Gifts of the Season

Isn't Christmas a wonderful time of year?  I LOVE making homemade gifts to give to people or finding fun new ways to give gifts in a unique way.  This year at work we did something so fun!  We had a "Hot Cocoa Bar."  Each participant brought a fun holiday mug to trade in for a new one.  I got the cutest one!!!

Here it is~

Isn't that darling?!  I just love it!  I think that this is such a great idea!  There were different types of marshmallows and peppermint sticks for stirring the cocoa.  There were different types of bagged powder cocoa and some hot water in a warmer.  AND donut holes!  What fun!  This had to be blogged because I want to keep this idea for later!

The other gifts that I want to blog about are the gifts I've made for the sisters that I visit teach for Christmas.  As you know, I've been creating printables for the October 2012 General Conference talks.  Well...I've finished them, I just haven't blogged them!  I got prints made and my companion and I have compiled the photos in albums to give to the sisters we visit. 

Here's a look~

It was seriously budget friendly to do this!  I had a 40% off code for the photos and the albums were just altered $1 albums from the store.  The total for each on was under $5!!!  And it's something that will encourage further study and inspire the sisters as they use the photos to decorate their homes. 

I think the next gift will be for Valentine's Day and it will be picture frames that these quotes will fit in.  Then each sister can display the quotes in a place that they will be able to reflect on them daily.  The beauty of this is that they can choose different quotes at different times in their lives!

I hope you've found inspiration in these two ideas--I will be back with more General Conference quotes SOON!!!  Merry Christmas friends--I'm not sure how much blogging I'll be able to do over the next few days! ;) 

Family, Friends, & Fellowship: The Importance of Visiting Teaching

I have come across a lot of sisters in my life who tell me that they are "too busy" to do their visiting teaching.  I'm not judging.  I'm concerned.  Ever since I was 18 and assigned my first visiting teaching route, I realized the importance of visiting teaching.  I have not always been the best at it and I've never been perfect at it.  Yes, I've contacted the sisters I am assigned to visit each month, but this isn't the 100% I'm talking about.

President Henry B. Eyring has said, "The only system which could provide succor and comfort across a church so large in a world so varied would be through individual servants near the people in need. The Lord had seen that coming from the beginning of Relief Society. He set a pattern in place. Two Relief Society sisters accept their assignment to visit another as a call from the Lord."

Succor and comfort.  This is not accomplished by just going to someones house once a month for the token visit or making a phone call once and reporting that we couldn't get a hold of the sister.  While each situation is different, we should make EVERY EFFORT to become friends with those we visit.

From www.lds.org:

"We will know we are successful in our ministry as visiting teachers when the sisters we visit can say:

• My visiting teacher helps me grow spiritually.
• I know that my visiting teacher cares deeply about me and my family.
• If I have problems, I know my visiting teacher will take action without waiting to be invited."

Now, I have one thing to say about the last one before we go on--you cannot take action without being invited if you do not have the proper relationship in place.  This comes as we find ways to serve the sisters we visit in other ways besides the "traditional" ways.  Here are some things to consider when you pray about the sisters you visit:

*Visits in the home are essential, yes, but what about the sister that doesn't like people seeing the inside of her home?   Consider taking this sister out to lunch if you can afford it or invite her to your home so that you can talk.  Meet somewhere that the sister feels comfortable with.  I speak from personal experience.  I have gone through a seriously stressful time and I have a very hard time allowing people into my home because during this time, my home was not the haven it should have been.  There were people constantly going in and out of my home judging me and not appreciating things that were going on in my life.  So, I have serious trust issues with who I allow into my home.  Is that right?  I don't know.  Is it wrong?  I don't think so.  Do what the sister you visit is comfortable with.  And don't be discouraged if you are unable to meet in their home each month!

*Phones are an important part of life.  I don't know one person who would dislike getting a phone call randomly just to see how he/she is doing.  This applies to text messages, too.  Now, I believe that talking is incredibly important, but there have been times that texting a sister has been invaluable.  There are times when sisters cannot talk about something, but feel comfortable writing it down.  Utilize your phone--you never know when a text message or phone call could be just the thing that changes a bad day into a great day.

*Give of yourself!  You have been given talents that are to be used to uplift those around you.  My talent is crafting/card making.  I like to make cards for my sisters just because.  I send them out throughout the month when I feel they're most needed.  Which could be anytime!  The best thing about giving something tangible to the sisters you visit is that they will have a physical reminder that they are loved by you.  They can look at whatever you've given them and see the time you spent making something for THEM.  It doesn't have to be a craft.  It could be flowers.  It could be food.  It could be a favorite recipe.  It could be helping them become self reliant by teaching cleaning and organizational skills.  What are your talents?  Use them!

*Facebook and the internet are good, but they are not for everyone.  I personally feel that if you want to get a hold of someone, the best way is to talk to them.  The internet is NEVER a good medium to get a hold of someone.  Emails get rerouted or never sent.  Some people don't want to friend a ton of other people on Facebook.  Some people aren't on the internet much.  So, while it is a good idea to use Facebook and the internet as an occasional tool, NEVER USE IT AS YOUR ONLY TOOL.

So, those are my two cents.  Please know that these are my personal opinions and that you must do what is right for the sisters YOU visit.  Each sister is a unique and beloved daughter of our Father in Heaven and deserves to be treated with love and respect.  Don't do what is best for you--do what is best for her!  I hope these ideas help you as your strive to become the best visiting teacher you can be!

January VT Message Handout

This month the visiting teaching message is about visiting teaching...it's kinda strange to teach those you visit about visiting teaching! ;) My companion and I decided to give this handout to each sister to help them along their life journey. It's an Emergency Contacts list with scripture chapters to read if they find themselves in any of the listed situations. :) I found the idea online and made it mine. Hope you like it!!! Left click to make full size and save--it's yours, free! :) Linking to Scripture Thursday Link Party 11 and Word Art Wednesday Challenge 10!!! :)

Forget Me Not Booklet

Hello, digi friends! Sorry it's been so long...I've been focusing more on my paper crafting blog!

BUT, I want to share with you what I am going to give to the sisters that I visit teach in November. I promised more, so here you go! Because I'm linking up to an online party, I wanted to explain how this is a scripture. In our church, we are led by a prophet and by apostles of Jesus Christ (as the church was during the time that Christ lived). We believe that the words that they speak are modern day scripture--just like the words that the ancient prophet and apostles spoke. Twice each year, we hold a General Conference and we get to hear from our general authorities. The words on these printables are from a special meeting for the women of the world from back in September. They are not "traditional" scripture, but they are scripture to me, and so this is why I am sharing it with you all! You can find the entire talk here. :)

I've included the original digital print, as I am going to use it as the front cover. There is also a quote page for each Forget Not, a question, and then an answer page that matches the quote/question page. This way, they can take the message into their lives in a more personal way. :)












I'm linking this up to a fabulous new link party at Little Birdie Blessings--join us, won't you?! Click on the image to make it bigger and print--these are yours FREE! :) I'll post pics of my finished project...hopefully. ;D Happy printing!

September VT Message

NEW September VT printable!!! Yours free-right click and save! :)

August Visiting Teaching Message

On my other blog (On A Stampage), I explained what Visiting Teaching (VT) is. Each month, women from our church congregation go and visit 2-4 assigned women and check to see how everything is going. We are assigned companions to go with us, and it's just FUN! Anyway, each month there is a devotional to give and so I create little digital handouts to give to the women I visit. I also have given them picture frames so that they can keep it someplace that they can see is so they remember what the monthly devotional is. Anyway, right click and save--this is yours FREE! :) Happy printing!