There's busy good and there's busy bad. I consider learning to be one of the busy goods and I've been on a streak lately. • I've learned how to do editable PDFs (still working on being quick at it) which many of you have asked about and will be very cool to add to some of my future downloads. • I've learned some and continue to learn about surface design. They're a couple of fabric projects that I did months ago that I'm so excited about sharing with you. (I'll post soon) • Being an artist as well, I'm learning how to take my hand drawings and make it into digital artwork. Then I can use it for so many things, some of which will make it here to LDS NEST. Plus I've gone a totally new creative direction with Shannon's Studio which has caused me to rework my brand and website. All the new things will be up in about a month. Sooner I hope. • Plus I'm doing a little website housecleaning here too. (Which I would love to know what you like best about LDS NEST. Or maybe you'd like to see.) • Then the best good busy news for us as a family is that our youngest son Wade got his mission call yesterday. We love Utah and lived there for 15 years. In fact, until about 5 years ago the St. George Mission used to be in the Provo Mission where we lived. (We moved to Missouri about 7 years ago.) Being born and raised in Provo Wade said it feels like coming home. Because of all my new learning I haven't finished anything for LDS NEST lately so I went back through my files and found a camp craft I haven't shared with you. It's a flower clip and the gift download is here. You'll find photo instructions and supplies list. We gave this to the YCLs and they taught it to the girls. As I was looking through things I couldn't find another camp craft that I thought I posted. I'm sure I posted it but figured if I couldn't find it then maybe you wouldn't be able to either. So, I'm re-posting that too. That gift download is here. Well, that's just a little update of my good busy life. How's yours going?
If you're looking for a tabletop or buffet table decoration for your YWIE or NB then here's a DIY Lighted Torch that just might do the trick. I made 2 of them and I've used them several times. I enlarged the YW Torch image to about 15". Then I used a carbon sheet to trace the pattern onto the masonite board. I used a drill to make holes into each section to be cut out. Then I used my handheld jigsaw to cut out the design. These are painted white, though they could be painted the value colors if there're 8 of them. Next, I bought small battery operated lights (very handy so I don't have to mess with finding a plug and having an extension cord), and hot glued (low melt) them onto the back of the board. I made sure the lights were visible from the front side and that the placement was staggered. And lastly, I took a tie wrap and tied all the loose wires from view. The masonite torch slides in and out of the approximately 1" x 3" base board. Using a table saw, cut a channel the same thickness as the masonite board. With this base, no glue is needed and it pulls apart so it stores away nicely. The little holes seen at the end of the boards are for dowels to slide into. Flags, bandanas, buntings or anything can be put on a dowel and slid into the holes. This makes it versatile. Good luck on your upcoming Young Women In Excellence and New Beginnings.
Back in July we had Youth Conference. In that post I mentioned that we did service videos but couldn't share them because they weren't edited yet. Well, now they are! Our Stake had a premiere night to show them to the youth. We did a red "carpet", awards, paparazzi, and dressed up. Here are photos from that night.
Here are the videos.
This video project was out of a lot of youth and leader's comfort zones. It's hard to say how things you've never done will turn out. The uncertainty adds anxiety. Hopefully these steps will help keep the stress level low. This is a project that I would do again. I think this is a new face for service. It's not the traditional shovels and rags but a lot of work nonetheless. Which translated into 15,000 Facebook views for about the first week. Not bad for a bunch of mostly amateurs. One last thing - CELEBRATE at a Premiere Night.
