Announcements and FYIs

Need help with your taxes?  You know... April 15th will be here sooner than you think.  Then try out The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Service.  You can have your taxes prepared and filed FOR FREE!  Yes, Free!

Why Use VITA?
       1. They can help you get a FULL refund
       2. E-file to get your refund faster
       3. Fast, Free & Confidential
       4. Their IRS-trained volunteers can help you find special tax credit.  You may be eligible for up to $5751 in Earned Income Tax Credit

Where To Go:
       Dial 211 or visit theBESTproject.org to find a VITA site near you.  Sites open January 21 to April 17, 2012

What to Bring:
       1. Photo ID
       2. Social Security Number (for you, spouse, and dependents)
       3. Birth Dates (for you, spouse, and dependents)
       4. Wage and Earning Forms ( all W-2, W-2G, 1099-R Forms)
       5. Interest and Dividend Forms (Form 1099)
       6. Bank routing and account Numbers (For direct deposit of refund; voided check or bank statement will suffice)
       7. Total Paid for Day Care ( provider's name and tax ID, if applicable)
       8. Spouse (if married and filing a joint tax return, your spouse must be present)

VITA is possible by their partners The United Way of The Big Bend, 211 Big Bend, e-file, and AARP
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YARD SALE AT THE STUCKEY'S HOME!!!

Saturday, February 11, 2012 

8a.m. to 4p.m.

576 Scawthorn Rd
Tallahassee, Florida 32303

There will be lots of good things so go and check it out!

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Listed below are the wheat recipes that were provided at the last Relief Society Activity (the quilting one)

Wheatberry Summer Salad

Salad Ingredients:                                             Dressing:

1 Cup dry wheat berries                                    2 tbsp Olive Oil

2 Cups (or one can) kidney beans                     2 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar

1 Cucumber, diced                                            1 tsp Mustard

1 Green pepper, diced                                       1 tbsp Soy Sauce

1 Large tomato, diced                                        2 tbsp Lemon Juice

2 Garlic cloves, minced

1 Onion, diced

Salt & Pepper, to taste

Directions:

In a medium bowl, soak the wheat berries overnight in cold water.  The next day, drain the wheat berries and place in a medium sized pot, covered in 3 inches of water.  Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to medium and simmer for 1 hour.  Drain and cool.

In a large bowl, mix together the diced vegetables, beans, and wheat berries.  Add in cooked and drained kidney beans (or other bean of choice) and stir.  When the wheat berries are ready, drain and rinse and then stir into the salad.

In a small bowl whisk together the dressing ingredients.  Add the dressing just before serving and stir well.  Season with salt and black pepper to taste

Yieldds: 7.5-8 cups. 

Wheat Chili

1 Cup of Wheat

1 lb. of Chicken

Onions

5 tbsp Flour

Garlic

5 Cups beef Stock

1 tbsp of Chili Powder

1 tsp of Salt

1/2 tsp of Oregano

1 Cup tomato Sauce

1 tbsp Cayenne pepper- optional

Directions:

Brown chicken, onions, and garlic.  Add flour and beef stock.  Then add the additional ingredients and let simmer for 1 to 2 hours and stirring occasionally until wheat goes to bottom.  Season to taste.

Easy Wheat Bread, Rolls, or Scones 

(Makes one loaf of Bread)

1 cup Warm Water

1/4 Cup Olive Oil

1 heaping tsp of Yeast

1/8 Cup of honey

1 tsp. Salt

2 to 2 1/4 cups of Wheat Flour

Directions:

Mix a little at a time stirring enough to make dough.  Leave dough sticky (like cookie dough).  Let rise 30 minutes to 1 hour.  Then put olive oil in your hands to make rolls, bread, or scones.  

*** This is Kendal.... when I have used this recipe, before I let the dough rise I would separate it into rolls or put the dough into a loaf pan to rise and it worked out wonderfully.***

Bake 30 minutes for bread at 350 degrees

Bake 10 minutes for rolls at 400 degrees

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Upcoming Events:

February 10th- Young Married's Institute Class: Located at the Institute and starts with dinner at 6:30p.m. and lesson following at 7.  It's going to be taught by Bishop and Sister Knudsen. 

February 18th - Stake Youth Service Day

February 19th - 1st Ward Conference.  Relief Society and Priesthood will be combined this day

Single Adult Potlock @5:30p.m.

