22 Summer Activities With or Without Parents!

Need some ideas for the summer holidays? Well I've been working on a few that my kids can do when they finish school for the summer in June....so I thought I'd share...

1. Scrapbook ~ I don’t think suggesting this would be a surprise to anyone! Back in the day scrapbooking was just a scrap book that we would stick odd cut outs of our favourite shoes or hairstyles etc. I suggest going back to this time with our kids and encourage them to scrapbook various things through their days to show their highlights. By the time school starts, all those words that have been muttered ‘I am bored’ or ‘I do not get to do anything fun’ will be right there in pictures to show them! Kids of any age will enjoy making their own summer journal, even toddlers.

2. Garden pots ~ Even if you have your own garden area and the kids are happy to help, why not get them some small pots {or larger if you have the space} exclusively for them? Giving them some responsibility is a proven method that most kids thrive for and more often than not, live up to above and beyond. Smaller children love to get dirty so why not give them some tiny pots and either sunflower seeds or pretend flowers?

3. Artist folder ~ Similar to the scrapbook, give the kids their very own folder with sheets of plain paper inside and let them create. This is ideal in the car, waiting at the dentist, in a restaurant on just sat on the sofa. When each page is complete, date it and get them to sign it!

4. Disposable camera ~ I know my 4 year old loves it when he gets to randomly take photos of anything and everything. Naturally, I don’t print many of his photos but I do make up a slide show on the computer for him so he can sit and admire his talent! Kids love all that dodging around like a little pro just to get that perfect shot…minus the head! A disposable is cheap; bump proof and stops arguments between siblings.

5. Bird watching ~ We live in an area that isn’t exactly close to a beach yet we get loads of seagulls and other birds associated with the waters. Having multiple trees in our garden means, we usually have birds around here. Having kids with toy binoculars, laying on a blanket spotting birds, comparing them to a book {use the library for some good ones} will keep them quiet for ages, plus it will work their imaginations and most likely get them chatting about clouds and other things they see!

6. Flower spotting ~ If you are in an area where your kids can just wonder through a field or arboretum garden of some sort, pack them up with a book, magnifying glass and a bottle of water and see what they find. Chances are they will find bugs, creepy crawlies, and other things too.

7. Word games ~ There are loads of different kinds of printables online, my kids love making small words out of larger ones. This is another versatile game that can be done almost anywhere at any time and aids their reading and spelling without them quite realising it!

8. Home theatre ~ many children love to act out, dress up, and emulate a favourite singer, actress or other favourite character. All they need are a few old clothes, a few curtains, and a place to perform!

9. Garden disco ~ especially for the girls, fancy skirts/tops, a pretty hairstyle and some music to dance along to! Invite kids over to join in and the rest just unfolds!

10. Garden party ~ this can be as minimal or extravagant as you like, give the kids a few games (ball games, skipping, water slides etc) some food and maybe an adult or two and they will be entertained all day!

11. Hammer n nails ~ One for the boys (or tomboys out there!) My 4 yr old loves nothing more than to sit with a plank of wood, mini sized hammer and some nails. Obviously, this would need parental supervision but it keeps the boys quiet! For older kids maybe they can make a box, bird feeder, or something equally simple.

12. Sewing box ~ scraps of fabric, needles and thread and anything can happen. Cut out a simple shapes
such as a teddy bear so it only needs the edge sewing and stuffing with off cuts of fabric, cut lots of squares to stitch into a blanket or even a bag. Old clothes are great for this and very inexpensive. Boys enjoy this almost as much as the girls

13. Cook for a family ~ this can be as basic as burgers and fries or if your kids are older a 3 course meal. Letting them plan, shop and prepare a meal will boost their confidence and keep them focused for hours! Moreover, you don’t get to cook either!

14. Camping in the garden ~ Lets face it, all kids like to camp out even if it is only the garden! If you have toddlers go camp out with them! Grab some flashlights, books and nibbles and the kids will have the best night of their life!

15. Kid’s yard sale ~ Hands up if your kids have a load of unused toys, books, games etc? (My 2 hands are up!) let them get in on the act of taking care of their needs and hold a yard sale, with the proceeds they can perhaps use it to learn the first steps in financing or buy a new toy/book/game or even better, save it and watch it grow in their bank!

16. write your book ~ Every kid has a story to tell, it's not going to be the one we tell about that exact same experience or trip to the supermarket. Give them a book and pen, shoot ideas to what they can write about, use bullet points so they aren’t overwhelmed if they aren’t fans of writing. Make a front page cover, choose a book title and tell them how much YOU want to know what their life story is from their view.

17. role play banker/shopper/parents i.e. finances/thrift ~ A small table and chair, a few packets/tins from food storage and a few friends and you have a shop. Add some boxes, envelopes and a satchel style bag for a post office. Make pretend money from strips of paper, make a till from a narrow box and you have a bank. The imagination is endless with just a few items here and all the while kids are learning about some important principles! Especially if their bank is empty and they only have limited funds at the food store!

18. Papier-mache ~ Bowls, mountains, plant pots, jewellery holders, pen cups, action man mounds and more. Just a few ideas to get the kids into creative play, recycling old papers/magazines is an added bonus for our Green issues!

