Wow, it is hard to believe that June is here already. I bet that there is way too much going on in each of your lives right now with school ending, children finnishing their awards ceremonies, school programs, soccer games and so forth. This month marks the way for summer, with family and vacations and fun and it is really getting Hot!
Why am I mentioning this? Good reason.... with all that you have going on in your life, how in the world do you find the time to go Visiting Teaching? That is something that I would like you to think about for a moment. How do you carve a few hours out of your already filled up and busy family schedule to go visiting teaching. There are lots of reasons why not to go such as.."We can't seem to find a minute that is mutually available for us to meet." "Vacations are planned and nobody is going to be home for a visit." These are valid reasons, but there has to be a way to accomplish what you have been asked to do.
Remember the scripture found in Nephi that says, and I am quoting from memory, so if I miss something, forgive me..... "I will go and do the thing which the Lord has commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandment unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them to accomplish it." This reminds me that nomatter what stumbling blocks are placed in our way for getting our Visiting Teaching done, there is always a way to accomplish it, because the Lord wants it done, and He will help us accomplish his works.
Well, I have some ideas for you to accomplish your Visiting Teaching during the summer. One fun thing I have done in the past was to set a date, and invite my sisters to meet at a park and to bring the kids. While the kids play, you can give your message, and catch up on your sisters. The kids are entertained and you have a great time enjoying the friendship you have developed with your sisters.
Another idea came to me when some of my sisters couldn't find a time to meet in their home, so we agreed to meet at the soccer field when they were there during their childs practice. We gave her the message and had a great visit while she was while she was waiting for her child to finnish soccer practice.
Another time, my own visiting teachers invited me and their other sisters to meet at a local deli, and we visited over lunch. We were given the message as well, all at once, and I was able to get to know alittle better some of the other sisters in my ward that my Visiting Teachers taught.
Get creative if you have to during the summer months, because there are way too many excuses for not getting Visiting Teaching done. You can do it, and your sisters need the message as well as your friendship and support.
I wanted to share through music and art, the theme for Junes' Visiting Teaching message so check out the picture/postcard that I posted to the right, and click on it. This beautiful music sung by the Tabernacle Choir, will be the background music to help put you into the proper spirit as you read through the June message. The June message entitled "Participate in Sincere Prayer" can be found at: http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,2044-1-4826-1,00.html
You can also use the postcard as your handout to your sisters and make sure that you print your names and phone numbers on the back so if your sisters need to contact you, they can. To get the postcard to print, go to http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com
Sincerely,
Katie G.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
New "Mormon Channel on the Radio"
Did you hear about the new Mormon Channel? You can find it at http://radio.lds.org/mc/eng/ You can read about it at http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/mormon-radio-launchesIf you want to listen now, go to http://radio.lds.org
Monday, May 18, 2009
Have you looked at the calendar lately? It is May 18th 
and the month is half over. Have you done your Visiting Teaching yet? I just thought I should remind you because with all the end of the year programs, recitals, ballgames, and such, everyone gets really busy. Do your best to get a visit with your sisters, I should talk because I have not done mine yet. My Visiting Teaching partner and I spoke on Sunday and told each other of how busy our weeks are looking. We could only find one day and a short period of time to fit it in, so we are hoping that our ladies can see us. If not, we are going to belong to the "last week of the Month club"... ha, ha!
I just wanted to share with you, my readers, some good news for my husband and I. A few weeks ago, we just completed serving an 18 month part time mission in the LDS Addiction Recovery Program as missionaries.
http://providentliving.org/content/display/0,11666,8517-1-4751-1,00.html We opened up the Spanish Speaking branch of our mission and served there, even though I didn't speak Spanish.( My husband does Speak Spanish) A wonderful thing happened, that I can testify to you that the Lord is mindful of our needs when we are in His service.
I had agreed to serve that particular mission in Spanish, knowing full well that I don't speak, but prayed continually and had a prayer in my heart that I could somehow be able to participate. The Lord truly blessed me, and though I didn't learn to speak the language, He blessed me to understand much of what was said in our meetings. When the Spirit is present, miracles can happen. I feel so blessed to have had the Spirit touch my mind and heart and give me understanding. When you are in the service of our Heavenly Father, He definitely keeps an eye on you.
I wanted to let you know of a story of my Grandmother Robinson, who I loved dearly. She was so kind and good and always had a smile on her face. She was assigned to Visit teach a woman who over the years had developed the reputation of being the meanest woman in her ward. She had been assigned Visiting Teachers over the years but none of them were able to get her to answer her door and let them in. My Grandmother took on this assignment and was absolutely determined that this mean old Lady would not prevent her from doing her Visiting Teaching.
