Still Discovering...

My boys are growing so very fast!

Josh is now over 6' tall. I'm tall but have to look up to him. I told him there have been few men in my life I've looked up too, then gave him a hug. Keegan is learning the joys, and frustrations, of having a cell phone. Tyler is discovering the ups and downs of friends. And Matthew is learning about increased responsibility. I love what each stage of development brings. Even when they were all little, I seldom found remorse in what we were leaving behind because of the excitement of what was to come. I am trading the training wheels, preschool class, and nap times in for dating, driving, and late nights. I love it when they come home jabbering away at the latest activity at school or wanting to go explore with friends cuz it's just not cool to stay home anymore. About the time I wish they were little ones wrapped in my arms Josh comes home with a story to tell or opens up to mom. He loves to hate it when mom makes him break a smile through his crusty scowl. It lets me know, I'm still his mommy.

It's lives lesson I think. To see the adventure in every challenge. My friend, Rebekah taught me that. So today we are "Still Discovering"! Discovering life, love, friends, and family.

And today....I still love it all!

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Small changes

Every day I lay out a plan of what I hope to accomplish that day. Somedays I get it all done but most of the time, not so much. Between work, kids, family, school, church....so much pulls at me and my time. BUT I know  that over time, step by step, we are making it. We are reaching our goals. Whether they be losing weight, getting out of debt, saving for a mission, taking a family vacation, or just making it to the next day, we get there one step at a time. That is why I loved this quote. A reminder of small steps.

"Small changes eventually ad up to Huge results"

This week I am hoping to add a few drops to each of my goal buckets. 

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Never give up- Free wordart

It's a beautiful sunny Sunday. I thought it would be a great day to sit down and design a bit. I am hoping to get back to my blog. It's fun for me to look for a project but end up getting lost in memory lane. My projects have become a bookmark of what was going on with me and our family at the time. I am also hoping that a little digital wordart designing will help drive me back to my scrapbooking. So many other things have gotten in the way over the last couple of years that I am falling impossibly behind. Once upon a time I kept up on the memory books rather well. Reflecting back, I realized it was when I spent my Sundays scrapbooking. I want that again. So here is the first of (hopefully) many more wordarts. 

Last year I broke down and bought a new paper planner. I am such a list maker I fell in love with it. Each week allows for thoughts and inspiration to be jotted down. I find great thoughts and write a theme of sorts for the week. I've tried to fill my planner out in advance. It has been so helpful to keep me organized and on task with the goals I have set. Last weeks theme was "Focus".

This past week was a rough one for me. I have been fighting- literally- to lose weight with no success. I know I need to see an endocrinologist but until then I'm eating right and working out.I usually do well. I really do like going to the gym. I just feel better. I am healthy. But....

Last week though I broke.

Discouragement set in. I was tired of fighting and not seeing results. Most days I'm good but some are sooo hard. My body seems to fight me at every turn. Sacrifice is hard when there's no reward. I was in tears as I struggled to maintain my fitness level, let alone improve it. It seemed so unfair to work so hard and not reach my goals year and year. My good friend and trainer lifted my spirits to live for another day. "We have all been there. What I won't accept is not believing in yourself. You are an amazing resilient woman physically and mentally. Set backs humble us and are what makes our successes that much sweeter" she said. I love this lady! Sometimes it's hard to believe in ourselves but there is someone who does believe in us- Always!

 After a forgettable workout I sat down to plan the rest of my day. Trying to stay on track I opened my planner. It was the first time in the week I had been able to look at it. My quote for the week,

"No matter how you feel, Get up, Dress up, Show up & Never Give up!"

I wrote this quote on THIS week a couple of weeks ago. 

I stopped.

I thought.

I cried.

I said a little prayer of thanks for my Fathers inspiration;

 For knowing what I would need, when I would need it before I even knew I would need it.

