October Sharing Time Week 4

Week 4: Temple work helps me and my family come unto Christ.

For sharing time this week I'm going to be using a great story from the Feb. 2002 Friend magazine and play a game that my primary kids love.

First, visit this link and print the story and 2 coloring pages. I would print the images on cardstock. I colored them with markers, cut them out, and put sticky velcro (just the hooks) on the back.

Our church library has large (about 2x3) flannel boards you can check out. The velcro sticks perfectly to the flannel. If you don't have a flannel board, you could use a poster board and masking tape, or a magnet board and magnets, or even a chalkboard.

Begin by telling the story about the family that goes to the temple open house. I will invite one child to come up with me and help me put the pieces anywhere on the board. Ask questions as you go like: Why do they where booties in the temple? Why are they wearing their sunday best? How many oxen are there? How old do you need to be to do baptism for the dead?

Now that you have all the pieces up, it's time to play the game. Sometimes I bring a child up to help, other times I choose the piece. I call this game the Baby Shower Game, since we always seem to play it at baby showers:) My junior and senior primary kids get really in to it. I place my flannel board on a music stand so I can easily spin it around, but a blanket over the top works well too. To play, turn the board around and remove one piece of the story. Turn it back around and have the children try to guess which piece is missing. They have to raise their hands, and when they guess it you can ask them more questions about the item.

To close, share a personal temple story, a great experience you've had there. Bear your testimony and encourage them to strive for the temple. I like to ask their teachers for their experiences in the temple too.

Have a wonderful lesson. If you haven't answered my question about sharing time lessons, please click here to let me know what you think.

Thanks!

Sharing Time Question

So, I have a question for you several hundred people that stop by my blog to use my sharing time lessons.

Here's the deal, I'm 2nd counselor and only teach every 3rd month. I usually only post the lessons for the months I'm teaching. I've been getting a lot of positive response to my lessons and I'm considering making lessons for every week, even when I don't teach.

Only thing is, the lessons take a lot of time and effort for me to prepare. Spending a few hours on the computer each week for a lesson I'm not going to teach, hmmm? So my question is, would you be willing to donate a couple bucks to keep my lessons free?

I'd love to hear your comments. If it becomes a little side job for me I'd love to keep doing it, if it becomes a hassle that just keeps me away from laundry, I'll let it slide.

If you've loved my lessons, consider it!

October Week 3 Sharing Time

Week 3: We can come unto Christ by repenting when we make a mistake

You'll need: An umbrella, picture of Jesus Christ, raindrop cutouts, umbrella cutouts and umbrella coloring page.

Click here to download and print my free printables. You will find the coloring page, the umbrella cutouts and the raindrop cutouts, 4 pages total.

To begin, have one child come forward, we'll call him Tyler. Tell the children that Tyler is going to his father's house for dinner and he's really excited. As he steps outside to walk all the way to his father's house he realizes it's pouring rain. The rain is splashing everywhere and the whole road is covered in mud. Tyler starts to get worried because he knows that at his father's house the carpet is white, the furniture is white and everything is so beautiful and clean. He would feel awful he showed up soaking wet and dirty. What can Tyler use to keep the rain away?

An umbrella! We are all preparing to meet our Heavenly Father. No unclean thing can be in God's presence, so when we arrive we can't be covered in dirt/sins, we need to clean. Our life here on earth is like a rainstorm, there are temptations and mistakes pouring down. How do we keep from being soaking wet? We have another kind of umbrella, it's a gift from our Savior, Jesus Christ. Does anyone know what this gift is called? It's the atonement, it's like a big umbrella, it lets us repent and stay dry from all the rain drops.

There are 4 steps to repentance that make up this umbrella. Let's put them on the board in order and discuss each one.

In advance, I'm going to cut out the raindrops and tape them all the way around my umbrella (a real one). One at a time a child will have a turn to come up and practice the steps of repentance with the umbrella. They hold the umbrella over their head and spin the umbrella in their hands. The raindrop closest to their nose they get to pull off and read. We will discuss how to follow the steps of repentance to fully repent from that raindrop.

We will handout the coloring page and be done. Why do kids love umbrellas so much? It'll be fun!

Do you love my free sharing time lessons? I have a question for you about them, click here to respond. Thanks!

Spooky Apron Sale

It is time to sell some aprons!
All of the aprons listed are in stock and ready to ship, shipping in October is only $1. First off, your boy and girl halloween spooky chef gear!


Boys size 4-7 Spider Apron
Matching Adjustable Velcro Chef Hat
Girl's Pink Skulls Medium Size 4-7 Apron


Chef Hat is adjustable with velcro, $13 for a set
2 sets in stock

Girl's Medium Apron, extra long ties and adorable ruffle - $13
1 in stock

SOLD

Red polka Dots Girls Apron with sweetheart neckline

Medium (4-7) - $13 each, 2 in stock

An apron for the real chefs, a sturdier weave fabric in a classic style, 1 in stock

Hawaii Classic Apron- $17

For you holiday crafting, a crafter's apron with deep pockets and an extra long sash

Red Retro Crafter's Apron - $15, 2 in stock

SOLD

Lady Liberty Women's Ruffle Apron - $21, 1 in stock

Removable polka dot tie at neck, extra long sash to tie in front

FYI - All aprons are handmade by Camille in a smoke-free, pet-free home. 100% cotton fabric is pre-washed. Care instructions will be included with your package. All packages ship the next business day via USPS. I can only accept orders in the United States at this time. If you are unhappy with your apron purchase I will accept returns. Upon receipt of the apron I will refund 80% of the purchase price, I'm sorry I can't be responsible for return shipping. I'm a stay-at-home mom, not a corporation that can lose a couple bucks on shipping. I design my own patterns and am happy to accept custom size orders. Contact me at camillescasa(at)yahoo(dot)com with questions or comments.

