Strong Armor

Analogy - Your Car Door's Open

2012-01-22T17:08:00.000-08:00

Loved this analogy on my friends blog about communicating with each other.

"Sometimes we hear what we think about ourselves, not what is actually being said...."

Click HERE to read the entire post.

Cub Scouts - Movie Links for Achievement 4 - Tall Tales

2012-01-15T20:50:00.000-08:00

These video links below can be used for Bear Achievement 4 - Tall Tales. I happen to own an original video which is called "Disney's American Legends" that I used with my Cub Scouts, but I listed the YouTube links below for those who may not have access to the DVD. I can remember watching many of these when I was little. Classic! I wish Disney would make more quality short educational videos like these.

The movies can also be used for other educational purposes. They do a good job explaining what tall tales are at the beginning of the video.

Paul Bunyan Part 1 of 2
Paul Bunyan Part 2 of 2
John Henry Part 1 of 2
John Henry Part 2 of 2
Johnny Appleseed Part 1 of 2
Johnny Appleseed Part 2 of 2
Casey Jones
Legend of Sleepy Hollow Part 1 of 4
Legend of Sleepy Hollow Part 2 of 4
Legend of Sleepy Hollow Part 3 of 4
Legend of Sleepy Hollow Part 4 of 4

Cub Scouts - Pack Meeting Cheers

2012-01-15T16:06:00.000-08:00

Applause stunts are a great way to recognize a person or den/patrol in a troop/pack meeting for some accomplishment they have performed. Be sure before you start that everyone knows and understands the applause stunt and how to do it.

Applause stunts serve more then one purpose they not only provide recognition but also help liven up a meeting. Applause stunts need to be fun. Strive for quality of performance in your stunts.

The Cheers, Yells and Applauses

Abe Lincoln Cheer: That was great! HONEST!

Alka Seltzer Cheer: Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz, Oh what a relief it is.

Almost: With hands far apart, bring them rapidly together but miss just before meeting each other.

America: A-M-E-R-I-C-A, Cub Scouts(or Boy Scouts), Cub Scouts, USA!

Apollo: Shout- "Countdown, 10 - 1 !! BLASTOFF!" then with your hand gain orbit and even out. Then say, "BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP."

Archery: Mimic shooting an arrow, then call out, "Bull's Eye!"

Artillery: Begin slowly with the flats of your palms and increase in speed: then slow down until finally the last time the hands are not brought together.

Avon Lady: Point a forefinger and shout, "Ding,Dong!"

Barber Shop: Make a razor sharp motion on the palm of your left hand with your right hand, turning your right over with each stroke. Don't forget the barber's flourishes.

Barker's Yell: Showtime, Showtime!

Beaver: Cut a tree by tapping front teeth together, slap your tail by slapping a palm against your thigh, then yell, "TIMBER!"

Bear: Growl like a bear four times, turning halfway around each time.

Bee: Put arms straight out and pretend to fly, while going "Buzz-z-z-z, Buzz-z-z-z."

Ben Franklin: Hold both hands out in front of you as if flying a kite. Jerk back suddenly while saying,"Zap, Zap, Zap."(Lightening)

Bicycle Cheer: Pump, Pump, Pump.

Big Hand: Leader says, "let's give them a big hand" everybody in the audience holds up one of their hands with the palm up.

Big Sneeze: Cup hands in front of nose and sneeze in hands. Having nowhere to put it, wipe your hands in your hair.

Big Rock Candy Mountain Cheer: How sweet it is.

Big Thumb: Hold out a hand at arms length, make a fist with the thumb up. Variation: Add, "GREAT JOB!!"

Black Powder Cheer: Pretend to have black powder in your hand. Pour powder down the barrel. Stamp it down, raise the gun and fire saying, "Click, BANG!"

Blast-off: Start counting backwards from 6 to 1. Bend the knees a little more on each count until you are in a squatting position. Then, while saying, "BLAST OFF!", just straight up in the air.

Bobcat: Stand and give a loud "Meow" three times.

Bow and Arrow: Make motion as if shooting an arrow and say, "Zing, Zing, Zing." Pretend to release an arrow with each zing. Variation: Slowly draw arrow from quiver on your back. Place arrow against string of bow, pull back, release and say "pffft."

Boy/Cub Scout Yell: Rip, Rap, Rap! Rip, Rap, Ree! Loyal Happy Boy/Cub Scouts are We!

Boy Scout/Cubby Yell: "What's the best patrol/den?" All the patrols/dens yell back the Boy/Cubby winner's patrol name/den name.

British Rank Yell: Be Prepared! Be Prepared! Shout! Shout! Shout! Tenderfoot! Second Class! First Class Scout!

Broken Arm: Stick arm out in front of you with the lower arm and hand dangling. Swing lower arm and hand back and forth in a limp manner.

Broken Trolley: Pull the bell rope as if ringing a bell, repeating "CLUNK, CLUNK, CLUNK."

Bull Cheer: Make bull horns with fingers while shouting "El Toro, El Toro !"

Bull Fighter: Hold down cape and move to in appropriate motion while shouting "OLE!"

Call the Hogs Yell: SOOOOOOOO EEEEEEEE, SOOOOOOOO, EEEEEEEE!!!!!!! PIG PIG PIG PIG!!!

Can of Applause: Cheer and applaud as cover is removed from can and become quiet as lid is replaced.

Canary Applause (2000 LB): Put hands on opposite shoulders, while opening and closing elbows, say, "Here, kitty, kitty."

Cantaloupe: A variation of the "Watermelon". Cup your hands for the cantaloupe and shorten time and noise for spitting out the seeds. Variation: Hold a piece of cantaloupe in one hand, take a fast bite, turn head and spit out seeds.

Carpenter: Pretend to be holding a hammer in one hand and a nail in the other. Start pounding the nail with the hammer while saying, "Bang, Bang, Ouch".

Cat's Meow: You're the cats MeeeeOOOOW!!! (to person receiving applause)

Caught Fish: Hold out left hand, palm up, and make flopping, gasping motions with the right hand on the palm of the left hand.

Centipede Yell: Group stands and yells: Ninetynine THUMP!! Ninety-nine THUMP!! Ninety- nine THUMP!! This wooden leg is murder!!! Variation: MY FEET ARE KILLING ME!!! Variation 2: My shoe bill is outrageous!!!

Cheerio Cheer: Cheerio-Cheerio-Cheerio.

Cheery: Pick a cheery, roll in your mouth, then spit the pit out with a loud "P-TUU."

Chinese: How! How! How! Phooey, Phooey, Phooey.

Chinese Bow: Stand, fold your arms, bow from the waist while saying, "Ah Phooey."

Christmas Bells: Pretend to hold a bell rope, then get the left side of the audience to say "DING" on the downstroke and the other side of the audience to say "DONG" on the upstroke. Repeat three times.

Clam: Fold hands together, interlocking fingers. Make noise by pressing palms together.

Class A: Clap rapidly in the following rhythm: 1-2- 3-4, 1-2, 1-2, 1-2-3-4, 1-2, 1-2, 1-2-3-4...(pause).. One big clap.

Class B: Just like the Class A except that on the last clap, you come back with your hands and make one big clap.

Class C: Just like the class B except that after missing the clap, you come back with your hands and make one big clap.

Columbus: Put hands up like you're holding a telescope and shout "Land Ho".

Coconut: Pretend to shinny up a coconut tree,(Place arms out front as if hugging tree, move one hand and arm up a time and then the other), pretend to pick the coconut, let it fall to the ground(whistle as if a bomb was falling), hits the ground with a bang!! Shinny down (reverse your climbing motion), pretend to hit the coconut to open it, then say: THIS SURE IS A NUTTY APPLAUSE!!!

Constitution Cheer: We the people, APPROVE!

Coo Coo: Everyone nod their heads up and down and say: "COO-COO" as many times as you tell them, as if you were striking the hour.

Cookie Clap: Everyone takes a big bowl in their arms. In bowl, dump ingredients to make cookies, such as: flour, sugar, salt, chocolate chips and dill pickles (have the boys tell out the ingredients and you'll get some odd cookies). After the ingredients are in the bowl, you take a big spoon and with stirring motion yell "Crummy, Crummy, Crummy".

Cork: Hold out one hand as though holding the neck of a bottle. Put a cork in the bottle, then hit it in with the palm of the other hand.

Cow: Pretend to milk cow saying: "Squirt, squirt, squirt, moo."

Cow Yell: MOOOOO!!! MOOOOO!!! MOOOOO!!!

Crab: Have the group stand: Have them pretend to be on a boat, by swaying back and forth, and from side to side, have them grab hold of a rope as if they are hauling in their trap, have them grab the trap box and say: "THIS IS THE BIGGEST KING CRAB I HAVE EVER SEEN!!!"

Coyote: Have the everyone stand, cup their hands around their mouth and say: "YIP, YIP,
YIPEEEE!!!!!" VARIATION: Add: "ARC, ARC, AROOOOOOOOO!! GEE, It's lonely out here."

Cub Scout Yell: "Do Your Best! Be Prepared! Shout! Shout! Shout! Wolf Cub! Bear Cub!
Webelos Scout!"

Deep Sea Diver: Pretend to put on your diving suit, adjust your helmet, pretend to close face door, and screw the locks in place. Then pretend to jump into the water by jumping one step ahead, pretend to be sinking to the ocean floor, mumbling, "BLUG, BLUG, BLUG!!!" VARIATION: Add the following when you reach the "bottom": walk around very stiffly in a circle, then slowly bend over and pick up something and yell: "I found the TREASURE!!! I found the TREASURE."

Desert Yell: "Yucca, Yucca, Yucca !!"

Desert Rat: Clutch throat and say: "HOW, HOW, HOW, WATER, WATER, GLUG, GLUG, GLUG." Wipe your mouth and sigh "AHHHHhhhhhh, I sure feel and look better.!!!" Variation: Same as above except when you get the water, take a comb out of the back pocket, dip it into the water, pretend to run the comb through your hair, pull out a mirror , look at yourself and say the last line above.

Dip Stick: Pretend to get under the hood of your car, find the dip stick, pull it out, and say, "OH, NO, YOU'RE A QUART LOW!!!" Variation: Add to the above: You could sure use an oil change and pretend to put it back, close the hood with a SLAM!!!

Doubtful Yell: How come? (Build up on the HOW COME? Build up on the HOW to a big volume and then cut it off with a soft "COME?")

Dreamer: Pretend to snore and wake up. Stretch and say: WOW, that was a Great Dream !!!

Drum: On legs make a rat-a-tat sound 3 or 4 times, then hit the stomach two times and say "Boom, Boom".

Elephant: Let arm act as a trunk, wave it brokenly in front of your face. Raise your forearm up and down and say, "Peanuts, peanuts anyone?"

Eskimo Cheer: Brrrrr-rrr, Brrrrr-rrr.

Exhausted Yell: How TIRED? (Build up a loud HOW, with a soft TIRED and a stretch.)

Farewell: Hold one hand above the eyes as though looking into the distance while slowly waving the other hand.

Ferris Wheel: Move right arm in a large circle, on the upswing say: "OHHHHH!" On the downswing say: "AHHHHH!" Variation: Insert the following between the ooh and aah above: when you are at the top, hold arm in place and rock back and forth and hold other hand over the eyes and say: "GEE, YOU CAN SURE SEE A LOT FROM UP HERE!!!

Firecracker: Strike a match on the leg, light the firecracker, make noise like fuse "sssss", then yell loudly "BANG!!"

