Sunday, July 17, 2011

July Spot Light

Karrie Eileen Alms


1. Where were you born? Where did you grow up?
I was born and raised in Covina, California. I was born in the hallway of the home in which I grew up on Friday the 13th.

2. How many brothers and sisters do you have? Where do you fit in oldest / youngest?
I have two older brothers and I am the youngest child.

3. If you have children, how many? Names and ages. If not at home where are they living now?
I am blessed to have seven children, all girls except for six. Aaron (20) is currently serving in the Philippine Olongapo Mission. My other six children are still at home, Andrew (19), Nathaniel (17), Zachary (15), Matthew (13), Peter (11) and Eliza (7).

4. What are some of the different places you have lived? Your favorite place? Why?
I have lived in California (Covina and Beverly Hills), Wisconsin (West Allis, Allenton and West Bend) and Illinois (Rockford and Peoria). I prefer the fours seasons of the Midwest. My favorite place to live is the current place as I like to bloom where I am planted by being involved at home, church and in the community.

5. Your favorite color?
Purple!

6. Your favorite food?
Marina Escamis' eggrolls!

7. What are some things that you enjoy doing?
I enjoy serving other people in ways that are meaningful to them. I also enjoy reading, sewing, crocheting, gardening (flower and food), drawing, making stained glass, being creative and and and .......

8. Share one of your most embarrassing moments.
I played varsity tennis during high school with cut out tennis shoes on both feet because I had ingrown toenails on both of my big toes. I refused to see a podiatrist because my older brother had the same condition and his feet were severely messed up and I did not want to have the same horrible experience. I eventually outgrew this painful condition.

9. Share something about you that no one would know about.
I would like to drive a race car.
Share a dream that you have, something you would like to do or see some day.
Spiritually, I would like to see all of my ancestors, family and posterity joined together in the celestial kingdom. Temporarily, I would like to see the Aurora Borealis.

10. Name a movie or book that best describes you or your life.
Pride and Prejudice (1995), specifically Eliza Bennett and now, The Little Princess (1995) because of my testimony that anything is possible with the Lord's help.

11. What are some of the callings you have had in the church? Which was your favorite? Why?
Visiting teacher, ward missionary, activities chairman, Cubmaster, R.S. chorister, R. S. President, R.S. teacher, ..... My favorite calling has been to be a visiting teacher because I have been able to make friendships and develop a deep testimony of how the Savior wants us to love and serve one another. To be able to serve another of our Heavenly Father's daughters in ways that are
meaning to that sister brings great joy to my heart.

12. Who is your favorite Latter-day Prophet and why?
Gordon B. Hinckley is my favorite Latter-day Prophet. I was able to see President Hinckley in person during the construction and dedication of the Nauvoo Temple. His enthusiasm and zest for life and serving the Lord and his people is simply infectious in a most uplifting manner. His can do attitude, looking for sunshine attitude help me to want to be positive as I journey through my
earthly life.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

June Spot Light

Emily Kay Monroe


1. Where were you born? Where did you grow up?
Born and raised in Burley, Idaho

2. How many brothers and sisters do you have? Where do you fit in oldest / youngest?
I have 4 sisters and 1 brother, I am the second oldest

3. If you have children, how many? Names and ages.
I have 3 girls, Aubrey 4, Brooklyn 2, Racel 4 months

4. What are some of the different places you have lived? Your favorite place? Why? I have lived in Logan,
Utah, San Diego, CA, Las Vegas, NV, Rome, Italy. My favorite place was Rome because I went sightseeing everyday and had a ton of fun!

5. Your favorite color? purple

6. Your favorite food? Anything Italian

7. What are some things that you enjoy doing? (hobbies, crafts, reading, sewing, cooking, singing, etc.)
I love all things crafting! I'm willing to try my hand at anything crafty...sewing, painting, scrapbooking, etc. If I think it's cute I will try to figure out a way to make it for myself. I also enjoying upcycling furniture and am a bit of a furniture junkie, I'm always looking at craigslist and thrift stores to see if I can repaint/repair furniture even if I don't have room in my home for it! I especially love unique chairs.

8. Share one of your most embarrassing moments.
I was getting out of our family's suburban on a winter night
and slipped off the ice covered running board. I fell out of the car and halfway underneath the tire all in one fell swoop. Even though I was parked in front of a busy store I don't think anyone saw.

9. Share something about you that no one would know about. I like to water ski and snowboard, my snowboard is currently being stored in our shed because we moved from Vegas to here and I haven't been able to use it!

