Music: Children All Over the World (CS 16) and I am Glad for Many things (CS 151). Attention Getting Activity: I set up a bowl of water, a 1/4 measuring cup, and a glass goblet (inside a plastic container) on the table. I read Psalms 23:5 and we discussed what it meant to have so many blessings that our cup would overflow. We each took turns pouring water from the bowl into the cup and naming something we were thankful for. We each went several times until the cup overflowed with our gratitude. The boys loved the water splashing over. Lesson:Using the Children's Scripture Stories, we read the story of the 10 Lepers. We talked about how only one came back to say thank you. I asked how he thought Jesus felt when only one said thank you. Then we talked about how Jesus felt when someone did say thank you. We showed on our fingers how many did say thank you and how many did not. Activity: I have a flannel board Thanksgiving set that we used to tell the story of the first Thanksgiving. You could use the internet to print out pictures of your own to tell the story or get a book from the library. (If you choose to do this lesson at a different time of year, skip this part altogether). Game: We played a turkey hunt game using turkeys I printed on different pieces of colored construction paper. We picked up the turkeys and said something we were thankful for that was the same color as the turkey we picked up. If you do this at a time other than Thanksgiving, you could just hide pieces of colored construction paper and play the same way. Art: We made Mayflower boats as seen below. Snacks: Make turkey cupcakes.

"Don't just pin it - try it out! Pinning with purpose is a blog full of tried and true pinned items, LDS, family, and holiday activities."

Here is a list of the best websites that have family home evening lessons, ideas, games and other resources that you need for your next FHE.

Fasting and Prayer Can Strengthen my Testimony Sharing time July 2012 Week 1 Welcome to Doctrine and Covenants subdivision, neigh...

