One Last Chance...

Ok, well, I was going to pull the plug on this thing and lay it to rest...but fortunately I had a phone call from a dear, sweet sister who inspired me to keep going. So, what does this mean? Well, for starters there will be no lesson review. However, I will post what the lesson will be so you can read it in your manuals for yourself and be prepared to share your comments and such in Relief Society. If you are in the primary or YW then at least you will know the lesson we are on and you can follow along on your own. The announcements will be posted here and calendar events. Pictures from activities or service projects we do will also be found here. I am going to give this three more months and we'll see how we do. Thank you to those who left comments or called me to give me their input on the blog. I do love to do this...but not if I'm the only one reading it. I already know all this stuff! :)

My Obsession

Hi, my name is Cara Childs and I am addicited to blogging...and until recently Facebook! Now that this is out of the way you'll know why I have not been up to date with this blog. Two reasons: 1) trying to kick my habit before it kicks me and 2) Does anyone even read this thing?!?! I initially started this blog to keep YW and Primary people up to date with what was going on in RS and what the lessons were about...but I don't think they read it or know about it. I decided to give it a few weeks off and see if people missed it and I don't think they do. I miss writing on it but the time it takes to do it and keep it up is not time well spent if nobody reads it. I use my family blog as a means of journaling, scrapbooking and keeping a history of my family...but I don't have any intentions of printing off the ward blog for any thing like that. So, if you read this blog and you want me to continue then put yourself down as a follower and get your friends and neighbors to do the same thing because if I don't get at least 20 people who peruse this blog every now and again then I consider it a "nice to do" and not a "necessary" part of my calling. If you don't know how to become a follower then just leave a comment...but a NICE comment! ;) On Sunday the 10 I either post again or pull the plug!

Funeral for Sis. Harris

The funeral plans for Sis. Normanelle Harris will be:

Thursday Feb. 24 6-8pm Viewing at Warenski Funeral Home
Friday Feb. 25 10am Viewing at the church and Funeral services to start at 11am.
We will be providing a luncheon after the services and we can always use kitchen help.
Please contact any member of the presidency if you have any questions.

Relief Society Tribute Song

Hey Ladies,
Here's the link to the Releif Society tribute song I shared in class today. All you need to do is click on it and it will take you right to it. Enjoy!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyH0D-aGrdY

Where's the line to see Jesus?

Before I get into what the title of this post is about I'd like to spend a few minutes recounting Barbara's lesson. Sis. Kemp gave the Presidency Message this month and did a wonderful job reminding us this season to remember the Savior among our list making. This time of year seems to be the busiest time because we put a lot of pressure on ourselves making lists and checking them twice! Our lists comprise of gift giving, buying and making. We need to buy so many things for so many people and spend hours making candy and treats for the neighbors and go to this party and that party. All the while, the Savior gets a few minutes of thought here and there...mostly on Sunday...but that's the hustle and bustle of the season. Barbara reminded us that we need to center our lists around the Savior and think of Him more often while we still enjoy the fun and festivities. I asked her to incorporate this scripture which is pretty much what the "theme" for our few months of being the new Presidency has been centered on this year. It's Helaman 5:12 "And now my (daughters), remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." I don't know about you but not only is life in general a "mighty wind" and a "whirlwind and mighty storm" but it is more so during this time of year. I always say to myself that I'm going to get things done earlier and simplify and do less...and every year I feel like I have no power and that I am being dragged down. This year, I am focusing more on the Savior and His life. I received this next part in an e-mail and I just copy and pasted it here in this post. But I thought it fit so nicely with how I've been feeling these last couple of months and it went so well with the lesson. It's a song written from the inspiration and observation of a little boy. Read the story of the song and then click on the blue link and it will take you to the song. Enjoy!

I think you'll love this...read the story then listen/watch video..
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=pPViKJRHyZo&vq=mediumAbout the Song While at the mall a couple of years ago, my then four year old nephew, Spencer, saw kids lined up to see Santa Claus. Having been taught as a toddler that Christmas is the holiday that Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, he asked his mom, "where's the line to see Jesus"? My sister mentioned this to my dad, who immediately became inspired and jotted words down to a song in just a few minutes. After putting music to the words, and doing a quick recording at home, he received a great response from friends. He sent the song off to Nashville without much response, except for a Christian song writer who suggested adding a bridge at the end of the first chorus. My dad then asked if I wanted to record the song to see what we could do with it. I listened to the song, made a few changes to the words to make it flow better, and we headed to Shock City Studios. It was at the studio where Chris, owner and producer, rewrote the 2nd verse and part of the chorus... with goosebumps and emotions high, we were all hopeful and felt like we had something special. The demo was recorded in just under 2 hours and sent off again to Nashville... still no response. Then 2 weeks before Christmas last year, my cousins Greg and Robbie decided to do a video to see what we could accomplish on YouTube. The first day we had 3000 hits and it soared from there. We received e-mails, phone calls, Facebook messages from people all over asking for the music, CD's, iTunes, anything... we had nothin'. After a couple of meetings with Chris following the amazing response, we got serious. We headed back into the studio this past spring... this time with guitars, drums, bass, pianos, choirs... the real deal.... and here we are today. Getting iTunes set up, a website put together, and loving that thousands upon thousands of Christians have come together... remembering the true meaning of Christmas. Out of the mouths of babes come profound truths that many adults can not understand. Hopefully Spencer's observation will cause people all over to reflect on the love of Jesus, and that one day we will all stand in line to see Him. We are most thankful to our Heavenly Father to have this chance to share our music with you. Merry Christmas everyone.

