New Beginnings 2011 - Live like you BELIEVE

New Beginning 2011 - 9th Ward

We first introduced our new Personal Progress Board to the new Beehives and the rest of the YW. This board will be a group board that we will have up every Sunday. As the girls pass off goals we will turn the correct tile over in the appropriate value. On the other side of the value is a picture of the temple. Once the whole board are Temple pictures then we will have a PERSONAL PROGRESS PIZZA PIE PARTY. We are hoping this gives the girls a little more encouragement and motivation to keep working on their personal progress every week. 



The Theme for the night was:    LIVE LIKE YOU BELIEVE

We did an infomercial to start of the shopping. I will post the video later.

Tonight we did a Value Mall to introduce the new Beehives into the YW's program. We had 4 new Beehives there and it was a fun night. Each of the YW were in charge of one of the stores. They were to decorate the store with the appropriate value. As the new beehives walked around the gym/mall they would stop at each store and learn about the value. At each store they walked away with gifts from that value to add to their shopping bag. The first 7 values were in the gym and then the final Value was Virtue and it was in the RS room where the girls learned about the TEMPLE. 

At each store the girls would introduce themselves and the store/value. They would read the scripture and the value motto, tell a personal goal they have achieved in that value, give them their gift and instructed them to visit the store next door. 

Welcome to ALDO - The VALUE of FAITH

Welcome to THE BODY SHOP - The VALUE of DIVINE NATURE

Welcome to SHADE CLOTHING - The VALUE of INDIVIDUAL WORTH

Welcome to BARNES AND NOBLE - The VALUE of KNOWLEDGE

Welcome to HALLMARK - The VALUE of CHOICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY

 Welcome to BEST BUY - The VALUE of GOOD WORKS

 Welcome to SPORT CHEK - The VALUE of INTEGRITY

The last value was VIRTUE - We talked about the the TEMPLE and how all the values lead to VIRTUE/TEMPLE. We talked about the 13th Article of Faith and how if we LIVE LIKE WE BELIEVE and if we BELIEVE in begin honest, true, chaste, benevolent and in doing good to all men that we shall receive the best GIFT, which is the GIFT of eternal life.

At the end the final gift to add to their shopping bag was a board of the Cardston Temple that read "I'm going there Someday". If we live like we BELIEVE will have the opportunity to enter the Temple someday. That was our message to our Young Women. The Bishop closed the night with a few remarks and did such a great job. We hope the girls had a fun time and we also hope they walked away with a stronger testimony of the Young Womens program and our Savior Jesus Christ.

It was a really fun night and all the girls pulled through and did a great job at decorating their stores. For refreshments we had Orange Julius and Cinnabon. A special thank you to all the leaders and YW who put in a lot of work to help this be a successful night.

Valentines Day 2011

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY 

Jason and I are going to California this weekend and so we promised to not buy anything for each other for Valentines Day. We promised that we would only do cards since we were going to California and will be spending money there. So.... what does Jason do? He came home for lunch and had bought me flowers. But like any other girl I was so happy and loved them.



That night I made a candle light dinner and made Jason's favorite meal. Sweet Pork Salad. We both love this dinner and it is a weekly meal in our home. For dessert I made Chocolate Strawberry croissants. We had family home evening together and read the first chapter in the new Church handbook and then watched the Flames game. It was a pretty low key night but it was really nice just to spend an evening in with my man. I feel very blessed every day to have him in my life. Happy Valentines Hun! I love you

2010 pictures that I forgot :) oops

FAMILY REUNION 2010 - Glenwood, AB

                                     

       This was our old home in Glenwood. I love me family. 

May 2010

When we first moved to Lethbridge we were both called into the nursery. It was a lot of fun to play with the children for 2 hours. Jason also loved it and would take off his shoes and shirt tie right away. Everyone in the church should have a chance to be in nursery.

That didn't last long though.... a couple months later we both were called into the Bishops office on Tuesday night. We both thought that the other person was getting a new calling. The Bishop talked to us for bit and then extended a calling to me. Young Womens President! WHAT?! My first thought was , "YES" but then a rush of responsibility and fear came over me. I didn't even know anyone in the ward yet, since we were put in nursery right away. I was in shock and was wondering if I actually heard the Bishop correctly. I started crying and was very humbled by the calling. There was a lot of prayers that next week to try to choose counselors and advisors. I am LOVING YW's now and work with such great leaders and the YW are awesome.

