Jesus Loved the Children

Some of my favorite experiences here in Belize are my encounters with the children.  As we pass by, they alway have a smile and greeting for us.  If the opportunity arises, I like to hand them a little something from my purse.  

Often, as we pass this house, the children stand at the door and wave. 

Finally we stopped and I gave them my smile/frown handout that I have a supply of in my purse. They were so happy to receive it. 

This picture is an excellent  illustration of a child's reaction to receiving the handout.  

My first Christmas in Belize I started handing out simple naivety sets printed on card-stock. The children loved receiving and playing with them so much, I have started handing out the set anytime of the year, not just at Christmas time.   

Sister VandeMerwe gave me this simple 12 piece puzzle of John the Baptist baptizing Jesus.  Children love doing this puzzle over and over again.  

Here are the resources for the above activities if you want a supply in your own purse.  

Click here to go to the madebyjoel.com link for the Nativity Scene.  I print it up on card-stock paper and put the set in a quart ziplock bag.

 

To make the smile/frown handout, I print the following two pages back to back on card-stock paper and cut out each picture.

You can order the Mini Puzzle of the baptism of Jesus at deseretbook.com by clicking here.  

How Do I Love Thee? A Great Valentine's Message by Elder Holland

On this Valentine's Day, Elder Holland's BYU Devotional speech was posted on my Facebook feed.  As I clicked onto the link this morning, I was riveted by his message.

After his introductory remarks, he gets into the meat of his message at 5:11 where he says:

"I wish to speak to you this morning about Christlike love and what I think it can and should mean in your friendships, in your dating, in serious courtship, and, ultimately, in your marriage."

When he said that, I knew this is a message for everyone.

You can see and read the message by clicking here.

Here are a few more snippets from his talk:

"....I have taken for a title to my remarks Mrs. Browning’s wonderful line “How do I love thee?”... I am not going to “count the ways” this morning, but I am impressed with her choice of adverb—not when do I love thee nor where do I love thee nor why do I love thee nor why don’t you love me, but, rather, how. How do I demonstrate it, how do I reveal my true love for you? Mrs. Browning was correct. Real love is best shown in the “how,” and it is with the how that...Paul helps us the most...."

"...I like..Paul’s language that says one who truly loves is not “puffed up.” Puffed up! Isn’t that a great image? Haven’t you ever been with someone who was so conceited, so full of themselves that they seemed like the Pillsbury Doughboy? Fred Allen said once that he saw such a fellow walking down Lovers’ Lane holding his own hand. True love blooms when we care more about another person than we care about ourselves. That is Christ’s great atoning example for us, and it ought to be more evident in the kindness we show, the respect we give, and the selflessness and courtesy we employ in our personal relationships..."

I'll have to say that listening to this Valentine message with Scott this afternoon is100 x's better than receiving a dozen roses.  (and cheaper too!)