I realize that what I am about to say really isn't about Visiting Teaching, or Relief Society, but in December, on the Relief Society page at LDS.org it was suggested that the sisters provide service to others and then blog about it. (Go to http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,4644-1,00.html to read about it) I don't believe that they mean to toot your own horn, but I think that when we understand what a blessing service can be to both the giver and the receiver, that it encourages others to step in and do more.
As many of you know through being dedicated readers of my blog and reading my profile, I am serving as a missionary for the LDS Addiction Recovery Program. I wanted to share with you my greatest Valentine of the day. This entire day has been filled with kind words and sweet expressions of love from different members of my family. My husband and I started off our day enjoying breakfast together at a restaurant. At Lunchtime, two of my husbands sisters and their spouses & a niece and my husband and I met for lunch together. One traveled from Idaho and one came down from Salt Lake. This evening, one of our children and her family also drove about an hour just to be able to spend a few moments with us for an hour or two before my husband and I had to leave for the evening, because tonight, yes, Valentine evening, my husband and I served as missionaries in one of the Addiction Recovery meetings in the Salt Lake area.
I have to say that tonight was one of the most wonderful meetings I have been to, serving as a missionary. Really good people who have simply made some mistakes, gathered in this meeting and shared the thoughts and feelings that were in their hearts. Hurt, sadness, pain and suffering were shared by everyone there, but in the air, there was still an overwhelming feeling of hope, and that came from our Savior Jesus Christ. As I looked around the room, I saw the faces of our Heavenly Fathers children who jumped for joy at the opportunity of coming to earth in the pre-existence, but after having been here on this earth for many years, have lived some hard and difficult lives. Every participant at this meeting were there because they had the hope in Christ... that His atonement would get them through one more day of sobriety. They suffer, and hope one day at a time.
Throughout this meeting, I was filled with an overwhelming love for these brothers and sisters. All of us come from the very same Heavenly Father, and began our journey in the very same way. It isn't until we arrive on this earth that we even had a clue as to where our paths would lead us and just how difficult the journey ahead mnight be. Some of us stayed on the straight and narrow path, and others took diversions along the way. No matter the diversions some people have taken, or the mistakes that they have made, I still couldn't help but feel such a love and compassion for them. I couldn't help but wonder if this love I was feeling is similar to what our Heavenly Father has for each and every one of his children. I believe that He wants everyone of us back with Him one day. I can't help but feel that He hurts when we hurt, and He morns when He sees His children fall. I also think He must cry tears of joy when He sees his once fallen children, lift themselves up, brush themselves off, repent and start back on their life's journey once again.
Love is what Valentines day is all about, and today for me has been a day jam packed full of love in so many different ways. Family is the best and service is what make this love so sweet, because if we had not been giving service as missionaries to night, we wouldn't have been able to feel such a warm feeling of love that was created through the presence of the Spirit. What a blessing it is to be able to feel the Spirit. I love it and being a missionary is the best! I hope that all of you will have the opportunity to serve a mission for yourself one day. You see, you think you are doing it for the benefit of others, but the blessings and love come back to you ten fold. We are all one big family and family is what life is all about.
One more quick note for those of you who don't know and because this blog post is about this subject.... I also have a blog called "Needing Help with Addiction?" located at http://needinghelpwithaddiction.blogspot.com/ I created it as sort of an extension of the service for those who are either suffering from Addictions or for family and friends of Addicts in particular in areas where they don't have access to this wonderful program of the LDS Church. (This blog isn't in any way an official part of my missionary calling, but I just do it myself to help others who might need it.) I share a weekly message on the particular step we are studying in the Addiction Recovery program guide, and I have lots of helpful resources and links, as well as reading material. If you or anyone you know are struggling with addictions, first go to LDS.org under Home and Family, then to Marriage, Famiy and individual Counseling and then under Addiction recovery program or go directly to this link.... http://www.providentliving.org/content/display/0,11666,6629-1-3414-1,00.html For more inforation and help then you could send them to my blog.
