Visiting Teaching Handout for February 2016

I made up a cute printable for you to use as a conversation starter to take with you Visiting Teaching this month. These cute "RETRO CARDS" are quotes taken from the lesson, and are good ways to start a conversation about the quote.

This months message is titled, "Marriage is Ordained of God." Here is the link to the Visiting Teaching message page on LDS.org https://www.lds.org/liahona/2016/02/marriage-is-ordained-of-god?lang=eng

Of course you know that much of this lesson comes from the Proclamation of the family which can be found here: https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng&_r=1  I also have one that can be found here:
http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com/2010/09/visiting-teaching-message-suggests-that.html


Since it is a great month to celebrate Love, and Valentines day is only next week, you might want to take your sisters a Valentine.  I have some you are welcome to share at the following links:

http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com/2011/02/very-cute-valentine-ideas.html


   
http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com/search/label/Valentine


To use these cute valentines, just click on the image to enlarge, and save to your computer and print from there.  I only ask that you don't take credit for what I have made to share, and that you let others know about my great Visiting Teaching resources, which are:

http://visitingteachingtips.blogspot.com
http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/extraordinaryvisitingteachers/


Enjoy!!! Happy Visiting Teaching, and Valentines Day..... HUGS!  Katie G

August 2013 Visiting Teaching Message

Here is the link to the August 2013 Visiting teaching message that can be found in the August 2013 Ensign or on LDS.org at this link:  https://www.lds.org/liahona/2013/08/welfare?lang=eng

September 2012 Visiting Teaching messsage

You can find the September 2012 Visiting Teaching message either in your September Ensign on page 7, or b y going to this link at lds.org http://www.lds.org/liahona/2012/09/special-needs-and-service-rendered?lang=eng

President Monson said that "The needs of others are present, and each of us can do something to help someone... Unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives." Ensign, Nov.2009, p. 85  This is so true especially as we look into our own lives, and realize that serving others is what we do, each and every day. I believe that the Lord knew that when we serve others that our capacity to love would increase, and as a direct result of this service and love, we would be happy.

Some of the most miserable, depressed, and unhappy people I know, could turn their lives around if they could focus themselves outward instead of inward.  I know it is difficult to do so, especially when there is illness or hurt or pain involved, but the act of serving must release some kind of feel good endorphins in the brain, because happiness is a bi-product of serving others.

A woman who I knew in a past ward, fell into a depression that she could not shake.  She was sad all the time, and it got to the point that her thoughts were bleak and dark, and she was absolutely miserable.  She went to the doctors and was prescribed antidepressants to help her, but even taking those, she did not get relief from her despair, and the darkness lingered.  It wasn't until one day as she was down on her knees petitioning the Lord on her own behalf, that she received the answer of how to release this looming despair and depression.  The answer was simple.  The words that came into her heart, was "to serve others."  At first I am sure that she must have considered that she was the one who needed to be served, but she also knew that the Lord loved her and as  in the past, He had answered her prayers.  So... she thought long and hard who needed to be served, and prepared herself for service.  I won't go into what she actually did, but when she began to focus her thoughts and actions outward, on others, and take her focus from herself and her own problems, her burdens were lifted, and the darkness lifted.

This woman became so happy that she shared with others her experience and she mounted a weekly service project, to help those she had focused her efforts on. By doing so, this service helped others who needed to share the joy in their own lives. This wonderful woman understood that not only when we are in the service of our fellowmen, we are only in the service of our God, but she realized that true happiness only comes when we serve others.

This is exactly the concept for Visiting Teaching.  Serving others, whether or not they are in need, but becoming friends so when they are in need they will feel comfortable to call for assistance, because they will already know and have felt the love of a Visiting Teacher.

The lesson tells of some really great ways we can maintain contact with our sisters or other acts of service--to watch over them and strengthen each other.  They are as follows:

• Personal Visits
• telephone calls
• notes of encouragement
• e-mails
• sitting with her
• a sincere compliment
• reaching out to her at church
• helping her in times of illness or need
• other acts of service

I am sure that all of us could add to this list, and we should because there are endless ways we can serve. 

I loved the last little part of the paragraph I just quoted from the Sept. 2012 lesson, and that was this "and strengthen each other".  My message is that we are strengthened as we reach out to strengthen another".

John 13:34-35 reads, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  By this shell men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another".   
It is my prayer that we will take the opportunity to use Visiting teaching as a tool to do as the Savior taught, to love one another as He has loved us, and we can do this in many ways, but especially through serving as Visiting Teachers.

I have prepared a cute note card, which was one of the suggestions of "giving a note of encouragement", and have posted it on my other blog.  Please go to http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com to print this off and write your note. 

Enjoy!  Katie G

August 2012 Visiting Teaching Message

This is the link to LDS.org where the full message can be found of  "Taking Action in Time of Need " http://www.lds.org/liahona/2012/08/taking-action-in-time-of-need?lang=eng 

As I read through this message the image of a historical woman came to mind who ministered to so many and had a huge impact on all humanity.  I am speaking of Florence Nightingale.  In reading her history, it is stated that she felt that God was calling her to do some work but wasn't sure what it would be.  She began to develop an interest in nursing, though her parents felt it was  inappropriate for a woman of her class and background, and wanted her to fall into the  mold of an upper class woman.  BUT...She wanted to go to nursing school and after years, they eventually relented and was trained as a nurse.  She went on to become a superintendent of a hospital for gentlewomen.  That following year, the Crimean War began and there was a desperate lack of proper medical facilities for the wounded British solders.  She was asked to oversee the team of nurses in the military hospitals in Turkey, where she greatly improved the conditions and actually reduced the mortality rate of the soldiers.  After the war, she returned home to England, and established the Nightingale Training School for nurses.  Her theories were published in "Notes on Nursing" in 1860 and became hugely influential for sanitation, military health and hospital planning, and are still in existence today.