Fire Engine: Divide the group into four sections:(1) Rings the bell fast, DING; (2) Honks the horn, HONK, HONK, HONK; (3) Sounds the siren, Rrrr, Rrrr, Rrrr; (4) Clangs the clangor, CLANG, CLANG, CLANG. Have all four groups do their parts together.

Fireman Yell: Water, Water, Water! More, More, More !

Fish: Pretend to a fish by it's tail with one hand with one hand and plug your nose with the other and say: "PEEE-U-EEEEE!!!!" Variation 2: Suck in your cheeks, form an "O" with your mouth, move it as if you were a fish, without making a sound!!! Variation 3: Hold your nose and say: "SMELLY,SMELLY, SMELLY!!!

Fisherman: Pretend to reel out some line, let it drift, yank your pretend pole back and start to reel in the fish. Struggle with it for a short time and say: "I'VE GOT IT!!! I'VE GOT IT!!!"

Flat Tire: Bend down, attach pump to tire, lift and push on pump three times, then say, "BOOM!" and jump back in surprise.

Flea Flip: Flick your middle fingernail with your thumbnail.

Flintstone: Shake hands over the head and say,"Yabba-dabba-doo".

Flower: Like a flower blooming, raise part way in your chair, look around and thumb jump up yelling, "Sproooooong!"

Flute: Pretend to be playing the flute and give two big toots.

Foil Dinner: "RAW, RAW, RAW !!"

Fonz: Make a fist thumbs pointing up with each hand in front of you and say "Aaaaaayyyy."

Frozen Cub (Scout): Wrap your hands around yourself and say "Brrrrrrr".

Fruit Salad: Eat a large piece of pretend watermelon, spit out the seeds, pretend to have a piece of cantaloupe, spit out the seeds, then have a cherry, place a finger in your cheek and give one small pop, as if spitting out the pit of the cherry.

Gee: Cup your hand around the mouth and yell: "GEE, YOU DID A GREAT JOB, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!!" Variation: Insert the persons name after gee. Variation 2: Insert the persons same as in variation one but also substitute a different phrase honoring the person.

Genius: Look surprised and say, "Boy look what I discovered" or "Wow, look what I made."

George Washington Cheer: That was great. I cannot tell a lie. Variation: Get out axe and swing it at a tree while saying, "Chip, chop, chop, TIMBER!" then yell, "WRONG TREE!"

Ghost: Wave hands like a ghost and say: "WHOOOO, WHOO, WHOOOOOOO!!" Variation: Wail, "BOO! BOO! BOO!" three times and then yell: "YAHHH!!"

Giant Beehive: Tell the group to buzz like a bee. When your hand is raised, the volume should increase. When you lower your hand the volume should decrease. Practice this at various levels.

Go Cart: Stand up with legs bent at right angles, put hands in front of you as if steering and say, "BAAARRROOOOOMMM!" Variation: Add, "Look at me go! BARRRROOOMM!!

Golf: Shout "FORE" and pretend to hit the ball, place hand over above eyes to follow where the ball went. Variation: Add: Duck and cover your eyes saying: "OH NO! I HIT SOMEONE!!"

Gondolier: Make a motion as if polling a boat, singing out: "O, SOLE MIO"

Good Turn: Stand up and turn around.

Grand: Everyone is sitting down in their chairs. All stomp their feet three times loudly, then slap leg three times, then clap hands 3 times. Then stand up all together and shout "Ra, Ra, Ra!"

Grand How Yell: HOW! HOW! HOO-O-OO-OOW!

Grand Sneeze: "A-h-h-h Chooooo! Three times, each time getting louder.

Grape: Hold one hand out as if holding a bunch of grapes, with the other hand pick a grape, chew it and spit out the pit.

Grape Juice: Every one stomps around as if stomping grapes, then reach down with one hand dipping with a glass and drinking it, saying, "AAAAAhhhhh."

Great Job: Have one half of the audience say, "Great" and the other half say, "Going." Alternate each side.

Guillotine: Pretend to wind a crank pulling the blade up, tie it off, take an imaginary axe and cut the rope. Knife your hand down like a blade, saying "Slooosh". Then roll one over the other while saying "Thud, flop, flop, flop." Variation: Insert persons name after getting applause on last flop and say: "Haven't you got those heads of lettuce chopped yet.

Guppy: Suck in both sides of your mouth and make a kissing noise three times.

Half a Hand: Hold up one hand with the palm open, with the other hand, cover the open hand so only half shows. Variation: Add a phrase such as you are handy to have around.

Half a How Yell: HUH !!!

Half a How and an UGH Yell: HUH, UGH!!!

Hamburger: Make a hamburger patty by clapping hands turning left hand on top, then left hand on the bottom.

Hangman: Put your hand behind your neck like you are holding a hangman's noose, then roll eyes and stick out your tongue.

Handkerchief: Tell the group that they are supposed to applaud as long as the handkerchief you are about to throw in the air, when it hits the floor to stop applauding. Variation: Catch the handkerchief instead of letting it drop. Vary the applauding by using short throws, long throws, throwing to someone in the audience etc.

Hay DD Straw: Divide the group into two sections, tell one group that when you point to them they are to yell, "HAY". Tell the other section they are to yell, "STRAW" !!! Vary the speed in which you point to the different groups. Variation: When the leader yells hay or straw, the group responds with the opposite word.

Heart and Sole: Slap heart and sole of shoe.

Helper: Group stands and cheers, "Great job! Great JOB! GREAT JOB!" Getting louder each time.

Home Run: Simulate swinging a bat, then shade your eyes with your hands and yell, "Thar she goes."

Hot Dog with Mustard: Get your hot dog and put it in a bun. Pick up the mustard bottle and squeeze some mustard on the hot dog, then take a big bite and say, "Yummmmm!"

How Yell: Raise arm to fullest extent and yell: "HOW!"

How with a Northern Exposure Yell: How, How, How, Brrrrr!

How with a Southern Exposure Yell: How, How, How, You'all!

Howdy Yell: HOOOOW DDD DEEEE!!!

Howdy Pard: HOOOOW DDD DEEE PARRRD!!!!

Indiana Jones: Swing hand and arm back and then forward simulating the snapping of a whip. Snakes, it would have to be snakes.

Indian: Stomp feet three times, beat chest three times, 5 Indian yells with hand over mouth.

Invention Cheer: I've made it, I've made it, I don't know what it is, but I've made it.

Javelin: Hold hand as if close over a javelin, raise arm above shoulder and pretend to throw the javelin forward, wait a couple of seconds and say "Thud".

Jaws(Shark) Cheer: Chomp, Chomp, Chomp.

Jaws (version 2): Hold arms to cover face (Hands holding elbows) yell "AAAAAH, HELP!"

Jet Clap: Swish your hand across the front of you like a jet and clap your hands twice, real fast to simulate the sonic boom.

Jolly Green Giant Cheer: HO, HO, HO!

Knight: Kneel and place your right hand on your left shoulder, then on your right shoulder, while saying -- I dub thee Sir Knight.

Liberty Bell Yell: Ding, Ding, Ding, Dong! Let freedom ring!

Lightening: With one hand draw a zig-zag in the air in front of you saying, "ZAP, ZAP, ZAP."

Lights in the Sky Yell: Look up in the star to find the stars, then say, "Twinkle, Twinkle, Twinkle".

Livewire: Grab onto a live electrical wire and shake the whole body.

Locomotive: Begin on the he heels of your hands, slowly and together. Gradually increase speed, working towards the finger tips and finally over the ends of the fingers. The last part is raise your hand over your eyes as a gesture of looking in the distance.

Louder and Louder (a yell from one den or patrol to another): "I like Cub (or Boy) Scouts; yes, I do! I like Cub (or Boy) Scouts; how about you?" And point to the group that is to respond in the same way.

Lumberjack: Pretend to be chopping a tree then shout "Chop, Chop, Chop, TIMBERRR!"

Mad Doctor Cheer: Scalpel, sponge, sponge, sponge, oops.

Mad Scientist: Pretend to hold a test tube in one hand. Pour something into it; then something else, then shout "Boooommm!"

Marilyn Monroe: (Sway hips) "HIP, hip, hooray", "Hip, hip, hooray."

Match: Pretend to strike a match on the seat of your pants, it lights on the second try. Look at it burn, shake your hand and yell "YEEEEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOO______ OOW!"

Mexican Hat Dance: Put hands on feet and stamp feet while turning around in a circle.

Milk Shake: Shake contents in a shaker bottle, slurp the drink.

Model "T": Pretend to honk your horn and say "Ooooga, Ooooga, Ooooga".

Moose Cheer: Place open hands by ears to form antlers and call "OOOOO-AAA-OOOO."

Mosquito: With hand, slap yourself on the neck, arms, legs, while saying "Oooo, Aaaah." This can also be done by taking one finger and moving it around in the air as a mosquito flying (making a buzzing sound at the same time), letting it land on your arm, slapping at it, and then shaking off the dead mosquito.

Mother Cheer: Mother, Mother, She's the one. If Mother can't do it, it can't be done.

Motorboat: Flutter your hand in front of you while your tongue flutters.

Motorcycle: Lift up the left foot and slam it down starting the engine with your hands pretending to hold handlebars and saying "V-V-r-aa-a-a-m-m-m-m."

Mountain Climbers: Pretend climbing on mountain. A rock slips off. Put your had over your eyes, look down and yell - Look OUT BELOW !

Mount Rushmore Cheer: WASHINGTON,JEFFERSON, LINCOLN, ROOSEVELT !

Mount Saint Helen's Cheer: Make fists out of both hands and put them together. Make the sound of steam building "ssssSSSS", the sound builds; then when the mountain erupts yell "POP as hands and arms extend over the head.

Nail Pounding: Start the nail, drive it in and hit the thumb yelling, "OOO-UUU-CCC-HHH!"

A Nickel's Worth: Flip your thumb as though flipping a coin, then catch it and slap it on the back of your hand.

Olympics: Join hands, raise them over head and shout, "Go for the Gold!"

Once Over: Circle hands, at bottom of circle clap palm of one hand and back of the other hand together.

One How Yell: Yell the word "HOW" loudly. Can be built up to more how's as needed.

OPEC (Oil Well) Yell: "CRUDE, CRUDE, CRUDE."

PTA Clap: Just plain old clapping for those who lack any imagination.

Pack/Troop: Everyone yell together, "Clap your hands," then clap hands together two times. Then yell "Stomp your feet," then stomp feet three times on the floor. Then say, "PACK(TROOP) _____ can't be beat."

Pack/Troop Cheer: Razzle, dazzle, never frazzle,not a thread but wool. All together, all together,that's the way we pull.

Pancake: Pretend to be holding a frying pan and a spatula in your hands. Pretend to put the spatula under the pancake and flip the pancake into the air. Look into the air as though watching the pancake flip in the air. Catch the pancake with the spatula, and flip it on your hand making a loud "Clap."

Paper Bag: Make motions to simulate opening a paper bag., forming neck, blowing it up and pop it, saying "POP" loudly.

Party Cheer: Throw hands in the air and say, "Confetti, Confetti, Confetti."

Pat on the Back: Everyone pat the back of the left shoulder with their right hand.

Pennsylvania University Cheer: Draw right fist back to shoulder, then throw punch while yelling P U.

Personal Cheer: Stomp feet three times and shout personal name.

Pinata Cheer: Pretend to hit pinata, say "Swoosh" (Miss), "Swoosh" (miss), "Swoosh" (hit) "HOORAY."

Pinewood Derby: Start with a hand up above the head and then with a crying motion swoop the hand down saying, "Swish, Thud."

Pinky: Clap little fingers together.

