Sunday Happenings

Lesson: Chapter 25- Fasting
Instructor: Sister Ashby

Sister Ashby started out by creating a recipe for fasting:

Fasting
1-2 c. of prayer
8 oz. of purpose
A dash of humility
Fold in a sincere heart

Cook for a duration of 2 meals. You can add extra flavor, shed a few tears. Follow the recipe for desired result and a testimony of fasting.

Fasting is ________.

1. Luke 2:37- strength
2. Holy Ghost
3. Endure to the End
4. Mosiah 27: 22-23- Healing
5. Alma 5:46- Testimony
6. Missionary Work
7. Alma 17:3- Knowledge
8. Instrument in God's Hands
9. Helaman 3:35- Closer to Christ
10. Helaman 9:10- Comfort
11. D&C 88:76- Commandment
12. Gratitude

Other points to consider:

• "God's people have fasted to help them draw near to Him and to worship Him."
• "purposeful fasting is more than just going without food and drink."
• "Prayer is a necessary part of fasting."
• "Purpose of fasting is not to impress others."
• "We are promised peace, improved health, and spiritual guidance."
• "Fast offerings should be given generously as we are able."
• "Helps us gain strength of character, control our appetites and passions, teaching children to develop the spiritual strength to overcome greater temptations later in their lives."
• "The Savior has said to those who fast properly, "Thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly" (Matthew 6:18).

Sister Ashby also made us some delicious Chocolate Chip Cookies. She has shared her recipe below.

Chocolate Chip Cookies
3/4 c margarine
3/4 c brown sugar
3/4 c white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp soda dissolved in 1 tsp. hot water
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 c flour
1 1/2 c chocolate chips
Bake at 375 for 8 minutes

Family Home Evening Ideas:

Sharing Time: Fasting and Prayer
Article: Fasting- A Gift of Joy
LDS Living: Fasting

Announcement: The Murphy's are setting up an at home social skills therapy program for their developmentally delayed 2 1/2 yr. old son. They are looking for volunteer and paid aides to assist with the Floortime model. No experience is necessary. Training will be provided by an experienced therapist. Aides may bring children between the ages of 2 and 5 with them. Hourly wage for paid aides will be $8-$10, based on experience. Flexible hours, but a commitment of at least 2 hours per week for three months is requested. Please contact Sister Murphy before January 10th if interested. Thanks!

Sunday Happenings

Lesson: 11 Ways to Be Miserable
Instructor: Sister Stott

Ezra Taft Benson said: “Daily, constantly, we choose by our desires, our thoughts, and our actions whether we want to be blessed or cursed, happy or miserable.” (Ensign, May 1988)

1. Do Not Enjoy Anything

• Never Do Anything For Yourself
• Don't Get to Know the Sisters in our Ward, that would include doing your Visiting Teaching

2. Worry, Worry, Worry

• Gas prices are probably going to raise to $4.00 this year
• Worry about things you see on the news each night, things you have no control over. Soak in those sad, depressed, & glum feelings that accompany these worries.
• Happy people do the exact opposite: Scripture #1: D&C 123:17

3. Be Rude

• Belittle people, make them feel worthless
• No church activity is fun enough…make sure you let the committee know

4. Focus on Your Problems

• Think about all of the things you don’t like about yourself; your height, your weight, hair, car, clothes, nose, grades...etc...

5. Blame, Blame, Blame

• Never forgive- it is always someone else's fault, never yours

6. Postpone Being Happy

• Put deadlines on your happiness... fill in the blank... as soon as I ____, then I'll be happy.
• Jesus taught- Scripture #2: Luke 12:15

7. Postpone Prayer

• Keep your distance from deity- never let him know what is happening in your life
• Quote #4: President Wilford Woodruff- “WE should call upon the lord in Might prayer, and make all our wants know unto him. For if he does not protect and deliver us and save us, no power will” (Millennial Star, 48:806)

8. Avoid Scripture Study

• Never make time to learn about the plan our Father in Heaven has for us.
• Quote #6: Elder M. Russell Ballard- "As I think about your schedules and the pressures you face at this time in your lives, I can understand why scripture study can so easily be neglected. You have many demands pulling at you. In some cases, just maintaining your social life is a full-time occupation. But I plead with you to make time for immersing yourselves in the scriptures. Couple scripture study with your prayers. Half an hour each morning privately studying, pondering, and communicating with your Heavenly Father can make an amazing difference in your lives. It will give increased success in your daily activities. It will bring increased alertness to your minds. It will give you comfort and rock-steady assurance when the storms of life descend upon you.""Be Strong in the Lord, and in the Power of His Might" (CES fireside for young adults, March 3, 2002), 3–4

9. Always See the Negative

• Trials are there to make you miserable, enjoy them! Nothing will ever change in your life!