February 22nd - Quarterly Activity: Craft Night

Learning how to make diaper cakes. Then we're going to donate the cakes to The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tallahassee.  RS will provide the diapers but look in the folders for sign ups for additional items to be put on the cakes.  Also, you're more then welcome to bring your own craft you have been working on.  It's at 7:00p.m. at Kendal Hargrett's home.

February 24th - Young Married's Institute Class

February 28th - Temple Trip: Contact Brother Roy Russell for details 

March 1st - Book Club Meeting at Leslie Russell's Home

March 17th - Relief Society Quarterly Meeting: Relief Society Birthday!! More details to come =)

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Service Group Announcement:

Unfortunately, the Shelter is booked for February 28th.  Sad Day... I was informed that the group that is serving that night have been going to the fourth Tuesday since 1992! Crazy awesome huh?  Right, now I'm still in contact with them and asked what's a good day in March.  So I'm sorry we're going to have to push it back to March, BUT if it's okay with those interested in the group I want to try and do the serving at the Shelter and also a really cool program through the Ronald McDonald House.  The program is called "Take them a Meal" it's where you can prepare a meal for 12-20 people who are staying at the RM House.  We prepare the meal and then drop it off to them at by 6:30p.m.  

I'm sorry again about The Shelter, I'll let you know when we will be able to serve them.  Also, please e-mail me with any ideas you have.  Thanks!

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Service Opportunity

We have a Sister named Gladis Ferral who lives at an assisted living facility.  Her son is in the Thomasville Branch who contact Sister Delp and asked if some sisters from our ward would be willing to just visit her every once in awhile.  Brother Ferral is experiencing some health problems himself and so he can't visit her very often.  Sister Delp visited her last Sunday and said she is a very nice woman who is very open and loves visitors.  Soooo.... Sister Delp has asked me (Kendal) to make up a sigh up sheet to pass around in RS of sisters who would be willing to just go and see her and check in.  We only need someone to go see her probably every other week.  Any volunteers would be great.  A sign up will be going around starting Sunday, February 12th.  I know Sister Ferral would love the visitors and Brother Ferral won't be as worried.  Thank you sisters!!

RS Lesson from Sunday

For this blog post I'm not going to write as much about the talks we discussed in Relief Society because you really just need to check them out yourself.  The words of these two men are powerful and have much truth.

Sister Hollett began her lesson with "You Matter to Him" by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf.  When Moses was a Prophet upon the earth he was raised by Pharaoh's daughter and so he was able to experience the life as a royal.  Years later while he was away from the grand living in Egypt he was upon a distant mountain and was in the presence of the Lord and saw Him face to face.  After much visitation from the Lord, Moses was fatigued and started to realize that "that is nothing."(Moses 1:10).

We are less then we suppose and it is said that "astronomers have attempted to count the number of starts in the universe.  One group of scientists estimates that the number of starts within range of our telescopes is 10 times greater than all the grains of sand on the world's beaches and deserts."  So, when compared to God we are less then we suppose, however, to our Heavenly Father we are greater than we suppose.  "For the worth of souls is great in the sight of God." (Doc. and Cov. 18:10)

With this knowledge of our worth in the sight of the Lord, Satan will try to deceive us in many ways.  Two of the ways are through pride and discouragement.  With pride he will try to puff us up and make us think that we are able to do all on our own with out the help of the Lord.  However, we know that, we are nothing compared to God and we need His help way more then we even know.  Sometimes Satan will place discouragement in our path.  "He attempts to focus our sight on our own insignificance until we begin to doubt that we have much worth.  He tells us that we are too small for anyone to take notice, that we are forgotten-especially by God."  This happens to all of us from time to time but sisters I know that we truly matter to our Father in Heaven!

Here are four principles President Uchtdorf gives us to remember and ponder:
1. God loves the humble and meek
2. The Lord entrusts "the fulness of [His] gospel [to] be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world."
3. You are not invisible to your Heavenly Father
4. Understand that what you see and experience now is not what forever will be.

"We have the faithful promise of God that He will neither forget nor forsake those who incline their hearts to him.  God sees you not as a mortal being on a small planet who lives for a brief season-He sees you as His child.  He sees you as the being you are capable and designed to become. He wants you to know that you matter to Him."