This woman made an impact on the lives of thousands of people, both men and woman as she followed the guidance and direction of God, and served her fellowmen.  She was a woman who "Took Action in time of Need". 

We too can become Florence Nightingales in our own way through serving the sister we teach as Visiting Teachers. Our purpose as visiting teachers is to strengthen families and homes, without waiting to be asked.  The lesson states:

"In order for us to serve, we should be conscious of the needs of the sisters we visit". 

This to me means that we should should develop a friendship with them, knowing their needs, their lives, their families, their heartaches, and their joys.  We need to really get to know them beyond the surface, and seek to be able to get into their hearts and better still, let them know we love and care for them genuinely, and not just because we have been assigned as Visiting Teachers.  From the lesson it says that we should:

"....seek inspiration, we will know how to respond to the spiritual and temporal needs of each sister we are assigned to visit".

Then, just like Florence Nightingale did in the days of her stewardship on this earth,  we too should be "using our time, skills, and God given talents, in providing compassionate service for our sisters".  We should provide "prayers of faith, and spiritual and emotional support during times of illness, death or other special circumstances".

We realize that we have a great responsibility for the watch care for our sisters but we are not alone in this and need to be sure to be accountable to get our reports through the proper channels, to our Relief Society President and our Bishop.  The Relief Society President's focus is the sisters in our ward, but she is responsible to report to the Bishop who is ultimately responsible for all the members in the ward.  Through Visiting teachers, she can know the hearts of the sisters and their families, meeting their needs, and helping the Bishop in his call to nurture individuals and families. 

Do you see how valuable your service is as a Visiting Teacher? 
This is my Perscription for you:

Please make an effort to be diligent with this service, and in the process make a friend of the sisters you teach.  They can enrich your lives, as much as you can enrich theirs.  What a blessing it is to Visit Teach.  I pray we all can be a Florence Nightingale in our individual  stewardship as a Visiting Teacher.

Love, Katie G

For a blank perscription and  other really cute ideas to do when you visit teach this month, go to my other blog http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com

July 2012 Visiting Teaching message

You can find the July Visiting teaching message on LDS.org at this direct link.  http://www.lds.org/liahona/2012/07/demonstrating-our-discipleship-through-love-and-service?lang=eng  Demonstrating Our Discipleship through Love and Service is the topic.

This is another of the good "Teaching" lessons that we have been getting as messages for Visiting teaching this year.  I have always loved the scripture found in this lesson, John 13:35.."By this shall men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another".  I use to play the violin with my mother and sisters and probably one of the most played songs for Church special musical numbers, firesides, funerals, etc. was one that was based on this scripture. Just reading this scripture, puts music in my mind as I read the words ..."As I have loved you, love one another.. This new commandment, love one another".... then the last part is the scripture that I just quoted above..."'By this shall men know, that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another!!  What a beautiful message and so true.  We show our discipleship by our actions and hopefully those actions will be loving and good.

This lesson talks about some things that we as Visiting Teachers or disciples of Christ, should do and they are:

• Remember their names and the names of their family members and become acquainted with them.
• Love them without judging them.
• Watch over them and strengthen their faith "one by one," as the Savior did.
• Establish sincere friendships with them and visit them in their homes and elsewhere.
• Care about each sister.  Remember birthdays, graduations wedding,s baptisms, or other times that are meaningful to her.
• Reach out to new and less-active members.
• Reach out to the lonely or those in need of comfort.

As I went over each of these 7 items listed, I could picture the image of a woman who I know, who is the example of each.  Many of these women have several of these mantles on her, and we should try to emulate their examples, and do our best to be all 7.

This message is as much for the Visiting Teachers training, as well as for those we teach because in general,  you will be teaching others who Visit teach as well.  These lessons this year have been training Visiting Teachers, and women to be the type of women (nurturers, watch care providers, friends, neighbors, etc.) that women should strive to become.  By "loving one another" we become happy!  Now how nice is that... you know to just love others and thereby provide them warmth and happiness, the outcome is that it makes you happy too.  Visiting teaching is a two way street, with blessings that come to each. 

I am a strong advocate of Visiting Teaching as you well know, or I wouldn't have spent so many years posting and creating this blog.  I know the power of a devoted disciple of Christ who does her Visiting teaching.  I know of the blessing that comes into the lives of those who do it, as well as the blessing to the lives of those they teach. 

This summer is always the most challenging time to do Visiting Teaching. People are gone all throughout the summer on vacations with their families, and it isn't always the easiest to find mutually agreeable times to Visit teach.  Do your best, and if you find that a time or two you cannot get together, then think of another way that you can serve them.  Last month, my daughter had her baby C-Section and the date was moved up because of complications in her pregnancy.  As a mother, I had set aside that week to help her, and I planned to do my visiting teaching the week prior.  When the C section date was moved up, i could no longer go Visiting teaching, so I thought of other simple things that I could do to communicate, and serve my sisters.  Here are some of the ways that I have served my sister in the past, when I have not been able to get an in-home visit.  By the way, most of these are "Simple things" that really don't require much effort but a little time, and love.

