You’ll love Ann Voskamp’s description of the new year – as if it were a new-born baby, each year requires its own name so that it may be raised and brought up in its unique way. Once again, your spirit will soar with encouragement as you read about why and how she named her 2011, “The Year of Here“.

I think I’ll name our 2011 “The Year of Foundations“. Lately, I’m invigorated by the wisdom of laying a firm foundation. As our little ones dance through their days, we are carefully considering each move we make; each tradition we begin; each habit we acquire. After all, now, while our family is young, is the time to lay a firm foundation. Christ, as our cornerstone, guides our decisions and corrects our mistakes. If we carefully construct our personal and family lives on an unshakable foundation, our future will be girded in wisdom and nobility.

To begin, we can’t wait to begin Clay Clarkson’s “Our 24 Family Ways“, which outlines family devotion times during which to establish 24 foundations of a godly home life.

I’ve photo-copied the coloring pages from the back of the book, and we’ll dig in, soon. How wonderful for each of us to see our very identity as “We love and obey our Lord, Jesus Christ, with wholehearted devotion,” and “We love one another, treating others with kindness, gentleness, and respect.” When our children reflect on what it means to be a part of our particular family, we want them to think far beyond, “I have red hair just like my dad,” to “My dad and I choose to be joyful, even when we feel like complaining.” Sure, they may recall, “Mom always made cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning,” but I hope they also remember, “Mom always chose to be patient, even when she felt like getting her own way.”

May Christ’s beautiful qualities dwell richly in our home as we lay a strong foundation on Him alone.