Extraordinary Ministering Sisters

This blog is filled with all kinds of tips, handouts and ideas that can help to motivate and fulfill your calling as a Ministering Sister, and more because it is filled with helpful ideas for Relief Society related topics. PLEASE JOIN US ON our Facebook Group page called : Extraordinary Ministering Sisters https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExtraordinaryMinisteringSisters/

Thursday, April 29, 2010

May 2010 Visiting Teaching Message - General Conference talks

As you know, the message for your Visiting Teaching for May 2010 will come out of the April 2010 General Conference messages.  So go if you don't have your Ensign, where the conference talks are published, then you can go to watch, listen or read them at http://www.lds.org/conference/sessions/display/0,5239,23-1-1207,00.html

On the Relief Society page, they have a "Call to Action".  this is listed under the announcement about the Visiting  Teaching message.  Call to action for May can be found at  http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,4644-1,00.html

Saturday, April 24, 2010

I'm published!

Hey, I wanted to let you all know that my story that went along with the Visiting teaching message was printed in the LDS Church News today on page 15, and can be found at http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/59230/Relief-society-Members-respond-to-April-message-on-personal-revelation.html   It doesn't give all the details of the story like I put on my blog, but it is pretty inspiring and I feel honored that they liked what I wrote enough to accept it in the Chruch news. It was my daughter who made it all possible and I feel so grateful to her for listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.  We moms are certainly entitles to and receive personal revelation.  It happens all the time, and I hope that we can recognize it and act upon it when it comes.
Love, Katie G. 
P.S. Scroll down this blog to read what I wrote about.

Monday, April 19, 2010

My thoughts on Visiting Teaching and LDS.org

By now you must know how committed I am to Visiting Teaching.  I have been writing this blog for over 2 years now and the focus has always been the same... Visiting Teaching.  From time to time I will insert some other ideas that are more Relief Society oriented, but mostly I have stuck with the Visiting Teaching Theme.  I hope that you have enjoy the Tips, handouts and Ideas that I  present to  you as my gift to encourage your participating in this wonderful service of Visiting Teaching.  

This is a lay church and ministry and nobody is getting paid to serve in the callings they are asked to do by their bishops.  It is strictly volunteer, and you have the ability to touch womens lives, and strengthen their testimonies, all the while strengthening your own.  Women need each other's support and encouragement.  I reach out to you as just another voice from one LDS woman to another....to maginify your calling, love those of whom you serve in friendship, caring, and being a watchcare giver.  You will be blessed for the service you give.
This morning as I was looking through LDS.org I saw that they have two  videos out for Visiting Teaching One is "Sister Julie Beck on Visiting Teaching"  found at http://www.lds.org/pa/rs/home/rsvideo.html?xml=rsvideo_8776b.xml   and the other is "Our Hands are His hands" http://www.lds.org/pa/rs/home/rsvideo.html?xml=rsvideo_8776a.xml
Have you been to LDS.org lately?  If not, you really should and if you have been, then you should keep going back.  The site is constantly changing and being updated with marvelous materials, new pages.  It is  exciting!   LDS.org is actually the official  link to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and that link  is:   http://www.lds.org Go tp the Relief society page which can be found here http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,4644-1,00.html  I can guarantee that you will not leave this site without feeling lifted from having visited!  Enjoy!  Katie G.

Friday, April 9, 2010

LDS General Conference 2010 talks are now out!

Don't you just love General Conference?  Listening and enjoying the words and inspiration of our leaders, and thinking about which talks were your favorite, or how many were inspired with mutual themes for their talks?  Every time conference is done, I just can't wait to go back and reread the talks to enjoy and really devour the content.  Well.....Woo hoo!  The conference talks are now out so you can go back and reread them.  The link is http://www.lds.org/conference/sessions/display/0,5239,23-1-1207,00.html  You get them here, before you even get them in the Ensign, so I just wanted to give you a heads up on some really good reading.  Out of curiosity, what talk was your favorite?  Please comment below.  Sincerely, Katie G.

