Happy Independence Day!
Upcoming Events:
There are no official DHSA events scheduled for July, but here are some community events and activities coming up this month. Please click on an event for details: Eagle Fun Days - This family fun event, which features the infamous Eagle Fire Department Rocky Mountain Oyster Feed, takes place July 12th - 13th. There will be concessions, music, and a fireworks display to wrap it all up.
Canyon County Fair - Don't miss all the fun at the Canyon Country Fair, July 26th - 28th. Performing at the fairgrounds this year is Neal McCoy, .38 Specials, The Oakridge boys, Julie Roberts, and The Afters. Come join the big hootenanny!
Elko Jaietan Basque Festival - Enjoy a weekend filled with Basque culture in Elko, NV, July 5th - 7th.
The Summer Music Festival at Roseberry - One of Idaho's most popular outdoor summer music festivals. Enjoy three days of music, July 18th - 20th, in beautiful Roseberry, Idaho.
Mountain Mama's Arts & Crafts Fair - A truly unique experience! Come to enjoy some great food, see some unique crafts, and enjoy some free music! July 20th and 21st.
Boise River Floating - There's nothing like cooling off in the cool waters of the Boise river. Just remember to follow the safety guidelines. Happy floating!
Twilight Criterium - Come join over 20,000 spectators as they watch this amazing evening bike race through the streets of downtown Boise. The race this year happens July 13th, beginning at 3pm. Don't miss the excitement!
Snake River Stampede - The 98th annual Snake River Stampede will be held at the Idaho Center in Nampa for five days of hard hitting rodeo action. Starting as a small, local competition, the Snake River Stampede has grown into a major professional sport event where champions from virtually all over the world have come to compete.
Boise Music Festival 2013
Prepare yourself for the fourth annual Boise Music Festival, held at Expo Idaho on July 27th from 10am - 10pm. This all-day, family friendly event is packed with over 40 local bands and national entertainers. Performing on the main stage this year are Carly Rae Jepsen, Candlebox, Vanilla Ice, Jason Derulo, Hinder, DJ Pauly D, and Dakota Bradley.There will be a six other stages, each with it's own genre of music. There will be a local acoustic stage, hip hop, country and folk, kids stage, family, and electronic dance. There is something for everyone to enjoy.
Get your tickets early or you may miss out on one of Boise's hottest and biggest music festivals of the year.
Used Curriculum Consignment Sale
Saturday, July 20, 2013
at The Journey Church
9105 W. Overland Rd. in Boise
Please read through for details and e-mail Anissa at boisecurriculumsale@gmail.com if you have questions or would like to volunteer!
We are ready to schedule volunteers for our 12th Annual Used Curriculum Consignment Sale! If you would like to volunteer, let me know when you are available and what you would like to do. Here are the jobs and time slots. (You can fill more than one time slot if you wish. We LOVE that!)
Thursday July 18th-5-8-removal of chairs and setting up tables. (We could really use some guys or teen boys to... help with this!)
Friday July 19th
12:30-3:30-consignment and sorting books
3:00-6:00-consignment and sorting books
4:30-7:30 sorting and organizing books
Saturday July 20th
(volunteer sale-7:00-9:00)
8:30-11:30-cashiering
9:00-12:00 -card sorting and sale recording
11:00-2:00-cashiering
12:00-3:00 -card sorting and sale recording
1:30-4:30 -sorting books by seller and reconciling books
3:00-6:00 -sorting books by seller and reconciling books
5:00-8:00-clean up, clean the church, reset chairs and put tables away
(We do need lots of help with the heavy stuff here too, and with the cleaning, as the organizers are exhausted by then and the Journey has church the next morning!)
DHSA Family Campout: Sept. 13…Details coming soon!
DHSA Election Meeting Results:
This year’s election meeting was held June 8th and Stacey Lytle’s house. After a lovely breakfast and visiting, those in attendance nominated Stacey Lytle as president, Lynelle King and Aby King as Vice Presidents, Janet Cox as Treasurer, Marissa Pineda as Membership and Social Media Coordinator, Dayna Baldwin as Secretary, Kimberly Wing as Field Trip Coordinator, Tami Hull and Ruth Hansen as Teen Event Coordinators, Melissa Wolfe as Family Dance Coordinator, and Kami Hymas as Party Coordinator. Each person accepted her nomination and was voted in unanimously. The new DHSA Board will serve from July 2013 to June 2014. DHSA is entirely run by volunteers! We are still looking to round out our Party Planning Committee to help with events such as the Opening Social, Man Feast, Halloween, and Christmas parties (and more!) If you would like to get involved with a great group of women and help plan or set up for these fun events, contact Stacey Lytle at lytlemomma@gmail.com
Also, if you are willing to host one of our monthly Mothers’ Meetings, or would like to see more things happen this coming school year in DHSA, let us know! Please contact Stacey at lytlemomma@gmail.com with your interest and suggestions!
