My Favorite Things

The 24^th Ward Relief Society celebrated their March Relief Society Birthday in Sisterhood style!

We started in the Relief Society Room where we had opening exercises, inviting the Spirit to be with us throughout the evening.

Our theme was 

"My Favorite Things"

Our goal was to learn something new about each sister as well as how much we all have in common.

The sisters were given a brown bag the Sunday before, with instructions to put their favorite thing in the bag & drop it off at the cultural hall before the Relief Society Meeting. Also that no one was to see who bought each item. It was top secret!

From the Relief Society Room we then dismissed into the cultural hall. There we were pleasantly surprised to see beautiful decorated tables with aprons, brown paper packages, mittens & snow flakes on each one! They even had big colorful umbrellas scattered along the stage & a cute variety of aprons on the walls!

The sisters lined up in the hall where they were handed a numbered piece of paper & pencil with earlier instructions given. They were told to write down the name of the sister with the number on the item. All the sister’s favorite items were carefully placed along a table. The sisters really enjoyed trying to figure out whose item belonged to whom! At this time, a lot of visiting went on among the sisters as well as reminiscing also. It became like a great mystery to be solved & it was surprisingly fun!!!

It is now time to sit down for their birthday dinner which included teriyaki chicken, baked potatoes with all the condiments, fresh green beans & rolls, with raspberry brownie cake for dessert! Yum!

Prepared by our food committee.

Thanks!

 Just as we started to wind down from our nice dinner words from the song “A Few of My Favorite Things “came up on the back of the stage along with a picture of Julie Andrews. We all broke out singing karaoke style! 

"My Favorite Things"  Part 1 song.

(Make sure you sing along too!)

Then just as we were finishing eating our dessert, we were invited to sing “Happy Birthday” to the Relief Society, which included a beautiful double layer box birthday cake. We then, had a sister randomly pick out of a can, several names of other sisters who each took a couple minutes and explained why the item they brought was their favorite thing. This turned out to be emotionally moving! This was because we had items from a 1900 Book of Mormon, to a fathers watch who had passed on,  to old family photo’s,  to a bag of M& M’s candies and everything in-between! Our sisters did not hold back on sharing their very special & tender stories behind each item! It was totally awesome! 

We then enjoyed singing karaoke style again, the words of “A Few of My Favorite Things” but this time the words were changed to a more spiritually personable way in relation to sisterhood. It included pictures of random acts of kindness among our dear sisters of the ward. This was a very nice ending to a well rounded evening!

"My Favorite Things" Part 2

(again, sing along) 

Jolene took her fathers watch and turned it in to a beautiful woman's watch

Here are some of the "favorite things":

Ruth - Rose

Mickie - framed flowers

Connie - M&M's

Julie - Book of Mormon, drink

Annette - Old Book of Mormon

Beckee - chocolate & remote

Misty - wooden spoon

Eileen - old book

Paige - DVR remote

Jill - Boy Scout wooden boy

Dixie - Crystal dish

Nellie - Pacemaker

Donna - black necklace

Anna Lou - family pictures, Jesus

Kathy - Temple

Jolene - watch

Kathleen - jewelry

Hillsman - lighthouse

Carol - Mickey Mouse

Mary Beth - painting of Temple

Elaine - mini sewing machine

Rosalie - truck with Hot Wheels

Annie - flip flops, kindle, hair bows, movie, cologne

JeriLynn - scrap book pages

Jody - casserole pan

April - Suze Orman book

Joan - family pictures

 - ski pass

At the close of the meeting a sister stood up and shared a sentimental poem on how the apron was such an important part of our ancestor’s lives. She finished with expressing her great love & gratitude for her sisters and all they do in the ward!

This meeting was a wonderful success! It was truly an eye & ear awakening experience for everyone involved! Happy Birthday to the Relief Society!

Relief Society Sisterhood truly lives on!         

My Favorite Things

Bring one of your Favorite Things "concealed" to the RS Activity.

See you next week!

Land of Oz

BC 24th Ward February Relief Society meeting was magical, inspiring and just good fun!

All our sisters were invited to the "Land of Oz!"

Why?! You say?!

Because, because, because because, because, because of the wonderful things it does!!!

We started out in the Relief Society room with the opening exercises followed by Dorothy (Our Relief Society President) making a very important announcement!

Jolene Hansen

She told us that a letter had just arrived from the Wizard of Oz!

He wanted the sisters to come visit in the "Land of Oz"! He said that there were some pointers in visiting teaching that we needed to know first.

But not to worry!!!

She will safely guide us to the Scarecrow

symbolic of (knowledge & inviting the Spirit)

Mary Beth Farrer

Then to the Tin woMan

symbolic of (Loving & Caring for your Sisters)

Elaine Gibby

Last but not least the Lion!

symbolic of (Courage in visiting teaching)

Connie Anderson

Each sister (character) had a special message prepared to share with the Sisters in a very insightful way. The Spirit was there in each of the separate, prepared rooms!

Happily the sisters went from room to room singing "we're off to see the Wizard" & Lions and Tigers and Bears! OH! MY! Arm in arm, skipping along the way!!!---

But watch out!

There is a wicked witch floating around, trying to convince us not to do our visiting teaching!

Jody Shelley

The Tin Man needed to be oiled before she could begin.

There were signs like this all over the room.

