How can I prepare to establish a Christ-centered home?

If you haven't already heard, we had our baby! (you can read more about that here)

I have been eating up every second with our little guy, which has put me SUPER behind on my emails and blog!

But let's be honest, what beats spending time with a newborn? I can't think of anything better! 

On the little downtime I have had I have been reading up on the Come Follow Me outlines for this month!

The overall focus of the month is "Building the Kingdom of God in the Latter-Days".

I have loved studying the talks and scriptures that correlate to the lessons.

I feel like the messages are so important and have helped me personally think of ways to be a better mother, wife, and missionary!

I decided to create a couple fun handouts and lesson helps to spark some inspiration!

The handouts below directly coordinate to the lesson outline...

"HOW CAN I PREPARE TO ESTABLISH A CHRIST-CENTERED HOME?"

Feel free to print off , share, and use for your lessons!

You can download a PDF copy of the handouts and lesson helps by clicking on the links below.

I only provide PDF files, as the quality is much better for printing purposes

and I prefer the integrity of the designs not be changed or altered. Thanks for your understanding!

KEYS TO A CHRIST-CENTERED HOME

For a PDF download of the handout (2 to a page) CLICK HERE

NO PLACE LIKE HOME

For a PDF download of the handout (4 to a page) CLICK HERE

I also really loved this quote from Elder Scott,

because he emphasizes the many blessings we can receive from centering our homes around Christ,

Love.

Here are just a few more handouts to add to November's Come Follow Me outlines!

The overall focus of the month is "Spiritual & Temporal Self-Reliance".

The handouts below directly coordinate to the lesson outline...

"WHY IS WORK AN IMPORTANT GOSPEL PRINCIPLE?"

Feel free to print off , share, and use for your lessons!

As I read the lesson suggestions and correlating talks, I began to realize how important the principle of work really is! 

I love when President Hinckley said, 

"Most of us are inherently lazy. We would rather play than work. 

We would rather loaf than work. We have work to do, you and I, so very much of it. 

Let us roll up our sleeves and get at it, with a new commitment"

I'll admit, sometimes I am one who likes to just take some time to relax... maybe a little more time than I should.

President Hinckley's quote reminded me of Nike's catchphrase, 

"JUST DO IT".

Those two things combined really inspired these handouts. I tried to give them a bit of a "sporty feel".

You could either hand them out to the young women as is or even pair them with a bottle of Gatorade could be cute!

You can download a PDF copy of the handouts and lesson helps by clicking on the links below.

I only provide PDF files, as the quality is much better for printing purposes

and I prefer the integrity of the designs not be changed or altered. Thanks for your understanding!

PRESIDENT MONSON 5x7 HANDOUT

For a PDF download of the handout (2 on a page) CLICK HERE

PRESIDENT HINCKLEY 5x7 HANDOUT

For a PDF download of the handout (2 on a page) CLICK HERE

PRESIDENT UCHTDORF QUOTE

For a PDF download of the handout (4 on a page) CLICK HERE

I am really loving the lesson outline's this month for the young women "Come Follow Me" curriculum!

The overall focus of the month is "Spiritual & Temporal Self-Reliance".

I decided to get a head start on creating some fun handouts and lesson helps to spark some inspiration!

The handouts below directly coordinate to the lesson outline...

"WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR ME TO GAIN AN EDUCATION & DEVELOP SKILLS?"

Feel free to print off , share, and use for your lessons!

You can download a PDF copy of the handouts and lesson helps by clicking on the links below.

I only provide PDF files, as the quality is much better for printing purposes

and I prefer the integrity of the designs not be changed or altered. Thanks for your understanding!

OH THE PLACES YOU'LL GO 5x7 HANDOUT

For a PDF download of the handout (2 on a page) CLICK HERE

For some reason as I was creating these handouts, the Dr. Suess classic, 

"Oh the Places You'll Go!" kept popping in my head.

I decided to combine the talk from Sister Mary N. Cook, 

"Seek Learning: You Have a Work to Do"

and the fun title "Oh the Places You'll Go" into some fun handouts as an inspiration

to remind the young women that their Heavenly Father has a plan in store for them!

As they seek to gain an education and develop their talents through "study & faith"

 they are putting themselves on the path to greatness!

Above is a simple 5x7 handout and below are some bookmarks! 

Feel free to download and use! 

OH THE PLACES YOU'LL GO BOOKMARKS

For a PDF download of the handout (3 on a page) CLICK HERE

The Importance of Self-Reliance

As I have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of our little one, 

I have been enjoying myself and passing the time by reading next month's young women "Come Follow Me" lesson outlines!

