~*~Life as Me~*~

Typepad v Blogger

I've been stressing over the lack of my personality on this blog pretty much since I decided to switch from blogger to typepad and while typepad is a very good host with lots of wonderful things I just dont think it is really what I want.

Yes there are some fun backgrounds but nothing that I can edit/adapt to my style/needs. I want to choose what my blog looks like, what is on the sidebars, what the title bars look like etc and unless I am prepared to learn CSS I am pretty much dictated to by typepads own contribution.

Call me ungrateful but i'm paying for this blog, and while the service is phenominal, the people at typepad are very helpful, friendly and know their stuff the sad fact remains that no matter how wonderful they are, unless they add/change to html then there is very little I can gain here.

So i'm looking for the pros and cons of both typepad and blogger that I may not have thought of before I decide to move..........

What do you think? What is your preference? Why?

~*~Debs~*~

I Wish

Whilst going round the house today cleaning and tidying, shifting boxes and generally trying to make sense of stuff, I found myself wishing. Now i'm a simple kinda chick and really do prefer the laid back but consistent pace to life, but I am SO missing my crafts right now.

So here is what I wish I could do:

• make a fabric photo book
• make a table cloth for the patio table
• do some scrapbook layouts
• bake a cake
• make some handmade paper
• stitch the patchwork blanket i've had since forever
• bake an apple pie
• make a bunting from all the pretty fabrics staring at me
• finish the cross stitch of the princess i started eons ago
• make some new candles

Just a few things I wish I could do right now but with packing some, selling some and donating some I cant do any. I have also been dreaming up a little white and red pinney. Now I have no idea why I like that idea because: 

1. I'm not a very good cook
2. I've never worn one in my life
3. Its about as random as Michael at 7am!

So I might just find a way round my craving for creating by other means. I still have some work on my book to do after neglecting it for a couple of weeks now. I could make some fairy cakes with Charley (the good old packets ones of course!) and I could update my personal journal which has also been neglected lately. Probably do all three today as Kirsten is ill after a night of throwing up, Charley is feeling better after his similar night so something will happen.

Alternatively, if Kirsten is feeling better I might just take them down to Weston and have a couple of hours on the beach with them to chill out. That sounds like a much better idea methinks.

~*~Debs~*~

Life as Me ~ Part 2 ~ Utah Panic

Sat here going through the legal stuff I feel a panic attack coming on. I don't normally freak out over things like this, even though moving abroad is a big thing. I know its the right thing to do and I know its the right time and we are all super excited at hopping on that plane and heading into the almost unknown.

But....i'm panicking all the same. The original apartment we were having has been leased to someone else. Since then i've emailed with a few people and most of them say that I need to wait till we get there but that's not offering much security is it?

One person at the US embassy says I can apply for an extended stay visa when I get there, another person says I have to apply before I get there.

My stuff is still being sold slowly but I have two sheds full of junk that is going to take days to sort out and I only have one pair of hands.

The bank account is possible to open from here but they need my signature...which requires me to be there. Go figure!

Because of the cool chick, Angie, I have decided to look at going to Lehi, near where she is because she is well worth stalking for her cooking!! Trust me, i'm serious here!! Go check out her blog and tell me i'm wrong! Besides that, Angie has raved about what she likes about the town and is giving me some good pointers and when all is said and done, that is what someone needs when they move to a totally new area! Thanks hunny! :)

Back to more sorting, phone calls and sweet talking....

~*~Debs~*~

SPECIAL FEATURE: Jess Leonard

I am really excited that I am posting a special feature again! I have read some amazing blogs this last couple of weeks {when the darn laptop has allowed them to open} but the one I was going to feature is on hold for next week. When I attempted my catch-up reading on Modern Molly Mormon Jess's article really reached out and touched me. I'll let you read what Jess has to say before I share why.

First of all Jess is a happily married, mum of three. Faithful and active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Jess's children are home schooled {brave chick eh? ;)} plus she holds down a job! Amazing person with an amazing take on the world around her! Want a face to the name? OK here's the gorgeous Jess....

How Do You Remind Yourself of Your Worth?

This months theme is Individual Worth. It really has got me thinking. Do I know my Individual Worth? I mean really know. Do I set an example of someone who knows her worth? What can I do daily to remind myself?

