Exercises For The Soul - Sense of Humor

"Good humor is truly medicine to the soul. Humor can ease tension, relieve uncomfortable or embarrassing situations, change attitudes, generate love and understanding, and add sparkle to life. A properly developed sense of humor is sensitive to others' feelings and is flavored with kindness and understanding." (Family Home Evening Resource Book p. 197) Scripture: A merry heart doeth good like a medicine. Proverbs 17:22 In January of 1847 the Saints endured severe trials at Winter Quarters. They had been brutally forced from their homes and were suffering from cold, starvation, and the loss of loved ones. In the midst of their sorrow came a revelation to help prepare them for their journey west. Read; D&C 136:28-29 Explain that the Lord wants us to feel joy even during hardships and trials. Describe: How a pressure cooker works. ( The sealed pot builds up a tremendous amount of steam inside it in order tospeed up the cooking process. As a safety measure, however, it releases excess steam through a safety valve, which keeps the cooker from exploding.) Point out that pressures and problems can build up in all of us until we feel like exploding in anger or tears. One safety valve the Lord has given us is a sense of humor. Discuss: How can humor release frustrations and put problems in a different light? True story: When we lived in Canada, my dad had to have a clean white shirt evey Sunday morning. (He was the Branch President of our small Vanderhoof Branch.) My mother didn't always have one ready which is understandable because we got all our water out of the creek and things had to be washed by hand. One Sunday morning we were waiting in the car to go to church while mom put the finishing touches on Sunday dinner which would cook while we were away. When mom hurriedly joined us in the car we all looked at why she gasped and ran back into the house. There sat my dad in the car with his Sunday suit on, a tie around his bare neck, and no shirt. My mother said it was the fastest she had ever ironed a white shirt and he always had a clean, pressed white shirt waiting for him in the future. I learned a great lesson that day. Using humor, my dad was able to change behavior without nagging or causing contention in the family. Help family members understand that humor must be appropriate to fulfill its proper purpose. Read the following from Elder Richard L. Evans: "There is both dignified and undignified humor. There is loud-mouthed humor, uncouth humor. There is evil, offensive humor. And there is high-minded. delightful humor." (Richard l. Evans' Quote Book p. 221). Discuss what makes appropriate humor. Stress that humor that degrades, embarrasses or is based on sarcasm or indecent situations is inappropriate. We should never make fun of another's physical indirmities or handicaps, ethnic or racial differences, the sanctity of the body or sacred things. Help family members understand that even people in important positions in the Church see humor in serious matters without making light of spiritual things. We, too, can be light hearted without being light-minded or silly. Assignment: As a family, try to find humor in a problem you are facing right now. Encourage family members to help family members see the humor in future problems. Role-play some possible embarrassing situations and let family members find humor in the situations. (e.g. At a party someone points out that you have on one black shoe and one brown. Possible response: "I have another pair at home just like them.") Possible song: Smiles (Sing With Me p. D-5) Persons of the Week: Bella and Maya Kern for making beautiful St. Patrick's Day cards and sending them to Grandma and Grandpa Kern.

Recipes

This Stephanie and I are making Lazy Dazy Oatmeal Cake. The recipe is in the red cookbook we made called "Cooking Lessons". Last week we made Clam Chowder. I think you all have this recipe. If you want it give me a call. ( I made a mistake and told Stephanie to use 1/2 as much flour for thickening as it called for. I felt bad but it still tasted delicious and I think I am always going to use less thickener as I liked it less thick.) I thought I would include a recipe Stephanie made for us. It is super easy and tastes good! Mexican Casserole tortillas (She used flour tortillas) 2 cans Hormel Chili with beans 1 can cr. of chicken soup 2 chicken breasts, cooked and chopped grated cheese Cut tortillas into 1/4s and cover the bottom of a casserole dish with a layer of tortillas. Mix chili, cr. of chicken soup, and chicken pieces together. Cover the tortillas with 1/2 of this mixture and sprinkle with grated cheese. Repeat layering tortillas, chili mixture and cheese. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 min. What could be easier than that?

