This has been a really up and down week with migraines, problems at work (for Duncan), night time disruptions and intermittent internet being some of the downs, and time with friends, family time (family home evening - to be explained), and the sun shining being some of the ups.
This weekend is looking full and exciting and that certainly helps when times are trying. Yesterday we had a mountainous pile of groceries delivered, which always makes me relax a little, knowing that the food for the month is covered (except fresh produce and dairy of course). Oscar and I went to the park with friends before coming home for the afternoon, spent with Daddy. Then later, after our 'Fish Friday' dinner (literally as the forks hit the plates), I decided to postpone Oscar's bedtime and go visit my Mum. We hardly ever go out in the evenings so this was a treat for Oscar (all of us).
Today we are going as a family to have a late lunch/early dinner with another family (from church, but really good friends), and in the evening the missionaries will be visiting.
Tomorrow is Church day and since it is the first Sunday of the month it is Fast Sunday [info on fast Sunday]. My older son has said he will be coming for dinner on Sunday and I think he is bringing his girlfriend to meet us for the first time.
Duncan has an extra day off work on Monday and we have been invited to have dinner with a different church family on Monday evening.
In the Church Of Jesus Christ of LDS, Monday evenings are called 'Family Home Evenings'.
From LDS . org
"In 1915 President Joseph F. Smith and his counselors in the First Presidency began a Churchwide effort to strengthen the family. They called on parents in the Church to gather their children once each week for a "Home Evening." Families were to take time to pray and sing together, read the scriptures, teach the gospel to one another, and participate in other activities that would build family unity.
In 1970 President Joseph Fielding Smith joined with his counselors in the First Presidency to designate Monday night as the time for family home evening. Since that announcement, the Church has kept Monday evenings free from Church activities so families can have this time together.
Latter-day prophets continue to urge Church members to give highest priority to family home evening. They have promised that our dedication to this program will help protect our families against the evils of our time and will bring us abundant joy now and throughout the eternities.
Although family home evening should begin and end with prayer, it is not intended to be a formal class. In a statement regarding family home evening in 1915, the First Presidency said that "formality and stiffness should be studiously avoided, and all the family should participate in the exercises."
Family home evening can be held by every family and in a variety of different ways. Whether you have children in the home or are a family of one, the resources available on the church website can help you plan and prepare successful and memorable family home evenings."
We have had a few FHE ourselves now, and they have been very successful. Oscar has LOVED them, and the lessons include adaptation for younger children which are excellent. Last week included a treasure hunt around the home with a chocolate bar as treasure at the end to represent following the rules (clues) and being rewarded with treasures for it.
Even if you are not a church member, family home evening is something really important to families. We used to have a version of it when the older children were young where we would each stand up and talk about our day, I would cook a special dinner and we would either play board games or watch a family movie. Giving everyone a platform to talk and listen to the family as a group was and is something the children cant get enough of.
I also hope to fit in some baking, (Oscar has asked for cupcakes), some painting (I have a watercolour portrait in mind), and some sewing (I have some pretty blue fabric, for a dress or a skirt???). I am also making a special crochet gift for someone which I will talk about next week for 'YARN ALONG'.
So, busy busy busy. But such a welcome change from bored, bored bored :)
And, as I have said in the past, posts with no pictures are dull, so here are a couple of pictures from BARNHILL ROCK GARDEN.
Tadpole Watching
Have a wonderful weekend.
Valerie
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