I did not grow up in the church, but when I joined, I was a YW leader and so I had the opportunity to go through the Personal Progress Program as an adult. I worked hard and received my YW Medallion before being released from that calling. I was so amazed at this program and thought of all the trouble I could have avoided in my teen years if I had a tool like this program to navigate the murky waters. I am so thankful my daughters will have this advantage that I did not.

I was so passionate about this program that my next calling was the Pursuit of Excellence Program. Not to many wards did this program back then, and even less do it now. It was one of my hardest callings ever as here I was new to the gospel, calling on sisters in their 40's and such. Many members all their lives, asking them how their Pursuit of Excellence was going in my perky telephone voice.

I know I irritated many of them.. but I also hope I inspired a few. I love this program.... Setting specific goals, and working towards achieving them. There is nothing better than that feeling of pride in your accomplishment and strength in yourself for sticking to it and getting things done. Of course with the total support of Heavenly Father. Even better was that it was a program that allowed you to be a constant work in progress. There was never a time when there was no service to give, no love to share, no work to be done, nothing new to learn.Instead of worrying about things I didn't get done that day, or week, I can pull out my booklet and re-inspire myself to work towards my goals. It helps remind me of my worth, instead of the negative things I could come up with for myself. I know you all know what I'm talking about. We all do it. It's like looking in the mirror and picking ourselves a part to prepare us for what we think others might pick apart.

The Pursuit of Excellence program for me was, and is, a tool to help me navigate those murky waters as a woman, as a sister in the gospel, as a mother. A tool to remind me constantly of my worth to Heavenly Father, to myself, to those around me. It allowed me to look on paper and see the good I was doing and the progress I was making.

As I said, it's a program not to many wards do anymore, it is not a mandatory program. Its actually very hard to find any info on it now a days. Here is a link to something based off the program, with an added twist that a sister posted online to share and inspire.

If you have a chance, check it out. It is not going to hurt any of us.. to take a few minutes out of our daily lives, to work on making ourselves better. To remind ourselves of our Worth to our Heavenly Father. And if you feel so inclined, ask your RS President if your ward would consider doing this program. Its fun to get together with pother sisters and work on projects. Then celebrate at the end of the year in a progressive dinner, or even a special Enrichment Event, for those participating. We all need regular reminders.

When I sat and read this I found myself nodding and grinning to myself. In so many ways I can relate to it. When I have a calling or the opportunity to teach in some way I am there, in all my glory, annoyances as well and ready to apologise those those who get annoyed at me!! See, not everyone, in and out of the church really understands what their self worth is, its not about pride or arrogance, no its more humble and personal than that. We may know ourselves, we may understand ourselves but do we truly understand WHO and WHAT we are? Well I think that is something we ALL should work on so I exhort you to spend some time this week to think and pray about it because trust me, if the Lord knows, loves me and helps me so much then I know He is doing it for everyone else.

Now I suggest you go have a cruise round Jess's blog....I'm still working my way through it and trust me, its worth your time to sit and enjoy it!

You still here?

Go! Now!!

Oh ok, my final thought on this post is this: This Friday I am going to do the competition I was planning to do 3 weeks ago....wanna know what the prize is? Course you do, silly me! Well its a book....the rest you will have to wait and see. Now go visit Jess cos I got work to do!! ;)

~*~Debs~*~

I'm quoted.....

I am chuffed and chickled pink when I had an email plop in by inbox from a lovely lady called Janet. After visiting her blog which I found through the links included with the LDSTOOLBAR I left a comment on a post that I enjoyed reading. Janet liked the idea I had shared and used it in her next post so here it is....tell me what you think?

FHE Theme Idea - "Love at Home"

Below is a reader submitted idea. Thanks Debs, I appreciate you sharing your idea with us! And please fellow readers, if you have any ideas (while my well is still dry) please send them my way, I'd like to keep the blog going since I know that soon I will be up and running and feeling more like myself (I have started writing my next book, so that is a big accomplishment!)

"I would like to share an idea that i have had recently in my attempt to make my single parent family that bit stronger in these trying times.