President’s Message:
I’d like to quote President Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s recent talk, “Your Wonderful Journey.” He begins by reminiscing about one of his childhood journey stories, and then moves to reminding the young women of the Church of the various journeys others have walked through their lives. These include the story of Dorothy and Toto in the Wizard of Oz, as well as Ebenezer Scrooge and Bilbo Baggins, leading the young women to ponder their own journey. As I re-read this talk, I felt prompted to share it with my family as a reminder to them of all that they once knew; even more as a help to them in their times of need, and a boost for their spiritual self. It is natural for all to question, to doubt, to wonder and to ask . . . it is challenging and discouraging when answers and assurances don’t immediately come to guide us. I believe President Uchtdorf presents a beautiful picture of “our story,” and illustrates the realities and challenges we may be faced with, and just how we can master them and realize our goals in the end. 
“This story begins a very long time ago, long before the earth began spinning in its orbit, long before the sun began to reach its fiery arms into the cold of space, long before creatures great and small had populated our planet. At the beginning of this story, you lived in a faraway, beautiful place.
We do not know many details about life in that premortal sphere, but we do know some. Our Heavenly Father has revealed to us who He is, who we are, and who we can become.
Back in that first estate, you knew with absolute certainty that God existed because you saw and heard Him. You knew Jesus Christ, who would become the Lamb of God. You had faith in Him. And you knew that your destiny was not to stay in the security of your premortal home. As much as you loved that eternal sphere, you knew you wanted and needed to embark on a journey. You would depart from the arms of your Father, pass through a veil of forgetfulness, receive a mortal body, and learn and experience things that hopefully would help you grow to become more like Father in Heaven and return to His presence.”
“In that sacred place, surrounded by those you knew and loved, the great question on your lips and in your heart must have been ‘Will I return safely to my heavenly home?’
There were so many things that would be out of your control. Mortal life would be hard at times, filled with unexpected bends in the road: sickness, heartbreak, accidents, conflict.
Without a memory of your previous existence—without remembering that you once walked with your Father in Heaven—would you still recognize His voice amid all the noise and distractions of mortal life?
The journey ahead seemed so long and uncertain—so filled with risk.
It wouldn’t be easy, but you knew it was worth every effort.
So, there you stood on the edge of eternity, looking forward with unspeakable excitement and hope—and, I imagine, also with a degree of worry and fear.
In the end, you knew God would be just—that His goodness would triumph. You had participated in the great heavenly councils and knew that your Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, would provide a way for you to be cleansed from sin and rescued from physical death. You had faith that, in the end, you would rejoice and join your voice with a heavenly chorus singing praises to His holy name.
And so, you took a deep breath …
And a great step forward …
And here you are!
You have, each one of you, embarked on your own wonderful journey back to your heavenly home!
Now that you are here on earth, it might be wise to ask yourself how your journey is going. Are you on the right course? Are you becoming the person you were designed to be and wanted to become? Are you making choices that will help you to return to your Father in Heaven?
He didn’t send you on this journey only to wander aimlessly on your own. He wants you to come home to Him.”
I cannot help but think of my children as I read this talk again . . . I find comfort in these next words he shared: “Life can be difficult, and it can harden hearts to the point where certain people seem unreachable. Some may be filled with anger. Others may mock and ridicule those who believe in a loving God. But consider this: though they do not remember, they too at one time yearned to return to their Father in Heaven.”
Comfort, from the standpoint of being a mother, can be found in the last line: “But consider this: though they do not remember, they too at one time yearned to return to their Father in Heaven.”
It may well be one of our most important and trying jobs to help those we love remember what they may have forgotten. We cannot give up on them. We cannot allow them to be unreachable . . . we may just have to reach a little further, try a little harder, love a little more, believe and trust a whole lot more, pray a little harder, even plead, if necessary, with all of our hearts, but never, ever give up.
We are preparing to send our daughter out next week to serve a full-time mission. This sweet girl reached a point in her life a few years back when she needed a little reminding that she was not alone, that her Heavenly Father had not forgotten her, and that IF she would continue to fervently do the things she was asked to do, that she would again feel His presence in her life. This was a time of testing for her, it was a time of growth, it was a time of tears and frustration, and it was not easy . . . but, I can now say it was worth every moment. This little girl is prepared to share her love and her testimony, she will touch hearts and change lives as she helps others to recognize the Spirit and to pray for the answers of their hearts. Her trials, her struggles, and her doubts have made her stronger and more confident—She KNOWS!
