Family Leaving

Keeping it simple:

Tonight we had Family Home Evening or Family Leaving, as Hank calls it. Henry taught the lesson. He came up with his own topic....

Going pee and poop in the toilet.

He taught us all the basics.
Pull down your pants.
Climb up on the toilet.
Do a little shake when you're done.
Close the lid SOFTLY (he has been drilled on this a few times)
Flush.
Wash your hands.

He demonstrated everything to make sure we all understood.

It was a great lesson.

100%

Just before school started we had a FHE all about doing things perfectly... 100%. We talked about things we needed to be better at as a family, then made a list of them and decided we would choose something from the list each month and devote ourselves to doing it perfectly for one month.

We started with reading the Book of Mormon together as a family. Up to that point, we had been in the 50% club. We always had good intentions to read together but about half of the time, the day got away from us and before we knew it we were rushing the kids to bed with hopes that tomorrow would be better.

So, we started off the month with a group huddle; all hands were in the middle and we each made a promise that we were going to do it. We were going to be PERFECT at reading the Book of Mormon every single day for a whole month...100%. We gave a big hoorah and started off.

Well, I am proud to say that we made it. We read perfectly, every day for even longer than a month. We found that for us, reading before dad left for work in the morning was the best time. Occasionally we would miss a morning but without fail, someone would miraculously remember sometime throughout the day that we needed to get in our scripture study. It was never a long reading session and there was often grumbling and frowns, but we did it. Perfectly. 100%.

So, with a perfect month + of family scripture study one may wonder if our home has become a heaven on earth with happy, obedient children and parents skipping around the house, humming primary songs while doing chores without being asked and speaking only the kindest of words in soft, soothing, patient tones. Nope. But there were and continue to be a myriad of tender mercies that have blessed our family. Small and simple things, but tender mercies nonetheless... a child doing a chore without complaining... a happy, even though tired, 2-year-old... a wave of patience for a parent after a long day.

The best part about it is that I don't think we have even begun to scrape the surface of the big barrel of blessings that come with regular family scripture study. Reading together is now a habit and I have no doubt there will be days ahead that the power and protection we receive through consecrating that small amount of time every day will save us.

What are we going to be perfect at this month??? Exercising. Not daily. Not six times a week. Or five. Or four. Just three times a week. A measly goal for some but just right for our family, because after all we are trying to be perfect. 100%.