New Bee-ginnings

In thinking about the new scripture for mutual this year (Joshua 1:9) we immediately focused on all the ways to "Bee": Be Strong, Be of good courage, Be not afraid, God will Be with you". Our 2nd Counsellor in YW Presidency spoke about how Utah is the beehive state because the beehive symbolizes industry. She spoke about our Pioneer ancestors and how they did simply what they were asked to the best of their ability. She taught that our girls live in a time where Be-ing of God is more important than ever and that she thought even the pioneers wouldn't want to trade places with them. She taught how "We can do hard things" because we are Daughters of God, we are like Him and He will be with us just as the scripture says.

For our program we had the 2nd counsellor speak, the PP leader spoke about the new YM materials, the new medallion and the bee for those who've already earned their Young Womanhood Recognition Award and bore her testimony.

l to r: bookmark, program (edited names not water spilled on it) and the invitation

Each of the Laurels were assigned to spotlight each of the new Bee-hives from 2009 and the new-bees were given a pair of poster board bee wings (tied onto them with ribbon) with their name on it and a pair of antennae.

Then the Bishopric member spoke.

After the closing song and prayer we brought out a pile of markers and invited everyone to write things they already love/admire/appreciate about these new Bee-hives on their wings. It turned out SO CUTE!! And the girls loved them (even the ones who immediately took them off, put them back on for people to write on them).

We created little bookmarks for each girl with the scripture and this "Be a Young Women of God: Be of Faith, Be of Individual Worth, Be of Knowledge, Be of Choice and Accountability, Be of Good Works, Be of Integrity and Be of Virtue" tied with ribbons at the top and with bee beads attached and a tube of Burts Bees lip balm to go with (purchased from ebay for a dollar a tube). Our treats were cupcakes with chocolate bees stuck in the top (they were yellow chocolate and milk chocolate...super easy to make) We decorated with yellow and black. I will try to recreate a cupcake and post it because they were pretty darn cute if I do say so myself :)

We have Stake Camp this year but are going to carry on with the "Be/Bee" theme and the scripture for our Camp theme. There is so much that can tie into this idea, we just loved it.

Annual Planning Meeting

On Sunday for our first BYC of the year we planned out the entire year of YM/YW combined activities. First, we brainstormed and put all of the youth's ideas on the board. Then they each voted for their top 3 (one of those had to be a service activity). From the narrowed down list we were able to fill in the calendar for the year, as well as making the assignments as to who would be in charge of each activity. We also were able to get our firesides as well as temple trips on the calendar. I am sure that some of you already do some type of a planning meeting with the young men. It is so good to have a plan for the year, and to be on the same page as the YM leaders!

New Personal Progress Materials

Woo hoo!