This post was originally written in February 2021 and updated in August 2021 with the release of Potty by Design. Snakes, long lines and potty training...three things that, until recently, the mere thought of made my skin crawl. While the first two will still send me running in the other direction, I have proudly conqu
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Ideally, you will already be healthy (physically and emotionally) before you even start thinking about preparing for a mission. In reality, most prospective missionaries probably have some things they can work on to improve their health - either their physical fitness or their emotional health. This blog post will focus on preparing for the level of physical fitness that is required for LDS missionaries, but we will also feature a post on emotional (mental) health) in a future post. If you need more information about emotional health guidelines for LDS missionaries now, don't worry- I will post a link to the Church's official page on the subject at the end of this post. There seems be an infinite supply of advice on how to "get healthy" or lose/gain weight and if you ask 100 people their opinion on the healthiest way to eat or the best way to exercise, you're probably going to get 100 different answers. I am not a medical professional, but in general I will start off by recommending TWO things for future missionaries: #1- Follow the advice of trusted medical professionals (such as your primary care doctor). #2- Do your best to follow the Word of Wisdom. I'm going to assume that you already understand that the "Primary answers" basics of the Word of Wisdom (no alcohol, no tobacco, no coffee or tea, no illegal drugs) are definitely required of any prospective missionary. But those 4 "don'ts" aren't the Word of Wisdom - they are only a part of the Word of Wisdom. What else is explicitly stated (or implied) in what we call the Word of Wisdom (Doctrine & Covenants section 89)? Hint- not everything is a "don't"... what ARE we told to do? Sometimes people tend to overlook the "do's" The Word of Wisdom was given to help us know how to best to care for our mortal bodies. Sometimes OFTEN, the principles Word of Wisdom doesn't mix well with fad diets or health trends. OR, you may have certain health restrictions (such as a legitimate gluten allergy) that will make keeping part of the Word of Wisdom impossible. You will need to discern for yourself (using your knowledge, medical advice, and most importantly the Spirit) what is appropriate for your specific body. This applies to what you eat as well as what exercise is appropriate for you. Just like they state in every exercise video, consult a doctor before starting an exercise regimen! Your doctor is aware of your physical limitations (due to medical conditions or concerns) and can help you to understand what is appropriate for your body and your fitness goals. Did you know that you need your doctor to sign off that you're physically (and emotionally) fit to serve a mission? They will determine whether they believe that you are healthy enough to handle the physical requirements of serving a mission. If they don't (in their professional opinion) feel that they can sign off on your health form, they won't do it! It is better to know what needs to be done ahead of time! I have suggested to several missionaries that they might consider visiting their primary care doctor WAY before it is time to submit their papers (maybe even a year or 2 in advance if you have serious medical concerns or significant weight issues). The reason for this visit would be to explain your plan to serve a mission (even if you aren't 100% sure you are going yet) and discuss what changes you would need to make to your lifestyle in order for them to feel comfortable with approving you for missionary service. Your doctor may or may not be LDS, but even if you don't live in a highly-populated by Church members, many doctors are at least somewhat familiar with LDS mission papers because all prospective missionaries needs them signed by their doctor. Even if your doctor isn't familiar with the mission requirements, you can explain what is expected as far as missionary health (see below). There are BMI (height/weight) requirements AND requirements for physical ability (which I will explain below), so your doctor could say "Well, I'm not sure you can handle these physical requirements, I want you to walk 6 miles a day for 3 months and then come back after you've done that" or "I need you to lose 40 pounds before I can sign this"... can you imagine how disappointing that would be if you thought you were all ready to submit your mission papers? It would be better to know AHEAD OF TIME, so that you can make any changes that you may be required to make. Donald B. Doty M.D. (Chairman of Missionary Department Health Services) says, "I recommend that health preparation begin at least two years in advance of the anticipated missionary service. Those who wait to prepare until the last minute or until after they have received the call to serve may not be ready and may even have their missions delayed" If you are already 18 (Elders) or 19 (Sisters), or are getting close to turning missionary age, you might be planning to leave in less than 2 years. Ideally, you will have been preparing for several years, but if your health is good this won't keep you from serving. Use whatever time you have left before you plan to submit your mission papers to prepare to the best of your ability- again, using sound medical advice from trusted sources. Just like get-rich-quick-schemes, shortcuts to achieve weight loss or "health" are never a good idea. Basic exercise (physical ability) requirements: To sum up Dr. Doty's assessment of the physical exercise ability requirements of a full-time missionary: "a missionary must be able to walk an average of 6 miles per day and ride a bicycle 12 miles a day". WALKING: Can you walk 6 miles in one day (either all at once or broken up throughout the day? You might need to do both!) and can you do it without a problem? Even if you don't think you are "out of shape," you might be sore for a while if you aren't used to walking that much. Your muscles will be sore and your feet will be sore (blisters, etc). And being sore will slow you down as a missionary. Eventually you will get used to walking so much, but its better to get used to it NOW vs. getting used to it as a missionary. I recommend starting slow with shorter distances and eventually working up to 6 miles if you aren't used to walking long distances. Ask your doctor for recommendations on how