Fall Decor

 

Put flowers in a pumpkin instead of a vase! Makes a beautiful and creative decoration and/or centerpiece.

 

Simply cut out the center of the pumpkin, clean out the pumpkin and place a clean empty can in the center. Fill with your favorite flowers or a candle.

 

Genius!

 

 

Crockpot Italian Chicken

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts
• 1 packet dry Zesty Italian dressing
• 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
• 1-2 cans cream of chicken soup (depending how cream cheesy you want it)                                                                   

Instructions

1. Place the chicken in a crockpot and sprinkle Italian dressing over it. Combine cream cheese and cream of chicken soup in a small pot over low heat and pour over chicken. Cook on low in the crockpot for at least 4 hours. You can leave it in there all day. Once chicken is done you can leave the chicken breasts whole, cube it, or even shred it. I always cut the breasts into tenderloin size strips.
2. Once you have cut up the chicken, throw it back in the crockpot and stir into the sauce. If you feel the sauce is too thick you can thin it to your preferred consistency with a little milk. Serve over pasta or rice.

It's a Wonderful SJ Life

The following blog post if from the new St. Johns Stake Digital Mission blog. It is a new blog that will be posting stories/experiences of this wonderful community we live in. When you get a chance, go to wonderfulsjlife.blogspot.com to read this post as well as many others. We live in a beautiful community and it is so refreshing to read of the positive!

Live Like You Were Dying

When I think about the kind of people we have in our small community of St. Johns, it reminds me of a story I once heard about an old farmer who, with shovel in hand, was standing at the edge of the road irrigating his field, when a young man with his family pulled their vehicle over to the side of his field. The farmer walked over to see if they needed any direction or if he could help them in any way. As he approached the open window of the car, the father of the family said hello and then told the farmer they were thinking of moving into this small community and then asked the farmer what the people who lived here were like. With just a moment's thought, the farmer replied, "What kind of people lived in the town you just moved from?"

I have lived here 53 years, and I have seen many good times. But as everyone knows, we are without a doubt going to go through some hard times as well.

I am going to try to explain where I am going with this.

We have Heap reunions, Crosby reunions, and family gatherings where we have our children and grandchildren come. We bless babies and watch over our families.

Then something happens. Someone close to us loses a loved one, a son in his teens or an only child. It is hard to be around your friends when their hearts are broken. You feel like no matter what you say, their spirits can't be lifted. I was in a heartbroken home and watched as friends from all over town came to their home with food and love and concern for the parents who had lost their young child.

We can gain many good experiences when our lives are going well, but on the other hand, when tragedy enters our lives, we can have the opportunity to learn and grow strong if we will rely on our Heavenly Father. We can gain the knowledge that He is with us and will be by our side through our hard times, just as our friends and family are.

All we have to do is ask for His help, and He will give it.

It has boosted my faith to watch my friends and family in hard times and good times here in this small community.

I would like to add one more experience that I will remember for the rest of my life.

I have a good friend whose name is Lee Jaramillo. Like myself, he has lived in this community all his life. He has served his country in the military. His wife's name was Delores. I didn't know Delores as well as I know Lee until I attended her funeral. Sounds interesting that I could learn something about someone at their funeral, but I did, and it was a very memorable moment for me. She was one of those unfortunate loved ones here in our town who passed away because of cancer. She fought it for some time, but she lived long enough to write her own eulogy.

Hearing it was quite an experience. She stated how much she loved this town and all the people in it and said that no matter who you were, when hard times or something terrible happens, that the town will be there to help and lift each other. She was the type of person that makes this little town what it really is.

Tim McGraw sings that he hopes that we can have the chance to live like we were dying. If we knew today might be our last, we might realize how short life really is and be a better person.

I know that when adversity comes my way, I will be able to rely on my family, my friends, and uppermost, my Heavenly Father.

Jeff Raban
September 15, 2013 

"There are so many people in need whom we could be thinking about instead of ourselves. And please don’t ever forget your own family, your own wife (husband). There are so many ways we could be serving. We have no time to become absorbed in ourselves.”

-Pres. Uchtdorf

Words to live by...

Happy Flag Day!

Here is a simple craft to do and display during the fun, patriotic summer months.

Simply paint blocks in the red, white and blue colors shown. Use a stencil to add the white star in the corner. Tie it all together with ribbon and VOILA...a way to show your patriotism and crafty side!

When life hands you lemons...

...make lemon cake!

 

Lemon Cake

 

Ingredients:

1 Package Lemon Cake Mix

1 Package Instant Lemon Pudding Mix

1 3/4 Cup Water

3 Egg Whites

3/4 Cup Milk

1/2 tsp. Lemon Extract

1 Package Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix

1 Carton (8 oz.) Frozen Whipped Topping

 

Combine first 4 ingredients. Beat on low speed for 1 minute. Pour into 9 x 13 x 2 in. baking pan coated with non-stick cooking spray. Bake 23-28 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool.

In mixing bowl, combine milk, extract and vanilla pudding mix. Beat on low for 2 minutes. Fold in whipped topping. Spread over cake and refrigerate.

"In this beautiful time of year, we remember that death has no sting and the grave has no dominion. I testify that after every winter’s season there is the miracle of springtime ahead—in our personal journey through life as well as in nature. These restorations and renewals are a gift from the Lord Jesus Christ, the ultimate “man for all seasons."

-Pres. Howard W. Hunter

Conversation Heart Topiary

 

Styrofoam ball, glue gun, conversation hearts. 

Simple as that!

Enchilada Soup

Here is an easy soup recipe for when you want to warm up on these cold winter days!

Enchilada Soup

2 large cans Macayo red enchilada sauce

1 can Las Palmas or Stoke’s green chili sauce

1 can cheddar cheese soup

1 $ ½ cups grated cheddar cheese

½ cup sour cream

2 cups cooked chicken breast (shredded)

Mix chili sauces & soup over low heat. Stir in cheese & sour cream until melted.

Add chicken. Heat 30 minutes on low.

Serve with grated cheese, tomatoes, green onion, sour cream & tortilla chips.