April Garden Happenings

Hi.

It's been a while. well more than a while, if I am being honest. But, I had it recently suggested to me by a friend that I should write a blog. I think I shall just continue in the same vein as I have been doing. I am not into being super popular, or worried about how many followers I have, so it should work out just fine. (insert laugh.)

April happenings in the garden this week are as follows:
• Mint growing like a weed.
• Tomato plantings are getting a bit bigger.
• Seeding for summer flowers such as zinnias and sunflowers.
• Various squash has been transplanted from the mini-greenhouse into the garden, and I have intentions to also plant some by seed, although that hasn't happened yet.
• Canna Lillies are beginning to bloom due to the excessive heat we have had. I just love these, and they look especially wonderful near the pool.

Truthfully, I have been a bit under the weather, and in the span of the last 24 hours have spent quite a lot of it at the doctor's office. I am suspicious that I may have a dog allergy, and today ended up at urgent care with an ear infection, secondary to ...drumroll please...allergies. I have never thought I had them, but perhaps I was wrong. I know, I know...the first time I have been wrong all year. lol. Anyway, hopefully with these antibiotics and prescription allergy med, I will soon be on my way to fabulous. When the lab work for a suspected dog allergy comes back it will be interesting to see the results. And Monday, visits to the orthopedic surgeon, as well.

I have been planning on going back to work as an RN, in L&D. Having just completed my BSN in December, I have filled out a few applications, and sent out some feelers to friends. Today, I got an email for a phone interview, and I am hopeful that another application will also yield results. Sometimes, it is who you know. I am looking forward to working again.

Well, that's about it today. Here are some pics of the adorable chickies right now.

#lighttheworld DAY 1

Day 1: "Freely ye have received, freely give."

Today is December 1st, and it is officially the kickoff of our church's Light the World campaign, which is essentially to spread God's love through service to others. I am SO excited this year! Today we are talking about giving. The activity we are doing today is choosing one family member and perform an act of service for them. I will let you know how it goes!

 We printed out all our activities for #lighttheworld, enough for each person to take one for the day to remind themselves, and put them in this cute advent board. You could do something similar or even clothespin them to a cord, or put them in little bags. There are so many cute ideas on Pinterest. hahaha.

Here are the tags I have created for our family that go with each day to go in our advent board. Click on the pic to use for yourself.

Also, I have made some little tags up for this month. Here they are if you'd like to print them. I will probably print mine on cardstock, but they can also be printed on the large 8 1/2 by 11 inch shipping label and cut out.

Light the World 2017

This year, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, on Mormon.org, is again taking the initiative to share the message of the life of Jesus Christ, by encouraging us to participate in the #lighttheworld by serving those in need. In this way we are showing how we live the teachings of Jesus Christ in our lives and letting our light shine.

Last year, about half way through the month of December, I suddenly discovered this was happening, and watched as others actively participated and shared how it had brightened their lives and the lives of those they served and interacted with. I learned of some amazing stories, and I have to say, I felt quite sad not to have known about it from the first. All I can say is, last year is a blur because of all that we had going on in our family, with my parents, and siblings, and children.

Anyway, long story short, I am super excited to have planned some exciting ways for my family to be active participants as we attempt to #lighttheworld!

