Purposeful Planning- A Review

Posted on August 9, 2007 
Filed Under Homeschool, Inspiration, Organization / Time Management, Reviews

Summer’s winding down, and we’re already preparing to head back into the school year (it’s almost too hot to think of!). Even though the boys are finished with homeschooling, there’s still plenty of schoolwork happening with all three of them in college.

I enjoy looking ahead to the new year, considering priorities, and creating a fresh schedule to help us all juggle rides to school, computer time, and everything else that goes into our busy lives. This is the time of year when I like to re-read some of my personal planning favorites– Steven Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Successful People, Marilyn Rockett’s Homeschooling at the Speed of Life, David Allen’s Getting Things Done, and others.

This year, I came across Purposeful Planning, a very different sort of planning guide– one written especially for families. Author Phyllis Sather shares the story of how she and her husband began taking short planning weekends together. As the years passed, they included their children, and the planning weekends have become a significant family tradition.

Sather provides a detailed look at the benefits of planning together, and careful instructions for how to plan and schedule a similar weekend for your family. She covers ideas for keeping young children occupied, and for including older children, plus counsel on how to create an agenda, stick to a schedule, and listen respectfully to each other. She even includes things to plan for that I hadn’t thought of including in my own yearly plans! Sather’s ideas for planning together, rather than separately, seem certain to strengthen family relationships and create many memories.

Purposeful Planning is written from a thoroughly Christian perspective. Sather emphasizes the enriched relationships and increased closeness that can result from this concentrated time of togetherness. Really, can you imagine anything better than spending a few days with the ones you love most, talking about things that really matter?

Purposeful Planning is a quick read, but it covers all the practical aspects of planning as a family. It’s presented as an e-book, and can easily be printed two pages to a sheet. No matter what stage of life you’re in, I think you’ll find that Sather’s ideas will help your family grow in grace. You can find it at www.Phyllis-Sather.com.
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Just a final reminder…

The Emergency Firesale for Tammy Cardwell, which I wrote about earlier this week, is scheduled to END Saturday at midnight!

This is your last chance to donate what you can & be a blessing to a family in need… and in return receive a fantastic collection of great homeschooling resources (including my Homeschooling through High School: There’s Joy in the Journey audio workshop!) for your family,.

You can find all the details here: http://www.chirotoons.com/cardwell

But be sure to take a look before the deadline Saturday at midnight. It is WELL worth your time and attention!

Comments

One Response to “Purposeful Planning- A Review”

  1. phyllis-sather.com » Blog Archive » Finally… on August 10th, 2007 3:49 pm

    [...] Purposeful Planning- A Review Aug 9th, 2007 by Janice Campbell Summer’s winding down, and we’re already preparing to head back into the school year (it’s almost too hot to think of!). Even though the boys are finished with homeschooling, there’s still plenty of schoolwork happening with all three of them in college. Read the rest of this article by Janice Campbell [...]

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