Home Church

Week one of no church landed on Brian and my anniversary, March 15th.  Twenty three years and counting.  I loved being able to have church with Brian, all of our kiddos and my parents right in our family room.  

The pictures are after our meeting was over.  I promise, Tanner did not lay out on the floor during church.  (Although he did grumble quite a bit about having to put on church clothes, including a tie and socks.)

We sang an opening, sacrament and closing hymn.  Aubrey conducted the music.  

There was a reverence in our home as Parker and Tanner blessed and passed the sacrament.

Tanner and I gave talks.  He spoke on faith.  His intro was pretty great.  He was straight faced as he said, "Good afternoon brothers and sisters."  Then he did a fake laugh and said, "oh, I mean morning.  I can't keep our new church time straight."  He continued, "I have to admit, I have been scrambling quite a bit to prepare my talk since Bishop asked me to speak last night."  Then he cleared his throat, allowed a little half smile and gave his talk.  

My talk had no catchy intro.  I spoke on preparing for conference and ways we can hear Him (Jesus Christ) more in our lives. 

Afterwards everyone was very content to just hang together and visit.  It was pretty sweet.

We had week two of home church today, March 22.  Social distancing became a more understood thing this past week, and we met with my parents and my friend Christie Applegate on ZOOM rather than having them in our home.  (Kind of sad...but worth it.)

This picture was taken right after our meeting but it was the only one we have.  Parker spoke on Feasting on the Words of Christ, and Brinley gave a talk about how we can improve our personal scripture study.

Then the kids headed one room over to play air hockey and ping pong together.  Not our usual second hour of church, but it worked for today!

To fill the rest of the day some of the things some of us did: played Uno Flip, played Life, went on a walk, went on a bike ride, read, looked at our phones, went on another walk, napped, more phone time, made dinner, made a second dinner, studied Come Follow Me, watched the First Vision video, talked on the phone/texted with friends, ate some more....  

I have to admit this Sunday, after a full week of pretty much mostly just being home, was a very, very long day.

One sweet thing I want to remember:  Parker was on make dinner but he was asleep.  Aubrey offered to do service and surprise him.  I thought her kind act deserved much more thanks than she received.  However, I guess that is service.  We have to be willing to give with no thought of reward.  I think deep down in that big ole 17 year old body and soul, he was more thankful than he let on. 

I am not seeing attending church as an option anytime in the near future.  I think/hope we will look back on these times when we were able to have church in our home as special and memorable.