SAVE THE DATE

ENRICHMENT

September 10, 2009

6:30 p.m. @ the church

Dinner will be served

Childcare available

Come to a Reunion! Get ready to have some fun and get to know your sisters from the Class of the Last Dispensation!

Family Home Evening Lesson -- Self Reliance

Family Home Evening Lesson
Self Reliance

Opening Song: "I will be valiant" Children's Songbook #162

Opening Prayer

Lesson:

Talk briefly how it is important for families to be able to look after themselves. You could mention food storage, 72 hour kits, growing a garden, knowing your scripture stories, saving money etc.

Depending on the age of your child choose as many or few activites from below to show/teach your child - This is a hands on FHE!

Spiritual ~
Share Testimonies with each other. Talk about why it is important to have/develop a testimony
Scriptures - look through scriptures and why it is important for us to know the stories therein

Money ~
Have play money (or real) and get children to put in amounts that is spent on food, house, bills, tithing, etc then show how much is left(teach that it is important to save some money for emergencies (like broken cars, storms, sickness, if daddy loses job etc)

Car ~
Show children where the oil or water or petrol goes in the car, get them to help you. They will enjoy looking at the engine!

Sewing ~
We all need to know how to repair clothes, sew on a button etc. Older children can sew on some scaps of material or a button, younger children could thread beads on string etc

Emotional ~
The need to be happy and be able to move on even when we are sad. Play some games like "If you're happy and you know it" "If you chance to see a frown - turn it upside down" Sit and talk about feelings etc

Food ~
Eat some food storage. Pack 72 hour kits. We have kits with little cereal boxes, muslie bars,chocolate bars, juice box, dried fruit. These go out of date every 6 months so we sit around and eat the contents and pack new ones.

Shelter ~
Build a shelter out of blankets, tarps or set up a small tent. Ask Child if they could make shelter if needed be?

Closing Song: "Dare to do right" Children's Songbook #158

Closing Prayer:

Treat:

Food Storage foods :)

(from The Family Home Evening Spot -- nataliesfhespot.blogspot.com)

August Visiting Teaching Message

Don't forget to visit your sisters!

(click the link to the right for this month's message)

Handout from alittletipsy.blogspot.com

FHE-Liberty

Family Home Evening Lesson
“Liberty”

(Taken from “Captain Moroni and the Title of Liberty,” Friend, May 1994, 20)

Opening Song: “My Country” (Children’s Song Book # 224)

Opening Prayer: Child

Lesson: Mommy

(This entire lesson is from the “Captain Moroni and the Title of Liberty” article. Click on the link to use for your lesson. It is perfect and condenses the story better than I ever could with pictures and all.)

Talk about how the Title of Liberty it is a lot like our Flag. If we live the way were are suppose to and follow what the Lord has asked we can be blessed by the wonderful country that we live in.

You can teach your children about respecting the Flag and put “The Pledge of Allegiance” up in your home for your family to see and practice and learn.


Talk about the 4th of July and the liberty’s that we have in this country and what it means to you and your family.

Activity: Choose any of these fun 4th of July activities from Enchanted Learning.

Closing Song: “My Flag, My Flag” (Children’s Song Book # 225)

Closing Prayer: Daddy

Treat: Make red, white, and blue parfaits by layering blueberries, strawberries, and whip cream in a clear cup or by using red and blue jello with whip cream.

Thank You

Bloom Where You're Planted

A GREAT big THANKS to our Enrichment Committee for such a wonderful evening last Tuesday.
It was fun AND informative. If you weren't able to attend, you missed a really good time but Amy and Heather have posted the recipes and gardening information.

June Visiting Teaching Message

Visiting Teaching Message of Month
June 2009

June 09.pdf

Participate in Sincere Prayer
Ensign, June 2009

Prayerfully teach these scriptures and quotations or, if needed, another principle that will bless the sisters you visit. Bear testimony of the doctrine. Invite those you visit to share what they have felt and learned.

