A Paper Chain to My Goal

It's week 3 (out of 12) of my weight-loss program. Last week I didn't do as well because I hadn't prepped all my meals ahead of time. It was a super crazy, busy week for me with a lot I was responsible for. And without having my meals ready it was really difficult to stay on target. Preparing your food for the week is KEY!! Week one was super easy because of it.

Something I deciced to do to help me stay on track/motivated, was to make a paper chain (with a link for each day). This way I could visualize the end, and see how far I've come! 

I cut a bunch of strips out of some paper I had. For FHE we talked about goals and checked our progress on some of our family goals that we set in January. Then I told the kids about my goal to become more healthy and fit.

I divied out the paper strips to everyone, and we all wrote motivating messages on them for me. Then I made a chain out of the strips and hung it up where I would see it every day.

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Leading the Music

For this last Monday we used our trusty Music Stick that has been a tradition in our home in leading the music for our Family Night. This fun leading tool (found at the DollarTree dollar store)could be used at home, church, or even at school for a teacher to use! Pin It

Our Strong Family, a Few Marbles at a Time

Building a strong family is not always an easy feat. It takes a lot of diligence and effort, amongst our busy life. There are some things we do as a family that are easier for us than others. There are some that we struggle to be consistent with, which was really bothering me! I really wanted to bring our consistency and diligence up a notch, and "raise that bar" a little higher in my home.

So a couple of months ago I decided that we needed to have a Family Home Evening lesson on what it means to build a strong family. We sat the children down and had them help us list the things that help us to be valiant, as a family. We came up with 5 things, then added one more ("work") a couple of weeks later...

We wrote these things down and gave them each a rating (between 1-10) of how we felt we were doing at the time. Our goal is to get a consistent 10pt rating on every one of these. Every month we evaluate our list to see if we are reaching our goal. (I'd like to create a graph to show our progress, so I left the old ratings up there too. Kind of a mess right now, but once I get that done we'll be able to clean up the board a bit. **Anyone have an idea of how I could make this into some sort of graph?)



I decided that we needed an incentive to help motivate and remind us of our goal, so I washed out an old Kraft Mayonnaise container and turned it into a MARBLE JAR. Every time we do something on our list, we put a marble into our jar. (Some of these are worth 2 or 3 marbles, depending on difficulty levels, etc.) We decided, as a family, on a REWARD for when we fill our jar to the top (which will be going out to dinner at Panda Express- the kids' fave, as a family).

This plan has been working beautifully in our home. We certainly haven't been perfect, but we are striving daily. I've truly noticed a difference in our home when we are diligently doing what is most important! Pin It

Teaching My Children Work, Gratitude and SERVICE- Part III

We did a Family Home Evening on SERVICE the other night. I started it off by showing and talking about what's happening in this picture (John 13:4-15)...

...and how the Savior was our perfect example of service. He came to this earth to serve, not to be served. (He has asked us to follow His example in verses 14-15.)

We discussed together WHY we serve others, how we FEEL when we do, and why it is important to think outward. We then went to the scriptures to read and discuss Matthew 25:40 and Mosiah 2:17.

Then we watched THIS awesome, short video clip...

We decided as a family that to serve others with true Christ-like love, we need not seek for the praise of "man". We know that our Heavenly Father is always watching.

So with that, we have a challenge this week to practice being the "Lord's Hands"...

We are to do secret acts of service for one another (when no one is looking) then leave a hand. If we tell or get caught, then it doesn't count. (I cut the hands out with the school's die-cut machine with my own paper.)

We also decided on a family service project that we will carry out for Christmas. Here is a list of links to ideas of family-friendly service projects...

Give Back and Serve with Children

FamliyCares Tips

FamliyCares Project Ideas

Doing Good Together

30 Excellent Ways to Make a Difference

The Holiday Project

BOISE, ID LOCAL- Boise Rescue Mission

One of these days I hope my children are going to really "get it". That they will grow up to be hard working, grateful people who want to serve the Lord. I'm trying to create experiences along the way for them to learn these things, and I hope it will all pay off!

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Teaching My Children Work, GRATITUDE and Service- Part II

I haven't done a lesson on GRATITUDE yet this year. But I found 2 different lessons on Lara's blog... Gratitude/Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving and Service and will do one of them for FHE next week. We do have a family tradition that we started a few years ago that we enjoy during the month of November...

And my 8 yr/old daughter came up with this idea all on her own the other day... (a paper chain counting down the days until Thanksgiving, havning written something she is thankful for on each link)

Sometimes I like to show my children pictures from the web of children/families in 3rd-world countries, and pictures of our soldiers that are over seas right now protecting our freedom.

Here are some great links that I've found...

