Should Both Parents Tend to the Baby at Night?

Whose job is it to get up in the middle of the night to tend to a crying infant? There was a time when the automatic assumption was that this task was entirely for the mother. Today, there are plenty of parents who realize that there are good reasons to share this responsibility. Babies are incredibly cute. They can also be exhausting. Many babies simply refuse to sleep through the night. They loudly let their parents know that they need a diaper change or want to be fed. At least one parent needs to get up to tend to the … Continue reading

Sticky Situation – Siblings and Sharing

If you have a toddler and a baby, chances are that one thing you will experience is your toddler snatching toys out of the baby’s hands. Sometimes the baby will protest loudly, other times the baby might look surprised but remain quiet, and still other times the baby may appear to have no reaction to the supposed injustice that just occurred. Believe it or not, this can actually be a tricky situation to navigate and the most beneficial thing to do might not be what you would think. When you see a toddler taking a toy from a baby, your … Continue reading

Callings in the LDS Church

I have been thinking a lot about callings lately because of the recent changes in our ward. My husband finally received a calling this past week to be in the Sunday school presidency, and something tells me that a calling for me might be right around the corner. Probably because the Bishop asked my husband on Sunday what my first name is again. So, obviously, I think I am on his mind. Never a good place to be if you are trying to avoid a calling. But, I’m not. In fact, I have found that I feel a little lost … Continue reading

Talk to Your Kids About Voting

It’s the week of the big election. In just a few days we will find out who will lead our country for the next four years. The fate of our country is in our hands. Have you talked to your children about the importance of exercising your right to vote? For most of us it will be many years before our children are old enough to vote, but if you start talking to them about it now, they may begin to realize the importance of it. I have been amazed at the things children are hearing about the election right … Continue reading

Picture Bride Movie Review

Riyo, a young Japanese girl longs for a fresh start, after both of her parents die. The year is 1918, and her aunt contacts a match maker. Riyo, becomes a picture bride, a part of the custom of matching a husband and wife based on photos and letters. The beautiful Riyo, a shy, gentle girl, likes the look of her match, the handsome Mitsuji, so she embarks for Hawaii, where she will join her husband working in sugar cane fields. Once she lands, she is shocked to discover that the photo she was sent was very dated. Mitsuji is, in … Continue reading

Keeping The Grill Clean

I love to bbq in the summer time. Not only is it a change of pace from the way we usually eat, it also keeps the house from heating up. As a bonus there are no pots, pans or casserole dishes to clean. My grill gets a good workout all summer long so I need to clean it frequently. The grates on your grill should be cleaned after every use. When the grill has cooled off a little but it still warm, take your brush and scrub the grates clean. After this wipe them down with a paper towel covered … Continue reading

Savor Summer

School’s out for the summer; time to savor the season beloved by kids and parents alike. Summer’s lazy days are highlighted by picnics, beach bonfires, backyard barbeques, stargazing and firefly catching. There’s no shortage of outdoor activities to choose from in order to max out your summer fun. However, there are ways you can enhance the popular season. The following projects are simple ways you can infuse a little whimsy into your sunny summer days: PICNIC POT This craft is easy enough for kids to make on their own. All you need is a medium to large size terracotta pot … Continue reading

Who Has Inspired You?

I read a great little article in the Ensign last Sunday. It was a short one titled, A Friend in the Bishop. For some reason this article really touched my heart. It made me realize that we all have special people that have touched our lives for the better. And, when I think about the organization of the church, and all the leaders who put in countless hours fulfilling their callings and going the extra mile to touch the life of another, then I am grateful for the Lord’s plan. I know He organized this church this way for a … Continue reading

Last Minute Visiting Teaching Ideas

When I go visiting teaching, I like to stick to the lesson for the most part. After all, they are the lessons that are inspired that we are supposed to share with the sisters we visit teach. However, sometimes, the lesson doesn’t seem to apply very well to the sister we are visiting, or sometimes, I have a hard time relating. Whatever the case, sometimes, it is nice to do something a little extra or different for your sisters to build relationships with them, or make them feel the love of the Savior. We are supposed to be working in … Continue reading

An Act of Service

I have to share an act of kindness that someone did for me today. It is probably one of the nicest things anyone has done for me in a long time, and I’m not really sure she realizes how amazing of a gift it was for me. My baby has been struggling for several months now with tummy troubles. I’ve had to eliminate a lot of foods from my diet to try and help him. It has been very difficult for me and him. He doesn’t sleep well, has bad acid reflux, and as a result, I’m not sleeping well, … Continue reading