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03.15.11
 
Heaven help those involved in such a tragedy. My heart is sad and heavy for the entire country right now. Is it just me, or is this happening more and more often? When I was a kid, things of this magnitude happened years apart. Our kids are witnessing these events weeks apart all over the world!
Utah had a few minor earthquakes, and my sister’s children heard this in Primary: “oh, that was nothing. The BIG ONE is coming to Salt Lake” and “..this is because Jesus is coming..”. Really? Primary teacher turned terrorist/Prophet, I just can’t decide.
Kids are no dummies. They are seeing the footage, hearing the news and you better believe they are internalizing these events. Who are they looking to when they don’t know how to feel/react? ME! And it scares the jeebies out of me! My kids are watching me.
I have two choices: One; freak out, come apart, live in a bomb shelter with jerky and hard wheat. Two; freak out, keep it together, enlisting compassion and faith. I don’t know how to live on hard wheat and jerky (only kidding, I just choose not to experience GI upset until I absolutely HAVE to  , so I’m counting on option two. Here are my tips to help with kids:
1. Discuss and practice Earthquake/Local Disaster protocol. (If you don’t know what protocol is: it’s what you are supposed to do in the situation). This doesn’t need to take up hours and completely elevate tensions and anxiety’s that ‘the BIG ONE is coming’. What we chose to do is walk through the steps at one family meeting. Then, every week we ask “where do you go if there’s an earthquake/emergency?” Sometimes we even throw in a starting point “…what if you are in the kitchen? or your bedroom? etc” It only takes 30 seconds and it really could save freak outs and lives for that matter.
2. Act Where You Can. I’m not in connection with anyone in Japan right now. It’s really far away. Too bad I feel so helpless. WRONG! {stepping onto Soapbox} Do you ever wonder if this is just as much a test for us as for the people in Japan. Granted, I will take absolutely nothing from the suffering there in Japan, but standing by and letting all the relief efforts take place is building another type of suffering. An apathetic nation, indulgent and prosperous, sounds really familiar. Are we standing up to the challenge of service, prayers, compassionate hearts, and truly doing everything we can? Even taking the time to consider as a family what we can do, be it small and seemingly insignifcant, will turn our hearts. Gratitude is another word that comes to mind. {stumbles off of Soapbox}
I really didn’t want to go on a preachy rant. It did help me calm down though, cuz I am an anxious nerve bundle! I would love to hear your thoughts, ideas and experiences with the situation in Japan.
03.13.11
 
She’s got legs! That’s my daughter so I can say it. Don’t look now, but she is that cute all over, inside and out! Addie goes to a Charter School and is more than disgruntled with the uniformed apparel. To ‘spice’ up the wardrobe and stay within code, she found this sassy style-maker.
I’m going to say the big, bad, scary word: Sewing-Machine. Did you shiver? Have no fear. I hate it too, but if I can do this…anyone can. Truly. (Just ask my son’s miserable Scout badges dangling from his shirt.)
Items you need:
- Sewing Machine
- Two Pairs of Tights*
- Thread
- Scissors
- 30 minutes (you can probably swing it in 15, but why not enjoy the project?)
*I have done this with all different colors, styles and makes of tights. BE CLEVER & PLAYFUL! If you are concerned mixing thicker, warm (woven) tights with the more giving, stretchy (nylon) tights…don’t be. I’ve done this mix as well and it works!
1) Cut one leg off of each pair. I did this 1/2-inch below the gusset (ok, make me say it: crotch). Just make sure it is the same location for both pair.
2) Pull the waist of one pair, Pair ”A”, over the arm of your sewing machine, so that the rough (cut) edge is lined up under the needle.
3) Pull the removed leg (off of the opposite pair, Pair “B”) over the arm next, and allow it’s rough (cut) edge to overlap Pair “A’s” rough edge by 1/3-1/2 inch. Once I’ve got both Pair “A” and “B” to line up (overlapped) and lay smooth this way, I like to pin a few areas to keep it that way as I sew. *yes, you are going to have to pin while it is stretched onto the arm. And yes, you look like a wonk when you do this all the way around the arm*
4) Once everything is lined up, overlapping a bit where they meet up and laying flat, you are ready to sew! I used a wide stitch (as in the needle swings side to side) that was super close together, also known as a tight stitch. (play around with your machine on scraps to make sure you are set on the right stitch.) I went to town on my seams. My daughter is 11 and plays hard at recess. It will do no harm to stretch the tights and get a lot of thread into the seam. *also be sure to reverse a bit at the beginning and end of your seam, to bolster it up*
5) Remove your fancy new pair of tights from the machine arm, and trim any excess threads. Enjoy being the savvy fashionista that you are! Oh, and yes. They launder normally:)
03.10.11
There is some trippy movement going on with these blogger chicks! They are great competitors, so here comes the pride…..
