Achievement Days: Christmas Activity

For our achievement days this Christmas, I wanted to incorporate a easy and cheap project (because our budget was zilch) and also to cover the basis of what Christmas Joy means.

I found a Christmas Tree in B&W just from searching Google... Here is one.

I also bought these scratch-off stickers from Amazon. $6.00 for 100.... I just bought these because they are cool and there is enough to use them again and again for different projects.

We first talked about J.O.Y.: Jesus Others Yourself.

Now I asked the girls what they thought putting Jesus Others & then Yourself meant.

I had them write their testimony of the birth of our Savior on a piece of cute card stock and to put in their scriptures. Simple, they don't have to share it with anyone.

Next we covered a goal that is in the Faith in God booklet & the OTHERS category of J.O.Y... Helping around the House. I asked them to think of 3-4 chores or service acts that they could do for someone in their family. Had them write them in the tree in SMALL writing. We put their stickers over the chores & then they decorated the Trees by just coloring them!

They folded them up and wrote the person's name who was receiving the Chore Tree. I gave each girl a penny so they wouldn't have to scour for one.

Lastly, we talked about YOU. I gave them each a dollar store gift that was simple and let them know how much I appreciated them and that when we serve others, we are not only serving God & Jesus but that they will develop a beautiful spirit in themselves.

Simple. Easy.

The girls LOVED it by the way!

My 5 Favorite Valentine's Printables (All Free!!)

Free Printables are ALL over Pinterest! I've scouted my 5 favorite this V-day and they are the easiest way to add decor into your house. I know I have a hard time finding cute Valentine's Day decor. 

1. Love is an Arrow 

2. Diet Coke Love

3. Valentine's Day Tattoos (I would just print these off in color and use them in a frame!)

4. Be(e) Mine

5. All You Need is Love

As you can see, most of these links have additional prints that you can choose from as well! 

Happy Valentine's Day

{Tuesday Thoughts}

My thoughts today are about perspective. In my church, we often talk a lot about "eternal perspective" and seeing the BIG picture. Life is so hard sometimes, it's saddening, maddening, frustrating and down right unfair. However, we have the capabilities in our hearts and minds to overcome so much and the best part- it's in our DNA! We were born to face this tough world and the knowledge that life is unfair to everyone, can be enough to buoy yourself up through your own trials.

Over the course of my 3.5 year marriage, my husband and I have faced a lot. None so more than suffering 3 miscarriages. One as recently as this month; they have been hard and that we do not know what has caused each and every one has been really rough in some moments. However, I am confident in my family & friends who love me and my role as a wife & mother that even if I never have another baby through my body that I am loved and that my importance in different roles is enough to help me go on. How incredible that I am blessed to know that.

While I often get down about all that've I personally have gone through, the perspective changes immensely when I see someone like this father who literally loses his life to cancer and STILL keeps things in perspective! How incredible is his strength? And also to his wife and baby girl who have to deal with the aftermath of his death?! Wow.

Tell someone today how much they mean to you, especially if it is someone who've you've struggled with in the past. Let them know how their role in your life is so important and that the relationship will continue on forever! It might just be the word of encouragement that they need to make it through something really hard! Also, I believe that what you put out in life, comes back to you tenfold & you'll be the recipient of that encouragement when needed.