Pirate: "Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of Sprite. Variation: Avast Ye land lubbers! Walk that plank! Glub, Glub, Glub. Variation 2: "Hoist the Jolly Roger! We're off to find the treasure! Yo Ho Ho!!

Pole Vault: Stand two fingers of one hand on the other arm like legs. Have them run down the arm to the wrist and then leap into the air, as the hand comes down, CLAP!

Pony: Clap your hands together, then slap your leg with each hand to simulate a pony trot.

Pony Express Yell: Have everyone gallop in place and shout, "YIPPEEEEEEEEEE".

Popeye: 1st group yells: "Where's my spinach! Where's my spinach! 2nd group yells: "Toot, toot! You're Popeye the sailor man! Here's your spinach! 1st group: "well, blow me down, I love my spinach! Toot, toot!

President: Salute and say: "Hail to the Chief."

Pump: Have everyone get out their bucket, hang it on the end of their pump, back up a step or two, then pretend to take hold of the pump handle and start to pump. Do this for about ten pumps and say: "The bucket is full."

Race Car: Say "Varoooom" five times starting quietly and increasing in loudness each time while shifting gears with right hand.

Rainstorm Cheer: To simulate rain, have everyone pat one finger of the left hand and one finger of the right hand. Gradually increase the intensity of the storm by increasing the fingers hitting together. Decrease the number of fingers as the storm passes.

Real Big Hand: Make a fist with the thumb extended, put thumb to lips and pretend to blow, open hand and extend fingers gradually with each puff. Hold up hand when fully extended.

Relay: First person in row claps next person's hand and so on down to the end of the row.

Reverse Applause: Move hands away from each other.

Road Runner: Beep-Beep-Zoom."

Robot: Walk stiff legged with arms in place saying in a monotone voice, "DOES NOT COMPUTE, DOES NOT COMPUTE!"

Rooster: Placing your thumbs in your armpits, wave the arms up and down while crowing.

Round of Applause: While clapping hands, move them around in a circle in front of you.

Rudolph: Put thumbs to your head with fingers up, forming antlers. Wrinkle your nose, saying. Blink, Blink, Blink."

Salt and Pepper: Hold both fists out in front of you and raise up the thumbs. Gradually increasing the number of fingers hitting together. Decrease the number of fingers as the storm passes.

Santa Claus: Reach out and hold stomach saying loudly, "HO, HO, HO" three times. Variation: Add: "MERRY CHRISTMAS!"

Santa Claus Chimney: Pretend to be driving your sleigh, say: "Whoa!" (pulling up on the reins), get out of the sleigh, pretend to climb into the chimney, begin to slide down and struggle, say: "Wheeze, grunt, rattle, clank, oh, no," move hands as if falling trying to grasp the sides of the chimney, then yell: "Craaaasssshhhh and then put your finger to your mouth and say, "Shhhhhhh!"

Satellite: Put your right hand over your head, making a circular motion with the right hand, opening and closing the right fist, while saying "Gleep, Gleep, Gleep". Variation: Begin with a countdown from 10, at zero, yell, "BLASTOFF! stretch arm over head saying "Gleep, Gleep, Gleep" and turn around three times.

Saw: Pretend to get a piece of lumber, measure it, pretend to draw a line, place pencil behind the ear, pick up your pretend saw and begin to saw holding your lumber with one hand and sawing with the other, while making your best sawing impression.

Seal: Extend arms, cross hands at the wrist and flap hands several times.

Seal of Approval: Put your thumbs in your armpits, then move arms up and down like a seal moving its flippers and say "Arf, Arf, Arf" several times. Variation: Add: Pretend you are balancing a ball on the end of your nose.

Siesta Cheer: Remain seated and pull an imaginary sombrero over face while snoring loudly.

Silent Yell: Raise both fists to level with hand and shout without any sound while shaking both fists. Or else have everyone stand in unison and open their mouths and scream without making any sound.

Silent Smoke: Make a fist with one hand, point the index finger, hold it close to the chest, then with a circular motion, begin to slowly raise your arm, keeping the finger extended until it is high over your head.

Six Shooter: Point finger in the air and say "BANG" six times, then blow smoke from the end of the gun.

Skateboard: Stand up and move top part of body from one side to the other as if trying to keep balance and say, "Zoooommm."

Sky Rocket: Make a motion of striking a match on your pants, lean over to light your rocket. Make a "SH, SH, SH" sound, point from the floor to the sky as if you were following it in flight with your finger. CLAP hands and say "BOOM" spread arms wide and say "AH __ AH ___ AH".
Sleigh: Say "Ding-a-ling" three times.

Stamp of Approval: Pound the palm of your left hand rapidly with your right fist. For another version, throw a handkerchief or cap in the air, have the boys stamp their feet until the cap hits the floor.

Steamboat: Use both hands to make large rotary motion as if they were paddle wheels. At the same time say "Chug-achug-chug". Then reach up with the right hand and pull down saying "Toot, Toot".

Super-scout: Faster then a speeding bullet, more powerful then a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. It's Super-scout!

Swimmer's Belly: Put both hands out in front of you and slap your hands together once. Look both ways and say, "Where's the water, where's the water."

Swine Yell: Suueeee, Pig! Pig! Pig!

Sword: Pretend to have a sword in your hand. Swing it across the body three times saying, "Swish, Swish, Swish."

Texas How: How! How! Howdy pardner!

Three Strikes: Turn head to the side sharply while saying, "Strike!" Do these three times and end with, "You're out!"

Tiger: Shout, "Grrrreat! Thrust fist upward Tony Tiger style.

Tightrope Walker: Have your arms out as if balancing on a tightrope. Lean to one side and say "Aaaiiiii" as you simulate falling.

Tonto: Leader says "Where does Tonto take his trash?" The audience yells in reply, "To de dump, to de dump, to de dump dump dump," to the rhythm of a running horse in a sing-song manner while clapping hands on thighs. (Like Lone Ranger)

Tortilla: Slap both hands together, alternating one hand and the other from top to bottom. On every fourth clap, shout, "OLE!"

Toucan Yell: Hold hands in front of mouth, simulating a bird opening its beak, several times while saying "TOUCAN, TOUCAN, TOUCAN! A CUB(SCOUT) CAN TOO!!!"

Train: Divide audience into groups to make different train sounds, get faster and faster until a bell rings.

Trumpet: da-da-da-da-dada-da-da-CHARGE!

Turkey Yell: Say "Gobble, gobble,," then rub stomach saying "Yum, yum".

Turtle: Fold arms in front of face with face hidden.

Two and One-half How's or How How Ugh Yell: Yell "How, How, Ugh!!" (as this is done emphasize each How with your fist in front of your body. On Ugh, yank your arms back to the side of your body. Do it more rapidly and bit off each word more quickly each time. Two and One-half How's (Tired): Instead of UGH, use a tired slow UUUUUUHHHHHH. For a variation, try the contented HOW, giving a sigh instead of the UGH.

Two-Handed Saw: Everyone pairs off into two's. Each pair sticks their hands out with their thumbs up. Alternately grab each other's thumbs until all four hands are each holding a thumb. Move arms and hands back and forth as if sawing.

Umpire: Stee-rike!

Viking: Attack! Attack! Attack! Retreat! Retreat! Retreat! Retreat!

Walk: Tramp, Tramp, Tramp.

Watermelon: Hold a piece of watermelon in both hands, make the motions of taking several bites, turn head and spit out the seeds.

Webelos Yell: Webelos are great, they can't be beat! So let's give a yell, Webelos are swell!

Weight lifter: Attempt to lift bar-bell and say "AAAaagh!" as you get the weight up above the head, then drop it to the floor saying, "THUD!"

When I Do: The orders are "When I bring my hands together, you do. When I do not, you must not." Then go through several false motions to see if you can catch the group napping.

Western How: Stamp feet three times, slap knees three times, whip hand around head three times, and yell "YIPPI-I-A."

Whip: Pretend to holding a whip and make the motion of snapping it in the air while saying "YWAH, YWAH, YWAH".

Witch: Say in witchy voice: "Heee, Heee, Heee."

Wolf: Wolf, wolf, wolf, then give wolf howl.

Yodelers: Cup hands around mouth saying, "Yodel, ley, lee, who."

Compiled by Daniel R. Mott: Roundtable Staff
District 23, West Jordan, Utah
With a couple contributions by Gary Hendra, Pack
and Troop 92, Milpitas, CA

Amateur Electrician: Fix light switch then turn on light and get shocked. Say: "Buzz-z-z-z," while shaking arm.

Electricity: Place both index fingers together and say "ZIP ZAP ZOP!"

Light Bulb: Pretend like screwing in light bulb, saying, "Bright, bright, bright."

Livewire: Grab onto a live electrical wire and shake the whole body, while saying “ZZZZZZZ”.

Locomotive: Begin by slapping your left arm slowly with your right hand. Gradually increase the speed, working down over the left palm to the end of the fingers. Then place your right hand over your eyes as if peering into the distance. Imitate a train whistle, -Whoo-whoo, whoo".

Mad Scientist: Pretend to hold up a test tube in one hand. Pour something into it, then add something else, then yell "KAB00000000M!!"

Sonic Boom: Open mouth and clap hands silently, wait a couple of seconds and yell “BOOM”!

Tightrope: Have your arms out pretending to balance yourself on a tightrope. Lean to one side and go "AHHHHH" as you simulate falling.

Teaching Tip - Even and Odd Chant

2012-01-11T17:09:00.000-08:00

Here's a fun chant to help kids remember their even and odd numbers:

0, 2, 4, 6, 8
Being EVEN is just great!
1, 3, 5, 7, 9
Being ODD is just fine!

Another version is:

0, 2, 4, 6, 8
Being EVEN is just great!
1, 3, 5, 7, 9
Being ODD like Frankenstein!

This is great for 1st and 2nd graders.

Teaching Tip - Setting time limits with a "Banana Split" chant

2012-01-11T17:00:00.000-08:00

Here's a playful way to set short time limits for younger children. We use it at kindergarten at school when kids are getting a drink of water or taking turns in some way. (I'm a substitute teacher so I visit lots of classrooms)

Have the child say:
One banana
Two banana
Three banana
SPLIT

They need to have their turn end when they hear the word "split." You can give them more "bananas" if they need more time. Such as "You can have 8 bananas to get a drink."

Works like a charm! Could be used at school, home, church, playgroups, Cub Scouts, etc.

Nursery - Door Sign

2012-01-09T17:27:00.000-08:00

Having worked in Nursery at church for several years, I noticed some recurring issues:

1) Parents who "hang out" in Nursery and don't attend their classes. Too many adults leads to overcrowding and lots of times the adults end up socializing and ignoring the kids. Not to mention that parents are missing their classes while we are taking time to provide a service for them so they can attend classes.

2) People coming and opening to door several times each hour (to check on their kids, drop something off, socialize, etc.). My worry with the door opening is that a little one will slip out unnoticed or get bonked when the door opens. It is also upsetting and/or distracting to the toddlers, especially if they are missing their parents. We have windows in the door for parents to peek in because they do have the right to check in at any time. They don't have the right to be a distraction though.

I put a JPG file up above of our door sign. Here are the words below in case you'd like to copy and paste it and then reformat it.

Attention Nursery Parents:
Our nursery is so very full with children dear and sweet

We like to teach them lessons and give them snacks to eat

But with so many small ones, it sometimes gets quite loud

With all these little toddlers, it feels like a big crowd.

Every time the door opens, we cause disruption for the kiddos

We kindly ask that parents check on children through the windows.

Thank you for NOT opening the door during our class time.

If you need something urgently, please KNOCK and we will quietly come to the door.

Also, we ask that no parents stay in the Nursery

unless you have been asked to sub.

