Meet Janssen

Moroni 7: 35-37
And now, my beloved brethren, if this be the case that these things are true which I have spoken unto you, and God will show unto you, with power and great glory at the last day, that they are true, and if they are true has the day of miracles ceased? Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved? Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain.

Briefly share your education/work experience? what did/do you choose to spend your time on? why?

I got a bachelor's degree in history from BYU and then a year or so later went back to school at the University of Texas at Austin to get a masters in information studies, with a focus on services for children and youth; I can imagine a program that would be more fun! Now I am an elementary school librarian and run the libraries at two schools.

What's your favorite way to spend the weekend?

Playing games with friends, lounging around in a clean house (notice I didn't say that CLEANING the house was my favorite way to spend the weekend), cooking, and watching movies.

What is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen?

My grandparents' fiftieth wedding anniversary. We had a big dinner in Salt Lake and every single family member was there. It was one of the best nights of my life.

Who can always make you laugh? how?

Dave Barry. I love reading his old newspaper columns and dying with laughter.

How long have you been in the Hingham Ward?

Since the end of August 2009. Newbies!

What is a "Fun Fact" about you"?

I didn't graduate from high school. I was doing part-time homeschool and didn't have enough credits to graduate.

What is your home town?

Las Vegas, Nevada.

Quilting Marathon Activity

To replace the postponed activities that were interrupted by this week's storm forecast we are going to take advantage of Winter Break by hosting a Quilting Marathon Activity:

Help us assemble, sew, and maybe even get a jump on tying!  The format is open house, so come and go as you please!   


All day Wednesday, February 17th from 9 AM to 9 PM and again Thursday morning, 9 AM to noon.

The Relief Society will be providing light refreshments and may organize take-out at mealtimes.  Feel free to bring additional snacks to share!

We invite you to bring any friends and/or family members who are interested :)  We especially invite you to bring your daughters' participating in the Young Women or Faith in God programs!  We will open up the Primary wing as a play area for little ones (supervision will not be provided but we will help arrange a rotation for sisters who want to quilt and bring their kids along).

Still want to donate materials? We've collected enough fabric for about 20 quilts but are still working on getting batting and smaller supplies like white thread, safety pins, straight pins, needles and especially clamps.  If you have these items to donate or lend please contact Jennie Wilde or Connie Harrop so we can maximize the use of cash donations elsewhere.  Thank you!

Quilts for Disaster Relief

The Relief Society (via LDS Humanitarian Services) is getting together a little project to make quilts for victims of natural disasters like the terrible earthquake in Haiti.  We invite every ward member (and friends!) to participate in this effort to provide some relief to the victims of such devastating events.  Wanna be a part of it?  Here's what you can do:


We need:

 Donated: fabric (90x90, preshrunk if necessary, no denim or corduroy please), batting (bonded polyester 1/2 inch thick), pins, thread, needles for tying, yarn, and your time!
If you choose you may also make a cash donation to help purchase these items in bulk.  To do so, please speak with Jennie Wilde or Connie Harrop.
 
Lent to us:  sewing machines, quilting frames and 2 1/2 inch or larger clamps, fabric scissors, tacks, (please label clearly so we can return them easily)



When it's all coming together:

We're looking to gather as many materials as we possibly can by Sunday, February 7th so we can get working.  I know that's just a few days warning so of course we'll continue to take donations as they trickle in but would like to get things started as soon as possible :) Please bring whatever items you can donate or lend to the Relief Society room.

Wednesday, February 10th we will gather at the church to assemble, pin and begin sewing at 7 PM.  Those who can't make it Wednesday night would be invited to come help Thursday, February 11 at 10 AM.  Any unbound quilts will be sent home with volunteers to finish.

Saturday, February 20th we will have quilting frames set up and ready to go beginning at 10 AM.  Additionally, there will be "tying parties" announced to be hosted in your neighborhood groups between February 16th and February 27th.  Watch for those dates.  We will leave a quilt up on frames on the stage at the church from the 20th until they are all done so if you happen to be at the building stop in and do a couple stitches!

