Somerset Ward Relief Society

Somerset Ward BBQ!

2009-09-10T11:11:00.000-07:00

Saturday, September 12 5:30pm
Vintage Valley Park (Next to Frye's in the Golf Course Community)

Don't forget if you signed up for a side item or dessert on Sunday to bring those, and if you didn't sign up bring either one! Also bring any outside games or toys to play & share... (soccer balls, football etc.)

Hope we see everyone out to support our ward and sustain the Activities Committee!

Go RS Volleyball!

2009-06-02T14:45:00.000-07:00

L-R: Liz, Brittany, Lori, Deborah, Theresa, & Katie

Great Job ladies! Our volleyball team came in second in the Stake Volleyball tournament!

Free Crafts at Lakeshore Learning Stores

2009-05-22T00:52:00.001-07:00

Every Saturday from 11am - 3pm there are free kids crafts that your kids can make. Here's what is schedule for the next two months. Our closest store is on Warm Springs & Stephanie.

Library Summer Activities

2009-05-22T00:15:00.000-07:00

Want an inside activity? Try the Library. Here are the activities listed for the Enterprise Library (closest to us on Las Vegas Blvd).

May 31st - Fancy Nancy Tea Party (4-10 yrs 3pm-4pm Story & Craft)

June 3rd - Prince and Princess Party (3-8 yrs 2pm Stories, songs, & craft)

Jun 8th - Yu-Gi-Oh! Summer Tournament (Teens 6:30-7:30pm)

Jun 17th - Craft Buffet (6-11 yrs 2pm-3pm, all craft supplies provided)

June 20th - Father's Day (6-11 yrs 3pm-4pm, stories & craft)

June 22nd - Fratello Marionettes perform The Vaudeville Follies (0-11 yrs 3pm-4pm)

June 29th - Film: Hedwig and the Angry Inch (1pm)

June 30th - Creative Jewelry Making (10-11 yrs 4pm-5pm)

July 7th - July 28th Junie B. Jones Has Monster Under Her Bed (6-11yrs - Read 8th book, every tuesday from 5:30-6:30pm. Games & crafts too. Limit 20)

July 9th - July 29th Magic Tree House: Pirates Past Noon (6-11 yrs - Read book, every Wednesday from 5:30pm -6:30pm. Games & crafts too. Limit 20)

July 12th - Puppet Extravaganza @ Your Library (0-11 yrs. 3:00-3:30pm)

July 13th - Mad Science (6-11 yrs. 6:30pm-7:30pm, fun interactive science show)

July 17th - Reading is Magic featuring Tony Daniels (0-11 yrs. 11am-12pm comedy, magic & books)

July 18th - Hurray for America! (6-11 yrs 3pm-4pm patriotic stories)

July 23rd - Get Your Game On (Teens 6:30pm-7:30pm XBOX 360 & Wii games)

August 4th - End of Summer Reading Celebration (0-11 yrs 3pm-4pm Awards given for reading)

August 13th - Kindergarten Countdown (4-5 yrs 2pm-3pm preview for kids going to kindergarten and their parents)

August 15th - Middle School Survival (10-11 yrs. 1pm-3pm kids going into 6th grade and their parents)

August 22nd - National Aviation Week (6-11 yrs. 3pm-4pm stories, games & crafts )

Story Times:

18 months - 3 years old - Tuesdays at 10:30 am (25 minutes)

3 years - 5 years old - Thursdays at 10:30 am (30 minutes)

0-5 years - Wednesdays at 10:30 am (30 minutes) and Mondays at 6:30 pm (30 minutes)

Did you know Las Vegas has a Drive In?

2009-05-21T23:41:00.000-07:00

I didn't! Admission is $6.25 per adult & $1 per child over 5
Special Tuesday Price $4.25 - not sure if children are cheaper as well on this day

Some important notes:

*They only take cash but there is an ATM in the consession stand*
*Gates open an hour before the show*
*There is a playground and arcades at the consession stand*
*Lots of fun!*

Here is the info & what is playing right now.
(Some nights there are double features - check before you go, that would be two movies for two adults for around $12. That wouldn't happen at a regular movie theater!)

Las Vegas Drive-In

4150 W. Carey Ave. North Las Vegas, NV 89032

17 Again
Angels & Demons
Dance Flick
Fast & Furious
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
Knowing
Monsters vs. Aliens
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Obsessed
Star Trek
Terminator Salvation
X-Men Origins: Wolverine

** Again no endorsements of movies. **

Ethel M Chocolate Factory Tour

2009-05-21T23:34:00.000-07:00

Ethel M Chocolate Factory - Free tour to see how they make chocolate and at the end receive a piece of chocolate. Located in Henderson on 2 Cactus Garden Drive, the tours are open from 8:30am to 6:00pm. If we get a group of 10 or more together we can get a special tour, if you're interested please leave a comment or email somersetwardreliefsociety@gmail.com.

Anderson Dairy Ice Cream Tour

2009-05-21T23:26:00.000-07:00

Now this is a fun one!

The Barnyard Buddies Tour. The kids get to tour the facility and even see some penguins helping out with the ice cream packaging - very "cool" (ha I crack myself up). Anyway, after a darling video presentation about the history of the dairy and the tour, the group meets back in the "tree" room for a cool treat - Free ice cream!

All we have to do is call and schedule a tour. Anyone interested? Leave a comment or email somersetwardreliefsociety@gmail.com and we'll schedule a tour for anyone who would like to participate! Let's get a few groups through the summer - check your schedules!

Kids Activities at Galleria Mall

2009-05-21T23:22:00.000-07:00

The First and the Third Tuesdays of the month there are activities at the Galleria Mall for kids to participate in. (Need an excuse to go to the mall?)

June 2nd
Dental Health Day - When we grow up we only have one set of teeth. Let's learn how to look after them with flossing, brushing and dental visits. Lower Level, next to Gordon's Jewelers, 10:30am

June 16
Let's show our Dads' how much we love them. BOO has a Father's Day card for you to give Dad on his special day! Lower Level, next to Gordon's Jewelers, 10:30am.

