Resolutions

As we come to the close of 2010 I've been thinking a lot about what I want to improve in my life. On Tuesday night I made a list of goals I want to accomplish daily. Some are a bit more difficult than others. And some are things I already do most days. But I want 2011 to stand out as a year I grew closer to the Lord. Now, I'm no stranger to the effort it takes to make changes in our lives. So I'm implementing a technique I learned on my mission: setting a guarantee. My guarantee for 2011 is that I do at least half of my daily goals. That way I'll work towards improving my life without getting disappointed in myself when I slip up a bit. My challenge to each of you is to set a goal & guarantee. Mabye your goal is to attend the temple once a month but your guarantee is to go 6 times in 2011. Or maybe your goal is to read the weekly RS lesson before Sunday and your guarantee is to do it at least once a month. Sisters, I know that the Lord knows each of our circumstances. And He is waiting to carry our burdens and bring more happiness to our lives. But we have to act first. Let's make sure we set a New Year's Resolution to improve some part of our spiritual lives, thereby qualifying for the blessings of guidance and comfort from our Savior. I testify that He will help us reach our goals if we continually strive to improve ourselves daily.

To help us ponder these truths, here are a few thoughts from lds.org:

Resolutions by Elder Christensen of the Seventy

Keeping New Year's Resolutions

Do Thigns That Make a Difference by Elder Ballard

The Sabbath Day

I know life can be very busy, especially during the holiday season. There are presents to buy, parties to attend, travel plans to make, work to complete before the year end, children out of school and many, many other responsibilities. For some, the holiday season can be challenging due to loneliness, loss of loved ones or unfulfilled expectations. But if we keep our eye on the reason for the season we can be filled with the warmth of the love our Heavenly Father has for each of us no matter what our circumstances. As the Relief Society Motto states "We are beloved spirit daughters of God, and our lives have meaning, purpose, and direction."

As we reflect this season on the wonderful gift our Heavenly Father gave to us with the birth of Jesus Christ, let us also turn our thoughts to the Sabbath day, which this year immediately follows Christmas Day. This Sunday in Relief Society we will discuss the Sabbath day as we study Chapter 24. As you read the chapter, I invite you to consider three questions. What is the Sabbath? Why do we have the Sabbath? How do we observe the Sabbath?

May peace and joy fill your homes this Christmas season.

THANKS - DALLAS 4TH WARD

How generous many of you have been in donating to our Humanitarian Toy Drive. We have one more Sunday to collect. When you are doing your last minute shopping, don't forget the children - the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, will always get your donations into the most needy places - and into the hands of a child. It isn't too late to bring a gift we still have one more Sunday in December.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

After all the Christmas parties attended, and ornaments passed out, and sugar cookies made, and Christmas cards received - how we feel about the HOLIDAYS is now up to us. I am going to have a wonderful holiday because I made the decision for this to be so! Now, I wish the same for all of you - the amazing women in this Dallas 4th Relief Society!

BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN MUCH, WE TOO MUST SHARE.

A big THANK YOU to all who have contributed to the Humanitarian Toy Drive - we have already filled one large box. We still have two more Sundays - the 19th and the 26th to bring toys in to the Relief Society Room. They will be shipped the first part of January by the Church.

These are simple toys, jump ropes, baby dolls, wooden blocks, stuffed animals - but to children in 3rd World countries - they will mean so much. Bring delight to the eyes of children, who have so little - just because it is the right thing to do, and the Church has the ability to get your donations, where they are needed the most.

The Sacrament

Dear sisters,

Christmas is almost here, what a wonderful time of the year. I know a way to cut down on stress during this holiday season. People have so many engagements, parties and ect during this season it can be overwhelming. If you are unable to attend an event for one reason or anther, realize that you may not be missed because everyone's calender is just as full as yours- this only works Thanksgiving through New Years day.

On an important note, we will be discussing and bearing witness to the gift our Savior gives us with the sacrament. Just imagine the gift of being able to repent each week and renew your covenants. I will see you on the 19th and I've heard we are having Christmas cookies (the really pretty ones Natalie knows how to make).

Love, Shirlee
P.S- I have a beautiful painting to share with you all


Also, Jeanne wanted me (Ruth) to share this talk with each of you this week as we prepare for our Relief Society lesson.

Be One
By President Eyring

Gifts of the Spirit

When we are faithful, the Lord can bless us with spiritual powers, called gifts of the Spirit. Come find out which ones you have and how you can develop your gifts for the benefit of others. Tomorrow's RS lesson is chapter 22.

