Thursday, December 8, 2016

#LIGHTtheWORLD Christmas Kits with Brightly Street



I CAN'T HARDLY CONTAIN MY EXCITEMENT TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU GUYS !!! I LOVE YOU ALL HERE AT LDS PARENTING AS WE WORK TOGETHER TO UPLIFT AND ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER IN OUR CALLINGS AS PARENTS AND SOMETIMES ITS JUST SO DANG FUN TO BE A PARENT ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GET TO TEACH YOUR CHILDREN THE VALUE OF SERVICE AND HAVE SO MUCH FUN DOING IT ! THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE AMAZING WOMEN WHO CAME UP WITH THESE KITS AND SHARED THEM FOR FREE FOR US !!!! LOVE, JL~ 



     I am so incredibly excited to share this with you guys ! The church, first of all has made it incredibly easy for us to #LIGHTtheWORLD thru social media and blogs and just any way you can think of , to share the good news of Christ and Service this holiday season. Head over to Mormon.org for more details !! My family has been so excited to do service projects and to work on the things on the calendar that the church has put out... you can download that calendar here : 



     So, I'm incredibly excited to be able to share with you guys these incredible toolkits for super fun activities to make with your families for this month and to really bring the #LIGHTtheWORLD campaign into your home! Holy cow the fantatstic bloggers that have put these kits together are super duper talented. These kits are SOOOO FUN!!!! 

Ok I wont make you wait any longer! Here are some of the great kits available... for FREE for your families ! 




Starting off with the kits sponsored by the most awesome website : Sugardoodle !!!!

Oh man, I love this website! I have used their awesome free resources for Primary and Young Women and for my personal use as I teach my children the Gospel here in my home. Thank heavens for Sugardoodle ! 

First up is the Christmas in a Box kit from BRIGHTLY STREET so... I just found out about this site when the cutie pie who owns it shared her kit with a Facebook Group I'm on. So I fell in love with the kit and then visited her site and yeah... I'm going to be hanging out on that site a lot ! 





Could these be any cuter ??? Ok, here's the scoop on it ! 










Want to bring the spirit of Christmas to a loved one serving in the military, on a mission, away to college, in a nursing home or maybe sick and staying in the hospital during the Christmas season?  I have the perfect idea to share with you which was created and designed by Melia from Brightly Street.  She has created a unique idea that will bring Christmas just a little bit closer to your loved ones and all people around the world, it is called "Christmas-in-a-Box. Doesn't this picture of what's inside the box just make you happy?  I am sure it will bring a smile and joy to whomever receives it.  You will find her box on Day #9 from Brightly Street's interactive Christmas Advent Calendar.
So, what's inside the box?  Well, you will find a Christmas tree made out of blocks, a colorful stocking, a reading and writing journal and lights!  Of course, there is an awful cute box to go with it.