Exrcises For The Soul - Adversity

"Adversity is part of Heavenly Father's plan for us here upon the earth. We are here to be proven - to do whatever God commands us to do. (See Abraham 3:25) As we struggle to meet trials, we grow and develop qualities that we can attain in no other way. When we seek his help, our Heavenly Father will strengthen us and make us equal to the trials that come to us." (Family Home Evening Resource manuel) Scripture: "Know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. Doctrinw and Covenants 122:7 Discuss: As we cope with our trials and adversity we can develop God-given strengths. (See Gospel Principles manuel 1979 p. 11 and 2nd Nephi 2:11) Story: Relate Joseph Smith's experience in Liberty Jail as found in D&C 121 and 122. Ask: What are some of the blessings that came to the prophet and have come to all of us as a result of this experience? (He studied and increased in knowledge and understanding while there. He continued to receive revelations and, through his writings, direct the church. He grew in compassion.) Read Joseph's statement: "I think I could never have felt as I do now if I had not sufferedd the wrongs I have suffered. It has awakened my soul to the love of God" (History of the Church 3:290). Read D&C 121:7 Ask What can we learn from the fact that the prophet Joseph Smith received the blessing of peace in the midst of affliction in Liberty Jail? (We can pray for and receive peace of mind in any adversity that may come to us.) Tell: about a trial from your own life or one of your ancestors that has strengthened and blessed you. If desired, family members can tell of their own trials. (For example, Sickness can increase our compassion for the sick and our appreciation of good health.) Encourage family members to recognize trials as challenges and remind them to seek the Lord's help in overcoming them. Compare life to a kite. The following parallels may help in your discussion: Kite: Each one of us is like a kite. Wind: Trials, like the wind, push against us each day. The resistance it provides, keeps us up and going. String: We have the gospel which, like the string of a kite, directs, controls, and anchors our lives Activity: Have family members help make a purchased or homemade kite. Fly it. (This can be a separate activity at another time.) Person of the week: Kennedy Oman for making a card and bringing other gifts to her sister, Taylor, when she was sick and in the hospital.

Easy Calzones

Stephanie and I used Rodes frozen bread to make a variety of things yesterday, I love to use Rhodes frozen bread dough. I learned about it when I was a busy, young mother. Even though home made bread dough is a good art to learn, this makes a good alternative. I like my daughter-in- law's approach. When people compliment her and ask her for the recipe when she uses frozen bread, she just says, "It's an old family recipe. " and usually doesn't have to go any further. I learned while taking it to the cabin over the years, it is pretty hard to destroy and tastes good hot or cold. Although you can make many things with the bread (scones, a variety of dinner rolls, cinnamon rolls, pecan rolls, monkey bread, hotdog or hamburger buns,), we concentrated on making calzones. I don't know if it the MS or that I am close to the Sr. discount age, but I can't multi-task very well these days. Yesterday I was trying to give instructions to Stephanie and BLOG at the same time. I didn't do either one very well. Here is the recipe for Calzones given to me over the phone by Emily Reil Kern.

Easy Calzones

thawed frozen Rhodes bread dough ( one thing I learned over the years is that you can punch down raised Rhodes one or more times without ruining the quality of the bread dough.)
Tomato sauce or sauce you like such as Prego or Ragu
Anything you like on a pizza (we used pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, canned mushrooms, black olives.tomato sauce.)
Roll out into a circle about 1/4 inch thick 1/2 0r 1/3 of a loaf of dough. ( I had never made these before and should have had a clue that 1/2 a loaf of bread would make a lot.)
Spread some tomato sauce on 1/2 of the circle of dough leaving a margin of at least 1 inch around the edges.
Top with your choice of pizza toppings being careful not to overstuff.
Pinch the edges together making a semi-circle. Dough can be sealed with beaten egg brushed on.
If a shiny crust is desired, brush crust with remaining beaten egg.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 - 25 min. or until crust sounds hollow when tapped.

We each ate 1/2 calzone for lunch and were very full. Later in the week Ralph cut the calzone into strips. Two strips were plenty.
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EXERCISES FOR THE SOUL - Unselfishness

"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
- Matthew 16:26

I love this scripture. " Our Savior's the perfect example of unselfishness. If we are to follow his example, we must be concerned with the needs and feelings of others. We must be able to put our own wants and needs aside to show love and concern for others.' (FHE Resource book, p.222)

(Scripture Story) Review the story of the rich young man (See Matthew 19:16-22)
Ask: Why was the young man unable to do what the Savior asked him to do?
Define selfishness. (clinging to your own comfort, advantage or position at the expense of others). Theodore M. Burton has said that true love is the exact opposite of selfishness. (See Conference Report Apr. 1979 p. 100 or May Ensign, 1079, p. 72).

