Devotionals

I've quit my babysitting co-op so that I can dedicate mornings to some informal schooling with the boys.  It's hit and miss right now, but I'm still trying to be relaxed since Buddha won't actually be starting kindergarten here at home until next year.  But, something I am really excited about is that we are starting each day with a devotional.  Our devotionals usually consist of me finding a coloring page for the boys that has to do with the scripture story we'll be studying.  We have an opening prayer, I hand out the coloring pages, pick up the new Gospel Art Book and flip to a corresponding visual, then paraphrase the story in my own words with questions and interruptions galore from the boys.  I try to incorporate The Friend and other supplemental resources where I can.  After I tell the story, we look up the scripture references and read the account in the words of the ancient prophets themselves.  The boys LOVE devotional!  Buddha hounds me every day that we miss devotional . . . usually all day long.  :D  They get so excited about coloring and chatting, and when we finish with the lesson we pick up the hymn book or Children's Song Book and sing songs with messages related to our devotional subject.  (I can't wait to have a piano in a couple of weeks!).

I can't imagine a better way to start our day and I intend to make this a lifelong tradition.  Here are some pictures from our first devotional about Captain Moroni.