Dare I say it out loud...

..but I think we may have found our way with making FHE more successful. Wahoo :) Well they've definitely been more constructive the past couple of weeks anyway. We've changed location from the lounge to around the kitchen table and it seems to help them be more attentive. last week we talked about saying 'big boy prayers' or  in other words more thoughtful, less repetitive prayers We had a lesson where we looked at the story when Jesus taught the Pharisees about prayer, we then  talked about things we could pray about and give thanks for, we demonstrated praying and then asked Joseph to say the closing prayer it went as follows-

Dear Heavenly Father

Thank you for this day.

Please bless it.

In the name of Jesus Christ

Amen

So that would be exactly, 100%, word perfect the prayer he said at the beginning of the lesson - so  obviously went in then. So we tried again, Daddy modelled a prayer, Joseph repeated each line then was asked to try and say his own prayer again. It went like this -

Dear Heavenly Father

Thank you for this day.

Please bless it.

In the name of Jesus Christ

Amen

We repeated the same process again twice.. I had to hide my face as I tried not to laugh out loud. The final time Joseph's prayer went like this -

Dear Heavenly Father

Thank you for ..........what shall I say...the scriptures? (yes) thank you for the scriptures

Please bless it.

In the name of Jesus Christ

Amen

Was that it, was that a big boy prayer?

Well that was better and we'll keep trying. 

Today we talked about reverence in the chapel. I made them a couple of chapel mice who like to be reverent. I used this tutorial from the American craft and felt blog found here. I found this little rhyme to go with them  on a Family Home Evening website with great ideas for young children found here

'What If … ?,” by DaLee C. James, Friend, Sep 1996, 22

If a mouse would ride to church

In your pocket on this day,

What might he tell his family

That he heard you do or say?

Would he tell them you were reverent,

And you listened to your teacher?

Or would he say he’d never seen

Such a noisy creature?

Would he tell them how he loved the songs

You sang so sweet and clear?

Or would he groan from all the talking

That entered in his ear?

Could he take a little snooze

As you walked nice and tall?

Or would he scream with panic

As you galloped down the hall?

Would the little mouse get seasick

From the tipping of your chair?

Or would he feel safe and cozy

As you quietly sat there?

Would the chapel be a reverent place?

The sacrament the same?

Now tell me, would the little mouse

Be really glad he came?

If a mouse would ride to church

In your pocket on this day,

What might he tell his family

That he heard you do or say?