Because we matter so much to our Father in Heaven we know that we are blessed with the Savior and His redeeming sacrifice he has made on our behalf.  Elder Curtis explains how throughout the scriptures the Lord continually reminds us about the people of Israel being redeemed from bondage.  "Often this is done to remind the people of the Lord's goodness in delivering the children of Israel from the Egyptians. But it is also done to teach them that there would be another, more important, redemption for Israel.  Lehi taught, 'And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall.' (2 Nephi 2:26)"

Through this redemption we are redeemed both from physical death, meaning the temporal death in which we will all overcome and be resurrected.  We will also be redeemed over spiritual death.  "Through His suffering and death, Christ paid for the sins of all mankind on condition of individual repentance."  If we make sure that we repent we will be forgiven for our sins because the price has been paid by our Redeemer.  We all are in need of this redemption and can all take part in it.  "This loving redemption allows the laws of justice and mercy to be satisfied in the lives of all who repent and follow Christ."  Elder Curtis quotes President Boyd K. Packer, "There is a Redeemer, a Mediator, who stands both willing and able to appease the demands of justice and extend mercy to those who are penitent."

"Although we can never repay the Redeemer what He paid on our behalf, the plan of redemption calls for our best efforts to fully repent and do the will of God."  May we all remember that we are of much worth to our Father in Heaven and because of that worth we are blessed with the plan of happiness and the redeeming sacrifice that was made by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Links to talks:
"You Matter to Him" http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/you-matter-to-him?lang=eng&query=matter+him
"Redemption" http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/redemption?lang=eng&query=redemption+legrand

**Stake Conference in next Sunday starting at 10:00a.m. at the church** Our next lesson will be out of The Daughters in My Kingdom book and it is on Chapter 7: "Pure Religion": Watchcare and Ministering through Visiting Teaching.

FYIs

Free adult walker - call Kathy Lopez at 766-2843

Pianos for sale: 2 uprights, asking $200 each, but make an offer. You can call Allen Smith at 575-4720. (Not a member of the church, but is a good friend of Brother Steve Williams.)

Free convection oven. Bought new, only used a few times. Call Marium Whisnant at 575-6880.

Also, Lois Davis is requesting help with a cabinet project she is doing. She estimates the project will take about 10 hours. She needs help with cleaning the dust from the sanding and taking out the stuff in the cabinets. She will be out of town this weekend, but sisters can call her on cell phone at 345-8510. She is hoping to get some help starting Monday.

Relief Society-Teaching for our Times Lessons tomorrow: "You Matter to Him" by President Uctdorf and "Redemption" by LeGrand R. Curtis, Jr. 

"Love thy Neighbour as thyself"

Our lesson in Relief Society was from "The Teachings of George Albert Smith" chapter 2 titled "Love thy Neighbour as thyself."  Normally we would have had Sister Daphne Rynolds teach us but she was very sick and so we were blessed to have Sister Sara Brown step in and teach us.  We all hope and pray a speedy recovery to Daphne!!

Sooo... Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself.  We have all heard this scripture before many times.  We have all sung "As I have Loved You" (hymn 308).  But are each of us truly taking this commandment to heart?  Are we making sure to love others even when we have been harmed or offended by them?  Are we seeking and praying for opportunities to help those we come in contact with that may need our help?

On page 13, a story was presented from President Smith's life: "On a cold winter morning, the street cleaning crew [in Salt Lake City] was removing large chunks of ice from the street gutters.  The regular crew was assisted by temporary laborers who desperately needed the work.  One such wore only a lightweight sweater and was suffering from the cold.  A slender man with a well-groomed beard stopped by the crew and asked the worker, 'You need more than that sweater on a morning like this.  Where is your coat?' The man replied that he had no coat to wear.  The visitor then removed his own overcoat, handed it to the man and said, 'This coat is yours.  It is heavy wool and will keep you warm.  I just work across the street.' The street was South Temple.  The good Samaritan who walked into the Church Administration Building to his daily work and without his coat was President George Albert Smith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  His selfless act of generosity revealed his tender heart. Surely he was his brother's keeper."

What a wonderful story and example we have of one of our former Prophets of God.  President Smith is someone who was always willing to serve and to love others.  Some people may see him as someone of higher status (in terms of the church) and believe that he does not have to provide such a high and noble service but President Smith knows and understands our Heavenly Father's commandments and follows them no matter what.

