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Communication

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Ask Whatsoever Thou Wishest.  It’s now nonth 7 of marriage. The focus now is on improving the way we communicate feelings. I tend to let it all out in a messy way and he tends to keep it in in a way that doesn’t show the struggle. Both ways aren’t so clear – and we sure do want more clarity. Lovingly. We have been learning about showing love and gratitude to God and in our own selves for any and everything that happens. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” – Our coach, a Baha’i man named Riaz, encouraged us to read the book, The Magic (of Gratitude), by Rhonda Byrne, and learn to be grateful for everything that happened, and to find things to grateful for. Luke Slott’s recent video about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá talks about how the Master trained His mind so to find the bounties of God in everything. And Luke’s new  song, “Ask Whatsoever Thou Wishest” from his album dedicated to Abdu’l-Bahá, Home of Light, helps us beg for help. for that harmony we all desire.  
2 orbs

Welcome and greetings to all!

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Now Available: all 40 Feast Pages for Kids!
At-The-Beach-Girl
We are getting going again after taking some time off due to all kinds of reasons…life’s challenges! At any rate, we are back with stories to support learning about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, creating new worksheets, coloring pages, arts/crafts, and other activity ideas. Hopefully, you’ll find the new and the old materials helpful supports in all your children’s activities. You can see our old videos. Thanks for coming to our website. Best wishes for a terrific day, Lili Shang
V1 M09

The Month of Asma Names

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The Month of Asmá' (Names) Feast Pages for Kids are available for free again.

The month of Asmá’ (Names) begins at sunset on August 18th, 2021.  We would like to start offering our 19 Day Feast Pages for Kids Volumes 1 & 2 as free gifts again. We’re so happy to share these pages from Auntie Lili Shang with you again on our new website platform. 

Volume 1: Introduction to the Bahá'í Months & Holy Days

Volume 1: Introduction to the Bahá'í Months & Holy Days

Volume 2: Lionheart Stories from the Time of the Báb

Volume 2: Lionheart Stories from the Time of the Báb

Story 09 | The Station of Quddús

Lionhearts from the Time of the Báb | Story 09 | The Station of Quddús

Mademoiselle Letitia

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A delightful story … Mademoiselle Letitia … A delightful story is told of a Mademoiselle Letitia, who had come from a poor family in Haifa to live in the Master’s home in ‘Akka to teach French to the children. She was happy there, though she was a Catholic and the nuns in the convent watched over her. One day, when a French pilgrim came for a visit, her services as translator were needed, as no one else knew French. Mademoiselle became embarrassed and later confessed to the nuns. For a number of days thereafter she looked very stern. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, noticing this, called her to Him and reassured her: ‘Letitia, tell the good nuns that they need to have no fear. I asked you to interpret for me because there was no one else to speak French, not because I desired to teach you. We have so many Bahá’ís, who come here, begging with all their hearts and all their love for instruction, that only to them do we give our precious teaching. ‘You would have to beg and beg and beg before I would give it to you, and even then I might not do so; for it is not so cheap as to be bestowed where it is not wanted. ‘Stay in the home if you like, or go if you are not happy here. We are glad to have you if you care to stay, but free your heart of all fear that we will try to make a Bahá’í of you.’ ~ Honnold, Annamarie, Vignettes from the Life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, page 57

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New Issue for the Month of Sharaf | Honor

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19 Day Feast Pages for Kids Sharaf Honor Title
Issue 21 is here!  16 total pages with 10 word games and an Honor Book – we used the skills we have learned over the past year – to update Issue 1 and here it is as our 21st issue!  We are learning so much.  Keeping peaceful, positive thoughts in our hearts and minds to allow the spiritual forces to help our little team or nucleus grow. Hooper Dunbar’s talks have been inspirational to us the last few weeks. These are good.
19 Day Feast Pages for Kids from Mine Rich in Gems - Baha'i Inspired Creations - Issue 021 Sharaf Honor

King of the Forest

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One Friday night during our neighborhood children’s classes, we did a puppet play about a new King of the Forest. Each child and all the adults got to be a character. We read out lines and enjoyed the story. When the old King died, guess who became the new King? Check out the story at this link.


A Jar of Stars…fun for all ages!

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDDvYwb-D44
Lucky Wishing Stars are the easiest first step to mastering origami. 


