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/

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Visiting Teaching Message for July 2010

You can find the message at http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,2044-1-5199-1,00.html  Be sure to notice the new format located at http://www.lds.org/churchmagazines/EN_2010_05_00___09205_000_000.pdf#page=139

Each month, though I do get the Ensign and do take it with me to give my monthly message to my sisters, I also print off a copy of the message for them to have and read along with me.  Many times they have not prepared the lesson yet for their own Visiting teaching, and it is just a little motivator and head start on what the message is on and getting it done themselves.  I also like to take notes on the message, so it is nice to not have to mess up the Ensign, and just include my notes and thoughts on my own copy.

The message for July is a good one, as they all are, but especially important.  Get it to the women early in the month because they have their children home from school summer vacation and focusing efforts on the family are important.  

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Fathers Day ideas.... quick, cheap and printable.

I know that this post really has nothing to do with Visiting Teaching but I like to pass on some good tips and ideas so here goes......I found some really darling ideas for anyone who is lacking for Fathers day ideas, and just a reminder... Fathers day is in 4 days from today.  This Sunday!   I have posted them on my other blog at http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com  The direct link is here:  http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com/2010/06/need-quick-cheap-and-printable-fathers.html
Enjoy!  Love, Katie G

Thursday, June 10, 2010

First Visit Cards

I had a sister email me today about wanting to know if I had any handouts or cards on my blogs for a first visit.  Here is the email and following that is my responses to her....

HER EMAIL:
Hi there,

I’m looking for a cute little card to leave with the sisters at our first visit, with the names and phone numbers of each visiting teacher. Do you have anything like that on your blog? I couldn’t find it, but thought it wouldn’t hurt to ask.  J   Thanks for sharing your talents!

MY RESPONSE(s):

You could use any of the handouts from the bookmarks, door hangers to the postcards etc., and just add your Visiting Teachers Contact information to the back and then laminate it. It might be fun to add a magnet, so that they can keep it on their fridge and handy if they ever need to contact you, but most importantly, so that they don't lose it and know who you are!

Best regards,

Katie G.

MY FOLLOW-UP EMAIL
 
When I have time, I think I will make a card up to be used for the distinct purpose of a first visit card. Thanks for giving me another idea. I will run with it when I have some time to sit down and get creative. I think too, if you don't mind, I will add your email to my blog, so that other women can see that you have an interest in doing something for the ladies that you teach, and they can too.
 
Thanks again, Katie G.
 
So now I have committed myself once again.  When I have some time in the next week or so, I will design some cute first visit cards for you to be able to print off for the sisters that you Visit Teach.  You will need to go to my "STORAGE" blog.... Visiting Teaching Surprise, to find the cards which once again for those of you who don't have it bookmarked yet.... that blog can be found at: http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com  Oh and just until I have some time to create one myself, I have found some other darling printable cards that could be used as well for Visiting Teaching or other endeavors.

And for those of you who don't know why I call it that... well it is simple! That is a blog where I create wonderful surprises for you to use as you will, and all of it is done for free!!!  Sometimes my own visiting teachers have brought me cute little things that someone has created and is selling at stores.  I appreciate them, but I know that nowdays we are all on budgets and that extra $5 or so that it costs could be saved for something more important or more needed.  My site provides it all for free.... or at least for the cost of printing it off on your own home printer.  All you will have to do is to cut them out and sometimes laminate them if you wish.  Wallah.... instant gifts for pennies!  These gifts - "surprises" to you from me, are made with love for you, my heavenly Sisters.  After all.... we are sisters in the church, and all daughters of a Heavenly Father and that makes us Heavenly sisters! ( I think I have just thought of another Term "Heavenly Sisters" that would be great for a Visiting Teaching Conference, or lesson or R.S. night meeting.  I will think on that !   Love, Katie G.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

June 2010 Visiting Teaching message

I am once again a bit late posting the message for June.  You can find the link to the official LDS Church website, for the Visiting Teaching message at  http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,2044-1-5185-1,00.html  The topic is "Renewing Covenants through the Sacrament".   I posted a link to a handout on the sacrament at the bottom of this post, so read to the end..... 

I want to focus my thoughts on Sister Julie Becks quote and talk found at http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=4663b5658af22110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD
I encourage all of you to go to that talk, and read it.  It is wise.  It offers good advice, and council and the inspired words are from the mouth of our Church General Relief Society President.  She said, "I was with an eight-year-old girl on the day of her baptism. At the end of the day she said with all confidence, 'I have been baptized for a whole day, and I haven't sinned once!' But her perfect day did not last forever, and I am sure she is learning by now, like we all learn, that as hard as we try, we do not always avoid every bad situation, every wrong choice. . . .  " . . . It is not possible to make real change all by ourselves. Our own willpower and our own good intentions are not enough. When we make mistakes or choose poorly, we must have the help of our Savior to get back on track. We partake of the sacrament week after week to show our faith in His power to change us. We confess our sins and promise to forsake them."


When we renew our covenants that we made at baptism from weekly partaking of the Sacrament, we are remembering that we promised to repent, and do our very best to keep our lives on track.  When we remember the great sacrifice that our Savior made for us, we know that He has the power to change our lives.  When we repent, and confess and forsake our sins, we make His Atoning sacrifice live in our lives. We make the marvelous gift he has given us worth the price He paid.