Thanks! Your Nursery Leaders

My Giant Book of Mormon

2012-01-07T21:28:00.000-08:00

I love reading the scriptures and often write in the margins. I have a really nice set of scriptures that I read but I decided to purchase a "Extra Large Print Triple Combination" to use when I personally study the Book of Mormon (click HERE if you're interested in buying one too, they're only $5.00).

I bought it several months ago and LOVE it! There is so much room to write in the margins and it lays nice and flat when I am studying. I use it as a workbook and since it was only $5.00 I don't feel bad writing all my random thoughts and insights in it.

Only bad part is that I get teased! My friends saw me reading it one day while I was waiting for a meeting to start and church and they harassed me for being old and needing a large print book. I can take a lot of teasing, having grown up with all brothers, so I handled it well. They changed their tune once I showed them how cool it was to have all that space for notes and they saw all the stuff I had written in there.

Now that I have been asked to teach Primary this year, this "workbook" will come in even more handy. I can even put post in notes or sheets of paper in the book for when I am teaching.

Just thought I'd share my idea in case you'd like to try it. And I promise I won't tease you if you get one too.

P.S. We still use the Book of Mormon for Latter-day Saint Families for our family scripture study (see my earlier POST about that).

Primary Meet Your Teacher Pancake Breakfast

2012-01-07T21:15:00.000-08:00

We had a fun Meet Your Teacher breakfast for our Primary kids at church this morning.

Being the random, word-loving person that I am, when I got there I started thinking about IHOP and how those letter were all in the word BISHOP. The bishopric members were the ones cooking breakfast for everyone. So listed below is the nickname/acronym I came up with. I just couldn't help myself. It made me giggle.

BISHOP (instead of IHOP)
Bishopric's Incredibly Superb House Of Pancakes

During the breakfast, each teacher sat with their Primary class and chatted together. They gave each table a piece of paper and a die to roll. There were six questions on the paper. As a new Primary teacher, I really enjoyed getting to know the kids in my class better.

Here are the questions:
What's your favorite food?
Who's your favorite prophet and why?
What's your favorite subject in school?
What's your favorite hobby, sport, musical instrument?
Where would you like to go on vacation?
What's your favorite TV show?

It's not what you're eating, it's what's eating you.

2012-01-06T21:35:00.000-08:00

I was watching an episode of "Body of Proof" (medical examiner, crime, drama type show). In the episode, there was a very grouchy man who was struggling as he tried to diet. He was just miserable and was irritable to everyone near him. Finally, his friend/coworker sat next to him and asked him what was wrong. The friend said that he had a college professor who had said something that left an impression on him....

"It's not what you're eating, it's what's eating you."

That was a very insightful quote in my opinion. I googled it and found that there is even a book with that title. In the show, they were able to discuss feelings and gain insights.

Many women (and men) eat for reasons other than hunger. We can eat due to sadness, stress, happiness, nervousness, anxiety, etc. So the next time I find myself reaching for something to nibble when I am not really hungry, I am going to ask myself what's eating at me.

Help for Popular New Year's Resolutions

2011-12-31T06:45:00.000-08:00

Click HERE or on one of the links below to find some helpful links to aid you in achieving your resolutions this year.

Daughters in My Kingdom: The History and Work of the Relief Society

2011-12-29T19:17:00.000-08:00

Click HERE to read about "Daughters in My Kingdom: The History and Work of the Relief Society." It is a must-read for all women. You can download a free copy to read.

Here's a part of the book that shows the importance of reading it:
"The teachings, stories, and examples in the book can guide sisters in establishing priorities and practices in their lives that will help them increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek out and help those in need."

"The world's greatest champion of woman and womanhood is Jesus the Christ."
(by James E. Talmage, in Daughters in My Kingdom, page 3)

Primary Talk – Jesus Christ will someday return to the earth

2011-12-27T21:29:00.000-08:00

Forty days after Jesus was resurrected, He met with his apostles on a hill called the Mount of Olives. Jesus had done all the things that Heavenly Father had asked Him to do and He was ready to return to heaven. The apostles watched Jesus go up into heaven. As they watched, two angels visited them and told them that Jesus would return to earth again someday.

From that time until now, followers of Jesus have looked forward to His return. His return is called the Second Coming of Christ.

At the Second Coming, Jesus will come down from heaven with great power. He will cleanse the earth of all wickedness, and Satan will no longer have power over the people. Jesus will rule for a thousand years over all the people who have been faithful to Him.

Jesus has told us many things that will happen before He comes again. These things are called the signs of His Second Coming. He has told us to look for these signs and be ready for His coming. We will not know the exact time of His coming.

Many things will happen before Jesus comes to earth again. Some have already happened, some are happening now, and the rest will happen in the future.

Here are some things that will happen before Jesus’ Second Coming:

The gospel will be preached to all nations.

Other things that will happen will be challenging. There will be great wickedness, earthquakes, and other kinds of destruction.

The prophets said the gospel would be restored to earth before Jesus would come again. The gospel has been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith.

Jesus said we would know He was coming soon when the Book of Mormon had been published and given to the world.

The best way we can prepare for the Savior’s coming is to obey His teachings every day. We should keep the commandments and follow the prophet. We can live worthy to have the Holy Ghost guide us at all times. Then we will look forward to the Savior’s Second Coming with faith, not fear. The Lord said: “Fear not, little flock, the kingdom is yours until I come. Behold, I come quickly. Even so. Amen” (D&C 35:27).

When Jesus was born and lived on the earth, very few people knew that He, the Savior of the world, had come. When Jesus comes again, everyone will know He is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the Savior of the world.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Quotes - New Year's

2011-12-25T18:41:00.000-08:00

Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to. ~Bill Vaughn

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. ~Bill Vaughan

Many people look forward to the new year for a new start on old habits. ~Author Unknown

A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other. ~Author Unknown

Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. ~Benjamin Franklin

No one ever regarded the First of January with indifference. It is that from which all date their time, and count upon what is left. It is the nativity of our common Adam. ~Charles Lamb

New Year's Day is every man's birthday. ~Charles Lamb

Never tell your resolution beforehand, or it's twice as onerous a duty. ~John Selden

Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us. ~Hal Borland

The merry year is born
Like the bright berry from the naked thorn.
~Hartley Coleridge

New Year's eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights. ~Hamilton Wright Mabie

The Old Year has gone. Let the dead past bury its own dead. The New Year has taken possession of the clock of time. All hail the duties and possibilities of the coming twelve months! ~Edward Payson Powell

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right. ~Oprah Winfrey

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
~Alfred, Lord Tennyson, 1850

The proper behavior all through the holiday season is to be drunk. This drunkenness culminates on New Year's Eve, when you get so drunk you kiss the person you're married to. ~P.J. O'Rourke

Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past. ~Henry Ward Beecher

New Year's Day: Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual. ~Mark Twain

The new year begins in a snow-storm of white vows. ~George William Curtis

For last year's words belong to last year's language
And next year's words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
~T.S. Eliot, "Little Gidding"

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day. ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas. ~Author Unknown

And ye, who have met with Adversity's blast,
And been bow'd to the earth by its fury;
To whom the Twelve Months, that have recently pass'd
Were as harsh as a prejudiced jury -
Still, fill to the Future! and join in our chime,
The regrets of remembrance to cozen,
And having obtained a New Trial of Time,
Shout in hopes of a kindlier dozen.
~Thomas Hood

Drop the last year into the silent limbo of the past. Let it go, for it was imperfect, and thank God that it can go. ~Brooks Atkinson

Each age has deemed the new-born year
The fittest time for festal cheer.
~Walter Scott

Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account. ~Oscar Wilde

Glory to God in highest heaven,
Who unto man His Son hath given;
While angels sing with tender mirth,
A glad new year to all the earth.
~Martin Luther

A new oath holds pretty well; but... when it is become old, and frayed out, and damaged by a dozen annual retryings of its remains, it ceases to be serviceable; any little strain will snap it. ~Mark Twain, speech in New York City, 31 March 1885

But can one still make resolutions when one is over forty? I live according to twenty-year-old habits. ~Andre Gide

When then is lost, as time is by,
we look upon the yearly wine
to see our substance in the lees.
Did tribe and purse most pleasing leave?
To look for clear and faithful sense,
that gives a bodied stance bouquet,
then see the vat at mirror's face
and find in it, the yearly pace.
~E. Marshall, Vintner Epilogue (Happy Old Year)

Many years ago I resolved never to bother with New Year's resolutions, and I've stuck with it ever since. ~Dave Beard

I do think New Year's resolutions can't technically be expected to begin on New Year's Day, don't you? Since, because it's an extension of New Year's Eve, smokers are already on a smoking roll and cannot be expected to stop abruptly on the stroke of midnight with so much nicotine in the system. Also dieting on New Year's Day isn't a good idea as you can't eat rationally but really need to be free to consume whatever is necessary, moment by moment, in order to ease your hangover. I think it would be much more sensible if resolutions began generally on January the second. ~Helen Fielding, Bridget Jones's Diary

New Year's Eve, where auld acquaintance be forgot. Unless, of course, those tests come back positive. ~Jay Leno

We meet today
To thank Thee for the era done,
And Thee for the opening one.
~John Greenleaf Whittier

One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this: To rise above the little things. ~John Burroughs

Of all sound of all bells... most solemn and touching is the peal which rings out the Old Year. ~Charles Lamb

A happy New Year! Grant that I
May bring no tear to any eye
When this New Year in time shall end
Let it be said I've played the friend,
Have lived and loved and labored here,
And made of it a happy year.
~Edgar Guest

It wouldn't be New Year's if I didn't have regrets. ~William Thomas

We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives... not looking for flaws, but for potential. ~Ellen Goodman

May all your troubles last as long as your New Year's resolutions. ~Joey Adams

He who breaks a resolution is a weakling;
He who makes one is a fool.
~F.M. Knowles

The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes. Unless a particular man made New Year resolutions, he would make no resolutions. Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective. ~G.K. Chesterton

I think in terms of the day's resolutions, not the year's. ~Henry Moore

Time has no divisions to mark its passage, there is never a thunder-storm or blare of trumpets to announce the beginning of a new month or year. Even when a new century begins it is only we mortals who ring bells and fire off pistols. ~Thomas Mann

I made no resolutions for the New Year. The habit of making plans, of criticizing, sanctioning and molding my life, is too much of a daily event for me. ~Anaïs Nin

Why won't they let a year die without bringing in a new one on the instant, can't they use birth control on time? I want an interregnum. The stupid years patter on with unrelenting feet, never stopping - rising to little monotonous peaks in our imaginations at festivals like New Year's and Easter and Christmas - But, goodness, why need they do it? ~John Dos Passos, 1917

New Year's is a harmless annual institution, of no particular use to anybody save as a scapegoat for promiscuous drunks, and friendly calls and humbug resolutions. ~Mark Twain

Every man regards his own life as the New Year's Eve of time. ~Jean Paul Richter

From THIS WEBSITE

Quote - Make Peace with your Past

2011-12-23T14:04:00.000-08:00

MAKE PEACE WITH YOUR PAST

SO
IT WON’T MESS UP YOUR FUTURE

Don’t judge past behavior by present knowledge

Christmas Goodies - The Dilemma

2011-12-23T08:10:00.000-08:00

We have a dilemma in our house. I am feeling a bit like the Little Red Hen. (click HERE if you're not familiar with the story) If you can't tell, I may have overworked myself recently and am feeling frustrated. Here's the scoop.

