Open Invitation

Micah and I attended a Christmas open house at a friend's home last night. There was food, good company, lots of laughter and good conversation topped off by loads and loads of yummy goodies.

True to my own personal fashion, I unabashedly ate way too much; too much for my personal dietary guidelines and far too much for what my poor jeans could handle. The holidays are always chock full of social occasions and I am finding that after each event my belt becomes just a little tougher to cinch and my pants a little more snug than just the day before.

I love to run but have found that I'm getting a little burned out. I'm back on the proverbial horse now but would like to mix things up with a little cross-training. I've got a nifty trailer to hitch on the back of my bicycle for rides with the girls but would like to add just a little something more.

My "something"....swimming. I've been toying with the idea of maybe going for a short triathlon sometime in future when I get the guts enough or, heck, time enough to adequately train and would like to take it a step further by actually having a go at a little pool time.

I've checked around and the Fayetteville YMCA seems to fit the bill. Free child care (for those with family memberships), a racquetball court for my boys to enjoy together and a free weight / circuit training option for those interested. I'm totally in it for the pool.

Next month they're holding a special on registration. Bring in a blanket and the fee is waived (normally $50-$90). After that there's a monthly family membership fee of $59 or, if you prefer the one adult only membership, $29 (but there's no child care option without the family membership). There's no contract so you can cancel at any time. Also, the kids are welcome to join their parents in the pool which would be a blast for my girls.

Anyhoo...just thought I'd put it out there and see if anyone else is interested. It would do me a lot of good to get out and try some new - albeit scary - things next year and I've found there's strength in numbers.

Cookie Swap

Everyone is invited and welcomed to our 1st Annual Cookie Swap!
Friday December 19 @ 7:30

How it works is every person (or couple the guys are invited too) will bring 6 dozen cookies of one variety. Then we will all swap and take home 6 dozen cookies in hopefully a wide variety. Anything goes even candy counts as cookies just as long as it is homemade. Please feel free to send this on to whomever you like. If you would like to come please leave a comment (or call) and I'll send you an evite with our address and information. I have done them in the past and they are the greatest! We will play some games after we swap cookies if you want to stay and make it a night!

Christ in Christmas

I feel a little bad that Meg is the only one that is updating this great idea of a blog.  So here is my attempt to give a good tip.

Laurie over at Tip Junkie is having people post about ways they keep Christ in their Christmas.  I thought it was something we all might want to try to do a little more of.  I know I could use less of the commercialized materialistic Christmas, my wallet could too.

So go check out other's ideas and maybe add your ideas to the blog and then to the list.

Joseph B. Wirthlin

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, the oldest living apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died Monday night, age 91.

Elder Wirthlin had gone to bed at his Salt Lake City home, and died peacefully at about 11:30 pm of causes incident to age. His oldest daughter, Jane Wirthlin Parker, was present. A member of the family had been staying and caring for Elder Wirthlin, whose wife, Elisa Young Rogers Wirthlin, died in 2006.

He had continued to work at his office right up until the Thanksgiving holiday.

Funeral services will be held at noon on Friday, December 5, at the Tabernacle on Temple Square.

Going Public for a Time

I decided that in order to get everyone on board we are going to go public for a time. So please pass the word so that we can get all the "hope millers" onto the blog in the next few weeks. If you are new and haven't been invited please either leave your email as a comment or email hopemills1st@gmail.com and I'll be sure to get you added so we are set to go when we go back private. Also, I have given administrator privileges to nearly everyone. If you are a blogger I have done that because you can add people yourself or make necessary changes. If you want me to give you administrator privileges let me know and I will add you. Also if you can link this blog on yours so that others can get to it that would help. Thanks everyone and Happy Thanksgiving!

Enrichment

Just as a little reminder
Enrichment is tomorrow at 6:30
Dinner and childcare will provided (or so I have been told)

STRESSED OVER BLOGGING???

How many of you have a friend in the ward that wants to start blogging but doesn't know where or how to begin? I was in that boat a few months ago. I saw my sister blogging for months and just couldn't get started. But now that I've been blogging and see that it isn't the chore I imagined it to be "I'm all about blogging" . So, if any of you feel the same way--I'm offering my services to get our friends in the ward started and I'm being very sincere. If you know someone who would like to get started, let them know that I'm available. I'm not a computer genius, if you really know me, you know I'm very basic. Also, I can say, "if I can do it, anyone can do it." So,

Sisters of Hope Mills 1st Ward

LET'S BLOG

"Today we have a modern equivalent

of the printing press in the Internet.

The Internet allows everyone to be a publisher,

to have his or her voice heard,

and it is revolutionizing "society."

M. Russel Ballard

Brody Thomas Bauer

Megan had baby Brody last week. He weighed in at 7 lbs 11 oz and was 20" long. Congrats Bauers! He is a beautiful little guy!

Twilight Movie

I'll start! So, I have become a twilight addict (and I know there are others out there). I still have one book to go but when I start it only takes me a day or two to finish them. So, I was wondering if anyone would like to go to opening night showing. It is 11.21.08 a Friday night show times are not posted yet but if we get a group together now I may be able to get discount tickets! If you need sitters maybe we could get some dads together to watch a few extra kids while the girls are out. I don't think Matt cares to see the vampire movie.

Email Addresses

Please help me compile a few things to get the blog going
1-list of email addresses so that I can add everyone! Anyone address you have that are in our ward. Because this isn't official church business I can't use the website or church lists until I have permission from Bishop Lockhart.
2-Anyones blog that I haven't included on the side bar let me know!
3-A list of who is expecting. Just make sure you only mention people who have publicly made the announcement, we don't want to ruin any surprises.
Thanks for you help.

Getting Started

Sisters (and Brothers)- I have wanted to start a blog for our ward for some time. So, I finally got around to it. I have been in wards before that had blogs and they were so usefull! I have complied a list of a few things that it was used for in my previous ward but they are by now means limited to this.

• FHE Ideas
• Activity Updates
• Birth Announcements
  
• Getting Rid of Things (i.e couches, clothes)
• Play groups
• Babysitting exchanges

This is just a few. This blog will become whatever we make of it. Don't be shy post as much as you like. If you need help getting started please feel free to contact me or anyone else who is a blogger. We would be glad to help. The only rule is, of course, keep it clean. Also as a note this blog is not affiliated with Relief Society or any organization it is just a bunch of people who have a commonality, Hope Mills 1st Ward (that is my disclaimer in case I mess something up like a activity time)! We will keep this blog private so as people move in or as I miss people please add them yourself to our blog or contact me and I would be happy to do so, I don't want anyone to feel left out. Happy Blogging!