19. Service project for neighbour ~ With the nice weather here (at last) get the kids out doing their own service project for a local neighbour or family member. Anything from reading to someone, going to the store, cutting grass, feeding pets or even making them a snack will give the kids are all sense of accomplishment!

20. Learn an instrument ~ This isn’t as hard as it looks, nor does it have to cost much money. Freecycle can offer some good old instruments to good homes, yard sales (trying really hard to get Americanised here!!) and thrift stores. Libraries offer books for beginners, they don’t have to be perfect or even last longer than the summer, but chances are, once they start and see how easy they can pick something up they will want to carry on!

21. Buddy a younger person ~ Does your child know someone who would benefit from having a buddy? Is your child one who would benefit from a buddy? Maybe assigning a buddy to someone will reach out to someone and give something they need most, from confidence, faith in themselves, a hard time at home or anything at all. Great works are done when we have someone to look out for us and the rewards are outstanding for those giving their time and effort to someone too.

22. Body/hand/foot painting ~ Ok so you guys can join in here, I know my kids just love it when we have messy play. Having washable floors makes it easier if the weather is cold but in all the clean up is simple with a hose when outdoors. Just get some plain rolls of wall paper, loads of washable paints and let the fun begin!

If your children are anything like mine then they are going to wanna work through that list throughout the summer, which isn't necessarily a bad thing considering how long summer is for them! As usual, I would love to hear what anyone does from this list and hope at least one of the ideas gives you a kick start! :)

quotable quotes: choosing to feel good

Say "I want to feel good" when you're tempted to indulge in low-energy thoughts. Wanting to feel good is synonymous with wanting to feel God. Remember: "God is good, and all that God created was good."

~Dr. Wayne W. Dyer;

The Power of Intention inspiration card "Feel Good"

[image "Tones" courtesy orange acid]

Catch up with Miss Liss at A Year of Wisdom or The Fascinating Woman, based on Fascinating Womanhood.

Friendship to All - Pass it On

Ever since The Foundation For a Better Life started putting out these videos I have absolutely loved them.

The videos below are about friendship, something that is much needed in these days filled with pressure to look a certain way, pressure to act a certain way, and increasing amounts of bullying in many forms (including cyber-bullying).

I have sadly heard of a few instances where members of the Church will not be friends with those of other Faiths. How horribly wrong and sad. There are many great people with high standards to which we can be friends.

In the For Strength of Youth pamphlet is states, "Choose your friends carefully. They will greatly influence how you think and act, and even help determine the person you will become. Choose friends who share your values so you can strengthen and encourage each other in living high standards. A true friend will encourage you to be your best self."

Choosing friends carefully is, of course, very important but we need not narrow our friendships simply to Mormons or even Christians. We could learn much and gain great friendships from all. Enjoy the video below of three friends with very different backgrounds.

The pamphlet continues on to say, "To have good friends, be a good friend yourself. Show interest in others and let them know you care about them. Treat everyone with kindness and respect. Go of your way to be a friend to those who are shy or do not feel included."

This video is a perfect example of this.

And finally this is one of my favorite stories from the March, Friend magazine. The story truly shows what a huge difference one friend can make. (click pictures to enlarge and read)

You can read more from "Mysti" at her spiritual blog, Becoming LDS. You may also enjoy reading or submitting to her other two blogs filled with Conversion Stories and Testimonies.

Shifting Gears

My apologies ladies...

Time got away from me this month and I didn’t get the article I wanted to share with you today finished in time, so I'm cheating a little here and shifting gears on you.

I myself am still learning so much as we go, and the people I look to for more counsel and guidance are our esteemed church leaders.With that in mind, when there is something new they are sharing, I'm all for listening to what they are saying.

The first presidency has sent out a new Preparedness Message in the New Era. There are several fabulous quotes from leaders as well as some insightful help tips and ideas in this article.

Here is the link to the full article.

Please take a moment or two and read this article, write down any thoughts it gives you on what we are doing here together, as well as what your doing on your own with your family.

Feel free to share with us here if you have the mind to….We are all here to help each other along. It is a good thing for us to stop every so often and examine what we are doing.. it helps us keep in mind our goals as well as the plan of action we must take to get to them.

“In the day of plenty, prepare for the day of scarcity.”

First Presidency, “Message of the First Presidency,”
in Conference Report, Apr. 1942, 89

Visit Sister Savings for this weeks deals!
Visit Shelf Reliance here!
Visit Be Prepared.COM
Be Prepared, NOT Scared!
I Will Prepare

Jess is happily married to her best friend and mom to three kiddos..Actively practicing attachment parenting, transitioning as a family to RAW, and much more...You can read about their adventures on her blog, Life Learners.

When We're Released...

When we're released...

I had the privilege of being in on the release of my missionary brother-in-law who just recently returned from his mission. The experience brought back a flood of memories and feelings and left me pondering more about... how will it feel when we're released?

I returned home from my mission the day before Thanksgiving in 2000. Although, it's been that long, the feelings and memory of when I was officially released as a full-time missionary is still very vivid. I felt an emptiness as my mantle was lifted and my spirit was filled with sorrow and joy-- or something in the middle that made me cry for weeks. Who could love the people of Los Angeles more than me? There was so much more work to do... I can't possibly be done. 

