Spotlites

{And yes, I know it's spelled wrong. :) } 

Last night for Family Home Evening, we started a brand-new segment for our weekly family meeting called the "Book of Mormon Spotlite."  At some point last week, while talking to Scott and the kids, I decided that I really wanted to come up with a goal for 2015 that would incorporate the Book of Mormon more on a family level.  We still read with each kid individually at bedtime, but I wasn't quite sure if we were up to the task yet of taking turns reading all together as a family.  Inspiration hit when I saw the book called, "Ites: An Illustrated Guide to the People in the Book of Mormon," (which I had ordered from Deseret Book before Christmas) sitting in the scripture basket in the family room.  The book highlights 52 different characters from the Book of Mormon, giving background information and context for each one, along with mini-lessons and activities to help kids become familiar with all the different "-ites" in the Book, and -- all in all -- it's pretty awesome.  Alex and Jane in particular have really enjoyed looking through it over the last few weeks.

Since there are 52 chapters in "Ites," and 52 weeks in the year, I thought it would be PERFECT to use for a Book of Mormon focus each week in FHE, and straightforward enough that most of the kids will be able to present it themselves as part of the lesson.  Ethan was the first one up last night, and he totally hit it out of the ballpark!  Seriously.  He did an awesome job teaching about Lehi, and then setting up an obstacle course for the activity to illustrate the idea that if we listen to the Lord's voice, and ignore the noise of the world, we will always be guided in the right direction.  It was great.  And ALL the kids loved it.  I think they will remember this lesson for a long time.  :)

He was generous enough to give a reward of Airheads (which he had gotten from the prize basket at school) to all the finishers, and then further blew my mind when he took everything down and put everything back when the obstacle course was over.  THAT was a small miracle.  No joke.  Hahaha.

Grace will be up next week with Nephi, and I'm hoping that the momentum will continue rolling for the rest of the year.  :)

 {All of the pictures are TERRIBLY blurry!  Sorry!!}

 Setting up the course in the front hall.

 Teaching us about Lehi.

 Getting ready to go through the course -- Scott was the voice she was supposed to listen to (while blindfolded) to reach the finish.  All the rest of us were shouting nonsense directions to her to try and throw her off. 

 Everyone got a turn.

Finishing with an Airhead!  :)