Monthly Archives: March 2016

We Are Daughters of Our Heavenly Father

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IMG_7871Hi Friends!

It was hard for me to say goodbye to Easter in March this year… So much to learn and feel during this season and wish it had stretched into April and warmer weather.

I am looking forward to General Conference Weekend… Three more sleeps and we will be making yummy meals and listening to words that will guide and lift us. How blessed we are! I used to think I needed to take notes on everything and would spend more time writing down thoughts than actually listening. Somewhere along the way, I learned that by praying to be touched by the spirit while I watched or listened to Conference, I may know what is personally meant for me, at this time in my life. I spend my time listening and take fewer notes and for me the experience has become more personal.

April brings us our Visiting Teaching Message “We are Daughters of our Heavenly Father“. It brings me a lot of comfort knowing that I am His. In the store I own Pebbles in my Pocket in Orem Utah, we make an affordable Visiting Teaching Message and Treat each month that goes along with the theme. It’s a fun way to treat your sisters. They are also available at pebblesinmypocket.com. Many times, sisters will order together and share the minimal shipping cost. You can find them here.

I hope you enjoy this weekend. Stop by and say Hi when you are in our area. I would love to meet you! Take care!  Brenda

General Conference Ideas: Family Fun Round-Up

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After working on the #Hallelujah, Christ-centered Easter campaign I decided to change things up at our house this year. We skipped baskets and bunnies and enjoyed a mellow, scripture-filled holiday (thanks to all the hard work and printables from our #hallelujah kit makers). I can’t believe it took me 16 years of motherhood and 6 kids to figure out what a real Easter feels like.

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It wasn’t perfect. My kids missed the candy and there was some definite whining when they heard what all their friends got in their baskets. But there were also sweet moments, like hearing my 7 year old tell me he knew all the answers in Sunday School because we had just talked about the Easter story at breakfast. It felt sweet and simple and right for us.

All that being said, I’m a fun mom at heart. I still love the crazy Easter traditions and games we used to do. Luckily General Conference is coming up next so I’ve decided to shift some of the family fun over. That way we get a nice, sacred Easter and the kids will have even more reason to look forward to conference weekend…as if staying in your PJs all day and jumbo cinnamon rolls weren’t enough.

I jumped on Pinterest today to try to gather up some fun mom inspiration for conference weekend and I found tons of great ideas. For example, I thought this idea of pitching a tent in the living room (King Benjamin-style) would be awesome for my little kids.

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My teenagers are a little harder to impress but I thought this final-four-style bracket idea would really win them over…especially if the prize involves extra treats and bragging rights.

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There were so many great ideas and printable activity sheets out there in the blogosphere. If you’re looking to add a little fun to you family’s conference you should click over and start pinning away. You can find (and follow) the board by following this link.

Have a wonderful week everyone. I hope your conference weekend is full of fun, learning and a heaping helping of delicious food!

MeckMom HeadshotThis guest post was submitted by Maria Eckersley. Maria is a stay-at-home mom of six by day and a sleep-deprived graphic designer by night. You can find more of her ideas and printables on her new site MeckMom.com or in her Etsy shop .

#Hallelujah Day 10 Easter Advent Kit for Holy Week

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Day 10-1Alleluia-01Day 10 of our Easter Advent for Holy Week is of course my most favorite.  It’s Easter Sunday. Hallelujah, Jesus is risen!  Play Handel’s Messiah, “Hallelujah” choir through the home to wake everyone up.  Click HERE for the recent Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s virtual rendition.  For dinner you may choose to make an alternative to the traditional baked ham and cheesy potatoes, and choose foods from the bible days such as:  Lentils, tabbouleh, Greek red Easter eggs, flatbread, lamb or many other ideas are available online.  The tablescape visuals below share all things living for this season.  Enjoy and have fun with it this year.  The flowers and plants make everything feel alive and glorious.  This has been so fun to share with you, and if you didn’t get to participate this year, think about next year.  Gather ideas.  Mark your calendar a little earlier to prepare.  I hope if you are participating, you share the two hashtags #SDEaster #Hallelujah so we can help one another celebrate a more Christ-centered Easter as families.

