Remember THIS Conference Challenge I gave to my Young Women a few weeks back?
Well I’m SO proud to say that NINE of my cute girls watched ALL FOUR sessions of conference.
Their reward?
A special BREAKFAST at my house.
I knew I wanted to have some sort of ‘theme’ for the morning and I knew I wanted to base it off of a conference talk.
When I heard THIS talk by Elder Ballard during conference, I just KNEW that I had to use his tomato analogy. It was one of my very favorites.
After we finished eating, I spoke to the girls for about 5 minutes and retold the analogy of the tomato.
I challenged them to look within themselves to see if there were ‘wilted tomato plants’ that needed to be nourished in their lives….Whether it be: scritpure study, personal prayer, family relationships…
I re-iterated Elder Ballad’s promise that if we ‘nourish our tomato plants’ in life….our lives would be blessed and we could REAP in those blessings.
Place Settings.
Printable name tags found HERE.
‘Tomato Grow Kits’ found in the $ bins at Target.
Super simple centerpieces from tomato cans.
Fill the cans up halfway with water and add flowers!
On my serving table…I displayed Conference talk printables found HERE.
This one….was one of my VERY favorites…
Read the entire talk HERE.
{Totally putting this framed quote in London’s room.}
I gave each of the girls a jar of HOMEMADE SALSA to take home….
since SALSA is my VERY FAVORITE thing to make from TOMATOES!
We feasted on…..
….fresh fruit, orange juice and milk.
Recipes for the above breakfast items AND homemade salsa…COMING SOON!
I also went around the table and had each of the girls share THEIR favorite conference talk and if they wanted to, they could explain WHY it was their favorite.
It was such a fun morning…one that made me realize {as I do often} how much I LOVE these sweet girls AND my calling in the church.
BLESSED INDEED.
After it was all over and I was putting up my feet to relax….I realized I got NO pictures of these BEAUTIFUL girls. NONE!
Sighhhhhh.
Next time I guess. Next time for sure.
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Tomato Analogy from Elder Ballard:
I am reminded of a sweet seven-year-old showing her grandfather a small tomato plant she had started from seed as part of a second-grade school project.
She explained that from one tiny seed would come a plant. And if the plant were cared for, it would grow many tomatoes that would each have many seeds.
She said, “And if all of those seeds were planted and grew more tomatoes, and you planted all of those seeds, in a few seasons you would have millions of tomatoes.”
“All,” she said in amazement, “from one little seed.”
But then she said, “I almost killed my plant. I left it in a dark room and forgot to water it. When I remembered the plant, it was all wilted and dead looking. I cried because I thought of all of those millions of tomatoes that would never grow.”
She was then excited to tell her grandfather about the “miracle” that happened.
She explained, “Momma said maybe the plant wasn’t dead. Maybe all it needed was some water and some light to bring life back.
“And she was right. I gave the plant some water, and I put it in the window for light. And guess what?” she asked. “It came back to life, and now it’s going to grow millions of tomatoes!”
Her small tomato plant, so full of potential but so weakened and wilted from unintentional neglect, was strengthened and revived through the simple ministration of water and light by the little girl’s loving and caring hands.
Brothers and sisters, as the literal spirit children of our loving Heavenly Father, we have unlimited, divine potential. But if we are not careful, we can become like the wilted tomato plant. We can drift away from the true doctrine and gospel of Christ and become spiritually undernourished and wilted, having removed ourselves from the divine light and living waters of the Savior’s eternal love and priesthood power.
Can I be one of your YW?! So cute! Do you know what you are doing for your graduating Laurels for graduation?
Marci! Just a quick THANK YOU for all you share! I'm serving 32 awesome YW in a ward in Shelley, Idaho. I LOVE that you will share your fun ideas and creativity with us all! So appreciate your time! Happy Sunday!
Robyn Longhurst
http://robynlonghurst.typepad.com/finding_balance/
I love your ideas and creativity! What a fun morning!