January's Book Group

We know you're busy as bees, but this is a relaxing, satisfying read that will leave you buzzing!

Sarah d'Evegnee has copies of the book if you need one!

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES!

My New Life

Here are links to the trio of talks used in the Relief Society lesson on August 22nd as well as the video clip (produced by the Church for Mormon Messages). Please consider using these materials for Family Home Evening or family discussions. If you would like extra copies of the handout, please leave a comment here.

Elder Holland, "Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul"

Elder Holland, "To Young Women"

Susan Tanner, "The Sanctity of the Body"

Enjoy the Last Few Breaths of Summer!

You'll notice that most of this month is dedicated to family time, which is exactly as it should be.

If you'd like to lap up an easy read to get ready for our next Book Group in September, please contact Sarah d'Evegnee. These is My Words is an easy, breezy, fun read, but it's also something you can sink your emotional teeth into!

Get to Know Krista Flamm!

Krista Flamm just moved into our ward with her husband, Jacob, and their two kids, Kaylie and Aaron. If she has a familiar look about her, it's because she is the grand-daughter of the Fluckigers. In fact, the Flamm family is living in the Fluckiger's house while they are on their mission.

Krista has a kaleidoscope of talents and they just keep coming! Just to give you the tip of the iceberg, she plays the piano and the violin and enjoys sewing and making hair-bows. Krista just opened up an etsy shop selling some wonderfully cute and useful items.

She invented the Bed Bugg, which is a cover for microwaveable heating pads called rice packs for kids. (Her shop address is www.bedbuggs.etsy.com if you want to take a peek!)

Krista is bright and fun and loves getting to know new people. We are so happy she is in our ward! WELCOME, KRISTA!!!

We Got Some SPRING in Our Step at Kid-Richment!

Kid-Richment is a time for Moms, Grandmas, Aunts, Sisters, Babysitters or ANYONE else who wants to come to bring kids to the gym and to RUN, L AUGH, PLAY, and get to know each other! It's also supposed to be a BREAK from the regular routine! We always plan games, crafts, and a potluck lunch! We'd love to see you next time!


The small (but VERY cute) group that came to March's Kid-Richment enjoyed a thrilling indoor romp through all things SPRING! We came in from the drizzly outdoors and felt a little sunshine as we watched the kids RUN FREE without coats! (To watch the video clips just click on the arrow in the left hand bottom corner of the movie box.)

We made Edible Easter Birds' Nests:

To make these at home, you just need:

Shortcakes

Whipped Cream

Jelly Beans

Peeps

Coconut colored green with food coloring (which you don't see here because Marie ate it all!)

BALLOON RACES! (I've never seen anyone run with so little space between their chubby feet and the ground!)

Relief Society Movie--Part One

Here's the movie we spent hours, (days, weeks!) on last year to celebrate the ROLLING HILLS RELIEF SOCIETY! It is definitely worth watching. I found myself reviewing it after midnight when the house was quiet with tears rolling down my cheeks. How I ADORE the sisters in our ward! If you want to watch the whole thing, you'll have to watch part one and then part two (the file was too big for blogger to upload all of it)

Enjoy the movie! I just LOVE listening to the wit and wisdom of the sisters in our ward combined with the comfort from our General Relief Society leaders! I also ADORE seeing your faces flash up on the screen! I love our Relief Society!!!! (Too many exclamation points? Probably, but I really mean it!)

I've tinkered with the sound and the background music, so you should be able to see and hear everything (except this time you don't have to watch Jann's comments three times--unless, of course, you want to!)

You can also watch the shorter version without the personal interview clips below.

Feel free to leave comments! Just click on the word "comments" below and let's get a conversation going with sisters in our ward!

Relief Society Movie--Part Two

This is the video put together by the Church to celebrate the Relief Society's birthday. It may take a minute to work, but it is worth watching!

Sisters,
We want to make sure that you all know how much we love you and appreciate all the MANY, MANY kindnesses that you have shown us and our families this past month. Thank you for the food, prayers, hugs, and love you have given us! You are truly disciples of the lord.

Love, Chris and Deby Leishman

Last week was full of WONDERFUL Relief Society Activities. . . and CAKE!

Get to Know Arlene Pixley!

