Refugee Festival on Saturday! - Davis County Utah

Last spring Sister Linda K. Burton gave a talk in the General Women's Session called "I Was A Stranger" that focused on our responsibility to help the millions of refugees around the world. One thing she suggested in that talk was to:

If you live near the Davis County area, you may want to check out the Refugee Festival that is happening Saturday! It is a great way to donate to the Educated Refugee Foundation. Below is the flier for the event and then click on the links if you want to know more about their purpose and programs. There is a 5K, a Kids Mile Run, food trucks, art and music! It will be awesome!

There are so many men, women, and children that stand in need and there are countless opportunities to serve and support them. This many be one that fits your "time and circumstance"! 

Do Something Nice Day!

It's "Do Something Nice Day" which is a super awesome day!

Is there someone who needs your help?

Needs a smile?

Needs a note of encouragement?

Maybe someone in your family could use some help with a chore?

Help with homework?

Or maybe just someone to play a game with?

Think of something nice you can do today! You won't regret it!

(You can check out our Acts of Love for some fun ideas!)

Give Mom a Hand

On lds.org there is an article called "The Sabbath Was Made for Mom, Not Mom for the Sabbath" by Greg Trimble. I read it today and thought, YES! Mom's do SO much on Sundays but they are in need of a renewing Sabbath Day as well!

So I want you to think about Sunday's at your house. What is your mom doing? Usually she is helping everyone get ready and dressed for church. Then she gathers everything needed for lessons or the littles. She helps everyone sit quietly during sacrament meeting, sometimes taking out a loud or crying sibling (hopefully that's not you, haha). After church she is making meals, attending meetings, playing with kids, providing games or outings for the family, and so much more.

Does that sound like your mom?

Well I've got a challenge for you. 

This Sunday (tomorrow) give your Mom a hand!

Maybe you could make dinner.

Maybe you could help siblings get ready.

Maybe you could do a quick pick up of the kitchen or family room.

Maybe you could entertain siblings while Mom takes a breather.

Whatever way you help, your Mom will be so grateful.

She needs a minute to rejuvenate, to feel spiritually uplifted, and you have the ability to help her!

Helping her Sabbath be a little meaningful with help Mom know what she means to you.

Serving in Secret

There was an article posted in the Church News at the end of January

encouraging the Youth of the church to give service secretly.

It was written by Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson, the YW General President, and she tied it in with the 2015 Mutual theme of how to "Embark in the service of God."

We wanted to share some of our favorite highlights from the article (and encourage you to go read it as well)

because we felt like this was a perfect match up with the Acts of Love

that we shared during the first two weeks of this month.

Sister Oscarson talks about listening for "SOS" signals from those around us.

Many times you will notice that someone seems sad or lonely, or perhaps you don't notice anything different at all but the Spirit prompts you to reach out to them.

You have SO much power to do good, to help these individuals who need a friend.

A simple hug, a note to say hello, an unexpected visit or phone call.

These things and many more can help lift their spirit and help them feel Heavenly Father's love.

And these things can (and should) be done in quiet, without fanfare. Sister Oscarson said, "There is much to be said for the quiet acts of service of which no one ever knows except the one being served and the server." She shares the scripture Matthew 6:1&3 that reads, "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven...But when thou doest alms, let not they left hand know what thy right hand doeth."

We have many opportunities to quietly serve inside and outside of our homes.

You can observe your family members and look for needs they might have - helping a younger sibling with homework, quietly cleaning up a mess you didn't make, or being a positive influence in your words and actions.

Outside of your family, you can take notice of friends or neighbors who may need a hand or just a friend to sit by.

One of my favorite scriptures and one that Sister Oscarson shares is D&C 81:5 where we are asked to "be faithful...succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees."

I promise that when you pay attention to these "SOS" signals from others, when you take time to reach out and lift them up, that good things happen. They will feel your love and in kind the love of God. They will have an added support and strength and perhaps even an answer to prayer. You will begin to feel more confident in your ability to help others and be an influence for good. You will feel the joy that comes in serving God's children and you will begin to see how you can change things for the better instead of being pulled down by problems or negativity.

So take a look around. Keep close to the Spirit.

Who can you help and how can you quietly serve them?

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Good Works Value Experience #3: Read Mosiah 18:7-10, and in your journal list three ways you can comfort others or help them bear their burdens. Do the things on your list, and tell a family member or leader about the experience and how your attitude and understanding have changed.

Acts of Love: Tissue Paper Flowers

Who doesn't love getting flowers!!!!

