This week has been crazily busy. Each day we have had classes from 8:00 to 5:00 and the boys have been in school during that entire time as well. Because they get up at 7:00, go down at 7:00 and we eat dinner at a cafeteria from 5-6, we really only have a couple hours with them each day. Thankfully we have only one more day of this in our six day run. Anyways, we are really appreciating our bedtime routine at this point. It seems it is our only time to really connect and spend time as a family. Each evening Jared gets Josiah dressed for bed, while I change Jacob. Then we join together on Josiah's bed in his room and spend about a half hour together. We read a Bible story from one of his books. Right now we are going through the Big Picture Story Bible. Next we sing songs together. Usually this is a mix of simple songs like Jesus Loves Me (Josiah's current favorite) or My God is So Big, and hymns or praise songs like In Christ Alone, Give Thanks, etc. Then we pray together, after talking about things we can praise God for and things we want to be praying about. Finally we give goodnight kisses and get the two boys tucked in their beds. Usually at this point either Jared lays down with Josiah and tells him stories. This is a new addition to our routine and Josiah is loving it. The stories range from something that happend to us as a family, to about family members years ago, Bible stories, and made up stories. We have even caught Josiah telling Jacob or Lamb Chop (his stuffed animal) parts of the stories. This bedtime routine has become a tradition in our family and one where we have been intentional in being together as a family, having fun, and praising God through it. It is also something we will take with us wherever we go.
This picture is from tonight as the boys were going to bed. (Notice the shiny, red cheeks. It is cold and dry here, both boys had received their nightly rubbing of vaseline.)
