Hello, everyone.

The month of February is coming in cold. Brr-r-r-! I usually don't mind the cold, too much. But the bitter-cold weather is not my favorite anymore. I have even stopped walking outside and joined a gym to get my exercise and keep healthy.

February. The month of Valentines Day. The month of love. This is the month we think about hearts, chocolate, and maybe a gift here and there. Mothers think about helping their school-age children get valentines ready for school. When I was young, we all made valentine boxes with red construction paper, paper doilies, and hearts that you cut out by folding a piece of paper in half and then cutting just half of the heart. (I still do that today.) The girls loved valentines day and read meaning into the cards that were never intended. The boys pretended to hate it or maybe they really did hate it. It was always a time of drama. Did I have to give one to that boy or girl I didn't really like? What about the teacher? The answer was always the same. Yes, you need to give a valentine to everyone in the class.

So why do I bring this up? I think it has some meaning in my life today. I have sisters in my ward that I am very close to and others not so much. I make a sincere effort to get to know all the sisters in the ward and try to learn about them and to become closer to them. With some sisters it is easy and with others it is more difficult, for whatever reason. Maybe some of you have the same thing happen to you. Maybe you have a sister on your visiting teaching route that you can't seem to get close to. Maybe you have trouble reaching out to her or maybe she won't let you into her life. It could be that you are working with someone in your calling that just doesn't seem to "jive" with you.

President Uchrdorf, in the October 2009 General Conference, talked about love. He talked about God's love for each of us and about our love of God and others:

"Heavenly Father’s love for His children is the core message of the plan of happiness....Love is the guiding light that illuminates the disciple’s path and fills our daily walk with life, meaning, and wonder. Love is the measure of our faith, the inspiration for our obedience, and the true altitude of our discipleship. Love is the way of the disciple....Let us be known as a people who love God with all our heart, soul, and mind and who love our neighbor as ourselves. When we understand and practice these two great commandments in our families, in our wards and branches, in our nations, and in our daily lives, we will begin to understand what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus the Christ."

With this in mind, I am asking each of you to give each sister you can a "valentine". Not the red construction paper kind or ones covered with paper doilies, but a valentine of your love. Be kind to each sister you meet at church. Seek out those who are a little harder to love. Remember that the Savior loves every sister. He never gives up on her or puts her aside. He always extends a loving hand. The Savior would never pass up the opportunity to share His love. And neither can we.

I love you all and hope you enjoy spreading the love.

Pat Romney

My Dear Sisters,

Well, we said hello and good-bye to 2009 and it doesn't seem like there was any time at all in between. Now 2010 is here and it seems strange to say "ten" instead of "oh nine" but I assume we will get used to it as the year progresses. I have now been in this calling for a year and have enjoyed meeting and visiting with a great number of you over the year. I have met so many new sisters and gotten re-acquainted with others. It has been such a joy to serve you, worship with you, and, hopefully, be your friend.

As we look to the new year, I am hopeful that we can all focus on those things that are truly important in our lives. Over the last year, several of my friends have moved on to the next part of their journey and I miss them. This loss has caused me to think more about what are really the most important parts of what I do. I realize that some of the things I worry about are things I can't control. I know that some of my time is spent in doing things that could probably be let go, so that I can spend more time on the things that matter most. But, most of all, I have tried to learn to enjoy the present, especially when I am with members of my family. Our time together is short and I am learning to relax and just enjoy being with them. I don't have to do anything for them, just enjoy them. Laundry, dishes, dusting, or cleaning can usually wait. Time with others is so much more important because it is those relationships that will last into the eternities. None of our earthly possessions will go with us. As I like to say, "There are no U-Hauls behind the hearse."

It is my hope that each of us can live in the present, enjoy being with others, and sharing of our spirit with those around us, whether at home, at school, at church, at work, or even at the grocery store.

My love to you all,

Pat Romney

From Maria Standiford, 1st Counselor

This month’s Ensign has some wonderful information about the lesson curriculum for the new year. The new manual is discussed on page 28 and some guidelines for First Sunday lessons on page 32. The focus is really on letting the Spirit guide you to know what will be of the most help to the sisters in your Relief Society. Sister Beck says, “On the first Sunday, a member of the Relief Society presidency can personalize the work of Relief Society. She can focus on charitable works as solutions to specific ward or branch needs. She can train the sisters to be visiting teachers who address the needs of others as they find them. And when appropriate, she can make assignments to help specific people in need” ( 37).