Sundays

Do you ever feel like you need another Saturday?
-One to spend driving over hill and dale to sporting events, or family hikes or bike rides, or the nursery. The running errands and being out and about kind of Saturday.
-And another to actually get something done around the house and yard. The list goes on forever, right?

I sometimes am so overwhelmed by the list, and underwhelmed by our actual productivity as Saturday evening rolls around, that I feel a hint of resentment and maybe even dread about "keeping the Sabbath day holy."

Sundays are hard in a lot of ways.
Often husbands are gone doing church work or service almost the entire day
And getting kids showered and dressed for church (while simultaneously prepping for a family meal that will happen after church) is a feat which if we are being realistic, does not occur without a little (or a lot of) yelling
And often there is a lesson or a talk or music or something to prepare for church
And dressing up
And the once a month 24 hour fast
And the great silent wrestling match that is sitting on a bench with your kids for an hour and ten minutes  (with two hours of church still to go)

But

Usually by the end of Sunday my attitude about the Sabbath has improved. It is easier to see the wisdom in having a day set apart from the rest.  My best memories with my siblings are of Sunday afternoons. My kids are gonna kill me for posting this little gem, but it is a glimpse into our lives which is the point of this blog:

sadly Kaleb was not home. He had an extra church meeting. You can hear Kenzie in the background. :)

Sunday is that day where things of eternal consequence more easily occur.
We are together as a family
We are learning discipline
Fast Sunday teaches us that we have power over our physical bodies and desires
We assess our character and feel inspired to be better
We take the sacrament, promising to try to be more like Christ
We take time to write in journals or read family history - connecting generations
We have family dinner
We have cousin time

We are spread so thin and have so many  opportunities during the week that with just another Saturday, I don't think we would do these things.  During the week we are rarely all together. Even Family Home Evening on Monday nights is sometimes hard to orchestrate with a bunch of teenagers.  And scripture study at our house usually occurs between 10:00 and 11:00 p.m. So let's just say it is not the most lively of events in our lives. (much eye rolling and whining - even by me)

We have heard the phrase "The Sabbath A Delight" a lot over the past year in our church.  And I won't lie, I have rolled my eyes at the thought a couple of times.  But when it comes down to it, our family is happier, closer, and better because of the opportunity to have a holy day once a week. I am grateful for it.