December Presidency Message

Presidency Message:
Do we realize how important Sacrament meeting is? As we partake of the Sacrament weekly, we can draw closer to our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Partaking of the Sacrament is the most important act we will participate in on the Sabbath. It helps us to remember the Savior's sacrifice for us, renew our covenants with Him, and be cleansed from our sins.  Let us prepare ourselves weekly to partake worthily and to truly take The name of Jesus Christ upon ourselves and try to become more like Him. 

Visiting Teaching Message:
We all know how busy December gets but lets all make a concentrated effort to truly do activities that are meaningful and uplifting for not only our families but for those we have stewardship over. Lets remember to visit those that are sick, afflicted and lonely. What greater gift can we give than to do as our beloved Savior would do. 

November Activity - Calming the Chaos: Cleaning Tips and Tricks

About a year ago, our Relief Society had a similar activity where we focused on specific clean tips such as how to clean your oven, clean your garbage disposal, get certain stains out of clothes, etc.

While these are important, knowing HOW to clean doesn't do us much good if we never actually get around to it. Bishop Hendricks asked that we have this night as a way to add to our "toolbox' of self-reliance.

The theme for the night was, "Done is better than perfect." This means that we shouldn't let the idea of having to do things perfectly get in the way of doing them at all. Ladies, we aren't perfect housewives (ok, maybe some of us are). We also aren't our mothers (or mothers-in-law). There are some things we might need to loosen our grasp on, and housekeeping to perfection may be one of them. If you feel that keeping a clean house is too overwhelming (or that it's too far gone to ever catch up), A great suggestion was made to set a timer for 15 minutes and do all you can in one room before the timer goes off. When you've finished there, move on to another room. You'll be amazed at the different 15 minutes can make!

Our topics included:

Things we should do daily to keep on top things

• Make your bed!!!
• Sweep, vacuum, and mop (if necessary)
• make sure ALL the dishes have been washed before you go to bed, even if you are tired--you'll feel so much better waking up to a clean counter/sink
• wipe down the bathroom sink and counter--wiping all the water off the faucets prevent hard-water stains
• do a load of laundry so it doesn't turn into Mt. Washmore
• Pick up clothes and make sure they are actually dirty. If it isn't visibly dirty and doesn't smell, don't wash it! It only creates more work for you and wears out the clothes faster if you wash everything every time.
•  Spray your shower with a water/vinegar mixture daily to prevent hard water build-up
• Some weekly tasks include: spray faucets with Pledge to prevent buildup, change sheets, dust, clean toilets, and picking one cupboard/draw to clean out and organize.
• Some of KLynn's favorite cleaning tools include terry cloth rags for wiping things down and a dustmop with washable pads to spot clean the floor with. She recommended a cleaner which you buy as a concentrate, then dilute in a spray bottle. She uses it on her floors all the time.

Age-appropriate chores

•  Click here for ideas of what chores children of certain ages are likely capable of. You may be surprised at just how much our kids can do if given the opportunity!
• Some ideas for how to motivate kids to participate in housekeeping included: 
• Write down all jobs that needed to be completed, then draw them out of a hat--when the jobs are done, they're done!
• Make sure to let the kids know what is expected--no surprises. Kids do really well with a bit of structure
• Small rewards along the way--one sister used to place small treat at the bottom of the laundry basket of clean clothes and when the clothes were put away, the kids could have the treat
• After "must do" jobs are done, allow the kids to pick up other jobs to earn money
• Small kids can use picture charts/cards to help them remember what they need to do

Cleaning schedules

• Arline had many great ideas, and there are a bunch on the internet. Her main point was: find something that works for you!

Cleaners

• Use a mixture of half and half vinegar and water to clean windows in place of regular glass cleaner
• Dilute Softscrub--it lasts longer and works just as well
• Invest in a good duster. Jenni recommends The Original California mini duster (available at Walmart in the auto department, or at an auto parts store).
• Try using wet sheet rock mesh instead of a pumice stone to get rid of the ring that forms in the toilet bowl. Pumice stones can scratch the porcelain and make the ring appear faster rand faster so you want to be careful.
• Try cleaning your showers (and lots of other things) with baking soda--it's kid friendly!
• You can also used a water/baking soda/dish soap mix to clean the inside of your oven after using conventional oven clean to prevent that white film. I've also heard you can use it in place of the oven cleaner, but I haven't tried that one personally.
• Keep cleaning supplies in each bathroom

November Presidency and VT Message (from newsletter)

I am grateful for Novemeber and the focus on Thanksgiving and Gratitude. It's a great time set aside to reflect on our blessings. As we cultivate a grateful attitude, we are more likely to be happy and spiritually strong. Gratitude is an uplifting, exalting attitude. People are generally happier when they have gratitude in their hearts. I remember when Bro. Art Norton bore his testimony of trials and how grateful he was for the learning in his gospel life that took place during difficult times. His attitude was one of gratefulness regardless of the challenges in his life. It's impossible to harbor feelings of bitterness, resentment, or become mean spirited when we are grateful.

In the True to the Faith handbook we wead, "We should thank our Heavenly Father for His goodness to us by acknowledging His hand in all things, thanking Him for all that He gives us, keeping His commandments, and serving others. We should especially thank Him for His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, for the Savior's great example, for His teachings, for His outreaching hand to lift and help, for His infinite Atonement."

Please share your gratitude for the gospel and your testimony as you make your Visiting Teaching visits this month.

