Come What May and love...D4

As I was at my computer early this morning, and contemplating the week, I was thinking about all of you and what you do. The thought came to me - again - we really have the BEST ward! We had our YW in Excellence Program last Sunday evening and one can see the effort and love of the women who lead out in that organization. This Wednesday, we had the Halloween party headed by Fronda Wiseman and the Activities Committee (mostly women) and that was a huge success. We had a Cooking 101 class at Joanne Poulsen's home and taught by Tess Weir - Chicken Enchiladas - and 27 women came!!! We will have our Primary Program this Sunday and we have Barbara Doerk and all of the amazing people in that auxiliary helping our children shine. Just in one week, I counted over 50 women actively involved in giving their time and talents to move this great work forward.
There is much said about the stress and problems in today's world. I feel hopeful and optimistic when I consider what the sisters in this ward continually do to bless the lives of others. I love these acts of service - it is ennobling.

October's Spotlight

Let's get to know Patsy Stringer.

Grew up in: Dallas

Something new or unique: Wrote a book called , "To Love Another"

Favorite Primary Song: Child's Prayer

Favorite food: Indian/Mexican food.

Favorite thing fun/hobby: To Write and do Genealogy

Favorite book and movie: the Twilight Series(that ones for Jeanne Grant), The Outsiders,
Pride and Prejudice the movie

The family: Patsy is married to Benji, and they have 4 kids, Coltin, Westin, Dakota, and Sydeny

A Current Temple Recommend

This month's Visiting Teaching Message is on the importance of temples. President Hunter calls a temple recommend a "symbol of our membership" and urges every member of the church to have a current recommend.
It makes sense that if we want to be able to meet God - at any moment - we need to have the ability to go to His Holy House at any time. His House on Earth is the temple.
The October Ensign is a beautiful reminder of what a temple means and why it is imperative for all of us to be current with the Lord and our ability to be in His Home.
We would love for every sister in this ward to have a current temple recommend. As a reminder of this important goal, we want every sister to have this magazine in their home. Please let us know if you need a copy of this Ensign or if you know of a sister who needs a copy of this Ensign. We will make sure you have it. Let me know on this blog or call a member of the Relief Society presidency - SOON!

Sunday's Lesson: Repentance

We all need to repent, so if you didn't read lesson 18, read lesson 19 on repentance. Also, come prepared to share your biggest sins and how you repented from them (just kidding).

With love,
Shirlee

COMING BACK AFTER SUMMER BREAK!

We have a Cooking 101 class coming Thursday, October 28th. It will begin at 7 p.m. at the home of Joanne Poulsen. Helping Joanne and Esther this month - will be Tess Weir, sharing her great "Chicken Enchilada" recipe. If you feel like an evening of friendship, laughter AND GREAT TASTING FOOD - please join us!

"WHEN MUCH IS GIVEN"

Recently. I read a survey which asked people "If you could talk face to face with God, what question would you ask? " The number one question was - What is the purpose of life?. The second question was - What happens when we die - where do we go? I am so grateful to be a member of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are taught from childhood, or when we first encountered missionaries that we came to earth to receive a body, live by faith through the trials and challenges of life, live the commandments and return back to our Heavenly Father deserving eternal life, through the atonement of Christ and exaltation in the Celestial world to come with our families. We are taught exactly where we go when we die, to paradise, where we will have the opportunity to preach the gospel as our loving Heavenly Father gives all people one more chance to hear the truth.

I thought after I read the survey - I hope we all learn and study the gospel and live by faith, so that if we came face to face with Heavenly Father instead of asking a question, we could just express our love and gratitude to Him for all we have been given - "and when much is given - much is expected."

We Will Miss YOU!

Yes, we will miss you this Sunday in Relief Society! That is because we will all be at our Richardson Stake Conference this weekend. We should know that the Adult Saturday Night Meeting is at 7PM at the Stake Center on Bowser Rd. Our Sunday session of conference is from 1-3PM at the Stake Center on Bowser Rd. Please remind the women you visit teach about Stake Conference!

The Joy of Service

"As we look heavenward, we inevitably learn of our responsibility to reach outward. To find real happiness, we must seek for it in a focus outside ourselves. No one has learned the meaning of living until he has surrendered his ego to the service of his fellow man. Service to others is akin to duty, the fulfillment of which brings true joy. We do not live alone-in our city, our nation, or our world. there is no dividing line between our prosperity and our neighbor's wretchedness. "Love thy neighbor's is more than a divine truth. It is a pattern for perfection."

Thomas S. Monson, New Era, Oct. 2009

GRANDMA'S COUNTRY FOODS ORDER!!!

This is just a reminder to get your orders in as soon as you can. Deadline to order is Thursday, October 14th. Don't wait until the last minute if you can help it! The earlier the better. This is provident living and preparedness, remember?

If you need help, let me know.

Faith

What is faith?
Why should we have faith?
How can we increase our faith?
And what are the blessings we get from faith?

This Sunday in Relief Society you'll get the answers to these questions. We'll be studying Chapter 18 of the Gospel Principles Manual, Faith in Jesus Christ.

“As children of God, knowing of His great love and His ultimate knowledge of what is best for our eternal welfare, we trust in Him. The first principle of the gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and faith means trust.”
Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign, May 2010, pg. 50

Conference Comfort!

I thought this 180th Semi-Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was amazing. (Can you tell I watched ALOT of conference?!) Part of the satisfaction for me is listening to the way conference touched others and insights gained through the various speakers. I loved the hand-out of all the General Authorities of the church from Sister Chaillet and I had it displayed for my children and grandchildren and each of us pointed to a favorite speaker and what we had learned from him or her.
So, what comfort/truth did you receive from the Spirit this conference weekend?
There will be an added reward (because the real reward of course is the promptings by the Spirit that produce a change of thought or action) in Relief Society for every sister who reads this blog entry and/or replies to it!

Calling all readers

Come join us at the D4 Relief Society "League of Extraordinary Readers" book interest group meeting.

Tuesday
October 5th
7:30pm
Barbara Doerk's house

We'll be discussing our favorite recent read as well as book recommendations to read as a group for October.

**For safety, we're not putting her phone number or address on here. But if you don't know where she lives, contact someone in the RS presidency.

We'd love to see you there!