"Heroes Among Us" Video

Jacqui Verbica put together a wonderful video tribute to our neighborhood veterans that was shown at our Neighborhood Memorial Day Celebration.  UPDATED: You can view it on You Tube by visiting this link.  The direct URL is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiOKke9g3OU&feature=youtu.

Neighborhood Memorial Day Celebration

EVERYONE welcome!  

Please invite your neighbors!

Daughters of God

This is the video that inspired our Brickyard Relief Society theme for 2013: "Who We Are."  It's wonderful!  Our quarterly focuses and monthly goals are all drawn from these affirmations.  We hope you will watch it again and join us as we strive to understand our own divine roles as Daughters of God.

Each goal is listed on the left bar.

Open Hearts Open Homes: Planning with a Purpose

Come join us on Thursday, May 16th at 6:30 p.m. in the Relief Society room as Joyce Vuyk shares a special formula for simplifying daily living issues.  IT WORKS!  If you have a challenge to plan, this will help you.  These are wonderful techniques she learned during her time working for the church and we're excited to hear her expertise.

As always, please invite your neighbors and friends.  Nursery provided.

May RS Presidency Message

In Relief Society this year, our theme is "Who Am I?"  Each month, we have a single goal for each of us to work on that coincides with this theme.  As we realize our potential and reach outside ourselves, we will better understand our worth and our role in this life. 

Our second quarter's focus is "I Belong To an Eternal Family."

MAY'S THEME
"I am connected to my ancestors.  I am part of a family tree."

Monthly Goal:
Learn a story about one of your ancestors.
Record this account or share this story with other members of your family.

"Through family history we discover the most beautiful tree in the forest of creation - our family tree.  Its numerous roots reach back through history, and its branches extend throughout eternity." - Elder J. Richard Clarke.  We are all part of an eternal family.    Through the sacred ordinances of the temple, we will be united for time and all eternity.  However, temple work is much more meaningful when we develop a love for our ancestors.  By doing family and genealogical research, we can become intimately acquainted with our fore-bearers which makes our temple service more rewarding.   As Elder Russell M. Nelson said, "When our hearts turn to our ancestors, something changes inside us.  We feel part of something greater than ourselves.  Our inborn yearning for family connections are fulfilled when we are linked to our ancestors through the sacred ordinances of the temple." 

Knowing where we come from helps us know who we are.  As a presidency, we hope this month's goal of learning, recording, and sharing a story about an ancestor will not only help us gain a greater connection to our heritage, but also further our understanding of the role each of us play in an eternal family.  We also believe this is an important step as we all prepare to take a family name to the temple on Ward Temple Day in June.  When you complete your goal, we ask you to come to the Relief Society room and put a jewel in our "Who We Are" jar.

Visiting Teaching Care & Share

Visiting Teaching Care & Share

Saturday, May 11th

8 a.m. - 10 a.m.

Relief Society Room

Come share your experiences and ideas in a visiting teaching interview with a member of the RS presidency. Help us to make visiting teaching a good experience for everyone in the ward.   You can schedule your appointment through Hailey Packard.  Come for a short time and enjoy a light breakfast.

RS Weekday Activity: "When Life Hands You Lemons"

Please join us at our RS Weekday Activity (different night - 4th Thursday).  Join us as we discover all the amazing things we can do when life hands us lemons!  We'll be cooking, cleaning, and discovering all the wonderful things we can do with this amazing citrus fruit.  It's sure to be a night full of yummy treats and wonderful company!

Invite your neighbors!  Nursery provided.

April Presidency Message

In Relief Society this year, our theme is "Who Am I?"  Each month, we have a single goal for each of us to work on that coincides with this theme.  As we realize our potential and reach outside ourselves, we will better understand our worth and our role in this life. 

During the first quarter of 2013, we focused on how "I am a Friend" -- how to be a better friend and visiting teacher.  This second quarter's focus is "I Belong To an Eternal Family."

APRIL'S THEME

"I am a sister, daughter, mother, wife, aunt, niece, grandmother, granddaughter." 

Monthly Goal:

Read "The Family: A Proclamation to the World." 

Make a list of things you do/can do to strengthen families.

Do something from your list each day.

This goal comes straight out of the Primary's "Faith in God" goals.  Why would Relief Society use a goal designed for children?  Alma 37:6 teaches, "By small and simple things are great things brought to past."  We live in an ever -increasing complicated world.  It would be easy to become overwhelmed and confused, that is, it would be easy if we didn't know that the answer is simple.  We are part of a family.  Family is ordained of God and is the most important unit in time and in eternity. 

