Worth of a Soul FHE

A speaker did this years ago when I was at college.  I filed it away.  Last night I pulled it out and taught my kids.

I held up a crisp $50 bill and asked if anyone was interested in having it.  Of course ALL hands were in the air.

I asked them why they would want this and the replies ensued.  I then took that crisp bill and crumbled it all up into a wad.  I asked again, “Would anyone want this now?”  Of course ALL hands went up again.  I explained to them that it has been crumbled and isn’t crisp anymore.  Jacob said, “But the value is still the same”.

I then took the wadded up $50 and stepped on it with my shoe.  I assured the kids that my shoe probably is a little dirty and so the bill now is dirty.  “Does anyone want it now?”  Once again ALL hands went up.  Nathan then pointed out that it is  STILL a $50 bill.

I then launched into my lesson on the worth of a soul.  We are ALL children of God.  Some have had harder struggles than others.  Some may have grown up in an area where they weren’t seen as an equal.  Yet, even though some have been crumpled or stepped on, we are still children of God.  Our worth is the same in his eyes.

We then talked about people that we know who might not be treated with respect and how they might not feel that they have self worth.

We finished off the night making a few blessing bags that are filled with goodies and a gift card for those on the street corners that plead for assistance.  These people are crumpled right now, but in our eyes they still have worth and hopefully they can feel that by our little bag of goodies.

My incredible friend Katherine made  a lot of these bags and has ideas of what to fill them with.  You can find her HERE.

Elaine Jack said, “Our eternal worth is given to us by God; it cannot be manipulated or decreased by anyone.  Of course, if we are not living the commandments, we may lose sight of our divine worth and potential.  Nevertheless, each soul’s inherent worth is always great in the sight of our loving Heavenly Father. I think that is imperative to know! Worthlessness is not an option for anyone.”

Sundays

I love being able to sleep in and actually REST on Sundays.  Today as I was straightening my hair Jerrica came in with her little scripture book bag and looked up at me saying, “I’m all ready to go to church”  I looked down at those big eyes and told her not to move a muscle.  I ran and grabbed my camera and snapped one of her.  I HAD to have that sweet little image forever because my mind forgets.

Not only do I enjoy the day of rest, but I am grateful for the time to reflect on my life, on my goals.  Stephen sat down with each of the kids one on one to go over their goals tonight.  It’s fun to go in their rooms and read them on their bulletin boards.  Each of my kids are so different and have different dreams and aspirations.

Sunday is a day we put on our best clothes and go to church.  We reflect on goals and what we need to do to improve ourselves.  We are able to strengthen relationships with family and friends through mail, phone or visits.  I love seeing the board games come out on Sundays and the banter between the kids.  The music I play through the house is different.  Even our Sunday dinner is just a little bigger and better than a typical dinner.  Sunday is just different than the other days. 

What a blessing to have Sundays to recharge spiritually and physically.  It truly is the best day of the week!

Magnet Necklaces

So I saw this idea on Pinterest and LOVEd how clever it was.  The idea was from A Creative Princess blog found HERE   The post has a little tutorial.  I think it caught my eye because my girls have really enjoyed bottle cap necklaces and how you can switch them out.

SO, I went to Target’s dollar section to pick up some of the magnets.  I also saw cute little candy tins that I thought would be perfect to keep all of the extra magnets. 

As I was there, I was starting to think about all of the upcoming birthday parties my girls were invited to.  SOOO I grabbed extra, grabbed some of their cloth recycle bags that were ALSO matching this candy line, grabbed some actual candy to stick in with the magnet necklace tins, and I had a cheap, cute gift.

One gift was already given tonight and was a big hit.  I love the fact that you can attach any type of magnet.  Now I’m going to keep my eyes open for other fun magnets, maybe some holiday ones.

All of the supplies for my gifts came from Target’s dollar section except for the necklace bases which were from Hobby Lobby.  They just so happened to be on sale this week and were only $1.50 for a pack of four. They also had necklace chains for a $1.  The washers I already had here.  The washers are what you glue to the necklace base to make the magnets “stick”.

ANYWAY, just wanted to share since Christmas is around the corner….

Kiss Cookies

FIRST, I wanted to share this list for all of you out there with toddlers.  It is FULL of fun and easy activities to do with toddlers at home, while their siblings are at school.  You can find the list HERE.  I’m excited to check some of them off with Jerrica this year.

I try really hard to always have story time right after lunch.  The problem is that by the time story time is over, I’m needing a little sweet treat to get me going again.  Jerrica loves to help in the kitchen, so we usually migrate in there and make a treat.  Today we made Kiss Cookies. 

   It was a perfect cookie to make with a three almost four year old.  She was able to roll the cookie ball in the sugar.  She helped dump in ingredients.  She unwrapped Hershey Kisses and then carefully placed each one on a warm cookie.

Then the REAL kisses came.  Stephen smelled the cookies and came up from working to try one.  I love these next shots of the two of them.  Jerrica really is a daddy’s girl.  He has been working here from home since she was born.

She sure gets a lot of attention being the only one home with Stephen and I.  After Stephen went back down to work Jerrica said, “I like chocolate kisses a lot more than daddy kisses.”  :)

There are Many Reasons

I always get from family and friends, “Shauna why do you run your kids around to so many things?”  Believe me, there are MANY reasons I feel strongly about having my kids involved….

