Creative Writing

This year for school I really wanted the boys to start thinking outside of the box.  I have some pretty creative boys, but right now they struggle with writing.  I really wanted them to start thinking of stories as things that take more than one paragraph to write.  (or more than a sentence!)

Enter the "Creative Writing Jar"

I have been collecting story starters, journal prompts, creative story starters and whatnot for quite some time.  Some I have found on sites, some I have thought of, some I actually got from our teacher facilitator this year...pretty much all over the place.  I placed them all together and ran them all off.

(AND I figured out how to embed from scribd AND upload so...I am sharing a copy with you!  YAY!)





I took all 22 pages of them and ran them off.  Cut them into strips and folded them.  I love giant pickle jars (and they are really easy to find at places that actually eat them, like seniors homes) so I figured one would work great for our project.

I am sure that some of you could make it WAY cuter, but this is my decorating of the jar!  :)  I figured after spending that much time cutting and folding that I was pretty much done with the stinkin jar! 

So far my boys have picked a few little strips out, they have ACTUALLY written stories/essay type things WITHOUT my help!  (Hey, this is HUGE)  I am so impressed with the stuff they are coming up with.  I guess we all might need a little bit of a nudge to start us off sometimes.  (for some reason though, I can always find SOMETHING to talk about...it's a disease I guess!  :D)

Now, a word for you who don't live here in Canada...there are some strips just for us here...change them for wherever you live and presto, they will work for you as well.  I know not everyone lives in Canada, has a Prime Minister, or even has provinces, so use what works for you.  (or just don't cut that one out...I did that for a few!)

Have fun, and share with us how creative you are.  (heck, I think I might even use one or two when I actually get stumped on what to write)  I would love to see your jars, or read some stories, or hear how you are using the list if you do download it.

Cheers

The pebble

I have been thinking about the "pebbles" in our lives.

We are trying in our family to be better prepared for the last days (in case you didn't notice my posts on it! ha ha) and in the process I have been thinking about stumbling blocks, or pebbles. Pebbles are small, seemingly insignificant things yet when you have one in your shoe, it is an extremely unpleasant experience. How can I eliminate the pebbles in my life? Or more importantly, what are our pebbles in our lives?

Here is a small, non comprehensive list...this is strictly for me, but perhaps can help you as well think about your pebbles.

- do I pray enough? Morning, noon and night? At the beginning of each day and at the end? With my family? A spouse prayer? Before scripture study? At EVERY meal?

- speaking of scripture study...do I do it every day? When I do it, is it thoughtful, meaningful, prayerful study?

- do I tell my boys (even the dh) that I love them, and mean it? Or is it just automatic? Should I change the WAY I say it and how frequently?

- is my attitude everyday one of love? By this I mean, do I discipline with love and not anger? Do I begrudgingly make the meals, clean, and do the "housewife-ly" type work, or is it with love and an attitude of joy?

- am I trying to be the best me that I can be? Can I read or take a class that will enhance me as a woman or mother?

- am I being a good daughter/sister/friend?

- am I looking for opportunities each day to serve and praying for them?

- am I looking for missionary opportunities each day and praying for them to happen?

- am I taking each day and being grateful for it? Can I find something that I am grateful in EACH day?

- am I trying to Choose The Right and Follow The Prophet and Hold to the Rod?

Just a few things to think about so that my road will be swept free of pebbles.

The story of the Twisted Sister...

When I was just a seed, I was just like my sister. She and I were the same. We came from the same two parents, and had the same life in the beginning.

As time went on, she and I were planted. I was planted in soil that was a bit rocky, a little dry, and just a little on the lacking side. My sister, well, she was planted in the really nice soil...need I say more.

We both grew and tried to be the best we could. Both of us were really pretty.

My sister, well, she was watered regularly, she had a lovely caretaker. This caretaker loved her and wanted her to grow. He pruned her, he fertilized her, he kept all the bugs off her...generally kept a really nice garden.

Myself on the other hand, was forgotten. I tried to grow straight and tall like my sister, I tried to have a beautiful growth habit, but I got a bit twisted.

One day, I was looking at my sister and was feeling really sad. I thought she was so pretty, I was not. I figured that I was pretty hard done by, as her caretaker really loved her and I didn't even HAVE a caretaker! I really hated being so much different than my sister, but what could I do?

All of a sudden a light came and warmed me.

What was this? I felt the sun and realized that I was a beautiful tree. I grew up with leaves that were so red and beautiful, I had wonderful moss that was gracing my trunk, I could reach the warm, warm sun and it could give me light. I had done all this in less than optimum conditions. I was a good tree. I gave shade and people loved to look at me.

I was a wonderful addition to the garden. I grew this way. I grew up like this even though I didn't have the same optimum conditions that my sister had, but we were still both beautiful trees. I was blessed.

I thank the Sun for showing me that I AM a wonderful tree, even though I am NOT the same as my sister. I am still a beautiful tree.