much walking to start with. I live in a part of the country where it is POURING rain for most of the year. As a missionary, you will need to walk whether it is raining or not. For now, you can take advantage of a treadmill if the weather is bad. However, if the weather is good enough, try to do most of your walking outside (because a treadmill doesn't accurately replicate missionary walking where you will be on uneven surfaces, stepping on rocks, etc). BIKING: You may or may not need to ride a bike, but the issue for you to consider now, is CAN YOU? You should be physically able to ride 12 miles, even if you don't end up in a mission/area with bikes. If you don't have a bike (or the weather is way too rainy to ride right now - like it is in our town!) you can practice on an exercise bike. Most missionaries who are on bikes probably don't bike 12 miles in one stretch, most likely the average 12 miles per day is spread out in smaller chunks over the day. But in some areas, you may need to bike many miles at a time. Whether it is small chunks of biking or 12 miles at one time, 12 miles is 12 miles...if you aren't used to biking that much, you are going to be hurting. If you are just starting biking (or exercise biking), start out slow and work your way up to 12 miles per day over time. Ask your doctor for recommendations on how much biking to start with. Dr. Doty suggests that future missionaries can prepare physically for missionary service by having a regular pattern of aerobic exercise (walking, running, or cycling) for at least an hour a day. Again, this is a general guidelines that doesn't take into account your personal physical limitations or medical conditions, so you will definitely want to check with your doctor to see if he/she would recommend something different for your specific situation. BMI/WEIGHT ISSUES: "The Missionary Department requires that missionaries have a body mass index no higher than 37. This is actually on the border between obesity and morbid obesity. Prospective missionaries should strive to keep their weight in the normal range, thereby avoiding obesity-related health problems. Being markedly under normal weight can also have serious health consequences" To determine your current BMI (body mass index), you can use an online BMI calculator like this, which takes your personal information like height and weight and calculates your BMI for you. Basically, the result will tell you whether you are considered medically underweight, overweight, etc. based on your height to weight ratio. It does not take into consideration body type and things like that, so please try not to freak out if you don't like your result. Your doctor is the best resource to help you determine what an appropriate BMI is for you. If you need to make changes to your lifestyle (food and exercise) to change your BMI, your doctor can also recommend the best way to do that. FOOD/DIET/NUTRITION: I already mentioned the importance of carefully studying and living the Word of Wisdom earlier in this post. Dr. Doty says, "Rather than living on sugar and fat, young people should learn to enjoy meals consisting of protein and fiber, such as lean meat, yogurt, vegetables, and fruit. Also, drinking more than 12 ounces of carbonated beverage per day is too much". ADDITIONAL PHYSICAL HEALTH CONCERNS: "Adequate sleep: Although sleep needs vary, young adults generally need to sleep seven to eight hours per day...Missionaries live a scheduled life. They are in bed by 10:30 p.m. and up by 6:30 a.m. every day. This schedule will be difficult unless prospective missionaries get into a similar routine well in advance of the call to service" "Meal preparation skills: ... I stress the word simple because missionaries often cook food on a hot plate or a single gas burner and may not have an oven. Every prospective missionary needs to know the basics of cooking and sanitary food handling" "Personal hygiene. Personal cleanliness and good grooming habits are vital to missionary success. Favorable first impressions are lasting. Clean hands also help missionaries stay healthy and prevent the spread of communicable diseases" "Skin problems. Acne is a common teenage problem. Those with a severe acne problem should get help from a medical doctor well before entering the Missionary Training Center. Some acne medicines require monitoring over time and are not used in the mission field" "Dental health. Prevention is the key to good dental health. This means a habit of brushing teeth at least morning and night, daily use of dental floss, and consistent visits to your dentist. Any required dental repair should be finished before the missionary recommendation is submitted. Orthodontic treatment—which often takes two years or more—must be completed before arrival at the MTC" (AND, we all know how long we often have to wait for dental appointments, so its better do get everything taken care of ASAP! You don't want to delay submitting your mission papers because you have to wait another 4 weeks for an appointment to get a cavity filled) "Chronic health issues. Headaches are a common, difficult health problem that may worsen during missionary service and that can be difficult to evaluate and treat in the field. Occasional stomach and bowel problems may also become chronic during missionary service. Heart problems and breathing problems such as asthma should be thoroughly evaluated before missionaries begin service. With proper treatment, many health problems become controllable, making missionary service possible if treatment continues throughout the mission...Prospective missionaries (who have bone or joint issues) must obtain appropriate orthopedic care well in advance (four to six months) of entering missionary service. A young man or woman who arrives at the MTC on crutches two weeks after knee surgery will not be able to walk the distance required in the mission field" "Immunizations. Those preparing to serve missions should obtain all available routine vaccinations and booster injections at appropriate ages. Well before beginning their missionary service, they should also receive any special immunizations required for the particular country where they will serve" Dr. Donald B. Doty has written an excellent article about preparing for missionary service that includes information on both physical and mental health called "Missionary Health Preparation" that you can read on lds.org here. All quotes used in this blog post are from this article. You can also find additional information on the church's official "Missionary Preparation - Physical and Emotional Health" page here.