• I have offered my services to water plants, collect mail, take in and out garbage canisters on garbage day, feed and care for their animals.
• I have taken over little remembrances, with a personalized note attached, to let them know that I was thinking of them.
• Phone call.  Sometimes when it was impossible for an in home visit, I have called my sister on the phone, and had a great visit that way.
• Understanding that when my sister's husband was suffering serious illness, and infirmities, that my sister suffers as well. I offer my services for cleaning help and yes, I do windows, running errands, and whatever she needs to support her.  Many times, all she needed was a listening ear, which I gave.  Other times, I took in a meals, to give her some rest from cooking so she could focus her efforts on taking care of her husband.
• Holidays are fun times to do a little something special, so taking over a fun home made treat, or craft decoration, or whatever has been appreciated. 
• Sisters lunch.  Sometimes I invite my sisters for lunch so we can all enjoy each others company.  I give the lesson as well and we each benefit from the incite of being together.
• Take my sister(s) to R.S. meetings, neighborhood luncheons, or I create one for fun and invite my sisters to join me in a "Lets have fun day."

I can't think of all the things that I have done over the years, but the key is to just do your best, and try.

Friendshipping is the number one way to turning the heart of a nonmember, or inactive sister.  Even if that person never joins the church or become active, you both will still benefit from the friendship that was created in the process and getting back to the original scripture of this months lesson..."Love one another" and by doing these types of simple things, you become His disciples"... this is what Visiting Teaching is all about.  Enjoy!  Katie G

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.

December 2011 Visiting Teaching Message

I have typed up the Dec. 2011 Visiting Teaching message on a festive looking page, and you can feel free to print it off for yourself and take it with you Visiting teaching if you like. (Click on image to enlarge, then save to a file on your computer. You can print from there.)

Here is the link to the LDS Visiting Teaching message for December of 2011:
http://lds.org/liahona/2011/12/an-extensive-sphere-of-action?lang=eng

I am rather late in posting the message and my thoughts on the message, but better late than never. What a wonderful and thought provoking lesson this months Visiting Teaching message provides us. The first quote that lead my thoughts was this:

"The Lord, His Church, families, and communities need the influence of righteous women. In fact, Elder M Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that “every sister in this Church who has made covenants with the Lord has a divine mandate to help save souls, to lead the women of the world, to strengthen the homes of Zion, and to build the kingdom of God.”
Some sisters may wonder if they can accomplish such lofty aims. But as Eliza R. Snow (1804–87), second Relief Society general president, explained, “There is no sister so isolated, and her sphere so narrow but what she can do a great deal towards establishing the Kingdom of God upon the earth.” Sister Snow also taught that Relief Society was organized “for the accomplishment of every good and noble work.”

As I read this quote from the message, I began to internalize it, and my thoughts began to direct themselves to what I am or have been doing to: "help save souls, to lead the women of the world, to strengthen the homes of Zion, and to build the kingdom of God." I know what I am doing and what I have done as a sister in Zion, but I began to think about some women who don't know what their talents are, and feel they don't know how to contribute.

Many years ago, when my family lived in another state, there was an LDS sister who lived in my ward boundaries, and she was shy, reserved, and had a difficult time even speaking with others. She was had very little self esteem and was very uncomfortable in social situations avoiding people in general. She did her best to get through each day with her own family and staying home a lot, but when she needed to have a conversation with others, she would fidget and look around, and seemed very uncomfortable. There was an occasion that something tragic happened within her very own family, causing her family to become estranged from her neighbors and associates and even some ward members. This devastation took it's tole not only on her, but her own family.

At this time, her family began to counsel with their bishop and in his wisdom he realized that in serving others, and developing their talents, that could really bless this family. The bishop's wife encouraged this woman to take voice lessons and develop the natural abilities for singing that she had. In doing this, she was able to lose some of her shyness and social anxiety, as she was given opportunities to sing in church and even in some community programs.
I noticed a change in her confidence as she was using a talent that the Lord had given to her, of a beautiful voice, to share with others. Somehow, she was able to perform in front of crowds, without anxiety and fear. She sang with confidence and that built her confidence in herself.

This woman joined the ward choir, and stake choirs and even went out into the community and participated in Coral groups. What a blessing her natural talent for singing provided others, as well as helped with her self esteem.

This story is just one simple way of building up the kingdom through serving and sharing personal talents. Speaking of talents, my thoughts are also drawn to the Parable of the talents, found in Matthew 25:14-30. In this parable, the talents refers to pieces of money. For us, talents mean abilities that we have and can develop to bless and enrich the lives of others... "thus building the kingdom of God".

This parable goes something like this... A man was traveling into a far country and called his servants in and gave them some talent or money. One he gave 5 talents, another two and then another man, each according to their abilities. The man who received 5 talents, traded and made five other talents, and so did the one who had received two talents. They magnified their talents. But the one who had received only one, when and buried his talent in the ground.

Sometime later, the Man who had given his servants these talents, called his servants to reckon with them and find out what they had done with the money or talents he had given to them. Now, I love what is said next! This is found in verse 21, "His lord said unto hi, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: though hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter though into the joy of the lord".

Pretty much the same thing and response happened between the Lord and the second servant who was given 2 talents or monies but something very different happened and was said when he found out what the third servant had done with his talents. The lord asked him what he had done, and the man said in verse 25 "And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo there thou hast that is thine". This man was chastened and the one talent that he hid, was taken from him and given to the man who had ten.

This parable then goes on a bit more, but basically this to me talks about the talents that the Lord has given to us, we are expected to use them and multiply them and to serve and bless the lives of others. In turn our talents become a blessing to us, our wards & Church, our neighbors and in our families.

