The Christmas Celebrations Continue!

So, I have been a slacker....but I have found it hard to be one of Santa's Elves and a blogger! Also, our computer got a virus and I haven't been able to use it! I will try and do the last few weeks justice!

December 10 those that were 14 and older combined with the Young Men at the Morris' home, where we had pizza and treats. The Moss family provided at Marriage Panel of 3 couples and the youth all asked them questions! It was so fun to hear their answers and to learn more about dating and marriage. A big thank you to the Morris Family for opening your home to our large crowd and also to the Moss Family for providing all of the entertainment! It was a really great evening.The Beehives had a fun Christmas Party at the Hawker's home. I heard everyone had fun and that they all enjoyed themselves!

December 16th we had a Christmas Movie/Pig Out/Come in your "comfies" party at Sis. Burke's house. We watched the latest version of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." Well, let's just say the movie was going, but mostly we talked, ate, had fun and ate some more! What are the holidays for?!!Chalise got her top Braces off - Lookin Good Chalise! :)

And as if that wasn't enough fun for the month....the Laurels went to GOOD THINGS UTAH!
We were part of the studio audience! Along with the fun of watching the taping of the show and all that goes with that...we got gift certificates to a couple of places and containers of lip balm! Afterwards we went to lunch at a fun Italian place in Salt Lake....just for future reference....don't let Shirelle lead you there! Ha, Ha! We got lost in the avenues, but sure had fun doing it! Talk about a fun girls day out!

(Here we are waiting in the cold to enter the studio!)
(Front Row Seats BABY!!)
(Getting Ready to Start the show)

(All of the "Good Things" Ladies! After the taping!)

We had an Awesome time....can't wait til our next girls day out! Hmmmm....we gotta plan one!
We are off for Christmas and New Years Breaks, but look forward to being back together in January!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Hansen Meadows Young Women!

(Push Pause on our music play list in order to hear the video clip!

Holly Jolly Christmas!

Temple Square was beautiful tonight....and very CROWDED! Apparently we weren't the only youth group to have that idea! The weather was awesome and only a little cold! Everyone had a great time. The proof is in the pics!That is probably more than enough "Proof!" It was a great time had by all, finished off with Hot chocolate and Christmas Hershey Kiss cookies! (And a 1/2 hour drive home!) Merry Christmas! Bring on the SNOW!!

Attitude of Gratitude

This past week we were invited to join the Relief Society for their Enrichment night. They fed us a yummy potato bar and then we were all blessed to hear Brecklyn speak and share her story about losing her leg. We were in awe as she spoke about the journey of this trial that taught her who she truly was and why she was here. She shared her amazing testimony with us about her relationship with our Savior and Heavenly Father. It was a wonderful night.

Which leads me to my thoughts of this upcoming week.....Thanksgiving! As I ponder the things I am most grateful for....high on the top of my list is all of you sweet Young Women. I am blown away at what you have meant in my life in these short 4 months that we have been together. You are true Christ-like examples to me, and for that I am grateful. You lighten all of our lives as we meet each week. You're awesome! Being the only girl in my family, I never had a sister. How grateful I am that Heavenly Father just sent me 30 of you...."Little Sisters!" I'm grateful to all of the leaders that serve with me. What amazing women they are! We are so lucky to live in this ward, to be surrounded by so many good people.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday....We will miss getting together this week, but look forward to seeing the lights next week. Happy Thanksgiving.....Loves to all!

Sis. Burke

Young Women in Excellence

This last Wednesday, November 12, we had our Young Women in Excellence Program. Our theme for the night was "S.T.A.R. - Stand for Truth and Righteousness." We talked about how each of us has the Light of Christ in our lives and as we work on our Personal Progress, we gain a greater testimony of the Savior, and can share that light with others. All of the Young Women who earned their medallions in the last few months, shared some of their experiences along with their testimonies. It was wonderful! The leaders made necklaces for each of the girls along with our scripture for the night - 3Nephi 18:24, to remind each of them to hold up their light and follow the example the Savior had set for them. We finished the night off sharing all of the girls displays of talents and things they are working on this year with our Parents, Bishopric and Stake Leaders. Sugar cookies sprinkled with all of the value colors and punch were served! It definitely was an evening filled with Excellence. Our Young Women are awesome and we learn so much from them each week. There is great talent among our group! Thank you to all who came and supported us and to all who participated in the program. It couldn't have been better!

