Our Women's Relief Society

Did you know, that each month the moon has a name? In September it's always a large full "Harvest moon" In October, on the eve of the 15th, it will be a full "Hunter's moon". Looking ahead, a full moon mid-month, also means that come Hallows Eve, there won't be much of a moon at all, so a dark spooky night it shall be.  October also holds national pizza, cookie, and dessert day. After all that, maybe they should include a national visit-your-cardiologist day in October too!

October for us also means General conference.  We hope you were able to hear the inspired messages, and have hope and peace whisper to your heart the things you were hoping to hear.  So many good messages.  Each of the talks are all now available to listen to or watch in the gospel library app or at lds.org here.

Amanda Hart taught Relief Society this week, and opened with some thoughts and feelings I'm sure we have felt at one time or another.  "Are you feeling lost? Do you know who you are? What kind of things do you do? Are you good enough, doing enough, pretty enough?... Wow. Some of the thoughts she shared are her own, and some of which she has heard others around her express.  She wrote two things on the board that we can do to help overcome some of these struggles we may be facing.

1. Take time for you!!! Do what you love. Try new things.

AND

2. Build your relationship with Christ

She shared a time where she was just feeling frazzled with her kids and busy life. Her husband lovingly told her to go spend some time alone.  Naturally she thought, great, I can run to the grocery store, pick up those pants her son needed, run her errands etc.  Again her husband said "NO, don't spend time doing for others, spend time doing something YOU want to do".  The problem was, she didn't have the faintest idea what she wanted to do.  She wasn't sure what things she enjoyed anymore. Have you felt that way? Wondered who you are and when the last time you participated in a hobby or even remembered which hobbies you enjoy? I have found myself on more than one occasion standing in Target having some "me" time only to have an identity crisis similar to Amanda asking myself, what do I even like anymore? I can do anything right now, and I just want to lay in my bed, or take a nap.  While balance is important and our lives should not be all about "me", it is important to not give until our well has run dry and we having nothing more to give ourselves or our families. Amanda drew a beautiful parallel with the help of several talks from general conference between how the work we do to build our relationship with Christ, and the work we can to do to strengthen ourselves both require some time and effort.  For example, do you like to exercise? Does 2 days of exercise prepare you for a marathon, or opening our scriptures begrudgingly once in awhile strengthen our testimony of gospel principles? She shared some of the following quotes to help illustrate her point.

-Referring to Christ: "Do we only know about Him? How can we come to know Him? - Elder Bednar
- "Prayer is a gift from God.  We need never feel lost or alone" Sis. Mckonkie
- "Faith is a strong conviction about something we believe--a conviction so strong that it moves us to do things that we otherwise might not do." President Uchtdorf

Amanda challenged us to simplify our lives, and focus on those things that really matter.  She closed with this beautiful thought- "The only opinion that matters is what our Heavenly Father thinks of us."-Elder Cornish  ...Such good council.  I think I'll print that quote out and hang it on my mirror to read over and over again.  Thanks Amanda for the beautiful lesson and important message.

Announcements:

14th- 6:30-7:30, Those with girls in activity days have a halloween activity at the church.  Bring your pumpkins and carving tools.
Saturday 15th-9am  You guessed it, Super Saturday! Come have some fun, eat, craft, then run off to all those other activities you're involved in.  Thank you to all those women who have put in many hours of work and planning, so we can have a fun day.
-The Tony Tunnell family has moved out this week, and we wish them well.  Thank you to Ellaina for your faithful help with our music. Charlotte Tunnell will still be with us, so at least we get some of them :)

Autumn time activities



-Thanksgiving point Scarecrow festival Oct 17-24, 10am-6pm each day
- Visit a Pumpkin patch in the area, my favorite is Hee-Haws in pleasant grove.  A smaller and more manageable patch than some others
- How about U pick? Google places to pick your own fruit in season like apples.
- The "I Am the Light of the World Garden" at Thanksgiving point is now open.  from their site, "a new two-and-a-half acre garden inside the Ashton Gardens with artwork and themed landscaping.  The garden includes a total of 15 scenes and 35 statues, with 14 scenes from the New Testament and one LDS Church-inspired scene depicting Joseph Smith’s First Vision. The sculpture garden offers guests a walk through the life and miracles of Jesus Christ."
More information is located here
and may I add, and God knows and loves you.  Have a good week!

