Life's Journey To Perfection: February 2014

100,000 Pageview Milestone!

Yay! I am so excited, today this site reached over 100,000 page views! That might not be a ton to some, but for me I am ecstatic! I think that means celebration time. So, this next week I will be coming up with some kind of giveaway. Stay tuned for more information! Thanks so much for visiting this site, I especially love receiving comments!

March 2014 Visit Teaching Message: "The Divine Mission of Jesus Christ: Light of The World"

This month's Visit teaching message is, "The Divine Mission of Jesus Christ: Light of The World". As I read through this month's visit teaching message I was struck by two of the scriptures the first, "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12) I am so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ, for his exemplary life. He is the light that leads me on the path of mortal life. I know that through him and by him I can return to my Father. I know that because of his atonement I am never alone, he is walking right along side me, he knows everything I go through.

The second scripture was, "That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day." (D&C 50:24) This scripture excites me. If we receive God and his gospel into our lives, than we will have light. What is so exciting is that if we continue living the gospel and endure then our light grows. The light shows through our countenance. I love the song by Janice Kapp Perry, "His Image in Your Countenance". In this song it asks some questions, "Have your received his image in your countenance?" and "Does the light of Christ shine in your eyes?" When I think about this I ask myself am I living my life they way my Savior would have me live it? When other's look at me do they see the goodness and love that our Savior always exhibited?

In the visit teaching message it has two directions at the end: "Discuss what it means to be a light to the world today." In thinking about this, for me it means I am going to stand for the right. There is so much going on in the world today that can be so confusing. Having the Gospel helps us to avoid that confusion. When we are living the gospel we can have the Holy Ghost as a constant companion. He can help us to discern what is right from wrong. When we receive that knowledge and light we can be an example and share it with others. I think about being a mom. The best thing that I can do is help my children build a relationship with their Father in Heaven. That they can know they can always speak to him through prayer and that his love for them in unconditional and eternal. I also want them to have Jesus Christ be their biggest hero. The person they look up to and strive to live their lives like. I want them to know that the atonement was for them and that they will never be alone. How can I share this light with them? I think by showing my love for the Gospel, giving them my unconditional love, having the Gospel be an important part of our lives as a family, and by being a good example to them.

The second direction was, "Ponder how following the Light of Christ helps you endure trials." As I followed this direction and pondered about how the Light of Christ helps me endure trials, I thought about being a Young Women. I remember standing up each Sunday and repeating the Young Women theme. I remember saying that I am a daughter of God, that he loves me and I love him. I think having the Light of Christ, has given me the identity that I am God's daughter, I know that he loves me and I love him. I am able to endure my trials because I know that his love for me is unconditional and eternal, that he is there for me to pour my heart out to and that when times get tough, he is there to give me a boost to help me get through what I am going through. Let's face it there are tough things at every stage of life. In the stage I am in right now, I get to juggle the business of being a mother and wife with all of my other duties. Being a mom at times is tough. I have to rely upon my Father in Heaven to help me out as I navigate motherhood. Being a wife at times can be tough. I know that I am going to make mistakes and that is where the atonement comes in. I have felt the spirit as I have humbled myself and sought forgiveness for my faults. I have felt the love of my Father and my Savior. That is was helps me endure, is their love.

Here are a couple handouts:
To print, click on image and save it to your computer. You can then print the image from your computer.

This little tag would be fun to attach to a candle or flashlight.

*** For a cute Candle craft to go with the handout click on this link: Candle Craft ***

St. Patty's Day Flower/Shamrock Hair Clips: Tutorial

At my children's school the PTA board puts on a box top store every month. At it the kids bring their box tops in exchange for tickets. They then go over to the box top store where they can spend their tickets for some fun stuff. This month, I am donating some items to be sold at the box top store. One of these items is St. Patty's Day Hair Clips. Here is a picture of the finish product!