Easily one of my favorite object lessons! It is really such a great visual! I have used it with Young Women lessons, RS lessons and at home! SHARING THE BURDEN OBJECTIVE: Teach the kids how important it is to "share the load" and how the entire load is too much for just one person, but if we all pitch in to help it makes the burden easy to carry. This lesson is also a great way to teach the importance of recognizing our limits and that it is important to ask for help. Through the course of the lesson you can also talk about the ability we have to help others with the burdens they bear through service and how the ultimate relief we can experience is the relief that comes to our burden of sin and sorrow through the Atonement. SUPPLIES: Scriptures for everyone. 10 bags of brown or powdered sugar ($10-15 @Walmart *Count it as food storage! :) or borrow from friends. They will not be opened.) (Sorry some of these pictures are a little blurry! Hopefully Santa's loading a fabulous camera on his sleigh just for me!) We started our lesson by having our 11 year old son stand with his arms out in front of him. My husband placed 1 bag of brown sugar on his arms. The rules were, keep your arms out in front and don't drop anything. The most important rule.....if you feel like you need help, ask for it! Slowly Dad continued to pile on the bags of sugar. It was getting heavier and heavier. And a LOT harder to hold on to all of them. Help was called for. It is very important to stress to the starter of this game that they need to ask for help when they need it! Little sister stepped in and placed both of her hands under her big brothers. He could immediately feel the relief. More bags were piled on until they both called for extra help. Dad stepped in and the difference was immediate. They could have taken much more. The load wasn't too heavy for any of them. I was called in for back up as well. Unfortunately this required me to put down the camera, but you get the picture. While we were all sharing the load I talked to everyone about how the sugar represents all of the different responsibilities that come with running a household. Cooking, cleaning, laundry, bills, yard work, etc. Just like it was impossible for one person to carry the full load of sugar bags without dropping them, it wasn't possible for one person to do all the responsibilities in the home without leaving things out or falling short. This is why it is important for us to share the load and the reason why the kids have job charts. (Check these out! The only thing we have found that truly works! The kids are AMAZING at jobs and the "Motherboard" does all the nagging! All I have to do is say, "have you checked the motherboard?") When we are all working together the burden is light and easy to bear. It makes us all happier! We talked about how there are times in life when we are busy and feel like we are stretched to our limits. It is important to realize that it is good to ask for help, and sometimes we must ask that nothing else be added to our pile. When our son Dawson was still with us, he required everything I could give...and more. His medical and physical needs required constant help. During that time in my life I was also working from home full time to try to help with expenses. I was involved with several different things and in the RS Presidency. Then I also had friendships, a marriage & 2 other kids that required my attention to keep them healthy. Life was full. I had a hard time asking for help and thought I could balance it all. I started to feel like I was failing at everything because I couldn't give enough of myself to each part of my life that needed my attention. I was asked at that time to join a group that would design a NICU for the new hospital in Twin Falls, ID. I had spent A LOT of time in different hospitals and had somethings that I thought would benefit the hospital and the parents that would spend time there with their little babies. It was something I wanted to be involved in. However, I learned that it would require frequent trips to Twin Falls for meetings and fundraisers, extensive time on the phone trying to coordinate fundraisers for my area, etc. I was at my limit. I tried to balance it all, but I could feel the fall out. So, as much as I loved having this opportunity, I respectfully declined. It was hard to do, but I felt so good about drawing the line for myself and accepting what I can and cannot accomplish. It was better for the group to have someone that could give the project the attention it deserved and it was good for my family that I was not willing to sacrifice their needs in the process of stretching myself too thin. We talked about how we are able to have our burdens lightened by asking for help, and we are also able to lighten the burdens of others. Discuss different ways you can help. (Visiting the sick, sending cards to express sympathy or gratitude for the person, helping people move, rake leaves, do yard work, holding the door open for someone, etc.) Then we discussed how the Lord can lighten our burdens, if we ask in humility. Read Mosiah 24:14-15, 21. "And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions. And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord. Yea, and in the valley of Alma they poured out their thanks to God because he had been merciful unto them, and eased their burdens, and had delivered them out of bondage; for they were in bondage, and none could deliver them except it were the Lord their God." When we pray the Lord can take the burden of our trials and make it feel like it is a lighter load to bear. If we press forward in faith, we will be strengthened and we can chose to be cheerful and patient with our trials. Eventually the trial will be over and we will be able to look back at the experience and see that the only way we could have made it through this trial was with the help of the Lord. As we bear testimony of that we will be able to share hope with others that may be going through trials in our lives. It is like the Lords hands holding up ours with the sugar. Then when the sugar is removed from us we can go and help others by lifting their load with our hands and helping them have hope and persevere. The other way that this object lesson can teach us is through thinking of the sugar bags as bad choices or sins. As those choices add up, or even just carrying one for a long period of time, the weight becomes too much for us to bear. When we turn to the Lord for help He can relieve us of our burden through the Atonement. Likewise, when we are feeling sad or upset about something, or in need of comfort, because of the Atonement we can feel the loving support of our loving Father in Heaven and our Savior Jesus Christ as they help us carry our burden.

I discovered while serving in the Young Womens organization, that you can NEVER motivate your girls ENOUGH to do their Personal Progress. I was CONSTANTLY trying to get them to WANT to work on their PP. Because....WHY NOT? It's SUCH an awesome program and they have SO MUCH TO GAIN personally, by working on it! {Find out more about Personal Progress HERE}. I've created TWO different motivator/handouts for you to download and pass out to your young women this summer. Pick 1! or both!! There are 3 to a page and this page just needs a Lemonade packet attached to it. You can purchase HERE and print it out however many times you'd like! This one is fun around the 4th of July! Just attach a package of sparklers and you're good to go! There are 4 to a page and you can print them out however many times you'd like! Purchase HERE. SaveSave

