We Dig Doug!

If you live in Utah Valley, we invite you to take part in this heartfelt event on Saturday, April 13, 2013. It was originally going to be held in our parents backyard, but because of an outpouring of love from the community it has been moved to the Cascade Golf Center in Orem, Utah. All proceeds will be donated to the Douglas Kotter family. Visit We Dig Doug! for more information.

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My Sister's Closet

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” - President Boyd K. Packer

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Here is an adorable twist on the Soup & Share idea. Kim's young women leaders put this together for their young women, love it!
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Here are all the cute details (plus a few extras):

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PURPOSE

To give the each of the young women an opportunity to serve and share with others. Also, possibly serving the temporal needs of one or more of your young women - secretly.  :)

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IN PREPARATION

The young women and leaders gathered items from their own closets that they no longer used, but thought they might be something someone else would use themselves: 

• dresses
• skirts
• shirts
• sweaters
• jackets
• pants
• shorts
• pajamas
• shoes
• jewelry
• hats
• scarfs
• books
• movies
• room decor

All items were dropped off at Kim's (YW President) home beforehand.  She made sure everything was clean and in good condition.
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Then all clothing items were tagged, including jewelry. Earrings were placed on cute card stock for display.  :)
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SET-UP

They gathered clothes racks, mannequins, mirrors - anything that would make the room feel like a boutique. And added lots of hot pink sparkly tulle. :)

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SERVICE OPPORTUNITY {UPON ARRIVAL}

Since this was held the week before Thanksgiving, there were cards placed on a table for the young women to write a note of gratitude to some one in the ward that has made a difference in their life. The card served as their ticket into the boutique.

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TIME TO SHOP {KIND OF}

The young women were each given a shopping bag - with their name tied to it.  Everyone got to choose four items to begin with.  Then, after everyone had something in their bag, they got to "shop" for any additional items they would like.  The girls filled their shopping bags!
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Just one of the outfits put together for display.

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MEAL TIME

As mentioned in the beginning of the post, this was also a Soup and Share. The YW Leaders provided homemade soup and bread sticks for the girls.

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PERSONAL PROGRESS POSSIBILITY

The young women could contribute to the meal by having their mother or another adult teach them how to make soup from scratch. Then they could make up a batch and bring it to the activity, along with a recipe card to share with the other girls - which could be added to their hope chests. :)

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The young women loved it so much - they want to do it again!

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KEEP ON SHARING!
If the Faith in God/Activity Days girls are meeting the same night as your activity, I am sure they would love a chance to go through all the left over items. They may find a treasure themselves.  :)
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Whatever items are left over can be donated to your local Deseret Industries, GoodWill, Salvation Army, or other organization.

A Treat To Serve

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Each year before Halloween, Kathy's ward goes trick-or-treating for their local Deseret Industries.  The young men and young women visit their neighborhoods to collect donations. I have yet to hear all the details - I just saw this on Kathy's FACEBOOK page - she is the cute Waldo below! It sounds like it could be a great tradition to start. :)

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Shine Forth!

My husband called from work today and said, "Do you know what your daughter did?"  I took a deep breath and braced myself for the answer...  thinking something bad was coming.  Then he said he happened to be on FACEBOOK and saw a picture of she and a few of her friends in front of their high school.  I cringed, "What did they do?!"  I was happy, and relieved, with what followed.

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I guess they had decided, on their own, to wear their t-shirts from Stake Youth Conference (which they attended over spring break) to school today.  Jeff, my husband, thought it was pretty cool and wanted to share his findings.  :)

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Turns out that they have designated every Tuesday, "T-Shirt Tuesday".  What a great way to shine!  Possibly opening up discussions with their classmates.  Cannot wait to hear how bright the light was today! at school!

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We would love to hear about the things

YOUTH are doing to SHINE in your area?

Lucky You!

We had a great Laurel class activity planned for tonight. Since it was going to be St. Patty's day this week, we decided to focus on service and how lucky we are.

I started off the night by reading part of a talk No Less Serviceable, by Howard W. Hunter.  We talked about how there are some people who seem to be in the limelight all the time.  But, there are others that are the unseen heros who give service to others, not expecting anything in return.

I then asked the girls to think of some one in our ward... an "unseen hero" who would love to receive a winners welcome.

We then made our deliveries to our "lucky" winners (in a Publisher Clearing House way):

• balloons
• a poster that all the girls had signed
• a lucky treat
• followed by a free hug from all

The reactions of our "lucky" winners was priceless!
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Knowing why the girls chose who they did, all came together as we started the fun... We soon found that the first sister we visited lost her husband a year ago yesterday, another lost her husband 8 years ago and it was his birthday today, another spent the whole day in a huge mess rearranging her kitchen and said she needed a hug and another had some health issues taken care of today.

