December 21, 2008

Sunday Spiritual 12/21

Announcements:
  • There will be no activity this week since it falls on Christmas Eve.
  • FHE we will be going out Christmas caroling-I'm not sure exactly where but I would recommend bringing a good coat!
  • Yes, BYU really lost their bowl game, badly.
  • Institute classes will start back up on January 6th.
  • Everyone is entitled to have a Merry Christmas. If for any reason you do not see this as being possible please let Steve or Jamie know and we'll be sure to spice it up a little (sorry, nothing illegal).
  • The Christmas Dance last night was fun and Catherine commented on how impressed/surprised she was at how many people were actually dancing (real dances, not just swaying until you get dizzy and fall over). If anyone has pictures from the dance they would like to share please email them to me and I'll post them.

Callings:
Sustained:
  • Nichole Santos - Employment Specialist
  • Megan Rackam - Relief Society Missionary Specialist
  • Clint Kimber - Ward Prayer Coordinator
Released:
  • Nichole Bennett - Gospel Doctrine Instructor
  • Josh Webster - Ward Missionary
  • Nichole Hone - Relief Society Enrichment Committee
Our sacrament meeting program featured two guest speakers and two Christmas songs sung by the choir. The choir did a great job and we appreciate all those who volunteer and practice every week, and Molly for doing so well in orchestrating their talent.

Brother Ferry's daughter Laura spoke on Charity, and the high councilman spoke and shared thoughts from Elder Maxwell.

Linger Longer was "your favorite Christmas dish" which was a huge hit. So huge that by the time Steve got to the line all that was left was frosted bunt cake. Thankfully Steve really likes frosted bunt cake, evidently so much it makes him refer to himself in the third person. Thanks to the linger longer committee and all those that pitched in to make it a success!

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!!

December 7, 2008

Sunday Spiritual 12/7

Today was fast & testimony meeting, and I gotta tell you, I've never understood why they call it "fast". I mean I love hearing testimonies as much as the next back-row attendee, and it's great to dedicate a day's worth of food to help ppl in need, but I get rilly rilly hungry and somedays it seems to take FOREVER. k enough about that....the meeting was great as always, we even went over b/c so many ppl wanted to get up.

Announcements:
  • Ward Prayer has officially changed time to 8PM.
  • The Elder's Quorum bowling & pizza party is this Saturday 12/13 at 1PM (meet at the bowling alley).
  • Activity on Wednesday is "Live Clue"-please do not bring real weapons (yes, a candlestick evidently is a real weapon).
  • Tithing Settlement is underway, please talk with Matt Jensen to schedule an appointment with the Bishop.
  • We are planning on going down to the Draper Temple open house in January, signup lists are being passed around during classes.
  • Applications for the "Mr. Eagle Mountain" pageant held next spring are now being accepted. Participants are guaranteed deepened spiritual capacity (not implyin' that they need it), and the winner will be granted a super-hottie eternal companion.*

*In the incident that a suitable companion cannot be found, a silver tiara and genuine certificate of award will be presented by our hosts-which can go right next to your "I made AP" plaque with the photo of you & your mission prez. Contestants must be at least 18 years of age to enter and must be legal U.S citizens. In the event that contestant(s) violate any of the above, or are found using performance enhancing drugs, sabotaging other contestants, or swaying voters above and beyond objectionable criteria, will promptly be set on fire. The winner inherets all goods or belongings to the violating attendent (like in monopoly), including any and all of the following: unlimited text access to significant others, any accumulated college credit and/or degree(s), your bunk bed, shopping spree with your oustanding credit cards, invitations to family gatherings, unlimited access to family's fridge, and any/all personal possessions.

December 2, 2008

Elder Wirthlin Passes Away


Taken from the Deseret News:

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, the oldest living apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died at 11:30 p.m. Monday at the age of 91.

Elder Wirthlin's son Joe said Elder Wirthlin had gone to bed at his Salt Lake City home, and died peacefully of causes incident to age. His oldest daughter, Jane Wirthlin Parker, was present. A member of the family had been staying and caring for Elder Wirthlin, whose wife, Elisa Young Rogers Wirthlin, died two years ago.

