FHE Lesson {Choosing the Lords Side}

(Adapted from  DVD supplied with Elder David A. Bednars’ book, “Act in Doctrine”)

This lesson put together by my wonderful husband :)

Needed:

A line on the floor symbolically dividing the Lords Side from Satans Side.

{Make a large space for this activity}

                Paper Strips with various covenants written on them.

Questions to ask are in bold. These are open questions and rely on a good level of understanding of the gospel principles, smaller children may have to be lead in their answers.

Possible answers are shown in Italics and represent a primary level answer to the questions given.

 

Explain the line on the floor represents the separation between God and Satan.

Place a child at the line and ask, What can separate us from God and Satan? – Sin

Which side of the line do you feel safer? – The Lords side

Turn them around at the line but facing away from it. Instruct them to take a step away from the line {further into God's side of the line} Do you feel safer now?

Explain as we grow closer to the Lord we are moving away from Satans territory.

What can lead us toward God and the safety he offers? Take a step as each answer is said – Obedience, Church, Scriptures, Kindness, selfless acts of service, tithing, word of wisdom, ordinances etc.

What happens when we stop being obedient to God? – We turn away from God. Wait and then turn the child around {back to facing the line}

What happens when we stop reading our scriptures for a day? - Begin to walk back to the line one step at a time.

What happens if we don’t do it for a week or are unkind? We move closer to Satan’s Territory. Move the child to stand at the Line.

Explain:  Point across the line and explain how sin can cause us to cross the line. Do this and then hold them tight.

Now you are in Satans grasp, can you get free? – No, Not without help.

Do you want to be safely on the Lords side of the line? – Yes.

Release them and lead them back to the Lords side of the line.

What does God promise us if we are obedient? – Blessings, freedom, safety, happiness

What is that promise called? – A Covenant.

Explain: We make covenants with God. We exercise our agency and accept these covenants.

Place a folded A4 paper with the word baptismal covenant on the Lords side of the line.

What other covenants do we make with God?

Place a few of these word strips on Lord side in a row, forming a barrier between the line and the child on the Lords side.

Explain: Covenants remind us to stay on the Lord side of the line.

What else do we have to help us stay on the Lords side? – The Holy Ghost

Explain: The Holy Ghost is given to all that they may know Good from Evil. At Baptism we receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

What is one way that God through the Holy Ghost reminds us of the covenants we make? – A still small voice reminds us of the covenants and can direct us to steer away from dangers.

Name a covenant that we renew often, that promises the spirit to be with us always? – Sacrament.

Explain:  Jesus Christ teaches us that we are loved by our Heavenly Father.  He teaches that through obedience to God commandments we can return and live with Him. He commands that we make covenants of obedience to Him and that because of these promises we make, he will help us find happiness in this life, and in the life to come.

If we break our promise and turn back towards the line what happens? – The Holy Ghost will tell us when we do wrong and help turn us around if we listen.

What happens if we cross the line? – We must repent and then renew our covenants with God in order to be forgiven and to receive the promised blessings.

What is this called? – Repentance

Why will God trust us again if we have broken the promise? – Jesus Christ will speak for us

Explain: Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can be forgiven of our sins. Through the atonement we can turn around and start our journey again clean as of just baptised. We can renew our covenants and move back to safety and away from Satan’s grasp.

Does anyone have any questions. Does anyone want to give this a go?

Place a new child and repeat some of the questions so they feel they are learning too.

 

 

Closing Song: Who's on the Lords Side? #260

 

Closing Prayer: Child

 

Treat:

Elf on the Shelf... Good or Evil?

A month ago I almost ordered an Elf on the Shelf.

Last year I saw all  these fun pinterest ideas and a few friends doing it. Looked so fun. Was hard to find an elf in time though.  I put the idea away for this year and I thought this year I would be all prepared with my list of elfy mischief {thanks to pinterest} and order in my elf with my Christmas gift book order in September.

For some reason I baulked at the cost
(of adding to my already growing $$ of books) and subsequently didn't buy the elf

Plenty of time to get one I thought, perhaps they'll be in the stores this year in Australia.

I must have mentioned maybe wanting one somewhere on facebook when a friend emailed saying she gave hers away after having an uneasy feeling while reading the book that comes along with the elf and that she just felt it wasn't the right family tradition for them while maintaining she's sure its a fine tradition for others and if it builds up your family then why not?

