February Relief Society Meeting

We will be having our next Relief Society meeting on February 11 at 7:00pm. It will be at Sister M's home. Our two topics are Crock-Pot Cookin' and Soil Testing.

We are excited to gather as many crock-pot recipes and quick Sunday evening dinners as we can. If you would like to contribute a recipe, please email Sister F or Sister M as soon as you can. We are excited to have a recipe booklet to pass out on Thursday evening. We will be tasting some crock-pot recipes as well.

For the soil testing, please bring a little sample of your garden soil so we can test it to see what nutrients you will need for this year's upcoming planting season.

We hope to see you there. If you need any additional information, please contact a member of the Relief Society presidency.

First Relief Society Meetings for the New Year Announced!

Sisters,

We are excited to announce the first Relief Society Meeting (formerly Enrichment Meeting) of the new year. We will be learning haircutting tips and discussing tips for living a healthy lifestyle. The meeting will be on January 14 at 7:00. Location for this meeting will be announced shortly.

Below is a tentative schedule for 2010 Relief Society Meetings
All meetings will be held on the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 unless conditions require a change.

If you would like one of these activities in your home, please notify a member of the Relief Society presidency.

February: Pregardening and Canning
March: Interior Design and Flower Arranging
April: Service Projects—Light House Cleaning and Drop-off of Flower Arrangements
May 1: Stake Relief Society Meeting
June: Manicures/Pedicures and Patriotic Crafts
July: Music and Cultures
August: Computer Skills and Photography
September: TBA and General Relief Society Broadcast
October: TBA
November: TBA
December: TBA

Relief Society Message

With the new year already upon us, the excitement of “starting over” has already begun. Many of us are scrambling to make goals for the future, committing to do better, be better, and look better. As we focus on the things we would like to improve, it is my hope that we remember the words of the Lord: “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great” (D&C 64:33).
Our purposes here on Earth are many, tailored to our own abilities and potential. However, we all are working together to do our Father's work. He may need one sister to accomplish tasks far different from those assigned to another sister. The tasks our Father gives to us are unique to our circumstances and abilities. As we make goals for the new year, let us be in tune with the spirit to discern what things we should do to aid us in our tasks ahead.
Our goals may touch on one or more of the following areas: temporal, spiritual, physical, emotional, and financial. As we strive to improve in all of these areas, we will be more at peace, more able to feel the promptings of the Holy Ghost. We as sisters are by no means secondary in our Heavenly Father's plan to bring forth His kingdom on the earth. Though our contributions may seem small, we are indeed helping to accomplish great things.

Relief Society Message

As many of you may recall from this year's General Relief Society meeting, Sister Julie B. Beck, General Relief Society president, announced some changes to our meetings. What was formerly known as Home, Family, and Personal Enrichment (more formerly known as Homemaking Meeting) will now be known as Relief Society Meetings. Along with this change comes a new challenge. Sister Beck reminded us of the purpose of Relief Society and then asked us to prayerfully and carefully plan meetings that would appropriately meet the needs of the sisters. The purpose of Relief Society is to:

1. Increase faith and righteousness
2. Strengthen families and homes
3. Serve the Lord and His children
   

We as sisters were invited to a planning meeting to better understand the needs of the sisters. Those that were able to attend gave us wonderful ideas for meetings for the next year. Our plan for 2010 is to meet monthly, in sisters' homes where possible, to receive instruction, serve one another, and to strengthen each other.

In order to meet the needs of more sisters, we will be addressing two topics during each meeting. A complete list and calendar for these meetings will be distributed in January. Some of the ideas were gardening, interior design, crafts, photography, music, cultures, and living a healthy lifestyle. Please join us next year as we strive to strengthen our bond as sisters in Zion.

A Message From Elder Uchtdorf

Sisters, this video is available at lds.org in the Relief Society section of Serving in the Church. It's just a quick reminder of how remarkable you are!

Presidency Message

After a long and eventful winter, spring is just around the corner. As the ground begins to thaw and the flowers begin to peek through the ground (yes, it will happen soon!), my hope is that we will think of renewing our resolve to blossom and bloom ourselves. We as women have a tendency to think less of ourselves and to speak ill of our looks, our personality, and our accomplishments. We often compare our situations to others and feel that we come up short. This is not true. Sisters, you are wonderful, beautiful spirits. You have talents and strengths that no one else has. You were sent to Earth in these latter days to help prepare the world for the coming of the Savior.
It may be difficult to look inward, but my challenge for this month is to do just that. Find your strengths. Acknowledge them. Build on them! Your circumstances may not be ideal, but if you are willing to do these things, the Lord will bless you and show you how wonderful you really are. You may wish to focus on the following areas:

1. Physical beauty
2. Physical strength
3. Emotional strength
4. Spiritual strength
5. Creativity

As you work on blossoming yourself, remember that the gifts you have been given are from our Heavenly Father. Enjoy them and develop them, but remember to also use them to bless your family and those around you. If you do these things, you will begin to understand what a precious daughter of God you really are.

A special note to mothers: please read the following talk by Elder M. Russell Ballard: “Daughters of God,” Ensign, May 2008, pgs. 108-110 (also available online at http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=9694558fcc599110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1

Stake Food Storage Tips

“Today While the Sun Shines”
March: Get out of Debt

1. Pay tithes and other offerings.
2. Don’t ignore your debt.
3. Create, use, and stick to a family budget.
4. Work towards paying off your highest interest debt.
5. Contact creditors and explain your situation.
6. Be sure to check your credit quarterly and correct any errors.
7. Build a financial reserve.
8. Teach your family members how to manage money.

More information available at http://www.BePreparedCincinnati.com/