Kiva

I love the concept of micro loans. Small loans given directly to poverty stricken individuals or families in 3rd world countries who cannot get loans elsewhere. As a rule, these people could lift themselves out of poverty if just given the chance. While there are many groups that will take your money and put it to good use in a micro loan capacity, usually you do not know who you are loaning to. A while ago I stumbled upon an on-line organization which matches donations with those needing them in a wonderful way. At Kiva, you pick the specific person or group you want to help. Each has a profile so you know who they are, where they live, what their life is like, how much they need and what they need the money for. You can donate in increments of $25 and even see how much they have raised so far. And here's the best part. The loans are due within one year, you can watch as they repay, and you get your money back! While you always have the option to take that money out, I believe the exciting part is that you can use those same funds to simply re-loan to another person.

This year our family voted on what to do with a small jar of charity money we had accumulated throughout the year. We chose to give it to Kiva. Together we read through many deserving candidates and voted to sponsor an industrious single mom in Tanzania. 26 different lenders helped raise the $825 she needed to buy a second sewing machine and supplies for her small tailoring business. It will be exciting for us to watch as she succeeds in moving forward and repaying her loan. We look forward to using that same money to sponsor another next year. I love how this is connecting my children to someone across the world in such dramatically different circumstances than ours. For us, this is win/win!

For more information about Kiva, go to http://www.kiva.org/.

Simple Family Home Evening

Have you ever noticed that there are usually 13 steps on a staircase? Well, that is the case at my home. A simple and fun family night is to practice the 13 Articles of Faith. Everyone starts at the bottom step and you go step by step reciting the articles of faith. This is fun and helpful for primary aged children, not to mention it is always a good refresher course for mom and dad. :)

It's the lights, baby!

I'm sure all you Utahns (and probably all you out-of-staters if you're visiting) already do this. And, I'm sure everyone has enough to do by way of activities in December. But I'm gonna mention it anyway! Go see the lights downtown! Temple Square and surrounding area are gorgeous all lit up and festive this time of year. It is fun, easy, exciting for even the smallest of children, and free. Our family usually waits to go on the Monday night after Christmas. It gives us something fun to look forward to after the holiday, and it is usually less crowded then. So enjoy!

Wise man / Foolish man

A great time to discuss the wise man / foolish man scenario is while making a gingerbread house. (You know, building your spiritual house on rock or sand....) It's easy to get in to some deep gospel principles while gluing candy to cookie with frosting. I love it when great teaching moments just present themselves. Sweet!

Community Service

Looking for a service project? I found a great local volunteer website. It includes all kinds of different organizations that can use a wide range of service for all kinds of ages and groups. Just click on "volunteer opportunities" and then on the volunteer links on the right hand side. http://www.211ut.org/.

Scripture Cookies

Tonight we had family night with a lesson about the scriptures, and at the end we made Scripture Cookies (the kids had to look up all of the ingredients):
Beat together:
3/4 cup Psalms 55:21
1/3 cup 2nd Nephi 26:25
1 cup Jeremiah 6:20 (brown)
1/2 cup Jeremiah 6:20 (white)
2 or Isaiah 10:14
Add:
2 cups 1 Kings 4:22
1 tsp Solomon 4:14
1 tsp D&C 101:39
1/2 tsp 1 Corinthians 4:6 (baking powder)
3 cups D&C 89:17
1 cup 1 Samuel 30:12

Use your cookie know-how for some of these ingredients. Drop by spoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees after reading History of Joseph Smith 1:37 and D&C 133:11. Enjoy!

Service From Little Hands

One super easy but effective idea for holiday service (any holiday!) that even little kids can do is to make or color some simple decorations and give or take them to elderly neighbors or to an assisted care center. Maybe spend a little time and sing a few carols too! The older generation always loves to have little ones around. It will surely brighten someone's day. I hope someone thinks to do this for me when I'm in my declining years!

Family Home Evening Sight

I found a wonderful sight that has ideas for Family Home Evenings.
You can click on it here.The blog address is fheplanner.blogspot.com

Spooky Mad Lib

For a quick and easy family activity around Halloween time, just gather the kids together for a mad lib ghost story. Probably more giggles than spooks! For extra fun, do it around a blazing fireplace and serve cider and doughnuts. Enjoy!


