Small & Simple

Hi all!  I know it's been a super long time since I posted on here, but I've been busy.  I've been busy trying to simplify my life.  I want to get back to basics, do the things I need to do first (spiritual study/prayer), the things I have to do next (housework), the things I want to do (crafting, etc.), and then I can do the things that I don't have an enormous amount of responsibility for.  Unfortunately, this blog is categorized under the last one...not because I don't want to share, but because I would rather share face to face and so I've been out doing more of that! :)

Tonight I was scrolling down Facebook (the later category...although housework isn't 100% done...oops!) and I saw a post from Elder Bednar about keeping things simple.  PERFECT!

Here's the clip~

So, I made a print to display in my home as a reminder to keep things small and simple.  And then I thought YOU'D like to display one too perhaps!  So I've done up all sorts of colors and hopefully one works for you!

Here they are~

Just click to enlarge then right click and save!  Please feel free to use these FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY.  For more disclaimers and printing policies, please see the tab up top!  Happy printing!!!

Doing Things the Lord's Way

It's a sad fact that people just don't always get along.  The thing that really bothers me personally is when people cannot look past what they think should be done in a situation and see the good that others do.

When we tear others down and only see bad, we are not acting like Christians.  Everyone does good but doing good doesn't necessarily mean doing is the way you would have done it.

When someone does something a different way than you would do it, that's okay.  We are all different.  BUT, when you can't look past the way YOU want things done and/or you criticize others, you are not on the Lord's side.

Here is the difference between the natural man 

and the Lord when it comes to this issue~

In conclusion, let's stop judging others.  Let's stop telling people how they should do things.  Let's stop telling people they need to change.

Let's judge ourselves and repent.  Let's focus on the callings we have and magnify them instead of wasting time judging the way other's do their callings.  Let's change ourselves.

I know that when we do this, we will see the good in others and become more Christian Christians.  We will find unity in each other and all will feel happy, loved, needed, and wanted.  Isn't that what we all want?

Please feel free to use this printable for PERSONAL USE ONLY.  For more disclaimers and policies, please see the tab up top.

Gratitude Tree

Hello!  It's actually going to be a busy week of posts for me here--I'm helping out with Young Women tomorrow night for an activity and I'm teaching Primary on Sunday!  Stay tuned for some lesson helps for Primary in a few days.

Today, though, I'd like to share with you the activity that I've planned for the Beehives (girls ages 12-13) since their leader just had a baby and they do not currently have a class president.  The girls had planned to do something about gratitude.  I like to coordinate my class activity ideas with Personal Progress goals and this one was kind of hard to fit in with one, but I think I got it!

So, we will be reading about gratitude in For the Strength of Youth and then starting goal #3 in Divine Nature.  Here's how it will work from start to finish:

1. Read about gratitude in For the Strength of Youth.  Discuss what gratitude is and things we should be grateful for.

2. Read goal #3 in Divine Nature.  Talk about things that our family members do for us that we should show gratitude for.  I will try to point out things that might not be as noticeable such as older siblings giving rides to Church activities, etc.

3. Have each girls decide which family member they will try to improve their relationship with.  Make sure they write down a few things that this person has done already that they could be grateful for.  Have them verbally express this gratitude when they get home.

4. Have each girl create 14 small note cards.  These will be used throughout the two weeks that this goal will take. My note cards are made from small 6" x 3" pieced of patterned paper and some punched shapes.  Encourage the girls to make each one different and to make them in their own style. I made sure to include patterns that were both feminine and masculine in case the girls chose a male family member.

5. Give each girl a Gratitude Tree handout and explain the rest of the two week process.  The instructions are included on the handout itself so that they don't forget what it's for. ;)

Another way you could  do the gratitude tree is to take branches, put them in a pot or vase, punch out hearts, and have the girls write the things their family member does for them on those hearts and put them on the tree.  Like THIS gratitude tree.  That way they could have a more concrete visual reminder of the things that their family member does for them.  Since this was spur of the moment, I don't have time to get all the things ready for this but if I had had the time, this would be the way we'd do the activity.

Please feel free to use my handout FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY.  For more printing policies and disclaimers, please see the tab up top.

I hope that this is helpful to someone else out there!  See you soon for some more free lesson helps! :)