Family Home Evening, Monday, May 5, 2008

The apple tree where the cousins hold their "club" meetings.
Where did you get the kites, Grandma!
The Canfields had extra balloons from their son's welcome home from Romania.
Can we climb the backyard boulders, Grampa?
We have one yellow balloon that is still on the ceiling--we're wondering what happened to all of yours.
(James and Amanda, check the family blog for an explanation.)

Remember that Maroon5 is on American Idol this week. Amanda, we want pictures from the fashion show!

Sunday is an important day. We love having our family over. We love joining with our neighbors to worship. We enjoy singing--don't always sing on other days, but we always sing on Sundays.

We need Sundays. Our minds and bodies need a day off, a change from all that we put them through during the week. What a wise Heavenly Father to command us to observe the sabbath and refresh ourselves. Good for the physical self, mental well-being, and spiritual growth--if we observe it as we should.

We've been promised other blessings, too!

"Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase. . . .

And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid."

"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy."

President Kimball taught how we might observe the Sabbath:

"The Sabbath is a day on which to take inventory—to analyze our weaknesses, to confess our sins to our associates and our Lord.
It is a day on which to fast.
It is a day on which to read good books, a day to contemplate and ponder,
a day to study the scriptures and to prepare sermons, a day to nap and rest and relax,
a day to visit the sick, a day to preach the gospel, a day to proselyte,
a day to visit quietly with the family and get acquainted with our children,
a day for proper courting, a day to do good, a day to drink at the fountain of knowledge and of instruction,
a day to seek forgiveness of our sins, a day for the enrichment of our spirit and our soul,
a day to restore us to our spiritual stature,
a day to partake of the emblems of his sacrifice and atonement,
a day to contemplate the glories of the gospel and of the eternal realms,
a day to climb high on the upward path toward our Heavenly Father." (Teachings, 216).

Make Sunday a different day. Have a good week,

Love, Mom and Dad, Robert & Shauna Valentine
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo