Blog Archives

Mentor • Interactive Personal Progress Training

4/30/2013

This weekend I did some Personal Progress training. I decided to try and make it a little interesting and came up with this graphic art for the presentation. Since my hard drive died a month ago I've gotten new software that makes interactive PDFs a breeze to make. So I thought to myself, self, you could do an interactive personal progress pdf. And that's what I did.

LDS NEST • INTERACTIVE PERSONAL PROGRESS PDF

CLICK ON IMAGE TO DOWNLOAD

If you click on the word(s) it should take you to information about the topic. Some sections are general and you may have to scroll to find the answer, others are more specific. It doesn't contain all that there is to know about Personal Progress but it's a basic overview. Even if you're not a young woman or in YW (maybe you're a parent or aunt) this will help explain the program to you.

Hope this improves your day in some way. All we ask is that you tell us that you downloaded it below.

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MOM - The Challenge • 25 Words to Your Children

4/26/2013

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When I heard this while listening to General Conference I knew I'd share it with you Nesties. I'm sure alot of you remember this.

President Thomas S. Monson shared the experience of Jay Hess, an airman who was shot down over North Vietnam in the 1960s: “For two years his family had no idea whether he was dead or alive. His captors in Hanoi eventually allowed him to write home but limited his message to less than 25 words.” President Monson asks: “What would you and I say to our families if we were in the same situation—not having seen them for over two years and not knowing if we would ever see them again? Wanting to provide something his family could recognize as having come from him and also wanting to give them valuable counsel, Brother Hess wrote [the following words]: ‘These things are important: temple marriage, mission, college. Press on, set goals, write history, take pictures twice a year.’”7

What words would you write to your children if you had 25 words or less?
General Conference April 2013 • Rosemary M. Wixom

Before conference was over (in all honesty probably before her talk was over) I had written my 25 words. Quick. Raw. From the gut. Doing something like that, spontaneously, gets to the instinctual, real thing. Here's what I felt I would say to my family if I were in that circumstance -

My 25 Words

Love, learn of, and follow God.
Love yourself and others.
Repent. Forgive.
Have a family and serve them.
Have vision, see eternally.
I love you.

At that moment, if I had 25 words that would be it.

Sometimes it's just good to hear what others say. One of our blog commenters Pebbles & Pigtails had the same idea about 25 words too. It would also be good to here your words.

Have you taken the challenge?
What would you write to your children
if you had 25 words?

Share your 25 words below if you've already done it. If not...... do it now!!!!

Don't worry about how it flows. Don't worry about how it sounds. Don't worry what others think.
Be spontaneous. Be raw. Be vulnerable. Be real.

Write to your children.
25 words.
Go.

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Building on a Sure Foundation

4/22/2013

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I'm still on a Conference high, so I'm sharing my thoughts on the latest talk I've read. In his talk, Dean M. Davies talks about his experience with an earthquake in San Francisco.

Have you ever been in an earthquake? I was once. I don't even remember how old I was. Stomping around the house I thought it was me who started the shaking in the kitchen. Looking down the hallway I saw my mother running towards me, but everything was moving side-to-side. I thought I was shaking the house! She grabbed me and we sat under a red metal bunk bed until the earthquake was over.

My mother was prepared and ready to help me when I had no idea what was going on. I had never experienced an earthquake before, nor did I know what to do. She took that opportunity to teach me so I would be prepared for any future earthquakes.

The same should happen in our homes; preparing ourselves and our children for spiritual "earthquakes". We are not alone and we have someone with experience to turn to. We must remember to utilize the Lord!

"Brother's and sisters, none of us would knowingly construct our homes, places of work, or sacred houses of worship on sand or rubble without appropriate plans and materials. Let us accept the Savior’s invitation to come unto Him. Let us build our lives upon a safe and a sure foundation." -Dean M. Davies

Let's remember it! If you love the quote above, then feel free to pin the image.

Happy Monday, Nesties!

