Gift #12...the last gift of Christmas

This has been so much fun sharing these daily gifts with you...We hope you have enjoyed it and it has brought a little more of the true spirit of Christmas to your home. We love you and wish you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!



Click here to read the Christmas Story









P.S. We'd love to see who's been enjoying this...please leave us a comment to let us know you have been reading the blog!

Gift #11

Each of us is an innkeeper, who decides if there is room for Jesus. -Neal A. Maxwell

Gift #10

Christmas is a time when we can all learn from a child's gratitude and love for Jesus Christ. See the meaning and the story of Christmas through the eyes of children...

Gift#9

The kids will be home from school early tomorrow for the rest of the year...are you ready?!

Here are some fun christmas activities for families from LDS.org Click Here

Gift #8

"The spirit of giving gifts has been present in the mind of each Christian as he or she commemorates the Christmas season. Our Heavenly Father gave to us His Son, Jesus Christ. That precious Son gave to us His life, the Atonement, and victory over the grave.
"What will you and I give for Christmas this year? Let us in our lives give to our Lord and Savior the gift of gratitude by living His teachings and following in His footsteps. It was said of Him that He 'went about doing good.' As we do likewise, the Christmas spirit will be ours."

~~Thomas S. Monson

Gift #7

I so LOVE that our dear leaders quote Dr. Seuss. My family loves this talk. I hope yours do too!

(click on the big arrow to watch and click on the little box on the bottom right hand with 4 arrows pointing out to make it bigger)

Gift #6

No words....just pictures...

Gift #5

Gift #4

I could not get the video to post here...so CLICK HERE and watch it on the new lds.org. It is a little different than the "normal" chrismas movie, but so touching and true. I hope you enjoy it!

We love you all and hope you are having a JOYous Christmas season so far!!

Gift #3

This past Sunday, Sister Jensen gave a wonderful message in Primary for Sharing Time. She spoke of how our Saviour Jesus Christ is one of our greatest gifts that we have recieved, and that perhaps this Christmas we should give a gift to HIM for all he's done for us. How can we possibly give a gift to Christ you ask? Well, I found a story that I think can give us an idea of how we can achieve our gift to Christ... enjoy! :)

The Tradition

It’s just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past 10 years or so.

It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas—oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it- overspending… the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma—the gifts given in desperation because you couldn’t think of anything else. Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way.

Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended; and shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church, mostly black. These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes. As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler's ears. It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford.

Well, we ended up walloping them. We took every weight class. And as each of their boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tatters with false bravado, a kind of street pride that couldn’t knowledge defeat.

Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, “I wish just one of them could have won,” he said. “They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them.” Mike loved kids-all kids-and he knew them, having coached little league football, baseball and lacrosse.

That’s when the idea for his present came. That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church. On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me. His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and in succeeding years. For each Christmas, I followed the tradition—one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas, and on and on.

The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning and our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents. As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the envelope never lost its allure. The story doesn’t end there.

You see, we lost Mike last year due to dreaded cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up. But Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree, and in the morning, it was joined by three more. Each of our children, unbeknownst to the others, had placed an envelope on the tree for their dad. The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with our grandchildren standing around the tree with wide- eyed anticipation watching as their fathers take down the envelope. Mike’s spirit, like the Christmas spirit, will always be with us.

– Author Unknown

We may not always be able to give this gift in the form of donating money, but even if we could donate some of our TIME to someone. Perhaps to someone who is lonely and simply needs a friend this Holiday Season, that's all it takes. Christmas is the Season for GIVING. So may we take a little time out of our busy Holiday Schedule to GIVE back to Christ this Christmas. :)

Gift #2

The Christmas Orange
Sometimes it is easy to forget the true meaning of Christmas. The busy traditions of the season and the appealing advertisements for material goods can leave the pure and simple truths far, far behind.

Jake was nine years old with tousled brown hair with blue eyes as bright as a heavenly angel. For as long as Jake could remember he had lived within the walls of a poor orphanage. He was just one of ten children supported by what meager contributions the orphan home could obtain in a continuous struggle seeking donations from townsfolk.

There was very little to eat, but at Christmas time there always seemed to be a little more than usual to eat, the orphanage seemed a little warmer, and it was time for a little holiday enjoyment. But more than this, there was the Christmas orange!

Christmas was the only time of year that such a rare treat was provided and it was treasured by each child like no other food admiring it, feeling it, prizing it and slowly enjoying each juicy section. Truly, it was the light of each orphan's Christmas and their best gift of the season. How joyful would be the moment when Jake received his orange!

Unknown to him, Jake had somehow managed to track a small amount of mud on his shoes through the front door of the orphanage, muddying the new carpet. He hadn't even noticed. Now it was too late and there was nothing he could do to avoid punishment. The punishment was swift and unrelenting. Jake would not be allowed his Christmas orange! It was the only gift he would receive from the harsh world he lived in, yet after a year of waiting for his Christmas orange, is was to be denied him.

Tearfully, Jake pleaded that he be forgiven and promised never to track mud into the orphanage again, but to no avail. He felt hopeless and totally rejected. Jake cried into his pillow all that night and spent Christmas Day feeling empty and alone. He felt that the other children didn't want to be with a boy who had been punished with such a cruel punishment. Perhaps they feared he would ruin their only day of happiness. Maybe, he reasoned, the gulf between him and his friends existed because they feared he would ask for a little of their oranges. Jake spent the day upstairs, alone, in the unheated dormitory. Huddled under his only blanket, he read about a family marooned on an island. Jake wouldn't mind spending the rest of his life on an isolated island, if he could only have a real family that cared about him.

