Steadfast Faith in Christ: A Sure Foundation

Things are going great. Although, it seems as if the opposition is heating up. Two days ago we had a challenging encounter. My companion and I resolved to tract a certain street. As soon as we stepped out of the car we met a gentleman who was getting ready to change his oil filter. He immediately asked if he was on our "list". We reassured him our meeting was simple coincidental and ask if he had visited with missionaries before. He said they visited him but . . (more)

Recipe of the Week

Jenn’s Amazing Smoothie Recipe
from Jennifer Hatch

This is so amazing you will be smiling all day! My daughter Alyssa and I drink this for breakfast all the time.

In a blender, combine:

• 1 cup of plain yogurt
• 1 and ½ cups of frozen strawberries (I let them thaw about 20 min so they are easier to blend but don’t over thaw because the frozen-ness makes it taste better).
• 1 ripe banana cut into pieces
• 1 capful of vanilla (about a teaspoon)
• 2 squirts of honey (or your preference depending on your sweetness desire)
• ½ of cup of non-fat dry milk
• You can also add any vitamin powders that you like. There is a Flaxeed one I like a lot that has no taste. It is called “Omega 3 Brain Booster.”

Blend. Enjoy!

RS Weekly Update: Monday, July 7th through Sunday, July 13th

First and Foremost:

Thanks to Kelly Lyon, Natalie Rucker, Arlena Puffer, Marsha Johnson, and everyone else who helped make the 4th of July pancake breakfast such a success. Pictures from the event can be found here.

Important Notice:

• SCHEDULE CHANGE: In reviewing this week, we realized that we have over-scheduled Enrichment activities due to poor communication and non-availability of instructors. Therefore, there will be no Cooking Club this week. Rather, it has been rescheduled for Tuesday, July 29th at 7:00 pm. Mandy Davies will be teaching Chinese Cooking. Starting in August, the Cooking Club will occupy its permanent time slot as the third Tuesday of every month, 7:00 pm.
  

This Week:

• Remember, the temple will be closed for maintenance both this week and next, and will reopen to its usual schedule on Tuesday, July 22, 2008. Consider volunteering to help fulfill our ward's cleaning shift assignments. Contact Brother Roger Lyon for more information.
• Homemaking 101: Easy Curtains & Valences: Thursday, July 10th, 7pm @ Hafer Road. Contact Sister Ginger Paruszewski for material requirements, etc.
• BGDC: Compassionate Crocheting: Friday, July 11th, 10:00 am @ Hafer Road. Come learn to crochet (or come ready to coach), as we crochet afghans for sisters in the ward. Each sister is asked to bring a skein of yarn. Sister Claudia Del Papa for the specifics.
  
• Garden Club: Fall Features Field Trip: Friday, July 10:30am @ Heiden's Feed Store (map it). Come for special instruction regarding what plants make the best fall gardens, and how to successfully grow fruit trees in southeast Texas.
  

Sunday's Lesson:

Teachings of Joseph Smith, Lesson 12: Proclaim Glad Tidings to All the World, by Maralyn Reid

Upcoming Ward Events:

• Thursday, July 17, 7pm Stake and Ward Temple Recommend Interviews at Hafer Road.
  
• Tuesday, July 22nd, 10am session: Relief Society Temple Day,
• Thursday, July 24th, 7pm session: Ward Temple Day.
• Monday, August 25th: School starts for both Klein and Spring ISD's.

Visiting Teaching:

• July Message: All Human Beings Are Created in the Image of God
• If you have sisters you did not see on Sunday, please mail them a copy of the Relief Society Newsletter. Copies are available in the foyer every Sunday, or can be found online in pdf format at http://groups.google.com/group/oldeoaksrs. Also, consider referring them to our blog at http://oorsweeklyupdate.blogspot.com which I hope will be laced with much useful information, both temporal and spiritual.

Preparedness:

New from Sister Cheryl Driggs this week are two offerings, guidelines for both long-term and short-term storage. Visit http://groups.google.com/group/oldeoaksrs to log in. Then follow the link in the index. They can also be downloaded by visiting the "files" page.