What a wonderful church we are blessed to be members of! We all can contribute and make a difference in the lives of others. I know that the Lord blesses us, especially in times of need, when we serve him. I can testify of that, and for me, I always want to have those blessings available for me and my family, and I plan on serving every single day of my life. I am happier when i am in the service of others and I know that service is the key to joy! The Lord does need the influence of righteous women and if we all develop our talents and use them in the service of our lord, how great shall be our joy!

Katie G.
P.S. At LDS.org, there is a whole page dedicated to seriving in the Church. It can be found at this link: http://lds.org/service/serving-in-the-church?lang=eng

November 2011 Visiting Teaching Message

I love the months that we get to pick our own message to take to our sisters that we Visit Teach. It is always a difficult thing for me because there are so many wonderful conference talks that were given. I have decided to not share with you what I have selected for my message this month, because I believe that it is in the rereading of the talks that our inspiration comes. My inspiration might not be yours, and selecting the talk that is most applicable for your own sisters, will get your nose back into the Ensign and you too will be uplifted by reading.

Instead, I have a thought about this wonderful time of year for you. I have such an attitude of Gratitude to my Heavenly Father for so many things. A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I traveled to Iowa to the funeral of his brother. I have never attended a non-LDS funeral before or even a non-LDS church meeting, and it was an eye opening experience that strengthened my own personal testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Don't get me wrong... the things that were said and done by the "Father" and other ministers was nice and comforting to the family, but there was something that I noticed that was missing. It was the Spirit. Everything that was said and done was scripted, and I felt as if I were witnessing a sort of musical play. Lots and lots of lovely music, but even though it was lovely and the words were nice, it seemed empty. I felt no spirit. Many different prayers were read, and once again, I felt nothing. The thought about what our church teaches with regard to "vein repetition in our prayers" came to mind.

The following Sunday, after we returned from our trip, as I sat in Sacrament meeting, I realized that the only prayers that we had scripted were the Sacrament prayers. We sang "Because I have been given much" and "I believe in Christ", and my eyes teared up and my spirit testified of the truths of the gospel. Such a huge difference I felt in my LDS Ward Sacrament meeting.

Another very interesting difference I noticed was that almost everything the ministers said, was scripted and read. In the wake, which in our LDS funerals, is essentially the viewing and opportunity to share condolences and thoughts about the deceased to the family, the minister who conducted also read from a script. She then turned the meeting over to those who were in attendance to share memories of the deceased. Friends and family who were all of that faith, shared their comments and then my husband felt inspired to stand and share his own memories of his brother. He stood, dressed in a suit and white shirt and tie, and shared some stories and then he shared the knowledge that we have of life after death. I looked around and noticed that many of these people were nodding their heads as he spoke with the Spirit of the Lord with him. He testified that his brother's spirit was perfect, and that he felt no more pain or hurt from the cancer that took his life. He shared that he was with his loved ones who had preceded him and what a glorious reunion that was being held there. I felt the Holy spirit in his words, that were not prepared, scripted but spoken from his heart.

After he sat down, a young man arose and commented on the words that my husband spoke. Others did the same. After the wake was concluded one woman came up to my husband and told him that she felt something special when he spoke, and knew that what he said was true. Of course we knew what she had felt was the spirit testifying to her heart.

What a wonderful blessing it is to be a part of a religion that is lead by mortal men, who are called of God to act in his name, who hold the Priesthood, and who serve the Lord, but do not even get paid for their service. This was another thing that I noticed as I spoke with many relatives and friends of the family. One woman said that her service in the church was to cook food for funerals, and that she gets paid to do it. To me, getting paid would take out all the blessings and fun of doing this kind of service.

LDS are different, but in marvelous ways. Service is something that we do and never receive compensation for it. We pay our tithing, fast offerings and other offerings voluntarily. That money is spent helping others who are in need, and not just in our own communities but all over the world. What a blessing it is to serve and give and share.

I am so thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for the Prophet who receives revelation from the Lord and who directs the affairs of our church. I love so much the talks given in Conference and the inspired words that touch my heart and fill my spirit with the nourishment I need in my life. I can't wait to go Visiting teaching and share one of these talks with the sweet ladies that I am so blessed to be friends with. I hope that you too can feel the same sweet feeling of friendship and love for those you teach. May the Lord bless you as you serve in this wonderful church. Enjoy! Katie G.

Visiting Teaching for October 2011

I came up with the funnest idea for Visiting teaching and I thought I would pass it on to you incase it would help you in your own Visiting Teaching. I am going to take my sisters on a Field Trip. Not just any old field trip, but a Visiting Teaching Field Trip!!! YEAH!!!!!

My sister are going to meet at my house, and we will all pile in the car. While we drive to the first location, my partner will be giving the message to the sisters, all at once. Then we will go to three different locations that none of us have ever visited. Let me tell you where we will be going...

I happen to live in Lehi, Utah, which I have never disclosed until now, so now you know. I was born and raised most of my life in American Fork, which is right next door to Lehi, and I hardly ever went to Lehi. I have lived her 4 years now and I still don't know my way around Lehi, and neighter do my sisters. So... here is our agend:

1. Lehi Mill - which is the old Flour mill that was in the movie "Footloose". It just happens to be owned by my Robinson side of my family and my Uncle is now the owner, having be passed down from father to son for several generations. The mill has a darling little store and inside some very authentic and original decor.


2. Broadbents - Once again, I have never been in this store unless my mother took me in as a child, but I certainly don't remember. It is a General Store as I understand it with quilting things and all kinds of other fun things... that a general store has.