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This past week's after school art class was great! We were able to get two art projects done in the allotted time and some children had a few minutes to sketch. Both of these projects are fun and colorful and easy to do. I've done them with preschoolers up through fourth graders and everyone seems to enjoy it! This time, I was able to show the children artwork from each artist and link the lessons to children's books about the artists. If you haven't checked out these books, please do! The first project is: Handy Andy's inspired by the blog Artolazzi. For this project, I shared the book: "Uncle Andy's," by James Warhola. What a lovely book! This is written by a nephew of Andy Warhol and is told from the child's perspective. James Warhola talks about visiting his Uncle Andy at his studio and all of the interesting projects and people he sees there. I really like this book. It is interesting to look at the illustrations and see all of the fun details. The book also reminds me that children are like little sponges, soaking up info and inspiration from their environments. Warhola speaks about how inspiring it was to be surrounded by all of the art objects and artwork in his Uncle Andy's studio and being able to see the process his Uncle went through to create his art (note: I brought in one of the Marilyn Monroe series of paintings for the children to view--it had repetition and color that I wanted to highlight with the project below). Handy Andys I saw this project on the blog: Artolazzi and loved it. I changed it a bit to use bright papers instead of paint for the backgrounds to speed things up a bit. I used a bright pad of paper I bought at the local copy store (Staples) which was 50 sheets of 11" x 14" paper (5 bright colors) for about $5. Supplies Needed: 1 sheet of bright paper 11" x 14" for the background 2 5.5"x 7" rectangles of bright paper (different colors than your background) 4 5.5"x 7" rectangles of bright paper (assorted brights so that the hands cut from these papers are different than the backgrounds) Pencil Scissors Glue stick Black tempera paint Paper plate for palette Directions: 1. I had the students select one 11" x 14" piece of bright paper for their background. In the above image, my background piece is yellow. 2. I then had them select two rectangles (5.5" x 7" each) these needed to be different than their background paper. These were glued down to the background so that it appeared the background is divided into four sections. Use the photo as a guide. In my example, I used a blue and a green rectangle. 3. I then handed out stacks of four rectangles (each 5.5" x 7") of assorted colors that had been stapled together. I had the students trace their hands onto the stack and cut through all four at once with their scissors to create four identical hand shapes. Remove the staples, arrange onto the background and glue down using the glue stick. Glue the fingers down well so they don't curl off of the page. 4. Once everything was glued down well, I had the students come over to the printing station where they could dip their hands into the black tempera I had placed in foam plates and then print onto their backgrounds over each of the hand prints. They came out great! The children had lots of fun with these and the bright colors really created an eye-popping display! These would be so nice for Mother's Day or Father's Day and they didn't take any time at all (maybe 30 minutes from start to finish). Coming soon: Part two of this post...15 minute Jackson Pollock paintings!
