Weekend of Crafts on the Cheap

First - just take yourself over here. Kristine McKay Designs is such a fantastic place to get fun ideas for crafts and decor. I have to say it's one of my favorites. Here are some of the reasons I love her: (dearly not queerly as Kim would say!)

1. She has great taste. I find many sites where I like something they've shared but the majority of the crafts are just not my style. Not so with Kristine! I love it all!

2. She shares. She has created these lovely things and then she explains them! And shares files so you can copy her exactly! It is so irksome to see a "craft blog" with just pics and no explanations of how they did it. I'm not a creative gal, just a copycat so I appreciate directions! And really, her downloads so you can have the same graphics she used are such a bonus!

3. She does things that are easy and reasonable in cost. This is very important to me as I just can't spend lots of money without getting hives - or the heebies at least. :)

I have to say there is a bad side to all this craftiness... I now want a Silhouette cutter. Badly. I need vinyl.

So here is a wreath for next year based on Kristine's Easter wreath made with supplies from the Dollar Tree. Check out her post at the site linked above. My wreath definitely needs a little something to perk it up. I have no idea what that something may be. Ideas?

And here is the Easter wreath. Disregard the bow. Please. I'm bowtying-deficient. I'm trying!

The wreaths at JoAnne's (speckled eggs on Spanish moss) were $30 a piece. I kid you not. I cheated and didn't spray paint the Dollar Tree eggs like Kristine did, I just bought a package from JoAnne's (on a tip from Kristine) for $3. And comparing the 2 wreaths I'm thinking I may rearrange my eggs. But I did it while watching Twilight. I was distracted. ;)

And here we have my next attempt at crafting. I'm hoping that this...

plus this...

will equal this.

This is from this site. The plaque she bought (Happiness...) is from the Dollar Tree as well. She painted everything and then antiqued it. I have a plaque as well that I did this to - just has a different saying.

Aren't these hideous? Why would you put yellow stripes down the sides? Silly people.

LDS Cannery in Aurora

OK - I have never understood how this place works and I'm so excited to finally know! Now maybe I'll take advantage of it! At church when I ask people they never seem to have a clue what to do with it either. So hopefully this will be educational for all of us.

It is at 3233 Fraser St in Aurora. It's between 10th and 8th streets west of Champers road. Their # is 303-371-7650.

You can go buy things without going to help with canning. The gal I spoke with on the phone mentioned Potato Pearls (you must buy a case), pancake mix, and 6-packs of pinto beans, rice or red wheat as items that were available to buy. (White wheat will most likely be available at the beginning of the year).

If you want to go and buy things like wheat, sugar or other "dry pack" (meaning they are canned w/o liquid and are dry materials) then you just need to show up Mon-Th from 9-3:30pm and buy what you want and then you pkg it yourself. The price list for dry items is found on providentliving.org under the Family Home Storage section. Here's a link to the form .

If you want "wet pack" items (like applesauce, meat) then they offer those on a set schedule throughout the year. They email out schedules for the next 2 months so just give them your info to sign up to receive the emails. These sessions are 4-5 hours and by appt. only - they almost always offer one evening session at 6pm for these.

It is a church-run cannery, but you don't have to be LDS (Latter-Day Saint) to go. If you want to organize your own group to come you probably do need to get in touch with your local LDS congregation - you need at least 2 people with you who have been certified to run the canning equipment.
And you can find one near you by checking out providentliving.org.

Free Music - and a great reminder for me

I don't think I've shared this with you so here you go! I was listening to a CD I burned last night that I made originally to give out to my YW on their birthdays. Since I put music on there that I liked I kept one for me! Instead of a "mixed tape" burned from my library (technically illegal) I found some great resources online and wanted to share.

http://www.ldsmusiconline.com/free_music_downloads.html
I especially loved "Day of Tears" by Hilary Weeks.

http://www.lds.org/cm/display/0,17631,6611-1,00.html
The seminary songs! "The Olive Tree" is beautiful.

I also checked the websites of artists I liked and downloaded some there. These kind of downloads are usually promos and only available for a short time. For example I love "Healing Waters" by Michelle Tumes, an Aussie Christian artist. I was able to get "Lovely Day", a new track from her album, for free last year. It's no longer available, but just an example of something to look for.