Gratitude Tree (MyHeartandHome)

Another Gratitude Tree (My Insanity)

Lot's of Ideas from Prepared, Not Scared

Thankful Jar (Little Birdie Secrets)

I Can Show Gratitude By... (Sugardoodle)

Oh Remember, Remember (Pres. Eyring 2009)

Finding Joy in the Journey (Pres. Monson 2008)

The Divine Gift of Gratitude (Pres. Monson 2010)

And some great video clips...

THIS one, and the one below...

And don't forget to check out all of our past THANKSGIVING inspirations as well. Check back tomorrow for what we did the other night for our FHE lesson on SERVICE!

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Teaching My Children WORK, Gratitude and Service- Part I

I LOVE this time of year! It's such a perfect opportunity to teach our children some very important values. I like to take full advantage of our Family Home Evenings in this regard, and it's so exciting to me!

I take a parenting class (that I've been taking on/off for the last 9 years or so cuz I just can't get enough of Carleen Tanner). And something she said recently in class is that some of the most important things we need teach our children is WORK, GRATITUDE and SERVICE; (and of course out of the 20+ class topics each year, 3 of them are on one of the above).

Anyway, so I figured I would start off this holiday season with a FHE lesson on WORK. I found a great lesson that was really effective on an awesome blog (that I recently found) called FAMILY HOME EVENINGS TO GO. Lara is so talented!

I have done and plan to do more lessons on WORK, and encorporate new things whenever we are ready for them, including allowance, money management, etc.

I also found some great articles on the web to read on the topic of WORK. Are you ready? There are lots!

Twenty Tips for Teaching Children to Work

Age Appropriate Chores for Children

Teaching Children Responsibility

Teaching Children the True Value of Hard Work

Teaching Your Children Responsibility, Work Ethic and the Value of a Dollar

Delegating Work and Responsibility to Children

Family Work Projects for Fun and Profit

The Elbow Grease Factor: How to Teach Your Children to Love Work

Lessons from My Father

Why Work?

Teaching Families the Value of Work and Responsibility

Sharing in Family Work

Be sure to check back tomorrow for part II... Teaching GRATITUDE!

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Personalized {Magic} Carpets

Since our children are little and have extra energy during our Family Home Evenings, I figured that maybe having a personalized Magic Carpet would help(at least for the lesson). I am so excited to use them on Monday Night(even though they have already tried them out)!


1-I called around to a few of our local carpet supply stores and asked for the "discontinued carpet samples", they let me have them for FREE (I did have to go back 5 times to keep checking-so worth it though!).


2-In the corner there was a plastic name plate. I just used a really sharp box knife and got as close to the name plate as I could to cut it off.


3-I got similar colored fabric(discounted home furnishing fabric-its thicker) to match the carpet. Cut 4 strips of fabric([2]3 1/2 inch x17 & [2]3 1/2 x 27 inch).


4-Using your glue gun, glue along each edge attaching the strip of fabric. Press down on the fabric, to make sure it adhered. Do all 4 sides and then flip over.


5-Hot glue front side edges. NOTE: I didn't sew any seams!


6-Around all 4 sides cut 1/2 inch slits.


7-Ruff it up by rubbing your hand across back and forth a few times (really fast).


8-To personalize it for each family member, cut a 3 inch wood circle "button". Sand edges really well so its not too sharp.


9-Cut ribbon pieces into 3 1/2 inch strips. Fold in 1/2 & glue to the back side.


10-Finished back side of "button".


11-Using a long thick needle and thin matching ribbon pull thru (using pliers) the carpet.


12-Tie up the button, with double knots.


13-Use a sharpie marker to write the family members' name.


14-All done & ready to use! I will use these for Family Night but I'm also excited to use them for General Conference also. Pin It

Ang's FHE Board & Wheel

Isn't Heather's FHE board awesome? Everything she touches turns out absolutely beautiful. She is so lucky to have a vinyl cutter, and let's her creativity go crazy with it! I do not have a cutter, but I get by okay without.

Here is my FHE board...

I created this wheel about 3 years ago, and it has worked out wonderfully for my family!! I ALWAYS use clipart for all my charts, because it helps the little ones who can't read yet. Hence the reason I created this one. It's made out of cardstock, laminated, and has magnets on the back for sticking up on the fridge or whiteboard (as is above). And it's totally easy to make!

Here's how:
First grab the right supplies, including 12x12 cardstock (can use 8 1/2x11 for the top one).

1- Draw circle with this tool (forgot what it's called). I set it at 4 inches for the top (smaller) circle. Hold the tool in place with one hand and turn paper around with other hand. *Mark where you had the center-tip of tool!


2- Now use the protractor and place the center exactly over the dot in the middle. For 6 sections, put small guide marks on "0" and "60", then the next "60" and next "0". Then rotate the tool and be sure to measure/space between the 60's and 0's.


3- Now you are ready to use the ruler and connect the dots to make your 6 even sections.

4- Cut wheel out along the outline of the circle.