Congrats to the cutest Sherry and Kathy on being the winners of my Favorite Things Giveaway! Winners have been contacted and will be receiving all their fun things within the next few weeks. Thank you so, so much for everyone who entered. Stay tuned for more fun giveaways in the future! My Mom is seriously the cutest, most creative lady I know. If you've followed this blog for any amount of time you probably already know that. She is currently serving as an Activity Day Leader in her ward and of course rocking it. She just had the most adorable Manners Matter Feast and I'm so thrilled she's letting me share all the details. This doesn't just have to be for Activity Days either, my older sister is the Primary President in her ward and was going to do a few of these things with her Primary, it would also make a perfect and easy family night leading up to Thanksgiving! She started her Manners Matter Feast with a story to introduce the topic. We couldn't find one we liked and that fit the theme and purpose of the activity so I made one up! You can download the story at the bottom of THIS post. She blew up the turkey we were using and used colored paper for the different feathers, and added the feathers along with telling the story. The story is all about a turkey named Maggie that finds out how manners make life more colorful. She gets a new colored feather every time she masters a manner. To go along with the story I made a worksheet that they could hang in their room to remember what manners they should be working on. Here's one I made for an example. They could color the feathers the different colors they liked and add the specific manners they need to work on, on each feather. Hopefully reminding them that manners really do matter! My mom said this was a huge hit and the girls loved working on this page. My mom found the cutest, colorful feather suckers that fit perfectly in her little turkey stand. I made a tag to remind them of the story when they took home their little treat. You can find the free download for these cute little tags at the end of this post! Next came learning some table manners. She found the cute place mats and Manners Matter packet at Dating Divas! She also found the cute little turkey treat holders on Etsy from Jessicas Prints HERE! She filled these cute turkeys with a fun fall mix of marshmallows, candy corn, M&M's, Honey Nut Cheerios, pretzels, and Swedish Fish. She went over some Table Manners Do's and Don'ts to prep the girls for their feast ahead. She found this sheet from a church idea book that she has had for years. If you know where it came from please let me know so I can give credit where credit is due! My mom even made the cutest paper turkey full of popcorn! She told them she had been working in the kitchen and cooking it all morning! ;)  Then to setting the table! My mom already had it set as pictured above. She then taught the girls how to set the table-perfect for Thanksgiving Day prep! Then came eating! She had mini pudding cups, turkey slices, rolls, veggies, fruit, chocolate covered popcorn, and chocolate rice krispy treats with a white chocolate drizzle. We tried to stick with either brown or colorful foods to go along with the theme! We can't quit this super easy and addicting white chocolate popcorn! I tossed in some regular M&M's to add that pop of color! Find the recipe HERE! The girls were told to use their manners while having their feast. The girls absolutely loved it and learned so much about manners. At the end of the activity they passed out the feather suckers (find more about those HERE) and gave back the worksheets they had done earlier. You can find all of the other info on her Manners Matter Feast and the FREE printable for the Make Life Colorful with Manners Tag-HERE Credits Page Here are some links you may be interested in: -Chocolate Turkey Sucker/Candy Molds-HERE -Burlap Table Runner-HERE I have all the Maggie the Well-Mannered Turkey Story printables including a copy of the story, worksheet and tags in this post HERE! And don't forget manners really do matter! This post may contain affiliate links, all opinions are my own.

We actually used this as a mini YW lesson to help the girls pass off a choice and accountability value experience, but as I was teaching it I thought that it would make for a great family home evening lesson for older kids and teens as well. A printable version of the handout can be found here. Opening Prayer: Opening Song: Hymns #266, "The Time is Far Spent" Scriptures: Ecclesiastes 3:1, Doctrine and Covenants 60:13, Article of Faith #13 Materials Needed: A clock, the video, and handout (click here to get it in a printable version) Discussion: Imagine for a second that each and every day, your bank account is credited with $86,400. But at the end of each day the money disappears. What would you do? You would try to use up every penny of it every day. Show: Show them a clock and tell them that each and every day they are given exactly 86,400 seconds to use as we choose. We can't save them for another day. Once the seconds are passed, they are gone and it is up to us how we use them. Discuss: According to studies, the average person spends 35-40 hours in front of a television or computer screen. That is an average of 5-6 hours (=18,000 seconds) per day, which equates to approximately 20% of every day. Think of what we could accomplish if we tried to cut that time down by half or fourth. Quote: If you have a twenty-hour-a-week television habit and would repent and convert in into a gospel study habit, in one year you could read the Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants, The Pearl of Great Price, and the entire Bible. In addition, you could read Jesus the Christ, Gospel Principles, the Relief Society manual, Preach my Gospel, the Miracle of Forgiveness, and this would still leave you time to read the Ensign, New Era, and Friend each month. This is based on your ability to read only ten pages an hour. paraphrased from Elder William Bradford Video: Choose This Day (embedded below) Recite Article of Faith #13 (emphasizing "seeking after praiseworthy pursuits"): We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things. Discuss: What kinds of things qualify as "praiseworthy"? The answers could be reading scriptures, serving others, developing a talent, being a better friend, sharing the gospel, writing letters to grandparents or missionaries, helping a family member, staying caught up in school, doing family history, etc. Conclude: Encourage students to try to prioritize their time in such a way that they can use a greater portion of their time each day in more praiseworthy pursuits. Bear your testimony of how you've been blessed as you've tried to use your 86,400 seconds each day more wisely. Closing Song: Scripture Power Closing Prayer: **********************

Here is a list of the best websites that have family home evening lessons, ideas, games and other resources that you need for your next FHE.

