This is the Night We've Waited For!!!

I was organizing some pictures and came across a few that I've taken over the years during Family Home Evenings. We've definitely had our share of family nights during which the "Bedlamites" were out of control, and it seemed that our efforts were in vain. But pushing through the not-so-inspiring FHE's has paid off, and we now have many wonderful memories of spiritual as well as fun evenings spent together. We seldom reach the end of the night wondering--as we used to years ago--if our time or energy has been wasted. And the kids truly do look forward to each Monday as "the night we've waited for." As the Primary song says,

This is the night we've waited for;
Always a treat we have in store,
We love each other more and more
With every family night.
Stories and games for everyone,
Learning the gospel can be fun,
Father and mother, daughter, son,
Together on family night!

These pictures from 2008 are some of my favorites.  One night, as we played one of our favorite games, "Don't Eat Pete," Chase kept shocking everyone as he cleared the game board without eating Pete!  I love looking at these pictures, and the kids' smiles as Chase kept managing to avoid Pete...  The suspense is killer!!!  =)

The first chocolate chip... Safe!!!

...And safe again!

Safe again... and again... and again...  They can't believe it!

All the way down to the last chocolate chip!!!  Incredible!!!  =)

Everyone is hysterical over Chase's triumphant round of "Don't Eat Pete" - and of course Chase is thrilled with both his success and his tummy-full of chocolate chips! =)

Another night we played a game to see how well we know our family members--by their noses =)  We've also played this with hands, feet, and by a kiss on the cheek.  (I have to say that the older boys weren't too excited about kissing each other on the cheek, but it made for some laughs!  Too bad we didn't have the camera out then!)  =)

I'm not sure if this one was an actual "Family Night" or just a time when we made cookies... but we all know that no FHE is complete without treats of some sort!  So this is a favorite picture at our house.

When we hang it in our world-famous family art museum someday, we'll title it:

"Kids Waiting for Cookies" =)

This was our first FHE after Chase was born.  With our family officially complete, I decided I wanted to take this picture.  I don't know why, and Rob thought it was a silly idea, but I'm grateful that he humored me and participated.

This one wasn't taken during FHE, but was an opportunity to put a FHE lesson into practice:  Forgiveness.  This picture was taken after Emmee dropped and broke Ashlee's porcelain unicorn, which was very special to her.  Tears were shed by both.  We took a picture so we'd at least have that to remember it...

This was a "family talent show."  Rob wouldn't consider the accordion to be one of his talents, but he was willing to give it a try!  It's all just about having fun, right?!?

The kids always love to help by holding up the pictures during stories.  (And it helps keep them from jumping around, somersaulting, fighting, etc., through the lesson!)  =)

Of course decorating for Christmas is always a favorite FHE activity!

Even though our Family Home Evening pictures are relatively few, they're a reminder to me of my gratitude for inspired leaders, who realized--60+ years ago--the importance of families setting aside a night to gather and learn together.  Sometimes the most important lesson of all is simply remembering how much we enjoy each other.  The small moments may not seem to amount to much, but as they all add up they create unbreakable bonds that will keep us close throughout eternity.