"Monday Nights in Jerusalem"

Hello everyone! Yes, I am still alive. And my latest book "Monday Nights in Jerusalem" will be available soon.

This book is based on the Old Testament, which can seem overwhelming to study from. But this book makes it easy. There are 30 stories and lessons that are ready to go. NO preparation or prior understanding of the scriptures needed. Quick, easy, and effective!

Each lesson includes a background story with questions that help with comprehension and also with application of the important lessons taught in the Old Testament. There are easy to understand definitions for difficult or unknown words, and thoughts and quotes to help enhance your study. The verses that pertain to each story are also included for scripture study.

This book is a great tool for family home evening, family scripture study, and for primary and sunday school teachers. Don't get overwhelmed; preparing fun, spiritual experiences with stories and principles from the Old Testament is a snap with "Monday Nights in Jerusalem".

Book Signing

Hey everyone, just wanted to let you know I'll be signing books at Provident Bookstore in Pleasant Grove, UT on Saturday night from 6-8 pm during Ladies Night. If you get a chance, please stop by and say hi! They will be offering prizes and discounts all night long. I look forward to seeing you all!

Here's a link to their blog for their address and more information.

Long Over Due Post - "Our Family is Great" FHE lesson

Isn't it ironic that when you work really hard trying to come up with great posts that hardly anyone visits your blog? And then when you go a month and a half without writing ANY posts, you check your counter and see that you've gotten more visits than ever? I find that both humorous and depressing!

Anyway, I thought I'd write a post today to keep my blog alive. I just need to think of one....
Hmmm...good Family Home Evening idea.....what should I write about????

Ok, here's one!

Gather your kids around you tonight, open up your old picture albums that you haven't looked at in years (or drag out the shoebox full of good intentions) and talk about what a wonderful, loving family you are (even if you don't feel like you are). Take time to look at each picture and reminisce about the things you've done together.

And be sure to take the time to point out all the GOOD things you're kids have done over the years and why you are so grateful Heavenly Father sent them to you. Tell them specific things that you love about each of them; make them feel loved and wanted. Who could ask for a better family night than that? Easy, effective, and enlightening!

P.S. If you try ANY of these ideas and like them, please comment or email me and let me know.
Thanks!

FHE Theme Idea - "Love at Home"

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

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

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

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

Yes, I'm a slacker!

I apologize for not posting any great, new, fantastic FHE ideas lately. My well of creativity is dried up at the moment (must be due to stress in my personal life...my husband lost his job last month). But my New Year's goal is to somehow get it back. Not just for the blog, but because I need to write my next book A.S.A.P. if I want it to get published. So until my fountain begins running again, I would LOVE some reader ideas. So if you have ANY ideas you'd like to share, please email them to me and I will get them posted.
Thanks everyone!

Making Family Scripture Study More Enjoyable

Scripture study is an important activity that we have been asked to do regularly in our homes. I know many of us struggle with this, but it doesn't need to be difficult. Here are some tips to making it a more enjoyable experience for everyone:

*First of all, set a comfortable, peaceful tone. Make sure the spirit is present. This is more important than what you read or how long you read.

*Connect scripture study time to a daily routine like after dinner or before bedtime (or if you are so inclined, first thing in the morning...yikes! I wish I could pull that one off).

*Assign a child to be the "reminder" person each week.

*Make sure everyone has their own set of scriptures.

*Let younger children follow along with their picture scriptures if they prefer.

*Have a scripture jar with titles of favorite stories in it. Have one family member choose a title each time you read.

*Snuggle together on the bed while reading.

*Make your own picture scriptures by having the children draw pictures of the stories after reading them. Put them in plastic sleeves and place in a notebook.

*Tape record yourself or your family reading from the scriptures for your children to listen to later.

*And most of all, KEEP TRYING! DON'T GIVE UP! If you haven't done it for a while, start now. And if you miss a few nights or weeks, or months, or even years, just start again. You'll notice the difference and it will be worth it, I promise!

Movie Time

Sorry for not posting in a while, we've had a tough few weeks here. But if you're stopping by to get a quick, easy, fun, and purposeful FHE lesson for tonight, you've come to the right place.

I was speaking at an Enrichment night this last week and one of the women in the audience commented that her kids (ages 4 and 2, I think) love to act out scripture stories for FHE. And then I remembered that another friend had mentioned that they do this also and that they video record the movies. How fun is that? What kid doesn't like to watch themselves on TV? And what a great way to remember the story.

So pick a scripture story, tell it to your family, and then have the family act it out! Easy! And for the treat, pop some popcorn and watch the show.

(If anyone tries this idea, I'd love to hear about it.)