Here are the activities we have chosen to do this season. 
For the month of December:
1 - Matthew 10:8 - "Freely ye have received, freely give." - Choose one family member & perform and act of service for them.
2 - Matthew 25:35 - "I was thirsty and ye gave me drink." - Donate water bottles to local shelter & attend a Christmas show to fill ourselves with the Christmas spirit!
3 - Matthew 12:12 - "Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days." - Watch the Christmas Broadcast with family - dessert & hot chocolate.
4 - Matthew 22:39 - "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." - Neighbor Family Dinner/Games
5 - Matthew 15:4 - "Honor thy father and thy mother." - Write a note to grandparents and send or deliver it.
6 - Matthew 7:1 - "Judge not, that ye be not judged." - Go all day without having negative thoughts or words about/towards another person.
7 - Mark 10:14 - "Suffer the little children to come unto me." - Take coloring books to local children's hospital.
8 - Matthew 5:44 - "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. - Choose a random act of kindness and perform it today (RAOK).
9 - Matthew 25:36 - "I was sick and ye visited me." - Find someone who is not feeling well and drop off dinner & a note.
10 - John 5:39 - "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life." - Invite a friend and go see the lights at the LDS temple in our area. Link is here if you live in Arizona. 
11 - Matthew 25:35 - "I was a stranger and ye took me in." - Widow deliveries - this could be a note, a treat, a flower, or just a visit.
12 - Matthew 5:4 - "Blessed are they that mourn." - Take flowers to someone who needs cheering up.
13 - Matthew 7:12 - "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." - Ding dong ditch someone or a few people with a treat. (At the end of this post is a printable you can click on and print and attach to your treat.) Love doing this with my kids!
14 - Matthew 6:21 - "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." - Work at a shelter, providing meals. Here is the link to Feed My Starving Children, which is where we have chosen for this activity.
15 - Matthew 5:7 - "Blessed are the merciful." - Deliver a Christmas item to the LDS missionaries who are serving in our area or home ward. This could be a treat or a small tree, or an ornament...the possibilities are endless!
16 - Matthew 25:36 - "(I was) naked and ye clothed me." - Choose gently used & clean, warm clothes or jackets to donate to a local shelter.
17 - 3 Nephi 18:22 - "Ye shall meet together oft." - Deliver small treats/cookies to neighbors &/or friends.
18 - Matthew 6:14 - "Forgive men their trespasses." - Choose someone who you may have a difficult time with and do something nice for them.
19 - Matthew 5:12 - "Rejoice, and be exceeding glad." - Drive around and listen to Christmas music and look at the lights and appreciate others talents.
20 - Luke 12:15 - "A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." - Write down a list of things you are grateful for and share during dinner.
21 - Matthew 25:35 - "For I was an hungered and ye gave me meat." - Put together charity packets as a family for those in need you might drive by during the day.
22 - 3 Nephi 27:21 - "That which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do." - Have niece & nephews or grandkids or friends children over so their parents can wrap or last minute shop without them around. 
23 - Matthew 25:36 - "I was in prison and ye came unto me." - Angel trees - children of prison inmates need Christmas too. Here is the link.
24 - 3 Nephi 18:15 - "Ye must watch and pray always." - Sing at a nursing home, hand out notes and pray for the people sung to tonight.
25 - Matthew 5:14 - "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." - Make sure to write down, talk about and share our experiences with others. Make sure to reflect on what we have learned, felt, and would do again or do differently next year. 

Other Color Options - 2017 YW Binder Covers

We are loving these so much we decided we needed color options! To print, click on the picture and print! Easy!

2017 YW Binder Covers

2017 is upon us. I didn't post at all during 2016 except to post my binder covers for YW! hahaha

Here is this year's offering. I am now camp director and am not doing the regular day to day things in YW, however, as is usual, my oldest daughter is, & asked me to help her get some paperwork together. We are of course running just a tad late on that, however, I do really love these front and back covers. They go with the vintage vibe that some of us are in love with right now! 

Here's a little tip for you: If you'd like some of the same paper for the binding of your notebook, just print an extra copy and trim the paper to fit. It will! Good luck!

2016 YW Theme Printable

The new year is fast approaching & we are starting to think about next year. This year's theme that was announced is found in 2 Nephi 31:20. I thought I'd do up something super quick and yet, because
this scripture has so much in it, it seems wrong to not include the entire thing. So, as always when I
create something, it begins as something and ends as something else. Enjoy!

A Few Cuties!

I know I've talked about how we are doing a superhero theme this year in YW. And this clever woman, Marquette LaRee, created some amazing logos for a superhero theme she's done. We loved hers so much, and she had them available for download, so we took them and made buttons that the girls can earn throughout the year. Each month, if they complete a value experience or begin a project, they get the corresponding button for the month. 

The cool thing is that the girls can put them on their lanyards for girls camp. My lanyard is the one pictured above, from many past years at camp. The girls love them, and trade them with each other. They earn them for various certification items they complete. The nurse even has one she gives out to girls who are caught "drinking water"! :) The buttons were my good friend, Britt's idea. She is so creative!

Here's a closer look at the buttons. I want to think of one the girls can earn from the Bishop. Gotta brainstorm!

Another thing that came in this week were these little beauties! I just love them. They are little post-it notes for girls to stick on their mirrors to remind themselves of the goal they are working on for their Personal Progress. So cute & helpful! (I got the idea here.) 

That's all for now!

Happy spring break!