Lesson: “Lucky Wishing Stars”

“…make of me a shining lamp and a brilliant star…” 

from a Baha’i Prayer for children 

  1. Open with prayers
  2. Talk about working together for the better good. That we needed to have certain qualities of soul such as truthfulness and trustworthiness. 
  3. Discuss behaviors that we should avoid and behaviors that make us better people. 
  4. You can tell or read the story The Legend of Hoshi and the Lucky Stars.
  5. Follow-up Activity: You can buy precut origami star paper in several sizes with directions at most stationary and craft stores. The larger paper is easier. Practice making a few so you come to class prepared. 
  6. Show your origami stars; let them choose the color and design they prefer from the prepared paper strips; fold; tuck; snip if necessary, then pinch…Voila! You have a 3-D Lucky Star. Too-cute!
  7. The first time will take longer, but in short order everyone will be making these cute little stars in minutes…then on to more difficult origami projects.
  8. Snack – how about some lucky star cookies!
  9. Closing prayer

This lesson and activity took 1 class period, about an hour. We grouped all ages together, younger ones coloring pre-cut paper stars from construction paper then slotted together to form a 3-D freestanding star. We needed heavier paper…but it still worked. Older kids learned to fold origami paper strips and pinch to make lucky origami stars. At first, we were frustrated, then got a hang of it. Just remember, the more stars the better your luck. We worked as a team and make quite a few.

 “Truthfulness and trustworthiness involve much more than not telling lies; they embody the overarching capacity to discern, value, and uphold truth itself. Without these spiritual qualities, neither individual nor social progress is possible…is constant effort to develop truthfulness, trustworthiness, and justice, ensuring that they are ever-present in thought and action.”


In Maxie’s Monster and the Jar of Stars*, by Lili Shang, Maxie learns that it is no fun when other don’t trust you. Lying, cheating, stealing are ways to lose friends and respect. Read the story and find out how the origami stars reinforce good behavior. Then, make the Luck Origami Stars with the kids in your classes. 
* soon to be promoted on www.innerprizegroup.com 

Kid Charades

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I love this game!

Preparation

  1. Before class write a few key phrases on slips of paper from the lessons, songs and prayers they know; like: 
    1. make me a brilliant star; 
    2. we are drops; 
    3. these children are the plants of Thine orchard; 
    4. the light of unity can illumine the whole earth; 
    5. tread ye the path of justice; 
    6. good neighbors come in all colors; 
    7. Blessed is the spot; 
    8. O God guide me; 
    9. it’s me, it’s me, it’s me, who builds community… 
  2. Put them in a container. 
  3. One kid from each group takes a turn picking one.

During Class

  1. Open with prayers
  2. Explain how charades works:
    1. cannot talk, 
    2. must act out the words. 
  3. Group the kids into 3 teams of mixed ages (older ones with younger ones) that’s for a fairer game. 
  4. Allow one team at a time to pick one charade slip and act out the words. Let the older kids help the younger kids and clap a lot and laugh and have fun! Keep score on a whiteboard or large drawing pad!
  5. After playing for about 10-20-30 minutes, vote for the team that did the 
    1. best acting; then vote for the team that did
    2. the funniest acting; then vote for the team that 
    3. guessed the most right answers…
  • Give each group a reward that can be shared, like: small bag of: cookies, chocolates, stickers, seashells, etc. Be creative! 
  • Snack 
  • Closing prayer




    • Get Kids Eating Veggies!

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    Thanks Internet!
    A choo-choo train of veggie sticks, cherry tomatoes and all things healthy-yummy! It just might do the trick and get your junk-food-meat-and-potato-eaters eating veggies and its fun.
    The Base for the Choo-Choo Train
    I use cardboard covered with tinfoil (glue 2 or 3 pieces together,  2 feet by 2 feet). Thickness make a base sturdy for carrying. You can decorate the base with something more creative and artificial trees. Lay a plastic train track or draw one with a black marker (if you use a marker, wrap the base with clear seal…toxic marker protection, to be safe).

    The Choo-Choo Train’s Box-Cars: 
    Cut capsicum, especially the sweet peppers, (red, orange and yellow) to be the box-cars. Box-cars can be cut by removing the top, or slicing off a side. I prefer to slice off the side so that the stem looks like the connector. It’s too cute and a lovely way to present veggie sticks. Wheels on your train will go around and around: cut an English cucumber into coin circles for wheels, 4 per box-car, and attach with toothpicks.