This year i have given us a theme, Love at Home. Each fhe we shall be working though various parts of family life, personal roles, financial freedom, preparedness, organisation and temple and eternal perspectives to name a few, and doing all we can to strengthen and encourage each other.

So far my two children that are still at home are loving it and we get to have some fun scripture chases, share some simple and radical ideas, we identify with each other a little more and have a lot of giggles along the way. learing new hymns and giving thanks to our wonderful Heavenly Father is humbling and eye opening!!"

I am forever on the lookout for new and better ideas to teach my children, inspire them and improve their relaxation time. I love being with my kids and love to connect with any blogs and people that are as motivated as I am by their kids. Janets blog is well worth a visit so why not pop over there and see what this lovely lady talks about. I also found some other blogs that I think may be of interest. I shall be adding them on the sidebar asap.

• Monday Nights
• Our Ladies Room
• The Grapevine
• LDWSA

The last three links will be talked about in more detail in the next couple of days, just as soon as my writing assignments are up to date that I can concentrate and give them justice!

~*~Debs~*~

Getting about a bit ;)

I've had my recent article from Modern Molly Mormon posted over on Our Ladies Room. When I saw that someone had visited my blog from a site I didnt recognise I was intrigued but imagine my surprise when I saw MY article sitting there!!! Fuzzy feeling coming on!! :)

Yesterday two of my articles were published over on MMM, there's a warm feeling that goes with seeing your own writing out there for all to see so when I receive positive feedback I feel almost relieved, like a reassurance that someone has got something out of my words. That is the best feeling of all.

As I want to keep all my writing in one place I will post all articles here. The first one is
here and the second one is:

FHE: Planning for Fun

My 12 year old daughter had her friend stay over last night who is not a church member but was eager to come to church with us. Kirsten loves it when someone not of our faith comes along whether its church or Young Women's but this particular friend, we'll call her Laura, is a truly wonderful girl from a large family full of challenges so the contrast in our home is one that she seeks and thrives in (that's no reflection on her family, some kids just prefer other homes sometimes eh?). Anyway, usually Laura goes to a non denominational church but she feels it just doesn't do what it's ''supposed to'' but has to go because its her mum's rule. All through Sacrament meeting she was glued to each person that got up and bore their testimony, she would lean over and ask us questions what something meant or why did we say things in a particular way etc. She was getting so much from our meeting and she just shone.

Later in the afternoon while we were having dinner, a habit of ours is to read while we are eating (not with our mouths full of course!). This time we read from this months copy of the Friend. The article was from a 9 year old boy who had heeded the challenge given by President Hinckley back in 2005 to read the Book of Mormon in one year. After reading this short article I asked them questions, easy enough for my 4 yr old to answer but Laura was so filled with the spirit she answered, asked and shared like an old pro! She had totally absorbed every word she heard in Young Womens and Sacrament!! Not wanting to get back on track I asked the odd extra quesion, and just totally enjoyed that time with her.

Wanting to take something home with her to share with her parents, who totally reject our faith in all ways possible she asked if she could use one of our Articles of Faith principles and how would she share it. She settled for the 13th article and focused in on the part that says:

If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or
praiseworthy, we seek after these things

Without getting into it Laura felt her family were missing the positive things in life (she is 14 by the way) and wanted to gather ideas on how to get this across to her family without them slapping it down. She sat at made notes for ages, she asked questions after questions, scoured copies of the Friend, New Era and the Ensign. By the time I dropped her off at home she was loaded with a good 20 sheets of paper and a few magazines and a heart full of love, ideas and determination.

This left me thinking, the majority of my personality and parenting style is done with joking, humour and positivity. I guess, needing reassurance I asked Kirsten if she felt we have enough fun in our home, Charley shouts 'yeah super hero mum!' and Kirsten nods then answers simply, 'of course we do, but i'd like our Family Home Evenings to be a little more upbeat because we are sometimes so serious and I dont enjoy it so much'. Well initially I was tempted to say that somethings are just not meant to be done in humour when something stopped me. I'm sure it was the spirit, Kirsten wasn't asking me to make one big joke of the gospel, just make it more fun and that makes sense. So I had an idea.