It was amazing to watch the Young Women after each delivery. They truly felt the spirit of happiness and service.

 

free printable found here, from A Little Tipsy

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free printable found here, from It Is What It Is

You are My Sunshine

When I first heard what the 2012 Mutual Theme was, I immediately had a flashback to our childhood.  :)
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Do you remember how Mom would come into our rooms early in morning and cheerfully sing, "Rise and Shine, it's morning time!"  I would groan, pull the covers over my face and groan again.  (Now that I'm all grown up I might enjoy her waking me up each morning, inviting me to rise and shine, getting me ready for the day ahead.  I said, might.)  :)
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The youth are being asked to "Rise and Shine!"  To be witness of the Savior, our bright and morning star.  (Revelation 22:16)  There may be a few who groan a little, a few might even be a bit timid - pulling the "sheets" over their bright and shining faces.  :)  But, there will be many who accept the invitation to "Shine!"
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Here are some ideas I have been jotting down in notebooks over the past few months: (there are more notes - I'll add them soon)  :)
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The IHOP (Important Hour Of Progress) pancakes and personal progress activity would go great with the Arise and Shine sunshine theme.
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MUSIC

I absolutely love this song!  It just makes you happy listening to it.  Relevant to the times and upbeat.  "Walking in Sunlight", by Stephanie Mabey, EFY 2010.  I think it would be a great musical number for a Sunshine themed New Beginnings or a Young Women in Excellence.  Oooo..  it would be a great Acoustic guitar number.  :)  Just sayin'.

I also love this version of the song in French!

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PERSONAL PROGRESS
If you go with the sunshine theme for the year, it might be fun to track the girls personal progress by adding rays of sunshine to a sunshine base.  Each Sunday give the girls an opportunity to add a ray to the sunshine - they could even write down which value they completed on the ray.  I think it would be a great way to remind and inspire the girls to work on their personal progress.  Watching the sun grow throughout the year.  At the end of the year they would have a large beautiful sun which they had helped "Arise"!  In a manner of speaking.  :)
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RESOURCES - quotes and articles
In Questions and Answers, New Era, October 2010 - the questions was asked, "What does it mean to 'stand as a witness of God at all times'?" I love the responses:

• Don't be afraid to be different
• Honor baptismal covenants
• Follow the Lord's example
• Be Steadfast and Immovable
• Defend our Testimonies
• Choose the Right
• Share the Gospel
• Keep High Standards

Happiness, Your Heritage, Elder Utchdorf, October 2008
Elder Utchdorf shared this quote from James Barrie, the author of Peter Pan, “Those who bring sunshine‍ to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.”
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TAKE-A-WAYS/GIFT IDEAS
Buy a photo frame from the dollar store which holds two photographs.  On one side place a picture of the Savior and on the other place "You are my Sunshine".  What a great reminder to the youth of their responsibility to be a light for their Savior.
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Found this on the "oh so addictive, yet inspiring" PINTEREST... a pillowcase embroidered with the 2012 theme.  A great way to remember to arise and shine, don't you think?
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2012 Mutual Theme Pillowcase

I found these adorable pillowcases on Etsy from The Polkadot Peddler.

Here is the link: http://www.etsy.com/listing/82835924/lds-2012-mutual-theme-pillowcase

Looks like they are selling for $7.00 each now.

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MISCELLANEOUS FINDS

Here are a few goodies inspired by the Sunshine!

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"Bottled Sunshine"
Lemonade filled mason jars.
It would fun to create a sunshine motif to place on the mason jars as a keepsake for the youth.
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Adorable Sunshine Party
Some great ideas for decor and goodies.
found here
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SUNSHINE DOTS POM
found here
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"Bag of Sunshine"
Cello bag filled with Lemon Heads and tied up with ribbon.
A simple handout or "Thank You".
found here
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SUNSHINE PARTY POM GARLAND
found here
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SUNSHINE POPS
found here
Take a look at this party.  It is adorable!
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GOOD WORKS - Service Activity

I'm not sure if this is still going on in Utah Valley, but there was a man who made wooden toys (little wooden cars)  to give to charities.  I wish I could remember all the details, including his name. As a youth group, we helped by sanding the toy cars and painting them for him.  It was really fun to be apart of it all.  Kinda felt like one of Santa's elves making toys in his workshop.  :)

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I remembered this service activity when I saw this Wooden Sun Staker Toy - found here.