3. Scrooge and Marley's - A favorite of mine, with all kinds or cute handmade crafts all throughout the store. The store was made from an old home, and they even h ave a barn in the back that has more fun stuff. Very cute decorating things and nothing is outdated, just very cute.


4. Nook and Cranny - If we have not shot the whole 2 hours of our field trip going to these places, we will then visit this store which is a vintage, sort of a junk store for the biggest part, but definately a step back in time. I have visited it many times looking for the vintage things that I collect, and have not fount them there, but certainly alot more things to look at. I have found so many of the old blue corelle, and platters, and things that I was given for my wedding. I even found these crazy old glass grapes that the Relief Society use to make at Homemaking years ago. My mom made some that the grapes were a rust colored, marbelish glass. You know what I am talking about.

SO doesn't this sound fun??? You should do it with your ladies. This isn't to spend money but it is to spend time together. I think we will all know Lehi, Utah alittle better when we are done, and we will have had laughs and lots of fun being together, and seeing cute things. Let's not forget the message either... all sister, including our inactive sister is coming and she will hear the message that we give. Captive audience in the car!! I can't wait!

Love, Katie G.

September 2011 Visiting Teaching Message

Click on this post title to be magically taken to the September 2001 Visiting Teaching message.

Once again... another wonderful and inspired message our Church has given us to share with those we visit teach. Isn't it great that we can relate to our sisters on a spiritual level and actually have probing and insightful gospel centered conversations? I love it!

The topic for this months Visiting Teaching message is Strengthening Families by Increasing Spirituality.

1. How can I help my sisters increase in spiritual self-reliance?


2. How can I improve my own ability to recognize and respond to the Holy Spirit?

I am sure that most of you have had the opportunity to move from one home to the next, even if it is simply moving out of your parents home when you get married. I have had the opportunity to move 6 times during the course of my marriage, and each move has had one common denominator.... Family. We moved from house to house with and for our family. We knew that family would fill the home and it would be a sanctuary where they always knew that they would be loved and accepted.

As our children grew, and become more involved with learning skills, talents, sports, etc., it was even more important for our home to be a that sanctuary where they would come home to for rest, feeling safe and secure. We did our best to have regular family home evening, even through the grumbles... the "I'm tireds", and the occasional fights that happened between the children, we actively tried to our best! It was important to have a home cooked meal on the table and our children looked forward to coming home to be nourished and fed. We were a family who talked at the table and enjoyed our mealtime conversation.

Being nourished and fed physically is important to our mortal body but being fed spiritually is just as important, and in fact more important in the long run. Our children needed to know this truth and we did our best to read the scriptures, attend our meetings and let our children understand that going to Young Men and Young Women was important, and they needed to put that as a priority in their busy lives.

Sundays was the Lords day and our family dedicated that day to the Lord and we did our best to keep the Sabbath day holy with the activities that we did on Sundays. It was difficult when we lived outside of Utah, because our children were constantly being invited to birthday parties, trips to Lake Tahoe, and all other fun activities that they could do on weekdays. It was hard for them to tell their friends that we don't do these things on Sunday, but we as parents had set a standard and kept to it. Yes, there were grumbles, and yes, our kids at the time felt a little picked on, but serving the Lord and keeping Spiritual things in our minds and hearts was simply more important.

Whatever we do for our children when they are young will have a huge impact on who and what they become. We understand that the Lord gives each of us the agency to choose and some of our children will not choose to follow the way that they had been taught. This brings great sorrow to faithful parents, but as the hymn goes... "God will force no man to heaven. He'll call persuade, direct a right, and bless with wisdom love and light."

It is my personal feeling that if we as parents teach our children the ways of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and keep them in our prayers, and if we as parents keep those covenants we make in the temple, that one day our lost children will return. I know that God wants all his children to return to him one day, and has inspired the leaders of our church with missionary programs in wards, stakes, and all over the world, to find them and bring them back.

How important is it that we do keep ourselves open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit? My husband recently was called to be the bishop of our ward. After he was set apart, I saw some changes he made in his life, to be more open to the promptings that he would receive. The music he listened to changed. He stopped watching TV and focused more on reading the Ensign and studying the scriptures on his Ipad. Our home began to be a more spiritual place by just making a few changes. I love it, and I don't miss TV at all! I love the peace and calm that good music brings. This is what we should do for our families, and keep our home an atmosphere that draws the spirit, instead of detracting.

Well these are my thoughts about this lesson and if I come up with any more I will revisit this message. I hope you will think about this lesson and come up with things that you can present to your sisters that will help them strengthen their own families.

Happy Visiting Teaching! Katie G.

Strengthening families through temporal self reliance

This is a great lesson for everyone.  Self Reliance!!!!  You know the glory of God is intelligence, and we know that whatever principle of intelligence we gain in this life, will rise with us in the Resurrection!  Well, when we become self reliant, we are constantly developing  all those skills that help us improve ourselves.  This is exactly what we are to do and what the Lord wants for us in our lives on this earth. 

I think we can all step back somewhat and look our grandparents because in their generation, they were self reliant.  Look at the example of the pioneers.... they couldn't just drop in a store and buy whatever they needed for food, they had to plant, nurture and grow it to sustain their families, not only for their food source, but to provide income to live. 

