Wherever the Sheep Go, the Lambs Will Follow

In our latest family home evening, we watched the conference address of Richard J. Maynes entitled "Establishing a Christ-Centered home."  http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/establishing-a-christ-centered-home?lang=eng. Something we all definitely needed to be reminded of. In this talk he shared a poem entitled, "The Echo."

’Twas a sheep not a lamb

That strayed away in the parable Jesus told,

A grown-up sheep that strayed away

From the ninety and nine in the fold.

And why for the sheep should we seek

And earnestly hope and pray?

Because there is danger when sheep go wrong:

They lead the lambs astray.

Lambs will follow the sheep, you know,

Wherever the sheep may stray.

When sheep go wrong,

It won’t take long till the lambs are as wrong as they.

And so with the sheep we earnestly plead

For the sake of the lambs today,

For when the sheep are lost

What a terrible cost

The lambs will have to pay.

This poem is what stuck with me the most, even after watching this address more than 3 times already. It honed in to me the huge resposibility I have as a mother, and it ever reminded me to strive to do better. Being "in tune" as he is, Aaron retained my services to make some home decor to ever remind us of this poem and it's truth within. If you find yourself wanting to make one these yourself here are the instructions:

- A wood board in the size you prefer (I used  6"x 36" board purchased from Hobby Lobby) 

- Lettering cut from a cricut (I used the font, My Own Topher at the size of 1.5 inches)

- Sheep and lamb images: sheep from http://nicholasgomez.com/blog/bo-peep-sheep/,

  Lamb image from the Animal Kingdom Cricut Cartridge
- Acrylic paint in color of your choice

- Black and white cardstock

- Glossy Modge Podge

- Foam brushes

Step 1: Paint the board using about three coats, let dry in between coats, and especially before step 2.

Step 2: Apply Modge Podge over entire surface of the board (this will act as your glue for the letters).

Step 3: Place letters and images in their appropriate places, paying close attention to spacing.

Step 4: Let modge podge dry, when dry, apply another coat or 2 of modge podge, remember to let dry in between coats.

Step 5: Whola, you have your decor.