On the "Time Our for Women website", they posted an article with special quotes and highlights from the recent women's general session.  I thought you may enjoy reading through it here.

Also, have any of you ever attended a "time Out for Women" event? I've never been, but have heard  good things.

There is a TOFW event in Salt Lake City, this Nov 18-19 at the South Towne Expo center.  Maybe we should make it a girls weekend! Any one interested in going, or want to tell us if you've been and if you liked it? There is even a discount for groups of 2 or more that register.   Click here for more information, and to see who is presenting. I'm serious, anyone want to go?

Ok ladies, have you heard of "Power of Mom's"? It's a website geared to mothers of all stages and faiths to help us not dread or drown in our motherhood journey, but thrive the best we can.  Starting tomorrow Tuesday Oct 11th-13th.  They have a FREE online conference where you can listen to incredible presentations from many different experts on parenting, budgeting, meal prep, organization etc.  I have really enjoyed listening to their podcasts as I fold laundry, exercise, or clean up the kitchen.  The founders are two LDS women, one of which is a daughter of Richard and Linda Eyre, the parenting experts! Anyway, don't delay, with it being a free conference, even if you don't have time to hear many of the presenters, it's worth registering to hear just some of it.  Go here to register or for more information.

 I know I'm always the look out for parenting help.  I read something the other day that said something like "I sure was a fantastic hypothetical parent before I ever became one".  Amen!

Or click here to register 

Hello!

We missed you all Sunday, but hope you had a relaxing, and peaceful conference weekend.  I'm guessing there were a lot of cinnamon rolls made and consumed, just as it should be.  At our house,we made a double batch of pumpkin muffins, and they didn't last long.  Did anybody do any flower bulb planting? I promise it's worth the little bit of work it takes come Spring-time.

Announcements:

First off, thank you to all who helped clean the church last month.  We really appreciate that service.

-Oct 8th-  9am-4 new chapel open house.  What should we be calling that chapel?
-Oct 8th-  Pine wood derby at 6pm.  Families welcome, and boys should wear scout shirts if possible.
-Oct 15th- Super Saturday! Have you paid your money to Amanda Hart? If not please do so ASAP! Also, come for fun, classes, breakfast, or a break from the kids....
**It's been brought to my attention that if we are able, we have been asked to please bring donations of cleaning supplies, and toiletries to Super Saturday to help with our service project for the refugees. Things like: toilet paper, paper towels, diapers, hygiene products, soaps, laundry detergent, shampoos.... We are grateful for the generosity and donations that have already been made.

This Sunday is "Fast Sunday", and Sister Hart will be teaching our presidency lesson.  I'm thinking there may be some discussion involving General conference ;)

So many incredible talks and messages, from the men and women of our church.  This was a favorite quotation of mine:






Hope you're all well!

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers" L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

HI! I assume if you're reading this you made it to our new blog!

I'm hoping this blog will be an even better, more fun way to have ALL the sisters stay up-to-date, on activities, announcements, lessons etc.  I plan to post uplifting thoughts or talks, maybe a recipe here and there, who knows!

Now, back to business...

Announcements: 

Pine wood derby- All boys 8-11 invited to participate and need to purchase their own car/kit
the weigh in will be Wednesday the 5th before the derby on Saturday.
Pine wood derby October 8th at 6:30
-Lindsay Smith is moving and needs help cleaning this Saturday between conference sessions (12-2).  Please contact Joyce Perkins fi you are able to help.

