Summer in Utah

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Have you ever had free time with your children, time you didn’t know how to spend, or where to spend it? Well, Jennifer Ricks has put together a list of ideas of activities to do in the month of August. Her article is entitled “Celebrate August!” I think it is such a great idea: you can put it in your calendar (either paper or phone), or give it to the grandparents, if they want ideas of what to do when grandchildren visit.

Another thing you can do is listen to the Tabernacle Choir. That’s what Jeff Lindsay did, and wrote about in his blog ‘Mormanity.’ His article is named “So Proud of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir: 100 Years of Recording History.” Jeff says the following: “This was my first time attending any event in the Conference Center, and the first time in over 20 years seeing the Choir live.” I don’t remember the last time I’ve been to see the choir, but it’s a great activity to do in the summer, when there’s no snow to slow us down.

We can also do that which Mormons are somewhat famous for: prepare a Jell-O dish. Is yours the one with the carrots and marshmallows? Do you have a special recipe? John Newman from ‘Confessions of a Mormon Foodie’ says: “I realized the other day that it's been a long time since I talked about Jell-O . Many of you are, no doubt, wondering why. I mean, I'm a Utah Mormon. How can I not be sucking down tons of Jello?” He prepared a great recipe using the clear stuff, and he calls it “Ribbon Jell-O (Finally).” Doesn’t the picture look great?

We hope your summer is going great. Drop us a comment, we'll certainly appreciate it.

 
Images from www.sxc.hu/ and http://search.aol.com/
 
To view a copy of the Neighborhood News for Wednesday, 28 July, please click here.
 

O Pioneer

Welcome to the Neighborhood News

pi•o•neer (p -nîr )

n.

1. One who ventures into unknown or unclaimed territory to settle.

2. One who opens up new areas of thought, research, or development: a pioneer in aviation.

adj.

1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of early settlers: the pioneer spirit.

2. Leading the way; trailblazing: a pioneer treatment for cancer. (Source: The Free Online Dictionary)

Since tomorrow is July 24th, here in Utah we celebrate Pioneer Day. There are all kinds of celebrations: parades, eating contests, carnivals, and fireworks. We take this day very seriously. We celebrate our roots, and that of the original settlers of this great state.

Talking about roots, Tristi Pinkston sent to us her article named “The Roots of Testimony.” Tristi is an LDS fiction author with five published novels, a stay-at-home mom, homeschooler, and media reviewer. Her article is about something as simple as a small tree, but it’s interesting when we can find a lesson out of the small things (kind of like the parable of the mustard seed, right?) She says: “Last spring, our landlord brought around a small tree and planted it in our yard. He put tall metal stakes on either side and wove a rope around the trunk of the tree and through the stakes, lending the new tree stability it would need as its roots took hold in the ground. … A few months ago, a high wind came up and my two sons ran outside. They reached out and held on to the tree, which was bending back and forth in the gusts.” Keep reading to see how it ends, you’ll like it. I did.

From ‘Molly Mormon’, Molly has “Pioneer Day in Utah!” contributed by Steve Olsen. The article gives a quick history of the holiday we’re about to celebrate. He comments: “The first company of Mormon pioneers, led by Brigham Young, officially entered the Valley of the Great Salt Lake on 24 July 1847. For Latter-day Saints, this event has come to signal the founding of a new homeland for the purpose of establishing their earthly Zion.” I have a comment about the picture I have accompanying this paragraph, it’s from my own personal files. In 1997 we moved to Wyoming, due to a schooling opportunity. That was the year of the sesquicentennial, do you remember the re-enactment? Well, we passed the wagon train a few miles past Independence Rock, WY, on 17 June 1997. Of course we stopped on the side of the road to watch them trek by, and take pictures. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. All of a sudden it got really quiet, and their strength and courage gave us such a testimony of the real event they were recreating. I will never forget the way I felt at that moment. The pioneers sacrificed a lot so we could practice our religion peacefully, we shouldn’t forget that.

We also have a Family Home Evening lesson from ‘LDS Family Fun,’ it’s named “This is the Right Place.” There’s a video: “Brigham Young”, watch it and then discuss about the covenants the pioneers made and how keeping these same covenants today will help us to be "Pure in Heart."


 
As usual, on Fridays Positive Music and Downloads offers Free Download Friday. Please enjoy the music of Danielle Vaughn, and her song "Come, Come."


Have a great time this weekend, and go ahead and drop off a few words in the comments section, we'll certainly appreciate that.

To view a copy of the Neighborhood News for Friday, 23 July, please click here.
 
Images from www.sxc.hu/ and www.thinkstockphotos.com/ . Also from Gardner files.