Achievement Day

I am not going to lie when I got called to be the Achievement Day leader I was a little unsure of what I really had to do.... but in some way the Lord helps you along and it feels like riding a bike now! 

One day I was looking through my sisters memory box,  and in it I found a scrap book that was made for her when she was in Young Women's. 

I thought it was the perfect size, and of course the perfect cuteness to make my girls their own books to keep them on track to complete their activities... plus it's super fun! This way they won't look at all the activities in the manual get overwhelmed. Thanks Shannon for the book idea!! :)

 Achievement Day theme... the theme can be repeated at each activity for opening exercises.

Each page is divided up into "levels." Emerald is the first level... When each activity is completed they get to put a glittery sticker in the box which is next to the activity description that they write, leader initials and date. When the girl completes all 7 activities in this level they get to attach a green gem and moves on to level 2...

 Level 2 (Opal)

Level 3 (Sapphire)

This level, level 4 (Ruby) can only be completed when they turn 11 years old. If the girl can keep on track, moving up a level every year, then by the time they are 11 all they have to do is this level and the Bishops interview (check box is at the bottom of the sheet).

 Articles of Faith

The back page has two pockets, one for the girls contact info, and their book to reference for activities and things. 

The Gospel Standards I feel is so important for the girls to read. What a good thing to do in the car while driving to their activity.

Also, every time the girl comes to the activity AND brings their book they get a ribbon to tie on one of the rings that bind the book together!

When the girls turn 12 and move to Young Women's they receive a bracelet with all the gems they have earned!! Still need to work on what that looks like, but I'm excited to do it!!

We All Need a Tree

A plumber was hired to restore an old farmhouse, and after he had just finished a rough first day on the job, a flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric drill quit, and his ancient one-ton truck refused to start. His temporary employer drove him home as he sat in stony silence. When they got to his house, the plumber invited the employer in to meet his family. As they walked toward the front door, the plumber paused briefly at a tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. When opening the door, he underwent an amazing transformation. His face creased into big smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.

When the plumber walked the employer back to her car they passes the tree and the employers curiosity got the better of her. She asked him about the tree and why he touched it as he had. "I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing's for sure, those troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and children... so I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home and ask God to take care of them. Then in the morning I pick them up again. Funny thing is" -he smiled- "when I come out in the morning to pick 'em up, there aren't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before."
It is up to both the husband and the wife to use loving compassion to help each other cope with stresses; and each spouse has a responsibility to minimize the figurative mud they drag into their homes on their shoes.

-Dr. Laura Schlessinger

Galileo

  "Galileo Galilei (Pisa, February 15, 1564 – Arcetri, January 8, 1642), was a Tuscan astronomer, philosopher, and physicist who is closely associated with the scientific revolution. His achievements include improvements to the telescope, a variety of astronomical observations, the first, and effective support for Copernicanism. He has been referred to as the "father of modern astronomy," as the "father of modern physics," and as "father of science."

Galileo  was charged with heresy because of teaching the statement of Copernicus’s theory that the Earth revolved around the Sun. He was sentenced to house arrest in 1633 because of this statement which contradicts  Joshua (10:12): "Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, 'Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon'."

I hope that did not bore you too much, but this is why I find this man so amazing... Galileo new nothing of The Book of Mormon, due to the fact that it was still considered the "dark ages" and the restoration of the gospel had not taken place yet. But because of the restoration of the gospel we have been blessed to have the The Book of Mormon.  Helaman is a book in The Book of Mormon, in which chapter 12: (written around the time of 7 B.C.) 15 reads, "And thus, according to his word the earth goeth back, and it appeareth unto man that the sun standeth still; yea, and behold, this is so: for surely it is the earth that moveth and not the sun."

Pretty cool, uh? I'm sure this verse would have come in handy back in 1633!
I love these tid bits of truth from The Book of Mormon. :)

The Remarkable Soul of a Women

Some time ago I'd realized that when I'd look at myself in the mirror I couldn't see that same girl I saw years ago. Where had I gone? And... what is that on my face? Another wrinkle? Another pimple? UH geeze! Why can't I be better? These and more questions surface every day, especially days when I am cooped up all day with no adult interaction. Being home all day with Tanner is such a blessing but a challenge for me none the less. Trying to keep myself busy so I don't let my thoughts go adrift and be hard on myself. One day last week was pretty challenging. I thought to myself, "What am I going to do today?... I could get the mail!" What a life hu? Stooping to the level of getting the mail to be the highlight of my day. This day though, getting the mail was the highlight of my day. Steven ordered me this book, so I sat down and devoured every page. I wish it was longer, is my only complaint.

