Monday, May 31, 2010
June Message
Dearest Sisters,
While the reorganization was due to come, it still brings its fair share of challenges. President Monson said, “One of the most inevitable aspects of our lives here upon the earth is change. At one time or another we‟ve all heard some form of the familiar adage: „Nothing is as constant as change.‟ Throughout our lives, we must deal with change. Some changes are welcome; some are not. There are changes in our lives which are sudden, but most of the changes take place subtly and slowly.”
2010 hasn‟t been the best year for our family. As most of you know, my husband was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer in January. His treatment plan has been broken down into two regimens. The first consisted of twenty chemo infusions given M-F for one month. We got through that, although the side effects have taken a toll on my sweet husband. We are now in the second regimen of treatment, 48 weeks of injections administered three times a week. 48 weeks x 3 injections per week = 144 injections. Each injection is two needle pokes, that 288 shots, for the next year. Even with all the terrible side effects, we are thankful for the opportunity to have a treatment plan in place, no matter how he will feel during treatment. We have just lowered our expectation of what a good day is. We now just say, “This is the new good.”
Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important. Sisters, you are important. You are an important part of the Lord‟s plan and the purpose of Relief Society.
Visiting Teaching is a work of encouragement and love; where you build caring relationships with each sister and offer support, comfort, and friendship. It is amazing how many people we can convert with love and inspire with love. We are “to warn, expound, exhort, and teach, and invite … to come unto Christ.” (D&C 20:59.)
Change has personally come into our lives. We didn‟t intentionally choose this as the path to walk, it chose us. However, we have been able to find strength in this journey. We have been blessed with wonderful gestures of service from family, ward members, visiting teachers as well as from friends in the community.
As we adjust to the changes that will continue in third ward, I hope we will all do so with a positive attitude. We are all members of Relief Society, and the sacred work of visiting teaching is very core of it. I hope that all of you will embrace these changes, and refer to them as „the new good.‟
Sincerely, Cheryl Fowler
While the reorganization was due to come, it still brings its fair share of challenges. President Monson said, “One of the most inevitable aspects of our lives here upon the earth is change. At one time or another we‟ve all heard some form of the familiar adage: „Nothing is as constant as change.‟ Throughout our lives, we must deal with change. Some changes are welcome; some are not. There are changes in our lives which are sudden, but most of the changes take place subtly and slowly.”
2010 hasn‟t been the best year for our family. As most of you know, my husband was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer in January. His treatment plan has been broken down into two regimens. The first consisted of twenty chemo infusions given M-F for one month. We got through that, although the side effects have taken a toll on my sweet husband. We are now in the second regimen of treatment, 48 weeks of injections administered three times a week. 48 weeks x 3 injections per week = 144 injections. Each injection is two needle pokes, that 288 shots, for the next year. Even with all the terrible side effects, we are thankful for the opportunity to have a treatment plan in place, no matter how he will feel during treatment. We have just lowered our expectation of what a good day is. We now just say, “This is the new good.”
Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important. Sisters, you are important. You are an important part of the Lord‟s plan and the purpose of Relief Society.
Visiting Teaching is a work of encouragement and love; where you build caring relationships with each sister and offer support, comfort, and friendship. It is amazing how many people we can convert with love and inspire with love. We are “to warn, expound, exhort, and teach, and invite … to come unto Christ.” (D&C 20:59.)
Change has personally come into our lives. We didn‟t intentionally choose this as the path to walk, it chose us. However, we have been able to find strength in this journey. We have been blessed with wonderful gestures of service from family, ward members, visiting teachers as well as from friends in the community.
As we adjust to the changes that will continue in third ward, I hope we will all do so with a positive attitude. We are all members of Relief Society, and the sacred work of visiting teaching is very core of it. I hope that all of you will embrace these changes, and refer to them as „the new good.‟
Sincerely, Cheryl Fowler
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Happy Mother's Day - May Message
Happy Mother's Day!! You are beautiful and I so love you. A few thoughts have occurred to me this week as I've contemplated being a mother ...
being a mother doesn't necessarily mean that you have children of your own. Kaitlin's sweet bus driver has never been able to have children. It is one of the things she has wanted most. She is a beautiful example of motherhood to me as she so gently, kindly and lovingly looks after the special kiddos on her bus. She is genuine and treats them with such love and respect. She has a "mother heart". Every woman that embraces her divine role as a nurturer will be a mother, regardless of bearing her own children. I am thankful for women in my life and the lives of my children who reach out in love and genuine interest in helping to raise this royal generation of youth.
Another thought ... anyone who says that being a mom isn't hard work has never been one. I think that being a mom has been the hardest thing I have ever done or ever will do. I have had the greatest ups and well as the greatest downs in my mothering. IT IS ALL WORTH IT as I contemplate and try to keep the eternal nature of my calling as a mother in Zion in perspective. Nothing I do will matter if I fail in the raising of my kids and returning them to their Father in Heaven. There are days I struggle wanting to do it all - yes, ladies we wear many hats - don't we?? Yet, the most important thing we do is done within the walls of our own homes with those who matter the most to us. A wise woman recently said to her teenage son, "Don't make me choose between being your friend or your parent because I will always choose parent." Let us remember sisters that it is our responsibility first and foremost to be our kids "mom" and as we do this friendships will happen, our kids will respect us more and there will be love at home. Parent first, friend second. Something to ponder.
