March 2010 Visiting Teaching Message - "Strengthening Faith in God the Father and Jesus Christ through Personal Scripture Study"

You can find the March 2010 Visiting teaching message at this link http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,2044-1-5133-1,00.html

Labels

Wow, I can't believe it! It is a miracle! I have been so frustrated for over a month because for some reason, my blog went from a two column to a one column blog. It did it all by itself! Then last night, right after I had posted a 'HELP WANTED" note to my readers, it changed back again to the two column minima template. Small miracles never cease and I am grateful as it was so hard to read and enjoy the full benefit of this blog and I feared my readers would leave. Thanks to whomever was watching over me and heard my pleas for help!

I am a little slow to learn everything about blogging and I just figured out the labeling process. I am going back to the very beginning of my blogging which has been two plus years backwards, and I am labeling all my posts so that it will be easier for you to find what you are looking for. I know there is the archives, but this way you will only have to click on the label that you are looking for and poof.... magically all the posts containing that label will appear on one page!!!

I love blogging and I enjoy being able to use my creative juices through the process. I hope that you continue to enjoy for a long time my tips, handouts and ideas that I share through this blog and my other blog that I call my storage unit... Visiting teaching surprise. (The link to this blog is at the top of the page just under my header.

Speaking of header....what do you think about the new look of my blog? I love to change from time to time the background papers and blog header or banner. I have many sites that I go to for new looks but the one I have used the most is the cutest blog on the block. Thanks to them, I have cute blogs that change with the seasons and I appreciate their creativity and willingness to share with others their talents.

I shall end this epistle so you can get reading other more important things on my blogs! Have fun and enjoy! Love, Katie G.

Family Home Evening lessons

I am hosting a Family Home Evening for the Empty nesters in my ward in April. I wanted to have some fun things to do and get some ideas that have to do with Springtime, Easter, and the Atonement. I realize that FHE isn't about Visiting Teaching, unless you want to put together a FHE packet to give to the Sisters that you teach for their Family. Anyway.... as I was searching for some ideas, I found several really good sites that have all kinds of FHE lessons and topics to chose from. You can take an idea or the whole lesson and create something wonderful or even combine it with part of a different lesson. I thought since I was doing research I may as well pass this on for a tip for you too. Here are some of the links to sites that I think are good ones...

http://www.lds.org/hf/fhe/welcome/0,16785,4210-1,00.html

http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/daily/fhe/lessons.html

Art & Pictures - http://www.mormonfind.com/pic.asp

http://www.ldssplash.com/fhe/fhe_lessons/family_home_evening_lessons.htm

http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2006/03/an-easter-activity-for-family-home-evening/

http://www.amug.org/~jbpratt/lds/fhe/lessons.html

FHE Games: http://lds.about.com/od/familyhomeeveninggames/Family_Home_Evening_Games.htm

I know that I will find some more but these are the first ones that I have found. Enjoy! Katie G.

Avoiding debt

If you go to this link, you will find a darling idea for you to make up to take with you this month

to do your Visiting teaching. It has a tutorial of how to make it too. Very cute!!! Katie G. http://visitingteachingblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/avoiding-debt.html

February 2010 Visiting Teaching message

Like this cute Vintage Valentine says..."I love you , so I send you this to let you know... I echo this sentiment and hope you enjoy this little Valentine to you. I absolutely love Vintage things and when I started searching on Google for Vintage Valentines, I was in heaven. It brought back so many memories from childhood about giving and getting Valentines, making Valentine Boxes in my school classes and taking Valentines to my neighbor friends. What fun. Happy Valentines!! Scroll down and see The Valentine at the bottom as it would be a cute one to copy off and give to your sisters. Read the cute message.

You can find this months Visiting Teaching message at: http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,2044-1-5089-1,00.html

The topic is a good one for our times, and all times and it is .... Managing our resources wisely and staying out of debt.

There is a church publication that would be a good thing to get and hand out to your sisters and I beleive that it is a free booklet. You can either get it at one of the LDS distribution Centers or you can download it online and print it off at http://providentliving.org/ff/pdf/WE_FamilyFinancesGuide_International_04007_000.pdf

Also, if you go to http://www.lds.org/ and click on "Home and Family" then click on "Family Finances" there is alot of great information on the subject.. It has links to click on under Family finances that are:

• Pay tithes and offerings


• Avoid Debt


• Use a budget


• Build a Reserve


• Teach family members

THere is also an online financial course located at http://providentliving.org/media/training/peaceheart/main.html or you can just go to the above lds.org page and click on it and you will be taken to " Peace in Your Hearts: Managing Household Finances Wisely " The description is as follows:
The use of consumer debt is growing at an alarming rate. Many are struggling under a heavy burden of debt. There is a way out. You can know of the peace, security, and joy that come from obedience to principles outlined by the Lord’s servants.
This course will help you understand debt, and manage your finances to avoid or eliminate it in your life. These lessons will help you understand what you need to change, and the steps you need to take to be successful.

Included in the page are other helpful informaion on:

• Quotes and talks from church leaders


• One for the money: Guide to family finances


• Online Financial calculators


• Family Finance lesson materials


• Additional Resources

I would encourage each of your sisters to take advantage to the wonderful online resources available on this subject and others, at LDS.org as the church has really stepped up in the past 2 years or so this resource. You can print off your Visiting teaching message to give to your sisters as well. I print off copies each month and give it to my sisters when I give them the lesson so that they can follow along, or have it in preparation for doing their own Visiting Teaching. It also helps to get a Partner who is alittle shy or timid, or new to visting teaching involved in giving the lesson, as she could read one or more of the additional quotes from the lesson andgive her input as well as your own.

Well, these are my thoughts and I am sure that you will be inspired with your own as you spiritually prepare to go out and Visit Teach.

Remember to go to my other blog as I have many ideas for you to print off or make to take with you as a little gift or thoughtful thing, and believe me, your sisters will love and appreciate your thoughtfullness. I have been told also that many people feel uncomfortable going Visiting teaching if they don't have alittle something in their hands which are conversation starters. That site is http://vitisingteachingtips.blogspot.com

Happy Visiting Teaching !!!! Happy Valentines Day!!!

Door hangers and Valentines

I have created a door hanger for you to use for Visiting Teaching if you miss your sister (s), or she doesn't answer the door, or for whatever the reason. (Obviously you would make every attempt to see her personally, but if your best attempts fail, you can leave at her door step one of these so that she knows that you have tried.)

Only one of the door hanger templates are shown on this blog, so click on the link and it should take you to my Visiting Teaching surprise blog with directions and instructions. http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com/2010/02/note-at-door.html

Love, Katie G