"Preparedness" Relief Society Quarterly Meeting

Thanks to the RS Activities committee for the wonderful meeting we had on Thursday! The evening focused on various aspects of being prepared both temporally and spiritually. Thanks to Patrice and Christy P. for organizing supplies so that we could compile 72-hour food kits and to all of the sisters who brought delicious dishes made from food storage items! We had such a delectible variety of treats to taste.

Temporal Preparedness

Our ward Provident Living Specialist, Sharon E., taught a workshop on how to build a 3-month supply of food. She had a wonderful handout that included the following links to help us as we get started:

http://1stopfoodstorage.com/

http://storingfood101.blogspot.com/

http://www.providentliving.org/

http://www.examiner.com/

http://www.hashworks.com/

http://www.mormontimes.com/

http://www.dinnerisinthejar.com/

kneadfulthingsnow.com

http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/

http://home-organization.suite101.com/

http://mormonism.suite101.com/

http://homemanagement.suite101.com/

http://www.backwoodshome.com/

http://preparedbinder.blogspot.com/

Spiritual Preparedness

Barbara S. taught our workshop on spiritual preparedness and below are her tips for Surviving the Trials of Life.

1. Be Quick to Obey: "One glance at the newspaper or at the television tells us that we live in stormy times . . .So there are few questions as important as this one: 'How does a person build a life founded on truth?' . . . Obedience to commandments is the way we build a foundation of truth." -- Henry B. Eyring, devotional address at BYU on 15 August 2000.

2. Give Heed to Prophets: "There are those who criticize when we issue a statement of counsel or warning. Please know that our pleadings are not motivated by any selfish desire. Please know that our warnings are not without substance and reason. Please know that the decisions to speak out on various matters are not reached without deilberation, discussion, and prayer. Please know that our only ambition is to help each of you with your problems, your struggles, your families, your lives." -- Gordon B. Hinkley, Ensign, Nov. 1992, 53.

3. Feast Upon the Word of God: "When you memorize something, it becomes a part of you and can be called upon at will to give you strength when there seems to be no strength left." -- Vaughn J. Featherstone, New Era, Sept. 1975

4. Pray Always

5. Be a Full Tithe Payer

6. Escape from Sin

7. Learn Gratitude: Make a habit of grateful prayers. Don't ask for anything. Record the blessings you see in your life and the lessons learned.


Thank you to all who contributed to make the evening a success!

Getting To Know Me!

I am Galadriel H. Which is quite a mouthful, so most people just call me Galad (pronounced Glad, He, He!). I currently teach Gospel Doctrine. I absolutely love it especially because we are studying the Old Testament which has the best stories. One of my great passions is reading especially murder mysteries and fantasies. The murder, the mayhem, great spiritual feats, the Old Testament has it all plus a great moral to each story. What more could I ask for except a box of chocolates.

I grew up as the oldest of six in a small town called Hurricane, Utah. I married another oldest of six boys from the same small town in 1994. You may know him as Wade. We graduated from BYU a little later. I received a Bachelors in Science with an emphasis in Marine Biology. Which brings me to my other great passion, the water. I love any beach and I will take a lake or river. But it needs to be swimable. There is nothing like riding the waves. My parents were both from South California so I got to spend a lot of time on the beach when I visited my grandparents. I was blessed to be able to study all sorts of marine creatures in Monterey, CA and count insects in a lab to assist in determining the health of rivers before becoming a mom! Now I study the bacteria which grows in my fridge!!


Wade and I have four children. Dylan (11), Sadie (10), Brooklyn (6), and Cole (3). Dylan came to us a few weeks before we moved to Austin, Tx. Sadie arrived in Austin. Brooklyn and Cole were both born in Katy. We have been in Texas almost 12 years and Katy 7 years. As a family we do enjoy the holidays. Especially Christmas and Halloween. Hence the family pictures at Christmas and Halloween. BEWARE, THE HUTHCHINGS' HOUSE ON THE DAY OF THE SPIRITS!!