Monday, April 5, 2010

April 2010 Visiting Teaching Message

Go here to find the April 2010 Visiting Teaching message direct link at lds.org: http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,2044-1-5146-1,00.html   This months message is "Seeking and Receiving Personal Revelation". At the bottom of the V.T. message page are some "Notes" with references to talks by church leaders on the subject of Personal Revelation. One that caught my eye, was given by Dallin H. Oaks, entitled “Eight Reasons for Revelation,” found in the Liahona, Sep 2004, 8. As I read the first paragraph about the personal revelation of warning given to a mother for the safety of her children, I was reminded of a true story about the personal revelation given to my own daughter on behalf of her daughter, my granddaughter.

Last year, my little  Granddaughter age 4,  began feeling ill one day and complained to her mom, that she had pain in her stomach and began vomiting.  At first my daughter passed it off to her possibly catching the flu like most parents would.  As any good mother would, my daughter comforted her little girl, and did everything she could think of to treat her symptoms.  Molly, my daughter, phoned the doctor, told the her of Brinleys symptoms,  and the doctor said that it sounded like the stomach flu. My daughter prayed for her daughters protection and healing throughout the day.  When the symptoms didn't go away, she told her husband that she thought something more was really wrong.  Now, like most husbands do, he tried to reassure and calm his wife and her fears, that it wasn't anything to worry about and, that the doctor had said it was just the flu, and  that probably by the next day, she would wake up and be just fine. After a bad night, the next day came and  all the symptoms including vomiting continued, and she seemed to be as bad or worse as she was the day before.  This time, my daugher took Brinley into the doctor to be checked, and once again, the doctor said that Brinley just had a bad case of the flu.

Putting her sick little girl to bed the second night, my daughter continued to have a nagging feeling that things weren't alright but on the other hand, she didn't want to make a big deal if it was only the flu like the doctor said. Up until about 1:00am, after putting her daughter to bed that second night of sickness, with a prayer in her heart, my daughter Molly felt compelled to go to the computer and look up symptoms that her daughter was having on medical websites, and see if she could get any more answers there.   Throughout that day she had  kept having thoughts about apendicitus go through her mind, and it just didn't leave her thoughts. This just didn't seem like the flu to her, and soon she began to realized that there was something much more serious.  She had  promptings and feelings deep inside of her suggesting that she needed to get her daughter into see a doctor right away. That was about 1:00am, and it was dark and snowing outside, and the roads in Parleys Canyon were snow covered and slippery.  Telling her husband that she thought that their little girl should be taken to the doctor immediately, he once again said, to not worry so much, but something else inside her mind was telling her differently.  She new she was being prompted and she knew that she had to take action.
Molly, decided to bundle up Brinley in her warm coat and blanket and at 1:30 am, the two of them drove through the treacherous canyon roads, to get to an emergency room of a hospital in Salt Lake City. Molly recounts that she had to drive very slow, and prayed all the way through the canyon for their safety, anxious and  in fear that they might end up sliding off the road.   An hour later, they arrived at the Emergency Room of Primary Children hospital, and tests were performed on little Brinley. Results came back that there was something much worse than the flu and it was her appendix, just as she had been prompted.  Little Brinley was scheduled for surgery only hours after being brought to the hospital.  It was about 6:00 am, that next morning, when I was notified by my daughter of what had happened only hours prior.  I was so grateful that she was in tune with the Spirits promptings that told her to take action even when the doctore said otherwise.  Little Brinley's symptoms could have easily been written off to the stomach flu, but the spirit sent a warning to my daughter and she listened and acted upon this warning and I am so grateful that she did. 

As a side note, my daughters husband could barely contain himself, as he drove down the snowy canyon to the hospital after finding out about his little girls tests. His heart ached not only for his little daughter's serious condition, but because he had continued to discount his wifes feelings of just over reacting to what the doctor had said was symptoms of the  flu.   I can only imagine how grateful he was for his wife, not listening to his normally calming influence and comments, and acting upon the promptings she had received. 

Before the surgery was done, little Brinley received a priesthood blessing from her Daddy and her Grandpa. As she was being wheeled into the operating room, Brinley had been given sedation, and she looked up at her Grandpa, and said, "Hey Grandpa, you have 3 eyes and two heads."  Knowing her observations came from the drugs she had been given, she provided us with some comic relief in that stressful situation.   