This year, our theme for Sweetheart's Week was Our Family is Built on Love and all the quotes and activities had to do with construction and building. Each day I gave the girls and Brigham a "block" with a personal note written on one side and a quote/activity on the other. By the end of the week, we had "built" a big heart on our wall. You can check out the things we did here: *I need to take a clearer picture because there were some really great poems, songs, and thoughts about building, construction, and creation* It was fun to focus on doing things together and improving the world (or just our immediate surroundings). I love Sweetheart's Week and am grateful for the 3 (almost 4) sweethearts in my life. Some more pictures:

I've been noticing a lot of poopie-attitudes in the Wangsgard household, lately. A little cut on a finger can quickly turn into the end of the world! Lack of sleep seems like instant permission to

Hey everyone! Happy Monday to you :) We did a very simple and short family home evening tonight using ideas from one of my new FAVORITE bl...

One of the ways we're preparing our daughter for baptism is having her read Gospel Principles alongside the Book of Mormon. We discuss questions from the book itself but she also has a special notebook that she has learning labwork to do after each chapter. A lot of these assignments involve her drawing something. When she's finished I'll do a post and list all the learning labwork from her notebook. Monthly Theme: I Choose the Right by Living Gospel Principles Monthly Scripture: "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them" 1 Nephi 3:7 Week 1 I pray to Heavenly Father for strength to do what is right. * "Recognize that there is a power greater than ours, that no matter how good a man is, he is not good enough, that no matter how wise he is, he is not wise enough, that no matter how strong he is, he is not strong enough for all of the things which he will face in life, and that there is a source of power to which he can go with the assurance that he will be listened to and that there will be a response." Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Message: Gifts to Bring Home from the Mission Field," New Era, Mar. 2007, 4 Bring in a CD player. Can this turn on if you don't plug it in? Have a primary friend try. Now plug it in... will it turn on? The CD player is just a hunk of plastic and metal, unless it's connected to the power!! Play a song about prayer quietly on the CD player while you read the quote from President Hinckley to the children.We are like the CD player, we need to connect to our Heavenly Father through prayer and He will give us strength and power to do what is right. * Have the children act out the story of Nephi being bound, while you read the following words from Elder Bednar: " Nephi is an example of one who knew, understood, and relied upon the enabling power of the Savior. Recall that the sons of Lehi had returned to Jerusalem to enlist Ishmael and his household in their cause. Laman and others in the party traveling with Nephi from Jerusalem back to the wilderness rebelled, and Nephi exhorted his brethren to have faith in the Lord. It was at this point in their journey that Nephi’s brothers bound him with cords and planned his destruction. Please note Nephi’s prayer: “O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound” (1 Nephi 7:17; emphasis added). Do you know what I likely would have prayed for if I had been tied up by my brothers? “Please get me out of this mess NOW!” It is especially interesting to me that Nephi did not pray to have his circumstances changed. Rather, he prayed for the strength to change his circumstances. And I believe he prayed in this manner precisely because he knew, understood, and had experienced the enabling power of the Atonement. I do not think the bands with which Nephi was bound just magically fell from his hands and wrists. Rather, I suspect he was blessed with both persistence and personal strength beyond his natural capacity, that he then “in the strength of the Lord” (Mosiah 9:17) worked and twisted and tugged on the cords, and ultimately and literally was enabled to break the bands." (From April 2012 Ensign) * HERE is an AWESOME AWESOME story from The Friend. Before you tell the story, in front of the children put on your warmest winter coat, hat, mittens and scarf. Read the story with lots of enthusiasm. Ask a couple questions to engage the kids... what do you think will happen next? Will he be able to open the door? Why do you think he'd even want to explore the polar ice caps? Could he open the door with his own strength? What did prayer give him? Just as prayer gave Admiral Byrd the strength to open the door, prayer can give us the strength to do what is right. Below are some artic animals. Cut them out, number them 1 to 9, and laminate them. Bring in a small tub with cold water. Put the animals in the tub. Let primary children put on your scarf and draw an animal out of the cold water. Have questions, scriptures, or songs to go along with the numbers they draw out. For example: 1. When have you felt strengthened by prayer? 2. As a primary, sing A Child's Prayer (Children's Songbook pg. 12) 3. Where are 5 places we can pray? I am in no way endorsing this website, but I am very grateful for their free cute clip art! * Break into small groups and have 3 adults to tell the following stories from The Friend. They need to be GOOD readers.... use inflection, perhaps a couple visuals for a child to hold while they read, involve the children with a couple questions here and there.... Rotate the groups so they can hear all the stories! Each group should have about 3-5 minutes to hear the story. Ummmm... WOW!!! HERE is awesome story #1!!! I would be sure to warn the children that the story is a little scary, but that it has a very happy ending because Heavenly Father answered The Oaks' prayers and because Elder Oaks was given strength to do what was right. HERE is story #2. Perhaps you can have a picture of a car, a doctor and a person praying. Great quote, be sure to emphasize from the story!! "While the blessings we ask for and receive through prayer are undeniably magnificent, the greatest blessing and benefit is not in the physical blessings that may come as answers to our prayers but in the changes to our souls that come as we learn to be dependent on Heavenly Father for strength." HERE is story #3. I would bring in a small fan and let it blow on the