July 7
Celebrate our country's birthday-music, flags, and parades. Let's see how many Presidents we can name! Lower Level, next to Gordon's Jewelers, 10:30am.

July 21
Fun in the Sun!! Enjoy summer but let's be safe. What to wear....sunglasses, lotions, hats and plenty of water and being safe at the beach. Lower Level, next to Gordon's Jewelers, 10:30am.

2009-05-21T23:14:00.000-07:00

The Home Depot's Kids Workshops offer useful projects including the creation of toolboxes, fire trucks and mail organizers, as well as more educational projects, such as a window birdhouse, bughouse or Declaration of Independence frame kit.

The workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety, while at the same time helping to instill a sense of accomplishment. Additionally, this fun time allows for quality one-on-one time between adults and children.

In addition to the newly constructed project kit, each child receives a kid-sized orange apron, similar to The Home Depot associates' aprons, and an achievement pin.

Movies at Lake Las Vegas

2009-05-21T23:07:00.000-07:00

June 4 Marley & Me

June 11 Legend of the Crystal Skull

June 18 Beverly Hills Chihauhau

June 26 Twilight

July 2 Ironman

July 9 Mama Mia

July 16 The Water Horse

July 23 Journey to the Center of the Earth

July 30 Breakin

Aug 6 Shrek 3

Aug 13 Ink Heart

Aug 20 Bolt

Free movies outside near the water at Lake Las Vegas. Bring a blanket or low chair, no coolers please. All movies start at 8pm.

Free Kids Movies at Colonnade Theater

2009-05-21T22:50:00.000-07:00

At the Colonnade Theater on Eastern they have free kids movies on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Arrive 15 minutes early. There are two options each day (so technically you could go both days and see both movies each week). There is also a park (with water feature) across the street to play if you need to tire the kiddos out before nap time!

June 16 & 17
Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: Veggie Tale Movie (G)
Evan Almighty (PG)

June 23 & 24
Kit Kittredge: American Girl (G)
Nim's Island (PG)

June 30 & July 1
Horton Hears A Who (G)
Inkheart (PG)

July 7 & 8
The Tale Of Despereaux (G)
Kung Fu Panda (PG)

July 14 & 15
Everyone's Hero (G)
Surf's Up (PG)

July 21 & 22
Igor (PG)
Journey To The Center Of The Earth (PG)

July 28 & 29
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (G)
Bee Movie (PG)

August 4 & 5
Curious George (G)
Alvin And The Chipmunks (PG)

August 11 & 12
Space Chimps (G)
Madagascar 2: Escape To Africa (PG)

Free Kids Movies at Rave Theater

2009-05-21T22:43:00.000-07:00

All Rave Motion Pictures locations nationwide will host the Free Family Film Festival 2009. All locations will play these movies on the dates listed: (These are all Tuesdays & Wednesdays)

June 9 & 10	Kung Fu Panda	PG	92 minutes
June 16 & 17	Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa	PG	89 minutes
June 23 & 24	Surf's Up	PG	85 minutes
June 30 & July 1	The Tale of Despereaux	G	90 minutes
July 7 & 8	Horton Hears A Who!	G	86 minutes
July 14 & 15	Space Chimps	G	81 minutes
July 21 & 22	Igor	PG	87 minutes
July 28 & 29	Shrek the Third	PG	93 minutes

ALL MOVIES START AT 10AM - there is also a $1 discount off kids movie meals during Family Film Festival.

Free Movies at the District

2009-05-21T22:27:00.000-07:00

Starting TOMORROW there are free outside movies at the District at Green Valley Ranch. Starting at dusk (watch the times, they vary according to the time of year), bring a blanket and snacks (popcorn is provided) and head over to the grass area next to Whole Foods.

** Disclaimer - Some of these movies would be appropriate for the entire family, others may not be. A few say they're edited, but this is in no way an endorsement of any movie or a judgment of appropriateness. (Some I've never even heard of - if you want a description of the movie try http://www.kids-in-mind.com I just found it today - they rate movies according to sex/violence/profanity in a three number system -the higher the number the worse the situations. They also give descriptions of what is seen so you can judge if you want your children watching it. **

Movie Name: Disney's Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs
Showing: Friday, 05/22 at 8:00 pm
Movie Rating: G

Movie Name: Disney's Bedtime Stories
Showing: Saturday, 05/23 at 8:00 pm
Movie Rating: PG

Movie Name: Kung Fu Panda
Showing: Friday, 05/29 at 8:00 pm
Movie Rating: PG

Movie Name: Seven Pounds (edited)
Showing: Saturday, 05/30 at 8:00 pm
Movie Rating: PG

Movie Name: Space Chimps
Showing: Friday, 06/05 at 8:00 pm
Movie Rating: G

Movie Name: Iron Man (edited)
Showing: Saturday, 06/06 at 8:00 pm
Movie Rating: PG

Movie Name: Horton Hears A Who
Showing: Friday, 06/12 at 8:00 pm
Movie Rating: G

Movie Name: The Longshots
Showing: Saturday, 06/13 at 8:00 pm
Movie Rating: PG

Movie Name: The Muppet Movie
Showing: Friday, 06/19 at 8:00 pm
Movie Rating: G

Movie Name: Journey to the Center of the Earth
Showing: Saturday, 06/20 at 8:00 pm
Movie Rating: PG

Movie Name: Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
Showing: Friday, 06/26 at 8:00 pm
Movie Rating: PG

Movie Name: Annie
Showing: Saturday, 06/27 at 8:00 pm
Movie Rating: PG

Movie Name: Doogal
Showing: Friday, 07/03 at 8:00 pm
Movie Rating: G

Movie Name: The Seeker: The Dark is Rising
Showing: Saturday, 07/04 at 8:00 pm
Movie Rating: PG