The release said Elder Wirthlin had continued to work at his office right up until the Thanksgiving holiday. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Elder Wirthlin's last major public appearance was at the church's most recent semi-annual general conference in October, when he shared an address many church members have since used in lessons and as a guide in dealing with personal challenges. Titled "Come What May and Love It," he spoke of a challenge after his football team lost a tough game.

As he complained about the game to his mother, he received advice that he said had stayed with him all his life. "Joseph," she said, "come what may and love it." She had taught them to "trust in themselves and each other, not blame others for their misfortunes and give their best effort in everything they attempted."

"When we fell down, she expected us to pick ourselves up and get going again," he said. "In spite of discouragement and adversity, those who are happiest seem to have a way of learning from difficult times, becoming stronger, wiser and happier as a result."

He also spoke of death, saying "life will continue on the other side of the veil. There we will be given new opportunities. Not even death can take us from the eternal blessings promised by a loving Heavenly Father."

He reminded Latter-day Saints that top church leaders are not immune from challenges that members face. "There may be some who think that general authorities rarely experience pain, suffering or distress. If only that were true.The Lord in His wisdom does not shield anyone from grief or sadness."

You can read the rest of the story here

Elder Wirthlin's last conference talk- Come What May, and Love It

What a great man and witness of the Savior Jesus Christ! I am sad to see him go-I hope we all can remember his family in our thoughts and prayers.

November 30, 2008

Sunday Spiritual 11/30

Announcements:
  • Christmas Devotional next week December 7th @ 6PM, root beer floats afterward.
  • There is still equipment left over from the river trip, if it is still there in 2 weeks it is being donated to the DI (pictures of leftover stuff below)
  • Elder's Quorum party December 13th @ 1PM, pizza will also be provided. BYOGS - bring ya'own goofy shoes (if ya have 'em).
  • Relief Society enrichment December 11th @ 7PM, Christmas breadmaking
Callings:
Jeff Hale - Building Coordinator (and lights-off building-locker-upper)

Sacrament Meeting was on "holding to the rod", speakers:
Nancy Gee
Chad Price (who volunteered to speak!! Ya, I know-he's gotta be a little mental)
Shauna Braeggar
Andee Wilkins

A special lesson was given in RS/EQ by Sister Packer & Bishop Packer respectively, they talked on moral & dating standards, they also handed out really cool laminated cards (tho I somehow managed to cut myself on mine). Here are the items on the card:

Standards for Celestial Dating
  1. Do not date unworthy members or nonmembers
  2. No hugging and kissing sessions
  3. No french kissing
  4. No parking
  5. Never go into a home or an apartment alone with a date
  6. Never, never go into a bedroom
  7. No back rubs
  8. Do not lie down on top of each other
  9. Attend only wholesome activities
  10. Dress modestly
  11. Date in groups or double date most often (Bishop clarified single dates are ok for our age group)
  12. No late hours
  13. Be responsible for your own activities
  14. Discuss dating standards with your dates
Other side:
  1. Beware of the horizontal....never lie down with a date - not to watch a movie, not to take a nap, not on a picnic....never.
  2. Beware of the dark - keep the lights up and don't go to places that are dark in spirit.
  3. Dress modestly.
  4. Don't be alone - go where you can easily be interrupted to have your private conversations.
Say "NO" to inappropriate situations and Behavior.


River trip stuff (on the stage)

November 26, 2008

Need your help!

k so this thing is kinda history class-like stale (sorry!), I've been Mission Impossible MIA the last couple of weeks and Jamie got a restraining order against me so I can't ask her what's going on (ya... she got offended at her stick figure caricature in the bikini-like I was sooooo implying somethin about her moral character with that pic!!). I don't git it-it's like when u tell someone their hottiddy-hot and there like "ewww shut up you pig!" my ? is how in the world does a pig call you hot anyway!?! If you think pigs are talking to you I think pplz calling you hot is the least of your probs! srsly! CHARLOTTE'S WEB IS NOT REAL LIFEZ!! k not rilly about the restraining order (not yet anyway) but....rilly I'm not in the loop on a lot of stuff so if I miss importante announcement plz gimme the 411!

