Our church leaders have challenged each one of us to create a profile on the mormon.org website. This is so that the missionaries can help investigators relate better to other members of the church and to see that we are just like them. I took up the challenge and created my profile. At first I wasn't sure what I would say but they gave us a few tips to help us out and I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to write as much as I did.
If you would like read my profile go HERE.
This is a really neat website will all kinds of inspiring stories from other church members.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Food Storage 2
Here is the 2nd installment of my food storage series.
Today's focus will be on supplemental items that don't come from the grocery store, such as home canning, dehydration and freeze drying. I will start out with canning since it is the most commonly used form of home food storage.
Canning
This is a fun hobby to develop to be able to add fresh produce and meats from your own garden, or a nearby farmer's market. Our family has started a garden and it has been a lot of fun watching it grow. Last summer we canned a lot of fresh veggies that helped us get started on our storage. This year our garden is much bigger, thanks to my father-in-law, he kinda went a little crazy this year with the sqaush and tomatoes. hahaha We will not want for pickled sqaush, which by the way it really GOOD!! We are also going to start canning meats, now that we have invested in a pressure canner, we are very excited about it.
If you don't know where to start on canning here are few sites that I have found that can be of some use to you.
Ball
How to Can Fruits and Veggies
National Center for Home Food Preservation
You can also visit your local bookstore and pick up a couple books, perferrably ones with recipes, to help you out. Or if you have friends and neighbors that can ask to help them out to learn some of their tricks.
Today's focus will be on supplemental items that don't come from the grocery store, such as home canning, dehydration and freeze drying. I will start out with canning since it is the most commonly used form of home food storage.
Canning
This is a fun hobby to develop to be able to add fresh produce and meats from your own garden, or a nearby farmer's market. Our family has started a garden and it has been a lot of fun watching it grow. Last summer we canned a lot of fresh veggies that helped us get started on our storage. This year our garden is much bigger, thanks to my father-in-law, he kinda went a little crazy this year with the sqaush and tomatoes. hahaha We will not want for pickled sqaush, which by the way it really GOOD!! We are also going to start canning meats, now that we have invested in a pressure canner, we are very excited about it.
If you don't know where to start on canning here are few sites that I have found that can be of some use to you.
Ball
How to Can Fruits and Veggies
National Center for Home Food Preservation
You can also visit your local bookstore and pick up a couple books, perferrably ones with recipes, to help you out. Or if you have friends and neighbors that can ask to help them out to learn some of their tricks.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Food Storage 1
A couple months ago I did a food storage series on my craft blog and thought that I should post it here as well, just in case one actually reads this blog. So here is the first part of the series.
I've chosen this topic b/c with our recent experience in a loss of income it has been on our minds, mine and my husband's, and we don't want to be stuck in that situation again. I am not an expert but wanted to share my research and ideas with you, so here goes.
Space
Finding space to start your food storage is part of the fun and can also be a challenge. For me, I have plenty of room, for one I have closet pantry in my kitchen and walk-in pantry in my laundry room off the kitchen, jealous? Anyways, if you don't have 2 pantries, you can use your basement if you have one, corners of closets in your house, under the bed or find cute furniture that can act like a closet to hide your stock pile. Use what space you have to suit your needs, who said that storing food couldn't be stylish. ;)
Planning
Rome wasn't built in a day and neither should your food storage/ stock pile. Take the time to carefully plan out what you need as far as what your family likes, meals you enjoy and even what kinds of products you use for hygiene purposes. Your storage shouldn't just be about food, but personal hygieng products as well. Look for sales and opportunities to stock up on the essentials. Get the family involved to give some input as to what you would like to accumulate. For example, in my house beans, rice, tortillas and cheese are a MUST. We LOVE Mexican food and I always have these on hand to make burritos with. An easy way to help get started is to create a menu of the meals your family likes and go from there. Something to stock up on are pastas and sauce for a quick pasta meal. Have fun with it!
I've chosen this topic b/c with our recent experience in a loss of income it has been on our minds, mine and my husband's, and we don't want to be stuck in that situation again. I am not an expert but wanted to share my research and ideas with you, so here goes.
