Tonight was a fun Family Home Evening with our three sons. I have often wondered if we've been directed to have Family Home Evening on a Monday night to back up our Sunday meetings. You know lift, learn and worship as a congregation on Sundays and then lift and learn as a family on Mondays. I really feel that by doing both in that order we really are helping our families to have stronger faith to meet the challenges of the remaining week. Just a thought I've had.
Well our Family Home Evenings are coming along pretty well. We usually start after dinner and rather then tell everyone to get to the lounge we sing "Family Night" from the children's songbook. It gives us a chance to let the children get excited while we grab our bits and pieces, or clear the dining table and wipe up the half of the dinner that is spilt on the floor. It's nice when we hear Monkey and Moo Moo join in and see Bunny do his shuffle dance.
We then take turns standing up the front (against the t.v. cabinet) to do different things. Tonight Monkey stood up and said "Welcome to Family Home Evening" and sat down. Moo Moo conducted our song "Nephi's Courage" while Bunny stands next to him doing his strong pose (putting his fists up and clenching his whole body). Then Mummy said the prayer with Bunny still up the front now folding his arms (its amazing what one year olds can learn by example). Then Monkey recites the first Article of Faith with the help of Daddy whispering in his ear. The lesson was short and sweet by reading the birth of Jesus from the New Testament children's scripture reader. Then question time with teeny lollies to prompt a response from the boys. Mummy then teaches a new primary song "Jesus Once Was a Little Child" followed by action songs. First we did "Do As I'm Doing" and everyone got to choose a different action to do. I had to laugh (silently of course) when Monkey picked 'be a tree growing like a seed'. So we were high growing trees and low growing trees, fast growing trees and slow growing trees. Very imaginative I thought, usually its an action like jumping or shaking. We finish with "Snow Man' and "Scarecrow" songs and have Milo and biscuits for our treat.
I love a good family home evening!
"We call upon parents to devote their best efforts to the teaching and rearing of their children in gospel principles which will keep them close to the Church. The home is the basis of a righteous life, and no other instrumentality can take its place or fulfill its essential functions in carrying forward this God-given responsibility. We counsel parents and children to give highest priority to family prayer, family home evening, gospel study and instruction, and wholesome family activities."
(First Presidency letter, 11 February 1999 — Gordon B. Hinckley, Thomas S. Monson, and James E. Faust)
Monday, June 28, 2010
From Dickens
I love little children - and it is not a slight thing when they, who are fresh from God, love us. - Dickens
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Just do your best
A few Saturdays ago I had an appointment with my church Bishop (tithing settlement). It fell on the same day as my husband's first university exam but I decided to keep the appointment rather then try and arrange another time. I also felt that this was another great opportunity for my young sons to see Mummy devoted to Christ and his gospel. Like most outings where I take my 3, 2 and 1 years old out on my own, its quite an effort.
Hubby had gone to Uni early to get in some more cramming, so I was on my own to get everyone ready and present in time for our 9:45am appointment. You'd think that any appointment after 9 would be pretty easy to get to, but I can't explain WHY it takes so long to get everyone ready and out the door looking presentable. Well that day I got everyone there safely but some of us were not as presentable as I would have liked.
Not being a very good early riser, I again didn't make the effort to rise before everyone else to have my shower. So after giving everyone their breakfast I put ABC kids on the t.v. for Monkey and Moo Moo. Then I jumped in the shower with Bunny and look down at my legs. Aaggh they are hairy but there is no time! What's most annoying is that my life is so focussed around caring for others that I forget to even check the status of my own legs. It's unbelieveble how it seems that without my noticing I suddenly have cactuses where my legs used to be. I consider wearing pants, but I want to set a good example, so its a skirt for me and I resolve to tuck my legs under the chair when I sit. After Bunny and I are dressed, I go get the rest of my things ready.
I wanted to head to my in-laws after the appointment so that I would have help and company while Hubby is in his exam. This meant packing up a whole bunch of stuff that we would need to survive the day. You know the usual stuff - extra food, bottles, clothing, and nappies. I grab a laundry basket and chuck everything in it because my nappy bag wont hold it all.