This year has been a particularly crazy weather year, with way too much snow and water, and we are seeing the results.  Lots and lots of flooding.  I was just barely able to plant my own little garden, but I have read about farmers who do this for a living have had to really delay their planting because of the rain and snow and floods.  What would happen to us, if we couldn't just drop in at the grocery store and purchase our food?  What if the farmers couldn't plant their crops this year at all, what would happen to us?  We take for so much for granted and we should take a leaf out of the books of our ancestors and learn how to do things for ourselves, in case we have to!

I have to share a story of my own mother.  My Mom and Dad raised 8 children on a very limited income.  Dad was a milkman and later a janitor.  Mom taught violin lessons.  Together there was barely enough money to pay the bills, and feed the family, but somehow they did it. Mom cooked from scratch, and made homemade bread, pancakes, and other wonderful things. Mom made sure that every year she would plant a garden, and that garden became a winter source of food for our family. Dad built the food storage shelves, and Mom filled them.  Her industry was taught to her children, and all of us learned how to bottle and freeze fruit, and vegetables.  My favorite was the grapes that she juiced and we enjoyed this fresh grape  juice every Thanksgiving.

It was a blessing that she was industrious enough to plant, and water by hand the garden that produced so much. Yes, I said by hand, she had no sprinkling system but herself.  After all her children married or moved away, and my father died, Mom still continued to plant her garden.  That large home became too overwhelming to take care of so she moved to a smaller little cottage, and at her new home, she still plants her garden every summer. She really has no garden space to speak of but uses spots between the bushes in her driveway, and plants pots with lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, and tomatoes. My husband loves rhubarb, and she always brings over a rhubarb cobbler for him to enjoy from her garden.  Mom is a wonderful example of self reliance.  It is interesting too, that she always has enough for herself and also to give to others.  Mom still drags the hose to water her plants, but they are growing and will produce some fresh vegetables.

My daughters ask me every year to get together to do canning of spaghetti sauce, and salsa, peaches, and other items.  Because I was taught by my mother, I have been able to teach my daughters as well this wonderful homemaking skill.  It is lots of fun to spend entire days canning together with my daughters. Our scene in my kitchen reminds me of the memories I have canning in mom's kitchen.


Grammy Great top Right, my mother bottom Left.


My Grammy Great, whom I have written about in my blog posts, was also a wonderful example of self reliance.  She bore 13 children, 2 of which died in infancy, as did her husband when she was pregnant with her last child.  She even took in another boy to raise.  Grammy Great had to be self reliant.  She saved every scrap of fabric and made beautiful rag rugs that she sold for money to provide for her family.  Her children helped too, as they stitched the long ropes of fabric together.  There was never idle time, as Grammy Great used her precious time prudently.  She picked the fruit off of the trees on her yard, and bottled them and all winter long, there was delicious peaches, apples to make her special "Thing in the oven" recipe, and beans, and all manner of vegetables and fruits.   I can't think of anyone who would have been as needy as my Grammy Greats family, but it was Grammy Great who was first to take food to those in need, and help in anyway she could even outside of her own family. None of her children really ever knew just how needy they were, because she was so grateful for everything and the Lord provided, and gave her the skills, strength and industry to accomplish all she needed to do.   This is self reliance, and charity!

The Visiting Teaching  lesson teaches ..."When the Saints arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, President Brigham Young (1801–77) counseled sisters to assist those in need and to learn skills that would allow them to take care of themselves. He said, “Learn to sustain yourselves; lay up grain and flour, and save it against a day of scarcity.” ³ Under the direction of the priesthood, Relief Society continues to teach self-reliance, to safeguard the family, and to encourage personal righteousness and acts of charity, the pure love of Christ." 

May we become more self reliant, may we broaden our mind and skills to learn and become self reliant, and may we reach out to help others do the same, though acts of charity and kindness.  May we all have the pure love of Christ in our lives, as we strengthen our families and others,through becoming self reliant!

Katie G.

May 2011 Visiting Teaching message

Don't you just love when the month after conference comes, and you get to pick your own message from the wonderful talks that were given at  conference?  I know that I do.  It is a motivational thing, because it is actually rereading all of them and trying to pick just one topic and message.  I think there is more of a purpose here than what meets the eye.  What I just said... rereading all of the talks, is probably what it is all about.  Here is the link to listen to the Conference talks again... http://lds.org/general-conference/sessions?lang=eng

Don't you just love this church?  It is all about repetition and going over and over the principles of the gospel, rereading the scriptures, Ensigns, and even going to church over and over each and every week.  Purpose to this madness.... YES!  It is all good for us and helps to keep us on the straight and narrow.

I have a little personal experience that I want to share about a calling I once had.  I was called in a past ward, many years ago to a calling that I had felt very much inept in taking.  I said "YES" only because I was taught to not say now.  I was called to be the ward choir director.  I have played the violin for years, and piano and have sung in choirs, and participated in many musical productions, but never had I lead the music outside of Sacrament meeting, Primary and Relief Society, and certainly not a ward choir.  This calling gave me great anxiety because the previous choir directors were professionals, and I literally mean that as one of them was actually a Music teacher, and chorus director as his vocation. 

I did alot of praying and studying for hours the music that I would present to the choir to prepare to sing.  I had been told that we have so many individuals who come and sing, yet they don't know how to read music.  I decided that I would give it my best shot and hope it all worked out.

I began to direct the practices, and I literally sweat blood as I studied the music so that I could teach those who didn't read music their parts, including the men's parts as I had never sung Tenor or bass before.  In the practices, I noticed that the key to learning the music was to go over and over it.  So I did. One Day, I noticed some of the women in the ward talking among each other when I was working with the men.  It was obvious that they were talking about me as they kept looking up at me and then whispering and then looking again.  Finally the practice ended and I went home to take care of my family and be wtih them as it was Sunday.