We have often heard that of all the things our Heavenly Father is, and could be called, He is called Father.  Our role in our families are fundamental to our purpose and potential.  Each of our roles is part of who we are and why we are here.  We are daughters, sisters, mothers, wives, aunts, nieces, grandmothers, and granddaughters.  The apostles, prophets, and other general authorities, and even the scriptures, have taught us for generations of our importance and the divine wisdom in our roles.  This month, we ask you to focus and reflect on "who you are" in regards to your own family. 

Try to do something every day from the list you made as part of this month's goal.  In the Relief Society room, we have a physical representation of our theme.  We invite you to come and put a jewel in the jar for each day you participate in this month's goal.  We hope to fill our jar to the rim with reminders of who we are.

Open Hearts Open Homes: Lean Home Management

Join us for Open Hearts Open Homes on Thursday, April 11th at 6:30 p.m. in the Relief Society room.   The topic will be "Lean Home Management: Discussion on principles to make homemaking more effective, efficient, and enjoyable" led by our Relief Society president Emily Auman.

Invite your friends and neighbors!  Nursery Provided.

"A Night of Stars: Celebrating Relief Society Celebrities Past & Present"
Thursday, March 21st at 6 p.m. in the Relief Society room.
Step back in time to old Hollywood as we celebrate the Relief Society's 171st birthday.
We'll have a short message, dinner, a game and great conversation
as we honor our Relief Society's heritage.

Invite your friends and neighbors!

Nursery provided.

All About FHE

What a great activity last night!  Thanks to everyone who came and participated, especially our panel of "experts."  For those of you who didn't make it, here are some notes and resources you missed.  Don't miss the bottom where's there's a yummy F.H.E. treat recipe from Ashley!

President James E. Faust said, "Unity in the Church will always be a reflection of the unity in our homes.  One of the most important ways to foster unity in the home is holding Family Home Evening regularly.  Whether we are young or old, single or married, whether we have children at home or have become empty nesters, Family Home Evening can increase unity and love in our homes.
Family Home Evening is for everyone."

Our panel consisted of the following sisters:

Christie - married mom of 4 children under the age of 8
Amanda - young married sister with a baby on the way
Bonnie - single mom of an adult son
Kay - married grandma and empty nester :)
Alece - married mom of 8 with kids age 10 & older

Here are some of the highlights from our panel's Q & A:

Question: "What is a typical FHE in your house?"
Christie: "Routine is important.  FHE doesn't need to be elaborate.  Even if we don't have time to put together anything, we read the scriptures together. We highlight Family Business where the kids get to talk about their day.  We have fun, silly traditions that the kids love.   It's a special treat because Dad (the Bishop) is home and we're all together."

Amanda: "It's important to start now as a couple, even without kids, so it won't be weird when we want to start with them.  We want to get into the habit.  We take turns giving the lessons.  Sometimes we use "Preach My Gospel" or read and memorize scriptures together.   It's short -- maybe 30 minutes tops -- but we focus on our goals, like Emergency Preparedness, and spending time together as a couple."

Bonnie: "I held FHE regularly with my son while he was growing up, but now I make sure I still hold it for myself.  It's my 'me' night.  It's a sacred time for me from 6 - 9 p.m.  I don't dwell on being single, but instead I focus on improving myself and strengthening my relationship with the Lord.   Something I did with my son, and I still do, is to make Sunday a day to look forward to FHE.  My Family Night is focused on my personal goals.  I pick a theme or goal for the month and do activities that enrich that focus.  I'll study the scriptures or "Preach my Gospel".  I believe inspiration is found anywhere, so I do things that inspire me."

Kay: "My husband and I are in the habit of having FHE regularly because we've done it since our kids were young.  We keep doing it and it's a habit.  My husband likes the order and structure, so we'll open with a prayer and then sing a hymn.  We go through the songbook page by page (skip the ones we don't know!) and read the scripture at the bottom of the hymn.  We'll read the Home Teaching message in the Ensign or "Preach my Gospel" or go over our Emergency Preparedness.  Sometimes we have it on Sundays, because a different child and their family will come over for dinner.  We'll write to family missionaries, do genealogy, or have a "Fix it Night" for ourselves or a neighbor."

Alece: "Things get a little chaotic, but it's the routine that it important.  When the kids were young, my husband and I managed the evening, but when the kids got older we would start assigning jobs.  We'd assign someone to conduct, which we thought was good practice for the future.  We have a scriptural thought.  We have traditions we started from when the kids were young.  The lessons aren't fancy.  We try to focus on simple truths and hopefully, it expands to some deeper discussion.  When the kids are teens, sometimes the school schedules things and we let them choose whether they will be at FHE or not.  But if there is a concert or play, the school knows that the entire family will be there and in attendance to support our kids."

Question: "What makes Family Night different than any other night at your house?"
The general consensus of the group was it is a night where everyone is together, there's the routine of FHE, its a night to focus on yourself, your family and the Lord, and included prayer brings the Spirit into your home.

