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/

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

The Parable of the Sower

This Sunday, I am giving a lesson from President Eyrings April 2016 General Conference talk titled, "Where Two or Three are Gathered. The talk is mostly about what we learn at General Conference, but in the talk, is the story of The Parable of the Sower.  I prepared a cute handout to go with it, of a seed packet.  I plan to print and cut out these packets and put some different seeds into each to use as my lesson handout.  On the back side of the packet are directions we are given from this Parable on how to grow the seed, and also a scripture from Matthew that explains the application in our own lives.

This would be a good handout in doing a Visiting Teaching Conference too, because we can adapt this Parable to mean being vigilant in our preparations  and in doing our Visiting Teaching, and what we put into our efforts, will depend on how fruitful or successful we are as Visiting Teachers.  We can bring forth good fruit, even a hundredfold, or our seeds of effort could fall by the way side or into stony places that didn't take root.  I think you can see what I mean and how to apply the story.

Here are two of the same seed packet templates, with the exception that one has the scoring and folding lines on it and one does not.  I prefer to not have the folding lines, but others may want or need them to prepare the packets.  Just score with a scorer, or toothpic or pen that is out of ink, and that makes it easier to fold.  Then fold and use a glue stick or glue runner to seal the bottom and side edge of the packet.  NEXT:  Add your seeds to the packet.  NEXT: Seal the packet with glue stick or glue tape runner, with it being inside of the back side, so that the directions will show and be readable on the back.  If you really want to get fancy, you can tie a piece of twine, or narrow ribbon around the packet with a bow, and there you have a cute handout.

As always, to print, just click on the image below to enlarge it, and save to your computer and print from that file on your computer.

Enjoy!
Katie G


Sunday, February 21, 2016

Links to Pictures, Video's, Talks, and more

Extraordinary Visiting Teachers is a Facebook group, for LDS Women.  It is all about sisterhood, sharing of ideas, questions, tips, etc., much like this blog is.  Most likely I would imagine if you are a follower or visitor of this blog, you would love Extraordinary Visiting Teachers.  The reason I mention it is that today, a woman wrote in needing ideas about a special meeting for all women in her ward, that her Bishop has scheduled for Mothers Day.  This kind Bishop is having all the Men in the ward, take over the classes and organizations that their wives teach, so the women have a day off teaching and a meeting devoted to them on Mothers day.  That is really a wonderful gift for the women in that ward.  Anyway, I thought about what lessons could be taught to the women, to uplift, help them enjoy their Mothers Day, or just inspire them.  I decided to make a list of pictures, Videos, Talks, and more, about Women.  I found a really great list, and decided that you would enjoy it too. So, without further ado, here it is for you to enjoy.  By the way it isn't a comprehensive list, but just one that I created in 3 hours time.  I'd love to hear about other things you find on LDS.org that you could share with the group.  Let me know and I will update this list.  Enjoy!  Katie







Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Err on the side of compassion





A well-seasoned Bishop was in a quandary on an issue he had with regard to members in his ward.  He met with his Stake President and asked this question.  How do I know if what we have done is enough, too much, or on the other end of the spectrum, too little? Just how much service is enough? 

The very wise and humble Stake President looked into the Bishops eyes, and said, “Bishop, I would err on the side of compassion.”  That was all the council he gave, and actually that was more than enough.

There are times in our lives as Visiting Teachers when we too wonder how much is enough, with regard to the service we give as sisters.  Have we gone overboard, and worn ourselves out, wondering if you can keep up the standard you have set for yourself?  Have we looked away and thought that someone else will pick up our slack, because we simply can’t do it with everything we have going on in our own busy lives? Maybe are we more concerned that we have not done enough, and should be doing more, or at least doing something?
https://www.lds.org/media-library/images/young-adult-women-laundry-baby-669380?lang=eng
Everyone at one time of another, goes through this self-evaluation process , monitoring our own progression in all aspects of our life.  It is a good thing and helps us to remember why God sent us on this earth, in this imperfect state. We are working out our own salvation, and with each little step forward, we become that much closer to Him. A word of caution would be that we need not be so hard on ourselves, if we aren’t there yet or are struggling just to keep afloat some days.  Sometimes life and responsibilities are just plain too hard, but, the key to remember is that if we are moving forward, not backwards, that is exactly where Heavenly Father wants us to be.

With all the commitments we make in life, how can we commit ourselves to do Visiting Teaching?  How can we know if we are doing what we need to, as a Visiting Teacher?  Getting back to the quote from the Stake President I mentioned earlier …. When a question arises like… It’s the end of the month, and I haven’t done my Visiting Teaching and I don’t have any time to squeeze it in… should I just not go?  Think of the quote: “Err on the side of compassion,” and I believe that you will know exactly what to do, how to do it, and end up feeling good about your solution.  When we do, we don’t have to go back and look at ourselves, feel guilty, feel bad for not doing anything or more, because we did what we could compassionately.  We did what the Savior would have done and did when he was on the earth.  Jesus always erred on the side of compassion, throughout His entire ministry. I am pretty sure when He was busy helping someone in one town, and about doing His Fathers work, it wasn’t always convenient for Him.  Jesus had people stopping him in the streets, needing his help and what did he do?  Jesus Christ erred on the side of compassion.  I would bet he didn’t think about how inconvenient it was to walk many more miles in sandaled feet, on dusty unpaved roads to heal the sick, feed the 5,000 or cleanse the lepers.  Jesus simply erred on the side of compassion.

