Did you think to pray?

Here are some handouts that I made for a friend who teaches the Young Women at church.

Six per page:

This is the link to the lesson.

General Conference - April 2013

My friend's teenager daughter designed this artistic creation based on the General Conference talks.  I loved it and asked her if I could share it on my blog.  I think I'll invite my kids do something like this next time.  I think it's frame-worthy!

Click HERE for General Conference information.

Burdens, Backgrounds and Battles

Quote - No Matter What Your Past Has Been, Your Future is Spotless

This is one of my all-time favorite quotes. It has provided a lot of hope for me.  I thought it was fitting to put it on my blog at Easter time since Jesus Christ is the reason our future can be spotless.

Teacher Appreciation Ideas

Teacher Appreciation Week will be May 6-10, 2013.  I'm in charge of making cute little handouts to go in the teacher mailboxes each day that week.  I thought I'd share my ideas in case anyone wants to use them.

You may wonder why there are two handouts stuck together.  Well, I designed them so that I could send them to Costco (or whatever photo place) and print them as 4x6 pics and then just cut them in half and attach them to the candy.  It seemed a lot easier and more affordable than printing them on my printer at home.

This handout goes with "Caramel Apple Sugar Babies" candies.  They are surprisingly yummy but probably terrible for your teeth!

I bought some mini "Three Musketeers" bars right after Valentine's Day that were strawberry flavored with dark chocolate around them.  Quite tasty!  You could also use this handout with chocolate covered strawberries, strawberry licorice, or any strawberry flavored item.

I also bought some individual size "Reese's Pieces" candies and will attach this saying to it.  Another cute idea would be buying the pieces in bulk and putting them in a cute little container or bag.  I think Reese's Pieces are an under-appreciated candy.  If they were good enough for ET, they are good enough for the teachers, right?  (NOTE:  When I went to Costco to get these printed, the first graphic below wasn't very bright orange so I designed a second one that is brighter and matches the Reese's Pieces packaging.  Feel free to use either one).

Here's a handout I made to go with a little baggy of Hershey's kisses.

I will do a few more fun things but I thought I'd share what I designed already.  I'll post more ideas

Quote - “A Little Better Day by Day”

This was a great lesson that I read this week.  Click HERE to read it yourself.

I was inspired and made this handout to put on my fridge and share on my blog.  Enjoy!

Quote - We met for a reason....

I totally believe this and consider this whenever I meet new friends.

Teacher Appreciation - Clothespin Magnets

We made these cute little magnets for our teachers at school.  We put washi tape on the front of the clothespin.  Then we put a magnet strip on the back.  Lastly we added the quote to the top.  I printed the quote out from my printer and then used a cute scalloped punch to cut it out.  I used a sponge to brush a coordinating ink around the edges.  Hopefully the washi tape will stay on their long term. 

Note: Clothespins are really cheap at Walmart.  I ordered the washi tape online.

Avoid Paralysis by Analysis

I heard the phrase "Paralysis by Analysis" from a friend the other week and it was like a lightbulb went off.  We all have someone in our life (family, workplace, church callings, school, etc) who is unable to function effectively due to over-analyzing everything.

I am a fan of thinking things through, but when you think and think and analyze and analyze for an inordinate amount of time, you really become frozen in that pattern and don't actually get anything done.  So no matter how great the thoughts are, they are pretty pointless if you don't turn the thoughts into actions.

I am also a big fan of getting things done.

I made this little sign for a certain relative of mine, hoping it will help him (he'll think it is funny, but true).  I printed it out and put it in a little black picture frame that I bought at the $1 section of Target a while back.  Did I mention I am also a big fan of the Target $1 section?

If you are an over-analyzer, I hope this helps you.  If you live or deal with someone who suffers from this condition, maybe this will help you have patience as you realize that this is a serious condition, right?

Now I'm going to get something done before I think about it too long....

Teacher Appreciation - Emerson Quote

I made this fun little picture for my son's teacher for an end-of-the-school gift.  I printed it and put it in a simple 6" x 6" frame. 

Here's the graphic if you want to use it.

Quote - Is Rash Worse than Malady?

“Make sure that the medicine you decide on in a rash and desperate moment doesn’t turn out to be worse than the malady.”

Thought of the Day - Busy is not necessarily Spiritual

I fear that some members of the Lord’s Church “live far beneath our privileges” with regard to the gift of the Holy Ghost.

 

Some are distracted by the things of the world that block out the influence of the Holy Ghost, preventing them from recognizing spiritual promptings. This is a noisy and busy world that we live in. Remember that being busy is not necessarily being spiritual. If we are not careful, the things of this world can crowd out the things of the Spirit.

 

President Brigham Young spoke of a sacred experience when the martyred Prophet Joseph Smith came in vision to President Young, bringing the Saints one more message. It is a message that Saints need today more than ever before: “[Be sure to] tell the people to … keep the spirit of the Lord,” Joseph said, “and it will lead them right. Be careful and not turn away the small still voice; it will teach you what to do and where to go; it will yield the fruits of the kingdom. Tell the brethren to keep their hearts open to conviction, so that when the Holy Ghost comes to them, their hearts will be ready to receive it.”

 

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, May, 2003

Thought of the Day - Forgiveness is freeing up our energy

Dr. Sidney Simon, a recognized authority on values realization, has provided an excellent definition of forgiveness as it applies to human relationships:

"Forgiveness is freeing up and putting to better use the energy once consumed by holding grudges, harboring resentments, and nursing unhealed wounds. It is rediscovering the strengths we always had and relocating our limitless capacity to understand and accept other people and ourselves."

