Time with Your Kids

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Let’s talk about parenting for a bit. Some of us have children to show for and some haven’t had the chance to bring spirits to this earth yet. Sometimes if the kids are acting up we may think it’s not all fun and games or we may believe that we’re at our wit’s end and can’t go on.

The following excerpt was taken from a talk written by Elder Robert D. Hales for the Friend to Friend: I am a Child of God, March 1978.

“Adam and Eve were the very first parents on earth. They used their agency to decide what laws they would obey. They chose to become parents and to have children come into their home where they could lovingly teach them the gospel. Your parents, too, chose to bring you and your brothers and sisters into the world so that other spirit children of our Father in heaven could also come to earth.

"Heavenly Father planned for our kind and dear earthly parents to also be with us in heaven where we will live together as eternal families. Just as we show love for our Father in heaven by obeying His laws and commandments, we honor our earthly parents by loving and obeying them."

So, whether we’re enjoying ourselves with the little ones, or not, as the case may be, we’ll receive blessings for doing what’s right in the eyes of the Lord.

Have a great 4th of July!

To see the Neighborhood News for Monday, 4 July, please click here.

We welcome your comments. Post by clicking the link below.

Personal Touch

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In today's Personal Touch interview Rebecca Cressman chats with Bonnie. Bonnie L. Peters is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and a Master of Social Work degree. She is the Executive Director of the Family Support Center, a licensed child welfare agency whose mission is to protect children, strengthen families and prevent child abuse. The Family Support Center offers crisis nurseries, counseling, respite, daycare, in-home parent support, and transitional housing to help families rebuild stable, nurturing families. There is also an Adults Molested as Children support group to help survivors heal. Bonnie has extensive experience working with people of diverse backgrounds and lifestyles and has a passion for human rights and equality. She has years of experience in social service arenas. She has received many awards and recognitions for her work in child welfare. She serves on many committees and boards. She and her husband Jim have parented twelve children.

Web: www.familysupportcenter.org/

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But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Matthew 18:6

Considering the book we're sharing today, Healing by Marion Stewart, I think this scripture is appropriate. It's hard to think clearly whenever children are concerned. It's hard to try to be Christ-like, when all you may think is how to hurt the perpetrator.

What are your thoughts about the subject? Please share with us.

To view a copy of the Neighborhood News for Monday, 14 March, please click here.

Halloween

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 Let’s get some perspective here: “Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in).

“Halloween, celebrated each year on October 31, is a mix of ancient Celtic practices, Catholic and Roman religious rituals and European folk traditions that blended together over time to create the holiday we know today. Straddling the line between fall and winter, plenty and paucity and life and death, Halloween is a time of celebration and superstition. Halloween has long been thought of as a day when the dead can return to the earth, and ancient Celts would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off these roaming ghosts. The Celtic holiday of Samhain, the Catholic Hallowmas period of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day and the Roman festival of Feralia all influenced the modern holiday of Halloween.” (Source: http://www.history.com/topics/halloween)



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 With that in mind, let’s check Marion Stewart’s article “Halloween: To Be or Not to Be?” She seems to like it, and goes on to share with us her family traditions. She tells us: “I think Halloween is a fun American holiday that provides opportunities for kids to use their imaginations and get free candy!” Marion blogs at Marion's Melodies.



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 Linda, from Craftaholics Anonymous, came up with this great looking wreath. Even though it’s meant as a Halloween decoration, you can adapt it to any other holiday, with the proper colors and wording. It’s a keeper!



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 And, from Chocolate on My Cranium we get this Family Home Evening Lesson “In Tune with the Holy
Ghost.” This lesson aims to help family members understand what a wonderful gift the Holy Ghost is and the importance of living worthy to be in tune with its promptings.

As usual, on Fridays Positive Music and Downloads offers Free Download Friday. To enjoy this week's download, please click here.

Have a great time this weekend. Please send us a few words in the comments section; we'll love to hear from you.

To view a copy of the Neighborhood News for Friday, 22 October, please click here.

Personal Touch

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In our Personal Touch with Rebecca Cressman segment, she interviews Tiffany Fletcher. Tiffany is the second oldest of six children, born to a mother diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder. Her new book is a true story called Mother Had a Secret: Learning to Love My Mother & Her Multiple Personalities. It was Tiffany's love of writing that helped her cope with the difficulties of her childhood and offered her peace in the mist of chaos. Tiffany received her Associates degree from Rick’s College and went on to receive her BA in English from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah.




