Spending Time Together

Time is one of the most valuable quantities that we have, so we should use it wisely with the ones that we love. You don't need to spend tons of money to show your family that you love them. They will know by the way you treat them and the time that you spend with them.

Here are some inexpensive activities that you could do with your family;
1. Go for a walk
2. Go to a museum
3. Listen to live music or a lecture at a book store
4. Attend the local high school's musical
5. Fly a kite
6. Have a picnic
7. Go to the playground
8. Go to the library and pick a book on an activity that your children are interested in and do it together
9. Crafts
10. Play charades
11. Play a board game
12. Get a movie from the library and watch it together

Building Reservoirs

I believe there is nothing more important than your relationships with your family in this life. The more you value something/some one the more time you will spend with it/them. So if you value your family show them by spending time with them. Build a reservoir of memories for them and you. Give your family a legacy---spend the weekend with them doing something they like to do. Plan family vacations, take trips, go to the park, take walks...just spend time with them.

The most valuable quantity is time so where are you using yours?

Important Lord's Work

The most important of the Lord’s work you and I will ever do will be within the walls of our own homes.
President Harold B. Lee

Reasoning with Children

31106, Family Home Evening Resource Book, Building a Strong Family, Reasoning with Children, 244

Observe what happens when a father reasons with children—even when they aren't his own:

John's Concern

Two days before John was to return to his military assignment, a construction crew began digging a large hole in the empty lot north of his home. By the end of the day, a fifteen-foot hole lay ready for cement forms to be placed. Within minutes after the crew left, neighborhood children swarmed on the "diggings." Teenagers were running, and smaller children were climbing, as well as some preschool boys playing with a toy wheelbarrow. Among those little ones was John's four-year-old son, Jason. They were trying to dump a little gravel from the wheelbarrow into the large hole, but the earth beneath their feet was crumbling. Seeing this, John raced out on his balcony and yelled, "Get off that lot, you kids! What do you think you are doing?" The children all scattered, and John went down to bring the little ones away from the hole and into his backyard.

Within minutes after he returned to his house, John saw all the children swarming over the lot and dirt pile again. His little boy's friends were there. "A lot of good my yelling did," thought John. "Maybe I could reason with them so they see the danger in playing there." John walked outside and beckoned to the older children on the dirt pile. Some of the older ones hesitated, but John encouraged them with a wave of his hand. "Listen," he said. "I was kind of nutty to yell at all of you a minute ago. I guess in one way it is none of my business where you kids play. But my concern is that the little ones see you over here and they come over. If you fall, maybe you will break an arm or get bruised, but I'm worried about what might happen to the little ones if they fall. What happens if a lot of that dirt caves in on them? If you play on the hills, they play on the hills. Do you see any way we can work together to protect them?"

What is the difference between John's first approach and his second?

What was he teaching?

What do you predict will be the teenagers' response?

In the actual situation, the teenagers began policing the lot, kept the little children away, and even avoided the construction site themselves.

Do you reason with your children? or do you command them? Read the comparisons to help you evaluate whether your children understand why they should be obedient or if they are merely learning that you use power over them.

Reasoning	Commands and Demands
1. Are you teaching a principle?	1. Are you issuing orders?
2. Are you reasoning sensibly and calmly?	2. Are you blaming and accusing?
3. Are you exploring consequences?	3. Are you making decisions single-handedly?
4. Are you identifying wise alternatives?	4. Are you allowing only one possibility?
5. Are you sharing necessary information?	5. Are you demanding blind obedience?
6. Are you listening?	6. Are you doing all the talking?

It is important to remember that reasoning involves persuasion, long-suffering, and love unfeigned (see D&C 121:4146).

To read the entire article and get more helpful information go to the following link
http://www.lds.org/hf/library/0,16866,4256-1,00.html?LibraryURL=/Curriculum/home%20and%20family.htm/family%20home%20evening%20resource%20book.htm/building%20a%20strong%20family.htm/reasoning%20with%20children.htm

Perserving the Family

President Spencer W. Kimball, the 12th President of the Church:
“Many of the social restraints which in the past have helped to reinforce and to shore up the family are dissolving and disappearing. The time will come when only those who believe deeply and actively in the family will be able to preserve their families in the midst of the gathering evil around us” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1980, 3; or Ensign, Nov. 1980, 4).

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:
“If you build your homes on the foundation rock of our Redeemer and the gospel, they can be sanctuaries where your families can be sheltered from the raging storms of life” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1993, 88; or Ensign, May 1993, 71).

"a bit of heaven"

President Thomas S. Monson of the First Presidency:
“If we really try, our home can be a bit of heaven here on earth. The thoughts we think, the deeds we do, the lives we live influence not only the success of our earthly journey; they mark the way to our eternal goals” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1988, 80–81; or Ensign, Nov. 1988, 69).

Several ideas for strengthening your family

1. Have regular dates. If you are married, make time for regular fun-time with your partner. A strong marriage can add strength to the family. Some families also have regular date nights with their children. Regardless of your family circumstance, make time for the important relationships in your life.

2. Hold regular family meetings. Family meetings help us give proper attention to our family. They provide a forum of discussion for family issues, and an opportunity to plan for family time. Family meetings help us to be proactive instead of reactive.

3. Make a point to express your appreciation more often. Leave thank-you notes around the house. Incorporate an appreciation ritual into your family meeting. Celebrate special achievements of family members. Make a list of 101 things for which your family can be grateful.

4. Make a plan for effectively dealing with conflict before you have conflict. Don't wait until the heat is on and tempers are high to decide how to best resolve a disagreement. Plan ahead and then, when needed, put your plan into action.

5. Explore you family history. Trace your family lines. Find out about roots and share the lessons of life from heroes in your family line. Find out what your ancestors stood for. Family history is a wonderful activity for all ages.

6. Keep a family journal or scrap book of significant family events and achievements. Remembering the good times can give us strength to endure the tough times.

7. Celebrate! Recognize the achievements of family members. Remember significant anniversaries with parties or family rituals. Make time to bask in the joyful moments of life.

Additional Resources:

Fantastic Families: 6 Proven Steps to Building a Strong Family
by Nick Stinnett, Joe Beam, and Alice Beam

The Intentional Family: Simple Rituals to Strengthen Family Ties
by William J. Doherty

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families
by Stephen R. Covey

To read the entire article go to the following link

http://www.arfamilies.org/family_life/family/characteristics_strong_families.htm