{File Update: If you downloaded this chart prior to May 24th, 2012 you are likely missing a space for Helaman chapter 14. This has been corrected and a new version is available for download. Sorry for any inconvenience!}
So, one of our family’s goals for this year is to read the Book of Mormon (one of the books of scripture in the LDS church). It was a challenge given to us by our Stake Presidency and we hope to fulfill it. It takes us a bit longer than most to get through the book 
though (since our girls’ attention span is quite low when it comes to sitting still for reading that doesn’t involve princesses 
), so I’ve created this chart to help track our progress. {My chart was actually inspired by THIS one, but seeing as I don’t have a bunch of extra cash to drop on that sort of thing, I just made my own. }
Anyway, I of course wanted to share it with all of you in hopes it can be of use to some of you with your goals as well (click on the file name below to download it… it’s in PDF form). You can use stickers to mark off each chapter completed, or let your little ones color in each circle… whatever floats your boat. And hopefully this will help keep our kiddos motivated to sit still a little longer. Enjoy!
Download Here: Book of Mormon Reading Chart
Happy 2012 everybody!! I don’t know about you, but I have thoroughly enjoyed a relaxing Christmas vacation with lots of family and loved ones. And now it’s back to life, back to reality. Bummer. 
As always, at the end of every year I find myself looking back to see what kinds of things I was able to accomplish in the past year, and areas in which I might have fallen short as well. 2011 held a lot of good progress for me in the food storage and preparedness arenas. I’m really excited about the progress in gardening that our family made this past year. I feel like we are finally starting to get a feel for what is working and what is not. Granted, we still have LOTS of learning to do, but I’m happy with the efforts we’ve made. I’m also happy with the organizational efforts that have been made in the food storage areas of our home. I’m feeling like we have a pretty good system going right now, and while it’s not perfect, it’s a system that I can manage for the time being. I also checked back with the goals I had set at the beginning of this year and am happy to report that I came out pretty well on these. Yea for accomplishing goals!
An area I know I fell short in was my emergency preparedness… specifically first aid. I had wanted to get certified this past year (although it wasn’t one of my initial goals) and then never got around to it. *Drat.* I have looked up the information for local places that offer certification, so at least I’ve got that I guess. But that will have to stay on my list of things still do.
And now, with the new year, it’s time to look forward to see what good I can accomplish for the upcoming year. 2012 will be a great year, and there are so many things I want to do, but one of the most important aspects of making goals is to keep them realistic. (Remember to make S.M.A.R.T. Goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely.) One of the most exciting parts about my year will come in about three months when we welcome a new baby into our home. However, while that will be an enormous blessing, I also know from past experience that it is going to mean focusing A LOT of my time this year on just being a mom and making it through the initial newborn phase of our baby’s life. So my goals this year are going to have to be kept fairly simple and limited in number.
So aside from my personal goals here’s what I’ve got planned in the preparedness realm for 2012:
- For food storage, I want to try canning at least one new thing this year… something I’ve never tried canning before; and…
- For gardening, I want to try planting something new for the garden… perhaps planting potatoes; and…
- In emergency preparedness, I want to revise our family’s evacuations plans and get the details on those worked out a little better.
And that will probably do it. I’m sure there are probably a lot of new things I’ll try this year and a lot of things I’ll continue to work on, of course, but as far as goals, those are some things I would like to accomplish.
What about you? What preparedness goals do you have lined up for 2012? Be sure to take some time to think of at least one or two and then write them down to help keep you accountable. Oh, and you can also check out THIS POST for a helpful goal tracker as well.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Yum yum yum! This delicious (and addicting!) recipe is one that I grew up with. My mom makes it every year at Christmas time… several times, in fact… since we all seem to gobble it up quite quickly. This is my first year making it on my own and I am so excited to put it in little goodie bags to give to some of our friends and neighbors. It is just so good! We’ve already been through one batch with just our little family, so my girls and I just made up a few more batches today to give away. (Oh… and this is an EXCELLENT recipe for letting little kids help with.) It’s super easy and super delicious, so I hope you enjoy it!
Rocky Road Candy
Download Printable Version
Ingredients:
- 1 (12 oz) package milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup butterscotch chips (half a 12 oz bag)
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- salted peanuts (roughly ¼ cup)
- miniature marshmallows (roughly ¼ cup)
Directions:
- Line a 7″ x 11″ pan (or you could also use a 8×8 or 9×9 square pan) with wax paper (or just grease it REALLY well).
- Sprinkle a layer of peanuts on the bottom of the pan, then add a layer of mini marshmallows. (There should be enough between the two that it basically covers the bottom of the pan. Don’t overdo it, though, or the candy will have a hard time adhering together.)
- In a microwave proof bowl, combine the chocolate and butterscotch chips. Microwave for 1 minute, stir, then continue to microwave for another minute. Remove and stir.
- Add the peanut butter and mix it in a bit. Then microwave again for another minute. At this point, your mixture should be mostly melted (although you may find that the butterscotch chips have a harder time melting… but that’s okay). If you need another 30 seconds or so, go ahead and microwave again, otherwise stir your mixture to fully combine and then pour it evenly over the nuts and marshmallows. Spread it out with a spoon or spatula, then give the pan a little jiggle, a little shake, and a little tap-tap-tap on the countertop to work out any air bubbles. Set it in the fridge to chill for about an hour.
- When it’s firmed up, remove the candy from the pan by pulling up on the sides of the wax paper (or if you just greased it, hopefully you can just turn the pan over and have it dump out onto a cutting board), and cut your candy into approximately 1″ squares. Store in the fridge in an airtight container. Enjoy!
Okay, and here’s a helpful/important tip: Do not try to microwave your ingredients for just three minutes (or even two minutes!) without stopping to stir. You are bound to find yourself with a kitchen that smells like burnt gym socks. Yes… you will burn your chocolate that way. (Experience talking, perhaps?? ) Be sure to only microwave in no more than 1-minute increments. Also, if you cook it too long, the chocolate will start getting crumbly instead of melty, so try not cook for more than a combined total of 4 minutes. Even if your butterscotch chips haven’t melted all the way, you can still pour it over your mixture and they’ll still continue to mix and meld as the candy sets up.
And on that note, we’re heading out on our Christmas vacation so I will be signing off for the holidays. We wish you all a very safe and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas season is here!! I just LOVE this season. The cool air, the loving hearts, friends and family… I simply love the feelings of peace and happiness that abound.
However, this season also brings with it its share of stress as we run from here to there, thinking up the perfect gifts, holiday parties to attend, and a million other things to do. All while trying to keep that ‘special feeling’ from slipping away in the hustle and bustle.
Well, to help with that, here’s some quick and easy food storage gift ideas that would be fun to give to your friends and neighbors (common… who doesn’t want a little more food in their pantry??) You can use #10 cans of food, or use regular sized products from the store. Whatever floats your boat. And each card comes with a recipe to use the related food you’re giving away, so at least they’ll have something they know they can make with the item. Enjoy!
POPCORN
Use a #10 can, or those cute Orville Redenbacher containers would be awesome with a bow, and attach the following card:
POWDERED MILK
Use a #10 can of powdered milk, or a container of powdered milk from the store. Attach a pretty bow and the following card:
WHEAT
And here’s one for wheat! If you happen to live where you can buy wheat at a local store, that would be an option, otherwise use a #10 can, or put some wheat berries in a mason jar to give away. Attach a cute ribbon and the following card:
I hope you enjoy your holiday season! May your days be merry and bright!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