Hmm she really got me thinking. I was kinda on the fence already.

When aren't I on the fence!?!? {it's a real problem}

We don't even believe in Santa in this house so is there even a point to Elf on the Shelf?

Do I just want to do it because I've seen it on the internet and jealous of other peoples fun?

The bribery part for good behaviour wouldn't work so well either.
I don't believe in bribing kids in December - 'You better be good or you'll get no gifts!!' I know very well that I would hand over any gifts on Christmas Day regardless of my kids behaviour. That would be teaching them nothing if I railed on and on about 'you better be good', 'OH you didn't just do.......' now no gifts for you. No that would be a big backfire because I'm such a softie I would be teaching them - be bad and you'll get gifts anyway. Now my kids aren't perfect and muck up all the time, but that's just one thing I don't want to teach - that behaviour is tied to Christmas gifts they would very much well receive regardless.

But wouldn't the ELF just be another fun  tradition to add into this house of Christmas loving peeps?


Subsequently I've seen a few other discussions around ranging from:

I'm too lazy to think up fantastic mischief for the elf to get up to for 24 nights.

It turns every evening in December into Christmas Eve ~ where in you have to wait for the kids to be asleep so you can 'set up everything' for the next morning

The elf is so creepy why would you want that around?

Why create more work for ourselves that isn't focusing on the real meaning of Christmas?


I so much wanted to be a part of the fun that seems to exude from Elf on the Shelf.

I even had roped my older  kid into helping me nightly.
I thought that getting her to help me do fun little elf things for her younger sisters would help her transition into the 'giving' instead of 'getting' part of Christmas. It's so hard as a teen when the magic loses its tarnish and you're also not in the world of getting excited for your own children, or have any money to buy things to make others happy.

I've marked the ideas on pinterest with such fun ideas to do around the house.

Wouldn't it be a joy to wake each morning to find out what the elf has been up to last night??


So then I decided to google 'Elf on the Shelf Negative'

Oh boy.

Maybe I shouldn't have done that. Nearly everything I read had me nodding in AHA moments.

Here are some of the articles that I found informative (even if they wrecked my dreams!)
Click them if you dare (though they are kinda funny)


Hannah Bird
What elf on shelf  teach kids?

The elf is allowed to be naughty but his purpose is to ensure the kids are not!
It teaches them that there is an authority outside of parents and the Lord over the home.
It teaches them that we behave for extrinsic reasons.
It teaches them that good behavior is a commodity to bargain with.
It teaches children that  unseen bad behavior has no negative impact.
It teaches them that there must be ever-escalating entertainment and novelty.
And scariest of all, it teaches children that parents are so unsure of themselves that they must employ a little leverage.

The Atlantic

Why inject a note of fear and suspicion into a season and a holiday that are meant to be about love, togetherness, and forgiveness? Coupled with the catch-22 that if you do your job right, your children will never thank you for it (because all these goodies come from the Elf!) - wouldn't you prefer a Christmas tradition the child knows is from you. Instead of spending this precious time creating all this work perhaps spend your time with your child. Stay up late and have a hot chocolate. Sit down together and do a craft.

White house Black Shutters
I'll fall asleep and forget to set up elf and mess up the 'magic'
I'm hiring an elf to mess up my house while trying to teach my kids to be good?!?!

The Path Less Taken
My question is this:  Do you really want your kids to behave a certain way because they’re afraid that a creepy little elf is going to be watching them and reporting to Santa?  What happens in January when the elf gets packed away? I know I don’t.
Behaving a certain way for an external reward (or fear of punishment) is temporary, at best.  It’s also not sincere, but just on the surface… no more than a means to an end.  Where is the meaning in that?  If you gave me $100 and told me to hold the door for a stranger, I would.  But how much more would it mean – for me and the stranger – if I did it for free, simply because it’s a nice thing to do?  Bribing and threatening our kids to “behave” is like assuming that they wouldn’t do so otherwise.  It’s belittling them, and taking away their own power to do what THEY feel is right… not for a reward, not because of a fear of punishment, but because they want to.  If they’re not given that chance, how can they show us who they really are?

