Last Sunday Home

So on our last Sunday as a family before we took my oldest to college, we had our traditional Sunday meal.  Then we had one last Family Home Evening.  And can I tell you I wasn't prepared for the tears?  It was so bittersweet.  So wonderful to think of the time we've had, yet so sad to see it come to an end.  Yet, we will carry on with our youngest daughter, and my oldest will return for more.

I realized during those tears that we are still a family.  No matter where we are-- we are still bound together in unity and love.

I love the way one parent explained it.  He called it the Boom-a-rang years.  They keep coming back.  I love that notion!

And I love these girls.  I will miss the two of them being together.

And I miss giving this girl a hug every day.

And she will miss giving these girls a hug, too.  She loves her furry friends.  (And I might add she was often the one who was most atuned to their needs at times, always willing to feed them and let them out).  They will miss her, too.  I keep finding Daisy sleeping in her room.

We decided long ago when we first had our babies that Sunday would be a day of worship, service, rest, and family.  We have had Sunday dinner as a family every Sunday since we were first married.  We chose not to participate in sports, birthday parties, recreational activities, etc.  Instead, we go to church, visit people, volunteer at church, spend time as a family, have Family Home Evening, play games with each other, rest (reading, napping, relaxing, pondering).  We also study the words of the scriptures and the prophets.  It has become a wonderful day for us that has brought great strength to our family and it also prepares us for the busy week ahead.  I am so thankful for all of those Sundays well spent.  And for all of those days that turned into weeks that turned into years.  It really does go fast, though I never believed it would when my babies were young.  I am so thankful for this very special phase of life with my children.  They are still my children with many more phases and Sundays and weeks and years to come.