When was the last time you had fun as a family? Real fun? The kind that causes tummies to shake because of laughing and eyes to crinkle in love? Just might be time for some Family Home Evening magic!

Opening Song:  #262 Friends Are Fun
Opening Prayer:  By invitation.

Emergency Prep Tip:  Having a well-stocked 72-hour kit can make all the difference to help calm the nerves of our children if a disaster struck. Last week we added scriptures to our 72-hour kits. This week let’s add another form of a personal comforter. “Personal comforters” are unique to each individual. They are small items that are familiar and help a person feel better during difficult times. For example, a teenage daughter might add one small bottle of nail polish, because having pretty toenails in the midst of an icky disaster would help her. Another daughter might add hair clips, so that her hair feels pretty. A husband might add a disposable razor and a small vial of shaving cream. A Red Cross specialist in emergencies once said, “You’d be surprised how having a simple ‘personal comforter’ can make all the difference in a gritty, traumatic situation.” Have each family member this week add one small “personal comforter” to their 72-hour kits. Then make sure your kits go back to their waiting place near an exit!

Devotional: This is a great time for an individual in the family to share a spiritual "ah-ha" moment from the past week. You may want to pre-assign this periodically. It can be a beautiful time as family members become accustomed sharing deep spiritual feelings with each other. Over time this brief moment can become more and more spontaneous.

Activity:  Ask the family how many are familiar with the story of Cinderella and her magical ending. Although the concept of Cinderella’s life is a very old one, it remains popular. Ask family members why? Why is the magic of having a “happy ever after” so appealing?

Invite the family to sing tonight’s FHE opening song one more time (“Friends Are Fun”—link provided above). Have them, while singing, look for anything important about friendship. Once done singing, let everyone share what they noticed or learned about having friends and a happy life.

Let them know that honestly, amongst the best friends they can have are those found within the family. A family really can bring about a “happy ever after.” It’s not magic; it’s reality. But how are friends made with siblings? Listen to their thoughts. Let them also know that friends are made simply by spending time with one another.

And just as time builds friendship, so does fun. The family that laughs together stays together. Laughing together means all find that laughter enjoyable; laughing at someone does the opposite. How about setting a goal to find or do one family outing a week—simply for pure enjoyment. As the family plays together—and has fun together—the family will be able to weather any other trial or challenge that faces it.

So for starters, pull out the popcorn and pick a fun lighthearted (appropriate) movie for everyone to watch together. Let the kids run and get their pillows, blankets, anything fun to spread out in front of the TV. Make it feel like a sleepover. Then turn on the TV set and get ready for an evening of pure and simple “fun.”  Life is too short to get hung up on the roughness of each others’ personalities. As a family begins simply to seek fun together (thus building bonds), the Spirit of the Lord will increase and become a buffer against the unruly nature of today’s society.

Closing Song:  #194 The Family

Closing Prayer:  By invitation.