Celebrating US Independence in Dominica

Soooo July fourth is a much different day in Dominica.  In fact, all the normal holidays are.  It's just a day like any other day and the only way you know it's a holiday is if you keep track of your calendar.  Today we got together with the student families in our branch and had a swimming party.  No fireworks, nothing patriotic or heart warming, just swimming.  At least we got to try out the waterproofness of our camera and kind of learn what works and what doesnt.  Boys who wont stand still, for instance, can not get a clear picture underwater. ;)

Matthew and Aaron doing their usual acrobatics in the pool

look at those cute teeth

 whoa I look weird.

They love seeing the bubbles on the pictures

Squirmies

I think somebody lost their shoes.

Nope, he's not dead.

Time to go home!  Gnight all!  And enjoy some fireworks for me!

General Conference Packets

If you haven't ever seen these, they are awesome! This is packet for your kids to do while they listen to conference. Just print it out and let them get to work on it. It has games about conference, coloring pages, conference bingo (they put a candy on the space when they hear the word, ie: temple or family. Once they get a bingo they yell it out, eat their candies and start again- my kids LOVED this) where's waldo, connect the dots, etc.
If you'd like to print the official/original conference packet out, click HERE
After these started coming out, Deseret Book jumped on the ol' bandwagon and made their own. If you'd like to print deseret book's version out click HERE
Yet another packet HERE
Really cute packet by Melanie Day http://downloads.sugardoodle.net/ConfRecord.pdf
Here are fact cards about the 12 apostles
If you'd like to print out the 12 Apostle memory card game click HERE
Here is a cute idea from Sugardoodle called General Conference Chase
General Conference Coloring Book
YW General Conference Packet

Happy Conferencing!

Patriotism

Here is the other thing that is taking over my life! I am the ward proposition 102 representative. Proposition 102: "Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state." Part of this non-calling involves getting everyone registered to vote, so that they CAN vote yes on proposition 102. See what the church says about defending marriage on one of my previous posts.

For everyone in Arizona, please register to vote HERE.

If you are in a different state, please visit HERE to register in your state.

If you are already registered, YAY! Good for you! Now go get your neighbors registered!

The deadline to register is October 6th, but last general election the site was so backed up the last day that it went down and people weren't able to register by the deadline and therefore, weren't able to vote. Don't procrastinate! Do it NOW! :o)

On a slightly different note, my aunt Trish sent me a great video today. I believe this speaks for itself, so I wont say any more about it:

This last part has to do with both patriotism and preparedness. Enjoy a good read and sound advice HERE

Preparedness

"Dear Brothers and Sisters:
Our Heavenly Father created this beautiful earth, with all its abundance, for our benefit and use. His purpose is to provide for our needs as we walk in faith and obedience. He has lovingly commanded us to “prepare every needful thing” (see D&C 109:8) so that, should adversity come, we may care for ourselves and our neighbors and support bishops as they care for others. We encourage Church members worldwide to prepare for adversity in life by having a basic supply of food and water and some money in savings. We ask that you be wise as you store food and water and build your savings. Do not go to extremes; it is not prudent, for example, to go into debt to establish your food storage all at once. With careful planning, you can, over time, establish a home storage supply and a financial reserve. We realize that some of you may not have financial resources or space for such storage. Some of you may be prohibited by law from storing large amounts of food. We encourage you to store as much as circumstances allow. May the Lord bless you in your home storage efforts. "
-The First Presidency

Hi all. I thought I'd post a little about what is taking over my life lately. I have been really trying to get our house in order for calamities that are unavoidable. Bluntly put, but I'd rather not sugarcoat anything so you know how serious I am. I'm not scared, I just know it needs to get done. Every time we go shopping I get more canned food than I know what to do with. Any basic necessity I buy, I buy extra of. Yesterday I bought 4 deodorants. Aaron said, "Stephanie I have two already." I said, "I know, but wouldn't you be sad if you didn't have any?" I bought more soap when I saw it was on sale. I buy at least 10 of anything canned that's under 60 cents (as long as it's not canned peas, YUCK!!!). I am educating myself about emergency preparedness, alternative energy and gardening. Right now is the time to be planting your fall gardens. Use this chance to learn about gardening. Seeds should be part of your food storage. For Preparedness info, please look at http://www.iwillprepare.com/ , provident living section of lds.org and thanks, Hannah, for this link: http://safelygatheredin.blogspot.com/ .

If you are in the valley of the sun (Arizona) here are a few more resources you should look up:

Cheap water barrels:

Email Bill at Westinaz4@aol.com

Right now is the time to plant your fall garden! If you want to garden, I have a friend who will come and prepare your soil for you (for a fee)

Email Tom at thomaspbogle@gmail.com

If you'd like to attend an organic gardening class come to ASU East campus every other Saturday at 6:30am with $5 in your pocket and you'll learn a ton!