The rest of the day and even the week that became my motto. I wish I could say the struggle was better, perhaps it was only a smidge but my resolve was renewed and I recommitted to continue the fight to a better me. One day I will get there. Until then I am never giving up!

Whatever YOUR challenge,

NEVER GIVE UP!

Fight for it and keep a strong support system nearby for those moments of weakness and discouragement. As Steph said, "we all have them"!

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Pinewood Derby Certificate Printable

It's that time of year again.

PINEWOOD DERBY!
The ultimate pack meeting that every cub scout looks forward to all year long. 

Okay! It's also got the dads all in a mess as well. 

It's always so fun to watch what the boys come up with and the creativity and personality that shows through in their cars. 

I also smirk at the dads. We have a couple who are wonderful dads and great examples to my own boys. They are also just a TAD BIT competetive. My dear husband noticed an ever so slight fist pump by the most reserved, quiet man I know. Yep, even THAT dad couldn't hold back his anticipation and excitment at seeing HIS boys car cross the line in first place. 

We are blessed to have healthy competition that doesn't get out of line. It's a great evening for everyone. 

For a scout leader.....it's also a TON of work! The payoff comes in the boys faces lighting up. I just LOVE it!!

This year I am not a cub scout leader *sniff* but I had a request for some of the certificates I have previously done. So I did a little editing so that you can print one for your little pack and hopefully save you a little time and headache. 

 Here is my original post when we used this certificate. It was a couple of years ago. So fun to look through those old pictures.

You can download it 2 ways. Just click on the link you want:

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And the pit pass. Just print it and make the copies you need. I laminated mine and made lanyards for all the boys. They absolutely LOVED it!

Here are the links for the pit pass:
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Have fun!!

Girls Camp Menu

Project 17 of 52

I am all about structure. Having the schedule posted at girls camp was a must for me. We wanted to encourage the girls to go to all the activities and lead the younger girls. Knowing the schedule of activities and menu allowed them (I hoped) to step out and lead with minimal adult intervention. 

(At least that was the plan)

We had each of the girls list their top menu choices for each meal. Then we compiled them for the weeks menu. It was simple. Most of the girls wanted the same things. We adjusted a little to stay on budget. Here is what we came up with.

 

This is the daily schedule set by the stake camp leadership. Tomorrow I will be sharing my idea for posting the menu and schedule each day. It turned out to be one of my favorite ideas. So helpful.

Baptismal Covenants Kit Kat wrapper

Project 16 of 52

My dear friend needed help making a handout for her lesson next month. Of course she had found something on Pinterest, it's better than Google, and asked if we could do it. She is doing a lesson on baptismal covenants for the young women. This is what we came up with.

 I think it turned out great. Our young women will love it.

You get to benefit too. It's 3 wrappers per sheet so print what you want. They wrap around a full size kit kat.
Print it. Wrap it. And tie it up with a bow. VOILA! You're set.

As Sister Hinckley was fond of saying, 

"We are all in this together. We need each other. Oh, how we need each other..."

I love to find something that I can just print and assemble. It's usually times of desperation when I haven't been able to get something of my own but OH how thankful I am to find something quick that finishes my latest....whatever I'm working on.
Kaylyn loves it too. She always tells me to make sure I post what we do. 

Yep, it's all about sticking together to help each other. 

HUGS! 

4share download HERE

You can also get the download from Dropbox 

HERE

Primary Talk Handout

My friend was just put in as the Primary Secretary. After going to her first meeting she felt a bit overwhelmed and in desperate need of organizing. Her first plan was to have something to give the kids asked to give a talk. She searched the net and found a couple of ideas she liked but she wanted to combine her favorite parts. This is what we came up with and thought I'd share it.

You can download it HERE.

Something simple but functional.

One copy will work for both Sr. and Jr Primary. She plans to tie the Jr Primary's to a string for a necklace and staple the Sr. Primary's for a wrist band. Hopefully this will help mom and dad prepare for the talk, prayer, or scripture. 

What do you think?