And here is my little Tutorial:

You will begin this craft by gathering your supplies: - Green felt
- Needle and thread
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Hair clip
- Ribbon

First, cut a strip of the green felt. Then cut them into 4 rectangles, about the same size. The size will depend on how big you would like your hair clip to be. It should be rectangular in shape.

Next, fold the rectangle in half and round the top with scissors. See the picture on the right. When you open back it back up there should be two round humps.

Now, it is time to start stringing them onto the thread. I like to double up my thread. That means I fold it in half. The needle should be at the middle point of the thread. Then tie a not at the bottom. Start fishing your needle in and out towards the bottom of the felt pieces as shown in the picture to the right. String all for pieces onto the thread this way.

When all four pieces are strung onto the thread, you will pull the thread tight. So it forms the shape in the picture to the right. Needle back through the first felt piece and tie both ends of the thread together. Making sure it is knotted and secure.

Get your ribbon and tie a bow. I had to melt the ends of my ribbon lightly with a lighter so it would not fray. Once you have tied your bow you can fasten it to your felt flower/shamrock with some hot glue. See picture to the left.

You are almost done! Cut a circle out of the green felt. And cut a small slit towards one end. To do this fold the circle in half and make the slit. This is for the hair clip to go through. Hot glue the top of the hair clip to the circle felt piece. (I hope this makes sense!) Now hot clue the felt piece/hair clip to the back of the flower/shamrock as seen in the picture to the right. This can be worn in your hair or on your clothing so you can avoid getting pinched when St. Patty's Day rolls around!

*I linked this post onto Skip to My Lou's Made by you Monday link party. I am #326.

Sharing Time March 2014 Week 1: I can gain a testimony of Jesus Christ.

Preparation:
Prayerfully study and think about what the specific needs of your primary are and how you can teach them this doctrine.

Identify the doctrine: I can gain a testimony of Jesus Christ. Prepare to ask the children, what a testimony is?

Help the Children Understand the Doctrine: Prepare to tell or show the story of President James E. Faust. Here is a link to the conference address where he shares the story. Print out the poster, printable below.

Help them apply the doctrine in their lives: Gather 15 blocks, if blocks are not available you could use cans or something else you can build with. Print off the below word strips and place them on the blocks. Prepare to discuss the word strips.

Free Printables: (Printing Tip: Click on image to open and then save image to your computer. You can then print the image from your computer.)

Theme Poster

Building Block Words Strips

(There are two different size of word strips on the printable. The smaller square ones will fit on the one inch square block, the longer ones will fit on the 1X2 inch rectangle blocks)

Sharing Time Instruction:

Begin the sharing time by asking the primary children if they know what a testimony is. Encourage them to raise their hands before giving the answer. Thank everyone for their answers. Explain that a testimony is, "A testimony is a spiritual witness given by the Holy Ghost." (lds.org:Topics:Testimony) Explain to the children that the Holy Ghost is a Spirit, it communicates with our spirit, it gives us proof that things are true. We call that proof, a testimony. (Gaining a Testimony of Jesus Christ: BY ELDER BRUCE R. MCCONKIE, Dec 1980 Ensign)

Hold up a picture of President James E Faust and share the following story with the primary children, “When President James E. Faust was a child, he had a nightmare and woke up crying. His grandmother hugged him, comforted him, and told him they were safe because Jesus Christ was watching over them. He went peacefully back to bed, assured that Jesus does watch over us.” (see “A Growing Testimony,” Ensign, Nov. 2000, 53). Or you can show that clip of his conference address with the story, follow this link. Explain to the children that that experience helped President Faust gain a testimony of Jesus Christ. Place the word poster on the board, "I can gain a testimony of Jesus Christ". Have the children repeat those words with you.