10. Share a dream that you have, something you would like to do or see some day.
I would like to do a lot more traveling, including hiking to the base camp of Mt. Everest. I would also like to continue to make crafts and sell them at craft shows.

11. Name a movie or book that best describes you or your life.
"I Am a Mother" by Jane Clayson Johnson

12. What are some of the callings you have had in the church? Which was your favorite? Why?
Sunbeam teacher, Relief Society teacher, nursery leader, Visiting Teaching Assistant, Librarian. I really like teaching Relief Society.

13. Who is your favorite Latter-day Prophet and why?
President Hinkley is one of my favorites, he was president
during most of my college years and so I feel that I really grew spiritually as an adult while he was leading the Church

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

May Spot Light

Amy Noel (Shurts) Payne

1. Where were you born? Where did you grow up?  I was born at OSF here in Peoria and was raised in Morton, Il.

2. How many brothers and sisters do you have? Where do you fit in oldest / youngest? I have 4 brothers and 2 sisters I am the oldest daughter and the middle child.

3. If you have children, how many? Names and ages. I have three daughters Cecilia 12, Holly 9, Maggie 3

4. What are some of the different places you have lived? Your favorite place? Why? I have lived in Illinois most of my life, I went to St. George, Utah for college and spent a summer in Grand Junction, Co and lived in Sandy, Layton and Bountiful Ut. I would go back to St. George in a heart beat, I love the weather the people and the red rock.

5. Share a dream that you have, something you would like to do or see some day. I would one day love to jump out of an air plane, I love roller coasters and would one day like to be able to ride as many different ones as I can.

6. What are some of the callings you have had in the church? Which was your favorite? Why? I have had many different callings, cub scout den mom, primary teacher, visiting teacher corindator, nursery leader, RS teacher, sunday school teacher, YW 2nd counselor, RS meeting board member. My favorite calling would be any of them that lets me work with the youth. They are a great group of kids and they let me be as silly as I want with very little judgement.

7. Who is your favorite Latter-day Prophet and why? I have two favorite prophets, the first would be President Kimball; he was president for most of my childhood. Also, I would have to say president Monson, when ever I would listen to him speak as a child I would think to my self one day he will be the prophet. He is a wonderful speaker as well as kind man.

Monday, March 28, 2011

April Spot Light

 Lindsey Morello Williams 
(no middle name until I got married)

1.  Where were you born?  Where did you grow up?
born and raised in Columbus, Ohio (Go Buckeyes!)

2.  How many brothers and sisters do you have?  Where do you fit in oldest / youngest?
I am in the middle child of five (1 sister and 3 brothers)

3.  If you have children, how many?  Names and ages.
Collin, 2 & Brennan, 2 mos

4.  What are some of the different places you have lived?  Your favorite place?  Why?
Provo, UT and Madison, WI. I loved Madison's cool downtown and awesome outdoor activities

5.  Your favorite color?
chocolate brown, currently

6.  Your favorite food?
lasagna

7.  What are some things that you enjoy doing?
I enjoy reading young adult fiction, particularly historical fiction.

8.  Share one of your most embarrassing moments.
At my first youth conference when I was 14, I was
on my period, and my pad overflowed and I didn't have a change of pants. It was awful!

9. Share something about you that no one would know about.
I picked my husband out of the "Ward Menu" (my BYU ward picture directory) almost 4 months before we ever even talked!

10. Share a dream that you have, something you would like to do or see some day.
I would love to go on a real vacation with just my husband. We were too poor for a honeymoon, and as soon as we could afford anything, we started to have children. I'd love to spend a week away with just the two of us.

11. Name a movie or book that best describes you or your life.
This one takes too much thought for my mushy brain. :-)

12. What are some of the callings you have had in the church?  Which was your favorite? Why?
Sunday School teacher, Primary teacher, Youth Mission Prep teacher, Seminary teacher. My favorite was
teaching Seminary; it was hard to get up everyday and to have a lesson prepared each time, but I loved
forming real relationships with the youth and serving the Lord every single day.

13. Who is your favorite Latter-day Prophet and why?
Gordon B. Hinckley. I got to meet him when he dedicated the Columbus temple. He let my brothers and I put some mortar in the cornerstone.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

March Spot Light!!

Emily Kay Hardy


1.  Where were you born?  Where did you grow up?
Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin (for both)

2.  How many brothers and sisters do you have?  Where do you fit in oldest / youngest?
Two sisters--one older, one younger.  I'm the dysfunctional middle child.