All went well with the surgery, and she recovered quickly.  Brinley so enjoyed the attention and kindness she receoved in Primary Children's Hospital and asked when she could go back again to stay over night and order food off of the hospital menu. Her bright and cheerful spirit provided comfort to those of us adults who were so worried about her, yet she didn't complain or even seem to be in much pain.  Once the surgery was over, she began to thrive and after only a couple weeks of healing, was back to normal activity and to the bright and spirited little girl she had alwasy been. 

In the talk by Elder Oaks, he states, "This is not a case where a person proposes to take a particular action and the Spirit either confirms or restrains. This is a case where revelation comes when it is not being sought and impels some action not proposed. This type of revelation is obviously less common than other types, but its rarity makes it all the more significant."

When we live in tune with the spirit, we can be assured that we will receive the guidance and personal revelation we need. The Lord is watching over us and knows everything from the beginning to the end of our lives, and if we will keep ourselves in tune and receptive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, then we can not only accomplish His purposes for us here on this earth, but be receptacles to help and bless the lives of others. I know that God lives and that revelation to His children is a reality. I pray that we will be worthy and willing to partake in this wonderful blessing and gift he gives to each of us.  Sincerely, Katie G. P.S.  I have posted a handout/printable bookmark, taken from one of the quotes of this months Visiting Teaching message.  It was one by President Boyd K. Packer .  It says, "Prayer is your personal key to heaven.  The lock is on your side of the veil." You can find it at my other blog http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com While you are there, you should lookover all the  archives of great printables, ideas and things that I have posted for the past couple of years, since I began this blog.  Even though those ideas may be specific to a particular lesson or holiday, you can still use them to share on other occasions for other purposes.  

Friday, April 2, 2010

My Testimony of the Attonement

Many years ago, when I lived in Reno, Nevada, I went in for a Temple recommend interview.  I knew prior to going into that interview that I would be asked a specific question. At the time,  I was serving as Stake Primary President, and I had attended a Stake meeting with all the Stake Auxilliary leaders, and we were all told about a focus the Stake
Presidency had for us.  They said that everyone who would come in for a temple interview would be asked the normal worthiness interview questions, but one more would be added.  The question was in essence, "What does the Attonement mean to you?"  I  remember thinking about how I might put into words the feelings I had about Christ's attonement so I prepared myself.  Weeks before I went into that interview, I pondered, prayed, studies and read all that I could on the attonement.  I wanted to be able to look into the eye of the Stake Presidency member who would interview me, & be able to share my testimony of the Attonement. 

The time came for my interview and  I shook the hand of President Earl, and we chatted briefly.  He then asked me my worthiness questions, and then went on to ask me what the atonement meant to me.  At that moment, I could barely open my mouth.  My eyes began to well up with tears, and I began to weap.  I couldn't speak, as thoughts of my beloved Savior filled my mind.


Images of his birth and life experiences flashed throug my mind, almost like a slide show, going in fast motion.  As I viewed the image of Him kneeling in Gethsemane, and suffering to the point of bleeding from every pour, I began to shake my head in sorrow. I hurt for Him.  I watched Him suffer for me. 

I couldn't get any words out in response to the question, but my tears kept coming and rollling down my cheeks.  Flashes of Jesus being nailed to the cross, and his sweet mother in agony at His feet occupied my mind.  I imagined one of my own children being tortured in such a manner. Shaking my head and looking to ward the ground, I could barely stand it.  Wiping my tears, I looked up into the face of kindly President Earl.  His eyes were filled too, and I felt as if my spirit had testified to his without words.  He knew, what  I knew and communicated it without e saying a word. 

Of course, I was embarassed and had no intention of becoming such a blubbering, sobbing woman, but once again, he understood.  I believe that I finally was able to gain my composure enough to say a few words, to which I don't even remember, but I will never forget the feelings and emotion of that experience.  I thought I understood the atonement long ago, but  until that interview,  I knew little.
I wanted to share with you my testiomony of the great gift that Jesus Christ has given me, and as I try to put it into words, a beautiful hymn comes into my mind....  "I Stand all Amazed".  Click on the start arrow of the video presentation below, of this song, above and follow along as the words to this song is sung.
Sit back and relax and enjoy the spirit of this beautiful song.