Explain to the children that our testimony is always growing. Ask them ways they can strengthen or help their testimony of Jesus Christ grow? Bring a bag or box of 15 blocks. Explain that on the blocks are written either some things they can do to help their testimony grow or stories about Jesus that can help them gain a testimony. Let one child come up and choose a block and read what it says. Talk about what it says. Have the child place the block on the table or ground. Ask another child to come up and pick another one. Have them read it and discuss it. Have them place the block next to the first block. Continue with the remaining blocks, building them upon each other. (If you have 15 blocks then you will have 5 on the bottom, 4 on the second row, 3 on the 3rd, 2 on the 2nd and 1 on the top. Explain to the children that as we continue to learn about Jesus Christ our testimony is strengthened and grows. That we are continually building upon our testimony.

Bear your testimony about Jesus Christ.

***Basic ideas for this sharing time came from the 2014 Sharing Time Outline, you can find a link here

Discussion of Word Strips that will be on the blocks:

Things we Can do:
Read the Scriptures: Explain that when we read the scripture stories about Jesus, we can come to know him better and the spirit can testify to us that the stories are true.

Pray: We can pray to our Heavenly Father to gain a testimony of the Savior.

Using the Atonement: When we use the atonement of Christ our relationship with the Savior can be strengthened. We can know that he took those pains and sins that we have, upon his self, so we can be forgiven.

Living a Christ Centered Life: When we pattern our lives after the Savior, by serving and loving others. Our love for the Savior will grow. Another part of living a Christ centered life is to keep all of God's commandments. When we keep the commandments we allow the spirit to dwell with us.

Listen to and Read Testimonies of the Savior: When we hear or read testimonies of Jesus Christ the spirit will give us a confirmation that the things said and written are true. Our testimonies can be strengthened by their witness.

Stories of Jesus Christs Life:
His Role in the Pre-Mortal Life: We read in the scriptures that Jesus was the first born spirit child of our Heavenly Father. Jesus was chosen to be our Savior. We chose to follow him and our Father in Heaven.

The Creation: In Moses 2:26, we read that Jesus Christ under the direction of our Father in Heaven created the Earth and everything on it. We can see his work in all things around us.

His Birth: We read of his birth in Matthew and Luke. We read that he was the only begotten child of our Heavenly Father. That he is indeed the Son of God.

His Baptism: In Matthew 3:13-17, we read about Christ being baptized by immersion. He did this to be an example to us.

The Miracles He Performed: In John 2:11 we read that because of the miracles Jesus preformed, his disciples believed in him. Their testimonies we strengthened that he was the son of God. Ask the children to tell about some of the miracles.

The Atonement: In Luke 22:39-44, we read of Christ's atonement for all men. He suffered for every pain. He has felt what we feel. He made it possible that we can overcome our sins and weaknesses and be forgiven.

His Death: In Luke 23, we read about our Savior's death. We learn of the mocking he went through and the great pain he must have suffered at he was nailed to the cross. Why did he die? He did it for us!

His Resurrection: In Luke 24, we read about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our Savior overcame physical death. This is proof the he is the spiritual and physical son of God! He appeared to both the people in Jerusalem and the people in the Americas with his resurrected body.

The Restoration of the Gospel: God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared before Joseph Smith when he was only 14 years old, as he prayed for an answer. In Joseph Smith-History Chapter 1:17 we read, "...One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!"

The Second Coming: We know that our Savior will come to the earth again someday. In Acts 1:10-11 it states: "10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." And in Job 19:25 we read, "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:"

Family Home Evening on Showing Love, Appreciation and Respect to Family Members and Building a Happy Family.

I hope and pray that you can use these ideas as a guideline and adjust them to the needs of your own specific family. Our prophet President Monson says, "We cannot afford to neglect this heaven-inspired program. It can bring spiritual growth to each member of the family, helping him or her to withstand the temptations which are everywhere. The lessons learned in the home are those that last the longest." On Lds.org there are resources available in helping to make your Family Home Evenings successful, here is a link to that site on Family Home Evenings.

For tonight's Family Home Evening the topic in which I have chosen is, Showing Love, Appreciation and Respect to Family Members and Building a Happy Family. I picked this topic because I have noticed that my kids have been at each other's throats lately. It is a topic that my family could greatly use at this time.