Kay said: "We treat it like its sacred.  We don't make calls.
It's a priority and nothing interferes with our plans."

Question: "What is your main goal for F.H.E. and how would you decide it is a success?
Christie: "If it's a night dedicated to the family, it's a success.  Or as my husband would say, 'no one cries'.  One week my 1st grader read a story from the Friend and it brought up a good discussion.  It's a success if the Spirit is there."

Amanda: "Our goal is to establish the habit and to have righteous habits from the beginning of our marriage.  It's a success if we develop love and unity.  We want to have a good relationship for our whole marriage.  It's successful if there are no distractions.  We know it will make a difference in the long run and we want to teach our children 'cradle side', because we know they will feel the Spirit."

Bonnie: "FHE is successful for me if the night didn't get lost or swallowed up in 'to do's'.  It's a success if I feel the Spirit and I'm happy where I am at, and know my Heavenly Father is pleased in me."

Kay: "We are always together (they serve a mission together), so that isn't our main goal.  It's successful for us to know that are (adult) children and their families are having FHE together and that we are a good example because we are still doing it."

Alece:  "Togetherness is our main goal with everyone's crazy schedules.   We love when we have a great discussion with the kids or when they bring up something they learned from the scriptures in seminary.  When I first started having FHE when my kids were young, my expectations where really high, but I soon threw that out.  We feel that by doing things that are fun and bringing us together -- those are the steps to success. Sometimes we'll do service projects or work together.  And we always feel like when the kids are awake, alert, and interested -- the night is a success!"

You can find lessons on:
www.lds.org 
   - use the scriptures online
   - go to the Family Home Evening site
   - find lesson topics in the Home & Family section
   - search Gospel topics for General Conference, Ensign, New Era and Friend articles
   - Primary site (under Teaching Children or using Sharing Time lessons)
Family Home Evening Resource book  - access it online
"Preach My Gospel" -  access it online

Unofficial Church blogs like:
   - Mormon Share
   - A Year of FHE Lessons

Other ideas from a previous post on our blog with resources from Cori Larsen's Sunday lesson.

Our discussion brought up these great ideas and resources:

- Family concerns or parent interviews
this is an opportunity to talk to your kids one on one about their concerns
- Get a file box and pre-make FHE lessons
(Diane brought one to share - if you would like to take some of her lessons,
there are still some lessons and Gospel Art left in the R.S. closet)
- Use the Primary Picture Books for kids
- Gospel ArtBook  - use for skits, charades, or read the stories on the back
- Book "FHE for Newlyweds" available at Deseret Book
 there are also MANY other books that can help you come up with lessons in a hurry
- The Scriptures! -- scripture charades are a hit for younger kids
- Finch family games
- Have a FHE basket out where you can access it quickly
include hymn books, Children's Songbook, scriptures, and a FHE lesson book

And finally.... a yummy Family Night Treat recipe to try (thanks to Ashley):

Churro Chex Mix

9 cups rice Chex cereal (approx. 1 big box)
1 bag cinnamon chips (by the chocolate chips in the grocery store)
1 bag white chocolate chips
1/2 cup powdered sugar1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Pour Chex cereal into a bowl. Set aside. Combine sugars and cinnamon in another small bowl. Set aside.In a microwavable bowl, melt the cinnamon chips and white chocolate chips. Heat for 1 minute then stir. Heat for an additional 30 seconds. Stir. Continue with additional 30 seconds until completely melted. Pour melted chips over the cereal. Stir until cereal is well coated.Sprinkle with half of the cinnamon sugar mixture. Toss to coat. Pour out the cereal onto a cookie sheet. Continue to sprinkle and toss the cereal with the rest of the cinnamon sugar mixture.

Family Home Evening for Everyone

Please join us on Thursday, February 28th from our weekday activity "Family Home Evening for Everyone" at 6:30 p.m. in the Relief Society room.   Different sisters in the ward at different stages of their lives will share with us their ideas on how to have a meaningful F.H.E. - no matter the family dynamic!  Whether you're single, newlywed, married with kids, married w/out kids or an empty nester... there will be something for everyone.  Bring your favorite Family Night treat to share, but if you are unable to bring something we want you to come anyway!

Nursery Provided.  Invite your neighbors!

Open Hearts Open Homes: Cooking Veggies

Please join us for the 2nd activity in our new series of activities called "Open Hearts Open Homes".  Monica TenBears will be teaching us creative and tasty ways to cook vegetables.  Whether you are a family of 8 or a family of 1, come and learn how to pep up your plate!   The activity starts at 6:30 p.m. and will be held in the High Priest/Gospel Principles/YW room -- basically those rooms by the kitchen!  Invite your friends and neighbors.  Nursery provided.