Sincere Prayer Has Strengthening Power

Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president: "Think of our combined strength if every sister had sincere prayer every morning and night or, better yet, prayed unceasingly as the Lord has commanded. If every family had family prayer daily . . . , we would be stronger" ("What Latter-day Saint Women Do Best: Stand Strong and Immovable," Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2007, 110).

Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: "Prayer changes our lives. Through it we draw near to the Lord, and he reaches out his finger and touches us, so we never again are the same.

"Prayer is a great tower of strength, a pillar of unending righteousness, a mighty force that moves mountains and saves souls" ("Patterns of Prayer," Ensign, May 1984, 32).

Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: "Every honest and sincere prayer adds another piece to chain-mail armor. . . . One of the most important ways to clothe yourselves in the armor of God is to make sure that prayer—earnest, sincere, consistent prayer—is part of your daily lives" ("Be Strong in the Lord," Ensign, July 2004, 10).

D&C 112:10: "Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers."

Sincere Prayer Is Holy Communication

President James E. Faust (1920–2007), Second Counselor in the First Presidency: "First, prayer is a humble acknowledgment that God is our Father and that the Lord Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. Second, it is a sincere confession of sin and transgression and a request for forgiveness. Third, it is recognition that we need help beyond our own ability. Fourth, it is an opportunity to express thanksgiving and gratitude to our Creator. It is important that we frequently say: 'We thank Thee . . . ,' 'We acknowledge before Thee . . . ,' 'We are grateful unto Thee . . . ' Fifth, it is a privilege to ask Deity for specific blessings.

" . . . Sincere prayers come from the heart. Indeed, sincerity requires that we draw from the earnest feelings of our hearts" ("The Lifeline of Prayer," Liahona, July 2002, 62; Ensign, May 2002, 59–60).

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: "Meaningful prayer requires both holy communication and consecrated work. Blessings require some effort on our part before we can obtain them, and prayer, as 'a form of work, . . . is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings' (Bible Dictionary, 'Prayer,' 753). We press forward and persevere in the consecrated work of prayer, after we say 'amen,' by acting upon the things we have expressed to Heavenly Father" ("Ask in Faith," Liahona and Ensign, May 2008, 95).

President Thomas S. Monson: "As we offer unto the Lord our family and our personal prayers, let us do so with faith and trust in Him. Let us remember the injunction of the Apostle Paul to the Hebrews: 'For he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.' If any of us has been slow to hearken to the counsel to pray always, there is no finer hour to begin than now" ("A Royal Priesthood," Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2007, 61).

Helpful Hints for Flower Arranging

1. Before arranging, cut flower stems at an angle. This will open the bottoms of the stems and allow the flower to bloom.

2. When arranging, start with the greenery (pink wax flower is a nice alternative to the more common baby's breath for a delicate, Victorian-type arrangement)

3. Leave under the water line will rot more quickly so remove excess leaves lower on the stems.

4. If using foam for your arrangement, it's helpful to soak it in water and plant food before placing it at the bottom of the vase.

5. Keep the water level in the vase at about 1/2 full.

6. As the water line lowers, you can just add to the water. You don't need to change it.

7. Adding a penny to the water in an arrangement with tulips will make the tulips last longer.

8. Don't mix roses with any of the greenery or other flowers until you are ready to arrange them because the fumes will make the roses die more quickly.

Grilling Tips

Thanks to Brother Matt C. for putting together the following grilling basics!

Basic Grilling Tips

#1 Tip – KEEP IT CLEAN –
Always brush your grill grate with a stiff wire brush to clean it.
Oil the grate with a folded paper towel dipped in oil and rubbed over the bars of the grate. Food will stick to a dirty grate.

Tips for Great Grilled Steak
1. Use rubs, marinades, sauces, butters and bastes to add an extra dimension of flavor. Even something as basic as sea salt and cracked black pepper adds a spectacular taste to beef.

2. 

Build the right fire. Understand the difference between direct and indirect grilling and when to use each.