When serving in the Stake YW we focus our efforts to help Ward YW leaders. They have so much to do and that's not an exaggeration. Last year for our Ward leaders we presented them with a planner. It was given to help them ease their burden in planning then in turn they could focus more on their young women. Many of them liked what we had. Here's a version for this year in our Etsy Shop. We tried to think of how each month would look for a ward leader and then incorporated it into a calendar. It helps that we've been ward leaders so we know what it's like to plan and carry out. Here's an example of one month. Some choices are already matched and made. For example - • Come Follow Me principles are listed on each month (CFM = Come Follow Me) • Sunday Lessons section to list who and what will be taught • Personal Progress Values are assigned to a month (coordinates with Come Follow Me) • Strength of Youth standards are assigned monthly (use for mutual opening exercises, talks, etc) • Leadership Lesson Topics from Church Handbook are assigned monthly (optional topics too) • Bishopric Interviews space is listed each month to track YW interviews • PP Project Evaluation times are scheduled into certain months • Presidency Meetings purpose summaries are listed and space for notes • Conducting for Sunday and Mutual (space for names is included) • Mutual Activities space is provided for organizing • List Lines for extra dates, notes, needs, info, or other reminders • Infographic summaries for Class Presidencies, Agendas, and Personal Progress • Reminders of things to do are put throughout the year (Camp, Conferences, etc) • Notes pages that are blank are included • Newsletter template to send out to parents is included too Compact and concise. So much information in so simple a format. But there's more too. • Front Notebook Binder Cover • YW Leaders Contact Info • YW Contact Info • Stake Activities Calendar • Ward Activites Calendar • Yearly Budget • Leadership Lessons Outline • Personal Progress by Month Outline • Jan - Dec Calendaring Pages • Infographic • Class Presidency • Infographic • Agendas • Infographic • Personal Progress • 2015 Calender At A Glance • YW Newsletter Template (2) • Notes Pages • Back Notebook Binder Cover Everything's here to get you started and make your life easier in 2015. (It may even help you with the rest of 2014) Go to our Etsy Shop if you're interested.
Here are a couple of photos from our Stake's Youth Conference the last couple of days. This first one is of Wade (son and brother) and his t-shirt design. He did it himself and you can read more about it here. Love this kid. Second is a photo from one of our service projects. I don't know about your stake but our youth are super fast at service projects and we often have a hard time finding something that will fit our 3 hour time frame that involves our 200 youth. (If you have any good ideas, share them with us below.) This year our stake decided to broaden our service project vision. We did the filming for 4 Service Message Videos at youth conference. One of the videos involves this 24' x 8' chalkboard near our stake center and Kansas City Temple. I think this video (#ldsmakeyourmark) had about 75 youth with scriptures that inspired them and their testimonies. The other videos involve music (#ldsmakeyourmark), beauty (#ldstruebeauty) and manhood (#ldsrealmen). I'm not going to say much more about it. Except I'm very excited about them (though there was a lot of uncertainty in the project until we did it) and to share them with you. You'll have to watch for the videos in September. What do you think of our Service Message Videos idea? PS You might even see one of Alisha's boys - my grandson - in one of them.
There's a lot of talk about women, priesthood, and excommunication lately. Plenty of commentary on it as well. Some of it good, some not so much. Since the recent issues deal with Latter-day Saints directly we at LDS NEST had to think about what to say. Or not say in the discussion. Personally, I always have plenty to say. Very opinionated in fact. But, I have a little motto - Just because you can, doesn't mean you should Having lots of opinions I've realized that it's likely not all of them are good. So, I like to think about things a little before I venture opening my mouth. What should LDS NEST share? What's the message out of recent events? What discussions really help people? How does one help people stay on spiritual track? My thinking lead me to the scriptures and Alma sums it up for me. Alma 31:5 And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God. I feel for the families who are struggling with these issues and I think of my own. Any one of us can, and often does, error. But what keeps bringing us back around is the word of God. Plain and simple. So... Do we read it? Do we know it? Do we teach it? In answer to how we should approach current events I came to the conclusion that the best use of my time and effort for my family and LDS NEST would be to make sure we share pure doctrine (Something that is "more powerful on minds than anything else".) With that idea we had a FHE lesson about the Priesthood - Priesthood Power. I thought I'd share what I came up with, with you. I read through Elder Oaks recent talk, Keys and Authority of the Priesthood, other talks and scripture. The information can be tricky to understand and I wanted it to be clear to my kids so I summarized it all out in a way that made sense to me. It made sense to them. Maybe it will make sense to you too. There is a free download Ring Thing here. Besides the Ring Thing Lesson there is a Lesson Outline to go with it and Power Bar wrappers. It's just a little added bonus for fun that you can purchase here (it includes all the Priesthood Power handouts.) Next on my mind to teach my kids about is Apostasy. What do you think about the subject?