Yesterday I spent most of the day baking cookies and treats for neighbor and friend gifts. (Did I mention we have a LOT of neighbors and friends?) Usually I enjoy baking, but not so much during the month of December when I am so short on time and my to do list is so big. (Did I mention that my Christmas gifts are not wrapped and I still have some shopping to do? Feeling the Christmas crunch pressure) Of course my kids were too busy playing with friends to help make the cookies. And the hubby was working at home all day but somehow did find time to go to Costco to buy a huge TV that he's been dreaming about... (Yes, I know I am sounding a little whiny and poor-me-ish)

We've been receiving several plates of goodies, homemade salsa, clever gifts, etc. every night for the last two weeks. Every time the doorbell rings, my kids run to the door to get the goodies and they usually devour them before the night is through.

Here's where "Angry Baking Mama" gets grouchy. Last night, I asked my husband and children to DELIVER the goodies that I put together. Keep in mind that I shopped for the ingredients, I put the ingredients together, I baked the cookies, I put the plates together and I made the cute tags, etc. They all started murmuring and complaining about having to deliver the goodies.

So I gave an ultimatum... I said, "Whoever makes and/or delivers the Christmas goodies to others gets to eat the ones that we receive. You don't help GIVE, you don't RECEIVE!"

In the story, the Little Red Hen said, "Who will help me make this bread?"

In the case of Angry Baking Mama it would be, "Who will help me make these cookies?".... "Who will help me package up these cookies?"... "Who will help me deliver these cookies?"...

"Not I," said Son 1.
"Not I," said Son 2.
"Not I," said Son 3.
"Not I," said the Hubby.

Then at the end of the story, the Little Red Hen asks, "Who is going to eat this bread?"

Angry Baking Mama asks, "Who will help me eat the platefuls of caloric goodies that are coming through our front door?"

"I will," grunted Son 1.

"I will," quacked Son 2.

"I will," purred Son 3.

"Oh no, you won't," said the Angry Baking Mama "I bought the ingredients, I baked the goodies, I packaged the cookies, I cleaned up the kitchen, I delivered the cookies all by myself. I shall now eat the neighbor gifts all by myself."

Son 1, Son 2, Son 3 and the hubby all stood and watched as the Angry Baking Mama ate all the Christmas goodies all by herself. It was delicious and she enjoyed it, right to the very last crumb.

Okay, so maybe I didn't and won't eat all the goodies since I really don't feel like gaining weight and getting a sugar rush and tummy ache but it sort of sounds fun in theory.

Epilogue: Hubby did reluctantly commit to help deliver the goodies today and there is still hope that the boys will help out without murmuring and mumbling the whole time.... In the meantime, Angry Baking Mama earned herself a pedicure and a chance to ponder and plan out how to simplify things for next year while the rest of the family goes out delivering and delivering and delivering.

Merry Christmas everyone and I hope that you don't feel alone if you're a Little Red Hen this time of year too.

T-shirt Scarfs

2011-12-23T07:32:00.000-08:00

My sister-in-law found these cute scarfs on-line and made some of her own. I love that it doesn't involve sewing! I also love that you can make them using things you already have around the house.

Wouldn't this be fun to make with the Young Women at church or the older Activity Day girls? I'll be "repurposing" some old t-shirts and may ask my brother for some of his old hand-me-downs.

Click HERE for instructions.

Christmas Gift Idea Sayings

2011-12-10T17:31:00.000-08:00

I stumbled across THIS WEBSITE which has lots of cute sayings to go with small gifts. It has lots of fun and cheesy stuff (which I like).

Here's a sampling of what is on there....

1. M&M's - "Have a Merry and Most wonderful Holiday Season!!"
2. Soup or soup mix - Wishing you a "Souper" Holiday Season!!
3. Frozen or ready to bake pizza - "Warm up to a wonderful Holiday Season "Topped" with Christmas cheer!"

4. Apples and Hershey's Hugs - A teacher can't live by apples alone...She needs "Hugs" too!!
5. Popcorn Balls - Hoping you have a "Ball" this Holiday Season!
6. Loaf of Bread - For being there when you were "Kneaded", for "Rising" to the occasion, large or small. For never "Loafing" on the job, for helping others to "Heel" with TLC. No matter how you "Slice it", you do a terrific job loving Others. Merry Christmas!!
7. Jolly Ranchers - Have a Holly"Jolly" Christmas!!
8. Rootbeer - We're "Root"ing for you to have a Happy Holiday Season and a Wonderful New Year!!
9. Chex Party Mix - Remember Santa "Chex" his list twice to see who's been naughty or nice...so be good for goodness sake!! Merry Christmas!!
10. Box of Hostess Ho-Ho's - Hope a merry "HO - HO - H0" fills your heart the whole year through! (Put a Santa sticker on the label)
11. Wire wisk - (Filled with Chocolate kisses) "We WHISK you a Merry KISSmas!!"
12. Jar of Jelly - jelly is like love - you can't spread it around without getting some on yourself! Merry Christmas!!
13. Christmas Tray - We "Tray"sure your friendship! Merry Christmas!!
14. Bell - With each chime of this festive bell, may a Christmas wish come true. And bring you peace and happiness to last the whole year through! Merry Christmas!
15. Yule Log - "We send you warm greetings this Christmas Season!!"
16. Potpourri - "May this sweet scent bring back thoughts of warm Christmases long ago!" Merry Christmas!
17. Cleaners - "You add sparkle and make our life brighter!" Merry Christmas!
18. Nuts - "We're nuts about you!" Merry Christmas!
19 Lifesavers - " You've been a life saver!" Have a great Christmas!
20. A juice pitcher filled with candy canes- "We pitcher you raising a little "cane" during the holidays!" Have a merry Christmas!!
21. Broom - You're "Dust" the finest neighbors we know! Merry Christmas!
22. Paper Towels - "Blot out your troubles; absorb the Christmas Spirit!"
23. Measuring Cup or Glass Measure - "Wishing you Joy Beyond Measure!
24. Bananas - If we could choose our friends, and we searched the whole world through, we'd go bananas trying to find a better bunch than you!!"
25. Any Star ornament - "Remember the reason for the season!"
26. Chocolate Mousse Mix - "Merry Christmousse" to our "Deer" Friends!
27. Wooden spoon - Whether stirring up cakes, cookies, soups or soufflés; You'll find this spoon useful in so many ways. But whatever it's use, it says, "Merry Merry Christmas from us to you!"
28. Flower - "If friends were flowers, we'd pick you! Happy Holidays!! Or "You make friendship bloom all year round!"
29. Heart Christmas Ornament - "May the Joy and Love you give away, come back to you on Christmas day!"
30. Cinnamon Sprinkles - (Cinnamon & Sugar, or cookie sprinkles) "May your Christmas be sprinkled with laughter and love!" Merry Christmas!
31. Hersheys Hugs - "A friend always knows when you need a little hug!"
32. Christmas music..CD or Tape - "May the sweet song of Christmas make your heart rejoice!" Or "May the merry sounds of Christmas bring a Joyful Melody to your holiday season" Merry Christmas!!
33. Filled Basket - "Wishing you a basket full of Christmas blessings"
34. Salsa - "Add a little Spice to your Holidays!" Merry Christmas!
35. Stocking or filled Jar - "Have a fun filled Christmas this year!"
36. Lamb - "Have "eweself" a Merry little Christmas!!"
37. Candle - "May your days be happy, your heart be light, your Christmas merry and the New Year Bright!!
38. Holly - "Happy Hollydays!"
39. Calendar - "Keep Christmas in your heart the whole year through!"
40. Shaped Sugar Cookies - "Rolling out a batch of Christmas Cheer, for Someone we think is very dear!!"
41. Cherry 7-up - "Just a Little Christmas Cheer from Happy Hearts this time of year!! Merry Christmas!!"
42. Sparkling Cider - "Wishing you a Sparkling Holiday Season!"
43. Warm Casserole or Bread - "Bundled up with warm wishes!!"
44. Popcorn or Carmel Corn - "Just "Popping" by with a Holiday Hi!" Or "May your Holidays be Poppin'!"
45. Seasoning Mix - "Seasoned with Love" Merry Christmas!!
46. Eggbeater - "Have an "Eggstra" Special Holiday!!"
47. Hersheys Hugs and Kisses - "Christmas Hugs and Kisses to You " Or "Holiday Hugs and Kisses to you!"
48. Apple Pie of Apple Crisp - "Wishing you a Scrumptious Christmas!"
49. Fruit Basket - "May your New Year be Festive and Fruitful!!"
50. Any Sweet Treat - "Wishing you a season filled with sweetness!"
51. Oranges - " Orange" you glad we're Friends!?" Merry Christmas!!
52. Chocolate Orange - "Orange" you glad it's Christmas? Hope your Christmas is a Sweet one!
53. Sprite - " May your Christmas be Merry and Sprite!" 54. Ice Cream Snowballs and Hot Fudge - " Here's some packaged" snowball" treats - Just Drizzle Hot Fudge and its ready to eat!... Enjoy!!"
55. Snicker Bar - "Don't "Snicker", just be glad you got Something!!"
56. Mints - "Friends like you are worth a Mint!!" Merry Christmas!!
57. Matches - "No one Matches you as neighbors!" Merry Christmas!
58. Strainer - (With a christmas bow) " We couldn't restrain ourselves from wishing you a very Merry Christmas!!"
59. Box of Light Bulbs - "Have a bright and radiant Christmas"
60. Bubble Gum or Bubble Bath - "May your holidays "Bubble" over with fun!!
61 Pencil and Notepad - "Merry Christmas from our pad to yours!!"or Merry Christmas to a "noteworthy" friend!"
62. Jar of Pickles - "Just in brine, Our wish for a merry Christmas!!"
63. Grater and Cheese - " To a Grate Neighbor! Merry Christmas!"
64. Ice Cream - "Have a "Cool" Yule!!"
65. Bear shaped Honey - "Have a Bear Sweet Christmas!!"
66. Santa - "Ho - Ho - Hoping your Christmas is Heavenly!"
67. Angel - "Hoping you have a Heavenly Christmas!!"
68. Eggnog - " Have an "Udderly Moovalous" Christmas!!"
69. Gingerbread House - "Nibble, Nibble like a mouse, We hope you'll nibble at this house!" Merry Christmas!!
70. Mugs with Hot Chocolate Mix - "To our special friends who are so Dear, We wish you all a cup of Cheer!" (One Mug would be a special gift for a Teacher. "To a Special Teacher dear, wishing you a "Cup of Cheer"!"
71. Cocoa Mix - "Wishing you a warm and wonderful Christmas!"
72. Muffins or Muffin mix - " You're getting "Muffin" for Christmas!!"
73. Gum - "By Gum, You're a great Neighbor!! "Have a Merry Christmas"
74. Veggies and Dip - "Dip into a wonderful Holiday season and a Healthy New Year!"
75. Christmas Shaped pasta - ( Or any Pasta and a bottle of Sauce ) "Have a Pasta-tively Happy Holiday!"
76. Jar of Jam - "Hoping you have a Holiday "Jammed" packed with fun!!" "Have a "Berry" nice holiday season!!" Or "Hoping your Christmas is "Jam-packed" with Christmas Cheer!!"
77. Cookie Dough - "Here's a little extra "Dough" for Christmas!Or "Everyone Needs a little extra "Dough" for Christmas!!"
78. Homemade Frozen Rolls - "Here's a little holiday treat. Rise and bake, it can't be beat! Warm fresh rolls just for you. Top with butter that's all you do! Warm Holiday Greetings to you"
79. Brownie Mix - (Or any Mix) "Whip up this mix for a wonderful holiday fix! Wishing you a "rich" Holiday Season!!" (Be sure to attach the recipe!)
80. Homemade carmels - Hoping you have a "Rich" and "wonderful" Holiday!!"
81. Pie - "Just a "Holiday Hi" and a tasty Pie!! Happy Holidays!!"
82. Divinity - "May your Christmas be "Divine" and your Holidays so Fine! Sweet Christmas Wishes!"
83. Rice Krispie Treats - "Snap, Crackle, Pop" We think You're really Tops! "
84. Toffee or Brittle - "Any way you break it, We think you're the greatest!"
85. Fudge - "Fudge" a little on the calories and enjoy the Holiday Season!"
86. Cheese Ball and Crackers - "We don't mean to sound "Cheesy", we just hope you have a "Ball" this Holiday Season! Or "Spread a little Christmas Cheer this Holiday Season!"
87. Apple Anything - (Pie, Cobbler, crisp, muffins etc.) "Sending you a "Bushel" of love this holiday Season!!" Or " You are the apple of my eye, Teacher!"
88. Banana Bread - "Banana Bread just for you, because you have so much to do... We also love you a whole "Bunch" too! Merry Christmas!"
89. Cinnamon Rolls - "Here's a sweet treat "Rolled" up with warm Holiday Wishes! Merry Christmas!"
90. Homemade Chocolates - " You're so Sweet...having you as neighbors is really a treat! Have a Heavenly Holiday Season!"
91. Cake or Cupcakes - "You take the "Cake" neighbor, We think you're first rate! Happy Holidays to you!!"
92. Cornbread or Mix - "We're not trying to be "Corny" we just want you to have Merry Christmas!"
93. Carrot Cake - " I Really "Carrot" a lot about you!! Merry Christmas"
94. Spiced Drink Mixes - " Hoping your Holidays are "Spiced" Just right!"
95. Homemade Ice cream of a Frozen Treat - "Here's the Scoop,,,,Hoping your Holidays are a "Blizzard" of fun!"
96. Recipe - "Just like you friend...it's tried and true, just for you! Happy Holiday Baking or Merry Christmas Cooking!"
97. Pizza - "Hope your Holiday has a touch of "Pizza - z!!" Merry Christmas!!"
98. Candle - "You Light up my Life!" Thanks for your friendship! May your Christmas be Merry and Bright!"
99. Crayons and Coloring Book - Hope your Holidays are Colorful!
100. Plant - " The kindness you show makes our friendship grow and grow! Hope you have a Happy Holiday!!"
101. Soda Pop - "I'd "Soda" like to wish you a merry Christmas!
102. Stuffed animal - (Beanie Baby) "Pawsing" to wish you a Merry Christmas!"
103. Donuts - "Donut" you know we love you??? Have a happy Holiday