Sister Brown told us a story about her father who lives and works at a community college in Kansas City.   A girl who attends the school is on a minimum scholarship for athletics.  She is all the way from Turkey and knowing that she does not have the scholarship money to pay for everything including daily food needs and rent, she has been struggling.  A co-worker of Brother Black (Sara's father) knew him to be a man of service and asked him if there was anything he could do to help her.  Brother Black decided to ask fellow ward members to help him out by helping this girl.  People from the ward opened their hearts and wallets to help this girl with the basic things that she was truly in need of.  Some suggested to Brother Black to contact the local Muslim community to help out as well.  Seeing as she is from Turkey the girl is Muslim.  Together with those of the Muslim faith the ward members were about to help this girl and bless her to be able to make it through college.  I really enjoyed this story because we know that a group in our American Society who seems to always be in persecution (Muslims) don't always get the respect and help they need.  But Brother Black and those in his ward family opened their hearts and truly loved their neighbors and were willing to serve even though they didn't even know this girl.

"Brethren and sisters, if the gospel of Jesus Christ, as delivered to you, has not planted that feeling of love in your hearts for your fellow man, then I want to say that you have not enjoyed the full fruition of that wonderful girl that came to earth when this Church was organized (pg. 14)."  We do have a wonderful gift of the restoration of the fullness of Christ's Church.  We also have the gift of the Atonement that our Savior Jesus Christ has given us.  Isn't it our duty as members and followers of Christ to then serve others and to keep the commandments?  The best way to show our love and service to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ is through loving and serving our fellow neighbors.

Sister Brown as the class, "What are some examples in the scriptures of those who gave service?"
Melissa Brock said King Benjamin.  We know that King Benjamin (beginning of the book of Mosiah) was someone who obviously was of his status as a king but he did not let that dictate his whole being.  He freely served his people and went out and worked the land even.  Amy Lehto said Nephi.  We know from our Sunday School Lesson last week from Sister Porter that Nephi always showed love and service toward his family even toward his two older brothers Lamen and Lemual who continued to hurt and put him down.  Nephi continued to forgive them.  Gail Roberts suggested Ruth and Abish.  Sister Huran (one of our sister missionaries) said the Anti Lehi-Nephis.  She said that she had much respect for a group of people who didn't do anything.  By this she means that they had made a covenant to not take up arms and fight but they expressed the love they had for those whole continually served them to protect them.

The Lord says this: "See that ye love one another; cease to be covetous; lear to impart one to another as the gospel requires... And above all things, clothe yourself with the bond of charity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and peace." [Doctrine and Covenants 88:123,125]

"...Are you following his advice with reference to charity?  I want to say that at this particular period of our lives we need to exercise charity, not only in imparting of our substance to those who are in need, but we need to have charity for the weaknesses and failures and mistakes of our Father's Children (pg. 16)."

How can we show charity?  Sister Tricia Atchley suggested that we should not be so critical of others.  We don't know people's situations and what they are going through so we much not be quick to judge.  Myself suggested that we freely forgive.  When others have wronged us or have offended us we must be quick to forgive and show our love to them even if we may have been hurt in the process.  The Lord forgives us CONSTANTLY!!  Shouldn't we as His children we quick to forgive our brothers and sisters?  Yes, we are commanded to do so and that is showing true Charity.  Sister Kay Lippen explained that we need to realize that we make the same mistakes.  Take for instance the times when you are driving and someone cuts you off, or doesn't put on their directional and you have to stop short.  I know for me I get upset and angry but I know that I have done those things and have make those mistakes too.

"Do not forget no matter how much you may give in money, no matter how you may desire the things of this world to make yourselves happy, your happiness will be in proportion to your charity and to your kindness and to your love for those with whom you associate there on earth.  Our Heavenly Father has said in very plain terms that he who says he loves God and does not love his brother is not truthful (pg. 17).  Amy Lehto commented that sometimes people are quick to just write and check and count it as charity.  As this is true, the true charitable at heart would sacrifice their time and effort to help those in need and service to others.

Sisters, I pray that we can all love our neighbors.  Not just those in our ward but those outside of the circle of church members.  May we look for opportunities to help those in need and to sacrifice our time and talents.  If we do so I know the Lord will not only bless those we are helping but He will bless you as well.

**Next Week's Lesson:  Going to be taught by Sister Kathy Hollett.  The talks from October 2011 conference we will be learning are "You Matter to Him" by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf and "Redemption" by LeGrand R. Curtis, Jr. of the Seventy.

Service Group!