Shortly after that my doorbell rang and in walked one of the sisters from the ward choir.  She was on a mission and she said that she represented many of the sisters in the Choir.  She told me that I was repeating the music too much and by doing so, I was treating the members of the choir like babies, not grown adults.  This took me back.  As she was telling me this, images of working with the men who didn't get their parts until I went over and over the music with them, went through my mind.  My eyes began to well up, and I was ready to burst out crying.  I was definitely hurt, and felt very unappreciated.  Little did she or those other women know, just how many hours a week I spent toiling over that music, just to get it prepared to teach them.  My confidence was shot and shortly after, I asked to be released.  The choir didn't have a director for several years after that. 

Now my point was not to tell you this story for your sympathy, but rather to teach a lesson.  Repetition is how all of us learn.  Without going over and over things, unless of course we have a photographic memory, is the only way to learn, internalize and make progress with anything in life.  For some it is more difficult than others.  Do you remember how long it took to study for tests in your High school classes... then on to college?  I don't know about you, but I had to study my brains out for my grades, and then sometimes I simply didn't study and repeat things enough and I didn't do so well. 

Repetition is something that we all must do  in our lives, and with that said.... remember "the glory of God is intelligence.  We all need constant learning in order to progress.  I don't know how many times our prophets have advised us to read and reread our scriptures.  Each time I do, it is almost like the first time I read them because I find things in them that I had forgotten or didn't get out of them in prior readings.  This is my message to you.... go through the Ensign and reread the conference talks, and do this over and over. I guarantee to you that different things will p op out at you each time you read them.  Share your incites with your sisters, and don't worry if you think that they have already read or heard it because everyone also absorbs messages with different perspectives.  Your perspective may be just what your sisters are in need of to help them to deal with their challenges and issues of this life. 

Happy Visiting teaching!  Go out and get it done!  Katie G

April 2011 Visiting teaching message

I have placed the link to the Visiting Teaching message for this month on the Title, so it will magically take you there, when you click on it.  I have been quite a slacker in getting something done for my sisters that I teach.  I am doing something fun this month, and we are doing a friendship outing.  Over lunch we will discuss the Visiting Teaching message, and I will give them the handout that I created in the 11th hour.... actually I just finished it.  I love it, and of course it is in keeping with the message that is at LDS.org. 

If you have not been to my other blog (s) lately, you should because I have some really cute Easter things that I found that would be fun with for gift giving for Easter.  I am actually going to use the cute carrot box template and fill them up with Jelly beans as my table favor for my family's Easter dinner.  There are many other cute ones so "hop, hop, hop" on over to http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com  and know that some "bunny" cares about you to keep this blog going. 

"HOPPY" EASTER!!!!  Enjoy!  Katie G.

February 2011 Visiting Teaching Message

The Visiting Teaching message for February is entitled "A restoration of all things."  It can be found in the Ensign, Feb. 2011, page 7.  I have provided the direct link to this message by clicking on the post title, and I encourage you to go to the site and once there, beautiful Mo Tab Choir music will begin playing so you can enjoy reading the message even more. Music puts our hearts in a very receptive mood and I believe it also provides inspiration as well.   The Church website has really been changing, and I encourage you to go take a look around and see all the neat new things they have included.   Enjoy your February Visiting Teaching. Be sure to scroll down and see your Valentine from me and go to my other blog http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com to get some darling Valentine ideas, and printables.  Love, Katie G.

Are you "Thinking outside the box?"

Today I have had a thought on my mind that I felt like I should post about.  It is about being an Out of the box thinker.  What exactly does that mean?  Well let me give you the example that has been on my mind since my day has been spent doing exactly that.... thinking outside the box.

My story began about a month or so ago when I just happened in a such a wonderful sale at Taipan, which is a marvelous and my favorite home decor store.  I was actually looking for some photo frames to frame the family pictures that were taken clear back in July.  I had delayed so long this project but finally I knew I needed to get those pictures up on the wall before they were so old, it was time to take more.  Back to Taipan....I walked back to the section where they had their frames and to my delight I saw 50% off all framed art and photo frames in that section of the store.  I was in heaven and was so excited as that was exactly what I came for. My eyes immediately met two,  huge beautiful white picture frames.  I examined them and then looked at the original price.  When I deducted off what I thought the 50% off would be, then I knew I had to purchase those. I quickly put them in my shopping cart so that nobody else would get their hands on them. 

My eyes then found another sign that said up to 75% off, and of course a bargain shopper like me would not over look those.  As I pulled my cart over to those frames, I could see that they really were not very pretty.  In fact the pictures in them were so outdated and unsightly, I said to myself.... "Well I know why those are marked at such a low price".   I started to look around and went back to the 50% off frames and began to look through those once again.  Then I saw it... a sign that someone at the store had put up and it said something to this effect.... "You may not like the artwork in the picture, but look at the frame.  Buy it for the frame."  So what I interpreted it to mean was this.... I needed to think outside the box.  I needed to take a look at the frame instead of disregarding the frame because the picture didn't particularly appeal to me.

