Farewell FHE

This is the last Monday before Josh leaves for COT (Commissioned Officer Training) in Alabama. We are really trying to keep our routine regular and predictable for our kids.  So, we had Family Home Evening like we always do. This time we focused the lesson and activities around the military and what Josh might be experiencing at training.  We watched one of our favorite Mormon Messages (www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages) Dare To Stand Alone.  We went to www.lds.org to look at the tips for military families.  They had some great suggestions about how we could keep in touch while Josh is away.  We decided that we would have Josh make us a chain of daily messages to be read so that we could count down to his return.  The kids and I wrote him small daily notes that he could put in his suitcase and be reminded of home daily.  "Pants" (code name for youngest daughter) drew lots of scribbles and had me trace her hand on every page.  Josh will have eight notes of a little two year old hand.  "Bub" (code name for our son) drew pictures of each member of our family.  They all looked pretty much the same to me but he seemed to know who each picture was and Josh will love it.  "Bear" (code name for oldest daughter) took more time and was able to write Josh some things that she loves about him.  She also drew pictures.  I wrote out some of my favorite scriptures and poems for Josh to read.  I hope that these messages will make him feel that home is not so far away.  I tried not to peek at the links that Josh made for us but I did have to tape them all together.  Josh took the time to make personal questions for the kids each day.  They will love such a visual reminder of his return home.  We think we will be able to converse through Skype while he is gone.  This will be a great resource because Bub and Pants don't really talk on the phone. It will be great for all of us to see Josh.

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