We're fasting tomorrow for Missionary experiences!

Updated version....

If you already heard this, it's worth another listen. If you've never heard it before you'll get a kick out of it.

Mallory.....your retarded Grandma actually did it!!

Oh.....what sweet Young Women!!

I went by Deny's house tonight (she was the YW Pres. I served with) and she had the sweetest surprise for me! Those dear sweet girls made the cutest little book for me.

They had a picture of each girl and they each took a page and wrote a sweet note to me. I will cherish that forever. Those girls, each one in her own way has touched my life in ways they will never understand. You each one are SO special!! Just take a look! Priceless!!

YOU ROCK!!!! Great idea!!

found it here

Here is a fun idea. This would be a cute idea for birthdays for Young Women or Visiting Teaching ladies. A small inexpensive token. She had all of the girls in the youth group write down a few words describing each girl. She then took a few of the words and wrote them on polished stones with a silver paint pen. One word on each stone. She put them in a cute pink sheer bag with a pull ribbon closure. {from a national craft store;very inexpensive} She put a cute tag on it that says "We think you ROCK. Happy Birthday to you!" with their name on the other side. She also tossed in some candy for instant gratification. {they are teenagers afterall} Hopefull it will help build their self-esteem and remind them that someone loves them. They can pull them out when they have a bad day or put one in the bottom of their purse or pocket as a reminder of how amazing they are.

I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Looks like a beautiful spring day in Salt Lake City today......not! The high was 45 degrees! That's winter to me.

Now this is what a beautiful spring day looks like!! Yep.....72 degrees here today. Now that is SPRING!!

I remember growing up in the valley and going to the sunrise service at the Mesa Temple every year and freezing!! What happened? Must be global warning!

Choose your Ward!! A little mormon humor.....

I found this article to be hilarious!! Thanks Kay for the laughs!!
I promise you if I could choose my ward, I'd choose FAIRFIELD!!!

Choose your ward
Find your niche in specialty wards

Robert Kirby Tribune columnist - Salt Lake Tribune

Most Sunday mornings, you'll find me on a pew in the Rosecrest 1st Ward
chapel. It's where I'm supposed to go to church. Lucky for me, it's also
where I want to go. Technically, Mormons don't have a choice. For
church, we're bound by the geography of the ward boundary. We worship
where we live.

The only time Mormons can switch wards without also contacting a Realtor
is when we attend specialty wards.
For example, I went to a Spanish-speaking ward in West Jordan for a while.
Specialty wards allow members with specific common needs to worship
together and support each other in their exclusive part of the Lord's
vineyard.
There are (or have been) lots of LDS specialty wards,
including singles wards, college wards, deaf wards, ethnic wards and
nudist wards.

OK, I made up that last one. There are even seasonal "snowbird wards"
in places where Mormon RV owners congregate.

I talked it over with my friend and we think the specialty-ward idea needs to be improved on in our ever-changing and increasingly divided culture.

For example:

• There needs to be a late ward, a ward where Mormons who are perpetually late for church could attend and not feel bad about dragging their herd in 15 minutes late. The only problem with a late ward would be showing up late for a meeting that was supposed to start late in the first place. Eventually, you would end up with a ward that ran out of time before it started. "Welcome to the Tardy 3rd Ward, brothers and sisters. We will close now by singing hymn No.. 145."
  

• Given the high birthrate among Mormons, I thought about the need for maternity wards. Except that we already have those. They're called married student wards.
  

• A Star Trek ward might do well. The bishop would preside from "the bridge" instead of the stand. High-council Sunday would be referred to as a "Klingon Sunday."
  

• Harley riders congregate to the exclusion of just about everyone else.Why not an LDS biker ward? White shirts and neckties go well with black leather.
  

• Ken really wants to attend a concealed-weapons ward. He says church would be a lot more interesting if real personal risks were involved in disagreeing with a lesson.
  

• There could be a texting ward for teenagers. Bear your testimony withyour thumb. In 25 years, they'll all belong to carpal-tunnel wards.
  

• At the less-active ward, maybe there'll be a meeting and maybe there won't.
  

• Testimony meeting in an anger-management ward might be interesting.Nobody's going to sleep through, "HEY! I KNOW THE CHURCH IS TRUE, STUPID!"
  

• A big hit would be the Multi Level Marketing ward, also known as a "Gadianton robber ward." With all the financial scamming that goes on in this culture, it would be nice to have them all in one place for a three-hour block weekly.
  

• I think a Democrat ward is a good idea, although in Utah the best we could probably hope for is a Democrat branch.
  

It's time to change hats!!

For 5 years I've been wearing the HAT of a Primary teacher or a Young Women leader! And to some of those girls I have been both their Primary and YW leader for all those years. What a fun HAT it has been to wear! But, to quote Bob Dylan, the "Times, they are a changing". So, now I'll be changing HATS!

Sunday I was released from YW and I am now in the Relief Society. I am the Enrichment Leader and I'm looking forward to working with the great women in that organization. To change hats is an interesting thing to do.

