All About FHE

What a great activity last night!  Thanks to everyone who came and participated, especially our panel of "experts."  For those of you who didn't make it, here are some notes and resources you missed.  Don't miss the bottom where's there's a yummy F.H.E. treat recipe from Ashley!

President James E. Faust said, "Unity in the Church will always be a reflection of the unity in our homes.  One of the most important ways to foster unity in the home is holding Family Home Evening regularly.  Whether we are young or old, single or married, whether we have children at home or have become empty nesters, Family Home Evening can increase unity and love in our homes.
Family Home Evening is for everyone."

Our panel consisted of the following sisters:

Christie - married mom of 4 children under the age of 8
Amanda - young married sister with a baby on the way
Bonnie - single mom of an adult son
Kay - married grandma and empty nester :)
Alece - married mom of 8 with kids age 10 & older

Here are some of the highlights from our panel's Q & A:

Question: "What is a typical FHE in your house?"
Christie: "Routine is important.  FHE doesn't need to be elaborate.  Even if we don't have time to put together anything, we read the scriptures together. We highlight Family Business where the kids get to talk about their day.  We have fun, silly traditions that the kids love.   It's a special treat because Dad (the Bishop) is home and we're all together."

Amanda: "It's important to start now as a couple, even without kids, so it won't be weird when we want to start with them.  We want to get into the habit.  We take turns giving the lessons.  Sometimes we use "Preach My Gospel" or read and memorize scriptures together.   It's short -- maybe 30 minutes tops -- but we focus on our goals, like Emergency Preparedness, and spending time together as a couple."

Bonnie: "I held FHE regularly with my son while he was growing up, but now I make sure I still hold it for myself.  It's my 'me' night.  It's a sacred time for me from 6 - 9 p.m.  I don't dwell on being single, but instead I focus on improving myself and strengthening my relationship with the Lord.   Something I did with my son, and I still do, is to make Sunday a day to look forward to FHE.  My Family Night is focused on my personal goals.  I pick a theme or goal for the month and do activities that enrich that focus.  I'll study the scriptures or "Preach my Gospel".  I believe inspiration is found anywhere, so I do things that inspire me."

Kay: "My husband and I are in the habit of having FHE regularly because we've done it since our kids were young.  We keep doing it and it's a habit.  My husband likes the order and structure, so we'll open with a prayer and then sing a hymn.  We go through the songbook page by page (skip the ones we don't know!) and read the scripture at the bottom of the hymn.  We'll read the Home Teaching message in the Ensign or "Preach my Gospel" or go over our Emergency Preparedness.  Sometimes we have it on Sundays, because a different child and their family will come over for dinner.  We'll write to family missionaries, do genealogy, or have a "Fix it Night" for ourselves or a neighbor."

Alece: "Things get a little chaotic, but it's the routine that it important.  When the kids were young, my husband and I managed the evening, but when the kids got older we would start assigning jobs.  We'd assign someone to conduct, which we thought was good practice for the future.  We have a scriptural thought.  We have traditions we started from when the kids were young.  The lessons aren't fancy.  We try to focus on simple truths and hopefully, it expands to some deeper discussion.  When the kids are teens, sometimes the school schedules things and we let them choose whether they will be at FHE or not.  But if there is a concert or play, the school knows that the entire family will be there and in attendance to support our kids."

Question: "What makes Family Night different than any other night at your house?"
The general consensus of the group was it is a night where everyone is together, there's the routine of FHE, its a night to focus on yourself, your family and the Lord, and included prayer brings the Spirit into your home.

Kay said: "We treat it like its sacred.  We don't make calls.
It's a priority and nothing interferes with our plans."

Question: "What is your main goal for F.H.E. and how would you decide it is a success?
Christie: "If it's a night dedicated to the family, it's a success.  Or as my husband would say, 'no one cries'.  One week my 1st grader read a story from the Friend and it brought up a good discussion.  It's a success if the Spirit is there."

Amanda: "Our goal is to establish the habit and to have righteous habits from the beginning of our marriage.  It's a success if we develop love and unity.  We want to have a good relationship for our whole marriage.  It's successful if there are no distractions.  We know it will make a difference in the long run and we want to teach our children 'cradle side', because we know they will feel the Spirit."

Bonnie: "FHE is successful for me if the night didn't get lost or swallowed up in 'to do's'.  It's a success if I feel the Spirit and I'm happy where I am at, and know my Heavenly Father is pleased in me."

Kay: "We are always together (they serve a mission together), so that isn't our main goal.  It's successful for us to know that are (adult) children and their families are having FHE together and that we are a good example because we are still doing it."

Alece:  "Togetherness is our main goal with everyone's crazy schedules.   We love when we have a great discussion with the kids or when they bring up something they learned from the scriptures in seminary.  When I first started having FHE when my kids were young, my expectations where really high, but I soon threw that out.  We feel that by doing things that are fun and bringing us together -- those are the steps to success. Sometimes we'll do service projects or work together.  And we always feel like when the kids are awake, alert, and interested -- the night is a success!"

You can find lessons on:
www.lds.org 
   - use the scriptures online
   - go to the Family Home Evening site
   - find lesson topics in the Home & Family section
   - search Gospel topics for General Conference, Ensign, New Era and Friend articles
   - Primary site (under Teaching Children or using Sharing Time lessons)
Family Home Evening Resource book  - access it online
"Preach My Gospel" -  access it online

Unofficial Church blogs like:
   - Mormon Share
   - A Year of FHE Lessons

Other ideas from a previous post on our blog with resources from Cori Larsen's Sunday lesson.

Our discussion brought up these great ideas and resources:

- Family concerns or parent interviews
this is an opportunity to talk to your kids one on one about their concerns
- Get a file box and pre-make FHE lessons
(Diane brought one to share - if you would like to take some of her lessons,
there are still some lessons and Gospel Art left in the R.S. closet)
- Use the Primary Picture Books for kids
- Gospel ArtBook  - use for skits, charades, or read the stories on the back
- Book "FHE for Newlyweds" available at Deseret Book
 there are also MANY other books that can help you come up with lessons in a hurry
- The Scriptures! -- scripture charades are a hit for younger kids
- Finch family games
- Have a FHE basket out where you can access it quickly
include hymn books, Children's Songbook, scriptures, and a FHE lesson book

And finally.... a yummy Family Night Treat recipe to try (thanks to Ashley):

Churro Chex Mix

9 cups rice Chex cereal (approx. 1 big box)
1 bag cinnamon chips (by the chocolate chips in the grocery store)
1 bag white chocolate chips
1/2 cup powdered sugar1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Pour Chex cereal into a bowl. Set aside. Combine sugars and cinnamon in another small bowl. Set aside.In a microwavable bowl, melt the cinnamon chips and white chocolate chips. Heat for 1 minute then stir. Heat for an additional 30 seconds. Stir. Continue with additional 30 seconds until completely melted. Pour melted chips over the cereal. Stir until cereal is well coated.Sprinkle with half of the cinnamon sugar mixture. Toss to coat. Pour out the cereal onto a cookie sheet. Continue to sprinkle and toss the cereal with the rest of the cinnamon sugar mixture.