Space
Finding space to start your food storage is part of the fun and can also be a challenge. For me, I have plenty of room, for one I have closet pantry in my kitchen and walk-in pantry in my laundry room off the kitchen, jealous? Anyways, if you don't have 2 pantries, you can use your basement if you have one, corners of closets in your house, under the bed or find cute furniture that can act like a closet to hide your stock pile. Use what space you have to suit your needs, who said that storing food couldn't be stylish. ;)
Planning
Rome wasn't built in a day and neither should your food storage/ stock pile. Take the time to carefully plan out what you need as far as what your family likes, meals you enjoy and even what kinds of products you use for hygiene purposes. Your storage shouldn't just be about food, but personal hygieng products as well. Look for sales and opportunities to stock up on the essentials. Get the family involved to give some input as to what you would like to accumulate. For example, in my house beans, rice, tortillas and cheese are a MUST. We LOVE Mexican food and I always have these on hand to make burritos with. An easy way to help get started is to create a menu of the meals your family likes and go from there. Something to stock up on are pastas and sauce for a quick pasta meal. Have fun with it!
My Large pantry, in the laundry room. Isn't is pretty? :) I still have a ways to go.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
4th of July
The Fourth of July is our Independence Day. All those years ago our Nation fought to be freed of England and it's tiresome laws. The men that fought for our freedom we courageous and had such a belief that what they were doing was for the best thing for them and their families.
I just wanted to share my testimony that the leaders of that time, such as General George Washington, were foreordained to help bring this nation to freedom. They were inspired and God fearing men that they would do anything to have the freedoms and liberties that we are privledged to know today. I don't take for granted that I live in free country, I try to excirse my rights as much as I can.
Because of those brave men the Lord was able to lay the foundation for his church to be brought back upon the earth. Although it may be several more years before that would happen those men gave thanks to the Lord for his hand in their success.
Today I am thankful for those men that they listened to the Lord's promptings to fight for freedom and succeeded.
I just wanted to share my testimony that the leaders of that time, such as General George Washington, were foreordained to help bring this nation to freedom. They were inspired and God fearing men that they would do anything to have the freedoms and liberties that we are privledged to know today. I don't take for granted that I live in free country, I try to excirse my rights as much as I can.
Because of those brave men the Lord was able to lay the foundation for his church to be brought back upon the earth. Although it may be several more years before that would happen those men gave thanks to the Lord for his hand in their success.
Today I am thankful for those men that they listened to the Lord's promptings to fight for freedom and succeeded.
General George Washington praying at Valley Forge
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Easter
With the hype of the Easter Bunny, candy and treats, I think that we tend to forget the real meaning. Easter is, I think the most important Christian holiday next to Christmas. It is the day at we celebrate the ressurection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is the day that He overcam death in order to complete our Heavenly Father's plan.
President Ezra Taft Benson said, "The literal resurrection of every soul who has lived and died on earth is a certainty, and surely one should make careful preparation for this event. A glorious resurrection should be the goal of every man and woman, for resurrection will be a reality."
The scriptures talk about ressurection and why Christ had to go through all the pain and suffering of the world. In 1 Corth. 15:22 it states, “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
Christ has made it possible through his atonement in the Garden of Gethsamane that we can repent of our sins so that we can live with him and our Father in Heaven. What a beautiful, glorious day that will be when we can be reunite with those who have passed on before us and to see our Father.
One of my favorite Easter hymns is He is Risen! (hymn # 199)
President Ezra Taft Benson said, "The literal resurrection of every soul who has lived and died on earth is a certainty, and surely one should make careful preparation for this event. A glorious resurrection should be the goal of every man and woman, for resurrection will be a reality."
The scriptures talk about ressurection and why Christ had to go through all the pain and suffering of the world. In 1 Corth. 15:22 it states, “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
Christ has made it possible through his atonement in the Garden of Gethsamane that we can repent of our sins so that we can live with him and our Father in Heaven. What a beautiful, glorious day that will be when we can be reunite with those who have passed on before us and to see our Father.
One of my favorite Easter hymns is He is Risen! (hymn # 199)
He is risen, He is risen! Tell it out with joyful voice.
