Seven Ways to Build Great Memories.

Here are 7 ideas to get your family laughing, bonding and revitalizing their hearts and bodies together while building memories and developing spiritually this summer.

Love your neighbor - Give your kids—and yourself—a chance to serve others. How? Perhaps you could ask to clean the yard of an elderly couple in your neighborhood. Or paint a physically handicapped neighbor’s garage. Or provide a meal for a shut-in. Baby-sit a single mom’s young kids for an evening. Or host a backyard Bible club. Ask God for guidance and thank Him for healthy bodies, nice weather and the opportunity to assist those in need.

Sidewalk art gallery - Find some child-sized chalk and let your children decorate the sidewalk. Invite other kids on the block to help you create a sidewalk art museum. Throw in some refreshments, take plenty of photos and make an afternoon of it. Share the photos with everyone afterwards. It’ll be an event your kids will long remember.

The great outdoors - Enjoy God’s creation as a family. Visit a forest preserve. Go hiking, bicycling, canoeing, rafting or swimming. Play games in a park. When you’re finished, pray as a family to thank the Lord for all He has created.

The need to read - Summer is a great time to read together. Handle this however you’d like. You could read for a few minutes each night before the kids go to bed or for an hour once a week while lying under the stars. Pick out an age-appropriate book that everyone will enjoy, preferably classic fiction.

Camping in 'Backyard National Park' - Pitch a tent or pop up the camper and enjoy a night under the stars in your backyard or driveway. Your kids will get to sleep outside, and you’ll have the comforts of home a few feet away. Tell campfire stories, play games, roast marshmallows, sing songs … and have a memory-building blast at no cost to your family.

Just say no to TV - Did you know that a TV is on for nearly eight hours a day in the average U.S. home? That’s time your family is NOT talking, relating, relationship building or interacting—and it’s lost forever. Why not take a one-week hiatus from TV viewing? Better yet, how about a month? Consider extending the ban to include the Internet, stereo, I-Pod and video games. You’ll notice the benefits immediately: more time together, better interaction, more energy, healthier eating habits, more exercise, more work accomplished and thriving relationships with God.

Take me out to the ballgame - Does your family enjoy sports? You don’t have to spend a proverbial arm and a leg at a major professional sporting event to watch a game together. Does a minor league baseball team play in your area? Soccer? Maybe a sibling, cousin or nephew is on a baseball, softball, soccer or swimming squad.