Welcome everyone to Family Night

Sing: "The Family is of God"

Have a member of the family member say the prayer

Discuss any family business

Follow-up with last weeks FHE.

Introduce this weeks Topic: Showing Love, Appreciation and Respect to Family Members and Building a Happy Family.

Scripture: Read and Mark: Mosiah 4:15

Article of Faith: #2 "We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression." Repeat this Article of Faith as a Family. Help each family member memorize the Article of Faith.

I stumbled upon this amazing section on the LDS.org website! It is Happiness in Family Life. Please review it and pick out what applies best to your family.

Here is what I will be planning on doing with my family:

Share this statement from the Family Proclamation: "Happiness in Family Life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.”~ The Family: A Proclamation to the World ~

As a family discuss the following principles:

Faith: Discuss as a family how having FAITH in our Heavenly Father can help us to have happiness in our families. Discussion might include: that we have faith when we believe in things we can not see. We have faith and by the spirit know that we are each our Heavenly Father's children, that he loves us each personally and because of the love has created a plan for us to follow. Part of that plan is that we are born to families. We each have a responsibility to strengthen our family.

Prayer: Discuss as a family how PRAYER can help us to have happiness in our families. Discussion might include: the love that our Heavenly Father has for us and his desire for us to communicate with him. He wants to know the things we are grateful for, the things we are struggling with, the ways we are in need of his help and then ways we would like for him to help others. We pray individually and as a family. When we kneel together and pray to our Heavenly Father our family will be strengthened. The spirit can dwell more easily in our homes.

Repentance: Play the video ""Re-turning" toward God", it can be found by following the link and in the video section towards the middle of the page. After viewing the video discuss as a family how REPENTANCE can help us to have happiness in our families. Discussion might include: The family is made from imperfect people. We each make mistakes. There may be times when we are unkind to a family member or we offend a family member. Our Heavenly Father gave us a wonderful gift of repentance, by allowing his son Jesus Christ to atone for our pains and sins. When we do something wrong we need to repent and use the atonement. We need to make things right with family members, so we can be happy.

Forgiveness: Play the video "Moral Courage to Forgive", this video can be found by following the link and in the video section towards the middle of the page, arrow over to the second video. After viewing the video discuss as a family how FORGIVENESS can help us to have happiness in our families. Discussion might include: As we discussed earlier that we are each imperfect and make mistakes. When someone does something to hurt us or offend us we need to forgive freely. That means that we forgive them, even if they do not ask for forgiveness. That is our responsibility is to forgive. When we forgive others, especially family members, it brings a sense of peace to the home. “I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men” (D&C 64:10).

Respect: Play both of these videos, "Our Family-Centered Perspective" and "Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother" these videos can be found by following the link and in the video section towards the middle of the page. Discuss with your family that you are each sons and daughters of your Heavenly Father. We each have that divine potential. Discuss ways you can treat each other with respect. (For my family we will probably talk about how we respect each other by the way we talk to each other. Show love and support for each family member. Remembering that we are each God's children, nobody should ever be treated or made to be felt less than such. Treating each other with kindness, using kind uplifting words, etc.)

Love: Read this quote from President Henry B. Eyring (Our Perfect Example): "The greatest joys and the greatest sorrows we experience are in family relationships. The joys come from putting the welfare of others above our own. That is what love is. And the sorrow comes primarily from selfishness, which is the absence of love. The ideal God holds for us is to form families in the way most likely to lead to happiness and away from sorrow.” Discuss with your family some ways you can show unselfishness and love for one another.

Compassion: Watch the video, "The Compassion of Christ" it can be found by following the link and in the video section towards the middle of the page. After viewing the video discuss as a family ways you can show compassion with in your family. Also, how your family can work together to show compassion towards others. When we serve others we are happier. We are not so concerned about our selves, rather our attention is turned towards others.

Work: Watch the video, "A Consecrated Life Is Filled with Work" it can be found by following the link and in the video section towards the middle of the page. After viewing the video discuss as a family the importance of working together as a family. Discuss ways you can work together and make the work more enjoyable for everyone involved.