Wanna hear it? ;)

Over the years I have made a variety of tag books, mini handmade books, folders etc to store and use a variety of talks, stories, puzzles, colouring pages etc but lately I find that I don't just go to them anymore and whip out what I'm looking for. When Charley asks me a question he doesn't want the answer some 4 year olds wants, he wants details, images and the full truth so I came up with the idea of restarting my to-hand folders and this is pretty much how I've planned it out:

1. Articles of Faith ~ This is an A5 book with each article of faith on each page. (Sorry I cant show pic of this one I've already made right now)
2. Using a book ring, put together enough tags to put a photo of each Latter Day Prophet and some words about them on the back
3. Instead of using full sheets of paper for younger children, print stories on half size ones and bind them in a folder
4. Do a subject file on the variety of subjects, temple marriage, baptism, prayers etc so as the child grows they can add new questions and answers. This is great for allowing them to see how their testimony is progressing.
5. Quotes ~ I often remember whats been said but forget who actually said it so a book of quotes (headed in subjects/people maybe) is a cute way to have something to hand and its a continual update so the kids will always enjoy adding to this
6. Record your FHE. Not sure if anyone else does this but at least once a month we record ours on our web cam, initially this was so we could see how we are doing, remember who said what but as time has gone by we have found that it serves for other great reasons too...such as: reminding kids of reverence (or lack of, they hate to see themselves having a 5 min mad period!), a family document that can be kept for the 'kids boxes' which I keep for each of my k ids, use it for seeing the progress for the children as they get older, the children themselves love to watch these back just for entertainment!
   
7. Both of my younger kids have a little mini book by their beds, each night (when I remember!) I will put in a scripture that I feel is appropriate to them ready for the next day. It could be a reminder of something such as to pray, it could be a promised blessing or something to reassure them. Something just for them.
8. When our first presidency changed, I didn't take down their picture in our living room, I just added the new one, when we have visitors its often a talking point, even with members, now I have extended that by working on getting pictures of all the first presidencies that I can and plan to put them all in frames in our large hallway.
   
9. Our hallway is also our gallery, its the first part of our home that anyone sees, its full of paintings, poems, pictures and all sorts of interesting but personal stuff that we love to look at. It is also a great focal point for quick stop visitors and often raises a question or six!
10. Temples, with as many as we have now and still counting its great for our children to see just how much the Lords work is going forward, just how many people love the Lord enough to need their own temple etc. So a mini book again will be made in the same way the book for the Prophets will be, pictures one side and details the other.
    

All that said, Kirsten and I decided to ditch our original lesson plan for tomorrow's FHE and instead we are going to work on one of the above. At the moment (and its subject to change with my kids!!) we are planning on making a book about temples which is fine by me because our family theme for this year is Love at Home and what better place for a family? :)

All of these ideas are great for your Sunday Bags too. In Charley's Sunday bag he is allowed 3 cars of his choice (the small quiet ones!) and then he has 2 printable puzzles, 6 colouring pages ranging from Joseph Smith, Jesus Christ and someone being Baptised, 1 colour in story strip page, handmade book with the Articles of Faith, tag book of the Prophets and another tag book of the 6 B's (though there's more added now). In all this keeps Charley entertained and reverent for most of the meeting, but it's a good idea to rotate some of the books and pictures to keep them happy!

I hope you get something from this and find something to compliment yours and your childrens style of learning, I'd love to hear your thoughts and opinions and read anything you might blog about on this subject too! :)

~*~Debs~*~

SPECIAL GUEST ~ What is Divine Nature? by Anissa

My first weekly feature guest blogger is the lovely Anissa aka Mindful Molly from Modern Molly Mormon. I chose this article which Anissa submitted just 2 days ago at MMM because it touched me deeply. Please take a minute to leave Anissa a comment, show her some love ;)

So, who is Anissa? Where has she popped up from? Here is her story:

I thought I would take a minute and tell you a little bit about myself, so here goes! I am a mother of three, two girls and a boy. They keep me very busy!!

I am also a big scrapbooking fan!! I would love to be able to scrapbook any time I wanted too! Better yet, I would love to........Read More

What is Divine Nature?

