"Traditions Pack"

Mothers Day and Fathers Day Tradition Pack

You can place these items in a basket or a clear celophane bag tied with a beautiful bow. A few ideas to include:

5 Recipe Cards
5 Recipe fo Joy Cards
Happy Home Kit
2-3 I Love My Dad Because (from the Fathers Day Tradition Sack)
2 Ivory Letter Booklets
2 Love by the Month Envelopes

Include a brief suggestion of what to do with the items:

Make Mother's Day Special by having 5 of Mom's friends write their favorite recipe as well their recipe for Joy on the enclosed cards. Write your own letter to Mom and include a few photos of the two of you together to place inside the Ivory Letter Booklet. Place everything inside our Love by the Month Envelopes and present to Mom on Mother's Day!

Something similar for Fathers Day...

You could use this for an item in a silent auction (add catalog and gift certificate )

Idea from Lisa Chinn

Mr. Belser…A young man learns what is most important from the guy next door!

It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way.

In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams.

There in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son.
He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.

Over the phone, his mother told him, “Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday.” Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.
“Jack, did you hear me?”
“Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes I heard you. I’m sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago,” Jack said.
“Well, he didn’t forget you. Every time I saw him he’d ask how you were doing. He’d reminisce about the many days you spent over ‘his side of the fence’ as he put it. You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man’s influence in your life,”she said.
“He’s the one who taught me carpentry,” he said. “I wouldn’t be in this business if it weren’t for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important…Mom, I’ll be there for the funeral,”
Jack said.

Mr. Belser’s funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

Jack and his Mom stopped by the old house next door one more time. Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap thru space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture…Jack suddenly stopped.

“What’s wrong, Jack?” his mother asked.
“The box is gone,” he said.
“What box?” Mom asked.
“There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked hem a thousand times what was inside. All he’d ever tell me was ‘the thing I value most’”
It was gone! Everything was how Jack remembered it except for the box. “Now I’ll never know what was so valuable to him,” Jack said.

It had been about 2 weeks since Mr. Belser died and Jack received a package. The box was old and looked as though it had been mailed a hundred years ago.
The return address caught his attention. “Mr. Harold Belser”
Jack ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and a note…”Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It’s the thing I valued most in my life.”

A small key was taped to the letter. His heart was racing, as tears filled his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box.
There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved:
“Jack, Thanks for your time!- Harold Belser.”
“The thing he valued most was…my time!”

THE BRICK

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?"

The young boy was apologetic. "Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do," He pleaded. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop..." With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. "It's my brother, "he said. "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up." Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."
Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay. "Thank you and may God bless you," the grateful child told the stranger. Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy! push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message: "Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!"

Pay attention to the whispers in our souls and the words that speak to our hearts. Don’t make someone have to throw a brick at us to get us to listen.

Finding the words to share the Once Upon a Family mission

Words to describe Once Upon a Family

Consultants develop their own words to describe Once Upon a Family. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Our mission is to help families connect in loving, joyful and meaningful ways. We offer elegant keepsakes, unique gifts and inspirational tradition ideas to simplify and enrich your family life.
• If you think it is important to teach values in your home and if you are looking for ways to spend more time with your family, Once Upon a Family may be what you are looking for! We give the ideas, inspiration and ease with which you weave values into your everyday family celebrations and holidays.
• In our modern day lifestyles, slowing down and taking time to spend with our loved ones feels like something we have to schedule on the calendar. Isn’t it about time we got back to family and made time for each other? Once Upon a Family will give you the tools to do more for your family in less time by showing you how to spend quality time together in meaningful, fulfilling ways.
• At Once Upon a Family, we believe there are 7 things you do to create a strong happy family. Those things are to show love and appreciation to each other, celebrate life together often, stay in touch with friends and family that live far away, honor a set of values, cherish precious keepsakes, have a set of traditions and make family a priority. We inspire people to have a better quality of life by reminding them of the importance of these 7 Keys that build strong family ties.

Seven Keys

Key #1 Creating a Sense of Belonging

Families who make family a priority, create a sense of belonging. They plan time for family activities and events, and expect that time. Family members are expected to participate and made to feel they are an important part of the family unit.

Examples: the Family Memory Board and the Leather Family Album

Key #2: Showing Love and Appreciation

Families show love and appreciation for each other, in many ways. They learn to be comfortable communicating their affection and giving each other “gifts of love” often. No one, no matter how old they are, ever grows out of the need to feel loved and appreciated.

Examples: The Dear Sweet Child Letter Box, and Wood-Patterned Love Box, or the Love Journal

Key #3: Stay close to Family and Friends

Families stay close to family and friends that live far away. They don’t let distance and time erode their bonds. They find ways to stay connected and enrich their relationships. They will make sacrifices, like driving through snowstorms, to get together and support each other, especially in hard times.

