Happy September!
This time of year for most families, is a time of change and adjustment. I see it sometimes also as a chance for a fresh start. The story below has Here is a story that I found recently that has made me aware of how important it is for me to be cheerful amidst our busy lives.
Fred ate his breakfast dutifully and then slipped down from the chair.
"Now can I go over to Jimmy's, mother?" he asked
"But Fred" I said, "You were over there yesterday and they day before. Why not have Jimmy come here today?"
"Oh, he wouldn't want to." Fred's lip quivered in spite of his six years of manhood. "Please, mother."
"Why do you like Jimmy's house better that ours, son?" I pursued. It came to me suddenly that Fred and all his companions were always wanting to go to Jimmy's house."
"Why," he explained hesitatingly, "It's cause –it's cause Jimmy's house is a singing house."
"A singing house?" I questioned. "Now what do you mean by that?"
"Well, Fred was finding it hard to explain, "Jimmy's mom hums when she sews, and Annie in the kitchen, she sings when she cuts out cookies, and Jimmy's daddy always whistles she he comes home." Fred stopped a moment and added, "Their curtains are rolled clear up and there's flowers in the windows. All the boys like Jimmy's house, mother."
" You may go, son," I said quickly. I wanted him out of the way so I could think.
I looked around my house. Everyone told me how lovely it was. There were oriental rugs. We were paying for them in installments...We were paying for the overstuffed furniture and the car that way, also. Perhaps that was shy Fred's daddy didn't whistle when he came into the house.....
I went over to Jimmy's house, even if it was 10 o' clock and Saturday morning. It came to me that Mrs. Burton would not mind being interrupted in the middle of the morning. She never seemed to be in a hurry. She met me at the door with a towel around her head.
"Oh come in, I have just finished cleaning the living room. No indeed, you are not interrupting. I'll just take off this headdress and be right in."
While I waited, I looked around. The rugs were almost threadbare; the curtains....tied back; the furniture, old and scarred....A table with a bright cover held a number of late magazines. In the window were hanging baskets of ivy..., while a bird warbled from his cage hanging in the sun. Homey, that was the effect.
The kitchen door was open and I saw Jerry, the baby sitting on the clean linoleum, watching Annie as she pinched together the edges of an apple pie. She was singing.....
"Mrs. Burton came in smiling. "Well, she asked, "what is it?" For I know you came for something; you are such a busy woman."
"Yes," I said abruptly, "I came to see what a singing house is like."
Mrs. Burton looked puzzled. "Why, what do you mean?"
"Fred says he loves to come here because you have a singing house. I begin to see what he means."
"What a wonderful compliment!" Mrs. Burton's face flushed. "But of course my house doesn't compare to yours. Everyone says you have the loveliest house in town."
"But it isn't a singing house," I objected......"Tell me how you came to have one?"
"Well," smiled Mrs. Burton, "if you really want to know. You see, John doesn't make much. I don't think he ever will. He isn't that type. We have to cut somewhere, and we decided to cut on non essentials... there are books, magazines, and music and of course good wholesome food is another essential.. The children's clothes are very simple...But when all of these things are paid for, there doesn't seem to be much left for rugs and furniture...We don't go into debt if we can avoid it...However, we are happy....,"She concluded.
"I see," I said thoughtfully. I looked over at Jerry and Fred in the corner. They had manufactured a train out of match boxes and were loading it with wheat. They were scattering it a good deal, but wheat is clean and wholesome.
I went home. My oriental rugs looked faded. I snapped my curtains to the top of the windows, but the light was subdued as it came through the silken draperies.....My house was not a singing house. I determined to make it sing.
May we all find more ways to make our houses 'sing' by centering our lives and homes on 'the essentials.' The first 'essential' being
Jesus Christ.
Much Love,
Sister Phebe May
Important Dates:
11 Ward Corn Roast
25 Stake R.S. General Broadcast
September Birthdays:
1 Alisa D.
3 Jessica D.
4 Julie L.
7 Gladys Zs.
9 Carol Lee H.
14 Erin L.
14 Edith M.
14 Shrley P.
24 Alice N.
September Lessons:
5 Relief Society Presidency
12 Gospel Principles- Lesson #17
19 Gospel Principles- Lesson #18
26 Elder Koichi Aoyagi "Helping Hands Saving Hands" (Page 36, May Ensign)
Service Projects:
- Campbell soup labels for Puntledge Park School;
- Boomer hats for babies;
- Non-perishable food for Lilli House
- Postage Stamps for the Order of the Eastern Star (see in the RS room for more information)
Groceries for our Sister Missionaries: There is a basket in the kitchen – the sisters appreciate your help. Frozen food or perishables should be left in the frig/freezer.
September Visiting Teaching Message: Our Responsibility to Nurture the Rising Generation
Scripture Study:
Wednesday at Sister Tyskerud's from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (250-334-8580 to confirm)
Phebe May – President…………………….703-0339
Kathleen Creaser – First Counsilor.871-4566
Robin Kramer – Second Counselor…338-0787
Maggie Hodacsek – Secretary……..871-1223 CourtenayRS@hotmail.com*
*Please send Maggie your current email address if you would like to receive the weekly R.S. announcements