children as you read a little, but then turn it off when you get to that point in the story. I especially like this story because sometimes we have to be the answer to our prayers, and no matter what, Heavenly Father will strengthen us!! Great quote to emphasize, "How often do we quit because we pray for wind and none comes? Instead, we need to listen for the Lord’s answer when we pray and then act upon it. On the boat, five men prayed, but only one heard and acted. God gave him the strength to be His wind that day, and He will give us the strength to be His wind when we do what He asks." Week 2 When I pay my tithing, Heavenly Father will bless me. * HERE is a great story for a couple children to act out while you read. There are excellent questions at the end of the story. Let the children make a fishing pole with a stick and some yarn. Discuss some blessings that come from paying tithing and write them on the board. Have different colored paper fish children can choose and write blessings on that come from paying tithing! Have plenty of tape!! Enlist teachers help and have the children tape their fish onto their fishing pole yarn. * Enlarge this picture as BIG as you can!!! Invite a child to come up front, help Maria find a coin, circle it with a big red marker and then answer a question about paying tithing. (From Feb. 2010 The Friend Illustration by Adam Koford) * HERE is a tithing maze! Pair up an older child with a younger child. You'll have to have a copy of the maze for each pair. Have them read to the younger children what is on the maze and work together to find their way to the blessings of paying tithing! * HERE are some great questions and scripture references for Senior Primary to work on in groups. You could make a crossword of it too! * Boy, The Friend is just the best magazine EVER! HERE is another awesome story to tell the children. It's a little longer, so I would read it really well during your personal preparation time before Sunday and then tell in your own words. Have 10 volunteers in the primary take off their shoes and bring them up front, then go sit down. Invite another child to come up front and say something/ a blessing that comes from paying tithing. Let that child choose a pair of shoes and return it to the proper owner! Repeat until all the shoes are returned. Week 3 I obey the Word of Wisdom by eating and drinking that which is good and avoiding that which is bad. * Pack a picnic basket! Bring in plenty of food choices for the children & let them come up one at a time and pick something healthy to put in the basket. On the board have 2 columns- Good Food & Drink, Bad food & drink. When they come up to choose something for the basket, have them also tell you something to add to one of the columns that they don't see by the basket. Write it down on the board. (Many 7 years would be capable of writing on the board too!) * Bring in paper plates & crayons. Let children draw a healthy breakfast, lunch or dinner. Have them walk around the room reverently for a minute and share with other children what wonderful word of wisdom meals they made! (Some recycled ideas from previous posts) * Explain that we are going to have a cooking demonstration. Invite a child to come up front and cut bananas, another one do strawberries... have another child add some yogurt and yet another child add in some grapes. (Please no sharp knives and be mindful of food allergies) Have small cups for the children to sample. Was the fruit salad cooking demonstration something that is good for our bodies? Have the children play win-win-draw with foods and other things having to do with the Word of Wisdom that are good for our bodies. (They come up to the blackboard and draw, for example, an apple... then someone from the Primary guesses what they have drawn) * Break into groups and have them pass a healthy food around as you sing The Word of Wisdom. (CS #154) When the music stops, the person holding the healthy food has to name something that is good for our bodies. For older children you can make it a little more challenging by giving them a certain letter that the healthy food has to start with. * Have a bunch of healthy recipes and let the children make a recipe book for their family!! Make copies of the recipes and let the children draw pictures of how they think the finished food will look like.... Always make a copy or example to show them/give them some starting ideas. Display a bunch of different cook books and let the children end Primary by sharing some recipes they think would be healthy for our bodies in those books. On the chalk board you can have the words written- A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS- THE WORD OF WISDOM!!! Week 4 When I dress modestly, I respect my body as a gift from God. * HERE is a great article & story about how to tell if you're modestly dressed! Perhaps you could play it with the kids too! * Have a clothesline hung between 2 chairs. Invite children to design modest clothes to hang on the clothesline. Be sure to have paper, crayons and scissors available. Teachers can always help cutting! * I would definitely make copies of THIS talk (Modesty:Reverence for The Lord by Elder Hales), bring in highlighters and let the Senior Primary divide into pairs or small groups and read it together. They can mark things that stick out to them and inspire them. After 5 minutes, invite a couple children to share something they learned from the article. Also, if the weather's good, let them go outside and do it. Sometimes a change of scenery really helps you to focus. * Look the part! Have a few dress up items. If you wanted to look like a fireman what would you put on... firehat. How about a ballerina? A tutu. What about a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints? HERE are some thoughts on modesty from Elder Christofferson. Invite primary friends to walk reverently around the room and give each other compliments on their modesty. If they are feeling shy, that's OK!! They can just smile at each other. FIRST!! Write some compliments on the board!! For example: Your hair is nicely brushed. Your skirt is a good length. Your pants are neat and unwrinkled. That's a handsome shirt. You look like a missionary. Nice shoes!! That dress has sleeves and is pretty. It's my own personal opinion that we need to make primary an environment where children feel loved and respected by each other. Giving compliments builds self esteem and makes a person's day brighter.