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You guys.... My kids are getting older. My oldest just turned 9 and he's been getting phone calls from a friend from school. I probably should let him call that friend back, but well, he uses my cell phone and my battery is almost always at 20% battery life when we think about it, and it's MY phone. Sometimes, I just want to use it. Back in the day, we had something called a landline. It was a universal phone for everyone in the house and the base was plugged into the wall. If you had a cordless phone, sometimes you'd have to worry about that phone being charged too, but if it was returned to it's base, and it wasn't lost, it wasn't a problem. This post is not sponsored, nor was I asked to write this post. This post has been written because this was a program that I liked for my kids. With that being said, this post does contain an Amazon Affiliate link which means that should you purchase from that link, I will receive a small commission. Neither product is being sponsored and all words are my own. These were much cheaper than a cellphone, so if it broke, you could replace it easily and a lot cheaper than you could replace a cell phone and if you missed a phone call, the caller could leave a message on the machine. You also didn't have to worry about your child's safety because they couldn't play games or text unknown people on a land line. If your child was talking to someone they shouldn't, you saw the phone call on the phone bill and it was kind of hard to hide from your parents when you were using a landline. Unfortunately, landlines are being used less and less each year and cell phones are now getting into the hands of grade school aged children. So what can you do to encourage your children's social interaction with friends without draining your own cell phone battery when you don't want your child to have their own cellphone? Messenger For Kids I asked some of my other parent friends and while they all suggested many things, the thing that kept reappearing in their suggestions was Messenger for Kids. I was very skeptical at first because I associate Messenger with Facebook and I definitely DID NOT want my kids to be on Facebook. After some research, though, I found out that they don't have to be. How Does it Work? Moms and dads everywhere... Messenger for kids is controlled by YOU! You can download this app onto a device that your child uses and then sign them up through your Facebook account. You decide who your child can talk to. If your child wants to talk to a friend, your child can send you an invite request and then you can decide whether or not you want your child to talk to that person. Strangers can't be added without your consent. Your kids can add a friend's code, but they won't be able to add that friend until you approve. If they don't have a code for that friend, they can search for them or add them by name, and again, they can't do that without your permission. This is the message your kids will have sent to you so you can add that person for them. Your child will be able to have conversations with friends and family. They'll be able to send funny stickers and kid friendly Gifs. And my favorite part about Kid's Messenger is that they can video chat their friends. As far as I've been able to tell, they can only chat to one person at a time. I love that my kids are able to talk to their grandparents when they'd like. Our Favorite Device to Use Kid's Messenger On Our kids use their Kid's Messenger on their Kindles. I love this because their Kindles are controlled by me. I can control how much time they use it and also what age friendly apps they can use. Their Kindle comes with a 2 year worry free warranty. If the screen cracks or it stops charging, you can get it replaced for free and each Kindle comes with a free year subscription of Free-Time Unlimited which gives them access to hundreds of kid friendly apps, learning tools, and books and like I said, you get to have control over everything. Your kids won't be able to access the internet to do shady things and can't download apps without your permission. The Kindle is also great because my children are asked to use some learning apps for school, as well. Sometimes they are assigned homework through those apps over break and I don't have to worry about my kids using my computer or using my own Kindle to do their thing. Conclusion I knew that some day, my kids were going to start socializing with their friends outside of school. That day came sooner than I thought it would and I'm not ready for it, but it's here. With so much technology these days, kids are able to talk to their friends in many different ways and it's our job as parents to make sure that our kids are safe when they do. I know that when I was a kid, chat rooms were a big thing and every once in a while, I'd get a message from someone I didn't know who wanted to do some shady things. I don't want that for my kids, so I'm glad that my kids can use a messenger that I approve of that can be monitored by me, but also allow my child the freedom that he needs to be able to socialize with his friends. What do you think about Kid's Messenger? Do you let your kids use technology? Who still has a landline besides my grandparents?
Hello! It's Kendall (future-missionary)! Last month I met with my Bishop and started working on my "mission papers" (online mission application). I still haven't submitted my "papers" yet, but I'm part-way done and I'm getting closer. Sometimes there are things you need to work on that take longer than planned (for some people, it's worthiness issues that need to be resolved over time. Others might be waiting until they have saved a certain amount of money. Others might need to get health issues under control before they submit their papers. Some people just have to wait until a certain date to make sure they are old enough - there is a limit to how early you can submit your papers. Basically, there are a lot of things that need to line up just right before the paperwork can be submitted). I don't turn 19 until the end of the year, and I hope to be able to submit my mission papers in the next few months and be out in the field at the end of the year or early 2019. Meanwhile, there is a lot of waiting. But there are a lot of things that need to be done (like the usual stuff- dentist appointments, etc). There are also a lot of other things that many people don't think about doing until after they