OUR FAVORITE CHARITIES

HELP US HELP LITTLE ONES IN NEED!

These are some of our favorite charities.  We accept fabric and garment donations at our store and we welcome your support for infants and children in need.  Your donations and volunteer efforts would be greatly appreciated by these charities. 

Plano Sewing Center provides materials, sewing machines and work space to volunteers on a regular basis to create blankets and clothing for these two very worth causes.   For more information on how you might help us help these fine organizations please click on the links below.   Thank you.

NEW BORNS IN NEED    http://www.newbornsinneed.org/

PROJECT LINUS  http://www.projectlinus.org/

This is the beginning of our Dallas 4th Relief Society Holiday Service Projects! As a Presidency,
we are concentrating our efforts on what each Sister/Family can do for others instead of organizing something FOR you!
Each week until Christmas, we will have a different Charity that we have found in the Dallas/Ft.Worth area that you might consider lending your talents, time, or efforts to bless the lives of others.
We hope you will let us know what you have decided to do and how it has helped you feel the Spirit of Christmas in your lives.
This week, I have found this wonderful, easy, important charity to consider as you decide how best to celebrate our Savior's birth.  And let the HOLIDAYS BEGIN!!!!!!!!

November Sister Spotlights

Kristi Chesnut

What color do you like: Black

Favorite food: Cafe Rio Pork Salad 

Favorite hymn: How Great Thou Art

 Favorite place to visit: Disney World

 

Favorite thing about living in Dallas: Horse racing and Cowboys and Dallas 4th

 

Favorite Ice cream flavor: Chocolate

Favorite time of the year: Autumn

Something interesting about yourself: I want to be a secret agent when I grow up

 

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Karen Armstrong

What color do you like: Yellow and peachy
Favorite food: Steak, baked potato with Marie's Ranch dressing
Favorite scripture and why: D&C 78: 17-22 While Chuck and I served a mission we took turns doing the thought for the day when we visited differenct homes. It was around the time of Thanksgiving and so I was trying to find a scripture that had to do with thankfullness. I came upon this one and shared it throughout the day. As so often happens it is the last home of the day that you find out what Heavenly Father had in mind for the cause of finding that scripture to be shared. We were in a very humble home of a later in life couple. They were members and needed uplifting so we visited them. As I read the scripture the man got tears in his eyes and some even fell onto his cheeks. It seemed as if Heavenly Father was in the room and telling the message. His wife was being treated for cancer and was bald and taking medication that made her feel sick. He was suffering with his own health issues and struggles. This moment on our mission once again let me know that Heavenly Father is in the details of our life and loves us and wants to let us know. I am so grateful to have been His instrument for the message that needed to be delivered
Favorite hymn: How Great Thou Art and I Feel My Savor's Love
Favorite place to visit: Provo Canyon
Favorite thing about living in Dallas: The people
Favorite Ice cream flavor: Maple Nut can't be found anymore
Favorite time of the year: Spring

Ward Service Project

(Click on above image to enlarge.)

The Darkroom

Last week one of the sister missionaries asked me what it was like to have lived with the influence of Christ versus the Gift of the Holy Ghost. She was baptized at age eight and can't remember what it was like before receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost. I remarked that it was "amazing" but I don't feel like I really fully answered the question.

A couple of weeks ago I was developing x-rays in the darkroom by myself. It had been a trying week complete with very serious family problems that just seemed to be getting worse. Kneeling in prayer while waiting for the x-rays to develop, I poured out my frustrations to Heavenly Father. Then I listened and was answered with a question. "What is the purpose of life", the Holy Ghost whispered to me. My mind went back to Gospel Principles class and I started rattling off reasons for our mortal existence. The Holy Ghost replied, "To become more like Him." I desperately tried to understand His point and the word "Patience" floated into my mind. Imagine my surprise when in Relief Society meeting the following week, I watched Sister Stoddard write the word "Patience" on the chalkboard.  My jaw actually dropped when she said that our trials cause us to learn patience which helps us to be more like Him.  The darkroom experience was starting to make a little more sense.

Yesterday, I was in a rush to run an errand that I found completely annoying. In my haste and aggravation, I had a fender bender with the car in front of me. Did I mention I just bought a new car less than a month ago? Murphy's Law had to be at play here. After the accident, I asked the Holy Ghost in a kind of annoyed tone what the purpose of that accident could be especially since I already have so much on my plate. He said very quietly and very calmly, "I cannot force you to learn patience." Pardon my Karate Kid reference, but it was quite a Mr. Miyagi moment for me. Wax on.... wax off. Wax on..... wax off. Someday I might learn patience but obviously today was not the day.

So hopefully, this better answers how the Gift of the Holy Spirit has changed my life. Some of these lessons are painful but I do know they are for my own good.

by Rachel Roark

Is it a SPIRITUAL RELFEX...yet?

It is early Friday morning and still so dark outside. David has just asked me what I am doing today and my reply was a quick..."What am I NOT doing today!"
I can feel it....the election and the grand babies (two girls to be born within the month!) and the holidays are coming and the pace is quickening and......I sat down to read Isaiah 40 in preparation for Karen's lesson this Sunday.
What a reminder of the grandeur and majesty and greatness of God and His desire to bless all of us! (Isaiah 40: 29-31)
I am so GRATEFUL for the scriptures and this timely reminder to help make Gratitude more of a "spiritual reflex" in my life.
It is so easy to get busy and feel the world will stop if I do not get all things in their correct place and order. The virtue of studying the words of the prophets is the spiritual telescope they give me to view my life with so much more perspective and humility.
I pray I do not become so overwhelmed with all that needs to be done. I truly want this season to be a celebration of people and life and good works that reflect true personal revelation.
This holiday season, I want GRATITUDE to be more present in all I do - more of a SPIRITUAL REFLEX than a noble virtue I am constantly having to dust off to feel!