Last Sunday was the 5th Sunday and that means combined Relief Society and men with the Bishop at the helm! I had to step out and help my little one fall asleep so you are only getting what I heard (because my husband couldn't tell me what I missed...hmm).
The Bishop encourage us to be accepting of others and help those around us. We may not know what some people are dealing with but it's important to let them know that you are there for them if they ever need you. We have a lot of needs in this ward and we should all try to help out where we can and support each other. He also challenged us to bear our testimony in sacrament meeting at least once this year. Sisters, he said that sharing our testimony in Relief Society doesn't count (and he looked straight at me when he said that) so get up and share! It's important that we share our love for the gospel to help those around us but also to build up and strengthen your own testimony. Bro. Stauffer made the comment that he never heard his father bear his testimony. He heard it from his mother (all to often) but it kind of made him sad that he didn't hear it from his dad. He didn't realize until he was a little older that his father did indeed have a testimony. That made me stop and think of the last time my children heard me share my testimony in church and it was a long time ago. So, I was the first one up on Sunday to make my repentance and start anew! Take this challenge seriously and share your testimony every chance you get. Because if the people around us aren't hearing about the Savior and our Father in Heaven and the gospel from us, then they are hearing about "other" things from "other people." Open your arms and your hearts to those around you and see just how quickly they fill up!
Monday, September 6, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
My Apologies and My Thanks
I want to extend my heartfelt apologies to everyone who reads this blog and to the teachers who teach the lessons. I have not been very faithful in writing this blog. As many of you know my life just got a little more interesting, but still that is no excuse. So for those who don't know the Relief Society Presidency was released and a new one has been called. Sis. Cara Childs (yes, that's me) was called as the President, Sis. Barbara Kemp as 1st counselor, Sis. Jan Chamberlin as 2nd counselor and Sis. Linda Fillmore as the Secretary. Please keep us in your prayers as we will need them these next few weeks as we come to know and understand what our new roles will be in this ward! I think I speak for everyone when I say THANK YOU to Sis. Kathryn Proctor, Sis. Aileen Makin and Sis. Margie Lindsay for all that you do and have done for the sisters of our ward!
Mothers and Daughters
This week's lesson was from brother Ballard's talk about Mother's and Daughters. One point that Sis. Schiess made significant to us was that underneath the main title of the talk it said that we need to listen and learn from each other. So on the board she made a list of what the daughters should do and what the mothers should do. The daughters are to follow the examples of their mothers. He encourages young women to look to their mothers and model their patterns, rather than look to women of the world as who they should follow and become. He tells them to "learn from her strengths, her courage, and her faithfulness. Listen to her....when it comes to matters of the heart and the things of the Lord, she has a wealth of knowledge." The second thing he encourages is for daughters to love their mothers. He says, "Respect her. Listen to her. Trust her. She has your best interests at heart. She cares about your eternal safety and happiness. So be kind to her. Be patient with her imperfections, for she has them. We all do."
Next came the counsel for the mothers. First he tells us to be the kind if example we want our daughters to follow. He tells us that not only do we need to tell them what to wear, how to act, what to do, but we need to SHOW them what to wear, how to act and what to do. I love what he says, "As mothers in Israel, you are your daughters' first line of defense against the wiles of the world." Man, that struck a chord with me and I felt the Spirit consume me testifying that this is true! My "protective Mother hen" inside just fluffed up her feathers and puffed up her chest ready to defend my children from whatever may come their way...
Ok, back to the lesson. He encourages to keep teaching even when we may think that they are not listening by quoting Ralph Waldo Emerson who said " What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say." Powerful words to live by!
Next is to "find joy in nurturing children." Unfortunately so many women today do not find joy in nurturing. This is something I cannot comprehend, but have it in my own family. My sister works, not because she has to, but because (and by her own admission might I add) she tells me that she does not enjoy being home all day. I think now that her boys are a little older she is starting to realize all that she misses out on but that still does not change the fact that she believes she is "not cut out to be a stay-at-home mom." It breaks my heart. I love those moments that I refer to as "proud mommy moments." For instance when my children learn to read, or ride a bike, or when I'm at their dance recitals or soccer games. Those moments when truly only a mother could be proud. I love those moments and I thrive on them. I'm reminded just how much I really do enjoy being a mother when Maddie tells me that "this is the best day of my life," and I realize that it is a day that I have totally spent with my children and given ALL of my attention to them. I shared the moment when Maddie told me that when she becomes a mom like me she is going to let her children do whatever they want! I just smiled and told her that she will make a great mother.