My first calling after joining the church in 1996 was being a Sunbeam teacher. For several months I taught these little angles the gospel, but most often, was taught from their great love, pure innocence and understanding of simple principles at 3-years-old. My heart broke when I was called to a new calling and was released as a teacher. How can anyone love those Sunbeams more than me? Who will make sure they have good lessons each week? I cried forEVER in the Bishops office after being released. 

After many other church callings in between these years in the church, one thing is constant... when I am released I often think--- did I do enough? Did I give enough love? Did I do my very best?

However, what will I feel, what will I think, we I meet my Savior after this mortal life? When I am released from this earth, will I have loved enough, served enough, shown charity enough? Will I feel that I have done my best?

Our simple challenge should be to just do our very best and then a little more each day. 

"During His ministry on the American continent, He added significant words when He answered the same question: “What manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.

In His earthly ministry, the Master outlined how we should live, how we should teach, how we should serve, and what we should do so that we could become our best selves."

"Becoming Our Best Selves" ~ President Thomas S. Monson

The Nature of Callings

It's been about a month now that we've been in our new ward. It's very friendly with lots of couples our age and a good bishop, which I'm grateful for. I posted last month about fitting in - well, the bishop gave me a chance to do just that!

Two weeks ago I was called to be a counselor in the Young Women's presidency. The Young Women's program is a part of the church for girls aged 12-18. It helps the girls learn more about the gospel, make important life goals and achievements, and basically helps them get through their teen years with a solid foundation in the gospel. It can be challenging - it's teenagers, after all! - but also so rewarding!

Our ward's YW program is especially unique in that we only have 1 active girl - one! And we have a full presidency - a president and 2 counselors to supervise and plan for one girl! When I told my husband this, he asked why they would have 3 people in charge of just a single girl, and I told him I didn't know, but I guessed it was important to the Lord for some reason.

Then I started thinking about callings and why we get them. I concluded that I thought we were given the chance to serve in callings for one of 2 reasons - either for what we could bring to the assignment, or for what the assignment could bring to us. I think my calling falls into the second category. They certainly don't need 3 women to supervise 1 girl. But the other two women on the presidency are marvelous people, and I'm really enjoying getting to know them. They've completely taken me in and made me feel so welcome. As selfish as it sounds, I think this calling is more for my benefit, to provide me with wonderful women as my friends, and help me feel less lonely. I know I will do my best in this calling, and hopefully by reaching out to some of our less-active girls we can build up our program, but if not, I will still give 100% to this assignment.

So I am very grateful to my Heavenly Father for looking out for me like He does. He's provided me with a chance to get to know people who will enrich my life, and also provided me with a chance to use my talents and skills wherever they might be needed.

We don't always understand the Lord's purposes and reasons, but we can have faith that in knowing all and seeing all, He will take care of us.

image here

Annike is a lifelong member of the church, married to her sweetheart, and taking life a day at a time. Feel free to stalk her blog at A Great Adventure.

One Thing At A Time mentality

It's really exciting to plan on a Sunday night how the next day, Monday is going to be the first day of the rest of your lean and healthy life. You are going to become an exercising machine and eat nothing but healthy and low cal all day, forevermore! Hooray!

It's exciting until Monday morning or maybe Monday afternoon, and then it just gets to be overwhelming and a bit depressing. You can feel that you are losing the battle of changing your entire lifestyle in one day particularly with the external stresses of normal every day life, (on a Monday no less!) and once you begin to feel as though you are losing, you start to feel hopeless. Here we go again..it has happened so many times before, you'll never, ever get this right. You'll never get fit, you'll never lose weight.


Well yeah, you're probably right. If you persist with that failing experiment, the eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we diet mentality, you are setting yourself up to fail. My mom always says she can gain 5lbs just preparing for the impending Monday life overhaul.

And so it goes, over, and over again. What's worse is that each time you fail, you lose a little more confidence in succeeding the next time. It's got to stop.

What has been proven time and time again to work? Small changes, implemented one. at.a.time until they become habit, a part of your lifestyle.

These small changes can lead to significant results, but more importantly they allow you to experience success, this helps to rebuild your confidence in yourself, and little by little increases your ability to reach your health goal. In time, you will find that you can take on, (and complete!) more and more difficult goals until one day you are standing at the start of a marathon wondering who has taken possession of your body. And it will feel good.

If I may make a suggestion for a really great small change is to evaluate your diet in terms of your staples and research the nutritional value in the things you generally eat and have on hand. You may be absolutely horrified to see the quantity of sugar in what you thought was healthy food. Take a gander at the yoghurt in your fridge. Go now, I will wait....

Back? I KNOW! Isn't it awful? Solution: (NO! Do not get sucked into diet/low fat/lite yogurts! Put that artificially sweetened carcinogenic rubbish down right now!) Simply buy (or make) plain yogurt, and mix in a little jam or pureed fruit.

As kids we used to mix cinnamon and sugar into plain yogurt. We loved it. And yes, there was sugar. But I can guarantee you it was a lot less sugar then the amount hidden in those tiny cartons and no artificial colours or flavours either. My point here is, compromise. It's not perfect but it's a lot better. And you'll save yourself scads while you're at it.