And speaking of "Healing Waters" - here's a link to a YouTube of the DVD where I first heard this song. Our local missionaries presented this at a fireside for the youth and I bawled like a baby! I remembered all the feelings I had felt during my similar journey and I was very touched. Thanks to the San Jose, CA mission for putting that out! The Elders gave me a copy of my own and I (and my kids) love to watch it. It's a nice FHE that you could flesh out for older kids with some discussion and maybe a BoM placement challenge. For the fireside all the missionaries talked about how they did (or didn't) share their faith with others and why we might find excuses to be afraid to do so. Then we watched the video. Anyway - an awesome night and I was grateful to be a part of it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSKUEVamgc0 The people in the flick are the actual people involved.

And if you're interested in the actual DVD ask your Elders/Sisters if they have it. I went to tell a friend about it and it turns out she had seen it a while back when her ward's missionaries showed it.

Missionary Tales

Rick is gone again to Alabama and so I thought I'd pass the time remembering how cool he is and reading his mission diary. :) He was an amazing young man and I love to hear how excited he was and how committed to his mission and to serving the Lord. I found some funny stories in a book put together by his mission president. The missionaries wrote in weekly to the Pres to report and share what had happened that week. There were 80 some pages so I didn't read the whole thing but there were two that caught my eye as I was skimming:


Elder & Sis. Woodbury - Rockaway 1 - Dec 11, 1994 - "NEW CONVERT ADVERTISES - HAS 5 ATTEND HER FIRST FHE - We had just given Tina Jordan the second New Member Discussion, ending with the commitment invitation to "organize and conduct a family home evening next Monday."
Tina lives alone. She runs her real estate office from her home. Her only daughter, Debra, died at the age of 14. Tina's husband ran off with a woman from Japan. Bur fervent and imaginative Tina believes that if living Apostles ask her to do something, God will open the way for her. So last night as we reviewed, she casually apologized for mis-timing her first FHE, but resolved to do better next Monday evening. Puzzled, I asked if she had held it alone. "No" she said, "I just told the group that next week I would be better organized." I asked "which group is this and how many?" She said "Five!" "You mean you had five of your relatives come and share FHE with you?"
"Well, no," she apologized, "I just advertised and got only 5 people off the street, but next time I'll have more." Tina apparently not knowing that it wouldn't work, wrote with a crayon on the side of a cardboard box that each Monday night from 6 to 8, she was holding FHE, a gospel discussion, and that anyone wishing to share it with her was welcome to come. She taped it to her front window. She was late getting prepared, but right at 6 pm, a man from Trinidad, with his wife and teenage daughter, knocked on the door. When she was a little slow to open, he ran around the back and knocked again. He was anxious for FHE. After a brief introduction and planning for the following Monday, as they were leaving, two other young women knocked on her door. Now she has 5 for next Monday. How many more may come.
Next time any member says that they can't hold FHE, because it is too hard to get all the family together, I will relay this story and ask "Have you tried advertising?"


Elder Mavy/Nicklaus - DL - Uniondale 11 Sp - Oct 3, 1994 - "NO FEAR - BIKE ACCIDENT AND BIKE THIEVES - A car knocked my bike out from under me. Both myself and the bike were OK. Then about 30 minutes later, I was held up by a couple of teenagers with a knife, who wanted my bike. I started asking them "find out" questions and they eventually gave up saying "You ask too many questions!" and lost interest. I never once felt afraid for myself or for losing the bike, which I had no intention of ever giving over. I felt that the Lord protects us when we are obedient and hard working."


:)

Mara went home today

From Mara's site:

9/22/08

Mara passed away this morning at 8:12am. Her body now rests peacefully and her spirit has returned to her Heavenly Father and her Savior. Thank you again for your thoughts and prayers - they have been felt in abundance.

So we've been a bit emotional today. We heard last night that this was probable but it's so difficult to swallow. I feel grateful for my little ones and yet I am breaking inside for Heather and Bryan, Max, Natalie, Katrina and their families (of which we are a part).

Mara is Ashlyn's age - just starting 1st grade, 6 years old, cute, loves to write and draw... It's just so easy to see my little girl in her when I read Heather and Bryan's posts. It's a bit distant for Rick, as he doesn't know Mara, but I feel her loss keenly. I think mothers are that way.

