January 30

Thursday, February 3rd, 6:30 pm at Carmen Sorenson’s home, (yes, THIS Thursday, aren’t you glad January is over?) will be our Midweek Activity.  We will be learning about Fiji, skyping with Brenda Lowry (who currently resides there), and tasting some Fijian cuisine.  Come and have a relaxing night socializing and tasting.  (I'm not sure if we'll come home rejuvenated or really depressed, I mean look at that picture!  Now I have to go turn up my thermostat and eat some chocolate.

Stake Relief Society Basketball is every second, third, and fourth Thursdays, at 8:30 pm at the Stake Center.

Winter is the season in which people try to keep the house as warm as it was in the summer, when they complained about the heat. 

~Author Unknown

I like these cold, gray winter days. Days like these let you savor a bad mood. 

~Bill Watterson

january announcements

The directory for the new year is out.  If you haven't gotten yours yet, let me know and I'll get it for you.
In case you've missed the gigantic poster out in the foyer of the church, here's the digital copy to announce the stake women's conference at the end of this month.

Book Club schedule

Book club is a group of people who meet monthly to discuss a book that we've read.  We are no frills--come as you are, when you can, and generally don't serve refreshments, except for our March potluck and this year, our December meeting.  We are mostly neighbors from the Hyde Park 4th and 8th ward geographic areas (not necessarily all LDS) and invite others from our neighborhood to join us.  We also include friends of those neighbors.  We take turns choosing and hosting the book discussion at our houses.  Currently we meet the third Tuesday of the month at 8 PM, unless otherwise specified.  Anyone who would like to come can contact Julie Latvakoski, and she would be happy to add that person to the book club e-mail distribution list.  In the past, we've read such books as: Three Cups of Tea, Goose Girl, Little Women, The Five Love Languages, Skipping Christmas, and The Number One Ladies Detective Agency.

So now that you know what exactly Book Club is....Here's the revised line-up.  The meetings start at 8 PM, unless otherwise specified:

Tuesday, December 14 (note change, 2nd Tuesday of the month!) at Kathy Castleton's house: We will discuss favorite Christmas books and stories, rather than all reading a new Christmas book for December.  Also, if time, we may discuss other non-book club books we are reading.  Optionally, we will bring a plate of cookies to share.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011 at Pat Marshall’s house: Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference by Warren St. John (336 pages, paperback) who brought Clarkston, GA, to national attention in 2007 with a series of articles about the changes in the small Southern town brought about by an influx of refugees from all over the world. This book comes out of those articles. It gives more detail about the town and, most particularly, the three soccer teams composed of refugee boys (the Fugees) who were coached by Luma Mufleh, an American-educated Jordanian woman. The book is a sports story, a sociological study, a tale of global and local politics, and the story of a determined woman who became involved in the lives of her young charges. Keeping the boys in school and out of gangs, finding a place for them to practice, and helping their families survive in a new world all became part of her daily life.  ***FYI, North Logan Library has 6 copies of this book in their “book club” section.***

Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at Cathy Hansen’s house: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows ( pages, paperback) is set in January 1946. Writer Juliet Ashton receives a letter from a stranger, a founding member of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—no ordinary book club. Rather, it was formed as a ruse and became a way for people to get together without raising the suspicions of Guernsey’s Nazi occupiers. Written as a series of letters, so begins a remarkable tale of theisland of Guernsey during the German occupation, and of a society as extraordinary as its name.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011 (starts at 7 PM instead of 8) at Sandi Smith's house: Food and Books Party: a potluck where we bring food related to some book, eat, and discuss books. 

Happy Reading!

November 21

The Young Women are having Young Women in Excellence is tonight.

Visiting teaching changes are underway.  We will be handing out new assignments soon. Please visit your regular people for the month of November, and your new assignments will start in December.

Our Relief Society Christmas party will be December 4th, at 11:50 am, at the Fishers’ home. Get out your pearls and dust off your fancy hats.  It will be a tea party, except wassail will be served, along with a light luncheon. Lisa Fisher will be giving us holiday and home decorating tips as well. Afterward, anyone going to the Christmas Concert (2:00 pm) can carpool together.

May your stuffing be tasty

May your turkey plump,

May your potatoes and gravy

Have nary a lump.

May your yams be delicious

And your pies take the prize,

And may your Thanksgiving dinner

Stay off your thighs!

November 14

The Young Women are having Young Women in Excellence on Sunday, November 21st,  They need fancy (prom type) dresses in assorted sizes.  If you have one or some that they could borrow, please contact Kjerstin.  They are also looking for temple pictures.  If you would let them borrow yours please let someone in the YW presidency know.

Visiting teaching changes are underway.  We will be handing out new assignments soon. 

Our Relief Society Christmas party will be December 4th, at 11:50 am, at the Fishers' home. Get out your pearls and dust off your fancy hats.  It will be a tea party, except wassail will be served, along with a light luncheon.  Afterward, anyone going to the Christmas Concert (2:00 pm) can carpool together.

October 31

Thanks to all of you who helped and brought food to the funerals.  The familes really appreciated what you did for them.  It is very nice to see how this ward rolls up its sleeves and helps when there is a need.  Plus there are so many good cooks in this ward that you kind of blow people away.

Thanks to the Enrichment Committee (or whatever we’re supposed to call them now) for the great Fabulous Friday night.  The food was great, the crafts were fun and everyone came away happy, and I’m determined to make at least a few Christmas presents from all the great ideas.

Visiting Teaching interviews are are here at the church from 5-8 pm.  I will be calling to cordially remind you of your appointment.  

The annual Single Mothers Seminar will be Thursday, November 11, from 6:30 - 8:30 pm at Bridgerland (BATC) at the south end.  Please tell any single mothers you know.

The Young Women are having Young Women in Excellence on Sunday, November 21st,  They need fancy (prom type) dresses in assorted sizes.  If you have one or some that they could borrow, please contact Kjerstin.  They are also looking for temple pictures.  If you would let them borrow yours please let someone in the YW presidency know.

Saturday, November 13th will be the Worldwide Leadership Training at the Stake Center.

......aaannndd in honor of our Visiting Teaching interviews, a fun little clip.....
Okay, the embedding rights have been revoked, click on the previous post that is entitled Hitler and Home Teaching

Hitler doing home teaching