Wholesome recreational activities: Ask each family member what is something they enjoy doing as a family? Discuss and decide on an activity that you can do as a family during the week. Read this statement by M. Russell Ballard: What Matters Most Is What Lasts Longest, "Create meaningful family bonds that give your children an identity stronger than what they can find with their peer group or at school or anyplace else. This can be done through family traditions for birthdays, for holidays, for dinnertime, and for Sundays."

Bear testimonies on Showing Love, Appreciation and Respect to Family Members and building a happy family.

Close with a Family Prayer.

Free Printables: Best way to print printables is to click on the image and save it to your computer. You will then be able to print the image from your computer.

Relief Society: Simple Service Ideas that Even Kids Can Do!

In patterning our life after the Savior's we should seek for opportunities to serve those around us. In Mosiah 2:17 it states, "...when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." As Relief Society sisters, we have tremendous opportunity to watch out for those around us that need that loving hand of help. When we feel impressed to help someone we need to listen to those promptings and act upon them. We can provide service to others individually or we can do this as a family. Teaching our children the importance of unselfishness, love, and sacrifice. One thing that we did with our kids a few months back was thirty days of service. Each day we did an act of service for thirty days. It was fun to see them serve others and discuss the happy feelings we each individually felt from doing so.

Here are some ideas:

A little bit of Gold for St. Patty's Day! Free printable tags and treat gold nugget treat idea.

St. Patty's Day Treat Idea:

These little gold nuggets are so tasty and easy to make.

Here is what you'll need:

-Kix Cereal

-Yellow Candy Melts

-Yellow Sugar Sprinkles

Here's what to do:

Place Candy Melts in a microwave safe container. Melt in microwave 30 sec., then stir. Continue doing this in 15 second increments until candies are melted.

When melted and smooth pour over Kix cereal and stir to coat cereal.

With a spoon drop spoonfuls onto the mixture onto wax paper.

Sprinkle with the yellow sugar sprinkles.

Allow to harden, then place in cellophane baggies, tie a ribbon and place a tag on it.

To speed hardening time place in fridge.

Free St. Patty's Day Tag Printable

Sharing Time February 2014 Week 4: Agency is the gift to choose for myself.

Preparation:
Prayerfully study and think about what the specific needs of your primary are and how you can teach them this doctrine.

Identify the doctrine: Agency is the gift to choose for myself. Have six brown or white paper bags. Inside of these bags place one of the letters that spells out AGENCY.

Help the Children Understand the Doctrine: Prepare to have someone read 2 Nephi 2:27. Prepare to discuss how we used our Agency in Heaven and the consequences of our choice.

Help them apply the doctrine in their lives: Prepare to play the "Choice and Consequence "game with the two stacks of cards. See free printables below.

Free Printables: (Printing Tip: Click on image to open and then save image to your computer. You can then print the image from your computer.)

Family Home Evening on Being Good Citizens and being subject to kings, presidents, rulers and magistrates.

Since, today is President's Day in the United States, I thought that I would focus tonight's Family Home Evening on the 12th Article of Faith.

Welcome everyone to Family Night

Sing: "12th Article of Faith" pg 131 Children's Songbook

Have a member of the family member say the prayer

Introduce this weeks Topic: Being Good Citizens and being subject to kings, presidents, rulers and magistrates.

Discuss any family business

Follow-up with last weeks FHE.

Scripture: Read and Mark: 12th Article of Faith

"We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law"

Article of Faith: #2 "We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression." Repeat this Article of Faith as a Family. Help each family member memorize the Article of Faith.

Read this statement from Elder L. Tom Perry (member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles) : “As Church members, we live under the banner of many different flags. How important it is that we understand our place and our position in the lands in which we live! We should be familiar with the history, heritage, and laws of the lands that govern us. In those countries that allow us the right to participate in the affairs of government, we should use our free agency and be actively engaged in supporting and defending the principles of truth, right, and freedom” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1987, 87; or Ensign, Nov. 1987, 72).

