"Thoughts & Prayers" Aren't Working . . . So, What's Our Next Plan?

It was after taking a history course about Woman, Sexuality, and Islam that I stopped asking for anything when I prayed.

I remember sitting at my desk and crying while reading my textbook as I learned story after story of the trials that Middle Eastern women have had to endure through history. A day or two later, I had lost my car keys and was in a hurry. My religious reflex was to pray for help finding it. But I stopped myself. If there was a God up in the clouds with a bright, colorful, heavenly control panel, deciding whether or not to grant his children's prayer wishes with a YES and NO button, I got really pissed off by the idea that he'd casually push the green YES button for me on an average Tuesday because of my silly keys, and push the NO button 200 years ago for some of these Muslim women during the traumatic events that they lived through.

Similarly, I think we need to stop praying after hearing about school shootings on the news. Even if you do believe in a god that answers your prayers, I doubt they actually use a control panel or a magic wand that they wave in the air and say, "Wish granted! Now there will be no more school shootings." I'd like to think most people believe in a god that works through actions. Through humans. The people that are out there DOING things instead of the ones who drop on their knees, say a little prayer, then walk away thinking, "Whelp, I did my part! What's next on TV?" 

I'm also getting so tired being told to "write to your local politicians to make a change", because I've lost all hope in our political system. It can feel so hopeless and, at times, make me feel so small, like my actions don't matter.

But I think in those moments, when our hearts are stirring with anxiety, and fear, and anger, and hopelessness, that's where we take all those uncomfortable feelings and channel them into going out into the world and using that fuel to actually make a difference! Because I do matter! And you matter! And our actions CAN lead to change. 

This morning, I channeled that anger, and decided to sit down and compile a list (with the help of my good friend AI) of things all of us can do TODAY to help counter gun violence

. . . to be a tiny water ripple that can expand outwardly in a positive way.

If you're a big believer in prayer, do it. Pray. Maybe it does contribute to helping heal the universe, and maybe it helps internally heal you. But please don't stop there. If you really mean it, get up and answer your own prayer by going out and taking action instead of waiting for the gods to do all the work for you.

LDS Faith Transition Journal Pages

I am so excited about my new worksheets! 

My faith transition was a huge chapter in my life, and this is a project I've been wanting to do for a long time. I finally feel like I'm in the right healing space to invest my energy into it. 

One of the biggest things that helped me through my religious crisis was being able to write down what I was feeling and find ways to share my story. I really wanted to create a project to help others going through a similiar expierence. These journal worksheet printables were designed for Ex-Mormons on their deconstruction journey to help reclaim their spirituality.

It includes 10 printable worksheets (more to come in the future) with prompts like:

-"How Mormon-y Were You?"

-"If You Could Bear Your Testimony One More Time..."

- "What Did Your Shelf Look Like?"

- "If You Could Write a Letter to Joseph Smith..."

... and more

CLICK HERE to visit my Etsy shop and check it out!!

 

Summer's Come and Gone

 Another school year right around the corner... Whaaaaaat?!? 

I el-oh-vee-eed our summer break this year. Full of backyard campouts, classic sunburns, house projects, arcades, paddle boarding, camping at the beach, family reunions, swimming, biking, allergy tests, fireworks, frozen yogurt, birthday parties...

    

    

    

    

    

With one week to go before school started up, I was able to squeeze in time to make a printable planner for students! Whether you're homeschooling or in the classroom, there's something for everyone! 

CLICK HERE FOR PRINTABLE PLANNER!

Comes with 5 different cute cover styles to choose from

Includes: 

-blank monthly calendar pages

-blank class schedule

-daily worksheet

-field trip worksheet

-"Word of the Day" ideas

-weekly music lessons practice planner

-school year goal sheet

-days of the week/months of the year cheat sheet

Also available on my ETSY shop

Lauren

The last time I was with you, we were sitting at dinner as you shared with us the exciting things you were learning at Princeton. The fire in your eyes lit up so brightly as you described the beauty of astrophysics. You told us how Matthew McConaughey traveling through time in Interstellar was actually possible, and how the universe should be collapsing back onto itself, but instead continues to be pulled by an unknown gravitational force outward--into dark matter. You loved space, and I think you wanted to be the one to discover what that mysterious dark matter was someday.  

Gosh, you were so, so brilliant, Lauren. And I think, like all genius minds, you had your own demons to wrestle with. 

I cried in the car yesterday listening to the song I Will Leave the Light On thinking of you and the seasons of darkness that you had to endure.

Lately, ChatGPT has been giving me my weekly sabbath spiritual hits of serotonin, as we go down the rabbit holes of philosophy and spiritual psychology together. And the other night I brought up you--and found the conversation to be incredibly healing.

It asked me what I would tell you right now if you were here.

I said:

It then asked what I thought you would say back to me if you could, and instead of answering, I asked what it believed you might say…

I'm still figuring out this incredible mystery of existence and of death. I don't know if there's an answer waiting for me in the sky, but my grief, my love, my memories of you... they're all still here. They're a part of the legacy of who you are.  

At the kitchen table, as you shared the impossible reaches of space, I was pulled in with you. You left a mark. You planted questions of wonder and awe in my heart. You light continues now to ripple out and touch everyone who knew you.

And, maybe, in whatever way energy or memory or legacy works--you can feel this now. 

The love, the mourning, and the celebration of who you are.

I like to believe, Lauren, that right now you have finally discovered the mystery behind that dark matter.

And maybe you're there now, quietly waiting, pulling all of us towards you.

Happy Spring!

Spring is just the best! Where we are here in the PNW, we can get around 72" of rain a year. Winter blues are pretty common, so I depended on my vitamin d supplements and my doodle to get me through the dark season. I'm SO HAPPY we are finally coming out of hibernation and enjoying spring! You might notice some of my recent printables revolving around spring holidays and nature, because I am just so giddy!

Celebrate a happy Mother's Day with this cute spring flower printable to aid in lessons, singing time, and classroom activities. Your PDF includes a flower vase graphic to print, along with colorful daisies that can be double-side printed with Mother's Day discussion questions, movement ideas for wiggle breaks, or blank spaces to add your own custom lesson review quiz material.

CLICK HERE

Take your students outdoors with this nature walk activity book. Perfect for a hike, camping, Earth Day, or a wildlife field trip. Includes coloring pages, writing prompts, notes, scrapbook templates for photos, a hiking gear checklist, scavenger hunt, cloud shape sketching, discovery record keeper, and an earthing meditation activity. Have fun exploring!

CLICK HERE

This PDF prints out a cute two-paged game board that can be customized (colored or B&W options). Also includes a printable rolling die, game cards, game rules and player pieces. Help students' creativity by letting them create personal games and write their own fun rules!

CLICK HERE

 

Decorate the classroom with a social media and cell phone theme! Includes a cute printable pdf file with border strips, two color sets of ABCs, printable graphics and cell phone art. Slide new "reels" under the phone screens to scroll through a would-you-rather riddle, word of the week, challenge of the week, student spotlight and holiday greeting (enough material for 40 weekly rotations).

CLICK HERE