Christmas Gift Idea Christmas-in-a-Box #LighttheWorld
Melia has designed all of the printables for you to use to put together your own Christmas-in-a-Box and serve someone you love or even a stranger.  Let's jump right in and share a few how-to tips.
Box:  Print on white card stock as full bleed or borderless if possible.  Laminate the paper for durability and also laminate a plain white card stock page.  Do not cut around the paper just leave the laminating edge as is.  Measure from the edge of the paper with a ruler using the width of your ruler as your measurement and use the end of a pair of scissors to score the paper.  Fold along all four sides.  At the top and bottom of the paper, cut a a slit until it meets the other fold line.  Fold corner together and staple.  Do the same thing on all four sides.  Repeat with the bottom box, but fold just a hair smaller on all four sides, cut and staple corners.  Fit top over bottom of the box.  Print and cut out tag and ribbon.  Place ribbon around top of the box cover and tape it under the sides. Attach the tag with tape to the topside. Please refer to the YouTube video to see a demonstration of who to make the box, it really is quite simple!
Journal:  Print, cut in half and hole punch each page.  Using a metal ring attach page together.  You can add ribbons to the ring if you want.  The journal is a 10 day advent calendar.  The person can read a page everyday starting anytime in December or just read a page throughout the month and finish it by Christmas.  The journal is called "READ His Story, WRITE your story."  Everyday there is a scripture found in the New Testament about Jesus Christ's life starting with his baptism and ending with the resurrection.  After the person reads the story, there is a writing prompt question or statement on the next page to help them write their own story.  Just a bit of family history and strengthening your testimony of Jesus Christ during the Christmas season.  At the bottom of the scripture page, you will find a QR code.  Scan it with your smart phone and go directly to Brightly Street's website where you can watch a video about the scripture you just read and listen to a Christmas song!  It's the best interactive advent calendar around.
Brightly Street Christmas-in-a-Box Instagram Image
Christmas Tree Blocks:  Purchase 1.5 inch blocks from Hobby Lobby or purchase a 1.5 x 1.5 inch piece of wood and cut them into squares with a miter saw.  Lightly sand the wood edges.  Print the Christmas tree pages on white card stock.  To prevent smearing the ink, laminate them first.  Cut out squares and glue them to the wood pieces.  See the printable page for where to place each square.  Modge podge the entire block and let it dry.  Build the blocks to make a Christmas tree on one side.  There are also sides for: Christmas Songs, Scripture Story, Writing Prompt, Days 1-10 and Nativity characters.  The blocks coordinate with the journal.
Brightly Street Christmas-in-a-Box Pinterest How-to Blocks #LIGHTtheWORLD
Brightly Street Christmas-in-a-Box Pinterest How-to Blocks #LIGHTtheWORLD 
Stocking:  Print on white card stock. Pick one of two stocking designs, cut around stocking and then trace another blank one onto card stock and cut it out to use as the backside of the stocking.  Punch holes along the sew lines and sew together with yarn. You can also laminate them before you thread with yard.
Brightly Street Christmas-in-a-Box Stocking
Christmas Card:  Print on card stock, cut and sign your name on the backside of the postcard. Place it on top of all items inside your Christmas-in-a-Box.
That's it!  Place all of the parts inside the box and you are now ready to hand deliver or mail your box!  This will be an unforgettable gift to just about anyone.  Here's a list of ideas of who you can gift your Christmas-in-a-Box too:
  1.  Someone away from home serving in the military.
  2.  A person sick and staying in the hospital through the holidays.
  3.  Visit a Children's Hospital and find a child that needs some extra cheer this year.
  4.  Take it to a nursing home and give it to someone lonely.  Make friends with them and help them write their story.
  5.  Send it to a college student to help them bring in the Christmas cheer as they cram for finals the last few weeks before joining family or friends for Christmas.
  6.  Gift it to a missionary in your area or abroad.  Missionaries can put a block in their pocket and find someone to share a scripture or song.
Feel free to make a set of Christmas tree blocks for your own family.  You can cut larger blocks and turn them into a table center piece!  We hope this helps your family work together on this project as your kids help cut, glue or sew with yarn to make this a fantastic family fun time as we serve others this Christmas season.  Help us and Brightly Street #LIGHTtheWORLD with the true meaning of Christmas.
  Brightly Street Christmas-in-a-Box Inside Box #LIGHTtheWORLD
Please use the hashtag #LIGHTtheWORLD and @BrightlyStreet as you mail or deliver your Christmas-in-a-box to someone.  We'd love to see how you used this kit and how it was received!  May we "Light the World" with the true meaning of Christmas this year and serve our fellowman.
** Don't forget to visit and leave a comment for Melia at BrightlyStreet.com and follow her on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter today!  **


HONESTLY!!!!! How stinking cute is this ???? And she has worked her tail off to give it to us for free!!! So go visit her and tell her thanks a bunch !!!! 

