LDS Nest
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • Influence
  • Shop
  • Not LDS?
  • Contact
  • Handouts

LDS NEST BLOG

LOVE • LIVE • LEARN • LEAD
NURTURING THOSE WHO NURTURE

DISTINCT & DIFFERENT • IN HAPPY WAYS

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST HERE

MOM • Reverence Begins with Googly Eyes

6/4/2015

0 Comments

 
Diapers, bottles and quiet toys. Those days have been long gone for me. Or so I thought. I'm 52 and mothering a toddler.

Mom 2.0

As mothers sometimes we wish we could do it over again. Do it better. Avoid some of the mistakes. Have more fun. Or be more serious. Whatever it was that we weren't.

We've also learned from experience. A fascinating, sometimes frustrating teacher. That in itself, already having gone through the ups, downs and outcomes, gives us an advantage and a different perspective the second, third or ninth time around.
Reverence begins with googly eyes • LDS NEST
Sorry for the blurry photo. I was picturing taking in stealth mode since it was Sunday School in the Chapel.
My Mom 2.0 tip: Reverence begins with googly eyes.
I know. Not the profound tip you might be expecting. But one that'll work. Small, compact and keeps a kid's attention for about 10 minutes. Anything that can entertain quietly for that long should be shared.

The eyes were sticky backed and I stuck them on his legs and fingers during sacrament meeting. This photo is during Sunday school where I was starting to entertain myself by sticking them on his head. (I wouldn't recommend this for sacrament meeting as it had all the adults snickering. Who keeps the adults quiet? Another day.)

A bonus grandparent tip: These aren't bulky and can be put in your pocket for last minute moments when you're asked to watch a grandchild or any child. You'll be a hit.
Picture
0 Comments

Manufacturer - Primary Song Sing • Along Quilt Panel

4/24/2015

2 Comments

 
Have you ever sat to sing songs with your (grand)kids and only remember a handful of those songs. I know just about all the Primary songs (Primary Chorister, favorite calling in the world!) but I still couldn't manage more than a few in the moment. Being a problem solver (ie: creative) I came up with this idea and designed it. A Primary Song Sing • Along Quilt. It's a quilt I can pull out that has over 50 songs listed on it. There'll never be a lull again. I can't make you all quilts but I can sell the fabric panel so you can make your own. 
LDS NEST Primary Songs Sing • Along Quilt Panel
Primary Songs Sing • Along Quilt Panel • Enlarge to See the Songs • Click Above
So that's what I've put in our Etsy Shop - Primary Song Sing•Along Fabric Panel.
LDS NEST Primary Song Sing • Along Quilt Fabric Panel
Singing the songs are so important for teaching the gospel. I think this is what I'm going to be giving to each of my grandkids when they're born. But I could see it being used as a babysitter blanket, wall hanging, singing time bean bags (cut down smaller), or pillowcase. 
What would you make out of the Primary Song Sing • Along Quilt Fabric Panel?
Shannon Christensen LDS NEST
2 Comments

LOVE • Love is All You Need, Really???

6/26/2014

2 Comments

 
It's been camp, camp, camp on my brain. And I have a few things to share with you about that. But, for today, I've got a print in our Esty shop that I did before the camp rush.
All You Need Is Love, Oh And... DIY Print • LDSNEST.com
Esty Print
The Boyfriend and my anniversary is next month (we're celebrating 32 years) so marriage has been on my mind. I kept seeing "all you need is love" or "love is all you need" everywhere on Pinterest when I was doing a little research. Anyone who's been married any length of time (or even for shorter periods) knows it takes more than love. Sure it's the basis, but if it were all up to love we wouldn't have any broken relationships. Married or otherwise.
DIY Print • All You Need Is Love, Oh And... • LDSNEST.com
Etsy Shop
"Love is all you need" is such an over simplification. Love is the start and the driver but it better get some other passengers on board (forgiveness, patience, fidelity, kindness, etc.) if it wants the fuel to go anywhere for any length of time. Can you tell I have strong opinions about this? Do you?
Well I didn't want anyone in this house thinking that all they had to do was have a little love for a strong relationship so I put my thoughts to paper. And tried to make it handsome. You can find it here.

