envelopes, and have each person address it to themselves.

8-  Put everything in the box and then wrap up and decorate the box.  You could have everyone sign it and put, “To be opened on ____________(date of first Family Home Evening in 2013)”

9-  Select a spot in the house to put the time capsule that is out of the way, but a place where each person will see it often and be reminded of their goals for the year.

other options:

  • Choose a family theme scripture for the year.  Put that theme scripture on the box.
  • Put items in the box such as pictures from 2011, special things from the year (awards, etc), notes to each other, etc
  • Keep a family time capsule scrapbook – so do this each year, and after you open the box a year later, put the contents in a scrapbook

6 comments

  1. My favorite book is also the Hiding Place. I’m sorry it’s a duplicate. I want to meet Betsy Ten Boom in heaven on day. I have a note by the scripture she quoted in 1 Thessalonians that says “Betsy Ten Boom.” Her example has changed me.

    thank you for this wonderful sight! I am a seminary teacher and have really enjoyed it. You can tell you are a “doer” of the word.

  2. We did this on Monday and it was so much fun and such a great idea. It will be so much fun to open up next year! I also included a questioneer for my kids to fill out or to be filled out for them (my kids are 5, 3 & 1). It was a great authentic reading and writing exercise for my kindergartner (wrote an entire page!). Thanks for the great idea. And all the helps on scripture study. I haven’t been able to get enough these past few weeks. I know you’ve had a million thank you’s, but here’s one more. And now I’m back to look again at the couple scripture study stuff. 🙂

  3. this is awesome…. i’m gonna do it for myself.. i’m not married nor do i have children, i’m actually waiting on my mission call but its a great idea and i’m totally gonna do this for myself alone…

    thanks for all your ideas,.. you made scripture study for me a lot more fun..

    thanks for everything…

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