Let’s kick some _____!!!!!! HA! I’m only 15 votes away from jumping to #14. I’ve put my vote in for the day. I’ve included the link in the post so you don’t have to click so much to get there and it takes 2 shakes of a lamb’s tail for ya! THANKS PEEPS!!! (I’m off to pray:)
03.09.11
Aw man. The Bishopric caught up with me and it wasn’t about the cussing this time. (Settle down dear hubby, I’m only kidding!) Anyhow, I recently spoke in church on Prayer and thought I’d share, breaking it out into mini-lessons. I can’t think of a ‘mini-lesson’ with more lasting peace and impact for our kids. Teaching them to Pray.
I’ve realized how much I need to pray. And just how much of a profession I’ve made out of creative avoidance. Doing what I should do when I should do it. Why wouldn’t I want to pray? What keeps me from having heartfelt prayer more often? This has been a revealing question to ask myself. I’m guessing that most of you will have the same knee-jerk reaction I did. Isn’t it about Time? We are so lame. How ridiculous does that sound?
What Is Prayer?
Prayer is one of the greatest blessings we have while we are here on earth. Through prayer we can communicate with our Heavenly Father and seek His guidance daily.
Prayer is a sincere, heartfelt talk with our Heavenly Father.
I don’t know about you, but I have dialogue going on in my head all the time. Some people call it ‘talking to themselves’. When you are talking to yourself, it’s sincere and heartfelt, right? If it’s not you are lying to yourself and I don’t have the kind of help that you need 
Alma 34:27 ‘Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you.’
Good news peeps! Talking to yourself counts! If you realize that you are seeking guidance outside of yourself and that you are speaking with a Heavenly Father that loves you and knows and understands, but also rejoices when you come to Him and seek Him out in your daily thoughts.
Helping Kids?
Bean is our Prayer-Nazi. When you are 3, and him, you have zero tolerance for any Prayer-giving other than your own. As in: chucking utensils, dropping into spasms and my personal favorite, dumping your plate of food. (All of this accompanied by screams, of course). This is mealtime.
Nighttime prayers? No. I won’t. When you are 3, and him, you refuse to have nighttime prayer. This isn’t new. I’m no rookie to the act of bedtime routines. So how do we set aside mortal tantrums to seek the divine?
“Bean, Heavenly Father misses you.” Works everytime (ok, for all of MY3 kids. If you’re outside of that statistic, sorry man) Explaining that there is a loving Heavenly Father who watches him all day and can’t wait to talk to him and hear how his day was. A Heavenly Father that would be sad not to hear from him, that wants to make him happy! This, for me, helps my kids understand Prayer.
Don’t hate me, but kids don’t get “Because the Prophet said to” or “it’s a commandment”. Do you really want them to pray without understanding? (stay calm, hubby) Do they really understand what they are doing with those explanations?
Talking about Heavenly Father as the kind, tangible person that HE IS in our life. That’s what builds understanding in kids. A foundation for the years to come, when they take their faith to His doorstep and knock.
I would love to hear your suggestions on helping your kids understand Prayer
03.08.11
So, I haven’t adopted (but did have the failed experience once…no fun) and I don’t have quadruplets (unless you count pets) BUT Things To Learn At Home is ranking at #15. Last time I checked that is definitely in the top 25!!! *laughs hysterically*
You guys are so awesome! Thanks so much for the fun comments and lovin’, I’m wearing a smile all day from you guys!
You can vote every day until it ends on the 16th. Not that I’d bribe you with anything like my chocolate chip cookie recipe. That would be naughty. But I do think that every Top 25 site should share at least ONE family secret ;D
Adios mummiesnummies…you creep me out. Big time. And yes, you ARE BIG time.
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kristen@
thingstolearnathome.com
Do you have things to learn that you can share? If they are tangible, simple, mini-lessons that prepare little people I would love to have your guest post!
Do you have a product to help a family that you'd like me to review?
Contact kristen {at} thingstolearnathome {dot} com. I promise I'm nice!
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