Meet the New RS President

Dear Sisters,

Over the next month we will be spotlighting the new RS presidency in an effort to get to know them a little better. The new presidency is: Krista Stone (President), Jill Bodily (1st Counselor), Sarah Allred (2nd Counselor), and Julie Gundersen (Secretary). Each of these sisters has great spiritual strength and each has so many wonderful things to offer our Relief Society. We hope that you each take the opportunity to get to know each one of these sisters personally.

So, let's start out by getting to know Sister Krista Stone, the new RS President.

1. Tell us about you and your family. (for example...where are you from? What is your career? Where did you go to school/major? Are you married? What does your husband do? Do you have any children? What are their ages? etc.)

I am from Ogden Utah. I did my undergraduate work at Weber State University Majoring in Criminal Justice. I then attended and graduated from BYU Law School. My specialty was Criminal Law and I have worked as a Criminal Defense Attorney and as a Prosecuting Attorney. Currently, I am using my skills and background to be a great wife to my husband Jim and mother to my three kids (Carly 16, Kelsey 13, Brady 10). We moved to Arizona when Jim got a job offer to work for Swift Transportation and we have been here sweating it out for 13 years.

2. If you had an hour free time, what might we find you doing?

If I had any free time you wouldn't be able to find me at all because I would be off shopping at Marshalls or TJ Maxx or Target or Home Goods......! If I was trapped at home and had any free time I would definitely be reading. This is a hypothetical question right, who has any free time?

3. Share an experience that has strengthened your testimony or why the gospel is important to you?

I am so very blessed to have grown up in the church so I have had so many great testimony building experiences. Recently, I have been able to share the gospel with a friend and she has asked me so many deep and thought provoking questions. I have searched the scriptures, researched timelines, and emailed stories and articles to help share my beliefs with her but I think I am the one that has really benefited the most. I have been able to really ponder about some of our foundational principals and write down those thoughts and my testimony as I share information with her. I have never before shared so much of my personal thoughts and feelings about the gospel and it has been one of my very favorite testimony building experiences.

4. What are your following favorites:

Dessert-coconut cream pie or chocolate ANYTHING.

Hobbies-painting and refinishing furniture, reading, and shopping

Scripture- 3 Nephi 19-21

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal;

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Hymn- As Sisters In Zion!!!

Thank you for sharing with us Sister Stone.

Happy Happy Birthday to...

June 1: Laurie Martin and Dorothy McVey

June 6: Dina Wakley

June 8: Kristin Walledom

June 10: Alexis Perry

June 13: Ginger Lupa and Pamela Bradley

June 14: Tifney Tipton and Kay Lynne Hall

June 15: Lorraine Grant

June 22: Elizabeth Savioa and Flo Montierth

June 27: Genile Webb

June 30: Valarie Ziegelhoefer

We hope you all have a fabulous birthday this month!

It is nice to be remembered on your birthday, so if you get a chance call these sisters on their special day and let them know how much they are loved and appreciated.

New Updates

Dear Sisters,

We have updated the activities schedule and the lesson schedule located under the headings at the top of the page. The schedules will be kept up to date and we hope that you can use them as a resource in the future (just in case you misplace your newsletter). Have a wonderful week.

Love,

Ashley and Kate

A Little Southern Hospitality

Come join us next Tuesday, June 12 at 6:30pm for our Monthly Relief Society Meeting where we will be enjoying a home cooked Southern meal! We also have the amazing opportunity to serve women who are undergoing cancer treatments and children who are in the ICU. We will be making head wraps for women with cancer and headbands for the children in the hospital. If you have any materials that you would like to donate for use in making these items (i.e. felt, soft fabric, t-shirts, etc), make sure to sign up on Sunday. A children's class will also be provided. Please mark your calendars for this great night of service and an opportunity to get to know some sisters in the ward. We hope to see you there!

Relief Society Meeting Teaser

Five Little Piggies

We had a wonderful monthly Relief Society meeting on Tuesday.  The theme was based on the “Five Little Piggies” children’s rhyme.  There were wonderful speakers, food, and company.  Here is a recap of what was taught.

Going to Market: Lindsey Smith shared her tips and tricks on couponing and how to really stretch your dollar.  We learned how to save money on food, clothes, toys and hygiene products, as well as some great budgeting tips.  She brought various items that she had purchased in the last week, that retail totaled $150 but she only spent less than $10.  The items included, a jumbo pack of diapers, boxes of cereal, toothbrushes, a coat and two shirts, a Baby Alive doll (which she scored for $1!), feminine hygiene products, and many more.  Lindsey is a fabulous resource if you would like to learn how to budget and coupon.