Movie Name: Robots
Showing: Friday, 07/10 at 8:00 pm
Movie Rating: PG

Movie Name: Meet Dave
Showing: Saturday, 07/11 at 8:00 pm
Movie Rating: PG

Movie Name: Arctic Tale
Showing: Friday, 07/17 at 8:00 pm
Movie Rating: G

Movie Name: Kit Kitteredge: An American Girl
Showing: Saturday, 07/18 at 8:00 pm
Movie Rating: G

Movie Name: Antz
Showing: Friday, 07/24 at 8:00 pm
Movie Rating: PG

Movie Name: City of Ember
Showing: Saturday, 07/25 at 8:00 pm
Movie Rating: PG

Movie Name: Open Season 2
Showing: Friday, 07/31 at 7:45 pm
Movie Rating: PG

Movie Name: Paul Blart: Mall Cop
Showing: Saturday, 08/01 at 7:45 pm
Movie Rating: PG

Movie Name: Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Showing: Friday, 08/07 at 7:45 pm
Movie Rating: PG

Movie Name: Are We Done Yet?
Showing: Saturday, 08/08 at 7:45 pm
Movie Rating: PG

Movie Name: Disney's Tale of Despereaux
Showing: Friday, 08/14 at 7:30 pm
Movie Rating: G

Movie Name: Disney's Camp Rock
Showing: Saturday, 08/15 at 7:30 pm
Movie Rating: G

Movie Name: Disney's Beauty and The Beast
Showing: Friday, 08/21 at 7:30 pm
Movie Rating: G

Movie Name: Disney's Mary Poppins
Showing: Saturday, 08/22 at 7:30 pm
Movie Rating: G

Movie Name: Cars
Showing: Friday, 08/28 at 7:30 pm
Movie Rating: G

Movie Name: Pink Panther 2
Showing: Saturday, 08/29 at 7:30 pm
Movie Rating: PG

Movie Name: Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Showing: Friday, 09/04 at 7:00 pm
Movie Rating: PG

Movie Name: Disney's Jonas Brothers Concert
Showing: Saturday, 09/05 at 7:00 pm
Movie Rating: G

Movie Name: Disney's Lilo and Stitch
Showing: Friday, 09/11 at 7:00 pm
Movie Rating: PG

Movie Name: Confessions of a Shopaholic
Showing: Saturday, 09/12 at 7:00 pm
Movie Rating: PG

Movie Name: Return to Neverland
Showing: Friday, 09/18 at 7:00 pm
Movie Rating: G

Movie Name: Disney's Race to Witch Mountain
Showing: Saturday, 09/19 at 7:00 pm
Movie Rating: PG

Movie Name: The Wizard of Oz
Showing: Friday, 09/25 at 7:00 pm
Movie Rating: G

Movie Name: Under The Sea
Showing: Saturday, 09/26 at 7:00 pm
Movie Rating: G

Movie Name: Happily N'Ever After
Showing: Friday, 10/02 at 7:00 pm
Movie Rating: PG

Movie Name: Marley and Me
Showing: Saturday, 10/03 at 7:00 pm
Movie Rating: PG

Movie Name: Coraline
Showing: Friday, 10/09 at 7:00 pm
Movie Rating: PG

Movie Name: Hotel for Dogs
Showing: Saturday, 10/10 at 7:00 pm
Movie Rating: PG

Movie Name: Inkheart
Showing: Friday, 10/16 at 7:00 pm
Movie Rating: PG

Movie Name: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Showing: Saturday, 10/17 at 7:00 pm
Movie Rating: PG

Movie Name: Monsters vs. Aliens
Showing: Friday, 10/23 at 7:00 pm
Movie Rating: PG

Movie Name: Igor
Showing: Saturday, 10/24 at 7:00 pm
Movie Rating: PG

Summer Fun Starting this Week

2009-05-21T21:56:00.000-07:00

Need ideas to keep your kids busy this summer? I don't even have kids getting out of school and I am anxious about not going stir crazy (or letting the kids drive me crazy!) Here's a few things you should check out - the great thing is a lot of them are even free (and a few keep you out of the heat too!) If you know of any other activities please email them to somersetwardreliefsociety@gmail.com

Relays, Relays, Relays

2009-05-08T22:07:00.000-07:00

Primary and Mutual Relays (various ages)

Women's Relays
(Pictured: Tracy Lyman, Karen Crowder, Katie Strganac, Theresa Baca, Erica Lancaster, Lori Schaeffer)

Men's Relays
(Pictured: Brad Schaeffer, Bart Yeates, Travis Twitchell, Eduardo Miranda, Mike Frye, Ernie Bulleri,
President Christiansen)

The Very Last Race

Thanks to everyone that participated and everyone that came to cheer them on! Hope we have an even better turn out at next years' meet - Start training now!
Then we'll really get them next year!

The Adults' Turn

2009-05-08T22:02:00.000-07:00

The adults in our ward did a fantastic job!
(Anyone else glad that the Schaeffer's moved into our ward??)

Young Men's &Young Women's

2009-05-08T21:40:00.000-07:00

A few YM/YW runners got by too quick and we missed their shots, (Sorry Teachers), but our youth are always in Lane 7 if they're too quick for you to pick out who they are!! All morning after the beginning races, I heard comment after comment about how impressed all the adults in our ward were over how quick our Young Women & Young Men are! Way to represent you guys!

Spring Valley StakeTrack Meet & 5K

2009-05-06T16:09:00.000-07:00

This was such a fun stake activity! We had a great turn out, and our ward did fabulous in all the races. It was a big surprise how many physically talented people we have in our ward! It started early in the morning with the 5K and everyone did a fantastic job running, walking and some even pushing strollers with kids (wow!).

These guys were too quick for us! A few of the fast finishers who were done before we got loaded up and out to take pictures! We missed a few of you (sorry!) but congrats to everyone for doing an amazing job and finishing!

PS - no kids are labeled for internet safety... you never know...

An Apostle's Easter Thoughts on Christ

2009-04-12T22:38:00.000-07:00

First Presidency Easter Message

2009-04-12T22:33:00.000-07:00

At this Easter season of hope and renewal we testify of the glorious reality of the atonement and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The empty tomb brought comforting assurance and provided the answer to the question of Job, “If a man die, shall he live again?” (Job 14:14).

