Every Heart Counts

Monday, October 24, 2011

October 2011 General Conference

What a wonderful conference we had this month. There were so many great talks. If you want to read, listen to, or watch any of them, click HERE to go to lds.org. Here are the highlights:

Saturday, August 27, 2011

If you only read ONE story this year...


then this would be it. "We Must See Past What it Seems" is an incredible message that the world should read. It will change the way you see things. It will change the way you do things. It will change YOU. And all for the better. Read it. Please. Today.

We Must See Past What it Seems...



Monday, August 22, 2011

Fathers Day Ideas

Fathers Day is fast approaching here (1st Sunday in September) and I have a husband who doesn't really need or want much. Now usually this is a good thing, but come birthdays and Fathers Days, it makes it awfully hard to find something to give him, or do for him. On browsing the net this week I found several pretty cool ideas I thought I would share. Surely I'm not the only one wondering what the kids and I should do for Fathers Day?

First up I found this interview. So easy to print out and have the kids fill in. If you don't have a printer, just copy the questions onto a piece of paper. For real young kids ask them each question, then write the answer yourself.



Click HERE to go to the Simply Montessori Blog to download.

Allison has a different interview on her blog which allows space for the kids to draw a picture too. I really like that idea. It'd be cool to make it a tradition every Fathers Day. Collect the interviews and put them in a binder, then each year you can see how much they've grown up.



Click HERE to go to Allison's blog for the download.


Click HERE to find the download link for these free cards from Ana (and more fathers day printables).

I love this hand tree. So easy for the kids to do:



And this little gift is super easy to do. Print out the tag and attach to a packet of M&Ms. Go HERE to download the tag.



The following list of ideas I found on The Red Headed Hostess' blog. She is also a Seminary teacher, and has lots of fantastic information and ideas for scripture study. Just check her sidebar for links. Here are her 9 fun ideas for Fathers Day. I just love number 8:



1. Sticky Note Love

Have your kids write things they love about their dad on sticky notes. Put them up all over the house, in his pockets, car, etc…

2. Daddy Photos

Dress up your kids in their dad’s clothes. Take them outside and take pictures of them. Print your favorite ones and frame them for his desk at home or work.

3. Daddy Books

Have your children each make a picture book about their dad. Each page can have a sentence about him along with an illustration. Things like:
My dad is always ________________
I like it when me and dad _________________
When I grow up I want to be ______________ like my dad
My dad is really good at ________________
Staple them together and have them make a cover page and come up with a fun title.

4. Me and Dad… Our History

Same as the idea above – but instead have it just about this past year. That way you could make a new book every year and it is a little family history. For example:
Last summer Dad and I ________________
Dad always helps me with my homework in ________________
Its really important to Dad that I _________________
One of the best things Dad and I have done this year is ______________
Every night Dad and I _________________
Last Christmas I gave Dad _______________

5. Our Treasures (hunt) With Dad

Send him on a treasure hunt around the house and yard. Each clue could be something about him and that location written by different family members. For example:
We built this together last summer. - Tim
This is where we like to sit and talk. -Mom
This is where you picked me up when I fell on my bike. -Sara

6. Driveway Love

Have your kids write things they like about their Dad all over the driveway so that everyone in the neighborhood can read them

7. Father’s Day Sign

Have your kids make a Happy Father’s Day sign similar to this Happy Birthday sign. Here is the lettering: happy fathers day sign

8. Paper Bag Mystery

Have everyone find one item that reminds them of Dad in some significant way and have them all put it in one large paper bag. Have Dad reach in, and before pulling it out, try and guess what it is and who put it in there. Then after he pulls it out then the person who put it in can tell why they chose that item and what it means to them.

9. Pictionary

Play Pictionary with memories of Dad. So divide into 2 teams, then each team has to write 10 to 20 memories of Dad. Like: When Dad and Tim mowed Mr. Smith’s lawn when he had surgery. Then the other team has to draw them as you play pictionary. So each team has 1 minute to try and draw as many as they can until the next team gets to to. The first team to draw and guess them all first, wins.

