Portfolio: Question 2

2. Do you have a special, planned family time each week?
I pledge to love, nurture, and educate my children remembering the power and influence of a joyful home.

A few years ago, I felt inspired to start Fun Family Friday. I had been thinking and praying about keeping my children close to me during their impending teenage years and about creating a family where everyone wants to be together forever. We plan a fun activity each week. Friends are often included in our family activity, and the children are strongly encouraged to schedule outside activities around Fun Family Friday. Some of our favorite activities have been neighborhood water balloon fights, marshmallow gun wars, paintball, indoor sock hockey, swimming, and movie nights.

My husband works every week night, so we enjoy “Family Home Morning” each Monday morning. Family members rotate through special assignments, including Lesson Leader, Treat, Testimony, Talent, Prayer Meister, Song Meister and Activity Chooser. We also have calendaring, journal writing, and a family game. Jenga and “Extreme Spoons” are favorites.

Sundays are called “Family Day.” After church, we invite a family or two from our congregation to enjoy root beer floats. (It’s easier than making dinner, and everybody usually likes them!) After our guests leave, we have Sunday Stations, which include journal writing, scripture reading, letter writing or card making, and working on church achievement awards. We try to set apart Sunday as a holy day by not playing outside with friends or doing other activities like computer games. Sunday stations help us remember that Sunday is a different day from other days in the week. Sunday dinner together is also an important part of the week. Traditionally, Dad (the vegetarian) makes a roast on Sundays, but now our fourteen year old son Malachi likes to prepare steak for his sisters—so we let him! After the blessing on the food, we discuss what the children learned in their Sunday School lessons. On Sundays, we often enjoy a family game, and sometimes I can convince my children to give a mini orchestra recital. The important thing is that we spend the day together.