Lesson: Teachings for our time
This week we had another new teacher, Monica Thatcher( yay!). Monica taught from the Conference talk "That I might draw all men unto me", by Elder Renlund.  One of my favorite questions that Monica asked was this, "Does our will and the Lord's will ever come into conflict"? Naturally, by every one's reactions, it was clear that yes, we probably all have felt that conflict from time to time.  We discussed what can be done when that sort of conflict arises.  Some of the thoughts were: Ask for a priesthood blessing, ask God that if it is not His will then to help soften or change our hearts, listen to conference and seek answers to questions/concerns we may have.  One example from the lesson was that Nephi's closeness to God enabled him to recognize and appreciate God's "tender mercies", where in contrast Laman and Lemuel saw the blessing they received as something that was due to them, and even assumed they should have more.  Do we ever feel entitled to certain blessings? Monica told of a time when she was blessed with the calling to transcribe patriarchal blessings, and how each time the patriarch came he would ask her if she was having any spiritual experiences.  At first she wasn't sure, and then she soon realized that when she was looking for them, she became more aware that there were often small things in her life that she then recognized as spiritual experiences.  At the end of the lesson it said this, "NO matter where you stand in your relationship to God, I invite you to draw nearer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ...I invite you to attend sacrament meeting each week and partake of the holy emblems of the Savior's body and blood.  I invite you to feel God's nearness as he is made known to you....As you do this, I promise that you will feel nearer to God."  What a beautiful promise!  Thank you Monica!


We hope that each of you were able to either attend the women's general session this past Saturday, or listen to it online. I always really look forward to the women's session devoted to us, His daughters.  Those that speak to us prepare the messages with women and their specific needs and concerns in mind, to uplift, encourage, inspire, and even at times challenge us to do more.  If you haven't had a chance yet to see or hear the messages, they are now available on lds.org



If you need ideas for activities to keep kids busy this conference weekend, here are a few: (just click on any of the lines below and it will take you to the activity)

conference Bingo
53 Conference activities by LDS living
Color the tie game

Now, if you need something to fill your belly while you fill your spiritual well, this recipe is EASY( 3 ingredients total)fast and delicious!!! Cake mix is even on sale for $1.87 at smiths.  Run, don't walk and stock up on spice cake mix and pumpkin.

Pumpkin chocolate chip muffins:

1 spice cake mix (just the powder in the box, no eggs oil or anything)
1, 15oz can of 100% pumpkin-
1 cup of chocolate chips (I prefer the mini chips in this)

Mix all 3 of those ingredients together in a large bowl.  The mixture will be very thick. Then scoop into muffin tins- we use mini muffin tins, and bake at 350 for about 13 minutes depending on the size of  and your oven. Don't over bake them.  The pumpkin puree makes them moist and delicious, and so yummy.

This is my go-to fall recipe.  Often an after school snack, so easy even my kids can make it.

**Remember October 1st 12-2 Super Saturday open house at Amanda Harts home.  Sign up, or pay for your projects.  It will be a fun day!



Sisters, we hope you are well.  We hope that this weekend will be a time to relax, spend time with family, and hopefully find answers or peace you may be searching for,  for whatever challenge or concern you may be facing.

You're in our thoughts and prayers-

- I hope you'll take some time to look at the other recent posts, and let me (Ashli Wilson) know if there is anything you would like to see here, or if there is anything we can do to help bridge the "gap" between those sisters who are serving in other auxiliaries and don't always get the announcements, sign-ups etc.

Super Saturday is coming up fast.  While we have a few weeks until the big day,  the deadline for sign ups and payment is this coming Saturday Oct 1st!

 If you want to sign up or pay for your projects, Amanda Hart is inviting all who would like to come to her home between conference sessions, from 12-2 to preview the projects and sign up.

Not wanting to craft? Come anyway! There will be breakfast at 9, and then free classes, then a caramel apple dipping station, and crafting.  Soccer games and errands to run? Come and go as you please, we would love to have you when you can.

**Price change for the snow people.  $6 for large, and $ for small.

Invite friends and neighbors.  All are welcome.