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MATE - 5 Ways to Put Your Man Before Babies

4/19/2013

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We love our kids. Alot. Because of this, sometimes we have a phenomenon among women with children - women forget they're wives. When a woman forgets she's a wife she forgets there's a husband. If that goes on long enough it opens the proverbial door for trouble.

Here are 5 ways to make sure you're putting your man before the babies. In fact, it's much the same way we nurture babies that we nurture our relationship with our man.

1) FUSS - We fuss over babies. We think they're adorable, clever, delightful just being in the world. Men like to have attention too. Point out the things that are adorable, clever and delightful about him. Tell him. Fuss over him.

2) LAUGH - men like to hear women laugh. Especially women they love. I don't know why but they do. Let yourself laugh with him.

3) FIRST - Babies make a fuss so we'll take care of them. Now. Often times, babies can be so demanding that your spouse thinks they ALWAYS come first. One day babies and children leave the nest. Your spouse should have a place of priority. Once a baby's fussy needs are met they become content. Give your man security by placing him in the number one position in your life and you'll work more as a team.

4) TIME - We put in the necessary time with babies. They're dependent on us and when we don't put in the time needs are neglected. Your man needs time. Your time. Time says he's important and worthwhile.

5) WATCHFUL - we are watchful of babies and their needs. We try to be aware when they're tired, hungry, or need some time to play. Same goes for nurturing a husband. Watch for signs of his basic needs being met. We aren't the ones who always have to meet the need but we can take notice and help him meet his own essentials.

These are such slight changes for most women but they can mean big changes in your spouse. Put your man before your babies, try it out.

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10 Quick Tips - Interacting with Your Teen's Friends

4/19/2013

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1) Do acknowledge them
Hello.
Pretty simple. Talk to them when they come in. Show some interest. Get to know them.
2) Do show respect
Grown up.
Kids want to be treated like an adult, this is one area in which that works.
3) Do provide food
Yum.
Food always works. Feed them. Even let them have access to the kitchen.
4) Do be fun
Duh.
Do something unexpected from the normal routine. Be a little playful.
5) Do avoid confrontations
Yield.
This isn't the time to correct your kid. Do that later, where you can discuss.
6) Do remember them
Notice.
Names, siblings, & unique things about them. Also, how your kid knows them.
7) Do make it peaceful
Zen.
An environment that's void of contention makes a place people want to be.
8) Do leave a little space
Exit.
Give them some room. Not the bedroom. But, some talking space to be private.
9) Do like them
Enjoy.
Everyone has annoyances. Overlook them. See what your kid sees. Be open.
10) Do keep long hours
Nap.
It doesn't have to be 'open all night' but kids like late nights. Especially weekends.

I always like a little extra.

Bonus: Do treat them like family
Include.
Everyone wants to belong. Somewhere. Make it you and yours that they think of as 'family' when they need to connect. How you interaction with your kid's friends, and your kid, will benefit everyone.

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Mawwaige!

4/15/2013

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My husband, Nathanael, and I celebrated our two year anniversary this past weekend! We went to the Sea Life Aquarium in Kansas City and found Nemo, because that’s how all adults celebrate things.

I asked my followers on my photography page for the best marriage advice they've ever heard. Here is what they said:

Never go to bed mad, sad, hurt, misunderstood, or unhappy at each other; go to sleep with love in your heart for your spouse.
Honor your temple covenants.
Never stop playing together.
Keep a close relationship with Christ.
Laugh.
Pray together.
Use the language of loyalty; we, ours, us
Never talk trash on your spouse to anyone no matter how mad you are or how interested the listener is.
Talk to each other about everything; lose sleep if you have to.

Thank you all for taking the time to share how you keep a marriage strong! If you didn't get a change to share, leave the best marriage advice you've ever heard in the comment section below!

ps. Don't forget FHE tonight! We have mini lesson ideas here. We will have four more lesson ideas in our newsletter next month, so don't miss out!!

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Messenger. Making a Difference

4/8/2013

6 Comments

I love General Conference! I always look forward to it, so excited to get some more direction. I learned so much, but I tried to narrow it down to the most important thing for me.