We didn't have enough time to go through the entire talk ( as usual ) but Sis. Schiess reminded us that we need to watch what our young girls wear and teach them to be modest and WHY they should be modest. This is a great talk and it reawakened my passion for Motherhood and reminded me of it's importance. President Harold B. Lee said, "the most important...work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own homes."
Next came the counsel for the mothers. First he tells us to be the kind if example we want our daughters to follow. He tells us that not only do we need to tell them what to wear, how to act, what to do, but we need to SHOW them what to wear, how to act and what to do. I love what he says, "As mothers in Israel, you are your daughters' first line of defense against the wiles of the world." Man, that struck a chord with me and I felt the Spirit consume me testifying that this is true! My "protective Mother hen" inside just fluffed up her feathers and puffed up her chest ready to defend my children from whatever may come their way...
Ok, back to the lesson. He encourages to keep teaching even when we may think that they are not listening by quoting Ralph Waldo Emerson who said " What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say." Powerful words to live by!
Next is to "find joy in nurturing children." Unfortunately so many women today do not find joy in nurturing. This is something I cannot comprehend, but have it in my own family. My sister works, not because she has to, but because (and by her own admission might I add) she tells me that she does not enjoy being home all day. I think now that her boys are a little older she is starting to realize all that she misses out on but that still does not change the fact that she believes she is "not cut out to be a stay-at-home mom." It breaks my heart. I love those moments that I refer to as "proud mommy moments." For instance when my children learn to read, or ride a bike, or when I'm at their dance recitals or soccer games. Those moments when truly only a mother could be proud. I love those moments and I thrive on them. I'm reminded just how much I really do enjoy being a mother when Maddie tells me that "this is the best day of my life," and I realize that it is a day that I have totally spent with my children and given ALL of my attention to them. I shared the moment when Maddie told me that when she becomes a mom like me she is going to let her children do whatever they want! I just smiled and told her that she will make a great mother.
We didn't have enough time to go through the entire talk ( as usual ) but Sis. Schiess reminded us that we need to watch what our young girls wear and teach them to be modest and WHY they should be modest. This is a great talk and it reawakened my passion for Motherhood and reminded me of it's importance. President Harold B. Lee said, "the most important...work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own homes."
ADULT DUTCH OVEN DINNER
Don't forget that Friday August 27 is the Adult Dutch Oven Dinner. It will be at the Harbor Pavillion and for those that are cooking in their dutch ovens the coals will be ready at 6. Those that are just coming for the food or are bringing something not cooked in a dutch oven the dinner will start at 7. However, you can come at 6 for chit-chatting and friends. Please come and invite your neighbors to come too!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Turn to the Lord
This week's lesson was taught by Sis. Julie Schiess from the Ensign. The talk given by Elder Donald Hallstrom entitled "Turn to the Lord." It proved to be a rather emotional talk for all of us! First off, let me just say how nicely it tied in with the Sunday School lesson today about Elijah. Having already been in the frame of mind and spirit of thinking about trials and turning to the Lord, it increased that sensitivity in me and helped me feel the Spirit even more.
So basically the lesson is about how we handle hardships that we feel are because of other people...that we blame on other people or when we feel we have been wronged by someone. How we get angry with the Lord when things don't work out and we blame Him for all the bad things and turn away from Him. When in reality he has invited us to "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). We can always seek and find peace from the "Prince of Peace."
Many personal experiences were shared by Sis. Schiess that I will not share here. But most, if not all, of us have experienced those trying times when we are saying to ourselves and to our Father "Why me? Why us? Why this horrible terrible thing?" It is very difficult to "Turn TO the Lord" when anger and frustration instinctively tells us to "turn AWAY from the Lord." Usually it is when we just can't take one more minute of this life and are at our very lowest that we finally turn to Him and say, "Take it away from me." When we truly are submissive and willing to let Him take on our burdens is when we pray and turn the other way. The last paragraph or so states, "His most exemplary act, the Atonement, required Jesus to descend "below all things" (D&C 88:6) and suffer "the pains of all men" (2 Nephi 9:21). Thus we understand the Atonement has broader purpose than providing a means to overcome sin. This greatest of all earthly accomplishments gives the Savior the power to fulfill this promise: "If ye will TURN TO THE LORD with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence..., if ye do this, he will...deliver you out of #######" (Mosiah 7:33 emphasis added)."