What are 3 qualities besides love that you think a relationship, any relationship, needs?
Shannon Christensen
PS • You might want to give it as a wedding gift. Just a thought.
2 Comments

Homeschool Preschool Bucket List for Spring and Summer

2/21/2014

0 Comments

 
I like to do stuff. Caeden (our 2 year old) likes to do stuff. We are both happier when we are doing SOMETHING! I've been looking into "homeschool preschool" and discovered two things: you can be one of those moms who has a curriculum or you can be one of those moms who says "life is learning!" 

I'm a little bit of both because I'm inherently lazy. I know if I say something like, "Letters from 10:00-10:15" it won't happen...but I still want to have some sort of activity schedule for this Spring and Summer. Enter: the homeschool preschool bucket list! (You can download a weekly activity planner at the end of this post!)

Munchie Monday: Where we make a yummy food! Probably a breakfast food or other food (like rolls! or freezer meals--which I might do since I'm expecting in May) that can be used throughout the week. Specifically these: 
  • Blueberry Oatmeal Bread
  • Baked Oatmeal Casserole
  • Lemon Raspberry Muffins
  • Vegan Banana Pancakes
  • Utah Scones
  • Honey-nut Granola
  • Rainbow Bread
  • Homemade Poptarts 
  • Biscuits
  • Whole Wheat Honey Oatmeal Bread
  • Homemade Flour Tortillas (I slightly changed this recipe to my own liking, but once you make these you'll never be able to eat store bought tortillas again. Seriously. I just...I can't.)
  • Easy White Bread. Let me just reiterate that this is EASY.
Tactile Tuesday: Where we do or make some sort of touch-sensory thing.
  • Paint with Watercolors and glue
  • Button Sorting
  • Finger Painting
  • Homemade bubbles
  • Ball pit
  • Felt activities
  • Homemade moon dough
  • Dye eggs with shaving cream and food coloring

Work-out Wednesday: Exercise day! Go for walk, do some pilates or yoga, ride a bike, run, whatever! This can obviously be done on other days of the week too, but just in case it doesn't we have a specific day for it. 
  • Swimming/run in sprinklers
  • Go for a walk
  • Go to the park
  • Run outside
  • Ride bikes
  • Fly a kite
  • Do Yoga stretches together
  • Kick a ball around

Thinking Thursday: Choose a learning activity; numbers, letters, reading, puzzles. Something that makes him think. 
  • Alphabet Matching
  • Homemade Volcano
  • Pom-pom activities
  • Just read
  • Learn sight words. I've been using DVDs, flashcards, and books from the Preschool Prep Co. They are awesome! Caeden knew all of the words after a month. He's still learning that the words he learned on the DVD/flashcards are in his books.
  • Alphabet flashcards. Preschool Prep Co also has these, but I haven't used them yet.
  • Learn numbers. You can download a DIY numbers quiet book here. 
  • Puzzles
Free-for-all Friday: The day where you do whatever you want! Things we want to do this spring and summer as a family:
  • Stargazing
  • Fishing
  • Backyard camping
  • Have a bon fuego (bonfire)
  • Get a chicken or two
  • Go to the zoo
  • Go on a mini weekend get-away
Photo from Spring 2013
I've made a weekly activity planner that you can fill out weekly. Download it here, or click on the image below and save as. What would you add to the list?
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

A Mother's Wish • What She Wanted for Joseph

9/3/2013

10 Comments

 
Baby Joseph's Dad, Sky, called me today to share something Leila wrote. He found it on her iPad and it touched him. It was her mother wishes she wanted for Joseph. I don't know if she was finished with her list but it was enough.
Picture
The reality is that Joseph will never know Leila in this life and will have another mother to raise him. He'll be caught up in life and won't have a need to know her. But I suspect many years from now, likely when he's an adult, he'll wonder. He might be drawn to a few of the mementos that connect directly to her. They might give a glimpse of who she was and how she thought. Maybe he'll see a little of himself in her.