3. Cook it to perfection. (If the grill is too hot, the outside of the steak can overcook before the inside is ready; if too cold, you won’t get the right searing.) Place your hand an inch above the grill and count 1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi, OUCH (too hot to hold your hand over it.




4. Know when your steak is done. Remember medium rare is 145°F; medium 160°F and well done is 170°F.

5. Turn, don’t stab. Tongs are the most important tool in the griller’s workshop.

6. 

Give it a rest. After grilling, give the steak a rest for a couple of minutes to let the juices redistribute before cutting into it.

Tips for Great Chicken
1. Use the “2 Mississippi, OUCH” test
2. Coat your chicken in Olive Oil prior to grilling – this will hold on the juice
3. Marinate before grilling

Know Indirect vs. Direct

Indirect – Use for smoking or slow cook (ribs, brisket, beer-can chicken, salmon). This is done by placing the coals (or lighting only one side of the grill) to one side and cooking the food on the other. In other words, the food is not be being cooked directly over the flame.

Direct – Use for grilling (steak, hotdogs, hamburgers, chicken breast). This is done by placing the food directly over the flame.

Use a RUB! Any rub will do and it will add tremendous flavor. Below is a recipe for a simple rub that is great on beef (brisket, hamburgers, streak) and is perfect on Pork (chops, butt, ribs, loin)
Makes 1 cup
1/4 cup coarse salt (sea or kosher

1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup sweet paprika
3 tablespoons black pepper
1 tablespoon garlic flakes
1 tablespoon onion flakes
1/2 to1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon celery seeds

Lid Closed or Open
General rule is the thickness of your hand. If the steak, chicken, hamburger is thinner then the thickness of your hand then the lid can stay open; if thicker, then closed.

Two last things!
1. If you’re a look’n – it’s not cook’n. Be patient, BBQ takes time
2. Your husband is not as good as he thinks. Without hurting his ego, gently nudge him to bbqu.net or virtualweberbullet.com for smoking and grilling tips. Also, I would suggest watching BBQU on PBS with Steve Raichlen (barbecuebible.com)

Bloom Where You Are Planted

We held our Enrichment night on Tuesday and had such a wonderful evening together as sisters! Thanks to all of those who helped out, shared their talents, and attended. It was great to be together!

We began the evening with a dinner in Heather T.'s beautiful backyard where we tasted amazing grilling samples and learned some grilling basics from Brother Mark B., ate salads, and learned all about native plants and gardening from Sister Kathy M.

We then took a tour of a neighbor's amazing garden before ending up in Sister Andera N.'s gorgeous backyard for delectible desserts and a flower arranging demonstration from Sisters Leigh T. and Cynthia S.

Stay tuned for notes from the presentations and be sure to check our recipe blog (see link on the side bar on the right) to get the recipes from the evening!

2Q09 Enrichment - Planting Tips in Texas

NATIVE OR ADAPTED PLANTS FOR THE HOUSTON / KATY AREA

Thanks to Kathy M. for putting all this great information!

Why native plants?
LOW MAINTENANCE
THE PLANTS ARE USED TO OUR HIGH HUMIDITY AND EXTREME SUMMER HEAT AS WELL AS AN OCCASIONAL BLUE NORTHER
THEY ARE ABLE TO SURVIVE ON RAINFALL AFTER THEY ARE ESTABLISHED.
MORE HEAT AND DROUGHT TOLERANT

These are plants that were brought to the Houston area by our first settlers from other parts of the United States or even other parts of the world. Adapted plants came from similar soil and climate needs and are considered native because they feel at home and grow well here.
The most important thing to remember before purchasing a TEXAS native plant is that Texas is a very large place and just because a plant claims to be native to Texas doesn’t automatically mean it will grow well in Katy. A plant that grows well in El Paso might not tolerate our spring downpours and summer humidity. But a plant that thrives in Savannah, Georgia or Charleston, SC may feel right at home in Katy.

