Recently a friend asked me what our Sunday rules were; what we did after church, where our limits were, how we enforced our rules, etc. I told her that we did go out and do things as a family as long as we could keep the spirit with us and feel close to our Heavenly Father. We aren't the sit at home type of family; especially not on a beautiful day!
This Sunday was a great example of how we exemplify the line in the Family Proclamation that talks about "wholesome recreation."
After church, choir, lunch, and naps were all done we all got in the car and drove up the mountain loop road and went to the river to stroll about.We sat along the river bank and tossed rocks in the water and played target games with the stones we tossed. We talked of the things that we had planned for the week and what we had done the week before. The boys examined minnow fingerlings in a tide pool and mosquito larvae in a stagnant pond.
Scott built a fire and Garrett had brought marshmallows and roasting sticks for everyone to share. Campfires are a great place for finding peace and deep thoughts. It's also a great place for laughter and fun as a family!
I had fun playing with the panoramic option on my phone camera while Scott took the big kids along the river and let me nurse the baby by the campfire. Listening to the sounds of the river mixed in with the laughing and happiness of my family is definitely a Sunday approved activity!
I think that times like these when we can let our kids experience the happiness of life along with the feeling and closeness of the spirit are a priceless use of our time. I want my kids to be able to recognize that you don't have to be sitting reverently with your arms folded and dressed in your church best in order to have the spirit with you. He loves Heavenly Father's creations just as much as we do and loves to be outside enjoying them with us.
And seeing expressions like this on my kids' faces tells me that this was definitely a great Sunday activity for us to do...he and the spirit are getting to know each other better through excursions like this.
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