I had a good long cry this morning (and follow up sessions throughout the day that I'm sure aren't finished yet), just like I did about this time last year when I received the email telling the family about Mara's condition. Ashlyn and Nathan came in today and wanted to know what was wrong and I have to say that I didn't really want to tell them. Ashlyn calls Mara her "friend" and prays for her ALL the time. I knew it would be crushing. I feel sad that they never knew each other here on earth, but it's sweet to know that they'll meet again just a little later. We knew Mara's condition hadn't improved and recently there was a point where I was ready to pack up and drive to Washington to visit Mara when Ashlyn had a long weekend off from school. I knew it was silly and impulsive (driving for 4 days by myself) but I really wanted our little girls to meet. I know they would have loved each other. Well, of course I did tell the kids why I was crying and at first I'm not sure that they knew what to do - how to react. I talked to them about how my sadness was not for Mara, but for those who love her and are separated from her for a time. I tried to emphasize how happy and free Mara is now - how she can dance and draw and laugh and eat yummy things and run and play and be with her family in Heaven. It was still sad, but I think it was helpful for them to see that for Mara this is a release from pain and frustration. She is whole again.

This past week/end I've tried to prepare a few Family Home Evening lessons to get some completely ready to go so I don't have to scramble. I scrapped those lessons for tonight and think it is important that we have a lesson about the Plan of Salvation. Because the knowledge we have that life and families are eternal, that death is just a blip in our lives, and that we are all children of God who started with Him and will return to Him is why we can have a measure of peace when so many others do not.

I remember a roommate I had in college - Gracie. I remember vividly a conversation that we had late one night in the room we shared about death. She was a born-again Christian. She was very active (as was her mother) in her church. Her father had died before he had decided to follow any particular religion and as a result, Gracie considered her father to not have been "saved". She bawled like a baby as she told me this. She cried because her religion taught her that because of this - because he had not been baptized - that he was currently in HELL. I was blown away that she believed this and embraced a religion that taught her that her wonderful, loving father was in hell. With the devil. As if he had done some terrible, unspeakable sin and deserved punishment. I wasn't going to any church at the time but I KNEW that that couldn't be true. God is not like that. He is a God of mercy and love and I knew that what Gracie believed was not right. That is not how things work. What about all the people on earth who have never even heard of Christ, of his atonement and sacrifice for us? People who, through no decision of their own - perhaps time or distance or the place where they lived - were prevented from having a knowledge of Christ? I told her my feelings. That God was Love and loved her and her father and would never be so harsh. I told her that it made no sense - of course her Dad was in heaven - he hadn't been a bad person. But she was adamant and ended our conversation in a rage that I was trying to tell her differently than what she had been taught. I was stunned. How blessed I was was to later find a church that taught exactly what I knew all along - that life is eternal and does not end nor begin with mortality. We will all have a life after this in which we will again meet our Savior. After this life our spirits will be at peace and if we haven't accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ in this life we will be taught in the life to come and have the chance to kneel at the Savior's feet and accept him. Doesn't that just resonate? I know it did with me when I heard it. What kind of God would penalize you for not having heard of Christ and therefore not being baptized and living his commandments? Held to a law you know nothing about? Totally not fair and, of course, that's not how He works. But so many people don't know that.

And so, tonight, I'm going to formally go over exactly what this life is, how we came here, and where we are going. We talk about this informally so much that it won't be new to my kids but I want to give them the vocabulary and some visuals so that they REALLY understand and can KNOW and have the peace that all of our family has right now. They can KNOW that Mara's had a BIG hug from Jesus himself, and her grandmas and granpas, cousins, and friends and everyone that's passed on before her. My kids can know that we are here to live and grow and learn and try and eventually to die and return home. I'm excited to share this with them again and again and I hope they'll be able to share this with others. Because to think like Gracie did - that would be hell.

Temple Time

I can't remember if I've posted this before or not - and it won't mean anything to some of you...

But here's a quick reminder to go to the temple.

Valentine's Dance!

Our church always puts on a Stake (lots of congregations in the same geographical area) family dance in February. This was the Saturday before Valentine's this year and the day that we got back from out night alone. It was a blast for the kiddos - even though this was day one of what was to be Nathan's first cold this year.

Here is Rick dancing with the kids (in the shirt that he HATES but he knows I LOVE!). He must have the best darn shoulders out there! He looks so yummy in anything that accentuates that (or hugs the chest - another personal favorite of mine). He's built like a super hero! Triangle Man... Triangle Man...

