WhyI love TOFW

Apparently DeseretBook has started posting videos. I was sent a link to two of them from TOFW. They show exactly why I love TOFW and why I love Hilary Weeks, not just her beautiful worshipping music, but also her fun music. Here are the two examples. You HAVE to watch them.

http://deseretbook.com/video/view/61

http://deseretbook.com/video/view/62

WFMW - Being frugal with our resources

I have been reading quite a few blogs lately that are giving me ideas on being frugal. So I thought I'd share a few of the things that we do to make wise use of our resources. These are not in any order, other than what I thought of as I wrote them



1. Check out movies from the library rather than the video store.

2. Rent movies using free rental codes from Redbox

3. Ride bikes rather than drive - Adam rides to work most days and we ride to church most Sundays.

4. Buy bread at bakery outlet.

5. Buy milk at Braum's.

6. My friend Rachel helped me yesterday to put up a clothesline to use my dryer less.

7. Coupons, coupons, coupons. And match to ads.

8. Turn up the thermostat for summer and use ceiling fans. We've turned it up a degree at a time but I think we've hit our max for comfort, even when using ceiling fans.

9. Turn off the lights. (I follow Kaylyn around and turn off lights.)

10. Use envelope system for budget. We take out cash each payday for groceries, household items, date money, "allowance"/whatever you want money, healthcare, and food storage. This helps us be very aware when we're nearing the end of the money and helps us not go over budget (at least not too far).

Deals I'm doing this week

I've been really focused on deals and coupons for the past few months. I generally get 6-8 sets of coupons each Sunday so that I can stock up when I find a good deal. I keep thinking that I'll post what coupons I am willing to give away - so keep an eye on this blog.

Here are deals I spotted in the Sunday ads. Note: Q=Coupons

Walgreen's
PaperMate Mechanical Pencils 5 cents
Chex Mix 2/$3 (I have 50 cent Q)
Dentyne Ice 3pk 2/$3
(we generally buy at Sams Club in 12 packs for 7.86 but this deal is cheaper)
Expo Dry Erase Markers 1.99
(Target has these on sale too but they're much more than this and they're on Kaylyn's Kindergarten Supply List)
Puffs 2/$3 (I normally buy in 3 pack at WalMart for about 1.68 a box)

KMart
Suddenly Salad 10/$10 (Q for .50 off 2 = final price = .75/box)
Betty Crocker Brownie Mix 10$10 (Q for .75 off 2 (Supreme - need to find out if these will work)) (Also have Q for .50 off 2 (again Supreme))
Kraft Salad Dressing 2/$4

Happy shopping :)

Menu Plan

Here is our 6 week meal plan as promised.

But first, I do my main shopping generally every other Friday at WalMart on Adam's payday. The food I purchase is for the following 2 week period, starting Monday. So the plan is that on the Thursday before payday I need to look at the upcoming menu and make any adjustments that are needed. Like, Memorial Day showed Taco Ring. I should adjust that for a cook out. If we're going to be gone on vacation or a temple trip, I need to adjust the menu and then the shopping list for those dates.

And without further ado...

Week One
Monday - Tacos
Tuesday - Spaghetti, Salad, Pears
Wednesday - Cream Cheese Chicken and Rice
Thursday - Waffles
Friday - Canadian Bacon/Pineapple Pizza
Saturday - Crock Pot Pork Chops, honey dill carrots, applesauce

Week Two
Monday - chicken enchiladas, spanish rice, corn
Tuesday - Hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, fruit cocktail
Wednesday - Lasagna, salad
Thursday - Tator tot casserole, green beans, applesauce
Friday - Biscuits and sausage gravy
Saturday - "Sunday Roast"

Week Three
Monday - Taco Ring
Tuesday - Spaghetti, salad
Wednesday - Haystacks
Thursday - French Toast, Fruit Cocktail
Friday - Canadian Bacon/Pineapple Pizza
Saturday - Swiss setak, green beans

Week Four
Monday - Smoked sausage, glazed carrots, potato pearls
Tuesday - Shepherd's pie
Wednesday - fish, rice, salad
Thursday - Anniversary Chicken, salad
Friday - pancakes
Saturday - Stew

Week Five
Monday - Pan fried pork chops, applesauce, rice
Tuesday - spaghetti, salad
Wednesday - tacos
Thursday - ROTATION MENU
Friday - Canadian Bacon/Pineapple Pizza
Saturday - Hamburgers, tator tots

Week Six
Monday - Turkey loaf, potato pearls, green beans
Tuesday - Cashew chicken, rice
Wednesday - Stuffed shells, salad / or fettuccini
Thursday - Pulled BBQ, green beans, chips
Friday - cheddar broccoli potato soup
Saturday - NEW RECIPE

ROTATION MENU (rotate through these recipes)
Asian Ribs
Chili
Bulkokee
Fajitas
Stir fry
Chicken Azteca

3 month food supply preparation

A little bit ago, the First Presidency changed the directives on food storage. First step is to build a 3 month food supply that is part of your normal, daily diet. Next, store drinking water. Third, establish a financial reserve. And fourth, "build a supply of food that will last a long time and that you can use to stay alive, such as wheat, rice, and beans." For more information, see ProvidentLiving.org
We did a lot of work under the "old" food storage program, which focused more on the long term storage. So now, we (mostly me actually) have been focusing on the 3 month food supply. I thought I would share what we did and how it turned out. First, I sat down and made a dinner menu plan for 6 weeks (I am focused on dinner because the leftovers can be lunch and breakfast is generally cereal which we have a lot of right now). I then made a list of the ingredients from the recipes for Weeks 1 and 2, then 3 and 4, and finally 5 and 6. I added like ingredients together and came up with a minimum needs list for each 2 week period (we are paid every 2 weeks so that's how I shop for groceries).
Then I compiled all 3 lists twice (twice because 2 times 6 week makes 3 months basically). I then figured out what I needed to purchase, which is often different from what the sum was because of packaging verses recipe requirements. This is now my 3 month food storage checklist. I did the same thing for each 2 week period to have a shopping list for each pay period while I'm building my supply. Eventually, I'll be doing my "shopping" from the food storage and then using my 3 month supply shopping list to figure out what I need to buy each pay period, except fresh produce. I don't include produce because most won't last 3 months before going bad (aren't I smart?).
Tomorrow, I hope to post my actual 3 month list for you to get an idea of quantities for your family. I'll also post my menu plans.