For more darling #LIGHTtheWORLD Christmas kits and crafts head over to : 




and don't forget : 




Here's one more goodie for you guys , thanks again to Brightly Street : 







I want to be like these amazingly talented women one day when I grow up ;) 
Make sure you go visit there sites and tell them THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!!!! 
Now go and get to visiting and printing and playing with your kids as you serve others this Christmas season and you #LIGHTtheWORLD !!!!! 
Don't forget to give me some love by checking out my other Christmas posts by using the  labels on the sidebar and leaving me some comments !! I'm doing a giveaway starting tomorrow for the LDS Movie 'LEGACY' - my cute hubby is in the movie :) 


With Love and Happy Parenting !!!! JL~ 
www.ldsparenting.blogspot.com 




Thoughts on Mary ~ Mother of Jesus

image courtesy of mormonwiki.com


     Mary~ mother of Jesus. Oh how I love her. I have loved learning about her and I wanted to share a few things , in light of the Christmas Season. 

     I think about how incredibly precious this woman was to our Father in Heaven. She had prepared well, according to her culture, to become a good wife. Not only by learning to cook and prepare things and care for a household but she prepared spiritually according to the religion and culture she was raised in. She had a deep appreciation for the Sabbath day and the rules that went along with it. Just imagine how thankful Heavenly Father was for this handmaiden who had prepared well and was worthy in every way to be blessed to carry the son of God. 

     I think about how incredibly overwhelming this task she was given would be to her. I get overwhelmed at the littlest of things ! Could you imagine the first few thoughts that ran through her head when she realized what an immense task this would be ? But I absolutely love the verse that follows the shepherds coming to see the newborn babe in the manger- it states in Luke 2:19 that 
".... Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart." 

     Don't you think that if it shows in the Scriptures that she pondered the things that had happened at that point.... that she would take time and quietly ponder and treasure this amazing task that she had been blessed with ? 

                                   image courtesy of natalie snapp

     I love how Mary goes straight to her cousin Elizabeth. When I first found out i was pregnant I couldn't wait to tell everyone and rejoice and just laugh and be giddy at the thought of becoming a mother ! I love the relationship Mary has with her cousin Elizabeth. Not only that- but Elizabeth was also pregnant with a very special babe ! Can you even imagine their joy ? In Luke 1 it states that Mary praised her Father in Heaven. What an example she is to me ! She praised her Father with these words in Luke VERSES 46-55

     Then of course we come to the blessed event of her delivering the Son of God, the King of Kings, the Prince of Peace. We all know she went through such difficult times like riding on the back of a donkey for miles and miles - oh the thought makes me cringe. How thankful I am for her strength and obedience ! 
She gets to the town and finally probably thinks she can rest and be comfortable for a bit. No room at the inn. Mary delivered a child in a stable. She is my hero. In so many ways. 


                               image courtesy of pinterest 

     I like to think of her raising Jesus. She must have smiled and laughed at his little child antics ! She must have loved and adored him and what a blessing to look into this precious face and kiss him ! I love the lyric in the song " Mary did you Know" where they sing , " Mary did you know, that when you kiss your little baby- you kiss the face of God ?" wow. It blows me away every time. That entire song just absolutely makes me stop and ponder the enormity of Mary's mission on this earth. Here's my favorite version of the song : 


  notes.

     I could talk on the subject of this precious woman for days, but I'm going to close with a quote from the book, " Daughters of God" by S Michael Wilcox 

     " Mary felt deeply the pains of her Son many times throughout her life but none more strongly than when she stood at the foot of the cross. " For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son" John 3:16. 
Mary too, gave her son, a gift that caused a sword to pierce her soul. When Jesus was on the cross he cried out, " My God, my God, who hast thou forsaken me ? " Matthew 27:46. 
For the son to fulfill his great atoning sacrifice, the Father had to withdraw his Spirit. Nevertheless, Mary, Jesus' mother remained with him during his long hours on the cross." 

     During this Christmas season when we ponder these things close to our hearts like Mary, think about the sacrifice she made... we always talk about how God gave his Son, what a blessed amazing wonderful thing that gift was ! We are so thankful! But my mother's heart is pondering this season, the amazing sacrifices that Mary made, to bring forth this child who would save us all. 

     Merry Christmas my friends. Tell me in the comments what your thoughts are on this. Tell me how you feel about Mary, precious mother of Jesus. 

With Love, JL ~ 
Happy Parenting !