Arlene just joined our wintry wonderland after leaving the California sunshine behind. She says the transition hasn't been quite as difficult as she thought it would be because, "The people here are so nice" (and of course we couldn't agree more!).

She has four children (three of whom are living), and enjoys spending time with family. She also loves doing family history work and can't wait to get a few pointers from our resident experts, Liisa Smith and Chris Leishman (Yes. That was indeed a plug!). Arlene also enjoys reading, writing, and listening to news programs (You thought I was going to say arithmetic, didn't you? I like to keep you on your toes!). She also loves chocolate, but likes to stay fit, so she compromises by letting herself have dark chocolate occasionally. Arlene has lived in California, Utah, and Connecticut, but feels very much at home in Idaho.

Of her twelve grandchildren, three of them are going to BYU-Idaho, so Arlene thought she'd like to be close enough to see them on a regular basis. (Now there's a loving, attentive grandma!) She's living in the Budge's basement and will move into their apartment in April--she has been a long-time friend of Alain's and Donna's and we're so glad to have the chance to become her friends as well! WELCOME TO THE WARD, ARLENE!

Thinking INSIDE the BOX at Kid-Richment and Having a BALL!

It makes you want to come to Kid-Richment just for the GOODIES, doesn't it? You could eat these two up!
The kids enjoyed round, ball-shaped pizza, cheesesticks, carrots and fishy crackers, while the Moms enjoyed just having a chance to let their kids run around so we could relax for five seconds and talk to each other. (And OH the stories we call tell, right Lindsey?)
Thanks to Janeese for doing all of the leg-work, the Moms for coming, and the kids for being so squishy and huggable and cute!!!

FIESTA Recipes!

THANK YOU for signing up to bring food items to our FIESTA SERVICE AUCTION!! Please bring your items in a nice, covered serving dish (foil or plastic wrap is fine) and put them on the food table when you get there that night! GRACIAS!!

Here are the recipes you will need if you signed up for one of these items:

Fiesta Chicken

5-6 Chicken Breasts

1 can enchilada sauce

1 can diced green chilis

1 can tomato soup

1 diced red onion

2 T lime juice

2 t garlic salt

2 t cumin

2 t cilantro flakes or 2 T fresh cilantro

1 package taco seasoning

Add all ingredients to crock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Shred chicken and serve out of warm crock pot. (If you’ve used frozen chicken, you may need to remove some of the liquid before shredding.) Serve on tortillas with rice, black beans, cheese, sour creams, and Mexican rice.

Creamy Mexican Dressing

2 cups mayonaisse

2 cups sour cream

10 sprigs of cilantro

3 tomatillos from can

2 green onions (washed and chopped)

2 cloves of garlic

1 jalapeno pepper (seeds and all)

juice of 1 lime

1 or 2 tsp. of salt (depends on how much salt you like)

Place all ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth. Dressing lasts for 2 weeks in refrigerator.

Fiesta Black Beans

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

1/3 cup tomato juice (or 1/8 cup tomato sauce, plus a little water)

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon ground cumin

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro

In a nonstick skillet, cook garlic and cumin in olive oil over medium heat until you can smell it. Add beans, tomato juice, and salt. Continually stir until heated through (if too thick, you can add a little water). Just before serving stir in the cilantro.

Fruit Salsa

2 kiwis, peeled and diced

2 Golden Delicious apples - peeled, cored and diced

8 ounces raspberries

1 pound strawberries

2 tablespoons white sugar

1 tablespoon brown sugar

3 tablespoons fruit preserves, any flavor

In a large bowl, thoroughly mix kiwis, Golden Delicious apples, raspberries, strawberries, white sugar, brown sugar and fruit preserves. Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes.

Cinnamon Chips

10 (10 inch) flour tortillas

butter flavored cooking spray

2 cups cinnamon sugar

Preheat oven to 350.

Coat one side of each flour tortilla with butter flavored cooking spray. Cut into wedges and arrange in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Sprinkle wedges with desired amount of cinnamon sugar. Spray again with cooking spray.

Bake in the preheated oven 8 to 10 minutes. Repeat with any remaining tortilla wedges. Allow to cool approximately 15 minutes. Serve with chilled fruit mixture.