In the mean time Bunny is playing in the food pantry and is pulling out packets of pasta and giving them to his brothers (who needs toys when pasta provides entertainment). Moo Moo then decides that he wants me to make pasta. I tell him that he can bring his pasta and I will cook it at Nana's house for lunch. Monkey wants to ride his trike (the little 3 wheel plastic kind) so I tell him that they can ride their trikes at the chapel after we see Bishop. Time had run out and the older boys are still in their PJs and slippers. So I grab their day clothes and shoes and throw them in the laundry basket for later. Moo Moo looks the cutest in his converted dressing gown (which is actually one of those sleeping bag outfits I cut off at the bottom, waste not want not). He is still carrying his pasta and in fact carries that pasta for the next hour as the boys run up and down the empty church hall ways until its our turn to see Bishop. Others who are waiting to see Bishop are laughing at my PJ wearing, pasta weilding sons running all over the place. A while ago I would have been embarressed that I didn't have my children looking presentable but I'm learning to go with the flow and just try my best.
Once in the interview I'm trying to convince the boys to sit down and stop touching certain things. Bishop, looking for a teaching moment, asks them do they know why they are there? They look back at him blankly because all they want is to get a hold of the whiteboard markers and make their mark. I then have a nice chat with Bishop and start to feel good about my efforts to get there. However the appoinment is called short with Moo Moo announcing he needs to go to the toilet. Bishops asks if we can say a prayer together but I know Moo Moo can't wait and dash to the toilet leaving the other boys with Bishop. After its all over I take the boys outside to ride their trikes. I take the opportunity to ring a friend of mine and let them ride on the pathways. This lasts for a good while until Monkey and Moo Moo decide to ride IN the garden and put bark and dirt all over the paths. Aaaggh! I try and sweep the mess off the path back into the garden beds using my shoe with little success. Feeling guilty that the path will look messy for the Sabbath day tomorrow, I realise its best to leave for Nana's and cook that pasta like I promised.
Hubby had gone to Uni early to get in some more cramming, so I was on my own to get everyone ready and present in time for our 9:45am appointment. You'd think that any appointment after 9 would be pretty easy to get to, but I can't explain WHY it takes so long to get everyone ready and out the door looking presentable. Well that day I got everyone there safely but some of us were not as presentable as I would have liked.
Not being a very good early riser, I again didn't make the effort to rise before everyone else to have my shower. So after giving everyone their breakfast I put ABC kids on the t.v. for Monkey and Moo Moo. Then I jumped in the shower with Bunny and look down at my legs. Aaggh they are hairy but there is no time! What's most annoying is that my life is so focussed around caring for others that I forget to even check the status of my own legs. It's unbelieveble how it seems that without my noticing I suddenly have cactuses where my legs used to be. I consider wearing pants, but I want to set a good example, so its a skirt for me and I resolve to tuck my legs under the chair when I sit. After Bunny and I are dressed, I go get the rest of my things ready.
I wanted to head to my in-laws after the appointment so that I would have help and company while Hubby is in his exam. This meant packing up a whole bunch of stuff that we would need to survive the day. You know the usual stuff - extra food, bottles, clothing, and nappies. I grab a laundry basket and chuck everything in it because my nappy bag wont hold it all.
In the mean time Bunny is playing in the food pantry and is pulling out packets of pasta and giving them to his brothers (who needs toys when pasta provides entertainment). Moo Moo then decides that he wants me to make pasta. I tell him that he can bring his pasta and I will cook it at Nana's house for lunch. Monkey wants to ride his trike (the little 3 wheel plastic kind) so I tell him that they can ride their trikes at the chapel after we see Bishop. Time had run out and the older boys are still in their PJs and slippers. So I grab their day clothes and shoes and throw them in the laundry basket for later. Moo Moo looks the cutest in his converted dressing gown (which is actually one of those sleeping bag outfits I cut off at the bottom, waste not want not). He is still carrying his pasta and in fact carries that pasta for the next hour as the boys run up and down the empty church hall ways until its our turn to see Bishop. Others who are waiting to see Bishop are laughing at my PJ wearing, pasta weilding sons running all over the place. A while ago I would have been embarressed that I didn't have my children looking presentable but I'm learning to go with the flow and just try my best.