My Visiting Teaching appointment for this morning was cancelled due to family being sick at our sister's house. So after reading Elder Oaks' talk "Good Better Best" I decided to utilize that time for the purpose I had set it aside, strengthening my own testimony by sharing it with others. So I'm posting the message I have been pondering.

The VT message for February is on the topic "The Family Is Central to the Creator's Plan." I love Elder Hales' comment "When families are functioning as designed by God, the relationships found therein are the most valued of mortality." Isn't that awesome? When we are doing what we're supposed to in our families, our family members become our best friends. As Adam and I have been married, I have noticed that our need for individual outside friends has diminished as we become each other's best friends. Not to say we don't need or want other friends, but it's different than when we were single.

In Sis. Mary N. Cook's General Conference address "Strengthen Home and Family", she repeats a 4 point program that President Hinckley gave the young women that "will not only 'assure your happiness' but will bless your family as well. He counseled each of us to '(1) pray, (2) study, (3) pay your tithing, and (4) attend your meetings." Sis. Cook counsels us to ask 'Who in my family could benefit from my personal prayers?' As we study the scriptures, we'll learn from Christ's example how to love, serve and forgive family members.

After so much of our Snday meetings centered on Elder Oaks's talk and also our Relief Society lesson, I have been pondering Good, Better, and Best. Or as Bro. Kraude put it during his sacrament meeting talk, Essential, Important, Urgent and Appropriate (which I absolutely love). I've been pondering this for me and our family. So I pulled out the talk again for Family Home Evening (Adam groaned - "again?"). But we talked with Kaylyn about how we spend our time. Is Caillou good? Yes. Is Sesame Street good? Yes. Is Super Why good? Yes. (and so on). Is it good to spend ALL our time watching these "good" shows? No. There are other things that are essential. We talked about Elder Oaks's saying that we should preserve time for family prayer, family scripture study, and family home evening. We asked Kaylyn if we were doing each one (we are actually - Hooray!). Then I suggested that as a family, we're doing Good. But can we be Better? Can we be doing Best? So specifically for FHE, I challenged our family to not only have a lesson (Better), but to be preparing more than 30 minutes ahead of time, which sadly has become our habit.

So back to the VT Message focus on the Family. The question is asked What can I do because I know that [my] family is essential to the Plan of Salvation? Pres. Eyring suggests that you ask this in prayer and promises that you will receive impressions and "if you act on them, I promise you the help of the powers of heaven."

I'll share one more thought - Easter is coming up. The Ensign had some wonderful ideas on how to make Easter more Christ centered. What ideas have you tried or will be trying this year to make Easter more Christ centered?

Divine Nature

I was recently called as the Ward YW Camp Director. This is not a calling I ever desired. But as I have started learning about the calling, I got to read the YW Theme again. And I cried. It's been just over 10 years since I had a calling in the Young Women program. At that time I had a testimony, but it's amazing how something can make you realize how much your testimony has grown. My testimony is so strong of the first sentence in the theme that it can make me cry if I think about it at all.

Here's the Theme for a reminder to all of us...

We are daughters of our Heavenly Father who loves us, and we love him. We will "stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places" as we strive to live the Young Women Values, which are -
Faith
Divine Nature
Individual Worth
Knowledge
Choice and Accountability
Good Works and
Integrity

We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values, we will be prepared to make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.

Straight and narrow path, or balance beam?

During my scripture study this morning, the phrase straight and narrow path caught me. It was one of those Ah-ha! moments. First, thoughts of Lehi's dream came to mind with the mist of darkness. Then I had the image of a balance beam. Kaylyn takes gymnastics each week and I watch her on the balance beam. Now her balance beam is not very far off the floor, but she can still fall. Her teacher has instructed her to look at a specific spot on the wall, not at her feet. This helps her keep her balance on this straight, but narrow beam she's walking on. Now what if that beam was crooked, changing directions on her? How often would she fall off?

Isn't it wonderful that the path to Heavenly Father doesn't change directions on us? Even when the mist of darkness overcomes us, we don't have to worry about upcoming turns in the path knocking us off course. And just like the balance beam, we need to keep our eye on our goal and we will be successful.

Personal Scripture Study

Our Stake President challenged us at the November Stake Conference to read the Book of Mormon by the May Stake Conference. I'm trying to do this, but I feel a lot of the time I'm just reading, instead of truly studying. So how do you make your scripture time study time?

Family Scripture Study

How do you do family scripture study?

I saw someone comment this on a message board at the end of last year. We loved the suggestion and started it shortly thereafter (when we finised the D&C stories book). So here's what we are doing. We are studying the scripture mastery verses for the Book of Mormon. Each night for a week, we read the same verse(s) and discuss what it means. The first night, Adam reads the verse. The other nights, as we read it, Kaylyn repeats the phrases after us. We discuss what different terms mean and ask her questions about what the verse is trying to teach us. She's paying more attention during scripture study. There's less contention.

Check out http://www.ldsces.org/ for information about scripture mastery and seminary.

So share how you make family scripture study work for your family.