FHE Treasure Hunt

Tonight for FHE I decided to do a lesson on families. Evie has a thing for pirates, so I thought it would be fun to make it a treasure hunt. Evie even dressed up like a pirate for the occasion with a bandanna and sword, as you can see by the picture. Horton is also a pirate. Apparently the toy hamster is supposed to be his sword. Anyway...

Every clue corresponded with a person in the family and a job that they do to help the family as a whole. These were the clues I made up:

Evie has lots of fun toys in her room. When she plays with them, she’s making our family better because she’s learning to use her imagination and she’s having fun! For your next clue, find an orange kitty that Evie loves to play with!

Daddy works very hard. He earns money that helps us buy food, clothes, and toys. He helps our family when he goes to work. To find your next clue, look for daddy’s boots!

Mama needs to be strong and healthy in order to take care of her family. It’s hard to take care of other people if you can’t take care of yourself. Where does Mama go to do her exercising?

Evie eats healthy food every day so she can grow, grow, grow! By eating her food, she’s making good choices that help keep her and her family strong. Where does Evie like to eat her food?

Daddy likes to relax after work. Sometimes he reads good books. They help him learn new things that he can teach to his family, to make everybody smarter! For your next clue, look where Daddy keeps his books.

One of the things Mama does for her family is cook them dinner. She does this to serve them, and to show them love. It strengthens our family. Where does Mama keep the pots and pans?


The treasure chest was in the pot cupboard. It was full of gold and silver-wrapped candies, along with a picture of our family and the quote, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." - Luke 12:34

I ended the lesson bearing my testimony about families, and how they're our greatest treasure, and how we all have to do our part to make it the best it can be. :) Anyway, I thought it was a great idea, and it went really well. Surprisingly, after the first clue, Evie totally understood how the whole treasure hunt thing worked, and even figured out most of the clues without help. She's a total smartie! I'm so proud. :)

Dreams

Last night, Ben brought me a pregnancy test and told me to take it. It was one of those new-fangled computer chip types. I went ahead and took it. While I was waiting for my results, the test made several offers to me (online colleges, book-of-the-month clubs), which I declined. Suddenly a big notice flashed on the screen, "Your results are in!"

The screen showed a little video clip of a woman dressed as a mail carrier. She smiled into the camera, and displayed a package marked "Special Delivery."

"Congratulations!" she said. "Your own special delivery is on its way!" Then the screen went blank except for the word, "PREGNANT."

I was shocked. The test was positive. Finally, FINALLY I was pregnant!

I threw open the bathroom door and told Ben the good news. The look that crossed his face was one of disbelief, hope, and incredible joy. He swept me up in his arms and hugged me as we cried into each others' shoulders. After almost two years of waiting, we were finally pregnant.

As the tears of joy flowed down my face, I realized that I was dreaming. I hadn't actually taken a pregnancy test, although the time was drawing very near that I could. I woke up, my heart pounding, feeling an overwhelming sense of disappointment. I wiped the tears off my face and lay back in my bed, contemplating my dream.

It had felt so real. And most months, waiting to find out if I was pregnant or not, I dreamed of blood, cramps, and frustration - which then would come to pass. Never before had I dreamed of such a joyful result. So this felt like a sign to me.

I couldn't go back to sleep anyway, not with the way my heart was racing, so I went into the bathroom and pulled out one of the pregnancy tests I had stashed there. It was just a cheap dollar store test, but I had it on good authority that they were effective. And, since I've been taking so many over the past couple of years, it seemed like a good idea to buy several.

I took the test, and while I waited for the result, I prayed. I prayed that I was finally pregnant, that the dream had been a sign; I prayed that the test would give me the true answer, one way or the other; and I prayed that if, once again, I wasn't pregnant, my heart wouldn't break. I prayed for faith, for optimism, for strength, and for hope for next month - assuming I would have to try again next month.

After a few minutes of fervent prayer, I checked the test.

Negative.

I guess my dream wasn't a sign after all. It was just a beautiful, wonderful, heartbreaking dream.

But, maybe next time it won't be.