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RS: Fw: Homemaking Meeting
From: Kathy Stentzel

I, too, agree with Mel in AZ. You do need to develop a Testimony of Homemaking.  I have had many callings in Relief Society, and believe me, Homemaking is my Favorite!  We had a lesson about 2 months ago from our Stake Homemaking Counselor (now, see...it is a STAKE calling, too...has to be important) and her talk was on that very subject..Homemaking Meeting.  We were told it was NOT an optional meeting -- it was on the same level as our Relief Society meetings.  You can look at it this way: when we go to our Sunday meetings, they feed us spiritually.  When we go to our Homemaking meeting, they feed us in a temporal way, (and sometimes spiritually, too) which is also what you need.  It is also more on a "social" level.

One of the things we did, for we have a broad base of ages (18 - 86) too, was to make our Homemaking board consist of some of the major age groups. We have our new RS sisters (fresh from YW), and even our "Golden Girls" as we affectionately call our older sisters.  We all meet together and discuss ideas for upcoming homemaking meetings.  So far it has been great!  Everyone gets to voice their opinion, and we find areas of interest for everyone.  Of course, you can't keep everyone happy all the time, but vary your classes. Even if only 1 or 2 sisters sign up for a class, someone is growing and someone is learning from sharing  talents.  So important!

We have a basic plan for every Homemaking:
1. Cooking class

• We either teach the treat for our snack that evening
• We try and have at least 2 -3  canning classes per year
• We have at least 1 "food storage" or "Emergency Preparedness" class per year(we teach you how to cook with them)
• We usually have a "gifts from the kitchen" class before Christmas, showing the sisters easy and quick "gifts" you can make...hot chocolate mix; cider mix, etc

• We try and use seasonal themes for most of our crafts
• Sometimes we make things for BSAP

• That encompasses EVERYTHING else.  Book reviews, guest speakers gardening, home repair, car repair...you name it -- we do it.  Cost is ALWAYS FREE

• We ALWAYS have a quilt set up in the cultural hall, for those sisters who would rather just talk and sew.  The finished quilts go to our local  Women's shelter, or for BSAP if needed.

• We have started a "finish-it" class this month, to bring in your projects you would like to finish but can't seem to find the time, or things you need help with - there is  always someone willing to help.

Sorry to have rambled on so...hope these ideas will help.  Back to Top

I wanted to thank you all for all the wonderful ideas I've been able to garner.  Last week was homemaking, and we started with the idea someone posted of having each sister bring a silk flower that had special meaning to her.  It went over so well!  We decided it was something that would have been great for the RS birthday event, because it was so nice.  We only had it for a half hour.

Then we did some bath salts (thanks again!) and a toll painted sunflower.

 We have started a FHE handout.  One sister on the board is in charge of it, and presents a packet each month with a FHE lesson prepared, that can be adapted for any family.  She tries to center it around the Primary theme of the month.  She had 15 lessons this month and they were all taken (they will be between 50 cents and a dollar, just copying charges and the envelope).

This was without signups, so we expect next month to go over even better.  We have decided that whatever sort of dinner or taster's table we do, we will send out signups, because we seem to get a better response and attendance when the sisters have something to bring.  (So we try to do dinners with lots of ingredients)

Love, Janet
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