10. Never Set Goals

• No school goals, personal goals, spiritual goals, family goals
• Quote #8 John Bytheway- “If you start achieving goals, you might start to feel a sense of excitement, then you might want to set another goal, and then your miserable mornings are through. To maintain your misery, the idea of crossing off your goals should never cross your mind”. (How to Be Totally Miserable- A Self-Hinder Book)

11. Never Show Gratitude

• Never say thank-you

So you have your choice, you now have 11 ways to help you be miserable if you choose. Or, you can choose to be lights in the darkness. I encourage you to find one thing in your life each day that will help you to make your light brighter and happier. Matt. 5: 14-16

This lesson came from John Bytheway's book: How to be Totally Miserable: A Self-Hinder Book). I had some people ask for the lesson. Go here, to get a copy of the lesson. It could be used for Family Home Evening.

More Recipes & Visiting Teaching

This recipe for Candy Cane Kiss Cookies comes from Our Best Bites, go here to get the recipe. You can use the same recipe around Easter...just add Cadbury Mini Eggs! They are super delicious.

Gingerbread Bars

1/2 C butter or margarine, softened
1/2 C packed brown sugar
1/2 C Molasses
1 egg
1 1/2 C all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 C water

In mixing bowl cream together butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the remaining wet ingredients and beat well.
Sift together dry ingredients and mix into wet ingredients alternately with water; mix well.
Pour into 13x9 pan, bake at 350* for 20-25 minutes. Cool thoroughly. Frost with Lemon cream cheese frosting.


Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

1 8oz pkg cream cheese, softened
1 stick of butter, softened
1 tsp lemon zest
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp salt
4 C powdered sugar

Cream butter and cream cheese, add salt, zest and juice, mix in well. Add powdered sugar,
mix in.

Cookie Dough Truffles

1/2 c. butter, softened

3/4 c. packed brown sugar

2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour

1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 c. miniature semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional, I didn't add them)

1 1/2 pounds semisweet chocolate candy coating, chopped (or I just melted chocolate chips)

In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the flour, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla; mix well. Stir in the chocolate chips and walnuts, if using. Shape into 1-inch balls; place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Loosely cover and freeze for 1-2 hours or until firm. (The dough softens quickly at room temperature so it works best if they are frozen, not just chilled in the refrigerator).In a microwave safe bowl, melt candy coating (or chocolate chips), stirring often until smooth. Dip balls in coating (or drizzle on top); place on waxed paper-lined backing sheets. Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.

Apple Walnut Cookies
1 c canned applesauce

3 c quick rolled oats
1 1/2 c sugar

1 c chopped nuts
1/2 cu margarine

1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 c cocoa

1/2 tsp almond extract
1/4 tsp salt powdered sugar

Simmer applesauce gently 5 minutes. Add sugar, margarine, cocoa and salt. Boil 1 minute. Remove from heat immediately. Add oats, walnuts, vanilla and almond extract. Mix well. Drop by teaspoon onto waxed paper. When cool. roll in powdered sugar makes 50 - 55 cookies.

Visiting Teaching: The end of the month is coming quickly. Just a reminder to get your visiting teaching done. I found this site that has fun ideas for visiting teaching, go here to see it. They have a lot of free printables and ideas that go along with the message for the month.

Holiday Recipes & Kids and Christmas

We would like to thank everyone who came to our activity last night. We know how busy your lives are right now! I don't know about you, but it was just what I needed! There was such an incredible spirit as we listened to the perspectives of the women who surrounded Christ. It was the Innkeeper's wife who touched me the most....she wanted so badly to help Mary & Joseph and knew how special the Christ child was. We had some beautiful musical numbers: Sisters Murphy, Olpin, & Eyre played a Violin/Piano musical number, Sisters Carbine & Kearhl sang solos. We also had a chance to sing some songs as a group. Afterwards we had some delicious treats! Sister Adamson made delicious Hot Chocolate and homemade caramel marshmellows. We also had a variety of other treats to choose from. We will be posting the recipes for these treats over the next couple of days. Here are the first few:

Basic Hot Chocolate
4 cups of whole milk
8 ounces of chocolate
3 tsp powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon of salt
Finely chop the chocolate into small pieces. The pieces have to be able to dissolve easily in the liquid.
Place the milk into a small, thick-bottomed pot on low heat and bring to a low simmer. Whisk once in a while to ensure that the milk doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan.
Add the vanilla, powdered sugar, salt, and chocolate and whisk vigorously until the chocolate has melted.
Heat for another 4 minutes, constantly stirring.
Serve. Add a dollop of whipped cream if you want.
Serves 4.

White Hot Chocolate
8 cups of whole milk
12 ounces white chocolate , finely chopped
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Directions
Using a vegetable peeler, shave chocolate into curls; set aside.Place white chocolate in a medium heat-proof bowl; set aside. Place milk and cream in a medium saucepan set over medium heat until bubbles begin to form around edges of pan (about 4 minutes). Do not boil.Remove mixture from the flame. Immediately pour over white chocolate. When chocolate begins to melt, gently stir to combine.Whisk in vanilla. Continue whisking until light foam forms.Serve immediately. Garnish with chocolate shavings.


