whatever

Spring- Forget Me Not

This year I decided not to plant any Vegetables in the garden- just fruit.   The critters love to eat away at my plants.

So, the bed that was normally my Vegetable bed...became a old fashion....cutting garden....it's just getting started....hoping that by the Spring Event...it will have more blooms...right now The Forget Me nots are going good.

I was inspired by this talk given by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf to the women in our Church.

• First, forget not to be patient with yourself
• Second, forget not the difference between a good sacrifice and a foolish sacrifice
• Third, forget not to be happy now
• Fourth, forget not the "why" of the Gospel
• Fifth, forget not that the Lord love you. 

I love the tiny blue flowers in my garden, so glad I planted them early.....They reminds me to forget not.

 

 

 

Over the River and Through the Woods- Long Distance Grand-parenting

I was asked to teach a class on Long distance Grand-parenting for our Stake Relief Society Birthday Anniversary celebration.  {celebrating 170 years}

Treats and notebooks for my class.

Mini notebooks with a ribbon to use as a bookmark- the ribbon was just stapled to the back.

 

Some ideas that I touched on during my class-

Grandparents can....

• Be an anchor in a world of shifting values.
• Nurture a sense of trust, responsibility, and dependability
• Provide emotional support
• give grandchildren an appreciation of the past and a sense of history.
• Be a powerful ally in helping children establish a value system.
• Provide stability and love during difficult times
• Teach them about good music.
• Have a special time with each grandchild during the year or as often as you can.
• Listen to them.  Respect them, and when they are older they will respect you.
• Have them read to you and you read to them.
• Teach
• Share your wisdom and Testimony.
• Service

 

Heidi was in charge of the decorations for the celebration....I thought they were awesome...so cute Heidi!

Here is a list of other class offered during the conference-

• Finding Strength in the Scriptures
• Family Fun
• Family History- Where Do I Start?
• The making of an Eternal Marriage- One Day at a Time
• Finding joy in our Journey
• Clean Windows and Happy Hearts!
• Over the River and Through the Woods- Long Distance Grand Parenting
• Getting Along with your Teens {and other difficult people}
• Emotional Health

 Plus beautiful music- and fabulous food.

The Stake Relief Society did an awesome job-

Thanks a bunch!

Wonderful Morning.

 

 

 

The Season of Friendship lasts forever.....Visiting Teaching

Yesterday I stop by the Crows-landing Church to see what Sandi was up to....{Plus she wanted to borrow a couple of my primary banners.....we like to share =)  She had made the cutest ever heart banners.

Anyways, she had the place looking adorable.....take a look at the room.

This was done for their Visiting Teaching meeting- Love their theme.

Pictures-

1.  Invitation given to each of the sisters
2. Heart tree with the names of all the sisters in the ward- I believe at one point in the meeting they had each sister come up and take her name- and in the end they could see who was missing.  I think they talked about the women being the heart and soul of Relief Society.
3. The tables were adorable- they had a lite dinner before the classes.  

Sandi also had some cute heart sleeves for the women to take- fill with a cookie and give to those whom they Visit Teach.

 

Just thought I would share Sandi's "awesomeness".....seeing as she doesn't have a blog.  =)

Plus I know how we like to get new ideas- 

Happy Day

 

Stake Primary Leadership- "Choose To Teach"

The meeting-  Stake Primary Leadership- "Choose to Teach"

• Teaching By the Spirit:   Pam
• Proper Way to Prepare A Lesson:  Teresa
• Lesson Activity Ideas:  Lisa
• Teaching Children With Disabilities:  Beverly

 

 

1. Invitations- By Lisa 
2. Decorations- By Teresa-  Our Primary colors are 1, 2, 3 Red, Yellow and Blue
3. "The Proper Way to Prepare a Lesson" Hand out- Teresa {Wooden utensil's & red polka dot straws.}  Using object lesson-compared preparing a meal as steps to preparing for a lesson.

 

 Paper place-mats- used as a visual in my Lesson "The Proper Way to Prepare a Lesson."

The Set up-

 The Handout-

• Bev -made the Blackboard clipboards- adorable.
• Pam- made the candied apples- fabulous.

 

The meeting went well and it always so fun to meet up with all the Lovely Primary Sisters.

Happy Day

Paper Vintage placemats-

Wooden spoons-  Garnish

Fabric -  St. Helen Oregon Walmart

Choose to Teach-

The invitations-

Meeting information on the back.

 

Some of the decorations-

We have some great things planned for this meeting. More on this subject coming next week.

 

Name this Year-

I was thinking how wonderful to start the New Year on Sunday- I have a desire this year; a  desire  to keep the Sabbath day holy, the first thing I realized was that before I could fill my Sundays with spiritually nourishing activities, I had to free them of all the things that drained me. 

