Family Home Evening

Institute bulletin board - January 1986

 30 August 1984 - We had our first Family home evening last Monday night.  We had four girls and seven boys to start out with.  We were really apprehensive as to what they would like to do.  We started out with one of the boys giving the opening prayer, and then Leona started to lead them in some songs out of an Institute book  She felt that was too formal and decided to revert to her Cub Scout and first grade days and taught them to sing "Ravioli."  They really loosened up, and the boys seemed to enjoy it even more than the girls did.  Then she taught them "B-I-N-G-O", and they really enjoyed that.  Then we sang "Down in the Valley" and "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and then I gave the lesson - a very short one.  I told them the old Scoutmaster's Minute story of the farmhand who could sleep on a windy night, and related that to being constantly prepared for their tests here at Haskell.  Then I referred back to the parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25: 1-13) and their need for preparation.  Then we played "Matthew, Mark, Luke and John."  They really seemed to have a good time, and a friend of one of our members asked when we were going to do it again.  So, I guess we got by okay.  The cinnamon rolls Leona made and the punch and the dip and chips were well accepted also!

Refreshment time!

30 October 1984 - We weren't too happy about our Family Home Evening last night.  We had a very small group for the opening and lesson.  They then all start coming in for the games, and by refreshment time the whole gang's there.  I'm afraid I know what they have a testimony of.  I wish I knew how to combat it.  Lou and I plot and plan, but we still reach most of them with food only.

Playing "Old Plug"

Game time

 19 November 1984 - I've been planning our Family Home Evening.  It is so hard to choose games.  Some students want "wild" games, and some want quiet games.  It's not unusual to start a game with 5 and end up with 20.  The ranks swell to 40 when the refreshments come out.

Dad does an excellent job on the lesson.  He makes them up 'from scratch' and presents them so well.  I told him he should publish them when we're through.  He has a neat one planned this evening using the analogy of football plays and the gospel.

In these posts about Haskell, Lou's comments are in blue, and Leona's in maroon