Music - Christmas Hymn Mix

I think I've mentioned this before...Matt can only listen to Hymns and Primary songs in his particular mission.  The mission president doesn't care who sings them or what style/genre they are performed in as long as they are only Hymns and Primary songs.  This has proved to be tough to find.  Even the Mormon Tabernacle Choir doesn't put out a CD that is ONLY Hymns. 

The past few days I've been working on a putting together a Christmas Hymn Mixed CD to send to Matt and some of our other missionary friends and I thought I'd share what I came up with.  I uploaded all of our Christmas CD's to iTunes (I have quite a few because we really like Christmas music around here) and only ended up purchasing a few titles to round out this selection.  Using iTunes you can make a playlist by simply dragging a song from your 'library' of music and dropping them into your playlist.  From there you can even move them around so they play in a specific order.  You can click on each song below to see the album that it comes from.  Here's what I came up with:

Angels We Have Heard on High - The Piano Guys (instrumental)

Joy to the World - Amy Grant

Silent Night - Lady Antebellum

It Came Upon The Midnight Clear - Bradlee (piano)

O Come, All Ye Faithful - Amy Grant

O Holy Night - Celine Dion

Silent Night - Paul Cardall (piano)

O Come, All Ye Faithful - David Archuleta

The First Noel - Lady Antebellum

Silent Night - Michael Buble

Angels We Have Heard on High - Bradlee (piano)

It Came upon a Midnight Clear - Josh Groban

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Carrie Underwood

Silent Night - David Archuleta

The First Noel - Josh Groban

Away in a Manger - The Piano Guys (instrumental)

Angels We Have Heard on High - Paul Cardall (piano)

O Come, All Ye Faithful - Celtic Woman

Silent Night - The Piano Guys (instrumental)

I printed the playlist and cut it down to size and inserted it into this handy, dandy CD cover I made.  Using this template, print out your CD cover onto 8.5" x 11" seasonal scrapbook paper.  Fold on the dotted lines and paste or tape the side tabs leaving the top tab open to allow you to insert your CD. Just a little more festive than a jewel case or the plain white sleeves that I usually use. 

 

What hymns would you put on your Christmas playlist? 

Do you have any all-time favorites?

Rustic Christmas Advent Calendar

Today's post is courtesy of Marcie - one of my best friends, former mission companion (Macau ROCKS!!), and a missionary mom to Hannah serving in California.  She found these adorable, rustic burlap bag advent calendars at her local craft store, decorated them, and filled them with a scripture reminiscent of the season and a coordinating treat.  They are amazing and her missionary is going to LOVE them.

 

While your local craft store may not have this exact product, you could easily make your own using burlap from the fabric/craft store OR...

...I found these little beauties online from papermart.com
Just string them together with a little jute.  CUTE!!

They measure 3.5"x 5" - which is larger than Marcie's.  On the bright side, now there will be room for double treats in the bag.  One for your missionary and one for their companion.  They are bundled in packages of 24 (Perfect count for an advent calendar!) for $12.  The same product is offered here through Amazon.com only these are bundled in packages of 50 for $16 so if you need to make two advent calendars, this would be perfect.  You probably couldn't buy burlap for that price.

 

Click on the above photo and it will take you right there...

 

Decorate your bags - if desired.

Number your bags - this is really a must...it is after all, an Advent Calendar, right?

Now you get to fill your bags with all sorts of fun things that will help bring a bit of the season into your missionary's life every day leading to Christmas.  Marcie was kind enough to include a list of the ideas that she used.  They are in no particular order but it wouldn't be difficult to put them into a specific order should you choose.  These are all spiritual based and would be a fun addition to their companionship study each morning.  Thanks, Marcie!!

Scripture Countdown: 

John 3:16
(wrapped square chocolate tied with a ribbon to look like a gift)
Doctrine & Covenants 43:34
(pack of Lifesavers - Savior)
Luke 22:44
(red jelly beans - to represent 'blood')
Isaiah 1:18
(white jelly beans - to represent 'purity')
Matthew 2:7-8
(M&M's - to represent W for 'Wisemen')
John 10:14
(candy cane - to represent the 'Good Shepard')
Matthew 2:9
(yellow Starburst candies - to represent the 'star')
Matthew 2:11
(gold candy coins - to represent 'gold, frankincense and myrh')
John 6:35
(animal crackers - to represent the 'bread of life')
John 6:40
(green jelly beans - to represent 'everlasting life')
Doctrine & Covenants 76:41
(cinnamon bear or gummy bears - to represent 'bear our sins')
John 14:27
(Reese's Pieces candy - to represent 'peace')
Doctrine & Covenants 133:22
(Ande's mints - to represent 'mountain')
2 Nephi 26:25
(Bit-o-honey candy - to represent 'honey')
Matthew 26:39
(mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cup candy - to represent 'remove this cup')
Luke 6:21
(mini Snicker's candy bar - to represent 'laughter')
Matthew 4:19
(Swedish Fish - to represent 'fishers of men')
Hymn 201, Joy to the World, sing all verses
(mini Almond Joy candy bar)
Hymn 214, I Heard the Bells, sing all verses
(chocolate covered bell candy)
John 15:1
(licorice pieces - to represent the 'true vine')
Matthew 11:29
(Smartie candy - to represent 'learn of me')
 3 Nephi 11:19
(Hershey's Kiss candy - to represent 'kiss His feet')
Alma 7:12
(sucker - to represent 'succor')
3 Nephi 11:11
(dark chocolate - to represent 'bitter cup')

