Eggs, Books, and Heroes

Just a friendly reminder about a few things coming up in the next 10 days.

TONIGHT: Jan 27, 7pm, Joanne Poulson's house, Cooking 101 class

Sunday: Jan 30, RS lesson will be on Scriptural Heroes

(Who are your heroes? What do you learn from them?)

Tuesday: Feb 1, 7:30pm, Barbara Doerk's house, Book Club

(Just a heads up, we will not be meeting in March but will resume in April.)

**And don't forget about Stake Conference February 5th & 6th**

Visiting and Teaching Each Other...

This week I had my visiting teachers, Sarah Black and Liz Rich, come by for a visit. We three women are different in so many details and this was the first time Liz had been in my home but we chatted as if we had known each other for MANY years. (Of course with Sarah that is true!!)
I had a personal reaffirmation of sisterhood and the value of Visiting Teaching. For many reasons, I do not know if Sarah, Liz, and I would have come together in any other way. Yet there we were, sharing our experiences and testimonies, in a way to touch and positively affect each other.
I had a similar experience in our RS Presidency meeting this week as sometimes we feel the pressure of our callings and start to "melt" and everyone else jumps in to stroke our confidence or ease our burden.
I love this church, this gospel, and my dear sisters in this Relief Society!

A FIESTA of FRIENDSHIP!

This past month we have had so many great interest groups with the women of Dallas 4th Relief Society. I honestly did not know how this "small group" concept would work. But I have so enjoyed our little book group at Barbara Doerk's house and then learning to make baby hats for Parkland hospital at Shirley Medaris's house then hearing about the wonderful fireside/seminar at Ruth Powell's home last Sunday - all bringing a different configuration of women together! I now think I get it - we have been having ..... A FIESTA of FRIENDSHIP.
As we think of celebrating the birthday of the Relief Society in March (maybe you haven't thought of it yet but we who have to plan it have), we have come up with a super fun theme that follows what is all ready transpiring amongst us - A FIESTA of FRIENDSHIP! (With a great Mexican menu being created at this very minute by Bonnie Muir.)
More info will follow in the coming weeks. So... Adios!

A Consecrated Life by Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Looking back on October 2010 conference talks the above talk was one of my favorites. I think Elder Christofferson speaks in a very clear way. I never have any difficulty understanding his message. I appreciate him saying :"Those who quietly and thoughtfully go about doing good offer a model of consecration."
We'll talk more about this Sunday the 23rd.
Love, Shirlee


To find the talk, click HERE.

FINDING JOY AGAIN, AFTER A LOSS.

We had a wonderful interest group fireside this evening . Rosalyn Reynolds, Ruthie Powell's sister, and the author of the book "Solo", is a very accomplished speaker. She taught us through words, personal tools, videos and the tutoring of the Lord, that we can find Joy in our lives after an unexpected loss. Not only the loss of a family member or close friend, but the loss of a relationship, the loss of a goal, or even the loss of a dream.

We had about 21 in attendance, with much sharing of ideas from the group. We want to thank Sister Magda Trujillo, who put the evening together for the Interest Group, Connecting Souls.

Several sisters asked for the Dip recipe, which was a simple 7 layer dip, which I have included:
TEXAS SEVEN LAYER DIP
(to get the size dip you need, simply cut in half or double the quantities to suit your needs) Lime-flavored tortilla chips, really add to the flavor of this dip.
First Layer: Refried Beans - 1 15 oz. Can of Refried Beans - or a great way to use the Cannery's reconstitued refried Beans.
Second Layer: Smash 2 ripe Avocadoes and mix with 1/4 cup fresh lime juice.
Third Layer: 1 1/2 cups of Sour Cream
Fourth Layer: Either 1 1/2 cups of finely chopped Tomatoes or 1 1/2 cups of medium Salsa.
Fifth Layer: One can of Corn, use enough to cover the whole layer
Sixth Layer: One bag of finely grated Mexi-Cheese or Fiesta Cheese
Seventh Layer: 1 bunch of finely sliced spring onions or one can of pitted olives sliced, or 2 small cans of sliced olives, or both!

As you can see this recipe is very flexible, so use the layers you like - but always start with a "canvas" of refried beans for a great dip.
Enjoy!

Surrender, Forfeit, Forgo, Give Up, Let Go

This Sunday our RS lesson will be on Sacrifice. You can prepare now by reading chapter 26 of our Gospel Principles Manual. A couple things stuck out to me as I read this lesson. First, that the sacrifices we make help prepare us to become worthy to live in the Celestial Kingdom. And second, the stronger our testimony is, the more we are willing to sacrifice.

I encourage each of us to study this lesson before Sunday and come prepared to discuss why we make sacrifices, what examples we've seen of people sacrificing for the Lord, and how we've gained a testimony of the "great and last sacrifice," the Atonement.

HAT, HATS AND MORE HATS FOR PARKLAND HOSPITAL

A fun-filled, fancy food, fellowshipping/friendshipping evening was held making little hats for the newborns at Parkland Hospital, (Margaret Anderson told us they are called "Tooks" in Canada.)

