Every Needful Thing - Notebook Whys

Now that you have seen all the pieces and parts to our Every Needful Thing notebooks, I wanted to explain why we put each part in the book and what some of our plans are to use the notebooks.  (If you are wondering what I’m talking about, click here for background info or look back at all the posts from the last week.)

Gratitude Journal. You all know what a fan I am of gratitude journals in general but in this case, the reason we put one in each notebook is because we feel like the more grateful we are, the easier it is to sift through what is “needful” in our lives.  When we recognize the things we have, we focus less on the things we don’t have.  So, gratitude becomes a very important tool in determining “what is needful” in all areas of our lives – the things we have, the way we spend our time, the goals we set…everything.

The journal can start at any time – just jot down the date in the little box next to the lines on the paper and you’re ready to go.  Notice how there are very few lines for an entire week – that is on purpose.  Rather than getting bogged down with having to write a lot each day, there is space for something simple.  Maybe a sentence or two, even a phrase or single word will work.  This format for the journal gives each woman flexibility to do what she wants with it.

Quote Envelope. Each month when we have a service project or activity with our women, we will be focusing on a different topic or skill that we feel is helpful to our group.  All will relate to the quote from Doctrine & Covenants that I shared on Monday – especially the part that says, “Organize yourselves, prepare every needful thing…”

After each activity, we will be providing the women with printed quotes (much like my weekly downloads) that they can use to remind and inspire them after the activity.  This envelope is a place to put the quote each month or any quote they gather if they choose.  Our monthly quotes will become a weekly download here on my blog – so don’t worry, you’ll get them, too!

Pockets. Many of the women in our neighborhood are looking for help with time management, organization, easy meal preparation, teaching children how to work, etc.  These are the daily “needful things” that are necessary parts of any woman’s life.  That is primarily what we are focusing on this year – how to figure out what is needful as we manage the ins and outs of our daily lives.

Each month we will provide a list of “tips” for incorporating whatever topic we are discussing into real life.  The tips will come from the women themselves (using the above questionnaire) and will be a list of great ideas for applying the principles we are discussing.  That’s the “Quick Family Tips” section.

Whenever food or refreshments are part of the activity then copies of the recipes will be available so that women can go home and use them.  Since we are trying to increase our knowledge of homemaking skills, this will be a key part in helping women do that.  Hence, the “Recipes” section.

The third pocket is called “Things to Try” and it is a place for handouts about each topic and a place for women to take their own notes regarding the lessons.  Since each person has to decide for themselves “what is needful” for them or their families, this is a place to jot down ideas from each activity that they want to try.  No one is expected to do it all – our goal is to offer a variety of information and let each woman choose what they can and want to incorporate into their individual lives.

Obviously, you can make the pockets into anything you want.  I gave you the same tabs that we are using simply because that is the information that I will be sharing with you over the next months – things that go in those particular pockets.  Feel free to do your own thing, though.

Final Thought For You. This notebook that I have shown you is specifically designed to support the things that we are going to be focusing on throughout 2010.   I am a big believer in being able to look at the big picture or entire vision for something and have all the parts interconnect and relate to each other.  This notebook, although it’s cute and fun to have, serves a greater purpose for us to be able to tie it all together this year.  Although our activities will differ from each other, we won’t be floundering about with random ideas of what to do each month – we have a plan, we have direction, and by thinking about the year as a whole, we have the ability to create a more meaningful experience because it will all be interwoven to create a complete work of art that focuses on our goal.

Tomorrow I will share what we are doing with the final journaling block in the notebook so watch for that.  Next week I will also give you a list of the activities that we have planned for the 2010 “Every Needful Thing” program.  This will give you an idea of where we are headed and what is to come.  Each month, when we have an activity, I will give you more details of what we are doing beforehand and then after the activity, I will share the ideas that we talked about and learned.  I hope you will continue to participate by commenting regularly and contributing your thoughts and ideas as well.

Happy Friday!

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