Shantel November

A few Shantel highlights from November: 

-Hike to "Twin Peaks via Terrace Hills (Twin Peaks Trail) with my amazing group of hiking homeschool moms. It's not an official group or anything, just a group of long-legged women who love being outside and make opportunities to hike together. I have short little legs, but I'm so grateful to be included in the group anyway. 

While on this hike, we discussed the power that comes from understanding our priesthood covenants and how we can prepare our children to go to the temple, be ordained to priesthood offices, access personal revelation and revelation in their callings. It was just really, really beautiful. We also saw the grossest bug I've ever seen in my life (I took a picture but did not load it here, ha.) So grateful for these incredible women and also for David who encouraged me to go hiking while he took care of things at home. 

-My beautiful neighbor Robin invited us to her Senior Recital. Lydia and I went to watch her and I was just so in awe of Robin; in awe of her talent and her determination. I started crying when she sang one of the songs that she submitted with her application to the University of Utah Music program 2 years ago. I had gone to her house to film her and help her put together the video portion of the application and helped her submit it. It just felt to beautifully full circle to have her sing that same song at her Senior Recital. She has worked so hard and it's been inspirational to watch her go back to school and accomplish so much. 

My sweet friend Bethany decided to sew some aprons during a couple of coop days before I went downstairs to teach sewing lessons (Middle School Coop is held at her house). We had such a fun time and they turned out so cute. This is what I think - you make friends by spending time with people, and everytime I spend any amount of time with Bethany, I am more grateful for her friendship! 

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Shantel September

September is my birthday month, which I always love. This month here are some of the extra things that I did just for me:  

(Other favorite things from this month are posted in other areas, like the hike to Mt. Raymond with David, Arsenic and Old Lace with Kevin and Amy, and loads of adventures with my kids.) 

This was my last Stake Primary Leadership Training meeting. My presidency and I hosted a beautiful night of training, encouragement, and testimony. We focused on "filling our buckets with joy", served a delicious dinner from Pizzaria Limone, and had a round-robin training exercise where we talked about women and the priesthood, updates to the handbook, and teachings from President Nelson. I'm so happy with the way that it turned out. I didn't know at the time that it would be my last official primary training meeting, but I felt prompted to share some tender thoughts. First, how beautiful it was that I had seen each one of them embrace the call to serve in their ward primary presidency, stepping into the stewardship with faith and courage. Second, how much I have loved serving as the Stake Primary President, so much so that it has become a part of who I am, but that upon reflection I want the defining characteristic of my life to be that I am someone who chooses to serve the Lord and I will serve the Lord wherever he needs me. We sang one of my favorite Primary songs "I will Choose to Serve the Lord" and it was beautiful. This was a tender mercy for myself because I feel that it prepared me for the meeting with President Gardner just a week later informing me that I would be released in the next couple of months. I will write more about this later - but I wanted to note this personal feeling of comfort and of determination to serve the Lord wherever he needs, and of peace that "Stake Primary President" doesn't define me "Servant of the Lord" does. 

-Ali Middleton and I started a Mother's of Influence group for homeschooling mothers over the summer but I feel like we are just getting into our groove with our meetings matching our vision and the relationships between the women deepening. We switch off each month as to whose house the meeting is hosted at and I'm so grateful that I get to host but don't have to host every single month. I'm also so grateful for this group of women who strengthen, uplift, and support each other in this homeschooling community. 

-I finished up some of my travel watercolor artwork this month. I was introduced to the concept of "travel watercolor" and I have a little travel journal filled with paintings from places that we have gone: Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, the pier in San Diego, Stone Bridge in Minneapolis. However, I often start working on the painting while we are there traveling but don't end up finishing it in the time that I have. So I flipped through my book and finished all the paintings that weren't quite finished. I love the way this disneyland photo turned out- and finishing this painting of my sisters at the ocean in Mexico made me want to go back with them so bad! 





Even though we couldn't make it back to Mexico this month (ha), we did get together for Sisters night. We went out and ate tacos and then came back to my house to practice with gouche paint and do a waterfall tutorial. I am grateful for such wonderful sisters. 

Shantel

Here are some things that I've been up to:

I have been feeling extra grateful for my darling friend, Ali, this month. She hosted the MOI group this month and I love this picture we snapped of each other. I can't help but feel her goodness rubbing off on me whenever I'm around her. Ali has this tender love of pictures of sheep, especially as related to Jesus as the Good Shephard. She has a whole collection, and when I saw this picture I knew she would love it. I also love it and hope to hang it in my home someday. 

These Coconut Bites are so good. I went to a baby shower and they served them and it was the best part of the party. (And also being there to support and spend time with good friends.) 

I killed this plant when we went to Nauvoo and I'm trying to nurse it back to health, but I do not have a green thumb. I've enjoyed having the plant in my home over the past six months and I would be so sad if it died. Wish me luck. 

Feeling so grateful for good friends in my life! 

This dress was my grandma's and I loved wearing it to church. Lucy took this picture of my when snapping pictures during sacrament meeting and it makes me smile. Also this week I subbed in Primary and I had the kids make mini Title of Liberty's and it was such a great day. 

As a stake leader, I was asked to come help prep for the Stake Women's retreat. It was so cool to see so many sisters coming together to prep for a really neat activity for our stake! 

Stake Women's Retreat

This is one of the highlights of our year. Lydia and I get to gather with all the women of our stake for a weekend of nature, classes, food, and strengthening. It was a good weekend. Highlights: Family History Class with Lydia, 5 am Sunrise Hike, hanging out with the Wards, and singing songs at the nighttime devotional. 














I bought these little hats for Rugby and Pippi, then surprised my dad by making the pups wear them (as a joke). I think I'm so funny. 

We visited my grandma for her 91st birthday. Happy Birthday Grandma! 



We did a pool and school day and I set up my camera to take a picture of Lydia doing her homeschool by the pool, She moved before the camera snapped, and it ended up just being me. I do love the picture though and love remembering this day of hanging at the pool with my kiddos while all the other kids were back in school. Just soaking up the last few moments of sunshine before Fall arrives. 

A few screenshots from my phone. 

-I've been waking up early early early in order to get everything done. I'm tired, but feel good. 

-Lucy loves listening to music on my phone and she has a whole playlist of songs. My very favorite song right now is "Somebody to Love" from the Cinderella movie. It makes me really happy and if I'm having a bad day, it has a magic ability to cheer me up. Sometimes Lucy will ask to play her favorite song, and sometimes she will ask to "Play your favorite song" - meaning this song. 

-I'm part of a general conference study group and have been enjoying studying and discussing so many amazing words from our leaders. 

-The Stake President asked me for my input on this "Youth, Mission & Life Prep" class for the stake. He specifically asked me for my thoughts about what to teach the youth about priesthood power. It was so neat to be able to share my thoughts and some things that I've studied. 





I love serving on the stake council. I enjoy meeting with others to counsel together about how to strengthen those in our stake and in our stewardship. I appreciate the opportunity to learn from these faithful men and women and to be a part of the work of the Lord in our stake.