Another idea: ditch the juice. I can't tell you how many people I know who think they are being super healthy or helping their kids to be healthy by providing them with orange juice first thing in the morning. Orange juice can spike blood-sugar and it has lots of calories. Sure there's vitamin C but there's vitamin C AND fiber, less sugar and less calories in just eating an orange instead! If you simply cannot part with your OJ, and you don't make your own, make sure you are buying the type that is NOT from concentrate.

If you have a favourite meal at your local fast-food joint, do a reality check on what type of nutritional punch it is packing. Sometimes we can be led to believe that something is a better option, when really it's just as bad as the burger and fries...or worse.

Research and awareness are such good allies in improving your health. Figure out how many calories you are really burning with your daily workout and compare that to your intake. Almost everyone overestimates how many calories they burn in their workout.

If all of this sounds like too much work for your first step, may I suggest...WATER? (Bet you never saw that one coming!) Water, what a marvelous and miraculous substance! It can manage your appetite (you are more likely thirsty when you think you are hungry), it keeps things moving along throughout your body, and increases your sense of well-being. I often find that my sudden onset of irritability is just dehydration that I did not realize was going on. If you simply can't stand plain H20, try lemon (but not too often, it's acidic and too much of that is bad for you teeth) or fresh mint, cucumbers. You could even toss some strawberries in there. Buy a water bottle that is YOURS and yours alone. Get a pretty one that you like to look at. Forbid anyone else from drinking your water! This way you know exactly how much you should be drinking and how far you are into that goal at any given time. Again, just a simple awareness can make all the difference. If you are someone who suffers from a soda addiction, increasing your water intake will help so drastically with those cravings. If you allow yourself to get dehydrated of course you will crave the soda that much more. If you never get thirsty, you will stand a much better chance of getting that monkey off of your back.

Social eating can be a big saboteur. Try socializing by inviting friends to go for a walk or bike ride with you rather then meeting them for a meal, or munching junk food while you watch a movie together. Walking and talking is such a feel good social experience. It's also a great (and free) way to spend date night. Try it, you'll like it!

I'm sure you'll agree that none of this is new or revolutionary. It's just a few examples of how small changes can make big differences. The secret is to figure out where you need to make adjustments and then just incorporate one manageable change at a time. Lives are changed one habit at a time. Go get the one you want!

Images: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Maybe Perfect Just Looks a Little Different Than You Thought it Would

Today's Guest Contributor is Devon from Defining Devon. You can also find her at The Daily Dakin, a website dedicated to her beautiful son, who has a rare neuromuscular disease called Spinal Muscular Atrophy with Respiratory Distress (SMARD).

I will oftentimes find myself receiving revelation from the strangest places.

Sometimes the Spirit speaks to me through the lyrics of a song on a top 40 station, other times I feel inspiration from the lines of a movie. Last week it was from the TV. (Stick with me here…) The protagonist in one of my favorite shows made a profound observation: “Maybe perfect just looks a little different than you thought it would.” This line hit me like the proverbial ton of bricks.

You see, like many children, I had a vision of my “perfect” future and how it would be. In my adolescent fantasies, I had planned for myself a college education, marriage in the temple to a flawless man, a beautiful home, and a whole mess of well-mannered children. I stuck to that vision, obtaining my degree and marrying in the temple.

And then reality hit.

In the years since my marriage, I figured out that a temple marriage is not, in fact, the end to worries and difficulty. I found out that I am also not married to a flawless man. As for my Better Homes and Gardens house, well, I haven’t gotten it—we rent! And my beautiful child has a rare, incurable neuromuscular disease which is genetic, and so we don’t know at this point whether we will be able to have more children.

Well, wait a minute! What about my fantasies? I’ve kept the commandments--aren’t I entitled to this stuff?!

Enter the Spirit. He has been, over the course of the last year, slowly and quietly teaching me about real life, real living. He has whispered to me how truly fortunate I am to have a place to live and food to eat, even if that home doesn’t have my name on the deed. He has taught me the gift of forgiveness to others and to myself. He, through my amazing son, has taught me patience, hope, faith, service, joy, and has let me experience a love more deep than I ever imagined I could—that love that “people freely die for,” if I may quote Stephenie Meyer. I have been shown that all I needed has been provided for, one way or another, and I have grown more than I ever dreamed I needed to.

So maybe my protagonist was right. “Maybe perfect just looks a little different than you thought it would.” It certainly does, but my real life is perfect for me, not the teenager who created the fantasy.

And watching my miracle of a child and my flawed-but-tries-as-hard-as-he-can-and-still-puts-up-with-me husband playing together, I’m glad it didn’t go my way.

Linky Love - What's New Molly?

Modern Molly's Favourite Posts:
Citrus Steam - I Dare You to Eat It
Cooking With Basic Food Storage: Powdered Milk Recipes - Preparedness Matters
The Atonement of Jesus Christ - Emma's Place for Church Stuff
How to Seed a Watermelon - Scripture Mom


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What's New with Molly:
(catch up with your favourite Modern Mollies on their own blogs)


Untypically Jia (Married Molly) celebrated her 25th birthday!
Tiffany (Mighty Molly) is traveling with her family this week. Wish her a safe trip!
Cornnut (Masterpiece Molly) was featured on Mormon Mommy Blogs!
Whit (Misc Molly) cracked a rib this week, go send her some love!
April (Media Molly) changed her blog layout and has exciting blog design info for her fans!
Debs (Madness Molly) had a great reaction to one of her articles on MMM!
Jen (Mountain Molly) needs your help! Send along your favourite tunes to run to!
Jenn (Mojo Molly) has been honored by Relay for Life and offered a position on their development team!
Jennifer (Mischievous Molly) got a hot new look!
Jess (Momma Molly) received a new calling!