Recipes from the Christmas Party

Chicken Scaloppine

Lemon butter Sauce

• 4 ounces lemon juice (1/2 C)
• 2 ounces white wine or chicken broth (1/4)
• 4 ounces heavy cream (1/2 C)
• 1 lb cold butter (4 sticks) Yes, a full pound!

Chicken and Pasta

• 12-15 chicken tenders or 6 chicken breasts
• Olive oil, for sautéing chicken and mushrooms
• 1 cup flour, seasoned with salt and pepper, for dredging
• 6 ounces bacon, cooked and drained
• 12 ounces mushrooms, sliced
• 12 ounces artichoke hearts, chopped
• 1 heaping tablespoon capers
• 1 lb angel hair pasta, cooked
• chopped parsley, for garnish

Directions:

1. To make the sauce:
2. Heat the lemon juice and white wine in a saucepan over medium heat.
3. Bring to a boil and reduce by one-third.  This step boils off the alcohol in the wine.
4. Add cream and simmer until mixture thickens (3 to 4 minutes).
5. Slowly add butter with a wire whisk until completely incorporated.
6. Season with salt and pepper.
7. Remove from heat and keep warm.
8. To make chicken and pasta:
9. Cook pasta and drain
10. Pound the chicken between two pieces of plastic wrap so that the chicken is about 3/8” thick.
11. Heat a small amount of oil large skillet.
12. Dredge chicken in flour and sauté in pan, turning once, until brown and cooked through. This only takes a few minutes because the chicken has been pounded thin.
13. Remove chicken from pan.
14. Add some of the mushrooms to the pan with a little oil. The mushrooms should only cover the bottom of the pan.
15. Heat until mushrooms soften and a slightly brown on each side.
16. Remove from pan and cook the next batch until you have cooked all of the mushrooms.
17. Put all of the mushrooms back in the pan.
18. Add the bacon, capers and the chopped artichoke hearts to the pan.
19. Add the chicken back to the pan.
20. Add half of butter sauce to chicken mixture and toss.
21. Taste and adjust. Add more sauce if needed.
22. To serve:
23. Place chicken mixture over pasta on each plate.
24. Add a little more sauce to each.
25. Garnish with parsley.

If you want to make this ahead of time keep the sauce, chicken, artichoke-mushroom-bacon-caper mixture, and pasta separate until you are ready to serve.

If you keep the sauce over night it may separate. Just heat it up in over the stove and whisk it back together. It doesn’t do great in the microwave.


Deanna's Bread Sticks

1 Tbsp. yeast
1 Tbsp powered milk
3 cups flour
 1 Tbsp butter
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/3 cup warm water
2 Tbsp. sugar

Put into bread machine or mix by hand and knead for 10 minutes. let rest for 10 minutes. Knead again for 10 minutes.  This is called pestering the dough.  You can actually pester the dough several more cycles if time permits.  This creates a tougher crust on the bread sticks so they are not like dinner rolls but more like french bread.  When the dough is ready, roll out to 1/2 inch thick and cut into strips. Place on a greased cookie sheet.

Topping:

1/3 cup butter, melted
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
 1/2 tsp dried parsley
1/2 tsp. lemon and herb seasoning (McCormick Perfect Pinch, you can get it at Albertsons)
1/2 tsp. seasoning salt
salt
Parmesan cheese

Combine all ingredients, except cheese. Brush butter mixture on bread sticks after you put them on the pan and before they rise. Sprinkle with salt and Parmesan cheese. Let rise for 30 to 40 minutes. Bake in a preheated 375 oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until browned.

"THE GIFTS THAT KEEP ON GIVING . . . ."

Sisters - our annual Relief Society Dinner Party is tomorrow night - Tuesday, December 7th at the Home of Shirlee Chaillet. It will start at 7:00 p.m. with a wonderful dinner, followed by an activity of "adult show and tell."

Parking is a challenge, so call the sisters on your visiting teaching route, or those we miss at church, and let's come together, and reduce the number of cars.

Bring a gift you have been given, and treasured over the years, and please be prepared to take a "quick minute" to tell all the sisters why it means so much to you. (You do get to take the gift back home.!)

The greatest gift we have ever received was from our loving Heavenly Father - the gift of the Christ Child -The Savior of the Word - Our Redeemer. Let's celebrate His birth together.

DEC 5 LESSON

Ladies,
Our sweet Karen Bateman is giving the lesson tomorrow on being daughters of God. We look forward to each of you joining us.

"Feelings of worth come when a woman follows the example of the Master. Her sense of infinite worth comes from her own Christlike yearning to reach out with love, as He does."
(Elder Nelson, 1989)