by: Alison B.

Here are some possibilities using the 4 areas of focus for our HFPE meeting, Sister Smoot talked about in her Fall 2001 open-house talk:

A. help sisters strengthen home and family
B. Provide gospel service
C. Build spiritual strength
D. Develop personal skills

January—Spiritual Development—”Resolve to Evolve”

A…Preparing for a family Sabbath-Sat prep
B…Freezing meals-OAMC (once a month cooking)
C…Meaningful prayer practices
D…The Creation plan of Homemaking-book
Taster’s table—Food storage bean recipes
* Start collecting hygiene kit items from the sisters

February—Homemaking Skills

A… Frugal living with abundance-Daybook by Sara Breathnach/Tightwad Gazette books
B…Caps for preemies-looms@ http://www.knittinglooms.bigstep.com
C…Developing a vibrant testimony
D…Decorating with fabric and wallpaper
cc. Homemade buns and bagels
Light Dinner

March—Marriage and Family Relations

A…One For the Money-based on booklet and Prophets talk on finances.
B…Service project-Preemie hats , cont’d
C…Sister Scriptorians
D…Organic gardening-Rodale books
cc. Make your own tortillas
Taster’s Table: tortilla recipes

April—Strengthening Relationships

A…How To Be A Perfect Wife and Other Myths-book
B.. Random Acts of Kindness-book
C…Maintaining friendships
D…Refinishing kitchen cabinets
cc. Dehydrating techniques
Light Dinner

May—Self-reliance

A…Super Woman, Molly Mormon and You!-Superwoman by Shirley Conran and internet
B…Service project-Quilts for local woman’s shelter
C…Becoming a Proverbs 31 Woman
D…Food storage: What to do with it! Plus computer up for calculating amounts
TT. Milk taste test=milk smoothies

June—Service

A…Family Councils
B…Service project-quilts-cont’d
C…7 Habits…by Stephen Covey
D…Temple Ready-computers
cc. Make your own cereals
Light Dinner

July—Physical and Emotional Health

A…Combating negative emotions
B…Service project-hygiene kits put together-collected since January*
C…The Healing Power of the Savior
D…Yoga for Women
cc. Great homemade pizza and foccacia
TT. Pizza and foccacia

August—Personal Development and Education

A…No fear pressure canning vegetables
B…Teaching As the Savior Taught
C…Learning Self-Discipline
D…Tole painting
Light Dinner

September—Literacy

A…Tax forms-written and computer
B…Sign Language 101
C…Formation of Great Church Literacy Club
D…Water Color 101
cc. homemade crackers and spreads
TT. Crackers and spreads

October—Cultural Arts

A…Fortifying Your Family from The Book of Mormon-Ensign article
B…Service project-Blizzard bags for Meals on Wheels
C…Music in your life
D…Creating your own pasta
Light Dinner-pasta

November—Thanksgiving

A…Long-distance grand mothering
B…Service project-wrap-up fpr blizzard bags
C…Praise class
D…Turkey basics and sides
TT: Turkey basics and sides

December…Christmas

A…Preparing for the temple-invite Laurels
B…Service project-Adult-care bibs http://www.sewing.org/html/csbibs.html
C…Gifts of the spirit
D…The winter garden
cc. A vision of chocolate
Light dinner

Just some thoughts: If your ward or branch couldn’t carry this many classes-delete some. If your sisters need more in the way of basic food prep for dinners-change the cc classes to cover basic food prep ideas. These are based on using food storage throughout the year. Most classes are based on Ensign articles using http://www.lds.org to find them. The others are based on books I own or library books. We generally have planned far in advance and given our teachers 3 months to prepare with suggested references printed out for them to use, in addition to their own sources.

I hope this gives ideas on how to use the focus of the HFPE program. Also handed out with this was a blank form with the 12 months for the counselors own planning.