Recent Happenings

Right now I am the Secretary in our ward's Young Women's group. We only have 3 girls right now since we just lost several who graduated! Our group is small, but we have a lot of fun!

This Tuesday I was in charge of the mutual activity, which was on Inner Beauty. I had so much fun getting ready for this activity, and I hope the girls learned something. Middle School and High School is such a daunting time and can be harsh on a young girl's feelings of self worth and beauty. All of our young women are so beautiful, inside and out, and I hope that this activity helped them realize that even a little bit! I wanted to share some of what I did for this activity, though.

We first spoke about how the world defines beauty, and the girls had good answers of how it is defined by how you look on the outside. Then we moved to talk about how beauty is defined by the Lord. To teach this part, I used several quotes and scriptures.

"The world prizes body-baring "beauty." Hollywood markets it, advertisers exploit it, and the media promote it. The Lord, however, "seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7) - Elder Lynn G Robins

"The world places so much emphasis on physical attractiveness that they would have you believe that you are to look like the elusive model on the cover of a magazine. The Lord would tell you that you are each uniquely beautiful. When you are virtuous, chaste, and morally clean, your inner beauty glows in yoru eyes and in your face...We have been taught that "the gift of the Holy Ghost ... quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands and purifies all the natural passions and affections...It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness and charity. It develops beauty of person, form and features." No, that is a great beauty secret!" - Elaine S Dalton

"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies." Proverbs 31:10

I then read a story by Susan W Tanner

"I remember well the insecurities I felt as a teenager with a bad case of acne. I tried to care for my skin properly. My parents helped me get medical attention. For years I even went without eating chocolate and all the greasy fast foods around which teens often socialize, but with no obvious healing consequences. It was difficult for me at that time to fully appreciate this body which was giving me so much grief. But my good mother taught me a higher law. Over and over she said to me, "You must do everything you can to make your appearance pleasing, but the minute you walk out the door, forget yourself and start concentrating on others."
"There it was. She was teaching me the Christ-like principle of selflessness. Charity, or the pure love of christ, "envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own" (Moroni 7:45). When we become other-oriented, or selfless, we develop and inner beauty of spirit that glows in our outward appearance. This is how we make ourselves in the Lord's image rather than the world's and receive His image in our countenances. President Hinckley spoke of this very kind of beauty that comes as we learn to respect body, mind, and spirit. He said:
"Of all the creations of the Almighty, there is none more beautiful, none more inspiriting than a lovely daughter of God who walks in virtue with an understanding of why she should do so, who honors and respects her body as a thing sacred and divine, who cultivates her mind and constantly enlarges the horizon of her understanding, who nurtures her spirit with everlasting truth."

We talked about this story for a while, and then showed them this video.

Then I gave them each little package of things. Here's some of the treats that I included:

I had this quote on top of a small manicure set with a mirror

I can't claim this cutely designed quote, but I had Sis Dalton's "Shiney" quote
attached to little lip gloss

I can't figure out how to flip this picture, but I had this attached to some gum

Beauty Tips by Audrey Hepburn

I had each of the girl's moms write them a note

Here's one fo the cute packages!

After this we then did hair and nails! Ok, ok, I know that this is the opposite of inner beauty, but it's easier to make an activity with this type of thing, and it's fun :)

Megan was brave enough to let me do her hair!

Such a cute girl

Doing their nails

Our little group is so much fun!

Looking pretty, girls!

The rest of the week was busy with work and trying to catch up on my CME (continuing medical education) requirements for my licence renewal by the end of the month. I also spent some of Thursday night with Irene (my fellow camp mom) and my YCLs for Girl's camp, getting our group flag designed and other decorations. It was a lot of fun, and Irene is AMAZING at this girl's camp stuff.

Today (Saturday) was busy and fun. I went to the farmer's market and picked up a whole bunch of strawberries. With them I made some freezer jam that only requires mashed up strawberries, pectin and apple juice. It was really easy to make. I also went to a birthday party for a cute 1 year old in our ward and to a baptism for a cute 8 year old!

Lots of mashed up strawberries!

Mmmm yummy

All set! 

Alright, that is all for our going ons this week. I guess it was mostly about me (Rachel), but I guess it's because I'm the one writing ;) And David worked a 60 hour week this week, so he didn't do much more than work and sleep. I'm lucky to be married to such a great and hardworking guy. And yes, life is still...better off Webb!