Here we have Ashlyn decorating the black paper they had the walls. Such a fun idea!

And here's Nathan doing the same...

And finally, here's Olivia's mommy. She's showing Ashlyn what it would like if her mommy was cool and could dance with any semblance of rhythm.

Super sad - what a tender heart!

Lots of you know our beloved prophet Gordon B. Hinckley passed away a little over a week ago. Ashlyn has always handled death very well - pets, her great grandpa, etc. So I was surprised at her reaction when she heard her prophet had passed away.

She cried at his funeral as well and I am reminded again at how in tune with the Spirit this little angel is. She is such an example to me.

The wise man built his house upon the rock...

That was Rick's Family Night lesson this past week. Care to venture a guess as to why?

Ward Christmas Party

The day after our crazy pot pie, sewing, cleaning, work party we were at it again with the ward Christmas Party. (This was a bad week - literally something every single night!)

We started in the chapel with a presentation and songs then moved to the cultural hall for a ham dinner. They served us in courses so the dinner pic I have is when we were just munching on rolls. :)

Then we had caroling and (though it wasn't on the agenda) dancing.

And then we heard some loud "HO HO HO"s and who should appear but Santa Claus! BTW - Ashlyn asked for a Jack-in-the-box. HUH? That was not something Santa would have thought of for a Kindergartener! They both gave Santa a big hug before getting their treat (pencil and super cool gum balls in a cylinder with attached toy!)

Tonight's FHE

So tonight we Halloween Family Night. While dinner was baking Rick helped the kids carve their pumpkins. Then we ate and after dinner we told the story from the friend about Pumpkins and Candles. (We lit the Jack-o-lanterns on the hearth while we read). We had flannel board pics to help us tell the story and afterward we turned down the lights and looked at the kids' Jack-o-lanterns. We talked about the light of Christ that's inside each of us and how it burns brightly for all to see when we're living like we should. We discussed the boy in the story and how he was able to repent after "dimming" his light and what kind of choices he made (and could have made). It was great!

Next we went to the kitchen and brought out our laminated pumpkins to decorate. I made these last year by printing pumpkins and various pumpkin parts onto cardstock and then laminating them. We use the sticky tack (you know - like gum kinda but removable?) stuff to arrange eyes, a stem, nose and mouth. My family is so creative! Mine's your standard pumpkin face, but Ashlyn must have used each item on her pumpkin and Rick was so tricky! He used the pointy eyes as ears! Such imagination!

Trunk or treat

Fun! We had our church's trunk-or-treat on Saturday and thought we'd share some pics! We started with chili and rollss, then we went through the different rooms to collect goodies! It was a fall carnival with bowling, fishing booth, beanbag toss, spook alley, cake walk, musical chairs, spin for a prize, etc.

Then we all walked around the the parking lot from trunk to trunk for candy.

FHE

So last week we did our 2nd annual "We love Fall" family home evening. We went on a little nature walk and had the kids fill bags with fall leaves of different colors, shapes and sizes - whatever they liked. (Nathan wanted to add berries, sticks and rocks but we had to veto that plan).

Then we drove around and talked about what beautiful fall colors God made for us here, had a little science lesson on why leaves change color in autumn and went back home for a little crafty time.
We took the leaves and had the kids make wax paper collages with them. (You take the leaves and iron them between two pieces of wax paper.) They each have one in the kitchen window, their bedroom windown and they each made a smaller one for daddy's office window. (Yeah - he's that cool - he has a view).



Fun!

Father and Sons Campout

Our camper's first trip! Rick went up with Nathan and our friend Nate and his son Tyson. It was a stake function so there were quite a few people there and lots of fun BOY activities! They slept in a bit compared the rest of the camp so the vittles were scarce for breakfast (but hey, why break the trend? Rick forgot most all of their dinner at home the night before) but they had a good time. :) One of the little boys got lost (scary!) but was found relatively soon and surprisingly close to camp. Nathan and Tyson had fun - and Nathan LOVED Rick's hammock. Since mommy wasn't around they could do "loop the loop"s with abandon. :) Looks like a fun trip!

June Visiting Teaching

There is a blog that I love to read. The gal's name is Heather and just about every month she posts here visiting teaching handout for the month. And wow does she go all out!

