Book Review: Enemy Pie

Do you have any enemies? Well then this book is for you, and your children, too!

My favorite books are Children’s books – especially ones that teach important, life altering lessons. “Enemy Pie” is a fun story about Jeremy, his new home, his summer and his ‘best enemy’. Luckily Jeremy has a loving father who teaches him a lesson about friendship that turns his ‘best enemy’ into his best friend.

by Derek Munson

‘Grown ups’ can certainly learn from this story, too. I can think of times when I didn’t have such warm-fuzzy for someone, but as soon I put the effort into getting to know them I learn to appreciate who they are and that they can be my friend, too

Homemaking vs. Housekeeping

Housekeeping:the management and care of a residence, keeping it clean and orderly.
Homemaking: the spiritual and temporal care and management of a residence, to make a safe and secure place for families and individuals, creating an atmosphere of peace, unity, balance and love that world cannot provide.

I have learned that it does not matter what type of structure we live in. I have the choice to make my house, apartment, condo, or room-in-a-basement a home. Since being married I have lived by this familiar scripture:

^aOrganize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a ^bhouse, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God. (D&C 88:119).

My first priority as a homemaker is to keep the Spirit a constant resident in our home. We have pictures of the temple, the Savior, and other uplifting images on our walls, we listen to good music, we say our prayers and most of all we always talk about the gospel.

My second priority is to try and keep things clean and orderly. I cannot always have my home looking immaculate, but I have noticed that when we are more diligent at housecleaning we feel happier and there is less contention.

It does not matter what type of housing structure we live in. We have the opportunity to create a place for us to dwell that is a safe haven from the outside world. My husband and have lived in the same apartment for almost 4 years, but it is our home because we feel love, peace, contentment, happiness, safety, security, joy, comfort, and most importantly we feel the Spirit.

One of my favorite things to do is to decorate for any holiday that I can. And when I say ‘decorate’ I really only ever decorate with a few things for each holiday (Christmas being the exception). My husband and I feel that those few simple decorations help us feel the true spirit of what we are celebrating.

Better Homes and Gardens Centerpiece

Deseret Book offers various home decor for year-round and seasonal purposes.
Here are some Simple and Frugal Decorating ideas for Fall by Blissfully Domestic.
Involve your kids in your seasonal decorating! Kaboose has some great Fall Craft projects.

The Gifts of the Spirit

General Conference is always so uplifting. I always walk away saying, “That was just what I needed.” This time was no different. As my husband, L, and I were talking about the messages he said to me, “They gave a lot of great advice on how to serve others didn’t they? Almost everyone seemed to talk about it in one way or another.” I had to laugh because I’d been thinking the over all themes had been Prayer and Unity. Later I talked to my mom who mentioned she’d loved all the wisdom given on the principle of faith. Thank heaven for men and women who teach with the Spirit and then let Him do His work.

Conference: An Opportunity to Change Our Hearts

I think the story of King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon is one of my most favorites.  King Benjamin called all of his people together to declare his son Mosiah as the king who would reign after him.  He wanted to tell his people about the promises available to them if they would be diligent in keeping the Lord’s commandments.

In Mosiah, Chapter 2, verses 5-6 we learn how the people responded to this call.

5 And it came to pass that when they came up to the temple, they pitched their tents round about, every man according to his ^afamily, consisting of his wife, and his sons, and his daughters, and their sons, and their daughters, from the eldest down to the youngest, every family being separate one from another.

6 And they pitched their tents round about the temple, every man having his ^atent with the door thereof towards the temple, that thereby they might remain in their tents and hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them;

This weekend, we have an opportunity to  listen to vital words from the leaders of Christ’s church.  We can learn a valuable lesson about how to prepare ourselves to receive the messages that will be delivered, by looking again at King Benjamin’s people in verse 9.

9 And these are the words which he ^aspake and caused to be written, saying: My brethren, all ye that have assembled yourselves together, you that can hear my words which I shall speak unto you this day; for I have not commanded you to come up hither to ^btrifle with the words which I shall speak, but that you should ^chearken unto me, and open your ears that ye may hear, and your ^dhearts that ye may understand, and your ^eminds that the ^fmysteries of God may be unfolded to your view.

I’m excited to open my ears, my heart, and my mind.  I have faith that the mysteries of God will be unfolded to me, and that messages the Lord would have me hear will be waiting for me as I pitch my tent to hear his servants speak.  I know there will be messages for you, too.

Family Home Evening: Prophets

This weeks Family Home Evening lesson from LDS Living is on Prophets (click HERE for the lesson). Could there have been a better topic for FHE tomorrow night? Nope. The 178th Semiannual General Conference will take place this Saturday and Sunday. My excitement and anticipation seems to grow more the week before conference convenes.

I have never really prepared myself for conference. I just sit and listen, but this time I want to make sure that I get my ‘temporal ducks’ in a row so that I can give my full attention to the speakers instead of thinking about the things I need to cram in to the 2-hour break between sessions.

Two weeks ago our Stake had the privilage of having Elder Bednar speak to us. One week ago I was on vacation in Salt Lake City where I attended a concert by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Utah Symphony – and President Monson was there. 24 hours ago I listened to the General Relief Society Meeting. In less than a week I will be able listen to the words of the Prophet and our leaders again. This mega-dose of spiritual goodness is wonderful!

My sister-in-law once made ‘conference bingo cards’ for her kids to use during conference. They placed a piece of candy in each squre when they heard a specific word…if I can get my hands on it I’ll share it here for everyone to use.

What are some other ways to prepare yourself or your family for conference?
What activities do you prepare for your children to keep them focused on the talks?

::The First Presidency::