Around the House {Christmas Decorations-Part 1}

We're getting ready for Christmas around the house. 

Since moving to the new house, we've had to figure out how to decorate it for Christmas.

There's jingle bells on the door,

 and garland on the banister,

 

and space for a 2nd tree!

I just found this Angry Bird Pig in my tree.  What good helpers I have. :)

 Here's the fireplace in the family room.

 

and our Santa nutcrackers. 

 

 Merry Christmas!

The Perfect Christmas Tree!

One family tradition of ours that I love is finding and cutting our own Christmas tree.

The Saturday after Thanksgiving, we head up into the mountains to find the perfect tree.

We look all around, and see deer prints, rabbit prints, and...bigfoot prints?!

When we find the perfect tree, and everyone agrees, we tag it and cut it down.

 We haul it to the car, and tie it on top.

 Sometimes it is too tall and we have to trim a little off, and sometimes there are a few holes, but once it is decorated, it is always the perfect tree.

December Visiting Teaching Message

The message this month is centered on the importance of Visiting Teaching.

 

 

Here are a few quotes from the message:

 

"Visiting Teaching gives women the opportunity to watch over, strengthen, and teach one another--it is truly a work of salvation.  Through Visiting Teaching, sisters minister in behalf of the Savior and help prepare women for the blessings of eternal life."

 

"You are going to save souls," said President Kimball to Visiting Teachers, "and who can tell but that many of the fine active people in the church today are active today because you gave them a new outlook, a new vision."

"When the prophet Joseph Smith orgainized the Relief Society, he said that the women were not only to look after the poor but also to save souls."

I have a testimony that Visiting Teaching can save souls, and that it is so important--more important than we sometimes think.  I'm so grateful that the messages this year have focused on the importance of Visiting Teaching and watching out for our sisters.

If you would like to put together your own Life Savers Visiting Teaching message, you will need some paper, 4" or 5" width gift bags (I used these vellum bags from Wal-Mart), some Life Savers, and some twine or ribbon.

First, gather your supplies and print the message, and the label.

Cut your messages to size with the bag, then fill the bag, place it on the message and fold over the top till it reaches the Life Savers.  Staple it closed, tape the label on, then embellish with a string or ribbon.  Super easy.

Also, if you are feeling fancy, you can trim the corners.  This is one of my favorite tools...the corner adorner.  It was only a few dollars, and it rounds the corners of your paper.  I use it all the time.

Happy Visiting Teaching

&

Merry Christmas!

 

Preservas de la Conferencia General

You can now print your Conference Preserves in Spanish!

Here are the links!

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

Page 4

And here's the link to the tag.

If you would like to print this VT message in English, or you need directions for assembly, they can be found here.

 

All of the quotes were compiled and created by Sarah, from ...and Spiritually Speaking.  If you would like them in a different size, she has a few to choose from.  Make sure you visit her site and tell her thanks!

Around Here

Around here, we went from pleasant fall weather last week,

to frigid, below freezing temperatures this week.

Perfect soup weather.

Around here, we are still getting settled,

 

deciding where to hang things,

 {sloooowly} emptying boxes, and looking forward to lots of fun projects in this house {paint?!}

 

Around here, we are enjoying autumn and all that comes with it: gourds, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies, etc., etc., and for the first time in 7 years, piles of autumn leaves to jump in!

Happy Veteran's Day, and have a great week!

November Visiting Teaching Message {Conference Preserves}

I was so pleased to hear how many of you enjoyed sharing our Conference Preserves last May.  So many of you requested we do it again, so here you go!

You will need a jar, 3 sheets of paper {you can use white cardstock, or a printed paper with white on the back}, a sheet of paper for the tag, some ribbon, and some treats!

Sarah, from ...and Spiritually Speaking, made up these beautiful quotes again.  Be sure to visit her blog and say thanks! You can download the files here, here, and here, to print them out.  If you would like larger versions of the quotes you can find them here.  If you need them in Spanish, you can find them here.

Print, cut, and fill your jar with the quotes and treats,

Then add a ribbon and the tag, and you are good to go!

 

Happy Visiting Teaching!

Where am I?

I'm buried under a mountain of boxes.

Coming soon:  more Conference Preserves!

Have a great weekend!