I thought I was beaten

After starting my classes this week, spending three days taking Elizabeth to unexpected medical appointments (three days of IV antibiotics), attending my first class gathering, Elizabeth disrupting my sleep nearly every night, & trying to keep up with my coursework (without Elizabeth at preschool like I planned for some of my coursework time), this week had me beat. Many tears were shed as I struggle with a homework question this evening. I turned to prayer and poured it all out to Heavenly Father asking for help, and after a bit I was calmed down and able to start typing an answer.

It's been a hard week, but I know Heavenly Father has given me many blessings during it all. These are some of the blessings I recognized this week. Elizabeth never ended up needing to go to the hospital. Brian bring home dinners a few nights. Brian giving Elizabeth a priesthood blessing when she got her fever Wednesday. Elizabeth so excited to go to the doctors this morning. Elizabeth being okay when she got her "pokie" out. Having fun playing checkers and My Little Pony on Elizabeth's Kindle with her. Having Elizabeth's Kindle to keep her entertained this week. Elizabeth getting to okay to go to her friends birthday party tomorrow. Lots of snuggles with Elizabeth. Brian bringing us pizza and breadsticks. An outpouring of love and support online from family and friends. Enjoying my time at my class gathering. Finding that having my phone camera set at a mirror for Elizabeth to see what is happening around her port helps calm her anxieties. And of course the help with my assignment this evening.

Rethinking our Family Home Evenings

Last month, as I was sitting in the Sunday School class trying to pay attention, I was feeling weighed down by some concerns I have about Elizabeth. I had struggled getting her to go to primary, and I didn't understand why. My thoughts turned to pondering the other concerns I have, including her focus on the negative things. As often happens as I ponder my worries, my thoughts turned to prayers asking for peace and guidance. As I was pondering I was thinking what things Elizabeth needed to do. In my mind I was starting to make a chore chart. But this felt wrong.

After more pondering and prayer I had the question come into my mind getting me to think about what kind of example Elizabeth is getting at home. This made me pause. As I thought about this I realized that Elizabeth hears the conversations when we talk about the stresses of the day. I also realize that she did not hear the gratitude that Brian and I express to each other at the end of the day, after Elizabeth is asleep. Or know what I write in my journal each night about my blessings I noticed from the day. I knew something needed to change.

For myself I have found that it takes me about a month of working on a new habit consistently for it to start to hold. I also need it to be something small so that this change isn't too overwhelming for our family. This brings to mind the scripture that says, "...by small and simple things are great things brought to pass..." (Alma 37:6). I want our family to keep changing, & working towards becoming better.

I then thought that what better time to introduce a new habit for our family, then during our Family Home Evening. The time we set aside each week to study & learn together. This is why I wanted to change the way we do our Family Home Evenings.

So here's an outline to how we are doing Family Home Evening now.

• Monthly theme for our weekly lessons in Family Home Evening: This last month we focused on gratitude & thanking Heavenly Father.
• Monthly scripture (short & simple for Elizabeth to memorize) to recite together each night as a family: Our scripture this month was D&C 58:7 "Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things."
• New habit: After our family scripture reading, & reciting our monthly scripture at bedtime, we each answer the question, "How had Heavenly Father blessed you today?"

We have now reached the end of our first month, & will start a new theme during tomorrow nights Family Home Evening. I have to say that I have really loved this new way. We may tweak things as we go, but as for now this is the simple outline we plan to follow.

I have already felt a difference in our home as we have taken the time to reflect on our day, & share our blessings with each other. I also noticed that it was making a difference when Elizabeth, one afternoon a couple weeks ago, called out randomly from the other room that she was blessed to have a nice teacher. That's when I knew that things were changing for the better.