Popperini 3000's

This last Wednesday we all joined the Beehives in their monthly cooking class. Thanks to Sis. George for hosting and teaching us how to make a yummy "no name" treat that the girls so intelligently named "Popperini 3000!" Not sure how that came about, but we all thought it was hilarious! They wrote the recipe down on really cute cards and we all sat around "pigging out" and talking. It was a really fun night being together! (I decided to give them all a break from being in the light of the camera at EVERY activity, so unfortunately, there aren't any pics. of our fun, Pig Out session!) Thanks to all of the leaders and girls!

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Also, I neglected to mention a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Megan and Mccall for earning their Young Women Medallions. They are a great example to the rest of us and we know they put in a lot of hard work and dedication to reach this tremendous goal. We are so proud of you both. Because they earned it quite early, they will be on our Personal Progress Committee and will help plan and follow through on the Personal Progress activities each month, in order to stay involved and help the other girls reach this point also! WAY TO GO MEGAN AND MCCALL!! We love you!

Happy Halloween!

Our Young Women are so awesome....they even render service on Halloween! We met at the church at 3:30 today to help set up, cover, and decorate all the tables for the Ward Halloween Party and Trunk-or-Treat! Then they all ran home to deck themselves out for the occasion! Some were quite interesting. We had everything from Beauty Queens and psyche ward patients, to hippie chicks and twister games! Oh, how the creativity in this group flows!! Thanks to all of you who came and helped....it was a great time had by all! BOOOOO!!

Night of Integrity

We had a wonderful Personal Progress activity last night....thanks to Sis. Hodson. She chose a goal from the Integrity portion of our Personal Progress book pertaining to fasting. She spoke to us about the importance of fasting with a purpose and a prayer. We learned that it is just "dieting" if we don't open and close our fast with prayer. She shared with us some personal experiences where her life was blessed through fasting. We all committed to fast in the proper way this next coming Fast Sunday and we were given a paper to help us decide on our own personal purpose. We are going to text and call everyone the Saturday before to remind them and then we will have the opportunity to share our experiences in Young Women's that Sunday. Thank you Sis. Hodson for a wonderful Personal Progress night!We finished off the evening with Rootbeer floats from our Awesome Bishop, sugar cookies and caramel popcorn. After filling our stomachs, we ran flyers around the neighborhood to remind everyone about Stake Conference this weekend. We had a great night! We even had some visitors...one from another ward and one that isn't a member! It's exciting to have new Young Women join us!

Here it is....

I just got the pictures from Sis. Lindsey from the night we went to the Haunted House and a few stayed back and decorated sugar cookies! The cookies turned out really cute and they were delivered to some deserving people! Thanks to all who helped with this activity!

Norwegian Waffles......YUM!!

A night with the Beehives is not truly complete until they have done a cute, crazy, silly pose.

Emily is diggin in! It takes a lot of concentration to butter them waffles, huh Alyssa? They were both totally posing in this picture. (Can you say "Silly girls"?)

The girls wrote down the ingredients as Sister Houskeeper gave them out. The cookbooks they are making are awesome and have so many great recipes so far! A big, huge "THANK YOU" to Sister Houskeeper for having us into her home and for showing us how to make these yummy things!

A Night in Sleepy Hollow!

We have a very talented Actress among us! Shirelle was one of the stars of her high school play "Sleepy Hollow." It was so fun for the Laurels and Mia Maids to be there to support her. We started the night out eating dinner at a local Chinese restaurant, where we thoroughly enjoyed our orange chicken, sesame chicken and Ham fried rice! Thank you, thank you Sis. Watts! Dinner was delicious and we loved it!After dinner we went straight to Maverik and loaded up on insane amounts of candy to tide us over through the play! (Thanks to Sis. Lindsey & Sis. Burke's Mary Poppins Bag!)Meet our Lovely Chauffeur.....:)

Shirelle was beautiful and an absolute natural in the play. The whole cast did a fantastic job and we all really enjoyed it! There were parts that had us laughing out loud!
We ended the night picking up a couple of stragglers off the street! (Watts and Barber were walking home from their choir concert...so we shoved everyone in and drove on home!)
It was a wonderful night and as always....so fun to be together!

Again.....Awesome job Shirelle!

(to be continued.....with the Beehive activity update!!)