October Sharing Time Week 2

Sharing the gospel helps others come unto Christ.

I will be focusing on how we can be missionaries now and how the children can prepare to share the gospel. You'll need: printable pitcher, blessings wordstrips, orange juice word strips, missionary coloring pages and crayons.

Click here to download the 4 page pdf file with printables. If you have any troubles, email me.

I'm going to use one of my favorite talks about sharing the gospel from Oct. 2000 conference. Read the entire talk here by Robert C. Oaks of the seventy. I loooove his orange juice analogy when it comes to sharing the gospel. I will read portions of the talk w/ the senior primary, but for junior I will summarize with something simple like this:

I had the most delicious orange juice this morning for breakfast. It was so good, I mean it was so sweet and a little tangy and it was sooooo good. I enjoyed it so much, I could drink it all day. This orange juice was so good that everybody should be able to taste it, it's the best. I was going to bring the pitcher and some cups and share with everyone, but then I got thinking. What if some of you don't like orange juice? Would you be mad at me if I brought it? What if it hurt your feelings if I offered you a cup? What if you didn't want to come to primary anymore and be friends if you didn't like the orange juice? I just got so nervous thinking about it that I decided not to bring the orange juice to share. It's the best orange juice that I've ever tasted, but I'm keeping it to myself.

I will discuss how sometimes we treat the gospel like orange juice. The gospel is wonderful and brings us so much happiness, but we are too afraid to share it. Isn't it silly to think that someone wouldn't want to be our friend if we offered them orange juice? We should be excited to share the wonderful things we know about the gospel with all of our friends, just like we would want to share the most delicious orange juice with everybody.

The blessing wordstrips outline some gifts and wonderful pieces of knowledge we have because of the gospel. I will hide them under the chairs and we will discuss each one and put them on the board.

Then, we will talk about how we can be missionaries and how we can share the gospel. Cut out the pitcher and put it on the board. One by one add the orange juice strips until the pitcher is full and discuss each point.

Copy a boy or girl missionary for each child to color w/ remaining time. I found this clipart years ago when I was a CTR 5 teacher. I can't find it again and I apologize about the quality. I have a clearer image in a Microsoft Word Doc, email me if you'd like me to forward it on. I love this art, I wish I new the artist and the link, but I've searched all over the internet and can't find it! Anybody know where it's from? It's fun to color the clothes and draw in the face, kids love it. It's included in the pdf download, but kind of poor quality. Leave a comment if you find it or know the artist, thanks!

Update: Thanks Pam and BSF for finding the link for the artwork! Click here to print the picture. Thanks ladies!

Do you love my free sharing time lessons? I have a question for you about them, click here to respond. Thanks!

October Sharing Time Week 1

Week 1: Following the prophet will help us come unto Christ.

Needed: Giant glasses printed on cardstock and cut out, word strips, light bulbs, blindfold and picture of President Monson.

Click here to download glasses, word strips and light bulbs in pdf format.

(I'm trying out google docs for pdf files. Just click where it says download 1 mb. There are 3 pages. If you have any troubles w/ the pdf print email me, I'll send it to you.)

Display picture of President Monson and discuss how blessed we are to be led by living prophets. Prophets are inspired to speak for the Lord, just like Moses, Isaiah, Peter, Paul, Nephi and Mormon. We sustain the president of the church, Thomas S. Monson, as a prophet, seer and revelator. What does this mean? Place word strips on the board and discuss.

Just like prophets long ago, our prophet testifies of Jesus Christ and teaches His gospel. They denounce sin and warn of consequences and they are even inspired to prophesy future events. We can always trust the prophet, they speak for Heavenly Father and will never lead us astray.

D&C 1:38 "What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same"

We can be safe if we follow the prophet. Our Heavenly Father promises us great blessings if we follow what our prophet says. When we follow the prophet, we are following Jesus Christ.

Today we're going to practice following the prophet. Being a prophet, seer and revelator is like having special glasses, glasses that help you see things that other people can't see. Invite child to come forward and put on the giant glasses and be the "prophet."

Around the room are some hidden truths that our prophet revealed to us at general conference. Invite another child to come up and be blind folded. We can't see these truths, we need to follow the prophet if we want to get to them. The blind folded child will have to closely follow the voice of the prophet in order to maneuver around the primary room and safely get a light bulb. The "prophet" child will walk beside and guide them with their voice.

On the back of each of the light bulbs I will write something Pres. Monson mentioned during general conference, maybe having charity towards others, paying tithing, having family home evening, etc. and as they take each light bulb down we'll discuss if we follow it, how we can follow his counsel and why it's important.

Do you love my free sharing time lessons? I have a question for you about them, click here to respond. Thanks!

Festive Fall Decor

I love seeing all of the festive fall decor popping up on front doors and fireplace mantles. I thought I would take a moment to share my current fall decor in my living room:

Festive right? I call it "Sick Chic." The barfed on quilts, crumpled towels for wiping said barf, t-shirts that got splattered and the focal point; a poor sick baby. What a week! I decided that I'm looking forward to when he's old enough to barf in a bowl or the toilet, I have lots of scrubbing and mopping to do.

So, when I'm done with Sick Chic look, I'll get back to posting some cool things. I've got some new quiet book pages, amazing thrift store makeovers, recipes for lemon linguine and caramel apple cake and some red bean tacos my husband gave 5 stars. I have a boutique tonight that I'm excited for (getting out of the house sounds amazing, plus I love to sell my aprons) and I'll be back with some posts.

Take care, and wash your hands after reading this:)