3.  If you have children, how many?  Names and ages.
Two children--Madeline is 4, Colter is 2 months (as of October)

4.  What are some of the different places you have lived?  Your favorite place?  Why?
Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, East Lansing, Michigan, Salt Lake City, Utah, Madison, Wisconsin, Peoria, Illinois,
Peterborough, England. Favorite: Madison, by far.  Such a fun city to live in!!  So many things to do, just a great atmosphere there overall.  Perfect distance from my parents.  I'd go back in a heartbeat.
 
5.  Your favorite color?
Don't have just one.  The cool colors in general (greens, blues, etc.)

6.  Your favorite food?
Depends on the day, but ice cream is usually near the top

7.  What are some things that you enjoy doing?
I like to read (fiction), I'd like to learn more sewing/crafting, as I've enjoyed the little I've done.  Sleep is always good.  I used to like to go for walks, back before I had kids...

8.  Share one of your most embarrassing moments.
Can't really think of any good ones.

9. Share something about you that no one would know about.
I think it'd be really cool to work backstage with theater, or TV, or (especially) movies, though I have no experience with it whatsoever.

10. Share a dream that you have, something you would like to do or see some day.
I'd like to go on a hot air balloon ride.  And see the Pacific Northwest of the US.

11. What is your favorite movie or book?
I'm not sure I could pick just one book.  There are too many good ones out there.  Most of my favorites tend to be fantasy.

12. What are some of the callings you have had in the church?  Which was your favorite? Why?
Relief Society, Young Womens, Nursery, a few others.  I haven't really kept track.  Not sure I had one I particularly liked.

13. Who is your favorite Latter-day Prophet and why?
I guess Gordon B Hinckley, just because he's really the only one I've known.

February Spot Light!!

 Mirinda Selby Chatfield

1.  Where were you born?  Where did you grow up?
Grand Forks, North Dakota - all over, my dad was in the Air Force until I was 15 and we settled in Corvallis, Oregon.  All of my family is still there.

2.  How many brothers and sisters do you have?  Where do you fit in oldest / youngest?
number 2 of 4. Older sister, me brother, younger sister

3.  If you have children, how many?  Names and ages.
  Quinten 7, Ashlie 4, Chelsea 2

4.  What are some of the different places you have lived?  Your favorite place?  Why?
ND, four cities in Illinois, nebraska, Okinowa Japan...but Oregon is my favorite because it is home.

5.  Your favorite color?
 Rich velvet red

6.  Your favorite food?
Food, I love to eat and my favorite depends on my mood.

7. What are some of the callings you have had in the church?  Which was your favorite?
Why?
Primary, several times. Program organizer, Relief society teacher

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Relief Society Birthday



Come out to the Relief Society Birthday Celebration
Thursday, March 24th 6:30 pm

Fill The Temple Week

The week of April 12-16, 2011 the Stake Presidency has asked the members of our Stake to FILL THE TEMPLE, meaning they would like see every session filled with members from our stake.
President Cummings has stated that, “For most of our members, mid-week temple attendance will require extra planning, sacrifice, and service to one another. We hope that all members will recognize the blessings that will come from these acts of faith in order to gather to the Lord's house.”
We encourage everyone that has a current temple recommend to attend as many sessions as you would like and do other ordinances if time permits. If you need help with carpooling or child care, please contact a member of the Relief Society presidency. When you’ve decided on the day and sessions you would like to attend, please sign up in Relief Society or email Ron Ekenstam at rekenstam@prodigy.net. He is in charge of turning in all the reservations for our ward.
Temple Week Schedule to be posted soon

Family History

Dear Sisters of the Peoria Ward,

Bev Yackley and I staff the family history center every Tuesday morning 9:30AM-1:00PM. We would love to see more members use the family history center. We sometimes sit all morning with no patrons to help.

Even if you have little children, you can still do research. Feel free to bring a friend or two and you can take turns watching the children in the nursery or Primary room while the other sister does research. You can even get a group together and bring lunch! Make it a social time.

If you are a beginner, we can help you learn how to get started with family history. Just bring what you already know about your family and we can sit down for a consultation.

We can help you with instructions on how to use the new familysearch system. If you have your membership number (can obtain from the ward clerk, or look on your temple recommend) or an LDS account we will show you how to register for the system. We will also show you how to use the system. This system is used to prepare names for the temple. It isn't hard to navigate and has plenty of online help guides to answer your questions. We can help you prepare names of your ancestors for the eternal blessings obtained through temple ordinances.