June-July Visiting Teaching Message

June 2011
VI S I T I NG T EACHI NG
M E S SAGE
Strengthening Families through Temporal Self-Reliance
“Developing self-reliance—the ability to care for ourselves and our families—is the responsibility of every sister. We become self-reliant as we learn to love work, as we seek inspiration to find the best ways to provide for ourselves, and as we work with family members to meet basic needs. When we are self-reliant, we use our blessings and resources to prepare for and avoid problems. Self-reliance, however, is enhanced as we pray for the courage to meet with faith the challenges.”

Click below for the complete June V.T. Message

http://lds.org/ensign/2011/06/strengthening-families-through-temporal-self-reliance?lang=eng
July 2011
VI S I T I NG T EACHI NG
M E S SAGE
Come to the Temple and Claim Your Blessings
“Sisters, we are most blessed. The Savior stands at the head of this Church. We are led by living prophets. We have the holy scriptures. And we have many holy temples throughout the world where we can obtain the ordinances necessary to help us return to our Heavenly Father. Come to the temple and then come again. Making and keeping temple covenants will keep us on course to the
greatest of all blessings—eternal life.”
Click below for the complete July V.T. Message
http://lds.org/ensign/2011/07/come-to-the-temple-and-claim-your-blessings?lang=eng

RS Meeting: Provident Living

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Lesson Highlights: 6/19/11

Developing Our Talents

Given by Gina Orgill

President Joseph F. Smith said, “Every son and every daughter of God has received some talent, and each will be held to strict account for the use or misuse to which it is put”. A talent is one kind of stewardship (responsibility in the kingdom of God). The parable of the talents tells us that when we serve well in our stewardship, we will be given greater responsibilities. If we do not serve well, our stewardship will eventually be taken from us. We are also told in the scriptures that we will be judged according to our works (see Matthew 16:27). By developing and using our talents for other people, we perform good works. The Lord is pleased when we use our talents wisely. He will bless us if we use our talents to benefit other people and to build up His kingdom here on earth.

http://lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-34-developing-our-talents?lang=eng

What is your favorite thing about summer?

Vote to the right :)

New Babies and Spotlights

Click on the links to the right to see new babies, new members and spotlights :)

Lesson Highlights 6/5/11

Lesson By Miralee Hartley

“The fool proclaims in his heart that there is no God, but our eyes, hands, hearts, and souls unhesitatingly testify to the contrary.” As it says in the scriptures, "...And all things denote there is a God; yea, even the ^bearth, and ^callthings that are upon the face of it, yea, and its ^dmotion, yea, and also all the ^eplanets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator." Alma 30:44 (Our God Truly Is God, By Elder Douglas L. Callister, BYU-ID devotional, Nov 2005)

“ Into my mind came the words and message of a beautiful hymn:

When thru the woods and forest glades I wander,

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur

And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze,

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee,

How great thou art! How great thou art!

(“How Great Thou Art,” Hymns, no. 86)

To truly reverence the Creator, we must appreciate His creations. We need to plan to take time to observe the marvels of nature. Today, we can easily become surrounded by brick buildings and asphalt surfaces that shelter us from real life around us. Plan to share with your family the miracle of buds changing to fragrant blossoms. Take time to sit on a hillside and feel the tranquillity of the evening, when the sun casts its last golden glow over the horizon. Take time to smell the roses.

All the marvels of nature are glimpses of the Lord’s divine power and expressions of His love.” (April 1988 General Conf Address, “The Handiwork of God” by Elder M. Russell Ballard)

Walking Challenge

We are on our way... Fountain Valley 2nd Ward Relief Society Summer Walking Challenge **First group walk! This Saturday, 9am Meet at the Albertson’s parking lot on Brookhurst across from Mile Square Park. We will be walking the Edinger side and then those who want to keep going will continue on Euclid. Come find us if you can’t be there right at 9am! Strollers and friends welcome!

Walking the Road to Provident Living

Join us as we walk from

Providence, Rhode Island to Providence, Washington

2,832 Miles!

June 8th-September 6th

*Walk, Hike, Swim, or Jog your miles!

*Our Goal=to complete 2,832 miles as a Relief Society by Sept. 6th

*Keep tally of your completed miles each day on your log (log is attached).

*We will have reporting days so we can track our progress as a group.

*We will have a few organized group walks, but feel free to organize your own.

*We will have a few organized group walks, but feel free to organize your own.

RS Meeting 5/3/11: Reverence in the Home

Love Who You Choose -- keeping love in your marriage

Taught by: Kelley Gubernick

IDEAS FOR KEEPING THAT SPARK IN YOUR MARRIAGE:

1. Write love notes. Don't wait for a special occasion to tell your spouse how grateful you are for all he does for your family.

2. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate.

3. Make your spouse your priority. At times we are so immersed in our children's lives and well being that we forget about our partner.

4. Make sure you take time with your spouse each night. Make sure your kids have a set bedtime and stick to it. That time you have with your spouse is priceless. Catch up on what took place that day, or cuddle and watch a show you both like.

5. Make sure you go out at least 2 times a month for date night, and at minimum make one of those nights a temple night.

6. Give your spouse a 10 second kiss every day.

FUN DATE NIGHT IDEAS

1. Kick the kids out for a night and send them to Grandma's house. Make dinner together for the two of you. Make it fun and end the night with a scavenger hunt. Have him look for all his favorite things, and end the hunt with you!

2. Go bowling

3. Walk on the beach, dig for sand crabs or build a sand castle. Make it a competition.

4. Crash a mid singles dance and have a blast.

5. Go to the airport and people watch

6. Go to color me mine and paint something for each other

7. If you have Disneyland passes, go by yourselves. It is not just a fun place for the kids.

8. Take classes together. Like dance classes of cooking classes.

9. Learn a new hobby together - like golfing.

10. Go to a local museum.

11. Do service together for someone else.

12. Go to Griffith Observatory

13. Take the train to Alvera Street in Los Angeles - Great shopping and food.

14. Go to Belmont Shores and take a gondola ride.

Heavenly Kitchen - attitude, behavior, togetherness, and food

Taught by: Paige Waldron

There’s no doubt that the food we eat affects our health as well as our attitude and behavior.

Nutrition and balanced diets that avoid most processed food and include lean meats, lots of fresh fruits and vegetables as well as limit salt, sugars and starches can play an important role in the prevention and management of many kinds of difficulties in health, behaviour, learning and mood.

Family mealtime is also an important component in happy, healthy homes. It’s much more than just something good to eat! It nourishes the body, mind, and soul.

Sharing foods in a pleasant, social environment is healthy for families in many ways. The whole family benefits from family mealtime by:

Having better nutrition – Studies show that people eat more balanced meals and a variety of foods when they eat with family or friends.

Improving family communication – Time to share ideas, thoughts, and feelings builds relationships. Research shows that children who often hear adult conversation improve vocabulary, reading test scores, and speaking skills.

Fostering family traditions – Foods and memories created around the family table help shape and give meaning to our cultural heritage.

Teaching life skills – Children learn cooking skills, appreciation for foods, and other important life skills.

A nutritious diet and family mealtime benefit a family’s intellectual, physical, and emotional development and can help create an atmosphere of reverence in our home.

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