 Notes:

 

To make tags to insert into your bag, simply cut cardstock into the appropriate size for your bags, punch a hole in one end and attach a ribbon, decorate tag, if desired with stickers, etc., and hand write the scripture reference onto your tag.  You could actually print out the scripture in it's entirety but in my opinion (for what that's worth!), it would be more effective and strengthen the companionship if they looked up the scripture and read it aloud together.  Just a thought...

 

For those small items listed above i.e. jelly beans, M&M's etc., put them into a small reclosable bag (like this, for example available from Amazon or the jewelry department of your local craft shop) or wrap them in plastic wrap so they don't fall out during the mailing process.

 



Another Box of Sun

As many of you know, Matt is serving in Seattle.  It's raining a LOT there and he is getting a little low  and dispirited.  Our doctor here thinks that he might be suffering from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) because Matt was a sun God prior to his mission.  He and his brothers operate a yard care business during the summer and then during the winter he was a snow board instructor at a ski resort here in Utah.  To go from solid sun to solid grey has been a bit trying on both he and his companion.  My cute sister and her daughters put together this Box of Sun to help brighten his day...week...life.  He is going to LOVE it!

 

 

They found this adorable printable from happymoneysaver.com to include. 

You can find it here.

 

 

 

 

Here's a list 'sunny' ideas:

Werther's candy

Grandma's relish (it's yellow)

Golden Oreo Cookies

yellow kitchen towels

yellow StarBursts

dish scrubby thingie

Lemon drink flavoring

(which I've heard is to die for)

 

 

 

 

 

lemon scented hand soap

butterscotch disks

Lemonade cupcakes

butter microwave popcorn

Carmex

yellow Noisy Putty

(it makes little 'improper' sounds when you play with it. Matt is going to love it!)

 

 

 

yellow rain poncho

(cause if you've gotta wear a rain poncho you may as well be in sunny YELLOW!)

silly string

highlighters

Juicy Fruit gum

Lemon Head candy

Lemon Head candy canes

(who knew?)

yellow PostIt Notes

Mr. Goodbar candy bars

yellow hippopotamus Punch Ball

and a...yellow tie

(Because you can't send an Elder a package without a tie.  Am I right?)

Everyone also included a little letter...

And the finished product!  It all fit into the medium Flat Rate box from the post office.
Thanks Arave family!  (I have the best family EVER!)
Elder Brown is going to be happy, hapPY, HAPPY!!

 

 

 

 

 



Acorn Bites!

 

You've probably seen these on Pinterest but they are so adorable that I just couldn't resist making some and sending them to our missionaries.  Truth be told, I think when I first saw them I may or may not have let out a little scream of excitement.  Yup.  They are just that cute.  They are super easy, way fast, relatively inexpensive (I say 'relatively' simply because they make a TON so you can send out lots or give some away to family and friends), and YUMMY!!  I'd give credit but these are seriously EVERYWHERE on the web...

 

 

Supplies needed:

Mini Vanilla Wafers

(I found these in our local supermarket. 

They come in the same size box as the regular Vanilla Wafers.)

Hershey Kiss candy

Peanut Butter Chips

(Like chocolate chips only peanut butter!

You can find these by the chocolate chips

in the baking section of your local grocer.)

Caramels (optional)

 

 

 

Begin by unwrapping your Hershey Kisses then melt a small amount of your peanut butter chips.  The peanut butter chips will be your 'glue' to attach everything together OR you could use peanut butter chips to attach the acorn's stem (because it's the same color and shows more) and then use melted caramel to attach the cookie to the kiss.  If you opt for the peanut butter/caramel version you will only need a small amount of melted chips and your finished version will taste just like a Twix candy bar.  Seriously YUMMY!!

 

 

Dip the bottom of your Hershey Kiss into the melted peanut butter chips or caramel. Wipe off some of the excess on the edge of the bowl and apply your Mini Vanilla Wafer.  I've also seen this done with Mini Nutter Butter Cookies and while I do like the added texture to the top of the acorn, I didn't want to have to take the cookies apart.  You don't need very much 'glue' otherwise it will squish out around the edges and look messy.  Yup.  Learn from my experience.  On the bright side:  You can eat your mistakes!  Lay them aside on a cookie sheet to set up a bit.

 

 

 

Following the same procedure, attach the peanut butter chip 'stem' to the top of your acorn and set aside.  It doesn't take long for them to set up.

