Personal Progress as an Adult Young Women

As of March 1, 2018, I decided to redo my Personal Progress, as an adult.



Sometimes you have to adjust a few value experiences as an adult.

An example: Good Works Value Experience #2; "Service is an essential principle of family living.  Help plan your family's menus, obtain the food, and prepare part of the meals for two weeks.  During that time help your family gather to share mealtimes.  Report to your class what you have learned."

I adjusted it to read: "Help your kids help plan your family's menu, help them find food in stores, and help them prepare part of the meals for two weeks."

I am an adult, wife, and mother, so I've planned meals every week for years.  When I was a Young Women, I used my usual everyday things I did to sign off on values, and as a youth that's not so bad because you want to build on the good habits you have, build new good ones, and have them all continue with you into adulthood as you begin to start your own family.  As an adult doing Personal Progress over, I decided to do what I don't usually do.  I needed this to be a challenge for me, otherwise I would make no progress.  Many things I do are habits I learned because Personal Progress forced me to ask questions and to make menus, so I wanted Personal Progress to do the same again; teach me new things and form new and better habits that will continue in my adulthood.

Teaching my children is almost everything I need to do in my life right now.

I am an example to them daily, but I also need to take time to teach them how to take care of themselves and each other.  Teaching kids about meal preparation and making is a great way to help them know how to take care of themselves in the future.  Luckily, my kids are still very young, so I still have several years to teach them these things.

In this particular value experience, it says to report to your class what you have learned.  Now, if you are not a leader in Young Women, this could possibly be awkward to bring up in Relief Society, but remember, part of Personal Progress is also a way for you to expand your testimony.  A great way to share your testimony with others is by including them in your value experiences.

Many value experiences, if not all of them, tell you to discuss with a parent or leader, and though I live in very close proximity to my mama, I have passed that stage in my life where I involve my parents in every aspect of my life.  My husband takes that role now.  He is whom I confined in and discuss my value experiences with.  If you don't have a husband, and you feel a little nervous about talking to all of Relief Society at an activity, talk to your home teacher, or minister-er; I'm not sure yet what our titles are with the changes.  They will be happy to help you.  If you don't have ones that come regularly to you, as that happens, talk to the Young Women leaders, talk with your visiting teachers, talk with the Relief Society leaders, or even talk with non-member friends--I think the point is simply that you share your feels and findings.  When you say what you have come to understand out loud, that often confirms it, solidifies it, and helps you to know that you truly believe and know it.

The Faith in God for Girls program helps to prepare you for Personal Progress, which helps you build habits that will help you be a woman whom has a relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and lead you to them by your temple ordinances, good works, faith, and endurance.
Personal Progress helps you to build the habits of scripture study, personal prayer, pondering, menu planning, budget setting, and the expansion of your talents.  All these are essential to you reaching your potential as a daughter of Heavenly Father, no matter your age.

Whether you are a Beehive, a sophomore in university, a forty year old mama, or an eighty year old great-grandma, Personal Progress will help you draw closer to Heavenly Father, have a greater appreciation of Jesus Christ's atonement, and help you understand your callings in your life.
I testify of these things in the name of Jesus Christ for I have experienced this myself.
Love y'all.

Completing the Knowledge Value in 10 Days

Our school district recently finished their Spring Break, and I was determined to complete a whole value during it.
I've just recently started redoing my Personal Progress at age twenty-nine.  Even though I completed my Personal Progress as a teen, I had never been given my Young Women Medallion.  Now it will cost me $50 or more online to find the medallion I should've received in my youth.  I'm determined to get this current medallion and wear it since I never had the chance as a youth.
"Give me a young woman...who has earned her Young Women Recognition award and wears it with pride...and I will give you a young woman who will perform miracles for the Lord now and throughout eternity."  -Ezra Taft Benson.
I also would like the one they had when I was a Beehive.  I love the image of the angelic Young Women, but that's another story.

Since I gave myself only nine days to complete a whole value, I looked for a specific kind.  Several Value Experiences require you take two to three weeks to complete, requiring you to have repetition to create a good habit,
but Knowledge is one that does not.

I chose Knowledge.

I read the scriptures, wrote in my journal, and talked with my husband about each Value Experience.  Since I am married, I discuss everything with my husband and have him sign off on the experiences for me; he is also a priesthood holder.

It was Friday morning, the last day of school for Evelyn before Spring Break, and I decided I would complete a value, a whole value, before Spring Break would be over, Sunday night the following week.  I got straight to it!