We've been having a terrible time with our download site (ge.tt). It's a free service so we can't complain much but it's frustrating. For you and us. It's been down on and off for the past month and many of you have tried to download our nestibles and haven't been able to. Some of you have emailed us to ask for files and we try to get back to all of you. (Sorry if we've missed someone.) The nice thing about the download mess is that we get to meet some of you, Nesties, through email. One such person is Janelle J. She emailed about some files and said she was doing them for YW. She had a great idea that we have to share. If you've been around LDS NEST you know about our Compliment Kits. The first file had over 3000 downloads and the new one put up a couple of weeks ago has a few hundred. A few of you like it. Janelle liked it and did the Compliment Kits with her YW. But, the fabric covering was going to be trickier than she wanted to do so she came up with an alternative. Duct Tape Covered Tins. Genius easy. I asked for a photo and her's turned out so cute that I asked if I could share it with you. She kindly said yes. Do you have any photos of your Compliment Kits you want to share? Share them on our Facebook page.
Our YW Camp and 4th Year Adventure are done for the year. (On to Youth Conference!) Camp always requires so many people's effort. And it's all volunteer as you know. Our Stake likes to show a little love and appreciation even for the smallest of services. This is a little Thank You Gift that we gave out this year. It was super fast and super easy. (Think of me, my paper cutter and double-sided tape standing at the back of my car.) “It has been said that when Heavenly Father wishes to bless us, he often sends that blessing through the service of another—a friend, a parent, a Church leader, a teacher. Expressing appreciation to these agents of the Lord’s love accomplishes two important things: I've changed up the version above to be camp generic for your use. Download here if you need a little YW Camp help. Share some of the thank you gifts you've given (or received) for service.
More about Me today. Just got back from YW's Camp and now I'm off on the 4th Year Adventure. Woo hoo! Except I'm really not the camper type. I know, go figure. How do I get these assignments?
Anyway, one of my daughters is going this year so I'm all up for it. And here's another Stylebook inspiration board to get me pumped up. Lime green is part of my Brand Palette for Shannon's Studio and a color I love. Lots of energizing green. Wish me luck on the river and in the caves! ME • An Individual; A Distinct Personality; A Singular Interest in One's Self Since I'm packing for YW Girls Camp it's all about Me today. Pack light, cute, and cool. Here's a page out or our Stylebook for inspiration if you have a week in the wild coming up.
I'm in charge of YW Camp thank you gifts this year. So I went back to see what we did last year. Then I thought you all might be needing some ideas too. Of course you can use this idea anytime. There you have it. A personalized thank you gift that's easy to do and put together. Have any you want to share with us?
Extreme weather storms are going through parts of the US right now causing disaster in its wake. It makes me think of this FHE lesson - Let's Go Get Our Emergency Kit we've done in the past. It has scriptures that tie into things needed in an emergency kit. I've included an outline for FHE too. It might be a useful FHE to do this month. I've also included a YW Personal Progress Activity for Knowledge #7. It can be done on a mutual night and then the girls can go home and give the FHE lesson to their families as part of it. This doesn't stop the storms but it gives a sense of peace, especially for children. They don't feel so helpless. And even if everything including emergency kits or food storage are destroyed we can go to the Lord in confidence, asking for mercy, knowing we did all that we could. I hope none of us are effected and that we can serve those who are. Be safe.
Adversity is so tough. We all have our fair share, things tailored for our progress. Here is a FHE lesson, Bittersweet Adversity, about the necessity of it in our lives. It includes a lesson, object lesson as well as printable candy wrappers. I serve in the Stake YW so I get to do lots of training and help ward YW presidencies. For those who are in YW I worked a tie in to Personal Progress Value Experience - Faith #3. This includes a YW Activity night outline. It could be something a class presidency might like to do. Tell us what you think or how it turned out for your family.
Update! Handouts for Come, Follow Me "How can repentance help me every day?" Download both versions here!
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