Flowers

Hey, hey, HEY! My first post as a counselor in the Young Women's Presidency! Hello, hello. It's good to be back. The reason for my post today is to share a project we did for our Jan. and Feb. activities. Although we did this for Valentine's day, you can do this for any time really, as a service project. In January we made cards and fabric flowers, then delivered them to the single sisters in our ward. They were so surprised and loved them!

Sorry for the blurry picture, you get the idea. We were in a hurry when I realized I hadn't taken one get and quickly snagged this shot. We put them in boxes that were 12 for a dollar at the Dollar tree and included a note. The backs have pins or alligator clips on them. This was a fun activity for all the girls and they learned something new! You can go here to find some great tutorials on flower making.

 Have fun!

Pumpkin

Last Sunday Jeremy helped me pull these handouts together.

We made 2 batches of pumpkin cookies with mini-chocolate chips and packaged them up. The header says "have your pumpkin and eat it too" to encourage everyone to cook/bake for the holidays using items they would have regularly stocked in their food storage. On the back I included two websites for them to refer to to help save money and stock up as well. The idea is to build your supply as you use it in a frugal way.

     As you can see on the packaging, I actually made a mistake and noticed too late into the process. So when I made my announcement, I apologized and joked that it was a reminder that we all make mistakes an I, for one, am far from perfect! They were a big hit.

   This is also my last Provident living post as my position in our ward has changed. I'm looking forward to serving now as second counselor in the YoungWomen's organization. As my post will evolve and change in content, please refer to all my ideas as often as you wish. I know they were all inspired for our ward and situation and encourage you, as you seek to fulfill your callings, to pray for guidance. I know He will direct you as he did me. I'm grateful for my experience in this calling because it has just increased my testimony that Heavenly Father will bless and inspire us as we seek his guidance in all positions we serve in. He wants us to be successful as we are diligent in his service. This was a calling I could do nothing or little with (as I did for 1 1/2 years) or take to the highest capacity possible (which I did for the last year and a half). It has been a great blessing in my life to see His hand in all things.

I want to leave you with my pinterest account information and refer you to my Provident Living Folder. This is in hopes that you will find even more inpiration for your calling and individual situation.

We are blessed when we are prayerful!

An Increase

September was the my month to encourage increasing food supply. There were only two opportunities for me to promote this, so the first Sunday I had the chance, I sent arount the quote found on the church website by the first presidency regarding family home storage and included 3 websites where information for saving money in this endeavor could be found:

"Our Heavenly Father created this beautiful earth, with all its abundance, for our benefit and use. His purpose is to provide for our needs as we walk in faith and obedience. He has lovingly commanded us to “prepare every needful thing” (see D&C 109:8) so that, should adversity come, we can care for ourselves and our neighbors and support bishops as they care for others.

"We encourage members world-wide to prepare for adversity in life by having a basic supply of food and water and some money in savings.

"We ask that you be wise as you store food and water and build your savings. Do not go to extremes; it is not prudent, for example, to go into debt to establish your food storage all at once. With careful planning, you can, over time, establish a home storage supply and a financial reserve."

—The First Presidency, All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage, Feb. 2007, 1

http://www.thekrazycouponlady.com/

http://www.extremecouponing.com/     and

http://www.smartfoodservice.com/special.aspx

The following week my children helped me make these fun handouts:

Hope this inspires and helps you to encourage that food supply in your ward's happy homes!

Education

This month is the "Continue Learning" theme in our ward, whether it be taking a class, memorizing a scripture {or two, or three, or more}, teaching someone else a skill or learning a new one of your own...the possibilities are endless. So This week I handed these out:

                                             In this pencil box:

With this quote: 

 and this scripture:

 I used sticker paper from Staples and made them on my Hallmark create a card as a word strip with the apple and worm clipart I found on the internet to separate the messages. This was super easy and took no time, even though it looks like it would. Happy Provident Week!

p.s.

What's up your sleeve? 

Fire Drills

When I was seeking inspiration for the topic of fire drills, I kept thinking of whistles. I was envisioning silver referee whistles. But of course those would be too expensive, so I racked my brain and priced them out until I found 8/$1 at the Dollar Tree.

                                                I love the Dollar Tree!

 Then I found this catchy little saying on one site and this image on another using google search image:

So I  lamenated it, punched a hole and strung them on a string of yarn for a fire drill patrol necklace. (Just a little thing I learned reading an Arthur book my children have)

Hope this gives you some inspiration. Maybe you'll come up with something better!

Have a Provident week!

Fire!

This month is all about fire safety. To encourage preparation in the tragic case of this kind of emergency,  I printed out a piece of Graph Paper like this:

and handed them out. I asked them to go home and draw up a fire escape plan for their home with their families. The following week I asked them to designate a meeting place near their home to keep conection with family members. This week they are to start having fire drills. That simple. That vital.

I broke this up in three parts to walk it through in baby steps. You can encourage this all at once, it's up to you. I feel that when broken up in pieces it is often more effective since there is emphasis given for each part. As always, I encourage you to do what's best for your ward according to prayer.

Hope your week is full of happiness and safety, till next time...

may you find your life more and more provident!

;)

Back to Basics

Last week was CRAZY busy around here with it being the last week of school, my week to teach relief society and other events I choose to block out of my memory. We started planning our Provident Living R.S. meeting months ago. I was so prepared {so I thought} already lining up somebody to give the "basic budgeting" class. The man teaching the gardening class was lined up way in advance, and the man doing the basic emergency response class lined up last minute (yes, we panicked a little over that one!), and the counselor over R.S. meetings was already giving her minute on being spiritually prepared. She did a wonderful job pointing out various prophets throughout the scriptures who although they were physically prepared, the reasons were because of their preparedness spiritually. It was such a great perspective! The way the night went was another testimony to me how the Lord always works on our behalf. Weeks ago I thought about doing a handout like this one:

I actually started cutting and sewing them on a Sunday mid-morn for a 5th Sunday combined class I was in charge of, only to realize I wasn't going to have time to finish them. So I set them aside for a later time. That opportunity came after weeks passing of not being able to fill the spot for another teacher. Guess who got  the privilege? Good thing it was on basic budgeting, something I have 20 years experience with or I would have been in BIG trouble. These were easy to whip up. I just included a cute saying to bring across the main point of my mini class:

 Just included one gold coin, enough to make everyone feel rich (hahaha!). It was a hit! You should've seen the expressions on these wonderful women's faces upon my handing them out. I was pleased with the way the class turned out.

                                                           *Whew*

The feedback was so positive in regard to all the classes.

I'm always pleasantly amazed that when we put forth the effort, no matter why we think we may be doing something, the Lord will take care of the rest!

May you have a Provident Week!