Carol Kendall

Gotta get all 50

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My People

Today is my daughter's birthday and I was reflecting on the fact that my kids are now 21, 19, 17, 15, and 12.  It's hard to believe my "little people" are now all taller than me (save 1, Katie, who has grown and inch  and a half in the last month).

Big or little, these five individuals and the Dad who created them with me are the most important people in my life.  It is my privilege to think and pray and plan and prepare for them every single day.  Nothing else I do compares to the deep satisfaction I feel in being a mother.  It is the best.  I love you!!

Beware the FROZEN Heart...Come Unto Christ

Last Sunday, I (along with my Laurels and their advisors) put on a fabulous New Beginnings with the theme "Beware the Frozen Heart...Come Unto Christ."  We had such a great response from girls and parents that I wanted to share it.  Here is a sample of some of the things we did:

Invitation

Food table

Donut snowmen, blue punch in cups that I colored on the outside with those markers you use to write on car windows.

Theme table with gifts

Gift for every girl:  adjustable bracelet with charm that says "Come Unto Christ", the tag is laminated to be hung in their room or on a bathroom mirror.

Front - we projected the videos here and you can see the snowflakes we had hung from the ceiling.

Program (names taken off for privacy)

ANNA - INVITATION

Leader:  Our theme tonight is Break the FROZEN heart…Come Unto Christ.  When the movie opens, Anna is singing to her sister Elsa asking, “Do you want to build a snowman?”  It is an invitation to her to connect, to love, to be friends and share life together.  Christ is similar to Anna in that He issues that invitation to each of us to come unto Him, to know Him, to love Him and be loved by Him. He is your brother and He wants to be your friend.

_____________________ : In Moroni 10:32 we read: “Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness.”  Henry B. Eyring said, “The words “come unto Christ” are an invitation.  It is the most important invitation you could ever offer to another person.  It is the most important invitation anyone could accept…Every member of the Church, upon accepting the baptismal covenant, becomes a disciple who has promised to stand as a witness of Jesus Christ at all times in any place he or she may be in.  The purpose of our witness is to invite people to come unto him.”

Video: “COME UNTO CHRIST”

Introduction of new Beehives

TROLLS - IMPROVE

Leader:  The trolls describe Kristoff as being a “Fixer Upper.”  Each of us is a fixer upper, too!  Christ wants to help us with this, in fact, we can’t do it without Him.  That’s why we are commanded to “be perfected in him.”  Personal Progress helps Young Women come unto Christ and be like him.

 Video:  “THE MIRACLE OF PERSONAL PROGRESS”

_______________:  Do first part of Good Works #3 (Read Mosiah 18:7-10, and in your journal list three ways you can comfort others or help them bear their burdens.)  Encourage the parents to follow up with their daughters to complete the experience.

ELSA - INSPIRE

Leader:  In the movie, Elsa’s breakthrough comes when she sings “Let It Go” –- she realizes that the greatest freedom she can experience is when she lets go of the things of the world and becomes what she was meant to be.  You, too, are meant to be more than what the world would have you be.  You can become what Heavenly Father intended you to be.  You will accomplish this as you come unto Christ, become perfected in him, and “deny yourselves of all ungodliness.”

_______________:  Are we truly striving to come unto Christ in our lives?  How do we know?  Those who have come unto Christ are those who are striving to become like Him.  They are not striving for worldly things or the approval of the world. 

_______________:  One of the ways Young Women “deny themselves ungodliness” is by participating in worthwhile activities.  These activities bring us together as “fellowcitizens with the saints” (Ephesians 2:19) and help us grow into the kind of people Heavenly Father wants and needs us to be.

Show slide show of past year activities to song "Let It Go"

Bishop speaks

Song sung by all Young Women:  “Come Unto Christ”

I Had To Say

Lots of news the last couple days that it seems everyone is sounding off on.  I don't usually wade into the fray, but I felt it was important for me to say:

Just because something is legal doesn't make it right.

http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/12/19/duck-dynasty-family-phil/

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=28099570&nid=148&title=federal-judge-overturns-utah-same-sex-marriage-ban&fm=home_page&s_cid=featured-1

Cat in the Hat Personal Progress

Our theme for Evening of Excellence was "Oh, the Places You'll Go" from Dr. Seuss.  As YW president, I was asked to talk and since I was dressed as the Cat In the Hat, I wrote a little poem to inspire.  The girls and adults loved it, so I thought I'd share it here.  Feel free to use it in your wards and families too!

Cat in the Hat Personal Progress

If the sun does not shine.

And it’s too wet to play.

Do not sit in the house

All that cold, cold, wet day

Personal Progress is something

For one and for two.

Lots of wonderful projects 

You will love to do!

So pull out your book

It’s for short and for tall.

Don’t just sit in your house.

and do nothing at all.

For if all that you do is to

Sit!

Sit!

Sit!

Sit!

You will not like it.

Not one little bit. 

So listen to me!

I’m the Cat in the Hat!

Listen to me!

And you will not fall flat!

There is lots you can do

and it starts just like that.

Begin building your faith

It is fun that’s not funny.

Plant a seed that will grow

In the sun that is sunny!”

To your faith add patience, kindness,

temperance, and love

These things are all in you,

from your Father above.

As His daughter you are cherished,

He knows and loves you.

Your life’s mission to fulfill

Is what you must do.

Does this seem like a lot?

For I’ve still more to say.

Don’t be discouraged,

Just start today.

There’s so much to learn,

Reading lights up the way!

“Knowledge is power,”

So the wise people say.

Choose the right not the wrong,

Choose the right above all. 

Choose the right not the wrong,

On you consequences fall!