Even if you can't make it to any of these events we invite you to participate!  Barbara Hogan is exploring the possibility of coordinating with a Randolph school to get a few done.  You could also do one as a family, as a project with your spouse, with your book group, for a girls night in.....you can find simple instructions here

As quilts are completed we will collect them in the Relief Society room.  The first batch should be turned in by Sunday, February 28th in order to be shipped to Church Humanitarian Services (and forwarded to those locations most in need) on March 1st. 

Thank you so much for your good works!

February Food Storage Prompts

Happy February!  Here's what to stock up on this month...

Week 1: Rice

Week 2: Beans

Week 3:  Pears

Week 4: Corn

Feature Food Recipe:  "Pear Walnut Chicken" by Taste of Home Test Kitchen via allrecipes.com. 

Ingredients

• 1 (15 ounce) can sliced pears
• 1/2 cup unsweetened apple juice
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1 inch cubes
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/4 cup cold water
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• Hot cooked rice

Directions

1. Drain pears, reserving juice in a 1-cup measuring cup. Add enough water to measure 3/4 cup. Set pears aside. In a small bowl, combine the pear juice mixture, apple juice, brown sugar, soy sauce and garlic powder; set aside.
2. In a large skillet, saute chicken in oil for 4-6 minutes or until no longer pink. Add parsley and pear juice mixture. Cover and simmer for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and cold water until smooth; pour into skillet. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1 minute or until thickened. Stir in walnuts and pears. Serve over rice if desired.

Other favorite recipes featuring this month's ingredients?  Share!

Food Storage Prompt Intro

Food storage is a big concept, and a very personal one.  But also an important one, because whether your a family of nine with two incomes and a big house or a student couple living in a shoe-box, we all have emergencies.  Maybe someday it'll be that big blizzard.  But sometimes it's things like having an unexpected car repair that cleans out your slush fund.  Whatever brings on your rainy day, it's always nice to have some cushion to brighten things up. 

Our goal is to help each family develop the habit of constantly building food storage; whether it makes sense for you to build up food for a year or can barely fit in food for a month, we want to help.  In an effort to work towards our goal together but also according to our own individual needs, we will be posting a food storage prompt every month to keep the subject fresh in your mind.   

The idea here is that every family determine a certain, consistent, amount (be it $2 or $20) to be spent on food storage every week.  I pick an item every week and buy as much of it as my predetermined amount of cash will buy.  I came up with a rotation that I'll be sharing with you: first week is carbs, second week: protein, third week: fruit, fourth week: veggie, fifth week: surprise!  I'll post the items according to their rotation along with a recipe featuring one of our key ingredients.  Remember to buy what you'll eat, and eat what you buy, my prompts are just suggestions!  With that in mind, all my prompts are things that get worked into our (the Wilde family's) regular menu.  I won't do things like 500 lbs of flour.  However, if you're starting from absolute scratch and would like to get a jump on things, here's a couple ideas of where to begin: 

Basics:  Everything you'd get on your first trip to the grocery store after moving to a new home---flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, baking powder, yeast, oil, shortening, spices, vanilla, vinegar, etc.  Make sure you have a comfortable store of everything you'd just assume you had on hand when reading a new recipe.  Plus some bottled water.  Ideally, buy in January and replenish as needed or whenever items are on sale.


Storm food:  Three days worth of food you could eat with little to no prep (like, straight outta the can :) ) in the event of a power outage, major blizzard, ridiculous illness, etc.  Canned soups, fruit, veggies, baked beans, tuna, powdered milk, juice, etc.  Anything that might be tricky to live without if housebound i.e. toilet paper, diapers, wipes, feminine sanitary products, basic medicines (tylenol, benedryl including infant or child varieties)  Plus a few comforts like cocoa, candy, gum.  Have on hand throughout the winter and replenish as used. *

*Carolyn Nielsen has a great plan for this specific kind of emergency prep documented.  That information can be made available upon request I'm sure.  

