Routine. . .Consistency. . .Good Intentions. . .

A am trying to find some kind of routine that will help bring a little more order and less chaos into our home. I started a couple of months ago with the Daily Dos*, which has really helped us in the morning and I've found that through consistency, my kids actually CAN do things that I expect them to do.

So. . .I'm now adding to our routine [a daily devotional]. This is how our day went today. . .

*DAILY DOs. . .everybody makes their bed, gets dressed, cleans their room, brushes their hair and teeth, showers (if necessary). [Starting the day out this way makes things feel so much better for me. I love the made beds, clean rooms & clean children--to begin with!]

BREAKFAST. . .I let them make their own egg and toast, even Isaiah.

SCRIPTURES & PRAYER with Daddy

Gehrig practiced the piano while Damian, Emma & Isaiah sorted the laundry and got it ready to wash. Isaiah unloaded the silverware, Damian swept, Emma ate SLOWLY.

DEVOTIONAL after Daddy left which consists of:
A song, pledge of allegiance, poem, journal writing, story (The Secret Garden), share & tell time (share something learned or tell about something exciting to each of them), writing practice (writing our address & phone number). We even quietly played the music from the Broadway musical while I was reading. [Gehrig thanked me for the devotional. He really liked this format.]

A snack and organizing puzzles while I corrected previous assignments.

LUNCH

QUIET TIME (the boys and I watched War of the Worlds b/c Gehrig finished reading it and earned the privilege). They helped finish the puzzle project and the laundry while watching.

Gehrig helped make a spaghetti dinner and Damian helped make Peach/Pear Cobbler for FHE.

FHE The kids and I made a plan to help motivate them to sing during Sacrament Meeting and behave better. I hope it works! They'll earn SWOKS (our little bank account system) towards things they want to buy with them. I made a little chart to keep track of their SWOKS during Sacrament Meeting. Damian gave a WONDERFUL lesson on prayer that he prepared without being asked to. He told of 3 different times that he has used prayer and it worked (when lost, scared about spiders in his bed at night, getting a punishment reduced and the courage to tell the truth)! He really has a lot of faith and knows what to do to help himself through tough times. Then, everybody wanted to bear their testimonies. After that, we all gathered around the piano and sang a hymn, had a closing prayer and ate the wonderful Peach/Pear Cobbler and ice cream! The only thing missing was their daddy. :(

7:00 BEDTIME (everybody is allowed to read until lights out at 8:00) Lou did make it home by 7:30 and was able to hear a repeat of Damian's lesson and say family prayer with us.

And I've been able to finally catch up on some blogging, etc. tonight! Hip, hip, hurray!

FHE-Oquirrh Temple Open House

We had an enjoyable Family Home Evening tonight as we visited the Oquirrh Temple and then enjoyed dinner at Applebees later. We found a couple of people kind enough to snap a few pictures of us in the reception area and in front of the temple. I liked the picture of Christ behind us beckoning us to come unto Him.

Don't I have a cute family?

Isaiah's favorite part was the baptismal font. He kept saying, "Amimals. Amimals," as we passed the font. Emma noticed the chandeliers right away and pointed out how beautiful they were. Damian noticed that when you look in the mirrors in the sealing room, you can see, "forever and ever. Just like Jesus' love." I think Gehrig was anticipating coming back in just 3 1/2 years as a young man. YIKES!! And of course, the children were very excited to eat cookies afterwards!
I wonder what Damian was saying to Gehrig at that moment?
Gehrig's journal entry about the event:

Today I went to the temple and it might just be the most spiritul event in my life! I can tell you a story of true faith in the Lord.

Those of Faith by Gehrig Harris

Once one night I was adjusting my sterling silver CTR ring on my finger then it got stuck on my finger. I tried tuging and pulling. It wouldn't come off! I tried praying to God. I tugged on my finger once more and it slipped it off as easly as you slide a sewing needle through cloth! The end.

Now inside the temple my favorite room was the sealing room. It had a huge chandalier.

(spelling and punctuation as seen in his journal entry)

FHE Fun

After a 15 minute test-run sharing time lesson (I often try out sharing time ideas on my family a week or two before I have to do it in Primary) on Reverence & Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy (reverence MUCH needed around here). . .we headed off to our friend's house to take a short dip in their pool.

It was nearly 8PM when we got in, and YES, it was pretty cold (nothing like Hebgen Lake water, but cold for playing in right before bedtime).

Didn't stop the kids from having a blast! I used the excuse of taking pictures to keep myself out.

It was fun to have Lou join us in a water activity. I'm not even sure I've seen him in this swimsuit that I bought for him YEARS ago! And he looks like he's having fun. Let's just leave it like that! :)