Happy Habit Day

Today marks the official Habit Day in our family. I feel like we need to celebrate.

We've been trying to study scriptures as a family for years. While our scripture stuydy has been far from nonexistent, it has not been consistent either. We usually would read in the evening before the kids went to bed. But as the kids have gotten older things have gotten in the way. Scouts, Young Men activities for church, and other stuff just kept popping up.

Mr. Wonderful and I agreed to start getting the kids up for 6 am scriptures study. I was raised with this schedule. It isn't easy. I remember full well trying to sleep in at times. It was not a good thing to hear my daddy's footsteps coming down the stairs to the basement bedroom I shared with my twin sis as that meant that I was late to scripture study and the family was waiting. I wasn't the only child to be late at times, but had more than my fair share of 2nd invitations to "Get out of bed and come join the famiy for scriptures".

The first week was hard. The younger kids especially weren't used to rising that early. Everyone tromped down stairs with thei quilts wrapped around them. We passed out the scriptures and started. I think half of the reading was spoken with yawning mouths. DD fell asleep on Mr. Wonderful's shoulder. She didn't even wake when we knelt for family prayer.

30 days later......the kids are getting up and tromping downstairs with their quilts wrapped around them. Some of the readers yawn in mid sentence and have to start that verse over when they lose their place. But the REALLY GREAT news is that we have had regular scriptures reading. No one has complained of the new schedule. Funny enough, the mornings are not rushed. Everyone has time to get dressed, get their lunches packed, and we are getting out the door with plenty of time to spare. No yelling. No fighting.

Ah, the peacefulness.

I'm holding fast to the promises made by the prophets about regular family scripture study. We need all the blessings we can get. Now if scripture study would just solve the problem of my dear children telling me in the morning that they need 1) 3 dozen cupcakes for class, 2) a poster of their most recent school project, or 3) oodles of cash for the latest school sports signups. I usually do not keep 3 dozen cupcakes or fabulous arty school posters on hand for emergencies such as these, nor do I carry oodles of cash.

Now, how shall we celebrate Habit day? I'm sure we can come up with something......