I reviewed my required Knowledge Value Experiences and decided to start with #2.  I read Matthew 25:14-30 and, in my journal, listed my talents, then made a second list of talents I wish to gain.  Most of them were things I wanted to stop doing.  I wrote a journal entry about one off the list of talents I wish to gain, why I picked that one, and my plan to reach that goal.

Next, I did Knowledge Value Experience #1.  I read the scriptures, wrote my thoughts in my journal, and talked with Tom about it all.  My favorite part?  "And with all thy getting get understanding."  Proverbs 4:7.  To me it just sounds like, Don't only gain knowledge, but gain also the way it is applied, how it affects others, how it affects you, and how it changes you and others.

Next was Knowledge Value Experience #3 and by this time, Evelyn would be getting out of school in an hour.  By guesses, #1 and #2 took about two and a half hours to complete.  I know Young Women have so much of their time taken by school and extra curriculars, but when you have a long holiday, like Spring Break, you can get so much done!  If you are taking a trip, you can do your reading and journal writing in the car or on the plane.

Knowledge Value Experience #3 requires you go to a museum, exhibit, or performance that involves dance, music, speech, or drama, and use the Thirteenth Article of Faith to observe.  If you learned the Articles of Faith by song, I suggest that is the way to recite it.  I sung it to Tom.  He chortled when I finished.
We have a university in town where I went to, but I couldn't find a clear schedule of art exhibits online, so I went to see if they had a schedule of senior exhibits coming up in the Art Department.  The office was closed, but then I saw the gallery open.  Both doors were open on each end, and at the opposite door from me was a podium with a guest book.  I signed in and decided to look around.

Having had a minor in art when I attended this university, this room was very familiar to me, as well as the whole building.  The professor in the painting class across the way was one I had myself.
I studied the art; minimalistic paintings of acrylic on canvas.
When it came to writing my observation, I decided to use the computer to type it out.  When I type, I am able to get out my thoughts much faster.  I talked about the art I saw and about the last time I was at an exhibit in the same gallery.  I bought a piece of work then and I still have it.  Art is important to expression.  You can convey so much by colors and painted eyes, all you have to do is take a moment to be still and look at those praiseworthy things.

If you have a community college or university near by, this value experience can be simple; you need to know when and where to show up.  Take your journal with you for you to freshly make your observations.

Next would be Knowledge Additional Value Experience #5.  My interest is writing, more specifically, becoming respectively published.  I have attended events and talked with my cousin's wife, whom has been published, so I typed out my thoughts and my notes from lectures on how to be published.  It was fastest to type and paste into my journal.

Knowledge Additional Value Experience #4, I had recently done when I spoke in Sacrament meeting with Tom.  We were the only speakers, so easily my talk was over five minutes.

For my final value experience to complete, I chose Knowledge Additional Value Experience #7.  I have done several years of Young Women Camp, and last year I did a Girl Scout Camp Leader Training, so I know lots of camping things.  I discussed with Tom how I wanted to print out a list of what food we have in our 72 hour kits and update our Family Emergency Binder.  After doing so, my final Knowledge Value Experience was complete!  This one took a bit of time to go through everyones' folders and important documents in our Family Emergency Binder.  If your family doesn't have one, this would be the perfect opportunity to put one together.  Get a 1.5 inch binder, pictures of each family member, pocket folders without brads for each member of the family, and dividers.  List important dates like birthdays and anniversaries, make a list of family goals for the year, add a section where notes from family councils can be kept, and in each family member folder, have a picture, copy of birth certificate, certified ID, copy of social security card, list of medical conditions and medications, and shot records.  Family Emergency Binders can also include budget plans, funeral arrangements, and chore lists for each member of the family.  It's a binder you would want to do with your parents as a youth, and a binder you would want to do with your spouse if you have one.

It was evening when I completed all of my Knowledge Value Experiences.

It can be done!  Take time to read your scriptures and sing the Thirteenth Article of Faith, and you can get your Knowledge Value Experiences done in a couple of days.  Your journal entries don't have to be long or amazing epiphanies you have, they just need to be honest and based on your experiences.  You may have to wait for an event to come up for Value Experience #3, but if you make the effort to find something, I'm sure you will succeed.

For my Knowledge Value Project, I based it on Knowledge Additional Value Experience #5; "Learn about an area of work or service that interests you."

Going back to my journal entry on Experience #5, I decided if I were ever to finish my manuscript, I would need to write every day for a set amount of time without interruption.  Goodness!  No interruptions and two children under eight?!  How could I possible do so?  That is where the support of my husband and family members came into play.  When doing value experiences and projects, don't hesitate in asking for help from your family, both at home and in your ward/branch.  Part of learning how to do all these experiences is learning how to work with others and ask for their help.

