May Activities and Workshops

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (September 2009) reminds us as women of the Church and daughters of Divinity, "May I invite you to rise to the great potential within you. But don’t reach beyond your capacity. Don’t set goals beyond your capacity to achieve. Don’t feel guilty or dwell on thoughts of failure. Don’t compare yourself with others. Do the best you can, and the Lord will provide the rest. Have faith and confidence in Him, and you will see miracles happen in your life and the lives of your loved ones. The virtue of your own life will be a light to those who sit in darkness, because you are a living witness of the fulness of the gospel (see D&C 45:28). Wherever you have been planted on this beautiful but often troubled earth of ours, you can be the one to “succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees” (D&C 81:5).

My dear sisters, as you live your daily life with all its blessings and challenges, let me assure you that the Lord loves you. He knows you. He listens to your prayers, and He answers those prayers, wherever on this world you may be. He wants you to succeed in this life and in eternity."

May Activities and Workshops

Tuesday, May 4th...New FamilySearch 101 @ Amanda's from 7-8pm.  Come learn about how New FamilySearch can help you find your family members, streamline family history, and open new opportunities to find records of your ancestors.  If you haven't yet registered, please bring your birth date, confirmation date, and Church membership number.  Also, if you a laptop, please bring one.

Wednesday, May 5th...Soup/Salads Night Pt. II @ Alison's @ 7pm.  Alison will email the needed information for this yummy class.  If you haven't yet signed up to attend, it's not too late.  Contact Alison for more information.

Sunday, May 9th...Happy Mother's Day!

Wednesday, May 12th...Soup/Salads Night Pt. III @ Alison's @ 7pm. Alison will email the needed information for this yummy class. If you haven't yet signed up to attend, it's not too late. Contact Alison for more information.

Thursday, May 13th..."A Night in the Holy Land" @ the ward bldg. @ 7pm.  Molly, Nanette, and Ann who have recently traveled in Israel, Jerusalem, and Petra will be sharing pictures, stories, and experiences about what it was like to have walked where the Savior walked in days of old.  Light, authentic refreshments will be served.  This would be a great activity to bring friends, neighbors, and including those not of our faith.

Thursday, May 20th...Book Club @ Kathy's @ 7pm.  The book is "Prayers for Sale" by Sandra Dallas.  To read a book review from "Deseret News," click here.  Even if you don't get a chance to read the book, join us for fun conversation and socializing.

Tuesday, May 25th...Food Storage Tasting Table @ the ward bldg. @ 7pm.  All are invited (men, too) to join us for a night of tasting and sharing on both pre-packaged food storage and yummy recipes to use the food you are storing.  It's good to have a desire to store food for emegencies.  It's better to begin storing it.  It's best to store it, know how to use it, and then to use it! : )  Stay tuned for more details and reminders.

Relief Society Temple Day...Contact Siv for date/time.

Coming soon...Photography 201 class - we'll be learning more basics in improving our pictures and taking a field trip to practice our new skills.

Easy De-cluttering Ideas

Organization Tips:

Here are some quick and easy ways to de-clutter your home:  http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-home/cleaning-organizing/article.aspx?cp-documentid=23711930>1=32026 .  Try it, and see what a "cleansing" feeling" it can have!  Let us know of your successes and challenges by leaving comments (just below this post).  We can work together to help solve organization dilemmas and celebrate triumphs!

March Activities and Workshops Calendar

Happy Anniversary, Relief Society!  What a profound blessing it is to be part of the largest worldwide women's organization, divinely inspired, where we have the opportunity to serve, share, uplift, support, and strengthen.  It truly is a time to celebrate together as we support the purpose of Relief Society (http://www.ldschurch.org/):

• Help sisters and their families come unto Christ

How do we do this? 