LOVE LETTER BOOK

Next up is a gift idea that would be more from you than from the kids. Perfect for his birthday or Christmas too. It's a love letter book. This is what Heather Lynne says to do:

1. Search the stores for the most masculine journal/notebook you can find



2. Write your first love note. It can be the same sort of note you might write in a card or something a little more lengthy.

3. Give him the book as a gift, and explain that the pages will be filled (by you) over time.

4. Every time you notice something great that you love about your husband, get out the book and write a dated note to him. Don't tell him when you've written them. Just let him find them next time he looks in the book.

5. Next time there's a special occasion, instead of buying him a card, just get out the book and write in that instead. If there are past notes in there that he hasn't seen yet, he'll see them when he re-receives the book for that occasion.

Bonus: No more cards from random occasions to stash in a shoebox somewhere or add more clutter to your home. All of your meaningful notes will be contained in one small and accessible place- yay!

I (Jacinda) did this for my husband on our 11th anniversary in April. He loved it. And I loved the idea of a record of our love. You can tell your husband he's welcome to write his own love notes to you in there too, or it can just be one way, from you to him.

SUPER HERO NOSH



Here's a fabulous idea from Alpha Mom, with free printables so all the hard work is done. Surely every Dad is a superhero to their kids, yes? I (Jacinda) did this for my husbands birthday in May, from the kids and I. The kids were just as excited about it as he was. I bought some cellophane bags from the $2 shop to put everything in, but you could just as easily use zip lock bags too. I found the perfect size gift box at the same shop, and I was good to go. Here's how my box turned out:



HAPPY MEAL

OK, here's an idea from BAKERELLA for those that are good in the kitchen. (That isn't me by the way).



Look closer. The bun is a cupcake cut in half and sprinkled with sesame seeds. The meat pattie is actually a brownie, the lettuce and sauces are icing, and the chips are actually sugar cookies rolled in sugar! How cute is that! Go to Bakerella's site for instructions, and to download the template to the tray and chip packet.

So.....what do you reckon? Think there's something there that you could use this Fathers Day? I'm definitely using a couple of them, and I know the kids will be excited to do the interviews and draw a picture at the very least. Whatever you decide to do, I hope it's successful and that your Fathers Day celebrations are full of love and joy.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Walk with gratitude


“Walk with gratitude in your hearts, my dear friends. Be thankful for the wonderful blessings that are yours. Be grateful for the tremendous opportunities that you have. Be thankful to your parents who care so very much about you and who have worked so very hard to provide for you. Let them know that you are grateful. Say thank you to your mother and father. Say thanks you to your friends. Say thank you to your teachers. Express appreciation to everyone who does you a favor or assists you in any way.”

“Thank the Lord for His goodness to you. Thank the Almighty for His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, who has done for you what no other in all this world could do. Thanks Him for His great example, for His tremendous teachings, for His reaching hand to lift and help. Thank the Lord for His marvelous Church restored in this great season of history. Thank Him for all that it offers you. Thank Him for friends and loved ones, for parents and brothers and sisters, and family. Thank Him for a strong body, for a sound mind, for teachers who guide you and mentors who take a special interest in you, for those willing to coach you and help you develop new talents or become better at something you love."

"Thank Him that you live in a land of freedom, where you can come and go as you please and make choices that suit you. Thank Him that you live in a time of relative prosperity. Thank Him for the advances in communication that allow you to stay close to those you love and interact with. Thank Him for the ease of travel and the privilege of getting an education. And even thank Him for your struggles, for they will make you strong if you will let them.”

Gordon B Hinkley

Saturday, May 14, 2011

For our Youth

A little something for our Young Women today. Listen to the words. Really listen. Hear what he's saying...



And a message all young women should hear.



