For Love Day: Give Hope

Have you ever read a book that changed your life?

Last January as I was considering the past year and looking toward the coming year I was trying to decide if I should cut time for reading out of my life.  Reading takes time, of course. And I was trying to decide how to balance everything.

photo by Paul

Then I came across this quote:

"You are the same today as you will be in 10 years, except for the people you meet, the books you read and the web sites you visit."

---Anonymous

and I decided I couldn't risk not reading. 

Really, reading is one of the best ways I know of to broaden my perception of the world. And to change and enlarge my version of reality-which can be too narrow.

I decided to test the quote.

I have found it to be true again and again.

I just read a book that has changed how I see the world, and my place in it, forever.

The book is called, Half the Sky. It's titled from the Chinese proverb, "Women hold up half the sky."

I had to read it in small bits. Because it's overwhelming to be served so much suffering in the world as you will find in these pages. 

But, it is equally soul-stretching to read the stories of triumph found therein.

Each chapter is about challenges that women face.  We're talking human rights-type challenges.  And social challenges.  It's full of stories about REAL people.  And the statistics are staggering too.

For instance: More women are dying in childbirth RIGHT NOW than in all the wars combined. About one woman every minute.

Photo by Johnathan

I am a mother. 

I have three children. 

I have never lost a child due to dirty scissors being used to cut the cord. 

I have never been denied medical care BECAUSE I am a WOMAN.

Did you know that if you are reading this: you and I are the exception, not the rule? 

I had no idea. 

My heart aches for these women-who suffer in part because they are women-not men. 

There are many ways to change the world. 

But mostly, we have to start right where we are standing to do it. 

When you learn about so much suffering from real people you want to do something. ANYTHING. To help.

Imagine how excited I was to find that Craft Hope is doing a project RIGHT NOW to help women in Haiti! The project ships maternity kits to hospitals to help the mother and child survive childbirth. The kit includes things like hand sanitizer, clean string, a pare of latex gloves, and a few other things, including a blanket for that new baby to be cherished in.

Sometimes I look at the world and think: HOW UNFAIR. How could the world be so lopsided? How can a loving Father in Heaven stand it? I was reading this article today and it helped a little. It helped me find my place in all of this.  

I can't do everything.  But,

I can do something.  

So my kids and I picked out some fabric for our baby blankets and bags and we're looking forward to sending them to the mothers and little babies that need them.

With Valentine's Day coming up, it seems like one way to make love real is by giving hope to someone.

If you are looking for a meaningful way to do that, I hope you join me in participating with Craft Hope!

P.S more info on how you can be a part of the Half The Sky Movement Here.

Brotherly Love

Maybe all the talk from our valentine countdown about loving our neighbor is sinking in. 

I walked into the music room and saw Jay holding the pedal down for Kay while she was playing the piano-since she can't reach it. 

Moms need to see things like this!  I'm glad my camera happened to be sitting right there on the piano so I could capture this sweet moment.  It makes me smile every time I see it!

Love Letters: From the Lord

"Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things. I am tempted to think there are no little things."
~Bruce Barton

This morning was the beginning of something new for us. I'm calling it our "morning devotional." I think I mentioned before that I have been reading The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. I'm enjoying it more than I thought I would :) And I've been thinking about the kinds of habits/patterns we would like to have in our home.

Elder Holland, in the Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting (Feb. 9, 2008), introduced the word pattern. He said, "Some of those things that we probably take for granted should not be taken for granted, like family scripture study, like family prayer, like family home evening – we tend to dash those off as if they were understood by everybody, but they are not. They ought to become part of a family pattern."

When we got married we got a gift from the family of one of my "favorite" (I had a lot of favorites) dance students called a "devotional basket." The note with the gift said they used a basket at their kitchen table to hold their scriptures and things they needed for their morning devotional. I really respected this family and I've been thinking about when we could start. We read the scriptures together as a family at night when Daddy is home.  But, I feel like our kids are old enough and we are ready to establish this pattern now. So today we started. We are using the Gospel Art Kit (see photo above) to guide our discussion.

Here is the first picture:

This is how it went today:

M "What do you see in this picture?"

J "Animals!"

M What animals do you see?

J "Lion, Jumbo, etc. big whale! Do you see a frog?"

M "I don't see a frog :("

M Who made the animals?

J "Jesus!"

M What other animals did God make?

J "Turtles, and frogs, and birdies."

M Who did God make the animals for?

J "The zoo! Is that a picture of the zoo?"

M "Nope, it isn't a zoo. Did God make the animals for us?

J "Yes!"

M "Do Jesus and Heavenly Father love us?"

J "Yes!"

M "That is why God made the animals for us.

M "And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth. ... And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind. Genesis 1:20, Genesis 1:24

M On the fifth day God made the fishes and put them in the water. And He made the birds and

J "He put them in the sky!"

M And on the sixth day He made all the other animals and creeping things. Like frogs and turtles!

