When I first wrote about our family purpose statement, we were a younger family living in a different country. I was in the throes of depression, and we were one person short.
It’s not that we’re old hats at the parenting thing now, but I can pretty confidently say we’ve grown and wisened-up a bit in the past few years. We’ve been through a lot, and we’re a little different. More of who we were made to be.
But what’s refreshing is that I look at our purpose statement, and it still rings true. We wrote it to be as timeless as possible, while still being specific enough to be useful.
Our family purpose statement
We will:
Put each other first.
Cultivate deep relationships with one another.
Extend love to those around us.
Live simply.
Be true to who God made us.
Take care of our health.
Be good stewards of creation.
Be lifelong learners.
This summer, Dee of Red Letter Words sent us a canvas emblazoned with our purpose statement. I may or may have not teared when it arrived in the mail.
I love that her talent sits in our living room, purposed as a reminder for us to be who we are. To be the Oxenreiders.
Dee’s family purpose statement hangs in her house as well. Beautiful reminders, they are.
And this weekend, Ree would like to give a Simple Mom reader the chance to get his or her family’s purpose statement printed as a canvas as well. To remind you to be you.
Giveaway
To win your family’s purpose statement on a 20×30 gallery wrapped canvas print in any color from Red Letter Words, please use the widget below (if you’re reading this via email, you’ll need to click over to the blog to enter the giveaway):
Important: Because the cost of shipping something this size is rather costly, Dee can only offer free shipping to a U.S.-based winner. If you’re outside the U.S. and are chosen as the winner, you’ll need to pay for the difference in shipping to your country. Thanks for understanding.
This giveaway will end Saturday night, October 20 (that’s tomorrow!), and I’ll announce the winner soon after. I hope you win!
About Tsh
Our family is gracious.
Dynamic…
Yep, growing, changing, learning, influancing, forgiving…dynamic.
I would describe our family as spirited.
Family. We love our family and love our friends and the world as extended family! Reminds us we are all connected.
Amanda´s latest post: The Basic 10: Your Daily Housekeeping Chore List
faithful
One word to describe my family is “purpose” as in God has a purpose for everything he does, including putting us together.
Robyn Rasmussen´s latest post: Homeschool Money Lesson 3: Prices and Products
forever
One word to describe our family is compassionate.
Grateful.
We’re also fun, loving and fortunate.
Thank you for this opportunity!
Heather
Heather Allard´s latest post: The Guide to Running a Booming Business Even When Your Child is Sick
comical
Love this!
Blessed.
What a great idea! I would absolutely LOVE to win this!
AMUSED
Thoughtful.
One word to describe my family: Devoted. Devoted to God, to each other, and to serving the world as best we can!
Crazy.
And I mean that in the best way. We are in a very busy phase with three kids 5 & under, a husband who is a pastor, teacher and PhD student, and a mom who is a Stella & Dot stylist with a growing team! But by crazy I mean we like to be silly together! And we love our full lives and the friends and family that keep it so! We are truly blessed to be so crazy!
The one word to describe my family is: beginning.
Team
Loyal
Love
One word to describe my family is LOYAL!
One word that describes our family, supportive. We are truly always there for each other, good times & bad. So very thankful that we are always supported & loved, and I pray that my own kiddos will continue this on with their own families one day.
Committed
One word for our family: connected
Valued
By God and by each other.
one word that comes to mind is “connected”. Our connection runs so deeply and always put eachother first.
One Word: Close
Steph´s latest post: Acting How We Feel
Determined.
Learning.
One word that we strive to be is:
humble
Our family is loving. We are a tight little unit, and show our love for each other all the time.
Fun – we love to have fun together, make each other laugh and be silly.
Happy!
One word to describe our family: Crazy! Not a bad crazy though, we’re always moving and doing and the kids have a TON of energy!
I’m torn between BLESSED and CONNECTED. We are a tight-knit little family of three! (Plus the dog makes four)
Thank you!
one word to describe our family: korean-american.