Examples: Letters from Grandma Set, Love by the Month Envelopes.

Key #4: Creating a Strong Sense of Family Identity, Rich in Traditions

The rituals and traditions families create, and pass on, help them feel unique as a family and connected to each other. The sillier, and more unusual, the better. “This is who we are…this is how we do things… this is how we celebrate birthdays, the Fourth of July, Mother’s Day, etc.

Examples: the Birthday Book, and The Holiday Traditions Books & Sacks

Key #5: Developing a Family History

Families develop their history through stories, keepsakes, etc. They are interested in their heritage and often create family trees, interview older family members, and treasure keepsakes from distant relatives. They keep journals and write down the wonderful “family stories” that get passed down through the generations.

Examples: the Family Tree Poster & Leaves, the Family Tree Booklets, and the Leather Family Journal

Key #6: Honor and Respect Family Values

Families honor and respect a set of family values. They know what those family values are, talk about them often, and help each other make important decisions with those values in mind. Many of their family traditions revolve around the values they want to teach their children.

Examples: Candle of Honor, Keys of Happiness, Family Values Journal.

Key #7: Celebrating Life Together…Often

Families get together with family and friends and find reasons to celebrate life every month. They all participate and help in the planning and preparation. They enjoy each other’s company and make every event a celebration.

Examples: The Holiday Tradition Books & Sacks. Memories We share Envelopes, and Wishes to the Newborn Gift Box

Happy Home Kit Activities

Key of Honor
This simple activity takes a proactive approach to teaching values. When a child demonstrates a family value such as honesty or courage, light a candle at dinner in their honor and present them with the “Key of Honor” to hand on their bedroom door. Use the back of this Key to record what they’ve done to deserve this honor.

Just You and Me
One-on-One time with family members is so important. Make a date with someone who needs some attention. Whether it’s a movie, a baseball game, or a 10-minute walk to the donut shop, they will love the private time with you.

The Joy Chart
The Joy Chart is a wonderful way to teach your children to find joy in each and everyday. Write your names on the left of the chart and check the boxes each day someone shares 3 good things that happened. Fostering an atmosphere that focuses on the positive will make everyday brighter.

Ten Things I Love About You
Sometimes an unexpected gesture of love can be the most meaningful. Who wouldn’t feel adored if they found this “Love Note” under their pillow, in a lunch box or in their coat pocket? Your list can be sill or serious, that’s up to you! Simply write from your heart and watch as the recipient gleams with joy.

Love By the Month
Use this postcard to start a monthly tradition that will strengthen a long distance relationship. You can even send this postcard in an envelope with tidbits of family life: a photo, artwork, spelling test or an article you think they might enjoy.

My Story
Imagine finding a note written by your great-great grandmother describing the way she felt about life. Fold “My Story” in half to form a card. Take 10 minutes out of your day and write your own story for your loved ones to enjoy.

Conversation Starters
The dinner table is the perfect place to have those meaningful conversations that connect us. Cut out these 6 “Conversation Starters”, put them in a box, draw one at each family dinner and enjoy the wonderful discussion that is sure to follow.

Introducing the Happy Home Kit

A sample of information that you could add to the Happy Home Kit when you give it out. -- You could print out this information -- with your specifics and add the folder.

My name is Jana Long and I’m an Independent Consultant for Once Upon a Family.

I’d like to introduce you to our new Happy Home Kit. This kit consists of 7 mini-products that you can try at your leisure, in the privacy of your own home. This will give you an opportunity to experience what Once Upon a Family can do for you and your loved ones. We specialize in Home Celebrations, Gift Giving, Tradition Workshops, Lessons for Little Ones Program, Speaking Events and Business Opportunities. I would greatly appreciate any feedback on this new kit. You can contact me at: janalong@onceuponafamily.com (512)431-2540 or visit my web site at: onceuponafamily.com/janalong

Our mission is to help people create a better family life, one that is simple, joyful and meaningful.

The Once Upon A Family Happy Home Kit

The Happy Home Kit is an amazing tool; it’s unlike anything you have ever seen. It will help your customers experience what Once Upon a Family can do for them. You don’t need to say a word. It does it all for you. It consists of 7 mini-products for people to try, in the privacy of their home. Since the Kits are small and inexpensive, you should carry 5-10 of them around with you at all times, to hand out wherever you go: to the doctor’s, in the market, on the soccer field, the gym, church, or the hairdresser. It’s a fabulous booking tool that gives your Hostess a taste of what Once Upon a Family can do for her as well as share personal stories with her guest.