The overall focus of the month is "Spiritual & Temporal Self-Reliance".

The talks that correlate to the lesson outlines are wonderful and must reads!

I feel like the messages are so important, and felt grateful for the inspiration I personally received, 

especially as I prepare to be a soon-to-be mom!

(only 2 weeks people - 2 weeks!)

I decided to get a head start on creating some fun handouts and lesson helps to spark some inspiration!

The handouts below directly coordinate to the lesson outline...

"WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE SELF-RELIANT?"

Feel free to print off , share, and use for your lessons!

You can download a PDF copy of the handouts and lesson helps by clicking on the links below.

I only provide PDF files, as the quality is much better for printing purposes

and I prefer the integrity of the designs not be changed or altered. Thanks for your understanding!

GROWING IN SELF-RELIANCE GOAL SETTING WORKSHEET

For a PDF download of the worksheet CLICK HERE

Those who know me know that I am a goal setting fanatic!

So of course as I read the lesson outline for "What does it mean to be self-reliant",

I found myself scribbling down goals for the different temporal and spiritual categories.

After I finished, I thought this could be a fun activity for a lesson 

or even challenge to send home with the young women.

The outline emphasizes different areas where we should strive to become more "self-reliant".

Above is a worksheet that includes each of those categories.

Time could be spent studying and pondering each of the categories.

After reviewing the importance of temporal and spiritual preparedness, time could be spent setting personal goals. 

This worksheet could then be placed somewhere as a simple reminder/checklist of our goal to become more self-reliant.

TEMPORAL & SPIRITUAL HANDOUT

For a PDF download of the handout (4 to a page) CLICK HERE

I also really loved this quote from President Marion G. Romney,

because he puts such an emphasis on not only the importance of temporal preparedness,

 but also spiritual preparedness.

Here are just a few more handouts to add to October's Come Follow Me outlines!

The overall focus of the month is "Becoming more like the Savior".

For this particular lesson outline...

"WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO BE GRATEFUL?"

...I decided to create a couple of different options for possible handouts.

One thing that my husband and I did last year was started something called our "Gratitude Journals"

(YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT IT HERE)

Honestly, I have seen so many blessings in my life as I have taken a moment to recognize all that I have. 

You start to see how significant the Lord's hand is in your life and how blessed you truly are.

Pretty awesome.

If you have some extra time on your hands (ha yeah right, right?)

you could possibly make a gratitude journal for each young woman as a handout.

I have created a simple cover logo, a bookmark, and some simple monthly tabs that you could print out and put together for each girl!

(If you are lacking on time, you could also just print off the bookmark!)

If you don't have time to make these gratitude journals now, 

I would still suggest doing it in the future!

Like I said, it is amazing the things you will begin to notice in your life as blessings!

A great idea for an YW, Relief Society, or FHE activity! 

You can download a PDF copy of the images by clicking on the links below.

Keep in mind that  if you attempt to change the sizing, you may run the risk of slightly blurring the image!

GRATITUDE JOURNAL COVER LOGO DOWNLOAD

For a PDF download of the handout (two on one sheet) CLICK HERE

GRATITUDE JOURNAL BOOKMARK DOWNLOADS

For a PDF download of the handout (four on one sheet) CLICK HERE

GRATITUDE JOURNAL TABS DOWNLOAD

For a PDF download of the handout (one set on one sheet) CLICK HERE

I really enjoyed studying this particular Come Follow Me lesson outline!

There are so many great talks and articles that seemed to say just what i needed to hear.

Again, the overall focus of the month for Come Follow Me is "Becoming more like the Savior".

The handouts below directly coordinate to the lesson outline...

"HOW CAN I LEARN TO BE MORE PATIENT?"

Feel free to print off , share, and use for your lessons!

You can download a PDF copy of the handouts and lesson helps by clicking on the links below.

Keep in mind that  if you attempt to change the sizing, you may run the risk of slightly blurring the image! 

I especially loved re-reading Elder Robert D. Hales talk titled, 

"Waiting on the Lord".

He gives some wonderful insight on patience and just how we can develop the characteristic.

I decided to create a simple handout with some of the suggestions he gives in the talk.

There are two sides to this handout. 

For a PDF download of the handout (front and back on one sheet) CLICK HERE

I also really enjoyed reading President Uchtdorf's talk, 

"Continue in Patience".

For a PDF download of the handout (two on one sheet) CLICK HERE

Here are a few more handouts to add to October's Come Follow Me outlines!

The overall focus of the month is "Becoming more like the Savior".

The handouts below directly coordinate to the lesson outline...

"HOW CAN I BE MORE CHRISTLIKE IN MY SERVICE?"