Dieter Uchtdorf is one of my favorite speakers. In 2008 Uchtdorf gave a talk at the general Relief Society meeting that blew me out of the water. He answered my prayers in my quest to being the women I know I can be. He states, "The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before. Everyone can create. We don't need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty.

Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty-and I am not talking about the process of cleaning the rooms of your teenage children. You might say, "I'm not the creative type. When I sing, I'm always half a tone above or below note. I cannot draw a line without a ruler. And the only practical use for my homemade bread is as a paperweight or doorstop." If that is how you feel, think again, and remember that you are a spirit daughter of the most creative Being in the universe. Isn't it remarkable to think that your very spirit is fashioned by an endlessly creative and eternally compassionate God? Think about it-you spirit body is a masterpiece, created with a beauty, function, and capacity beyond imagination. But to what end were you created? You were created with the express purose and potention of experiencing a fullness of joy.

Your birthright-and the purpose of your great voyage on this earth-is to seek and experience eternal happiness. One of the ways to find this is by creating things. If you are a mother, you participated with God in His work of creation-not only by providing physical bodies for your children but also teaching and nurturing them.. If you are not a mother now, the creative talents you develop will prepare you for that day, in this life or the next. You may thing you don't have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us. The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano.

Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before-colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter. What you create doesn't have to be perfect. So what if the eggs are greasy or the toast if burned? Don't let fear of failure discourage you. Don't let the voice of critics paralyze you-whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside. If you still feel incapable of creating, start small.. Try to see how many smiles you can create; write a letter of appreciation; learn a new skill; identify a space and beautify it.

Nearly a century and a half ago, President Brigham Young spoke to the Saints of his day. "There is a great work for the Saints to do," he said. "Progress, and improve upon and make beautiful everything around you. Cultivate the earth, and cultivate you minds. Build cities, adorn you habitations, make gardens, orchards, and vineyards, and render the earth so pleasant that when you look upon your labors your may do so with pleasure, and that angels may delight to come and visit your beautiful locations. In the meantime continually seek to adorn your minds with all the graces of the Spirit of Christ."

The more you trust and rely upon the Spirit, the greater your capacity to create. That is your opportunity in this life and your destiny in the life to come. Trust and rely on the Spirit. As you take the normal opportunities of our daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around you but also the world within you."

Yes, I know Heavenly Father Loves Me!

Grace

Last week I have been given that task of reading, "Forgiving Ourselves" by Wendy Ulrich. When I heard the title I was thinking...okay let's see what I can get out of this book. Wendy is a wonderful author that has helped me to understand that there is difference between sin and weakness. She writes, "Weakness includes susceptibility to disease, emotional disorders, temptations, same-gender attractions, addictions, and death. Because of our inherent weakness we may be awkward, unskilled, immature, or handicapped in a variety of ways. Such human emotions as anger, worry, fear, sadness, and pleasure are also inherently weak when untutored. Weakness can lead to sin, but weakness in itself is not sin. In fact, God is the author of human weakness, while Satan is the author of sin. We are weak my design, as part of the mortal experience. God is patient and tolerant with human weakness, yet He cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance.... In the book of Ether, the Lord gives a succinct explanation of the relationship among weakness, humility, and grace. He says:
And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble: and my grace is sufficient for all men that fumble themselves before me: for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then I will make weak things become strong unto them. ( Ether 12:27)"
When I thought of grace before this book I thought of something graceful like a bird flying in the sky, or silk being blown in the wind, or a ballerina dancer. While putting together that God is graceful like things of that nature. Which I am sure is true to a point, but when we are trying to humble ourselves from the weaknesses we've discovered then how would His grace be sufficient for us? Wendy Ulrich explains, "Once we respond to our weakness with humility, God offers us His grace. Most of us are familiar with Nephi's teaching that "it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do" (2 Nephi 25:23). Just as charity is a special word for Christ's love for us-love we cannot fully understand without spiritual help-grace is a special word for God's particular brand of goodness to us, also beyond our full understanding. The LDS Bible Dictionary defines grace as "help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ... Grace is "an enabling power" by which weak humans may "receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to their own means."
Wow! Grace is given help and strength from God! I have challenged myself the last couple weeks and have come across many weaknesses that I am wanting to strengthen. One foot at a time of course but with God's grace I will become strong!

The Crosses We Bear

A Good Message










We all may complain about the cross we bear without ever realizing it
is preparing us for the dips in the road that God can see and we can't.

"Whatever your cross, whatever your pain,
there will always be sunshine well after the rain.

Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall;
But God's always ready to answer your call.

He knows every heartache, sees every tear,
a word from His lips can calm every fear.

Your sorrows may linger well into the night,
Then suddenly vanish with dawn's early light.

The Lord is waiting, somewhere above,
to give you His grace, and send you His love."

Happy Easter