Because of the Savior’s resurrection we will overcome death and become the beneficiaries of His mercy and grace. In a world of trouble and uncertainty, His peace fills our hearts and eases our minds. Jesus is in very deed “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

We give our sure witness that Jesus is the Christ. Though He was crucified, He rose triumphant from the tomb to our everlasting blessing and benefit. To each member of the human family He stands as our Advocate, our Savior, and our Friend.

President Thomas S. Monson, President Henry B. Eyring, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Ward Temple Night Reminder!!

2009-01-23T14:02:00.001-08:00

Don't forget ladies!!

Saturday January 24th the 5:00pm session
(This is TOMORROW!!!)

Our ward is meeting with the Stake Presidency for our ward Temple Night prior to our ward conference this Sunday. Please make an effort to be there! Not only do we all need the blessings that come with Temple attendance, but we only had 5 members of our ward at the last ward conference session! (Including our bishopric). That's really sad. So get those babysitters lined up! Take the time, make the effort and your families will be blessed for going. What a great example to set for your kids too!
See you there!
Don't forget 5:00 is busy traffic - LEAVE EARLY!!!

We all made it through December right?

2009-01-06T13:16:00.000-08:00

At least we hope huh? I didn't hear about any wrapping paper casualties, or trips to Christmas Goodie Rehab so hopefully we all made it through the holidays without a ton of stress, and a little bit more of the Spirit of Christ. Hopefully you got to spend time with friends and family, and if you didn't make it over to our fabulous enrichment activity here's what you missed out on! Next time hopefully you'll be able to join us!!

As always the food is so yummy, and with a progressive dinner we had fabulous appetizers at the Mitchell's home, hot soup at the Ashton's and finished it off with dessert at the Frye's.
(Tempting huh? You should have come!)

At each house our hosts shared a family tradition that has a special place in their family Christmas season. Kate's family has put together through many years a fantastic winter Christmas village (even had to build a platform for it to go on, it got so big), and talked about how each piece had come from friends, or family and how her whole family puts it together each year. Melinda (I didn't get a picture Sorry!) has a small Christmas tree for each of her children, that each year they get a new ornament to go on their special tree. Each ornament represents what that child was doing or interested in during the year that they got it. What fabulous ideas huh? Do you have a special tradition?

2009-01-06T13:11:00.000-08:00

To top off our fun Christmas night we had our own special Christmas tree! A cupcake Christmas tree! And yes, they tasted as yummy as they look!

Since our 'Purse' rendition at the last enrichment went off so fabulously, and Julie had been saving this song forever to use, our Relief Society Presidency once again treated everyone to lovely voices...hmmm... and sang a new classic to the tune of Jingle Bells. Here are the lyrics. The pictures (I promise) are so blurry they're not usable...Oh well!

(Our Homemade Fudge or Chocolate Hershey Bars)

Dashing from the mall, with groceries yet to buy,

Lesoons, work and house keeping, life's so crazy why?
Bells on our phone ring. The machine will take the call.
We've no time for family or friends, it drives me up the wall.

How are you? How's your life? We really want to know.
Love to chat and hear the news, but please don't talk so slow!
How are you? How's your life? We really want to know
We hope your ready for Christmas - Now maybe it will snow.

A day or two ago, we thought we'd bake a treat
for all our special friends, a Christmas give to eat.
Our intentions were top notch, but our schedule would not budge,
Hence here's this years' edition of our homemade Chocolate Fudge!

Merry Christmas!!

To end our night, and as Julie's tradition she started a new tradition and wrapped a present with many layers of wrapping paper. She passed it to Tricia (who had just been released as the enrichment leader), when Tricia opened the first layer, it said pass to someone who lives in the neighborhood next to yours. So on to Deborah it went. Deborah's layer read: give to someone who is native to Las Vegas. So it was passed to Kellie. The next layer read: Give to someone who is a convert to the church. So I passed it on to Morgan. (Sorry no pictures of the last two). Who unwrapped a beautiful Precious Moments Nativity to take home and share with her family.

What a wonderful time we had, and what a great break from all the holiday craziness to take a night just to spend with our Relief Society sisters, chatting, having fun, and feeling the true Spirit of the Season. Thanks to Julie (who always does a fabulous job!), Tricia (who although now released has put so much love, time & talent into her calling), Maren & Karin (our cupcake & cupcake tree experts!), Melinda & Kate (for hosting and opening your homes & traditions to share with us) and all those that came to help us remember the real reason for Christmas. The Spirit of Christ and the people in our lives we love. For those who missed it, we missed you! Please come next time! (TBA in January!)

Our Christmas Wish for You (from Sunday's Lesson)

2008-12-10T17:32:00.000-08:00

If we could be your Santa Claus, we'd change your Christmas Day.
Instead of giving things to you, there are things we'd take away.

We'd come into your home and steal, your burdened weight of care.
We'd rob you of the pain perhaps you're called upon to bear.

We'd find the heartaches you conceal of jealousy and fear.
We'd crowd out all suspicion and multiply your cheer.

We'd melt the scar of bitterness that hatred may not live.
And plant a seed of loveliness that only Christ can give.

We'd give you courage to endure, whatever task you face.
And make your life and open book, with nothing to erase.

And if we could have our every wish, we'd smooth away your tears.
And give you every dream you dreamed in all your yester years.

We'd wake you every morning to the peace of God above.
And make everyday a Christmas, filled with His great love.

May the love of our Savior surround you at this Christmastime and always!

Merry Christmas!

With love from:
The Somerset Ward RS Presidency

November 23rd - Reader's Digest Submissions

2008-11-23T14:14:00.000-08:00

These came from Reader's Digest when readers were asked to submit their family Thanksgiving stories.

Horn of Plenty
When a music student brought his French horn to my shop for repair, he complained that the instrument "felt stuffy" and he couldn't blow air through it. It's not unusual to find partial blockages in brass instruments if small items get lodged in the tubing, but when I tested the instrument, the horn was completely blocked.