I began to look at those all of those frames for 75% off, and realized that there were really nice frames.  The photos inside were pretty awful, and the color of the frame was definitely not something that would match the colors of my house, but what is it that I could do with them?  My mind started to look at them a whole lot closer and I thought.... if I bought a can of spray paint, I could paint that frame black and the wood is so pretty and sculpted, it would look really nice!  Then I began to realize that I had a wall at home that i had wanted as a gallery for pictures of my children and grandchildren.  If I converted my digital family photos into black and whites, they would look really good in a freshly painted frame.  But then I got stuck.  I noticed that each of those frames that I could fix with a little work had a double matt, and though I could use the outer cream colored matt, that inside mat was in Rust color.  That simply would  not do.  I know how expensive it is to buy new mats and figured if I did, I would be paying almost the price that it would be to buy the entire picture, frame and all at the regular price.  So I put all those frames back in the pile of 75% off and walked back over to sort through the 50% off.

Through my mind, I was thinking.... I really wish I could use those other frames, but that ugly matt, what in the world could I do to salvage that matt?  So... I began to think outside the box, and I pictured in my mind some of the darling printed mats on the modern pretty pictures that cost so much money.  Ok, I said, and turned my cart around once again, and walked back to those ugly matted frames.  I then realized that the mats measured about 12 inches long and less wide, and pretty scrapbook paper was 12" x 12" . I remembered two years ago mounting pretty scrapbook paper on some wooden picture frames to sell at a craft fair and they went like hotcakes.  That is what I would do... I would buy some pretty paper and cover those ugly mats, and with some paint, and my photos converted to black and white, I would have a beautiful work of art.

By thinking out of the box, I realized that things that appear unattractive on the outside, or just don't quite fit in with my own likes, could be worked on and with a little polishing, could turn out to be really quite lovely.  It reminds me of the story of Johnny Lingo, and Mahayana.... the ten cow woman.  You know, the village thought she was very unattractive and undesirable but Johnny Lingo saw something beautiful.  By his gesture of offering 8 cows to her father for her hand in marriage, that turned the entire villages view of this woman around, and she became esteemed and admired.  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0365393/quotes (link to quotes from Johnny Lingo)

How many times are we given Mahannas to go visit teach, knowing that we don't have anything in common, that you don't know anything about this sister, or she lives too far to visit, or she is too much older than you are, or she never smiles, or she seems so crabby, or  on and on and on.  How many excuses do we need to not do our visiting teaching? Over the course of my years as a Visiting teacher, I have been assigned to teach so many women, that I ordinarily would not have gotten to know for whatever reason.  I am so grateful in retrospect that I was given the opportunity to see the beauty, kindness, and love inside these lovely Mahannas.  Through this opportunity, I have been able to make friendships that will last forever.  I have learned as much as I have taught and I am so grateful that I was willing to look outside the box, and move forward with what I had been asked to do.

I loved so much the talk that President Monson gave in the Relief Society about not judging others.  http://new.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/charity-never-faileth?lang=eng ( Link to the talk) Women in general, seem to be really good at making judgements, when it is ourselves we should really be taking a deeper look at.  Making a judgement on someone else, for whatever reason, could potentially eliminate us from meeting someone who could possibly be one of our very best friends.  When we realize that the Lord is directing our paths, and he knows what is ahead of us, then far be it for me to stand in the way of meeting someone that the Lord knows needs me, or even I need her. 

Anyway... can you imagine that I got to this point in this post simply from shopping for picture frames?  I could go on and on, but really I need to get back to my frames.  The last one is drying from the spray paint, and I need to cover the rest of the mats.  Once they are done, I will post a picture and show you just how pretty they turned out.  I don't have a photo for you to compare how they looked before, but just take my advice, and start "thinking outside the box" to find the real treasures that lie under the surface.

Love, Katie G.

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.  

April 2010 Visiting Teaching Message

You can find the April 2010 Visiting Teaching Message at http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,2044-1-5146-1,00.html

Also I have lots of great ideas for cute little Easter gift giving, in the 2009 archive, on my blog at
http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com You can also go to the labels section and find the ideas quicker by clicking on the particular topic you are interested in.

I also have a great idea that I am going to do with my neighborhood lunch bunch.  It is a Spring/Easter luncheon and the theme will be "EGGS" since eggs are a sign of spring and Easter.  You can find it at: http://visitingteachingsurprisedocuments.blogspot.com/2010/03/april-2010-empty-nesters-family-home.html

I am also have planned a Spring FHE lesson, complete with handouts, activities treats, and personalized song lyrics to "Oh what do you do in the Summertime". I am hosting the Ward Empty nesters group the month of April and have a REALLY fun time planned, amd since they forgot that i was doing the FHE in April, then I don't mind sharing it with you right away.  I was all prepared with everything, so I guess I will just have to box it all up and save it for next year.  Anyway, you can benefit from my early preparation and great idea so go to http://visitingteachingsurprisedocuments.blogspot.com/2010/03/april-2010-empty-nesters-family-home.html you can get it all!!!

This song, that I was using for the closing song for Family Home Evening, written by Sally DeFord can be found and printed off from her site which is http://www.defordmusic.com/ifiplantedagarden.htm  If you go to her site, you will love all the wonderful and FREE music that she has written!!!

HAPPY EASTER!!!  LOVE, KATIE G

March 2010 Visiting Teaching Message - PRINTABLE HANDOUT

If you will go to the following link, you can find a free, and printable Book of Mormon Reading chart, D & C and Pearl of Great Price reading chart, New Testament and Old Testament Reading charts, as well as the scriptures in other languages in both reading format as well as audio MP3 format. http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com/2010/03/handout-march-2010-visiting-teaching.html The main link to my visiting teaching surprise blog filled with handouts is http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com There you can find several years worth of great handouts to help you with not only your visiting teaching but for many other great applications. Enjoy and know that they are gifts from Me... Katie G.