If you would like to have your site, blog or post featured on Modern Molly Mormon's Weekly Linky Love, email UntypicallyJia@gmail.com with the subject: "Linky Love" and please include a link to what you would like to be featured!

One Hundred Springs

There is nothing quite like spring and early summer- The beauty of watching things grow and the flowers bloom... Many afternoons I find myself wandering around my yard checking the progress in my garden or admiring the blossoms on my apple tree.

On one particularly lovely afternoon it hit me- If I live to be 100 years old I will only experience 100 springs, I will only see the first snow of the season so many times or have so many Fourth of July's. Time truly does fly before us and I am especially reminded of that each time I look at my little guy and realize how it seems like practically overnight that he turned from a sweet little baby into a busy little toddler.

Our journey here on Earth is so short in the grand scheme of things and each moment is a precious gift. I hope we take the time from our busy lives to cherish each moment for it too will soon be a memory.

Yesterday is history... Tomorrow is a mystery......
Today is a Gift, That's why they call it the present.

Audra, her prince charming and their toddler son live in a rural LDS community. You can find more of her ramblings at her blog Latter Day Lady or check out her digital scrapbook designs at Audra's Little Scraps.

To Those Not Ashamed of Economy

In 1833 a small book appeared in print titled, "The American Frugal Housewife". This book written by Mrs. Child and Dedicated "To Those Who Are Not Ashamed of Economy" has never gone out of print.

Much of the advice concerns habits we don't use any more such as the making of soap from ashes, or how to nurse someone with dysentery. Some advice never goes out of style though and what remarks she makes concerning the practice of economy are applicable even today.

Without further ado here are some of Mrs. Child's recommendations for those not ashamed of economy:

It is wise to keep an exact account of all you expend --even of a paper of pins. This answers two purposes; it make you more careful in spending money, and it enables your husband to judge precisely whether his family live within his income. No false pride, or foolish ambitions to appear as well as others, should ever induce a person to live one cent beyond the income of which he is certain. If you have two dollars a day, do not spend more than nine shillings; if you have one dollar a day, do not spend but seventy-five cents; if you have half a dollar a day, be satisfied to spend forty cents. [p. 4]

If you are about to furnish a house, do not spend all your money, be it much or little. . . Buy merely enough to get along with at first. It is only by experience that you can tell what will be the wants of your family. If you spend all your money, you will find you have purchased many things you do not want, and have no means left to get many things which you do want. If you have enough, and more than enough, to get everything suitable to your situation, do not think you must spend it all, merely because you happen to have it. Begin humbly. As riches increase, it is easy and pleasant to increase in hospitality and splendor; but it is always painful and inconvenient to decrease. . . Neatness, tastefulness, and good sense, may be shown in the management of a small household, and the arrangement of a little furniture, as well as upon a larger scale; and these qualities are always praised, and always treated with respect and attention. [p.5]

Economy is generally despised as a low virtue, tending to make people ungenerous and selfish. This is true of avarice; but it is not so of economy. The man who is economical, is laying up for himself the permanent power of being useful and generous. He who thoughtlessly gives away ten dollars, when he owes a hundred more than he can pay, deserves no praise, --he obeys a sudden impulse, more like instinct than reason: it would be real charity to check this feeling; because the good he does may be doubtful, while the injury he does his family and creditors is certain. True economy is a careful treasurer in the service of benevolence; and when they are united respectability, prosperity and peace will follow. [p.7]

Catch up with Miss Liss at A Year of Wisdom or The Fascinating Woman, based on Fascinating Womanhood.

Foto Friday--The Big Picture

(This was supposed to be posted Friday, but Jia, our Administrator has been sick and forgot to post it. -Sorry!)

People often ask me how I get the photos on my posts to be larger than the standard blogger uploads. There are actually three ways that I regularly use, so I thought I'd spend today sharing my not-so-secret tricks.

Here's a typical blogger picture, centered ("large" selected at time of upload):


And here's the size I typically post:

And, here, my friends, are a few ways to get your pictures to appear larger on your blog.

First, my most important tip: I reduce the size of all of my pictures before uploading them to blogger, flickr, or photobucket, so that I start out with an image that is exactly the size that I want it to be within my post. It makes the next steps so much easier. (FYI--my images are 2592 x 3888 pixels to start, but my blog is only about 550 pixels wide. So I reduce my photos to 520px wide)

Blogger upload:

1) Upload a photo on blogger using the standard upload tool (select large)

2) Once your photo has finished uploading, click on the Edit Html tab. Below is what your photo will look like in html:

3) Notice the part of the code that is highlighted in blue? Find that entire phrase (width: 267px; height: 400px;) and delete it.

4) Right below the spot that you just deleted you will find /s400/.


5) Change the s400 to s640. I have tried entering different numbers here, but only 640 seems to work. Who knows. So I don't mess with it.


6) Click on your Compose tab and you will find a larger picture!

