Unity...and Chocolate!

Our May Relief Society Activity was so much fun. We met at Julie Ellis' beautiful home and had a devotional by the fabulous Dawn Hatch. She talked about how women need to not judge each other because we are different and make different choices. Life would be pretty boring if we were all the same! It would also be boring without chocolate! We had two chocolate fountains and a good ole time!

Here is the talk we based our devotion on.

What a fun group of loving, supporting sisters!

Monday Minutes

HIGHLIGHTS FROM LAST WEEKS LESSON:

Sister Sasnett taught our lesson, "Sacred Family Relationships". We shared ideas of how each of our families stay emotionally close. Some ideas were; e-mails,extended  family dinners, FHE, Blogs, Facebook, phone/video calls, sister weekends, cards and gifts. We also shared ideas of how we can stay close to our spouse; see the humor in things, never speak ill of spouse in public, hold hands when discussing a disagreement, and choose to love rather than be right.

BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK:

20- Jay Jay Dunagan

22- Darlene Barlow

NEXT WEEKS LESSON:

Sunday School- Lesson 18

Relief Society- TFOT, Pres. Monson, "Obedience Brings Blessings", p.89

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES:

June 11- Daytime R.S. Activity, 11am with potluck lunch afterwards

June 20- Evening R.S. Activity 

Mother's Day 2013

Tables decorated by Carlene Adams, assisted by Deborah Royal

Allie Gibb fed us spiritually with her journey from having a hard time on Mother's day to feeling God's love for her through a Mother's Day spiritual experience and her adoption process.

Courtney Bowlden and Hannah Thomas sang a beautiful duet of I Feel My Savior's Love.

There was socializing in there somewhere!

We honor all you women and are so blessed to know you all!

Happy Mother's Day

http://www.mormonchannel.org/faith-and-family?v=2360101824001

Monday Minutes

HIGHLIGHTS FROM LAST WEEKS LESSON:

April taught our Presidency lesson. Her lesson was about the benefits of laughter in our lives. We discussed how healing and contagious laughter can be. We can lighten our burdens and those of others through laughter. Sister Hinckley has said, "The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache!"

BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK:

7th- Megan Vanderveen

8th- April Loveland & Janice Smith

10th- Thressa Wolf

11th- Katherine Piontek & Monica Warren

12th- Susan Bradley & Janet Rhone

NEXT WEEKS LESSON:

Sunday School- Lesson 16

Relief Society- Special Lesson, "God's Love for Women"

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES:

Thursday, May 9- Ward temple cleaning night, contact Jess Rudd if you can help out.

Saturday, May- 11, 9:30 am -  2 pm, Stake Relief Society "21st Century Gospel Living Expo" at the Stake Center. There will be workshops, classes, and exhibits.  Lunch  will be provided. We will start with an opening session in the Chapel so Sunday dress is suggested.  

Sunday, May 12 (Mother's Day)- All sisters are invited to attend Relief Society for a brief program, "God's Love for Women" and then enjoy light refreshments and visit together.

Tuesday, May 14- Daytime R.S. Activity, 11am, potluck lunch after the class

Thursday, May 16- Evening R.S. Activity, 7pm, "Girls Night Out", at Julie Ellis' house (1944 Discovery Heights Drive)

Relief Society 21st Century Gospel Living Expo Saturday, May 11,  2013 CLASSES-

1. New Youth Curriculum – Nancy Lindsey 

Chapel (Choir Area) – 10:00-10:50am & 11:00-11:50am

Feeling a little lost amidst all the changes to the Church’s curriculum for the 

youth? Sister Nancy Lindsey, currently serving as the YW resident in the 

Ferndale 1st ward, will explain the ins and outs of the new curriculum and 

how you can help the youth in your life make the most of it. 

2. Family History: Everybody Has a Story – Marla Jones 

Relief Society Room – 10:00-10:50am & 1:00-1:50pm

The names on your family tree are more than just names. They all have 

personal stories and experiences that can enrich your family’s life. 

Sister Marla Jones illustrates the ways and benefits of searching out 

your ancestors’ stories and experiences. 

