HEY THERE PUMPKIN...LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD

HEY PUMPKIN...

The other day I came across a beautiful article by Julie Clinton titled,  4 ways to lighten your load.  It sang to me, as I it has taken many years for me to recognize the true value of allowing myself to also for help in certain situations.  Times when the outcome can be greatly improved for not only myself, but others involved that would be directly impacted as well.  It is not only absolutely ok to recognize size help can be a benefit to accomplishing a task or goal, but that it can also be a blessing from God for our emotional, spiritual and mental well being also. 

Below are a few excerpts from Julie Clinton's article. 

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Jethro advised Moses to delegate his responsibilities.
There will be times you are called to do the same with the tasks placed before you. God puts mentors, helpers, and burden-bearers in our lives to support us in the work He calls us to do. Before you burn out, look around for those helpers God may have sent your way.
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Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. God designed us to be in community with one another, to help when we can, and to accept help when we need it.
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So, what can you do to lighten your load?
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Know your limits. Never let your schedule get so out of control that you can no longer manage it. Do a personal inventory. Are you getting enough sleep? Spending enough time with your children? Your significant other? Learn to recognize the physical, emotional, and mental warning signals your body emits at the brink of exhaustion.
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Know God’s Will. God’s will is for you to “pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all” (1 Thessalonians 5:15). It’s not to scramble around frantically to make sure every task is completed by the end of the day, wearing out both you and those around you. If you’re constantly living with an agitated heart, you are not in the center of God’s will.
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Know when to quit. Jesus never spent his time and energy the way we do today. The Bible gives no indication that He worked around the clock. In fact, in many cases Jesus snuck off alone to pray and rest. Being in God’s will, Jesus was able to go to sleep without having healed and saved everybody in Israel.
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Know what’s important. Knowing your priorities will help you accomplish more even when you feel as if you’re doing less. Effectiveness is not about quantity and getting a lot done; it’s about the quality of what you are doing and understanding that the Holy Spirit is ultimately responsible for multiplying your efforts.  Right now somewhere in your life, some people are just waiting to be asked to help you.
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Only you know what’s weighing you down. But Jesus stands ready to help you figure out how to lighten the load and has placed people in your life to assist you. All you have to do is ask.

SWEET SPIRIT OF HALLOWEEN RICE CRISPY GHOSTS

Sweet'n the Spirit in your home! Holidays can be a perfect time to create an atmosphere of joy and happiness with your family.  These BOOtiful ghosts are a simple treat for an after school snack or to be paired with a lesson about the Holy Ghost.

Rice Crispie Treats

1 bag White Chocolate Chips Melted

Festive Colored sprinkes

Paper Straws or Wooden Popsicle sticks

Mini chocolate chips or black candy/frosting for eyes

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1. Store bought or homemade rice crispie treats. (For these the store bought were nice and firm with the perfect ghostly shape

2. Round the Edges of the Crispie treat at the top for the head.

3. Melt White Chocolate in mircrowave.  Add a touch of oil for smoothness and stir.

4. Place straws or sticks in treat

5. Drizzle melted chocolate over treat, then decorate with sprinkles.

6. Add eyes!

Don't forget that this is a GREAT treat for any child or youth group.  Very easy to do, and the kiddos love it!

I BELEIVE IN MIRACLES

MIRACLES

I have learned that faith precedes the miracle.  Not that the miracles of God are not worked by His hands regularly, but that if we do not believe in Him- we will discount the miracles.  We will discount them as mere coincidences of things that cannot be explained through the laws of this physical world.  We then will not to see the miracles...they will not be shown to us in our hearts through the soft touching of the spirit.
I have also learned that it is true when said, if only ye have faith as much as a mustard seed- that is enough.  It only takes a little to see the marvelous.  That is what is miraculous about the atonement!  God's mercy is just.  If we are reaching- he fills the gap 10 fold.  Faith is lifting our arms out reaching...
•••••○○•••••○○••••• Ether: 18-19  18 And neither at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their faith; wherefore they first believed in the Son of God. 19 And there were many whose faith was so exceedingly strong, even before Christ came, who could not be kept from within the veil, but truly saw with their eyes the things which they had beheld with an eye of faith, and they were glad

BELOVED DAUGHTER - NEW YOUNG WOMENS THEME

The new Young Women's theme for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is Beautifully Divine!  As melancholy as I am to retire the long standing values and virtues we have all come to love, this new theme is so touchingly poignant to us as daughters of our Heavenly Parents in this day.

Right click on image below and press save or download to your device & print from there.

Enjoy!

GENERAL CONFERENCE CARDS

Hello! We are getting this simple note card out a little late for this session of General Conference.  But-a las it's here.  There are all sorts of ways to take notes or write thoughts down during each session of Conference.

