If that whole sentence made no sense, read this explanation:
In my church, the 12-18 year old girls are called Young Women (YW). Each Congregation (Ward) has a group of YW and YW Leaders that meet together weekly for activities/service. They also meet on Sundays for religious training. They go to camp together for a week each summer. A group of Wards are organized into a Stake, with Stake Leaders that oversee all the Ward Leaders. As a member of the Stake YW Presidency, I help plan YW Camp for 9 Wards. I train YW Ward Leaders and try and support them in anyway I can. I help put on monthly dances for all the teenagers and other fun activities. I attend Ward YW Events and Conferences (and sometimes have to teach a lesson to 10-30 Young Women and Men). It's pretty much a party calling, I have to admit, except for the teaching part. That's the only part I don't LOVE.
A few nights ago, it was my privilege to attend a "Young Women in Excellence" Program. This photo shows some of the girls in the ward and about half their leaders! It was a great Pirate-Themed night, with "authentic" food (eaten with our fingers or toothpicks swords.) The girls were celebrated for their accomplishments and lessons learned during the year.
The best part of my calling is getting to know all the great Young Women and their Leaders. The second best part is working with the other Stake Leaders. Wendy is the Secretary in our Presidency and she is WONDERFUL. She isn't mean or serious, she just looks that way in this shot.
Wendy also has GOOD Dental Hygiene. That's just make-up on her tooth. Please note my very cool socks. I wore a pair of these when I was Mother Goose in a 3rd Grade Play. I borrowed this adult sized pair for my Pirate Debut. Every family should own a pair. Think of their versatility! Pippi Longstockings, Raggedy Ann, Pirate Babe, the possibilities are endless!
Also, Kari and Christine . . . please note, I DID DRESS UP! These two give me a hard time for my holiday issues. I just want to prove that sometimes I can pull it together. Thanks Becky and Allison for my costume!
Lastly, these are some friends of mine that I admire. The he/she pirate is the mother, posing with her cute daughter. I love this lady and I hope my girls like me as much as her daughter likes her. They are cute together.
In recap, this was a fun night with lots of good company and food! An excellent presentation M3 Ward!!
14 comments:
Excellent costumes, I love it.
You are aware, though, that ninja's are cooler than pirates, right (LOL!)?
I am so proud of you! I knew you had it in you, it was just a matter of finding the right costume!! And you really are great at your calling, those girls just love you to pieces.
Dar! (said like a pirate)
Nice.
Sounds like a fun calling.
Ohhh, you beat us! I haven't had a chance to put anything on the YW blog for a while, but thanks for giving me a kick in the pants. This night was way too much fun! Only problem...how are we supposed to beat this next year??!!
That is so cute, and I love your pirate face. Our YW in excellence isn't for a few weeks and we are doing a jungle theme. No dressing up, except the bishop is going to wear an ape costume.
ok so maybe i should delete the part in my next post about the couples party...it's kinda brutal about you and Damian...I am proud of you and also wondering if you should have been Elise's pirate mom instead of me...you pulled it off way better and where do I get a pair of those socks!?! Love them...and you really do look great! So I love the pic of the Folsoms...I love the oldest daugther Emily...we lived in the same builing in Lib Square my soph year and she is beautiful and so fun...and so is her mom...and theri house is GORGEOUS! Mandy got close with them when she lived her...great family...I've never seen the little sisterbut she looks just as sweet and pretty as EMily. Ok so one more thing...who reads your blog that isn't LDS...I mean its cute you explain what a ward is and everything but come on...how many people out there are really reading this who don't know what YW is?
Wow they really went all out how fun! So are you guys going to pop in and say hi on your way to Southern California? We could be a nice stop for the night spot-hint hint!
Where were all the pirates when I was in YW? It swear it was never fun like this. Sentimental perhaps, but fun? No way.
It looks like you have a lot of fun in your YW. I may have stayed more active as a teenager if I got to be a pirate!
Every "Young Woman in Excellence" program I've ever been to (as a youth or a leader) has never had such an imaginative theme. The pirate theme sounds very interesting. And, I think you and Damian could even win a prize next year if you two dressed up as pirates for Halloween!
My favorite women in the world live in Medford; your mother-in-law, you, all your cute sisters-in-law and Mindy Folsom! All of you are amazing. I love the Pirate themed Eve. of Excellence. Aaaarrgghhh!
I'm with Christine. Is there anyone that's not LDS? I'm YW pres and we just had our YW in excellence. We had a "beauty pageant." It was fun. I hosted the event as a "Miss Excellence 1998." You'll have to tell me all about the pirate one so I can do that next year. Looks like so much fun!
Wow! Cute Pirates! I would never have imagined they let you be creative at YW in Excellence. When I was in YW in Valdez and here in St George, they were always semi-formal events with singing and talks in the chapel! This is fun! What a GREAT pirate you are!
You pulled together a great costume! I love your scary photo. My kids are crazy about pirates and make up songs about them and all have pirate alter egos (Anne Bonny, Captain Abraham, and Pauline, the fiercest of them all), but every once in a while I inject some reality. "You know pirates are the bad guys, right?
Becky
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