receive their mission call (like picking out the scripture for your mission plaque or setting up a mission blog). I made a list of everything I could think of that needs to be done before I leave for the MTC that CAN be done before I have my mission call. Obviously, I can't start packing or buy mission-specific clothes yet, but there are still a lot of things that I can do without knowing where I will serve. To avoid getting depressed about things that I can't do yet because I don't have my papers in yet, this list is ONLY for things that can be done before my call arrives. Many of these things I've listed could wait until after I (finally) get my mission call, but I feel like any detail I can take care of now will make things less-stressful for me later AND doing some of these things now makes me feel like I'm not just sitting around doing nothing. I made a list of everything that I could think of that CAN be done between now and when I get my mission call. Your list may be different (depending on your preferences and what you have or haven't already done)...I didn't put "get a passport" or "get wisdom teeth removed" on my list because I already did those things earlier this year. My mom has a blog post about 15 things you can do while you're waiting to submit your mission papers and a lot of my ideas came from that post ("Starting your Mission Papers? 15 Things to do While You're Waiting for Your Call" which you can read HERE) - so you should check that out, because there are more ideas on there that I didn't put on my list (only because I already did them). b Here is my list (I hope this helps you come up with your own list!): __Temple Prep Class (last class for me was this past Sunday. I had to miss it because I had a council meeting, but I got the ok from my home ward Bishop, so we're good!) __Dental Appointment (I have a cavity that needs to be filled, appointment coming up) __Have dentist fill out dental paperwork __Renew my limited-use temple recommend (mine just expired) __Meet the BMI/weight requirements for a missionary (more info HERE) __Make small family photo album to show investigators/members __Make small personal family/friend photo album for myself __Print my pedigree chart __Practice sewing repairs (fix a hem, sew on a button, patch a hole, etc) __Set up a missionary blog __Meet with Bishop (monthly) __Make a list of my usernames/passwords/PIN#s __Make exercise plans for mission __Take a mission photo (for mission application) __Take missionary photos (for farewell invites, blog, social media, etc) __Take family group photos __Pick out the scripture for my mission plaque __Study Preach My Gospel __Memorize the headings in Preach My Gospel (more about this HERE) __Memorize Doctrine & Covenants Section 4, The Missionary Purpose, My Missionary Commission, The Standard of Truth, and the First Vision (free printables & more about this HERE) __Make a list of my favorite things (treats, etc) to leave for my parents (in case they want to send care packages) __Laminate pamphlets (A missionary serving in our Stake had a set of handouts that were laminated for his own use during lessons, etc. I want to have a set!) __Make & laminate a Plan of Salvation visual aid* __Schedule final doctor appointment to get medical paperwork done __Read the standard works (Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price) __Put together a useful sewing kit (only things I would need) __Put together a useful first aid kit __Make a list of what mission clothes/supplies I already have __Make a list of what mission clothes/supplies I know I still need (so far) *You MAY want to wait to make a plan of salvation visual aid. Some missions are stricter than others about creating your own visual aids and/or what they look like. And you might not be in an English-speaking area, so if you make a set with English words on it, that won't be much help.
Hey again! It’s Hayley here (@hayleyremdeart on Instagram), and today I wanted to talk about a big trend in bullet journalling - dutch doors. If you're curious to what these are, or simply want so inspiration - keep on reading! Supplies For Making Dutch Doors: Archer and Olive Journal – The lovely and thick mean the Dutch Doors are stronger than those in journals with thinner pages. Craft Knife and Cutting Board (Or Scissors) – See below why I recommend using a craft knife over scissors. Pencil – It is really important for these spreads to carefully plan out your ideas so you can make sure it has everything you need. Fineliners – My favourites are the Unipin fineliners as they’re waterproof, affordable and have a strong nib. Decorative Touch (optional) – This could be anything from washi to watercolour, or of course, nothing! I usually like to add a personal touch to my spreads so they’re more fun to use and look at. But First Up, What Are Dutch Doors? A big trend in bullet journaling the past few years has been something called ‘Dutch Door’ spreads. In short, these are spreads where some of the pages have been cut down, giving the illusion of literal Dutch Doors (a door that is cut in half horizontally, meaning the top half can open independently of the bottom half). Here’s a picture of one to give you a visual idea: I’m not sure who started the trend (and I did really try to find them but I couldn’t, so if you know the originator of this trend please let me know!), but these spreads have been really popular. They’re extremely fun to make, and as well as making a spread look really unique and aesthetically pleasing, they can also be really useful! Depending on how you make them, they can give the illusion of more space on one spread, as the cut down pages are ‘enclosed’ in the outside pages. For example, in this spread the cut pages are decent sized dailies, but they’re perceived as one weekly spread: Dutch doors have completely evolved from one horizontal cut, and now any spreads that feature a cut page are usually referred to as Dutch Doors. There are some amazingly clever and unique spreads influenced by this trend, and later in this blog I’ll show you some of them! But first, lets talk about how they’re made. How To Create Dutch Doors Dutch Door spreads are extremely pretty and functional, but maybe you’re seeing all these gorgeous spreads with cut pages, and thinking: “surely this will ruin the binding” or “what if I make a mistake and ruin my journal?” I thought the exact same thing when I first saw them. And I’ll admit - that first cut I made in my journal