'Few Of My Favorite Things' - Damascus Ward Relief Society Christmas Social.

How blessed are we?

When you think of everything we have in our lives, be it, home, family, children, food, or 'favorite things', are we truly blessed? I, myself, will say, yes! Wholeheartedly.

Others may say, oh, heck no. My life sucks, I wish I had this or that, life hasn't dealt me good luck, etc... Etc.

Yet, we are alive. We have our health, our body. Some, however,  have ailing bodies and suffer illnesses, disabilities, etc. 

Now, when you think of 'favorite things' what is the first thing that comes to mind? Books, movies, TV shows, chocolate? Or...the famous song sung by Julie Andrews in  The Sound of Music? 

Well, besides that song and everything else I suggested, 'my favorite things' also means - my church women's, Relief Society Christmas social. And, that is what we had last night. A fun gathering of women, enjoying each other's company, having dinner and cake, talking about favorite things, and just having fun.

This, of course, takes hours, days, and months of planning for a couple hours of fun. But, it's worth it to see everyone enjoying themselves and getting to know each other better. Even if it's knowing someone loves, lemon chicken, lemon rice, sunny days, cloudy days, twirling, singing in the car, having friends, etc. etc. 

We decided this year to use brown paper sacks, filled with a star cookie cutter and a saying from an Etsy site called 'papertagged'. I used my Cricut to make the tags with a little difference and tied them to Christ. 

'For you are one of HIS favorite things.' Instead of 'These are a few of our favorite things.'

I went simple this time around, displaying a few of my fav things - Artwork I painted/drew, pictures, Welsh wool Blankets from home, my dad's cardigan, and slippers. (Today would have been his 82nd birthday today- he passed on the 5th Dec - two days before his birthday last year) The cardigan my mam got me for my 30th and last but not least British chocolate.

Sarah brought a picture of the Temple, Kim brought a statue of Christ, Becky brought her nativity

I had sisters, including myself, make/buy cakes for our table centers which were our desserts.

Sarah made German Chocolate Bundt

Kim got a gluten-free Bundt cake

I did a Boston cream with Ferrero Rocher

Annika made a peppermint cake

Shauna made a lemon cake!

I must say a huge thank you to all the wonderful ladies who helped me set up, Sarah, Annika, Narce, Eunice, and all the sisters who helped clear away afterward.

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Cian Ducrot - The Atlantis, DC Concert 2023

 

When you get the opportunity to go see an up-and-coming artist in concert - what do you do? You book the tickets right then and there LOL

And that's what I did for Cian Ducrot as tickets were a steal! $28 each. Mind you, I did kinda make up for the low cost of the tickets when I bought Cian's merch for sale lol 

The Atlantis was the host for Cian's concert and last night, Wednesday, Oct 11th was when we got to see Cian in the flesh and hear his awesome Irish singing voice, not to mention his keen FLUTE playing skills! What a treat that was!

I won't post every video of each song Cian sang - So here's visit my YouTube channel to view them all

But here's my fav song he sang, not that they all aren't fab.

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The Women Who Knew Christ - 2022

This post is so long overdue and as I was cleaning up my pictures (the ones for TWWKC) to make space on my laptop - I stopped and thought - did I post this with the new pictures? 

The reason behind my not posting after holding this program was my father was ill and the chances of him passing were high. I was told we could postpone - but I had spent 3 months planning and I felt the sisters of my ward needed this. 

I needed this and I found solace in serving the sister of my ward as my literal sisters were with my Dad in Wales. To those who follow me, I live across the ocean here in the USA and have been since 2004. My Dad, sisters, and two of my older children along with their kids live in Wales. Which makes times like these, really HARD to cope with. 

Although, as I set up, I had my Dad's favorite kind of music on - Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, etc. that he and mam would rock and roll to before Dad's brain hemorrhage when he was 41. I cried and I laughed, although, I probably cried more. 