I'm not sure if you all saw the little flyer in the folders today but myself (Kendal) and a few other sisters are wishing to start a Relief Society outside group that will be dedicated to providing service to those in our community.  Hence, Service Group.

We will be having our first meeting on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 7:15p.m.  (I know it's an odd time but I have to pick up my husband at 6:30p.m. from work at sometimes he's a little late getting out so 7:15p.m. should be good.)

At this first meeting we will be discussing what are goals will be be and what service we can provide to the community.  ALL ARE WELCOME!!

A few Announcements

January 18th: Back to Basics Quilting Quarterly Activity at 7p.m. at Amy Lehto's home.  Please bring any fabric scraps you may have.  There will be some recipes there and food tasting of things you can make from the wheat in your food storage.

January 19th: Book Club Meeting at 8p.m. at Margaret Keisling's home.  If we wish to bring a refreshment that would be much appreciated.

January 21st: 1st Ward Relief Society Temple Trip.  Please contact Sister Gail Schrader if you are interested in attending.

Chapter 1: Living What We Believe

Our lesson on Sunday, January 8th was from "The Teachings of George Albert Smith" chapter 1.  Sister Elizabeth Roberts did a wonderful job teaching from this chapter and helping us as sisters focus back on our duty as members of this church.

President Smith at the age of 34 made a "personal creed" that included 11 ideals that he was committed to live by.  He committed to help those in need, to be a friend to the friendless, to not be an enemy to others, to  overcome the tendency to be selfish and jealous, to not seek to force people to live up to his ideals, along with many others.  President Smith's 11th creed was, "knowing that the Redeemer of mankind has offered the world the only plan that will fully develop us and make us really happy here and hereafter, I feel it not only a duty but also a blessed privilege to disseminate this truth."

How true is this last creed!  We as members of the church have the duty and responsibility to understand and live our lives the way our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ wants us to.  What does being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints mean to you?  Some of the comments in our class where that it's all about work.  Being a member of this gospel is not a passive thing.  We are constantly engaged in a good work.  This goes not only for our callings and service in the church but in our daily lives with continuing to study the scriptures, serving others, strengthening our families, and striving to live as the Savior did and making sure to repent when we make mistakes.  Sister Cleo Miller explained that being a member means that we will be blessed in many ways but we also have many responsibilities.  Sister Amy Lehto and Victoria Stuckey explained how we receive blessings each day but these blessings can help motivate us to continue on the right path to gain or qualify for those greater blessings in the eternities.

As members, our obedience to the gospel (not just our Church membership) is what truly qualifies us to be called Saints.  President Smith said, "I would like to say to the Latter-Day Saints, if we are worthy to be called Latter-Day Saints, it will be because we are living the lives of saints and it is the purpose of the Gospel to qualify us in that way."  In Matthew chapter 7 in verse 24 we read the parable of the wise man and the foolish man.  We know that the wise man's home did not wash away due to the flood because he built his house upon a rock.  If we are obedient and build each of our lives upon the rock of our Redeemer we will be blessed and be worthy to be called a Latter-Day Saint.

Some questions to think on, "How many of us, learning the will of the Father, are doing it?  How many of us day by day are laying a foundation and building a structure that shall conform to the dignity of the stature of our Master? We will not be judged as our brothers and sisters of the world are judged, but according to the greater opportunities placed in our keeping. (pg. 5)"

I urge each sister to reflect on their lives.  Are we as members of the true church upon this earth living our daily lives in a way that reflects that membership?  Are we showing forth our continence of the light of the Savior and the joy we find in being obedient to His commandments?  I pray that we each (especially at the beginning of a new year) can keep our lives in check and really make sure that we are preparing now to meet the Savior.  Don't be like the foolish man or the man who did not wear the proper wedding garment to the service in the parable in Matthew chapter 22.  Be prepared and you will not fear!

A final quote, "We cannot live like the world and expect to obtain our rightful place in the Kingdom.  The Lord tells us in the first section of the Doctrine and Covenants, referring to evil: that he cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance [see Doc & Cov. 1:31].  The Lord will be merciful, but he will be just, and if we want any blessing there is only one way we may obtain it, and that is to keep the commandments that will entitle us to the blessing (pg. 7)."

Sister Roberts passed our some bookmarks where each of us could write down at least five creeds that we wish to live by.  Take a moment to think of things that you wish to be or do that will draw you closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and that express how you wish to live what your believe.