President Monson on Gratitude

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-02-36-president-monson-on-gratitude?category=prophets-and-apostles%2Fgospel-topics&lang=eng&cid=HPTU112514512


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The Refiner's Fire

The refiner’s fire is not a comfortable place to be. It involves intense heat and repeated hammering. But it is in the refiner’s fire that we are purified and prepared to meet God.

Temple Trip Saturday November 22nd

There is a MSA Temple session scheduled for this Saturday at 7:00 p.m.
We are thinking of having another car-pool leaving from VWWS center.
We can leave early and grab something to eat in the cafeteria, or we could get a bite to eat afterwards at one of the many local places near the Temple.
Anyone interested can leave a comment, email or contact me by phone.
We will announce this at FHE Monday night.
Look forward to hearing from you!

Temple Trip this Saturday!! (Nov 8)

Join us for a combined Single Adult Temple trip this Saturday Nov 8th!!
Singles from Seattle are coming down for @ 1:00 p.m session at the Portland Temple
We are having a Carpool from  the Vancouver Washington West Stake (VWWS) center that will be leaving at Noon.   Please get there a little early if you plan on car-pooling.  We will most likely have a visit to the bookstore and get a bite to eat afterwards. Our plans are both flexible AND dynamic!  :-) 

People Who Had a Worse Sacrament Meeting than You

http://ldssmile.com/2014/11/03/14-people-worse-sacrament-meeting/


Closing Prayer
It was fast and testimony meeting and my brothers friend who was sitting with us fell asleep. After about 3 testimonies there was a long lull. So my brother nudged his friend and said “bishop just called on you to give the closing prayer” so he got up said the closing prayer and came and sat down. After which the bishop got up and said “that was lovely, I would like to officially reopen this testimony meeting for the remainder of the hour.”


It's good to have friends  :-)

Pie N Cider “Festival”

Pie N Cider “Festival”

(insert colourful, fancy flyer here – Think of images like pumpkins, pies, maybe some cornstalks, big leaves in fall colours, etx…Maybe some apples...)

What?  Join us for an evening of socializing, mingling and enjoying Apple/Pumpkin/Cherry Pie and Apple Cider.

When?  Monday, Oct 27^th, 2014

Where?  2223 NW 99th Street. Hazel Dell,Wa  (Hazel Dell Building)

Who?   You!  Your friends, Investigators and VWWS Stake Missionaries.

Why? Another opportunity to meet with other Single Adults, Investigators and also let the Missionaries know a little more about us, our program and what we have to offer Single Adults for investigators and those that may not know about our program.

Other  Details :  You bring yourself and any friend or investigator you want.  We will provide the Pie/Ice cream/Cider and building.

10 Love And Dating Lessons We Can Learn From Elder Holland

by Samantha Shelley · October 17, 2014

This article was based on Elder Holland’s BYU devotional, “How Do I Love Thee?”. I recommend it to everyone

1. Dating should not be separated from discipleship.

Believe that your faith has everything to do with your romance, because it does. You separate dating from discipleship at your peril. Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, is the only lamp by which you can successfully see the path of love and happiness.

Too often, we allow ourselves to take a different approach to dating than we do the rest of our lives. We allow emotions, lusts, and other things to silence the Spirit, and we believe we have a certain right to be dishonest, or even sometimes mean. While dating is certainly a minefield to navigate, and it’s not always easy to do so without hurting feelings, we should do our very best to maintain integrity and Christ-like love for others in all our dating endeavors.

2. Love comes from God, so you’ll need to seek Him to find it.

“Wherefore, . . . pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons [and daughters] of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; . . . that we may be purified even as he is pure.”  – Moroni 7:47–48

If your love doesn’t bring you closer to God, it’s not love. If it doesn’t yield the fruits of the spirit – peace, joy, charity, and all those other good things, it’s not love. I believe love is the greatest gift God has given us, and we can’t possess it without Him. Not the kind that lasts, anyway.

3. Love is a verb – an action word – and isn’t just a rush of feelings.

It doesn’t come without effort and it doesn’t come without patience, but, like salvation itself, in the end it is a gift, given by God to the “true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ.” The solutions to life’s problems are always gospel solutions.
True love blooms when we care more about another person than we care about ourselves.

It’s for this reason that I don’t believe in “love at first sight”, or getting engaged after three weeks. Love requires time. It involves regularly and constantly putting someone else’s wellbeing before your own, and being willing to make sacrifices for the happiness of another person. It’s very different from infatuation, which typically involves a rush of feelings and a twitterpated obsession with someone.