You could make these easy (and much cheaper than real flowers) Tissue Paper Flowers

for your BFF, mom, grandma, neighbor, or someone else who you think could use some

flowers to brighten their day.

Look below for the links to these easy flower tutorials

and check out our other Acts of Love for ideas of how you can show love for Valentine's Day!

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These easy steps from Craft by Photo

will help you make adorable flowers ;)

We love this multi-colored flower tutorial

from One Crafty Mama

These cool flowers from One Little Project At A Time

use a ball to make the fun and pretty shape!

Lia Griffith shows you how to make these

adorable Poppies!! Seriously, I love these!

Acts of Love: Service Scavenger Hunt

These ideas for a Service Scavenger Hunt are all over the place online, especially Pinterest.

But we feel like it goes perfectly with our Acts of Love series these last two weeks!

So grab some friends, maybe your family, or your YW group and GO SERVE!

It will be FUN and you'll brighten someone's day!

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Find this free printable at Thirty Handmade Days - a great checklist!

At All Things Bright & Beautiful, this free printable  using points!

This one can't be done in one night, but we loved it still!

Some great ideas here from The Princess & Her Cowboys

For a YW activity, this one stays at the church! 

You can find the pic here - source unknown.

On The List Again has this fun idea, 

and you're assigned specific houses to visit!

Acts of Love: Respond With Love

We're getting a head start on tomorrow's Acts of Love!

Most of the time we don't have to give a gift or do an act of service to show love,

we can show love in how we interact with others.

So think about how you can better respond with love towards your family, friends, etc.

I promise it will brighten your day and help others feel respected and loved!

Acts of Love: Brighten Someone's Day

We love this idea from Capital B to help brighten someone's day!

Just print off her free printable, attach to some fun bright candy

and take to someone special!

This is a great Acts of Love for FHE tonight, a YW Activity, or to just do on your own!!!!

Acts of Love: Saying Thanks

Sometimes the best way to show you love someone is to just say "thank you"! 

For Acts of Love today, find a way to say thanks to someone you love - your mom, your BFF, etc!

You could write a note, give a hug, make a treat, or help them with a chore.

Another fun idea is to print off these Free Gratitude Cards from Skip To My Lou and 

leave them hidden around for that someone to find. 

Who doesn't love getting surprise thank you notes?!?!?!

Acts of Love: Sending Sunshine

Do you have a friend or relative that lives far away? 

Even though miles may separate you, you can still show an Act of Love by sending them some Sunshine!

We found so many ideas online for Sending Sunshine, but we'll just share a few of our favorites!

All of them are sure to make someone very happy and feel very loved.

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Instead of making an entire box,

you could make a more simple version like this

Jar of Sunshine from Lovesome

A cute idea from Happy Money Saver

that includes some free printables you could include in your box

From Sassy Style a cute Pocketful of Sunshine

along with ideas of yellow items that can be included!

Some ideas from Popular with the Poplins

for what to include in a Sunshine Box.

We loved how this box from Pillow Thought

was decorated with cute clouds and suns!

Acts of Love: Bishopric Must-Stache

For today's Act of Love we wanted to share this GREAT idea of a Bishopric Must-Stache!

You're Bishopric puts in a lot of time and service into their callings,

sometimes they probably feel like they spend more time at the church than home!

So why not do something to show your appreciation for them by leaving them a "Stache" of goodies!

We love this idea from Life.Design.and the Pursuit of Craftiness!

You can also find a similar take on it at the Farnsworth Blog.

The Young Women put on their best mustaches, went to the store for some treat-shopping,

and then presented it to the Bishopric in a cute little bucket that can stay in the Bishop's office.

What a fun idea, huh?

What other service could you do for your Bishopric? 

Acts of Love: Random Acts of Kindness

For an Act of Love today, think of doing a Random Act of Kindness for someone!

On the blog Seven Thirty Three you can find this cute free printable  that can be attached to 

a bag of candy, a plate of cookies, or anything else that you come up with!

Maybe you could leave it with some change by a pay phone or some candy on someone's car windshield. It could be something for a stranger or your best friend, a neighbor or a relative!

So many possibilities! 

And remember to keep joining us in our 2 weeks of Acts of Love 

to help serve and love those around you!

Acts of Love: Heart Attack!!!

Do you have a friend, family member, or neighbor that could use a heart attack?

Now, not a REAL heart attack of course....

But a fun one for Valentine's Day!

Check out these ideas from our Winter 2014 Issue and make someone's day AWESOME!

