How Team Fritz kicked off 2015:

1.  Bacon and chocolate cake for breakfast.  Paul Simon’s Rhythm of the Saints in the background.  Chris’s coffee in his new mug.

   

 

2.  Asked a delightful list of questions including: what food do you want to try? what dragon do you want to slay? what famous person would you like to meet?  how far should we bike?  *Note: less questions next year.  I did too many questions.  Chris at one point said, “we’re losin’ ’em.”

    

 

3.  Chose and illustrated our Word of Year.  Greta is going to spend the day coloring her mandala, because she’s grateful for mandalas.

  

The words chosen were Peace, Danger, Persistence, Accomplishment, and Grateful.

 

4.  Reviewed, discussed, and summarized our brainstormed list of Family Compassion Focus ideas.  Chris is great at leading meetings.  Caleb is great at hopping around while almost breaking things.  I will someday be great at letting my kids be really loud and happy even when it feels so early.

5.  Voted for our 2015 Family Compassion Focus.  Everyone wrote their top 3 on an index card.  Greta and I worked on her spelling in stage whispers.  Chris tallied the votes – top choice=5 points, second choice=4 points, and third choice=3 points.

 

6.  Celebrated our brand new 2015 Family Compassion Focus.  We stood on our chairs and cheered.  We held hands and prayed.  Then there was dancing and running around.

 

Team Fritz’s 2015 Compassion Focus is Haiti!  

This works out so well for us this year because one child wanted to help people get toilets and sanitation, one child wanted to help provide food through Heifer Project, and one child can’t stop praying for orphans.  Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.  The opportunities to learn, love, and grow are endless.  We are excited.

 

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A few notes:

– You do not have to start a Family Compassion Focus on New Year’s Day.  That’s just our thing. You can start anytime.  Like, tomorrow.  Or during Lent.  Or during summer vacation.  Remember:

A little and late is better than nothing and never.

– You do not have to be so elaborate with candied bacon and family questions and Word of the Year.  These are our little traditions.  I like to cram as much meaning and deep thought into family meals.  I feel like I should get some credit for only doing half of the things I thought of.

– I give lots of tips in efforts to help people try new things.  If it stresses you out, forget it.  Do it your way and share it with us.

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For suggestions on family brainstorming read Now is the Time.

To get a general overview of how we’ll be doing this year read the Family Compassion Focus Calendar

To hear our Origin Story read How the Family Compassion Focus was Born.

When you choose a Family Compassion Focus, please share it in the comments with us.  Let’s do this together!

You are loved.

 

© Aimee Fritz and Family Compassion Focus, 2014-2015.