So today I spent some of my time putting her words into design for him.
Picture
10 Comments

The Post I Don't Want to Write - The Death of My Daughter Leila

8/27/2013

12 Comments

 
This is a post no mother (father, sister, brother, spouse...) wants to write. Writing it makes it even more real. And the realness of it hurts my heart. 

My daughter Leila died this month. 
Picture


Alisha, here sister and LDS Nestie, wrote about it here.
Alisha Galbraith Photography • I Choose to be Happy
I'd like it to all go away - the middle of the night phone call; the realization that something was very wrong; the birth of her child a month early; a devastated spouse; her father far away in the middle of the ocean; doctors, nurses and tests; understanding a blood hemorrhage on the brain stem; the week in intensive care; the baby in newborn intensive care; organ matching and donating; a grieving family; and a funeral. And that is just the beginning.

Obviously it's effected our family deeply. My emotions are raw and I'm at a loss on several levels. Leila's my daughter and my friend. The phrase 'a heart breaking to pieces' is no longer a metaphor for me. It was and is very real. 

As LDS members, we know of the Plan of Salvation, have an understanding of Eternal Life, and that our family can be together again. But for now, it hurts. 

Leila was a part of LDS NEST and her being gone effects what happens here. I've changed. Alisha's changed. We need time to figure out what that feels like and what it looks like for LDS NEST. The one decision we could make is that we will stop with our monthly Newsletter and Notes for a time. I'd like to be able to give more detail about what that means for the subscription but I don't know. I just know we need time. 

We're likely to still post on this blog. It will help us. Maybe it'll help you too. 

Lastly, know that the Lord has worked through so many good, good people with a remarkable outpouring of love for our family. We've not been left alone. There's more on my mind and heart that I want to share but for now this is all I can do. 
Picture
Picture











Leila's Obituary here
12 Comments

MEMBER • July Newsletter & Notes

7/1/2013

0 Comments

 
LDS NEST Newsletter & Notes Cover July 2013
Our July Issue is ready today for our LDS Nesties. Fun celebrate summer ideas. Not a member yet? Join up here. Here's a peek at some of the sections of the Newsletter & Notes.
LDS NEST Short & Sweet FHE Ideas
FHE • SHORT & SWEET
4 Ideas with links to song, scripture, and image.
See an example here
LDS NEST Visiting Teaching Mailer & Handout
VISITING TEACHING
1 Mailer & 1 Handout 
for your visiting teachees
LDS NEST Take a Break Bucket
GIFT GIVING
Gift ideas for anytime and a section to make ahead 
Christmas gifts
0 Comments

MORALIST • How Do You Teach Fasting?

6/2/2013

4 Comments

 
Picture
Some people really get fasting. I don't think I'm one of them. I do it, just not to the depth that the principle can go. I'm working in the right direction though and I'm happy with that. 

Teaching kids about fasting is even harder than teaching yourself. We usually start to prep our kids at 7 and give them the option to fast. They start with us but have difficulty keeping at it all day but the pressure is off so they don't feel guilty when they don't make it. They're practicing. Then by 8 they've gotten a feel for fasting and know it's time to go all day. 

One of my daughters was complaining of headaches every fast Sunday until I reminded her to hydrate herself on Saturday in preparation for fasting. Some of the others I've told to go say a prayer when they get especially hungry. 

So, what do you say to kids to help them with fasting? What tips work for you? We like ideas. Please share. 
Picture
4 Comments

Motherhood Moments in Pictures

5/20/2013

1 Comment

 
“Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on [camera] is captured forever... it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.” - Aaron Siskind. Visit LDSNEST.COM to see more motherhood moments like this one captured!
On a previous post I shared some ideas on how to put JOY in Motherhood. It was awesome to hear how you wonderful moms put joy in motherhood, so thank you for sharing! First idea on my list was "take pictures." 