Email me if you're interested- demanieshs@yahoo.com

Every week, I will post a preparedness tutorial or tip. This week, it's about food storage breakfasts:

(From Sandy Leonard in my ward)
"I recently read from a newscaster his suggestions on storing food for a couple of months and his idea was to eat oatmeal every morning for breakfast. This is a good idea for a number of reasons:
1. The cannery sells oats already canned or you can can your own
2. I ate oatmeal as a child and as a teen almost every morning and I am still not tired of it
3. It is inexpensive
4. You can prepare it by soaking it overnight or by soaking it for a couple of hours in the morning rather than cooking it
5. You can add raisins, craisins, blueberries, banana chips, cinnamon, honey, etc. for variety
I purchase oat groats from Sprouts @ 79 cents/lb & soak them 1/2 C oat groats: 3/4 C water, or less. Before eating I add cayenne pepper, sea salt to taste, flax oil, & soaked seeds, i.e. sunflower, flax, sesame, etc. It is filling, healthy, and inexpensive.
It is good to eat small portions of food throughout the day rather than one big meal once a day. I have sooo much energy when my last meal is @ 4:00pm then my body can fully digest what I have eaten for the day rather than being overtaxed in digesting food all through the night. Less food versus more food = energy if it is nutritious food."

INVITATION TO EVERYONE READING THIS IN DRIVING DISTANCE OF GILBERT, AZ

Families Safely Gathered In

Higley Stake Preparedness Fair

November 1, 2008
7:00 – 10:00
Pancake breakfast from 7-8:30 booths open til 10
In the LDS Chapel parking lot on Recker & Warner
Featuring:
· Menus & recipes for 3-month emergency storage
· Gardening
· Herbs and their uses
· First aid
· Long and short term water storage
· Fingerprinting & DNA kits
· Integrating the cannery in daily living – menus & recipes
· Food preservation methods
· Solar cooking and fuel storage
· Humanitarian displays
· And more . . . .

The Divine Institution of Marriage

Hi all- This is one of my favorite "call to action" quotes,

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing"

Edmund Burke

With that in mind, my friend Anna sent me this email and I loved it, so I thought I'd pass it along:
I found this article very informative and comforting in the midst of all that this world throws at us. It is very well written and helps me understand how crucial it is that we do what we can to support the sanctity of marriage between man and woman. I am grateful for our leaders and their great ability to express the will of the Lord.
Thought I would pass it on.

http://www.newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary/the-divine-institution-of-marriage

Liahona

We had a great lesson in Family Home Evening last night! We wore the kitchen towels on our heads like Lehi's family would've done and ate trail mix as a snack. Aaron made this great tent and read stories from the friend to them.
I gave a lesson on the Liahona and how we can have guidance(HG) in our lives, too, through being obedient and being nice to eachother. The kids loved it!

I read this quote:

"Cultivate a spirit of gladness in your homes. Subdue and overcome all elements of anger, impatience and unbecoming talk one to another. Let the light of the gospel shine in your faces in wherever you go and whatever you do." -Gordon B Hinckley


To do that, we are trying to obey these rules this week:

1) Do not mention anything negative or that seems wrong this week. Work hard to think before speaking out.
2) Think of two different things each day that has made you happy or you are grateful for and share it with someone in the family. Record those two things in your journal before bed.
3) Look around you and be thankful for all that you have. Do not think "If only I had....I would be happy".....instead think "Because I have......I am happy."
4) Show a happy, positive, cheerful attitude in wherever you go and whatever you do.
5) Give thanks to your Heavenly Father each day for your many blessings.

I tried to take a picture with the kids in the tent... this is the best one we could get because it's the most tame Megan was (Her tongue is out in this one, but it beats the other pics that were taken..)

What a kooky kid!
A little side note about the head dress... I think they are quite stylish and they'll make a full multicultural comeback in the next five years. Just wait and see. All the celebrities will be wearing them and I'll be a famed fashion pioneer...

New Calling

Well, I thought I'd post a little ditty about the new calling I got today(sustained today). I'm the new Young Women's president. Holy shlamoly says I.

Awesome!

Megan said something funny last night in the car. We were on our way home from her grandparents house and she asked, "Mommy, does Jesus' birthday last until summer time?" I said, "Well, Jesus' birthday is actually in the spring, but we celebrate His birthday PARTY on Christmas." (She just had a birthday last month and got the concept of having your party on a different day than your actual birthday) She got really excited and said with a loud voice "Yeah, and Jesus' birthday is AWESOME!" I could just picture her doing a fisted elbow dig along with "awesome." She proceeded to tell me all about the stuff that was going to be at Jesus' birthday party; Christmas lights, yummy food, and I added "-and presents" to which she replied, "Yeah we're going to give Him presents. What should I get Him?" I almost corrected her and said "No, we get eachother presents," but I caught myself. Why the heck do we get EACHOTHER presents and not Jesus? I think I'd be a little upset at my birthday party if everyone came and gave eachother presents and I was left emptyhanded. I now have a challenge for myself and for anyone who reads this. Think about what you can get (do) for Jesus this year. What can you do for someone else in need or how can you change your own life to please Jesus? Obviously you would also benefit, so get started today!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!