Happy New Year 2015!

I posted this for New Year's last year, here's an updated printable.

As a New Year tradition my family spends a little time writing down our best parts of the year and make some goals for the upcoming one.  We put what we wrote in a time capsule and bring it out the next New Year to compare our years.  It's fun to see what my kids will write down and see how they've grown over the past year. This is a great way for kids to start becoming goal oriented, and as we all know...the best way to start a goal, is to write it down!

Happy 2015!!

download your .pdf here 

I Have Loved the Stars Too Fondly to Be Fearful of the Night

Whew!  It's been awhile!  Life can get away from us pretty quickly; I can't believe how fast the last few months have gone.  

I haven't posted for awhile for a couple of reasons.  First of all, my family is my priority.  Our life has been super busy and I haven't had much time to feel creative or sit down at my computer for more than a few minutes at a time.  Secondly, I have felt a little down lately.  I'm going to be completely candid here: I often struggle with feelings of inadequacy and depression.  Sometimes those feelings can become overwhelming and all-consuming.  Most people in my life don't know this about me, I have only confided in my closest friends and family.  It is really hard for me to admit this and be so vulnerable because I don't want to be pitied or looked at any differently.  But I think it can be healing to be a little vulnerable.  This is the main reason I started this blog...I try to get above these feelings and have a more positive outlook.

We all have trials and hard times in our lives.  Many times these trials will keep us from doing the things we love and aspire to. Awhile back my sister shared this quote with me.  She basically was just telling me she liked it and I didn't think much of it at the time, but recently I read the entire poem it came from and suddenly it became much more meaningful to me.  

click here for a free 8x10 printable

It comes from the poem The Old Astronomer and His Pupil by Sarah Williams.  I find the entire poem to be very inspiring, but my favorite lines are: 

"Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light;
I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night."

This phrase has many meanings for me now.  It gives me hope--hope that even though I will experience bumps in the road, if I keep my priorities on the things I love and that I know matter, life will be beautiful (and the after-life glorious).  Besides, these trials make us stronger individuals.  We would never see the stars if it weren't for the darkness of night.

Kid President

I'm sure most of you are familiar with Kid President.  I think he's ADORABLE.  His "Pep Talk" is my favorite.   I can't watching it without laughing.  I love the message.  If you haven't seen this video from soul pancake...you've got to watch it.

I had a request for a kid president quote a while back (a LONG while back...sorry it took me so long).  I picked a few of my favorites.

click here for free 8x10

click here for free 8x10

click here for free 8x10

Watercolor Valentine Printables

Valentine's Day is rapidly approaching.  I can't believe how fast time can fly!  I'll be honest, Valentine's Day has never been one of my favorite holidays.  In fact, I think I loathed it in my teenage years. Back then I focused on the romantic part of Valentine's Day, and as I was scared to death of boys at that time, I didn't get much out of it.  But now I know better. Valentine's Day to me now is a celebration of love.  I often shy away from this word too, but we all know that everything good comes down to love.

Love is a complex and diverse word because there are so many types of love.  We love our partner, children, siblings, parents, friends, neighbors, God, we are even told to love our enemies.  But the love given to each of these individuals is different.   I love my husband differently than my kids and my friends differently than my siblings.  I love them all and each type of love is important.  And yet love is so simple.  We are all born with the ability and need to love and be loved.  To love is to serve, teach, respect, share, protect, listen, have compassion, be kind, forgive....etc.  It is the "great commandment"... it all comes down to love.  This Valentine's Day I want to focus on how I can better show my love to those around me.

Use these Valentine printable for your fabric projects, Valentine's card, wall hangings, or whatever your creative mind can imagine.  I am trying to make my own pillow out of one...I'll post it if it turns out.
HAPPY LOVE DAY!

 download free 8x10 alphabet printable here

download free 8x10 Be Mine printable here

download free 8x10 LOVE printable here

download free 8x10 xoxo printable here

The Family Proclamation

The Family: A Proclamation to the World was given to the LDS members in 1995 as a guide to the family unit.  This is the official position of the Mormon church on the family, marriage, and gender roles.  These teachings have been given to the Saints throughout the church's history, but here it can all be found in one place.  