If you're like most moms, you're usually the one taking the pictures and rarely in them. This past week I tried to change that and I think you should too! 
Motherhood moment <3 LDSNEST.COM
All I did to get these pictures was put my camera on the ground facing us, set the self-timer to a 10-second release, pressed the button, and played with my boy until the camera took a picture. They aren't posed or perfect, and my feet are totally dirty, but I love them. That way when your children look back on your photos and they ask, "Mom, where are you?" you can say, "Look, I'm right there."
Motherhood moment <3 LDSNEST.COM
Motherhood moment <3 LDSNEST.COM
Motherhood moment <3 LDSNEST.COM
Picture
Picture
{not on a self-timer, but I had to share!}
Try it out! Make a conscious effort to be in the pictures, not just taking the pictures. Post one to our Facebook page!
1 Comment

Five Things I've Learned about Motherhood

5/13/2013

4 Comments

 
5 things I've learned about Motherhood. LDSNEST.COM @ldsnest Must read!
Just over two years ago I held a newborn niece and said excitedly, “This is the first time I've wanted to hold a baby since my little brother, Reece, was born!” That was 18 years prior to that moment. Considering the fact that I was due with our first child in three months, I was relieved that I actually wanted to hold a baby again. 

I never understood the importance of motherhood, thinking that women were made just to have babies and raise them. I never wanted to be a mom.

Slowly I’ve learned that motherhood is more than having babies, changing diapers, and gaining weight.

5 things I've learned about Motherhood
Motherhood is Benevolence; she desires to do good for others before herself.
Motherhood is Diligence; striving to accomplish what she’s started.
Motherhood is Courage; guiding us through fear, difficulty, anger, sorrow, and pain to find happiness. 
Motherhood is Compassion; she has the ability to forgive every day 
Motherhood is Refinement; she is cleansing and in the end, if done well, free of impurities. 

There is more to motherhood than simply having children. It does not matter if you are single, childless, young, or old; every woman can have the refining power of motherhood. Love this! LDSNEST.COM @ldsnest
“Motherhood is more than bearing children....It is the essence of who we are as women. It defines our very identity, our divine stature and nature, and the unique traits our Father gave us.” –Sheri L. Dew

There is more to motherhood than simply having children. It does not matter if you are single, childless, young, or old; every woman can have the refining power of motherhood. 

I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day! Please share what you've learned about motherhood in the comments!
Picture
PS. I hope you read last weeks post about how to put JOY in Motherhood. If you didn't you can here!
4 Comments

7 Ways to put JOY in Motherhood

5/6/2013

0 Comments

 
7 Ways to put JOY in Motherhood. Read this! From LDSNEST.COM
I did not make him cry for this picture. He obliged.
Anyone who is a mother knows that the words “joy” and “motherhood” are rarely used in the same sentence. M. Russell Ballard said, "The joy of motherhood comes in moments..." As someone who didn't plan on being a mother (ever), the word “motherhood” gives me a mild anxiety attack. As do the phrases, “I’m pregnant!” and “when I was in labor…”

My sweet baby, Caeden, is now 16 months old (just under a year and a half for people like me who hate to count). And guess what…he is such a joy! Not all of the time of course, and really I can’t complain too much on the days he is less than joyous. I only have one little monster to escape from.

Then I realized something. Motherhood isn't something that I should want to escape from. I can make joy happen! While some of these may be no-brainers for you veteran moms, they were news to me!