Use the Printable below: As a family fill out the questioner about the Ruler's of your Country.

Tell or Read or Watch a story about one of the rulers of your country that was a positive influence to the citizens of the country. For example: George Washington (Here is a short video on his bio.) or Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address Video

Ask your family how they feel about these great rulers and how they were influenced by their faith in God?

Ask your family how each member can be involved in supporting and defending the principles of truth, right and freedom and be a good citizen in their community?

Statement from Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve: “In the Church, we often state the couplet, ‘Be in the world but not of the world.’ … Perhaps we should state the couplet … as two separate admonitions. First, ‘Be in the world.’ Be involved; be informed. Try to be understanding and tolerant and to appreciate diversity. Make meaningful contributions to society through service and involvement. Second, ‘Be not of the world.’ Do not follow wrong paths or bend to accommodate or accept what is not right. …

“Members of the Church need to influence more than we are influenced. We should work to stem the tide of sin and evil instead of passively being swept along by it. We each need to help solve the problem rather than avoid or ignore it” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1989, 100–101; or Ensign, May 1989, 80).

Bear testimonies on Being Good Citizens and being subject to kings, presidents, rulers and magistrates.

Close with a Family Prayer.

Free Printables: Click image to save to computer and print as a jpeg image

Some answers for The United States of America's Leaders as of February 2014:

Who was the first leader of your Country? George Washington

What is a funny story about a leader? See U.S. President Fun Facts on National Geographic Kids

How many Leaders has your Country had? 44 see here for the list

Who is the current Leader of your Country? President Barack Hussein Obama

How do your leaders of your Country become leaders? see here for any simple explanation

Name some interesting facts about some Leaders of your Country: See U.S. President Fun Facts on National Geographic Kids

You Are Dynamite Valentine!

Last minute Valentine post! I made these little dynamite valentines for my kid's teachers and my nieces and nephews. Super easy and super cute!

Wrap the roll of Rolos in red paper. I used a glue gun to glue down the ends. Then cut off a piece of black pipe cleaner and hot glue it to one end. Then write your little "Dynamite" sang to your Valentine. Hopefully, your Valentine will "explode" with excitement!

The Fight to Block Bad ads

It was recently brought to my attention that there have been a few inappropriate ads posted on my pages. This really upset and disgusted me. Frustration is a word I could use to describe the way I feel right now. Frustrated that these ads are worming there way in. Frustrated that there are ads like this in the first place. I have set filters and thought that these kind of ads would be avoided. I am sincerely sorry for those who had to experience such ads. If you ever see an offensive ad posted on my site please send me an email specifying some of the words that were on the ad and I will do my best to try to block it.

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Pursuit of Excellence: Develop healthy eating habits and patterns.

Last time I posted about the Pursuit of Excellence the goal to work on was Develop a program of Regular Exercise. I hope everyone has been working on their goal. Some of my friends and I have been getting together and working out together. It has been highly motivating! I think working out together strengthens your relationships and I feel like I definitely push my self much harder. The best part is every time you exercise, you know that you are making your body that much healthier! Here is the link to the Pursuit of Excellence pamphlet.

This week's Goal is:

Develop healthy eating habits and patterns. You should have guessed if the last goal I posted about was Regular Exercise, then this month's would be about nutrition. They go hand in hand, if your goal is to have a healthy lifestyle. So, the goal is to choose now that you are going to start having or continue having Healthy Eating Habits and Patterns. In this month's Ensign there were two articles, which discussed the issue of nutrition.