Christmas Gift Ideas for Neighbors

2011-12-06T06:08:00.000-08:00

I loved these fun ideas I read about HERE (I cut and pasted them below for you).

One of the most magical parts of Christmas is the opportunity to give. We’ve helped make gift-giving simple and affordable this season by sharing our top Christmas neighbor gift ideas. Gather your family, vote on your favorites, and make some magical Christmas memories together.

That’s right, our #1 neighbor gift idea is No Gifts. As fun as it is to give and receive Christmas gifts from neighbors, we wanted our #1 idea to be one that truly encompasses the true meaning of the Christmas spirit.

This idea could take a little planning on your part, but the rewards could be the greatest.

Instead of giving neighbor Christmas gifts, agree as a neighborhood not to. Use all of the money that would have been spent on each other towards a charitable cause.

Here is an example of a possible invitation for a neighborhood caroling night:

“Instead of giving neighborhood gifts, 
Together a family’s hearts we will lift. 
Use that money to fill your shopping cart 
With toys and food, a gift from the heart. 
One family will start the caroling tradition 
Singing while on a neighborhood mission. 
We’ll arrive on your doorstep singing a song, 
Grab your family and join in, you’ll come right along. 
But before stepping out and starting to sing
Don’t forget your charitable donation to bring. 
To the next door we’ll carol and add to our crowd 
We’ll add and we’ll add ‘til we’re incredibly loud. 
Finally we’ll stop for a neighborhood treat, 
At the Cauffmans’ home we will mingle and greet. 

Although our fingers and toes may be freezin’ 
We will capture the true spirit of this special season.

“Please join us as our neighborhood carols for a cause on December 15th. We will start caroling at 7 o’clock and pick up your family sometime shortly thereafter. We plan to finish at the Cauffmans’ home for treats around 8 o’clock. Thank you for being a part of something bigger this year as our neighborhood grants a special family’s Christmas wish. Think of the smiles…”

At first glance, it is easy to look at a towel as a most ordinary object. Have you ever stopped to think that for thousands of years, the towel has been used for many wonderful purposes? For example, the mother who wipes the tears of a child to soothe an emotional or physical hurt, the physician who binds the wounds of a bleeding patient, or the woman in her home wiping her hands as she moves from task to task.

Perhaps the most significant use of the towel happened nearly two thousand years ago when our Savior, only hours before He hung on the cross, took an ordinary towel in His loving hands and dried the feet of His disciples. This simple, loving act personifies the selflessness and loving service we seek to give during our lives. It illustrates that an ordinary thing like a towel, in the right hands, and with a giving heart, can lighten another’s load. As with every action performed by the Savior on this earth, His act of service reminds us that simple day-to-day kindnesses are the Savior’s way to bless and comfort.

Tag idea: “This towel is given with love and with the hope you will do works of goodness with it as the Savior did so many years ago. May the absorbing spirit of the season blot our problems, soak up sorrows, wipe away difficulties, and may your holidays be shining and bright!’

Doing the dishes for your neighbor? What could be a better gift than that? Deliver paper plates with a tag saying, “Don’t let your dishes pile up this busy holiday season. Let our family ‘do the dishes’ this week!"

Batteries are essentials on Christmas morning. Your neighbors will appreciate this practical gift!
Tag idea: “Hope you have enough energy to make it through the holidays! Merry Christmas!”

The best gifts are always simple, useful, and inexpensive. Try this easy idea: transparent tape. We all need it, especially at Christmastime. Decorate it or simply put the rhyme on it.

Here’s the poem that can be attached to it:

“Christmastime is often a rush,
With so much to do and no time to hush.
We hope this tape on the fridge in full sight,
Will keep you home from the store one more night!”
Cute, huh? But here’s what makes it ingenious: hot glue a magnet on the back so that it never gets lost because it’s on the refrigerator. We love this.
Our dollar store has the dispenser that is solid on the back so it’s easy to glue the magnet on. Dispensers with an open back wouldn’t work as well, so keep that in mind when you’re buying your tape.
We keep our tape on the side of the refrigerator all year and never have to scramble to find it. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

We love giving this gift. Not only that, we’d love to receive this! This no-calorie gift is practical and fun to receive, and you can use any type of soap.

Tag idea: “We wash you a merry Christmas, we wash you a merry Christmas, we wash you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!”

Attach to a bag of M&M’s a tag that says the following:

“As you hold these candies in your hand and turn them you will see,
The M become a W, an E, and then a 3.
They tell the Christmas story, it’s the one I’m sure you know.
It took place in a stable a long, long time ago.
The E is for the East, where the star shone so bright.
The M is for the manger where baby Jesus slept that night.
The 3 is for the Wise Men bearing gifts and so they came.
W is for worship—Hallelujah, praise His name.
So as you eat these candies, or share them with a friend,
Remember the meaning of Christmas . . . It’s a story that never ends.”

Spread some love this season with holiday heart attacks!

You’ve probably seen paper “heart attacks” around Valentine’s Day, but why not show your neighbors some love at Christmas time? Make a bunch of Christmas-colored hearts with your family and write little notes to your neighbors on them. Then stick them on the front of their door for a fun holiday heart attack surprise!

Do you often take the opportunity to tell your friends and neighbors how grateful you are and that you “take note” of how much they do for you? Christmas is the perfect occasion for gratitude and recognition, and this is the perfect avenue.

Everyone can use a cute note pad. We got ours at a craft store for a dollar, and it has a magnet on the back (added plus). Remove the cellophane and personalize it by being the first one to leave a note for your friend.

Christmas is always so busy, so why not take all the hard work you did in the summer and make Christmas a breeze? We took gallons of cherries and made them into Christmas gifts in July, so when the holidays arrived we were already prepared.

Tag idea: “Don’t let the season get you in a jam. We hope this helps keep your Christmas cherry and bright.”
If you’re feeling ambitious, take your jam with a loaf of bread or some rolls. Too busy for any of the homemade stuff? Buy the jam, decorate it, and you’re good to go!

These are so great for cold toes after sledding or a snowball fight. You just pop them in the microwave for a couple minutes, put them on your cold toes or hands, and—aahh—instant warmth. They are also great for sore muscles.

Tag idea: “Stay warm and toasty this holiday season. Merry Christmas!”

To make: Sew a pouch, fill it with wheat or rice, and sew it closed. I used a washcloth for my material and added a ribbon embellishment, but you could use any fabric. (Be sure not to use ribbon with wire in it—for obvious reasons.)

Clean and cover any type of can that has a lid (baby formula cans work great) with festive scrapbook paper or wrapping paper. Grab your favorite cookie recipe and start baking with your family.

Fill your Christmas cookie cans (to the brim please!) and deliver to smiling neighbors and friends.

Dinnertime is crazy, especially during the holidays. Relieve your neighbors one night by ‘making’ them dinner: a frozen meal. If you have enough time, you can make a day of it and make a lot of frozen dinners . . . or just buy some. Either way, you can feel good knowing you’ve helped out your neighbor for one night.

Tag idea: “‘What’s for dinner?’ During the holidays we hear this a lot; just heat this [lasagna] until it is hot!”

Attach Christmas tags and bows to a roll of wrapping paper and you have an easy neighbor Christmas gift you know they can use.

Tag idea: “Wrap yourself up in a wonderful holiday season.”

We hope these gift-giving ideas make your Christmas season a little simpler, and hopefully you make some sweet family memories.

Various Christmas Gift Ideas

2011-11-20T11:57:00.000-08:00

Here are a few links that have lots of ideas for Christmas gifts.

From "The Idea Door" click HERE

From "HGTV" click HERE

Gift Idea - Christmas Pillow

2011-11-20T11:53:00.000-08:00

Decorate a pillow case and give as a gift with the following poem. Click HERE for the link.

December the first starts a magical time,

With all sorts of colors, ribbons, and rhyme...

Sugar plum fairies will dance in your head....

If you put this special pillowcase on your bed.

The reason its special, as you will soon see

Is that it's been dusted with Christmas Fancy!

Visions of candy canes, Santa and treasures

Will fill each dream with sweetness and pleasures.

When the time comes for it to be washed

Do it quickly so no magic is lost.

Gift Idea - Christmas Blanket

2011-11-20T11:47:00.000-08:00

Click HERE to see a cute and easy Christmas gift idea for neighbors or friends. It is from the blog called http://preparednotscared.blogspot.com/.

Check out my friend's new blog...

2011-11-20T09:36:00.000-08:00

Click HERE to view a great new blog that my friend has created. www.i2i2blog.blogspot.com/

Talk - Forget Me Not

2011-11-20T09:19:00.000-08:00

Click HERE to read an amazing talk by President Uchtdorf. I designed the handout above to give to the ladies that I visit teach.

Here's the talk...

My dear sisters, what a joy it is to be with you today. I always look forward to this annual general Relief Society meeting and the excellent messages given here. Thank you, sisters. It is a precious honor for me to be assigned by President Thomas S. Monson to speak today and to add a few thoughts addressing the sisters of the Church.