Gordon B. Hinckley quotes are full of optimism. His wisdom has been shared over the years and it continues to bless people across the world.

Follow this simple guide to start making your own family home evening kits and download this kit with printables on celebrating differences.

Psychic Angel Reading WE ARE SURROUNDED BY ANGELS AT ALL TIMES! Many people tell me that they can't feel their Angels and have no proof t ...

Use these great LDS coloring pages as a resource in your Christ centered home

A blog dedicated to parenting in the latter-days. You'll find dozens of printable FHE lessons, YW ideas, and articles on a variety of parenting and LDS topics.

Scripture Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. —1 Corinthians 10:12 Quote We cannot go astray if we listen to the prophet’s voice and follow him, and as we do so we will be led in the path of truth and righteousness and enjoy the love, respect, and confidence of […]

Eighteen of the most exciting and challenging months of my life were spent on an LDS mission in California. In some form or another, I think about those months almost every day. Just this morning I…

Today I was checking out my favorite blogs and I love what Heather at Through Heather's Looking Glass said today about finding time as a new mom to exercise, and glad to know that I am not the only one out there that would rather do something else! 4.) Sacrifice: There are a lot of days I would rather take a nap then go for a run, or skip the gym in favor of watching my favorite TV series. However, I know if I don’t make an effort and make some sacrifices, I won’t get my workouts in, and I won’t be a happy person which equals not being a happy mommy. I NEED my sweat sessions, so it really is for everyone’s benefit for me to sacrifice something else so I can workout. This is so true, especially for me right now. When Collin and Mason are down for "mommy quiet time" I want to rest, relax and just not do anything but turn off my brain and sit down with my favorite TV show. Well, the great thing about Hulu, Netflix or TV in general. It will always be there later. All I have to do is just 30 minutes a day here at the house. That is my goal. Go to the gym and do my run and the elliptical for an hour and then sometime later in the day, most likely when the kids are down for a nap, do another 30 min of PiYo for strength training. So time for me to sacrifice and watch later and continue to FOCUS ON ME! Because I am worth fighting for! Thank you Heather for your words that made a profound impact on my day!