7) If you haven't reduced the size of your picture to fit your blog and need to make your picture smaller at this point, all you have to do is click on a corner of the photo (in Compose mode) and drag it in til it is an acceptable size. A little box pops up so that you can see the dimensions as you go.

Flickr:

1) Upload your pictures onto flickr.

2) Click on the photo that you would like to add to your blog and find the spot on the right side that says "Share this."

3) Click "Share this" and a menu box will appear. Find "Grab the HTML" and click on it.

4) Copy the code in that box and paste it within your post. Make sure that you paste this code into the HTML tab on your post.


Photobucket:

1) Upload your pictures onto photobucket.

2) If you move your mouse over a picture, a menu box drops down below that picture. Find the HTML code, highlight it, and copy it.

3) Paste the code within the HTML tab on your blog post.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are how each of the images will look on your blog (html mode again):

Hopefully that all made sense! :)

Lolli is a lifelong member of the Church, married to a convert. She has five kids--3 girls and 2 boys. Read more on her personal blog, Life is Sweet.

quotable quotes: duty

I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble.
~ Helen Keller

Catch up with Miss Liss at either The Fascinating Woman or A Year of Wisdom.

A Defense & Refuge--Modesty

"And verily I say unto thee that thou shalt lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better."
D&C 25:10

To add strength into our homes we must not follow the ways of the world. Sometimes this is hard. We want to be fashionable or fit in, however, in this world it's hard to do that and remain modest. But what exactly is modesty? Is it a character component, is it just about the way we dress?

"Modesty is an attitude of propriety and decency in dress, grooming, language, and behavior. If we are modest, we do not draw undue attention to ourselves. Instead, we seek to "glorify God in [our] body, and in [our] spirit." (1 Corinthians 6:20, www.lds.org)

I found this to be very powerful. We do not draw undue attention to ourselves. We should take the following precautions to ensure we are being modest in our lives. If we can answer the question of "Would I feel comfortable in front of the prophet, Savior, and Heavenly Father?" then we are can invoke any changes that we need to so that we can show to our Heavenly Father that we understand how our bodies are temples and that we understand their sacred nature in His Plan.

Dress:

• "Our clothing expresses who we are. It sends messages about us, and it influences the way we and others act. When we are well groomed and modestly dressed, we can invite the companionship of the Spirit and exercise a good influence on those around us.
  Central to the command to be modest is an understanding of the sacred power of procreation, the ability to bring children into the world. This power is to be used only between husband and wife. Revealing and sexually suggestive clothing, which includes short shorts and skirts, tight clothing, and shirts that do not cover the stomach, can stimulate desires and actions that violate the Lord's law of chastity." (True to the Faith, 2004)"
  

Grooming:

• "In addition to avoiding clothing that is revealing, we should avoid extremes in clothing, appearance, and hairstyle. In dress, grooming, and manners, we should always be neat and clean, never sloppy or inappropriately casual. We should not disfigure ourselves with tattoos or body piercings. Women who desire to have their ears pierced should wear only one pair of modest earrings." (True to the Faith, 2004)
  

Language & Behavior:

• "Like our dress and grooming, our language and behavior are expressions of our character. Our words and actions can have a profound influence on us and on others. We should express ourselves through clean, positive, uplifting language and in actions that bring happiness to those around us. Our efforts to be modest in word and deed lead to increased guidance and comfort from the Holy Ghost. We should avoid the filthy language and the casual, irreverent use of the Lord's name that are so common in the world, and we should withstand any temptation to participate in extreme or inappropriate behavior. The irreverent nature of such language and behavior impairs our ability to receive the quiet promptings of the Holy Ghost." (True to the Faith, 2004)

Boring Sunday Meetings

You know those Sundays that seem to just drag on. The speaker is boring because they are reading their talk with their head down. The Gospel Doctrine teacher hasn't prepared well. And then in Relief Society/Elder's Quorum there is no class involvement. If you notice when reading these statements they are all focused on someone else and what they did or did not do. Well I have been thinking a little bit about my attitude towards Church meetings and my role in what I get out of them.

Does it Say More About the Teacher-or About You?

As I have been thinking I found this great quote: "Now I would ask you to think about...your own ability to have great spiritual experiences as you attend a class or a sacrament meeting on Sunday. What is your role in creating the environment in which the Spirit can teach you the things you need to know? If you find a Church class or a sacrament meeting boring, does that say more about the teacher—or about you?"

What great questions to ask ourselves. What a great way to check our attitudes and the roles we are taking in our meetings. They have me thinking.

“What do you do if you find yourself caught in a boring sacrament meeting?”

The quote continues, "Consider the response of President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) when someone once asked him, “What do you do if you find yourself caught in a boring sacrament meeting?” President Kimball thought a moment, then replied, “I don’t know; I’ve never been in one.” With his long years of Church experience, President Kimball had undoubtedly been to many meetings where people had read their talks, spoken in a monotone, or given travelogues instead of teaching doctrine. But most likely, President Kimball was teaching that he did not go to sacrament meeting to be entertained; he went to worship the Lord, renew his covenants, and be taught from on high. If he attended with an open heart, a desire to be “nourished by the good word of God” (Moroni 6:4), and a prayer—rather than judgment—for the speakers, the Spirit would teach him what he needed to do to be a more effective and faithful disciple. President Kimball was teaching the principle of learning by the Spirit" (A. Roger Merrill, “To Be Edified and Rejoice Together,” Ensign, Jan 2007, 64–69).