"The Seed of Faith, The Joy of Hope, You, the Daughter of a King" by Sister Bugby

To those in a dark place, to those who are struggling to carry the weight of trials, to those who feel burdened and are tired and weary, to those who feel alone…there is hope. The Lord knows you. The Lord hears you. The Lord is here to carry you, if you but come unto him. Let his light fill you. Let his love lift you. Let his hope fill the dark corners of your life. The Lord knows us better than we know ourselves. The blessings of God’s word in our lives can come in plenty and in ways we’ve never expected if we are faithful, diligent and patient! Remember, you are the Daughter of a King! A King…You may think…I am not perfect, or I am not worthy.  That is a lie told to you by Satan.  He does love you, He has not abandoned you, He will never leave you.

 What Alma promised works in planting the seeds of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in your life. He extends the invitation to plant those Gospel seeds in our life (Alma 32: 28-43):

28 Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

29 Now behold, would not this increase your faith? I say unto you, Yea; nevertheless it hath not grown up to a perfect knowledge.

30 But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And now, behold, will not this strengthen your faith? Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow. 

31 And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed? I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto its own likeness. 

32 Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away. 

33 And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good. 

34 And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand. 

35 O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, because it is discernible, therefore ye must know that it is good; and now behold, after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect? 

36 Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither must ye lay aside your faith, for ye have only exercised your faith to plant the seed that ye might try the experiment to know if the seed was good. 

37 And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit. 

38 But if ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out. 

39 Now, this is not because the seed was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ground is barren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof. 

40 And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life. 

41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life. 

42 And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst. 

43 Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.

Sisters, I beg you to plant your seed in the soil of the gospel. Faithfully care for your seed and watch it bloom into the plant (you) are meant to be.

Sister Bugby

September Activity - Diva on a Dime

The activity for September was combined with the Young Women. We took turns showing off our great thrifty finds! Check out some of these awesome thrift stores (click here) where you can shop for more great items at a discount!

Also, thanks for all who participated in the clothing swap. We had a LOT of success!

August Activity - Canning 101: Preserving the produce from our bounteous harvests

This month we learned the basics of canning. Sister Arline Law presented on water bath canning, and Sister Shelley Hughes talked about pressure canning. Here are some of their top tips!

General Tips:

--You can purchase all you need online, or at Walmart, True Value, and other grocery stores. You can  often find supplies at thrift stores.
--Never use old lids (the flat part) as they may not seal properly. You can reuse the rings and jars, just make sure they are in good condition.
--It is important to process ALL canned foods.
--Use the "Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving." It is available at almost any grocery store or online. --Always follow a recipe. The pH (acidity level) is very important to preventing spoilage. The Ball book has done a lot of experimenting to get the pH right, and we don't want to poison our families by not processing the food correctly.

Water Bath Canning:
--Water bath canning is for high acid foods like fruits and tomatoes.
--You will need to add time to adjust for our altitude--usually 5 minutes for water bath canning but check the recipe or canning resource to be sure.

Pressure Canning:
--Pressure canning is for vegetables and meats, soups, and stews.
--You will need to adjust the pressure for altitudes above 1000ft.
--You should have your pressure canner checked each year to make sure it will maintain pressure accurately. If it doesn't, the food you preserve may be unsafe to eat.


Click here for places to get your pressure cooker checked, more canning info, and books, and recipes.
This PDF has some quick tips from Ball on canning as well. See the Ball website for more.
Here is a helpful document with info about pressure canners, gauges, and the like.

"Self Reliance" by Sister Miller

In Doctrine and Covenants 43:25 we read:

"How oft have I called upon you by the mouth of my servants, and by the ministering of angels, and by mine own voice, and by the voice of thunderings, and by the voice of lightnings, and by the voice of tempests, and by the voice of earthquakes, and great hailstorms and by the voice of famines and pestilences of every kind, and by the great sound of a trump, and by the voice of judgment, and by voice of mercy all the day long, and by the voice of glory and honor and the riches of eternal life, and would have saved you with an everlasting salvation, but ye would not!"

We have been warned for many years by prophets to be prepared and to be self-reliant. Our Stake President and our Bishop are concerned that we heed these warnings. On the Church website it gives us principles for self-reliance.

"The Lord has declared, “It is my purpose to provide for my saints” (D&C 104:15). This revelation is a promise that the Lord will provide temporal blessings and open the door of self-reliance. He has also declared that “it must needs be done in [His] way” (D&C 104:16). To receive the blessings of self-reliance, we must accept and live the principles of self-reliance, which include the following:

1. Exercise Faith in Jesus Christ (D&C 104:15)
2. Use Time Wisely (Alma 34:32)
3. Be Obedient (D&C 130:20–21)
4. Manage Money (D&C 104:78)
5. Work: Take Responsibility (D&C 42:42; 2 Nephi 2:16, 26)
6. Solve Problems (Ether 2:18–19, 23; 3:1, 4)
7. Become One, Work Together (Moses 7:18; D&C 104:15–17)
8. Communicate: Petition and Listen (D&C 8:2)
9. Persevere (Hebrews 12:1; D&C 58:4)
10. Show Integrity (Mosiah 4:28; Job 27:5; Articles of Faith 1:13)
11. Seek Learning and Education (D&C 88:118–119)"

I pray that we may all follow these principles and listen to a Prophets voice.  It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.

"Our arks will float on a sea of faith if our works have been steadily and surely preparing for the future."  --Elder W. Don Ladd