Feel free to print off , share, and use for your lessons!

You can download a PDF copy of the handouts and lesson helps by clicking on the links below.

Keep in mind that  if you attempt to change the sizing, you may run the risk of slightly blurring the image! 

Okay so I just loved this talk.

I remember listening to it on my mission, and it has always been one of my favorites since.

I don't know if it is the pregnancy hormones or what, but I found myself totally tearing up as I went back to it and read it again.

If you haven't read President Uchtdorf's talk,

"You Are My Hands"

I would highly suggest doing it! Regardless if you are teaching or not. 

I decided to create a simple handout with one of my favorite quotes from the talk (seen above). 

For a PDF download of the handout (two on one sheet) CLICK HERE

So mainly I just like to stick to reminder quotes as handouts for the young women, 

but it's always fun to throw in a little goodie.

Above are a couple of tags that could be attached to a small little treat for a handout

(gum, airheads, mentos, hi chews... you get the picture... anything "chewy").

For a PDF download of the handout (six on one sheet) CLICK HERE

Here are a few more handouts for October's Come Follow Me curriculum!

The overall focus of the month is "Becoming more like the Savior".

As I mentioned before, I have been so inspired as I have read over the lesson outlines 

and some of the suggested talks.

The handouts below directly coordinate to the lesson outline...

"HOW CAN I DEVELOP CHRISTLIKE LOVE"

Feel free to print off , share, and use for your lessons!

You can download a PDF copy of the handouts and lesson helps by clicking on the links below.

Keep in mind that  if you attempt to change the sizing, you may run the risk of slightly blurring the image! 

Above is simple handout about the Love of God.

The quote comes from Elder Dallin H. Oaks and his talk 

"The Merciful Obtain Mercy".

For a PDF download of the handout (four on one sheet) CLICK HERE

Above is another cute handout and great quote from President Monson and his Ensign Article

"Charity Never Faileth".

I would definitely recommend reading over this talk regardless if you are teaching or not.

I think it is so inspirational and really helped me to understand the true meaning of Charity.

For a PDF download of the handout (four on one sheet) CLICK HERE

I really think it is great when the young women have time to reflect during 

or after the lesson about how they can apply the discussed doctrines and principles to their lives!

Above is a card that you could hand out to the young women during or at the end of your lesson.

The girls could write down action items of how they want to show more Christlike love to others in their lives.

For a PDF download of the handout (two on one sheet) CLICK HERE

It's that time again! Is anyone else getting excited for the month of October as I am?

I feel like there is just so much to look forward to...

Autumn, General Conference, and not to mention new "Come Follow Me" lesson outlines to read up on!

The overall focus of the month is "Becoming More Like the Savior"

I have been so inspired as I have read over the lesson outlines and some of the suggested talks.

As usual, I am getting a head start on creating some fun handouts and lesson helps to spark some inspiration!

The handouts below directly coordinate to the lesson outline...

"HOW CAN I BECOME MORE CHRISTLIKE?"

Feel free to print off , share, and use for your lessons!

You can download a PDF copy of the handouts and lesson helps by clicking on the links below.

Keep in mind that  if you attempt to change the sizing, you may run the risk of slightly blurring the image! 

Above is simple handout about the importance of striving to follow the Savior's example,

The quote comes from Elder Dallin H. Oaks and his talk 

"Followers of Christ".

I love the emphasis Elder Oaks puts on the fact that we should ALWAYS be striving to become more Christlike.

For a PDF download of the handout (two on one sheet) CLICK HERE

One of my favorite things from Preach My Gospel as a missionary was the activity found in Chapter 8,

"The Attribute Activity".

I found myself reviewing the questions on a weekly basis as I set goals 

and focused on striving to become more like the Savior as I served. 

Since being home from serving a mission, I do not do the activity every week,

but I do try to review it as often as possible as I continue to set personal goals in my life.

I think it is a great personal evaluation tool and provides a way to become closer to the Savior 

as you learn about his attributes and try to become more like him.

The way the activity works is simple.

You read the statements and rank yourself on a scale from 1-5. 

After ranking myself I like to take a step back and take an overall look at where I can improve.

Obviously perfection is impossible, so it is important not to get down on yourself 

when you see areas for improvement.

After reviewing the information,

I usually like to select one attribute that I am going to study and work on for the month.

I think this could be a great tool to use during your lesson or an activity to send home with your young women.

Some of the questions in preach my gospel are specific to missionaries, 

so I slightly edited some of the evaluation statements and 

created a fun worksheet that the girls could take home and put somewhere as a reminder.

For a PDF download of the handout (front side) CLICK HERE

For a PDF download of the handout (back side) CLICK HERE