When the night drew on, I stayed behind the backdrop, unable to stop my tears, not only from the program but from the feeling of such a strong spirit that all was well. Christ is with me. And the fact my dad was so ill.  Sisters came up to me after the program, tears in their eyes, all touched by the truthfulness of Christ and the testimony of the Holy Ghost witnessing to us that CHRIST LIVES - AND STILL LIVES. So, for me, this time around this program hit REALLY HARD and moved me beyond my expectations.

My dad passed 3 days later after we held this evening that focused on Christ. My life then was a blur for a week as I planned with my sisters and I flew home for more planning and my Dad's funeral. 

So, here we are now, nearly a year later posting this.

I will say this, I've already had a number of requests to send them a copy of this program I did back in 2014 and I will say it here too...please email me and I will send you the copy, gladly. As it is a wonderful program that focuses on Christ and the Women who knew HIM.

This time around, I wanted pictures of CHRIST on every table and everywhere else - entryway, food, and drinks. Afterall this program is all about our Savoir, Jesus Christ.

I purchased these wonderful olive garlands from Tablecloths Factory Which gives each table along with the lights  and muslin a nice touch.

As a gift from the Relief Society, I painstakingly made wood ornaments that feature all of CHRIST's names and pictures of CHRIST. I displayed many on the trees and then the rest in the take-home basket

This is CHRISTS TREE

I have one at home and it's the last tree to go up. It means the most and I ponder each name and picture of CHRIST as I place them on the tree. I hope that from that night each sister felt inspired and went home and with their families had a CHRIST TREE

I also purchased these photography backdrops.

One of the Nativity and one of the City of David in Jerusalem.

Sisters, were eager to take a picture in front of these.

I brought my pictures of CHRIST to display also. The wooden stars, I made at a RS Super Sat

We kept the food simple as in the previous time I planned this program. Dates, almonds, grapes, nuts, seeds, apricots, humus, tomatoes, cheese, pita bread, crackers. etc.

And yes, you spy chocolates. I cannot do any RS activity without incorporating chocolate

As the Savior promised, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). The life and teachings of Jesus Christ give us ways to feel His peace if we will turn to Him.

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Relief Society - Service Auction

Service Auction 

When your church calling incorporates organizing activities, it can sometimes be a tad overwhelming.

Also, rewarding.

This past Friday I organized our Relief Society's Activity.

Service Auction.

The whole evening focused on us ladies in the church, offering our time, talents and acts of service to each other.

I didn't take pictures during the activity as I was the MC/Auctioneer.

But here is a rundown of what I did.

Make Auction Paddles - These were the personal invitations for each sister.

A master winner's copy of what everyone won.

Questionnaire

Tickets for the point amount each sister tallied from the questionnaire

The cellophane gifts were from me. 

On the table above, I did a movie theme: a popcorn bucket, a box of popcorn, boxes of candy, and a bottle of ginger beer.

The one next to it was Jane Austen's theme: Pride & Predicjuce book, Jane Austen theme bookmarks, a mug that says, 'Go to Pemberly they said, he won't be home they said. Box of herbal tea and of course, chocolate.

The farthest ones were a spa-filled basket, an array of boxed candy, and my homemade body sugar scrub.

Carys, my daughter kindly offered her squishmallows and some stuffed toys that we laundered and wrapped in cellophane too.

I also had some fabric-made banners, pink heart wall decor, and a heart hanging decor for a girl's room

I felt that we wouldn't have enough in-person items as we had quite a few after the evening acts of service that sisters choose to do eg: babysitting, gardening, walking, sewing class, and art class.

I also got a couple of fast food gift cards and wood burned a heart with the Welsh word Cyfeillgarwch - which means Friendship.

Overall the sister brought along some wonderful things to auction too: Freshly baked bread and homemade jam, banana bread, fresh produce from a garden, and freshly picked apples with 3 recipes to go with them. Soda and chocolate, Toys, Pasta maker, Pizza maker.

We provided a simple table of treats for refreshment

Being part of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints is wonderful and as Relief Society sisters we get many opportunities to serve one another and those in our charge and in our neighborhoods. 

It's all about being kind, caring, and giving, just Like Jesus Christ did.

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New Floor.