was absolutely terrifying. But now I’m hooked! Whilst there are many ways to cut your journal to make Dutch Doors, these are the supplies I recommend, and also some important tips to keep in mind when you’re cutting near the binding. Tip One: Use A Craft Knife For cutting the pages, I really recommend in investing in a craft knife and cutting board. It is much more precise, so it is a lot easier cut pages close to the binding rather than through it (it is almost impossible to do this with scissors without also ripping the page). By making a clean cut, you can leave a small margin of paper so the page is still attached at the binding, and you are ensuring the page doesn’t rip past the binding and through to the other side of the page. When this happens, the other page becomes loose, and can even fall out. This may be ok if the other page is later in the journal and hasn’t been used yet, but you don’t want to lose a page that has been written on! Tip Two: Don’t Cut Too Many Pages In A Row There is not hard fast rule for how many pages you can cut, but I find the Archer and Olive Journal can manage at least 4 pages being cut at the binding, but I haven’t pushed it further than that. For other journals this may be less, but the key is when you’re trying it out, be flexible with your plans so you can cut less pages if needed. Tip Three: Space Them Out When you’re cutting over 4/5 pages in a row, try and have at least one or two spreads in between the Dutch Door spreads to give the binding a little break. If you keep using them, the binding remaining will have more and more pressure on it and have a higher likelihood of breaking. Tip Four: Placement Matters Ok, we’re about to get technical here… so try stick with me. Most journals are usually made in folio format. This means that for an A5 book, A4 pages are folded in half (each half is a leaf) - creating four pages of a book when text is printed on each side of the leaf. Usually, several folio sheets will be inserted inside one another to form a group or "gathering" of leaves, and binding several of these gatherings together forms a book. Are you still with me? Well basically the pages at the edge of the gatherings are usually stronger when some of the page is cut. This is because it has more pages between the folios holding it in. Whilst you can still cut pages near the middle of a gathering, I would try not to cut as much in a row, as the remaining page has led support and it is more likely to become fragile. Different Types Of Dutch Doors Now you know the basics, lets have a look at some different Dutch Door spread ideas! (Also, I am totally making up the names of these variations; so don’t think they are official names!!) The Original Dutch Door This layout it what I would consider the ‘standard’ Dutch Door, and you can see why these spreads got their names! This layout is great for fitting more room for your daily boxes into your weeklies. You can also include more sections such as trackers or memories. The Vertical Dutch Door Here is an example: This layout allows the first page to be ‘extended’ so you can fit more on it, but as you can see, the next page is still visible so it feels part of the same spread. This means you have more room for different sections – I used the first page for a graph, and then a section for listings and plans. The Combined Dutch Door One of the best functions of a Dutch Door is to connect related spreads together. For example, you can make several vertical Dutch Doors in a row for your weeklies. I love to add tabs to allow you to easily flick through them or pick the right week instantly. Another example is for pairing similar collections together. This saves time as I only had to make the header of the section once, but it is visible from all the separate sections! The Extender Dutch Door As you can see, this allows one spread to fit all 12 months of finances with one spread by cleverly creating a Dutch Door to show January - June or July - December depending on which page you have open. The Decorative Dutch Door These Dutch Doors are definitely for aesthetics rather than function, and they really show you how much fun you can have with these layouts: In this spread the left page is cut down into the shape of a Harry Potter character, and as you can see a weekly is on the next page. Similar idea to the previous one, this layout was super fun to make and use! The ‘Door’ Dutch Door Exactly what it says on the tin really. This door: is Dutch Door! The Hidden Dutch Door Can you see where it is? Here you go: Now this one is so extra, but it was so much fun to create – and use! The Booklet Dutch Door Now I just want to say, I really don’t recommend this one as the pages were cut very small, putting a lot of stress on the one binding at the bottom. But look how fun it ended up! More Dutch Door Inspiration That’s enough of my spreads. Here are some amazing examples from other people: Lisa did a month of amazing Dutch Doors. Here's one, but you NEED to check them all out! (Created by @the.whimsical.journal on Instagram) Liddy was actually the person who inspired me to do more out-of-the-box Dutch Doors, so you should definitely check out more of her creations! (Created by @instaliddy on Instagram) I love everything that Susanne makes. This Dutch Door month that she created was so different to all her usual creations, and it was so amazing! (Created by @isabelhoops on Instagram) I love this spread by Susanne, it gives space for a few more days! (Created by @plansbythildra on Instagram) Serena has really gorgeous spreads, and she regularly creates some really lovely and functional Dutch Doors. (Created by @sea_journal on Instagram) And finally, these staggered Dutch Doors by Marie are so helpful! You can easily see the sections and all her theme ideas are in one section! (Created by @metro_boulot_bujo on Instagram) Hopefully I’ve given you some confidence and inspiration to get out the craft knife and create some Dutch Door spreads in you bullet journal. If I have, I would love to see your spreads, so tag me on Instagram (@hayleyremdeart) and use #hayleyremdeinspired to get the chance to get your creations featured in my stories!
Follow along with Moms on Call's week by week guide and put the mealtime battle on the back burner!
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Deoarece luna aceasta sărbătorim femeile-fotograf, vă povestim despre cea mai cunoscută artistă care şi-a fotografiat familia într-un mod mai neobişnuit.