Slate
When friends visit our kids tell everyone about how the elf is watching everything they do.
Visiting our house is like visiting East Germany, circa 1983!
Surely kids are gonna wake up when the see these elves everywhere in the shops that indeed their elf monitor is not unique to their family.

There was talk of towns were peoples elves out do eachother (giving daily gifts, making cookies and other crazy insanity with kids comparing - what does your elf bring/ do?) do we really need another crazy consumer, competition driven tradition - isn't santa enough!?

Parents so eager to get good behaviour they are letting the Elf in the house in October.
We need a year round elf!!

Lots of Amazon comments point out kids that are scared of it and people who returned their elf.

 Elfy is also a little expensive for something you could pull off with any Christmas decoration.

Is it just a fad and I'll be embarrassed in a few years time to say I even bothered with it?

These are all so valid points!

Also valid are the points of people saying:
Get a grip
Don't take it so seriously
It's just a fun Christmas tradition
Take a chill pill
No child is going to be emotionally or psychologically harmed !
If a parent does use it to bribe, harm or mentally damage a child then it is their parenting technique and not a little elf toy to be blamed.
Hundreds of people saying their kid loves their elf and their behaviour improved with its use

What to do? What to do?

I thought of a bunch of ways I could tailor it to our family.
Just a fun hide and seek thing.
Just a way for me and my older daughter to create some fun for our younger kids.
Just a way for me to have some fun creative Christmas outlet
Why the heck not?!
Because I want to!!

But once I had 30 plus reasons NOT to do elf on the shelf I feel guilty for still intending to do it.

These all just felt like justifications to me. Sigh.

Then I felt like rebelling and Just going for it. Rule breaker I am!


So I'm still not sure what I will do.

You may very well see 'creepy placed elf' ideas on this very blog.
I may just go to supermum efforts every day in December
IT may turn out to be another wonderful tradition for our family.

Or I may not bother to introduce what I'm starting to have a sinking feeling is not the right tradition for our family.


Thoughts?


Why do I think too deeply about things??



Should I get an Elf on the Shelf??

FHE Lesson {Let your light Shine/Kindness}

 This lesson comes from two ideas in this months friend magazine found here and here



Opening Song:  I am like a Star #163

Opening Prayer: Child


Lesson:


Turn off the lights

Using a torch or candles create some light in the darkness.

What does electricity/torch/candle provide us?
{light in the dark, a way to see, a path to follow, leads and guide, comfort etc}

Read the scripture Matthew 5:14-16
 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 

What does this scripture mean?

{We are lights. We are examples. We shouldn't hide our light. We should let it shine for everyone.}

 

Other people may look to us. Other people may need us. How can we help other people?

We need to let our light shine by......

{Be kind, Be an example, be good, share, say a kind word, forgive, smile at someone}

 

 

Print this sheet or make your own -  {find here page 22 October 2013 Friend Magazine}

 

One of the easiest ways to be a light to others is to share a smile and a friendly word.

 

This week we are going to try and share more smiles with our family and other people.

 

Buy some smiley stickers to stick on your chart or draw them on each time someone shares a smile.

 

 

Activity:

 

Practicing Smiling.

Prepare the smiley/frowney face picture and sing the song  #267 Smiles 

or A smile is like Sunshine #267

Discuss some places you are going to share your smiles

Draw pictures of people smiling, doing good things.

 

 

 

 

Closing Song: A special gift is Kindness #145

 

Closing Prayer: Child

 

 

Treat:

 

Put icing smiley faces on bread, biscuits/cookies, cupcakes

or use different lollies/candy to make smiley faces 

 

Operation Christmas Child

 

October marks the beginning of Operation Christmas Child again.

The most easiest community work/volunteering you can do.

Last year I was able to volunteer at Samaritans Purse packing Christmas Boxes for children overseas.

I had grand visions of volunteering weekly and going there for date night in the evenings.

Alas it didn’t happen :(

 

However it's a new year and I can try again. This time I had extra people to motivate me and tell me which day we were going. Because of them we attended in the first week of opening!

 

I hope this bodes well  and I get to go a few more times in the next 6 weeks.

