I have been the Enrichment leader in our ward since October 2004. (Incidentally, I was called 2 weeks before "Super Saturday.") Prior to being the Enrichment leader, I was on the Enrichment board as Quilt Specialist from October 1999-February 2004; and then as Ward Humanitarian Service Specialist from February 2004-October 2004. Basically the whole time we've been in this ward.
The changes made to the Enrichment program effective January 2006 have made my calling a bit easier, only having 4 big activities a year, versus 12 under the old plan. However, instead of planning 12 good Enrichment meetings that over the course of a year will benefit all the sisters in the ward, we have to plan 4 stellar Enrichment meetings so that each one will be of worth to each sister in the ward. Talk about stress.
Well, enough of the background. Last night was Enrichment. We planned dinner and a program. Hurray for a capable helper who was completely in charge of the food! It was delicious: Chicken with peaches, Spinach-Cranberry salad, rolls and pies. I didn't worry about that at all.
For the theme of the evening, the Enrichment Counselor came up with, "Rejoicing in the Gifts; Rejoicing in the Giver." We (the 3 of us on the board) called or emailed every husband to get from them a list of the talents and gifts they felt their wives had. (I've mentioned before my fear of
telephones.) If the sister had no husband, we contacted their home teachers or children or good friends. These lists were then pared down to 2 items that were put on a piece of parchment paper, rolled up and put in a gift box. The gift boxes had labels and that is what we used for place cards.
Also with these lists, we found the sisters who had talents that could be shared in a program setting (musical, poetry readings, etc.). We invited the rest of the sisters to bring something that represented a gift or talent they possess to put on display to help decorate the cultural hall. There were wood carvings, Mexican dresses, quilts, scrapbooks, photographs, hand-sewn blessing gowns, pencil drawings, Differential Equations textbooks, lapidary, label makers, flower pots, and boxing gloves. It was really cool to see the talents of these amazing women.
I got to play my bass guitar in the program. Originally, I was going to play the only song that I remembered from High School, "Baby, I Love You," because I could sing along with it. Then when I realized that every other song/poem/story on the program was about Christmas or Christ, I wanted to get out of it and show a quilt that I've made instead. The Enrichment Counselor said, "And exactly WHEN are you going to get to play your guitar in sacrament meeting???" I told my dilemma to Ryan and he reminded me that I could pull out a tape of a Christmas song that I did in high school and play along with it. And that is what I did. "I'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter." It was fun to be a "rock star" last night. Someone even asked for my autograph.
Have I mentioned that I'm really happy to have that Enrichment meeting over? My stress levels are dropping. I'm ready to decorate the Christmas tree.