Ghost Story Mad Lib Word List
Fill in the blanks below with the words and parts of speech noted beside each blank.

_______________(01) room or building (eg. barn, attic)
_______________(02) adjective
_______________(03) adjective
_______________(04) something that gives off an odor
_______________(05) adjective
_______________(06) adjective
_______________(07) thing (singular noun)
_______________(08) thing (singular noun)
_______________(09) adjective
_______________(10) present tense verb
_______________(11) past tense verb
_______________(12) number
_______________(13) body part
_______________(14) past tense (-ed) verb
_______________(15) adverb
_______________(16) present tense verb
_______________(17) adjective
_______________(18) thing (singular noun)
_______________(19) thing (singular noun)
_______________(20) present tense verb
_______________(21) -ing verb
_______________(22) present tense verb
_______________(23) past tense verb
_______________(24) past tense verb
_______________(25) present tense verb
_______________(26) name of someone you know
_______________(27) -ing verb
_______________(28) past tense verb
_______________(29) past tense verb
_______________(30) past tense verb
_______________(31) past tense verb
_______________(32) body part
_______________(33) -ing verb
_______________(34) adjective
_______________(35) -ing verb
_______________(36) adverb
_______________(37) name of someone you know
_______________(38) -ing verb
_______________(39) things (plural noun)
_______________(40) thing (singular noun)





Ghost Story Mad Lib Story
Transfer your word list answers to the corresponding numbers in the story below.
We weren’t allowed to go in the _______________(01) and we really didn’t want to—it was _______________(02) and _______________(03) and smelled like (a) ______________(04). The steps leading down into the ___________(01) were ___________(05) and there was a _______________(06) _______________(07) next to the _______________(08). It felt _______________(09) and we wanted to
_______________(10). We ____________(11) toward the ____________(01), ____________(12) steps at a time till our _______________s(13) _______________(14) _______________(15) and we were too scared to _______________(16).
There was always a _______________(17) _______________(18) coming up from below the _______________(19) and we weren’t brave enough to _______________(20) it. One day there was a _______________(21) sound. It was coming from the _______________(01). We wanted to know what was making the sound, but we were afraid we might _____________(22). We ______________(23) and _____________(24), but each time the fear would _____________(25) over us, and we would back away, terrified. Finally, _______________(26) decided to face the fear and go down to the _______________(01). When we didn't hear _______________(27) we became encouraged and followed behind, praying we would not be _______________(28) by whatever it was that _______________(29) and _______________(30) down there. When we made it to the very bottom, we _______________(31), _______________s(32) wrapped tightly around
each other, barely _______________(33). Then, we saw it. It was _____________(34) and it was ____________(35) _______________(36). We moved closer, we couldn’t breathe ...
It was _____________(37) _____________(38) the ______________(39)
in the _______________(40).
THE END

Family Spotlights

You know how school classes, church classes and other organizations sometimes do spotlights on people so everyone can get to know each other better? Well, why not do some spotlights on the members of your family? You may find out a lot that you didn't know about your kids! Make sure to fill one out for yourself and spotlight someone each week for a while, or have a multi-spotlight night when everyone shares their answers. You may want to do it every couple of years or so as the kids grow older, and save them to read for years to come. Who knows, you may even get to know yourself a little better! Here are some example questions:
1. Favorite Color?
2. Favorite Food?
3. Favorite Dessert?
4. Favorite Vegetable?
5. Favorite Movie?
6. Favorite Book?
7. Favorite Vacation? Why?
8. Where would you visit if you could? Why?
9. Favorite subject in school?
10. What would you like to do when grow up?
11. Favorite computer game?
12. Favorite non-computer game?
13. Favorite church song?
14. What do you like to do with your family?
15. Favorite scripture story?
16. Favorite role model? Why?
17. Favorite restaurant?
18. If you could change one thing in our family, what would it be?
19. If you could change one thing in your school, what would it be?
20. If you could change one thing in our town, what would it be?
21. If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
22. Do you have a special goal you are working on? What is it (if you care to share)?
23. Where do you want to go to college?
24. What is your favorite kind of animal?
25. What is your least favorite thing to eat?
26. What is your least favorite thing to do? (Be specific)
27. What is a special memory for you?