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Ideally, you will already be healthy (physically and emotionally) before you even start thinking about preparing for a mission. In reality, most prospective missionaries probably have some things they can work on to improve their health - either their physical fitness or their emotional health. This blog post will focus on preparing for the level of physical fitness that is required for LDS missionaries, but we will also feature a post on emotional (mental) health) in a future post. If you need more information about emotional health guidelines for LDS missionaries now, don't worry- I will post a link to the Church's official page on the subject at the end of this post. There seems be an infinite supply of advice on how to "get healthy" or lose/gain weight and if you ask 100 people their opinion on the healthiest way to eat or the best way to exercise, you're probably going to get 100 different answers. I am not a medical professional, but in general I will start off by recommending TWO things for future missionaries: #1- Follow the advice of trusted medical professionals (such as your primary care doctor). #2- Do your best to follow the Word of Wisdom. I'm going to assume that you already understand that the "Primary answers" basics of the Word of Wisdom (no alcohol, no tobacco, no coffee or tea, no illegal drugs) are definitely required of any prospective missionary. But those 4 "don'ts" aren't the Word of Wisdom - they are only a part of the Word of Wisdom. What else is explicitly stated (or implied) in what we call the Word of Wisdom (Doctrine & Covenants section 89)? Hint- not everything is a "don't"... what ARE we told to do? Sometimes people tend to overlook the "do's" The Word of Wisdom was given to help us know how to best to care for our mortal bodies. Sometimes OFTEN, the principles Word of Wisdom doesn't mix well with fad diets or health trends. OR, you may have certain health restrictions (such as a legitimate gluten allergy) that will make keeping part of the Word of Wisdom impossible. You will need to discern for yourself (using your knowledge, medical advice, and most importantly the Spirit) what is appropriate for your specific body. This applies to what you eat as well as what exercise is appropriate for you. Just like they state in every exercise video, consult a doctor before starting an exercise regimen! Your doctor is aware of your physical limitations (due to medical conditions or concerns) and can help you to understand what is appropriate for your body and your fitness goals. Did you know that you need your doctor to sign off that you're physically (and emotionally) fit to serve a mission? They will determine whether they believe that you are healthy enough to handle the physical requirements of serving a mission. If they don't (in their professional opinion) feel that they can sign off on your health form, they won't do it! It is better to know what needs to be done ahead of time! I have suggested to several missionaries that they might consider visiting their primary care doctor WAY before it is time to submit their papers (maybe even a year or 2 in advance if you have serious medical concerns or significant weight issues). The reason for this visit would be to explain your plan to serve a mission (even if you aren't 100% sure you are going yet) and discuss what changes you would need to make to your lifestyle in order for them to feel comfortable with approving you for missionary service. Your doctor may or may not be LDS, but even if you don't live in a highly-populated by Church members, many doctors are at least somewhat familiar with LDS mission papers because all prospective missionaries needs them signed by their doctor. Even if your doctor isn't familiar with the mission requirements, you can explain what is expected as far as missionary health (see below). There are BMI (height/weight) requirements AND requirements for physical ability (which I will explain below), so your doctor could say "Well, I'm not sure you can handle these physical requirements, I want you to walk 6 miles a day for 3 months and then come back after you've done that" or "I need you to lose 40 pounds before I can sign this"... can you imagine how disappointing that would be if you thought you were all ready to submit your mission papers? It would be better to know AHEAD OF TIME, so that you can make any changes that you may be required to make. Donald B. Doty M.D. (Chairman of Missionary Department Health Services) says, "I recommend that health preparation begin at least two years in advance of the anticipated missionary service. Those who wait to prepare until the last minute or until after they have received the call to serve may not be ready and may even have their missions delayed" If you are already 18 (Elders) or 19 (Sisters), or are getting close to turning missionary age, you might be planning to leave in less than 2 years. Ideally, you will have been preparing for several years, but if your health is good this won't keep you from serving. Use whatever time you have left before you plan to submit your mission papers to prepare to the best of your ability- again, using sound medical advice from trusted sources. Just like get-rich-quick-schemes, shortcuts to achieve weight loss or "health" are never a good idea. Basic exercise (physical ability) requirements: To sum up Dr. Doty's assessment of the physical exercise ability requirements of a full-time missionary: "a missionary must be able to walk an average of 6 miles per day and ride a bicycle 12 miles a day". WALKING: Can you walk 6 miles in one day (either all at once or broken up throughout the day? You might need to do both!) and can you do it without a problem? Even if you don't think you are "out of shape," you might be sore for a while if you aren't used to walking that much. Your muscles will be sore and your feet will be sore (blisters, etc). And being sore will slow you down as a missionary. Eventually you will get used to walking so much, but its better to get used to it NOW vs. getting used to it as a missionary. I recommend starting slow with shorter distances and eventually working up to 6 miles if you aren't used to walking long distances. Ask your doctor for recommendations on how much walking to start with. I live in a part of the country where it is POURING rain for most of the year. As a missionary, you will need to walk whether it is raining or not. For now, you can take advantage of a treadmill if the weather is bad. However, if the weather is good enough, try to do most of your walking outside (because