Enrichment ....Chistmas in July!

We had a great time on Saturday. Our Enrichment activity was like a Super Saturday, but we just didn't have as many crafts as others I have been invovled with. They didn't take to long either. I think all who came had fun a were able to visit and eat great salads and rolls. I didn't get to take any pictures though. ....To busy with keeping things rolling along. I was a little stressed out about it. Isn't it amazing how things just work out.

Today, in church, I was released from my calling as counsoler over Enrichment in Relief Society. I was a little shocked because I wasn't expecteing this. I love Relief Society. I love the sisterhood that I get to participate in and the feelings of love and compassion that resonate from the sisters. I testify that it is a true organization, organized by the power of God through a prophet of god for a divine purpose.
There are some, I know, that say they don't enjoy going on Sunday's to Relief Society. I love it. The spirit that resides there touches my soul every week. When I attended RS in Utah, in three diffrent wards, I felt that same spirit. I felt it last year when I attended a ward at the beach. It is wonderful to know that I am a part of a world wide sisterhood. It brings me strength and hope.

I am so grateful to Jan, KaLisi, and Corrine. It has been so great to serve with them. I have learned so much from each one.

To Know

Last night I had a Stake Leadership meeting. I thought it was very inspired. We focused on "Finding The One". I went out for ice cream with some friends afterword and they asked me if the meeting was good. I told them yes I really enjoyed it. Then they wanted to know what was so great about it. I couldn't really put it into words the spirit was just so strong and it testified to me that what was being said was true. Sometimes there are no words you just had to be there ...To Know.

I had a great time with my friends talking and laughing. I will miss them for the next month. We talk about allot of things and once I leave I sometimes don't remember what we talked about, I just feel uplifted and good inside. Skip will ask,"How was your evening?" and I will say "GREAT" "What did you talk about" Says Skip. I don't know lots of different things." all rolled up with lots of love and support... I can't explain the feeling. You just have to be there ....To know.

Today was hectic and tomorrow will be even more. We leave tomorrow evening. Right now I am trying to finalize our "Christmas in July Activity" Since I won't be here for the execution of everything. I am overwhelmed, but I think I got it. Trying to pack for a month, figure out what to take to keep my kids happy at four in the morning, while we trek through the airport weighs on my mind or what is left of it. You have probably been here and you Do Know.

Sunday Thoughts

I have to say that I do love the Sabbath. I enjoy recommitting myself to a new week. I love that our Father in Heaven allows for our imperfections. The plan that he designed gives me so much hope. I love that my cares of the world can take a rest on the Sabbath. I love that despite the rush of getting ready for church,{which sometimes involves yelling, I am working on this}I get to enjoy my children in a totally different way than on other days of the week. I'm not sure how to describe it,but when you take away all the electronics and rough housing and try to devote the time you spend in quiet activities that invite the spirit and conversation, it just changes the Day.

My friend Suzi taught RS today. She taught about righteous traditions{Cheryl Lant's talk from Conference} As she talked I thought of all the righteous tradition my family had. We had allot. One part of the talk said that these traditions don't always just come, you have to make these traditions happen. It takes quite a bit of effort. I thought about my parents and how grateful I am to them for their diligence.Here are a few of the righteous traditions they taught me.

Prayer on the Food

Morning and evening family prayer

Teaching individual prayer

Family Home Evening

Serving in the Church
Diving and Picking up people for various activities,no matter where they lived

Family Scripture Study

Eating dinner together

Willing to set up and clean up at different activities, with out being asked

Dedicated Home and Visiting teachers

Moving who ever needed help even if this meant packing and cleaning for them, with a smile and no bad feelings

Not judging others

Letting people come to our house, when they needed a lift no matter what was going on

Making our house a home for all

Having awesome parties with lots of friends

Making Food Storage a priority

Canning, freezing, dehydrating{remember the onions} and bread making

Appreciating God's beautiful world through painting and admiring them

Making church and God a priority, before anything else

Teaching and Maintaining the teaching of ,Where we came from, Why we are here, and Where we are going.

Laughter and Jokes

Christ like Love and devotion to family

Visiting Teaching

I have to say I am not the best visiting teacher. I try but life gets in the way and I let it.{ I do know who my sisters are and I do visit them} I just don't do enough. I will work on this, Prayer is probably the best way, I am sure.

