Holiday Dinner 2013

Souper Craft Night!

This Little Piggy

On Thursday, August 22, we had a "This Little Piggy" themed evening. We were inspired by another Relief Society's blog post. We had mini classes for each line of the nursery rhyme. Sis. Allison Evers taught couponing for "This little piggy went to market." "This little piggy stayed home," was home decorating by Sis. Carter Holzhowser. Sis. Melissa Harnois taught "Herbs and Spices" for "This Little piggy had roast beef." Our 3 sister missionaries, Sis. Murphy, Sis. Anderson, and Sis. Jensen, taught us "No fear of Sharing the Gospel" for "This little piggy had none." Sis. Brooke Soderholm briefly explained how to make a cake that she and Sis. Ashley Meyers prepared for dessert before the "Wee, wee, wee all the way home!"  Each of the mini-classes was interesting and inspiring. There were many spiritual messages mixed into these seemingly non-spiritual lessons. Allison, taught that by couponing we may be better able to serve others by sharing the things that we have. Also, it can help us to follow the prophets' counsel to have food storage. Carter closed by sharing that the best decor for any home is to have the spirit in it! So true! Some interesting techniques that Melissa taught us were toasting whole spices in a a cast iron skillet and waking up spices by rubbing them between the hands. The sisters taught us that "perfect love, casteth out fear." (Moroni 8:16). They also invited us to strengthen those members who are within our reach, especially those we visit teach. We should invite others to come unto Christ.

We have so many amazingly talented women in and serving in our branch! We are thankful that they share their talents with us and encourage us to learn and grow too!

Pioneer Day Celebration- Bread, Butter, Yeast, and Being more like Pioneer Women

Tie on your bonnets, sisters!

We are going to celebrate Pioneer Day!

Thursday, July 25^th at 7:00

at the church

Sis. Stephanie Holland demonstrated and taught us how to make her amazing whole wheat bread. She also gave us the recipe. I bet a lot of families in our branch were thankful to try that yummy recipe.

Next, our Relief Society President, Sis. Allison Evers, and Sis. Peggy Grimes taught us about yeast and told us several ways to make yeast. Allison gave us handouts as well.

Lastly, we divided into two groups and took turns shaking a jar of heaving whipping cream to make butter. We played a game where we pulled out a verb that was something pioneer women did and talked about how or why they did that thing. For example, they.... 

believed, set goals, planned, prepared, sacrificed, woke up early, worked, walked, mothered, gathered, cooked, carried, packed, cleaned, sewed, laundered, nursed, taught, journaled, lost loved ones,  persevered, built, planted, created, praised, loved, sand, and endured.

It was awesome to ponder how amazingly strong these pioneer women were.  We thought about how we could be more like these women.

We closed with a song and prayer. Then, we enjoyed socializing a bit more as we sampled the homemade bread, homemade butter, homemade jam and blackberries. Delicious!

The women left with a copy of the first presidency message, "The World Needs Pioneers Today."

http://www.lds.org/liahona/2013/07/the-world-needs-pioneers-today?lang=eng

Picnic!

In June, we had a fun, relaxed Relief Society cookout. We enjoyed bbq, appetizing sides, and delicious desserts. Thanks to the sisters who brought such good food! The food was good, but better was having an hour to spend getting to know each other and strengthening bonds of friendship and sisterhood. Best was hearing a spiritual thought from our Relief Society President, Allison Evers. She talked about blooming where we are planted and overcoming obstacles. We are so thankful to have her as our leader!

Emergency Preparedness by Sis. Tami Connelly

In May, we enjoyed a really cool activity which was put on by Sis. Tami Connelly, our branch's Emergency Preparedness specialist. She taught us about Water storage, Fire, and Food. She taught in a really fun way and I think that all who attended learned something new. One thing that was particularly entertaining was watching sisters drinking water through filter straws. Afterward we enjoyed refreshments- food made from our food storage. Everything was really good!

Relief Society Birthday - "My Favorite Things"

We started the evening by writing down some of our favorite things about relief society on giant letters R and S made of post it notes. Answers included, "support gained by being in a unified group,""sisterhood shared through common beliefs," "visiting teaching," and "forever friends."

We sang as sisters in Zion and Heather Rodebush who was preparing to move said the opening prayer and blessing on our food. We had taco salads- yum!

Then, we did a favorite things activity at our tables. We shared our favorite colors, favorite days of the week, favorite breakfast food, favorite time for church and more. It was nice to get to know each other better and find some things we had in common

Then, Charlotte Merrill, who is 3 sang "My favorite Things" It was adorable and was very much enjoyed.

Next, we enjoyed red velvet cupcakes prepared by Ashley Meyers as we listened to the History of the Smithfield Branch Relief Society presented by Sis. LaVerte Dowd.

We then took turns sharing one of our favorite things with the group in show and tell style. It was really fun to learn more about everyone!

Ashley Meyer shared that she was in nursing school. Melanie Crowley likes scrapbooking and step aerobics. Brooke Soderholm brought a zumba bag because she loves to dance. Allison Evers brought a notebook because she loves writing, especially mysteries. Annette Lewis loves the Salt Lake Temple. Ashley LaRue brought a blanket because she likes to make baby blankets. 

Darlene Richardson brought a family picture from when her daughter was married in the DC Temple. Marcie Davenport brought a doctor bag of essential oils. Kathy Willis brought a family portrait and announced that her daughter is pregnant. Glenda Lucas brought an open box to symbolize all of the memories that she has made here in the past 17 years. Barbara Mosely shared that her family is her favorite. She also just retired from being an RN and is looking forward to doing photography, helping at the animal shelter, and doing family history.

Ann Sloat shared that her favorite thing is creating. She likes to cook, sew, garden, and create. Stephanie Holland brought violin and piano music. LaVerte Dowd brought a "pile" and  told us about a book called the Great Basin Kingdom that she read before joining the church. She also likes family history, knitting, crocheting, and making things. Regina Erwin likes making dresses and blankets and is happy to be a grandma.

 

Linda Gardner brought milk glass because it is a favorite that she is starting to collect. Melissa Harnois brought a painting that she painted because she loves art. Sis. Rodebush brought a plaque with the verse James 1:9 and told about how much she loved serving in YW. Cydia Merrill had to leave early, but brought her children.

Sis. Smith shared that her family was her favorite thing. Sis. Tarwater's favorite was her mission. Katie Todd shared that freedom is her favorite thing and that she enjoyed working in an ER in Afganistan because she was proud to take care of other military men and women who were willing to fight for us. Sis. Todd said that she loves her fellow men and loves the gospel and her mission experience has been wonderful. Sis. Steoker brought a portrait of Jumper and told us about her love of animals, art and her I-phone. Amber McHugh brought a "No women can be served here sign" and told us about how one of her favorite portions of her past was living in the middle east.

Brooke Soderholm closed with a spiritual thought. "As silver white winters melt into spring, may we all have the motivation and desire to be happy. As Relief Society sisters we can help each other. It is my hope that in those times when we are feeling sad that we will have the strength to remember our favorite things, particularly to hold on to our testimonies and remember Christ."

Sister Stephanie Holland played the piano as we sang "Each Life that Touches Ours for Good" and then Sis. Glenda Lucas closed with prayer.

We have an amazing group of sisters and enjoyed celebrating together!