So now that Thanksgiving is almost here, Christmas is right around the corner. I was talking with the Bishop last night and we were trying to come up with ideas of something the ward could do this Christmas -like a Toys for Tots drive, or maybe buy some holiday stuff and pass it out at a hospital, u know-that kinda nice warm fuzzy thing you can use as ammunition this season to throw in your extended family's face when they baffled-ask you "YRU not married?" (geee... I don't know I GUESS I AM JUST 2 DARNED BUSY BRINGING ETERNAL JOY INTO CHILDREN'S LIVES WITH TRANSFORMER ACTION FIGURES... GOSH!). b/c srsly why would we want to give up our way fun single lives 4 boring, hard, responsibilities 'n naggin anyway?! Football Saturdays >>> Mowing the lawn

So this is where you come in-help us come up with some ideas! Email or comment below if you have any suggestionz of something we could do to "bring the spirit of Christmas" into our ward.

Oh and if any of you knows some-1 that needs a place to go for Thanksgiving-let me know! I am going to spend most of it messing with my brother-in-law and could use a larger audience. Altho Mom is on a "healthy = happy" vegan binge lately so this year we're having "turkey tofu"-but she did have it sculpted into the shape of a turkey, so it'll prolly be gone b4 anyone notices anyways.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

November 16, 2008

Sunday Spiritual 11/16

Announcements:
  • Basketball is cancelled this Thursday because of Ward Temple night.
  • We have had problems with cell phones causing interference with the audio system in sacrament meeting. Because of this we would please ask you to turn cell phones off unless you absolutely have to keep it on (work, family emergency, etc).
  • Ward Temple Night is this Thursday, Endowment session meets @ the church at 5:45, baptisms meet at 6:15-for the 7:00 session. Meet at Farr's across the street after.
  • The gym will be open to play volleyball at 6PM on Thanksgiving day-if you're awake from your turkey nap by then.
Sacrament meeting was provided by the High Council. That's all!

November 12, 2008

Adventures of a whiteboard

k so sum of you prolly already know, but singles wards are pretty hoppin. Pplz move in and out all the time, sum buy sparkly rocks on golden rings for each other and they just disappear (srsly where do they go?). It’s a big job trying to keep callings full and make sure new pplz have fun stuff to do. We spend lots of time early morning every Sunday which makes me very yawny and crave a big coke-cept it’s on the sabbatical and everyone knows if you buy stuff on sabbatical it always tastes gross and gives you bad feelin during churchie.

Bishop has been tarin his hair out so much over it he tells us we need a better way to keep track of callings and new pplz. Sister Packer says their shower drain is gettin way clogged (ewww) and calls me sooooo distressed sayin “Steve you gotta do something!” - so Dave and I put our heads together *clunk-clunk* and we decides a whiteboard like snazzy mission presidents use wood be perfection.

So I embark on Indiana jones journey for a whiteboard, but it’s the end of the year and our budget makes Steve and Bishop very frowny, so we rilly has to git a good deal. Not proud of it-but sum stuff Steve has done, like Indy 500 racin’ shoppin carts and jammin on the basketball hoop over small smelly kids makes me attentionized in sum… well most stores. I walk in and grumpy with black pants and cap gun comes to talk to me and I get rilly annoyed cuz he always gets in my personal space and has bad onion breath!! gross! I got to haggle $ with them so I come up with a disguise they can’t xpect.


Now I am hidden in ninja-mode and makin only whoosh-whoosh noises when I move my arms instead of tap tap footsteps. My first test is smiley greeter man.

He seems harmless-like so I lower my voice undetectable n’ make some scary grunts to catch him off guard. He says the whiteboards are way back and at this point I’m soooo wishin I had rethought my disguise cuz walking backwards is rilly hard! Plus I can barely breathes and startin to get dizzy-I move for a motorized wheelchair but he grabs my arm and starts tugging me. Which was okays-I like escorts but then he holds my hand and my stranger danger radar starts goin off! I try to be calm but I start huffin and puffin and pretty soon I’m blackout and ppl are fannin me. They askin if I’m ok 'n all I can say is “ask me laterz “ but comes out muddled 'n I guess they thought I said “alkacaesar”, so they make me eat gross white lifesaver that makes me all rabid-dog frothy like when I was 6. :(

I finally get there and they only have small ones-I guess for smurfs. Smiley greeter man is all proud but I am mad and crampy from the alkacaesar. Good thing my disguise doesn’t give it away, I’m blank faced like the president when they ask him hard question.