So, to the YW and YW Leaders of Fairfield Ward, past and present......this post is for you.

Danielle~ you are the creative one of the bunch, what talent you have! If I could only be like you!
Mary~I miss you. Wish you were still with our group. Every group needs a good nurse.
Tina~ you know the gospel so well. I learned so much about the B of M from you that I never knew.
Marilyn~What a beautiful voice you have! I love to hear you sing and I always liked to be around you, you are so kind and loving.
Cheryl~I've never met a teacher that could get the point across like you can. What a way you have with those YW. You are amazing.
Kiley~Your youth and vitality are great and those YW need that! You kept us all young!
Karen~You love those YW and it shows. I've seen you go above and beyond for them. I'm glad I got to know you and your sweet family.
Jenny~You know how I feel about you! You and I were a good pair and I depended on you a lot and you always came through. You're fun, fun, fun!! I love to hear your testimony.
Deny~You are the matriarch of the group. You bring the stability, spirit and leadership to all of us. Your calming voice was much appreciated and your love and concern for the girls is obvious.

To the YW:

Candice: You are so thoughtful. You go out of your way to include everyone and be a good example.
Brianne: Wish I could have known you better. You're on your way to being a fine young lady. Seemed like you grew up so fast.
Katie: Girl, you have been their fearless leader and did a great job of it!! You're so busy and talented.
Heather: If I ever need a good poem, you're the one I'd turn to. What a talened YW you are and I'm so glad you share your talent with us.
Bethany: You can set the tone for the whole group. You have a strong spirit, how lucky you are.
Becky: You have a sweet wholesome way about you. Don't ever give up on your dreams.
Ashley: You were quiet, but when you had something to say it was meaningful. I miss seeing you.
Allison: You are going to marry the most handsome man on the planet. You love to pray and are a good example of a Valient YW.
Afton: Everyone looks to you~you are confident and beautiful and I miss seeing you every Sunday. You always gave me a hug and I miss that.
Kristina: You are a good sport. You were always willing to try anything and once you did the others followed.
Emma: You are a strong leader. I could always call on you for help and you were always willing. I can see you as a Relief Society President someday.
Holly: You are the creative one in the YW group. Every time we did a craft you were the envy of the whole group. You're so good at everything you do.
Emily: You are always upbeat and happy. You're a pleasure to be around and you always had a kind word for everyone.
Hanna: I loved being with you. I loved talking decorating, fashion and everything with you. You have a flare about you and I've seen you grow so much over the few years we've been together.
Cassie: Always thinking of others! You were always so kind to me and helpful. You have a good attitude and such a pleasant disposition.
Brittney: You were the new one of the group and I miss seeing you. We had a blast at Ussery Pass and the trip home. Remember?
Claire: You came in and I had to leave. I was so looking forward to getting to know you better.

I am going to miss being with you every Sunday and I love each of you. Come see me!!!

Make me a spoon................

Newel is going Home Teaching tomorrow and needed a thought. This is what he decided to take to his families.

MAKE ME A SPOON

Did you ever think to compare your service to silverware? All silverware is made to serve, but the different pieces serve in a different way.

The fork stabs. "This is mine it says". It stabs bits of meat, carrots, pickles, salad and cheese. "This and this are mine" says the fork. "Everything for me, me, me". And soon, every single item on the plate is gone , pinned by the spear of the selfish fork.

Knives cut. "Too big" says the knife. Slice, cut, chop, dice. Everything must change it's shape to satisfy the whim of the knife. Nothing is right as it is. Everything needs paring down, carving or separating.

Spoons serve. Cereal, soup, peas ~ all the impossible foods can be handled comfortably from the smooth bowl of the spoon. Spoons say "Here, let me help you. We can manage together."

Make me a spoon

~Author Unknown

A house of order.....

I was listening to a BYU Hawaii Devotional tonight ~ "Get real in preparing for marriage" Eric Shumway, BYU Hawaii President. Here is a quote from his talk that really struck me for some reason:

"As you prepare for marriage develop a sense, even a passion for some order in your life. A man or a woman who can't keep a clean or tidy room or their own clothes off the floor and hung up properly comes into marriage a cripple, severely handicapped. Regardless of what else is going well or how patient your spouse might be, your messy room and careless attitude toward order will weigh heavily on your relationship. I can testify, for example, that a made bed is the beginning for order and peace in the universe. Sing the hymn, "Ere you left your room this morning, did you think to pray and make your bed?" We are talking only about 35-45 seconds of bed making and a whole day of tranquil benefit. This is not a frivolous detail. Someone told me if you have a habit of a messy room, clean it up everyday for 21 days and you will have a new habit for life".

This is just a pet peeve of mine.....but I truly believe you can begin to have a house of order if you can only make your bed! Give it a try!

Preparing for the Sabbath

Do you remember doing this little exercise when you were a kid and then turning around and teaching it to your kids....I do. I thought this was so sweet! I've been busy working on a project in my bathroom....I'll try to show it to you tomorrow, but for now, I must prepare for the Sabbath......remember to keep it holy.