Here are my seven ways to enjoy your little one(s) and put JOY in Motherhood:

  • Take an obscene amount of pictures. I take about 50 pictures every time I pull my camera out. I don’t think I’m exaggerating either. Take pictures of your baby eating, exploring, playing with his toys, and destroying his room. Even if my kid is crying I take pictures. He settles down after a few takes, and soon I have a laughing, smiling baby boy!  I even created a gallery here because I take SO MANY. 
  • Put that baby in the tub! And not just to clean him. If your baby loves to splash, let him splash! Give your baby a cup, and if he drinks that bath water (gross) let him! Put some finger paint up on the walls. Bath time is the bomb. It is never too early, or too late for tub time.
  • Have a bed party. Simply hang out on mom and dad’s bed. Bring your babe’s favorite toy. My baby’s favorite toy currently consists of “nothing”, but try and launch himself over the edge of the bed. I haven’t dropped him on his head…yet.
  • Let your kid “help” you. Caeden is to the point where he follows me everywhere, shuts anything I open, and puts everything in the trash can. This includes the semi-neatly folded, clean clothes from his dresser and the books from his bookshelf. So I say to myself, “Self! Teaching opportunity!” Then I attempt to teach him which thing goes where. He still puts everything in the trash can. 
  • Read to your little one. They don’t have to sit on your lap, and they don’t even have to look at the pictures. Chances are they won’t do either, but they really just like to hear someone talking. It’s like magic.
  • Have a pajama day and eat a cookie for breakfast. For real. 
  • Some things are just meant to be let go. Let go of the little, nit-picky things that bother you. It's okay if your kid puts away the books upside down and sideways. It's okay if his toys end up in the laundry basket and you don't find out until you wash it. It's OKAY. 


Stay tuned because next week I'll tell you what I've learned about motherhood!

In the meantime, how do you enjoy your babes (children)?

Picture
Children's portrait. Exploration.
0 Comments

MOM - The Challenge • 25 Words to Your Children

4/26/2013

3 Comments

 
Picture
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.

Picture
3 Comments

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. 
Picture
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

Spotlight Traditions • Long Distance

3/29/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
We introduced SPOTLIGHTS in our Newsletter & Notes for April. It's a great family tradition. This is one way we put it into practice for our Marine son.

One night when we were on our way to get a treat for FHE we did SPOTLIGHT in the car. We had the time and included everyone. Our son happened to text me while we were traveling. I decided that we need to do SPOTLIGHT for him. It was really nice to include him even though there's such a distance between us. 

Just after texting SPOTLIGHT with Reece one of our daughters called. I told her what we'd just done with her brother and she said she wanted to do it with us too. So we did SPOTLIGHT with her, everyone saying something about her. But, I found out what she really wanted to do was to say something nice about everyone else. Which she did. 

It was such a great way to connect with a couple of our kids. We've been doing SPOTLIGHT for many years and there's just something about sharing things you like about each other. If done right (tips in the Newsletter) then it just makes you feel the love. Whether your giving or receiving. 
Picture
0 Comments
    Picture
    Makers sharing 
    with other Makers
    love, live, learn & lead
    in happy 
    LDS NEST ways
    enter email
    You might find something that feathers your nest here!
    LDS NEST • LOVE
    LDS NEST • LIVE
    LDS NEST • LEARN
    LDS NEST • LEAD

    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:

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Enter email


    All
    01 Me
    02 Mate
    03 Mom
    04 Manager
    05 Manufacturer
    06 Money Maker
    07 Moralist
    08 Maven
    09 Magnet
    10 Messenger
    11 Member
    12 Mentor
    Agency
    Challenge
    Children
    Come Follow Me
    Downloads
    Family
    Family • Leila
    Fathers
    Fhe
    General Conference
    Gifts
    Holidays
    Lds Fashion
    Lds Nest
    Lead
    LEARN
    LIVE
    Love
    Marriage
    Motherhood
    Newsletter & Notes
    Parenting
    Party
    Personal Progress
    Pregnancy
    Projects
    Recipes
    Relief Society
    Ring Thing
    Scripture Study
    Teens
    Tips
    Traditions
    Training
    Us
    Young Women



    December 2016
    February 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013

    RSS Feed


    This is NOT an 
    Official site of 
    The Church of 
    Jesus Christ 
    of Latter-day Saints.

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.