Once in the interview I'm trying to convince the boys to sit down and stop touching certain things. Bishop, looking for a teaching moment, asks them do they know why they are there? They look back at him blankly because all they want is to get a hold of the whiteboard markers and make their mark. I then have a nice chat with Bishop and start to feel good about my efforts to get there. However the appoinment is called short with Moo Moo announcing he needs to go to the toilet. Bishops asks if we can say a prayer together but I know Moo Moo can't wait and dash to the toilet leaving the other boys with Bishop. After its all over I take the boys outside to ride their trikes. I take the opportunity to ring a friend of mine and let them ride on the pathways. This lasts for a good while until Monkey and Moo Moo decide to ride IN the garden and put bark and dirt all over the paths. Aaaggh! I try and sweep the mess off the path back into the garden beds using my shoe with little success. Feeling guilty that the path will look messy for the Sabbath day tomorrow, I realise its best to leave for Nana's and cook that pasta like I promised.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Life lessons from Winnie the Pooh
This morning my husband passed on a message from someone close to me. The details of the message I will not share but I was left very annoyed and I guess rather angry. I became offended by this person's lack of change in behaviour that they themselves admitted they needed to improve in. Now I love this person to bits and admire so much about them. I am totally grateful that they are in my life. But I just got so fed up and felt I guess justified in my passing of judgement. I knew I was wrong, my husband reminded me I was wrong but it took a Winnie the Pooh story to teach me a lesson.
After venting to my husband, he preceded to read 'Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too' upon request from our son. The story opens with Tigger going around bouncing his friends to the ground with a WHUMP-BUMP-BUMP. Firstly Tigger interrupts Pooh who is trying to think, then Tigger scares poor nervous Piglet, then Tigger saved his best bounce for Rabbit. I actually felt sorry for Rabbit because he just finished his garden (I'm a beginner Gardener) and Tigger bounced him so much that his whole garden was a flattened mess.
Rabbit - "Oh Tigger, why don't you EVER stop bouncing?"
Tigger - " 'Cause bouncin' is what tiggers do best!"
Later, Pooh and Piglet went to Rabbit's house for a special Tigger protest meeting. The plan was to find a way to unbounce Tigger. The plan was to take Tigger into the wood and lose him and come and get him in the morning. Rabbit felt that this would take the bounce out of Tigger. It turns out that Rabbit, Pooh and Piglet were the ones who got lost whilst Tigger was his usual chirpy self bouncin to his hearts delight. Rabbit decides to find his own way and leaves Pooh and Piglet, who incidently find their way by Pooh listening to the voices of his honey pots. The story continues with Tigger bouncing into Pooh and Piglet who explain that Rabbit is lost. Tigger goes off to find a very panicky Rabbit. Once Tigger finds Rabbit the story ends with the following -
So the two started back. Rabbit was not a happy Rabbit. He was a tired Rabbit. A lost-and-found Rabbit. A why-oh-why-do-these-things-happen-to-me Rabbit! But Rabbit had learned his lesson. Never again would he try to change his friends. He was lucky to have them just they way they were.
And hopefully I will learn mine.
After venting to my husband, he preceded to read 'Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too' upon request from our son. The story opens with Tigger going around bouncing his friends to the ground with a WHUMP-BUMP-BUMP. Firstly Tigger interrupts Pooh who is trying to think, then Tigger scares poor nervous Piglet, then Tigger saved his best bounce for Rabbit. I actually felt sorry for Rabbit because he just finished his garden (I'm a beginner Gardener) and Tigger bounced him so much that his whole garden was a flattened mess.
Rabbit - "Oh Tigger, why don't you EVER stop bouncing?"
Tigger - " 'Cause bouncin' is what tiggers do best!"
Later, Pooh and Piglet went to Rabbit's house for a special Tigger protest meeting. The plan was to find a way to unbounce Tigger. The plan was to take Tigger into the wood and lose him and come and get him in the morning. Rabbit felt that this would take the bounce out of Tigger. It turns out that Rabbit, Pooh and Piglet were the ones who got lost whilst Tigger was his usual chirpy self bouncin to his hearts delight. Rabbit decides to find his own way and leaves Pooh and Piglet, who incidently find their way by Pooh listening to the voices of his honey pots. The story continues with Tigger bouncing into Pooh and Piglet who explain that Rabbit is lost. Tigger goes off to find a very panicky Rabbit. Once Tigger finds Rabbit the story ends with the following -
So the two started back. Rabbit was not a happy Rabbit. He was a tired Rabbit. A lost-and-found Rabbit. A why-oh-why-do-these-things-happen-to-me Rabbit! But Rabbit had learned his lesson. Never again would he try to change his friends. He was lucky to have them just they way they were.
And hopefully I will learn mine.
Friday, June 11, 2010
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