I love the statement that sacrament meeting is not to entertain us but we attend Church to worship, renew covenants, and to be taught. So if we stop looking for the speaker or teacher to entertain and start listening to the Spirit then we will be taught and edified. The teacher/speaker still holds a role but we must do our part and so importantly we must pray for those who teach and not judge them. I loved that.

Losing our Lives in Service to Others

Finally I love this last quote and example given by Elder Oaks in General Conference, "Each of us should apply that principle (losing our lives in service to others) to our attitudes in attending church. Some say “I didn’t learn anything today” or “No one was friendly to me” or “I was offended” or “The Church is not filling my needs.” All those answers are self-centered, and all retard spiritual growth.

In contrast, a wise friend wrote:

“Years ago, I changed my attitude about going to church. No longer do I go to church for my sake, but to think of others. I make a point of saying hello to people who sit alone, to welcome visitors, . . . to volunteer for an assignment. . . .

“In short, I go to church each week with the intent of being active, not passive, and making a positive difference in people’s lives. Consequently, my attendance at Church meetings is so much more enjoyable and fulfilling.”

All of this illustrates the eternal principle that we are happier and more fulfilled when we act and serve for what we give, not for what we get."

Our Job is to Seek to Learn and to Serve

What a powerful example. I love that. I think so often we think "what's in it for me" or "I didn't get anything out of that." But if we were to change our attitudes and focus on our own role as learners and attend Church to be taught and uplifted by the Spirit we would be there for the right reasons; we would be there to worship the Lord.

So first thing I've determined is that we need to focus on our role as learners...so this is more about us and our experience. Then on the total flip side we need to think of others as we attend Church. We need to actively seek out and serve others while we attend. Notice those that may be sitting by themselves, sign up to help out with something that maybe you normally wouldn't, or say hello and smile at someone in the hall. Simple things can make a big difference, a big spiritual difference in our own and other's Church going experience.

It Begins Before Sunday

I often do not prepare myself adequately for this day and consequently we are running around on Sunday mornings and rushing in just a few minutes before the meeting starts. I often feel frazzled and much less than Spirit-filled before the meetings begin. This makes me think of this wonderful primary song:

Saturday is a special day.
It’s the day we get ready for Sunday:
We clean the house, and we shop at the store,
So we won’t have to work until Monday.
We brush our clothes, and we shine our shoes,
And we call it our get-the-work-done day.
Then we trim our nails, and we shampoo our hair,
So we can be ready for Sunday!

If we prepare ourselves and get ready for Sunday our meetings will be far more spiritual and no where close to boring. If we do our part, we may not be entertained socially but we will be entertained spiritually. Let us go to Church as prepared learners and students. Let us go to Church to uplift and to serve others. Let us prepare ourselves for the special and sacred sabbath day.

You can read more from "Mysti" at her spiritual blog, Becoming LDS. You may also enjoy reading or submitting to her other two blogs filled with Conversion Stories and Testimonies.

Kermit?

Over the next few months I will be discussing Tips on Turning Green. No, I'm not talking about how to be Kermit the Frog, but how you can turn green from the inside of your homes out using simple steps.

Let's face it, organizations and governments the world over are on the green bandwagon telling us how to do things that will better our environment. Why? Simply because we need to be more aware of our individual or household impact on the environment. Who else is going to look out for the best interest of future generations of people on this beautiful ever giving Earth if we don't?

http://www.rps.psu.edu/probing/graphics/earth2.jpg

With that said, I may sounds like a tree hugging hippy, forcing you to jump on my side of the climate debate, but I'm not. I feel the world has thrown itself into an environmental frenzy. In fact, I'm certain I'm quite sick of hearing GO GREEN, like it's a cool high school trend that one should join in on. But it's not. It is strictly speaking, how we should feel about our God given place of residency, how we should always be living, not just a popular thing to be doing. In the Bibles' Book of Genesis the Lord saw fit that Earth and all things therein should be given for man's dominion. I believe this to be true, but dominion doesn't mean degradation only stewardship (ownership and responsibility over) instead.

How am I using my stewardship of the Earth?
Until our next Tip for Turning Green segment, I want you to ask yourself and your household this simple question, and evaluate your answers.

(http://www.ski-epic.com/amsterdam_bicycles/pr7b_amsterdam_bicycle_many.jpg)

With the recent green phenomenon, you may think you are being asked to abandon all modern convenience. For example, no electricity or gas, live in a tent, cook only with solar ovens, and pack three children on your bike for the neighborhood "car" pool. Media outlets seem to be portraying humans as murderers of everything green. This leads us to feel like there is no hope in repairing damages, so why start.

Are we the cause of environmental crises? Sure we are, who else do we have to blame it on? Certainly not the apes. But have no fear, there is hope in reclaiming our rightful stewardship as it was sacredly given us. We can make the world a better place by minimizing our impact using simple, sustainable, environmentally friendly practices in our homes, businesses and cities. In reality, our simple slight changes can prove the most beneficial. You can still enjoy your lifestyle and be an environmental advocate for Gods great masterpiece. Step by step we can get there together.

Until next time...

