Family Home Evening

As mentioned in my previous post, we've been stepping up our efforts and energy to have a consistent family home evening together on Monday nights.  One of our main sources of motivation is watching just how excited Addison gets when it's FHE time.  Lets hope she blocks out the memory of her "younger years" wherein we were slackers before and rarely had it....and even more rarely on a consistent basis.  

I'm amazed at how much she listens to and retains at her age.  She truly is like a sponge when she absorbs all this knowledge and information.  Most times I hardly think it's sinking in as she wiggles and focuses on other non-lesson related materials but somewhere along the way she DOES understand and she DOES remember.  So that is what keeps us going.  And Jonas?  Um, he is still playing with toys at our feet, or squawking about something, or trying to grab the iPad, etc.  But someday I'll be surprised at how much knowledge he can relay back to me as well.  

Here is a recap of some of our favorite lessons given that actually seemed to go well and were retained....by Addison at least!

FHE Lesson #1:  Paul The Prayer Boy    Taught by: Daddy
Daddy went above and beyond in preparing for this simple lesson on prayer.  He printed off a picture of Paul who showed us what we do with our bodies before we pray.  Kneel, close eyes, bow head, fold arms, etc.  It was a great lesson and to this day she will still randomly ask where "Paul the Man Boy" is before we kneel down for her bedtime prayers.  He still sits on her night-stand during the day.  She even requested he get to ride in her carseat to swim lessons and hang out with her during the day.  Paul is a great friend and reminder for all of us to this day.

She's changed his name to "Paul Da Man Boy" but he's still very much a part of our family.

FHE Lesson #2:  President Monson  Taught by: Mommy
In an effort to throw together a lesson last minute, I just grabbed the FRIEND magazine and a picture of the First Presidency.  I read Addison a story about President Monson when he was a boy.  We talked a little about each of the three members of the First Presidency and remembered their names.  Throughout the week, when I quizzed her on the story, she could give me specific details about it and answer my specific questions.  She even remembered President Monson's name and referred to him often when we sang "Follow The Prophet" in the car as we drove.  Except she calls him "President Momsom"  and she's still learning about how we are supposed to "Follow Him" and that HE knows the way....not him following us because we know the way....but hey close enough right?

FHE Lesson #3:  Conference  Taught by: Mommy
Again, it was a scrambled lesson but luckily it came together nicely at the end.  We are learning that simple and short is the most effective for both of the kiddos.  In preparation for conference that upcoming weekend I decided to read from Mosiah and teach her about how the people pitched their tents and listened to King Benjamin teach them the things Heavenly Father wanted them to learn.  She was able to remember all of the names of the first presidency and was very excited to countdown the days until conference when she could color her conference packet and pitch our own tent in the living room.  

It's a fun tradition I think we will start doing every time it's conference but lessons learned.....Wow, our tent was HUGE and we had to rearrange the whole living room to set it up.  A weekend of walking around that thing got a bit old...for me at least.  I'd like to think it helped the kids hold still a little longer or be quiet but truth be told....there were definitely some chaotic times still.  But, it is a long time for anyone to hold still or sit or listen...especially a three year old and a one year old.  Hopefully she'll remember things like this and hopefully next year we'll pitch the one man tent and shove the kids in that instead.  :D

All in all, we've had some great family home evening moments.  The main thing that keeps me trying and trying again when it doesn't seem to be working is realizing that the world is a big place and there are a lot of bad influences out there.  Really, there is a small window of time where we can help teach them good things while they are growing and forming their foundation before they will be old enough to face the world and make their own decisions.  I'm learning I can't afford to even let one Monday night family home evening slip through the cracks when I imagine what obstacles they could face when they are grown.  I'm grateful for the guidance our prophets have given us about the importance of family home evening and hope and pray that it will help our kiddos grow up having the ability to choose the good over the bad when they get older.