I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me
Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me
I tremble to know that for me he was crucified
That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died

Chorus:
Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me enough to die for me
Oh, it is wonderful
Wonderful to me

I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine
To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine
That he should extend his great love unto such as I
Sufficient to own, to redeem and to justify

(Repeat chorus)

I think of his hands, pierced and bleeding to pay my debt
Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?
No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat
Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me
Secure in the promise of life in his victory
Thus ransomed from death I will live to my Savior's praise
And sing of his goodness and mercy through endless days

         Oh, it is wonderful
    that he should care for me
       enough to die for me
        Oh, it is wonderful
         Wonderful to me!

General Conference Talks

Hear the words of the living prophets.
General Conference Reports
Proceedings of Recent General Conferences
There is no question in my mind, that we who call ourselves Mormons, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are indeed Christians. Those who would say otherwise remind me of the words my Savior, Jesus Christ spoke as He hung upon the cross... "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." This same Jesus Christ attoned for my sins, and died that we all might live.

What shall we give?

<>Other wonderful Christmas Videos, go to \http://www.lds.org/topic/christmas/christmas-videos.html

An Apostles Easter Thoughts on Christ

"This Easter and throughout the year, may we have uppermost in our minds His divine teachings, the unparalleled example of His pure love, and His willing sacrifice of self to accomplish the holy purposes of God, the Eternal Father." The First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints"

This short video is an Important message from the mouths of our Prophets!

My sister sent this to me today and I feel like it is an important enough message, that I wanted to share it with all of my blog readership. The words spoken are directly out of the mouths of our Prophets, past and present. Hear them, heed them. Love, Katie G. You can find this at this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehD390q9G3k

July 24th - Pioneer Day

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

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.

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!

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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 6 - Pioneer Cooking

Since all of us cook, I thought it might be interesting to find out what Pioneer Women cooked, how they did it and recipes they used. I found quite a few recipes, but I would like to open this one up to you and if you have any authentic pioneer recipes, please send them to me and I will add them to this post. My email is just to the right of this page.

Click on this link to take you to the Pioneer Recipes:
http://visitingteachingsurprisedocuments.blogspot.com/2009/07/pioneer-recipes.html

I was also thinking that if you were to copy some of these recipes and print them off, that might be a fun handout for the Sisters you Visit Teach!

July 5 - Ann Parker

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)

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

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 2nd - Diana Lucina Spicer Block

You can find the posting of a marvelous Pioneer woman, whom I have chosen to spotlight on my other blog that is located at http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com/ and just click on the link and it will take you there! I hope you are having some good Pioneer fun!

July 1st - Anne Eliza Leavitt Baker

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.

Visiting Teaching Tips, handouts and Ideas
For many years, I have been creating very cute and fun things to take to the ladies I Visit Teach. I have shared from time to time, my ideas with others and they have really appreciated them. I decided that since I do these anyway, I would start doing one every month and then post it on this blog to share with anyone for their Visiting Teaching. I do need to make a disclaimer.... the ideas, thoughts, stories, graphics etc. used are created by me and they are not in any way official LDS Church quotes, handouts or ideas. They are my creations or others as noted, except for the quotes that will come directly from the Monthly Visiting Teaching message found in the Ensign. Also, many thanks to the talented designers of the digital paper and elements that I use to create the beautiful artwork, and handouts you see on my blog.

You can go to http://www.lds.org/ and look up and even print the monthly message if you do not have your own Ensign magazine subscription in English or to choose to read the Liahona or Ensign in a different language go to http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=03103c7ff44f2010VgnVCM1000001f5e340aRCRD&locale=0.
For Spanish you can go to http://www.sud.org.es/

I highly recommend you get your own subscription because you will find a wealth of really good & wholesome, moral reading, that you can't find anywhere else. If you go to http://www.lds.org/ and click on "Gospel Library" then click on "Magazines" you can order your own Ensign, Liahona, New Era, or Friend magazines.
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Downloading

When you click on the pictures or ideas that I have on my site for you to download, sometimes the picture ends up really large. What you need to do to size it is to go to the "page button" then click on zoom. Take it down to 50% and that should fit better on your screen for viewing . Also, if you right click "save picture as" then save it to a file on your computer, you can size it using your own desktop publishing program and then print it off with my compliments! Enjoy!

