February 2008 Meeting Service

We are doing meeting service with our daughters this month through the on-line site, Hugs and Hope for Children, “Making a difference for sick kids one smile at a time.”

“Happy Mail” Wanted!

From their site: “Children fighting for their lives have very little to smile about. You can change that by sending them some “Happy Mail.” Cheery cards give these kids a few more smiles, a little more hope, and a reason to get out of bed each day.

Experience the satisfaction of making a sick child’s day and giving them something to look forward to. Send a card and a hug — one of the smiles you create just might be your own!”

February’s Power of Positive Parenting

I have scoured the Glenn Latham Positive Parenting Book and not found any chapter specific to getting your children to listen and obey. SO! Here is my hare-brained plan. We will still have our discussion be about “Listening and Obeying,” but we will apply the principles wehave learned from Dr. Latham to our problem and see if we can solve it without his help! Let’s see if the past year’s worth of lessons have had an impact — can we solve our parenting problems without looking them up in his book? Can we take the knowledge we have gained and use it in our own dilemmas? Now is the test! If anyone wants to discuss this online here in advance of the February meeting, feel free to do so! Ask a question if you have one, or offer unsolicited advice if you have some! Have fun with this! I’ll post another reminder about the topic as we get closer to our meeting.

Happy Winter, all!
Ingrid Sorensen

Utah Young Mother of the Year 2008

Announcing….

Ingrid Sorensen

Utah Young Mother of the Year 2008

I was born in Provo, Utah on March 31, 1972. I moved to Simi Valley, California at age 4, and grew up there until I graduated from high school at age 17. Family activities in my childhood included Sunday drives to the beach, frequent “dates” with Dad, and trips to Utah to visit extended family each summer. I came to BYU and studied only one year before I met my husband Norman Sorensen. We married that summer and started our family right away. We now have 7 children, from age 17 to 2, plus our 8th baby is on the way, due in July. We came to Provo, Utah in 1994 to raise our family. We love our historic neighborhood and the surprising diversity of Provo’s people. We love hosting an annual 4^th of July party, and at Christmastime, we host a live Nativity pageant called “Night in Bethlehem.”

A few thoughts about Ingrid, from Karmel

(Chapter President and Friend)

I admired Ingrid from a distance for many years and then invited her to join AMI knowing she would be an essential asset to our local chapter. She has proven herself irreplaceable as our Positive Parenting Committee Chair. She attends every meeting and event possible in support of AMI and strengthening her own family. Through her dedicated leadership skills, Ingrid played an important role in planning our participation in the Provo Freedom Festival, many family service projects, monthly events to promote families and our 1^st area mini conference. In addition, she serves as a Stake Young Women’s President, encouraging, leading and inspiring hundreds of youth. One of her youth described her by stating, “it’s weird how she can be ‘totally in touch’ and an adult at the same time”. Ingrid is admired by youth, our chapter members and all who know her.

As a mother, Ingrid is a fun-loving, creative, dedicated mom to 7, soon to be 8, children. Often mistaken for a teen herself, Ingrid was seen doing cartwheels along the parade route as our AMI chapter pushed strollers and rode bikes through the Provo Parade. Led by their mother, the Sorensen family rises early to gather for family scriptures and has a strong spiritual bond and commitment to one another. Ingrid leads by example in all areas of her life, even taking kids along with her on occasion when she goes running. Ingrid is naturally beautiful, intelligent and ambitious.

Not only will Ingrid represent American Mothers well, but her entire family will be a fabulous representation of “a dedicated force strengthening the moral and spiritual foundations of the family and the home”. Ingrid’s lucky to have a supportive husband, Norman, who is a gifted speaker and leader in their church. At several occasions I have been impressed with how well-behaved Ingrid’s children are. Her teen daughters, as babysitters, were on-time, brought babysitting bags filled with ideas, cleaned up and got rave reviews from my little kids.

The Sorensen family has also been dealt a few blows of tragedy over the years. Their pain has become a source of strength that they use to strengthen others. They are a beacon of light in our community and will be a shining example of goodness, hope and inspiration. Ingrid is a super star mother ready to promote AMI, exemplify motherhood and encourage women of Utah and America.