Then that following week Jason also got called back into the Bishops office and got called to be the Ward Clerk. Jason loves working with the Bishopric and being evolved in the ward. We also were asked to speak in church that next Sunday. I called up my parents that Saturday and told them we were speaking in church and they said they wanted to come. I had not told them of our new callings and so when they announced it over the pulpit they were quiet surprised. Troy and Andrea and their kids also came. It was fun to have them there and then they all came over for dinner after and Ryan came as well. I feel very blessed to have such great parents and siblings.

Here is a picture that was taken the day I was set apart as Young Womens President

Christmas 2010

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS!!!

 These were the neighbor gifts we made this year. I ate way too much of the popcorn while making it. Yummy!!!

This Christmas we spent time with both families. This year Jason got off the whole week of Christmas and it was so nice to spend time together. Christmas Eve we spent with my family in Cardston. The night started with Christmas turkey dinner. Lisa made some yummy cranberry dressing and drink with the help of Epicure spices. Once again dinner was amazing and my mother out did herself. Following dinner my dad had set up a sleigh (truck pulling a trailer with hay bails on it) ride for the family. We drove around Cardston looking at the Christmas lights and singing Christmas carols. When we got back we rein-acted the nativity. Alexi wanted to be Mary, Kash was Joseph, Keston was the Star. Ty, Lesha and Mason were both Shepperds and Wismen. They all wanted to hold a treasure and a shepperd stick. My dad read the story of the birth of Christ in Luke 2. It was so cute to see the kids sit quietly and listen to the music of silent night and hear the story of baby Jesus. After the nativity we opened pj's and got comfortable for the rest of the night.

Lisa and Ron then had many "minute to win it" games to play. It was so fun and different then just playing board games.
Once all the kids were settled downstairs watching a movie we gave our gifts to our parents. Every other year our gift to our parents is a gift of service. We are to do an act of Service instead of buying a gift for our parents. This year Jason and I were apart of Big Brothers Big Sisters "Santa Store"

This was an event for less fortunate kids come to the store where people had donated gifts and the children got to go shopping. The gifts would range from $0.25- $2.00. We would help the children shop, purchase their gifts and then wrap their presents to take home. It was a fun night and the children were so happy to be able to buy gifts for their loved ones.

CHRISTMAS MORNING:

We woke up and found that Santa had visited Grandma and Grandpa's house. We opened presents, had breakfast and were off to Calgary to spend some time with Jason's mom and family. We got there for dinner and then opened more presents, watched a movie and were off to bed. We made our own pizzas and they were delicious. This year for Christmas Jason's mom gave him his first tool chest. He was so excited and we are now getting our garage organized. Jason doesn't vocalize his excitement for gifts too often but with the gift he thrilled and said, “Now this is what I am talking about.” I love this guy ;)

BOXING DAY:

In the morning we had the famous “Christmas Morning Wifesaver” for breakfast. This is Jason's favorite part of Christmas. The meal includes bread, ham, cheese, egg mixture and topped with corn flakes and then baked in the oven for an hour. After breakfast we went to Church and then in the afternoon we went to his Aunt Sarah's for the day. We had a delicious dinner and we had our first turducken and it was fabulous. It was fun to hang out with his family that we haven't seen for awhile.

The next day we went to a matinee movie with Jason's mom and then to the Flames vrs Buffalo game (thanks to my friend Stef French) and the Flames even won. The next morning we were on our way back to Lethbridge to relax for a little bit.

DECEMBER 29TH, 2010 – a day with the LEAVITT'S

This year my parents gave us gifts of time. The whole day was filled with activities with the family and it was such a blast. Here is how the day went

-night of the 28^th younger Grand-kids and Grandpa and Grandma stayed at the Holiday Inn Express

10:00 girls went for pedicures and boys practiced archery with Dad

12:00 Lunch at the hotel

1:00 Kids, moms and Grandma went to the movie “Tangeled”

1:00 Dad, Ryan, Troy, Lisa, Ron, Blaze, Riley, Ryan, Jason and I went to Parklake Paintball and had a blast

3:50 Adults went to the move Secretariat

6:00 pizza at the Gourlie's

after dinner we gave Dad an early birthday present. We (mostly MOM) gave Dad Kentucky Derby tickets in May. He was so overwhelmed and this is definitely a childhood dream of his. We love you DAD! THANK YOU MOM/GRANDMA for the fun day - you're the BEST!

WOW – what a fun Christmas. I am excited for the new year and for more fun memories.