I made a chart to keep myself on schedule, as well as keep track of time.

As you may notice, on Sundays, I did not schedule myself to write my manuscript but only do value experiences.  This was in an effort to keep the Sabbath holy.
Sunday does not mean no work, but holy work.

The value experiences I chose here did not require a certain time to complete, so I would be able do several during a Sunday.  Reading was not included in my time, only my journal writing.  Writing is writing, no matter which way it is.

If you also notice, I did not include writing on my blog.  As I just said, writing is writing, but for the purpose of my Knowledge Value Project, I did not count blog writing as an advancement in being published.  Though, in the future, that may not be the case; we have all seen bloggers get published, but as for my Knowledge Value Project, I had decided not to have it included.  Now that I have completed my Knowledge Value, I will include blog writing in my endeavors of pursuing my great interest.

You can see how I put down my time.  When I sat down to write, I used the stopwatch on my phone, then added the time together at the end of the day.  There was only one day I needed to do that, though.

I hadn't mentioned before, but on the days I only wrote my manuscript, it was to be consecutive time. It was a little difficult, especially since I did my work while still at home.  It always happened at night, when we were all going to bed.  I stayed up, much as I do to write anything, and completed my hour and fifteen minutes.

I had reached my 10 hours for my project a couple of days before I had scheduled myself to finish, and sure, I could have said I reached my hours and stopped, but then it wouldn't have been a truly completed project.  I set myself to work on my writing until Sunday, March 18th, and that is just what I did.  The project isn't about reaching ten hours of work but about reaching a better you.

There was a night I almost didn't write at all, but I still did it.  You can see there was a night I wrote for only fifteen minutes.  That was the night I feel asleep four times as I tried to write; note, that was waking up four times in fifteen minutes to try to write again.

Sometimes, you need to change things to fit the situation, but don't stray from the point of your project.  The point of this project, for me, was to become better at always working on my manuscript to get it completed.  I may write often, but if that effort isn't going in to completing my work, then it is a waste of energy on my part.

Even though I had trouble at times, getting my story going, I was relieved after every allotted time.  I even had to stop myself from continuing much of the time; lost track of time.  It is a love of mine after all.

I hope I've been helpful to those trying to do Personal Progress.
How have y'all been doing your Personal Progress?
Have tips for a veteran like me?
Let me know in the comments!

Young Women New Beginnings

Last year, our ward Primary president was moving to El Paso, far from us, and if your are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, you know that means new callings.  I was second counselor in the presidency, then I was called into the Bishop's office and was asked if I would serve as first counselor in the Young Women.  That's right.  Young Women.  I of course, accepted the calling.  I was nervous in accepting since it would be my first time in Young Women since I was a Young Woman myself; about thirteen years ago.

When I returned to the Primary room, the newly appointed Primary president, previous first counselor, sat next to me and leaned over, "I just want you to know, I fought for you."  I'm not telling you this to brag, but to say that I felt so blessed to be that loved and needed.  When I do a job, I always wonder if it's enough.  Sometimes I don't do enough, and I know I'm not, and sometimes, I think I'm not doing enough and people thank me for doing so much.  Simply put, I'm grateful to know I was doing a good job in Primary.

So, now I come to what this post is really about.

Young Women New Beginnings

If you are not a member of my church, I will explain.

If you are a member, I will still explain.

New Beginnings is an event done with the young women of the church, girls ages 12 through 17.  (They leave the Young Women group at age eighteen, or when they finish high school, more of their choice then.  I waited until I was eighteen at the end of July so I could do one last Young Women camp.)

New Beginnings is a time to welcome new Young Women to the group, talk about the Young Women program, Personal Progress, the youth theme for the year, and what is expected of the girls and leaders.

The president of our Young Women, Q, plays in an orchestra and around Spring and Christmas, she is very busy.  For this, I was put in charge of New Beginnings for the year.  I love to organize and throw parties, so I was not only happy to plan New Beginnings, but I was grateful I was fully in charge of it. Not that I don't get along with others, only, when I have a vision of something, I truly like to run with it.  Young Women president Q told me she can be creative, but she can't make it come together in party form, and since I did the youth Christmas dance, she knew I could handle it.

We are a very small ward; we have four girls, one of which turned 12 on the last day of February.  She is also a new convert, newly baptized, and we are so excited to have her start Young Women.

On to how I planned our New Beginnings.

First thing I did was explore Pinterest.

That helped me decided that I didn't want a theme, but merely a color scheme to go with the 2018 Youth Theme; Peace in Christ.

Pastels and spring were my choosing.

Secondly, I put together the emblem I would repeat.

 

I would use it all over things.

