Member Missionary Moment #2

This past week I was in charge of an Activity Day's mother-daughter dinner. I have had one non-member girl attending occasionally since she is friends with the girls Kitty's age, so we made sure to invite her (#7 under Church Meetings and Programs). Unfortunately she did not show up; in fact, half of the member girls did not show up. It was a big disappointment to me after spending so much time planning and preparing food. A number of them were legitimately sick, so there was not much I could have done. Still, I am glad to have made the missionary effort.

Scripture of the Day: Alma 56:47-48

Story Power

Here are some excerpts of a great article by Kristine Frederickson, who writes for Mormon Times. Since scripture stories are one of the best ways to hold effective family scripture study sessions with young children, her points seem very helpful. Originally published last January, you can click here to read the full article.

"One especially effective way to learn gospel principles is to study the stories we find in the scriptures. Storytelling always has been a productive and powerful way to disseminate moral and cultural values to a society. Scripture stories teach and reinforce theological truths. While doctrinal discourses and pithy maxims offer great insight into gospel doctrine, stories are particularly effective because:

"1. They are easily remembered.

"2. They offer doctrine in a palatable form.

"3. Their often compelling storylines induce readers or listeners to finish the narrative.

"4. As aspects of our lives relate to a story they establish for us an instinctive personal connection to the tale...

"Stories 'show not merely what people thought, but how they thought -- how they construed their world, invested it with meaning, and infused it with emotion. ... (how) ordinary people made sense of their world.'...

"A similar claim can be made about Bible stories. They are written to illuminate eternal Christian truths. They educate readers about right and wrong. Read prayerfully they will sharpen an individual's moral compass. A small sampling of Old Testament stories illustrates this verity...

"Scripture stories are powerful learning and teaching tools. They are deeply invested with meaning, elucidate doctrine and have wide application. They can be profitably read and taught over and over again. However, as valuable as they are, they are of little worth if they are not studied, taught and treasured. It is our implicit duty to know them, teach them and apply the principles in them in our lives."

Scripture of the Day: Luke 8:21

Three of My Kids' Favorite Meals

A friend recently asked me what my kids like to eat because she was tired of being stuck in a rut at her house. So I typed up these three meals my kids like. The first was one I picked up in England and is always a big winner with the kiddos. The second is pretty common, but my friend had never tried it.

1. Beans on Toast

1 slice of unbuttered toast per kid (unless they are age 7 or older, then they will likely need more)
1 cup of chopped ham
1 family size can of baked beans (like Bush’s)
1 cup of grated cheddar cheese

Heat up the beans with the ham mixed into it. Have each child tear up their toast into bite size pieces. Spoon about 1/2 cup of bean and ham mixture over the toast pieces. Top with a sprinkling of cheese. I usually serve this with sides of baby carrots and fresh fruit.

2. Haystacks

1 cup of rice (+2 cups of water)
2 cups of cooked chopped chicken or pork
1 can of cream of chicken soup
1 can of milk (use cream of chicken soup can)
1 medium carrot thinly sliced
1 stalk of celery thinly sliced
1/2 cup of onion finely diced (use food processor)
Other optional toppings: pineapple, green onion, and/or chopped nuts
1 cup of grated cheddar cheese
Chow mien noodles

Bring the water and rice to a boil. Cover and simmer on low for 20 minutes. In another pan place the meat, veggies, soup and milk. Bring to a boil and simmer while rice is cooking. To serve, place 1/3 cup or so of rice on plate and top with 1/3 cup of the soup mixture, a sprinkling of cheese and chow mien noodles. For extra picky eaters let the kids pick and choose what toppings they want to put on their rice.

3. Italian Dressing Chicken

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Italian salad dressing

Marinate the chicken in a little of the dressing for an hour in the refrigerator. Cook the chicken breasts on a grill (I use a George Foreman indoor one), adding 1 to 2 teaspoons of additional dressing to each piece of chicken while it cooks.

This is also good to make as shish kabobs. Let kids choose which veggies they want on their shish kabob along with the chicken. Add the additional Italian dressing to both the chicken and the veggies while grilling. Serve over rice.