Meet Missy!

Moroni 7:45 & 48
"Chartiy suffereth long and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is no not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." .... 48: " Wherefore, my beloved bretheren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of is Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure."

What is your happy thought?

My "Happy Thought" is a well kept secret place at the Great Salt Lake. Farmington Bay never disappoints. Go there in February, see more than 50 bald eagles sitting in one stand of trees, go in the spring and see thousands of migrating water birds nesting. Return in the fall to catch the migrating birds stop over for a little reprieve on their way back down to South America. No matter what time of year you go it is tranquil and serene.

What is your favorite book, piece of music, or work of art?

I LOVE anything written by Chaim Potok, especially the Asher Lev series.

Briefly share your education/work experience…What did/do you choose to spend your time on? why?

I worked in Biotech/Drug Discovery for 10 years before I retired to stay home with the kiddos. I love everything about the industry except the ability to work part time. There is always something new to learn, robots to play with, plenty of room for creativity, flexibility in schedule, the customer is so far removed there is no dress code and no pleasing anyone (except those finicky little creatures you work with). And then there is the data! How I loved playing with those numbers. I started my career cloning worms, moved on to the wonderful world of yeast and genetics and ended by designing disease models for Cancer, ALS, and Muscular Dystrophy and screening for novel drugs. Never found a breakthrough drug, but had fun trying.

You are given twenty million dollars and ten years to live...how would you spend it?

Traveling with my family to exotic places.

What's your favorite way to spend the weekend?

Weekend or not, my favorite way to spend time is splashing through the tide with Brad and the little Toads.

How long have you been in the Hingham Ward?

We are in our 9th year. We moved here for Law school and loved it and decided to stay. We LOVE the Hingham Ward. Right from the start we felt like we were pulled to the center of the ward.

What's a "Fun Fact" about you?

I have 3 brothers and 4 sisters, but I am the only girl born to my mother who is not a twin.

What do you choose to spend your time on? Why?

I like to spend my free time swimming and running. Although, I have no interest swimming or running solo. I am social exerciser. I especially enjoy running by the ocean early in the morning. I like to run with someone else because I enjoy the therapy of talking out the vicissitudes of life. Top it all off with a massage and it is the best day ever.

Fun Facts about yourself?

I could go completely without a TV if it were not for PBS. My favorite show is NOVA which Brad, Sam and I watch every week. Also topping the list is This Old House, American Experience, Frontline, Masterpiece Theater and anything the kids will watch so I can get a few moments to do important things like write spotlights about myself.

Links from Fresh Start Workshop

Thanks again to those who attended and contributed to our Fresh Start Workshop Wednesday night!  Below you'll find the gist of what was discussed and links for more complete info on each topic. 

Time Management and Home Organization

"Ideals are starts to steer by.  They are not a stick to beat ourselves with." ---Barbara Smith, former General Relief Society President

It's about setting routines and practicing them.  Kristin used a lot of ideas from the FLYLady system (Finally Love Yourself).  Check out FLYLady's wonderful outlook on her site here.

 Budgeting and Debt Reduction/Elimination

Connie shared her experience and counsel about setting a budget and getting out of debt.  Links that might be worth a look are here and here.  Check your credit report here (free once per year from each of the three credit reporting companies.  This will not release your credit score (which might affect it) unless you arrange for that specifically so you can check it often and have a good idea of where you really are.  It's a good way to protect yourself from fraud).  Great ideas on the Provident Living site under family finances.  We also highly recommend the "One for the Money" pamphlet, link available on the Provident Living site, or pick up a copy from the library or Relief Society room. 


Food Storage

"Buy what you eat, and eat what you buy."

It's personal, the details are different for every family, what's important is that you do it, and use it.  Amy shared her five-minute food storage salsa with us and I've been dreaming of it ever since!  Ask her and I'm sure she'll share ;)  Check the Provident Living site under Family Home Storage for good information.  And keep your eyes peeled for more suggestions about food storage and emergency prep coming soon.