Our Would You Rather Scripture Game is not only a lot of fun, but it will also help you teach your family about the importance of Agency. This free Family Night printable is guaranteed to get your family talking and laughing. Get all the info on the blog!

A winter storm passes over the Star Valley Wyoming Temple, as seen from the skies.

Encourage gratitude throughout the season with this fun gratitude game! Fill the game with gratitude activities to do all November long.

Opening Song: "The Wise man Built His House Upon the Rock" Flannel Board Story: Tell the story from Matthew 7:24-27 of the Wise man and the Foolish man. Act out with Flannel Board Pieces. Discussion/Activity: We want to build our house upon a rock not sand. Jesus taught us that his gospel is the rock. D&C 11:24 Jesus has given us some tools to help build our house on the rock. Satan wants us to build our house on the sand. He has given us tools to make our house shaky and sink. Pull Out Tool Box (I labeled tools (Tools to Build Our House I modified this idea for preschoolers and toddlers) from the boys' play tool kit with good tools and bad tools. We sorted them and decided which ones Jesus would help us build a house on rock and which ones would help us build a house on sand). (Rock tools were: Sharing, Scriptures, Prayer, Helping, FHE, Nice Words, and love. Sand tools were things we are working on extinguishing from our home: Mean words, hitting, lying, not sharing) We played with the tools and built two houses out of lego blocks. Then we placed one on sand in a casserole dish and one on a large rock in a casserole dish. We used duct tape as one of our rock tools and labeled it love. We made sure that we used a lot of this "love" to firmly attach our house to the rock. Next we poured water on each house. The sandy one washed away and the rock house stood firm. (Thank goodness). Art: We colored Wiseman Foolish Man "Filmstrip"of the song and played with them together. (This are really long, and neither boy finished coloring, much better for older children). Scripture Memorization: We pounded our fist on our open hand as we repeated D&C 11:24 together over and over. Snack: We made houses out of Rice Krispie Treats and ate them! We actually had a kit, but I found this cool site with directions for making your own. Grown-up Lesson: After the boys went to bed, Chad and I used this time to make our own goals for the New Year together to help us Build our house Upon the Rock.