President Monson's story: When President Monson was a young boy, he received a train for Christmas. His mother had purchased a smaller wind-up train for Mark, a needy boy in the neighborhood. She allowed young Tom to keep an oil tanker out of the wind-up train set. But when he saw how happy Mark was with the wind-up train, he ran home, got the oil tanker, plus another car from his own train, and gave them to Mark. (See " Mark's Train," Friend, Oct.1977,p. 16.).

Write the following teachings on wordstrips or slips of paper. Have family members draw them out of a bowl and explain how they relate to unselfishness..

1. "Love one another." (John 13:34)
2. "Whosoever will lose his life for my sake, shall find it."(Matthew 16:25)
3. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God." (Matthew 6:33)
4. "Let every man esteem his brother as himself" (D&C 38:24).
5. "Love thy neighbor as thyself." (Matthew 22; ).
6. Any others of your choice.

ASK: Why has the Lord placed such emphasis on our learning to become unselfish? (Point out that selfishness comes naturally and easily, and it takes struggle and growth to rid ourselves of self-centeredness. But one of the purposeses of this life is to overcome our weaknesses and become Christlike.)

Assign: One or more members of the family to become reporters throughout the coming week. Ask them to observe others during the coming week and prepare a report on their acts of unselfishness.

Possible Songs: Jesuz Said Love Everyone, Sing With Me B-51 or Who's On The Lord's Side? Hymns 175

Person of the Week: Alayna Hill She practices doing math so much she is getting really good. She even does Sudoku puzzles which I can't evven do.

3 BEAN CASSEROLE

This week we made 3 Bean Casserole. This is a hearty and good tasting dish which is easy to make. I used to make it when I was assigned to take a meal to someone. I had a friend whosehusband was out of work for many weeks. She was thankful for every one's generosity but confessed that she was really tired of turkey. This casserole avoids many specific food allergies, tastes and other idiosyncracies and tastes good too. When I tasted it recently, it was just as good as I remembered it.

3 BEAN CASSEROLE

2 #303 cans pork 'n' beans. drained
1 #303 can red kidney beans, drained
1 #303 can small lima beans, drained
1 lb. hamburger browned witth
1/2 c. diced onion
1/4 lb. bacon, cut in 1 inch pieces
Add: 1/2 c. ketchup
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 T worcestershire
Mix all ingredients andi smmer for 1 hour on stove ( The recipe says you can bake it in a 350 degree oven for two hours but I have never tried this.)

Add some bread and butter, a salad or fruit and you have a meal.

MaChel's Story

(I couldn't find the story when I wrote the most recent FHE BLOG on self esteem so here it is now,)

In my Dad's family tree at least one person of many, many generationns has been blessed with the Wiser Gap...a large space between the two front teeth. I have fun pictures of me in grade school smiling my way through until about 5th grade when I was teased about my teeth. From then on, I never I never opened my lips to smile until I was a junior in high school.

Dad was a poor farmer and money to fix teeth (especially when mine looked just like his) was not really an option. But when I was in high school Dad got a new job and things were much improved. My older brother and sister were married and so Mom, who had listened to me over the years, understood and took me to see Dr. Hall in Twin Falls. I had two surgeries to remove skin between my teeth. Then over a five month stretch of healing, making gooey molds, and then resizing my two front teeth down to little slivers - painful and disgusting - Dr. Hall fitted me with caps. They were disgustingly yellow and did not fit my mouth, but these were the olden days when this was al new stuff. I just kept my mouth closed for two more weeks until my real porcelain caps were ready and put in place. They matched. They felt great. And they alm0st t0uched, just a barely noticeable, small sliver left of my Wiser Gap. A huge improvement!

Mom said I didn't have to go back to school that day, but I insisted. I felt like an entirely different person. I wanted to show off my teeth! I chatted with everyone, smiling all the while. No one said one thing about my teeth! I thought they were just being nice. Finally with 4 or 5 of my closest friends around me, I burst out, "Look! Look at my teeth! I can hardly stand how much I love them." They looked curiously at one another and then Karen said, "They look great but why are they new?" Exasperated I reminded them of the horrid space and all I'd silently suffered to come to this moment. Connie said, " Isn't that weird? I never noticed." AHHHHHHH! Could it really be true that it didn't matter? It mattered to me, but it was unbelievably surprising that I seemed to be the only one. Worrying over the Wizer Gap took years of energy. Amazing huh?