Good Works - Giving Service - Being God's hands:)

As I've been reading my scriptures this morning, I was reading in Mosiah 5:15 "... abounding in good works". I began writing down a list of things which we can all do no matter how young or old we are:) For this page I have dedicated my thoughts towards the grandchildren:)

Let's see if you can guess what it will be by the picture I show you first:) Who can you help with this item?

1. Getting a diaper for mom or dad for our younger brother or sister or even a cousin.





2. Setting the table for mom or grandma - just like Aden, Landon, Makayla, Lincoln and Samantha have helped at grandma Irene's house:)






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3. Emptying the dishwasher - just like Emery, Lincoln and Aden have done.

 

4. Vacuuming a room - Aden and Lincoln have helped me with this chore in the past.


5. Cleaning windows - just like Samantha, Brandon and Chase helped grandma Irene:) You need to check this short video!! Holy cow!! Spiderman!!

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9SL8UKa3h8

Don't get any funny ideas, but you can definitely dress up like him. That was pretty neat hey!

6. Watching our younger brothers, sisters or cousins - Makayla you are awesome at this. I have been watching how creative you can be with all of your special activities, games and crafts:)

7. Helping dad with yard work or with house repairs.




8. Teaching a friend or a brother or sister how to play a game.
What game would you choose?

Here are a few of my favorites:
Play snakes and ladders.
Play Monopoly (children's version).
Play Sorry.
Play card games like 31 or crazy eights> I'll have to teach you these games:)
 
Grandma and grandpa have played a number of different games with your dads. Now I have fun playing with all of you.




This portion is for the the older grandchildren: As you get a bit older like Landon, Aden and Makayla, you can do even more things. Can you think of any by yourself?

Here are a few more ideas, that I've taught of, may be they will be just like yours:) Let's see:

1. Paying our tithing, so other children can be taught by their Primary teachers and more chapels and temples can be built just like ours in Calgary and Airdrie.

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=df778526addab010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=21bc9fbee98db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

2. Do your very best in Cubs and at Activity Days. There are so many things which we can learn from our leaders. Many of your dads earned cub badges for all of their hard work in Cubs. Uncle Evan has a full bag on top of his sash filled with all of his badges. He worked very hard!!!! I hope all of you who are now 9 can get your moms and dads to help you achieve as many as you can.





   Have you every seen these booklets. They will help you in becoming special sons and daughters of Heavenly Father. It's called "FAITH IN GOD" FOR BOYS OR GIRLS.

They are for both boys and girls:) If you have lost yours, you can ask your Primary teacher or president to get another copy. I would  L - O - V - E  to see what you have been to do so far and what you plan on doing. If you need help with any of these activities, please let grandpa or grandma know, we'd love to help!!

Please remember that grandma Irene is VERY INTERESTED IN KNOWING WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH YOUR LIVES. I am also sure that Heavenly Father looks at all of us to see how we are helping our families, friends and classmates.

Take care, love you tons and tons
Grandma Irene.



 

Gilchrist Family Emergency Thoughts - FOR ADULTS ONLY!!!!

We managed to survive the Calgary floods of June 2013, with only a few glitches Ryan and Tiffany did without electricity for a few hours and at the home base our phones would not accept incoming calls, but we could call out. We have been truly blessed:)

This is a picture of Bowness Park (I found this picture on the web) - UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!

As I've seen more daily pictures in the Calgary Herald of the devastation which has plagued so many families and businesses throughout Calgary, High River and else where in Alberta. My heart is overwhelming! Without the physical strength to actually go and do the work required to assist others, we have tried in our own way to be generous with our fast offerings as well as send a donation to the Calgary Food Bank. We can all in our own way assist in helping our fellowmen whether through the Mormon Helping Hands,
unanimously, through cash donations or being involved physically. Each has a work to do, unique to each of us!!

This is a picture of the Stampede Grounds!!!
 

As I've thought of what Calgary and area has been experiencing, I can't help but wonder how prepared we all were!? What areas should we concentrate on, as a family group? As Tom and I do not have the TV which would have surely made us/me aware of the seriousness of it all, much quicker. I'm thankful that Tiffany had posted a message on Facebook about "filling her tub". This truly got my attention!!!! I wondered how long it would have taken for all of us to know whether other members of our immediate family were suffering? Eventually, I managed to call everyone or saw their messages on Facebook (assuming that they were okay).

In the last little while, our ward has been really focused on Emergency Prepardness, a couple of months prior to the flooding. In fact, in Relief Society we had even prepared a "Go To" binder (it was initially called the G.A.G. binder, but we changed the name:) This binder would contain all of the pertinent information which you might need in case of any emergency!!

1. Evacuation Plans.
2. Emergency Contacts (in this category we would specifically need all of your work #'s and work addresses should we need to find you urgently, as well as the cars you drive).
3. Medical Information. It is imperative that everyone has the S.I.N. #'s and full names of both your parents, plus where they were born. (I had no idea how important this would be!!) + All of your medication.
4. Insurance (include your policy #'s, coverage dates and by which company).
5. Finances.
6. Estate Planning.
7. Personal Identification.
8. 72 hour Emergency Kit Planning.
9. Food Storage Inventory / Planning.
10. Other: List of where original documents or copies are kept.
                Offsite location of crucial documents
                Copies of Patriarchal Blessings, etc.

***** Of course, once this binder is completed all of the adults should know where it is kept, so you can grab it as you are leaving in a case of emergency!!!!

One of the sisters from our ward has sent me the attachments to prepare our own binders. So, whether we plan on doing this as a group or individually I do have the information to share with all of you:). Everything fits well into a 1" binder.

As well, there are tons of websites which deal with many topics of interest about Emergency as well. 

I would be very curious to here from everyone: 
- "What we have all learned from this"?
- "Are there areas in the above list which you as individuals or families would be interested in doing as a group?"
- "Would you be comfortable with us considering this topic as a Family Reunion Theme?"

This has been a very different blog but I could not let this pass by without sharing a few thoughts. Whether we are faced with a fire disaster, blackouts, tornadoes, more flooding, or eventually the Second Coming I want all of us to HAVE A PLAN!!!!! For many of us this was simply a "potential test". We have been warned by our leaders since forever to be PREPARED. Let's take it seriously this time!!!!