July 2017 Visiting Teaching Message handout and bookmarks

Have you ever wondered why I call this blog, Visiting Teaching Surprise?  It is because it is filled with all kinds of surprises for you to give to your Visiting Teaching ladies to surprise them too.  Feel free to save them to your computer and print from there.  Be sure to go through my archives, as there are lots of fun things to find for other occasions besides Visiting Teaching.  I'd love to hear from you and know what you think about these Surprises.  You can find the Visiting Teaching message from the Ensign tat this link:  https://www.lds.org/ensign/2017/07?lang=eng  Enjoy!  Katie Gauger 

Beautiful Home for sale in Lehi, Utah

Home for sale in Thanksgiving Village, Lehi, Utah $599,900

Gorgeous 5,230 sq. ft. riverside home for sale, premium lot, private community w/ unobstructed panoramic views of Mt. Timpanogos and Utah Valley, overlooking the 13^th hole of T V golf course. Huge 10” x 35’ covered trex deck, wired for hot tub, and gas BBQ.  Front office, extra wide hallways and tiled entry, open concept kitchen, custom cherry cabinetry in family room w/ gas fp, and kitchen. Granite countertops, huge pantry w/ fridge, double oven, large island bar, spaceous main level master br, large closet & large full master bath and 2^nd br with full wall built in custom cabinets & 2  computer stations for br/office/craft room. ½ bath, laundry room. Walkout basement w/2 large br, 1 ba, oversized fm rm, storage/theater room option, bsmt. w/d hooksups. 3 car garage w/ full wall shelves, and workshop,cabinets, etc.  So much more!  For more details, you can check out this ad on KSL Classifieds   https://www.ksl.com/homes/listing/40012980      801-319-1484

Christmas Countdown calendar

I have been looking for some cute, and ready made Christmas Countdown Calendars, or ideas to put on a December calendar for a countdown, and thought that others may also be looking for one.  I have listed the topics and to get to them, click on the topic for the active link.  ENJOY!

Christmas Countdown  (Nativity)

A more Christ Centered Christmas

Christmas Stories (Could have one per day leading up to Christmas)

Christmas ABC's 

Christmas Advent Wreath

Christmas Around the World

Christmas on Temple Square

Other Ideas:

Christmas Music Quiz   Darling images!!!

I wanted to add one more link for you to a digital calendar that I made a couple years ago.  It is really a good one, and for those who love technology, then this one is for you.  Just click on the link for the particular day, and your activity will appear right before your eyes!  YEAH!!!  I have not checked the links to make sure all of them are still active, so if you find one or more that are not, will you please email me at ktgauger@gmail.com and let me know, so i can try to reactivate them.  Have fun!!!  Here is the link:

http://visitingteachingtips.blogspot.com/search/label/Christmas

Extraordinary Visiting teachers Face book group

I have created a wonderful Facebook group called Extraordinary Visiting Teachers, and I would invite all of you sisters in the gospel to check out the group and if you feel so inclined, please join in the conversation.

I have tried my best to also filter as much spam as I could, and the site is just plain good! If you want help becoming a better Visiting teacher, Extraordinary Visiting Teachers Facebook page is for you.  If you need advice, or suggestions about Relief Society related things, Extraordinary Visiting Teachers Facebook page is for you.  If you are an LDS woman needing some encouragement or tips, or ideas, or just about anything else relating to sisterhood in the LDS Church, this page is definitely for you.  Hope you'll join us, and if you do, please pass on the good word about this group to others. 

Gift giving

I have mentioned this before, but will mention this again... I administrate a Facebook group called "Extraordinary Visiting Teachers."

   

You should go join, because there is a lot of really good conversation on that group, that can be so helpful in so many ways! Anyhow....I recently posted  a page of ideas to help people come up with "Easy, quick and cheap, but thoughtful things to take to a friend," which are gift giving ideas.  I cannot tell you how often I am in need of  a little thoughtful gift to give to someone at a minutes notice.  I included links to some blogs or websites for some of them, but I have no affiliation with any of them, but needed an example of the gift ideas. (You know what they say... a Picture is worth a thousand words.)  Anyway... Feel free to use these or copy the page, and pass it on to help others.  That is what it is all about... Serving others, and a side benefit from doing kind things for others is that it makes you feel so darn good too!  Go out and serve.  Enjoy!  Katie G

I posted a recipe and picture of my daughters Recipe for Chalupas, which is a meal that can be made for crowds.   I posted it on my Facebook group, Extraordinary Visiting Teachers, and it has been shared more than any of the other posts!  Yep, it is a popular one, and probably because it involves a recipe....  so I thought I would make it available to the rest of the world here on my blog.  Feel free to share, and if you want to see or join the Extraordianry Visiting Teachers group on Facebook, go there too.  Lots of good stuff!!!

Christmas gift "I am the bread of life"

Looking for a very simple Christmas gift to give to the sisters you visit teach, or neighors, friends, or anyone else you can think of?  My husband loves to take out loaves of bread to people, and because I have never learned how to bake bread that won't break your teeth when you bite into it, we go an purchase some of Great Harvest's bread.  There are lots of other specialty or artisan breads that can be used too, but we just like the Cinnamon bread from Great Harvest.  Those of you who are bread bakers, can bake your own loaves, or mini loaves, and the bread can be sweet breads, or fruit breads, or cinnamon nut breads, or whatever you like. 


You will need a tag to go with it, so I created a nice one that is perfect for Christmas.  It uses the scripture from John 6:35. "I am the bread of life:  he that cometh to me shall never hunger."  You will need to sign your name on the tags, and print them.  I suggest either a pretty silver or white pen, so your name will show up.  Tie a pretty bow around the end of the bread bag, and tape on this tag and you are good to go. 

My Merry Christmas gift to you is my bread of life tag.  Enjoy!  Katie G