Third thing I did was sketch out a script:

Conducting: YW president

Opening song: Walk Tall, You're a Daughter of God

     chorister: YW m.

     piano player: Sister W.

Opening prayer: Sister "Me"

Introduction to Young Women Program: YW president

     give books to new YW J.

   Beehives: YW A.

       symbol

       scripture

       testimony

   Mia Maids: YW m.

       symbol

       scripture

       testimony

   Laurels: YW M.

       symbol

       scripture

       testimony

YW Values and Symbols: Sister "Me"

2018 Mutual Theme: YW president

Special Musical Number: "Peace in Christ"

YW Camp: Sister "Me"

     give book to new YW J.

Closing remarks: Bishop

Closing song: As Sisters in Zion, hymn 309

Closing prayer: Sister P.

When I plan something with lots of talking, such as New Beginnings, I make a script.  It seems to be daunting to others when I call it a script, but it's always important for everyone to know when they speak and when they do a movement.  Otherwise, you have people looking at you and whispering, "What do I do next?"

In our Young Women, it is only me and Q, no second counselor or secretary, so we had to double up on duties as we have been doing through our whole callings.

It was still so nice.

Lastly, I sketched out the decor plans.

I'd say I came pretty close.

We couldn't find the large standing easels.

Our table.

I made the banner myself and laminated them to be used for years to come!

Each flag is a Young Women Value:

Faith

Divine Nature

Individual Worth

Knowledge

Choice and Accountability

Good Works

Integrity

Virtue

All things the Young Women strive to understand and work for through Personal Progress.

Every year there is a new youth theme and scripture from where the theme comes.

This year is "Peace in Christ," Doctrine & Covenants 19:23

"Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me."

I love that scripture so much.  Having peace in Christ is a great blessing.

The theme and scripture is in the frame on the left,

and the frame on the right says; New Beginnings ----- Ward 2018.

You can see we have pictures of our Young Women, which those are now on the wall of our room.

There are also the bags with the necklaces I made for this year's youth theme inside,

along with a book mark with the scripture on one side and the lyrics to the 2018 theme's song on the other side.

I got all my supplies for the necklace from Hobby Lobby and almost every bit was marked down more than their usual percentage off.  The price of each necklace to make was $1.05 to $2.47, depending on if the cord you had was on sale or not.

The larger bag was for our new girl that would receive manuals and jewelry from the past two year's youth themes and the Young Women torch.

Other things on display are the bookmark straps, the gold and silver Young Women medallion, the Young Women torch pendent and pin, and the camp torch patch.  As well as a statue of Jesus and flowers in a vase.

We were in the Relief Society room, so the frames on the wall are not Young Women, but the ones on the chalkboard are from our room.  The large frame on the left with the Young Women Theme, I don't know where that is from.  A previous president got it for the Young Women, and Q didn't know from where it was found.

We put the piano in the corner to change things up and added the pretty greenery on top.  The draping around the chalkboard are two plastic table covers.  That is one of my favorite party hacks.

Our program table. 

I couldn't show you much of the program since I don't have permission from the girls and their parents to use their names and images on my blog.

Basically, the inside left had the scripture of this year, Doctrine & Covenants 19:23, then below that was a list of us in Young Women and our positions.

On the inside right, at the top was the "Peace in Christ" watercolor wreath I put together, and followed below was the program.

On the back I had a quote from the song of the year; 

"When there's no peace on earth, there is peace in Christ." 

Peace in Christ by Nik Day

I didn't get pictures of the girls doing their parts, and I regret not doing so.

Each level in Young Women is organized by age;

Beehives 12-13

Mia Maids 14-15

Laurels 16-17

A. was our only Beehive until J. turned twelve, so I had her tell about Beehives.

m. is our most recent Mia Maid, so she covered Mia Maids.

M. is our oldest Laurel, so she talked about Laurels.

Beehives are represented by, obviously, a beehive, which represents harmony, cooperation, and work of the early pioneers of the church.

Mia Maid are represented by a rose which symbolized love, faith, and purity.

Laurels are represented by a laurel wreath that has always stood as a symbol of honor and accomplishment.

During their years in Young Women, the girls learn about themselves and about Heavenly Father.  The whole reason for them to do any of this work is to become closer to Heavenly Father.

Q, doing her talk about the youth theme for 2018.

Her paper says:

What do you know about Christ that brings you peace?

He loves you.

He will help you.

He does not lie.

He knows how you feel.

And with each one of those lines, she had a scripture to back it up.

All of us singing "Peace in Christ."

There is peace in Christ

When we learn of Him.

Feel the love He felt for us

When He bore our sins.

