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MATE • Valentine's Day Word Search for Your Perfect Match

1/31/2015

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Perfect Match Anniversary Word Search
Gift I gave the Boyfriend about 15 years ago
About 15 years ago, before chalkboards were hip, I made an Anniversary Chalkboard Word Search for my Perfect Match. It took a couple of versions before I got it right and was a lot of work. This Valentine's Day I decided to offer an easy version to download. Print, cut, frame, and give. Way less work than I originally went through. You can find it here. Our shop is here.
Valentine's Day Project • DIY Word Search • Perfect Match (Print • Cut • Frame • Give)
8"x 8" and 5"x 5" Download Found in our Etsy Shop
If framed with glass then it can be used with a dry erase marker and reused. 
Valentine's Day Project • DIY Word Search • Perfect Match (Print • Cut • Frame • Give)
For your Perfect Match get our download or make one of your own. 
Happy Love Month.
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Scripture Study Topic Bookmarks

1/28/2015

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Yesterday I shared 20 ways to get more from the scriptures and then today I've made myself a list of 52 things I can use to study. I'm going to choose one topic each week and focus on that. Which means I'm set for the next year! Here are the topics in no particular order: 
The Birth of Jesus Christ
The Life of Christ
The Atonement and Crucifixion
The Savior’s Resurrection
The Apostasy
The Restoration of the Gospel
Missionary Work
Service
The Sacrament
Repentance
Sacrifice
The Second Coming
The Millennium
The Priesthood
Temple Work
Love
The Ten Commandments
Testimony
Fasting
Teaching
Preparedness
Family Unit
Prophets
The Thirteen Articles of Faith
Christ-like Attributes  
The Plan of Salvation
The Word of Wisdom
Faith
The Holy Ghost
The Creation 
Heavenly Father
Freedom
Agency
Baptism
Obedience
Leadership
Prayer
Example
Discipleship
Revelation
Unity
Forgiveness
Conversion
Marriage
Adversity
Courage
Mercy
Humility and Pride
Covenants
Family History
Work
Peace
52 gospel study topics. Choose one each week and you're set for the year! #lds #ldsnest Use for personal study or for your classes and youth
I've also made and printed of a bookmark whichyou can download for yourself or your classes here. They are in blue, green, orange, and yellow (like the colors on our side bar) and also black and white. 
Click here to download!
Scripture Study Topic Bookmarks
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Getting More out of Scripture Study

1/27/2015

15 Comments

 
Lately I've been thinking that I need to do better with actually studying the scriptures. I mean, I read them almost every day (not gonna lie), but they study part...well, it doesn't happen often. I won't say "never", but it's probably closer to that than I want to admit. 

I thought that maybe using Preach My Gospel would help me out, and I found twenty ways that I can get more from the scriptures. It is also available (for free) as an 8x10 download at the end of the post! Use it for your classes or just at home to remind yourself: 
Free 8x10 download for home or your classes! GETTING MORE OUT OF SCRIPTURE STUDY--20 ways to get more from the scriptures. #lds #ldsyouth #ldsnest
Click the image or link below to download the 8x10 version!
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20 Ways To Get More from the Scriptures
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ME • My New Year's Resolution Word Reminder

1/20/2015

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For my New Year's Resolution Word, RESET, I will do things throughout the year to make reminders for myself. I'm kinda creative that way. And distracted. So I need reminders. Last year's BRAVE was making a subway art for myself. It hung in the hall at first then I moved it to my beside.
DIY Download • Do Not Be Dismayed • New Year's Word Brave
It doesn't have its permanent place yet since it's still sitting on the bookshelf next to my bed. But, I loved seeing it and having that tangible reminder.
But on to this year - RESET. I picked up a bracelet at Michaels the other day. (For the life of me I can't remember who makes these. You can tell this isn't a sponsored post, can't ya.) They're individual letters that slide on a bracelet. And they were on sale, $10 total. With a little bling as a bonus.
New Year's Resolution Word Reminder • RESET Bracelet
New Year's Resolution Word Reminder • RESET Bracelet
I don't have any set thing that I plan to get, make or use for a reminder. I just let it come to me. And walking past those little, sparkly letters... they just jumped out and said, "RESET!" So, that's my first reminder for the year. Thank you to myself. 

Do you get, make, or use reminders for your word?
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A Georgia Move for Nestie Alisha

1/19/2015

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My Resolution Word from last year, BRAVE, came in handy this weekend. That's because Alisha (and Nathanael, Caeden & Micah) moved to Georgia. Yes, the Georgia that is 1100 miles and 17 hours away. Not that I think it's far or anything.