At first I was rilly down about the smurf boards cuz I only thought they were in ocean places like California. But then I remembered Nephi and how he kept tryin’. So I leave that place and tries nother. Turns out this was better-just goes to show that sometimes it is only after the trial of your faith that whiteboard can be made manifest.


I go in and viola! They have perfect size and even has magnetic field to use darts for callings and when we get bored in meetings. I lose the disguise and breathe a huge sigh of relief, but on way home I see downer beggar and decide to put my whiteboard ‘n mad art skillz to use to cheer ‘em up!


He doesn’t see me at first but then he jumps up like he’s not hurtin' at all! He throws down the sign 'n rips off his heavy breather head and makes way funny faces!


He realize after that it was just a pitcher and we has a good laugh. We best buddies now.

Bishop Packer is way eggcited about new board he gives me big hugz and says flatterin things like “you so smart and dependable” and how he doesn’t know how he’d live without me-of course I already know, but good to see he’s realizin’.

Sum of you prolly remember Pres Monson’s talk about “they pray and they throw”, well we do it, but dunna worry-only bishop gets to throw the darts.

Yup, new EQ President. Rest is blurred so gossip network doesn’t speculatin about who is going to replace me when bishop finally sees this blog.


November 9, 2008

Sunday Spiritual - 11/9

Announcements:
  • Ward Prayer has been changed on Sundays from 8:30 PM to 8:00 PM.
  • Linger Longer next week is "Thanksgiving Dinner", please volunteer to bring food-the turkey will be provided but everything else (mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, etc.) is more than welcome.
  • On Wednesday, Nov. 19th we will be having a "Food Service Auction", where you bring items or services to be auctioned off. All items are bought with cans of food which will then be donated to the Brigham City food pantry. Feel free to get creative with your auctions, in previous years people have auctioned off golf lessons, baked cookies, etc.
  • Next Sunday the Relief Society is having a bored meeting for all those with a calling in the Relief Society. The meeting is at 9:15AM next Sunday (Nov. 16th) in the Relief Society room.
New callings:
Andy Harris - Building Coordinator

Our sacrament meeting program was provided by our new Elder's Quorum:
Austin Phipps - Secretary
Dan Farnes - 2nd counselor
Jeremy Thornock - 1st counselor
Tom Kotter - President

They talked mostly on service and how the Elder's Quorum had impacted their lives. One quote that was shared that stood out to me was given by President Monson:

"it is in doing-not just dreaming-that lives are blessed, others are guided, and souls are saved"

I would encourage all of us to reach out and try to be that person that helps someone around us. Personally I don't know if I would be where I am today if someone had not reached out and tried to help me during a critical point in my life. When we try to help others I know we will have our Heavenly Father's help!

Hope you all have a great Sunday!

November 6, 2008

Utah Utes too scarey for purple kermits (TCU horned frogs) - Utah 13 TCU 10

MMMMKKKKaaaaayyy so I know this is supposed to be all about Eagle Mountain Ward "stuffs", and you are wondering why I'm wasting precious space talking about big guys with holy clothes trying to push each other down, but it fits perfectly let me xplain!

So we all know BYU is big time church school, like even tithing goes to make it warms in the winter and cool in the summer, and pays all those smart ppl who have fancy papers in pitcher frames with weird words on them (my friend told me they are latinns, and only smart ppl knows what they mean-and I believes him!). We know that BYU has a football team and eventually it has to play Utah's football team at the end of the year-seeeeee it's sooo church related! Plus President Hinckley and like most of the cool apostles went to the University of Utah, and Elder Wirflin even played football himself & ran lots like Forest did!

so anyway the game was way funz!!! Here are some pitchers!


At first I didn't know what to think about these scary dark uniforms and I thoughts they were death vaderz from star wars! Then they started flashing gang signs and I calmed down:


Someone got mad about the gang signs so they had to resort to making really scary faces in their reawwy-reawwy scary black uniforms:



more scary faces!!


all the yelling made me really firsty so I went to get some hot chocolate, but then I could not believe my eyes! They didn't even know how to play!