This month her gals got a big drink container with a spigot at the bottom (like the ones you make sun tea in) filled with cups and drink mixes like Kool Aid and Crystal Light. Then she had vinyl applied that said, "A little XXXXX Family Refreshment". So cute! Well, I took a page from her book this month and, even though WalMart was out of the containers, I think I came up with something cute!
I gave them each a water bottle and attached a baggie with some "Fulfill" fitness water packets. They are packets of powder that you add to your water bottle, shake, and voila! You have a tasty drink! Then I made a quick card and inserted some thoughts from this month's message.

Here is what is inside the STRENGTH card:

(front side)
The Visiting Teaching message this month is about allowing Heavenly Father to work in our lives by standing strong and immovable. The quote that I love best from the message is by Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He says, in part, “Your quiet, uncompromising determination to live a righteous life will couple you to inspiration and power beyond your capacity now to understand… You can qualify through that divine power to be instruments in the hands of God to accomplish what you could not do alone.”
If we are living our lives in the best way we know how, He will strengthen us. He can fortify us, lift us, and help us do more than we ever thought possible. I included the water to remind you of what we all can be - pure and open to His spirit. And if we let Him into our lives we can be strengthened, more vibrant, more loving, more forgiving, more courageous and more fulfilled in every way! We hope you have a great month!
With love,
Carol and Erika
Your Visiting Teachers

(back side)
I searched the scriptures for “strength” and found some wonderful verses to accompany the message this month. I hope you have the time to read through them and be inspired!

Psalms 27:14 Zech. 10:12
Eph. 3:16 Eph. 6:11
Phil 4:13 Prov. 3:5

And Ether 12:27 - And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

I loved them! And the message this month was great don't you think? Well, Carol and I are heading out tonight to visit the last of our ladies so I'd better jet!

Hope you're enjoying the first official day of summer!

General Conference

Since none of us were feeling all that great we did General Conference over the internet. Ashlyn and Nathan were very excited about playing their harmonicas the whole time so I had to convince them that it wasn't really appropriate when we (that would be me mostly) were trying to listen to the speakers and the prayer. I wasn't totally mean though - I told them it was ENTIRELY appropriate for them to play along with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir when they sang.

Edible Tombs

Here's the snack for our Palm Sunday FHE. Notice the "stone" Nilla wafer that's been rolled away...

Easter Week

This week we're doing mini FHE's each night. We started on Palm Sunday and will go through Easter. It has been so nice! We are using a different Gospel Art Kit picture each night to discuss and then we tape them up over the fireplace in order so we can see the progression throughout the week. We are basing what we did on Melanie's ideas at www.sugardoodle.net. Go theck them out - she is terrific and her page is a great resource!

So far we've done...
Sunday - The triumphal entry (with discussion on Hosanna and palm leaves and why they were said) including a lovely dramatization by the our family! :) Nathan was Jesus, Ashlyn was a disciple in search of a donkey, Mom was narrator and Dad was owner of said donkey. (Is it OK that I never read a** when it's in the scriptures??)

Monday - Cleansing of the Temple and how our bodies and homes can be a temple. How we cleanse them to recieve blessings? (Read the scriptures in the New Testament to see the parallel there).

Tuesday - I had a Passover feast with the Young Women for our activity night (it's called Mutual). Rick and the kiddos did the same here. Grape juice, unleavened bread, olives, raisins, lamb (a.k.a. "we're too cheap to spring for lamb, this is really beef, shhh, don't tell" steak), honey, etc. Discussed the washing of the apostles feet too.

And more to come!

We've decided to do the whole bunny/egg thing at another time entirely but call it a Spring Egg hunt, Spring baskets, etc. Cuz let's face it - that has nothing to do with Jesus unless you're going to wax symbolic. But this time of year is my favorite and a great time to celebrate!

Elder Bair

Woo - hoo!!!!!!!

I can't even tell you how excited I am - Jake got his mission call!!!!!!

And I don't know where!!!!!!!

I know, that's a little weird. :) But he called to tell us that he had received his mission call and I said, "Oh, do want to wait to tell us until Rick gets home?" And so he said, "Sure."

Oh man, why did I suggest that? Now it will be another 2 HOURS until I know where Jake is going for the next two years!

But I'm thrilled anyway! He's going to rock their world - wherever that is!

Yes, Jesus loves me

This is the Christus at the Salt Lake Temple Square visitor's center.