• Build faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and teach the doctrines of the kingdom (see 2 Nephi 31:20-21; Omni 1:26).
• Emphasize the divine worth of each sister (see D&C 25:2-3, 15-16; Moses 6:9).
• Exercise charity and nurture those in need (See Mosiah 4:26; Moroni 7:46-48).
• Strengthen and protect families (see Mosiah 4:14-15; D&C 130:2).
• Serve and support each sister (see 1 Corinthians 12:13-27).
• Help sisters become full participants in the blessings of the priesthood (see D&C 66:2; 84:35-39; Moses 5:1).

What a privilege and a joy it is to be in this organization with each of you!  May you know and feel of the Lord's infinite love for you.  (Click HERE to view the Relief Society Commemoration video.)

We look forward to celebrating this special time with you!  Please share the blessings of Relief Society with other women you meet, so that they, too, may feel of the Savior's love for them as a beloved daughter of God. 

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March Activities and Workshops

*Monthly Preparedness Goal:  Update or assemble your 72-hour kits!!

Tuesday, Mar. 2nd @ 7pm @ Amanda's...New FamilySearch workshop.  Come learn tips, tricks, and resources for using New FamilySearch.  If you haven't registered, please bring your membership number, confirmation date, and birth date.  Bring a laptop if you have one.

Also, Dry Pack at the local cannery from 6-8pm.  Please reserve a spot by calling Gloria.  This is a great opportunity to build up your emergency food storage and support our monthly preparedness goals.

Thursday, Mar. 11th @ 7pm in the Relief Society room..."Don't Put it on the Back Burner" planning workshop presented by Mark in our ward.  He will be giving this presentation at Women's Conference in April. 

Tuesday, Mar. 16th @ 7pm at the ward bldg...House of Order: Organizing Paperwork, Files, and Offices. Join us as we share ideas for reducing paper, de-cluttering office spaces/desks, and creating a method to our paperwork madness.

Wednesday, Mar. 17th...Relief Society Anniversary & St. Patrick's Day

Tuesday, Mar. 23rd @ 6:30pm in the Cultural Hall..."Angels Among Us:  Relief Society Anniversary Celebration."  Join us for a special night celebrating the largest, worldwide women's organization!  We will enjoy a wonderful dinner, program, and participate in service as we share, strengthen, and support one another.  It will be an "angelic" evening!  Please invite and bring your fellow sisters:  neighbors, friends, roommates, etc.

Thursday, Mar. 25th @7pm @ Christene's...Book Club.  We'll be discussing "Etta" by Gerald Kolpan.  (For a book review/synopsis, click HERE.)  Even if you don't get to read the book, join us for a fun and entertaining discussion and socializing.

January Excitement - A New Year!

"Let it Snow, let it snow, let it snow"...This line from the popular song rings all too true as we begin the new year - 2010, can you believe it!!??  What do you have planned for the new year?  Have you thought about some goals to work toward - not resolutions, but goals - to keep us motivated and progressing forward?  Maybe it's along the lines of getting more organized or losing weight?  How about spending more quality time with your family or doing something for someone each day?  Whatever you decide, 2010 is filled with possibilities and opportunities. 

Relief Society Meetings this year are going to support your goals in the areas of:
 
1)Homemaking
2) Marriage and family
3) Provident living and self-reliance
4) Temples and family history
5) Sharing the gospel
6) Compassionate service

Check out the revised Relief Society Meetings website by clicking here to see some of the fun ideas, plus so much more this year!  As always, we welcome your ideas for activities, classes, topics you'd like covered, etc.  So, please feel free to share with a member of the committee!

Here's to an exciting and happy new year!

January Activities/Classes:

Thursday, Jan. 7...Yoga @ 7pm @ Lynette, Julie, & Lisa's home.  If you haven't tried yoga yet, you're missing out.  Wear comfy clothes, bring water, and a mat if you have one.  (*This class meets every Thursday unless otherwise noted.)