I love seeing the big smiles as they head off to a practice, class or lesson.  I love hearing all about what they did and learned at their activity.  I love seeing them grow and develop their talents.  I love seeing friendships develop at these after school activities.  I love the one on one time I get with my kids as I’m driving them around.  I love the life lessons that they are learning.  I love how it builds their self esteem.  I love that they are learning the rewards of hard work and practice.  I love the coaches, teachers, and scout leaders that are able to help my kids in ways I can’t.

I also love the sweet words and notes from my kids expressing gratitude for running them around.  I got a note from Kaylee tonight.  It will be one that I will treasure in my mom book.  I loved this part of her note, “I’m so glad your my mother, I will always love you no matter where I am or how old I get”

I believe the time spent running kids around is very much worthwhile for many reasons.

Labor Day Weekend

Friday evening we went to Zookeeper as a family.  The kids loved it.  I loved the buttery popcorn.  :) 

Besides the incline Saturday, we also went roller skating.  Stephen hadn’t been with us this summer and I was dying for him to see Jerrica in action.  She LOVEs to skate!

We watched BYU WIN their football game!  Then ate pizza with friends, trying to convince them to go to the balloon glo.  We couldn’t convince and went on by ourselves.  We should have convinced ourselves NOT to go.  There were way to many people, and it’s just not as fun as seeing the lift off.  I did like this picture of Nathan taking a picture with his i-touch.

 

I was thrilled to have Sunday to rest!

Then Monday was filled with actual laboring doing chores around the house.  Nathan handed out water for the marathon runners, along with the rest of his scout troop.  We did go swimming with the Wrights though.  It always seems like everything is more fun with friends.

Random

Yes it’s time for another random post to fit in little bits from here and there.

My tomatoes from the Spring went from this to this…

I used my own onions and garlic from the garden as well.  Only one jalepeno pepper made it in, the rest had to be bought at the store.  I had a really hard time with my peppers this year. :(

Besides canning, Fall is also the time of year that Grandma Charla gets monarch caterpillars for us.  It is so fun to watch the different stages…

Also, it’s this time of year that I start thinking and working on Christmas gifts.  Some of the homemade ones take a while and the sooner I get on it the better.  I’m thinking about these for my reader kids.  Their nightstands are always piled so high with books that they can’t put anything else on them.  I found it on Pinterest, which linked it over to “One More Moore”.  I will make it to fit in between the mattress and boxspring.  I don’t know why it’s pictured under the pillows.  We have a remote control bag that hangs from our bed that sticks in between the mattress and springs.

I’m also trying to get a few more recipes typed and printed up to add to the older girls recipe books for Christmas.   I posted about them HERE.  It has been fun to see the recipes that they copy and add in their books.

Speaking of recipes, here is an oldie but goodie.  My roommate, April at BYU would make it and gave me the recipe.  My family LOVES this for breakfast!

The Incline

The incline here in the Springs is a very well known hike.  Apollo Ohno would do it for training before the Olympics.  Becky Higgins does it every time she is here, click on her name to see her last link about it.

Well, the three older kids have been begging to do it.  It was on our summer list of to do’s.  Saturday morning, really early we did it with the three older ones.  Let’s just say that my kids have WAYYY more energy than me.

Jacob took this one of Stephen and I must be right there behind him somewhere. 

I’m glad that at least Stephen stuck with me and didn’t run ahead.  You can see just how long the trail is by looking at the top of Stephen’s head and seeing the trail extend down to the parking lot. Anyway, we did it!  Check it!

Doing Everything

I grew up in a small town and was able to be involved in a lot of activities.  I did drama, yearbook, volleyball, basketball, knowledge bowl, FBLA, FHA, …. you name it… I was asking my mom to do it.  She used to tell me, “you can’t do everything Shauna”, but I sure tried. 

This video shows though, you CAN do everything.  It is just piece by piece, part by part and before you know it you are doing everything you wanted to.

Mom, you CAN do everything!  At least I’m still going to keep trying to, and don’t forget the other saying you used to say, “It’s better to try than not try at all”.  :)

Cowgirl Day

Ashley had her first dress up day for Kindergarten.  She was soooo excited.  The night before she kept begging Jerrica to go to bed so that Cowgirl day would hurry and get here.  They have been studying Colorado and the exploration of Colorado.  It’s cute how proud Ashley is of our beautiful state. 

Anyway, Ash couldn’t decide whether to bring her stick horse, guitar or gun.  I kept reminding her that the gun was NOT an option to take to school.  Yet, she kept begging to take it.  Needless to say, I won the battle and she took the stick horse.

They played games like snake in my boots and lassoed an “almost real” cow, as Ashley put it.  I really don’t know what an “almost real” cow would be like.  They had stick horse races.  Ashley told me that she raced on her own horse that she brought, which raced just like Secretariat.  They ate baked beans and hot dogs.

She LOVED her day and came home sad that she couldn’t be a “real” cowgirl.  I truly believe that Ash could’ve been an outlaw in the old west.  She scares ME!

Back to School Photos

 

  Then there is Miss Jerrica, who is home with ME doing “Mommy School”

My kids wear uniforms to school.  I always smile every year at how excited they get at their belts, backpacks, lunchbags, and school shoes.  Those are the accessories that they can show a little of their personalities. 

Yeah for a new year!!!