One day, she and her companion had tried to call this woman to make an appointment with her, but just like the others before them, she would not answer the phone. This was before answering machines. My Grandmother and her partner just decided that they would go to this woman's home and try to visit with her.
They marched up to the front door and knocked. They knocked again, and no one came to the door. My Grandmother looked around porch to a window and could see that this mean old woman was sitting right there and just ignoring their knocks.
This got up my Grandmothers dander a bit, and instead of leaving like all the others before her, she was determined that if she was nice enough to come to visit, this woman should have the courtesy to come to the door. At that, instead of knocking, my grandmother began to kick on the door which really made alot of noise. I am sure her companion was embarrassed, but still she continued.
Suddenly the door opened and to my Grandmothers surprise, there stood this kindly looking old woman with a smile on her face. The woman then said, "Thank-you for knocking so loudly on my door, I am very hard of hearing, almost deaf and I don't hear much at all." She invited her visiting teachers inside, and as they introduced themselves as he Visiting Teachers, the old woman replied, " I have not had any visiting teachers or visits from anyone in my ward for so long, I am happy to finally have some".
You can imagine the joy that my Grandmother felt from gaining an understanding about this woman's hearing problems,so that she and her Visiting Teaching companion could fulfill their calling and serve this lonely sister. I believe that my Grandmother was inspired to do what she did because I know that the Lord will put us in places so that His work can be fulfilled.
Now, back to my good news. We had resubmitted papers to serve as missionaries for another 18 months in the same LDS Addiction Recovery Mission, but in a different area, and finally we received word that our call had been sent to our Stake President this past week. We can now begin serving our second mission together. It is a wonderful blessing to be able to be a missionary, whether full time or part time. For me this is the best of both worlds, because I can still live in my own home,enjoy my family and grandchildren, but serve the Lord on a mission.
There are so many opportunities for mission service, and not just full time opportunities. Some people don't feel they can leave their homes for whatever reason, but they can still serve so many different kinds of missions. As for me and my husband, we are not retired and my husband is still working full time, so doing a full time mission for us, isn't a possibility. That is why we are serving a part time mission. Part time mission calls require at least 6 hours a week of service. That really isn't much more than many of us do in the preparation for our own Ward callings. I wanted to share this with you so that you can know that there are so many ways we can serve the Lord. Visiting Teaching is one of them, and what counts is that we are all giving service in the ways that we can. Without this kind of service, Wards and Stakes couldn't function. What a blessing we are given as members of this church as we receive opportunities to Serve the Lord.
and the month is half over. Have you done your Visiting Teaching yet? I just thought I should remind you because with all the end of the year programs, recitals, ballgames, and such, everyone gets really busy. Do your best to get a visit with your sisters, I should talk because I have not done mine yet. My Visiting Teaching partner and I spoke on Sunday and told each other of how busy our weeks are looking. We could only find one day and a short period of time to fit it in, so we are hoping that our ladies can see us. If not, we are going to belong to the "last week of the Month club"... ha, ha!I just wanted to share with you, my readers, some good news for my husband and I. A few weeks ago, we just completed serving an 18 month part time mission in the LDS Addiction Recovery Program as missionaries.
http://providentliving.org/content/display/0,11666,8517-1-4751-1,00.html We opened up the Spanish Speaking branch of our mission and served there, even though I didn't speak Spanish.( My husband does Speak Spanish) A wonderful thing happened, that I can testify to you that the Lord is mindful of our needs when we are in His service. I had agreed to serve that particular mission in Spanish, knowing full well that I don't speak, but prayed continually and had a prayer in my heart that I could somehow be able to participate. The Lord truly blessed me, and though I didn't learn to speak the language, He blessed me to understand much of what was said in our meetings. When the Spirit is present, miracles can happen. I feel so blessed to have had the Spirit touch my mind and heart and give me understanding. When you are in the service of our Heavenly Father, He definitely keeps an eye on you.
I wanted to let you know of a story of my Grandmother Robinson, who I loved dearly. She was so kind and good and always had a smile on her face. She was assigned to Visit teach a woman who over the years had developed the reputation of being the meanest woman in her ward. She had been assigned Visiting Teachers over the years but none of them were able to get her to answer her door and let them in. My Grandmother took on this assignment and was absolutely determined that this mean old Lady would not prevent her from doing her Visiting Teaching.
One day, she and her companion had tried to call this woman to make an appointment with her, but just like the others before them, she would not answer the phone. This was before answering machines. My Grandmother and her partner just decided that they would go to this woman's home and try to visit with her.