I believe the family is one of the most important responsibilities we have in this life.  God placed us in family units to learn, grow, and love.  Unfortunately, the sacredness of the family is being neglected by many people these days.  This is a tool of the adversary.  I really believe that the breakdown of the family is one the biggest problems in our society today.  If we all had strong families, I believe there would be much less violence, poverty, disease, poor education, maybe even global warming (haha, ok, maybe not that).  But what I'm trying to say is that the breakdown of the family lies at the core of a lot of the issues our society faces.

If you read this proclamation you will see that it refers mainly to the traditional family of a mom and a dad with children.  I understand that because of death and other reasons beyond our control, this "traditional" family may not be possible.  The proclamation states "Disability, death or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation." A single parent may be raising the children, or even a grandparent; but the message still applies that a family should consist of love and righteousness.  

If you are not familiar with this statement, READ IT!  If you are familiar with it READ IT AGAIN!  It really is beautiful.  

You can find a coordinating printable of The Living Christ here.

*these files have been updated March 23, 2014 to correct a spelling error.  Thanks for your patience :)

download free 11x14 Proclamation - grey here

download free 11x14 Proclamation - navy here

download free 11x14 Proclamation - turquoise here

The Living Christ

This season we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.  While in this mortal realm, Christ taught of forgiveness, faith, His Father, and love.  He continues teach us through His Spirit and through His prophets.  Because He suffered in Gethsemane and was crucified on the cross for us, we are able to return to live with Him and our Heavenly Father in Their eternal glory.  His birth was of divine design to save us all.  He is our Savior and Redeemer.  What better reason is there to celebrate!

The Living Christ is a testimony from leaders of the Mormon church and apostles of Christ.  It is what Latter-Day Saints believe about Christ. Stayed tuned for a coordinating printable of The Family: A Proclamation to the World.

I made this printable a little bigger (11x14) so as to be able to read it when hung on the wall.  There are also a few colors to choose from...hopefully one will look good on your wall.  MERRY CHRISTMAS!

   download free 11x14 printable of The Living Christ - grey here

 download free 11x14 printable of The Living Christ - navy here

download free 11x14 printable of The Living Christ - turquoise here

*edited 1/17/17

Happy New Year

As a New Year tradition my family spends a little time writing down our best parts of the year and make some goals for the upcoming one.  We put what we wrote in a time capsule and bring it out the next New Year to compare our years.  It's fun to see what my kids will write down and see how they've grown over the past year.  This is a great way for kids to start becoming goal oriented, and as we all know...the best way to start a goal, is to write it down!

Have a wonderful New Year!  I hope 2014 is your best year yet!

download your free .pdf here

*found a spelling error in the document...doh!  It should be fixed now.

Gratitude is like a present

My grandfather once told me that a good intention is just that...unless you follow through.  He had found a letter of mine that was expressing gratitude to someone that hadn't been sent yet.  Unless I actually sent that letter it wouldn't have benefited anyone...not even myself. 

When we feel grateful, one of the best things we can do is express that gratitude.  I know that will make us experience even more happiness than we had just from feeling grateful.  That's why feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.  Wise word from Willam Arthur Ward.

I also changed a few of the printables I had made for earlier this month.  I wanted them to coordinate so you could have a nice Thanksgiving display of quotes about being thankful.  Enjoy!

for free 8x10 printable click here

click here for "it is thankful people who are happy" printable

click here for "enjoy the little things" (blog entry to come soon)

click here for "gratitude is a present" printable

click here for "gratitude turns what we have into enough" printable

Gratitude Turns What We Have Into Enough

I often find myself saying, "If only I had (fill in the blank), life would be so much better."   But we all know that pining after what we don't have never made anyone happy.  Even wishing for worthwhile things such as more patience, friends, or love disturbs our efforts to be happy.  Yes patience, friends and love will bring us great joy, but when we are hoping for anything we do not have, it becomes too easy to forget what we do have.   That's where gratitude comes in.  Gratitude turns what we have into enough.

