Because He Lives

We love this video found at lds.org.

It reminds us that

Jesus Christ lives!

He loves you!

Find Him and celebrate the wonderful gift we have Because He Lives!

Studying Easter Week

Studying the last week of Christ's life will help you gain a greater understanding of Christ and His Atonement. It will help you see how the Son of God changed our world.

This week, take time to study what Christ did each day and ponder what it means for you.

You could do this individually, with your family, or maybe even during FHE.

You can find the following helpful outline at lds.org (scroll down to the middle of the page):

There is also this helpful guide we found in the April 2011 Friend that provides descriptions and scriptures that you can study for each day preceding Easter Sunday:

General Women's Session TONIGHT!!!!

Hey Ladies! Tonight is the General Women's Session for this upcoming General Conference!

You can watch online at LDS.org, on a few television channels, or at your local meeting house.

These meetings are so uplifting and encouraging - the Spirit is so strong there.

I know that God loves His daughters and wants to teach us and guide us,

and what an awesome way to feel of His love at these meetings.

So we encourage you to make every effort you can to watch, attend, etc. !!!

See you there!

National Women's History Month

This month is National Women's History Month here in the U.S. of A.

A time to recognize and reflect on women who have made a difference in the world!

Who stands out in your mind? How did they help shape our world or make a change for the better?

Here are a few of the women that we thought of, but we haven't even put a dent in the numberless women that have made a difference throughout history! Writers, politicians, monarchs, activists, celebrities, humanitarians, teachers, scientists, athletes, musicians, and more!

What women do you think have changed our world?

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Waffles & Ice Cream

Yep, you read that right!

It's Waffle Day! 

Which at our house, means good old Waffles & Ice Cream!

You see, for some odd reason I have this Brother-in-Law who decades ago

introduced the family to Waffles & Ice Cream.

He obviously became an insta-hit with the kids but it's also a treat that's stuck around since.

So I looked it up online, and sure enough others are also enjoying 

the sweet and crispy goodness of Waffles & Ice Cream.

Check out the ideas below and have yourself some WAFFLE FUN tonight for dinner!!!!

Happy Waffle Day!

  

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Ice Cream Wafflewiches look heavenly

from the Tablespoon

Waffle, Ice Cream, & Fresh Fruit Sandwich

Idea found on Pinterest

A Yummy Belgian Waffle Recipe

from Butter With A Side Of Bread

These Strawberry Waffle Sundaes

from Recipe.com look just about perfect!

Waffle Ice Cream Sandwiches

using easy frozen waffles from Pass the Sushi

Knowledge Activity Ideas

From our Spring 2015 Issue

14 Temples Currently Under Construction

On the Church's Newsroom page, they recently updated the Temples Currently Under Construction.

It's really cool to see and you should check it out!

It shows all 14 temples that are currently being built and what stage they are at in the process!!!

Here's the first two, but check out their article to see all fourteen!

This is such a neat work to see progressing throughout the world!

Temples are such a wonderful blessing, giving us the opportunity to make covenants with God

and to also help our ancestors do the same.

What an amazing time we live in!!!!

"The Sacrament - a Renewal for the Soul"

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I've been thinking about the sacrament lately. I feel like some Sundays I can really focus on what is being said in the sacrament prayers or the lyrics of the sacrament hymn, and am able to concentrate on the Spirit that is felt during those moments. I can ponder about my previous week and pray for help to do better the upcoming one. I can really focus on Jesus Christ and what His Atonement means to me and for me.

Then there are some weeks where that just doesn't happen.

There are the distractions of noises, little kids, or maybe even getting cheerios thrown at your head. (It's happened.) Sometimes my own mind is the distraction, getting caught up in the stresses I feel or the worries that I have. I lose my focus and wander to thoughts of to-do lists or other responsibilities.

But even though there are those not-so-good Sundays when I can't focus, I still know that it's important for me to continue to study, prayer, and deepen my understanding of the sacrament and the opportunity it gives me for repentance and for renewal. One Sunday at a time :)

There was a talk given by Sister Cheryl A. Esplin during the last General Conference (October 2014) called "The Sacrament - a Renewal for the Soul" that I have found very helpful. While listening to her talk and then studying it again later, I realized that my focus during the sacrament is often on myself and what I want to change, do, or become. Instead, I need to change my perspective and focus on what the Savior wants me to change, do, or become.

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She shares that, "The sacrament gives us an opportunity for introspection and an opportunity to turn our heart and will to God." The sacrament is a time for me to reflect on what God wants, not what I want.

And not only can we do this during the sacrament, but we can ponder God's will for us during the week perhaps when we are a little more focused or have time to be alone.