Bedtime came, and worst of all, Jake couldn't sleep. How could he say his prayers? How could there be a God in Heaven that would allow a little soul such as his, to suffer so much all by himself? Silently, he sobbed for the future of mankind that God might end the suffering in the world, both for himself and all others like him.

As he climbed back into bed from the cold, hard floor, a soft hand touched Jake's shoulder, startling him momentarily and an object was silently placed in his hands. The giver disappeared into the darkness, leaving Jake with what, he did not immediately know!

Looking closely at it in the dim light, he saw that it looked like an orange! Not a regular orange, smooth and shiny, but a special orange, very special. Inside a patched together peal were the segments of nine other oranges, making one whole orange for Jake! The nine other children in the orphanage had each donated one segment of their own precious oranges to make a whole orange as a gift for Jake.

Sharing what we truly value is the true spirit of Christmas. Our Heavenly Father gave us His beloved Son. May we, like the children in the orphanage, find ways to share His love with others less blessed.

Gift #1

Click on the big arrow and enjoy! (if you want to see it bigger, click on the symbol in the bottom right corner that looks like four arrows pointing out)

A Christmas Gift for you!!

We are going to post something special each day from now until Chritmas...we hope you enjoy and are filled with the spirit of Christ this Christmas Season

General Conference Packets

We've used packets like these for the last few years during conference, while it doen't make for perfect listening...it sure helps the kids focus while they are listening, and we find it help us as we help them!!

These were the packets listed in the handout we gave you Sunday...click and print away!

Youth Packet
Senior Primary Packet
Junior Primary Packet
Nursery Packet


There are also some fun packets and online games at the new lds.org site

Children's Conference Activities



Happy Conference Weekend...I hope all of your spiritual buckets are filled :) We love you!!

General Relief Socitey Meeting

We hope you were able to enjoy this meeting...if not, you can see a summary or the full text/video of the meeting by clicking this link

General Relief Society Meeting


It's WELL worth your time to check out!!

P.S. did you know that the church has a new site? check it out too new.lds.org

Is True Happiness A Conscious Decision?

I read an article from the November 2005 Ensign that really touched my heart. Elder Benjamín De Hoyos of the Seventy offered some really wonderful counsel. Can happiness really be a conscious decision we can make a sisters? After reading this article I truly believe that we can.

" Happiness is a condition of the soul. This joyous state comes as a result of righteous living."

Follow the link to read the talk in its entirety:
http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=7fdc78de9441c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

Temple Excursion...

This past Tuesday was such a wonderful experience! We went down to the Ogden Temple as Sisters. Even though there was only a handful of us that could make it, it was such an amazing feeling to be in the Temple among friends.

This month we've been hearing quite a bit of the importance of attending our Temples. It was even in our Visiting Teaching message: "Our Responsibilty to Be Worthy of Temple Worship"

One thing that really stuck out to me this month was the fact that, even if our busy lives don't always permit us to attend the Temple regularly, which often times is the case for me, it is still important to simply have a current Temple recommend. Or in other words, always strive to be worthy to enter the Temple.

We are working on having more Temple Excursions in the future, and would like to encourage all those who can come, to join us on these special occasions. It truly is a neat spirit that dwells with the sisters in our ward. :)

Lots of Love,

Cherie Gailey :)

I Love to See the Temple!

Last night we had a GREAT weekday Relief Society Meeting. President Sanders told us wonderful stories about being a sealer in the Ogden Temple (and some other great stories as well)
He encouraged us to not take the temple for granted and attend as often as we can. He promised us we would be blessed if we did! He also told us there is no set date for the Ogden temple to be closed for remodeling...so don't believe any dates you hear :)
Let's all take advantage of having a temple so close and go there often to bless those who have gone before us, and to earn blessings for ourselves (we all need as many as we can get!!)
Remember we will be going to the temple as sisters on Tuesday the 24th!!
If you didn't get your name on the list to receive a reminder about weekday RS meetings, leave a message here, or sign up at church and we'll add you to the list!

Dedicated to Strengthening Marriages, Families, and Homes

Here are the articles reference in Sunday's lesson (Aug. 1st)

There is some great information and inspirataion in them. (click on the title to go to the whole article)

"I Will Strenthen Thee; I will Help thee"~Barbara Thompson

"What Matters Most is What Lasts Longest"~M. Russell Ballard

"Strenthening Families: Our Sacred Duty"~Robert D. Hales

Arm yourselves well sisters and FIGHT THAT BATTLE!! We will win!

Welcome to the Blog

This blog is a work in progress, check back often for updated information about weekday RS meetings (formerly known as Enrichment) Inspirational thoughts, and other important information. Please be patient with us as we work out all the kinks and get this set up right :) and feel free to comment...we'd love to know what you think!

Primary Children's Service Project

What a way to end a hot July day...making blankets and nametags for NICU isolettes.
We sure had a lot of fun and felt the spirit while making things for Primary Children's Medical Center...

Some learned they had hidden talents!!

Some were kind enough to teach us new ways to make blankets.

(I bet the children who recieve these will be as happy as these beautiful sisters who made them were!!)
















We enjoyed each other's company and the good feeling that comes from helping others (not to mention some YUMMY treats!)

Thanks Everyone!! Hope you see you all next month!

(we still have some fleece left if anyone else wants to make a blanket, and we will still accept any donations until Aug. 8th. contact Natalie Garritson with questions)

**Check back for more pictures of the projects we made!!**