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Easter Dinner of Fish & Honeycomb

Day 10 Empty Garden

The Empty Tomb Garden

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Cracking Eggs Game:  The rule of the game is simple. One holds a hard-boiled egg and taps the egg of another participant with one’s own egg intending to break the other’s, without breaking one’s own.

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Resurrection Rolls

Day 10 Place card-01 Day 10-11 Place SEtting-01Day 10-15 FishHoneycomb3-01Day 10-16 Honeycomb-01Day 10-13 FishHoneycomb-01Day 10-8Table Place-01Day 10-17 Nest-01Day 10-12 Table Side-01Day 10-10 Aerial Table-01Day 10-7Table Aerial-01Day 10-9 Centerpiece-01Day10-4-01Day 10-12TableMiddle-01Day 10-2 Table-01Day 10-3 Table-01

Hugs,

AimeeFerreSignature vector-01

AimeeFerre profileThis guest post was submitted by Aimee Ferre. She grew up in the desert of East Mesa in Arizona, but married a mountain loving Utah boy. She currently lives in Sandy, Utah and is a mom to 3 daughters. She owns a small crafting business where she creates holiday decor and specializes in hand-lettering. You can always find her creating new projects or planning gatherings for friends and family. Follow her on Instagram to see what is currently on her desk or find her at www.aimeeferre.com.

 

#Hallelujah Day 9 Easter Advent Kit for Holy Week

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Photography by Amy Little

Day 9-15-01Day 9 (Saturday) is the day we talk about Christ being laid in the tomb.  It also serves as a day to get ready for Easter morning.  These Resurrection Rolls you will prepare today are not only a perfect object lesson, but they actually taste great as well. I shared them with the neighbor kids and they were a definite thumbs up.  If you want them warm, you could choose to cook them on Sunday.  No more explanation needed with the photos to illustrate the directions.  The recipe and details are all in the download Easter Advent for Holy Week kit found HERE.Day 9-2-01Day 9-1 Ingredients-01Day 9-3-01Day 9-4-01Day 9-5-01Hallelujah 9-206Day 9-7-01Day 9-9-01Day 9-10-01Day 9-19-01Day 9-11-01Day 9-14-01Day 9-17-01Day 9-15-01The only other activity scheduled for Saturday is to set the Easter dinner table tonight and consider purchasing an Easter Lily as part of your centerpiece.  You can discuss the symbolism of the lily over dinner.  Day 9 -18-01Hugs,

AimeeFerreSignature vector-01

AimeeFerre profileThis guest post was submitted by Aimee Ferre. She grew up in the desert of East Mesa in Arizona, but married a mountain loving Utah boy. She currently lives in Sandy, Utah and is a mom to 3 daughters. She owns a small crafting business where she creates holiday decor and specializes in hand-lettering. You can always find her creating new projects or planning gatherings for friends and family. Follow her on Instagram to see what is currently on her desk or find her at www.aimeeferre.com.

#Hallelujah Day 8 Easter Advent Kit for Holy Week

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Day 8 Green Hill Far Away-01Day 8 ThornNailVinegarSideBlurry-01Day 8 Thorns-01Today is Good Friday. It’s the day we commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary.  In the devotional from the kit, it is suggested that your family put all of the electronics and cell phones in a basket for the evening and go by candlelight to represent the 3 hours of darkness experienced in the Old World and 3 days of darkness int he New World.  With all the distractions of our day, I think this exercise is so appropriate for the Season.  A time to ponder with less going on around us.

Hugs,

AimeeFerreSignature vector-tiny

AimeeFerre profile

This guest post was submitted by Aimee Ferre. She grew up in the desert of East Mesa in Arizona, but married a mountain loving Utah boy. She currently lives in Sandy, Utah and is a mom to 3 daughters. She owns a small crafting business where she creates holiday decor and specializes in hand-lettering. You can always find her creating new projects or planning gatherings for friends and family. Follow her on Instagram to see what is currently on her desk or find her at www.aimeeferre.com.