5- REPEAT all steps for the larger circle, this time setting your circle-making tool at 1/2 inch bigger than the smaller one (mine was set at 4 1/2 for the bigger one).

6- Look through old Friend magazines for cute illustrations to cut out and glue on. (You might have to color-copy to resize the picture.) There is also some really cute clipart that you can find on Sugardoodle.net.

7- Now label each section by either typing/printing/cutting out/glueing on the words, or vinyl lettering, or just writing the words under each illustration. *Also write family members' names on the bigger (bottom) wheel.

8- Laminate!! Then poke holes in middle of each circle. Put together with a big brad button (mine is 25mm). (I got vinyl letters to say "FHE" on the brad button.

9- Stick some magnets on the back and you are done!! Enjoy! Pin It

{Love 40} Block Game

Our family loves to play this Block Game. We will play this after FHE or if we just need a quick game.

I cut 6 square blocks {one for each member of our family} from a 1 1/2 inch x 1 1/2 inch board. I sanded them (I didn't paint them because I love the look of natural wood and it would probably rub off anyways). Then on each block I put all our names in vinyl. We have 6 members so it works out great. If you have more you could double up the names and if you have less then you could put more hearts. I picked a name and put 1 heart on that name for each block.


We use this container for storage and then for shaking up the blocks. The object of the game is to be the first one to get to 40 points. Each person will shake the bucket with the blocks and dump them out. That person will look at the top of the blocks and if they see their name they get 2 points for each block. If they get the side that has the heart they get an extra 5 points.


We usually have to leave extra time because we end up playing it 3 times. FUN times! Pin It

{Our} FHE Board

Our FHE Board is hung in our living room to use and remind us that Monday Family Night is so important in building our relationship as a family.

The board measures 20 inch x 24 inch.

The top 6 inches = our name,

the next 9 inches = a magnet board where we put a scripture, quote or topic title that go with that weeks lesson and a picture of Jesus (which I just took a calendar and laminated a picture to rotate for every month of the year).

the last 5 inches = FHE jobs (using scrabble tiles & Shrinky Dink)

Our board works even though our little boy(who is 3 1/2) tends to rotate our little faces often. I love that in our family we have chosen to make it a priority to spend time together and build that bond that will last forever.

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FHE/ Activity Binder System

FHE Binder [system part 1]


As a present, my friend {Jen} gave me a Family Home Evening binder labeled with monthly themes. Jan-Order & Goals, Feb-Love, Mar-Family Unity, Apri-Becoming More Spiritual, May-Self- Reliance, Jun-Membership in the Church, Jul-Patriotism & Pioneers, Aug-Following Christ, Sept-Purpose:Plan of Salvation, Oct-Obedience, Nov-Gratitude, Dec-Charity. Its a great idea to have a focus and to be able to direct your FHE lessons or scripture study on that theme. I love it and still cherish it!

This is a sample of the front page of each month.

I have divided the months up so I can put 3 months in each binder.


I decided to take it a little further each month and have sub-topics. Each Monday night we have a lesson to introduce the Gospel topic (under the monthly theme) for the week. Then we focus on that topic of the Gospel and explore activities to reinforce that topic[system part 2]. I just printed some blank calendars to write in the topics. I was able to go to one of my favorite sites and look thru the alphabet for some ideas. I did: Jan-Goal Setting/Priorities, Responsibilities, Work/House of Order, Word of Wisdom. Feb-Love/Kindness, Repentance, Forgiveness, Morality. Mar-Family Unity(Communicatin), Manners(ettiquette), Reverence,Missionary Work, CTR(honesty/accountability/emaple). Apr- Review of Conf., Resurrection/Second Coming, Prayer, Faith/Revelations. May- Talents/Gifts, "Mothers"(including Eve,Mary, etc), Being Prepared(temperal & spiritual), Testimony/Trials, Temple. Jun- Baptism(covenants), "Fathers"(Adam, Lehi,etc), Leadership/Callings, Patriotism. Jul- Agency, Diversity, Pioneers, Searching the Scriptures. Aug-Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy,Atonement, Sacrifice, Armor of God, 6 B's. Sept- Plan of Salvation, Creation, I am a child of God, Godhead/Holy Ghost. Oct-Listening & Folowwing Church leaders/Review of Conf., Budgeting, Commandments, Fasting/Fast Offering. Nov- Gratitude, Restoration of the Gospel, Music & Hymns, Pat. Blessings, Sacrament. Dec- Service, Stories of Jesus, Birth of Christ, Review of the Year.


I have put some sheet protectors labeled with week 1 ,2,3 & 4. The lessons for that topic go in the corresponding "week" sheet protector. They hold everything I need for that lesson {except for any part of the lesson that is too big to fit in the sheet protector.}

For me this system works and keeps me organized so we can faithfully hold Family Home Evenings. We recieve so many blessings for doing so!

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