Though the work is easy – I felt bad when it seemed all the elderly ladies around us were working longer and harder and without complaint. {to be fair I'd had no sleep the night before}

 

Would you like help? I promise its easy and fun (if you bring some friends to chat with)

Apart from 15 mins of training and watching a video on what to – they get you to work straight away.

Wear closed in shoes. Bring a water bottle and snacks.

see website here : http://operationchristmaschild.org.au/

 

Details below:

 

Warehouse Address  (enter by Gate 2)
Unit 5, 167 Hyde Road
YERONGA 
QLD 4104  
Phone: 07 3848 6316 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting FREE  end_of_the_sky or 1800 684 300 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting E  end_of_the_skype_highlighting

DATES :   Monday 7th October to Friday 6th December 

SESSIONS:   Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 8:30am – 3:00 pm

ADDITIONAL SESSIONS:  Monday 21st October to Friday 22nd November 

  Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 8:30am– 10:00 pm

WHAT TO BRING:  Morning Tea, a Packed Lunch and a water bottle. Tea & Coffee facilities are available at the warehouse.

PLEASE NOTE: you will be working in a warehouse setting; the temperature could be hot. Please wear appropriate footwear ; sandals or open toed shoes are not allowed

PARKING: As there is limited parking in the warehouse grounds, parking on the street would be appreciated.

On your first day of attendance you will be required to attend a training session.
It is not necessary to stay for the full day - any time you can give will be appreciated.

PLEASE NOTE:  If you plan to attend processing sessions in the last two weeks please phone ahead in case processing has been completed.


If you can't make it to pack boxes you can always fill a box with presents and donate that way.
Last year I was processing teenage girl gifts. This year I was processing 5-9 year old boys. It's always fun to see what people donate. Lots of good ideas found when sorting the boxes.  Books, Pencils, clothes, marbles, wind up torches, string, finger puppets, toothbrushes, small plastic cups, tennis balls, stickers,  folded reusable bags, small cars and trucks.The list is endless.

 

Jacaranda Season

The beautiful purple trees are back in bloom.

There are lots of jacarandas were I live. However they all seem to be on the main road and with lots of visual clutter in the background - pub, hotel signs, carparks. This makes it tricky to take nice photos in front of.

Anyone know a lovely big jacaranda in the middle of a park or field?

Maybe one year I will get a family photo under a jacaranda.

For the moment impromptu play on the jacaranda's at the park photos will suffice.

 

Hairband matching was not intentional. But very cute.
Shame about the favourite crocodile shirt from Grandma from the Northern Territory ;)

See previous Jacaranda celebrations here:

2011
2010
2009

FHE Lesson {General Conference Preparation 2}

Since General Conference is usually shown a week later in Australia we still have a bit more time for Conference Prep. Alternatively if Conference is done for you, use this weeks lesson to share what you learnt, play a favourite talk again, gather your notes and drawings and ask children what they learnt.



Opening Song:  Stand for the Right #159

Opening Prayer: Child

Lesson:

Since some of conference is available pre choose one talk that interests you (or you think will be interesting to children). Alternatively you can play snippets from talks or the Tabernacle Choir.
Find talks here

Tell children that General Conference is currently happening in Utah and next Saturday and Sunday we will be watching the conference in Australia. We are getting prepared for watching conference and will start with this talk/snippet/choir.

If you wish share the story of King Benjamin and the families listening to him on the tower. See Mosiah 2:1-9. All the families in their tents faced their tent door to the temple so they could hear the Prophets words. If you have a play tent set it up or have children construct a makeshift tent out of sheets.

Get everyone comfortable to watch the segment of your choice.

We are just like the people of Nephi and look forward to hearing the Prophets and Apostles. We choose to face their direction and listen to them. There are too many of us now to watch a tower but due to technology we can watch, listen and read the messages from the Prophets and Apostles.