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July 24th - Pioneer Day
Click on the picture and it will take you to the last post. Did you get your Visiting Teaching done by today? If not, just keep on trying, just like the pioneers. I would love to hear what you have learned from these wonderful Pioneer Women's stories. I know that I have learned alot about sacrifice, and persecutions of the early saints, and of a strong testimony that these Pioneers had to have to endure all that they did, and gave in establishing zion. Once again, I say, Blessed, honored Pioneer! If you would like to comment, please email me at ktgauger@gmail.com or click on the link and comment on the last story. Happy Pioneer Day! Love, Katie G.
July 22 -Maggie Anna Ferrell Orr
Copy and paste into your address bar and this will take you to the story of Maggie Anna Ferrell Orr, another of the wonderful Pioneering Women.
By now you should be alittle curious about your pioneer heritage.
Do you want to find out if you have Pioneer ancestry. This site is most useful to those who have had members of their family tree that belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during the Mormon migration period of 1847-1868. By the way, the goal for this Pioneer Women Journey is about to reach it's end. You only have one more day to do your Visiting teaching, before the 24th of July, which was the goal. You still have time to push the proverbial handcart up the hill, so get out and get it done. Share a pioneer story with your sisters, and you have pleanty to choose from right on this site.
My broken wagon wheel, hath bit the dust!
Wo is me, I am so behind on my own treck of keeping up wonderful Pioneer women posts. Actually I have a great excuse, and almost made it when I realized how little I have to complain about. Ok, so I am going to tell you anyway. My air conditioning has been off for 6 days now, and I am having to live in my basement, though my computer in upstairs. It is ten degrees cooler in the basement, but my main floor has been up to 92 degrees inside my house. Wo is me.... and what do I have to moan about. I began thinking about the pioneers in their covered wagons, crossing the hot, hot prairie, and their only hope of relief from the blazing sun is the cool shade of a tree, or a stream, or night time if it cooled off enough for them to actually sleep. I have not slept well until I decided to go in the basement. Wo is me. What do I have to complain about. I have been so sick from the heat and a medication change that I have been nauseated all day long. So what do I do... hop in my car and go to Walgreens and get some acupressure wrist bands that took away some of my nausea. Wo is me, but what do I have to complain about.... the pioneer women suffered without any relief. If herbs didn't work for them, or if they didn't have access to them, they just suffered. I feel so blessed to live in this day and age where even if I have to be inconvienenced by having no air conditioning, I still can go in my basement, or hop in my car and turn up the air full blast, or just drive down to a store and walk around and shop, or even go to the pool and cool down that way. You know that poem.... "Father forgive me when I whine, I have two legs, the world is mine"? I have no reason to complain, but you still didn't get the updates on the Pioneer women because I am still too sick and hot to stay upstairs long enough to do them. Count this one as an update and count your blessings along with me. The wagon might be broke for a bit, but once the wheel is back on, the wagon will keep on rollin. Now, I am going to hurry back down stairs and try to replenish the sweat that is pouring off my face and body with gatorade. Don't give up on me, I will be back! Love, Katie G.
July 17 - Handmade by the Pioneers
July 16 - Margaret Alice McBride
....You know the drill... click on the photo and it will take you to the story of Margaret Alice McBride. Enjoy! Katie G
July 15 - Julia Ann Chapman Lee
This story is told through the eyes of Julia's husband. It is a short but touching story, all to familiar to Pioneers. Click on the image and you will be directed to the story.
July 14 - Louisa Miller Belleston
I thought it was important to realize that not all pioneers only traveled from Missiouri, Ohio or other Eastern States, but many were converted to the church and traveled from overseas. This story tells of the Church Emigration fund, and Louisa's family traveling first by boat and then on to Utah. Their travel took them 8 months to get there, with their fair share of challenges. Click on the picture and it will take you directly to the story.
July 13 - Mary Ann Payne
This is a cute little story about Mary Ann Payne that I found, and I know that you will enjoy reading about her. She is the top right photo. Click on the photo and it will direct you to the link that has the story. Enjoy!
July 12 - Margaret McNeil (Ballard)
Click on the picture of Margaret and you will be taken to the link that you can read about her.