Recently in a meeting that I was participating in, shortly after the meeting began, I started to get a far too familiar headache.  Soon after that, I realized that I was sweating on the back of my neck and hairline, and recognized those symptoms as ones that let me know that my blood sugar level was getting too low.  I began to feel edgy and anxious inside, and I knew that I needed to take action very soon.  The meeting was almost over, and all I could think about was the quickest way to get my bloodsugar up to proper levels, to relieve these symptoms and prevent me from going into a worse stage of hypoglycemia. 

Prior to the meeting even starting, some issues with regard to that meeting came up that made me feel uncomfortable, and as the meeting progressed, more concerns initiated more stress and anxiousness.  Well those feelings mixed with my hypoglycemia were a very bad combination. 

The meeting finally ended, and I quickly got up to leave the meeting, when I was approached by one of the individuals who conducted the meeting with me, and wanted to talk about the uncomfortable feelings we all felt about how that meeting went.  I didn't want to talk at that particular time, knowing that if I didn't get my bloodsurgar up right away that I was going to be in trouble.  She persisted about talking things out, and I gave in.  My attitude was not in the right place, and I lost my temper with this person and blerted out in bold and pretty insensitive ways, the reasons I have felt uncomfortable in that meeting, as well as other issues that had presented themselves in other meetings.  My inner anxiety caused from hypoglycemia just came out and it all fell upon this poor woman who just wanted to talk things out, never expecting what she would get from me.   After my outburst, I left this individual with her mouth wide open, and probably taken back a few steps by the manner in which I spoke to her. 

As I drove down the road to my home, I knew that I had hurt her feelings.  I knew that I didn't handle the situation even close to the way that I should have.  I made a big mistake and in the process, I hurt the tender feelings of another.  I quickly gobbled up a sweet icecream cone, that quickly spiked my blood sugar levels, and my anxiety, headache and sweating ceased.  I may have felt better from my symptoms, but I had an ache in my heart because of how short tempered I was.  I knew that I had some repenting to do and that I needed to ask for forgiveness.

Since it was late at night, I decided it was best if I waited to call her on the phone in the morning and ask for her forgiveness.  I felt horrible inside, and my anxiousness came back.   Throughout the night,  I suffered the natural consequences that follow sin.  I couldn't sleep.  Images of the scene filled my mind and I thought of how I should have handled the situation.  I remembered my vow to never, ever, behave with my diabetes the way that my father did... that is, take out my inner anxieties and symptoms on others around me.  But I lost it, and I knew it. Gratefully I  recognized that I needed to start the repentance process immediately, and I did.  Before going to bed, I talked out the situation with my husband and told him about what had happened.  I then knelt down and prayed, and broke into tears as I realized how inappropriately I had behaved.  I wasn't the least bit sensitive to the other individuals feelings, as was only thinking of my own, and how I could get out of my hypoglycemia crash. 

Rather than ramble about the series of events that followed, I want to close this by telling you that there was a happy ending to this story.  I repented, and asked forgiveness.  I took ownership of the things I said, and apologized for them.  I asked forgiveness and she gave it to me.  That opened up the opportunity to discuss the sensitive things that I so insensitively  blerted out and we resolved all our concerns.  Her spirit was a forgiving one, and I appreciated that.  I didn't linger on the issues that she had done that caused me to feel so uncomfortable, and didn't expect or desire a reciprocating apology, because this was my repentance and ownership of my own  errors and  faults. 

This was a very humbling experience for me and one that has opened my eyes to the fact that nomatter how old a person is, they have room to repent, to learn humility, and exercise faith in the Atonement.  I also realize that though I am not too old of an "OLD DOG", and I can still learn some good new tricks.  No one is ever too old to make  change for the better in this life, in preparation for life to come.

Partaking worthily of the sacrament is an essential reminder of Jesus Christ.  The bread represents his body, and the water represents his blood that he shed for us.  Together we renew our covenants when we partake of the sacrifice, promising for another week to remember Him, and to always have his Spirit to be with us.  I am so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  This supreme gift, was given freely and without restraint, and once again I sayWhen we make change, He knows that His sacrifice wasn't in vain.

For a handout, I put together a document that you can print out, about the meaning of the Sacrament found here: http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com/2010/06/meaning-of-sacrament.html
I also thought that you could make up something cute using the thought and key words of  the second to last sentence of my own message.... ...."No one is ever too young or old to make change for the better and we should all make the marvelous gift he has given us, worth the price he had to pay."  Using the key words "Change and price he had to pay" you could print off a template of a purse on some cute printed scrapbook paper, and scor and fold, and glue as needed.  Inside you could also print off the template of some coins  or "CHANGE" and put them inside of the purse or you could use them on a small sheet of paper and add the Quote ...."No one is ever too young or old to make change for the better and we should all make the marvelous gift he has given us, worth the price he had to pay."   Make Change now!

You can find a cute purse template of your choice at: http://melstampz.blogspot.com/2008/03/purse-templates-galore-little-handbag.html
You can find printable coin templates at: http://www.classroomjr.com/coins-paper-money/printable-paper-coins/

Enjoy!
Katie G.

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.
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