For January's Family Program, we opted to meet virtually due to challenging weather and driving conditions, and explored the theme of being alone together. We first shared aspects of the natural world that had drawn our attention, including the variable weather conditions of wind, rain, snow and everything in between; the warmer and colder temperatures; the many kinds of ice formations; and a raccoon leaving its markings in unpredictable places.
Next, we read and acted out the story "Alone" from Days with Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel. In the story Toad arrives at Frog's house for a visit, but instead finds a note from Frog saying that he has gone off to be alone. Toad becomes concerned that Frog's desire to be alone must mean that he is unhappy, so he packs up a picnic lunch and goes in search of Frog to help him feel happy again. After much searching Toad finds Frog sitting on a rock in a river, and catches a ride on the back of a turtle to go visit Frog. As Toad approaches the rock, he slips off the turtle and into the river, soaking the picnic lunch. Frog helps Toad up onto the rock and explains to Toad that he did not want to be alone because he was unhappy, but rather because he wanted to contemplate the many things in his life that were fine and that he was happy about, such as being a Frog, enjoying the sunshine, and having such a good friend as Toad. In the end the two friends sat quietly on the rock eating wet sandwiches, enjoying their time alone together. 
Like Frog and Toad, we then practiced sitting quietly alone together, appreciating aspects of our experience in that moment that were just fine. We shared things that were fine in our lives - things that made us feel happy and grateful, and then closed with the ringing of the Temple bell and a group OM