 

As promised, our new flooring. It wasn't an easy job and I was glad we hired Luis to help us. While Luis tore up the old floor, I carried it out to the dumpster. Needless to say - WHAT A WORKOUT.  It took a couple of days to tear out and then a good week to finish the floor. Luis did move our half-bath, toilet, and sink placement too, so that entered into the time frame. But overall.....the floor is stunning and works so well with the color of the stairs, I did. Luis also laid the peel-and-stick tiles in our mudroom/laundry.

I will say this though - I am totally wiped out about doing any DIY for a while lol

The floor color before - and this was the after removing the old kitchen cabinets lol

Midway point.

We choose 

BRISTOL HAND-SCRAPED HARDWOOD FLOORING

FLOOR AND DECOR

I can honestly say, I love it. 

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Relief Society 'T'Party 2023- Damascus Ward

Heard the saying, 'Come full circle.'

It can refer to interior design and fashion. Yes, fashion for me in the 80's and mom jeans! All back in fashion eek lol But, how about activities?

The last time I did this activity for my church was back when we lived in WI. 8 years and 6 days later, I organized the same theme for our RS birthday social again. This social is a yearly event in which we celebrate and commemorate the Relief Society's 181st anniversary on March 17, 2023.

This time round though, I had a little more $$ of my own to spend on it - all of which I'll keep for future parties and activities.

Overall the night was wonderful. I do wish more women came but hey-ho can't have it all lol 

Anyways, below are pictures from the evening. It took me about 2 and 1/2 hours to decorate *all by myself* :/ but with music as my company it wasn't so bad. I have to give a shout-out to Quincy Christianson and the guys who kindly got all the tables and chairs after their basketball game the night before. Thank you. :)

I think you'd agree though the wisteria did a good job of hiding the basketball hoop lol

For 1st, 2nd & 3rd prizes I made up some simple * with help from Lindsay Haley - cute little gifts that consisted of donated teacups and saucers from Alice Truscott and myself, cookie cutters in the shapes of teacups and teapots, shortbread biscuits, bookmarks, chocolate and mini clip-on Fascinators and lavender sachets.

Table settings: I picked up the cutest napkins from T-J Maxx which I used for the teacup napkin and the cut-off parts to tie around the plastic ware. The reusable clear teacups I got from Tablecloth factory - I love this online site! I even got the wedding arch drapery fabric & table runners and square sheer overlays and wisteria in cream and pink. I did, however, find more wisteria at my local thrift store Hardwood House! Like what are the chances! Slim. They had bundles of 5 stems of wisteria for $2.50! I bought all of them lol 

                                    Don't you just love the teacup napkin through the handle!

The cookie cutters, disposable teacups and saucers, and the teapot centerpiece from Amazon.

All of the bookmarks I made. I did buy the digital copies from Etsy: Alice in Wonderland #1 & Alice in Wonderland #2 and the wildflower. I did, however, laminate and add bookmark tassels to them.

I did make all the mini teapots and teacups, cupcake toppers, and hanging displays and banners using my Cricut and Laminator. And i made the Army guards from Alice in Wonderland from foam posterboard. I made pin wheels and crepe paper flowers too :)

I had asked some sisters to decorate the table centers and they did a wonderful job- shout out to Amy Taye, Camille Fredrickson, Jessica Davies & Annika Niven :) Thank you, ladies.

The evening went as follows: Welcome everyone, followed by a light dinner that consisted of cucumber, egg, and cress sandwiches, chicken salad croissants, cheese, veggie platters, fresh fruit, hummus, brownies, ice cream,

and treats brought by some of the ladies, 2 Victoria sandwich cakes made by Sarah & Kate Christianson - Yum :) and I made the cupcakes.

We had a musical number by Shuana & Audry Bastion - they sang Peace in Christ.

Sarah Christianson gave us the spiritual thought, titled, 'Making time for the Lord each day.'

And we had the announcement of the best-decorated hat. So, all in all, I think the night was a 'T' party success :) And was worn out afterward lol ESP as we've been doing renovations at home - new flooring :/ which I'll post soon. 

Denny Stewart won 1st prize

Connie Price won 2nd

Heather Hurren won 3rd

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