Listen to His words.

Let them come alive.

If we know Him as He is,

There is peace in Christ.

He gives us hope

When hope is gone.

He gives us strength

When we can't go on.

He gives us shelter

In the storms of life.

When there's no peace on earth,

There is peace in Christ.

There is peace in Christ

When we walk with Him

Through the streets of Galilee

To Jerusalem.

Mend the broken hearts.

Dry the tearfilled eyes.

When we live the way He lived,

There is peace in Christ.

He gives us hope

When hope is gone.

He gives us strength

When we can't go on.

He gives us shelter

In the storms of life.

When there's no peace on earth,

There is peace in Christ.

He gives us hope

When hope is gone.

He gives us strength

When we can't go on.

He gives us shelter

In the storms of life.

When there's no peace on earth,

There is peace in Christ.

When there's no peace on earth,

There is peace in Christ.

I even covered my face because, well, I think I was trying to hit a high note and I look so strange that I couldn't stop laughing at myself!  A mother in the crowd took this picture and I'm really glad she did.

It was great fun and I felt the Spirit so strongly.

I am truly grateful to these Young Women I have come to know more about.  Two of them I've know their whole life and it's amazing to see how much they have grown.  I look forward to getting to know our new Young Women and getting to know them all, deeper.

If y'all want to know more about the Young Women program, just click.

Purpose of Young Women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Youth in the Church

and Messages From Leaders to the Youth

If you are curious about members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, commonly know as Mormons, just click here.

If you would like to use my "New Beginnings" wreath or "Peace in Christ" wreath, I give you permission to do so as long it is not used for monetary gain.

A Member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

I have not said this directly.  I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 

Yes,

I am a Mormon.

I'm not sure why I was not direct about it.  I think I wanted people to "find it" in my posts.  I like it when I find that in someone's blog, little things that link us that way.  This is no little thing indeed, but I hope you know what I mean.  I am extremely happy to be a member of this church.  I have a relationship with my Heavenly Father and my eldest brother, Jesus Christ because I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  My husband served a mission for our church.  My father served a mission for our church.  My brother comes home from his mission on Monday (YAY!).

I don't think anyone reads my blog.  According to the info on my dashboard, yeah, no one does.  I subscribed Tom myself so I would feel better about what I'm doing but I am going to write this as if I have a sold out audience.  I will speak (type/blog) boldly so someday another can hear me.  I'm doing this so at least one other person in the world can read my blog and feel comfort in knowing that they are not the only one going through what they are.

I am a Mormon.

I was born into the church and I grew to love it at a very young age.  It helped me choose whom I wanted to marry.  I was engaged before I met Tom.  This young man got baptized.  He said it was his own choice and he didn't do it for me but he stop going to church completely once we broke up.  You can conclude what you want.  When I was very young, I decided that I would only marry a man that served a mission.  It was very important to me.  A young man on a mission learns to solely serve others.  They learn who they are as a child of God and they give one of the greatest gifts to people; learning that you came from God, our Heavenly Father, and His plan of salvation.  I wanted that example for my children.  I wanted my kids to have a return missionary as a father.  That's why I made that decision, for my future children.  This young man told me he would not serve a mission and I almost gave in.  I almost married him.  I couldn't.  I decided along time ago that I would marry a return missionary and why was I going to change that?  For a young man?  If I had to change that to marry him, then he wasn't the one I was supposed to marry.  He wasn't meant to be the father of my children.

I told Tom that if he hadn't gone on a mission, I wouldn't have even dated him.  It's true.  I wouldn't have.  I didn't want to go through that again.  I love Tom very much but just because I love him, that doesn't make him the best for my children.  For those of you who are not married yet, decide who you will marry by think who this man will be for your future children.  It helps a lot when your heart and mind seem conflicted.  A return missionary is what I needed for my kids.

I am a Mormon.

I am a mother of two girls.  I am a wife to a wonderful man that sometimes acts like a kid and always acts as if his whole purpose is to love and provide for us; his family.  I am kind.  I am very talkative.  I have hope.  I try to love everyone because even when they are mean to me, if I am mean to them, I don't feel right.  The Spirit tells me it's wrong.  I am not perfect.  I get angry sometimes.  I sometimes don't clean the house.  I love my husband and I will always be faithful to him.  I am not a perfect parent.  I try to be patient.  I try to not yell at my oldest (the younger is a baby) who sometimes doesn't listen so she can do whatever she wants.  I am happy that I have the church.  I am happy we have a prophet that continues to guide us through Jesus Christ.

I am happy to be a Mormon.

Want to know more about Mormons?  Just curious?

Click here to learn more.