General Women's Session is Tonight!

I can't tell you how much I LOVE the General Women's Session of conference!!! 

Such an awesome spirit is there and I always go home feeling so uplifted and strengthened! 

Can't wait to attend again tonight! See ya there!

Refugee Festival on Saturday! - Davis County Utah

Last spring Sister Linda K. Burton gave a talk in the General Women's Session called "I Was A Stranger" that focused on our responsibility to help the millions of refugees around the world. One thing she suggested in that talk was to:

If you live near the Davis County area, you may want to check out the Refugee Festival that is happening Saturday! It is a great way to donate to the Educated Refugee Foundation. Below is the flier for the event and then click on the links if you want to know more about their purpose and programs. There is a 5K, a Kids Mile Run, food trucks, art and music! It will be awesome!

There are so many men, women, and children that stand in need and there are countless opportunities to serve and support them. This many be one that fits your "time and circumstance"! 

We're Back!!!

Hi Friends! WE'VE MISSED YOU!

We took like the longest summer break ever - because let's be honest, you just need a break sometimes right? But now we are back and ready to party!

So many awesome things happened this summer including GIRLS CAMP, family vacations, and too many yummy treats...I still have a stash of chocolate that I'm hoarding away. 

We hope that you all had a wonderful summer as well and a great start to the school year. 

And know we just LOVE YOU GIRLS!!!!!!!!

Is My Heart Ready To Receive?

General Conference was just a few weeks ago and I decided it's time to dive in again so that I can study and remind myself of the messages that were given. Today I started with the first talk given during the Saturday morning session by President Eyring entitled "Where Two or Three Are Gathered." I wanted to share my thoughts here, and may do so for other talks from the conference as well. :)

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Once upon a time I decided to plant some herbs...because that seems like something easy to grow right? And sorry, even though I started with the whole "once upon a time" phrase there won't be a handsome prince in this story. Let's just get that out there right now haha.

Anywho. I picked up some little pots and seeds at the store, brought them home and got to work. I didn't have any dirt so I grabbed some from an old pot we had in the garage. I put the dirt in, placing seeds close to surface and covered with a small layer of dirt. Then I labeled (so I didn't forget what I planted, cause I totally would) and watered.

By the end of the week, no life was in sight. I watered them each day. I gave them lots of sun. After week two, nothing still. I got out the little seed packets to see how long it was suppose to take for them to sprout and they should have been little baby plants by the second week! What was going on?! I determined that either I was REALLY a bad growing-green-things person or there was another problem at hand.

After three weeks, I decided my herb pots were officially herbless.

And I also realized why my seeds weren't growing...it was the dirt! The old, used, gross-o dirt that I had transferred from the pots in my garage! I assumed since it was still, ya know, brown that it would fine. I didn't think about what may have happened to the dirt in the last few years, that maybe it lost it's nutrients! That maybe because it looked like old clumpy dirt, that it actually was :)

This experience came to mind when I was listening to President Eyring's talk. He shared the scripture in Matthew 13 about the seed, the sower, and the soil. If the soil was stony, scorched, or thorny then the seeds could not take root and grow. But if the seed was planted in "good ground" then it brought forth fruit. President Eyring shared what the seed, the sower, and the soil each represent:

My poor little herbs seeds obviously had horrible soil that wasn't providing them with the nourishment that they needed. Likewise, my testimony needs the same attention and nourishment. If I want the seed of the gospel to grow and bring forth fruit in my life, my heart has to be a place where the gospel can take root, be nourished, and grow!

And for those looking for that nourishment during conference, President Eyring testified that the "words...will be carried into the heart of the humble listener who has come to the conference hungry for the good word of God." Humility is a huge part of having good soil. We have to be willing and wanting to hear the Lord's message for us. And this doesn't just apply during general conference but always!

So take at look at your heart, the soil where you want the seed of the word of God to take root. Is it stony or filled with pride? Is it thorny or maybe filled with the world? Is it old and gross-o from the garage? (Obviously these are my own little comparisons here...) Ask yourself, "Is my heart ready to receive the word of God?"

President Eyring adds that when we pray to feel the spirit and try to listen to the spirit, we can help our hearts to receive the word of God. He also challenged us to listen to the testimonies that are shared, especially during conference, because our leaders have been praying for guidance to know what the Lord would have them say and the spirit can help us to know the truth of their words. When we listen with the spirit we will feel closer to the Lord.

So I thought it was appropriate to end with the testimony that President Eyring shared at the end of his talk and I encourage you to prepare your heart so that you may continually nourish and feel the love of God. Because He is there. And He loves you.

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Here is the entire talk if you would like to watch/listen to it :)

Mother's Day Gifts YOU Can Make!

Mother's Day is just two weeks away!!

In the past we've shared Easy-to-Make Mother's Day Gift Ideas

and Simple & Free Mother's Day Gift Ideas!

Today we are sharing another gathering of fun ideas that even YOU can make! Yes you! 

