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.

I Am the Bread of Life

Picnic in the Park

Spring Fling!!

Thank you to all of the ladies who came out to Sister Gardner's home for our April 19th Spring Fling!!

Delicious treats, silly games, and great friends made for a really fun night for everyone.

Take a look at the festivities below.

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The evening began with Mingle Bingo which helped all of our sisters get to know one another.  Congrats to our Bingo Winners!!  Way to go Sister Knowles for getting a full black-out win!!

Then, it was time to dish up the sweets.  Thank you to all those who brought a yummy treat to share.  Everything was so good -- I'll be expecting to see some submitted recipes for our Tasty Tuesdays.  Hint, hint.

Sorry there were no photos taken during the Apples to Apples games; we were just having way too great a time!!  I'll have to stay on my toes for the next one.

We hope to see all of you ladies next month for our May Relief Society Activity which will be a combined activity led by Bro. Kent Loveless.  Married sisters and their spouses as well as singles and the Priests and Laurels are invited to attend.

May 19th, 2011

7pm in the Multi-purpose Room @ Stake Center

Spring Fling!

"Change From the Heart"

On Tuesday, March 15th at 6:30pm, the Brownsville Relief Society embarked on a beautiful mission.  Thirty-six sisters attended the "Change From the Heart" Relief Society Dinner and Program and were treated to a delicious meal (thank you for all the kitchen and clean-up help!), a gorgeous song by Monica Anderson, Michelle Pitcher, and Sandy Pitcher, a beautiful testimony offered by Tshidi Christensen and a very informative slideshow presentation by Sue Frandsen and Lisa Leach on the needs of some very deserving children in the Eternal Hope Orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya in Africa.

Our hearts are touched by the plights of these young children of God who merit the kind of spiritual attention we all can provide.  That is why each sister who attended received not only an introduction to the aid we can supply, but a small change purse (sewn by our very own RS president, Andrea) with which to collect any loose change throughout the year.

Each week, on Sunday, a Bus bank will be provided in the Relief Society room to store the donated change that has been collected.  This money will be used to secure the bus needed to transport the children to church.  Last night, we collected just under $35.00!!  Throughout the year, we will also have opportunities to provide simple church clothing for the children.

Our focus this year, with this Humanitarian effort, will be to administer to these children through spiritual means.  The kick-off to this effort had an incredible turn-out and huge thanks go out to all who attended and those who contributed to the evening's program.  If you were unable to attend and would like to take part in this endeavor, please contact the RS presidency to receive a change purse and find out more!

Stay tuned for the recipe for those delicious chocolate-cinnamon mousse pastries!!

Check out the festivities:

Change From the Heart

"To Walk in My Shoes" Recap

Thank you to all of the sisters who made it out to our Tuesday, February 15th activity, "To Walk in My Shoes." We had the opportunity to hear some great stories and get to know one another just a little better. Awesome shoe choices, everyone!!

It's no secret that we forgot to bring a camera to record the event but here's an idea of what went down.
Each sister was asked to bring a pair of shoes that told a story. After lining all the shoes up, we played a guessing game in order to figure out whose shoes were whose. Such fun! Congratulations to Andrea for getting the most match-ups correct! Congratulations also go to Sandy Pitcher for oldest pair of shoes, passed down from her grandmother. There were some yummy cupcakes with a delicious almond vanilla frosting and each sister was able to take home their very own goody bag of soaking salts - for tired feet.

In addition to the shoe/owner guessing game, we all had the chance to pamper ourselves with foot baths. The peppermint recipe smelled so refreshing as our worries were whisked away.


Thank you, again, to all who participated. We hope you enjoyed yourselves. If you missed out, stay tuned for future Relief Society activities and events.

To Walk in My Shoes

ZUMBA - Brownsville's Got Some Moves!!

Thank you to all the Relief Society Sisters and Young Women who came out for the Combined Zumba Activity! Here's a look at how the evening went. Looking good, ladies!

Zumba

Fall Into Service

The evening was a great success with well over 30 kits for new mothers assembled.  Thank you to all who participated!!

Here are some pictures from the evening.

Welcome.

A teardrop on earth, summons the King of Heaven and he answers with the gift of Sisterhood.

Chicken pot pie, wedge salad with caramel gingerbread cake.

Let the service project begin.