FHE Tonight

We had a fun FHE tonight that I wanted to share. At the beginning of the year, a friend emailed me a book of FHE lessons that go along with the primary lessons/theme. LOVE IT! Feel free to use the following. Ben totally got it (5 1/2), but Annie was still a little bit lost.

Lesson 13: I Choose to Follow The Plan of Salvation Before I Came to Earth

Opening Song: “I Lived in Heaven” (CS, page 4)

Opening Prayer

Family Business:

Scripture or Testimony: 2 Nephi 2:27

Lesson: Ask the children to listen as you sing or read the words to the first verse of “I Lived in Heaven” (Children’s Songbook, p. 4) so they will know the answers to some important questions that you will ask them.
“I lived in heaven a long time ago, it is true; Lived there and loved there with people I know. So did you. Then Heav’nly Father presented a beautiful plan, All about earth and eternal salvation for man.”
· Where did we live a long time ago? (In heaven; see D&C 93:29, first sentence; Abraham 3:22–23.) “Long before this world was created, all of the spirits of the men and women who were assigned to this earth lived in a spiritual existence” (Spencer W. Kimball, The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball [1982], p. 30).
· Who lived there with us?
· What was Heavenly Father’s plan for us? Explain that Heavenly Father wanted us to be able to receive a physical body, to learn to choose between right and wrong, and have the opportunity to become like him.
Explain that our life on earth is like a school. We are here to learn and be tested. If we make right choices, we will pass the tests and be able to return to Heavenly Father. Read and discuss the following quotation: “My brothers and sisters, we’re away from home. We’re off to school. Our lessons will not be easy. The way we react to them, the way we conquer and accomplish and live will determine our rewards, and they will be permanent and eternal” (Spencer W. Kimball, The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 28).

Activity: Review the stages of our lives in the plan of salvation with the children. Make word strips of the various parts of the plan. Place the word strips around the room. Have children locate a word strip or figure, then stand in the correct order. Use simple costumes to have additional children represent a mother, father, and grandparent. Place this family in front of the Earth Life sign. Choose another child to stand in front of the Pre-mortal Life sign. Sing “I Lived in Heaven” (p. 4). Discuss the blessings of coming to an earthly family. Have the child move from Pre-mortal Life to the family in front of Earth Life. Have the mother place a baby blanket around the child to show the love that a family provides. Sing “A Happy Family” (p. 198). Explain that part of the plan is to leave earth life. Move the grandparent from Earth Life to Spirit World and talk of the sadness the family feels because the grandparent is no longer with them, but of the peace they feel in knowing that his or her spirit lives on. Sing “Families Can Be Together Forever” (p. 188). Discuss the role the Savior plays in the plan of salvation. Have a child hold a picture of Jesus Christ in front of the Resurrection sign. Sing an Easter song. Discuss how each child can qualify for the celestial kingdom as he or she chooses the right.

Dress Ups

Well, Annie had her little favorite friend over last week, and they decided to play dress ups. Ben and Emily wanted to join in, and we just had a festive little time! Ben was in his exercise clothes and wanted to be a cowboy so he could dance with the princesses. On went the jeans, boots, and belt... This is Emily's FAVORITE dress up - a tutu that she will even sleep in. She has really turned into a 2 year old (pictures to post later this week!) and is into everything! She's learned that by dragging a kitchen chair over to the counter, she can get to anything she wants. She is also quite the little sneak. My favorite game to play with her is just a blast. I will give her a kiss on the cheek, elbow, fingers, back, head, etc. She will make a big show of wiping it off with a flirty face you wouldn't believe! Then I kiss her again and she wipes it off. We can do this for about 30 minutes - ending when we are both laughing hysterically!

And here are the beautiful dancers. If only I could have gotten to the camera a few minutes sooner when they were dancing princesses. They have so much fun together!!!

This makes me think about going to try on homecoming and prom dresses... I mean dread doing that!

Zoo During Spring Break

Well, I don't think I have ever been to the zoo when I had to park in the overflow lot until last week! It was crazy busy, but we still had a great day! We went with my friend Maria from our local Moms' Club, and my kids just adore her little boy!

Again, trying to get everyone to smile and look at the camera... We did get to see the two new giraffes! Ben and Annie were also happy to have a new friend!

Another Arboretum Day

I hope no one is sick of Arboretum pictures yet! We had a great time over Spring Break and got there right when it opened, so we didn't have to fight the crowds! We tried so hard to get a picture with all 6 kids, but it just wasn't working very well!!! This was at the end of a long 5 1/2 hour day. However, they got more energy on the way home with 1/2 price Sonic drinks! They have a storybook theme going on right now - I think as a tribute to Laura Bush. A friend went the day before and saw her there. I think she is a wonderful person! I recently listened to her biography and was awed by her sincerity and love of children. So - there were several houses throughout the Arboretum that kids could play in and on. Unfortunately, Captain Hook left his ship!!!

Ben and his friend Kylie were VERY interested in where we were on the maps and where we would go next. I love this picture (I have about 4 others that I took throughout the morning)!!!

I tried so hard to get a good picture of all 3 of my kids. This is about the best I could come up with...

Almost exactly two years ago, we came to the Arboretum when Emily was 1 week old. I tried to recreate the photo from them, but we were in a different area.

Another fun-filled Sprink Break day!!!

Wonderful Sunday!!!

I've had the best day!!! First, Ben and Annie woke up and went to play in the living room and let Andy and I sleep in until 7:15!!! Then Ben was in such a super mood and cleaned up the living room and his room! He was so cheerful all morning - very thankful and happy. Then we just played legos most of the morning! Whenever Emily is sad, Ben will ask her if she wants to sit on his lap, which is displayed in the picture below. I even got an almost uninterrupted shower while Emily napped and the two older kids continued to play.

Church was fabulous. Keeping all three kids quiet and happy is sometimes quite a feat, but we were early enough to give Dad hugs before doing to our bench. We've been working a lot this week on reverence - thanks to a tip from an old friend - and it seemed to help a little bit (that and a gum bribe...). And LOVED the testimonies today - especially from Anthony. What a great ward we have!!!

Sunday School was amazing also! I'm going to the Teacher Improvement class with more of my favorite people (I have a lot of favorites...) and we just could have stayed on this lesson topic for another hour. Teaching by the Spirit. It was fabulous!!!

Then I got to have a wonderful dinner with my sweet parents and sister. The kids never want to leave, but the day must come to a close for their growing little bodies. They love the individual attention!!!

To top off my fabulous day, I went visiting teaching and had a wonderful time. I have a new companion because my last one moved, and although I didn't know her at all, I think we will work very well together. I love each of the women I visit, but our last sister is one of my very favorite people! She was having a big family get together, and as we drove up and saw all the cars and the cousins running around the front yard, my heart just swelled up with love for families! My mom's family used to get together the first Sunday night of each month for FHE. As we lived in Texas, we didn't get to take part in this event very often, but tonight it felt like Grandma's house again! For some reason, my tongue was tied and I couldn't get any of my Spanish words out - totally forgot all my greetings, but smiles and hugs do wonders. Thanks, Juanita, for sharing your wonderful family with us too!!! So glad to have such a great beginning to this week! Now I need to be patient and get through this next 9 days. And yes, I believe in miracles!!!


*Sorry for the lack of posting; busy last few weeks and I have sooooooo many awesome pictures, I don't want to have to make decisions about which ones to put up! March has been crazy!!!*