I need Sunday- a time to let go and just let good take root.

I came up with a list of things I think would nourish me on Sunday-

Family Day- Skype with the kids and grand-kids.  Hugs and stories to those close by

History- Work on family History, scrapbook, journal.

Be Grateful-  On this day  remember and acknowledge gratefully people who have made a positive difference in our lives.

Study- I have a million books to read- =)  And the Scriptures.....always more to learn.

Visit- To renew friendships- visit the sick, lonely; home and visiting teaching.

Enjoy- just having time to talk, visit, quiet movie.....with Mason and Dan.

 I believe by honoring the Sabbath more I will gain the much needed nourishment for the week ahead.....

Of course, I know there will be exceptions from time to time, and the Lord Jesus himself would have been the first to “pull the ox from the mire.” (See Luke 14:5.)Having been raised on a Farm and married to a farmer....I know about the ox..... But I understand that I must take care that the ox does not become anything I carelessly choose it to be and the mire become virtually unending.

I look forward to adding this goal to my list- 

Nourish Sunday....perhaps I should name this year Nourish.

 

 

Priesthood Preview-

Yesterday we held our Stake Priesthood Preview-  A meeting called Priesthood Preview is held each year for 11-year-old boys and their parents. The purpose of this meeting is to help boys understand the priesthood and strengthen their commitment to prepare to receive it.

As a  Stake Primary Presidency- we organize and plan for this event each year. {about Primary.}

It is a wonderful meeting, very  touching to see the young boys take hold of what they are taught in the effort to prepare for the future.   Sweet.

We had four men speak on the different responsibilities of the Priesthood and teach the boys about their very own personal responsibilities.  Sweet evening.

We always end with a fun treat and a little gift.  The boys each received a book titled, "Even the Prophet started out as A Deacon." -Shane Barker

 

Two of the ladies I serve with- Bev and Pam.  Didn't catch Lisa, and I wanted to take a couple of pictures of the boys all dressed up in their white shirts and ties....but alas it didn't happen.

 

Forget Me Not-

Wonderful reminder of Presdent Uchtdorfs talk yesterday- found this at this site-  His talk was just what I needed.

Happy Day

Primary Activity Day-

 
This weekend was our Stake Primary Activity Day-  (8-11 year old girls}

Our theme and colors-

 
 
 
Friday we got together early to clean up and set up for our Stake primary Activity day on Saturday.

• We made paper balls
• banners
• box lunches and the centerpieces.

 
 
The boxes on the tables held the girls lunch.  The little favor bags were "bee's-wax" chapstick one for each girl.

 
 
 
As part of one of the classes. We took the girls pictures added them to a curly wire and then put them in the centerpieces on the table. {the girls held either a "me" or "Bee" while getting their pictures}

 
Classes we had-

1. Scripture class, where they also made a bead and wire bookmark.
2. Service class- talked about acts of service and prepared a weeks worth of secret service- along with getting their picture taken- {We used a mini polaroid camera and curled wire to hold them.}
3. Dance class on different cultures of dance.  Thanks Wendy
   There was also a group of girls that sang for us....so adorable....thanks Kathy. 

 
For lunch- Fruit, peanut butter sandwich, chips, drink and a cookie. {everything for lunch were in the boxes tied with a bow and ready to eat.....no dishes}

It was fun to see the girls so excited-

{we also made yellow flower name tags- click here}

 

We weren't sure how many girls would show up....we planned for 60, sixty came....we had to do a little last minute magic to feed their leader that came with them, but all went well.

It was fun seeing the girls have a good time. 

Here's a couple things I overheard from the little girls.

"Wow, it's so pretty, looks like a fancy restaurant." 

"I've never been to a party like this, I feel special."

One of the girls asked if they really got to keep the little favor bag....when I said yes,

she said "really, are you sure?...I'm so excited."

One girl said, I feel so special to get a little gift {talking about the chapstick}

We were expecting the girls to just throw their lunch boxes away when they left....but they all wanted to take them home.....even a couple girls asked if they could keep their napkins.

So cute.   It was a good day.

 

 

Called to a Fire-

  
Yesterday we went to the Temple with our Branch, about 15 of us.- {we now serve in the Spanish Branch}  Wonderful Day.

On the way home we had a great Lunch with this lovely couple- they were just called to serve in the Spanish Branch - he is the second counselor.

{We had just finished lunch when we got the call....sorry guys....they got to experience a fire call with us...it's a little crazy =) 

 
Made it back home....and then Dan headed off to the fire-

 
The road to Yosemite has been closed for a few days- I think they are getting it under control.   Hugs to my friends in that area.

It's about 30 miles from our place.