Elder Holland's Testimony of the Book of Mormon

Are you reading the Book of Mormon everyday....that is how you will get a testimony.

IS THE THANK-YOU NOTE STILL RELEVANT TODAY?

By Cindy Edwards

Yes, absolutely. In our fast-paced world, it is more important than

ever to slow down and be grateful.

I remember as a young girl receiving a beautiful powder blue envelope

addressed just to me. I opened it to retrieve a matching note card that

bore the monogram of one of my best friend’s mother. I had taken her

a small gift while she was recovering from surgery. It was such a small

token, but the note that she wrote made me feel like it was the best gift

in the world. It was sweetly written and made me feel so grown up. I have

never forgotten that feeling, and I hope that every time I write a note it

makes someone else feel just that wonderful.

There is something special about the hand-written note.Whether

conveying your appreciation for a wedding gift, a dinner invitation or

a thoughtful gesture, the thank-you note will always be an important

part of a civilized society. Emails and phone calls are certainly acceptable

ways of expressing your gratitude, but I believe the hand-written note is the best.

Some people dread note-writing and put it off until the task is so daunting

that they simply cannot catch up. Here are a few tips that make note-writing

easy and fun:

Purchase beautiful stationery, note cards or paper. This is a fabulous

way to express yourself. The choices are limitless in price and style.

Try to avoid preprinted “thank you” cards.

Examples of Stationery

Half sheet/letter sheet
This is my personal favorite. Many people consider this the most formal

form of stationery. They are traditionally ecru and sometimes white.

They have a fold along the left-hand side and must be folded again in

order to fit into the smaller envelope. I use the half sheet for almost everything

from replying to invitations to sympathy notes.

Informal/folded notes

Usually personalized with a woman’s married name, these are small note cards

in various colors that fold over and fit into small envelopes. Informals are actually

not “informal” for today and are perfect for thank yous, sympathy and replying

to invitations.

Correspondence cards

These are more informal than the above mentioned. They are flat cards perfect

for thank yous and correspondence of any nature. Correspondence cards are

very appropriate for men to use in almost all situations that require stationery.

Try to write notes in a timely manner, preferably within a week of the

event or receipt of the gift. Keeping note cards in a convenient place with

your address book, good pen and stamps will make it easier. Whether it is

beside your bed or at your desk by your computer, keeping supplies handy

will make them accessible and remind you of what you need to do. Even if

you do not get to it right away it is never too late to thank someone for a kind

gesture.

Five easy steps to the perfect note:

Step 1: Greeting
Dear Mary

Step 2: State what you are grateful for
Thank you for the lovely flowers that you sent for my birthday.

Step 3: Write two or three sentences of why it was special
You know how I adore roses.

They were so beautiful and made my house smell divine.

Step 4: Repeat your thanks
Thanks again for remembering me in such a lovely way.

Step 5: Closing
Fondly,
Cindy

When you should send a note:

Following the receipt of a gift

To express sympathy

Following a dinner party or overnight stay

To express congratulations

Any time someone does something nice for you.

Take time to express your thanks. It will not only make

someone else feel good, it will enrich you.

Happy Birthday Leslie!

Leslie is 16 and we are losing her to the Laurel Class.

But it is a great class.

Leslie...we love you and will miss you. Please come visit us!

xoxo

Young Womanhood Recognition 2011

We had 4 recipients of the YW Medallion this year. Congratulations to Jennifer Andersen,

Haley Mclean, Rachel Wilcox and Summer Lawson ( Mia Maid) We are so proud of you girls.

If Friends were Flowers, I'd Pick You!

We had a fun Mia Maid mother-daughter individual class activity last night.

We played getting to know you games, had 2 wonderful friendship salads( where everyone helps bring some of the ingredients), rolls , punch, and " friendship fudge"( everyone helps squeeze the ziploc bag). The ideas is that when everyone contributes and is a part of things, you can create something wonderful.

Cate and Summer won the game and each got a prize.

Our ward theme had been on 'unity" so this went in line with that.....unity in our homes, in our class and in our ward . We talked about importnat principles of friendship, being friends with our mom's, and the importance of motherhood. The girls wrote nice notes to their mom's or friends about the 5 things they loved about them and a special memory the had with them.

We also took pictures of everyone , as you can see. We partied to the beach boys and everyone looked like they were having a good time. Brooke and Sherry were the awesome kitchen help. They did a great job. Sister Romans did the game and talk.

A good time was had by all.

