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January Visiting Teaching Handout-Becoming Self-Reliant
I think this month’s Visiting Teaching message about becoming self-reliant is so fitting since many of us have goals and resolutions that have to do with debt, food storage, being prepared, etc. I think the recession has put self-reliance at the forefront showing us how important it is to have a plan to take care of ourselves in all kinds of situations, economic or otherwise.
This VT handout is quite wordy because I just couldn’t narrow it down. The quotes are all good! Feel free to print of the handout and use it! I won’t make you be self-reliant handout wise. 😉 Here is a link if you want to read the entire January Visiting Teaching Message.
I used the Shabby Princess Seasonal Sampler Winter digital scrapbooking supplies
and Kevin and Amanda fonts Howser and Markus the Cow for the handout.
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Christmas Card Tree & Exchange
I really wanted something cute to do with my cards this year. I saw a few really cute tutorials on line, but only had like 7 cards…until tonight. You see, our church ward does a Christmas card exchange where you can drop off cards for anyone in your ward in a box at church and one of the Young Women volunteers (as a Personal Progress Good Works project) to sort and deliver them for every one. I think this program is amazing and am so thankful for the money saved on stamps. Frankly, I probably would not send them to my ward members if it were not for this. Sorry kids, stamps add up fast and delivering all of them would just plain take too long. 😉
So now, I had a stack of received cards and really wanted to show off the love before Christmas is over. So, I decided to arrange them as a Christmas card tree on the back of my front door. I love how it turned out though I did have to leave a few out because I forgot about the doorknob and deadbolt. Plus, all you need is tape. No fancy dancy supplies!
I hope you have a wonderful holiday with lots of food, family and fun and remember the greatest Christmas gift of all was never placed beneath a tree, but was placed in a manger bed for all the world to see. (quote from a tile my parents gave me)
I’ll be taking the rest of the week off to focus on what Christmas is really supposed to be about. The little one and I started it off tonight. We played spy/paparazzi (him trying on my old sunglasses while I tried to catch pics of him),
had a pizza party, danced, and watched Elf in our PJs. Daddy comes home tomorrow from his surprise Christmas mancation to the BYU bowl game (Go Cougars!) so we will be getting the real party started!

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Stamped Washer Necklace Tutorial: Courage
We always have a special Christmas lesson for our Young Women at one of our homes the Sunday before Christmas and wanted something special to give our Beehive class. My wonderful adviser and crafty girl extraordinaire, Amanda (from Every Crafty Endeavor), came up with the idea and the supplies to do stamped washer necklaces that say Courage to go along with next year’s mutual theme. I am so nice and took pics of the process so that you can do it too. I know, I know…too kind.
(Stay tuned for how we tie them in to the Christmas nativity lesson)
Supplies Needed:
- Heavy Hammer (you can use a regular one, you will just have to hit harder)
- Washers (ours were about an inch)
- Alphabet stamp set
- Black permanent marker
- Baby wipe
- Leather, ribbon, or a chain to put the charm on
Stamp sets are available on Amazon for $15 if you need one. *Update: I just bought a stamp set on sale from Harbor Freight for $10 including shipping!
See cute Amanda demonstrating her great skill.
4. Now just thread your “chain” of choice through the hole and you are good to go.
I love how they turned out! I love that they represent the theme so well! “Be strong and of a good courage.” Joshua 1:9
Now, for how they will be tied to the lesson. We are going to be talking about how each of the people in the Nativity Story had to have great courage. We will talk about each piece of the nativity as we place it on the table and also have a song to go with it.
- Mary-to be the mother to God’s Son and to travel to Bethlehem 9 mos. pregnant and give birth in a stable
- Joseph-to find out his wife to be will be giving birth to God’s Son
- Jesus-to be the one to volunteer to come to earth and sacrifice himself for us
- Shepherds-to have an angel come and then go to find the Christ child. Spreading the word to others.
- Three Kings-followed a star to find the Christ child and did not tell Herod where He was
I am so excited for this lesson! It is so personal to have it in Amanda’s home with the fire crackling and everything so cozy. Last year, the Christmas lesson was AMAZING and I can only imagine this year will be the same!
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