WRITING YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS ON FAMILY VALUES
1. Write about the changes you have observed in people's attitude about family values.
2. Were people more secure in their family values when you were growing up than they are now? Why? Why not?
3. How common was working mothers in your day? Have working mothers been good or bad for our society? Explain why or why not.
4. Write about a time in your childhood when father knew best.
5. Write about a time when he knew least.
6. What was the balance between freedom and authority in your home when you were young? Write an experience from both.

YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT ROMANCE
1. Write about a time when you and your new bride had an experience that was fun, wild, and spontaneous.
2. Write about a time when you and your new groom had an experience that was fun, wild, and spontaneous.
3. Make a list for your grandchildren of some things you currently consider romantic.
4. Describe a getaway experience you and your spouse had that was memorable.
5. Write about an early experience when you and your spouse were aggressive and extravagant in your romance.
6. Write about an experience where your romance was so predictable and boring that it was humorous.

THE MOST SIMPLE THINGS TO WRITE ABOUT
1. Where did you live during your childhood days and who lived with you?
2. What kinds of make-believe do you remember playing as a child?
3. Name and describe the pets you had when you were in grade school.
4. What do you remember feeling the first day of school? Describe it.
5. What do you see going on around you at meal time when you were a child?
6. Write a memory of the kind of music you typically heard as a child.

MORE SIMPLE IDEAS TO WRITE ABOUT
1. Describe as many cars you have owned in your lifetime.
2. Write about a memorable fishing trip you took with your parents.
3. What were the circumstances around your baptism?
4. Did you have a memorable babysitting experience when you were a teenager? Explain.
5. Write of one significant depression experience that has stayed in your memory all these years.
6. Write a memory of your first few days in Navy boot camp, or Army basic training.

A POTPOURI OF CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES FROM WHICH TO WRITE
1. Write about some of the ways you carry a positive influence of your parents. List them and explain each.
2. Write of some ways you carry a negative influence.
3. Write of an experience out of your past that found you in a very deep and powerful relationship with your parents.
4. Since it might be a rare thing for your grandkids to experience solitude, why not write of a childhood experience of genuine solitude you had that impacted your life? Explain the circumstances and what you learned.
5. Write of your most romantic experience as a teenager.
6. What roles did you have as (choose one): an only child; as the oldest child; as the middle child; as the youngest child.

WHEN YOU WERE A KID
1. Write about one memorable experience you had during the depression.
2. Describe the house your family lived in the first year of your life.
3. Write about the strangest acting farm animal you had when you were a kid.
4. Describe all the nicknames of your siblings and the history behind them.
5. Write of the most weird Christmas you ever experienced.
6. List some of your favorite things and explain why they are your favorites.

THINGS TO WRITE CONCERNING CHRISTMAS
1. Why am I feeling hassled this season? Would my grandkids understand these feelings?
2. Who is the one person I really miss in my life this season? Why?
3. Write about one childhood Christmas that really stands out? Why?
4. Write what the word "blessed" mean to me? Why?
5. What feelings do I have when no one volunteers to help me decorate?

STORIES ABOUT YOUR LIFE
1. As you look back over your life what threads do you recognize?
2. So far, what are your sacred moments that come to mind?
3. Write about several moments in your life that touched your deepest feelings.
4. What one thing did you save that belonged to your parents? As you look at it, what do you think? What are your feelings when you touch it?
5. Write about a time when you went through a spiritual crisis.
6. Write about some places of beauty that touched your heart and that you cherish even to this day.

MORE STORIES ABOUT YOUR LIFE
1. What is the most surprising gift you ever received? Explain the circumstances around receiving this gift.
2. What is the most enjoyable gift you gave to someone else? Explain.
3. Write of several qualities of your grandparents that you would most like your grandchildren to possess.
4. Write about the greatest peer pressure you felt as a teen since your grandkids feel it every day.
5. Write about the hardest phone call you ever made. Write about the hardest letter you ever wrote. How about the hardest received?
6. Write about the worst rejection you experienced as a teenager. How did you handle the situation?

WRITING YOUR DEEPER THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS
1. Write about how your family handled the bad times during your early years: divorce, death, arguements, lawsuits, estrangements.
2. Were there any cautionary tales within your family when you were growing up? Write about one.
3. Write of one specific time when you felt hopeless and alone. What helped you through the experience? As you write, think of how best your grandchildren can learn from this experience.
4.When you were a kid who could you always go to for honest answers? Explain who, explain why.
5. Write of a single experience out of your past that found you caring and supportive of someone who was going through difficult times.
6. Write of an instance when time seemed to stop and you knew you were part of a moment that held great significance.

YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT DEATH
1. What is it about death that you fear the most? Write why you feel this way.
2. What concerns do you have how your death will affect your children and grand children?
3. Write how you would choose to die plus the timing. Explain why.
4. Explain to your children some of the things you want to experience before you die. Write a list. Explain why.
5. Share your feelings about being left alone should your spouse die first.
6. What apprehensions do you have about suffering? How will you explain these feelings to your grandchildren?

YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT SELF-ESTEEM
1. Write about a time when you struggled with your identity and self-worth. This may be helpful to a grandchild.
2. Write about the mirror of comparison that might have distorted a part of your early life; the comparison of telling you how much you lacked.
3. Write what you think God thought when He first thought of you.
4. To believe about yourself what God already believes about you is a starting point for writing about your self-esteem.
5. Write a brief essay on being "fearfully and wonderfully made."
6. List five things you like about yourself and write a 50 word paragraph on each.

BEGIN WRITING a SPIRITUAL LEGACY WILL TO YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN
Write About:
1. Something you learned from suffering.
2. Something you learned from forgiveness.
3. Something you learned from fear.
4. Something you learned from contentment.
5. Something you learned from discipline.
6. Something you learned from joy.

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