Encouraging Blogs for Large Families

As our family began to grow I spent a lot of time wondering how other big families looked, what they drove, how they did their laundry, met the needs of their children, etc.  Here are the most encouraging blogs for moms of many kids that I have found:

Chocolate on My Cranium

Hands Full and Loving It

Moss Moments

Baadsgaard Bylines

Our Mothers Daughters

Generation Cedar

Smockity Frocks

In a Shoe

Memories on Clover Lane

Large Families on Purpose

As much as I love these blogs most of the important direction that I have gotten for our family has come through the Holy Ghost as we have asked God to direct us in our efforts.   Enjoy these blogs, be inspired and encouraged- but don't forget that the best advice will come from a loving Father in Heaven who loves and knows you and your children.  

Scripture Journals

My mom taught me to love the scriptures without ever saying a word.  Sure, she taught me about the scriptures, and taught from them- but it wasn't until I was a young adult and woke up on top of a houseboat on Lake Powell that I really learned how valuable the scriptures were.  As the morning sunshine hit the boat and woke us up I looked out to see my mom walking back to the boat along the shore, as she came closer I could see that she had her scriptures.  I realized then that if my mom would search out a quiet spot to read the scriptures on vacation that she saw them in a whole different light than I did.

It has taken me years to begin to value them like my mom did.  It really wasn't until I recognized that my children would need a love and understanding of the scriptures to protect them that I started writing down my thoughts, printing off important talks, and putting them all together in a meaningful way.  My scripture journals are a tangible evidence of the love the Lord has shown me while I have worked to become closer to Him.

Here are some great resources for scripture journals:

The Red Headed Hostess
Her site really helped me to see exciting ways to journal!  She has some beautiful scripture journals for sale, including an amazing study on the Names of Christ that would be a great way to prepare for Christmas and Easter.  I prefer my three ring binders so I can add content at will, but hers are ready made.  She also shares lots of her pages so you can see ideas (the following pictures are from her website).

Latter-day Homeschooling
This is how I set up my scripture journals.  I love my alphabetical tabs ($5 at Walmart)!  She also has lots of free printable scripture journal pages that make it easy to hit the ground running.

That Good Part
She has several scripture study guides that helped me try new ways of studying.  I especially love her study of the Young Men and Young Women's theme: Stand in Holy Places.  She also has a free e-book all about effective scripture study.  I'm in awe of her crazy art skills too:

Our Proclamation Project

I'm so grateful for the Proclamation to the World about Families!

I want my kids to understand the important truths that are contained in it.  These photos have been our screen savers lately.  Our hope is that it will be a visual way for them to learn how we are living God's plan for families!

  

These were my first efforts with a free photo editing program and a point-and-shoot camera.  

It didn't cost anything and the kids loved them.

The Lies of the Devil

"Our families may be corrupted by worldly trends and teachings unless we know how to use the Book of Mormon to expose and combat falsehoods..."

-Ezra Taft Benson

The Book of Mormon exposes the enemies of Christ. It confounds false doctrines and lays down contention. (See 2 Ne. 3:12.) It fortifies the humble followers of Christ against the evil designs, strategies, and doctrines of the devil in our day. The type of apostates in the Book of Mormon are similar to the type we have today. God, with his infinite foreknowledge, so molded the Book of Mormon that we might see the error and know how to combat false educational, political, religious, and philosophical concepts of our time.
-EZRA TAFT BENSON  "The Book of Mormon Is the Word of God"

The quote by President Benson really caught my attention.  Maybe because he mentioned the danger to our families.  I would do anything to protect my family.  Since then as I've read the Book of Mormon I have watched for the lies of the devil, the "worldly trends and teachings" that have been used for ages to deceive God's children.  I recently transferred them to this graphic so they would be a little more interesting to look at.  I am going to print some blank templates off for the kids to put in their scripture journals so they have a place to record what they find.

Click here to print empty word bubbles.

Studying Just One Verse

Sometimes the Holy Ghost can make one verse into an entire message of peace, hope and direction.  This verse was my message during a challenging time.