Young Womanhood Recognition

Over the years, ward boundaries have changed and changed and changed.  Many of our members have been in three different wards without ever moving from their homes.  We had several Young Womanhood Recognition plaques spread throughout the building and often sisters' had names on different plaques in different wards.  It was time to combine.  Thanks to the talents of a dear ward member, a plaque large enough was made to hold 25 years of Young Womanhood Recognition recipients.

deb

So long, farewell...

When a season for serving in Young Women's is over, it's a time of mixed feelings.  All those long months or years of worrying about the girls and attending ALL the meetings and activities come to a close.  It is always nice to have the girls give a little memento of thanks.  As our most recent Young Women's President moved on, I purchased a plain white bag from Jo Ann's but was unsure what to do with it.  I decided to trim it with three rows of ribbon across the top and across the handles and embellished it with a few buttons for a little extra touch.  Each girl was given a fabric marker to add a short message.  Each leader leaves her mark and she will be missed.  We hope our little gift helps her remember how she touched our lives.   

College Prep

BYU Bell Tower

Second year Laurels are looking forward to college.  A great class activity is a College Prep night.  We prepared a packet with several lists for survival away from home in an apartment or dorm:  What to have in your medicine chest, pantry, fridge, and cupboards.  Include a list of basic cleansers.  A page can be attached on "Doing Your Laundry," "How to Budget," "Quick and Easy Recipes."  I like to attach some basic safety rules like not admitting strangers, asking for ID, not leaving your house keys at an auto shop, always tell a friend where you will be, etc.  Another helpful item is what to do for sickness - what to take for cold, cough, upset stomach and a list of things you might like to have like a screwdriver, hammer, first aid kit, and flashlight.  There is a lot of room for discussion and fun story sharing.  We occasionally like to throw a "College Shower" for the graduating Laurels in our Young Women's group to help them acquire some of these things.  It can be an exciting and a little unnerving time for them.  It's great to help them become prepared to leave home.

deb

CALENDAR

Okay.  I admit it.  I am somewhat compulsive.  I got tired of always trying to figure out some activity to do next week.  After being in the program for a few years, I decided it was time to get my act together and calendar a years' worth of activities.  I takes a little doing but is such a relief in the long run.  Of course, with Young Women, it is highly flexible and nothing is set in stone.  Everything is subject to change. 

My first step is to get all the Young Women together for a brainstorming session.  We use old calendars, idea books, and previous activities as a guide.  It is just a relaxed evening usually held at my home.  Naturally, there is alway something to eat.  I tell the girls and the leaders to write down every activity they can think of that they liked or think they would like to try.   Ideas are put out and discussed and I try to gauge the enthusiasm level.  I collect all the lists and get ready to plan.

I like to do this in August or September when the school calendars come out here.  I had teenagers in the house and had to keep track of a lot of these activities already.  First, I pre-print a calendar with the dates that apply to Young Women activities and armed with those, my Stake Calendar, and a monthly calendar, I begin.  Some things are a given...Bishop's Fireside on the a preset Sunday, Dances, Conferences, Stake Activities, Temple trips, and Camp. Dates for New Beginnings and YW in Excellence are calendared. I add in all dates of finals, proms, school breaks, and holidays.  It is surprising how little there is really left to plan.  One week a month is left for class activities and one week is left for Young Men/Young Women activities.  Then I start plugging in activities from the list--one's wanted by all, one's wanted by a class, and one's we as leaders think are important . Voila!  A year calendar.  I keep a copy, give copies to my leaders, one to the Bishop, and one to the YM President. 

It takes me about an afternoon to do and saves me so much headache and last minute scrambling.  No more searching for something on Sunday to do on Tuesday.  Of course, life happens and things change.   At times a new Stake calendar can throw a wrench in the best laid plans.  Often all that needs to be done is to switch dates.  Like I said, maybe I'm a bit compulsive but this works well for me and is a relief to have it done, ready to go.

deb

Get to Know You Night

We had a lot of fun playing "Inside the YW Studio"(patterned after "Inside the Actors' Studio").  The panel was made up of all Young Women leaders.  Questions were placed on strips of paper in a basket to be drawn by each Young Women in turn.  Questions included such things as:  "Where did you and your husband go on your first date?", "Do you paint your toenails?", "What is your favorite word?", "If you were stranded on a deserted island, what two items would you want to have with you?", etc., and anything else we thought they might want to know about someone.  It was all in fun and one of the most successful activities we have ever had.  We allowed them to embellish some of the questions (What color toenail polish?) and we were as honest as possible.  It was fun to see the difference in personalities of the leaders, especially since there was a range in ages from 60 to 22, and get to know use.  We had great fun!

deb

July 4

Raising the Flag at Iwo Jima by Joe Rosenthal for the Associated Press

"I reverence the Constitution of the United States as a sacred document. To me its words are akin to the revelations of God, for God has placed His stamp of approval on the Constitution of this land. I testify that the God of heaven sent some of His choicest spirits to lay the foundation of this government, and He has sent other choice spirits—even you who read my words—to preserve it."  Ezra Taft Benson.

My undying gratitude to all who have served.

deb

The Master Teacher

Sometimes in my haste to make a lesson interesting for my Young Women, I search for object lessons or handouts to use.  I need to remember that the Savior was the Master Teacher and His lessons are often all that is needed and certainly more powerful.  In a lesson on sacrifice, an example is given in the supplement of the widow of Zaraphath as told in 1 Kings 17:12-16 upon meeting the prophet Elijah.  It states: And she said, "As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son." 

 

How much is a handful of meal?  I decided to find out.  I have a rather large hand and for me this measured to be about 1/3 of a cup.  I placed the measured amount in a plastic bag and took it to my class.  All that stood between this woman, her son, and starvation was this small measure of meal and some oil, yet in her faith she gave it to the prophet who promised her:  "For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.  And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah."

 

A visual presentation of a just how much a handful represented was all that was needed as the Spirit testified of the truths of this lesson to the Young Women.  I felt it testify to me as well.  How wonderful to be taught by the Master!

deb