After much probing and prodding, a small tangerine dropped out of the bell.

"Oh," said the musician when I handed him the fruit. Seeing the bewildered look on my face, he explained, "My mom used the horn for a cornucopia in a Thanksgiving centerpiece."
-- Contributed by Mark L. Madden

Holiday Heavyweights
The checkout clerk at the supermarket was unusually cheerful even though it was near closing time. "You must have picked up a ton of groceries today," a customer said to the checker. "How can you stay so pleasant?"

"We can all count our blessings," the clerk replied. "The hardest part of this job is the turkeys and the watermelons. I just thank God that Thanksgiving doesn't come in July."
-- Contributed by L. Proctor

The Turkey Wishbone
My grandfather always had the knack of saying the right thing. One Thanksgiving we explained to my younger brother the custom of breaking the turkey wishbone. Eager to have his wish come true, little Philip was bitterly disappointed when he saw that he held the small end of the bone, while his grandfather had the larger part.

"That's all right, my boy," said his smiling grandfather. "My wish was that you would get yours."
-- Contributed by Linda Ann Loschiavo

Guest Relations
Our eldest daughter, Ann, invited her college roommate to join our large family for Thanksgiving dinner. As families sometimes do, we got into a lively argument over a trivial subject until we remembered we had a guest in our midst. There was an immediate, embarrassed silence.

"Please don't worry about me," she said. "I was brought up in a family too."
-- Contributed by Garrison H. McClure

Tollbooth Timer
I worked on a toll road, answering the phone, collecting money and issuing toll tickets. One Thanksgiving Day, a woman called to ask about road conditions on the turnpike. After I said everything was A-okay, she told me a friend was coming for dinner. Then came the stumper. "If my friend just left from exit twelve," she asked, "what time should I put the turkey in?"
-- Contributed by Sandra Shields

"Where's Aunt Florence?"
After Thanksgiving dinner, the adults gathered in the living room to exchange reminiscences, while the children went into the family room to play. Suddenly our hostess noticed that an elderly relative was missing. "Where's Aunt Florence?" she asked.

From across the room came a masculine drawl, "Oh, she's with the kids, bridging the generation gap."
-- Contributed by Florence M. Mortimer

November 22nd - Reasons to be Grateful

2008-11-22T14:05:00.000-08:00

The Silver Lining to the Burning Question You Burnt the Bird?
A Dozen Reasons to Be Thankful!

Salmonella won't be a concern
No one will overeat.
Everyone will think it's Cajun Blackened.
Uninvited guests will think twice next year.
Your cheese broccoli lima bean casserole will gain newly found appreciation.
Pets won't pester you for scraps.
The smoke alarm was due for a test.
Carving the bird will provide a good cardiovascular workout.
After dinner, the guys can take the bird to the yard and play football.
The less turkey Uncle George eats, the less likely he will be to walk around with his pants unbuttoned.
You'll get to the desserts quicker.
You won't have to face three weeks of turkey sandwiches.

Need some jokes to beat your kids at? (I know I'm tired of hearing what's a ghost's favorite dessert? Booberry Pie! Ha. Ha. Except half the time he forgets and says Raspberry Pie!)

Turkey Riddles
What did the mother turkey say to
her disobedient children?

If your father could see you now,
he'd turn over in his gravy!

Why do Pilgrims have trouble keeping their pants up?

'Cause they wear their belts on their hats!

What is the difference between a chicken and a turkey?

Chickens celebrate Thanksgiving!!

What is the Turkey's favorite black tie celebration?

The Butter Ball

How does a Turkey drink her juice?

In a gobble-let

How many turkeys does it take to change a lightbulb?

Just one but it takes 5 hours

Did you hear about the X-rated turkey?

It's served with very little dressing.

What do you get when you cross a turkey, the beach, and Broomhilda?

A turkey sand-witch

What kind of music did Pilgrims listen to?

Plymouth Rock!

Which side of the turkey has the most feathers?

The outside!

Why do turkeys eat so little?

Because they are always stuffed!

What did the turkey do in the Thanksgiving Day Parade?

He played his drumsticks!

Don't try this at home!!

The Turkey Popped Out of the Oven

The Turkey popped out of the oven
and rocketed in to the air;
It knocked every plate off the table
and partly demolished a chair.
It ricocheted into a corner
and burst with a deafening boom,
Then splattered all over the kitchen,
completely obscuring the room.
It stuck to the walls and the windows,
it totally coated the floor,
There was turkey attached to the ceiling,
where there had never been turkey before..
It blanketed every appliance,
it smeared every saucer and bowl;
There wasn't a way I could stop it;
that turkey was out of control.
I scraped and I scraped with displeasure
and thought with chagrin as I mopped,
That I would never again stuff a turkey
with popcorn that hadn't been popped.

November 21st - Butterball Turkey Helpline

2008-11-21T13:56:00.000-08:00

Key to the celebration of Thanksgiving is gathering with family and friends to partake of a sumptuous feast prepared in honor of the day. Central to that feast (or at least to our common mental image of it) is a roasted turkey laid on a platter before the hungry guests, the bird presented in all its mouthwatering crispy-skinned perfection.

Yet not every aspiring Thanksgiving-maker knows how to properly roast a turkey. The bird proves an utter mystery to some, resulting in many a holiday mishap of a culinary nature.

Luckily, those confounded by the fowl can access a great deal of help by calling a number of turkey preparation hotlines. While some offer only recorded tips on how to prepare and roast the bird, others provide live assistance from trained experts well experienced not only with poultry but with nervous and overwhelmed cooks. Over the years, these talk line mavens have fielded all manner of queries from those bewildered by the fickle bird.

One of the more unusual questions handled by Butterball's Turkey Talk-Line (which the company has operated since 1981) comes from those who have mistaken a well-traveled joke for an actual recipe: They call to ask if they can pop popcorn in the turkey's cavity during the roasting process. (The joke's punch line is: "You know the turkey is done when the popcorn pops and blows the rear off the bird.") And no, you can't.

