CHRISTmas

"The real Christmas comes to him who has taken Christ into his life as a moving, dynamic, vitalizing force. The real spirit of Christmas lies in the life and mission of the Master....

"If you desire to find the true spirit of Christmas and partake of the sweetness of it, let me make this suggestion to you. During the hurry of the festive occasion of this Christmas season, find time to turn your heart to God. Perhaps in the quiet hours, and in a quiet place, and on your knees—alone or with loved ones—give thanks for the good things that have come to you, and ask that His Spirit might dwell in you as you earnestly strive to serve Him and keep His commandments" 

-Pres. Howard W. Hunter

Attitude of Gratitude

"Gratitude is a Spirit‑filled principle. It opens our minds to a universe permeated with the richness of a living God. Through it, we become spiritually aware of the wonder of the smallest things, which gladden our hearts with their messages of God's love. This grateful awareness heightens our sensitivity to divine direction. When we communicate gratitude, we can be filled with the Spirit and connected to those around us and the Lord. Gratitude inspires happiness and carries divine influence."

-Bonnie D. Parkin

Ensign, May 2007

Christmas Craft Fair & Boutique

Christmas Craft Fair & Boutique

 

Apache County Fairgrounds

Friday from 2:00-8:00 P.M.

Saturday from 9:00 A.M.-2:00 P.M.

 

Entries for homemade wreaths, ornaments, pies & gingerbread houses will be accepted on Friday from 11:00 A.M.-Noon.

 

Monetary prizes awarded!

 

School groups will be performing on Friday from 6:00-8:00 P.M.

 

Santa will even be there on Saturday at 11:00 A.M.!

 

Come show your support & enjoy the fair!     

Happy Halloween!

St. Johns Halloween Activites

Kids Halloween Parade

4:00 P.M. 

Parade begins at the Courthouse and ends at the City Park, lower ramada.

 Participants will be awarded!

Trunk-or-Treat

Apache County Fairgrounds

Evening

Park your car & please bring candy to give to trunk-or-treaters!

Gingerbread House Contest

2^nd Annual Apache County

Christmas Fair & Boutique

November 9^th & 10^th

Apache County Fairgrounds

Gingerbread House Contest

Entries will be accepted on Friday, November 9, 2012 
from 11:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M.

Judging will begin at 12:15 P.M.

All gingerbread houses must be completely edible!

Monetary prizes will be awarded to the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place winners!

Show your holiday spirit and support the fair with your creativity and participation!

Sand Pudding Recipe

Sand Pudding

Ingredients:

1-1& ½ boxes of vanilla wafers

3-4 Oreo cookies

2 small (3.4 oz) packages French Vanilla pudding

1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese (softened)

¼ cup butter (softened)

2/3 cup powdered sugar

2& ¾ cup milk

12 oz. container Cool Whip

Directions:

Crush the Oreos and vanilla wafers in a food processor to make the “sand”.

In a separate bowl, cream together the cream cheese, butter & powdered sugar.

In another bowl, mix together the pudding and milk.

Add the pudding mixture to the cream cheese mixture.

Fold in the Cool Whip.

Layer into pans or cups/buckets with the “sand” then the pudding mixture, then sand, then pudding, etc.

Enjoy!

-Leslie Nielsen

Thank you, Leslie for this delicious recipe!

Apple Dumplings

 Here is a simple, yet delicious, fall recipe. Make it soon, you won't regret it!


Apple Dumplings

Ingredients

• 2 whole Granny Smith Apples
• 2 cans (8 Oz. Cans) Crescent Rolls
• 2 sticks Butter
• 1-1/2 cup Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• Cinnamon, To Taste
• 1 small can (about a cup or so) Mountain Dew Soda (you can also use Sprite, but I normally use MD. It's a little sweeter & seems to have less carbonation)
  

Preparation Instructions

Peel and core apples. Cut each apple into 8 slices each. Roll each apple slice in a crescent roll. Place in a 9 x 13 pan.
Melt butter, then add sugar and barely stir. Add vanilla, stir, and pour entire mixture over apples. Pour Mountain Dew around the edges of the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Even more delicious when served with vanilla ice cream! Enjoy!