Activity:

Watch lds Cartoon series: King Benjamin Address (3 mins)

King Benjamin Printable/ Colouring In


Closing Song: Reverently Quietly #26

Closing Prayer:

Treat:  Make a Marshmallow Tower

Life Lately According to the Iphone

::Windy Day Beach
::Iceskating
::Riverfire
::Springboard Diving Class
::Neon Sisters
::Lifeguard Class Graduation
::Springboard Diving Class
::Vegetable Flowers
::Abseiling Class
::River
::Abseiling
::Kids with Power Tools - Yard Work
::Roller Skating
::Snuggling during Riverfire
::Pool obstacle course
::Traditional buying of Christmas Fabric for Christmas Pillowcases
::What my mornings look like everyday
::Kids with Power Tools - Mowing
::Jacaranda Love

FHE Lesson {General Conference Preparation}

Opening Song: Follow the Prophet #110

Opening Prayer: Child



A prepared child is usually a better behaved child so I thought I would use the next few FHE to prepare for General Conference

First up set out your expectations for conference weekend. Where and when you will watch.
Ask for suggestions on what family traditions can be made around conference weekend
ie I make cinnamon rolls, we watch 2 sessions at home and 2 at church, we pile blankets and pillows and mattresses in the loungeroom, we've had bowls of lollies with topics attached so they can only get a lolly when the topic is mentioned. Make a makeshift tent to listen as the nephites did to King Benjamin. Draw pictures about what the speakers are talking about.

Get the family involved in ideas that will help them.



Lesson:

I thought I would spend some time with the kids getting to know those who might speak.

Print (and laminate if you want to keep) pictures of First Presidency and The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. These are ours that we've have had for a few years that my husband made ( I just realised we didn't have Elder Anderson!! so quickly printed him for this photo! )

 

Activities to do with your posters:

 

See if your children know any of their names.

Stick them on the wall in order.

Play memory or type of game with the pictures.

If you print two copies you can play match.

Read out some interesting information about them.

 

Leave the pictures up all week.

During conference everyone can make notes {or draw pictures} on post its and stick it next to the apostle. Then you have an overview on what each on spoke about.

Talk about the importance of leaders. Why these men mean so much to us.

We love them for their words, work, example, love  and dedication.

I need this lesson too, as I couldn't name them all off the top of my head :)

We keep our laminated pictures in with our Gospel Art Picture Kit. As new apostles are called we (usually!)  print and laminate a new one.

 

 

Activity:

 

Print, colour, laminate these Conference Bingo card in preparation for conference.

 

Prepare some General Conference packs for little kids

 

 

Closing Song: Seek the Lord Early #108

 

Closing Prayer:

 

Treat:

Find all my other Family Home Evening lessons listed HERE

Camping Neurum Creek

We heart Camping!!

found hearts at Neurum Creek Bush Retreat

We like camping but sometimes forget to take the time to pencil in the time off work, to organise a camp site before they book out, arrange time when it's not too hot or too cold or raining
{hey I'm a princess and don't camp in searing heat or freezing cold}

So all the planets aligned and we arranged this campout with a week or two's notice.

excellent.

I think we got one of the best spots at Neurum Creek Bush Retreat.
Flat. Plenty of space. Against the fenceline so no sharing with lots of camping neighbours
{we are noisy and annoying  we need space and prefer pick a spot bush camping to the 'here is your 4x4 metres assigned spot' type camping.}

It was the perfect start to School Holidays.

Our camp from two directions

Our requirements for camping are usually
- a place that allows fires, has a creek or something similar for kids to explore and some toilets.

Check to all the above!

 

This was our first time to Neurum creek bush retreat (the first three places we called were booked} and it didn't disappoint. I think its touted as one of the closest camping spots to Brisbane so it wasn't too far away either. It was a little more expensive than we usually do {other places we've camped were $25 a night for a family - this place was $11 per adult and $6 per kid per night... so the money can rack up quick!} However the amenities we very clean and had lovely hot water and the place very neat and well kept - you get what you pay for I suppose!

We arrived  before school holidays and it was nice and quiet. I will say I was kinda happy to be leaving just as hoards of kids were arriving. Camping without the crowds is usually my style.

Ease of Camping was also thanks to my parents who bought their mobile home along - a kitchen! no setting up! solar panels! And a big thanks to the awesome Mr whom without I would never go camping. He's a hard worker, tough, cuts wood, tends fire, wields an ax and hammer like a boss.

Animal Sightings: A wallaby, a bush turkey and lots of cows in the neighbouring field
and one tick found on Grandad a day after camping.