All people great and small should have at least three passions if more you can die a satisfied soul. My third passion I will share has changed through the years. As a kid it was dancing, as mom it became yoga. Which has taken our family to paths previously unknown. Not all of which my children would claim or rejoice in. One path lead to green juice!! You may understand their plight.

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April Temple Trip

Several sisters (and a couple mother/daughters) enjoyed a beautiful Spring day at the Houston Temple. Left to Right, Front Row: Cheryl & Samantha Flower, Julie Anderson, Catherine Craner, Becky Schultz and Amy McLaughlin. Back Row: Alice Beckstrom, Ellen Camp, Kelley Partridge, KelleyAnne Miner & Lesley Hagen

Family Home Evening Lesson -- Love at Home

Opening Song: Kindness Begins with Me

Opening Prayer:

Lesson:

Scripture: A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you (John 13:34).

Can you guess the answer to this riddle? What is as invisible as the wind and as warm as the sun, can be given away without losing any, grows when it is shared, comes from your heart, and shows on your face?
The answer to the riddle is love. Love is a powerful feeling of affection, concern, and tenderness for another.


Your home in heaven was filled with love. Your Heavenly Father prepared a plan of happiness for you because He loves you. That plan makes it possible for you to become like Him and return to live with Him forever. Your Savior and Elder Brother, Jesus Christ, suffered and gave His life to free you from sin and death. Heavenly Father and Jesus love you. Jesus gave us a commandment to love one another as He loves us. When you love others and show that love by your actions, you are following Him. When you love others, you show that you are a child of Heavenly Father and a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ (see John 13:34–35). You become more like Them.


Your home here on earth is the first and most important place to show love. You can do it in very simple but powerful ways—a smile, a thank you, a hug, a kind word or deed. You can say, “I love you.” Everyone enjoys hearing those words again and again. As you show love for your family, that love will grow, and you will help to make your home a heavenly place.


A home filled with love is a heavenly place.


A person filled with love is following Jesus.

Activity Ideas:

1. Explain to the children that the Savior gave us a commandment to “love one another” (John 13:34). Let them suggest ways that they can show love for the members of their families. Then give each child the name of a family member—Mother, Father, Sister, Brother, Grandma, or Grandpa. Have each class create a new verse, with words and actions, to the song “Oh, How We Love to Stand” (Children’s Songbook, p. 279) by substituting the name given to them for the words to stand in the first line, and creating new words and actions for the rest of that line and the second line of the song. (Example: “Oh, how we love Mother and show her every day—Wash the dishes, sweep the floor, and put the toys away.”) You may need to play the song several times so that the children will feel the rhythm of the phrases. Have each class sing its verse with actions, then teach it to the others.


2. Clear a space in the room and let the younger children sit in a circle. Tell them that there are many ways to love and serve the members of their families. Select one child to stand in the center of the circle. As everyone sings “When We’re Helping” (Children’s Songbook, p. 198), have the child in the center do an action that goes with the song. Explain that even a smile can be an expression of love. Sing “Smiles” (Children’s Songbook, p. 267), and let the children show their biggest frowns and biggest smiles.


3. Bring six hats representing Father, Mother, Sister, Brother, Grandma, and Grandpa. Have the children sit in a circle and pass the hats from head to head while they sing “Here We Are Together” (Children’s Songbook, p. 261). Use the names in the song.


4. Ask an adult member of the ward to share with the children a note or letter they have received from a loved one and tell the children why it was important to them. Explain to the children how nice it is to receive a note of love and appreciation. Have the children create a card from construction paper to give to someone special.


