He Is Risen and More Bible Videos

Our family is looking forward to witnessing my sweet {little} niece's baby blessing on Easter Sunday.
This Easter has been a little different for us.  We're usually at home, not in a hotel room at Easter time.
But even on the road, in our family scripture time we've been able to talk with our kids about Easter and what it really means.As Jay told me yesterday, "It isn't anything about eggs and bunnies.  It's about Jesus!"

Tonight we watched He Is Risen online with our kids about what Easter is all about right in our hotel room.  And it didn't matter that we are here instead of home.  
The powerful message that He is Risen is true everywhere.

I'm always amazed at how the {littlest} among us know.
For instance, here is Ellie's (2-year-old) narration during the short He Is Risen movie:
At the start: "Mommy!  Daddy!  Happy!  Jesus!"
During the Last Supper: "Light!"
While Jesus is being whipped: "Oh no!"
When the crown of thorns is placed on Jesus' head: "Jesus owie!"
When they drove nails through Jesus' hands and feet: "Jesus owie.  Mommy Daddy owie."
When Jesus is at the tomb, after the 3rd day when he is resurrected: "Jesus!"
Out of the mouth of babes.
I picked up this book a couple of weeks ago and have really enjoyed it and recommend it.
 God So Loved the World: The Final Days of the Savior's Life 
Besides going through each day or Holy Week with scriptures, maps and insights, The author points out that Gorden B. Hinckley said, "There would be no Christmas if there had not been Easter."  I don't think we often think of the events in that order.  Christmas seems to get so much more attention, and yet we celebrate the birth of baby Jesus because His atonement and resurrection means so much to mankind.
A {little} something I've been thinking on this year.  Somehow, when your regular traditions are thrown up the air, you start to really think about those traditions a {little} more ;)
For more fabulous bible videos, see biblevideos.org
Wishing you a very Happy Easter!

Friday Favorites and Freebies: General Conference Ideas

Our family really looks forward to the first weekend of April (and October!) for the special broadcast of General Conference.
Confessions of a Slacker Mom has put together a very comprehensive pinterest board for General Conference of outstanding ideas of ways to keep even the {littlest} of viewers excited and learning.
I'm also a big fan of her Walk Beside Me preschool curriculum that she creates and shares for free for our {little} people like this one:

This article has more great ideas about how to make Conference meaningful before, during, and after with some great ideas of traditions to start in your own family.
So many fun things to learn...so {little} time!  Enjoy!
Happy Weekend!

Quiet Books (for church)

Update!! 
Heather at Simply Fresh Designs has graciously shared theses books again with all of us, without the images this time, due to copyright issues-but you can add your own.



This is so kind of her.  She just had a new baby!  If you stop by be sure to thank her!Here are the books she has available so far:
The Life of Christ
Teachings of Christ
We Believe Old Testament
Book of Mormon Stories
Prophets and Apostles
ALSO!!
I have been using these 
darling "bright ideas" in the same way.  I download them (free) from this site, print them as a photo,and put them in a photo album book. (They are published each month in the Children's Friend magazine.)
I also put them out for our morning devotional.  I think the pictures help the kids remember the scriptures and I'm always amazed that my 4 year old can memorize a scripture a week.The {little} things really do count!
These amazing printable church quiet books are designed by the incredibly talented and gracious Heather at Simply Fresh Designs.


Since I just traveled to see many friends and family I took 12 of them to give away.  So many people asked where I got them that I thought I should share it here too!   Thanks to my sweet friend Kierste at brown paper packages for introducing me to these.


Each of Heather's books is beautifully done and she graciously allows downloads of them for free so that you can print your own.  I so appreciate her sharing her talents!  What blessings these little books are for me, and so many friends and family members.

I realize that many of you aren't-but if you also belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints aka (Mormon) like I do-I think you will really like them too.  And if not, maybe the ideas you see will help you create something similar that your family will love.  I'm still looking for an an Old Testament one-so far just New Testament is available-so please share if you have ideas for Bible quiet books!

Heather has created 5 different books:


New Testament (This is her newest)


Prophets and Apostles


Articles of Faith


We Believe


The Book of Mormon


Heather designed them so you can download and then print them as 4x6 photos and slip them into a photo album book.  I found my photo books at the dollar store or at Walmart.  Does it get any easier than that?  {This Little Project} is easy!

Jay loves to read them.

 Kay likes to look at the pictures.

 And Ellie likes to turn the pages and eat them!

In other words, {This Little Project} is perfect for us!