4. Love shouldn’t make you selfish.

There are many qualities you will want to look for in a friend or a serious date—to say nothing of a spouse and eternal companion—but surely among the very first and most basic of those qualities will be those of care and sensitivity toward others, a minimum of self-centeredness that allows compassion and courtesy to be evident.

We sometimes become so infatuated with the other person that we start to neglect other important responsibilities, such as service and friendship. Love should make you want to be better, and shouldn’t cause you to spend all of your time watching movies on the couch with someone. You’re not much use to Heavenly Father while you’re doing that.

5. Love that which is not fleeting.

I suppose no one is as handsome or as beautiful as he or she wishes, or as brilliant in school or as witty in speech or as wealthy as we would like, but in a world of varied talents and fortunes that we can’t always command, I think that makes even more attractive the qualities we can command—such qualities as thoughtfulness, patience, a kind word, and true delight in the accomplishment of another. These cost us nothing, and they can mean everything to the one who receives them.

This is one of my favorite quotes in the world, and I invite you to read it as often as you need to – whenever you feel “not enough”.

6. Finding true love requires us to take leaps of faith and be vulnerable.

No serious courtship or engagement or marriage is worth the name if we do not fully invest all that we have in it and in so doing trust ourselves totally to the one we love. You cannot succeed in love if you keep one foot out on the bank for safety’s sake.

We need to stop being scared to commit “just in case” there’s something better out there. If someone doesn’t feel right for you, that’s totally fine. Don’t date them. But if they have the qualities you’re looking for, and you make each other happy, and they love God, move forward! Don’t be paralyzed by fear.

7. Don’t be self-absorbed.

In all that Christ was, He was not ever envious or inflated, never consumed with His own needs. He did not once, not ever, seek His own advantage at the expense of someone else. He delighted in the happiness of others, the happiness He could bring them. He was forever kind.

Dating isn’t about finding someone who ticks every box on your list. It’s about finding someone who you are truly compatible with, and can progress with forever. Remember that you’ll need to be worthy for your spouse – it’s not a one-way street.

8. Be with someone who makes you happy, not someone who makes you anxious.

In a dating and courtship relationship, I would not have you spend five minutes with someone who belittles you, who is constantly critical of you, who is cruel at your expense and may even call it humor. Life is tough enough without having the person who is supposed to love you leading the assault on your self-esteem, your sense of dignity, your confidence, and your joy. In this person’s care you deserve to feel physically safe and emotionally secure.

I can’t even count the number of times I’ve watched people continue dating someone who’s wrong for them because they’re infatuated, and they’re just too scared to end it and be alone. I’ve been guilty of it myself. God isn’t the author of confusion or fear. Keep that in mind when dating.

9. Don’t fault-find or be quick to take offense.

Temper tantrums are not cute even in children; they are despicable in adults, especially adults who are supposed to love each other. We are too easily provoked; we are too inclined to think that our partner meant to hurt us—meant to do us evil, so to speak; and in defensive or jealous response we too often rejoice when we seethem make a mistake and find them in a fault. Let’s show some discipline on this one. Act a little more maturely. Bite your tongue if you have to. “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city” (Proverbs 16:32).

Don’t spend your dating relationships looking for “red flags”, and reasons that someone isn’t good enough for you. Recognize that you both have weaknesses. We often make dating one big game of who can hide their weaknesses long enough for someone to love them. That’s not what it’s about. Love isn’t about being blind to someone’s flaws, it’s about seeing them and loving them anyway.

Think the best of each other, especially of those you say you love. Assume the good and doubt the bad.
 

10. Trust God, be believing, and try not to freak out.

Bear up and be strong. Be hopeful and believing. Some things in life we have little or no control over. These have to be endured. Some disappointments have to be lived with in love and in marriage.

Dating kind of sucks, and we all know it. So do your best to stay close to the Lord, who doesn’t want you to be unhappy. He will help you. He will lift you up and guide you.
http://www.millennialmormons.com/10-love-dating-lessons-can-learn-elder-holland/

Friends of the Carpenter

Those of you interested in hand-made woodworking projects: There's a volunteer woodshop here in Vancouver called Friends of the carpenter - http://friendsofthecarpenter.org/


They make all kinds of woodworking projects. Very Nice projects too! They are having a big sale today - so if you like that kind of thing (or somebody hard to buy for on you x-mas list!) maybe you might want to go look....