3. Family History: New Family Search - Barbara and Norm Catanzaro: 

Relief Society Room – 11:00-11:50am

The Stake Presidency’s 2013 challenge for everyone to find an ancestor and 

do the saving ordinances for that ancestor can seem overwhelming, in the 

face of recent changes. Brother and Sister Catanzaro can help you get a 

start and navigate you through the websites that will help identify ancestors 

and submit their names to the temple.

4. Navigating the Challenges of Non-Traditional, GospelCentered Families - Panel Discussion

Primary Room – 10:00-10:50am, 11:00-11:50am, & 1:00-1:50pm

Dallin H. Oaks stated that while we all can’t live the traditional family structures 

outlined in The Family: A Proclamation to the World, they can still be an ideal 

we hold as a guide. Discuss the experiences, advice and insight of others who 

have met the challenges of parenting as single parents, part member families, 

blended families or families who have chosen adoption.

Sister Deborah Royal will moderate the discussion. 

5. Productive Use of Media in Today’s LDS Family - Heather Chandler 

YW Room 1 (102-104) – 10:00-10:50am, 11:00-11:50am, & 1:00-1:50pm 

With the rapid increase and change in the digital world, families face decisions about 

the pros and cons of using cell phones, texting, the internet, social media, video games, 

etc. The Church has embraced the media and put it to good use; families can too. 

6. Building Healthy Relationships - Peggy Butler

YW Room 2 (105-107) - 11:00-11:50am & 1:00-1:50pm 

Every couple, every family, every relationship hopes for growth and change for the better. Hear and 

discuss research in marital therapy that has practical application to how you approach the people you 

care about. Peggy Butler, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, meets with individuals, families and 

couples on a regular basis as a counselor with LDS Family Services serving the Skagit County area.

7. Dealing With Difficult People - Leticia Crawford

Room 119A - 10:00-10:50am & 11:00-11:50am

Find yourself emotionally and mentally drained by individuals in your life? Looking 

for ways to improve your interactions with those individuals? Sister Leticia Crawford, 

a trained therapist, can help! Her information will be presented in two parts. 

Session One (10:00-10:50am): Participants will learn about the types of personalities 

that many find difficult to interact with, such as narcissistic or self-absorbed 

individuals. 

**Session Two (11:00-11:50am): Participants will learn how to effectively communicate 

with these personalities in a manner that can positively affect everyone. 

8. Channeling your Inner Couponer - Serrah McEwan 

Room 119

Wishing you could stretch your budget a little bit farther? This class can 

help you learn how to clip coupons to get more for your money and at 

the same time increase your home storage inventory while learning how 

to pay less than the rest. Sister McEwan has made significant savings for 

her family at the checkout counter.

9. Fitting In When You Don’t Fit In- Julie Drake

YW Room 2 (105-107) – 10:00-10:50am

YW Room 1 (102-104) – 1:00-1:00pm

Do you ever look around you and wonder if you are a square peg in a world full 

of round holes? Chances are, you have. Come listen to and share insight and 

experiences with others who feel or have felt the same way! 

10. Parenting in a Gospel Centered Home - Tina Hackwell

Room 110 – 10:00-10:50am, 11:00-11:50am, & 1:00-1:50pm

Sister Tina Hackwell will lead the discussion on the many challenges of

parenting, using The Family; A Proclamation to the World as a guide. She will 

address such issues as raising respectful children, establishing healthy habits 

(scripture reading, prayer, FHE), dealing with sibling disputes, and instilling 

family values. 

11. Finding Our Worth in the Lord - Christen Hogsett 

Room 122 – 10:00-10:50am, 11:00-11:50am, & 1:00-1:50pm

It is easy to let our self-image and sense of self-worth fall prey to the myriad voices in 

the world and in the LDS culture telling us who we should be as women. This is for 

anyone who has doubted herself, found herself wanting when compared to others, or

simply gotten lost in all the ‘shoulds’ being aimed at her. Come participate in a 

refresher course on where we can look and on whom we can depend for our sense of 

worth in an ever-changing world. 

12. Pornography: Signs and Solutions – Brent and Sherri Wright

High Council Room – 10:00-10:50am, 11:00-11:50am, & 1:00-1:50pm

Pornography is an ever-present concern to families and Church leadership. Learn ways 

to identify the dangers, protect your home, and help those struggling with 

pornography.