Home♥Sweet♥Home.....evening

What is this....you ask???

read on...

there is something suspicious in his smile...

you'll be okay, daddy....

...i am not sure Gavin will be...

There is certainly a story behind the LOOKS!!!

Read on below...

I love Family Home Evening.

One night a week when something about our home feels different.

Everyone bustling around excited that we are going to have FHE...

[I think they have figured out that because daddy is home later now that on Family Night they get to stay up late....try 10 PM tonight, ouch!...]

Tonight we had a lovely home evening. It started late, but a feeling of peace descended upon our home with the opening song...which is filled with giggles as we try to help dad sing the primary songs, no key is hit in our home, and we have no piano players...yet, the three youngest are close to being able to play for us, but as of yet we are tuneless.

Gavin gave the prayer, much needed thoughts well said.

I had the scripture story. I chose Jonah. I love this story, from the time that I first taught it in nursery, to the little 18 month old to 3 year old children. Their wide eyes, sitting on their carpet squares, looking at me, trusting me to influence them with parcels of good works. I would teach them the storys in the Bible, the Book of Mormon, words of our Prophets, songs and stories, teaching them simple truths to grow their testimonies.

I was Gavin's nursery teacher, many moons ago...

...tonight as I retold the story of Jonah, he remembered, as did each of my children, from times of past, when mommy taught them...

but, tonight, as each time does, the story presented a different meaning for each of them.

Jonah was asked to go to Nineveh to teach the people, to call them to repentance. He had his own ideas, and didn't follow what God had asked him to do. He hid on a boat, sleeping peacefully while the mariners suffered greatly because of a harsh storm that God caused upon the waters. Jonah choice to hide from God caused others to suffer, while he slept. He was awakened and his lot was to be thrown overboard, where God had prepared a whale to swallow him up. He was in the belly of the whale for three days and nights. Crying unto God, repenting and begging that he be saved and he would do the work he was called to do.

The whale threw him upon the shores, he followed Gods direction, he went to Nineveh to preach repentance to the people.

The people repented, and they were forgiven by God. Then Jonah became angry. Why would God forgive all these people? He was angry and selfish, and was stubborn. He found a gourd and sat under it. It shaded him from the elements. God caused a worm to destroy the gourd [like a large sunflower]. The sun beat down on Jonah. He cried unto God to let him die. God asked him about his anger, his judgement. He told God that he was angry the gourd had died. God asked about his compassion for the flower, that he had not nurtured, or raised up, or tended to. It had been there for him to use, without him having done anything to deserve the blessing. How could he be so sympathtic to the gourd yet no compassion for the people of Nineveh. Jonah was angry, he couldn't overcome his anger. God told him that the people had repented and that he forgave them of their wickedness. Jonah's story ends, with no resolve for Jonah written in the scripture.


The children each commented on the story, you can come to your conclusions, however they each felt that Jonah story relates to our world today. It is easy to mock God, and his plan and needs for each of us to do His will. To serve, and to obey the promptings and directions that we are given, through scripture, through living prophets today. We feel to hide, to be depressed, to sleep it away, but the reality is that we must do His will, and be obedient and repent. They learned about the feelings of anger and judgement, that as humans we naturally sucomb to. And they related the story to moments of their personal lives, even Jeremy, as he remembered a friend that he has that he struggles to not be tempted by, and realizes the need to be a leader and a good example to.


It was our home♥sweet♥home moment. Where we come together and all is truly well.



Then on to the Pledge of Allegience, a thought on our freedoms, direction from Brian - daddys words to the children, a closing song, and family prayer.

AND THEN THE TREAT....

....the pictures tell half the story. Jeremy was in charge of the treat, and he made up something new....

Jeremy, who thinks that gummy bears make his cereal delightful.

As you can see from the picture everyone ate the treat, carefully prepared and presented to us...



...Jeremy was completely unaware of the reaction.

"Anyone want seconds???" [he was serious]

YUMMY :)

I am pretty sure you want to know
the secret to the recipe.
It has something to do with the following:

Milk
Colored/Flavored Marshmellows
Ginger Snaps
Hersheys Chocolate Chunks

and a spoon...

all in a cup,
drink/eat it up...

"I made it up dad, all by myself."
"I think I will have a little more..."

[everyone ate their treat,
thanked Jer-Bear,
and then had a slice of Clarissa's
really yummy Banana Bread,
hot out of the oven!!!]

Happy, Happy FHE....heals the weary soul,
gives hope to light and love,
and helps hanging on
to the important things in life.

FAMILY ♥