In between General Conference-

Sandi and I came up with the idea of getting the sisters together for a quick "In Between Conference" gathering.

Midweek/on a Saturday Activity: An Opportunity for Friendship and Growth

The purpose of this activity is to Brighten and lift your day!

Stay 5 or 40 minutes.... to share their thoughts on the message they heard in the morning session....laugh and have some fun treats....and to top it off, go home with a special little treat in this bag.

What we put inside the bag-

Cupcake- pumpkin- Sandis special recipe!
tiny little candle
apple spice drink and apple sucker
Fall cookie cutter

Here is a little look at the activity- We held it on Saturday "In between Conference" from 11:30- 12:30

First off Sandi had her home so pretty for our little activity.

It was a pretty day as far as weather goes....not too hot and not too cold.

Thank you Sandi for letting us use your home, and thanks to all the sisters who come to make the "quick" In between conference activity fun!

I didn't get a chance to take pictures of everyone that came (sad face) it was a fast pace activity with women coming and going...and I so wish I would of taken a couple pictures of the sweet women who loaded their kids up in their cars and zipped on by....

We wanted it to be a fun quick activity...just to brighten and uplift your day!

(Women were coming and going all through the activity so I wasn't able to get everyone's picture...but here is a group of sweet ladies)

A few sisters that zipped in and out...we also had little treats to give their children in the car.

Thank you Sandi for letting us use your wonderful home!

If you would like to watch something to brighten and lift your day, here is the link.

Happy Day!

08:31 AM in Church | Permalink | Comments (1)

Relief Society- Back to School

We are never too old to learn!

Our Relief Society activity was a fun simple activity with helpful ideas for starting a new School year.

Classes-

1st period- Home Economics: Snack and lunch ideas and staying organized.
2nd period- Accounting/budgeting: living within your means and staying trendy.
3rd period- Creative Writing

Of course our decorations had a "school" theme and our food for the night was totally "lunch lady" approved!

Also the ladies were encouraged to bring softly used clothing that they could exchange....what wasn't exchanged we donated ....and Holy cow we had a lot....like 20 large garbage bags full!

Ready for another year- Back to School.

Happy Day

10:03 AM in Church, Religion | Permalink | Comments (1)

Relief Society- Teacher training/ Appreciation

We just held a little Relief Society teacher training/appreciation meeting.

Speaking in general conference, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said: "We are so grateful to all who teach. We love you and appreciate you more than we can say." He continued: "To teach effectively and to feel you are succeeding is demanding work indeed. But it is worth it. We can receive 'no greater call.' To help others, to teach, persuade, and prayerfully lead them to walk that path of redemption also- surely that must be the second most significant task in our lives.

I focused the discussion during the meeting on the imaginary of "Keys" With this thought-

Keys - You are the Key to a better Sunday Relief Society.

Kindness
Educate
You- create, inspire, devote, persuade, lead (what is the gift YOU give to the lesson)
Spirit/Scriptures

"As teachers you stand upon the highest peak in education, for what teaching can compare in priceless value and in far-reaching effect with that which deals with man as he was in the eternity of yesterday, as he is in the mortality of today, and as he will be in the forever of tomorrow. Not only time but eternity is your field." President J. Reuben Clark Jr.

We gathered and discussed these topics

Teach from the Scriptures
Conducing discussions
Help all Class Members contribute to a learning Atmosphere
You are the Key to a better Sunday Relief Society.

And of course....what would a meeting be without a little refreshment.

Overnight Fruity Oatmeal - See full recipe here

INGREDIENTS

½ cup old fashioned rolled-oats
½ cup vanilla yogurt
¼ cup pecans
¼ cup fresh blueberries and raspberries
large spoonful of Jif® Maple Flavored Peanut Butter Spreads
1 tsp. chia seeds
1 - 1½ cups milk - basically cover what's in your jar (I used Almond Milk)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tablespoon honey

We are blessed to have wonderful talented teachers in our Relief Society.

They are the "Keys" to a wonderful Sunday meeting!

Happy Day!