J "He made froggies! Can we do another picture?"

I guess that means he likes our new "pattern."
I think Sister caught on too. She hopped down off my lap and went and got our new IKEA finger puppets (thanks Grandma Marmee and Grandpa!) to play with.  I think that reading some love letters from the Lord (ie: scriptures) will help us have a happy morning and a good start to our day.  What a Fun Little Project :)

Love Letters: Stamps and Envelopes

Worried that you don't have any great Valentine stamps at your house? Think again! Cookie Cutters make great stamps. Our latest Little Project of stamps and envelopes is below.

We used (washable) finger paint on a plate for our "stamp pad." If you do, be sure to let them dry completely. It takes longer than regular ink.


Did you know that an HEART makes a great envelope? I made these out of wrapping paper.
1-Started with a regular-sized paper.
2Folded it in half and cut out a valentine that is a little wider than you would normally do.
3-Then trace it onto wrapping paper and cut it out.

How to Fold it:

1- Start by folding the sides in.
2- Fold the rounded part up.

3- The point of the heart makes a perfect close for the envelope.

Since Valentine's Day is about sharing the love with others, I wrote a little poem to add to mine for my church class.  I'll post it here (for my sister) and in case anyone else can use it.  I gave extra treats to share with the valentine so they could practice sharing and loving others.  (at least that was the idea :)

"Of you there’s just one. And these treats, there are many.
Is there someone else at your house that you think would like any?

With whom could you share? With a sister or brother?
Remember that Jesus said, “Love One Another.”

Something special happens when you share your treat.
Inside you will feel happy and kind. It’s neat.

Sharing is the kind of love that seems small.
But it’s not, for showing love brings happiness to all.
Happy Valentine’s Day!"

Enjoy stamping and sending your Little Valentine Projects!

Some FREE Love Letters!

There are some really talented people out there with some wonderful valentine offerings...did I mention that they are sharing for FREE!

Count Down to Valentines is happening with a free print out each day.  

Alpha Mom put together a huge list with a whole heart load of free printables

And Tip Nut has some darling Vintage ones to check out :)


And, if you haven't heard...you can get 12 valentine coupons for McDonald's for $1. Coupon Cravings tells all.


There also some whimsical valentines at yoyomama to print out :)

Hope you are feeling the love with all of these freebies :) Be sure to submit a googly-eyed Valentine in the post below before Friday!

A (finger) Pocketful of LOVE!

We had a ton of fun making these and then did a photo session afterwards, which was a blast too. The idea: to make a memorable valentine for our DADDY. But YOU can make it for whomever you want to send a POCKETFUL of LOVE to :)

If you haven't seen my previous post about YARN CARDS, you will want to check it out. It has more explanation about how to do the yarn lettering that you will use for your finger pockets.

You can make 2 hands worth (10 finger pockets) with just one piece of card stock, some yarn, and elmer's glue.

1-Start by cutting your piece of paper in half so that each half is 5.5 x 8.5 inches.  

2-Then cut 5 strips of paper from each half.  You will want to cut them from the 8.5 inch across side.  So you have 5 strips that are about 1.7 x 5.5 inches (see the one on the far left).   

3- Then just fold them in half.
4- Pencil on the letter you want for each finger pocket.

5- Cut yarn for each letter (see YARN CARDS instructions)

6- Elmer's glue over your pencil letters.

7- Add your yarn over the glue to form letters
Here are 5 for one hand:

8-Then just glue each side (not the bottom) to make little finger pockets.
Tahdah!  Pocketful, by pocketful, you have a hand full of LOVE!
These are for the other hand:
Then the photo shoot :)


Enjoy your Little Project of Love.

Valentine Yarn Cards

I will be doing a handful of posts on 2 themes for the next little bit: Love Letters and Yarn Cards.

This Post combines them both!
I love using yarn for letters. It gives them a 3D feel and it is SO easy! It also lets you personalize with a name without lots of stickers. We will use YARN instead!

1st, determine what you want your card to say. Then cut your paper in half and fold the ends in to make "doors" to the card.
2-Pencil the letters of the saying. The bigger the letters, the easier it is to add the yarn.


3-Write who the card is too on the back. This is harder later because the yarn makes it bumpy.


4-Next, hold the yarn over each letter and cut the yarn to the right sizes for each letter.


I like to put them over each letter like this, so I don't forget which pieces go to which letter.


5-After all of your pieces of yarn for your letters are cut (this really doesn't take long:) Then add Elmer's glue over each letter. Don't be stingy with the glue, you need a full line.

I like to do one letter at a time if my kids are helping. Otherwise they get their other fingers in the glue of the other letters.


6- Continue to add the yarn for each letter:


Here is what it looks like when it is done!


Now just add a sticker to close the heart and give it to your valentine!

You can personalize with their name too!


Have Fun with your Little Love Letter Projects. More Yarn Cards ideas to come for Valentine's Day! Stay tuned :)