The hotline has heard from a gal who couldn't find the turkey she buried in a snowbank, a guy who wanted to know how to carve his bird with a chain saw, and a mechanic who worried about using motor oil as a baste.

Then there was the young mother who failed to notice her children playing near the oven-ready bird. The kids decided the turkey's cavity was a good place to park toy cars. Their mom didn't discover Ol' Tom was doubling as a garage until after the turkey had been roasted.

Another confused cook called the Butterball line after cleaning her turkey because she wanted to know how to get the metal pieces out. "Apparently," said one of the Butterball economists, "she had scrubbed her bird with a steel scouring pad." A West Coast woman who had taken anti-bacterial precautions too far called Butterball to find out how to get the bleach she'd used off her bird.

Butterball turkey experts still talk about the Kentucky woman who called in 1993 to ask how to get her dog out of her turkey. It seems the woman's Chihuahua had dived into the bird's cavity and become trapped there. The woman tried pulling the pooch and shaking the bird, all to no avail. A Butterball economist finally suggested the woman carefully cut the opening in the turkey wider to release the captive canine.

The Reynolds Wrap Turkey Tips Line (800-745-4000) took a query from a woman who wanted to know if she could cook her turkey by placing it in a Reynolds Oven Bag, putting it in the window in the back of her car, and letting the heat from the sun bake the turkey. (She was told that would be an uncontrolled heat source and was instructed to use an oven instead.)

The folks at Butterball have also dealt with cooks determined to roast turkeys on the back ledges of their cars. And they've had people call to ask if they could cook their holiday birds on radiators. Then there was the bride who had a small, apartment-size range and was worried the turkey would get larger as it cooked (similar to a loaf of bread rising) — she was fretting she wouldn't be able to get it out of the oven after it was done.

There are those whose problems are not how to get the turkey out of the oven, but when. Said Nancy Rodriguez, coordinator of the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line in 1985, "One lady in Arkansas had her five-pound turkey in the oven 24 hours — did we think it was done? Another caller wanted to know the best method for reattaching the thighs and drumsticks when they fall off. His 12-pound turkey had been in the oven since 8 a.m. the day before."

The self-cleaning option offered on a number of ranges has caused its share of Thanksgiving troubles when confused cooks have inadvertently started its cycle while their birds were in the oven. Others have different range-related questions, such as: "Your directions say to roast the turkey, but my oven says only bake or broil; how do I set it?"

We'll leave it to others to provide the more mundane advice regarding thawing and cooking times, how to prepare the bird for roasting and how to prepare stuffing, and instead offer these useful tips, as gleaned from the experiences of turkey hot line counsellors:

· Do not leave your turkey on your back porch, either to slow thaw it or to keep it chilled until the big day. Those who have failed to heed this advice have discovered themselves birdless on Thanksgiving morning. Their loss was the local raccoons' gain — those masked marauders celebrated the day in fine style.

· If you choose to bring home your frozen bird within the car proper rather than in the trunk, do take care to seatbelt the fowlsicle lest a sudden stop transform the star of the upcoming dinner into a weighty frozen projectile. One woman who failed to belt down her bird was rewarded for her lack of foresight with a broken toe when a sharp tap of the brakes caused the iced fowl to slide off the seat and onto her foot.

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Here's hoping that none of us have any of these problems while cooking our Thanksgiving Turkeys. But seriously? Trying to cook the turkey in the back windshield? Makes you wonder huh? Anyone have a story to top these?

November 20th - Thanksgiving Humor

2008-11-20T13:48:00.000-08:00

I thought there might be a few of us who are making our Thanksgiving Turkeys ourselves this year (either your first or your twentieth it doesn't matter) But here's some humorous little stories to help ease the stress of putting together that Thanksgiving Dinner. Remember it can't be that bad and there is always take out if it really is!!

Thanksgiving Dinner?

We gathered together to eat some raw turkey
Cuz Mother forgot you should thaw it out first.
The gravy was lumpy and daddy was grumpy
We stifled our laughs til we thought we would burst.

The Jello was runny, the corn tasted funny,
The biscuits you couldn’t cut through with a knife.
The yam casserole overflowed the big bowl;
This was the worst dinner I’d seen in my life

Our mother had taken some pieces of bacon
And crumbled them up in the cold pumpkin soup.
The scalloped tomatoes were like scorched potatoes.
She’d made enough slaw for a whole boy scout troop.

Then mom started cryin, but there’s no denyin’
Our Thanksgiving dinner had lost its appeal.
Mom said, “That’s enough,”she got up in a huff,
Then cleared off the table and served us oatmeal.

No Thanksgiving Dinner

Tis the night before Thanksgiving and all through our house
No turkey is baking; I feel like a louse,
For I am all nestled, so snug in my bed;
I’m not gettin’ up and I’m not bakin’ bread.

No pies in my oven, no cranberry sauce
Cuz I give the orders, and I am the boss.
When out in the kitchen, there arose such a clatter
I almost got up to see what was the matter.

As I drew in my head and was tossing around
To the bed came my husband, he grimaced, he frowned.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
He scared me to death and I thought, “Here he goes!”

He spoke not a word as he threw back my quilt
And the look that he gave was intended to wilt.
So up to the ceiling my pillows he threw
I knew I had had it, his face had turned blue.

“You prancer, you dodger, you’re lazy, you vixen
Out yonder in kitchen, Thanksgiving you’re fixin.”
But he heard me explain, with my face in a pout:
"I'm just plain too tired and we're eating out!"

November 14th - November 19th

2008-11-19T20:52:00.000-08:00

**Since these are not long ideas I decided to lump them into one post. (and then we're almost caught up!

Disclaimer - these ideas came from a pro-Christian web article. I thought they were good ideas but I've adapted a few of them to fit a little more with our faith. Scripture references were their notes, I haven't had a chance to check them, so before you use those scriptures make sure to look them up, there was no reference to what version of the Bible they were from, and our editions might be different.**

Creative Ways to Develop an attitude of Gratitude

1. Family Thanksgiving Journal. Use a notebook or blank journal to record what your family is thankful for. Add to it all year round during family devotions, or create an annual tradition where each family member contributes one message a year. Read past entries as a reminder of God’s faithfulness.

