Thursday, September 30, 2010

Promoting Measures That Strengthen the Family as The Fundamental Unit of Society

Well, we've arrived at the end of our month-long celebration of 
The Family: A Proclamation to The World.


It's difficult to find words to describe how wonderful and amazing this month has been
without sounding trite.  Whether you were with us all month or if you are just now joining us, it's worth going back and reading all of the posts.  All of our guest bloggers did a wonderful job, and the link-up posts that you did were spectacular.  I gained so much wisdom, appreciated some new perspectives, and picked up many important ideas on how to strengthen my family relationships and how to enjoy my role as a Mother more.



Thank you for reading and for contributing your testimonies and experiences to this celebration!
Thanks so much to our sponsors who donated the prizes for this fun blog party!


I am ever so grateful to Montserrat of Chocolate On My Cranium for including me in this wonderful adventure.  She was truly inspired when she came up with this idea, and it has in turn inspired all of us.  Please drop by her site to thank her...and check out the article that was written about her recently in The Mormon Times.


Although our month together has come to a close, I hope that you will continue to celebrate Family and your divine role in the family...each and every day.  Come back to visit often, as I know that I'll be dropping in on all of you as well!
XOXO!


Now, on with the show!
Our final guest blogger is Nita Newswander.
She is a bright, talented, outspoken new mother.  
She's also my cousin...(well, my cousin's wife, anyway!)  
Here's Nita...




As responsible and concerned citizens, we have a duty to “promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society,” as stated in the family proclamation. What are some of “those measures” and how can we support them? I’ve put together just a few ideas to get us started.


1. Activism and support of the family begins at home. Teach your children by example that the family is a sacred unit, that mothers and fathers work together to love and nurture their children, and that civic education is important. Learn about key issues together.


2. Be involved and let your children see it. Whatever your cause—school-district re-zoning or the rights of unborn children—let your voice be heard. Don’t shy away from talking about important political issues with your family at the dinner table. Volunteer your time for a cause that is important to you.


3. Support legislation that protects children and families. Locally and nationally, we can do this with our voices and our votes. Campaign for candidates with shared values. Encourage open discussion of issues or legislation regarding those values. Blogs are an excellent way to enter the public sphere and share our opinions with friends and neighbors near and far. If you have more time or resources, consider making phone calls, handing out literature, or otherwise sharing your talents.


4. Let others know how you feel. If formal involvement in a cause is too intimidating, visit a neighbor and share your feelings or concerns with them. In the worst case, they will disagree with you. But even then they will know where you stand and will have gained an increased awareness from the conversation.


5. Vote. And encourage others to do it. Elections are not won by private hopes or worrying.
Protecting our families is our responsibility, and as citizens of a democratic republic, we have a right to call upon our government to support us as we do so.


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Thank you, Nita!




And here are Winners of the party favors for this final week of our celebration!
Family for Time and  Eternity vinyl lettering wood mini-sign READY TO SHIP

"Family: for time & eternity" wooden sign
by Love Letters


WINNER:
My Photo
Heather of Women in the Scriptures


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Personalized Family Night Magnet Set
Personalized FAMILY NIGHT Magnet Set
by Primary Bird


WINNER:

Lara of The Golden Seven

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Family Home Evening Jar - PDF

Family Home Evening Jar - PDF
by JuBEAN Designs


Stacy of Mom of Five And Still Alive
(PS - Stacy, no you didn't win this because of the comment that you made!  You actually came up on Random number generator, believe it or not! :)


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Love Is Spoken Here - 5 x 7 in Pink

"Love Is Spoken Here" Print
by Sugar Fresh


WINNER:
Niki of Desserts on Demand
(LOL!)


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Young Women's Virtue charm bracelet

Young Women's Virtue Charm Bracelet
by Serendipity Beaded Creations


WINNER:

Cherry of Motherhood, Legacy of Faith and Love


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Family Home Evening Manuel - PDF file
2010 Family Home Evening Manual - PDF
"I Know My Savior Lives"
by Becca Stoker of Just Beccuz


WINNER:

Renae of Toledo Marks The Spot

CONGRATULATIONS to all of the winners.

Please email me your contact info so you can receive your prize!

And as always, please remember to check out Chocolate On My Cranium
and be sure to THANK MONTSERRAT for bringing us all together for this wonderful celebration!

18 comments:

  1. and you know how I love and approve of activation. thanx nita

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  2. Thanks Jocelyn for a month full of knowledge and for finding some new friends throughout this month. Let me know if you want me to post again on another subject in the future on my blog.

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  3. Nita, thank you for the reminder to stay active in supporting family values. Great post.

    Jocelyn, thank you. This celebration of family has been wonderful!!

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  4. Yay! It's the first time I've ever won anything online!

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  5. This was a great post to remind me to be a VISIBLE example to my kids. Too often I think that we do what we do and our kids miss out or don't know why we are doing it. What a great reminder. Thanks.

    Also, Thank you Jocelyn for joining Montserrat in this celebration. It has been uplifting and wonderful. I have had such a spiritual experience reading each and everyone of the posts and learning from the words they have shared. Thank you again.

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  6. wonderful job of bringing it all together and giving us practical ideas to implement in our families...thanks for letting me participate.

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  7. Thank you for such a fantastic month!! I've enjoyed every post and have learned SO much!!

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  8. Well said Nita! We all need to be more involved in our communities. You know the old saying that it "takes a village to raise a child", well, that village can only raise the child correctly if everyone in the village is aware and involved. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

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  9. It's so important to BE INVOLVED!

    Thank you Jocelyn for being such a willing partner in this celebration!

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  10. Thank You Jocelyn for all of your amazing posts! What great examples you've shown us! I've loved being able to soak in all of this goodness this month....tomorrow might be a little bit of a let down. ;-) Thank you!

    P.S. You can contact me about my prize(Yipee!!) at dessertsondemand@live.com

    Thank you again for everything!

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  11. Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts and feelings about the proclamation. I have loved it!

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  12. What an amazing month it's been! I've gleaned so many great ideas to strengthen my family and defend the institution in the world. Thank you ladies for putting this together!!!

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  13. I agree that BEING INVOLVED esp. in this time of modernization and confusion if i may say,wherein a lot of people have already forgotten that the family is a basic unit of the society, is very important.

    Elder Bruce C. Hafen in his book "Covenant Hearts" said "All around us we see the modern world's crazed rush to dispose of traditional marriage values, which is putting us at risk of losing the central bearings of our society. If we keep our bearings, husbands and wives become fathers and mothers who hold in their arms and hearts the purpose of this earth's creation-that the hearts of the children can turn to the fathers and the hearts of the fathers can turn to the children in an unending chain that links the generations together forever."

    You Sisters are all awesome! and Yay, i was so surprised to learn that i won something...Thank you so very much!!

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  14. Thank you ladies... all of you who have written and organized (Nita, for yours today, and all of you who have been here before)! You have all done wonderfully! :D

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  15. What a great post!

    Thanks ladies for this great month of oinspirations! You did an excellent job of putting this together!!

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  16. Nita-great suggestions
    Jocelyn-Thanks for doing this. It has been great.

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  17. what a wonderful month you've organized... thanks!

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  18. Ahhh! I recently moved and haven't registered to vote yet! I need to do that!!! Thank you SOOOOO much for this wonderful month of uplifting, beautiful posts. I have to admit I'm kind of bummed that I didn't win anything- all of the prizes were just SOOOOOO beautiful and inspiring! Maybe next time my sister and I can donate something as a prize.
    Anyway, thank you SO much. I have even discovered more blogs and made new friends. I have loved every post!!!

    -Carrie

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