Turner Family

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Watch Out Washington, The Turner's are Moving in!

So, rumor has it we are moving to Washington this June! Yes, we are leaving the great state of Texas.

There are so many things I will miss...first and foremost my parents who have become such Texans they don't want to leave! We will miss the great Texan patriotism (There is so much patriotism, preschool age children know "the Texas Pledge" right along with the American Pledge of Allegiance. Even some folks in Texas call this location of the country, "The United State of Texas".) We will miss the Texas Flag seen flying everywhere, blue bonnets, strange critters, cowboys/cowgirls, everything Blinged out, cute Texan accents, Blue Bell Ice cream, good BBQ, great Tex Mex foods, polite and courteous kids ("yes Mam, yes Sir"), Getting stuck behind the trail riders each February on SH 249, the low cost of living, beautiful tropical flowers and palm trees, good schools, our friends, the great people of the Cypress Stake, my Texas home and my new pool (whaaaa! yes I am crying...hope the new home owners appreciate the pool I just bought them.)

Let's see what will I not miss....the thick hot humidity, the heat, the hurricanes, severe thunderstorms, gustados (mini tornadoes), big bugs, fire ants, ugly freeways, unkempt city roads, crime, high taxes, huge a/c bills in the months of July, August and September, One season --Summer, traffic, ugly bill boards, FM 1960, the brown Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda Grass, torrential down pours, mold, allergies, rust, etc.

It has been a great blessing living in Houston and raising our babies here. We have met so many kind people. You know who you are. We will miss yall so very much! Thankfully, we will come back to Houston every couple of years to see my parents. We look forward to seeing each of you again. Round up Turner cowgirls....it's time to go home!

Friday, April 20, 2012

Cypress Stake Youth Conference 2012 -S.M.I.L.E.

Spiritually Minded Is Life Eternal --SMILE!

What an absolutely awesome youth conference we had this year with the youth of the Cypress Stake! The youth learned new dance moves, they cleared all of the dead plants and trees from the Cypress Trails Education Center, they played water games, had a Texas Snowball fight and last but not least, heard wonderful speakers and learned how to be great youth in this difficult world we live in. Oh and they ate VERY well. :)

I volunteered to take care of the food for the 2 1/2 day youth conference. What was I thinking? I have to say in the moment, I was a tad bit stressed, but after the last meal was served, I thought,"This was so great! It was so worth it to see the youth so happy and having such a great time!"

Here is a portion of the food for YC. No, the boat wasn't a part of YC...maybe next year! :)

Egg Roulette!

Our Stake Presidency soaking the youth!

The Texas Snow Ball Fight!

The Stake Young Women's Presidency! Can we have fun or what ladies?!

Caitlin, Tori and Marley with President Pack.

Elaine Dalton, Katherine Nelson & John Bytheway

What do all of these people have in common? Each of them have come (or about to come) to Houston to visit with the youth and leaders of my stake. What an awesome month and a half we have had! It was so uplifting to sit at the feet of Sister Elaine Dalton, General Young Women's President of my church and hear her advice to help strengthen young women today.

Here are a few things she spoke about...

"Don't feel like the donkey hanging up high with the cart tipped backwards. Don't get so caught up in your calling that you neglect yourself and your family."

"Don't be cynical, this is where the adversary wants us to be. He knows what time it is and he is prepared to fight."

"In the latter days, we will have angels and God's power to be around us and to bear us up."

"Help your young women be worthy to make and keep sacred covenants. The Lord put a 'spotlight' on the value of virtue and saved it for the latter days."

"Use everything you learn in your YW calling to strengthen your family."

"As a yw leader, dress modestly and also be modest in your heart and in your actions. Don't be loud, rough or opinionated. Be soft and modest in your actions. The world has enough rough and loud women, what the world needs is more loving, gentle and kind women."

"We must be spiritually prepared leaders! Don't neglect your morning and evening prayers. Read from the holy scriptures daily. Take good care of yourself and your family. Listen to the Holy Spirit."

"Whatever the Lord asks, he will prepare a way for it to work out."

"Two critical things to do with your young women... Love them and help them to feel the Spirit DAILY."

"The youth today are living in enemy territory, help your youth to feel the Spirit every day."

"Good people of the world are looking for good -- Arise and Shine Forth that thy light may be a standard for the nations. Now is the time to stand for what is right."

"Make your home a strength, a place of refuge from the storms of life. Give your children a safe place from the world. When your kids walk in the door from school, make your home feel different than the world. Make it feel like heaven."

"As youth leaders, be REAL. The youth watch everything you do, they notice everything about you. Be real!"

"Put your family first and then your calling."

"Repent daily-- that's Personal Progress. Tell your YW if they make a mistake, that's okay. Tell them they can repent, make changes, and don't be afraid to go to the Bishop. Remind the Bishop to have interviews with the youth. If they have a friendship with one another, it makes it easier for the youth to talk to the bishop when they make mistakes and need to repent, or even if they just need to talk to someone."

"If a YW begins to fade away or stop coming to church, talk to her or go visit her. Don't give up on your YW. You are part of the rescue. Act on promptings, the Spirit will guide you, and tell you what to say."

"Personal Progress is never ending, do it daily."

Katherine Nelson the actress who portrayed Emma Smith in the movie, "Emma Smith, My Story" spoke to our stake young women this past Saturday! What a great experience for all of us.

This Sunday John Bytheway will be coming to speak to the youth of our stake. We have tried for the past several months to get him to come speak to our youth. Finally, all of the stars aligned and he was available to come! The youth were so excited when we announced at youth conference that he was coming to see THEM! Talk about a lot of screams and shouts. Just loved, LOVED surprising the youth with that announcement.

Side Note: April 23, 2012 We had the Jon Bytheway fireside last night! It was awesome. He spoke for an hour and 15 minutes. The kids (and adults) were mesmerized. He was funny, spiritual and just an all around wonderful person. So grateful he came to speak to our youth of the Cypress Texas Stake!

Picture below: Brenda Smith (Stake YW Secretary), Kim and John Bytheway, Leanne Lauck (Stake YW President) and me! (Not pictured: Diana Gunderson, Stake YW 2nd Counselor)

Caitlin (right) and Courtney with John.