Trying to Connect Again

Our lives on the weekends now consist of hockey and I have a feeling it will be that way come fall into winter for quite awhile. I have to get comfortable with that idea now. Which means we are at the "frozen chapel" and we are not able to attend Sunday worship service.  We try when we can and when Braedyn's duty calls as the Bible Bearer at the beginning of service. Some of the games are in the afternoons which makes it nice because not a lot happens on Sunday afternoons in the winter except for the NFL at our house.
This has led me to explore other ideas on how to connect as a family and with our faith. I like going to church, because I feel it is the start to my week and it just feels good. I need that time with God. So it kind of throws me off kilter when I am not centered with that area of my life. Also, I feel it gives the kids a great foundation too and they just seem happier and a little bit nicer to each other at least for that day. They are reminded about what's important, as am I.
So tonight we gathered on the couch together after all of our nightly duties like baths, brushing teeth, etc were all done. Jordan played on the side quietly while Cooper did his school reading for 15 minutes and Braedyn did his 20 and I read a book beside them too. That way they can see mom reads too...I am not just a drill sergeant. Then after all of us where done reading, we all squeezed in together and Jordan sat on my lap as I read this new book I bought called "Heaven is for Real-for Kids". It is Colin Burpo's accounts of his visiting heaven and coming back to earth. So before reading the book I kind of had to give them an explanation as to why this book was written or I knew I would be getting questions and be interrupted every page I turned. I didn't know how my kids would react but I thought this is going to strike up some great conversations. I was right, it did. As I read it, there eye's would get big and they would ask questions about God, Jesus, and Heaven and the Holy Spirit. I had to laugh when I got to one of the beautiful pictures in the books and the little children had wings and what do you think they said... Braedyn's eyes got big, he smiled and said, "When we get to heaven we get to fly around with wings, that's pretty cool." Then when we were done with that book, I have a simple daily devotional book and they have asked me about it, so we decided we would also read for that day as well.
It was such a wonderful thing to share together and experience and at that moment I felt so much love amongst them. They weren't arguing, wrestling, punching each other, competing . It was quiet and we were together. I think I might have to start going to the church library and getting more books like this because when we are home this is going to be our new nightly routine. We don't get to always attend Sunday School like I would like them too because of the activities they are involved in, so I will share it at home. 
If you have children or grandchildren it would make an excellent gift. If you don't know Coltin Burpo's story...just google it. Like a person told me today at Bible study, when you experience and see for you own eyes the vision of God or Jesus you can't stop talking about it and that's what happend to Coltin. What a wonderful way for us to get to experience what he witnessed.