I love this story. How wonderful the world would be if all the youth did a good deed instead of a prank.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Photo evidence of a great night in

We had an awesome turnout to our Relief Society Birthday Party. The Activity Committee did a great job organising the evening, and I could see everyone had a wonderful time. I think next time we have a quiz evening everyone is going to be clamouring to be on Sister Tipene's team. Hidden talents there ay Leslie! Talk about quick on the draw. I maybe answered 2 questions the whole night, and even then, it was 4.5 seconds AFTER everyone else answered. LOL. I choose to believe my talents lie in other areas. ;D






A Relief Society gathering wouldn't be complete without supper now would it? For the birthday celebration everyone brought a dessert type dish to share, and as you can see, it was absolutely delicious.



Our next activity is on April 12th, at 7pm. It's going to be a wearable arts night, and you all are going to get the chance to channel the designer within. Bring along recyclable, reusable products from home (paper, plastic, etc) to make your outfit with, and be prepared for another evening of fun and sisterhood. Bring your friends along, and a finger food supper plate to share. See you there.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Relief Society 169th Birthday

It's a milestone. You can't NOT celebrate it right? It's 169 years since the Relief Society was formed, and that's reason enough for us to celebrate this wonderful organisation. Come along on to the chapel on Tuesday 15th March, ready to start the fun at 6.30pm sharp. Click on the image below for an enlarged view.



We'll start with a bit of Relief Society History first, then move on to a game show/trivia night activity. (You might just want to take note of the history lesson by the way - later in the night they may just pop up in the trivia questions). It's going to be a lot of fun, and don't worry if you don't know much church history, we're going to work in teams, and there are other non-church categories too.

We'll end the evening with a dessert style supper and cake. If you could bring a dessert, pudding, cake, or fruit to share for supper, that would be fabulous. Please let your Visiting Teaching homes know about the activity too, and invite them along for the fun.

Dress for the activity is skirt/top or a dress. Please be on time, or you'll miss the info at the start, and you're going to need it for the trivia game later on.

Friday, March 4, 2011

Time Out For Women (TOFW)

Time Out For Women is coming to New Zealand in July. This is a fantastic opportunity to see and hear from some amazing LDS speakers and entertainers. They are having one show here in NZ before heading over to Australia. Here's an intro from the TOFW blog:

Choose to Become 2011 Tour

What if you had the chance to take a weekend to discover something new?

What if this was the year for you to make meaningful change?

You do. This is!

It’s the TIME OUT FOR WOMEN 2011 TOUR and it’s coming to a city near you. CHOOSE TO BECOME just a little closer to the woman you were meant to be—through your testimony, through your relationships, and through your personal improvement. Join us for an inspirational weekend of messages and music. We see a whole world of possibilities out there just waiting to be discovered…come find the ones waiting for YOU!

It is our hope that during this day filled with messages of inspiration from respected authors and music artists, you will learn, you will laugh, and your spirits and sights will be lifted. It is Deseret Book’s great pleasure to invite you to catch your breath, take a break from daily pressures, “huddle” with your sisters and friends, and feel rejuvenated for the days ahead.

We look forward to taking a Time Out with you!

Sheri Dew
President and Chief Executive Officer, Deseret Book Company"



This clip advertises their DVD, but it also gives you a glimpse of what TOFW is like:





NZ TOUR DETAILS

Auckland, NZ
Saturday, July 30, 2011
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Auckland Convention Center
ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre
50 Mayoral Drive
Auckland CBD, AL 1010 NZ

See a list of the speakers HERE.

Pricing details HERE. If you book as a group of four before June 15th, you get a much cheaper price. Prices on their website are in American dollars.

Hillary Weeks is one of the speakers (I just love this woman, honestly), and she performed this song at one of their previous TOFW conferences:



So what do you think? Looks good huh? I'm going, as is my sister and probably my Mum. We think it's an opportunity to be uplifted and inspired like never before. It does cost a bit, but there is plenty of time to put away your pennies and save for it before June 15. After talking to my American friends, I really don't think anyone who has attended TOFW in the past has regretted it, in fact they all rave about it.