What does Divine Nature have to do with being a mother? I remember when I was in Young Women's, and how I thought that after I was finished completing all my goals, that would be it. Even as a teen I knew that what I was learning would be an asset to me later in life, but, until I became a mother, I had no idea how much it would really have to do with being a mother. It really is all in how you look at it. I have always wanted to be a mother, and wanted to have children. And come to think of it, until now I never knew how important my prayer and fasting was before I was given my Patriarchal Blessing. I prayed, fasted, and knew in my heart what it was that was important for me to ask and know from my Heavenly Father. As I sat down to write this, it dawned on me...

I asked to know that I would be able to have children of my own. Not that I was against adoption (or other ways of conceiving, although at that time adoption was all that I knew of), but, it was important for me to be able to bear my own children. After I was married and in the hospital giving birth to my first child, we found out that I was unable to have children without having a C-Section. If I had been in an earlier time in history, or in another part of the world, I would have died trying to give birth. This wasn't my only problem, I am also RH Negative. I have two things going against me. But, I was promised in my patriarchal blessing that I would be able to have children.

What is my Divine Nature?

My Divine Nature is to be a mother, a mother here on earth, and in the eternities. What are qualities of Divine Nature? Meek, peace, wisdom, thankful, humble, kind, merciful, forgiving, forbearing, loving, gentle, longsuffering, temperance, faith, joy, and the list goes on.

What is Divine Nature in scriptural definition:

Alma 7:23-24

23 And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.
24 And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works.

Read the following scriptures for a more in depth view of what Divine Nature is and means: Matthew 5:9, John 15:12, Galatians 5:22–23, Colossians 3:12–17, 1 John 4:21, and Moroni 7:44–48.

Develop your Divine Nature, your divine qualities as a daughter of God, and a mother. Take time each day to do a little better. You will be blessed, you will be made stronger, and you will feel the spirit of our Heavenly Father with you.

John 15:12
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Thanks!

Anissa

I cant imagine anything more beautiful than being a mother, there is nothing in my own life that measure or values anywhere close. I've had the big house, the brand new cars, the holidays, clothes even the glinting bank account but what does it mean? It means in this world I have achieved this, this and this, but in the eyes of the Lord, in the eyes of Divine Nature it's just temporary. My children however will always be my children, they are my investment, they are my responsibility to teach, love, care for and guide. They are my heart break, my joy and my heart. Nothing in this whole wide world could replace just one second of any of my kids and no, not even on a bad day!! ;)

What is your devine nature?

~*~Debs~*~

Blogs ~ Photos ~ Journalling ~ Moments = Scrapbooking!

I fancy having a bit of a moan about time, how quick it goes when you are on a roll to get stuff done and how much hangs around when you're looking for things to do.

But I wont. Instead I'll talk about what I have been doing the last couple of hours, just to prove I can not resist the need to rant when a rant occurs!! ;)

Well, my Moments blog over on blospot has been doofed. Dont ask me how I done it because I simply dont have a clue. What i've managed to do is doof up my Google account yet the google alerts I get are still coming through! Google do not have a contact us page so when I go through the help pages I literally go round in so small circles i'm back where I started after 3 clicks. So Mr Google is not on my Christmas card list for this year I can tell you! Oops so much for not ranting!! Lol

So, I am in the process of moving my Moments blog idea over here to typepad which is a tad annoying because I really like the design I was able to find over on blogspot. Wanna see where Moments is coming from?

From HERE to HERE which is also linked up the top there on the right under My Personal Sites. Also up there you will see Photo a Day and Write Away Boss. The idea for Moments is to record those little moments that can easily pass us by while we are racing round to actually get to them. Feel free to leave a comment and share your moments with me, I would love to hear them. The Photo a Day is my way of visualising something through my day, everyday that I can count towards my scrapbooking for our family album, family journal or a mini book to summarise the year. Keeping that theory going, the Write Away Boss is, so far going to be used for the journalling side of things I either wouldnt usually think too much of or things that I think are particularly worth recording but not something i'd necessarily blog about. The lead is taken from 52Q so far from Emily Falconbridge who I think is amazingly talented and inspirational. Go check them all out and as I said, feel free to join me along the way and share your moments, memories, idea's, dreams etc, I'd love to hear them.

So is anyone feeling the strong desire to make me some buttons for my blogs??????? :D

~*~Debs~*~