A February Enrichment Idea

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?

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

Gardening with Kids
Read the idea below

"Returning to the Past" A Relief Society Activity Idea

This is an email I received from a wonderful sister as well as a new Relief Society President about an idea that they will be doing as a theme for their activities for this year. (if you have a great idea to share, please email me at katie1956gauger@mindspring.com and we can add it to all the other terriffic ideas!

Dear Katie,
I just found your blog. It is so great. I love the idea of the Hearts of Angels. I am trying to figure out how we can use it for our VT conference and incorporate some of the things for our VT interviews. I am a new R/S president and all these things we have to do throughout the year are a little overwhelming. I love all of you ideas. So much work involved, thank you for being willing to share with all of us! I would love anything else you could pass my way.
WE had the thought earlier to use a theme of "Returning to the past" for our activities this year. So all of your old-fashioned pictures will be great to use as invites and handouts.
You might be interested in the idea we had for our B-Day dinner. We always have a progressive dinner in December to the homes of different sisters. We divide them up into about 5 smaller groups and go around to the different sisters homes in the ward. Because of the weather we cancelled it and had it at the church. We decided to do it for our B-Day dinner instead when the weather would be better. We are having the women bring a sack lunch with them and to wear something old, like a grandmothers broach or shawl, or to dress up in the time of the 1800's, and to bring a pint jar with a lid. We will have the sisters make lemonade at the first house and take with them in the jar that they brought, and then go to the next house. At the last house we will have and old fashioned cake to serve like apple walnut cake or something like that.
We still have some details to work out but at the end each member of the presidency will be at a different home and will share a prepared script. It will be written as if they were at the very first R/S meeting when the prophet Joseph Smith organized the R/S with just a handful of women.
Anyway, thank you for sharing what you have! You have a great talent!
Stacey McClellan - Blackfoot, Idaho


SELF RELIANT SISTERS BLOG HAS A GREAT ACTIVITY ABOUT GARDENING WITH KIDS - go to http://selfreliantsisters.blogspot.com/ It is well worth the time and a terriffic idea as Spring is just around the corner! Here is a tiny bit of information that you will see at the site.....

Gardening with Kids has great tips on getting kids started with gardening. Give your child some space; literally! Kids loving having spaces that are all their own, whether it`s their own desk area in the house, or the tent they've created with chairs and blankets in the family room. The same is true for gardening. Dedicate a small plot of the garden just for them. Put a fancy border around it, perhaps purchase one of the stepping stone making kits found at crafts stores in which they can mold their name and make their hand print.
Let them join you at the nursery. Let your kids know you value their opinion. Ask them which kinds of plants, flowers, and vegetables they like. Explain what will work well in your garden and what won't.
Give them (limited) choices. While you're at the nursery, ask them if they'd like pansies or petunias, marigolds or zinnias. This will give them the feeling of power without letting it get out of control.
Remind them money doesn't grow on trees. With older children discuss the budget. Let them help select seeds and blossoming plants at the nursery - and turn it into a math lesson. Let your child do the money calculations; they can tell you when the money runs out.
Let your child do what he will (especially if you have a preschooler). Let him dig, explore, play with bugs. You may be tempted to steer your child in another direction (like actually watering or weeding his garden), but this is a great way for your child to explore this exciting new universe.
Plan, plan, plan. If you have older children, say 8 or 9 or older, let them plot out their own garden on paper. Provide him or her with graph paper, pencils and seed catalogs. Give them a group of flowers and vegetables from which to choose, and then let them draw out their garden.
Get them their own gardening tools. Nothing will motivate your little gardener more than having her own little shovel, her own gardening gloves, and her own watering pail. And don't forget those bright colored rubber boots.
You need to go to the site and explore all the rest of the links and ideas.