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 Our dear friend and contributor Marion Stewart goes back to her childhood in her article “Times Have Changed and So Must We.” In it, she remembers the good times when you could go to the mall or the beach with your best friend, and feel some kind of assurance that you were safe, even if both of you were alone in the crowd. She goes on to say that those times are gone, and that we need to be a lot more observant now. Her article is filled with nostalgia, and it leaves you with a bittersweet feeling. Marion blogs at Marion’s Melodies.




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 Jeff Lindsay is a guest contributor at Times and Seasons, with his article “Mental Health in the Church: Suggestions for Leaders.” Jeff has served as a bishop in the LDS church, and in this article he shares with us his insights about experiences he’s had with members that suffered with different mental illnesses. He also counsels leaders on how to deal with some of them. It is a very good article, and it shows how much compassion he has for those members that are going through some of these problems.

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Tiffany Fletcher has her own website Mother Had a Secret, in which she talks more extensively about her mother’s illness. She has put together a list of “Resources” which will help people with different kinds of mental health problems find the help they need. Hopefully their families will also take advantage of this resource.





To view a copy of the Neighborhood News for Monday, 20 September, please click here.

Summertime

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Summer is running away from us so quickly. We can still savor it, but it tastes like a ripe fruit. We can still enjoy it, but we know it’s past its prime.

Marion Stewart blogs at ‘Marion’s Melodies’, and she has written her article “Oh What Do You Do In the Summertime.” In it, she reflects on past times with her children, and how much she enjoyed having them at home during the summer. Except for one little detail she couldn’t avoid, one night a week: the ice cream truck. She finally came up with an idea of how to deal with the pesky guy, and you can read about it in her story. I just came across another blog a few days ago (I read a lot of blogs—it’s my job), and someone was commenting that she’d told her children that when they heard the song it was because they were out of ice cream. How funny! I remember running after the guy myself when I was a kid –I grew up in Argentina, however, there are things that seem to transcend all cultures. In my case, it was flavored popsicles (they tasted like frozen Kool Aid). I have nothing against the kids having a treat, as long as they pay with their own money. Finances, however is not part of this blog today. :o)

I found this cute blog ‘Family Chic’, and its contributor, Camilla, came up with this great idea using cupcake liners. The article is named “Cupcake Lights are Sweet.” The idea has spread, I believe, because I’ve seen it in different areas on the internet. All you need is those cute liners you can find at Ikea, they’re colorful and inexpensive. Some people were concerned about safety-you know, lights can get hot. Then someone else contributed the idea of LED lights. So there you have it, inexpensive, practical and safe, all in one easy-to-make craft. Decorate your backyard for your next barbecue and enjoy all the comments. Be a trend setter!

As usual, we have a Friday Family Home Evening lesson idea. Have you had sometimes to remind your family that you’re supposed to love each other? And sometimes it’s not an easy task? Well, this lesson will motivate you and the kids to show appreciation for each other, and it’s a sweet lesson to have for just those difficult moments. Have fun with it, and let them know that we’re all God’s children.



As usual, on Fridays Positive Music and Downloads offers Free Download Friday. Please enjoy the music of Sam Riddle, and his song "Testify."


Have a great time this weekend, and go ahead and drop off a few words in the comments section, we'll certainly appreciate that.

Images from www.sxc.hu/ and http://www.fotopedia.com/  

To view a copy of the Neighborhood News for Friday, 6 August, please click here.

Supporting Service

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We start out our newsletter with our friend Marion Stewart’s article. Marion blogs at “Marion’s Melodies”, and in her article “Be for a Comfort to Thy Husband”, she talks about the way she felt when her husband was called to be a bishop, how she felt alone often, since the kids were all gone to college. She also tells us how she found a way to deal with her situation and be of help to her husband in the process. You’ll notice that Marion has a great sense of humor when you read her top 10 list.

Our next article is on the flip side of the coin. Laura Wall, from the Church News, reports about the wife serving in a high profile calling, in her article “How to Support Your Wife as she Serves as an Auxiliary Leader.” She gives a few tips to the husbands, so they can better serve their wives make it through the years that sometimes takes to fulfill some of these responsibilities.

Our last article comes from Elder Boyd K. Packer, in his conference talk from November 1997, entitled “Called to Serve.” He puts everything into perspective by simply letting us know that “It is not in the proper spirit for us to decide where we will serve or where we will not. We serve where we are called.”

To view a copy of the Neighborhood News for Wednesday, 26 May’s, please click here.