This line from President Uchtdorf’s talk screamed out to me as I read it: “Without a memory of your previous existence—without remembering that you once walked with your Father in Heaven—would you still recognize His voice amid all the noise and distractions of mortal life?”
There is so much “noise” in this world…so many things to contend with, so many things that get in the way of recognizing His voice.
As I look at one of our sons who is now struggling and doubting and questioning, my heart breaks and my prayers are more intense, more sincere, more pleading . . . but I do know that IF my son will do his part, and if I gently remind him of those things he may not remember, then he will one day reach the point his sister has. His spirit will spring to life, and even if it takes a 2x4 upside the head to wake it up, I know that his day will come.
Until that day, I will find comfort, peace and solace knowing that our Heavenly Father is merciful and loving and understanding. He waited for me to come around, and He will wait for the many children we each have to recognize His voice. He did not send us here to fail; He sent us here knowing we would find our way back to Him. He has faith in each of us. He believes in us and sees the beauty we possess. We each have our own journey to take, some of us wander about a little more than others . . . but if we find the right path and enjoy the journey, all is well.
Wishing you a month filled with beautiful journeys!
Love,
Stacey
Classes, Clubs, and Learning Opportunities:
Treasure Valley Commonwealth: 
Welcome to a brand new opportunity for TJEDer's in the Treasure Valley. I am Nancy Georgeson. I have been homeschooling for 7 years. I have ran several classes out of my home, and have participated in several different co-ops of various sizes over the years. This commonwealth has been in the spiritual creation phase in my mind for over a year, and I am so excited to bring it into the physical creation phase.
My husband (Brad) and I have 6 kids, age 15 - 1 year old. In a sense, this commonwealth is purely selfish, I want to create a community for myself and my kids, and find others that can inspire my children in ways that I can't. I invite you come join with my family to create an amazing opportunity for our kids that will last for years to come.
Please click here for more information on proposed ages, courses, and schedule: Treasure Valley Commonwealth
Thanks, Nancy Georgeson
tjed.treasurevalley@gmail.com
Please spread the word to all of your Idaho families and friends regarding the Harmony parent info meetings we will be having in Boise and Idaho Falls next week. Attached are the flyers regarding the programs that we will have available in Idaho this fall. We are excited to meet with you and your many families! We would love to see you again at one of the sessions as well!
SPREAD THE WORD!!! Harmony Educational Services is coming to IDAHO!
We are excited to announce that beginning with the 2013-2014 school year, Harmony Educational Services has partnered with iSucceed Virtual High School (Boise, ID) to bring Harmony programs to Idaho families seeking quality educational options for their students.
For the 2013-2014 school year, these programs will serve students in grades 9-12 only. For the 2014-2015 school year, these programs will expand to additionally serve students in 6th-8th grades. For the 2015-2016 school year, the programs will be expanded to include students in grades K-5.
For the 2013-2014 school year, the Harmony programs that will be offered are the Independent Learning and the ESP Electives programs. Attached to this email are flyers with more information about these programs. It is anticipated that both programs will be available in both eastern and western Idaho for the 2013-2014 school year.
Since 2008, Harmony has partnered with public charter schools to provide distance-learning students with individualized and flexible educational choices, including virtual curriculum and on-site classes. Students are given a dedicated Harmony Mentor to assist them with their educational choices throughout the year. Our educational solutions bring independent learning students, homeschooling families, school communities, and Harmony-partnered charter schools together, creating a "win-win" scenario for both families and schools.
Please go to www.harmonyed.com for more information about the Harmony programs. We look forward to working with your family to provide the educational experience that you desire for your family!
Alen Howard, M. Ed.
Director of Curriculum and Assessment,
Harmony Educational Services
ahoward@harmonyed.com
801-376-4037 (cell)
Idaho Youth Ranch's Ranch Readers Program
A book is a thrift store treasure — especially a free book!
The Idaho Youth Ranch is offering a free book to any child (up to age 17) who visits an Idaho Youth Ranch thrift store.
Each free book will come with a special Ranch Readers bookmark. When you finish the book, write the name of the book on your bookmark and bring it back to the store, and we'll give you another free book (valued at $1.95 or less) and a stamp on your bookmark!
Every child who reads five free books and fills up their Ranch Readers bookmark with all five stamps can come back to the store for a special prize.
Come in today! A bounty of beautiful books is waiting for you.
- See more at: http://www.youthranch.org/UpcomingEvents.aspx#RanchReader