 

All of us suffer some injuries from experiences that seem to have no rhyme or reason. We cannot understand or explain them. We may never know why some things happen in this life. The reason for some of our suffering is known only to the Lord. But because it happens, it must be endured. President Howard W. Hunter said that "God knows what we do not know and sees what we do not see."

President Brigham Young offered this profound insight that at least some of our suffering has a purpose when he said: "Every calamity that can come upon mortal beings will be suffered to come upon the few, to prepare them to enjoy the presence of the Lord. . . . Every trial and experience you have passed through is necessary for your salvation."

The Healing Power of Forgiveness

President James E. Faust
Second Counselor in the First Presidency

Thought of the Day - Refiner's Fire

Here, then, is a great truth. In the pain, the agony, and the heroic endeavors of life, we pass through a refiner’s fire, and the insignificant and the unimportant in our lives can melt away like dross and make our faith bright, intact, and strong. In this way the divine image can be mirrored from the soul. It is part of the purging toll exacted of some to become acquainted with God. In the agonies of life, we seem to listen better to the faint, godly whisperings of the Divine Shepherd.

Into every life there come the painful, despairing days of adversity and buffeting. There seems to be a full measure of anguish, sorrow, and often heartbreak for everyone, including those who earnestly seek to do right and be faithful. The Apostle Paul referred to his own challenge: “And lest I should be exalted above measure … , there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me.

The thorns that prick, that stick in the flesh, that hurt, often change lives which seem robbed of significance and hope. This change comes about through a refining process which often seems cruel and hard. In this way the soul can become like soft clay in the hands of the Master in building lives of faith, usefulness, beauty, and strength. For some, the refiner’s fire causes a loss of belief and faith in God, but those with eternal perspective understand that such refining is part of the perfection process.

To whom can we go? Elder Orson F. Whitney (1855–1931) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles asked and answered this question:

“To whom do we look, in days of grief and disaster, for help and consolation? … They are men and women who have suffered, and out of their experience in suffering they bring forth the riches of their sympathy and condolences as a blessing to those now in need. Could they do this had they not suffered themselves?

“… Is not this God’s purpose in causing his children to suffer? He wants them to become more like himself. God has suffered far more than man ever did or ever will, and is therefore the great source of sympathy and consolation.”

Refined in our Trials, Pres. James E Faust.

Thought of the Day - God will Guide our Steps

In many of the uncertainties and challenges we encounter in our lives, God requires us to do our best, to act and not be acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:26), and to trust in Him. We may not see angels, hear heavenly voices, or receive overwhelming spiritual impressions. We frequently may press forward hoping and praying—but without absolute assurance—that we are acting in accordance with God’s will. But as we honor our covenants and keep the commandments, as we strive ever more consistently to do good and to become better, we can walk with the confidence that God will guide our steps. And we can speak with the assurance that God will inspire our utterances. This is in part the meaning of the scripture that declares, “Then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God” (D&C 121:45).

As you appropriately seek for and apply unto the spirit of revelation, I promise you will “walk in the light of the Lord” (Isaiah 2:5; 2 Nephi 12:5). Sometimes the spirit of revelation will operate immediately and intensely, other times subtly and gradually, and often so delicately you may not even consciously recognize it. But regardless of the pattern whereby this blessing is received, the light it provides will illuminate and enlarge your soul, enlighten your understanding (see Alma 5:7; 32:28), and direct and protect you and your family.

 

David A. Bednar Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Ensign, May, 2011

Thought of the Day - Refinement

Behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.  1 Nephi 20:10

 

Followers of Christ in all dispensations are no strangers to sorrow.  They know pain and are well acquainted with affliction.  The crucible of life gives us opportunities to become better or bitter, refined or rebellious, submissive or stiff-necked.  The tempered steel of faith is forged in the flames of suffering.  Ease does not call forth greatness or strength of commitment.  When the fires of sickness, failure, disappointment, and even tragedy engulf us, if we are spiritually prepared, God’s peace can carry us through safely.  That doesn’t mean we try to ignore the heartache or deny the reality of the pain.  Rather, we take an authentic look at it, enlarging our perspective by believing that some good can come from crucible experiences.  When they come—as they surely will—we can rise above them by setting our hearts on everlasting things.  Isaiah promised, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles: (Isaiah 40:31)

Thought of the Day - Allow Consequences

“…we may teach them that they can choose their actions but not the consequences of those actions. We can also gently help them understand what the consequences of their actions may be in their own lives.

Sometimes when our teachings aren’t heeded and when our expectations are not met, we need to remind ourselves to leave the door to our hearts open.

 

In the parable of the prodigal son, we find a powerful lesson for families and especially parents. After the younger son “came to himself,” he decided to go home.

 

Elder Robert D. Hales

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles  Ensign, May 2004

Thought of the Day - Nobody's Perfect

“I AM NOBODY
NOBODY IS PERFECT
THEREFORE, I AM PERFECT”

Quote - A Testimony is Like a Kiss

This cute handout can be attached to some Hershey's Kisses for a fun gift for Visiting Teaching, etc.

(I used Stampin' Up's "My Digital Studio" to design this handout)

Quotes - New Year's

Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve.  Middle age is when you're forced to.  ~Bill Vaughn


An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in.  A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.  ~Bill Vaughan


Many people look forward to the new year for a new start on old habits.  ~Author Unknown


A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other.  ~Author Unknown


Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.  ~Benjamin Franklin


No one ever regarded the First of January with indifference.  It is that from which all date their time, and count upon what is left.  It is the nativity of our common Adam.  ~Charles Lamb