He has burst his three days' prison;
Let the whole wide earth rejoice.
Death is conquered, man is free.
Christ has won the victory.
Come with high and holy hyming, chant our Lord's triumphant lay.
Not one darksome cloud is dimming,
Yonder glorious morning ray,
Breaking o'er the purple east,
Symbol of our Easter feast.
He is risen! He is risen! He hath opened heaven's gate.
We are free from sin's dark prison,
Risen to a holier state.
And a brigher Easter beam
On our longing eyes shall stream.
Click here to watch a short Easter video.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
The Articles of Faith
For Family Night last night I gave the lesson on The Articles of Faith. Now that my son is almost 7 we thought that it was time to start memorizing The Articles of Faith. I gave a brief history on how they came to be and was surprised that I didn't know it. I love Church history and somehow this one fell through the cracks of my readings. Well anyway there is no real lesson on the Church website so I adapted a Primary Sharing Time lesson which included a picture to color. Score! It was short lesson, and it was interactive which was perfect b/c my son's attention span is like 5 mins tops for things like this. I wanted to share with you the short little history that I found in case you are wondering about it.
- Where did the Articles of Faith come from?
In March 1842 the Prophet Joseph Smith received a letter from Mr. Wentworth, a newspaper publisher in Chicago, Illinois, asking questions about the Church. As Joseph answered the letter, he was inspired to write thirteen statements that contain many of the beliefs of the Church. These statements became our Articles of Faith.
Later, in 1880, members at the October general conference of the Church voted to accept the Articles of Faith as scripture.
* reference to Sharing Time: The Articles of Faith
As a family we are now committed to memorizing an article of faith each month starting with the first one.
- Where did the Articles of Faith come from?
In March 1842 the Prophet Joseph Smith received a letter from Mr. Wentworth, a newspaper publisher in Chicago, Illinois, asking questions about the Church. As Joseph answered the letter, he was inspired to write thirteen statements that contain many of the beliefs of the Church. These statements became our Articles of Faith.
Later, in 1880, members at the October general conference of the Church voted to accept the Articles of Faith as scripture.
* reference to Sharing Time: The Articles of Faith
As a family we are now committed to memorizing an article of faith each month starting with the first one.
We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in his son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
I even created word docs with a fun border with an article of faith inside, 13 total. I printed the first one on white cardstock and "laminated" it with contact paper and hung it on the fridge.
Here is a free printable for you to download and print.
Article_of_Faith_1
*disclaimer: when I loaded it onto Scribd the font changed. If you would like a pdf file with prettier font please email me at thepinksenorita@hotmail.com.*
*disclaimer: when I loaded it onto Scribd the font changed. If you would like a pdf file with prettier font please email me at thepinksenorita@hotmail.com.*
Monday, February 28, 2011
Love
In my search for some quotes that I can convert in Vinyl signs for my home I came across this fantastic article by Clark Swain called The Meaning of Love (read it here). It has such an insight to real Love and how we can show love to others and to ourselves. I pasted one of the many things that he said that stood out to me below.
"If a person is mature in his ways of loving, then for him love is not blind. Mature love sees more, not less; but because it sees more, it is willing to see less."
"If a person is mature in his ways of loving, then for him love is not blind. Mature love sees more, not less; but because it sees more, it is willing to see less."
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
FS Moment - Resurrection
I had an FS moment last week with my neighbor's dad about the religion and death came up. Our conversation went something like this.
Neighbor's Dad, John: "You know my sister got mad at me awhile back when I mentioned that I want to be cremated. See, she believes in life after death."
Me: "So do I."
John: "Really?"
Me: "I sure do. You read the bible right?"
John: "Yes."
Me: "Well it talks about the resurrection."
John: "Ya, but it's only the spirit."
Me: "No, see the resurrection is when the body and the spirit reunite. How can your spirit reunite with your body if there is none?"
John: "But your body is gone."
Me: "Not entirely. Your body will become whole again so that the spirit can come back to it."
John: "Really? I didn't know that. That's really neat to think of it that way."
I'm so grateful for my knowledge of the gospel and the resurrection that it gives me comfort to know that I can someday partake of that opportunity when the time comes.