Our Hostess, Shirley Medaris, whose home was a Valentine's Delight, and Debra Newcum lovingly taught us how to make the little loomed hats. We had 19 or 20 sisters participating, and several even finished a complete hat! Our instuctors assured us, with practice, we will all get faster.

What a fun night!, What a great cause! If you missed last night we may be offering another class in a couple of months. Shirley has great plans going forward - "the cutest hat of the month - and 500 hats for Parkland by the end of November. Let's show her that Dallas 4th Relief Society is up to the challenge.

Strength and Power

So much is going on around us as we step gingerly into 2011. I loved the conference talk by Richard G. Scott that reminds me "The Strength and Power We Need" in stressful times - IS FOUND IN OUR TEMPLE.
I am preparing my day (I have to mentally decide and forge ahead on the days I decide to attend the temple - so much gets in my way!!) so that I can attend the temple this evening with our ward. I feel so blessed to be so close to this House of Learning, Service, and Refuge.
It is only eleven days into a new year and I am all ready feeling a deep need for the "strength and power" to make the most of 2011.

Come Join Us!

Look what fun you've been missing at Book Club:

At our December meeting we enjoyed festive treats and talked about loving others.

This week for our January meeting we learned about Christ's birth

And in February we'll be discussing the book Wednesday Wars, including the theme of becoming something more than what others want us to be.

Coming up reading:

The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society (will be discussed in March)

To the Rescue: The Biography of Thomas S. Monson (will be discussed in April & May)

LITTLE HATS FOR NEWBORNS AT PARKLAND

Here is an opportunity to provide service for the newborns at Parkland Hospital. For several years we provided these little hats. We want to begin again, providing a service you can do at home, while watching t.v. or while waiting in line at schools, doctors offices, dental offices, etc. Sister Shirley Medaris has offered to teach us this skill at her home, Thursday, January 13th at 7:00 p.m. Check the roster for her address.

You will need to bring the following things with you:
Yarn, 4 inch loom, Crochet Hook, Very large-eye plastic needle, Scissors, Plastic card (credit card size) Small ruler or tape measure. Shirley will show them again this Sunday in Relief Society.

Hope you will join us - learn a skill, and enjoy the fellowship with other sisters - sounds like a New Year's resolution to me!

"OVERCOMING GRIEF"

Sisters, the Interest Group, "Connecting Souls" is having an adult fireside

Place: Home of Theo and Ruthie Powell

Time: 6:00 until 7:30 pm

Date: Sunday, January 16, 2011

THEME: "OVERCOMING GRIEF" and moving on to hope

There will be light refreshments, and time for questions and answers Please invite any friends, you think may benefit from this discussion.
*Sister Reynold is a mother of 7, who lost her husband in a drowning accident, she has authored a book. entitled "Solo". She has made it her mission to try and help others who may be going through the grieving process and on to hope and healing. She is also a sister to Ruthie Powell.

PREPARING FOR WINTER WEATHER

I don't know about you, but I prefer the warmer weather. Perhaps that's one reason I'm settled in the south. Lucky for me, we have more warm weather than cold and I'm certainly grateful for that! However, we all realize that Dallas can get PLENTY cold as you have likely experienced and will continue to experience (i.e. "arctic" weather is on the way and due to arrive THIS Sunday night...) Around here, the weather can do just about anything so if you're like me, you'll feel a happy sense of relief if you have thought ahead about cold weather preparedness.
Last winter, we had some neighbors whose heater broke during a cold snap...and it was several days before it was repaired. Can you say, "EXTRA BLANKETS, PLEASE!!!"

Let me share with you a few ideas for things to have on hand (and in surplus) if you're stuck "OUT in the cold" or "IN in the cold"! Obviously, you have to think of both and plan accordingly. If you have to leave the house quickly, you have to make sure you have quick access to your winter gear. You can pack what you can in your emergency kit and have other supplies handy as well.

First, look to your 72-hour kits. Do you have sufficient warm clothing? Long pants and long-sleeve clothing for you and your family? How about your minimum three-day water and food reserve? Okay, how about we make a little list...

A FEW WINTER WEATHER EMERGENCY SUPPLIES FOR YOU TO THINK ABOUT--

1. Minimum three-day WATER and FOOD supply in case you are unable to stir from home for a time.
2. Emergency blankets/wool-type blankets. Sleeping bags, too.
3. A full (or mostly full) tank of gasoline in your car. Blankets in your trunk? An emergency kit for your car.
4. Hand warmers
5. Matches (waterproof) and firestarters/lighters
5 Indoor-safe heaters using alternate power sources such as propane. "Canned" fuel for warming or cooking.
6. Emergency light sources--flashlights, lanterns, candles.

Take some time to gather some necessities and feel peacefully prepared!

As always, feel free to contact me if I can be of service to you or answer any questions you may have.

Kim Adair

Come 2011 and LOVE IT!

Happy New Year! I know we are a goal making and a goal keeping people all year round but I love events that bring emphasis to what I should be doing. The physical start of a new year always give me an extra push to see where I am in my obedience, commitments, and personal resolutions and what I can RESOLVE to do differently.
I am so grateful to be alive and well in Dallas AND able to greet this new year with all the energy of my soul.
I hope each of you are feeling the same way about your life.
We love you and cannot wait to find ways to love you even more!