Promise me you'll think about it OK? Do something for YOU this year.....because you know you're worth it. :)

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Hold onto your hats

You are going to be so glad you stopped by today - I have some fabulous finds to show you! I love to search the internet for ideas for visiting teaching, family home evening and church in general. This week I stumbled across Simply Fresh Designs, who offer free quiet book downloads for your primary children. I think some of them would be great for new converts too. Click on the headers to be taken to each download page with more information, and click on any photo to see it larger.

We Believe

A simple summary on each card about what we believe in.






Prophets and Apostles

This is an awesome quiet book. What better way for your child (and you) to learn about the prophet and apostles.



Here's a close up of two of the pages.



Book of Mormon Stories

I love this one. The book is 26 pages including the cover and includes the following stories:

Lehi fleeing Jerusalem, Lehi’s Dream, The Liahona, Enos Praying, Mormon Abridging the Plates, King Benjamin, Abinadi, Alma baptizing at the Waters of Mormon, conversion of Alma the Younger, Ammon, Anti-Nephi-Lehies, Moroni and the Title of Liberty, Two Thousand Young Warriors, Samuel the Lamanite, Christ appearing to the Nephites, Christ blessing the children, the Brother of Jared, Mormon & Moroni, and more.




For those in Primary, they have 2011 Primary Theme cards too. They're available in 5x7, 4x6, 3x4 and even poster size. The bigger the size, the more info on it:




How about some Article of Faith cards? They come in 3x4, 4x6 and 8x10 size:


*sigh* Now doesn't all that just make you happy? Makes me happy.Simply Fresh Designs has done such a wonderful job with all of these cards. I printed out a copy of each of these (less the Primary theme cards) at Harvey Normans this week, and slipped them into a 4x6 photo flipbook for my girls. Now during sacrament they can look through these and learn a little something along the way. I'm thinking they'll make great birthday presents to nephews and nieces too....

Saturday, January 29, 2011

2011 already?!

I must apologize for not keeping this blog updated more. Life always gets hectic around Christmas/New Years, and I've not had time to post new things on the site. I will be better about it this year I promise.



2011 brings us a new Relief Society Presidency for Mountfort Ward. Sister Maara Mata is our new President, with Sister Priscilla Pei 1st Counselor, and Sister Opal Higgins 2nd Counselor. I'm still the Secretary (yay!) and we're all excited to be serving the Lord and the sisters of Mountfort Ward.

We have had a lot of new sisters join our ward in the last couple of months. Welcome to each and every one of you - we're excited to have you with us, and look forward to getting to know you better.

It is time once again for Visiting Teaching Interviews. We will do this at the chapel over two evenings: Tuesday 15th and Tuesday 22nd February 2011, starting at 6pm. Look out at church for a signup sheet and put your name down early so you get the time you want.


Our next activity will be on Saturday February 12th, from 6pm to 7.30pm. It's going to be a fun evening where we get to know each other better. We've chosen to have this on a Saturday so the Primary and Young Women teachers can attend. We hope you all can make it. If you cannot find a sitter for your kids at home, the Young Women have kindly agreed to babysit in the nursery room at the chapel during our activity. Please arrive early enough to settle your kids in the nursery before the RS activity starts. Parents please bring a snack for your children.



As I browse the net each day I find some wonderfully uplifting articles and videos that I just can't help sharing. These are my favourites at the moment. Brother John Bytheway is the most AMAZING speaker. He keeps you enthralled throughout, and delivers his message in a wonderfully entertaining way:



And I'm not sure if I've posted this before, but this is my absolute favourite version of "Mary Did You Know". The visuals along with the music put me in Mary's position every time, and the emotion has me crying each and everytime I watch it. It's a powerful video, and quite authentic to how it must have been for Jesus on the Cross, and for Mary to be witnessing it all, so be aware it might be a little 'too real' for little kids.



Here's another version of "Mary Did You Know", this time sung by Clay Aitkin. I love this version too, and the visuals are a lot more kid friendly.



I can watch these over and over. If you've found a really beautiful church song on YouTube, send me an email, or leave a message in the comments here, and I'll link it up in a future post. Have a wonderful week sisters, and I will hopefully see you at our activity on Feb 12th.