Mar 2014- Thoughts on Values and Strengths

I am new to the Church.  Reading "The Beginning of Better Days" just opened up another segment and gave me more understanding of what it is to be a member.  It also left me more aware of the history and facets of the Relief Society. These are what really brought my attention to the Church: the home and community values that are shared with everyone, not just members.  I believe that what Christ showed was the way we should live, our actions, not just talk and that living these values are what brings us closer to His Father, our God.

Donnemairi S - Country View Ward

Even though, I know people are inspired by God I am still amazed by the inspiration. I am amazed that someone as busy as Joseph Smith found the time to accomplish so much while under persecution and personal trials. The fact that Joseph Smith realized that “all organized bodies have their peculiar evils, weaknesses and difficulties” and that we should focus on the good and strive to make everyone  "equal with power”. I learned that as woman even now with the technology and the education we have on many subjects we are still true to our nature “strengths and weaknesses”. It is comforting somehow to know that women from all ages struggle as I do to brighten my strengths and diminish my weaknesses.  I found all of his teachings in this book to be relevant today. I appreciate the insight and inquiry of these two women: Sheri Dew and Virginia H. Pearce.

Julia M - Country View Ward

Mar 2014 - Sisterhood - Kids are a blessing

I love DI (Deseret Industries).  A few years ago I had the opportunity to go through their training program and it led me to my current job and greatest passion in life, which is working with mentally handicapped adults.   I’ve been in my current job for four years working with adults with disabilities, teaching them life skills and how to gain meaningful employment.   I also have an autistic son who has brought great joy to my life and made me a better person.   My job has helped me to have more patience with my son and he has helped me to have a better understanding of the people I work with.   I’ve seen the people I work with, as well as my son,  be so in tune with the spirit and that helps me tremendously.  He is our blessing.  Our kids truly are our greatest achievement in life, we can get fired from our jobs, hate the way we look in our clothes but the blessing we have in our kids will always be there.

If you have an autistic child and would like someone to talk to about it I have the experience with my own child (who is now almost grown up) and with my job and would be more than willing to offer  any support and information I can give.

I’m Cindy L and I’m a member of the Kanesville Stake

Here is a favorite website:

Autism.org

And  an article about the DI’s training program

On Their Way

Mar 2014 - Recipe - Sugar Cookies for the holidays

Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, this is just the time of year for making sugar cookies so I I thought I'd share a really good recipe from a sister in our stake.  Thanks Taya, even though you don't know you are sharing this. . .   I hear her frosting recipe is really good too, so if any one reads this ask her to share!

Sugar Cookies

	1/2 c. butter	2 tsp. vanilla
	1 c. sugar	3 1/2 c flour
	1 egg	1 tsp. soda
	1/2 c. sour cream	1/2 tsp. salt
	Mix together. Cut Cookies. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 - 10 minutes.
	printable recipe	Taya M (Regal Country Ward - I think) I didn't make this but aren't they cute?

Mar 2014 - Sisterhood - Angels Round About Us

I have always loved the idea of angels round about us, to bear us up. In fact, I pray daily that my children will have angels round about them, especially in junior high school! Several years ago my husband Daniel and I had the opportunity to meet one of our angels.

We traveled to China to adopt our daughter in February 2005. We finally had our beautiful girl in our arms and were in the process of getting to know her. One of the things we noticed was that she liked the little mandarin oranges that we found everywhere. We would peel an orange and give her one section at a time. She would suck out all the juice and then stick her tongue out with the membrane for us to take out and throw away. We loved watching her do this and found it was a wonderul way to work on our attachment process.

One morning we went to a market to get a bag of oranges so we could continue our bonding over juicing each piece. We found the oranges, put some in a bag and then looked for the checkout. We couldn't see where we were supposed to go. The market was crowded and loud and the signs were in Chinese, not English. We finally figured we should follow the crowd and noticed a little table with a scale and a small register where a woman looked like she was taking money.

We tried our best that morning to get to that little table. We were being crushed and talked over and shoved by all the people around us. We thought about just leaving without our oranges. Then, out of nowhere, a very small, bent over, elderly Chinese woman came up to us. She looked at us and then began yelling over the masses of people. I don't know what she said, but an amazing thing happened. The market got quiet and the people moved aside. We were then able to walk right up to the table, weigh our oranges and pay for them.  

I turned around to thank the little old woman as we walked up to the table, but she was gone. As quickly as she was there, she had vanished. There was no way she could have moved so quickly to be out of sight like that. As we walked out of the market that day, Daniel and I knew that she was an angel. She parted the crowd so we could purchase our oranges. I know it doesn't seem like much, an angel sent to help us buy oranges, but to me it meant the world.

That one small act by a hunched over Chinese angel reminds me constantly to be ever watchful of angels all around me. As we work our way through the crowds and noise we are up against each day, angels will part those masses, quiet the voices, and lead us to our goals. Our Savior will go before our face, He will be on our right hand and on our left, His spirit will be in our hearts, and He will have His angels round about us, to bear us up (D&C 84:88).

My name is Jennie D and I'm a member of the Kanesville Stake

Mar 2014 - Sisterhood - Staying Alive in Christ

I had the opportunity to go to Kenya, Africa on a humanitarian trip during the summer of 2004 for a few

weeks. I don’t know exactly when that dream began but I know that throughout high school I hoped to

be able to help in Africa and also go on a safari. I wasn’t sure it would happen but with the help of my

parents, grandparents, and working toward it myself financially things fell into place and I headed to

Kenya with a group called Reach the Children.

When we arrived in Nairobi, my luggage did not. I had two large suitcases filled with my belongings as

well as clothing and small items for the children. I lived the first week there out of my carry-on bag and

the kindness of others. It was not a huge sacrifice but I am grateful to have lived on less while I was

there. My eyes started to open. After the first week there my first bag arrived.* More than anything I

was glad to be able to give the clothing that others had donated to families in need.

We traveled from Nairobi throughout the southern portion of the country from village to village. We

created bricks and helped build the foundation of a school, we donated funds and work to the roof of a

school in another village, we brought humanitarian kits, school kits, and small toys to children, and we

also had a few doctors in our group who aided the people with many respiratory problems.

We also had the opportunity to see the work of the church there. We attended church and the spirit

was strong and the people had a great love for the Lord. They sang the songs a capella and with vigor

and it was beautiful. The church helped them to receive a huge well of fresh water and they had a large

garden outside of the meetinghouse.

The people there were grateful. They were humble. But most noticeably, they were happy. Not happy

because of the things we brought them but genuinely happy, humble and full of gratitude because

they could see their blessings. My favorite pictures both tangible and snapshots in my mind are of the

children’s beautiful, full smiles.

The weeks quickly passed and we headed on our long flights home. When I stepped into my home

in Orem, Utah I honestly felt a little out of place. I had only been gone for a few weeks but it was life

changing. That night I laid in my bed and listened the children talk and sing on my tape recorder and I

cried. I cried because I felt I had too much. I cried because I missed them. I cried because they taught

me and the Lord taught me what is most important.

Because of the rampant effects of AIDS there, the children are taught to sing “stay alive, stay alive, stay

alive” over and over again. They are taught young how to stay alive physically. I now have 3 children

of my own and nearly 10 years after my trip as I write this I have realized how easy it can be to forget

the lessons once learned. I hope to be able to always remember to stay alive in Christ and to teach my

children that the things of this world do not bring true happiness but the Gospel of Jesus Christ does.

My name is Paige A and I'm a member of the Kanesville Stake


*A year after my trip my second bag made its way home.