2. Name Exchange. This is an idea for a dinner party or holiday gathering. Toss everyone’s name in a hat, then have each person draw one name. Allow some time for thought, then have everyone take a turn finishing this sentence, “I’m thankful for _[name drawn]__ because ________.”

3. Table Accents. Create easy, yet meaningful favors or place cards for guests at your holiday dinner.

Use a paint pen to write “Thank you, God, for family and friends,” on pressed leaves. Place one on each plate.
Bundle a few wrapped chocolates or unshelled nuts in little squares of netting. Tie them with fall-colored ribbon and add a Psalm 95:2 tag, “Let us come before him with thanksgiving…”

4. Thankful Notes. Writing requires us to slow down, reflect, and choose our words carefully.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 tells us to "encourage one another and build each other up…” Thoughtfully telling people what they mean to you will build up their spirit.

If you have a husband, write a letter detailing why you’re thankful for him. Find a nice quiet time to read it aloud to him.
If you have children, write a letter to each of them, separately. (Write even if they are young. They’ll treasure it some day.) If you have teens, perhaps leave the letters in their rooms to be “discovered” and read alone. Identify their strengths and encourage them with appreciative comments on those positive characteristics.
Keep several little note cards in supply. Then once a month, ask God to show you someone to to show gratitude for — a neighbor, bus driver, scout leader or co-worker. A simple note saying you appreciate them would be very meaningful.

5. Church Staff Appreciation. (Altered to our religion) - Many churches now celebrate a Pastor appreciation day, but just because we don't have a paid clergy doesn't mean we can't show that they are appreciated. Think about the people that especially touch your family. Your children's primary teachers, young men / young women leaders, the gospel doctrine or relief society teachers. My favorite people in the whole world the nursery leaders. Most of these callings don't get any recognition (not that they ask for it) or appreciation but none of us could enjoy church (especially with kids) or attend to our callings without their help. A note of appreciation, a treat or picture drawn by your child about what they love about primary is a great way to show that you remember and appreciate the effort these members of our ward put in every week.

6. Thankful Box. (Altered a little) Purchase a small decorative box or wrap a shoebox with pretty paper. Put a notepad and pen inside and set it on your dresser. Everytime you’re angry with a person or situation in your life, write a note to God before you go to bed that night, expressing why you’re thankful for that person or difficulty. Use these slips during future quiet times to randomly select someone or something to pray for.
** Although a good idea, I thought it would also be useful to write ideas through your days and put in the box of what you/who your grateful for (Even the ones your not angry at), and then use those ideas/people for service, just a reminder of all the ways our lives are blessed. You could do this type of thing many ways. Decide what works best for your life. **

** Give one or all of these ideas a try. If not a life changing experience at least it will brighten your day and someone else's. Remember though you never know the difference that your little act will have on someone else. What is small to you, could be a giant token to someone else. **

November 13th - Gratitude Games for Children

2008-11-16T16:48:00.000-08:00

This comes from About.com - Activities for Parents: Thanksgiving activities that teach gratitude & appreciation.

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Does your family have any favorite Thanksgiving Day games, activities, or traditions? We always like to go around the table and share one thing we're thankful for. Here are some variations on that idea if you're looking for something new to try:

Spell out the word T-H-A-N-K-F-U-L. Then go around the table and ask each person to say one thing they're thankful for. The first person's answer must begin with "T." The second person's answer must begin with "H," and so on.

Another variation on this game is to go through the alphabet and use every letter to name something you're thankful for. The first person might say "I'm thankful for apple pie!" The second person might say "I'm thankful for my brother," and so on.

Still another variation is to spell out the name of the person sitting next to you, and say one thing you are thankful for about that person for each letter of their name. For example, if you're sitting next to your daughter Nicki, you might say, "I'm thankful that she's nice, imaginative, courageous, kind, and illuminates the room with her smile!

November 12th - Gratitude & Good Health

2008-11-16T16:41:00.000-08:00

** Being grateful helps keep you healthy. . . not very surprising right? The article explains a little experiment done to try and find a correlation between religion, gratitude & health. Although at times a little wordy (and dry), makes a good point. If you don't want to read the specifics of the experiment, read the last paragraph of results (in bold). This is the real point... **

The Gratitude Theory - Published by USA Today

Researchers find the virtues of gratitude include good health.

In recent years, many scientists have begun examining the links between religion and good health, both physical and mental. Now two psychologists are working to unlock the puzzle of how faith might promote happiness. Dr. Michael McCollough, of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and Dr. Robert Emmons, of the University of California at Davis, say their initial scientific study indicates that gratitude plays a significant role in a person's sense of well-being.

From Cicero to Buddha, many philosophers and spiritual teachers have celebrated gratitude. The world's major religions, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Hindu, prize gratitude as a morally beneficial emotional state that encourages reciprocal kindness. Pastors, priests, parents and grandparents have long extolled the virtues of gratitude, but until recently, scholars have largely ignored it as a subject of scientific inquiry.

McCollough and Emmons were curious about why people involved in their faith seem to have more happiness and a greater sense of well-being than those who aren't and decided to study the connections. After making initial observations and compiling all the previous research on gratitude, they conducted the Research Project on Gratitude and Thanksgiving. The study required several hundred people in three different groups to keep daily diaries. The first group kept a diary of the events that occurred during the day, while the second group recorded their unpleasant experiences. The last group made a daily list of things for which they were grateful.

The results of the study indicated that daily gratitude exercises resulted in higher reported levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, optimism and energy. Additionally, the gratitude group experienced less depression and stress, was more likely to help others, exercised more regularly and made more progress toward personal goals. According to the findings, people who feel grateful are also more likely to feel loved. McCollough and Emmons also noted that gratitude encouraged a positive cycle of reciprocal kindness among people since one act of gratitude encourages another.