03:10 PM in Church | Permalink | Comments (0)

Relief Society- Scatter Sunshine

(flowers handmade by Sandi)

We just held our June Relief Society activity- Scatter Sunshine.

The purpose was to encourage the sisters to find ways to bring happiness into the life of those they Visit Teach or come in contact with- neighbors, friends and family.

Sandi presented a short lesson on that topic.

We then returned to the cultural hall where three areas were set up where they could make a small craft/favor to take and share with someone they felt needed a little bit of sunshine.... we also had a lemonade bar & treats they could enjoy.

Jello lip balm

Lemon sugar scrub

Handmade clay dish

Picture via Blue Eyed Yonder

What we used-

Country time pink and lemon- lemonade mix (make a slush using plenty of ice)

Peaches, blueberries and strawberries

Syrup- Torani Flavoring syrups in Vanilla, peach and strawberry

If I were in charge of the church building department...there are so many things I would do different...you know...so things look better in pictures...because that is important you know (ha, ha =) (first thing to change...lighting, second more plugs!)

You can never have too many banners.

There you have it our sweet and simple June Relief Society Activity- Scatter Sunshine.

Coming up next July 14th- "Ladies Night"

Happy Day!

(oh by the way...my new calling- I'm now serving in the Relief Society Presidency as a counselor)

10:25 AM in Church | Permalink | Comments (2)

Relief Society- Visiting Teaching Convention

Our Ward just had their Visiting Teaching Convention...so darling. I had nothing to do with putting the activity together but had to share. (By the way...I just received the new calling as the Relief Society 1st counselor) The out going Presidency was in charge of this activity.

The little lambs above have magnets on their feet so cute!

I didn't get a picture...but they had some really cute little "lamb" cookies....that went in that empty space on the right. They sent each Sister home with a little cookie, lamb and a postcard quote.

The evenings activities included -

soup potluck
A guess speaker from the Stake- Bonnie spoke on- Our love for our sisters and the care we can give each other. Sweet!
Musical number from Heidi & Linda- Heidi played the flute, Linda the piano. Wonderful!

The women who put this together did such a fabulous job. Thanks Ladies!

Here are some links if you are interested in finding out more about Visiting Teaching.

Daughters in My Kingdom

Visiting Teaching messages

The enduring Legacy

Feed My Sheep

A little help in making the sheep-

The former Relief Society Presidency that made them gave me this information...they used this link Baaaaaa

For the faces- cut using a cricket & used a large pom pom maker for the body made from 100 % white cotton. They also put magnets on the feet. Hope that helps a little. Happy Day

10:13 AM in Church | Permalink | Comments (6)

Reaching out-

When I was just a little girl, I lived in a far away place- far from Church, School, and town. A place called Indianola, in Sanpete county Utah. I only lived there a few short years....but I loved that place.

A place of pretend, riding horses, decorating a tree house, making mud pies and riding to the "upper ranch" disappearing for hours in the hills picking wild berries and asparagus. If my memory serves me...there were only four homes in our little town. It was a fun place... it was a hard place to live.

(and I almost lost my life twice, but that's a story for another time)

I lived there in grades 1-2 and and again in 4-5th grade.

My Father was dairy man and cattle rancher. My Mother made our home beautiful.

But my story today isn't about Indianola or even about my parents or how we lived in this area...It is about

"Those who are a little more mature can have a tremendous influence on the younger generation."

I received this wonderful little book "What Makes Us Sisters" by Bonnie L. Oscarson from Bev- which got me to thinking about my story.

During most of my growing up years at home, my Mother didn't drive, she didn't have a drivers licence (again a story for another time =)

Because of my Fathers working hours...we missed Church quite often...because of the lack of a ride to church.

Back in the olden days Primary, Relief Society and Young Women meetings were held during the week each on a different day. Which meant if Dad couldn't drive us we didn't go.

When we could and we lived closer to the Church we would walk to church and attend meetings, Primary, Sunday School, and Sacrament meeting- all at different times...sometimes by our-self.