Jen is the wife of one, and a mother of three, who keep her a very busy little bee. When the hive is happy, she is happy. Find her daily musings at www.memoirsofmommy.blogspot.com.

To Heal the Shattering Consequences of Abuse

Taken from: To Heal the Shattering Consequences of Abuse
by Elder Richard G. Scott Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

I testify that I know victims of serious abuse who have successfully made the difficult journey to full healing through the power of the Atonement. After her own concerns were resolved by her faith in the healing power of the Atonement, one young woman who had been severely abused by her father requested another interview with me. She returned with an older couple. I could sense that she loved the two very deeply. Her face radiated happiness. She began, “Elder Scott, this is my father. I love him. He’s concerned about some things that happened in my early childhood. They are no longer a problem for me. Could you help him?” What a powerful confirmation of the Savior’s capacity to heal! She no longer suffered from the consequences of abuse, because she had adequate understanding of His Atonement, sufficient faith, and was obedient to His law. As you conscientiously study the Atonement and exercise your faith that Jesus Christ has the power to heal, you can receive the same blessed relief. During your journey of recovery, accept His invitation to let Him share your burden until you have sufficient time and strength to be healed.

To find relief from the consequences of abuse, it is helpful to understand their source. Satan is the author of all of the destructive outcomes of abuse. He has extraordinary capacity to lead an individual into blind alleys where the solution to extremely challenging problems cannot be found. His strategy is to separate the suffering soul from the healing attainable from a compassionate Heavenly Father and a loving Redeemer.

If you have been abused, Satan will strive to convince you that there is no solution. Yet he knows perfectly well that there is. Satan recognizes that healing comes through the unwavering love of Heavenly Father for each of His children. He also understands that the power of healing is inherent in the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Therefore, his strategy is to do all possible to separate you from your Father and His Son. Do not let Satan convince you that you are beyond help.

Satan uses your abuse to undermine your self-confidence, destroy trust in authority, create fear, and generate feelings of despair. Abuse can damage your ability to form healthy human relationships. You must have faith that all of these negative consequences can be resolved; otherwise they will keep you from full recovery. While these outcomes have powerful influence in your life, they do not define the real you.

Satan will strive to alienate you from your Father in Heaven with the thought that if He loved you He would have prevented the tragedy. Do not be kept from the very source of true healing by the craftiness of the prince of evil and his wicked lies. Recognize that if you have feelings that you are not loved by your Father in Heaven, you are being manipulated by Satan. Even when it may seem very difficult to pray, kneel and ask Father in Heaven to give you the capacity to trust Him and to feel His love for you. Ask to come to know that His Son can heal you through His merciful Atonement.

It was Satan’s proposal that Father’s children be forced to obey, that there be no moral agency and therefore no personal growth. To preserve moral agency, the Lord does not restrain individuals from improper use of that agency. However, He will punish them for such acts unless there is full repentance. Through the Holy Ghost, He sends warning promptings to the abuser, but often that individual’s degrading appetite is so powerful that it blocks out that spiritual guidance. That is why our Father provided a way to heal the consequences of acts that, through force, misuse of authority, or fear of another, temporarily take away the agency of the abused.




The beginning of healing requires childlike faith in the unalterable fact that Father in Heaven loves you and has supplied a way to heal. His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, laid down His life to provide that healing. But there is no magic solution, no simple balm to provide healing, nor is there an easy path to the complete remedy. The cure requires profound faith in Jesus Christ and in His infinite capacity to heal. It is rooted in an understanding of doctrine and a resolute determination to follow it.

Healing may begin with a thoughtful bishop or stake president or a wise professional counselor. If you had a broken leg, you wouldn’t decide to fix it yourself. Serious abuse can also benefit from professional help. There are many ways to begin healing, but remember that a full cure comes through the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, our Master and Redeemer. Have faith that with effort His perfect, eternal, infinite Atonement can heal your suffering from the consequences of abuse.

As impossible as it may seem to you now, in time the healing you can receive from the Savior will allow you to truly forgive the abuser and even have feelings of sorrow for him or her. When you can forgive the offense, you will be relieved of the pain and heartache that Satan wants in your life by encouraging you to hate the abuser. As a result, you will enjoy greater peace. While an important part of healing, if the thought of forgiveness causes you yet more pain, set that step aside until you have more experience with the Savior’s healing power in your own life.

If you are currently being abused or have been in the past, find the courage to seek help. You may have been severely threatened or caused to fear so that you would not reveal the abuse. Have the courage to act now. Seek the support of someone you can trust. Your bishop or stake president can give you valuable counsel and help you with the civil authorities. Explain how you have been abused and identify who has done it. Ask for protection. Your action may help others avoid becoming innocent victims, with the consequent suffering. Get help now. Do not fear—for fear is a tool Satan will use to keep you suffering. The Lord will help you, but you must reach out for that help.

Rest assured that the Perfect Judge, Jesus the Christ, with a perfect knowledge of the details, will hold all abusers accountable for every unrighteous act. In time He will fully apply the required demands of justice unless there is complete repentance.

Cornnut is an art lover and an advocate for child abuse prevention.
She loves being a wife and a mother. Check out her personal blog, Picture of Experience .

Linky Love - New Great Sites!

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April 2009 Conference Quotes - Emma's Place for Church Stuff

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