What's a Servie?

I was going to post this a few months ago, and felt that I needed to wait to share it. Now I know why. It goes along perfectly with LDS General Women's Conference tonight. Wasn't it AMAZING?!  If you didn't get a change to watch it, make sure you make time to do so.

So you have never heard the word "Servie?" Yep, I made it up!

Here's the story behind it:

Last fall, my husband and I took a trip that we had been anxiously anticipating for years. We discussed, researched, and finally planned what we were going to do and experience on this tropical vacation. Oh, the sights we would see and the people we would meet. I couldn't have been more excited!

Once we arrived, we began pulling out our cameras to take pictures of the beautiful people we encountered, and the gorgeous scenery and views. As the trip went on, we were shocked by how many people weren't taking pictures of what they saw and experienced. Instead, they were more focused on taking self-portraits of themselves-many using a selfie-stick so they didn't even have to go outside of their own realm to ask someone to take the photo for them.

As we watched throughout the course of this vacation, we noticed how most of these people were more focused on their own hair, clothes, facial expressions and how THEY looked, instead of enjoying the beauty around them, or seeing the potential needs of those in their midst. They missed the opportunity of meeting new people, learning about new cultures, and small service opportunities. 

This made we realize how much as a society we can get sucked into ourselves. By focusing only on what we are and have, we tend to become self-absorbed, and tend to end up unhappy and wanting more. If we instead look outward through the lens of charity, we will be able to see needs of those around us, help them, and also realize the many blessings we have been given. This allows us to feel peace and happiness that can't be attained through selfishness.

Easter Traditions

Have you seen this video? What a tender reminder of what Easter is really about.

One way we help our children remember this sacred holiday is to have the Easter bunny come on Saturday morning instead of on Easter Sunday. This allows us to enjoy the fun part of the holiday with treats, baskets and egg hunts, but then focus on the Savior, the Atonement and the Resurrection on Sunday.

Happy Easter, friends!

Our 2016 Family Theme

I am late in posting this, but am excited to share with you our 2016 family theme.:

I Know It. I Live It. I Love It.

It's from the 2012 General Conference talk by Sister Ann M. Dibb's talk by the same name, "I Know It. I Live It.  I Love It."

I loved her insight, "We are followers of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Such conversion and confidence is the result of diligent and deliberate effort. It is individual. It is the process of a lifetime."

If you remember my post from December about the creating a family theme and setting goals each year, you will know that we like to focus on our theme each year for most of our Family Home Evening lessons and activities.

We decided to break down each of the three statements by Sister Dibb and focus on one each month, and then start over again on the 4th month.

In January, we focused on "I Know It," and taught lessons about the basic doctrine of the gospel. We learned more about the Atonement, the Sacrament, and making covenants. We also did some heated scripture chases, and played some fun games on the subject.

In February, we focused on "I Live it." We did some impromptu service projects about how we can live in such a way as to help others who are in need, taught about bearing testimony of what we believe, and challenged the older children to bear their testimony in fast and testimony meeting. They both did it!

In March we are studying the "I Love It" portion of the theme, and are going to learn about being a missionary, having a good attitude, smiling, and being a good example as we try to find joy in this journey of life.

A special note that I want to add here is that we DON'T spend a lot of time planning or prepping our FHE lessons or activities. The lessons are simple, prepared quickly and contain few bells and whistles. We also keep the total event short and sweet. The collective attention spans of 4 children ages 9 and under isn't long!

Instead, we have determined that consistency and simplicity have served us better in this effort and will continue to strive to teach in small but precise steps.

Join the Challenge! Less than 10 minutes a day!

If you haven't yet joined our 2016 General Conference Talk Abundance Challenge, check it out on Instagram @abundantlife30.

Trust in the Messenger = Faith in the Message

Today's GC talk ("Chosen to Bear Testimony of My Name", by Elder Bednar) impresses me to share with you all the reason I started this 2016 General Conference Challenge.

You see, I have learned that by
taking the time to listen to, study and then implement the talks given by our beloved Church leaders, I have developed a greater love for and trust in these humble, wise men who are messengers for Heavenly Father.

By having a stronger relationship with and trust in these messengers, I have a deeper and truer faith in the messages they teach.

My hope is that you will share this journey and deepen your trust
in and love for our LDS prophet and apostles.

Who will you invite to share this journey with you?