A while ago I was walking through a beautiful garden with my wife and daughter. I marveled at the glory and beauty of God’s creation. And then I noticed, among all the glorious blooms, the tiniest flower. I knew the name of this flower because since I was a child I have had a tender connection to it. The flower is called forget-me-not.

I’m not exactly sure why this tiny flower has meant so much to me over the years. It does not attract immediate attention; it is easy to overlook among larger and more vibrant flowers; yet it is just as beautiful, with its rich color that mirrors that of the bluest skies—perhaps this is one reason why I like it so much.

And there is the haunting plea of its name. There is a German legend that just as God had finished naming all the plants, one was left unnamed. A tiny voice spoke out, “Forget me not, O Lord!” And God replied that this would be its name.

Tonight I would like to use this little flower as a metaphor. The five petals of the little forget-me-not flower prompt me to consider five things we would be wise never to forget.

First, forget not to be patient with yourself.

I want to tell you something that I hope you will take in the right way: God is fully aware that you and I are not perfect.

Let me add: God is also fully aware that the people you think are perfect are not.

And yet we spend so much time and energy comparing ourselves to others—usually comparing our weaknesses to their strengths. This drives us to create expectations for ourselves that are impossible to meet. As a result, we never celebrate our good efforts because they seem to be less than what someone else does.

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses.

It’s wonderful that you have strengths.

And it is part of your mortal experience that you do have weaknesses.

God wants to help us to eventually turn all of our weaknesses into strengths,¹ but He knows that this is a long-term goal. He wants us to become perfect,² and if we stay on the path of discipleship, one day we will. It’s OK that you’re not quite there yet. Keep working on it, but stop punishing yourself.

Dear sisters, many of you are endlessly compassionate and patient with the weaknesses of others. Please remember also to be compassionate and patient with yourself.

In the meantime, be thankful for all the small successes in your home, your family relationships, your education and livelihood, your Church participation and personal improvement. Like the forget-me-nots, these successes may seem tiny to you and they may go unnoticed by others, but God notices them and they are not small to Him. If you consider success to be only the most perfect rose or dazzling orchid, you may miss some of life’s sweetest experiences.

For example, insisting that you have a picture-perfect family home evening each week—even though doing so makes you and everyone around you miserable—may not be the best choice. Instead, ask yourself, “What could we do as a family that would be enjoyable and spiritual and bring us closer together?” That family home evening—though it may be modest in scope and execution—may have far more positive long-term results.

Our journey toward perfection is long, but we can find wonder and delight in even the tiniest steps in that journey.

Second, forget not the difference between a good sacrifice and a foolish sacrifice.

An acceptable sacrifice is when we give up something good for something of far greater worth.

Giving up a little sleep to help a child who is having a nightmare is a good sacrifice. We all know this. Staying up all night, jeopardizing our own health, to make the perfect accessory for a daughter’s Sunday outfit may not be such a good sacrifice.

Dedicating some of our time to studying the scriptures or preparing to teach a lesson is a good sacrifice. Spending many hours stitching the title of the lesson into homemade pot holders for each member of your class perhaps may not be.

Every person and situation is different, and a good sacrifice in one instance might be a foolish sacrifice in another.

How can we tell the difference for our own situation? We can ask ourselves, “Am I committing my time and energies to the things that matter most?” There are so many good things to do, but we can’t do all of them. Our Heavenly Father is most pleased when we sacrifice something good for something far greater with an eternal perspective. Sometimes, that may even mean nurturing small but beautiful forget-me-not flowers instead of a large garden of exotic blooms.

Third, forget not to be happy now.

In the beloved children’s story Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the mysterious candy maker Willy Wonka hides a golden ticket in five of his candy bars and announces that whoever finds one of the tickets wins a tour of his factory and a lifetime supply of chocolate.

Written on each golden ticket is this message: “Greetings to you, the lucky finder of this Golden Ticket … ! Tremendous things are in store for you! Many wonderful surprises await you! … Mystic and marvelous surprises … will … delight, … astonish, and perplex you.”³

In this classic children’s story, people all over the world desperately yearn to find a golden ticket. Some feel that their entire future happiness depends on whether or not a golden ticket falls into their hands. In their anxiousness, people begin to forget the simple joy they used to find in a candy bar. The candy bar itself becomes an utter disappointment if it does not contain a golden ticket.

So many people today are waiting for their own golden ticket—the ticket that they believe holds the key to the happiness they have always dreamed about. For some, the golden ticket may be a perfect marriage; for others, a magazine-cover home or perhaps freedom from stress or worry.

There is nothing wrong with righteous yearnings—we hope and seek after things that are “virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy.”⁴ The problem comes when we put our happiness on hold as we wait for some future event—our golden ticket—to appear.

One woman wanted more than anything else to marry a righteous priesthood holder in the temple and be a mother and a wife. She had dreamed about this all her life, and oh, what a wonderful mother and loving wife she would be. Her home would be filled with loving-kindness. Never a bitter word would be spoken. The food would never burn. And her children, instead of hanging out with their friends, would prefer to spend their evenings and weekends with Mom and Dad.

This was her golden ticket. It was the one thing upon which she felt her whole existence depended. It was the one thing in all the world for which she most desperately yearned.

But it never happened. And, as the years went on, she became more and more withdrawn, bitter, and even angry. She could not understand why God would not grant her this righteous desire.

She worked as an elementary school teacher, and being around children all day long simply reminded her that her golden ticket had never appeared. As the years passed she became more disappointed and withdrawn. People didn’t like being around her and avoided her whenever they could. She even took her frustration out on the children at school. She found herself losing her temper, and she swung between fits of anger and desperate loneliness.

The tragedy of this story is that this dear woman, in all her disappointment about her golden ticket, failed to notice the blessings she did have. She did not have children in her home, but she was surrounded by them in her classroom. She was not blessed with a family, but the Lord had given her an opportunity few people have—the chance to influence for good the lives of hundreds of children and families as a teacher.

The lesson here is that if we spend our days waiting for fabulous roses, we could miss the beauty and wonder of the tiny forget-me-nots that are all around us.

This is not to say that we should abandon hope or temper our goals. Never stop striving for the best that is within you. Never stop hoping for all of the righteous desires of your heart. But don’t close your eyes and hearts to the simple and elegant beauties of each day’s ordinary moments that make up a rich, well-lived life.

The happiest people I know are not those who find their golden ticket; they are those who, while in pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments. They are the ones who, thread by daily thread, weave a tapestry of gratitude and wonder throughout their lives. These are they who are truly happy.

Fourth, forget not the “why” of the gospel.

Sometimes, in the routine of our lives, we unintentionally overlook a vital aspect of the gospel of Jesus Christ, much as one might overlook a beautiful, delicate forget-me-not. In our diligent efforts to fulfill all of the duties and obligations we take on as members of the Church, we sometimes see the gospel as a long list of tasks that we must add to our already impossibly long to-do list, as a block of time that we must somehow fit into our busy schedules. We focus on what the Lord wants us to do and how we might do it, but we sometimes forget why.

My dear sisters, the gospel of Jesus Christ is not an obligation; it is a pathway, marked by our loving Father in Heaven, leading to happiness and peace in this life and glory and inexpressible fulfillment in the life to come. The gospel is a light that penetrates mortality and illuminates the way before us.

While understanding the “what” and the “how” of the gospel is necessary, the eternal fire and majesty of the gospel springs from the “why.” When we understand why our Heavenly Father has given us this pattern for living, when we remember why we committed to making it a foundational part of our lives, the gospel ceases to become a burden and, instead, becomes a joy and a delight. It becomes precious and sweet.

Let us not walk the path of discipleship with our eyes on the ground, thinking only of the tasks and obligations before us. Let us not walk unaware of the beauty of the glorious earthly and spiritual landscapes that surround us.

My dear sisters, seek out the majesty, the beauty, and the exhilarating joy of the “why” of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The “what” and “how” of obedience mark the way and keep us on the right path. The “why” of obedience sanctifies our actions, transforming the mundane into the majestic. It magnifies our small acts of obedience into holy acts of consecration.

Fifth, forget not that the Lord loves you.

As a child, when I would look at the little forget-me-nots, I sometimes felt a little like that flower—small and insignificant. I wondered if I would be forgotten by my family or by my Heavenly Father.

Years later I can look back on that young boy with tenderness and compassion. And I do know now—I was never forgotten.

And I know something else: as an Apostle of our Master, Jesus Christ, I proclaim with all the certainty and conviction of my heart—neither are you!

You are not forgotten.

Sisters, wherever you are, whatever your circumstances may be, you are not forgotten. No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you with an infinite love.

Just think of it: You are known and remembered by the most majestic, powerful, and glorious Being in the universe! You are loved by the King of infinite space and everlasting time!

He who created and knows the stars knows you and your name—you are the daughters of His kingdom. The Psalmist wrote:

“When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

“What is man, that thou art mindful of him? …

“For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.”⁵

God loves you because you are His child. He loves you even though at times you may feel lonely or make mistakes.

The love of God and the power of the restored gospel are redemptive and saving. If you will only allow His divine love into your life, it can dress any wound, heal any hurt, and soften any sorrow.

My dear Relief Society sisters, you are closer to heaven than you suppose. You are destined for more than you can possibly imagine. Continue to increase in faith and personal righteousness. Accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ as your way of life. Cherish the gift of activity in this great and true Church. Treasure the gift of service in the blessed organization of Relief Society. Continue to strengthen homes and families. Continue to seek out and help others who need your and the Lord’s help.

Sisters, there is something inspiring and sublime about the little forget-me-not flower. I hope it will be a symbol of the little things that make your lives joyful and sweet. Please never forget that you must be patient and compassionate with yourselves, that some sacrifices are better than others, that you need not wait for a golden ticket to be happy. Please never forget that the “why” of the gospel of Jesus Christ will inspire and uplift you. And never forget that your Heavenly Father knows, loves, and cherishes you.

Thank you for who you are. Thank you for the countless acts of love and service you offer up to so many. Thank you for all that you will yet do to bring the joy of the gospel of Jesus Christ to families, to the Church, to your communities, and to the nations of the world.

Sisters, we love you. It is my prayer and blessing that you will never forget that you are truly precious daughters in God’s kingdom, in the sacred name of our beloved Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.

Talk - The Gift of the Holy Ghost: What Every Member Should Know

2011-11-20T09:00:00.000-08:00

From an address given by President Boyd K. Packer, on June 24, 2003, at a seminar for new mission presidents, Missionary Training Center, Provo, Utah.

This is one of the best talks I've read about the Gift of the Holy Ghost. It clarifies that baptism and confirmation should always be spoken of together. They are two halves of a whole. President Packer said, "Missionaries—and parents as well—are to teach both halves: “Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins [and the] Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Articles of Faith 1:4). Make it one sentence. Fix it in the front of your minds so that when you say one, you say the other, and when you think one, you think the other."

Click HERE to read the talk on www.lds.org or read the whole talk below.

My purpose is to teach you through doctrine and scripture why it is that we do things as we do. I will give some direction and suggestions as to how we can do things better in order that each member of the Church will be thoroughly converted and never will fall away.

Joseph Smith said: “You might as well baptize a bag of sand as a man, if not done in view of the remission of sins and getting of the Holy Ghost. Baptism by water is but half a baptism, and is good for nothing without the other half—that is, the baptism of the Holy Ghost” (History of the Church, 5:499).

To prepare people for baptism without teaching about the gift of the Holy Ghost is like a sacrament meeting where only the bread is blessed and passed. They would receive but half.

