Here’s the story of one mom who is in the program right now.

This topic is sensitive to me. I was a single mom for about 5 years. Thankfully I had a college degree and job skills so I could work full-time. My good friend Staci struggled financially until she finished her degree. By the time she graduated and could work full-time she did well. I loved watching her succeed. She only needed help for a little while.

You can give people money or you can invest in them. This is an investment. The single moms I knew worked so hard to provide for their families. It breaks my heart when women who were full-time moms and therefore weren’t increasing their salaries or job skills, must become breadwinners.  Most live in poverty. If you pay child care and have a low paying job it can seem like running in place.

Psychologically it’s a needed boost in your self-worth when someone invests in you — especially right after a divorce. It’s so tough on your entire identity as an LDS woman who believes in eternal families. I love giving through the church because I know that it goes straight to the cause. Plus many volunteer to help – so the money goes further.

This education is focused on teaching women employable skills – and it’s working – 90% of graduates in recent years have been placed.

The GOAL

A semester costs $1,800 or $3,600 a year, or $7,200 for a full two year degree. There are 45 single parents currently in need. We want to see how many of these 45 parents we can help.

Our goal is to create scholarships for 45 women. Our neighborhood is full of successful and generous people. Let’s see what we can do to help!

Donate.

Give what you can. I’ll be the first one. I’d love to see us meet or exceed our goal. Click here to start.

Listen here:
Besides the music, they are giving 10% of all sales in the month of October to a charity that helps kids who have cancer pay for their hospital bills.

Everyone is dressing up for Halloween this year. I’m a hippie, Stephen is Friar Tuck and Bjorn is the grim reaper. Please stop by and get some treats! If you need inspiration for your Halloween party, check out this post about a Virtual Halloween party.

There’s a house on our street that is going all out for Halloween with cobwebs in the bushes, tombstones and a red light. I’m going to snap a picture and post it.

Besides playing Halloween music this is what we are doing to prepare for Halloween:

- draped black cloth over the fireplace mantel

- brought out the black candlestick lights

- put the pumpkins are on the stairs and the skeletons are hung

- hung the ghost in the hallway

My next dream is to create a haunted trail on the trail that runs through the neighborhood.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Do You Want Tips for Decorating You Home for Halloween? Check This Out (socyberty.com)
• Kids Halloween Activities (grand-alliance.com)
• Hungrily Haunted: 10 Seriously Spooky Halloween Cookie Recipes (blisstree.com)
• Halloween Googly Bands: An Inexpensive and Healthy Alternative to Candy! (susanheim.blogspot.com)

The city sent a card in the mail asking residents if they support curbside recycling (but 400 were returned saying they did not want to participate and 650 didn’t respond).

If we adopt this measure then the cans can be in place as early as July 12.

Cost? There will be a hearing to decide that on Wed. June 3rd at 6 p.m. at the district’s admin offices at 1997 E 3500 North, Layton. It looks like the cost will be around $6 a month.

I wish that I knew how to sign up if you didn’t get a card. The city web site is not helpful. Call the city at 801-546-0861

Fruit Heights: do you want curbside recycling? Please leave comments!

A close family friend, Susie Leung, and her beautiful daughter Akemi will be performing Saturday, May 23 at 7:00 pm in the Assembly Hall on Temple Square. It is a free concert open to those ages 8 and older. Akemia is a gifted and award winning violinist and her mother Susie an accomplished pianist. elder Jeffrey Holland head Akemi play a violin solo in CA and was so impressed he asked Temple Square to contact her and arrange for her to perform in Utah. She is just gradutating from high school.

Actually, Akemi and Cory were “best buds” as toddlers when we lievd in CA. So it will be funto have them stay at our home for a few days. If you are in town over Memorial weekend you won’t want to miss this wonderful music. If you have any questions, please call Marsha Roberts at 801-451-5623.