Our yummy lettuce salad :

1bag iceberg lettuce, 2 bags romaine lettuce
1 carton sliced mushrooms
1 lb grated swiss cheese
1 bottle or package of real precooked bacon bits
2 small bags of slivered almonds
1 bag craisens, regular flavor

Toss together and right before serving put on Brianna's Poppyseed Dressing ( can use any brand)

Our yummy fruit salad:

Chop and toss : apples, bananas, raspberries, kwiw, oranges and fresh pinapple. You realy can use any fruit.

Friendship Fudge:

Mix in a gallon ziplock bag.
4 cups powdered sugar;
3 ounces softened cream cheese;
1/2 cup softened margarine;
1/2 cup cocoa;
1 tsp. vanilla;
1/2 chopped nuts

Mix ingredients together by squeezing the bag and passing it around the group. discuss friendship, teamwork, commitment, service, etc. The possibilities are endless. When is is mixed together. roll it into a log and slice and serve. (May need extra powdered sugar or eat with spoons out of the bag.)

Cinco De Mayo : Make this for your family for dinner!

Awesome Beef Taco Casserole

Serves: 6 Cooking Time: 30 min

Ingredients

1 pound extra lean ground beef

1 medium onion, chopped

15 ¹/2 ounces kidney beans

8 ounces tomato sauce

2 teaspoons chili powder

¹/2 teaspoon garlic salt

1 cup tortilla chips, broken

1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Crumble ground beef into a 10-inch skillet. Add onion.

3. Cook and stir until beef is light brown and onion is tender. Drain.

4. Add kidney beans (un-drained), tomato sauce, chili powder and garlic salt. Heat to boiling.

5. Pour half of the meat mixture into ungreased 1 1/2-quart casserole and top with broken tortilla chips.

6. Pour remaining beef mixture over top and sprinkle with Cheddar cheese.

7. Cover and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until bubbly.

8. Garnish with chopped green pepper and pimento, if desired.

Every Temple Marriage is a Royal Wedding

There's certainly been a lot of buzz over these past few weeks leading

up to theRoyal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton,

better known as Williamand Kate. I've only watched a bit of the coverage

but I will confess that I, too, findmyself a little intrigued by the glamour

and romance surrounding this hopeful fairytale.

I remember sitting in my family room, when my children were quite

young, watching the royal wedding of the parents of Prince William,

experiencing similar feelings.Now that was definitely over the top, to say the

least! I still have the image of Princess Diana's out of control wedding dress

and that ridiculous train fixed in my mind.

Kate's wedding dress was much more understated. In my opinion she looked

exquisite! Her modesty in both dress and demeanor were truly regal. I'll even

go so far as to say that even her modest figure struck me the same. As I

observed her in each of these different ways, I could better understand why

this impeccable display of refinement, romance and glamour are so appealing to

women of all ages.

We all seem to still love the idea of the traditional romantic wedding, where a

man and a woman fall deeply in love and commit to each other for life. There'

s a reason for that. The hope of a bright future together filled with love, honor,

children, happiness and fidelity is still the fairytale life that most desire.

In today's world, people are becoming more and more cynical to the hope of

such a union. For many of us, these royal weddings are the quintessential

display of the perfect wedding and everything that it could mean!

In our heart of hearts, it is the desire of every human being to love and be

loved, forever. Even the time honored circular wedding ring is the symbol

of eternity -- although most marry "until death do us part". Interesting, isn't it?

In pondering some of these things, I couldn't help but think about my own "

Royal Wedding" -- the day I was sealed in the holy temple of God, for all time

and eternity, to my Prince Charming. To me, every temple marriage is a

Royal Wedding! A temple marriage comes with it, all of the promises to

true royalty. True riches of a Godly kind, including land, posterity and power!

And to faithful members of the LDS Church, these promises are believed to

be possible through the atonement of Jesus Christ.

Marriage is a sacred union. Marriage is ordained of God, between a man and

a woman. Eternal Marriage is how God literally brings to pass "the immortality

and eternal life" of His children.

Mormonism teaches that through priesthood authority in holy temples, a man

and woman can be sealed (married) for not only this life, but the next.

An understanding of this doctrine has been a tremendous blessing throughout

my own marriage. No matter how hopeful a marriage starts out, inevitably

challenges will come. And with those challenges, oftentimes a feeling of

hopelessness can creep in, IF we do not maintain an eternal perspective

and understanding of the potential for our marriage.

Heavenly Father's Plan is for His children is to build eternal families. Satan's

plan is to destroy any attempt that we make to be forever families. Most

marriages begin with a hopeful fairytale charm, which can quickly fade away

as life begins to take its toll. However, as we take seriously our marriage

covenant and our desire to have that Eternal Fairytale come true - the promise

that we can have our "happily ever after" will become a reality!