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/

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

June 2012 Visiting Teaching message

You can find this message on LDS.org at this link http://www.lds.org/ensign/2012/06/visiting-teaching-a-sacred-assignment?lang=eng
I am thinking that these messages are being focused on the Visiting Teacher, vrs. those we are teaching for some very important reasons.  Why?  I can think of a few reasons, but keep in mind, these are just my own thoughts:

1.  The younger women of our church are needing to learn about this wonderful role of a visiting teacher.  They are a new and wonderful generation that needs to know how to and the importance of doing Visiting Teaching,  but also to love going, and making a difference in the lives that they teach. 
2.  All LDS women can use a refresher course in all the roles that we take on and our church is repetitive in teaching these responsibilities.  Just like we rotate the teaching of the different Standard works every 4  years, we need to circle back and pick up and refresh our knowledge about our responsibilities with Visiting Teaching.  We all can benefit from relearning our duties and recharge our VT Batteries.
3. With the growth of the church all over the world, training needs to be provided because new members are stepping into roles that they may not have known prior to their baptism.  Newly baptized women step into leadership roles, and need to be taught about the importance of the role of a Visiting teacher.
4.  Visiting teaching is a friendshipping effort.  Even in established Wards and stakes, there are lots of needs! Women, being the natural nurturers that we are, play a huge role in the friendshipping efforts in not only member retention, but in reactivation and missionary efforts. Ernest Visiting teaching efforts will bless the lives of those we teach as well as be a blessing to those who teach.
5.  With the growing responsibilities of the Bishops of the wards in the church, it is next to impossible for a Bishop to know about all the needs of ward members.  Visiting Teaching plays a vital role in assisting the Bishop to minister to the needs of the ward members, as well as the Relief Society to provide compassionate service, and watchare as needed.  Visiting teachers are a play a vital role in a Ward team, besides the other vital players - Home teachers, and the Priesthood.

I would love to hear your comments about what you think about the message for this month.  Please take a moment and share your comments!  Enjoy, Katie G.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Visiting Teaching message for May 2012 (General Conference Talks)

I would like to share with you the talk from General Conference 2012 given by Dieter F. Uchtdorf titled “The merciful Obtain Mercy”. I picked this one as I has hit home in my life this past month as I have very recently had a son who had wandered off the path for many years, come back, and only last weekend was sealed to his wife and family in God’s holy temple.  I will expound more later but I want to share a few quotes from President Uchtdorphs talk:
“We all depend on the Savior; none of us can be saved without Him. Christ’s Atonement is infinite and eternal. Forgiveness for our sins comes with conditions. We must repent, and we must be willing to forgive others.
The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, said that those who pass judgment on others are “inexcusable.” The moment we judge someone else, he explained, we condemn ourselves, for none is without sin. Refusing to forgive is a grievous sin—one the Savior warned against.
Our Savior has spoken so clearly on this subject that there is little room for private interpretation.  “I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive,” but then He said, “…of you it is required to forgive all men.”
This topic of judging others could actually be taught in a two-word sermon.  When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following:  “Stop it!”  It is that simple.  We simply have to stop judging others and replace judgmental thoughts and feelings with a heart full of love for God and His children.  God is our Father.  We are his children.  We are all brothers and sister.  I don’t know exactly how to articulate this point of not judging others, with sufficient eloquence, passion and persuasion to make it stick.
I will quote a bumper sticker I recently saw.  It was attached to the back of a car, whose driver appeared to be a little rough around the edges, but the words on the sticker taught an insightful lesson.  It read, “Don’t judge me because I sin differently than you.”
I wanted to pick up here with my own story that happened only a couple of weeks ago.  My son and his wife had been meeting frequently with our Bishop for many months, repenting of their sins, and doing all that they needed to do to get back on track with their lives.  Their greatest desire was to be able to go to the temple and be sealed together for eternity as well as to have their three children sealed to them.  They had done all that was required and one Sunday, Temple recommends were issued to both of them.   They set the date for their personal ordinance work sealings to take place in the temple.  The week before they were to attend the temple for the first time, I took my son and daughter in law to the store to purchase their temple clothing.  My son showed up to our house looking nice, but his arms were exposed, showing the tattoos that were marking them.  I have never liked tattoos and felt they were a mark that would cause a lot of judgment from others, against him.  I am guilty of judging him as well.  And I said to him, “Son, why don’t you put on a jacket when we go into the store for your temple clothing.” 
He said, “I don’t need a jacket as it is warm outside.” 
I then replied, “My thoughts were that you cover up your tattooed arms so no one will see them.” 
Now, I knew that he had been forgiven of his sins, but I just couldn’t get past my own thoughts and judgments about not only myself seeing him try on temple clothing with tattoos all over his arms, but my thoughts were drawn to what the workers would say or how they would react, when they saw him coming.  At that moment, my son said something pretty profound, which has made such an impression on me that I will never forget for the rest of my life. 
He said, “Mom, I will enter that store, me and my tattoos, proudly holding my temple recommend in my hand.  I will be as worthy as anyone else who goes shopping for their temple clothing, and if they want to judge me because I have tattoos on my arms, then that will be their problem.  I have made my peace and have received forgiveness from the Lord and He has found me worthy to enter the temple.  This recommend is all that anyone needs to know about me when they see me buying my temple clothes.”
I thought for a moment, and realized that he was absolutely right.  He is every bit as worthy to be in that store as anyone else, and it was my own personal judgments that I expressed, that needed to be repented of.  When the Lord has judged my son worthy, who am I to judge and even hold on to those thoughts.  I and others can will always see his tattooed arms, but we all need to look on him as God sees him…. Pure and clean, and worthy to enter Gods house.  Yes, I will always wish he had not marked up his skin, but once again, when we go on to live with our Heavenly Father one day, those tattoos will be left in the earth, and he will enter God’s presence unmarked and as he left it before birth.
I cannot tell you how wonderful it was to see my son take the hand of his beautiful wife over God’s alter and be sealed together for time and all eternity.  Then even more precious, as their two little sons (age 1 and 4) were brought into the sealing room all dressed in white, my eyes were wet, and gratitude and thanksgiving filled my heart.  My greatest desire for my son and his family , was being fulfilled.  My husband also took his place as the proxy for my son’s first baby boy who died only moments after his birth, and I was also blessed to be able to hold my 1 year old grandson as they were sealed as a family, together forever.  I didn’t look upon my son’s arms as a mark of the past, but looked into his eyes and heart and the great hope his family has ahead of them.  I cannot tell you what a marvelous experience it was that day.  This was the icing on the cake if you will, the best of what this earth life has to offer, and our Savior made it all possible through his Atoning sacrifice.    
Don’t judge me, because I sin differently than you”, will forever ring in my mind and I want to thank President Uchtdorph for sharing that with us in General conference.  This was a message that everyone needs to hear.  We all sin because we are human, but if we will apply the Atonement in our lives, we can be made perfect…”Even as our father in heaven is Perfect”. “Forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not…(stands) condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin” (D&C 64:9) and “Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy.” (Matthew 5:7)