Serving others is key.

Let your light shine so bright.

While you’re helping another,

You’ll be filled with delight. 

Live as you say you believe,

Keep your promises true,

Like our Savior who did

All He promised to do.

One more value to learn

And then you’ll have them all,

One more value to learn,

This is no time to fall!

The temple is your goal,

Pure and worthy you must be.

As a virtuous woman,

Worth more than a ruby.

Chaste in thought and in deed,

Creative power you possess,

Treat yourself as a temple, and

Future lives you will bless.

“Look at you!

Look at you now!” says this cat.

Your Personal Progress all done

I give you a tip of my hat.

A grand path you have trod!

A grand woman you’ll be!

I’ll give you this necklace!

With a shining ruby!

And look!

You get a plaque!

But that is not all!

Oh, no.

That is not all...

To your fellow young women,

You can lend a hand,

Help them walk the path too

And earn all that is grand!

You’ve learned all about prayer,

Taking the sacrament.

You’ve learned of teaching,

Of cooking, and of talent,

Of Atonement and tithing,

Of motherhood and home,

Of standards and blessings,

Of making your gratitude known.

So when your mother comes in

And she says to you,

“Did you have any fun?

Tell me. What did you do?”

I hope that you will know

Exactly what to say.

I hope that you will tell her

All that went on here today.

How you learned and you grew,

And came closer to God,

Prepared to enter His House,

His Son’s path you have trod.

© 2013 Kris Crowther

All Together Again

We spent an amazing, exhausting 12 days together in Korea and China.  It was the best way to reconnect with each other, get to know Josh again, and have him get to know us.  We took family pics at SOO many places!  Here's a sample:

Seoul Korea Temple - this was just minutes after we first saw each other.

Buddhist temple at Mt. Mai in Korea.

Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul.

Border of North and South Korea in DMZ.

Great Wall of China.

Forbidden City and Tiananman Square in Beijing China.

USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Waikiki Beach in Honolulu.

Countdown

Just 20 days until I see this cute son of mine.  I....can't....wait!

What Good Dads Do

Read you books

Coach your basketball team

Carry you when you're too tired to walk

Name and bless you

Go on the wild roller coaster rides with you

Build your race car set on Christmas Day

Get a big belly when you get one

Have picnics and watch movies in the living room

Take you trick-or-treating

Teach you to water ski

Work hard to provide for you

Take you to BYU football games

Miss you when you go away

Celebrate your successes

Mourn when you mourn

Show you that you can do hard things

Wrestle and tease you

Show you the value of a good nap

Love your mom

Love your children

I love you, Dad!

I love you, David!

Mom

I love and miss you so much, Mom.

Happy Birthday to my babies!

We've had some pretty important birthdays these last 6 weeks.  One of my girls hit adulthood, another can now drive and date, and the third can go to youth conference and EFY and dances!  Good times.

Jenna turns 18!  

Alissa turns 14!

Kellie turns 16!

Trying to be like Jesus

I wanted to share an experience that Katie and I had last week.  We were driving into Costco and saw a man standing on the corner with a sign – one of those “please help” signs.  It was a bitterly cold day, probably 8 degrees, and Katie immediately saw him and was concerned.

“Can we help him, Mom?  You have a dollar in your purse.  Can we give it to him?”

I agreed that she could take my dollar and give it to the man on our way out.  The entire time we were in Costco, she talked about the man and how sad it was that he was there and would anyone else help him and give him money.  She also repeated a couple of times that she knew Grandpa would give him money. J

On our way out, we pulled up to the man and she rolled down her window and handed him the dollar.  He took it and said, “God bless you” and we pulled away.

 

“Why did he say ‘God bless you’, Mom?”

“He is thankful that you helped him, Katie, and he wants Heavenly Father to bless you for being kind.”

Her eye welled up with tears and she asked me a multitude of questions. Is there a place he can go to get out of the cold?  How far is it?  Will he have to walk there?  Will someone drive him?  She could not let it go and I was struck by the depth of the compassion that she had in her heart. It was a good rebuke for me to realize that I can be kinder and more aware of and compassionate toward my fellow men. 

A couple of days later, we were talking about it and Katie said, “Do you know why I was so worried about that man, Mom?”  “Why?” I asked.  “Because I thought how I would feel if that was me.”  At the tender age of 11, she already knows how to mourn with those that mourn and to feel the afflictions of another that she may succor them in their need.  

The List

Last night at my birthday dinner, we created a list of things our girls should keep in mind when looking for a potential mate.  It started because we were discussing how people in love lose all sense of reason and do crazy things.   It got a little humorous, but there's some good stuff in there, too.  It is titled....


Qualities In A Guy:  For When We Fall In Love and Lose Our Minds

Honest
Tall
Funny
Handsome
In college working for a degree
Athletic
Someone to talk to for hours
NON-gamer (as in video games)
Return Missionary!!!!
Has a job
Worthy priesthood holder
Supports you in college goals
Football!!!  Non-Utah fan - it's gotta be BYU
Knows how to work hard and make goals (finisher)
Negative blood type  (to avoid those nasty RhoGAM shots when you're pregnant)
Gentleman
Active
Loves his Momma
Baller (as in basketball)
Supportive
Drives a car (not sure where that came from)
Respects your opinion and as a woman
Loves kids
Chef
Willingly serves in callings
Bitter ender (hangs in there when times get tough)
Not prideful
Wants to get married in temple
Respects and likes your parents
Appreciates your wit
Smart
Someone who treats me like my parents treat each other
Not a loser

Here's hoping they keep at least a few of these in mind when the love bug strikes. :)