 

 

Note:  Please excuse the fact that I was multi-tasking and making dinner at the same time as I was making acorns...and the black in my nails is actually Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint from yet another project earlier in the day.  I tend to cram a LOT into my day's off work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I sent out quite a few of these acorn bites so I came up with two ideas for packaging.  I loved the little paint cans that I found at the craft store ($2.99) but they were too large to send in the small flat rate boxes from the post office so I only sent those to my son and his companion.  I found the 'Count Your Blessings' free printable online at yellowblissroad.com.  They were the perfect size for the center of my paint can.  Then I tied scraps of coordinating ribbon and fiber to the handle (see the photo at the beginning of the post).

 

 

I made a bag topper for the other Acorn Bites that I was sending out.  Just put your acorns into a regular sized reclosable sandwich baggie,  seal closed, place your folded bag tag over and staple.  I folded down the top part of my baggie because I didn't fill them all the way full.  Sorry that I forgot to take photos of the finished product.  Don't know where my brain was...

 

 

Print the bag topper onto white cardstock and fold in half.

 

Click here to download the free 'Give Thanks' printable.

 

 

 



Fancy Candy

My friend, Cindi at work brought in some candy bars for Halloween.  She had wrapped them in cute chevron wrapping paper and decorated them with ribbons and bows and they were absolutely adorable and incredibly fast, easy and inexpensive (which my husband always loves).  I had already sent Matt's Halloween package but I thought this would be fun to include in his Thanksgiving package.  My thoughts were thus:  There can never be quite enough chocolate.  I realize that not everyone has the same feelings towards chocolate that I do and I also realize that missionary's get lots of treats so should they decide that they don't want to partake, I thought that Matt and his companion could use them as little gifts for those family's that invite them over on Thanksgiving day for dinner. 

 

Supplies needed:

wrapping paper or scrapbook paper

coordinating ribbons and embellishments

clear tape

scissors

large candy bars

These are really simple and pretty self-explanatory...just make a sleeve out of scrapbook paper or wrapping paper and tape it around your wrapped candy bar.  Add any embellishments that you would like i.e. ribbons, bows, stickers, etc.  Then attach a cute tag. I made mine out of coordinating paper and added a sticker to the front and back along with a 'thought'.  I didn't sign our names because I didn't know if they would be giving them away. 

Click here to download the Thanksgiving 'thoughts' for the back of your gift tags.

Click here to download the Christmas 'thoughts' for the back of your gift tags.

Here's another look at the finished product.  This would be so easy to make for any holiday - Christmas 'thoughts' for your gift tags are already available to download by clicking the link above.  These would even be fun to give out to your Visiting Teaching or Home Teaching families or for a your missionary's birthday.  Happy Holidays!!

PS:  Thanks, Lynnae for helping me

create these little gems. 

Whatever would I do without you?





General Conference on CD

May I share a story from my mission?  I hope you don't mind...I served my mission in Hong Kong and while I was there I had the opportunity to serve in Macau which at the time was a Portugese territory located on a peninsula next to mainland China.  My 'boyfriend' at the time (we're now married) would record General Conference onto cassettes for me.  My companion and I loved to listen to them.  We would get Conference in Hong Kong but we were about a month behind and would only get one session that was translated into Cantonese.  The members would all gather together at the Stake House in Homantin to watch and the rest of Conference would have to be read later from the Liahona (international church magazine).  One spring day I was assigned to provide the spiritual thought at the beginning of our District meeting.  I decided to share portions from President Ezra Taft Benson's memorable talk on the importance of the Book of Mormon.  At that time there were eight missionaries in our District and only three of us were English speaking, the rest being native Chinese.  Before the talk was over all of the native missionaries were openly weeping.  I was surprised!  It's a great talk and while it is indeed a very moving one I had not yet translated it for them.  They were only listening to his voice and therein was the key.  Upon my inquiry I was told that this was the first time that they had ever heard the prophet's actual voice.  Up to that point they had only ever heard an interpreter's voiceover.  We are truly blessed in ways that we don't even realize...

A few years ago I noticed that for an additional US $10, I could order CD's of General Conference when I order my church magazines.  It comes right to my mailbox about a week prior to them coming out at Deseret Book for purchase.  Mason loved them and Matt will too.  Rather than have my missionary carry the CD's around with them for the rest of their mission, I suggest that when they are transferred they leave them in their apartment for other missionaries to enjoy.  This year I ordered two CD's so I can keep one at home as well.

You can order a copy of October 2013 General Conference by clicking here

or by visiting store.lds.org

Music - "Called to Serve"

Called to Serve

featuring the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra

Craig Jessop & Max Wilberg - Conductors

Called to Serve

Redeemer of Israel

I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go

How Firm a Foundation

I Am a Child of God

I Believe in Christ

I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus

Ye Elders of Israel

I Know That My Redeemer Lives

High on the Mountain Top

He Sent His Son

Come, Come, Ye Saints

This Is The Christ

God Be With You Till We Meet Again

The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning

Listed as a "must-have CD" for any LDS home, especially those with missionaries in the field."  A brilliant collection of church hymns with a few Primary songs mixed in.  Will warm your heart and fill your missionary with enthusiasm for God's work.