Monday 2 June 2008

There's nothing like a good handout

I love teaching to our combined age groups of young women in church once a month, but on Saturday night I was feeling stuck on the Temple Marriage lesson I was preparing. I've taught this, or similar lessons, several times and I was having a hard time looking at the topic with fresh eyes and an open spirit.
I took a little break from my real lesson preparation and made the handout suggested in the lesson of a diagram to show how Celestial Marriage is a covenant between a husband and wife and God.

Elder Bednar used a similar diagram when he spoke at a world wide leadership training meeting last year. He pointed out that as a husband and wife move closer to God they also move closer to each other - a powerful concept that I shared with the young women when I taught the lesson.
Once I printed out the triangle diagram on cardstock I embellished the back of each flat card using an idea I got from an Etsy shop:
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{I can't find the said Etsy shop again for the life of me}

The Etsy version of the doily dresses look like they are made from large doilies, using only the borders, and cut into little girl shapes.



I tried to make myself a more womanly figure so that my doily dresses would resemble wedding dresses.



I didn't stick precisely with my template. I let the pattern of my small doilies influence the cut of the dresses on the lower borders, sleeves and necklines.

Somehow all the crafting was refreshing, and then I was able to return to the lesson itself.

14 comments:

Neighbor Jane Payne said...

Great ideas, Barb. I like your fresh take on the lesson and handout.

jenny said...

Those handouts are seriously amazing. Man, I wish I could have sat in on your lesson. I bet it was great!

Marie said...

Very cute handout. You were made for Young Womens.

Kelly said...

Wow! Those handouts are awesome. You really were made for YW, what a gift and such lucky girls.

Amy said...

I love it! I'll have to admit that I sometimes have too much fun with my YW handouts, too!

Katie A. said...

Those handouts are so pretty! The doilies made beautiful dresses.

I have found it helpful, too, to break away from a project I just can't quite get into and work on something fun for a while. Gets your mind opened up again.

Michelle Alley said...

Really cool hand outs Barb. I've always enjoyed making stuff like this to go with the lesson, I know it's not always needed, but it's fun!

Hilary said...

those turned out so cute! I bet they loved them (or will when THEY are YW leaders and are looking through their stuff!)

Tasha said...

Very cool! I am sure you did agreat job Barb!

michelle said...

That is way cute, Barb! Did we all have that lesson last week? I often have to step away from lesson prep and do something else before I can return with fresh thoughts.

Bren's Life said...

That is so cool that you took the time to make that for the YW. What a wonderful handout they can always have to remember your lesson. Wish I could of heard it, bet it was great!

Laurie said...

Cute! Something the girls will keep. I remember teaching that lesson last June and making a fancy handout.

Tiffany said...

What a great idea to find and make your own! Wonderful!

Amanda said...

beautiful handouts! i hope the girls enjoyed them and that it helps to keep the lesson in their hearts!