In the Limelight

Last night we had a wonderful evening eating, visiting and learning new things about one another.
 

We began with dinner.

Dinner is served

A delicious Cafe Rio inspired salad was served along with Sprite and the tastiest Key Lime Cheesecake.

Cafe Rio Pulled Pork Salad
Recipe Below

Key Lime Cheesecake
Recipe Below

We asked each sister to bring 3 things that represented themselves.  The items were numbered and set out in preparation for a game.  After dinner we had the sisters try and match up the items with the sister who brought them.  We then went down the table and had each sister come and tell us what they brought and how those items were a reflection them. 

In the Limelight Game

We found out that there are so many sisters who love to read!  We love our families, the gospel, music, crafting, chocolate, shopping, cooking and running (gasp!) -- just to name a few things the sisters in attendance had in common.

We found that we have differences too.  I'm pretty sure I've only met one sister whose favorite color is orange.  Chapstick is a must for one sisters lips.  We come from different states, or in a couple of cases countries.  And one sisters daily diet requires shredded mini wheats.

Even though our likes, interests, and talents may be different we all belong to Relief Society.


Sister Tania Ostrander and Sister Heather Farley both shared their thoughts on how belonging to Relief Society blesses them even though they serve in other organizations and are unable to attend Sunday Relief Society meetings.  (Thank you for participating!)


Sister Byron then shared the following from a talk given by Sister Bonnie Parkin titled, "Belonging is our Sacred Birthright".  Sister Parkin says:

"In these perilous times, I find comfort in the promise that "if [we] are prepared [we] shall not fear.” Relief Society helps us be prepared—not just temporally, but spiritually. But Relief Society cannot help in our preparation without our participation! I worry that some of you feel you don’t fit in Relief Society, that you don’t belong! Whether you feel too young or too old, too rich or too poor, too intelligent or too undereducated, none of us is too different to belong! If I could have my heart’s desire, it would be that every one of you feel like you fit, like you belong. I testify that you do fit, that you do belong to Relief Society—the Good Shepherd’s fold for women.

I empathize with President Joseph F. Smith when he said back in 1907, “Today it is too much the case that our young, vigorous, intelligent women feel that only the aged should be connected with the Relief Society.” Then he declared, “This is a mistake.”

 

I recently visited Ethiopia, where I met Jennifer Smith. If ever a woman could say she didn’t fit, it was Sister Smith. She said: “I was so unlike any other [sister] in our branch. Language, clothing, culture, all seemed to be [a] gap [between us. But] when we spoke of the Savior … the gap narrowed. When we spoke of a loving Heavenly Father … , there was no gap.” She continued, “We cannot change nor take away the burdens of others, but we can include and belong to each other in love.”

Whether we serve in Primary or Young Women, whether we’re active or less so, whether we’re married or single, whether we’re spring chickens or fall hens, we all belong to Relief Society. I’m a fall hen, but I feel like a spring chicken! We need your voices, your feelings, your hearts. Relief Society needs you. And you know what? You need Relief Society. When you don’t participate, you’re depriving yourself and you’re depriving Relief Society.

Sisters, we can have no divisions in Relief Society; all “members should have the same care one for another.” “And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.” For “the body hath need of every member, that all may be edified together, that the system may be kept perfect.”

Sisters we love you and hope that as you participate in the Brownsville Ward Relief Society you will feel as if you belong!

Recipes:

Tomatillo Dressing: blend and chill the following:

1pkg. dry ranch dressing mix

3 tomatillos

1 cup mayo

1 cup buttermilk

1 cup chopped cilantro

2 gloves garlic

Sweet Pork

6 lb boneless pork roast

1 16 oz bottle taco sauce (I use La mild red or green enchilada sauce)

1 12 oz can cola

2 cup brown sugar (I put in ½ cup brown sugar, the 2 cups was way too sweet for me)

Cook in crock-pot or roaster oven all day: 2 hr before serving, drain juices, remove fat, and shred. Add taco sauce, cola, and brown sugar. Cook 2 hours longer.

Salad also includes cheese, rice, black beans, lettuce and tortilla strips.  To assemble, place a tortilla in a bowl.  Sprinkle with cheese.  Add 3/4 cups pork, 1/2 cup rice, 1/2 cup drained black beans.  Top with shredded lettuce, more cheese for color and some fried tortilla chips.  Serve dressing, pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream and lemon wedge on the side.

Key lime cheesecakes

Crust

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

¼ cup butter melted

1/4 cup coconut

1 ½ Tablespoons sugar

Mix and press in bottom of 12 jumbo cupcake wrappers.

Cheesecake
2 packages cream cheese

1 can sweetened condensed milk

¼ cup key lime juice

Green food coloring

Mix all in bowl until smooth and spoon over crusts. Let refrigerate.

When set add a spoonful of Cool Whip and a sprinkle of toasted coconut.