A few weeks back our family studied
This was a timely declaration made by our living prophet.
It is filled with wisdom and truth.
We discussed with the kids this line:
"Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities."
We came up with the best ways our family could work on living these principles.
This is what the kids came up with:
Faith – Read scriptures daily.
Prayer – Everyone pray more often.
Repentence – Admitting when were wrong and saying sorry.
Forgiveness – Not being upset, loving in return.
Respect – Listening /Put ups instead of Put Downs
Love - I cannot hurt /Breathe/Support Each Other
Compassion – Include Everyone
Work – Everyone Pitch In
Wholesome Recreational Activities – Activity Jar
As I pondered how to implement these things into our home I felt inspired that I needed to take the lead. I have personally been wanting to work on being actively engaged with the kids. I want to lead by example. I want to be more kind. I want to be more respectful and quiet. I want to work hand in hand.
I found some strawberries on sale last week.
99 cents for 2 quarts.
That's a steal.
The fruit was bought and so was the Sure-Jel.
It was time for some jam making.
I felt a feeling that instead of making jam alone that I should include the whole family.
I decided that we would forgo our typical sit down Family Home Evening lesson
and work together.
This turned out to be one of the best evenings we've spent together as a family.
We worked on the jam, each taking turns with the different jobs.
When we got through the kids burst out into a impromptu jam session.
We never work without music around here.
There was such a feeling of love and cooperation and industry.
I was so happy.
We had Strawberry Cake for dessert and sat down to
sing, pray, and read from the scriptures about work.
The girls made up a great song.
I am so grateful to a God who listens to my prayers
and answers them.
He answers when I take time to talk to Him honestly
and to listen to Him when he talks back to me
through the Holy Spirit.
I love my family.
They are the best.
I am so glad God has given us tools to learn together and grow closer.
And now, every member of my family knows how to make jam,
but I doubt they will ever want to do it without someone with who they can jam at the same time.
What a sweet evening.
Oh and inquiring minds want to know, I am sure.
The homemade freezer jam recipe is a piece of cake.
Buy a box of sure-jel, a couple quarts of strawberries, and a lot of sugar, and you are good to go.
Make sure you have a freezer safe container.
And did I mention A LOT of sugar.
There is NO better jam in the world.
So yummy.
I'm going to have some now.
All the sudden I am starving.
Lovin' that you guys know how to 'jam'!!!! Love the video and the lyrics change. YOUR girls are growing up so much. It is hard for me to believe.
ReplyDeleteToOdLeS.
Could you show me how to make some? I would probably do a small quantity. I did freeze most of the strawberries that I bought. I wasn't able to get to them for a couple of days, so I lost a few of them, but not many. Sometimes we get really good sales on strawberries.
ReplyDeleteYou know what those girls are? Pure gold.
ReplyDeleteWe made freezer jam last week, just Scott and I though. Now I'm wishing we hadn't waited until after bedtime. :)
Mmmmmm Mmmm! Delish! Nothing better than a successful FHE and something yummy to put in the freezer!
ReplyDeleteSo fun. I can't view the video. Call me sometime and tell me what I should do. I love keeping up with all that you are doing through your Blog, especially the pictures.
ReplyDeleteCould you show me how to make some? I would probably do a small quantity. I did freeze most of the strawberries that I bought. I wasn't able to get to them for a couple of days, so I lost a few of them, but not many. Sometimes we get really good sales on strawberries.
ReplyDelete