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The youth could make something very similar using scrap wood, a jigsaw, sandpaper and paint - which could be found in people garages - left over from projects around their homes. I mention this because I have a stack of paint cans in my own garage.  A Young Man could oversee the project to assist him in earning his Eagle Scout or a Young Women could take it on as a 10 hour project.  (with adult supervision, of course)  :)  Donating the toy puzzles to a local women's/children's shelter, children's hospital, or even an Alzheimer's unit.
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Soup & Share

As we approach the end of a year and prepare for a new one...I wanted to share one of Brie's 10 hour projects for Young Women.  It is a great project to start the year off.
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Rewind four years...  She organized and carried out a ward Soup&Share (D.I. drive +). The idea was borrowed from Grandpa and Grandma Phillips' ward, who used to host a similar event, called Soup and Swap, every year.
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Brie stayed on top of things even with an infection in both of her ears and pneumonia. Thursday afternoon she was told by her doctor she was to go home and stay there until she got better. But, even being under doctor's orders to stay home, Brie wanted to see her project through to the end.

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She has a great group of friends, as well as a wonderful little sister, who helped her carry it out. At one point, her friends pulled in a soft armchair from the foyer, so Brie could be comfortable while they did a little fashion show for her. She learned a few lessons in leadership, as well as delegation. The project was a success! The donations exceeded her expectations.

THE FLYER:

Does the New Year find you cleaning out closets or your garage?

Are you trying to getting rid of unwanted items?

Or… do you find you are in need of certain items yourself?

Come be apart of Soup&Share!

It’s an opportunity to share and receive, then share again!

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FRIDAY

6:00 - 9:00 pm

DROP OFF items you are giving away.

NO damaged items, please.

Clothing & Shoes · For the Kitchen · Baby Items

Home Décor · Toys & Games · Holiday

School Supplies · Bath · Electronics

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SATURDAY

12:00 noon - 3:00 pm

If you would like, bring homemade soups and breads to SHARE.

TAKE any items you and your family may be in need of.

All items remaining will be DONATED to Deseret Industries.

The items they are needing most: Clothing and Shoes
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The donations kept coming Saturday morning. There were even more donations dropped off as we were loading up the trailer Saturday afternoon.

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Recipes for your own Soup&Share can be found on Our Recipe Garden.

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The girls enjoyed creating outfits for their impromptu fashion show. Each one went home Friday night with new found treasures and showed up Saturday morning wearing at least one item they picked up the night before.

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They also played games.
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Then came time to pack it all up and transfer it to the D.I. trailer.
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After filling the bags...
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*They filled the trailer.

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The girls did a wonderful job.

What a wonderful group of friends!
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It doesn't matter whether you share your donations with Deseret Industries, Goodwill, or even a local women's shelter, etc...  Sharing simply makes you feel good!

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We'd love to hear about your experiences!

Grandparent "Western Round-Up" Dinner

This Grandparent Dinner was served up last week.  Simply stated:  "A great night filled with lots of fun memories." - Kim

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PURPOSE

An opportunity for the youth to build relationships with the Grandparents in their ward.  Something they can build on each Sunday (but definitely not limited to Sundays :)). 

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INVITATION

(to come)

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DECOR/AMBIANCE

We went with a classic "Old Time Western" theme.  Here are some of the pictures I blew up and placed around the gym for deco.

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I also made some post card sized prints, placing them along with the vases on each table.

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TABLES

This is how we decorated each table:

• red and white checkered table cloths
• mason jar filled with fresh cut sunflowers (as well as another yellow flower I found in the fields)
• a basket lined with red and white gingham fabric (for rolls)
• a jar of homemade jam (with a red fabric lid insert)
• place settings for each  person (salad already at table upon arrival)

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MENU

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Green Salad and Fresh Baked Rolls

Warm Apple Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream

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YOUTH ASSIGNMENTS

We put four youth and four Grandparents at each table.   The youth were in charge of serving and cleaning, as well as conversation with the Grandparents.

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MUSIC FOR THE NIGHT
Bar J Wranglers (Thanks to our papa).  Set the mood for the night.
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YOUTH PROGRAM

After dessert was served, each class (Priests, Laurels, Teachers, Mia Maids, Deacons, and Beehives) took the stage and presented a skit of their choice.  They did such a great job!

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AFTER THOUGHTS

• It would have been cute to have a simple sunflower boutonniere and corsage for the youth to present to the grandparents as they arrived.
• A western themed photo opportunity also would have been fun.  A group photo of all the Grandparents and the Youth.