In the March 1997 Ensign,  there is an article or story under the heading, “Feeding His Sheep.” The story is called “Reaching out with love. ” Beginning with the 8th paragraph, it tells about how after a woman’s family had moved to England, tragedy struck.  The author tells about the drowning accident of her own 11 month old son. She was grief stricken beyond description and was in a state of shock. The story proceeds, with phone calls and visits from her Visiting Teacher, Joan Davis.  

Every day Joan would ride her bike up a hill to a payphone booth, because she didn’t have a phone of her own, and call this woman.  If her voice sounded despondent, Joan would ride her bike another 5 hilly miles to her home and spend her day cooking, cleaning, and tending the children of the grief stricken woman.  These visits went on for months. It wasn’t until months later, that this woman realized the sacrifice that Joan Davis had made for her, and in spite of Joan’s own personal heartaches and sacrifices, she reached out with love for her. What a wonderful example of erring on the side of compassion!

The second great commandment that God gave to all of us is to love our neighbor, and who is our neighbor?  It is my prayer that we can do so, in the best way that we can for all those who are in need of our service.  I firmly believe that what we do for others, the Lord is mindful of, and accepts our service, how much or how little we can give, with gratitude and love.  May we be mindful of erring on the side of compassion as we serve those we Visit teach.  Enjoy!  Katie Gauger

Image links:https://www.lds.org/media-library/images/bishop-interview-258665?lang=enghttps://www.lds.org/media-library/images/young-adult-women-laundry-baby-669380?lang=eng Video: https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/1998-05-01-the-good-samaritan?lang=eng

Err on the side of Compassion


Erring on the side of Compassion

2/17/2016

(Katie Gauger)

A well-seasoned Bishop was in a quandary on an issue he had with regard to members in his ward.  He met with his Stake President and asked this question.  How do I know if what we have done is enough, too much, or on the other end of the spectrum, too little? Just how much service is enough? 

The very wise and humble Stake President looked into the Bishops eyes, and said, “Bishop, I would err on the side of compassion.”  That was all the council he gave, and actually that was more than enough.

There are times in our lives as Visiting Teachers when we too wonder how much is enough, with regard to the service we give as sisters.  Have we gone overboard, and worn ourselves out, wondering if you can keep up the standard you have set for yourself?  Have we looked away and thought that someone else will pick up our slack, because we simply can’t do it with everything we have going on in our own busy lives? Maybe are we more concerned that we have not done enough, and should be doing more, or at least doing something?

Everyone at one time of another, goes through this self-evaluation process , monitoring our own progression in all aspects of our life.  It is a good thing and helps us to remember why God sent us on this earth, in this imperfect state. We are working out our own salvation, and with each little step forward, we become that much closer to Him. A word of caution would be that we need not be so hard on ourselves, if we aren’t there yet or are struggling just to keep afloat some days.  Sometimes life and responsibilities are just plain too hard, but, the key to remember is that if we are moving forward, not backwards, that is exactly where Heavenly Father wants us to be.

With all the commitments we make in life, how can we commit ourselves to do Visiting Teaching?  How can we know if we are doing what we need to, as a Visiting Teacher?  Getting back to the quote from the Stake President I mentioned earlier …. When a question arises like… It’s the end of the month, and I haven’t done my Visiting Teaching and I don’t have any time to squeeze it in… should I just not go?  Think of the quote: “Err on the side of compassion,” and I believe that you will know exactly what to do, how to do it, and end up feeling good about your solution.  When we do, we don’t have to go back and look at ourselves, feel guilty, feel bad for not doing anything or more, because we did what we could compassionately.  We did what the Savior would have done and did when he was on the earth.  Jesus always erred on the side of compassion, throughout His entire ministry. I am pretty sure when He was busy helping someone in one town, and about doing His Fathers work, it wasn’t always convenient for Him.  Jesus had people stopping him in the streets, needing his help and what did he do?  Jesus Christ erred on the side of compassion.  I would bet he didn’t think about how inconvenient it was to walk many more miles in sandaled feet, on dusty unpaved roads to heal the sick, feed the 5,000 or cleanse the lepers.  Jesus simply erred on the side of compassion.

In the March 1997 Ensign,  there is an article or story under the heading, “Feeding His Sheep.” The story is called “Reaching out with love. ” Beginning with the 8th paragraph, it tells about how after a woman’s family had moved to England, tragedy struck.  The author tells about the drowning accident of her own 11 month old son. She was grief stricken beyond description and was in a state of shock. The story proceeds, with phone calls and visits from her Visiting Teacher, Joan Davis.  