5. Explain that just saying you love someone is not always enough. You must show him that you love him through your actions. Tell the children that there are many opportunities to serve family members every day. Have the children play Family Service Charades. In one bowl, have slips of paper with ideas for service. Have the child whose name you draw from the first bowl pull a slip from the second bowl and act out the service for the other children to guess. Possible service ideas: washing dishes, giving a hug, writing a letter, making a bed, playing a game with a younger child, making cookies, saying a prayer for someone, drawing a picture, smiling, picking up toys, getting the mail, setting the table, reading to a younger child, and washing the car.

Closing Prayer:

Treat: Heart-shaped Rice Krispie Treats

(from "The Friend" magazine)

Getting To Know Me

I am Roshella B. and am the leader for the meeting formerly known as Enrichment (We are now calling it the "Quarterly RS meeting). My husband, Arnie, and I have been in the ward for almost 5 years (when we built our first home). We have been married 6 years; we met online, which I never thought I would do!

I am the oldest of seven children and have 10 nieces and nephews that I have worked hard to spoil rotten (see family picture). When I married Arnie, I got even more (and 9 great-nephews & nieces!). I grew up in the Alief area; many people know my parents (Don & Theresa Hoyt) or siblings (Nathan, Dean, Nolan, Diana, and Dora - and they married into families that have also lived here forever. Their spouses are Jackie Rose, Bonnie Silva, and Steve Roosa, who grew up in Nottingham Country). They all live here in Houston, except for my youngest sister who lives in Washington D.C. My parents moved here from Louisiana when I was 4 years old, so Houston is home for me.

I have been a graphic designer for almost 20 years, but am currently unemployed (and still haven't cleaned all my closets like I thought I would!). I like to read and sew, but both are so time-consuming that I don't do them as often as I would like. My husband and I love to travel - even if it's just a short road trip on a Saturday. We also enjoy festivals, movies, and historical sites. We love to entertain (which usually means dinner and games). And, even though my husband is a professional chef, I do most of the cooking!

FYI - people in the ward I have known forever: Anne Skye and her family were in my ward when I was a child, and I remember that I loved to go to her house when she would babysit us (she was fun then, too!). Also, I've known Trudy Sarlls and Leigh Townsend for over 20 years - their dad went to the same high school as my dad. And Bill Hagen has been a friend of my parents since he was a very young man! I hope to continue to make many more long-lasting friendships in the Nottingham Country ward!

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Getting To Know Me

My name is Heidi P, and I serve as the second counselor over the Young Women in our ward. I was born in Burley, Idaho, which is a small town outside of Twin Falls. I was raised on a farm and feel like that is the absolute best way to grow up. We could run and play for miles and I also learned the value of hard work. From a young age, I learned to burn ditches, set siphon tubes, hoe lots of beets, move hand lines and drive tractor. As a young girl, I loved where I grew up and vowed that I would marry a hard working farm boy just like my dad and teenage brothers. With that said, my brothers didn’t turn out to be farmers and my dad has since left the farm. I didn’t end up marrying a farm boy, but I did fall madly in love with my childhood best friend and he is the perfect person for me in every way.

After we got married, I attended Utah Valley State College and worked as an orthodontic assistant while Jeremy finished his degree at BYU. About three years later we had our first baby, Sophie a month before we moved to San Antonio for Jeremy to attend Law School at St. Mary’s University. In San Antonio, we had our second baby girl, Calla and then moved to Dallas for Jeremy to pursue a Masters of Law in Taxation at Southern Methodist University. While there, we had our first little boy, Tate, and then moved here to Katy where Jeremy got his first job. Since being here in Katy we again added to our family and had our little Ruby 11 months ago. We can now say we have had a baby in each of the three largest cities in Texas. Jeremy and I have been married 9 ½ years and while talking about the past decade we realized that he spend most of that time going to school while I have been having babies. These four precious spirits truly have changed our lives and we can’t imagine life without them. We are both now converted to the big city way of life and really enjoy living close to Houston and all it has to offer.