The Lord is always willing and waiting for us to cast our burdens upon Him and help guide us through this life. But just as a stubborn toddler wants to get dressed himself or tie his own shoe, we are not always willing to do this because we want to "do it myself." When we are really frustrated and angry that it's not going the way we want, then we ask for help. One statement that was made from the article was this "...deal with the matter directly and with all the strength you have." If you feel you have been wronged, pray about the strategy you need to use to deal with the matter directly and then move forward with faith. The Lord will help you when you are ready to let Him help you.
So basically the lesson is about how we handle hardships that we feel are because of other people...that we blame on other people or when we feel we have been wronged by someone. How we get angry with the Lord when things don't work out and we blame Him for all the bad things and turn away from Him. When in reality he has invited us to "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). We can always seek and find peace from the "Prince of Peace."
Many personal experiences were shared by Sis. Schiess that I will not share here. But most, if not all, of us have experienced those trying times when we are saying to ourselves and to our Father "Why me? Why us? Why this horrible terrible thing?" It is very difficult to "Turn TO the Lord" when anger and frustration instinctively tells us to "turn AWAY from the Lord." Usually it is when we just can't take one more minute of this life and are at our very lowest that we finally turn to Him and say, "Take it away from me." When we truly are submissive and willing to let Him take on our burdens is when we pray and turn the other way. The last paragraph or so states, "His most exemplary act, the Atonement, required Jesus to descend "below all things" (D&C 88:6) and suffer "the pains of all men" (2 Nephi 9:21). Thus we understand the Atonement has broader purpose than providing a means to overcome sin. This greatest of all earthly accomplishments gives the Savior the power to fulfill this promise: "If ye will TURN TO THE LORD with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence..., if ye do this, he will...deliver you out of #######" (Mosiah 7:33 emphasis added)."
The Lord is always willing and waiting for us to cast our burdens upon Him and help guide us through this life. But just as a stubborn toddler wants to get dressed himself or tie his own shoe, we are not always willing to do this because we want to "do it myself." When we are really frustrated and angry that it's not going the way we want, then we ask for help. One statement that was made from the article was this "...deal with the matter directly and with all the strength you have." If you feel you have been wronged, pray about the strategy you need to use to deal with the matter directly and then move forward with faith. The Lord will help you when you are ready to let Him help you.
The Priesthood #2
So, last week we talked about the priesthood and the blessings we receive. This week was a little more about what it is and the organization of it. Sis. Joyce Bond gave the lesson this week. We discussed why the priesthood is in two different forms "the lesser and higher" named after certain prophets...Aaron and Melchesidek(sp?). We talked about the different quorums and she shared some new information I didn't know such as how many there can be in each quorum. Also, another thing I didn't know was that the Stake President and his counselors are the head of the High Priest Quorum. Jason (my husband) told me that this is the reason why it's called the "High Priest Group Leader" and not the President like it is for the Elders. Interesting....
We talked about some of the different uses of the priesthood (healing, baptism, marriage, father's blessing, sacrament, etc) and some of the sisters shared some of their own experiences. We also talked about the keys of the Priesthood and why they are necessary in the church. There are so many duties and responsibilities that priesthood holders have and we went through some of them. But think about it in your own mind (and read the lesson :) )and then think about what your responsibilities are at home and as a mother (or just as a woman.) There are some women who argue the fact that we should be entitled to have the priesthood as well and get offended by the thought that they can't have it. To these women I say ARE YOU CRAZY? I don't want the added pressure and responsibilities thank you very much. I can barely handle the responsibilities that the Lord has already entrusted me with. Think about that the next time you think "hey, why can't I have the priesthood?"
We talked about some of the different uses of the priesthood (healing, baptism, marriage, father's blessing, sacrament, etc) and some of the sisters shared some of their own experiences. We also talked about the keys of the Priesthood and why they are necessary in the church. There are so many duties and responsibilities that priesthood holders have and we went through some of them. But think about it in your own mind (and read the lesson :) )and then think about what your responsibilities are at home and as a mother (or just as a woman.) There are some women who argue the fact that we should be entitled to have the priesthood as well and get offended by the thought that they can't have it. To these women I say ARE YOU CRAZY? I don't want the added pressure and responsibilities thank you very much. I can barely handle the responsibilities that the Lord has already entrusted me with. Think about that the next time you think "hey, why can't I have the priesthood?"
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Book Club
This Wednesday, July 14th, is book club. It will be at Norma Mecham's house at 8pm. We will be discussing the book Cheaper By the Dozen and I tell you it is hilarious!! If you've seen the movie come and join us. If you haven't read the book come and join us. We always have a good time. The book for August will be "The Secret Garden." So get an early start!
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