Before you plant, make sure your bed/soil is in good shape. Add several inches of organic matter such as shredded pine bark, peat or rice hulls to your bed to help absorb and store water. Raised beds are a MUST for drought resistant plants since they cannot tolerate wet “feet”. If you are starting a new bed, you might also add an inch or two of bagged soil. Work/till all of the soil and organic matter together.

Mulching also cuts down on the amount of water lost to evaporation.

Something to remember when choosing a plant, part sun or afternoon sun suffices for a full sun plant in our environment. But if a plant gets lanky or doesn’t flower, it may need more sun.

HEAT AND DROUGHT TOLERANT FLOWERS FOR KATY AREA
(All of these must be planted in raised beds)
SUN – LOW TO MEDIUM HEIGHT

BLUE DAZE, BUTTERFLY WEED, COPPER CANYON, DAISIES, CRINUM, CUPHEA, FERN LEAF, LAVENDER, GAURA, LANTANA, MEXICAN MINT, MARIGOLD, ZINNIAS, PLUMBAGO, RUBEKIA (BLACK EYED SUSAN), PAVONIA, SCAVEOLA

SUN – TALLER GROWING

ORCHID TREE, CASSIA, CESTRUM, DURANTA, HARDY SALVIAS, ESPERANZA (YELLOW BELLS), OLEANDER, MORNING GLORY, VITEX , POINCIANA, HAMELIA (HUMMING BIRD BUSH)

VINES THAT GIVE YOU SUMMER COLOR WITH LITTLE TO NO ATTENTION

BUTTERFLY VINE, CORAL VINE, CROSSVINE, HYACINTH, BEAN VINE, RANGOON CREEPER

SHADE FLOWERS – LOW TO MEDIUM HEIGHT

BEGONIAS, CRINUMS, CALLA LILY (WHITE ONLY), CHENILLE, PLANT NEWER VARIETIES OF HOSTAS, WHITE SPIDER LILIES, PENTAS (ALSO DO WELL IN SUN)
SUMMER PHLOX, PINK POLKA DOT PLANT, PLUMBAGO “KATIE”, COMPACT RUELLIA,
SHRIMP PLANT, STRAWBERRY BUSH

SHADE – TALLER GROWING

BARLARIA, CUTLEAF, CONEFLOWER, FIRESPIKE, HIBISCUS (NEEDS SOME SUN), TURKS CAP, GINGERS RANGE FROM GROUND COVERS TO TALL SPIKES – TRY THEM IN SHADY AREAS

NATIVE PLANTS THAT MAKE GREAT CUT FLOWERS

PURPLE GAY FEATHER (Liatris), GOLDENROD (Doesn’t Cause Hayfever), When the flowers start to fade on these, drain the water from the vase. Both flowers will dry naturally in the vase and last a couple of years.
HYDRANGEA and HORSEMINT remain attractive after drying.
PURPLE CORNFLOWERS will lose their petals but the cone will add unusual interest to an arrangement.
PASSION FLOWERS, HIBISCUS, and DAYLILIES look beautiful floating in a pool of water.
Fertilizing with a slow release fertilizer is the key to profuse flower production.

GULF COAST HARDY PERENNIALS

BLACK EYED SUSAN, KLONDIKE, COSMOS, CROCOSMIA, DAYLILIES ‘First Love’, ‘Melody Pink’ DIANTHUS, ‘Strawberry Fields’, GOMPHRENA, HIBISCUS, HYDRANGEA, JACOBINA, PENTAS, PURPLE CORNFLOWER

NATIVE BLOOMERS THAT CUT WELL

BLUEBONNET, COREOPSIS, GOLDENROD, INDIAN BLANKET (Gaildardia), INDIAN PAINTBRUSH, LANTANA, QUEEN ANNES LACE, SUNFLOWER

FRAGRANCE
BUTTERFLY GINGER, NICOTINA (Flowering Tobacco)

VINES
SWEET AUTUMN CLEMATIS, CORAL VINE, PASSION FLOWER VINE