Octoberfest

This summer flew by way too fast. Sadly, I wasn't able to catch the memories of DRS.

What do you do for DRS in October? 

You have your own Octoberfest!

What does that consist of?

First we talked Football.

and by "talk football" I mean we named the top 5 HOTTEST football players

and anything we knew about them. I got the most points when I filled everyone in on the break up between Miles (Austin) and Kim (Kardashian)

Next we had our own version of a little german celebration-rootBEER. 

We taste tested 4 kinds with score cards. How did they rank?

4. Thomas Kemper

3. Shasta

2. A&W

1. Henry Wienhard

And what is a celebration of fall with out some of these delicious treats to top off the night....

(for some reason blogger will not post this the right way, but it's still delicious either way!)

 

 

Have I mentioned how much I love DRS!? 

 

Don't you? 

 

 



May Flowers

"The Cheaper Chic.....a garden soirée"

This months DRS was such a delight. Not only was the setting more perfect than I could have imagined, with beautiful weather, vintage patio furniture, flowers from the garden, etc.,

there was also many delicious treats that words can not explain.

The company was, like always, amazing and we learned the art of making something old look new through consignment shopping.

There were several moments and topics of conversation that kept us laughing

and conversations that us girls do best, aside from making each other laugh, some real tender heart to heart and serious girl chat. Isn't that what we're here for?

(btw, don't you just LOVE the photo's of these girls? GORGEOUS!)

Of all the laughter and heart felt moments, the radiance of each woman, and the quiet strength in others, one of my favorite quotes kept coming to mind.

"Women of God can never be like 

women of the world. 

The world has enough women who are tough; 

we need women who are tender. 

There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. 

There are enough women who are rude; 

we need women who are refined. 

We have enough women of fame and fortune; 

we need more women of faith. 

We have enough greed; we need more goodness. 

We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. 

We have enough popularity; we need more purity."

The Joy of Womanhood- Margaret D. Nadauld (Ensign, Nov. 2000)

Thank you Jennie and Marianne for such an amazing DRS.

For the pleasant evening that reminded me of  all that I am and must be, all that I was prepared to be, 

and my duties as a woman.

To me, you are a great example!

In case some of us need a reminder of how great we are, how great we can be, and how great we will be when we stand for what we believe.

"More than ever before we need women of faith, virtue, vision, and charity, as the Relief Society declaration proclaims (see Mary Ellen Smoot, “Rejoice, Daughters of Zion,” Liahona, January 2000, 112). 

We need women who can hear and who will respond to the voice of the Lord, women who at all costs will defend and protect the family. 

We don’t need women who want to be like men, sound like men, 

dress like men, drive like some men drive, or act like men. 

We do need women who rejoice in their womanhood and have a spiritual confirmation of their identity, their value, and their eternal destiny. 

Above all, we need women who will stand up for truth and righteousness 

and decry evil at every turn and simply say,

 “Lord, here am I, send me.”

          

Women of Righteousness, Elder M. Russell Ballard

The power or women

"But (a woman's) powers are the most potent when used to love other women. To support. To carry. Lift. Encourage. Serve. Fight alongside. And in my experience, this is also the hardest part about being a woman. There are forces at work designed to turn woman against woman in an effort to completely destroy the massive amount of good we can do when united. But I also know that I feel the strongest as a woman, when I am helping another woman, or being helped by another woman--whether she is someone I know, or a someone who lives across the world."

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                CJane    

You are Beautiful

"The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. 
Beautiful people do not just happen."

A Little Inspiration Goes A Long Way

The Domestic Reading Society...whose name was ingeniously constructed by Jenny LaFortune, is not, and I repeat is not, a book club!

  

I have been very blessed in my life to have amazing friends who love the Lord, and thus follow his counsel, and Spirit in all things. My dear friend Keri Tibbetts has opened my eyes to truth in so many ways. We have been friends for years, and in that time we have both changed drastically. We have both been inspired by two books called Fascinating Womanhood, and Fascinating Girl. These books changed our perspective and Keri taught me how to become a woman...the woman that I was in the pre-existence, and the woman the Lord wants me to be. However, I am still in the process of becoming that woman, through the interaction and teachings of intelligent women around me. (Ahem…DRS)

 

I received my degrees in English and English Education, and I have a great passion for literature, especially Classic literature. I know that when we read such works, we are enlightened and inspired, and we learn the lessons that we need to learn in life. Due to these truths that I have learned, I wanted to be able to share classic literature with others...with women. Strong, smart, vibrant women, like Kristy Uzelac, Brooke Hathaway, Shanna Taggart, and all those I am now associated with, who would continue to help me become the person the Lord intends me to become. I knew that the women in my life could offer me more than just a discussion on literature. I have had a vision of my life as it is now, and as it will be later, when I have a family and children. I want my children to see me with amazing women, and see us utilizing our talents and spiritual gifts that we have been given. I want my children to see me sewing with other women, and hearing us discuss literature and how it applies to our lives. I want my children to see me cooking healthy food, and exercising my body, and learning, learning, learning, from righteous women. 