They marched up to the front door and knocked. They knocked again, and no one came to the door. My Grandmother looked around porch to a window and could see that this mean old woman was sitting right there and just ignoring their knocks. This got up my Grandmothers dander a bit, and instead of leaving like all the others before her, she was determined that if she was nice enough to come to visit, this woman should have the courtesy to come to the door. At that, instead of knocking, my grandmother began to kick on the door which really made alot of noise. I am sure her companion was embarrassed, but still she continued.
Suddenly the door opened and to my Grandmothers surprise, there stood this kindly looking old woman with a smile on her face. The woman then said, "Thank-you for knocking so loudly on my door, I am very hard of hearing, almost deaf and I don't hear much at all." She invited her visiting teachers inside, and as they introduced themselves as he Visiting Teachers, the old woman replied, " I have not had any visiting teachers or visits from anyone in my ward for so long, I am happy to finally have some".
You can imagine the joy that my Grandmother felt from gaining an understanding about this woman's hearing problems,so that she and her Visiting Teaching companion could fulfill their calling and serve this lonely sister. I believe that my Grandmother was inspired to do what she did because I know that the Lord will put us in places so that His work can be fulfilled.
Now, back to my good news. We had resubmitted papers to serve as missionaries for another 18 months in the same LDS Addiction Recovery Mission, but in a different area, and finally we received word that our call had been sent to our Stake President this past week. We can now begin serving our second mission together. It is a wonderful blessing to be able to be a missionary, whether full time or part time. For me this is the best of both worlds, because I can still live in my own home,enjoy my family and grandchildren, but serve the Lord on a mission.
There are so many opportunities for mission service, and not just full time opportunities. Some people don't feel they can leave their homes for whatever reason, but they can still serve so many different kinds of missions. As for me and my husband, we are not retired and my husband is still working full time, so doing a full time mission for us, isn't a possibility. That is why we are serving a part time mission. Part time mission calls require at least 6 hours a week of service. That really isn't much more than many of us do in the preparation for our own Ward callings. I wanted to share this with you so that you can know that there are so many ways we can serve the Lord. Visiting Teaching is one of them, and what counts is that we are all giving service in the ways that we can. Without this kind of service, Wards and Stakes couldn't function. What a blessing we are given as members of this church as we receive opportunities to Serve the Lord.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Strawberry season spells fresh Strawberry Jam! (English & Espanol)
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I just posted something new on my "Visiting Teaching Surprise" blog http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com or otherwise known as my "Storage blog for all the additional goodies that I like to add to my monthly Visiting teaching. Every year at this time, when Strawberries come out, I get a hankering for Fresh Strawberry Jam. I never seem to find the perfect recipe, so this year.... I found it, and I printed it up and it is ready for me and my daughters to start making our jam. I also don't like to keep alot of the full sugar recipe on hand though some is necessary for my grand children, because I have become converted to the low sugar or no sugar recipe. The rest of the story can be found on the other blog, but I wanted to tip you off that the recipe cards (4 per page) that I made up (one for each side of the paper) can be found on my Surprise blog. I don't promote Sure Jell, but I use it because they make the other kind of pectin that is needed to make the sugar free or low sugar recipe. I actually derived my recipes from the Sure Jell recipe instructions page found inside the boxes. If you would like to download the recipe cards that I made up...
for free,
feel free!
Yours from,
Katie G.
Actually I didn't really plan to rhyme it, but since it did... all the better! ha, ha.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
May 2009 Visiting Teaching
I love to Visit teach in the months of May and November because I get to go over all the wonderful Conference talks that were given from the prior month and reread and enjoy the messages all over again. For this months message, as you know you are to choose a talk out of the Conference Issue of the May Ensign and try to pick one. Actually there are no hard fast rules about picking one if you want to give excerpts from several wonderful talks. However you like it. If you don't have the ensign in your home, you can find it at http://lds.org/conference/languages/0,6353,310-1,00.html and pick a language to listen to it in, or go here http://lds.org/gospellibrary/pdfmagazine/0,7779,592-6-1,00.html to read it in PDF, or here http://lds.org/churchmagazines/EN_2009_05_00___04205_000_000.pdf for the May 2009 Conference issue of the Ensign. Here is a tip from me.... I like to prepare my lesson and print it off for each sister because from time to time, when we begin visiting with our sisters, time runs out before we can give a lesson. When that happens, if you have a printed one to had to her, you can suggest when she has some quiet time, read the lesson, and briefly tell her what it was about.
The Handout for this month is a fun way of sharing all the Conference talks with your family at dinner time. I finally have it done with the help from Maria and Maya and Patti. Sorry I am later than I usually am, but this has been a busy past 3 weeks. This is translated in Spanish too for the Spanish speaking sisters, (as you can see form the picture) but is is also in English. You need to go to http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com. and you will find all the downloads and directions there.
Enjoy! Katie G.
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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