Here's their physical address if you want to google it; 1600 W 20th Street, Va...ncouver, WA 98665
See More

Friends of the Carpenter - Changing Lives With Love

Wednesday Activities August 27, 2014 – June 4, 2015 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. The Activity Events continue to grow on Wednesday afternoons, 1 to 3 p.m. Every Wednesday afternoon, we have a special activity from 1pm to 3pm. We may do a...

friendsofthecarpenter.org

Quarterly FHE Schedule - Sep/Dec

Below is the "finalized" version of the FHE quarterly schedule for September through December. We have made some new and exciting changes!  While I can't currently attend FHE due to a change in my work schedule I think the BYUTV Pearl of Great Price videos and "Meet the Apostles" additions are something to look forward to!  I don't know how long my current schedule will last (Indefinite is the current answer), but just so you don't forget about me I'm planning on taking time off to attend the Pie and Cider Festival!  :-)  


Cheers!
Erik

Date	Activity	Host	Snack	Spiritual
Aug 4	Movie	Mike	Mike	Nina
Aug 11	Movie	Tom	Tom	Nina
Aug 18	Bingo	Maggie	Snackluck	Nina
Aug 25	Soap-Making/Movie - CANX
Sep 1	LABOR DAY – FHE CANX (ENSIGN RANCH)	-------	--------	--------
Sep 8	*Planning Meeting*
Sep 15	Pearl of Great Price -BYU TV		Tom
Sep 22	Pearl of Great Price - BYU TV
Sep 29	TBD - (Call Tom)
Oct 6	Pearl of Great Price - BYU TV
Oct 13	Pearl of Great Price -BYU TV
Oct 20	Meet the Apostles -Pres Monson	Angella
Oct 27	Pie n Cider Festival Combined MSA/Missionaries/investigators	Shannon
Nov 3	Pearl of Great Price - BYU TV
Nov 10	Pearl of Great Price - BYU TV
Nov 17	Meet the Apostles	Angella
Nov 24	Thanksgiving Feast?
Dec 1	Guest Speaker
Dec 8	BYU Professors
Dec 15	Meet The Apostles	Angella
Dec 22	BYU Professors
Dec 29	Canceled	N/A	N/A	N/A

FHE CANCELED!

Due to health issues and work schedules FHE for Monday 25 August at the Hazel Dell building has been canceled.
Also note that due to the ensign ranch campout on labor day weekend - FHE for 1 September was canceled as well. 
So make note that there will not be a regular FHE on Monday night in the Hazel Dell building until 8 September 2014.  
Thank You!

BBQ at the Grist Mill!!!

Save the date!
We've been invited back to Sister Archers for a visit to the Grist Meal and a BBQ on Saturday - 23 Aug 2014!!  12-1:00 pm until.....
Sister Archer has graciously offered her porch (with a fantastic view and plenty of seating) and her newly cleaned BBQ for our use on Saturday 23 August.


We need to provide the meat for the grill as well as side dishes, drinks and paper plates and cups.
A list of those planning on going would be nice so that we can better plan what to bring and plan car-pooling as well!


This has been a great event in the past and I have no reason to think this one won't be the same! 

If you've never been, you'll probably want to contact me for directions!?!?  lol


My job schedule has changed and I will be working until 7pm over in Portland.  This will make my involvement at FHE somewhat limited.  Email, comments on this blog and phone calls are all options available to contact me!   :-)

Temple Quote

"Your endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the house of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father."

—Brigham Young

FHE Schedule Aug - Dec (Tentative)

Family Home Evening (FHE) Schedule from Aug - Dec
SA FHE for Single Adults
FHE Meets every Monday Evening from 7:00 p.m to 8:30 p.m at 2223 NW 99th Street, Hazel Dell, WA. (Hazel Dell Building) 
LDS Single adults and investigators welcome.

Date	Activity	Host	Snack	Spiritual
Aug 4	Movie	Mike	Mike	Nina
Aug 11	Movie	Tom	Tom	Nina
Aug 18	Bingo	Maggie	Snackluck	Nina
Aug 25	Soap-Making/Movie
Sep 1	LABOR DAY – FHE CANX (ENSIGN RANCH)	-------	--------	--------
Sep 8	*Planning Meeting*
Sep 15	**Meet the Apostles -**
Sep 22	***BYTV –POGP***
Sep 29	5th Mon  (BBQ?)
Oct 6	BYUTV -POGP
Oct 13	Columbus Day
Oct 20	Meet the Apostles -
Oct 27	Pie n Cider (Combined -MSA/Missionaries/Investigators)
Nov 3	BYUTV-POGP
Nov 10	BYUTV-POGP
Nov 17	Meet the Apostles
Nov 24
Dec 1	BYTV- POGP
Dec 8	BYUTV-POGP
Dec 15	Meet The Apostles
Dec 22	`Guest Speaker?
Dec 29

*Planning meeting to discuss next quarters schedule
**Meet the Apostles - Lesson every 3rd Monday on one of the Apostles.
*** Proposed showing of BYU TV educational films on Pearl of Great Price