"My part matters because I matter." The thought is from Sister Elaine S. Dalton's talk. Sometimes I compare myself to what other people my age are doing; they have careers, are in school, are traveling, etc. I look at myself; I never finished college, never had a career, and haven't traveled outside of the west and central United States. I start to feel sorry for myself and see all of the "unfinished" things I've done. I start think that what I'm not doing isn't as important, but it is! I realize it doesn't matter what I've done or haven't done in the past, what matters is where I am now, where I am willing to go, and what I am willing to do for the Lord.

What I do matters because I matter to the Lord. What you do matters because you matter to the Lord. We all matter, and like Sister Dalton said, we can make a difference because we are different. One of my personal goals from Conference is to stop the pity parties, get outside myself, and make a difference where I am. I don't have to have a career. I don't have to be in school or travel to some exotic place to make a difference. I can make a difference where I am now, in the Middle-of-Nowhere, Missouri, and you can make a difference where you are too.

Be happy, my Nesties! Let's make a difference, no matter where we are!

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Messenger. Young Women Broadcast

4/4/2013

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Raise your hand if you got to go to the Young Women Broadcast last weekend! *raising hand* I did! I'm going to keep this short and sweet by saying I loved it and that I learned a lot. I chose to work on one thing I learned to better myself for the next two weeks and that is:

Be of good cheer! Sometimes I forget how very blessed I am and this picture and scripture helps me remember to be glad for everything I do have. What did you learn from the Young Women Broadcast?

Be happy, nesties!

Alisha

P.S. General Conference is this weekend! Don't forget to leave your email so you can download this super sweet General Conference map!

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FHE • Short & Sweet for Toddlers

4/1/2013

A week before LDS NEST's first Newsletter was due out our harddrive died. Which led to the loss of the whole issue without any backed up files. We did well to put the issue together in a week but there were a few things that didn't make it in. So, lucky for our LDS NEST non subscribers we're posting it to show what will go in next time. Kind of like another sample of what the Newsletter & Notes is like.

This section is FHE for younger ones, called Short & Sweet. It's just a song, scripture, picture, and treat. Short & Sweet. Just for that age group. But, we can see it being used for kids older too. It can give them an outline they can use to give the lesson. Or maybe your family is just short on time and you need something that's not going to last too long. The SAY part can be a discussion of any length. You get the idea, it can be used in a variety of ways.

Oh, and the great part is that there are hyperlinks when you download the PDF. If you click on the SING, it will take you to that song on LDS.org. There is an audio that has a child singing (you don't even need to know the songs) and plays the music too. If you click on the SAY, it goes to that scripture. Click on the SHOW and it goes to the picture listed. (No SWEETS links. Yet.) Nice, huh? We think so.

Let us know what you think or how it went using them.

FHE Short & Sweet #1.pdf
File Size:	186 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

LDS NEST BLOG

Mentor • Interactive Personal Progress Training

MOM - The Challenge • 25 Words to Your Children

My 25 Words

Have you taken the challenge?
What would you write to your children
if you had 25 words?

Write to your children.
25 words.
Go.

Building on a Sure Foundation

MATE - 5 Ways to Put Your Man Before Babies

10 Quick Tips - Interacting with Your Teen's Friends

Mawwaige!

Messenger. Making a Difference

Messenger. Young Women Broadcast

P.S. General Conference is this weekend! Don't forget to leave your email so you can download this super sweet General Conference map!

FHE • Short & Sweet for Toddlers

Enter your email address below to only get blog posts emailed to you. If you want special offers and updates then subscribe using the green button:

LDS NEST BLOG

My 25 Words

Have you taken the challenge?What would you write to your children if you had 25 words?

Write to your children.25 words.Go.

P.S. General Conference is this weekend! Don't forget to leave your email so you can download this super sweet General Conference map!

Enter your email address below to only get blog posts emailed to you. If you want special offers and updates then subscribe using the green button:

Have you taken the challenge?
What would you write to your children
if you had 25 words?

Write to your children.
25 words.
Go.