Family Home Evening Journal

We keep a big book in our front room. It's a journal with Jesus on the cover. Inside the book we write a short account each week of our Family Home Evening or whatever is going on instead. FHE is basically recommended family time each Monday night that helps build family unity and dedication to Jesus Christ. It is sometimes a hard commandment to obey, so a few years ago we started keeping record that we, in fact, were doing the best we could. We write something every week. For some of you, these entries will stand alone. For others, just know that these posts -- for good or bad -- represent our dedication to our way of life ... even when life sucks. They were the best of times; they were the worst of times.

Here are a few excepts from The Fellow Family FHE Journal:

March 24, 2008
Quinn is awake and with us tonight. We started with Nephi's Courage and "the isty, bitsy spider." Today we read testimonies of the prophets of Jesus Christ from a special ensign episode. It is 6:30 p.m. on a Monday night. Quinn can do some of the hand motions to "itsy, bitsy sider," and today she has pink cheeks from being out in the sub.

Dec. 1, 2008
A lesson from the new nursery manual -- "Behold your little ones. The lesson was about sharing.
We have no money. Daddy applied for a job in Arizona. It's Day 1 of our advent calendar -- so fun. Daddy taught Quinn how it works.

Dec. 15, 2008
We were in California for FHE this week. So we went out at about 6 p.m. just the 3 of us. We drove to the PV stake center. They have a wooden nativity set up in front of the church. We stood by it and talked about the baby Jesus. Quinn gave the baby kisses and tried to give him her poodle. After the lesson, we went to Yummy Yogurt and shared a small yogurt. Then we went to the library to read books.

Dec. 29, 2008
We all gathered on the bed to have family night. We were in the second verse of "Nephi's Courage," and we heard a knock at the door. Someone left a card and a gift. The gift said, "To Quinn, From a friend." It was written in kid writing. Inside was a big plastic candy cane filled with little tubs of play dough. In the card there was a $50 gift card to Smiths. We couldn't believe it. We were really touched. Someone must know we've been having a hard time. We talked about kindness and service during the rest of Family Home Evening.

Thursday, March 26, 2009
Tim's new schedule = Thursday night FHE
Quinn is in a long sweatshirt and slippers. She's running and wants us to chase her. We sang Nephi's Courage and are ready to start.
"ABC's" and now Quinn is building a "Temple" out of her blocks.
Lesson about gratitude and saying, "Thank you."

Feb. 11, 2010
Mommy and Daddy go on a date tonight, and as a family we talk about the importance of Mommy and Daddy's temple marriage.

April 26, 2010
Tim is mowing the lawn, and we are running our of time. Kenna is already in bed. Daddy is supposed to give the lesson on the holy ghost. Sometimes it is hard to obey. I think I have already snapped at Quinn twice during this family home evening attempt. We're singing and praying and mowing and trying our best.


(Get it ... It's like a Blog, but it's in a book ...)