    The Cargo:
    Cut the flowering stems of cauliflower or broccoli. Then, cut sticks of carrots, cucumbers, celery, mushrooms, and those left over bits of the peppers to fill the box-cars. Make sure cherry tomatoes grace a box-car and any other bite size tidbit like snow peas, etc. Stuff the pepper box-cars and put them on the track. 

    Oh, I almost forgot!
    Three dips might be nice: simple mayonnaise, blue cheese, sour cream or whatever are your favorites!

    Voila! You have your center piece, snack tray or veggie appetizer!
    PS I saw a cute train of green paper cups with black paper wheels glued on, that’s a lots cheeper than capsicum. The cups were filled with veggies and finger foods. The engine and caboose were Fisher-Price, but Tomas and Friends would work, too. Cute! OH, there was no track; it sat on the table. It still worked! 

    PPS I saw a cute fruit engine made of watermelon for the main base (rectangular cube) and for a red engine. A cylinder of banana sat on on the front half of watermelon base for the engine of the engine. The smoke stack was made of a slice of pineapple with strawberry smoke. For the engineer cabbie, another block of watermelon with 4 toothpicks help up a banana white canopy roof-top. Sliced red grapes made the wheels. A half sliced strawberry was the cow-catcher. Some blueberries decorated the cab. Cute!






    Maxie’s Monster

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    Maxie’s Monster and the props below were inspired by Danutcha Catriona Singh, Lesson 10 Honesty for Baha’i children’s classes. 

    MAXIE’S MONSTER
    by Lili Shang
    Every family has one. Not for long, hopefully. At school, you may have known one. But this story is about a girl who was one. Maxie had been a good girl, but then…

    One day, Maxie’s mother went grocery shopping. Maxie was left behind to baby-­sit her little brother, Zac. Maxie was 11 years old. Zac was 3 going on 4. Maxie was great at baby-­sitting her little brother. 

    While Mommy was out shopping, Maxie got hungry. She remembered that there were goodies in the pantry. But then, Maxie remembered NO ONE was allowed to eat the goodies without asking. 

    “I’ll just take one,” muttered Maxie. “Mommy won’t notice.”

    Maxie took one. Then she took a few more until there was only one left. Zac was busy with Thomas and Friends. “No one knows,” she thought. But, Maxie knew and something happened in her tummy.

    Pull out the monster face, put it where all can see.

    Mommy returned home and started putting the groceries away. She noticed.

    “Maxine, what happened to my chocolate chips?” 

    Something happened in Maxie’s tummy, again. 

    “If I tell the truth, I’ll be punished,” Maxie thought, so she lied. “It was Zac. I had to go to the bathroom. There was only one!”
    But, she was late getting back to class and everyone noticed. And when, her teacher asked Maxine, where have you been? Maxie lied again.
    Place another tentacle on the monster.
    “I will say, I am sorry for hurting you. Is that good?”
    Maxie never lied again, or broke the rules, or was mean to her friends…or anyone for that matter. It was just to awful being a monster. And, it was just to hard to make it right. Maxie was radiant!
    NOTE TO PARENTS & TEACHERS:

    1. If you are going to use props, get them ready ahead of time. 
    1. Props help kids understand and remember a story. 
    1. Kids can make the props before the story as a warm up to the story. 
    1. Older kids could make props for a story as a service project for a younger class.
    1. Maxie’s Monster: a paper-plate with a funny, scary face on it.
    1. Tentacles: strips of paper.
    1. Sun: flip side of paper-plate monster colored yellow with a happy face.
    1. Rays: strips of yellow paper (virtues written on them/or kids write a virtue on them)
    1. Character Puppets: Maxie, Zachary, Mommy & Daddy, teacher, friends (Simple stick or finger puppets or TP roll people, will do.) It is helpful to have the kids mime the emotions.
    1. Small toy car (someone can share from home)
    1. A few chocolate chips

    Optional: Discuss what Maxie could do to get rid of her monster.


    Place a tentacle on the monster.

    “Well, that’s unfortunate. I was going to bake cookies. But, it’s no fun eating chocolate chip cookies without a lot of chips in them. Is it Maxine?”

    Maxie sighed as another something happened in her tummy.

    The next day, during recess, Maxie wanted a chocolate chip cookie. So, she snuck to the corner store. Of course, she was breaking school rules and another something happened in her tummy. 
    Place another tentacle on the monster. 
    “I’ll be back before anyone notices,” she thought. 


    Place another tentacle on the monster. 
    “I saw Maxie leave the playground,” a boy in Maxie’s class tattled.

