Look at all those cute faces! This fun night was December 30th, my birthday, and my family made it so much fun. The most fun part was Jon playing DJ and we all danced and sang. Happy times!! This was where I opened an envelope and stood frozen when I read I had been invited to speak at Women's Conference in April. Totally nuts!! But anyhow, I must say, like any mother, I love my children and grandchildren and appreciate their thoughtfulness in celebrating my birthday with a load of fun!! I didn't get all of our pictures taken, I'm not as good with the camera as Lara, but it is what it is!
One of my favorite days was Tuesday, June 2, 2009 in Glacier Bay! It was spectacular to say the least! The blue of the glacier, the sky and the sea was breath-taking! I really want to go back. It was the best thing we ever did! Summer—A Time to be Creative
By Holly E. Newton
Summertime is the greatest part of the year to take some time and be creative. Here are some great activity books that you and your youngster can enjoy together. Most of these books are great for ages 8 and older.
First, let’s begin with four activity books that you take in the car and while away the hours of driving. Yes, your child can enjoy the trip without having the TV blaring and blasting all of the way to your destination. Klutz’s Triptivities: Great Activities for the Road, published by Scholastic, is the perfect smallish flip book full of fun stuff for your kids to enjoy on a long drive. Some of the activities include estimations, language skills and doodling. There’s even a pencil included that fits perfectly in a pouch by the flip book so your child has it handy when ready to open to the first page.
The always popular Megan McDonald has another fun “Judy Moody” book out called Double-Rare Way-Not-Boring Book of Fun Stuff To Do.This paperback book, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds, is similar to the previous book in that it’s also full of activities – but this book is geared more for girls. There are jokes, interesting facts and crossword puzzles and much more. I especially like the way the book is presented because there are also many opportunities to write your own thoughts and creative ideas in the book. There are stickers included at the back.
How To Draw Funny,by Klutz, has hilarious comic characters for you to learn to draw. Each page has an action verb heading and a simple illustration of a funny-looking animal on the top part of the page for you to copy right below. Some of the verbs include strong emotions such as “Nervous” and “Pain” and some include action verbs such as “Splashing” and “Sleeping”. The book also includes markers, a mechanical pencil and an eraser.
Klutz’s What About You?: 280 Questions on the World’s Most Fascinating Topic,by Karen Phillips, asks interesting questions that have to do with you. So these are great fun to answer, meditate and wonder about. Some of the questions include friends, food and books. There’s even survey-style paper located in the back of the book.
Wilderness Explorer’s Guide,adapted from the popular movie “UP”, is full of many kinds of activities associated with scouts. The chapters include locating and naming insects, safety in hiking and teaching knot tying. The fun lay-out of the book makes kids want to learn all that’s inside. And, there are three sheets of stickers located at the back.
Spies Revealed, by Clive Gifford, is a fascinating look into the world of espionage and secret agents. This over-sized book gives an incredible inside look into this world and helps with understanding and deciphering codes and spy techniques. The lay-out is kid-friendly with many pull-tabs, charts and a questionnaire to see how you’d be as a spy.
The rest of the books are craft books full of all kinds of creations. There are two new “Build-a-Book” kits where kids can create books that are already bound: My Really Good Friends and I Love My Dad are full of inspiration and ideas on embossed paper for kids to frame and decorate after their story is written.
Klutz’s Clothespin Cars, Fuzzy Little Monkeys and Fuzzimal Puppies, all published by Scholastic, make great gifts or toys for kids to make. These books have all of the necessary items to make and create and invite fun into a child’s day.
Klutz also has a designer book geared for kids a bit older. Paper Fashions Fantasy,includes stencils, fabric and glitter to make and alter different styles of princess gowns, fairy dresses 
and royalty galore. There are even tiny hangers to showcase your designs.
Klutz’s Tricky Video, will surely help the future movie entrepreneur prepare that fun video for the family by adding gags and tricks-of-the-trade. This fun to look at book will save hours of time by showing the step-by-step order of each stunt needed to make a lively show!
The last two books are geared for the younger set, ages 3 to 7. Dr. Seuss Lacing Cards: The Cat in the Hat and Dr. Seuss Puzzle Story: Green Eggs and Ham are both terrific and fun exercises in eye-hand coordination necessary for youngsters as they prepare to read and write.
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Choosing Peace
Elder Richard G. Scott has spoken clearly and beautifully about how we may choose a better quality life, with these words:
“You have a choice. You can wring your hands and be consumed with concern for the future or choose to use the counsel the Lord has given to live with peace and happiness in a world awash with evil….. We cannot dry up the mounting river of evil influences, for they result from the exercise of moral agency divinely granted by our Father. But we can and must, with clarity, warn of the consequences of getting close to its enticing, destructive current.
Now on the brighter side. Despite pockets of evil, the world overall is majestically beautiful, filled with good and sincere people. God has provided a way to live in this world and not be contaminated by the degrading pressures evil agents spread throughout it. You can live a virtuous, productive, righteous life by following the plan of protection created by your Father in Heaven: His plan of happiness.” (“How to Live Well Amid Increasing Evil”, Ensign magazine, May 2004).
When I read this this morning, it reaffirmed what I have been feeling as we watch our world collapse around us with Iran, North Korea, our economy, our society and it's values. I find it interesting to watch as it keeps reminding me of the prophecies that are being fulfilled. Is it any surprise all of this is happening? Even, the hearts of men will grow cold, I take that for one another as well. Are we not watching this? Are we not watching some of this among our own selves? I find myself even getting fed up. But What Elder Scott says is true, He has provided us with a plan, a way back through all of this muck by following His way. He is the life, the light! For that I am so grateful. I will try harder!