a treadmill doesn't accurately replicate missionary walking where you will be on uneven surfaces, stepping on rocks, etc). BIKING: You may or may not need to ride a bike, but the issue for you to consider now, is CAN YOU? You should be physically able to ride 12 miles, even if you don't end up in a mission/area with bikes. If you don't have a bike (or the weather is way too rainy to ride right now - like it is in our town!) you can practice on an exercise bike. Most missionaries who are on bikes probably don't bike 12 miles in one stretch, most likely the average 12 miles per day is spread out in smaller chunks over the day. But in some areas, you may need to bike many miles at a time. Whether it is small chunks of biking or 12 miles at one time, 12 miles is 12 miles...if you aren't used to biking that much, you are going to be hurting. If you are just starting biking (or exercise biking), start out slow and work your way up to 12 miles per day over time. Ask your doctor for recommendations on how much biking to start with. Dr. Doty suggests that future missionaries can prepare physically for missionary service by having a regular pattern of aerobic exercise (walking, running, or cycling) for at least an hour a day. Again, this is a general guidelines that doesn't take into account your personal physical limitations or medical conditions, so you will definitely want to check with your doctor to see if he/she would recommend something different for your specific situation. BMI/WEIGHT ISSUES: "The Missionary Department requires that missionaries have a body mass index no higher than 37. This is actually on the border between obesity and morbid obesity. Prospective missionaries should strive to keep their weight in the normal range, thereby avoiding obesity-related health problems. Being markedly under normal weight can also have serious health consequences" To determine your current BMI (body mass index), you can use an online BMI calculator like this, which takes your personal information like height and weight and calculates your BMI for you. Basically, the result will tell you whether you are considered medically underweight, overweight, etc. based on your height to weight ratio. It does not take into consideration body type and things like that, so please try not to freak out if you don't like your result. Your doctor is the best resource to help you determine what an appropriate BMI is for you. If you need to make changes to your lifestyle (food and exercise) to change your BMI, your doctor can also recommend the best way to do that. FOOD/DIET/NUTRITION: I already mentioned the importance of carefully studying and living the Word of Wisdom earlier in this post. Dr. Doty says, "Rather than living on sugar and fat, young people should learn to enjoy meals consisting of protein and fiber, such as lean meat, yogurt, vegetables, and fruit. Also, drinking more than 12 ounces of carbonated beverage per day is too much". ADDITIONAL PHYSICAL HEALTH CONCERNS: "Adequate sleep: Although sleep needs vary, young adults generally need to sleep seven to eight hours per day...Missionaries live a scheduled life. They are in bed by 10:30 p.m. and up by 6:30 a.m. every day. This schedule will be difficult unless prospective missionaries get into a similar routine well in advance of the call to service" "Meal preparation skills: ... I stress the word simple because missionaries often cook food on a hot plate or a single gas burner and may not have an oven. Every prospective missionary needs to know the basics of cooking and sanitary food handling" "Personal hygiene. Personal cleanliness and good grooming habits are vital to missionary success. Favorable first impressions are lasting. Clean hands also help missionaries stay healthy and prevent the spread of communicable diseases" "Skin problems. Acne is a common teenage problem. Those with a severe acne problem should get help from a medical doctor well before entering the Missionary Training Center. Some acne medicines require monitoring over time and are not used in the mission field" "Dental health. Prevention is the key to good dental health. This means a habit of brushing teeth at least morning and night, daily use of dental floss, and consistent visits to your dentist. Any required dental repair should be finished before the missionary recommendation is submitted. Orthodontic treatment—which often takes two years or more—must be completed before arrival at the MTC" (AND, we all know how long we often have to wait for dental appointments, so its better do get everything taken care of ASAP! You don't want to delay submitting your mission papers because you have to wait another 4 weeks for an appointment to get a cavity filled) "Chronic health issues. Headaches are a common, difficult health problem that may worsen during missionary service and that can be difficult to evaluate and treat in the field. Occasional stomach and bowel problems may also become chronic during missionary service. Heart problems and breathing problems such as asthma should be thoroughly evaluated before missionaries begin service. With proper treatment, many health problems become controllable, making missionary service possible if treatment continues throughout the mission...Prospective missionaries (who have bone or joint issues) must obtain appropriate orthopedic care well in advance (four to six months) of entering missionary service. A young man or woman who arrives at the MTC on crutches two weeks after knee surgery will not be able to walk the distance required in the mission field" "Immunizations. Those preparing to serve missions should obtain all available routine vaccinations and booster injections at appropriate ages. Well before beginning their missionary service, they should also receive any special immunizations required for the particular country where they will serve" Dr. Donald B. Doty has written an excellent article about preparing for missionary service that includes information on both physical and mental health called "Missionary Health Preparation" that you can read on lds.org here. All quotes used in this blog post are from this article. You can also find additional information on the church's official "Missionary Preparation - Physical and Emotional Health" page here.
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FREE STEM Challenge CardsDelivered to Your Inbox! These easy STEM activities will keep the kids busy at home while incorporating science, technology, engineering, and math learning into the day. Grab your STEM challenge cards today!
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