November 11th - Moving up Levels of Gratitude

2008-11-15T16:37:00.000-08:00

** Just a consideration on how Steve Pavlina says to move from one level to the next. Take it however you'd like.

I must have spent at least 10 years practicing Level 1 Gratitude (mostly in vain) before I began shifting towards Level 2. It was a very gradual process as my feelings of gratitude became more unconditional. It started with me attempting to feel grateful for things I wouldn’t normally feel grateful for, like my breathing, the bushes on the street, music, my biggest failures, etc. This helped me see that no matter how negative, meaningless, or routine something seemed, it was still worthy of gratitude. Gratitude is a lens for uncovering beauty.

So if I can suggest a how-to process, I’d recommend practicing gratitude where you’d least expect it to work. Select an unlikely target X, and then hold the thought, “I am grateful for X.” Eventually you’ll shift towards a more unconditional feeling of gratitude, and you’ll be able to drop that “for X.”

In practical terms I’ve found that as my gratitude has become more unconditional, my life circumstances improve to keep pace. These changes are very noticeable, like increases in my income or seeing my relationship with my kids improve.

Level 1 Gratitude has its place, but if you want the universe to back up your feelings of gratitude with some actual results, eventually you need to progress to Level 2. When you’re living the life of your dreams, this is how you’re going to feel anyway, so why wait? Challenge yourself to create these feelings now, even in the most unlikely circumstances, and notice how you begin attracting the relationships, opportunities, and resources that resonate with those feelings.

November 10th - Level 2 Gratitude

2008-11-15T16:33:00.000-08:00

Let’s proceed to Level 2 Gratitude. I think of this as “holistic gratitude” because it’s independent of situations and circumstances. This is a feeling of gratitude for life itself, for existence, for anything and everything you experience. But rather than being a temporary emotion that requires constant focus, Level 2 Gratitude is more of an underlying attitude. With practice it becomes part of your identity. ( I like that idea...)

Level 2 Gratitude encompasses everything in Level 1, but Level 2 goes beyond that to include being grateful for:

your life
the universe
time and space
your problems, challenges, and hardships
your foibles and mistakes
your consciousness
your ego
people who treat you unkindly or unfairly
your thoughts and emotions
your freedom of choice
ideas and concepts

Level 2 Gratitude says, “How wonderful it is to exist!” Circumstances are irrelevant because this form of gratitude is a choice that needs no justification. It is a sense of utter fascination with the very notion of existence.

You become grateful for the adventure that is life, including all of its twists and turns. This form of gratitude is synonymous with unconditional love because there is no attachment to circumstances or outcomes. Consequently, there is no fear of loss or change.

Level 2 Gratitude is like having a constant echo in the back of your consciousness saying, “Wow!” Everything else is experienced on top of that Wow. Gratitude becomes the canvas upon which your life is painted.

When you feel grateful for existence itself, you move from doing grateful to being grateful.

When your feelings of gratitude are conditional upon temporary circumstances like your stuff, your job, and your relationships, your base identity doesn’t change. But when you root your gratitude in something permanent, it becomes a permanent part of you. Instead of saying, “I am grateful for…” you just say, “I am grateful.”

November 9th . . . Levels of Gratitude

2008-11-15T16:25:00.000-08:00

** This article was written by a man comparing the way gratitude can increase wealth. Although a lofty notion (and probably helpful if not entirely true), not the point of our Gratitude Project. So I've edited out paragraphs on how to increase your wealth. **

Gratitude - By Steve Pavlina

Having tested this for myself extensively, I found there was an effective way to practice gratitude and an ineffective way. Unfortunately, the ineffective way is much more obvious, and I was stuck with that form of gratitude for many years. But eventually I progressed towards a deeper understanding of gratitude and found a more effective way to practice it, one that yielded much greater external abundance as well.

First, I’ll address the ineffective form of gratitude. Let’s call it Level 1 Gratitude. This is gratitude for your possessions and your immediate circumstances. It’s the kind of gratitude we learn as children: Thank you for the gift, for the candy, for the trip to park, etc. When you practice this as an adult, it spawns thoughts of gratitude for things like:

a roof over your head
your material possessions
a car that runs
your health
your relationships
your family
your job
your skills
the holidays

Note that Level 1 Gratitude goes beyond material possessions. It’s the default form of gratitude you’re likely to come up with when you attempt to make a list of things to be grateful for.

I’m not suggesting there’s anything bad or wrong with this form of gratitude. It’s certainly better than having thoughts of scarcity. However, in terms of activating the Law of Attraction, its effectiveness is relatively weak.

Often when people attempt to use Level 1 Gratitude, it’s because they’re actually feeling complacent or negative about their circumstances, but they’re trying to look on the bright side and build some positive momentum. If you’ve ever expressed gratitude by starting with the words “at least,” you know what I mean. At least I have my health. At least I have a roof over my head. At least I have a vacation coming up.

The underlying message is: What I have is OK, and I can temporarily feel grateful about it if I push myself to do so, but genuine gratitude isn’t my default feeling because ultimately my circumstances just aren’t that exciting. More often than not, they leave me feeling empty or complacent rather than grateful.

When I choose to do so, I can notice my life circumstances and feel grateful for them. I can feel grateful for my marriage, my kids, my house, my career, my friendships and so on. The essence of the experience is no different than when I found myself in far less abundant circumstances.

Even when your overall circumstances seem negative, you can still temporarily pop into a state of Level 1 Gratitude just by changing your focus. For some people this can be the catalyst for a major attitude change, but in most situations it only provides a temporary reprieve with no major lasting benefit.

The reason Level 1 Gratitude usually fails to trigger the Law of Attraction is that Level 1 is too weak. You can enjoy this state of gratitude temporarily, but overall you’ll remain stuck in your old patterns. Level 1 Gratitude is fragile since all it takes to knock you out of state is a change in circumstances or a change in your focus. Even getting the mail can kill it.

** Something to think about? Are we truly grateful or just trying to talk ourselves out of being ungrateful? **