BYU Single Adult Wards and Relief Society: A breed of their own.

     I was called to the Relief Society presidency in July of 2010, and it is still a calling that I love and hold.  Relief Society in a BYU singles’ ward is definitely a group of its own, and I wanted to blog about it to remember in the future!  The YSA (used to be BYU) 198^th ward meets in the Crabtree Building on Brigham Young University campus. The Crabtree building is also known as the Engineering building, so the mechanical, chemical, whatever engineers have class in the same room they meet in for sacrament on Sunday, weird! When I was taking my nursing prerequisites freshman year, there was a semester where the same went for me.  The semester I had Statistics 221 and church in the same room, I couldn’t get rid of the feelings of dread every time I entered for sacrament! There was nothing like studying vectors on Wednesday and giving a talk on Sunday in the same exact place. 
      And don’t even get me started about the dating classes that are offered in Sunday School.  Needless to say, when I was teaching Gospel Doctrine, I’m glad we weren’t doing the periodic Dating Class at the same time, because they are more popular than BYU football games have been in the last couple years… and coming from a HUGE football fan, that is a confession I will make over and over again.  They are fun, informative, and a great way to ease the dark and scary coud that dating at BYU can sometimes bring.

     This experience is much like having Stake Conference in the Smith Field House, where hundreds flock to see volleyball games… it’s great.  The same goes for having Devotionals and Firesides in the Marriott Center, where thousands go to cheer our basketball team.  While I never actually painted a blue “Y” on my face for Stake Conference, the temptation was definitely there. It is a strong testament to the truth of Gospel principles, however, that you can scream your brains out at a volleyball, basketball, or football game, and then feel the spirit in the same exact location the next Sunday. It is a pretty special thing to have the freedom of being a crazy college student and grow spiritually at the same time.

    

    

Relief Society

     Anyway, I was called as the Relief Society second counselor, and at 20 years old, I was nervous.  How am I, when I am younger than the majority of the women in the ward, supposed to help lead them?  That question was soon answered when I almost immediately gained a love for each woman in our group.  This experience has led me to believe that I had much to learn, because the blessings have been astronomical.  Here is nothing like learning to love your neighbor by serving them. 

      I have also gained a love for Relief Society that I did not have before. Yes, for anyone who is in Relief Society with me, I am admitting that the third hour of church on Sunday was not always my favorite. I quickly learned for myself how important Relief Society is, and how important women are to the Church.
     Some shed negative light on the Church, partly because it seems to the outside world that women are not as highly regarded as men. Let me answer that false belief with a quote by Elder Quentin L. Cook, a member of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles, where he quoted the Hymn As Sisters in Zion, saying, "the errand of angels is given to women."  That talk he gave in the April 2011 General Conference was justly entitled, "LDS Women are Incredible!" and reminded the world of the importance of women.  You can find the rest of the talk here: "LDS Women Are Incredible!". If you are a woman and need a little pick-me-up, I strongly recommend this talk.  It is a great reminder of the divine potential of every single woman, and the eternal blessings we can achieve.

     In 2011, the new Relief Society manual, "Daughters in My Kingdom: The History and Work of Relief Society" was released, giving even more material for women to use to learn of their great potential. I am a nerd who LOVES getting new books (textbooks, magazines, novels, it doesn't matter), but this book was special. It was given to every woman in our Relief Society, as a gift from the Church, and I love referring to it whenever I can. I exhort every woman in the Church to read it, it is awesome! Here is a digital copy for those who did not receive one: Daughters in My Kingdom. I love the stories that he History of Relief Society holds, and that women who were pioneers are very similar to women today, in their faith and charity. We have much to learn from the women who have come before us, because the truths and examples in this book are timeless.


     I look forward to the experiences that being in a singles ward and Relief Society bring, because I am sure there are more to come! I love this Gospel and the blessings it brings.  The love of our leaders, fellow sisters, and our Heavenly Father is what keeps me going during hectic times that life brings.  <3

Homemade Tutus

I made these tutus for my nieces for Christmas and they were a HUGE success!  Here is the original blog post on how to make them: http://www.momdot.com/howtomakeatutu.  I don't own a sewing machine, but that did not pose an issue.  The girls were able to wear the tutus and run and jump, and they fared very well!

What you will need:

Tulle strips (you can get them in rolls at Hobby Lobby). It is easiest to do it this way, rather than cutting your own. I got 3-4 different colors, and 4 rolls will make you 2 tutus.

Elastic Strips

Thread and a needle (to sew the elastic together)

Glue gun

Embellishments (I made fabric flowers, and hot glued rhinestones on for added bling!)

    The fabric flowers were so easy! Here's a link to the blog I learned how to do them on: http://www.paigesofstyle.com/2011/02/diy-fabric-flower-cupcake-topper.html. 

Magnet Makeup Board

 Okay, this is one of my favorite projects I've done!  I have a boyfriend who LOVES Home Depot, so I learned a lot doing this one. It was pretty cheap and not hard to do at all, you just need to get the right stuff. 

What you will need:

Frame (on sale at Hobby Lobby)

Metal sheet (mine was $5 at Home Depot)

Gorilla Glue (or any other liquid nails works best)

Packet of round magnets (Home Depot)

For the brush vase:

Short glass vase (a Mason jar would be cute too!)

Small pebbles (pretty cheap at Hobby Lobby)

     After a couple tries (hot glue gun and punching nails through the metal) we found that liquid nails are the best route.  It takes a few hours for the glue to set, if you apply weight (we used cans of food), but it was a one-try success!  You can either use a hot glue gun or the Gorilla Glue to apply the magnets to the makeup, just make sure they will be strong enough to hold the makeup up.  