We will discuss linking baptism in an absolutely tight relationship to confirmation and the conferring of the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Confirmation and Conferring the Gift of the Holy Ghost

Confirmation has two parts: to confirm as a member of the Church and then to confer the gift of the Holy Ghost. The priesthood holder performing that ordinance “bestows the gift of the Holy Ghost by saying, ‘Receive the Holy Ghost’” (Family Guidebook [pamphlet, 2001], 20).

There are two examples of the visible manifestation of the Holy Ghost I know of in the scriptures. The first was when the Lord was baptized:

“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him” (Matthew 3:16; see also 1 Nephi 11:27; 2 Nephi 31:8; D&C 93:15).

The other example came on the day of Pentecost. The Apostles had no doubt been ordained, but the Lord had now left them. They wondered what to do. They remembered He told them to stay in Jerusalem, and so they obeyed. And then it happened. They were in a house, and there was “a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

“And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:2–4). Then they were authorized; they were prepared.

Then they could move about in the ministry that the Lord had called and commissioned them to do.

In the Doctrine and Covenants that pattern was repeated when the Lord said:

“Thou didst baptize by water unto repentance, but they received not the Holy Ghost;

“But now I give unto thee a commandment, that thou shalt baptize by water, and they shall receive the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, even as the apostles of old” (D&C 35:5–6).

When Paul went to Ephesus he found 12 men who had been baptized, but they had not yet received the Holy Ghost. They said to Paul, “We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost” (Acts 19:2).

What happened next is significant. Paul had them baptized again. Then he conferred upon them, by the laying on of hands, the gift of the Holy Ghost (see Acts 19:2–7).

Remember the fourth article of faith: “The first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

When parents are teaching their children and when missionaries are teaching investigators, preparing them for baptism by water, they must also think of the gift of the Holy Ghost—baptism by fire. Think of it as one sentence. First comes the baptism of water and then the baptism of fire.

Someone may ask the missionaries, “How are things going?” or “Are you teaching anyone?”

The missionaries automatically answer, “Yes, we have a family preparing for baptism and confirmation, for receiving the Holy Ghost.”

Or a father and mother might say to a child, “When you are eight years old, you will be ready to be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost.”

I repeat, to be baptized and to receive the Holy Ghost—link those two together.

All I say is evident and outlined in section 20 of the Doctrine and Covenants (see vv. 41–43, 45, 68). There are also some other references where this message is affirmed (see Acts 8:12, 14–17; D&C 33:11, 15; 36:2; 39:23; 49:13–14; 55:1; 68:25; 76:51–52; Articles of Faith 1:4).

Joseph Smith said, “The baptism of water, without the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost attending it, is of no use; they are necessarily and inseparably connected” (History of the Church, 6:316).

Baptism of Fire

I want to talk to you about the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost. I also want to talk to you about angels.

“When they were all baptized and had come up out of the water, the Holy Ghost did fall upon them, and they were filled with the Holy Ghost and with fire” (3 Nephi 19:13).

An excerpt from another verse teaches that this will come “if it so be that ye believe in Christ, and are baptized, first with water, then with fire and with the Holy Ghost, following the example of our Savior” (Mormon 7:10).

Again, there are two parts to baptism—baptism by water and baptism by fire or the Holy Ghost. If you separate the two, as the Prophet Joseph Smith said, it is but half a baptism.

Communication from the Holy Ghost

How does the Holy Ghost communicate?

There is an example in 1 Nephi chapter 17 where Laman and Lemuel had been brutal to Nephi. They, in fact, had tried to take his life. In due course he said to them: “Ye are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God. Ye have seen an angel, and he spake unto you; yea, ye have heard his voice from time to time; and he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words” (1 Nephi 17:45; emphasis added).

That communication seldom comes audibly. Most of the time it comes through your feelings, as it did in this case.

Another example: The Lord taught this principle to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery: “You must study it out in your mind [work, study]; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you [the fire, burn]; therefore, you shall feel that it is right” (D&C 9:8; emphasis added). This applies to all of us.

Speaking with the Tongue of Angels

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost.” Now this important principle: “And then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.

“But, behold, my beloved brethren, thus came the voice of the Son unto me, saying: After ye have repented of your sins, and witnessed unto the Father that ye are willing to keep my commandments, by the baptism of water, and have received the baptism of fire [that is the conferring] of the Holy Ghost, [ye] can speak with a new tongue, yea, even with the tongue of angels” (2 Nephi 31:13–14; emphasis added).

Nephi explains clearly what happens after baptism and confirmation and the reception of the Holy Ghost:

“Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water [which is a symbolic witness of repentance]; and then cometh [the promise of cleansing for] a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost” (2 Nephi 31:17).

We sometimes speak of baptism for the remission of sins. The remission, if you will read the scriptures carefully, comes through the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost.

“And now, behold, my beloved brethren, I suppose that ye ponder somewhat in your hearts concerning that which ye should do after ye have entered in by the way.” Here is someone who has been baptized and received the Holy Ghost, and they wonder what they are to do. Nephi answers: “But, behold, why do ye ponder these things in your hearts?

“Do ye not remember that I said unto you that after ye had received the Holy Ghost ye could speak with the tongue of angels? And now, how could ye speak with the tongue of angels save it were by the Holy Ghost?

“Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do” (2 Nephi 32:1–3).

Everything that missionaries are to know and to do is to bring their investigators to understand both baptism and confirmation. Then the investigators have their agency. Consider these simple words:

“Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark.

“For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.

“Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there will be no more doctrine given until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh” (2 Nephi 32:4–6; emphasis added).

Now you must understand that baptism by water, as the Prophet Joseph Smith said plainly, is but half a baptism. Paul, when they had not received the Holy Ghost, started over again (see Acts 19:2–7).

You can receive this great blessing—to become familiar with the still, small voice and learn that this voice will tell you all things that you must do. The word we use to describe this communication is promptings, the way we feel. These promptings can come many times, through many experiences. That is the voice of the Lord speaking.

Nephi explained that angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost, and you can speak with the tongue of angels, which simply means that you can speak with the power of the Holy Ghost. It will be quiet. It will be invisible. There will not be a dove. There will not be cloven tongues of fire. But the power will be there.

Missionaries sometimes think they are only to do half the work; they are to teach and then baptize by water, and that concludes their work. In many cases the other half, the teaching about the baptism of fire, never really gets done. Put the two together so that you almost forbid yourself to say “baptism” without saying “confirmation”—that is baptism of the water and confirmation and the conferring of the gift of the Holy Ghost. Get that idea in your mind with those two fixed together so tightly that, as one, it becomes part of you. Then we will not have the first half done, as is often the case at present, and the other half left undone.

Remember what Joseph Smith said: “You might as well baptize a bag of sand as a man, if not done in view of the remission of sins and getting of the Holy Ghost. Baptism by water is but half a baptism, and is good for nothing without the other half—that is, the baptism of the Holy Ghost.”

Missionaries—and parents as well—are to teach both halves: “Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins [and the] Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Articles of Faith 1:4). Make it one sentence. Fix it in the front of your minds so that when you say one, you say the other, and when you think one, you think the other. Then you will begin to feel and understand, and the promptings will come.

Opposition by the Adversary

One word of warning: there is also a spirit of opposition and evil. That warning can also be found in the scriptures: “Whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him” (Moroni 7:17).

The spiritual communications from the Holy Ghost can be interrupted by the promptings and influence of the evil one. You will learn to recognize that.

To further our understanding of this principle, Nephi taught: “If ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray. But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray” (2 Nephi 32:8–9).

So when we speak of angels communicating by the power of the Holy Ghost and we are told by the prophets that we can speak with the tongue of angels, then we must know that there is an opposing influence. We must be able to detect it.

There is one word in the book of Jacob that should alert us: “Behold, will ye reject these words? Will ye reject the words of the prophets; and will ye reject all the words which have been spoken concerning Christ, after so many have spoken concerning him; and deny the good word of Christ, and the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and quench the Holy Spirit, and make a mock of the great plan of redemption?” (Jacob 6:8; emphasis added).

So the Spirit can be quenched!

Discerning Spiritual Experiences

When you receive these special spiritual experiences, they are not to be chattered about. They are private, and they are personal. You will come to know with a very personal conviction that the Lord knew you were coming that way.

You may learn by trial and error and say: “I knew I shouldn’t have done that. I knew I shouldn’t have!” How did you know? Because you knew. You were being prompted.

Or you will say regretfully, “I knew I should have done that and didn’t.” How will you know? You are being worked upon by the Spirit.

Promptings may come as “sudden strokes of ideas” (History of the Church, 3:381).

“I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost” (D&C 8:2).

“Put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good—yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit.

“… I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy;

“And then shall ye know, or by this shall you know, all things whatsoever you desire of me, which are pertaining unto things of righteousness, in faith believing in me that you shall receive” (D&C 11:12–14).

“Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?” (D&C 6:23).

Conversion

Conversion does not always happen immediately. Nevertheless, it comes as a quiet thing. It is a still, small voice. There are these very interesting verses in the book of Alma:

“Blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble; or rather, in other words, blessed is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without stubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know, before they will believe.

“Yea, there are many who do say: If thou wilt show unto us a sign from heaven, then we shall know of a surety; then we shall believe” (Alma 32:16–17; emphasis added).

Investigators may say: “It looks right and feels right. I still don’t know about it. It just feels good.” Reason is prompting them, and they are baptized without stubbornness of heart. So the conversion comes.

Others may say: “You talk about this gift of the Holy Ghost and baptism by fire. Show me! Give me the witness, and then I will be baptized.”

For some it will take time. They may be disappointed when you say: “You will know after you decide! It takes an exercise of faith. You may not know at first and have that firm conviction, but it will come.”

The Word of Wisdom

Surely you can understand where the Word of Wisdom fits into this. How significant it is, “given for a principle with promise, adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints, who are or can be called saints” (D&C 89:3).

This principle comes with a promise: “Run and not be weary, … walk and not faint” (D&C 89:20). That is desirable.

But there is a more important promise: “And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures” (D&C 89:19).

Can you see the necessity of the Word of Wisdom? We press our people, almost beg our people, to behave themselves, to keep their spiritual person in tune so that they can have the reception of the Holy Ghost. Your body is the instrument of your mind and spirit. You must take proper care of it.

Never Will Fall Away

If people are properly taught, they never will fall away: “And as sure as the Lord liveth [that is an oath], so sure as many as believed, or as many as were brought to the knowledge of the truth, through the preaching of Ammon and his brethren, according to the spirit of revelation and of prophecy, and the power of God working miracles in them—yea, I say unto you, as the Lord liveth [a second oath], as many of the Lamanites as believed in their preaching, and were converted unto the Lord, never did fall away” (Alma 23:6; emphasis added).

Those who have been taught and who receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, the baptism of fire, will never fall away. They will be connected to the Almighty, who will guide them in their lives.

The Comforter

You never need to feel or be alone:

“I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; …

“I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you” (John 14:16, 18).

“The field is white already to harvest; wherefore, thrust in your sickles, and reap with all your might, mind, and strength.

“Open your mouths and they shall be filled. …

“Yea, open your mouths and spare not, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your backs, for lo, I am with you” (D&C 33:7–9).

The baptismal prayer given in the Book of Mormon states:

“These are the words which ye shall say, calling them by name, saying:

“Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen” (3 Nephi 11:24–25).

I bear witness of these words and of these Names. I invoke the blessings of the Lord upon you as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ to the end that His Spirit will be with you, and you will understand and can move forward accompanied by that power of the Holy Ghost.

Potty Training Video

2011-11-19T09:41:00.000-08:00

Click HERE for an awesome video to help with potty training.

I sang this song to my kids when they were potty training and we laughed and laughed. So enjoy!