OPERATION COMPASSION

On Saturday morning you should have received a list of items that can be donated to a group of soldiers in Iraq. This is what the letter said:

Dear Friends,
There is a small group of soldiers in Iraq that could use a little ehlp. Their living conditions are repulsive (think plywood, decay, and rodent/snakes everywhere) and their supply of food leaves MUCH to be desired. Yet through it all, this group of 50 of our country's sons and daughters has been an example to those around them. After a recent visit to their camp, one of their fellow soldiers, Dru Lemke, had this to say, "Despite all the bad amenities the Soldiers were in good spirits. They work hard, have success in their missions, and were upbeat. This is a profound example to me about the power of choosing a good attitude despite your situation."

While we can't do anything about their living conditions, we CAN help them have a taste of home. Here are a few things their fellow soldiers have suggested:

Dried soup mixes
canned vegetable and fruits
dried fruits
cans of chicken
gravy mixes
pancake mix add water
instant potatoes
canned chips
jerky
No bake cheesecakes
########, Ho Ho's and Ding Dongs

These are just suggestions, feel free to add any appropriate, nonperishable items you think would provide a taste of home. Please no homemade baked goods that will perish in the three weeks it may take the packages to arrive.

In addition to food items, we could also use monetary donations to get the packages to the soldiers...

Donation instructions:

If you could leave your donation outside your door on Tuesday November 30th, the Boyscouts and Youth of the American fork Fifth Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints will be picking up the donations between the times of 5:00 and 7:00 pm.

If you cannot donate this time, prayers are always appreciated also.

Thank you in advance for your kindness,

Sincerely,
The Lemke Family and
The McQuivey Family

If you have any questions regarding the donations, please call Craig or Deann Lemke or Travis and Sherry McQuivey

HUMANITARIAN FOR ZIMBABWE

Our Stake has been given a unique opportunity to provide some special humanitarian aide to the people of Zimbabwe. In a letter that was given to me it states, "Once one of the wealthiest nations in sub-Saharan Africa, Zimbabwe has experienced a profound political, social, and economic crisis since the late 1990's, which has led to rising levels of peverty, the fastest shrinking economy in the world, and a critical humanitarian situation. In 2008, problems in Zimbabwe reached crisis proportions in the areas of living standards, public health and various public considerations. They experienced a major cholera outbreak in December of 2008. The amount of time a Zimbabwean citizen is expected to live healthily at birth is 34 years old for males and 33 years old for females. The infant mortality rate is 81 deaths per 1000 live births. Yet there is hope for this country. We can do so much to improve their lives by sharing what we have."
Each auxillary in the ward has been given a few "suggested" items. You can contact the leaders of the auxilliaries if you need to know what your children or youth are supposed to donate.
Each sister in the ward has been asked to donate 2 specific things if you can:

Sisters under the age of 50- laundry soap (I'm thinking this is like felsnaptha or a bar of laundry soap and not liquid or powder.) and a can of tuna in OIL.

Sisters age 50 and over-hand soap/bar soap and a pair of reading glasses-any strength.

Here is a list of other items that you can donate:

Books, bibles especially as the African people have a great reverence and respect for the Lords word.
Water Purification tablets and purification bottles
Baby formula, for mom's with HIV to feed their babies and bottles
New Born kits
School kits
Hygiene kits
Notebooks to write in
Pens
Clothing, babies, children/teen etc.
Primary children's church clothing
Missionary clothing for elders: white shirts, ties, suits, shoes, backpacks, belts, sweaters.
Missionary clothing for Sister Missionaries: dresses, skirts, tops, sweaters, shoes.
Antiseptic soap/bar soap
First aid kits (however, NO MEDICINES) bandages/band-aids, splints, gauze, tape, etc.
Seeds, non-hybrid
Towels
Blankets, flat sheets
Underwear
Sweaters
Socks
Shoes
Hats, any type
Toys/balls

**They prefer Cotton clothing as they do live in a warmer climate**
Please take your donations to Barbara Kemp's house 365 Orchard Ave (across from the back of the church) before Monday Nov. 22. She will have a box or bag at her front entrance if she is not home. Make sure you sign your name in the notebook or put a picture of yourself or family. This notebook will be sent to Zimbabwe.

If you have any questions please call a member of the Relief Society Presidency. Thank you for your service Sisters!!