I have been a subscriber to CFC for a few years now. I am always so excited to get one of the cute boxes in the mail. Despite my best educational and catechesis desires, life happens. Sadly sometimes the boxes got lost on a shelf, or the papers got lost in the pile. I am known to neglect email reminders and get buried in the hecticness of the days or weeks. Sad to admit, sometimes I just tossed the stuff because I just could not deal.
Next, to organize the goodies in the crates, I found a great organizational vessel, folders and labeling system. I like these sturdy bankers boxes, they are easy to move around, stack and store, and fine to look at. I also purchased expandable file folders to categorize the various months or themes.
I labeled the folders with the 12 months of the year. On the front of the Jan-Dec folders I wrote the Saint Days of the cards that I have inside for easy reference. I add these dates to my calendar (physical or digital) at the beginning of each month, along with the cute CFC sticker reminders.
Also, I made folders for the additional seasons and themes (below are some examples to get you started):
- Liturgical seasons (Lent, Triduum, Easter, Ordinary Time, Advent & Christmas)
- Theology of the Body
- Mary, Mother of God
- Adoration
- The Rosary
- Table Toppers (Virtues)
- Confession
- Miscellaneous
I went to town just loading the folders full of the CFC goodies, and any leftover crafts that we didn’t get to complete so we can use them next year. I also put other random things in the folders even if they are not CFC, like prayer cards, etc.
It’s great because when I have a baptism to celebrate, or first reconciliation, etc. I can open up that folder. There is always something fitting to put inside a card to a friend’s child to commemorate and celebrate.
Our children really look forward to these fun activities, as do I! Organizing has made it so much easier to make it happen. The best part is we can use these things for years and years to come!
- Michele Gravina