What will YOU take to Bethlehem?

I picture a still evening...almost no sound is made except for the occasional sound of cattle or sheep.  Everything is still.  Silent night, holy night.  Suddenly a babe cries.  The Savior is born!  Heavenly hosts sing and praise Him. Shepherds in their fields hurry to see the newborn king.  Far, far away, the Wisemen see the new star, the symbol of Christ's birth.  They prepare themselves for the journey to meet the babe.  They take precious gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  An extravagant gift for such a humble birth.

What would you take?  Would you take money?  Precious jewels?  Would you go?  President Monson has said that every year we take a journey to Bethlehem.  This Christmas season, remember that Christ's conception and birth weren't the only miracles. His life and ministry were full of miraculous events.  He taught us the true meaning of charity through His example.  I think that's what He would like us to bring...the gift of living by His example.  Treasures tarnish, depreciate in value, or are lost.  Who we are remains with us forever.  What we do remains with us forever.  Let us live by His example!  The greatest gift of all was the Savior's atonement.  All He asks is that we follow Him.

Merry Christmas, dearest sisters.  We love you!  Please enjoy this video courtesy of the Mormon Channel.

Thanksgiving

Dearest Sisters,

We have much to be grateful for this month and always.  As a Presidency, we are grateful to work with such wonderful Daughters of God who selflessly give of themselves, their time, and their hearts.  You are all so wonderful and we are anxiously seeking to serve you.

We are so very grateful for this Church and the Relief Society Program.  Emma Smith almost prophetically stated, "We are going to do something extraordinary."  I can't imagine how she must feel as she watches this program serve women all over the world.  Our prophets and leaders have always held women in the highest regard and for that we are so very grateful.  They know--as should we--what divine nature lies within us.

Sisters, in this time of Thanksgiving, please be thankful for yourselves.  You are precious in His sight and so very important to more people than you will ever realize.  We love you!

Sincerely,
Eileen DeLeeuw
Denise Manzione
Shelly Mauchley
Christie Cook

A Covenant People

Dearest Sisters,

We hope you enjoyed the annual General Relief Society Conference as much as we did!  We had so much fun indulging our sweet tooth as well!  The messages shared were exceptional and we are grateful for counsel specifically intended for us.

As I thought about the messages given, I must admit that I gave a little sigh of relief when we were repeatedly told that giving service is indeed keeping our covenants.  As sisters in Zion we serve on a daily basis!  I thought, "Oh good, at least I'm doing it!"  As I pondered it a bit more, I thought about the way I act when keeping my covenants, in this case doing service.  I found that lately, when doing service for others, I tend to have a good attitude and do the service with joy, but when it comes to doing the daily things, like serving my husband and children, I've been lacking.  I haven't been as joyful about serving them.  Perhaps less sleep with a newborn has something to do with it, but I have decided to recommit myself.  After all, that is what Conference is all about:  evaluating and acting.

I hope you took away something to help you on your way to "becoming"!  Our Savior paved the way by His selfless expression of love for us.  Our covenant-keeping shows our love for our Savior and Father in Heaven.  I pray we will all joyfully serve in our callings and in our homes.

Sincerely,
Eileen DeLeeuw
Denise Manzione
Shelly Mauchley
Christie Cook

Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice

Hello dear sisters!

It's been a whirlwind of a month for my family as we have welcomed our daughter, Hannah, to the world!  Please consider this an apology for not posting sooner in the month!

I hope you are looking forward to General Conference as much as I am.  I treasure the opportunity to be inspired by the Spirit and re-evaluate where I stand with the Lord.  I look forward to receiving answers to questions I have and putting prophetic counsel into action.

We are truly blessed to have a living prophet on the earth today.  I can't even imagine what it would be like to go through this life without the counsel given through the prophet by our Heavenly Father.  It makes me even more grateful for Joseph Smith, Jr.!

I also hope you are looking forward to the General Relief Society Meeting on Saturday, September 28th!  If you can make it to the Tabernacle, great!  If you can make it to our "private screening" even better!  Meetings like this are always better with friends!  So come and enjoy the meeting and then grab a treat with us at our Becoming Is Better Than Brownies Reception.

Thanks for all you do!  May you receive answers to prayers and supplication as you, too, listen to a prophet's voice!

Love,
Eileen DeLeeuw
Denise Manzione
Shelly Mauchley
Christie Cook

It may slow down on here!

Dearest Sisters,

Boy, have I been off my game lately!  Sorry I haven't updated for the month of August, I hope you will still be able to use some of the information I put up for the month!

As my own wedding anniversary approaches, I've been pondering the difference between a celestial marriage and one that's "til-death-do-us-part".  I've been so blessed to be married in the temple and know that all of the blessings of a forever family can be mine.  I am also blessed to know that marriages for this life only can be fulfilling and strong, like the marriage my parents have.  When a marriage is based on true devotion and willingness to serve, happiness beyond measure can be obtained.  In the words of Boyd K. Packer,

"In marriage all of the worthy yearnings of the human soul, all that is physical and emotional and spiritual, can be fulfilled."

What a marvelous blessing that is!  May we all strive to strengthen the greatest blessing of families!  This month, take a moment or two to ponder marriage and what you can do to make yours better or what you can do to prepare for one that will not only last this lifetime, but for eternity!

Sincerely,

Eileen DeLeeuw

Denise Manzione

Shelly Mauchley

Christie Cook

July Message

Oh boy!  July sure did sneak up on me!  Only now did I realize I haven't updated the blog!  Please forgive me sisters!

