Family Night Lesson - Secret Service for Valentine's Day!
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Family Night Lesson: Secret Service Mission (she: Adelle)

ByAdelle Belnap

I really enjoy the month of February. First of all, it is short. Only 28 days! It is full of hearts, cupids, and candy! Yum. And, it is one month closer to Spring. Hallelujah! I also love that we get to celebrate random acts of kindness. There are few things that bring more happiness in life than service. This month’s Family Night lesson and activity are centered around service. I put together a fun printable to get your family in the spirit of serving–Secret Service style!

February 2016 Visiting Teaching Message and Printable
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February 2016 Visiting Teaching Message

ByLiv

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we are in a congregation where we are asked to go and visit assigned ladies each month to really get to know them, share a quick message and find out if they have any needs to be met. It’s one of the ways we build friendships and help our leaders know any needs that families have (there would be too many for leaders to visit them all individually!).

For those of you who aren’t members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I hope you can use these quotes and scriptures as well.

A Father’s Quest for Peace – Not as the World Giveth (he: Dan)
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A Father’s Quest for Peace – Not as the World Giveth (he: Dan)

ByDan Jacobs

I go to church with the hope that I can find peace and respite from disappointment and the frustrations of life. Often, en route to that hopeful communion I find myself on roads which lead nowhere near my desired destination. Last Sunday was a good example of the tendency.

Love Your Imperfect Life - 8 Tips to Happiness
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Love Your Imperfect Life – 8 Tips for Happiness (she: Veronica)

ByVeronica

Happy 2016 my friends!! Just like many of you, I was so ready for a new year to begin! There’s something exciting about the chance to start fresh. As 2015 came to a close, I spent time thinking back over the year and really wanted to set some new goals. Then one day shortly after…

Tis the season for setting goals! Dan shares his insightful and always hilarious outlook on New Year's resolutions and his goals for the year! www.orsoshesays.com
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10 Resolutions for 2016 – Guarantee It’s a Winner Year (he: Dan)

ByDan Jacobs

I really don’t care too much for New Years. It’s not just that we have yet another reason to over-eat (which I always do), stay up late (which I am having a harder and harder time doing), or deal with the nuclear fallout which are my grumpy kids (and their grumpy parents) the day after. It’s the whole New Year’s resolution forum I hold in the highest disdain as well. In fact, I have boycotted the whole institution of resolution making for the last several years. I just can’t see why I should set goals that I most likely will not have the will-power to achieve.

I love this post!! Awesome quote too. Where Can I Turn For Peace? www.orsoshesays.com
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Where Can I Turn for Peace? … Like, Really.

ByMariel

I know I’m not alone in feeling like the world is becoming more confusing and chaotic every day. You can’t turn on the tv without being bombarded with devastating and disturbing news. You can’t pull up Facebook without running across contention. Whether the world is literally more unsafe and immoral or we are led to believe that by the media, the effect on our hearts and minds are the same.

Fear and confusion.

Project Is Love Alive? A Service Family Night (she: Kari)

ByKari

The holidays are a mad rush of “buy this! Get that! And how many more people are left to shop for???” And all too often it’s easy to lose track of the true Christmas spirit. This Family Night service project activity, is a great way to bring back the true reason for the season, and bring the family a little closer.

Teen and youth homelessness is a massive, and growing problem in our country. Nearly 40% of homeless in the US are under the age of 18…

Holy cow, this is great!! A must-read for parents! 6 Lessons to Help You Stop Yelling & Start Loving
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6 Lessons to Help You Stop Yelling & Start Loving

ByDan Jacobs

I can’t say I’ve stopped yelling altogether, but my six-week application project taught me some valuable lessons, and the overall trend has been positive. I’ve realized that yelling is an inward-focused abuse of power. When I yell, I disregard the feelings and agency of my boys in my attempt to control them. I’ve also come to understand that yelling is synonymous with laziness. There are far more creative ways to influence my sons, but those ways take more thought, effort, and time. Yelling is a shortcut, and because it works (and provides a fleeting feeling of control), it is also addictive.

Not in the mood? Do it anyway!
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Not in the Mood? Do It Anyway! (she: Lindsay)

ByLindsay

One of the hurdles we can face when trying to do things, accomplish things (ANY “things”) is being in the mood. If all it takes to turn a lousy day into a great one is a little dinner party and a phone call, why would you ever choose to have a lousy day? Even better, why would you let someone else have a lousy one?

The people who need you need you to fix their mood, even when you don’t feel like it. And we need you to learn to fix your own mood so you can be the one who fixes the rest of us.

Change of Heart – Seeing Brian (he: Dan)
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Change of Heart – Seeing Brian (he: Dan)

ByDan Jacobs

Brian was not your normal everyday person. I could tell that from the moment I became best friends with his younger brother David, in the first grade, that Brian was different. He was overly excitable, was not possessed of social graces, and was awkward and overbearing in his conversations. His inabilities masked from plain view the precious person and soul alive and well in his spirit. His spiritual DNA, as with all of us, is divine, beautiful and glorious. He has undoubtedly passed his mortal test, and in my estimation, with high marks.

October 2015 Visiting Teaching Message Printable (she: Kiki)
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October 2015 Visiting Teaching Message Printable (she: Kiki)

ByKiki Comin

When I think of all of the problems, the issues, the struggles and the trials in life, I have no doubt that we could all make it through life a little happier if we all followed this message of charity and love. We would look outward to serve and bless and each time I have done that in my life, I am filled with love for others immediately. I made these sweet printables for you to share (and keep) and hope they will help to share the message this month!

charity in marriage
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Why Charity in Marriage is Essential (she: Brooke)

ByBrooke

A few months ago, I shared a 365 Reasons to Love Your Spouse Journal here at OSSS. That was my first attempt at offering a small bit of marriage insight with you. And today, I’m going to try my hand at it again. The topic this time, charity in marriage.
For me, pure Christ-like love leaves no room for anger, jealousy, faultfinding, or resentment. Now we are all human, we’ll fall short many times, but I am here to say this charitable love is attainable as we work on it daily.