Back to Indianola-

There was a dear older lady ( she was probably the age I am now....and she seemed so old to me =) that lived down the street from us.

She cared about us, she loved her Heavenly Father....she gave us rides to Primary.

I remember all 6 of us (Pam was a baby and John wasn't born yet =) lined up in front of our little 2 bedroom 1 bath home....waiting for her to come by. Dressed in our best, cleaned and hair with a ribbon. It was a special day.

She took us to Primary-

I remember I felt a warmness to her. She cared about us along with our "Mature" primary teachers, they taught me that I had a Heavenly Father, who loved me. That older woman and few others just like her were one of the most important influences in my early life.

I hope I can thank those wonderful sisters someday!

"There is no Age Barrier when it comes to Christlike service."

I probably never would of attended Primary without these dear sisters. I wonder if they know what a Christlike service they were giving at the time.

"Countless women of the Church are reaching out across age and cultural lines to bless and serve others, they deserve thanks."

Sister Bonnie D. Parkin said, "I invite you to not only love each other more but love each other better."

I'm so thankful for the dear sisters in my life; younger and older, who look at me as their sister and not at my age, my prayer is that we all will look to serve each other no matter our age.

Feeling blessed.

Happy Day.

PS. my sister is looking for a picture of our little home in Indianola....if she finds it I will post it.

09:50 AM in Church, me | Permalink | Comments (4)

How does Prayer show our gratitude To God?

Tijuana Temple

( This thought has been running through my mind all week....How do our prayers show our gratitude to God?)

I know I did not fully appreciate the significance of prayerful greetings until I became a Mother.....now I sense how our Heavenly Father may appreciate our prayers, morning and night. Just as a Mother loves to hear from her children....their sorrows, joys and happy times.

.. knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (3 Nephi 27:29; D&C 4:7; 49:26;
66:9; 88:63; see also Matthew 7:7).

But I can imagine the pangs of his sorrow because of silence from any of his children. Each time my day has hurried by and perhaps I had forgotten to pray....the thought comes to my mind....what if my Children were too busy and didn't take the time to talk to me how would I feel?

Then I quickly pray.

To me, I would be showing ingratitude to not pray/talk/give thanks to the Lord. Like a goldfish oblivious to the kind person who sprinkles food in their bowl. (smile)

I don't what to be that goldfish....

I want Him to know that he is loved, wanted and appreciated. I never want the Lord to question that....to me that would be ingratitude.

I need not worry that I have words of a scholar/ or grand adventures to share...just remember...He just wants to hear my voice and feel my heart. (as does a Mother)

Happy Sabbath day .

07:13 AM in Church, me | Permalink | Comments (4)

A Night in Bethlehem-

While unloading my car , preparing for "A Night in Bethlehem" ward activity....I noticed that we have finally received a little fall....in the parking lot no less....Beautiful still the same.

I was asked to prepare one of the "tents/booths" for the activity. The Bakery.

What is "A Night in Bethlehem"?

Visit “Bethlehem” on the evening Jesus Christ was born. A Night in Bethlehem is a fun activity idea that includes a skit and food found in the market place like the Savior may have eaten. Melinda our Primary President was the master mind behind the activity.

Here is sample wording for the invitation:

DECREE

By order of his Royal Majesty, the Emperor Caesar Augustus, it is decreed that all the world is to be counted and taxed.

Therefore, let each person and family come for “A NIGHT IN BETHLEHEM” to be taxed according to law.

Donkeys must be tied on the east side of the building and enter through the proper gate.

Everyone must be dressed in Biblical attire to enter the city.

Bring a blanket for your family to rest on from your long journey, you may find that the inn is full.

Each family will be assessed taxes. Watch for tax notices. (2 cans of food- to be donated)

A light supper will be available in the open market.

All taxing will take place on the date, time and place shown in the lower corner. Those disobeying this law to appear, will be sentenced to a holiday season without the true spirit of Christmas.

So let it be written. So let it be done.

Caesar Augustus
Date:
Time:
Place:

Sandi and I each had a tent to do- Mine- bakery, hers fruits.