Neighbor's Dad, John: "You know my sister got mad at me awhile back when I mentioned that I want to be cremated. See, she believes in life after death."
Me: "So do I."
John: "Really?"
Me: "I sure do. You read the bible right?"
John: "Yes."
Me: "Well it talks about the resurrection."
John: "Ya, but it's only the spirit."
Me: "No, see the resurrection is when the body and the spirit reunite. How can your spirit reunite with your body if there is none?"
John: "But your body is gone."
Me: "Not entirely. Your body will become whole again so that the spirit can come back to it."
John: "Really? I didn't know that. That's really neat to think of it that way."
I'm so grateful for my knowledge of the gospel and the resurrection that it gives me comfort to know that I can someday partake of that opportunity when the time comes.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
The Restoration
I wanted to share this while it was still pretty fresh in my mind. Last night for family home evening we watched the The Restoration video as a continuation of last weeks lesson. This time 2 of my nephews joined us and it was a really nice evening. Throughout the video we would pause to discuss the scene we had just seen and it was neat to hear my older nephew's response to what he just saw. I can see his testimony budding and it warms my heart. It also helps that my husband was his primary teacher last year and they connect with each well as teacher and student. :)
I LOVE the story of the restoration and of Joseph Smith. I'm always in awe at the fact that a teenage boy of 14 sought out the Lord to see which church to join and had a miraculous experience for doing so.
I LOVE the story of the restoration and of Joseph Smith. I'm always in awe at the fact that a teenage boy of 14 sought out the Lord to see which church to join and had a miraculous experience for doing so.
I wanted to post the video but it doesn't look like I can so go here to watch the video and read more about the restoration and Joseph Smith.
There is a hymn that beautifully describes Joseph's experience that I wanted to share, and it is also one of my favorite hymns.
Joseph Smith's First Prayer
Oh, how lovely was the morning!
Radiant beamed the sun above.
Bees were humming, sweet birds singing,
Music ringing thru the grove,
When within the shady woodland
Joseph sought the God of love. …
Humbly kneeling, sweet appealing—
’Twas the boy’s first uttered prayer—
When the pow’rs of sin assailing
Filled his soul with deep despair;
But undaunted still he trusted
In his Heav’nly Father’s care. …
’Twas the boy’s first uttered prayer—
When the pow’rs of sin assailing
Filled his soul with deep despair;
But undaunted still he trusted
In his Heav’nly Father’s care. …
Suddenly a light descended,
Brighter far than noonday sun,
And a shining glorious pillar
O’er him fell, around him shone,
While appeared two heav’nly beings,
God the Father and the Son. …
Brighter far than noonday sun,
And a shining glorious pillar
O’er him fell, around him shone,
While appeared two heav’nly beings,
God the Father and the Son. …
“Joseph, this is my Beloved;
Hear him!” Oh, how sweet the word!
Joseph’s humble prayer was answered,
And he listened to the Lord.
Oh, what rapture filled his bosom,
For he saw the living God.
Hear him!” Oh, how sweet the word!
Joseph’s humble prayer was answered,
And he listened to the Lord.
Oh, what rapture filled his bosom,
For he saw the living God.
~ Hymn #26
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
F.S.
I seem to have neglected this blog, life gets busy and we forget. The title of this post is F.S. What is F.S. you ask? Well I will share that with you.
Our dear stake Primary Presidency has challanged us be open to Feeling the Spirit, aka F.S., more in our daily lives. In order to do so they made each and everyone us teachers a little notebook to record a feeling that we had in which we recogonized the spirit. I thought that I would take it one step further and also record a few of them on this blog to share. Obviously the more personal ones I won't, but if it is general thought or feeling then I will share it because who knows someone may need to read it.
Our dear stake Primary Presidency has challanged us be open to Feeling the Spirit, aka F.S., more in our daily lives. In order to do so they made each and everyone us teachers a little notebook to record a feeling that we had in which we recogonized the spirit. I thought that I would take it one step further and also record a few of them on this blog to share. Obviously the more personal ones I won't, but if it is general thought or feeling then I will share it because who knows someone may need to read it.
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