Stake Relief Society Enrichment Activity

So this post is a week late, but on March 14, the Clarksburg, WV Stake held their Relief Society Enrichment Activity. The 2nd counselor in the Stake Relief Society Presidency, Sister Kim Waldron, asked if I would be willing to head up the luncheon for 100 woman. Since I visit teach her, I said, "Of course." It was fun coming up with decorations, center pieces, and food to go with the theme, "STRONG AND IMMOVABLE WOMEN." The theme was from Sister Julie Becks' talk What Latter-day Saint Women Do Best: Stand Strong and Immovable , specifically in FAITH, FAMILY, and RELIEF. Going classy seemed to flow well, so I choose the colors white, black, with gold accents. Pillars were used to represent being strong and immovable and wheat was to represent us being sifted from the world (parable of the wheat and the tares). The conference emphasized how we are at war with Satan and that he is in full attack on us women, mothers, and wives. He's doing everything he can to prevent us from being the women Heavenly Father sent us here to be.

We women have been blessed with distinct characteristics that Satan is trying to alter. We are the nurtures! That's what we should do best. We are supposed to bring relief to those who need it. We are supposed to be the ones who are good at lending a listening ear, providing a meal, offering assistance to challenging situations, etc. We are blessed with the God given ability to be intuitive with others feelings and needs. Yes, we are different than men and it's a good thing! I know Doug parents differently than I and I'm so thankful he's the one who can get my kids to obey faster than I can! I need his personality just like I know he needs mine and our kids need us both!

I know we hear a lot about our children being saved for these latter-days, but the same goes for us as well. Heavenly Father sent us (women) to be the mother of these children. We are to "mother" these children back to our Father in Heaven. Satan knows that if he can destroy a mother, he's destroyed the family and the future generations to come.

As for being a wife, I know we need to nurture our marriages just like we need to nurture our testimony. Our eternal relationship should be made top priority over our kids, the dishes, and all the "we are not seeing eye to eye on this" situations, should I just say arguments. For President Hinckley said, "The best thing a father (and I add a mother) can do for their children is to love his wife (and I add husband)." I know for myself that I am not the mom I want to be when Doug and I are not in harmony. Also, I want my boys to marry happy Christlike woman who will love them despite their imperfections. Therefore, I have to be that example.

As I was working on this event, I found myself gaining some Spiritual drive/motivation/energy. I became very passionate about what this conference stood for. It was a similar energy that I had in high school when we as a seminary centered our theme around being Spiritual Giants! It was nice to feel that enthusiasm for truth and righteousness like I had back then. I feel like the everyday doesn't always bring out the best in me, but I sure have more motivation to be my best self after this conference.

BIG THANK YOU to all you who helped me prepare the soups, breads, and cheesecakes! I could not have done it all with out you!

Also, BIG THANK YOU to all my wonderful friends who set such a great example of being "Strong and Immovable Woman." To Mary, Kim Walker, Lydia, Emma, Katie, Shilo, Lydia, Emily, Darcia, Sheila, and Kim Waldron, you woman are amazing and it was an honor to "covenant" together to be "Strong and Immovable Woman" with some of the best of the best I know!

Dedicated to all Woman

who CREATE! Whether it's creating meals, creating friendships, creating quilts, or creating lives, we woman do have a talent for creating. I love Elder Uchtdorf's talk about how we as woman should find our greatest joy through creating. I know for me, I do love and appreciate the creative process and I love knowing that we are daughters of the ultimate Creator. This is a beautiful video, you ladies must watch!

Dental School Formal

Saturday night we dressed up for dining and dancing. I barely completed my little jacket before we left. It took me a few days to figure out exactly how I wanted it and after a few trial runs, I finally decided to design my own and luckily it turned out ok. Doug's sister Kim had bought Doug a bow tie to match the dress she bought me. It actually comes from the Ann Taylor Celebration Collection (as did my dress)...and of course she found it at Gabes.



Several students from the 3rd year class ate at Yesterdays. We didn't get a picture of everyone, but here are some of us.


It was fun to meet up with our other friends at the dance. Didn't Britta's and Maggie's "modest" dresses turn out well? Love them! We had so much fun dancing. Ryan and Yolanda were the reason we decided to come in the first place, and dancing with them made it all worth it. We love you guys! Doug and Ryan were hilarious doing all sorts of funny dance moves and just having fun. It was quite funny that us non intoxicated Mormons were the first on the dance floor and stayed the majority of the time. While the others needed a few drinks before feeling comfortable dancing. I'm sure those that didn't know Doug might have thought he had had couple shots as his dancing did bring lots of laughter from the side lines. All he needs is someone to egg him on and he'll bust out the crazy moves. His classmates love him and they thought he was the life of the party! I love that my husband doesn't care what other people think and that he knows how to have fun! I 'll post more pictures on my photography website.