This month we will all have patriotism at the forefront of our minds.  We have just celebrated our nation's birthday and will soon celebrate our Pioneer heritage.  I always think of the Title of Liberty during the month of July.  I think of what Captain Moroni wrote on it: “In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children.”

What a beautiful message!  This world is pretty crazy!  It twists and turns according to Satan's wishes and at times we are left wondering what exactly we should think of the conditions we live in.  May I suggest that we all follow the formula given by Moroni:  First and foremost, God and religion!  True freedom comes from resisting evil and being true to the Lord's commandments.

I have never felt more peace than when I am actively trying to better myself through the Gospel.  With that peace, I feel I am a better wife and mother.  I am able to focus through the "mists of darkness" and hold to the Iron Rod.

So it can be with you, too!  Keep your chin up and keep moving forward.  Trust the Lord and have courage.  He loves you and wants you to succeed!

We love you as well!  Happy July!

Love,
Eileen DeLeeuw
Denise Manzione
Shelly Mauchley
Christie Cook

Have I Done Any Good? A message for June!

It has gotten hot, hot, hot the past couple of days!  We hope you are enjoying a respite from school and other obligations.  We also hope you're taking the time to enjoy your summers!  There are so many fun things to do in our community this time of year!

Though we know you've done much good in the world today and everyday, I thought I would share this video for your enjoyment!  You are all amazing and we are so grateful for all that you do, every single day, every single season, in the spotlight and out of it!  We love you!

P.S.  For just the video skip to about the 2 min 40 sec mark!

It's May!

Dearest Sisters,

It is finally starting to feel like Spring and we are SO thrilled!  We hope this post finds you and your well and thriving.

We have been very privileged lately to hear from so many of our leaders and we hope you'll take the time to ponder and review their messages this month.

We would like to personally remind you of the challenge issued by President Droubay to read the Book of Mormon in your personal study before our next conference.  We know this will bless you not only in your personal lives but in the lives of those you serve and associate with.

We love you and hope you will turn to us with any need you may have.

Sincerely,
Eileen DeLeeuw
Denise Manzione
Shelly Mauchley
Christie Cook

April Showers mean lots and lots of happenings!

Welcome to April dearest sisters!

What a packed month we have!  We just finished General Conference and we will be having our Stake Conference as well as our Relief Society Activity!  We hope you've planned on attending all of these incredible opportunities to grow!

General Conference was amazing!  To hear about all of the new missionaries and the statistics that go with the age-change was just miraculous!  It was also neat to hear about all of our Humanitarian efforts worldwide!

Personally, I am always amazed at the similarities in every talk that I hear at conference.  This year's focus seemed to be FAMILY in every sense!  We heard about raising children, nurturing our spousal relationships, and making our home a refuge from the world.

We are so grateful for our families.  We know that this is the central purpose of our lives and are incredibly blessed with having that opportunity.  We hope that as you go through this incredibly busy month, you will take the time to slow down and be with your families.  They are most important!

We LOVE you!

Sincerely,
Eileen DeLeeuw
Denise Manzione
Shelly Mauchley
Christie Cook

"LUCKY" Us!

Our Dear Sisters,

It's a new month with new experiences awaiting us!  We are so grateful for all that you are doing and are amazed at the love and compassion you constantly exude.  We find ourselves feeling quite "LUCKY" to be serving along such devoted sisters.

We are also feeling extremely LUCKY as we realize that we have the opportunity to have the restored gospel in our lives to lead and guide us wherever our days may take us.  We are LUCKY to have a living prophet on the earth and LUCKY to have the guidance of the Spirit and scriptures.

While others may choose to see wonderful things in their life as LUCK, we know the truth!  We are extremely BLESSED!  So go ahead and re-read this post with the word BLESSED in place of LUCKY!  Because we are sisters...extremely BLESSED!

We love you,
Eileen DeLeeuw
Denise Manzione
Shelly Mauchley
Christie Cook

Happy "Love" Month!

We hope you are all having a marvelous February thus far!  We are so grateful for you and all that you do!

February is that month when sweeties honor their sweeties but we hope you'll treat it as something more:  a chance to expand the love you have in your heart!  Maybe you could love your sisters a little more...  Maybe you could love that chore you hate a little more...  Maybe you could make visiting teaching your new love...  The possibilities are endless but we promise that as you let your heart expand in love you will find you are capable of much more than you could have anticipated!

Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you!

Sincerely,
Eileen DeLeeuw
Denise Manzione
Shelly Mauchley
Christie Cook

January Activity!

Hello Sisters!

We had so much fun at our activity!  Thank you for being so spectacular!  I hope you all left with plenty of ideas and with a renewed desire to serve!  We truly appreciate all that you do and are grateful for the opportunity to serve you in any way!  Below you will find some links to some of the fun stuff we had at the activity.  If you have more specific questions, please contact a member of the Stake Relief Society Presidency.  Thanks sooooo much!

Sincerely,
Eileen DeLeeuw
Denise Manzione
Shelly Mauchley
Christie Cook

JANUARY DOCUMENTS

DR. SEUSS POEM

ACTIVITY INVITATION

PARTY IDEAS

Happy New Year!

Dearest Sisters,

We hope that 2013 is finding you well and with hope in your hearts!  We are so excited to be serving you and love the feel that a new year brings of optimism and challenge!  Please don't forget our activity on January 12, 2013!  We look forward to seeing you!

Love,
Sis. DeLeeuw
Sis. Manzione
Sis. Mauchley
Sis. Cook