The first was titled, "Nourishing Our Bodies and Our Spirits" BY BEVERLY HYATT NEVILLE. One of the things in the article that stuck out to me was, " In societies where excesses are the norm, we need to apply wise judgment and moderation." She goes on to talk about how it doesn't mean we can never have a treat, we just need to use wise judgment. We know what foods are good for us and what foods are not good for us. We need to use our judgment and choose the better food. I can be an emotional eater at times. The funny thing with emotional eating is you are not choosing to eat the foods that are good for you. At least I don't anyways. When I emotionally eat, I go straight for the sugar filled candy, especially if it is chocolate. That food does not make you fill better, it makes you feel worse, because now you are also filled with regret. Beverly suggests that instead of emotionally eating to fill that emotional hunger we fill it with service instead. Portion size... okay so my family likes to have pizza every now and then. Pizza is not the best choice, but if I only eat one slice, then I will still be okay. Especially, if I have that one slice with a plate full of yummy salad! We can have a piece of chocolate here and there just not the whole box in one sitting. I hope you are getting what I am saying. It is best to use wise judgment and choose real, whole foods. But at times it is okay to have a treat or a piece of pizza as long as it is done in moderation and the portion size is controlled.

The second article is titled, "A Principle with Promises" BY G. CRAIG KISER. Isn't it wonderful that our Heavenly Father back in 1833, through revelation to our Prophet Joseph Smith, gave us a diet plan. It is simple and strait forward. It tells us exactly what to avoid and exactly what we should eat. I am not going to go into much detail, because I think this article says it all, so I'll let you read it.

Here are a few of the recipes I like to use for my meals throughout the day:

I figured the calories for each of the recipes by using the food search at Fatsecret. ***Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist. These are my opinions and what I try to follow in my own life. Talk to your doctor or dietitian about what nutrition plan is best for you and your health.

Minion Valentine's Box

It was crunch time...my son had to have his Valentine's Day box made to take to school tomorrow. We decided to do "Minion Dave from Despicable Me". After, some glue gun burns here is the finished product.

We used:

-An empty fruit snack box (For Body)

-Yellow paper (to wrap body and arms)

-White paper (used this first to wrap the body, so you couldn't see through the yellow paper)

-Card Stock (for the teeth and eyes)

-Two baby food lids (goggles)

-Paper towel roll (Legs and arms)

-Black Felt (goggle strap, shoes, wrap outside of goggles, gloves)

-Brown paper (eye color)

-Black Paper (pupil of eye)

-Old pair of kids levi pants (for the overalls)

-And of course a glue gun!

Sharing Time February 2014 Week 3: My body is created in the image of God.

Preparation:
Prayerfully study and think about what the specific needs of your primary are and how you can teach them this doctrine.

Identify the doctrine: My body is created in the image of God. Prepare to have a mirror for the children to look in. Also print out the printable below, "My Body is Created in the Image of God".

Help the Children Understand the Doctrine: Prepare to play "Body Part Charades", see printable below.

Help them apply the doctrine in their lives: Prepare to discuss how we can take care of our bodies.

Free Printables:

Sharing Time Instruction:

Either have a mirror at the front of the room or pass a mirror around the room. Have the children look at themselves in the mirror. Explain that what they see in the mirror is an image of themselves. Another word for image is likeness. The reflection in the mirror is a likeness to ourselves. Place the poster on the board: "My Body is Created in the Image of God". Have the children repeat this out loud with you. Explain to the children that when we lived in Heaven in the pre-mortal life, we were just spirits. We did not have a physical body yet. But, our Heavenly Father did have a physical body. Explain that we wanted to have a body like he does, we desired to be like him. When we came to earth we received that physical body, which God created in his image or likeness.

Have a bag full of the cards to play charades. Have a child come up and choose a card. Without using any words have the child act out one of the things on the card that the body part can do. Have the rest of the children guess which body part does this action and what the action is. Whoever guesses correctly, have them come up and choose the next card. Continue until all cards have been acted out and guessed.

Explain that our Heavenly Father has hands, arms, legs, feet, eyes, ears, etc. just like we do. That our physical bodies allow us to progress and do things that our spirits could not do. They let us experience mortality, so we can become more like out Father in Heaven. Explain that our bodies are a home or a temple to our spirits. Ask the children what are some ways they can take care of their physical bodies? Answers may include: Keep our body clean, Keep the Word of Wisdom by eating good foods, exercise, not partaking of things that are harmful to us, getting enough sleep, etc.