Visiting Teaching and Home Teaching

I am really excited about a new program for your computer desktop, phone and tablet, for Visiting Teaching and Home Teaching.  My sister just sent me the link and I was so excited when I went to their website http://ldsplan.com  This program takes away the hardest parts of Visiting Teaching and Home Teaching… you know the scheduling between you, your partner, and those you teach.  It actually sends out the dates that you can go teaching on to your sisters, and gives them the time and date options, and then gets back to you the best times and dates for everyone, eliminating all the time and phone calls and emails that usually have to happen.  Then it fires back another email to your sister’s the confirmation of the date.  After visiting teaching is done, it also reports to your supervisor as well.  It is automated and takes the hardest part away so you can just go and do your assignment and also have it recorded!
I am trying it out right now and I will report to you on how well it did.  There is a little bit of set up for you to do as far as entering the names of those you teach and their contact info, but after that it seems to be a breeze.  I set up my Visiting Teaching available times, and will wait to hear.  I will let you know if it ends up being as functional and simple as it appears.
You can go to the website and check it out.  Even better, besides being on your computer there is an app for iphone and tablets!!!! No excuses, go register and they have a facebook page as well at http://www.facebook.com/HomeTeaching  It is free on the internet, but the apps are not free if you want to have it on your phone or tablets.

I will write back soon with the details!  Katie G

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

May 2012 Visiting Teaching message

OOOOOhhh, I am excited for the Visiting teaching message for this month because as you know, the month following General Conference, we get to pick our own topic from the Conference talks.  I have not made my selection yet, but it is a wonderful opportunity to go back and read through the talks, and then make the choice.  Maybe you could combines several quotes from different talks or maybe you will just pick one.  We shall see!  Enjoy the ride... as I think that the talks each Conference get better and better.  Just when you think that one General Conference could not get any better, the next one tops it.  Our Church leaders are so inspired as they confront and talk about the very things that are needed the most.  No holes bared, just plain and precious truths... that seem to go straight to my heart.  I don't know if it is because I am such an imperfect human, but each talk really gets me revved up to do better, and hold to the rod even tighter. 

For a cute little newly created bookmark by me, go to my surprise blog and pick it up.  http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com


Enjoy!  Katie

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.