I love this idea!
Answer this question: What is ONE word to describe your family?
Strong
Silly!
Strong
Blessed. Our family is definitely blessed more than we deserve.
To be really honest, our one word:
tired
laid-back
Our family is . . . connected.
Rooted.
Team
We are “explorers”.
Beautiful! The writing, the heart, the display…all of it is beautiful.
Oh, and our family is “fun”!
one word to describe our family…Believers….in each other, in our dreams, in God
One word: Fun!
Wild! haha
We are blessed
one word that describes us? “funny”
Blessed
Small
Thankful!
Rachel´s latest post: Five Minute Friday: Look
One word to describe our family: close!
Complete!
One word to describe my family:
Blessed.
There is no other word that fits…
Tiff´s latest post: It Really Is the Little Things.
Committed.
Learning
Ellen Bitler´s latest post: The Zoo
Wow! It is hard to find one word. I just deleted four. I’m just going to pick one and say creative. Each of us has our own bent to creativity, but we are creative together as a family. I love that about us.
Diverse. We are three individuals with three different nationalities(!!) and three very different personalities but together we make a strong team!
Oana79´s latest post: Waiting
I think one word to describe my family would be Strong. We’ve been through a lot but by the grace of God we’re still going.
One word to describe our family? Learning. Learning about each other (we’ve only been married 2 and half years), learning about Texas (we moved here last year), learning to do things the other already loves and wants to share (I’m getting my scuba certification — my DH is a rescue diver. And my DH is learning about theatre, and has started suggesting productions we might attend…I LOVE theatre!) And learning brand new things together.
Lindsay´s latest post: The smell of home
Intentional.
Amy´s latest post: In the beginning…
Happiness
strong
Ack! I just replied and it disappeared! A shorter reply this time! “Learning” We are learning about each other (only married 2.5 years), learning to share things the other loves, learning new things together, and learning about Texas (we moved here last year.)
Lindsay´s latest post: The smell of home
One word to describe my family? Love
its with love we put up with each other, understand each other, be silly with each other, love each other 
one word to describe my family? Lovely
grace at {Gabbing with Grace}´s latest post: My Day in Prison. Part 2 or maybe part 12
We are striving for “generous” in our family. Thanks for the giveaway!
Kelsey´s latest post: Oh for a book.
Crazy! lol
Grace. Love to live under a banner of His grace, grace from each other, grace to each other. Is GOOD!
Adventurous
One word……… Complete!!
Hospitality
There is always an open door policy and people know it.
There!
Perhaps a strange word to choose but true. Even though we are scattered about, we are always there for each other. Especially in times of need, our love and support is extended over the miles that separate us.
Marsha´s latest post: Wild Olive Tees – Giveaway
unique
Beckie´s latest post: Resurgence Conference 2012
Our one word would probably be: Mindful
One word to describe my family is love.
witty
We’d best be described as “chaotic” but I’m hoping we’ll grow towards “together”
Jennifer Rae´s latest post: Baby Bump Update
Purposeful!
One word: Solid
No matter what life throws at us, we have our foundation to hold us together.
This giveaway couldn’t have come at a better time for us!
thank you!
We are silly!
Silly!
Learners
Evolving.
Two words. Enjoy life!
Pam@behealthybehappywellness´s latest post: How to connect and save money!
wabi-sabi
perfectly imperfect
Love — that sums it all up, right?
One word to describe my family is together. Moving cross country and leaving our extended family to embark on a new adventure, my husband starting a new job, finding out a week later we’re pregnant with our second child, and a month later buying our first home, we Thank God every day for how much closer this bumpy, messy, incredible journey has brought us!
I saw someone wrote “Gifts” and I almost cried. I agree! We are definitely gifts, to each other and to those we touch!
the best word to describe our family is: caring….
United
lucky
Loved
Unique…
Thanks,, Cindi
Warmth