Although this isn't my favorite topic, I think it's one that needs to be addressed. Stranger Danger and Back to School Safety are the topic for today's Safety and Preparedness Family Home Evening. Opening Prayer: Scripture: "Yea, a man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God, for the many privileges and blessings which he bestowed upon his people; a man who did labor exceedingly for the welfare and safety of his people." Alma 48: 12 Song: "Teach Me to Walk in the Light" Children's Songbook Page 177 The Rules and The Reason: What to Do: If a stranger asks you to go for a walk or get in a car, shout NO! and run away. If a stranger offers you money or presents, shout NO! and run away. Where should you run? Don't run off by yourself or try to hide in a place where there are no people. Run to a place where there are lots of people. Run into a restaurant or a gas station. Run to the home of someone you know well. Make a lot of noise. A bad stranger will not want to see him or her. Making a lot of noise is good. Lesson: Who is a stranger? A stranger is someone you do not know well. You have met many strangers already. Some have become friends. There are strangers in your neighborhood, in stores, and at school. Even people you see often, but don't really know, are strangers, like the mail carrier, the school bus driver, and the clerk at the store. Most strangers are nice people. Some strangers are not good people. They may want to hurt a child or take him or her away from his or her parents. They may want to touch a child in ways that are not proper. Strangers don't become friends just by acting friendly for a few minutes. Do you know the person's name? Where he or she lives? Do your parents know that person? Do they trust that person? Bad people do not always look mean or bad. They can seem to be friendly. They can be men or women, young or old. They can be dressed in grubby old clothes or brand-new fancy ones. Remember the story of the Little Red Riding Hood? The wolf pretended to be kind and friendly, but he was really mean. He wanted to hurt Little Red Riding Hood. The Rules and The Reason: What to Do: If a stranger tries to stop you and asks questions when you are alone or with friends, do NOT answer. Leave the area immediately. If you are in a public building, go where there are other people. If you are outside, go to a place where there are people. Always tell your parents, teachers, a police officer, or someone you trust what happened as soon as possible. Remember: When you are with your parents and a stranger says, "Hi, how are you" it's OK to answer. When you are in the checkout line at a grocery store with your parents or an adult and the cashier says, "What a pretty blouse you have on," or "That's a neat cap," it's OK to answer politely because you are with your parents. Here are a few role play aactivities you can do as a family: Role Play: A young man wearing jeans and a football jersey stops you and asks you questions, like: What is your name? Where do you live? He looks a lot like your favorite football player. Is he a stranger? What should you do? Answer: He is a stranger. Do not answer any questions about yourself. Get away from him fast. Go to a place where there are other people. Role Play: You and your best friend are walking to the park. A woman asks you if the two of you would like to go with her to see a movie. She says when will buy popcorn and soda for you both. Is she a stranger? What should you do? Answer: She is a stranger. Shout NO! Do not go ANYWHERE with her, even though you are with a friend. Leave the area immediately. Go to a place where there are other people. Tell an adult what happened. Never go anywhere with a stranger no matter what he or she says or offers you. Role Play: A man who looks a lot like your grandfather tells you he is lost. He asks you to walk with him to the corner of Second and Maple Street, which is a few blocks away. Is he a stranger? Answer: He is a stranger. Do not go ANYWHERE with him. If there are other people around, you could ask someone else to help the man. If no one else is around, stay away from the man. Tell him you are sorry, but your aren't allowed to do that. Most adults ask other adults for help, not children. Role Play: A lady stops you and says, "Will you come with me and help me find my dog? I will give you $10.00. I know my poor little dog is so scared." She starts to cry. Is she a stranger? Answer: She is a stranger. You should not go ANYWHERE with her. If other people are around, ask them to help her. This lady is not acting right. Most adults will not offer money to children. They will ask other adults to help. Role Play: A man calls out from an alley and asks for your help. He looks like he is bleeding. Is he a stranger? Answer: He is a stranger. Do not go close to him. He may be pretending. Call loudly for help. Get another adult to help. Use the nearest telephone and call the emergency number. Role Play: A young man about 20 years old driving a fancy red convertible stops his car in front of your house and asks you for directions. Is he a stranger? Answer: He is a stranger. Don't go near the car. Usually adults ask other adults for directions, not children. Role Play: You are shopping with your mother at a large department store. You wander off to the toy aisle. A man in a store uniform comes up to you and says, "Hurry, your mom fell and broke her leg. The ambulance took her to the hospital. I'll take you there." Is he a stranger? Answer: He is a stranger. Do not go with him. How would he know she was your mother? If she really did have a broken leg, someone would make an announcement for you to come to the front desk. Go to the front desk and find out if anything really did happen to your mother. It's best if you stay with your parents when shopping. If you do wander off alone, do not leave the store or go somewhere else in the store with a stranger. Activity: Take the route your children will take on their way to school. Show them how to safely cross the road and where to cross. If they ride the bus, remind them of the rules that will keep them safe. Closing Prayer: Here's the PDF for the Lesson and Treat: Safety and Preparedness FHE Stranger Danger Lesson and Treat PDF Don't Forget to add to your FHE Journal! Here's the Treat: Here's the Recipe: 2/3 cup Boiling Water 1 Package (4-serving size) Jell-O Strawberry Flavored Gelatin Ice Cubes 1/2 cup Cold Water 1 Tub (8-ounces) Cool Whip Topping, Thawed 1 Honey Maid Graham Pie Crust (6-ounces) Instructions: Stir boiling water into dry gelatin mix in large bowl at least 2 minutes until completely dissolved. Add enough ice to cold water to measure 1 cup. Add to gelatin; stir until slightly thickened. Remove any un-melted ice. Add whipped topping; stir with wire whisk until well blended. Refrigerate 15 to 20 minutes or until mixture is thick enough to mound. Spoon into crust. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight until firm. Fast, Easy . . . and Super Good!