6 Be's for $6

  Here is another fun thing I did for my kitchen!

    Hobby Lobby was having a sale on frames, so I got a pretty nice frame for $6.  If you are a frugal DIY-er (like I try to be) you can find a frame for pretty cheap, which is great, because it was really all you will spend money on for this project. Here is the link for the original poster's blog entry: http://www.stayathomeartist.com/2011/08/six-bs-sign-re-do.html.  It is definitely worth checking out, because she included a printable for the Be's.  I used sparkly stickers and scrapbook paper that I had, but this project is one you can easily make into your own.

The Pinterest Addiction

 In the last few months, I have not only discovered Pinterest, but become a full-fledged addict.  My first assignment this semester was to create a presentation about a technology (like Facebook or Twitter) and relate is to health.  Yes... I chose Pinterest, and it was quite the success.  After I sat down, a girl asked me to invite her, because I sold her on this new mania that is spreading like wild fire.  If I make it my life goal to get the world as addicted to Pinterest as I am, I am pretty sure I will be successful.
     Between this amazing website (pinterest.com) and Hobby Lobby, I am quickly becoming the epitome of a Granny Crafter- at that is fine with me! I am excited to share my successes, and especially share how you can follow in my footsteps.  Some things I have done from Pinterest have proved to be fun and easy, and others (like the flower wreath I'm working on right now) are a kick in the pants, but totally worth it!  Pictures of the dreaded Valentine's Day wreath will soon ensue.
     I am definitely going to include links to the blogs/ websites I got my craft ideas from, as to not take credit from anyone else.  But, hey, maybe I will be able to post things in the future that are of my own creation!
     I am still new to this whole blogging thing- probably because I don't have cute babies or a husband to blog about yet, but I guess my fun crafts and college adventures are a good place to start!  Let's look at what I have done so far!

     Most of what I've done from Pinterest thus far have been Christmas presents for my 9 nieces and nephews this last Christmas.  Everything turned out great! Here is what I did!


Homemade Angry Bird Game
     This was for Brock and Thayne.  Here is the link to the blog that I got the idea from, http://www.makeandtakes.com/crafting-with-angry-birds, but I did make it my own, so I will expound.

What you will need:

20 small styrofoam balls

2-3 large styrofoam balls (for those giant dark red guys)

Packet of 50 googly eyes

One sheet each of red, yellow, black, and orange felt

Black and red pipe cleaners

Acrylic paint in blue, red, green, yellow, black, and dark red

Foam paint brush

Glue gun

Sling shot ($5 at any outdoor store. I got mine at Sportsmans)

Small Dole cups

Wide popsicle sticks

     As far as the slingshots go, you can use your own discretion. The boys I made this for are 4 and 5, so they actually had a blast just throwing the birds. The cups and popsicle sticks are to build the towers with, but you are more than welcome to build with whatever you can find!

The acrylic paint did pretty well at covering the styrofoam. They took a little longer that spray paint would have, but spray paint tends to disintegrate styrofoam.

Once we got all the felt cut out (my best friend and I just popped in a movie and visited!) the birds and pigs came together pretty quick!

Doesn't that just look like FUN in a box?? 

     This project is definitely one that took more time, but it was worth it!  The boys got a gift that they definitely weren't getting from Santa.  This one, I will log as a SUCCESS.

Paw Prints and Guardian Angels

 This blog isn't going to be a way for me to bare my soul for the world to see (some things should be kept private, people!!! haha), but I am excited to put into writing the things that mean something to me. It is a well-known fact that once something is released to the internet, it will be there forever. I started this blog as a fun way to keep something like a journal. I know, I'm not getting married anytime soon, and that I don't have adorable children to show off yet, but I am positive that I will someday enjoy looking back on how my life was like when I was 20 years old in the year 2011. My Grandma Betty loves going back to her journals, often sharing with me the things that meant something to her in the past. I really want that.

     Isn't it crazy that one simple image could mean so much?

     I guess this post will be about something that started a long time ago, and still affects me to this day. When I was young, something awful happened to me and I lost a parent. However, that something led to many great things happening. I moved on to grow in a home that taught me to love the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I have a huge and wonderful family, two parents who love me very very much, big goals I will achieve, and so much more. I'm not saying that none of that would have happened had my life taken a different track, but I know that I wouldn't have a special guardian angel with me every day now, had I not gone through this loss. For anyone who has lost someone, there are so many reasons you can put into your head about why such a terrible thing would happen, but what does dwelling in the past do for you? I was lucky enough to be raised to seek the great things in life and every situation I have. Yeah, I suffered a loss, but now I have someone watching over me every second of every day. Some say that when a person dies, they are so busy living and doing things on the other side of the spectrum that they don't have the time to keep an eye on living loved ones. I find that true as well, but for only part of the time.

    Every time I see the image of a lion cub paw print, my mind immediately turns itself to Lion King. And then I think about a wonderful man named Billy Brown.  Random you say? Oh, but no ;)..... When Simba was a young cub, he lost his father suddenly. Life seemed like it stopped, that there was nothing good that would come from such an awful thing happening to someone so young and innocent. Simba then had an experience that made him realize that his father still loved him, and watched out for him throughout everything (triumph, as well as tribulation). Simba eventually became a strong, valiant lion, and achieved much. A crucial reason for such a happy ending was the fact that, through the loving protection of a guardian angel, Simba took something terrible and made it into something wonderful. We will all lose someone we love at some point in our life. It happens. The most important thing to remember is that when a mortal body no longer holds a spirit, that spirit lives on, and so does love.

 

    Here's to 17 years of having an extra special guardian angel!