Bear your testimony about how Heavenly Father created our bodies in His image.

Ideas for actions for "Body Part Charades":

o Eyes: act our reading a book

o Mouth: act out eating food

o Ears: put hand to ear and act like you are listening closely to something

o Hands: act like you are shaking someones hand

o Feet: act like you are running and then kicking a ball

o Nose: act like you are smelling something

***Basic ideas for this sharing time came from the 2014 Sharing Time Outline, you can find a link here

Family Home Evening on Heavenly Father has a Plan for His Children

It's the second family home evening this month, so it is when I focus on the Primary theme for this month. This month's Primary theme is "Heavenly Father has a Plan for His Children". I thought I would use some of the examples in this month's issue of the "Friend". The children can even help teach this topic, since they have already been learning about it in sharing times.

Welcome everyone to Family Night

Sing: "I Will Follow God's Plan" pg 164 Children's Songbook

Have a member of the family member say the prayer

Introduce this weeks Topic: Heavenly Father has a Plan for His Children.

Discuss any family business

Follow-up with last weeks FHE.

Scripture: Read and Mark: Mosiah 2:41

Discuss what the scripture means. Discussion might include that we are happy when we keep the commandments. We will be blessed if we remain faithful and endure, then wen can live with our Heavenly Father in never-ending happiness. That is all part of his plan.

Choose a room in your home that is quiet and where the spirit can be felt. Gather all family member's into this room. Before hand use the below printables and label each area with the signs. Example: First room will be Pre-mortal life, second room would be Mortal life, hallway would be Spirit world, final room would be the Celestial Kingdom. Explain that the Family Home Evening lesson will be about our Heavenly Father's plan of Happiness. Explain that the room you are in is going to represent Heaven. Have a picture of the Savior. Ask the family members who lived in Heaven, which we call our pre-mortal life. Answers should include: Jesus, Heavenly Father, everyone. Explain that we are God's spirit children and dwelt with him in heaven. Explain that Heavenly Father presented his plan of happiness. Part of that plan was for us to come to earth to gain a body. We would be tested and tried on earth. Because, we would make mistakes and experience pain and sorrow, our Heavenly Father would send his son Jesus Christ to earth to atone for those pains. We accepted his plan and left his presence to come to earth. Have one family member at a time, starting with the oldest, leave the room they are in and enter another room. In this room have pictures of baptism, temples, Christ's atonement, Prayer, etc. When everyone has entered the room, explain that we each came to earth and have a physical body that has been created in God's image. While on the earth we are to gain knowledge, strengthen our testimonies, and obtain sacred ordinances. Ask the family members what are some things we need to do on earth to help us to return to our Father in Heaven? Answers could include: Be baptized by immersion, Keep the commandments, Follow Jesus' Example, Read our Scriptures everyday, Repent of our sins, Go to the temple for our endowment and to be sealed as a family (married and sealed in the temple), Pray to our Heavenly Father always. Explain that everyone will have to experience death, it is part of God's plan. One at a time leave the room and enter the hall. Explain that once we die our spirit will go to the spirit world to await the Resurrection. When the Resurrection comes our bodies and spirits will re-unite and be made perfect and whole. We will never have to experience death again. We will then be judged and will be rewarded according to our works. Those who have followed God's plan will live with him and his son Jesus Christ in the Celestial kingdom. Have the family member's go to the room that symbolized Heaven. Explain that we will be eternally happy here, with our families, the Savior and our Heavenly Father.

Play the Video: "Our Eternal Life"

Discuss this video with your family.

Make a commitment as a family for each member to live faithfully, keep the commandments and follow our Heavenly Father's plan so every member of the family will obtain eternal life and happiness with their Father in Heaven.

Bear testimonies on Heavenly Father's plan for His Children.