Mommy Notes & The Friend online

Wesley made it through the sacrament today!  Progress!  He loves the hymn book and shares his booming singing/hollering voice freely.  Dear Wesley did have an omelet for breakfast, and some oatmeal just before church, but when he saw the sacrament bread he let out a gasp of excitement and showed the same enthusiasm for the water....enough to make me blush and "Shhh!!!"  I love my babe.

In sharing time, Thomas recognized a story that was told about President Monson's life, not from the Friend magazine the teacher was reading from, but from the movie about Pres. Monson's life that they showed between General Conference sessions in October.  Sometimes they really ARE listening, and things really ARE sinking in.

When I thanked Thomas for being ready for church early today and noted how that made the morning more peaceful, he smiled, agreed, and said, "You're welcome."....a little positive reinforcement to encourage a pattern of behavior (Please!).

We are nearing the end of the Book of Mormon, and the kids want to read and read and read.  Granted tonight wasn't without the, "Hey, I was sitting there!" or "It's my turn to read!", but even with the minor interruptions, we had great conversation about Ether 3, 4, 5 (& part of 6).  Grace read chapter 5, which she prefaced by saying, "I feel like singing this chapter."  I didn't have a problem with that as long as it wasn't ridiculous, so we listened to Grace's song of Ether 5...unforgettable.  We marveled at the 344 day voyage across the ocean, and that the people were thankful throughout the journey.  I imagine it was stinky & I hope I would have been so humble, (even among the bees).

My MIL recently pointed out that the Friend magazine now has an online interactive page.  I put this link on my toolbar, so the kids can play there when they are ready for church.  Today is the first Sunday in I don't know how long that church prep at our house ran smoothly.  Christina got on The Friend's online site and put together a bunch of coloring pages, word searches, etc.  for Grace and Caroline to do after the sacrament.  Caroline and Thomas played on the website for a while  and  we were 15 minutes early to church.  We're on to something, I hope!  There's always tweaking and issues that come up, but I'm quick to note the miracle in a smooth sailing Sunday, esp. when Wayne was gone from just before 10am to 8pm.  Wayne had an exceptionally full Sunday, but we're proud of the way he serves & and is leading the YM.  XOxoxoxoxoxo!