What Child is this?

The Coat: A Story of Charity

This is so perfect to help children understand about charity, the pure love of Christ. What a wonderful way to put Christ back into Christmas.

Joy to everyone

For this week and next week because I will be away here are your new challenges.

1. Our thoughts have a huge impact on our everyday lives. This week be aware of your thoughts and try this experiment by Virginia Pearce

1. I will be more aware of the condition of my heart, and with that awareness, seek to keep it more open toward others.

2. I will do this in the normal course of my life, in other words, not feel pressured to put any extra activities into my day—no extra visits, casseroles, etc.

3. I will notice the Spirit and be willing to honestly report what happened or didn't happen. In doing so, I will try to understand my personal stumbling blocks and strengths.

 Caution: Don't set out to do anything differently. Observe the physical/emotional/spiritual response of your heart, independent of your words or actions. Awareness is the key.

Keep a record of your observations and see if your thoughts and being aware of them actually makes a difference. and you actually do what you are prompted to do when you are prompted.

2. For Family Home Evening this week think about some Family Rules, Principles or values that you can apply and then place them on the wall to remind everyone. See the following examples for some ideas.

       

Never Alone

Found this and thought it was a great message for us all. Enjoy

Challenge #4

Hope you had a great week.

My fridge got a clean up and I hope yours did too. Dad was most impressed and even told me so. I find that by cleaning 1 thing it often leads to another and this is what happened to me. I cleaned a few more things than I expected to and so I was rather pleased with that result.

My Gratitude journal has been going well and I have discovered there are so many things to be grateful for. Janiia found this great quote that I wanted to share -  What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday ? Definately food for thought.

This weeks challenge -

1. Find a new recipe to try and then share with us all. ( send to me and I will send to all together as one email)

2. Get to know your spouse better.  Ask your spouse 1- 2 questions each day this week - not  'How was your day ?"  type, but questions that will cause conversation and discovery and even deep thinking.
eg - this morning on my walk with Dad I asked him ' What did you do yesterday that would let people know that you are a follower of Christ ?'


3. I saw this quote and just loved it - 

What do you do each day that could make Satan think this about you?

Have a great week everyone!

Simplify your life

        (the photo and quote above is from Becky Higgins blog)

Loved this quote from the new Relief Society book 'Daughters in My Kingdom.' A wonderful book for us all to read.

Challenge #3

I hope you had a great week last week with the challenges. Now the work begins.

Challenge # 3

*  Clean the top and outside of your fridge. I never see the top of my fridge as I am vertically challenged, but as I was up on a step ladder on Saturday I discovered what Dad sees all the time. So I figured it was time to do something about it. He never complains about it but because I can't see it, it doesn't get done as often as it should. Also I hate having all the junk hanging off the fridge. So now would be a good time to clean that all off. Have a close look and see what the notices on your fridge say about you.

*  Thanksgiving this month -

 Read this quote by Pres. Henry B Eyring

"When our children were very small, I started to write down a few things about what happened every day. I never missed a day no matter how tired I was or how early I would have to start the next day. Before I would write, I would ponder this question: “Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?” As I kept at it, something began to happen. As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As that happened, and it happened often, I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done.

More than gratitude began to grow in my heart. Testimony grew. I became ever more certain that our Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers. I felt more gratitude for the softening and refining that come because of the Atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ. And I grew more confident that the Holy Ghost can bring all things to our remembrance—even things we did not notice or pay attention to when they happened."

If you would like to read the whole talk here is the link.  -   http://lds.org/general-conference/2007/10/o-remember-remember?lang=eng

Use one of the journals that you got last week and start a Gratitude Journal. Follow Pres. Eyring's example for the month of November and write down 1 or 2 things that you are grateful for. Write down ways that you are living proof of Heavenly Father’s love.  How you've seen His goodness in your life. How His blessings constantly appear in your life. 

Here is my first one. - I am grateful for a husband who loves me and leaves me little messages of his love for me everywhere (including in the dust on the TV ! )  I love this man!!!!!! 

Challenge #2

Be Grateful - just watch and enjoy this post from The Red Headed Hostess blog

Beautiful Heartache Posted: 25 Oct 2011 06:15 PM PDT What a beautiful message. This is called “Beautiful Heartache” from Hillary Weeks’ new album “Every Step“. I have always loved her voice. I love her Christmas album. I just may have listened to part of it today… in October. But I love this song… this video… this message… this perspective. Enjoy. It is ok if you cry.

Challenge #1

Hi Everyone,

I decided I would add our challenges onto my blog for all to follow along and add comments if you want to. I'm not too sure how this will work but I will give it a go.

Challenge #1

* go out and get a few exercise books or a ring binder or journals for next weeks challenge. These will be used for a variety of things I have planned for us to do.

* consider this quote:

"Heavenly Father has assigned us to a great variety of stations to strengthen and, when needed, to lead travellers to safety. Our most important and powerful assignments are in the family." President Henry B Eyring April 2010

Make a poster or just write it out and place it in your home somewhere that it will be seen by all.

* try this following exercise:

Take a virtual tour of your home using your spiritual eyes. Wherever your home may be and whatever its configuration, the application of eternal gospel principles within its walls is universal. Let’s begin. Imagine that you are opening your front door and walking inside your home. What do you see, and how do you feel? Is it a place of love, peace, and refuge from the world, as is the temple? Is it clean and orderly? As you walk through the rooms of your home, do you see uplifting images which include appropriate pictures of the temple and the Savior? Is your bedroom or sleeping area a place for personal prayer? Is your gathering area or kitchen a place where food is prepared and enjoyed together, allowing uplifting conversation and family time? Are scriptures found in a room where the family can study, pray, and learn together? Can you find your personal gospel study space? Does the music you hear or the entertainment you see, online or otherwise, offend the Spirit? Is the conversation uplifting and without contention? That concludes our tour. Perhaps you, as I, found a few spots that need some “home improvement”—hopefully not an “extreme home makeover.” (Gary E. Stevenson, “Sacred Homes, Sacred Temples,” Ensign, May 2009, 101–3) - from The Red Headed Hostess Blog

* get a photo of your family at the Temple / or a photo of the Temple for your home. If you would like a family photo Dad and I would be happy to go to the Temple this Sunday afternoon after Stake Conference, to take a photo for you. If you would like this let me know and we can arrange a time to meet there and take the photo for you. If you would like a photo of the Temple for your home, we also have a selection of photos that I can print for you.

That's all for this week. As I said you can choose what you do or don't want to do.