Every day Joan would ride her bike up a hill to a payphone booth, because she didn’t have a phone of her own, and call this woman.  If her voice sounded despondent, Joan would ride her bike another 5 hilly miles to her home and spend her day cooking, cleaning, and tending the children of the grief stricken woman.  These visits went on for months. It wasn’t until months later, that this woman realized the sacrifice that Joan Davis had made for her, and in spite of Joan’s own personal heartaches and sacrifices, she reached out with love for her. What a wonderful example of erring on the side of compassion!

The second great commandment that God gave to all of us is to love our neighbor, and it is my prayer that we can do so, in the best way that we can for all those who are in need of our service.  I firmly believe that what we do for others, the Lord is mindful of, and accepts our service, how much or how little we can give, with gratitude and love.  May we be mindful of erring on the side of compassion as we serve those we Visit teach.

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Happy Valentines Day!!!

I just couldn't let this day go by without posting a Valentine.  This can be printed out and given to your sisters that you Visit teach.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!  Enjoy! Katie G

Monday, February 8, 2016

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


Sunday, January 10, 2016

Visiting Teaching Tips, Handouts and Ideas: Visiting Teaching: Making a Difference by Small and Simple Means Beyond Statistics

Visiting Teaching Tips, Handouts and Ideas: Visiting Teaching: Making a Difference by Small and Simple Means Beyond Statistics

It is a Happy New year for Visiting teaching!

It is most definitely is a Happy New Year for Visiting teaching!  The world is at our feet, and it is all determined by our attitude about just how happy we will make this New year will be for ourselves, as well as those we visit teach. It's up to us, its all about choice, and most importantly, it's all about loving and serving others.  The scriptures tell us what God thinks about loving and serving others when we read in Matthew 22:37-39:  "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all the heart, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  The second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."  If we ask ourselves who are neighbors are, and the answer is "EVERYONE".

Visiting teaching is a very important part of the Gospel, because when we do it with all of our hearts, we are showing God that we not only love Him but we obey His commandments of loving our neighbors.https://www.lds.org/media-library/images/visiting-teaching-901054?lang=eng

Quoting from the Extraordinary Visiting Teachers Facebook group, one woman (Tia Fowles)said this:  

"Visiting Teaching fills a variety of needs, including fellow shipping, building friendships, increasing faith and personal testimony and watch care over one another.  I think one of the most important things Visiting teaching can do is let each person know they are remembered, cared for and wanted.  I often get the requests that people want to have good visiting teachers.  I rarely have "good" visiting teachers, that is, visiting teachers who consistently reach out to me.  I have done my best to BE a good visiting teacher so that at least someone out there can say that they have good ones. I am ot perfect, far from it, in fact but I hope the sisters I am assigned to know that I think about, pray for, and genuinely enjoy getting to know them."


President Monson said:

"We are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort our kindness.... We are the Lords hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. (2nd great commandment) He is dependent upon each of us."

And Julie B. Beck said, "Visiting teaching is an expression of our discipleship and a significant way to honor our covenants.  This element of our discipleship should closely resemble the ministry of our Savior."  As committed disciples of the Savior, we are improving in our ability to do the things He would do if He where here." Tia Fowles


Can Visiting Teachers actually make a difference in peoples lives?  Yes, yes they most definately and most certainly can.  Sister Rochelle Miller shares her experience in this way:

"I joined the church at age 19.  But at age 21, I found myself back to my old ways and friends.  I remember one day seeing two women coming to my door dressed in dresses and I immediately knew they must be from the church.  They knocked and I hid!!!  I remember hearing them finally leave and at that moment my heart was touched and I began to cry as the spirit entered my heart and my home and a feeling came to me so strongly that I needed to return to church.  I did and went on a mission, was married in the temple and my mother joined the church when I returned from my mission.  I have been active ever since that day.  (25 years) Those two RS sisters took the time to search me out, and even though I never answered the door or spoke to them or even today know who they were, the spirit spoke to me and to this day they do not know their visit to only a knock on my door, changed my whole life."

Sister Miller goes on to say, "Never give up because you can't get in a door or get a phone call answered or returned.  We can touch lives just by doing our duty of trying every month."

Sisters, you simply never know how or if your visit will touch the life of a sister, and in Sister Miller's example, her life was changed forever because two unknown, loving sisters were obedient, following the second great Commandment, and following their own promptings to visit her.  Sister Miller said that those Visiting teachers must have walked away thinking, "If we could just get in to see her, then maybe we could invite her back or help her,"  but the Spirit of the Lord can go through the walls and touch hearts, simply by your visit.


Yes, It can be a very Happy New Year, both for you and for your sisters.  It is up to you, but I know that by loving your sisters as the Lord has commanded, He will help and bless you in your righteous desires, and those things you do for others come back into your own!

HAPPY NEW YEAR--- Now go out and do your Visiting Teaching!

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.