When I get discouraged and feel like I was dealt an unfair hand in life, I think about individuals what have suffered so much more that I.  Lately I have been thinking about Elizabeth Smart.  I can't imagine going through even a fraction of what she endured.  But after nine months of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, Elizabeth remains grateful for the things she has and realized that things could have been worse for her.  I am in awe of her courage and perspective on life.  She doesn't show signs of a victim but a person who is truly happy.

download your free 8x10 printable here

download this 8x10 printable here

Gratitude

November is the month of thanksgiving, so SURPRISE...this month I will be focusing on quotes about gratitude.  I love this time of year!  It forces me to reflect on all the wonderful blessings in my life.

My sister sent me this video from Soul Pancake about how expressing our gratitude makes us happier. Apparently it has been scientifically proven by psychologists!  Who knew!

I believe it to be true.  After expressing my gratitude, I become more aware of all the blessing I do have.  The past few months I have been keeping a gratitude journal.  I try to write down anything big or small in my life that I am grateful for.  The more I do it, the easier it is to recognize even the small blessings I receive daily.  The printable for this week focuses on just that.  Thanks for reading!

download 8x10 printable here

download this 8x10 printable here

Fill Your Life With Service

Having a science wired brain, I love step by step instructions and formulas to find solutions to what I need or want out of life.  This quote comes from a talk by President Thomas S. Monson, current prophet and president of the LDS church.  He gives us a three-part formula to guide our lives.

1. Fill your mind with truth
2. Fill your heart with love
3. Fill your life with service

I love how he says we do not just stumble upon truth, it is something we must search for.  Truth for me comes through my faith, by studying scripture and reading words from good and true people...like the quotes I collect!  

As for love, I think love is the answer for most everything.  If we all had more love for our neighbor and for ourselves would we have many of the problems we face today?  I think not.  

Service is just a form of love.  If you love someone, you would do anything for them, right?  We are often so  willing to serve those we love, but we also serve those we don't love or don't even know because we love God.  When we serve others, we serve our God.

You can read all of President Monson's talk here.

download 8x10 printable here

Everybody can Serve

This is a great quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  It is from his sermon "The Drum Major Instinct,"  his last sermon given before his death.  In his sermon, Dr. King encourages us to seek greatness through serving others.

He says:  "If you want to be important—wonderful. If you want to be recognized—wonderful. If you want to be great—wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.  That's a new definition of greatness.

And this morning, the thing that I like about it: by giving that definition of greatness, it means that everybody can be great,  because everybody can serve.  You don't have to have a college degree to serve.  You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don't have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don't have to know Einstein's theory of relativity to serve. You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. (Amen) You only need a heart full of grace,  a soul generated by love.  And you can be that servant."

I can't say it any better than that.  

download free 8x10 printable here

Service in October

The theme for this month is service.  Service is one of the best ways to make yourself feel better.  Why?  Helping others gives us true happiness and lasting satisfaction that gratifying our self-interests can never duplicate.  I believe this is true because this what the Savior does for us.  "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).  And isn't that what we all are want...LOVE?

Service can range from the grand self-sacrificing to the simple smile.  You'd be surprised how much a genuine smile can brighten someone's day...I know because I have been on the receiving end.  So if you are feeling down, give someone else a lift and see how your mood soars!

 download free printable here

Attitude Is Everything

Welcome to A Beam of Sunshine: a blog that encourages a positive attitude by sharing uplifting stories and posting free printables of encouraging quotes!

The first freebie I wanted to post is something I live by...ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING!  I believe we have the power to choose happiness or despair.  By choosing to have a good attitude about what is going on all around us, we decide to have a happy life.  Even if life seems grim at the moment, having a positive attitude ultimately leads to fulfilling and joyous life.  This quote encompasses what this blog is all about.

ENJOY!

download free printable here