  

I know that the DRS endeavor will give all of us Spiritual strength beyond what we ever imagined. We have a great work to do on the Earth today, and in the future, and we need one another to accomplish all things the Lord has in store for us.

   

This is my hope. 

This is my vision. 

And according to me,this is DRS.

Jana Capps

Reading

"Have regular hours for work and play: 

make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. 

Then youth will be delightful, old age will bring few regrets, and life becomes a beautiful success" 

-Little Women  Louisa May Alcott

Photo by Gladys Jem Photography

LOADED with sunshine, why else would they call her UZI?

       

Being the youngest of five kids, I was left to discover the world on my own.  In my quest of exploration for what life had to offer, I discovered that there was more than just one “world” out there to live in, learn from, and experience: The World of Independence, the World of Imagination, the World of Joy, and the World of Testimony.

I’ve been told that I was a very independent child. Not letting anyone do anything for me, wanting to only do it on my own. Dress myself, teach myself, train myself, feed myself, etc. I never fully believed it until I met my niece. A determined 2 year old who, WILL NOT accept help from anyone and who honestly believes she is old enough to figure it out herself. She is (a lot like I was who was a lot like her oldest sister who is) just like her mother.  Will she grow out of it, or grow into it like I have, learning to ask when asking in needed, as hard as that is sometimes?

To me, imagination and joy are areas that are always revolving around my life. Sometimes coming into my world one at a time to show me what it had to offer, other times aligning so perfectly that you’d think it was a total eclipse of experience and emotion. 

I have the creative side that offers no limit to my imagination with the things I can come up with and love to share that with those around me.  After school, I would come through the door happy and chipper, usually singing a new song I learned that day. I’ve been caught singing songs to myself and have made up songs on a regular basis. I guess it’s true that one can have a song in heart.

I’m usually not one to let things effect me. Not much gets me down. In fact, you’ll rarely see this star not shining. I try to look at the big picture, the bright side of things, and find the positive or learning possibility in most any situation.  In my mind, nothing is worth getting upset or bothered over, and if it is, it’s worth talking about and then moving on.

If I start feeling down, I find others to serve and lift up. If those around me are down, I do all I can to lift their spirit and help them see that there is light.

   

I feel I have found a place in my heart for constant spiritual growth. Growing up, there has been several times where I have been influenced by the examples and testimonies of others. There was a time where I hid in my sister’s room to jump out and scare her only to have to wait for several minutes for her to finish her prayer.  When I was running late for school, I was frantically grabbing my books, running up the stairs and as I burst through my parents bedroom door yelling for her to get in the car, I was caught back by the sight of her on her knees saying her morning prayers that I have seen (and still see) her do every morning. 

I have been influenced by their example of this and have made it a part of my daily routine to start and end each day in prayer. That no matter what is going on around me, it’s important to take a step back from the rush of things and to focus on the big picture. To remember why I am here and the importance of staying close to my Heavenly Father. 

HE is my world.

HE is there to help when I ask but gives me independence because he knows I can do it.

HE has given me my creative imagination that keeps me happy and

HE has blessed me with pure joy because of the testimony I have of Him.

“I am like a star shining brightly, 
shining for the whole world to see. 

I can do and say happy things each day, 
for I know Heavenly Father loves me.”

Uzi

The birth of DRS is about to happen and I, along with the other ladies, couldn't be more excited!  What is it you ask? DRS is a way for us girls, single and married, domestic or not, to get together and better ourselves. To learn from one another and do what women do best.

"May you live with love one for another.

May you reach down to lift up those whose burdens are heavy.

May you bring light and beauty to the world and

particularly into your homes and into the lives of your children."

Gordon B. Hinckley, “To the Women of the Church,” Ensign, Nov 2003, 113

Our first ever meeting is in exaclty two weeks, January 27, 2009. Stay tuned to hear and see more about us.