Fringe Benefits of Scouting

Having boys in boy scouts, cub scouts and Webelos can be a lot of work for Mom and Dad.  We sew things on their shirts, we help them fulfil requirements, we help them make goals, and get them to meetings…among other things. 

But I've seen a few fringe benefits this summer.  Nathan has been working on his Family Life Merit badge.  One of the requirements was to do a project that would benefit his family.  He chose a pretty ambitious goal.  He decided that he would clean all the carpets in the house.  He'd never used a carpet cleaner before, but Jerry worked with him and got him pretty proficient.  Lucky me!!  My carpets have now all been cleaned.

He also needed to organize a family project that we would all work on together.  He chose another home improvement project.  The boys' bedroom has never been painted since we moved here.  After five boys growing up in it, it was sorely in need of some attention.  He organized us all to help move the bookshelf, move furniture out from the walls, remove pictures and bulletin boards from the walls, and then helped to fill all the holes with mud and sand them down so that the room would be ready for painting.  Yeah!!  The room is now painted and we are just finishing up with painting the closet doors and the bedroom door.  It looks great.

Thank you Nathan, and thank you Scouting program!!

Articles of Faith Songs

Tonight was a rare night when I was able to take a nice soaky bath and crawl into bed a little earlier than usual with my book.  As I was laying there I could hear Emily in the bedroom next to me, singing away to music on the Ipod.  I strained to hear what she was singing and realized that she was singing the Articles of Faith. 

Primary boys and girls are encouraged to memorize the Articles of Faith to earn their Faith in God award once they turn 8 years old.  I love teaching my children the songs for these that are in the Childrens Songbook.  Once they are learned through song, they are hard to forget.  Even now, I can recite the Articles of Faith only by hearing the music in my head as I recite. 

Emily is well on her way to having the Articles of Faith memorized…and is not even 8 yet.  I love turning on the Primary songs for the little ones to listen to as they drift off to sleep at night.  Some of them are beautiful and peaceful, some are fun and spirited, but they all have great messages to fill the minds of my children before bed.