Scary faces was workin - but these guyz aren't <3 less so they made it hugz time!


hugz time worked so well those purple froggies let us have some more points, which led to some chest-bumpin




There I am in the background during the game-winning touchdown!!! Yaay!



Congratulations Utah Utes!!!

Oh yeah - and I heard that we had a great turnout for basketball tonight, thanks to all who spread the word and invited your friends! See you next week!

November 5, 2008

Election results

Okay so unless you've been living under a rock like that one guy from Encino Man you've probably heared all about the elections and ppl in ties talking about how they are going to change our country (but what are they changing? I hope not a lot bcuz I lub America).

Since I live just outside long-range TV broadcastings, I spent about 45 mins. putting extra tin foil on my antenna, then had to tilt my TV just right so I could watch all the interesting coverage (36 incher, I'm feelin pretty buff right now). I'm glad I did, cuz I found out Brother Ferry was elected to the Utah House of Representatives!! Yay for Brother Ferry!

To see the list of all those other ppl you haven't ever heard of, who are going to be running Utah for the next few years check out: https://secure.deseretnews.com/utah/election/candidate/0,5022,d,00.html

Janessa and Chris are engaged!!

Okay, I really debated putting this out there just because I don't want to jinx anyone. I would hate to think this was publicized all over cyberspace and mysterious chi energy would gather and strike out at them - sort of like the time I announced that I got a donut as big as my head and then my pet fish died!!! :(( I was srsly SOOOOOOOOOO MAD!!! Why does the internet get sooo jealouz about my HUGE donut and kill my pet fishie? Bad internet!! Grrr...

I went ahead anyway because now my pet fishies are all dead and Obama already won the presidency, so what bad stuff can possibly happen? Okay I know, cheap shot-and really I didn't even vote because Tuesday was my meditation day. Everyone can tell these guys were made for each other, not even scary internet energy can breakz 'em up!

Congratulations to you two, you can see they are just as excited as the rest of us!! They don't have a date set yet, but are planning on sometime in the spring when they can take pretty pitchers!

(they really acted happy when I talked to them - I think they were a little miffed that I was takin their pitcher when they are ward pitcher takers!! I know, I don't have any boundaries - Congratulations you guys!!)

November 1, 2008

Halloween Dance

We had our ward Halloween dance, and of course a great time was had by all. Mamie did a great of of decoratin, DJ'in, and giving out groovin prizes & the attendees did a great job of breaking in our new gym floor with some great dance moves.

Some tried to start the classic zombie dance from Michael Jackson's Thriller in light of the 25-year anniversary, but we quickly reminded them that while Michael Jackson was way cool ppl back when Thriller was made, now he's mostly a plastic ppl and we don't like plastic pplz (scary)! They melts when they really hot, like when normal ppl get sweaty or at firesides.

If you have any pictures you snagged please let us know!


Chairs are for chillin'



And when he's not looking, I'm going to take that hat


who is this guy?



Yup, I has a tail.


I think these guys officially win the cutest couple award, but I just have to wonder - are their kids going to be bright yellow with really big hats? :O


And you thought Kathy Bates from The Waterboy was just kidding when she told her son Bobby "girls are the devil"


Uh oh - the camera caught me dancing
(you can't tell from the picture but a frantic chase ensued)


Gettin' jiggy with it


Good eats



Like brother, like sister, or something like that...


Wait - you put WHAT in the chili?!?


I'm not looking at the camera man even though I'm trying really hard to look at the camera man.


Ya we came as ourselves, be afraid!



happy to be here


haha, I finally did it - I killed Dorothy!


Early on we had some communication issues but we got them all worked out.


Don't let the smile fool you, he'll cast the imperio curse on you if you miss your appointment with the Bishop. Slytherin's quidditch tryouts will be held in the spring.

Hey!

This is the place where you can get the latest info on the ward, and see what a fun time we have just a couple of blocks behind Shopko.

If you have any suggestions of how to make this blog better, please keep them to yourself!

I say good day!