July 11 - Jane Jenkins Howe
Please click on the photo to see the history of Jane Jenkins Howe entitled - A WIDOW SUPPORTING HER FAMILY
July 10 - Julia Anne Phippen Eldredge Evans
Click on the photo and it will take you to the link to read about Julia Anne Phippen Eldredge Evans
July 9 – Camilla Dorothy Jacobsen Corbett
Click on the photo and it will take you to the link to read about this amazing Pioneer woman
July 8 - Catherine Gougar Goodman
This is a short story of a non-Utah Pioneer woman, who was taken by the indians as a little girl, and to read the rest of the story, you will have to click on the picture and it will take you to the link you need.
July 7 - Elizabeth Case Miliam Wheeler
The life of this marvelous Pioneer woman can be found by clicking on the photo which will take you directly to the link. This woman is classic Mormon History as her story tells of her being apart of so many of the historical accounts in Nauvoo, Hauns Mill, handcart pioneers, and so much more. I found her story so interesting that I couldn't stop reading until it reached the end. It was also interesting to me that she was given 3 Patriarical blessings in her lifetime, and she was truely a wonderful woman. I know you will enjoy reading about her as I did. Love, Katie G.
July 5 - Ann Parker
Sorry I am so late posting this story, but click on the photo and it will take you to the link where her story will be told.
July 4 - Margaret Ann Howard McBride (My Ancestor)
I had to post about someone very special to me on this day. I chose one of my ancestors whose trek took her with the other ill fated pioneers of the Martin Handcart Company. I could not locate her photo, so I substituted one of her son's wives photos. Click on the photo and it will take you to the account given by two of her sons, of what she and her family dealt with after joining the church.
July 3 – Elizabeth Simpson Haigh Bradshaw
I hope that you are enjoying so far, the stories of these wonderful Pioneer women. I hope too that your testimony will strengthen as you read about those who came before us and the unimaginable things that they had to do to pioneer the way for us to have what we do in our wonderful church. My gratitude and love for them has deeply increased, and I would echo the words in the hymn..."Blessed, honored, Pioneer!" Click on the photo of Elizabeth and it will take you to her history and for more reading about Elizabeth, you can go to http://students.ou.edu/G/Erin.R.Ging-1/story3.html Also there is another account of Elizabeth found in a book that you can read by going to this link... http://books.google.com/books?id=rzkAcWtngX4C&pg=PA104&lpg=PA104&dq=BRADSHAW,+Elizabeth+Simpson+Haigh&source=bl&ots=UJEtgTZ4Sf&sig=2h_qWhKeYEiK6hM8ev95tiRuu2M&hl=en&ei=kHE-SpW4JpDosQOe94n0CA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4
July 1st - Anne Eliza Leavitt Baker
Did you think I forgot? Actually my life became so hectic today, that I am just getting some time to make my first Pioneer woman post. I hope you will enjoy reading about these marvelous women who came before us. I hope that you can feel their courage and understand that we too have a purpose for living in our generation. We are the generation that lives to prepare for the second coming of Christ,though none of us know when that will be.... and with that I will just say... Keep your wagons rolling along in good works, do your Visiting Teaching, strengthen your sisters through your testimony and determination to get your visiting Teaching done. Click on the photo and it will take you to the link where you can read about our Anne, who is most likely the woman in the middle front of the photo, holding the baby.
A February Enrichment Idea
"The Hearts of Angels" dinner & program. Click on the picture and it will take you to where you can find the entire program written out. Once you get to the site which is my Visiting teaching surprise, make sure to scroll down a ways because there are alot of other great ideas, printables and handoust before you will find this wonderful "Angelic' program. Enjoy!
Enrichment Ideas Anyone?
I have also been enrichment leader from time to time as well as have been asked to do many projects for Enrichments. I am not sure if anyone would be interested in some of my ideas, but if you are, please leave me a comment and I will respond. One thing that relates to Visiting Teaching that I wanted to share is something I have taught for many years, and in fact my Daughter in her Park City ward just used this idea in their Super Saturday last week for the second time. It is Glass etching and it is really pretty easy and turns out to be a great project. The etching I do is etching glass casserole or platters with the name of the person who will receive this gift or for whomever is signed up for the class. I have given etched casserole dishes as wedding gifts and have taken many casseroles, rolls, cakes, and all kinds of goodies to people, and always get my dish back, because it has my name etched in it. Go to http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com/ to get instructions.
Gardening with Kids
Read the idea below
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