REAL LIFE EASTER FHE.

I've been following along over at Women in the Scriptures as Heatherlady has shared and linked up with many great blog posts about how real live families are doing Family Home Evening. I thought I'd join in on the fun, and snap a few photos of our Monday night as well as share how it went.

At about 4:30 p.m. on Monday I realized I better figure out what we were going to do for FHE that night. A lot of times we go straight to the nursery manual or will have discussed briefly beforehand what we want to talk about, and Jimmy is very good at teaching off the cuff. But, I'd been reading about lots of great Family Home Evening ideas surrounding Easter and wanted to be sure to talk about the Savior and the resurrection this week prior to this coming Easter Sunday.

I began exploring the Easter Egg Lesson, and realized quickly that it wasn't going to happen. I didn't have a lot of the materials handy, and wouldn't be able to pull it off. I also knew it would be a little advanced for our crowd.

But, in my brainstorming I realized we could do a much simpler version of this. I quickly made a list of characteristics of Jesus or key events in His life and found a coordinating image online. I saved small images into a document, printed them, cut them out and stuffed twelve eggs. I then numbered the eggs and we were set to go for our own Easter lesson.

Here we go:

Jimmy closed all the blinds to a very curious Hannah and I distributed the eggs in the back yard. After our opening prayer, song and talk of any family business, she was instructed to hunt for the eggs that would teach about Jesus, but not to open any of them. Kate played, while Hannah did most of the hunting.

After we came back inside with our eggs we quickly realized that this setting wasn't going to work for Kate. She was intent on opening every egg immediately. Hannah and I moved to the couch while Jimmy did his best to distract Kate. Slowly, we opened each egg and talked about Jesus' life, mission on earth, His death and then to His resurrection. We spent a few seconds on some of the eggs, and a few minutes on others.

Because Hannah is a mini-mom, she then took the liberty of teaching her lesson after (she usually does this), using our materials. One by one, she told the story of Jesus' life, remembering a lot of what we had just discussed. When she got really into it, we pulled out the video camera and recorded for a few minutes. Kate, our little growing toddler cried in the background.

After our lesson we ended with three songs, "Popcorn" for Kate, "I am a Child of God" for Hannah and "I Wonder When He Comes Again" because I had suggested it. Typically we go out for yogurt if there is time, but this week we went outside again to enjoy popsicles.

I deemed it a successful FHE. It's not always that way. It's not always planned either, but it works. We are spending time with our family and learning together.

How's FHE working at your house?

I know this is late in coming, but if you'd like to use the images I did for a simplified version of the Easter Egg Lesson, go ahead and download them here. Might be fun to do on Sunday or earlier in the week if you've got smaller kids.

And, don't forget about the great giveaway going on for a subscription Net Nanny, internet protection software. You can also enter over on Facebook.

FUTURE MISSIONARY.

My good friend Heidi posted this photo on her blog the other day of her little boy. I loved it. Apparently, Dad was in charge of Family Home Evening and when that happens they look at photos of his mission and then play missionary dress-up. Even down to the hair style, this little guy is getting ready for his big debut as a missionary.

Thanks Heid for sharing your cute son and FHE!

FHE FRIDAY: BACK TO SCHOOL.

I love back to school. It's such a fresh start in so many ways. I miss the days of school shopping and stocking up on loose leaf paper and the perfect pens and pencils.

Along with the new teachers and new sneakers, back to school also meant a father's blessing to start the new year. I think this is a fairly common practice among Mormon families. My husband has continued to receive a father's blessing even through medical school.

With all the change that accompanies back to school, family home evening might be a great venue for some good family discussion of the things that accompany new experiences.

You might consider these topics as you gather this Monday:

Making new friends and being a good friend
Being a leader and an example
Setting goals and keeping them
Expanding horizons and trying new things
Priesthood blessings (this might be a good starting point for toddlers)

On another note, thank you for your kind response to this new blog. The majority of readers are friends that I have met along my path of life and I truly appreciate your kind words of support. I am grateful to have so many wonderful fellow mamas surround me, both physically and in the blog world. Thank you, thank you.

Hope your weekend is wonderful as you prep to send the little ones back to school.

FHE FRIDAY: BUILDING THE TRADITION.

I'm going to go ahead and assume that forming the routines of scriptures, prayers and Family Home Evening are a bit of a struggle for your family too. Presumptuous, probably, but it makes me feel good about the struggles going on over at our place.

Well, a little over a year ago we got on the Family Home Evening bandwagon, and have stayed for the ride. We have formed the habit of meeting together each Monday evening. And I blame it all on frozen yogurt.

A while back we discovered a new fro-yo joint in our neighborhood. We were hooked. It was delicious and inexpensive and we found ourselves there way too often. After one of our trips to get yogurt I mentioned that we were probably frequenting the place too often and should probably only go for special occasions. Well, the special-est and most frequent of occasions that we could come up with was Family Home Evening. It was decided. Each Monday evening, after a short lesson we would go for our weekly fix.

And, you know what? It worked. It didn't take long for our daughter Hannah to learn that after dinner came our lesson and after the lesson came Tappy's. Pretty soon, she was holding us to our promise of Family Home Evening and yogurt each week. We don't have to wrestle her down or beg her to participate, and we certainly don't have any arguments about getting her in the car for our weekly outing.

Not the healthiest of family traditions, but the structure and routine of it, keeps us motivated to be together each Monday night.

What Family Home Evening traditions do you do in your home?

*Don't forget to sign up for the Children's Music Giveaway below, winner will be announced first thing Monday, oh and have a happy weekend!

FHE FRIDAY: USE WHAT YOU'VE GOT.

When I was little, my mom had a file of Family Home Evening lessons and activities. They were cut and colored and laminated to perfection, or so I thought. Sometimes, we'd even get into the lessons and play with them on our own. I am guessing she got together with some ladies in the ward and they cut and colored and exchanged, you know, all the things we're still doing today.

Well, at our home, we've yet to cut or color or exchange any sort of official FHE activity. Not saying I wouldn't love to have those resources, but it just hasn't been done yet.

The other night, as part of a Relief Society activity we exchanged Family Home Evening ideas. I went to the activity in hopes of revolutionizing our five-minute evening together. As we sat in a circle and shared, I quickly realized that we're all doing the same thing. Using the Church published Nursery Manual.

It is great. For those of you who live in Toddler-ville, like we do, it is exactly what we needed. Short and sweet lessons with songs and activities all included. It has been a life saver for us.

Likewise, Primary and Youth manuals can be accessed online for a quick and easy lesson idea.

Recently, I added the Gospel Art Book to our supplies and we've loved it as well. On many occasions, I have found my two-year old thumbing through the pictures, identifying things here and there.
 
I am often amazed at the great resources the Church has to offer. So, if cutting, gluing and laminating are not on your weekend agenda, there are still great Family Home Evenings to be had.

image via lds.org