    Maxie lied again, “My tummy is upset can I go to the nurse’s office, please?”
    Place another tentacle on the monster. 

    Maxie was getting good at lying. But, she wasn’t good at noticing why she had a funny feeling in her tummy. Lies were the easy way out of trouble and escaping punishment was cool, so she thought. But the more she lied the more she couldn’t remember all her lies. And then, she had terrible jumbled thoughts.

    Place another tentacle on the monster. 
    The kids at school began to tell on her when she lied or cheated or broke the rules. She was getting quite a reputation. 

    “I hate those kids!”  Maxie mumbled. 

    Place another tentacle on the monster. 
    At home, Zac caught Maxie sneaking chips. So, he tattled. 
    Maxie got angry, “Zac just made that up! Everyone wants to get me into trouble!”


    Of course, Maxie was lying to herself. And, the monster was getting bigger and bigger. Maxie really felt bad and sad and terrible and no good. 

    “Why is every body so mean to me?” Maxie thought feeling very sorry for herself. 

    When Mommy wouldn’t trust her, that’s when Maxie noticed her monster. Maxie’s monster filled her body, heart and mind.

    Place another tentacle on the monster.

    Finally, Maxie knew she was a monster. And, she was so sorry that she went to Mommy to tell the truth. Maxie cried and cried until her eyes hurt and she could hardly breathe. 

    Take away a tentacle.
    Mommy was happy that Maxie was finally telling the truth and gave her a big hug. Maxie didn’t get into trouble. 

    Take away another tentacle.

    Mommy asked, “What should you do, Maxie?”
    “I’ll stop lying,” said Maxie.
    Take away another tentacle. 
    “Then, what?”
    “I’ll tell the truth,” said Maxie.
    Take away another tentacle. 
    “Then, what?”
    “I’ll stop breaking the rules. I will obey the rules,” said Maxie. 
    Take away another tentacle. 
    “Then, what?” 
    “I’ll stop being mean,” said Maxie.
    Take away another tentacle. 
    “And then?”
    “I’ll be nice and respectful to my teacher and friends. I’ll be kind and thoughtful, too,” said Maxie.
    Take away another tentacle. 
    Then, Maxie asked, “Do I have to say how bad I was to everyone?”
    “No, Maxie, you talk to God and ask His forgiveness. Being sincerely sorry means you won’t do those things again,” said Mommy.

    “Yes, very good,” said Mommy.
    Turn the monster over to see a happy sun, 
    for pure and goodly deeds, commendable and seemly conduct.

    It wasn’t easy for Maxie. It took lots of courage. It took lots of hard work every day. And, it took time. Maxie stop lying to herself and others. She told the truth. And little by little, day by day it got easier. She got stronger. She was a better daughter. She was a better big sister. She was a better friend and a better student. But, she was sincere. She prayed to God to help and she tried and tried again and again. And, then one day it wasn’t so hard.
    As Maxie became more truthful and honest, her monster faded away. As long as she told the truth, the monster stayed away. Maxie knew it was much easier to tell the truth and be honest. 

    Optional: Sing “Strive” by Joe Crown: “…strive that your actions day by day may be beautiful prayers. Turn towards God, and seek always to do that which is right and noble. Enrich the poor, raise the fallen, comfort the sorrowful, bring healing to the sick, reassure the fearful, rescue the oppressed, bring hope to the hopeless, shelter the destitute!”  (‘Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 82)

    Optional: What virtues helped Maxie? As the children offer virtues, place virtue rays around the sun. If the children can’t think of any…help them with a few rays. Older children can write a virtue on the ray before placing it around the sun: courageous, honest, truthful, trustworthy, kind, loving, caring, loyal, ask God for help in prayer, respectful, hardworking, pure hearted…

    Maxie would have to stop making excuses for all of her lies. Maxie would have to apologize to those she hurt. Maxie would have to stop breaking the rules at home and school and everywhere. Maxie would have to be honest instead of thinking of ways to get out of trouble. Maxie would have to stop lying to herself and others.

    Baha’i Reference: “Bahá’u’lláh prohibits confession to, and seeking absolution of one’s sins from, a human being. Instead one should beg forgiveness from God. In the Tablet of Bishárát, He states that “such confession before people results in one’s humiliation and abasement”, and He affirms that God “wisheth not the humiliation of His servants”.

    Little by little, day by day. be honest and kind, 
     Do right and noble actions to have good feelings inside 
    Your body, heart and mind!

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