THIS card however- is designed to enhance the simplicity of jotting down the meat of the talks, so the study can come later.  It is designed to give all of the critical information and idea's that are needed to reference the talk, subject, speaker etc. at a later time when we want to use it to study and add more in depth writing down.

If there are additional things to write or doodle- turn the card over and use that blank space.  Fill it up.  NOW... go FILL YOUR CUP by tuning in to General Conference. 

Right click image below and push save or download to your device.  You can print from there or use a digital copy the way we show it below.  Enjoy!

Below is an idea of how to use this note card digitally.  We filled it out and will print it after to have a hard copy to study from as well.  We love this simple note taking idea.  Happy Conference Everyone!

FAMILY QUICK PICK UP

FAMILY QUICK PICK PRINTABLE

Whether you have 2 or 10 kiddos running around at home- here is a tried and true method to quickly picking up a room or home with in a short amount of time!

For years our family called this the 10 minute pick up.  It really is just that.  Sometimes even faster-and that's to get the entire list done even with 4 people.  When the kids got a little older I changed it to the Family Quick Pick because often it was quicker than 10 minutes and let's face it- teenagers dont like to hear about amounts of time they have to "work"  So if it's just a "quick" pick then it sounds much better.  (Sometimes it's all about the packaging my friends, ha.)

The husband at first wasn't sure of why I felt adamant about the order.  He thought "well I can just go around and pick things up much faster"  That is true!  BUT this isn't designed for the times when mom or dad wants to do it on their own and get things done.  This is designed for the magic chaos hour right before dinner time and Dad walks in the door.  Or Moms home from work and exhausted and the family needs to pitch in.  It's designed with teaching the family that all hands on deck for a few minutes- makes light work!  Put on music-or make it a race.  Or even after dinner let each member pick one or two steps and have at it.  Keep a set of dice handy.  The kids can roll the dice for the number or step they will do in the pick up!  Then enjoy the rest of the night.

When I decided on this specific way of picking up- or rather SPECIFIC order of picking up there was a good reason for it.  It's not because as a Mother or Parent I can't pick up quicker on my own or doing it in a different manner- but THIS specific order is designed to hit the biggest or most annoying clutter first.  So technically even if it's just 2 minutes of kids helping- well at least all the dishes go to the kitchen sink and all the garbage gets thrown away.  THAT right there my friends is a big deal on a daily basis.  If you're steeped in young ones or even teens-we know how these simple items can get out of hand on busy homework days or lazy summer days and holiday weekends. 

MOTHER'S- This is something our family also incorporated 2 times a week on the regular.  For us it is Sunday nights and Wednesday nights.  At the end of the weekend before the start of a new week-and a quick thought mid week to keep on top of it.  I'm telling you it works.  The times we have gotten away from it for a few weeks it the clutter built up slowly but surely. 

This is designed for not just the main floor-but now I can even utilize it with my kids and their bedroom spaces.  When those teens and teens are learning to pick up their "own space" that they love to keep messy but get overwhelmed with once you allow them to take responsibility cuz you just don't want to fight the fight with them anymore or clean it for them- you know if you know-... the Quick Pick is just right.  When it's done in the correct order... even 3 minutes and the kids bedroom has trash picked up.

GRANDMA'S-  I'm also talking to you! When you have extra grandkids over- before they leave- give em each a number of the quick pick and off they go for 2 minutes and before you know it, a little happiness and clutter busting is finished!

RIGHT CLICK on the image below to save and download for your family.  Print off a few copies and post them around the house.  You will be surprised after a while- the kids will end up memorizing it!  #truestory

CURRENTLY ENJOYING INSIGHTS TO A PROPHET'S LIFE

CURRENTLY listening to the inspiring snippets of President Nelson's life in 4  to 8 minute increments- Bruce Lindsay narrates the fascinating and real life stories of the life experiences and choices that ultimately are the makings of the man who guides Christ's church today!  We are so blessed by Russell M Nelson's life choices.  I'm so happy I downloaded the Deseret Book Store Bookshelf where I can now listen to some of these gospel Centered Centered publications that enrich my life. Click HERE to head to Deseret Book's website. 🖤

This below is the description:

"What kind of life preparation does the Lord give the men He will one day call to be prophet? And what are the lessons to be learned from such a life? From being raised in a home without the foundation of the gospel to the early days of his marriage and the stress of medical school to his last open-heart surgery in China, President Russell M. Nelson took advantage of every opportunity to learn and become more. In Insights from a Prophet's Life, Sheri Dew takes us through the life of President Nelson from childhood to the current day. This unique collection of life experiences is told in short episodes from the purpose of helping readers gain their own personal insights. For if we have much to learn from what a prophet says, surely we have much to learn from how a prophet lives."