Tuesday, Jan. 12...Introduction to New FamilySearch @ 7pm @ Amanda's place.  Come join us for "Everything You Wanted to Know About New FamilySearch, But Were Afraid to Ask."  Bring your laptop if you have one.  Whether you've never registered yet or are a New FamilySearch pro, let's explore New FamilySearch together.  It truly is a revolution in family history and a modern miracle.  *If you haven't registered yet, please bring your confirmation date and membership number.  (This will be a complemetary class to the weekly Family History Sunday School class.)

Thursday, Jan. 14...Yoga @ 7pm @ Lynette, Julie, & Lisa's home. If you haven't tried yoga yet, you're missing out. Wear comfy clothes, bring water, and a mat if you have one. (*This class meets every Thursday unless otherwise noted.)

Tuesday, Jan. 19...Stake Cannery Day from 6-8pm at our local cannery (dry pack).  Contact Gloria by Jan. 17th to reserve a spot.

Thursday, Jan. 21...Yoga @ 7pm @ Lynette, Julie, & Lisa's home. If you haven't tried yoga yet, you're missing out. Wear comfy clothes, bring water, and a mat if you have one. (*This class meets every Thursday unless otherwise noted.)

Tuesday, Jan. 26..."Organizing for the Unorganized" @ 7pm @ TBA.  Learn how to simplify your life by getting organized!  The new year is always a good time to start de-cluttering and cleaning out spaces.  Find out how to decide what to keep, donate, throw out as well as creative ways to organize small spaces and "containerize."  Come with an idea of a space you'd like to organize.

Thursday, Jan. 28...Book Club @ 7 pm @ Kathy's home.  The book we will discuss is " Forgotten Garden," by Kate Morton. This book transports the reader from the back alleys of poverty of pre-World War I London to the shores of colonial Australia where so many made a fresh start, and back to the windswept coast of Cornwall, England, past and present.  Please join us even if you haven't read this book. The discussion is fun and you can even recommend some good books you have read that all of us should read.

*Cannery Information - contact Gloria for more information:*

Welfare Square: No scheduled appointments "Walk In ONLY"
Hours: Mon - Wed - Fri 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tues - Thurs 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Sat - 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

Individuals and families may go to the cannery at their convenience during the above times. There may be a short waiting period until one of the four canning spots is available.

Local Cannery (dry pack)
Our stake assigned date: Tuesday -- January 19, 2010 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
To participate please call Gloria by Sunday, January 17th so a spot can be reserved for you.

Fridays are open for individuals to come in by calling the cannery for an appt. the day before. (Thursday)

Wet pack items are also available at the local Cannery -- call for items, prices, etc and to sign up for a time.

Join us for one or all of our Relief Society Meetings - whatever fits you and your family's schedule!  Spread the word and bring a friend, neighbor,

roommate, or family member! 

We look forward to a fun and inspiring 2010!!

Organization

This is an extra, yet practical post for those of you who wish you were better organized.  I'm all ears!  Organization is probably one of the most requested ideas for a class because it seems everyone has a place or something they want to organize better.  We will have a mini-class on organization coming up in the next couple months, but for now I thought I'd share this. 

When it comes to organizing (which I love to do), I love checklists.  Post-it notes are one of my favorite ways to organize my lists, and yes, I confess...I even add things to my list that I've already accomplished so I see it crossed off!  I know I need help. :)  ).  Lists are functional, help me remember (so you don't need a great memory), and enable me to visually track my progress. 

Of course, we could make lists all day long and yet, never complete anything on the list.  So, here are some helpful lists that you don't have to think about making.  Just look forward to checking the items off as you complete them instead.  Click here for a variety of lists, courtesy of Martha Stewart, from party planning and holidays to cleaning and first-aid kits.  It really is "list heaven." 
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*P.S.  A huge thank you to everyone who attended our Halloween-themed Food for Thought, Tasting, & Sharing class last night.  We had a fun time sharing traditions, eating yummy goodies (loved the "Meal in a Pumpkin," Christene), and enjoying one another's company!  If you weren't able to attend, we'll have extra handouts in Relief Society on Sunday.  Looking forward to seeing you next month!