I crashed on the couch after a long day. I looked at my husband, and could tell he felt the same way I did. Beat. Worn down. Exhausted. Where had the day went?

At the end of each day, I think back at what we did for the day. Did I connect with my kids? My spouse? Is my to-do list checked off? More often than not, I can say no to at least one of these questions. But, I don't want to live my life like that. I want to be connected with my family. I want days where life stops and family happens.

This is why our family days need to happen. One day every month we mark FAMILY big on the calendar. Right now, it is the last Friday or Saturday of the month. We CHOOSE to take the time to spend the day together as a family. We started these in January and so far, we all look forward to them each month. And, I think you should too!

Here are four reasons why family days NEED to happen!

1. Life goes by in an instant

I realized this not long ago when we were planning a family vacation. My oldest daughter is 10, meaning we have eight summers left until she doesn't "have" to be with us anymore. She is more than halfway to adulthood. I don't want a time to come when I realize I don't "know" her or any of my kids really anymore. I want to be engaged in their lives. I want to create memories, and family fun days make this happen.

2. No cell phones!

That is a rule of family fun day. We turn off the phones for the day and live"unplugged." This is a perk and something that we ALL need to do more often.

3. Time together!

Family fun days are one day where we spend the whole day together. This doesn't happen very often. Usually my hubby is at work, we have weekend plans, I have to work, or something comes up to where at least one of us has to be away from the other. So, time together on family fun day is a HUGE perk!

4. Teach our kids the value of family

The family unit is a mess today, but that can change with us. How we raise our children is a good indication of how our children will raise our grandchildren. Yes, that is right GRANDchildren. It will happen one day mom, and what values do you want to instill in them now? I want to instill the fact that family is important, and time together is time well spent.

So, does this make you want to plan a family fun day? Then go, do it! Right now. Pick a date on the calendar and pencil in time for your family. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. We have gone geocaching, had a board game tournament, went to a home and garden show, and had a family movie day. The point is not WHAT you do, but THAT you do it. Family fun days need to happen, and they begin with YOU!

Editor's note: This article was originally published on Misty Bailey's blog, Joy in the Journey. It has been republished here with permission.