Building a Happy Home

I just returned from an impromptu trip to Michigan.  It was my turn to check out a new property so I left the kids in the care of Paul and my parents.  I left with hopes that this would be the place but it was already under contract before we had a chance to seriously consider it.  Its not that there is a shortage of homes for sale in MI, we are just looking for something very specific, we are looking for a small farm.

The difficulty of the search has surprised us but we have no intention of settling into a place that does not feel right.  As we have been diligently searching a few questions keep running through my mind, "what makes a happy home" and "can we have a happy home while we are technically homeless"?

We are certainly having fun spending the summer with Oma and Opa but there are moments when life feels unsettled.  One particularly hot summer evening I took the kids to Toys R Us to purchase a baby pool and pass some time browsing through toys.  When I saw this Lego house the song My Eternal Family  instantly ran through my mind and a light went on.  

I purchased the set with a great plan and lesson in mind.  The kids were more anxious to tear into the Lego set than fill up the baby pool which was purchased along side it but I explained that they would have to earn the set piece by piece in order to build the home.  We sang the song My Eternal Family and I explained that each time we said our prayers, read our scriptures, participated in family home evening, did a kind act, or helped in any way that that in fact was building our eternal family and worthy of a Lego building piece.  Building this simple home has provided a very visual demonstration of principles that help build a happy home no matter what our living circumstances may be.

I put the first piece down for free, it was a large green 16 x 32 plate that the house would be built upon. We sang How Firm a Foundation and discussed how our Lego home could crumble without this very important piece and similarly how our family could not thrive without being built upon a foundation of faith.  The children were very receptive and there has been an increase of cooperation, patience, function, and love in our family since implementing this Lego piece system.  About 250 pieces into the house James wrapped his arms around me and said "Mom, this was one of the best ideas you ever had".  We are almost to roof and there are 2 more different house styles yet to build within the set.  This was the best $35 toy purchase ever!

As for the baby pool, we only use it occasionally because it has become the preferred resting spot for Archie our dog.