It's the end of July already!!!

Whew, where has the time gone?  I can't believe this month is almost over.   Don't forget to get your Visiting teaching visits in. 

I was just released along with my husband serving as missionaries in the LDS Addiction recovery program.  We have been serving for 33 months.  It has been such a blessing for us and today I am feeling like a fish out of water, nolonger a missionary.  I guess the only thing that is certain in this life is change and constant adjusting. 
I have been wondering where the Lord will direct my paths now?  He has certainly knows more than I do about me and what lies ahead, so I guess I will practice what I preached as a missionary.... Turning my will over to the will of God, and letting him direct my path.

I have thought I need to spend alittle more time now on this blog, and try to come up with some really fresh and fun ideas tips, and handouts for you.  It is a fun thing to do for me, and right now, at least I have a little more time to do it.

Thanks for your readership, your comments and emails.  It is fun to feel the sisterhood around the world.

Best regards,
Katie G.
P.S.  If you are wondering who these lovely women are, I will tell you that these represent daughters of Utah pioneers.  My great grandmother ( Mary Jane McBride Cunningham) is the third from the right in the back row.  She was really a wonderful woman.  One day, I will take the time to write down her story to share.  She was an inspiration to me!

Need alittle Motivation.... read on.....

From time to time, I get comments or hear true experiences that I like to add to my posts.  Today there are a couple I would like to share with you. 

I have Visiting Teachers who almost never come.  They drop some little thing by and say that it will have to count as their visit for the month because it is too late in the month or they are too busy.  They have called me to set up an appointment and if I am not available the time they want to go, they don't give me an option of other dates or say they can't come another day.  If I am not available, or they get to the end of the month then I just get something dropped by my doorstep.  What kind of a visit is that?  It takes all the fun out of the cute little thing that they drop by, because I feel like the little goodie is suppose to apease me. I don't feel cared about, and I feel like I am a obligation that they don't want to have.  I guess they feel passified to think that they have made their contact by what they drop by.  I don't feel that way, I want a visit from my Visiting Teachers.  I want to get to know them, and maybe even form a friendship with them. 

This month they did the very same thing, and said they were coming by to Visit Teach me on a particular day, which I told them I would not be home, because I had a preieviously made appointment.  I asked if they could come the next week any day, and they said, "No, and that they would drop by something at my door, and asked me if it was fine that they count this as my visit."  This time, I got up my courage and said, "No, it isn't fine that you count this as a visit, because I want a visit from my Visiting Teachers."  I then asked what they had going next week and offered several days and times that I could have them over.  She said, " I have to play tennis some time next week, and you know there is shopping."  I knew that my visiting teachers had much better things to do than to come visit me.  I knew that I was just an unfulfilled assignment, a monthly obligation that they wished they didn't have. 

Do you think I should call my Relief Society President and ask her to reassign Visiting Teachers to me who will actually come and visit me?  Do you think my Relief Society President will think I am the problem and just a whiner?  Do you think all the past 6+ months of no visits, but only a little goodie on my door have been recorded as Visits, even when I never saw my Visiting Teachers? 

(Name Withheld)

All I can say to this is I am so sorry, and I feel very sad for both you and your Visiting Teachers.  There are so many women who really don't want to be bothered with Visiting Teachers dropping by, but you actually want them to come for Visits, and they don't come! I feel sad for  women who don't take the opportunity to reach out and bless the lives of others, and also receive the blessings that come to those who serve.  I feel sad that friendships that could be so wonderful have not been made.  I feel badly that you feel like you are, as you said, "a monthly obligation or  unfulfilled assignment." 

I think this is a wake up call.... there are people out there who need you.  How hard is it to take a little time out of your busy life to lift and bless the lives of someone else?  How hard is it is adjust your schedules a bit to accomodate someone who really wants a visit from you?  How hard is it to open your heart and make another friend?  Whenever service is rendered, not only will the person whose life you served be blessed, but as a natural result of service .....you will feel happy and lifted too!

I want you to know that you are worth a real visit, and worth the time, and effort!  Some people are really missing out on a wonderful opportunity to get to know you. 

By the way, if you have had them for 6 months and no in home visits, perhaps your idea about consulting your Relief Society President about giving you a new set of Visiting Teachers is justified. She won't know your needs unless you tell her.   Please write me back and let me know what happens.

Sincerely, Katie G.

HERE IS ANOTHER TRUE STORY......

" I called my Visiting Teaching companion today to try to schedule a time for us to go out and get our Visiting Teaching done.  She infomed me that the new sister we were just assigned to teach was her neighbor and that she refused to be her Visiting Teacher."  My first reaction was that she didn't like this neighbor, but when I asked her why she didn't want to Visit Teach her, she told me that she has lived accross the street from her for several years, and that she didn't know her well but waved from time to time.  She said that she didn't want to make her feel like she was an assignment to befriend her."  She adamently refused to Visit Teach her and said that I didn't need to understand."

