Following Christ's Example...

Last week and the week before our lessons were centered around Christ. First we discussed the Atonement, and then ways to follow His example. There were five keys discussed how to make sure your choices are what Christ's choices would want them to be. I found these darling keychains at target, 3 for 1$. I think they turned out really well.
This up coming Sunday is our Stake Conference so I will be a lesson behind some of you. SOOO I hope I will hear about how your lessons are going; and I'll be doing some searching for the cool stuff others have done.

It's a NEW YEAR....

I apologize for being so untimely in updating this site. I do have a darling gift idea that can be used for the next lesson or next year's Christmas gift. I actually found these sheep on sale at Bath and Body for 3$. HOW CUTE, RIGHT!! On the backs of the tags I wrote a special and individual note to each of my girls. I love them so much and am excited for the next year. Right now our lessons are centered around Jesus Christ - using a lot of scriptures. So I gave a bookmark with the scriptures this past week and will be giving a red pencil for marking this week. I have a big class and I am going to try to break the lesson into a couple of Christ's example. Then I will break them into groups of two and have them work together to study each example and present it to the class. Any other ideas???

Choosing a Vocation...

Well, as an Academic Advisor for a local University this is very dear to my heart. However, I feel it is a little out dated when it speaks about professions as something you can just work up to - I feel my focus will obviously be about going on to college and preparing themselves for that decision. I believe that it's not about MONEY, but options. I know the church wants women to have the luxury of staying home with their children, and for some women doing this is not considered a luxury - more a sacrifice. Well - education gives you opportunities. Opportunities to work selective hours and make the money necessary for your family to survive if necessary. Opportunities to have an interesting and challenging profession before and after the kids are away- who can be happy working in a job 'just for the money'? Maybe there are some who can tolerate it more, maybe even convince themselves because it is a 'good' job (meaning it pays the bills) they like it? I can not say enough how fortunate I am to have learned this lesson early -

I didn't know what I wanted to 'be' when I grew up, I knew what I liked to do - that's it. I also saw my parents go back to school right as I was going to start University life. I didn't want to do that, so I kept studying until I found a subject and a department I could relate with - Communications. Once I was done with my degree I was blessed to have the great opportunity to be an Academic Advisor. A WHAT?? Yea, I had really no idea either. AND NOW - I love it, I work 3/4 time, my husband gets cheap schooling, so will my kids, and I wake up able to be with my children before and after school. I could not have had these vocational opportunities without my degree - well more then just the degree, the friends I gained along the way of earning my degree.

Needless to say, choosing a vocation is important, but vocations have changed - and the way people make money has changed. I plan to help my girls understand the importance of a Higher Education and how choosing a better education will give them the options they value.

Last weeks lesson (Number 42, Preparing for Change) was a really great lesson. I had been occupies with other things that I wasn't able to post my thoughts. However, I did give each girl a "My Change Card" to remind them that when a change occurs our Heavenly Father is right there to help.

YES on 8... and have faith.

This weeks lesson is about our association with others so I can not, NOT speak up about proposition 8. It is a troublesome time for many of our brothers and sisters. I can understand how they may feel 'we' are being non-tolerant of a lifestyle they feel is natural. That however, is not the whole truth. I feel quite the opposite. I am sensing from some a non-tolerance for my beliefs.

One of the basic principles, a foundation point of our beliefs, is that the family is an ETERNAL principle. With this belief proclaimed to the world (see proclamation); and personally I have asked for myself if it is true and received my answer, it was only necessary that We stand up for the true ETERNAL nature of marriage. We see marriage as not only a bond between a woman and a man, but an ETERNAL commitment between a man, woman, and their Heavenly Father.

Although some may not understand this, or it is very difficult because either they themselves or a loved one is struggling with desires to be with someone of the same sex, it is still the truth as I see it. I live here too - meaning why shouldn't I speak up for my beliefs - freedom of speech, choice, and all the other great amendments of being an United States American apply to me too.

For those who feel the same as I do, but are struggling how to associate with others who disagree I recommend the principles taught in this weeks lesson:

1 - Be willing to reach out to others
2 - Do not criticize or judge others
3 - Pray for greater love

MORONI 7: 46-48

46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

47 But ^acharity is the pure ^blove of Christ, and it endureth ^cforever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, ^apray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true ^bfollowers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall ^cbe like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be ^dpurified even as he is pure. Amen.

Finally, my prayers are filled with hope, compassion, and a lot of humility. And although I am not a California resident - I have a deep love for those who live there, including those who choose a different lifestyle. I do not follow 'my church' blindly, I follow my faith, my heart, my understanding of what my Heavenly Father wants me to do.

All my love to those who read.

DEPENDABLE....

So this next weeks lesson is on being dependable and here I sit having missed last week's lesson. Mind you it was for a good reason (baby blessing) but none the less. As for ideas the resource guide give's the following talk from Elder Worthlin, Life's Lessons Learned. I actually read this a while ago for a FHE and found it very funny and filled with the spirit. It's great if you have girls who are into sports - the football story is a good one for this lesson. Helping the girls see the connection between dependablity and integrity will help them see how the lesson relates to their YW goals. I plan to have them do some comparing exercises with the two words - find the similarities in actions, thoughts, and words. A significant leader in the ward or community (bishop, high council, RS president, a parent or sybling in a leadership type job) would be good to have come and speak for a couple of minutes about what it means to them to have dependable committee members/employees. Please let me know if you have other ideas on this subject! Have a great lesson and love your girls to death.

To all those Cracked Pots...

This story was sent to me by a dear friend and I thought I'd share it here... I also think it would be a darling start to an activity or lesson -

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream. 'I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.' The old woman smiled, 'Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?' 'That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them.' 'For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table.. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.' Each of us has our own unique flaw.. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them. SO, to all of my crackpot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path!