We played in the creek {water was very cold!}, made fairy homes, lit fires, did a hike {in which Grandad and Miss A continued on for hours and hiked a mountain and came down the otherside and did some free climbing and got a little worried}, read books, listened to cows moo very loudly, took numerous trips to toilets {why are they such a novelty to kids!?} and learnt how to start fires with a magnifying plastic sheet {very fun! to burn holes in chip bags and a yellow pages}, us girls put up the tent and helped a little to put up the big tarp.

I've succeeded in my camping parenting duty for this year. Check!

I love a good camp sunrise.

Till Next time camping!

FHE Lesson {Serving others with Heart, Might, Mind and Strength}

Opening Song : Called to Serve #172

Opening Prayer: Child


I love this idea from the September 2013 Friend Magazine page 42.



and thought I would try and expand it into a lesson.

Lesson:

Doctrine and Covenants 59:5
Wherefore, I give unto them a commandment, saying thus: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him.

We are commanded to serve God (and others) with our Heart, might, mind and strength.

How do we do this?

Hold up a picture or drawing of heart: How do we serve with our heart?
{tell people we love them, say kind words, give a compliment, smile at people}

Hold up a picture of a lightbulb: How do we serve others with our mind?
{Help siblings with homework or learning something you know how to do, think up a project or idea that will help another family, share a talent of yours with others and teach them}

Hold up picture of a strong arm: How do we serve others with our might and strength?
{Doing chores, helping neighbours in their yard, service projects, weeding/gardening, helping grandparents reach things}


As a family decide on some things you could do to serve others with your WHOLE SELF.

 

***

Extra:

Each year I try to find a service or kindness for the children to do at Christmas. It is hard to find charities that allow children to serve, so you are usually stuck making up your own idea. We have donated money, donated gifts to Christmas Shoebox appeal, bought items for hygiene kits for a homeless shelter and a womens shelter, made cookies for elderly neighbours amongst other things.

Considering Christmas is just under 13 weeks away I want to use this lesson to get the children to think about and plan what we could do as service.

Last year we placed a big laundry basket in our loungeroom (and eventually under our tree) and each week placed a grocery item or nice treat in it. The children knew we were going to anonymously try to deliver it to someone we knew when it was full. They were sooo excited about it.

This year a friend reminded me about the book The Christmas Jars . I had read this book years ago and thought yes! what a great idea. Basically a couple put all their change all year into a jar. At Christmas time they deliver the jar to an anonymous doorstep and of course amazing things happen.

We've been working on our jar for a little while now. With this lesson I will remind them to put extra effort in to do chores to earn some money to put into the jar. Perhaps we could even fill a few more jars before Christmas! It needs more GOLD in it!

If you would like to follow along all you need is a jar and start by putting some coins in it.


Closing Song: Where Love Is #138

Closing Prayer:

Treat:

Life Lately According to the Iphone

 

 

:: Laser Show
:: Biking to School
:: Winning Soccer Team
:: Getting nails did at Princess Party
:: Japanese Bubbles
:: Family History dress up
:: Trees
:: Great Grandparents
:: Finally touch nose with tongue (I'm the only odd one out in the family :(
:: Class of the Term
:: Bunnies Everywhere
:: Forcing Cute babies to wear their party hats
:: Advent Calendar slowly making shape
:: Biking to School

FHE Lesson {Sacrament}

This lesson was put together by our 12 year old. We used it last week.

Opening Song: Before I take the Sacrament #73

Opening Prayer: Child

Scripture: D&C 20:77-79
Our older girls have been learning the sacrament prayers by heart. It only took an offer of some Big Red Gum as reward and now everyone wants to learn a scripture to recite :)

Lesson:
Show  Gospel Art Picture Book #108 (Receiving Sacrament) and Blessing the Sacrament

What are these pictures about?


When Did Sacrament Begin? {Last supper with Jesus}

Why do we still have Sacrament today?
{To remind us of Jesus's Sacrifice, to promise to remember him and keep his commandments}

Who does the Sacrament?
{Any male holding the priesthood but typically the Deacons and Teachers aged 12-16 pass the Sacrament and the Priests 16-18 bless it}

How Can I show my love for the Saviour during Sacrament?
{Sit still, be quiet, fold arms, sing the sacrament hymn, listen to the prayers carefully, think of Jesus}


Share this poem

How small a sip of water,                                                                                                 

How tiny a crust of bread,                                                                                                   

Yet in these emblems we are lifted,                                                                                         

In them we are fed.                                                                                                              

As we think of Jesus                                                                                                          

And the sacrifice He gave,                                                                                                   

We feel His constant mercy,                                                                                                

His loving power to save.