Once again, another lost opportunity to get to know someone who could turn out to be a wonderful friend.  I could read between the lines and think that it isn't as much of not wanting to be her Visiting Teaching assignment, as it is alittle embarassment of not having taken the time to reach out sooner? 

The reason I decided to share these two sad stories, is that there are so many good reasons to do your Visiting Teaching...why work so hard to avoid it?  Visiting Teaching is a friendshipping opportunity, and maybe wouldn't need to even be an assigment if we all took the time to watch over each other more readilyinfact I believe that there is a commandment to love our neighbor! There is a real purpose for Visiting Teaching, and it is my prayer that we all look alittle deaper and remember the saying...  "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you".  ...... And for those of you who have not had it done unto you (Visiting teaching visits).... make sure that you do unto others. Now go out and get your Visiting Teaching done, as you only have a few days left this month.

Katie G.

Visiting Teaching Interviews

One sister wrote me looking for something specific in my blog with regard to Visiting Teaching Questions to ask during interviews.  Because I spent a considerable amount of time hoping to find some help for her, I decided to share with you the ideas that I gave to her..

I must clarify that the following are only my ideas or the ideas of others and do not represent anything with regard to LDS Church Policy.  These are just some tips, and ideas to assist you in getting it done!

The first thing that came to my mind when you wrote me was the V.T. Conference in one of my Wards we did had the focus of "My Sisters Hands."  We made sugar cookies in the shape of hands, and glazed them.  We added a small heart that could be made of another tiny heart shaped cookie iced in pink or red, or you could get a heart candy and place on top of the hand cookie.  For the handout was the poem "My Sisters Hands" found at http://www.defordmusic.com/mysistershands.htm 

My Sisters Hands by Sally DeFord

My sister's hands are fair and white; my sister's hands are dark My sister's hands are touched with age, or by the years unmarked And often when I pray for strength to live as He commands The Father sends me sustenance in my sister's hands My sister's hands are lined and worn with burdens of their own And yet I know that should I mourn, I need not weep alone For often as I seek His grace to lighten life's demands The Father sends me solace borne in my sister's hands My sister's hands: compassion's tools that teach my own their art Witnesses of charity within the human heart Bearers of the Savior's love and mercy unto man I have felt the Master's touch in my sister's hands
Church Music Contest: Relief Society Division - Award of Distinction 1993

We didn't do this, but I found 2 very cute videos using the Sally Deford Song "My Sisters Hands." here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75l2oMat-O4  another one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkvoVKtGPXM

Here is the link to a Visiting Teaching Conference that my own ward did, that I was not involved with it other than attending as a Visiting Teacher.  http://visitingteachingtips.blogspot.com/2009/06/my-wards-visiting-teaching-conference.html

When I have conducted interviews along with the Presidency in the past, we generally give a very brief message, and thank each sister for their service.  We ask how their Visiting Teaching is going and if there are any concerns they have.  We asked about their relationship with their Visiting Teaching partner and if they were able to accomodate each others busy schedules.  After the interview, we would invite them to have some refreshments. 

After all the interviews have been conducted, we as a Presidency will visit together and share important needs and concerns with the President.

One thing I do have on my site about interviews is the theme "My sisters hands"  You can find it at this link  Here is the link to a bookmark you can print out and laminate that would  really go well with the Hands theme http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com/2010/05/your-hands-are-his-hands.html

Another idea that you could develop and customize for your interviews could be found at this link.... "The hearts of Angels" http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com/2009/01/hearts-of-angels.html

and http://www.blogger.com/posts.g?blogID=8675029211561237058&searchType=ALL&page=4
You could also use "The Errand of Angels, or Earthly Ministering Angels" as Visiting Teaching interviewing or Conference themes.  The term, "Errand of Angels" is found in the song..."As Sisters In Zion."  Video found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNNoOuMKuKg

 Hymns, As Sisters in Zion, no. 309

1. As sisters in Zion, we’ll all work together;
The blessings of God on our labors we’ll seek.
We’ll build up his kingdom with earnest endeavor;
We’ll comfort the weary and strengthen the weak.

2. The errand of angels is given to women;
And this is a gift that, as sisters, we claim:
To do whatsoever is gentle and human,
To cheer and to bless in humanity’s name.

3. How vast is our purpose, how broad is our mission,
If we but fulfill it in spirit and deed.
Oh, naught but the Spirit’s divinest tuition
Can give us the wisdom to truly succeed.

Text: Emily H. Woodmansee, 1836–1906

Music: Janice Kapp Perry, b. 1938. © 1985 IRI
Galatians 6:2, 9–10
D&C 11:12–14

Another idea could be taken from this cute poem about priorities and how we look at life, and helping and giving encouragement to others during their times of need.  http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com/2008/12/three-hairs.html

This one was a New Years Resolve  with regard to Visiting Teaching, that could be developed into a good theme for interviewing.  http://visitingteachingtips.blogspot.com/2008/12/some-new-year-resolves-for-visiting.html

Here are some nicely done Visiting Teaching Videos that could be shown at a Conference, or even  playing while the sisters are waiting for their turn to interview. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acLcss9HSeE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqfCXBsXGfQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A14R1yrcBnE

I hope that these ideas will help you with your Visiting Teaching interviews and whatever else you can think of. 

