While Mike was working in Wyoming, I really needed some extra blessings for my family. So we started reading the Book of Mormon together as a family. It started out with me putting Aurora to bed, then reading to Lincoln and Sequoia while they were listening in their beds. It evolved from being bugged when the kids interrupted to ask questions, to eventually stopping happily to discuss what we just read. Yes, I know I sound mean, that's why we needed the extra blessings. Baby steps.
We finished 1 Nephi and we made the goal to finish it before Lincoln is baptized. We read almost every single night. And even when Mike came back home in May, he helped continue reading even while I was gone doing Relief Society meetings or craft classes or any other crazy thing we always seem to have going on.
Guess what!? We finished it a few weeks ago! What an incredible opportunity for other little family to share. I saw so many blessing throughout the time we read:
~Sequoia was just learning to read when we started. She has now excelled and
she's a fabulous reader.
~Lincoln followed along every single step of the way. He asked so many questions and it was so fun to see him understand. He could remember better than I could of who begat whom and other stories that aren't as common.
~We would sometimes read with Aurora awake as well and she is getting better at sitting with us and being still. (Not perfect by any means, but getting better!)
~Mike and I have a better relationship. We are closer than we have ever been and I truly do consider him my dearest best friend. I'm so grateful we get to do this together. He is an amazing person and I love his determination and faith.
At some point we also started working on the Articles of Faith. Honestly, it started out with, "Hey what should we talk about for Family Home Evening?" We all sat down and talked about the 1st one, they memorized it so well, so we just did the second one the next week. After about 16 weeks, lots of quizzing, poster board games, and printouts on the wall in their room, both Sequoia and Lincoln memorized ALL 13!! It's such a thrill for me to hear them repeat them. I love it. They passed them off just about a month ago with their Primary Presidency and were recognized in Primary, with the Stake, and what they loved most of all, got a giant King size candy bar. I'm so proud of my two hard working little muffins.
(I learned all the Articles of Faith before I graduated Primary and could say them so dang fast. I even did it for the Relief Society Talent Show last year. So... when Mike and I first starting dating, I discovered he was the only person who could compete with me in repeating them fast. We did a race! So much fun. Of course I won, by like 2 seconds. Another one of the many reasons why I love my Mikey.)