Last thought, in our quest to return our kids to their Father in Heaven, we need to make sure we are teaching the gospel in our homes, literally and by example. The most important "investigators" we have are within the walls of our own home. We must be diligent every day in our reading of the scriptures - individually and as a family, praying - individually and as a family, serving others in and out of our home, keeping the covenants we've made at baptism and in the temple, keeping the commandments, and standing as an example of Jesus Christ - whose name we bear. As we do these things, our children will say of us as the stripling warriors said of their mothers, "We do not doubt our mothers knew it. " ( Alma 56:48) They had been taught by their mothers and had firm testimonies in God and Jesus Christ that if they relied on that faith and didn't doubt that they would be delivered. They were delivered - and our children will be "delivered" as well - IF WE DO ALL THAT WE CAN to instill in them faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and in their Heavenly Father. We must help them build a firm foundation ... "upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God ... that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, WHY??? ... because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." (Helaman 5:12)
More than anything else as a mother, I want for my kids to be safe and protected - to be strong in their convictions and firm in their faith. It is my prayer that each of us would rise to the occasion and be the mother the Lord wants and knows we can be. We cannot be lax in our quest ... if we want to win we must press forward, clinging to the knowledge we have and the faith we have built and lean on the Lord in all that we say and do. Being a mom is work - the best and most fulfilling work we do. I love you and support each of you. I am here for you and am with you in the charge to do all we can for those within our own homes or those for whom we have stewardship over. Nurture your "mother heart" and the Lord will be with you in this most important work. I love the work of the Lord ...
Sincerely,
Jennifer Hadfield
being a mother doesn't necessarily mean that you have children of your own. Kaitlin's sweet bus driver has never been able to have children. It is one of the things she has wanted most. She is a beautiful example of motherhood to me as she so gently, kindly and lovingly looks after the special kiddos on her bus. She is genuine and treats them with such love and respect. She has a "mother heart". Every woman that embraces her divine role as a nurturer will be a mother, regardless of bearing her own children. I am thankful for women in my life and the lives of my children who reach out in love and genuine interest in helping to raise this royal generation of youth.
Another thought ... anyone who says that being a mom isn't hard work has never been one. I think that being a mom has been the hardest thing I have ever done or ever will do. I have had the greatest ups and well as the greatest downs in my mothering. IT IS ALL WORTH IT as I contemplate and try to keep the eternal nature of my calling as a mother in Zion in perspective. Nothing I do will matter if I fail in the raising of my kids and returning them to their Father in Heaven. There are days I struggle wanting to do it all - yes, ladies we wear many hats - don't we?? Yet, the most important thing we do is done within the walls of our own homes with those who matter the most to us. A wise woman recently said to her teenage son, "Don't make me choose between being your friend or your parent because I will always choose parent." Let us remember sisters that it is our responsibility first and foremost to be our kids "mom" and as we do this friendships will happen, our kids will respect us more and there will be love at home. Parent first, friend second. Something to ponder.
Last thought, in our quest to return our kids to their Father in Heaven, we need to make sure we are teaching the gospel in our homes, literally and by example. The most important "investigators" we have are within the walls of our own home. We must be diligent every day in our reading of the scriptures - individually and as a family, praying - individually and as a family, serving others in and out of our home, keeping the covenants we've made at baptism and in the temple, keeping the commandments, and standing as an example of Jesus Christ - whose name we bear. As we do these things, our children will say of us as the stripling warriors said of their mothers, "We do not doubt our mothers knew it. " ( Alma 56:48) They had been taught by their mothers and had firm testimonies in God and Jesus Christ that if they relied on that faith and didn't doubt that they would be delivered. They were delivered - and our children will be "delivered" as well - IF WE DO ALL THAT WE CAN to instill in them faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and in their Heavenly Father. We must help them build a firm foundation ... "upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God ... that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, WHY??? ... because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." (Helaman 5:12)
More than anything else as a mother, I want for my kids to be safe and protected - to be strong in their convictions and firm in their faith. It is my prayer that each of us would rise to the occasion and be the mother the Lord wants and knows we can be. We cannot be lax in our quest ... if we want to win we must press forward, clinging to the knowledge we have and the faith we have built and lean on the Lord in all that we say and do. Being a mom is work - the best and most fulfilling work we do. I love you and support each of you. I am here for you and am with you in the charge to do all we can for those within our own homes or those for whom we have stewardship over. Nurture your "mother heart" and the Lord will be with you in this most important work. I love the work of the Lord ...
Sincerely,
Jennifer Hadfield
Super Saturday
Super Saturday is coming Saturday May 15th. Contact Judy for order forms, and place your orders by May 10th. This will be a fun afternoon with your sisters.
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