Martha Stewarts Homemade Marshmallows

4 packages unflavored gelatin
3/4 C cold water
3 1/4 C granulated sugar
1 1/4 C light corn syrup
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 C water
2 tsp pure vanilla extract (peppermint extract if desired...great for hot cocoa!)

Spray 9x13 pan w/cooking spray.
Cut a piece of parchment or waxed paper large enough to cover the bottom of the dish and to overhang
the longer sides. Place the parchment in the dish and brush with oil, set aside.

Pour 3/4 C cold water in the bowl of an electric mixer, and sprinkle gelatin on top. Let stand 5 minutes.

Place sugar, corn syrup, salt and water in a medium saucepan. Set over high heat, and bring
to a boil. Insert a candy thermometer, and cook until it reaches soft-ball stage (238*), about 9 minutes.

Using the whisk attachment, beat hot syrup into the gelatin on low speed, gradually increase speed to
high, beat until mixture is very stiff, about 12 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Pour mixture into the prepared
baking dish, and smooth the surface with as offset spatula. Set aside, uncovered until marshmallow
becomes firm, at least 3 hours or overnight.

Cut into squares with a pizza cutter, and toss in powdered sugar.

Here is a cute Mormon Messages video. Enjoy!

Christmas Activity- Tuesday, December 21

Please come join us Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. for our special Christmas Activity: "The Women Surrounding Christ's Birth". It will be a great night to focus on the true meaning of Christmas and find time to relax for a bit. Hope to see you there.

Sunday Happenings

Lesson: Chapter 24- The Sabbath Day
Instructor: Sister Bell

What is the Sabbath Day?

"The word Sabbath comes from a Hebrew word meaning rest." The Sabbath day is every seventh day. It is a holy day ordained by God for us to rest from our daily labors and worship Him."

How would you explain the purpose of the Sabbath day to someone who does not know about the Sabbath?

• A day spent in worship and reverence
• Time to ponder spiritual matters
• A day to renew our covenants
• Feed our souls on the things of the Spirit

What does it mean to keep the Sabbath Day holy?

• What can we do? Church, Scriptures, Church Magazines, Visit Sick, Visit Family, Uplifting music, Hymns, Family History, Journals, Service
• What do you do in your families to keep the Sabbath Day Holy?
• One idea given was to watch family videos, this helps you relive fun times in the past and appreciate family.

Family Home Evening

• Sharing Time: Keep the Commandments
• Ensign Article: Teaching Children to Keep the Sabbath
• Sharing Time: I Will Always Choose the Right
• LDS Living: Sabbath Day

*Don't forget about our special Christmas activity this Tuesday, Dec. 21 at 7:00 p.m.

Sunday Happenings

Lesson: Chapter 23- The Sacrament
Instructor: Sister Ashby

Object Lesson: Sister Ashby had us close our eyes, then dropped three items on the table.
First: a medium sized bouncy ball. We determined that it was fairly loud and could be heard easily. This could be compared to the world. It is usually noisy....makes sure it is heard.
Second: a quarter sized round chip. It had a softer sound. We were able to hear it because it was quiet in the room. If it had been noisier we may not have heard it. This could be compared to those in authority. They can be heard, but we need to make sure we are listening...make sure our lives aren't filled with too much noise.
Third: a needle. It was the softest sounding of the three. If there had been noise we definitely would not have been able to hear it. This could be compared to the whisperings of the spirit. If there is noise in our life we will not be able to hear its quiet guidance.

The teachings on the sacrament can be found in todays lesson. Just click on the link above.

Questions to think about:
-Why do the sacrament prayers need to be said perfectly?
-What covenants do we renew during the sacrament? What blessings does the Lord promise us as we keep those covenants?
-How can we prepare ourselves to partake of the sacrament? What can we think about during the sacrament to help us remember the Savior's Atonement?

• Create "quiet" books using pictures from the Ensign, Friend, or New Era. These books would be used just during the sacrament as a way to help children think about the Savior, the sacrament, etc.. As soon as the sacrament is finished they would be put away.
• Prepare: Be on time to Sacrament Meeting, Sit in the front section of the chapel, Young men arrive early to help with sacrament preparation
• Setting the Example: Sit quietly listening to prelude music, children will follow your example
• Speak About Reverence: Remind children before you get to church, Make sure you are showing reverence
• Soliciting Support: Have children come up with ways to be reverent, on time, etc...
• Within the Family: Teach during Family Home Evening, Prepare Saturday Night
• Taking Responsibility: Means Everyone: "Reverence Begins With Me!"

Family Home Evening Ideas:

• Sharing Time: Reverence in Holy Places
• Sharing Time: Primary Manners (Could be used to teach reverence)
• Sharing Time: Be Grateful for the Sacrament
• LDS Living: Reverence
• LDS Living: Sacrament