"One of the beautiful things to me in the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that it brings us all to a common level. It is not necessary for a man to be a president of a stake, or a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, in order to attain a high place in the celestial kingdom. The humblest member of the Church, if he keeps the commandments of God, will obtain an exaltation just as much as any other man in the celestial kingdom. The beauty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that it makes us all equal. … As we keep the commandments of the Lord … we have equal opportunities for exaltation."
- George Albert Smith, October 1933

Championship Bean Dip

1 cup refried beans (canned or homemade)

1 cup salsa (canned or homemade)

1 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese

1 cup grated cheddar cheese

¾ cup sour cream

4 oz. cream cheese

1 T. chili powder

Combine all ingredients in a crock pot & cook on high for 1 & ½ to 2 hours, stirring occasionally.

Never alone...

Sometimes it seems that our service may be small compared to the services others may render.  The service of a humble daughter of God, trying to raise her children in the Gospel - keep her marriage strong and eternal, trying to learn and grow and serve IS a great service.  Without good mothers in the home there would be no good missionaries in the field.  Your examples give me strength.  I think of you or look at you and see a person with a great heart, a loving heart, that wants with all her being to do her best and bring happiness to those around her - and it touches my heart. Know, today and everyday, that what you do is important, that your life and hopes and dreams matter and that you are never alone...you are beloved. Angels attend you.

"For we walk by faith, not by sight."

-2 Corinthians 5:7

Happy 4th of July!

"Our fathers' God, to thee,

Author of liberty,

To thee we sing;

Long may our land be bright

With freedom's holy light.

Protect us by they might,

Great God, our King!"

-My Country, 'Tis of Thee, Verse 4

A Worldwide Circle of Sisterhood

"This great circle of sisters will be a protection for each of you and for your families. The Relief Society might be likened to a refuge-the place of safety and protection-the sanctuary of ancient times. You will be safe within it. It encircles each sister like a protecting wall."

-Elder Boyd K. Packer

Sisters, take refuge in knowing that the sisters of our ward are there for you always. Be there for them as well. Let us be instruments in His hands.

Fruit Pizza

Happy first official day of summer! When I think summer, I think fresh & fruity. So here is a simple & delicious fruit pizza recipe. It can be made with any fruit that fits your fancy! Enjoy!

Fruit Pizza

Ingredients

• Sugar cookie dough (2 store bought packages or homemade batch, enough to bake in a sheet cake pan)
  
• 2 jars (13 Ounces Each) Marshmallow Creme
• 2 packages (8 Ounces Each) Cream Cheese
• Peaches
• Kiwi Fruit
• Blueberries
• Pears
• Raspberries
• Other Fruit Optional

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 F.
Press dough into a sheet cake pan OR divide the dough in half and roll each half into a large round, then transfer to pizza pans. Bake for 12-15 minutes until cookie dough is cooked and golden brown, but not overly crisp. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
Using a mixer with a whisk attachment, whip together Marshmallow Creme and cream cheese until light. Spread onto cooled "pizza" crust, then decorate the top generously with sliced fruit. Slice into squares or wedges and serve.

Welcome!

Dear Sisters,

    Welcome to the new Meadows Ward Relief Society blog! This blog has been created to help keep the sisters in touch with what is going on in the ward with calendar events, news, updates, upcoming activities, etc. There will often be recipes, crafts, meal ideas as well as many other things that may be of interest to you posted to the blog. 

   Spiritual thoughts, talks, etc. will also be available to you sisters. To lift us up spiritually, to look at things in an eternal perspective.  

    It will also be a place to check in often to see how other sisters in the ward are doing, to get to know one another better and also to bring us together in sisterhood. We pray that we as sisters, will come together in unity to build up His work. To move forward in faith. To "stand as witnesses of God, at all times, and in all things, and in all places." Let us do so together, in truth.