The night we call Family Home Evening

. . . or FHE for short. In most LDS families, each Monday night is set aside as "family home evening." This is a time for families to study the gospel together and to do other activities that strengthen the family spiritually, create family memories, and increase unity and love. Last night was special because we were invited to join our Bishop's family for FHE. All the children were looking forward to it. I think just the fact that they got to go to someone else's house was exciting.

As soon as the Parker got home from school and Christian got home from his orchestra class I started drilling them on proper behavior. . .

"We don't run around their home."

"We don't call names or say bad words."

"We sit quietly and listen."

"We have good manners."

"We don't ask for food."

See, I KNOW my children.

Then I start preparing myself in my mind.

"I have to start dinner at 5pm."

"We have to eat at 6 no later."

"I need to make sure I change Ella's shirt it's a mess."

"I need to make time to change out of my velour pants & t-shirt and get some eye make-up on."

5 o'clock comes. I put a tablespoon of olive oil in my wok to make stir-fry. I walk off to do something else and realize the grease is getting too hot. I run back over and quickly pull it off the burner when the 3 million degree grease sloshes up the side of the wok and onto the floor and my FOOT. I rip off my sock and hobble to the bathtub to run cold water over it. I then realize I have left the burner on. This is a bad Ella combo. I hobble back to the kitchen in burning agony and turn it off. I realize it is 5:20 and it's getting late. I don't have time to lay around in pain soaking my burn so I stumble to find a wash wrag in the drawer. I get it wet and wrap it around my food as I try to finish preparing dinner. As I stand there chopping vegetables I can feel the blister growing and growing and growing. I am thinking, "Honestly of all nights!"

At exactly 6pm by some sort of miracle dinner was ready but where was Brandon? I wait until 6:10. Still no Brandon. So I call the kids in to eat without him. Again before I will give them any food I drill them on proper behavior while visiting someone's home. This conversation was followed by, "Do you understand!?" Since everyone understood, dinner was served. Christian asked to bless it. I said, "Sure." Ella ran into the other room screaming. Christian proceeded with the blessing. Ella continued screaming. The boys started eating. Ella continued screaming. (If you are someone who knows my daughter you know this is not unusual behavior.) I go in to try and coax her back to dinner and she explains that she wanted to say the blessing. She won't come back in the kitchen so I tell her she can bless the food again. The boys fold their arms and bow their heads with their mouths full of food and Ella blesses our dinner for a second time. I am thinking, "Honestly of all nights!"

Brandon finally arrives a little after 6:30. I hobble around and clean myself up. I find some shoes I can wear with my still growing and very painful blister. I manage to find Ella some clean clothes, fix her hair, and get everyone's shoes and coats on. Brandon quickly eats and changes.

At exactly 6:55 we are ready to head down the street to the Bishop's house. As we open the door a stray cat decides it's tired of the snow and runs in the house. Brandon continues out the door with the kids and I start to hobble after the cat. I am thinking, "Honestly of all nights!"

I find the cat, get her out, get into the car and we are on our way. We get just to the end of the street and guess what? The van dies! The engine shuts off. Brandon puts the car in park and starts to try and get it going again. This time I am thinking, "Dang the adversary is working hard tonight to keep us from family home evening tonight!"

Brandon gets the van started again and we head down the hill towards the bishop's house.

When we finally arrive we are of course late. We are greeted with love and warmth. We sang and prayed and learned about missionary work and played a very fun Starburst game. Parker spent much of the lesson upside down on their couch but other than that behavior issues were at a minimum. We had a yummy rice crispie snack for a treat and guess what? Both Christian AND Ella got to say a prayer. We had a great time and got to know the Durfey's a little better.

As we were driving home Christan started giving out assignments, "Next week we are going to read the scripture. And Mom we should probably do the lesson too and Sister Durfey can make more rice crispie treats and. . ." All three children wanted to go back to Bishop's house next Monday. It was a good night.