 

 

Activity:

Print and colour
Sacrament Manners Match Game


Closing Song: The Sacrament #72

Closing Prayer:

Treat:

Why Kiddy Craft Sucks....

I help with art at school - a lovely portrait of my daughter by her friend

As if we all didn't know already how up and down and all over the place I am.

seriously.

Issues.

Sometimes I have people ask me things about the blog or think I'm all crafty like.

Ha.

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha


nope.

Just lately I'm all like 'we never do craft', I hate to get the paint out for the kids, can't really afford items for said crafts anyway {lately I have a kid asking for real clay}, the time, the space, the mess.

the time, the space, the mess......


Side Note - I just found out at library reading craft that my four year old has never used scissors
{yes I was SHOCKED. She was all mongy fingers and had no idea how to use them. This is in a house with scissors down low readily available, in a house where they use sharp knives and power tools but apparently I'm such a bad mum my kid doesn't even know how to use scissors which is probably very bad and some sign for school readiness..}

I gave up on kid crafting what seems years ago. I often feel bad about this.

Some favourite blogs of mine Artful Parent  The crafty Crow  Chasing Cheerios

 and a billion kid craft ideas on pintrest some time give me the guilts so I don't check them anymore.

I vacillate between wishing we did more stuff :

for family bonding
talent developing,
important skills for school readiness
for fun
for learning,
just for creative sake!

To thinking....


Really?

Really?

Really do you need to even bother? It's all just rubbish. Why sit here and produce piles of rubbish. These ideas are pointless, wasteful things to make. Things I have no room to even produce nor display. Why run myself ragged thinking of crap for the kids to make or feeling sad that I don't do these things.  Do kids really need to make daily/weekly suncatchers, dot paintings, recycle the cardboard boxes?

And do they even want to? {I'm down to two kids willing, two kids not so}


{Of course there is wonderful point to all craft/ art... but surely my negative side has a point to?}



All this to say perhaps I need to jump back on the kid craft wagon?

especially for my four years old sake {and for those who think they are outgrowing kiddy craft?}

Why... oh why does it always come down to me?

My organization skills, my having to put together ideas and see them through. My wanting to be willing to actually do these things with the kids. My setting aside time to actually do art/craft. My finding a spot to actually store some craft/art supplies.


Seriously I just need a bigger house and to employ someone to do these things.


Hmmm and why can all my questions to life be answered in this way :)

FHE Lesson {Names of Christ}

Opening Song: I'm trying to be like Jesus #78

Opening prayer:

Lesson:
At our Stake conference we had a lesson on Symbols in the scriptures, including symbolic names for Christ. I thought it would make a nice lesson.

Explain that we might have many names. We can be a mother, father, son, daughter, aunty, child, Mr, Mrs, husband, wife, we have first names, last names, titles. People might know as by our school, nationality, or religion names.

Just the same Jesus is known by many titles.
 {Here is a List of 200 names of Christ for reference}


Share some of these titles with matching pictures and discuss the meaning of them.
You could also print the pictures and titles and have the kids match/find them


{Bread of Life}


As bread sustains our mortal body Jesus will sustain our spiritual body and  eternal life.
He is the bread of our eternal life.


{Lamb of God}


The sacrifice of lambs was an important part of life in Bible times.
When Jesus died and Atoned for our sins he became the Lamb of God for us.


{Living Water}


Water refreshes us and quenches our thirst.
When we study the scriptures and learn of Jesus this is the living water





{Good Shepherd}


Just as a shepherd cares and keeps safe his sheep, so too does Jesus want to help us, keep us safe and lead us home


{Light of the World}


We turn on a light to dispel darkness. Just as Jesus is our light in the darkness to walk towards


We need to be good examples of our names and live up to our name and be proud of it.
Just as we learn of all the names of Jesus and his great example to us.


Extra:

Set a family Goal for Children to find some of the names of Jesus in family scripture reading
and underline or colour.