Enrichment:

• Homemaking 101, BGDC crocheting, and Garden Club field trip this week (see above).
  
• Thursday, July 18th, 10 am @ Hafer: BGDC: Jewelry making with Sister Melissa Bowcutt.
• Tuesday, July 22nd, 10am session: Relief Society Temple Day,
• Thursday, July 24th, 7pm session: Ward Temple Day.
  
• Friday, July 25th, 10am: BGDC: Field trip to the Children's Museum of Houston.
• Tuesday, August 29th, 7 pm: Cooking Club: Chinese Cooking with Mandy Davies.
• Friday, August 1st, 8:30 pm: SUGGESTED FAMILY ACTIVITY: Shakespearean Festival at Miller Outdoor Theater.

Our intent is to edify rather than harry the sisters of the Olde Oaks Ward. Enrichment activities are developed to foster socialization and address the needs of specific interest groups. No one should feel obligated to attend. If you have ideas for low- or no-cost activities, if you would like to learn a skill we have not addressed, or if you have a talent you would like to share, please, let us know. Enrichment Committee: Jeanette Schadler, Claudia Del Papa, Marilyn Bullock.

Recurring Events:

• 2nd Thursday of every month: Gardening Club
• 3rd Tuesday of every month: Cooking Club
• 3rd Thursday of every month: Temple Recommend Interviews
  
• 4th Tuesday of every month: Relief Society Temple Day
• 4th Thursday of every month: Ward Temple Day

Preach My Gospel: "My Testimony" by Sharon Hansen

Dear Sisters, I asked Sister Hansen to write this up for me for our August newsletter, but it's too great not to pass on. It's plain to see, Sister Hansen will be a fabulous addition to our Relief Society. Penny Freeman

From: Sharon Hansen
Date: Sun, Jul 6, 2008 at 10:41 AM

Dear Sisters: Sister Freeman has invited me to take a minute and share my testimony with you, thank you for this opportunity Sister Freeman.

What a wonderful opportunity it has been for my husband and I to accept a call to serve in the Houston Texas Mission. We love everything about Texas including ya'll, howdy & fixin to, blue bonnets, Blue Bell ice cream and Texas BBQ, the members of the Olde Oaks Ward, the temple and our dear Missionaries. We love the Lord and have great gratitude for his precious resurrection and atonement for us all.

I think of the magnificient scene on the day Jesus was baptized as referenced in Matt. 3:16, where we have a witness of God the Father, his son Jesus Christ and that great testifier, the Holy Ghost. You might remember that when the Savior arose from the waters of baptism the heavens opened and the spirit of God descended like a dove, witnessing the Holy Ghost. Then followed, "Behold this is my beloved son...", verifying the presence of the Father, as the Savior stood before those who were present. What a sacred event.

I testify of the reality of these three. They live! They extend tender mercies upon us daily, as we are tutored through lifes experiences learning good from evil. I love the words in 2 Ne. 25: 26 "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins".

I look forward to meeting each one of you and pray to walk arm in arm with you as disciples these next three year. With love and in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Blog of the Week: I Love Pretty Paper

I Love Pretty Paper

• In the interest of full disclosure, I should state here that the author of this blog, Tomi Ann Hill, is my niece -- one of my favorite, in point of fact. However, the dipping into my gene pool hasn't prevented her from becoming a fabulously talented and creative person. I have very carefully avoided catching pretty paper preoccupation, but I know some of you have it bad, so here it is.
• If you are into scrap-booking or card-making, this is truly a great site. Not only does Tomi share tons of photos of her charming ideas, but she also gives step-by-step instructions on how to make them. She reviews her wide assortment of tools, introduces new papers and other materials, and shares tips and secrets on how she works her magic.
• Finally, her list of links to other paper-craft sites and blogs is extensive, many of which are absolutely fabulous. If you are inclined to venture into the wonderland which is the world of paper craft, Tomi's site is the perfect rabbit hole in which to fall. http://tomiannie.blogspot.com.