Best regards,
Sister Katie G.

July brings my memories of Family home.

It is very hard for me to believe that we are well into the month of July.  Whew.... where did the time go?  I know for one thing, that it is hot, hot, and August gets even hotter !  With that said, I wanted to write a post about family memories, current and past.  The message for this month is about family and strengthening family at every opportunity. Over the 24th of July, my family are having our first family reunion since all my children are married.  We get together often, but never for an official family reunion.  We are taking the opportunity while we will have my out of towners, in town, to spend as much time together as we can. 

When our children marry, and begin their own families, it takes alot of effort on all of their parts to stay close.  Each family have their own separate lives, involvements, work schedules, and such and nowdays, we have to make plans to be able to stay close, nurture each other, and let all the grandchildren have opportunities to get to know each other and most of all have good fun together. 

In keeping with the V.T. Lesson for this month, our reunion ties in nicely.  One of the Scritpures for this lesson is found in Mosiah 4:15 and it says "But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another. "  It is my hope that the efforts that I am making in providing opportunities for my family to stay close, will also provide them opportunities to love and serve one another like this scripture says.  Parents aren't around all the time, and when they are gone, it will be hoped that their children will always stay close to each other. 

Last year I focused my entire July to memories of Strong and faithful pioneer women.  I don't have the time to do what I did then for my posts, but I do want to says that my ancestors lives have really begun to tug at my heart.  I have never before felt such a bond with my ancestors as I do now.  Maybe it is the time of life that I am in, or maybe I have such a strong feeling for my own family and staying together, that my heart has opened toward my ancestors.  In the last 2 months, I found over 500 names of ancestors who are in need of their earthly ordinances to be done.  I took it as a challenge to get their temple work done as quickly as possible, so that they don't have to wait much longer.  I have had a wonderful experience doing their work, and my thoughts have turned to wonder about whether or not they will accept and embrace these ordinances.  I have a story to share...

About 2 weeks ago, I took the names of some of my ancestors to the temple to do inititory work.  I carefully selected women who were sisters or realated.  I noticed, that they had been sealed to their parent,  President Brigham Young.  The very first woman I began doing the work for, I know for a surety that she has accepted the ordinace that was done for her.  I know because she came to the temple that day and myself and the ordinace workers felt such a strong and powerful spirit while the work was being done.  All of us wept, and were pretty much speachless, as her spirit was so powerful and I could feel her love and gratitude that she finally had these ordinances done for her.  I also experienced with another sister, that a second and unseen set of hands were placed on my head.  I knew that someone else had joined in on the blessing as I felt hands the weight and warmth of their hands on the other side of my head and I was filled with the spirit as was the ordinance worker.  These kinds of things just don't happen all the time with me, but since they did, I can testify  that there are definatley alot of my ancestors waiting for the opportunity to have their ordinances done for them.  They want and need them done. I have personally taken upon myself the accountablility for making sure that all of these 500+ ancestors get their work done.

This month, members of our church celebrate the Pioneers coming to Utah.  We sing and hear stories of the great sacrifices they made to get to Utah.  I have ancestors in both the Willy and Martin handcart companies, who suffered greatly.  One ancestor lost all of the toes on her feet to frostbite.  Another ancestor thought her infant child had died and had left her in a shallow grave.  Something kept telling her that her child was not dead and the next morning, they went back and found the baby.  In an effort to warm her up, someone spilled a drop of hot water on her, and she reacted, which let her mother and those working on her know, that she was indeed alive.  Other ancestors had angels helping push their handcarts to Zion.  I can't imagine what sacrifices and hardships they expereinced, but I do know that I am grateful to be blessed to live in this day and age, as a result of what my ancestors did to make it happen.

Enjoy your own family times.  Make memories and keep records both written and in pictures of your times together.  The only thing that really matters in this life, is family.  Love them, lift them, stay close to them, and take every opportunity to spend time with them.

Katie G.

I love and appreciate reader comments!!!
Jackie from Redford, Michigan wrote:  Check out the new radio program focused on the Visiting Teaching message each month!

http://radio.lds.org/eng/programs/qa-relief-society 

Thanks Jackie!  I thought that everyone should know about this link as it is wonderful and everyone who comes to my blog, should make sure to go to the link and see what it is all about.  Besides.... it is about Visiting Teaching!!!!!

By the way.... do all of you know about the Relief Society page at LDS.org?  If not.... go to http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,4644-1,00.html  It is well worth the time you spend enjoying it and it is updated regularly!!!!!

Happy viewing and reading!  Katie G.