And keep joining us in our 2 weeks of Acts of Love to help serve and love those around you!

Acts of Love

It's February which = Valentine's Day right?

But that doesn't mean it has to be all romance and roses!

Over the next two weeks we want to share some fun ways that you can show love to those around you, with no silly boys included!

So jump in and join us in giving Acts of Love to friends, family, neighbors, and more!

And if you have any ideas, PLEASE share! We'd love to hear them!

Good Works Activity Ideas

Need some activity ideas for Good Works?

Check out our list from the Winter 2014 Issue!!!!!

Good Works Value Projects

Did you read our recent article about Good Works?

Today we're sharing from our Winter 2014 Issue some ideas for Good Works value projects!

What other ideas have you heard of or done for yours?

Good Works

From our Winter 2014 Issue

Practicing Charity: Everyday Daughters of God Art Exhibit

If you live in Utah, or are visiting soon, you need to check this out!

The Church History Museum has a new exhibit called:

Practicing Charity: Everyday Daughters of God

My friend Melanie (Hi Melanie!) emailed me about it and as soon as I looked it up online, 

I knew I wanted to go! So last week my sister Kelsey and I visited and it was great!

The paintings are all focused on the YW Values and it's a celebration of women.

For me this was a great reminder of the principles taught in this last Women's General Meeting (March 2014) where so many of the messages focused on the strength of women, the unity we can have when we focus on our similarities instead of differences, and the opportunity we have to love each other better through all stages of our lives.

 Another great thing about the exhibit is that they provide you with a handy dandy workbook that contains three different value experiences to work on while you are at the exhibit! They are for:

Good Works Value Experience 3

Personalized Value Experience for Faith

Knowledge Value Experience 3

 (There are also 2 Faith in God Requirements that Activity Day Girls can do!!)

Three artists were chosen for this exhibit because of their authentic paintings 

of women showing them as real and everyday daughters of God.

These were a couple of my favorites:

Bringing Food by Brian Kershisnik

Climbing Mother by Brian Kershishnik

The paintings are just in one large room and so it doesn't take a lot of time

to stop by and see the beautiful artwork as well as the wonderful reminder of the sanctity and importance of women. It would be a great outing to do with your mom or family, or even as a YW group!

Here are the details and you can also check their website for more info:

If you go, let us know what you think!

Because of Him: I Can Serve Others

Christ is the ultimate example of service.

Of giving His life for someone - everyone - else.

Because of His service we are all blessed.

How does Christ help you serve others?

Love Better

Did you read our first issue of Stand & Shine Magazine that came out yesterday??

If not, go check it out! It's free. And awesome.

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One day I was checking my email and saw a new message from a neighbor of mine.

She was a woman that I knew but not extremely well, 

so I was sort of surprised to see an email from her.

Anywho. Her email was full of kind words and compliments for me!

She told me things that she admired or had learned from me

and that she was thankful we were neighbors.

This definitely came as a surprise/shock/jaw-dropping-what! to hear about myself,

because realistically I don't hear many compliments day in and day out.

(Not that I expect everyone I meet to tell me how amazing I am

- though they would if they knew me. Haha.)

It was such an uplifting message to hear good things that someone else sees in me.

A little boost of confidence. OK. A BIG boost!

I'm not sharing this little experience so my inbox will now be overwhelmed with compliments,

but I'm sharing because it was such an odd thing for me to receive a nice email.

And isn't that true for most of us?

We're really good at pointing out differences.

Maybe just ignoring people we don't know too well.

And maybe just not going the extra mile to tell people what we love about them.

What if we changed that?

One of the many awesome quotes from last week's General Women's Meeting was:

Think about your life.

How can you love better?

Maybe it's sending a message/card/email to a neighbor.

Maybe it's making sure you help your mom with dishes every night.

Maybe it's asking that girl at school, who doesn't seem to have friends, to join you at lunch.

Maybe it's helping all of the young women in your class feel loved.

Maybe it's having more patience with a sibling. 

Think about the people in your life.

How can you love them better?

I promise it makes a difference. 

You can brighten someones day and help them feel loved.

Which is a BIG deal.

Everyone needs to be loved.

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Individual Worth Value Experience #3: Read Doctrine & Covenants 18:10 and 121:45. Do all you can to build others and make them feel of worth. Every day for two weeks notice the worthwhile qualities and attributes of others. Acknowledge them verbally or in writing. In your journal, write what you have learned about the worth of individuals and how your own confidence grows when you build others.