Springview Newsleter September 2010

*Note*
Starting next month, the newsletter will be a lot smaller. It will include the lessons, the Visiting Teaching message and any messages/reminders that I have been given. Also, a sister spotlight will be included at least once a quarter – more often if I receive more. There is a new segment in this issue - an interesting/amusing/inspirational story concerning sisters in our Relief Society. I will also include this as often as I receive stories. Any items that are to go in the newsletter need to be to me by the Saturday before the last Sunday in the month.

September Lessons
September 5 RS Presidency/Group Leadership
September 12 Gospel Principles # 16 Church in Former Times
September 19 The Church Today
September 26 Teaching for our Times General Conference Talk from April 2010 “Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul”

A Story about us
Here is an example of the story I was mentioning above. It was given to me by Sister Sandra Levinson.

Years ago, when I was in a presidency, I was in charge of getting a "preparedness fair" of sorts organized. I assigned out the different areas to others. Some were a bit hesitant and not quite sure what to do. I kept telling them I had confidence in their abilities and, in the end, they all came through with flying colors. Each person had a booth with lots of information and displays. You never know what you are capable of until you trust in the Spirit to guide you.

I would appreciate any other stories you would care to share. There are a lot of experiences that we have enjoyed together. It would be nice to read about them. I had an idea that might be fun. It would be to have a story about a particular sister – but leaving off her name (until the next issue). Another possibility would be to have a story about a particular event – leaving off when or where it took place. It might be fun to guess.

September Recipe
One scripture that I find both comforting and motivational is ECCLESIASTES 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Since the season of fall and the harvest are close, here are some recipes for vegetables and some canning tips. Since some people have a surplus of certain items, this might be a good time to share with those who have less. My visiting teacher, Ellen Clift, has always brought over grapes on her visits in the fall. We have appreciated this greatly.

Back to School
Another important part of this time of year is the starting of a new School Year. There’s an interesting commercial anxiously welcoming in the new School Year. Although they are selling a cereal, Frosted Mini Wheat, they are saying something useful. They even have a back to school resolution contest @ http://www.frostedminiwheats.com/sweepstakesEntry. They also have a link to “Mom’s Homeroom” @ http://momshomeroom.msn.com/. In it there are tips and a chat room to help moms help their kids in school. Even though their main agenda is to sell their cereal, they are giving some useful information. While making back to school a fun adventure, might sound like an impossible task, here are some other tips that might make this a little bit easier.

Health Tip
One of the things that back to school can bring is less sleep. According to WebMd, this can be problematic. While one of the problems is just getting back into the School Year routine, children have specific problems. There is an expression that goes, “If momma ain’t happy, nobody’s happy. Similarly, “If the kids don’t get enough sleep, ain’t nobody going to get enough sleep.” Here are a few tips from the Email newsletter “Real Simple” for getting enough sleep.

Visiting Teaching
There is an old medical maxim that if something isn’t documented, it isn’t done. Record keeping is not just important in the medical world. Since the church has been very serious in keeping records, we know that they are very important. We need to visit and we need to report. Everything is so busy and crazy now days – and things only seem to be getting busier and crazier. However, Heavenly Father blesses when we do what he asks. Sometimes we become discouraged and feel overwhelmed with our responsibilities. Sometimes we feel that if we don’t have long elaborate visits with our Sisters, it’s not good enough – so we might as well not bother (or we plan on doing it but just put it off until it doesn’t get done). In D&C 64:33 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.
S