We began our annual Visiting Teaching interviews today. As I started each interview or chat out, I started with a prayer. I prayed that the spirit would be there, for each sister that we serve and that we could be an instrument in God's hands to do his work. I also prayed for the particular sister that was there and her family.{this is not in boasting but to illustrate how our Father can help us if we specifically ask} The power of prayer, I can testify is so real. Most of the chats were about five minutes long, but the spirit didn't take long to fill the room. Each sister I spoke with was full of such love and compassion it just overwhelmed me. They each wanted the best for the sister that they served even if it meant a change. As each sister expressed concerns and Joys, you could tell the real meaning of "Charity Never Faileth" has overtaken the Gayton Ward Relief Society.

I love Relief Society. I love that we get to participate in bringing about Christ work here on this earth. What a blessing it is to serve the sisters in the Gayton Ward. I feel so honored to call them sisters.

Inn Keeper

We had a wonderful lesson on Sunday. The RS Pres. gave a lesson on being the in Keeper to the wounded and the weary. She cited three groups we could be an Inn Keeper to, our husbands, our children and our sisters.

The visiting teaching lesson last month talked about marriage and how we should be grateful and praise our spouse. We should communicate more and be more spiritually minded together. All I can say is that I will work on it.

As to my children, I try to nurture and help them to be happy. In earlier post I have spoke of my feeling's of regret or frustration, because I failed at doing what I wanted for them. I read a post on my Sister in laws BloG about "March For Babies" It supports helping raise awareness and support in preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. She and her husband experienced a Miracle in the past year and a half with their twins. They are so blessed to have healthy alive little boys that are so cute and make me and my family smile every time we read her blog. After reading her thoughts, it made me think of how much my Heavenly Father loves and trust me to take care of these precious spirits. I know some people think I over Think my responsibility, it just overwhelms me to know what is at stake for them in this world. I am trying to do my best with what knowledge I have and the abilities he has given me.

My sisters, this includes those I am related to,all the women around me that I associate with, and the women of the world. Wow, that is allot of people. I wish I lived closer to my related sisters. I would love to be able to help them and enjoy them more. I get so wrapped up in my family that I miss allot of chances to serve my sisters here. As for the world I am looking for a way my children and I could serve more and reach out to others. Anyone with any Ideas let me know.

So much to do. I hope I can enjoy the journey and keep my destination in sight.

Relief Society.... Remembering

I love the "Relief Society" I have been involved with it since I can remember, My mom took me and my brothers and sisters to weekly meeting that were held during the day at the church, I remember lots of quilt frames, food, and different crafts. My mom would enlist my help with younger children or in the kitchen for clean -up duty. All the women were very nice to me. When I graduated from primary I was sent to Relief Society for a while because the young women organization was, let's just say unstable, I remember being disappointed, but secretly I thought how cool am I, I am with the grown -ups. The women in that small branch seemed so old to me but they were very nice. My Mom eventually got called to be Young Women's President and I was able to go to Young Women's. My mom took me with her to do visiting teaching and this is where I learned that visiting teaching was so important. I learned from my mom that some conversations are not to be shared and that sometimes you are the only happy thing that might happen to this person all month, so always pray before you go and listen, listen, listen. Several women we went to had tough lives and my mom was never judgmental as far as I could see. She would say you don't know you just don't know, but the Lord does. One summer my mother spent alot of time on the phone calling people about "ERA" trying to kill the bill that was where I saw what a powerful force the Relief Society could be. Anyway through my adult years from the time I went to Rick's College til now I have been involved and enjoyed it very much. I Know it is the Lord's work. This picture is my mom and me with my mom's parents after she was sealed to them in the temple. For some reason I don't have alot of pictures of my mom and me as I was growing -up. Just alot of pictures in my mind.

Etiquette and Paper Plates

Today I Went to a Stake Relief Society Enrichment Activity. I really enjoyed it. They had arranged all these classes on the virtues that President Hinckley talked about in his book "Standing for Something" The Speakers that I listen to all did an excellent job of presenting the ideas, but there were some that I was drawn to more than others. One that I really enjoyed was on civility. The teacher set up a formal place setting, talked about all the pieces to it and what you do with each. I loved it. I make my kids set the table, even if we are using paper plates, properly and make them redo it if they get it wrong.( I'm sure just using the words paper plates is bad etiquette, but hey I have no servants to spend hours cleaning) I do believe in at least trying to teach etiquette. I think it will serve them later in life. This teacher though had a different point, even though all this proper etiquette does serve a purpose(And It Does) Following our Saviors example of proper etiquette would serve us even better. "As I have Loved You Love One Another."