Family Scriptures "Blues Clue" Style

Several months ago my husband and I attended a class that shared ideas how to teach your children  scriptures stories.  One of the ways they shared with us they called the "Blues Clues" style.  The makers of Blues Clues did a study that children need to hear things five times in a row to have them remember thing real well.  If you have young children a great way to teach them scripture stories is do the same story five days in a row.
We implemented this into our family and it has worked great.  We do it every other week and read the scriptures the other weeks. We have older kids so we tweaked it a bit so that it would be for meaningful for them.

For my older kids this is what we do. (I do have younger kids and it works for them as well)

Day 1- Share the story

Day 2- Share the story, and then discuss the principle that the story demonstrates that you want to                   focus on.

Day 3-Share the story, then share modern day examples of the the principle that you are focusing on.

Day 4- Share the story, discuss the context of the story, (what's going on around the story).

Day 5- Share the story, How are you going to apply what you have learned into your personal lives and            your family.

Here is an example:

Day 1- Daniel in the lions den from the Bible,

King Darius was the king of Babylon.  He chose men to help him. Daniel was their leader. They did not want Daniel to be their leader.  The men knew that Daniel prayed to God.  They went to King Darius and asked him to make a new law. It said that the people could not pray to God.  People who did not obey this law would be thrown into the lions den.  Daniel would not obey the law, he loved God and he still prayed to him.  The men saw Daniel praying, and went and told the the King. The King knew that Daniel had to be thrown in the lions den.  King Darius fasted all night that Daniel would be saved, and Daniel prayed all night to God.  In the morning the King went to lions to see if Daniel was still alive.  Daniel said that God had shut the mouths of the lions.

Day 2- Share the story, then choose a principle.  There are several you can choose from this story;      obedience, faith,the power of prayer, Standing up for what is right.  For our example lets choose obedience.  You would discuss how Daniel showed obedience to God.  God asked him to pray to him and no other thing.  So even when the law was made that no one could pray to God, Daniel still prayed to God.

Day 3- Share story, then remind everyone that your focus is obedience, ask them if they have seen others being obedient.  Example:  I asked Chris if he would put his toys away yesterday.  Chris was obedient and came right away and put his toys away.  You could also add how that person was blessed for being obedient.

Day 4- Share the story, then discuss the context.  You could explain how as a young boy Daniel was taken from his home and brought to live with the king.  And other stories of Daniel leading up to the lions den story. You still would want to tie in obedience.

Day 5- Share the story, discuss what you can do as a family to show more obedience.  Maybe your focus would be being more obedient to mom and dad, you could explain blessings that could come from that. Or being obedient to adults; teachers, parents and grandparents. Look at your family needs and decide.  Then I like to write that goal down and post it on the fridge so that we all can remember.  For individual goals I pass out a paper that we can right our own personal goal.

Don't think that my family is perfect, we just try to do our best.

I hope that you will  take the chance to share the stories of the scriptures and teach those around you how to apply them in their lives.

A Chance to Sing

My family along with another family got the chance to sing in our Sacrament Meeting on Sunday.  If you are not sure what Sacrament Meeting is, its our worship services for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  I am one that does not like to sing in front of people but I was grateful for the chance to share my testimony of Joseph Smith.  Here is a link for you to hear the song.  I want you to know that I do have a testimony of Joseph Smith, I know that he was called of God.

Take the Chance to make your family feel special

I love Valentine's Day it is one of my favorite holiday's.  Not because my husband gets me a great gift, which he usually doesn't. But I love it because I get the chance to show my family I love them.

I started a tradition a couple of years ago when I was trying to build our family relationships with each other. What we do is have a fancy dinner; nice table setting, cloth napkins, table cloth, and goblets. Sometimes I will get them a little Valentine to put next to their plate.

For another idea : My neighbor has a "Your Hearts Desire Dinner".  What they do is write down each part of the meal like appetizers, main dish, salad, side dishes, drink, and dessert.  They write down enough that everyone can draw an item out of a bowl.  Then they get to choose their hearts desire for their part of the meal they drew.  Its ok if its cold cereal for the main dish or graham crackers and milk. And if you want you can have them help make, or cook, grab, what ever fits your families lifestyle.  Remember its suppose to be fun and bring you closer together.  Please have a great

 Valentin's Day, and take a chance to build your family relationships.

Everyone likes a Treat

My personal goal this year is to get to know all my neighbors on my street.  I'm not one that goes out of my way to meet new people, which surprises most people.  I am very much a people person, I love people, but leading out in new friendships is not my thing.   So I decided to make treats to take once a month to the neighbors I don't know, everyone likes a treat... Right?

Here is my go to treat at Valentines. When I lived with my mother in law when I was first married she made this every Valentine. If you have a neighbor that you should meet here's a chance for you to meet a new neighbor and share a yummy treat!

Holiday Chex Mix

1 large box Chex Cereal

1 large package M&M  (Holidays are my favorite)

1 package of peanuts (about 2 cups)

2 cups raisins 

Mix together in a bowl

In a saucepan place:

3/4 cup butter (stick and half)

1 3/4 cup Karo syrup

1 3/4 cup sugar

2 teaspoon Vanilla (add after the 3 Min boil, watch out it will spit at you)

Boil for 3 minutes. (it does grow a little so make sure your pan is big enough). Add vanilla.

Pour over cereal mixture, stir until cereal is coated well. Spread out on wax paper or foil and let cool