February 18, 2018: Valuable lessons . . .

Joe and Ande's family

Valuable lessons we are learning about love and devotion in our family are ______________.

Making time to be all together at least once a day. This sometimes mean getting Winnie out of bed early to come have family scriptures and prayers. Sometimes it means I take the kids to Joe's office and we have our "dinner discussion" of the best part of the day and if we helped someone, even though we won't get to have dinner together that night. Sometimes it means laying in bed with a crying child. Sometimes it means letting your wife nap so that she can be happy later at night when it's time to do family activities and the bedtime routine, or coming home from work early to play with the kids.

Joe in Sunday school. He faithfully attends and is an active participant.
He does not, however, enjoy having his picture taken.

Ande:  Showing a baby bump awfully early.
 I guess that's what happens when you are 29
and on your fourth pregnancy in five years.

Ezra's response to me moving the candy stash farther back in the cupboard.

Watching a hornet crawl.

Winnie picked out her own outfit after church
and wouldn't give up her sucker for anything.

Ty and Michelle's family

Valuable lessons we are learning about love and devotion in our family are ______________.

Lately Afton has had a harder time getting along with her sisters and even us as her parents. Something that we felt inspired to do with her is read the Book of Mormon with her (she does all of the reading). It is a chance for her to get one-on-one time with one of us, and a chance to feel the power of the scriptures in our lives. Thus far, we’ve already seen improvement in her behavior and in the way we respond to her. It brought the Spirit which brings love and devotion.

Ty: Tormenting Michelle. One of my favorites.

Michelle:  (Insert caption that says something about me still being sick
and staying home from church again without sounding like a whiner.)

Afton:  Afton:  Dancing while I counted to 100 for my parents.

Eliza: I accidentally figured out how to fashion a
seat from a fence and a dress, and then had to be helped down.

Kathryn: I have two rings.

Calvin: Practicing talking, sticking
out my tongue, and smiling.

Abe and Grace's family

Valuable lessons we are learning about love and devotion in our family are ______________.

Abe - had a great time substituting as the Sunbeams teacher today.

Henry:  We had a great Sunday.

Hazel:  We had a great Sunday (and I got to wear my gold sparkle shoes).

Calvin and Jane's family

Valuable lessons we are learning about love and devotion in our family are ______________.

We are sharing more of the work load in the kitchen and helping each other in our responsibilities, jobs, hobbies and interests without complaining.  

Calvin:  Sunday evening watching a nature show and eating pine nuts.

Jane:  Calvin had to speak in another ward's Sacrament Meeting today
and asked me to be his companion speaker.