Sister Esplin also reminds us of the two great powers of the Savior's Atonement: the redeeming power and the enabling power. Of course we can use the Atonement to repent for sin, for those things we have done wrong. We all sin. So we of course all need that. But we also need the enabling power! We need our Savior to help us lift our burdens and worries even while we are trying to improve and follow His will.

A quote from Elder Ballard was shared by Sister Esplin that says,

Jesus Christ is our brother. He is our friend. He is right here to help you, comfort you, lift you, support you. He shares in our burdens and understands our pain, which is how we can feel "the load being lifted" even when going through hard times.

So tomorrow, as you sit in sacrament meeting and prepare to take the bread and water, remember that Jesus Christ is real. He lives. He loves you.  

The sacrament can be a "truly spiritual experience, a holy communion, a renewal for the soul" as Elder Holland has taught us. Ponder how you can become closer to your Savior. How you can align your will with His? How you can use the never-ending power of the Atonement to heal you from sin, lift you from sorrow, and give you strength to do the hard things?

I have felt the Spirit testify to me over and over again of the divinity of Jesus Christ and of His role in my life. And I hope that you will seek for that same witness as we all try to deepen our understanding and participation in the sacrament.


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You can watch Sister Esplin's entire talk below:

Make Your Own Marquee!

Check out this easy and CUTE marquee that you can make in less than 20 minutes!

It will add the perfect amount of bLiNg to your bedroom!!!!

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Supplies:

The letter of your choice in the "Marquee Love" series by Heidi Swapp

<--- (You can find these at the craft store Michaels)

One piece of whatever scrapbook paper meets your fancy

Pencil & scissors

2 AAA batteries

Directions:

The marquee letter comes with a stencil, your plastic bulbs, and a strand of lights connected to a battery pack.

Use the stencil to trace the letter (and don't forget the holes) onto your scrapbook paper! 

Cut the letter out and fit it into the cardboard marquee letter. Trim edges if needed.

Now find your holes and using the end of a pen to stab inside the holes. And don't worry the light bulbs will easily fit in with this method

You can see all the holes are punched.

          

Now insert the light bulbs. It is pretty simple to do, some will take a little more pressure to snap in. Make sure that they are down in all the way.

Turn it over after you have all the bulbs in and now it's time to thread the lights. Start with the first light and work your way down toward the battery pack. (The battery pack is made so it can easily slide into the back of the letter and be hidden. That is why you want to start with the first light.)

Throw in 2 AAA batteries and turn it over.

TA-DA. You are welcome! Cutest Marquee light ever!

(You can find the original tutorial on Maggie's blog)

Knowledge Value Project Ideas

From our Spring 2015 Issue

Book Review: The Princess Academy Series by Shannon Hale

This is our Book Review from the Spring 2015 Issue 

for the "Princess Academy" series by Shannon Hale!

Have you read these books yet?

You can find more books by Shannon Hale on her website.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Wishing you a fun and happy St. Patrick's Day!!

You can find our yummy Lucky Charm Treats collection here.

Or learn about Good Luck Charms from around the world here.

Or find some fun ways to GET YOUR GREEN ON here!

And if you're nerdy like me and want to know more about how St. Patrick's Day came to be, you can check out our St. Patrick's Day Pinterest board for some fun facts about the holiday or also the info graphic below!!!!!!!! (source)

Get Your Green On!

St. Patrick's Day is tomorrow

which means you better have something GREEN to wear!!

Here are some of our favorite DIY projects to GET YOUR GREEN ON!

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Of course green fingernail polish will ward off the pinches!

Check out this cute idea from Create Craft Love for No Pinch Paint!

And seriously, could this St. Patrick's Day Popsicle Stick Bracelets be any more fun!

You can find a great tutorial from Momtastic DIY to create your own!

 

If you have a plain white t-shirt laying around, all you need are a few simple supplies 

to make this fun Eraser Stamped St. Patrick's Day Shirt from Cutesy Crafts!

 This picture tutorial found at Babble shows how to make a Felt Four Leaf Clover!

You could pin this in your hair, hot glue to a head band, stick on your shoes....so many possibilities!

I can't get over these amazing Lucky Clover Pendant Necklaces!

Aren't they so fun!!! And really not expensive to make!

Check out the tutorial from Rook No. 17.

Nail polish is just so fun, that I had to share another cute find!

I'm loving this idea from Glitter and Nails to paint Green & Gold!

And one last fun project are these green earrings from Bead Style.

Check out their site for a full tutorial on how to make your own Green Wire Earrings for the holiday!