Dorothy leads them safely through the back part of the cultural hall where the sisters follow the

  yellow brick road (made by paper to look like yellow bricks!)

At this point the sisters break out singing-

Follow the yellow brick road!

Follow the yellow brick road!

What's the first thing they see wen they go into the cultural hall in the

Land of Oz?

That wicked witch's hat & cape lying on the floor in a puddle!!!

Then they see this large sign.

All the sisters agreed that they did not want to have a melt down like that wicked witch did!!!

We then all sat down safely in our seats in the "land of oz".

Then we look up & see -- the witch's bike & Toto in the basket!!!

Oh No!

Whew!!! It's okay!

It was just a reminder that she was really there!

The sisters then relax and enjoy a song called "Miracles"

sung beautifully by Sister Kathy Gifford (accompanied by April Bays)

followed by a very touching testimony by

Relief Society President Jolene Hansen (Dorothy).

We ended with a closing prayer and refreshments which included, balloons on tables & colorful table cloths with refreshing green sherbet punch & "Ding Dong, the witch is dead" ding dongs.

Thank you gifts for speakers

This meeting was very successful in inspiring the sisters in visiting teaching and in the process, uniting the sisters happily together!----

We love Happy Beginnings!

Simplify Night

Relief Society meeting in January we had a Simplify Night.

Jody Shelley and Chelsea Grange made homemade breakfast burritos for the taster table.

Simple

President Jolene Hansen taught us how to fold a fitted sheet.

Simple

Then Jody & Chelsea demonstrated how to involve your whole family in a month of meal planning the quick and easy way.

Simple

We then had a professional house cleaner (Sheila Andreasen) come and speak to us about Simplifying your cleaning using products, chemicals and exercising.

Simple...well for some people

No pictures

Simple

Then End

Simple

Grandfather's Christmas Story

The December 24th Ward Relief Society Meeting was a great success!

First of all this is the afghan that was completed.
We had many square donations and Alice Missledine put the whole thing together.

We started out with a soup and salad dinner with a delectable chocolate dessert.

We sat at round tables for great conversation. each table had a beautiful nativity for a center piece.

After dinner we enjoyed a program called "Grandfather's Christmas Story". 

Several members of our ward including our priesthood holders and some of our ward choir sang like angels!

We had a large manger on the stage which made a great impact along with children and adults singing and dressed in the biblical times.

There were pictures and words projected up on the back of the stage. It showed a beautiful scene with words of sacred Christmas songs, so that the audience could join in at certain times. 

The plot was very spiritual with "Grandfather" reading scriptures pertaining to the birth of the Savior, to the children gathered around.

Grandfather McMillan, Hammond, Weeks children & Brianna

The children sang like angels.

In one scene we had Mary sing "Mary's Lullaby".

Then she stepped back while Joseph entered in and cradled Baby Jesus while Mary (and Doran) sang solemnly and reverently "Guard Him Joseph".

Doran Shelley, Mike Jensen (Joseph), Amanda Higley (Mary)

 This part was the most spiritual of the whole night.

Joseph totally surprised us when he actually picked up the baby and lovingly cradled baby Jesus. I'm not sure if there was a dry eye.

Mike Jensen (Joseph), Amanda Higley (Mary)

It was very moving and everyone there enjoyed it!

The Spirit was definitely there that night!

Something Extraordinary

I believe that the women of the Church,

regardless of age or family status,

understand and apply best the words of

James Barrie, the author of Peter Pan:

"Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others

cannot keep it from themselves."

- Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf

November 2012 we had a full evening at our Relief Society Meeting.

Prior to November meeting we were each, or whoever could, asked to make and bring an 8X8 crochet square. It didn't matter what color or size of needle just as long as the finished square was 8X8.

We would then take all of the squares and make them in to one big afghan and given to the Family Support Center in town. This will be finished and displayed at the December meeting.

We were also asked to bring a food item for the local pantry.

Something Extraordinary video was played at the beginning of the meeting.

A few weeks prior to the meeting a list of Service Donation Ideas were handed out.

This was to get us thinking about what kind of service we could donate to another sister.

At the activity we each received a card.

On one side we were to put our name, phone number and two service ideas we were willing to donate. (Only one of the services would be used.)

We then played a "left-right" game using a story of the Relief Society.

At the end of the story/game we (ex: Jan) would find the person (ex: Becky) that filled out the service of the card we ended up with. (Becky) would then write on her card who she is giving service to (Jan) according to which service Jan chose. Then she (Jan) also had the name of the sister that was giving service to her.

Clear as mud? Well it seemed to work out well.

We were all excited to receive and give of our service.

"We are not only mothers to the youth but many of you, young and older, are truly mothers to those that are still raising their families or those that are grandmothers.

We are one eternal round in loving, supporting, nurturing and serving each other."

For refreshments we had a cookie exchange and took extra cookies to those that were home bound.

Heaven Can Wait

October 2012, we had Officer David McKay come and speak to us about distracted driving.

He showed us a couple of video's and talked to us about highway safety,

when and when NOT to pull over, etc.

This is our RS Presidency

Facebook Fannie was called home because she was checking FB while driving.

Radio Rita has been called home early while trying to find a better channel.

Makeup Molly has been called home putting on makeup while driving.

Texting Trina has been called home due to texting and driving.

Fannie Food was called home because she was eating while driving.