I don't have any photos because I wasn't in the photo-taking mood. But of course the my kids were. And they coerced me.
Alisha (Funtime Mom Blog) moves to Georgia. Goodbye photos
Geez, we kinda look related here
It's supposed to be a TEMPORARY move. Only 1 1/2 - 2 years. (I know, it doesn't sound temporary.) It's a really good move for Nathanael's (we think he's pretty cool) career and so we're happy for them. Just also sad for us. 

The kids are growing up, or grown, doing their own thing. Like Alisha's new blog - Funtime Mom. She'll be doing less around here but you can find all her fun stuff there. 

So it was kind of a sad little weekend with a tear or two but we've already seen what Alisha is doing in her house there (she's quick that way) so you'll want to stay tuned. 

As for LDS NEST, it'll be sharing as usually with a little more of storytelling. Like real life, my life storytelling in-between. It's a hangover from that whole BRAVE thing last year. 


See what happens when you make resolutions.
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MAGNET • Our Valentine's Tradition, A Mini Christmas

1/16/2015

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Sometimes when you start something new in your family you don't know it's going to turn out to be a tradition. And you never know the impact. That's the way it was with our Valentine's tradition started about 20 years ago.
I remember in Jr. High our school would let other students send secret admirer, single stemmed flowers to other students. Sometimes I'd get one but most of the time not. I didn't feel terrible but I'd always wished that I'd get one every time. When my kids were a little older I didn't want them to feel unloved or unnoticed on Valentines. I wanted them to know that I loved them. But, since it's a day for lovers I also wanted the Boyfriend to know I loved him first. My solution was to give the mornings to the kids and the evening to him.
How to give the mornings to my kids when I wasn't too fond of early hours nor did I function well at that time of day. Can I say, "Really not a morning person?" Since I was always up after they went to bed, I hit upon the idea of putting a valentine treasure on the table to be there when they got up. That way even if they got up before me I wouldn't even have to be up yet for the celebrating to begin. 
Tradition defined: A long-standing, established pattern of repeated action 
(or legend, custom, belief, thought, statement, etc.,) 
practiced in one generation and likely passed down to other generations
Though I always did simple, small things (think Dollar Store finds) it was like a mini Christmas to them and it totally worked. But I didn't know then how much it worked. And I wouldn't know until my now adult children spoke of their happy associations with the holiday while many of their friends didn't have such positive feelings about Valentine's day. That "I don't have anyone special to spend the day with" syndrome didn't have the impact on them like it did on others. I was surprised at the unintended consequence.
I was also grateful for it especially after my oldest daughter faced her 1st Valentine's day alone after the end of her 3 year marriage. I was anticipating a very depressing time for her. Though she didn't live with us I put a little surprise on the table and then sent her an early morning text photo of it. Later I talked with her and she was surprisingly upbeat. She said it was because her association of Valentines wasn't only about having "someone special" it was about being loved and she hadn't lost that. As a mom, you can bet at that moment that I was glad for the many years of our Valentine's tradition.
Valentine's Day Tradition: Put something small and simple on the table for your children to wake up to. It's like a Mini Christmas and they feel loved all day long.
Leila's early morning Valentines tradition, even after she left home.
So, what are some of your Valentine's Day traditions?
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MENTORS • PLANNING SHEETS FOR NB, YWIE, STANDARDS NIGHT

1/9/2015

4 Comments

 
This is for our Young Women leaders out there. Planning Sheets for New Beginnings, Young Women in Excellence and Standards Night. We hope to help you, help the young women. Click on the image to see what it includes then go to this link for the download.
LDS YW Planning Sheet NB New Beginnings  Download
NB Download
LDS YW Planning Sheet YWIE Young Women In Excellence Download
YWIE Download
LDS YW Planning Sheet YWIE Young Women In Excellence Download
Standards Night Download
You can download all 3 of them here. Happy planning!
Shannon Christensen
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MAGNET • Polka Dot Birthday Party - Describe Him Dots

1/7/2015

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Yesterday was one of our grandchild's 3rd birthday. It made me think of his first birthday party - 
Polka dot, Polka dot, Polka dot Party
Birthday: Polka Dot Party
Something that I did that I liked was the "Describe Him Dots". We all took a minute to write on the dots about what he's like right now. Anything we think about his little personality. This is something that could be repeated every year to see how a child progresses or if things change in any particular year. It might be something that you start in your family. 
Polka Dot Party - Birthday Tradition: Describe Him/Her Dots • Write on a circle what personality traits or fun things about your child. Repeat every birthday to see your child's changes and progress.
Describe Him/Her Dots - Write something about the child and save for when they're older. Repeat every year. Watch their progress and changes.
He turned 3 and he still likes to dance, giggle and examine everything carefully. 
Shannon Christensen
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MOM • FHE Planning - what should we teach for FHE