Things that I love, that make me happy and glad are: clean towels, jeans that fit well, Jeremy in a freshly cleaned suit, organized spaces, sexy shoes, fresh cut flowers, the beach, a well decorated room, my children laughing, bookstores, Bumble and Bumble shampoo, kisses, the Temple, a tuned piano, mint chocolate chip ice cream, The Container Store, a hot bubble bath, lip-gloss, Jeremy’s jokes, anything that smells good, running shoes, a freshly mopped floor, a great magazine, stir fry, a challenging workout, 3X5 index cards and warm clean sheets. All and all I am most content when I am with my family and can feel the spirit in my home.

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Meeting Time Change!

REMINDER!

As of Sunday, January 3, 2010,

our Sunday meeings will be

held from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Family Home Evening Lesson: Goal Setting

Goal Setting
Opening Song
Opening Prayer
Lesson:

• Print off pictures of what your family has done during the year or cut out pictures from magazines that represent things done as a family this year -- things good, hard, memorable, accomplishments by different family members
• Together as a family, make a collage of the pictures and hang it up to remind everyone of all of the wonderful things members of the family did or accomplished this year.
• Discussion Questions: How did you feel when you accomplished these things throughout the year? What did it take to do these things? Why is it important to set goals?
• Read and discuss President Hinkley quotes:
  "Try a little harder to be a little better." — Gordon B. Hinckley
  "The time has come for us to stand a little taller, to lift our eyes and stretch our minds to a greater comprehension and understanding of the grand millennial mission of this, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." — Gordon B. Hinckley
  "When I say do your best, I mean your very best. You are capable of so much more." — Gordon B. Hinckley
  
• Have each member of the family set some goals for the upcoming year.

Closing Prayer

Treat: Confetti Cake Mix Cookies

Very easy for kids to make!

1 box confetti cake mix--or white cake mix and sprinkles

2 eggs

1/2C oil

Mix altogether, batter will be stiff. Grease cookie sheet. Preheat oven to 350*. Roll cookie dough into small balls and then flatten with bottom of a cup. Don't add sugar or anything on top as these are already really sweet. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges turn slightly brown. Let cool on sheet for a few minutes before removing to racks.

Enrichment

REMINDER!

Come to the Relief Society Quarterly Activity ("Enrichment") tonight at 6:30 to serve and socialize with the sisters in the ward!

We will be meeting first in the Relief Society room for a brief program and then will move to the gym to work on some service projects and eat some goodies. Can't wait to see you there!

Babysitting will be provided.

Getting to Know Me

My name is Amy McL. and I am the Relief Society Counselor over the meeting formerly known as Enrichment J. I was born in Fairfax County, Virginia, the second of seven children, but moved to Salt Lake City when I was two years old and spent the rest of my growing up years there. I attended BYU where I studied English Teaching and Journalism. Shortly after returning from my mission to the Amazon region of Brazil, I met my husband, Mark, in my BYU singles ward. I instantly found him handsome, fun, and charming, but I was a little afraid of making such a big decision. Fortunately, he is an eternal optimist and someone who likes a challenge and so he didn’t take my comment that “there was no chance of anything ever happening romantically between us” seriously. We have now been married ten years and are the parents of three fun, and busy little girls – Emily (7), Abigail (5), and Jane (3).

After BYU, I taught high school English for two years before we moved to Boston, MA where we lived for five years and where I received a Masters in Education from Harvard University. We then spent two years in Charlottesville, Virginia before moving to Katy where we’ve been for a little over a year. I currently stay at home with my girls and help review graduate school applicant essays as a small, at-home side job.

I love spending time with my family, reading, writing, fall, singing, finishing projects (as somewhat of a procrastinator, I especially enjoy the finishing part), traveling, dreaming about traveling (England is my current dream destination), eating anything with pumpkin in the recipe, hiking, trying new recipes, playing the viola, Jane Austen books, old movies, and playing tennis. I try to endure exercising and hot weather.

I so enjoy working with the sisters in Relief Society and hope to get to know you all better!

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