Even if you feel like you aren't crafty or cutesy I can guarantee that 

you can make one of the following ideas! And your mom will LOVE it!

Happy Making!

  

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This adorable Painted Tin Can

by the House by Hoff

just requires an old can, paint, ribbon, and paper!

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Is your mom a gardner? These fun Garden Markers

from Playground Parkbench are a fun way to brighten up the garden...

and remember what you planted!

You can get some wooden spoons from the dollar store

and then use paint and markers to decorate!

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Lolly Jane shares these adorable Mason Jar Succulents

that just require some old jars (can get some from the DI or other thrift store),

paint, and the plants of your choice!

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Learn how to make Strawberry Roses at Ash and Crafts!

Yummy and pretty!!

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Making Mom a Gratitude Journal is easy and a gift that can last throughout the year.

eHow shares how to make it and ideas of what you can write inside!

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Eighteen25 has the cutest Mom's Emergency Stash 

if your mom happens to be a chocolate lover :)

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Get a deck of cards at the dollar store and make 

52 Things I Love About You from Visual Heart

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This is such a bright and cute basket...I'm Tickled Pink That You're My Mom!

Check out the link for Crazy Little Projects for ideas of all things pink

that you could add to the basket!

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The DIY Home Decor Guide has a fun list of different baskets

you could put together depending on what your mom likes!

We thought this manicure basket was so cute with nail polish, remover, 

nail file, etc. all surrounded by fluffy cotton balls! 

General Conference Weekend!

Tomorrow is General Conference and we CAN'T WAIT!

Conference is a highlight of our year...or twice a year, haha.

You can watch Conference online.

Follow us on Instagram or Facebook for some of our favorite quotes.

Check out our General Conference Journal Ideas.

And you can also read Talk Summaries on lds.org. 

Have an awesome weekend!

Wishing You a Happy Easter!

The Messiah

I had the awesome opportunity tonight to go listen to a live performance of Handel's Messiah!

It was done by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Orchestra at Temple Square, and four guest opera singers. It was INCREDIBLE and such a wonderful way to celebrate our Savior this time of year!

 

If you are interested in learning more about the Messiah, check out info here.

Finance Tips from Amanda Christensen

We Are Family!

Family History on the Go - with Rhonna Farrer

Mt. Timpanogos Temple

Virtue Project - Reading the Book of Mormon

Also, find Book of Mormon Reading Charts here to help you track your reading!

Virtue Activity Ideas

Virtue

From our Winter 2015 Issue, some thoughts on the YW value of Virtue!!

The Plan of Salvation

This month's Come Follow Me topic is The Plan of Salvation

and I just have to say that I'm LOVING it!

For the first Sunday I prepared the lesson: What is The Plan of Salvation?

While preparing the lesson, I figured that our girls would be bored and this would just something they've heard a million time. But our Miamiad's had SO many questions about The Plan that I was shocked! Of course I answered as best I could using the scriptures and other church sources. On some questions I just had to say, "I don't know!" We ended up only talking about the order of The Plan and the girls' questions, and soon our time was up! The girls asked if we could continue the lesson the following week and so of course we did!

I was so glad that they were thinking and analyzing and pondering! It brought so many things to my mind that I wanted to learn more about as well! But it also gave us an opportunity to realize that we don't know everything and we must have faith that God knows those details.

I am thankful for the knowledge that God has given us of His Plan! We ARE daughters of God and we CAN live with Him again! What a beautiful and wonderful thing to know.

*And if you're interested, here is the handout I made so that the girls could have a visual of The Plan and also a list of the questions I wanted them to think about.

We also used this lesson to help the girls pass of Faith Value Experience #6 while in class. They could also do Individual Worth #1 at home since it relates!

DIY Chapstick Holder

Superbowl. Cupcake Wars. Same Thing.

A fun little parody about cheering for your favorite team! (or show!) 

Have a fun Super Bowl Weekend!

Favorite Things Friday: Winter Treats

This is from our Winter 2015 issue - and yes, the holidays may be over, but it's still freezing outside and I need some ooey gooey goodness to keep those winter blues away. So try out some of our family's favorite treats below and enjoy!

P.S. There is some big football game this weekend too...you could definitely use some treats while watching right? You're welcome.

Rosa Parks Day

It's Rosa Parks Day! 

(Well, in California and Ohio. But we'll celebrate it too!)

Check out the article below to learn more about this amazing Woman in History!

American Heart Month - Give Your Heart Some Love

Shadow or No Shadow?

image source

Welp. According to a fuzzy little hairball surrounded Mr. Monopolies with camera's attached to their heads, Spring should be on it's way!

That's right! Punxsutawney Phil (try spelling that without Google) did NOT see his shadow

which is a forecast for an early Spring. I'm all about that! Though I'm pretty that little groundhog just wanted to go back to his cozy little hole and would probably tell us anything to get there :)