1/3/2015

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Going along with my RESET resolution I'm rebooting our Family Home Evenings. Probably over 20 years ago I realized I wanted to make sure our kids got a well rounded spiritual education. We had only 3 then. I came up with all the topics I wanted to make sure I taught and put them into months to teach. (My close friends are saying, "Of course you did.") Here they are. 
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When the kids got older and we didn't have anymore really young ones I revised our lessons.
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Yeah, I kinda take FHE seriously. 
Which, with the promised blessings, I think it's a essential investment.
"If the Saints obey this counsel [home evening],
 we promise that great blessings will result. 
Love at home and obedience to parents will increase. 
Faith will be developed in the hearts of the youth of Israel, and 
they will gain power to combat the evil influences 
and temptations which beset them."
1915  First Presidency
Joseph F. Smith, Anthon H. Lund, Charles W. Penrose
Great blessings. Right? Like I said, makes me want to up my FHE game. 
Back to what I started out wanting to share. FHE Monthly Topic Dividers.
FHE Ring Thing Monthly Topic Dividers • Download
CFM=Come Follow Me • PP= Personal Progress • SOY=Strength Of Youth • AF= Articles of Faith • 10=Ten Commandments • LDRSHP= Leadership Topics
Okay, I know, a little over achieving here but I'm a designer/creator, that's just how I roll. These are dividers with the same reorganized info from above plus topics the church has put out in more recent years. I like to make things easier for myself and putting it all together on My Ring Thing does that. Since I have older kids I added all youth oriented things too.

When you wonder what you might teach you can refer to the lists above. If you want the same dividers you can buy those here. 

So, what are you going to teach for next FHE?
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ME • For 38% of you This Post Will Mean Nothing

1/2/2015

5 Comments

 
For 38% of you this post will mean nothing. Because that's the percentage of people who never make a New Year Resolution. My Boyfriend is one of them. (So you can stop reading now Love) 

I've always been into making them. When I was younger I'd have several goals each year. It helped me accomplish many of the things I wanted. I really enjoyed the process back then.

But the past few years things have changed for me. First, I'm very content with a lot of my life. Second, I realize how not in control of some of my life I am. Third, because I'm not in control of a lot of things that affect me deeply I started leaning in a different direction looking to strengthen my character to deal with those things. And fourth, it's pretty easy to focus since there's just one.

So I made a switch. Some of you are probably familiar with the One Word New Year Resolution.
One Word New Year Resolution Defined - 
A single word resolution or promise made to one's self, thoughtfully chosen and used for a personal development guide for the entire year.
You can read about my previous One Word Resolutions here - 
2014
BRAVE
2013
Was a rough year
2012
FINISH
2011
FOCUSED


BRAVE for 2014 was a perfect fit. Some of the reasons why I've shared and some I haven't. But it was very fitting. Now on to 2015.
I've been wondering what word I wanted and needed for 2015. I've been thinking about it for a couple of weeks and yesterday I went through a process I have to come up with a word that "fit". Then today I hit on... 
My One Word New Year Resolution 2015
defined: the act or an instance of setting again; to restore; a push button you press to activate the reset mechanism; set to a certain position or cause to operate correctly
Leila's death has taken it's spiritual toll on me. Getting back to the basics of stronger praying, scripture reading, and pondering will reset my spiritual foundation. I know the Primary answers work. 

Then there's Leila's son, Joseph. He's been with us on and off since he was born. It looks like it will be more "on" from here on out. I have 8 children and my youngest is 14. There were still several years left for a few of them at home but I was on the downhill side of the motherhood mountain. And I was coasting.

With the prospects of Joseph being here for an undetermined while, I'm needing to reset my motherhood button. At 52 that's an immense undertaking. I totally get why we have babies while we're young. But, I also know we get good at things we do and I've been doing the mom thing for 29 years. I'm pretty good at it but I need to restart that engine. With all that Joseph is missing in his little life having lots of love and people who know what they're doing will bless him. It could go without saying but he's already been a huge blessing to us.

So that's my 2015 One Word Resolution and a little of why I chose it. Does anyone else do One Word Resolutions? Resolutions at all?


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