Scripture of the Day: Proverbs 1:8

Little Known Fact

Most people don't know that back in 1912, Hellmann's mayonnaise was manufactured in England. In fact, the Titanic was carrying 12,000 jars of the condiment scheduled for delivery in Vera Cruz, Mexico, which was to be the next port of call for the great ship after its stop in New York.

This would have been the largest single shipment of mayonnaise ever delivered to Mexico.

But as we know, the great ship did not make it to New York. The ship hit an iceberg and sank, and the cargo was forever lost.

The people of Mexico, who were crazy about mayonnaise, and were eagerly awaiting its delivery, were disconsolate at the loss. Their anguish was so great, that they declared a National Day of Mourning, which they still observe to this day.

The National Day of Mourning occurs each year on May 5th and is known, of course, as Sinko de Mayo.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

(Story sent to me from my brother via e-mail--thanks, Jeff!)

Scripture of the Day: Isaiah 49:1

Haste Makes Waste

I have been in need of updating my scanning software and getting a new printer scanner for some time. I have been spending a lot of time on art work for a new book lately, but the whole process of scanning my completed work is driving me nuts.

Well, over the weekend I found Adobe Elements 7 for sale on Craigslist. I made arrangements to purchase it and ran right over (if a 45 minute drive one-way qualifies as ran over) and brought it home, happy to know I was getting a good deal and taking care of this annoying issue.

And then I looked at the manual. And learned I had accidentally bought Adobe Premiere Elements 7, not Adobe Photoshop Elements. I had not even known there were different types of Adobe Elements programs (Which, if you ask me, is totally a dumb way for the Adobe people to be naming their products--talk about confusing!). So, now I am still in need of updating my scanning software and getting a new printer scanner, but am also out $25 dollars.

Anyone want to buy some software?

Scripture of the Day: 1 Nephi 5:1

Member Missionary Moment #1

Okay, I have decided to replace my Year of Miracles weekly post with this new series: Member Missionary Moments. I am going to exercise my faith, despite that whole Abinadi blessing thing (BTW, no offense to Heather Moore :-). Each week I will accomplish one of the items on a list I was given in a 3 week member missionary Sunday School class the adults in our stake are each going through. The list actually has 101 ways to do member missionary work.

This week I contributed to the Book of Mormon fund when I paid fast offerings (#13 on the list). I think most members would like to just pay money rather than actually have to do member missionary work. But after doing a little research online, I don't feel so terribly lame for choosing this one first. Here is what the fund is about:

"The Book of Mormon fund is used to purchase copies of the Book of Mormon for missionary use. Currently, the Book of Mormon is printed in 104 different languages. Originally printed in 1830, there are over 120 million copies of the book presently in print (News from the Church, Feb 05). Missionaries carry copies of the Book of Mormon to give to prospective members of the church. Copies of the Book of Mormon are distributed worldwide at no charge. For this reason, donations are needed purchase copies." (see here for source)

and...

"Funds contributed to the Book of Mormon category are used to publish copies of the Book of Mormon for use by missionaries worldwide in their proselyting efforts. Wards and stakes that desire to have a local Book of Mormon activity should not collect member contributions for it, but should use budget funds (not Ward Missionary funds) to purchase the books. Also, copies of the Book of Mormon should not be given directly to full-time missionaries; missionaries are to obtain copies of the Book of Mormon exclusively from their mission office. There is no authorization for a local Book of Mormon fund." (see here for source)

I also read that in 1993 the Book of Mormon fund was falling short; the missionaries were giving out more copies of the Book of Mormon than the fund had money to provide. This makes me feel good as I was a missionary for part of that year!

Scripture of the Day: Luke 2:19

New Month, New Theme

Yay for May! And time for a new theme. This month all the Scriptures of the Day will be about Moms. And for our family scripture study we will be reading the scriptures on the backs of pictures of roses, which the kids will add to a poster with an empty vase on it. Kind of a nod to Mother's Day (not to mention Heidi Ashworth :-).

If you would like to join along, here is the picture of the rose I am using. If you need to know some of the scriptures ahead of time, all 10 of these will be included. Actually, this is one of the ideas that will be included in my new book (just a little teaser for you)! Scripture of the Day: Gen. 17:16