Staying Home: Cassie Mickelsen taught us the importance of prioritizing our lives, focusing on the most important things.  She referenced this talk by Elder Dallin H. Oaks, in which he discusses things that are good, things that are better, and things that are best.  Cassie shared some experiences about how she learned to make her children her focus over her growing photography business.  She gave a powerful testimony on the importance of putting the things of the Lord first and how life is much more manageable when the Lord and our family is top priority.

Having Roast Beef: Rachel Maw spoke to us about the importance of cooking good, nutritious meals for our family.  She focused primarily on finding ways to have home cooked meals.  Rachel presented an idea called “Once a Month Cooking.”  It is a system where you prepare a month’s worth of meals in one day, freeze the meals, and then you have a home cooked meal ready to go every night of the month.  She gave us a sample meal plan, recipes, and a shopping list to get started.  Her biggest recommendation, if you want to tackle this, is to do it with a friend.  She has done it with a friend for quite a while and she had some great stories to tell.  So, if this sounds interesting, contact Rachel, find a friend and start cooking!  It will be a great benefit to you and your family.

Having None: Tamara Halls talked to us about “having none.”  Whether you actually have none or just feel like you have none (no kids, no self-esteem, no talents, etc.) the antidote is having a positive attitude, being grateful for the things that you do have, and service to others.  Tamara told some great stories from her life about actually having none and times when she felt like she had none.  Through all of her trials she learned to be grateful for her trials, seek the positive in all situations, and to always being willing to serve and give to others.

Wee, Wee, Wee, All the Way Home:  Teresa Throop spoke about having joy in our lives and most especially joy in our homes.  President Hinckley once said, “Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured.”  Teresa gave great insight on understanding different perspectives, especially those of your children.  She talked about how stepping back from hard situations and taking a positive perspective on them can make a world of difference in how you react and how you see life.  We are meant to have joy in our lives and it is our responsibility to find that joy and enjoy every aspect of our lives.

Overall, we were richly blessed by the talents, experiences and testimonies of the sisters in our ward.  If you were unable to make it to the meeting, you were missed and we hope that we will see you next month.

Love,
Kate 

Sister Spotlight

Meet Nicole Edwards!

My family:

I was born and raised in Utah. I lived in Orem, Utah for 18 years. I met my hubby, Chad, in Orem (where he is from as well) at a singles ward activity. My best friend "hooked" us up and we haven't been apart since. We have a little 3-year-old girl named Taylee, who gives us so much joy and many messes. Right now I am a stay at home mom and Chad is a first year DO student at Midwestern University. In the future when Chad is done with school and we have a bit more money I would love to go back to school and get into a dental hygiene program. In the fall I am planning on getting a job as a dental assistant while Taylee goes to preschool.

If I had an hour of free time:

I would probably be blogging or planning the next trip/vacation. My parents like to know what is going on with us since we moved to Arizona so when ever I update my blog about their only grandchild, Taylee, they love it. I love planning things whether it is meals for the week, writing lists on what I need to get done, finding ideas for Taylee's next birthday or planing vacations we may or may not go on. I haven't been out of the country yet but I sure have lots of future plans for it. My Mom's Dad is Dutch and moved to the US from Amsterdam in his 20s. I would love to go to the Netherlands and take my mom to visit where her dad is from and maybe even meet up with some extended family.

Share an experience that has strengthened your testimony:

The power of prayer is so valuable to me in my life. Some of the hardest decisions I have had to make have been made easier with prayer. When we were looking at what medical school Chad should go to I took the decision to my Heavenly Father in prayer. I know we are supposed to be here in Arizona for a reason and I know it isn't a mistake. Since we have moved here I have made amazing friends within our relief society and I am more active in the church and doing what I should. I have also loved being able to be part of the immense service our relief society does. That alone is a strong testimony builder to me that I am where I need to be and that this church and gospel is true.

Favorites:

Dessert - Yumberri yogurt is my new favorite place. I love ice cream and when I can pretend it is healthy for me because it is called "yogurt" it is a double bonus.

Hobbies - Blogging, cooking, crafting, bike rides, hiking, snow boarding and I am sure I am forgetting a few.

Scripture - D&C 14:7 "And, if your keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God." I first heard this scripture when I went to EFY and it was the theme scripture. They put the scripture to the tune of one of Celine Dion's songs and now I can't get it out of my head. I love how short but powerful and true it is. If we ever talk about enduring in Relief Society or Sunday School you may see me lip singing this scripture to my self.

Hymn - There is a green hill far away. When I was first learning how to play the piano this was the first song I could kind of pluck away at. After playing it and reading the words so many times the meaning of the song hit me and it has been a favorite ever since. It isn't the most happy of songs but it is able to ground me and remind me of my Saviors sacrifice for me.

Thanks for sharing with us Nicole!