Closing Song: Tell me the stories of Jesus #57

Closing Prayer:

Treat: Bread and water :)

FHE Lesson {Fathers}

Credit: PhotoPlan (Elizabeth)

Opening Song: Fathers #209

Opening Prayer: Child


Lesson:

Since Fathers day was this past weekend what a perfect time for a lesson on Fathers.

What is a father?

What did we just celebrate yesterday?

Why are Dads important?


What other fathers do we have in our lives?


Grandfathers

Heavenly Father

Father of our ward {Bishop}

We see lots of examples of fathers in the scriptures too.
{Lehi, Alma, Joseph, Abraham, Mormon}

How do these 'other Fathers' help us in our lives?

{Go into as much depth as you wish discussing the fathers in our lives}

Let's remember to celebrate our fathers all year round and not just on Fathers Day.



Activity:

Do this Fathers Day Questionaire
{and keep them and fill in a new one each year and see how the answers change }

Have small children draw a picture of them with Daddy.

Older kids can write down on a card/paper/journal things they love about their dad

Plan out some Daddy Daughter/Son Dates. Things they can go do with Just Daddy.

Give your grandfather or other 'fathers' in your life a phonecall or write a thank you to them telling them how much you are grateful for them in your life.


Watch  this video about how awesome Dad's are.


Closing Song: The Dearest Names #208

Closing Prayer:

Treat: A favourite treat of Daddy's :)

Spring Goals

I always admire people sitting on the front/back deck chillin, whiling away the warm evenings.

As non alcoholic people I joked to my husband 'do we need to start drinking?'
'cause those people are usually nursing a drink or two.... ha ha ha.

I want my evenings to look like that! {sans the alcohol lol and with people to talk to of course!}
perhaps this is why my evenings don't look like that because what would I do sitting on the deck alone? {ha. Maybe relax and do nothing? what a shock to the system!}

The last couple of years I've been thinking about this dilemma and those people deck chillin.
I've tried several times to just sit outside and enjoy the warm evenings.
I find it kinda hard {I really do think I suffer from Attention Deficit}
Usually I've got stuff to do {clean up, dinner, dishes, put kids to bed, clean up, go on computer etc} Mind wanders, mosquito's bother, I get bored and come inside....

I read a comment the other day about a person who decided to let their {older} kids choose their own bedtime. {yikes!} but said she now chose to read in bed, do what she wanted and let them be too. And ultimately yes they did stay up a bit later but its worked out pretty good and the kids worked out their own rhythm and have learnt when to go to bed.

As a parent with growing kids this intrigued me.

I'm finding it harder to be the parent I thought I would be

I joke that I used to get more done as a parent with babies/toddlers than I do now
{would never have believed you at the sleep deprived time! what?! it gets harder?!}

I'm finding it hard to do all the things we want to do but perhaps its because I'm still hanging on to 'young child routine'
We like to come home from school {occasionally means walking or biking and stopping at park}
Homework and afternoon tea
1/2 -1 hour on computer
Dinner at 5:30
Wash dishes
Bath, books
BED

Bed blessed bed! Yes the older kids don't go to sleep and they read for hours {and hours!}but I get anxious thinking about any other routine. We don't even do extra curricular stuff cause we are too busy eating and getting ready to go to bed. I have friends and neighbours who eat dinner like at 8pm. I'm exhausted by then and definitely not thinking about dinner! Not to mention I'm hungry early too

BUT...

I want kids playing outside, I want nighttime games, I want sunset viewing, I want picnic dinners, I want chatting to neighbours and friends, I want sitting on the deck, I want outings to enjoy all this city has to offer, I want night time strolls, I want swimming in the dark, I want outdoor movie nights, I want.. I want...

When do we get to start doing all these things?

But who is going to be cooking dinner and doing the dishes?


Maybe the trick is to rest in the early afternoon/straight after school and get it cranking again in the early evening? Maybe the trick is just to just sit on the deck chillin and ignore everything?

Is it time to give up the evening 'me' time?
{time that has been steadily shrinking anyway in the last few years due to kids NOT GOING TO SLEEP - unlike when they were little and were asleep super early and I would get so much done}

Or should I just realise that these imaginary awesome evenings are never going to happen, or will happen once all the kids are teens or have moved out?


Will I achieve 'DECK TIME' this Spring/ Summer?

Wait and see, shall we?