Mondays

Mondays have become a wonderful thing. We used to not be great about doing our weekly Family Home Evenings.We have always seen the value in meeting as a family every week and teaching each other good, virtuous principles but we just didn't prioritize it. Someone would run into the room for 5 min look up a random spiritual thought and then come out and teach or we would just watch a movie make some kind of treat and call it good. But this year we are really trying. At first I made this intense chart that included lessons for Isabella and then a separate one for us but that was ridiculous so we are just doing the Bella ones. Best decision ever! Isabella just gets that we are doing some kind of family thing. She just sits there and listens and nods and follows instructions.

Last night was my favorite one so far. As we told her the story of Noah and the Ark we put together this little picture (I had created the characters and props in advanced so all she did was help act out the scenes and then glued them on) I was worried it would be too old for her but she was sooo into it. She laughed and played along, took her glueing job so seriously and knew who Noah was and of course all the animals. She would grab the little people and move them around as we told her the story it was just too cute. I don't mean to brag, but didn't those little people turn out cool?! The yarn hair gives them a je ne sais quoi (sorry i watched Little Rascals with Isabella today and I've been dying to use that...)

Doing this stuff makes a difference. I have felt a special kind of spirit during our little 10 minute family nights. Something about singing hymns together, seeing her fold her little arms as we pray and teaching Isabella simple principles is so powerful. I can see her little eyes soaking in everything we are saying and understanding, really understanding!  My heart is filled with joy as I teach Isabella that she is a child of God with a Heavenly Father who loves her and that she has the potential to be anything she dreams.

"You is kind. You is smart. You is important."