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

Free Thanksgiving Invitation template

Don't you just love freebies? I know I do and I also know that lots and lots of people love them too.  A few years ago, I posted a freebie Thanksgiving Invitation and it was a hit.  I am so glad that so many of you enjoyed it, so I thought I would make another one.  Actually, I made it to invite my own family to Thanksgiving dinner, but thought since I spent the time, I could pass it on to you.  Fill in the blank area with the details you want your guests to know.  I made it to be printed 5 x 7".

Happy Valentines Day Card for you.

Thank you for letting me "Open my heart" to you on my blog.  I LOVE to share my ideas and to surprise you with many fun ideas and tips to help you better serve others.  Happy Valentines Day!

 

For anyone who is asked to teach

 

I found this great resource for anyone who is asked to teach, whether it be as a Visiting Teacher, or as a teacher in Primary, Young Women, Relief Society or in any other capacity of a teacher.  This is the link :  https://www.lds.org/liahona/2010/01/who-me-teach?lang=eng&query=Visiting+Teaching+ideas 
or if you prefer, just click on the picture and you will be taken there in an instant.  Enjoy!  Katie G

40 Free Vintage Valentine images

I have a favorite website, that I am signed up to receive weekly messages from.  I love vintage and thought I would share this website with you if you don't already know about it.  It is called the graphics fairy, and her graphics are vintage and ADORABLE!  I appreciate the work that goes into cleaning up the images to give away because I do that all the time too.  I thought I would pass along her link to 40 free vintage images for Valentine’s Day, since Valentine’s Day is coming up in only a month.  This year, create your own Valentines, using a blast from the past image, and think about the unique and very special message that you would want to put on each one.  I think there is just something special about homemade, and handmade things, and Valentines are no exception, plus with Vintage Valentines, you are recycling the past to create something really lovely in the present.  Here is the link: http://thegraphicsfairy.com/40-free-valentines-day-images/   Check back soon, because I will come up with some kind of a cute Valentine to share with you, that I have made up from one of the graphics fairy images.   Enjoy!  Katie G

Count your blessings jar labels

If you didn't read my post on my other blog, http://visitingteachingtips.blogspot.com, then you might want to go there for ideas and directions on why I have posted this cute printable idea for a New Years Party favor or just for remembering your blessing or whatever.  Great idea to give to the sisters you Visit teach, or for yourself, to remind you what the Lord has done for you, for a whole year.

Here are the template for the printable labels:

This is the large label:

 

This is the smaller label:

 

 

 

 

This is some little "Blessing" squares if you want to include them with the gift.

 

Enjoy and pass a long!  Katie G.

Breakfast with Santa invitation

I was asked to create a little Breakfast with Santa invitation to pass out to the non members or inactive members in our ward boundaries, to let them know they are welcome to come.  Since I went to all this work, I decided to share it with those of you who need an invitation too.  They are a tiny bit different and you will have to customize it, but both sides turned out pretty cute.

To download... click on the image, and then right click on it again, and save to your computer.  Customize and print from your computer. Prints 2 per page - 8.5 x 11 paper. 

Enjoy!
Katie Gauger

If you want to be happy, give something away!

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Every year, I get this wonderful feeling inside of me, and I am reminded of my Grandmother Doris Robinson, who began a family tradition over a century ago.  She found a wonderful story and shared it with our family, and each year at Christmas and Thanksgiving, we took that story out, and shared it with each other.  Over the years, all of my family have it memorized, but it is just as cherished and loved, and still enjoyed each year with our own children and grandchildren. 

Two years ago, I had some promptings within me telling me that this story needed to be shared with more than our family. The message was so wonderful, that it was something that everyone needed, and could benefit from, so I decided to finally do what others in my family had thought one day that might do, and turned this wonderful story into a book.  I submitted my manuscript to a publisher and 2 months later, they accepted it and sent me a contract to publish this book.  I knew it would be special even beyond my vested family interest.  I was so pleased that they felt the same, and now after a long time, my book is out for this Christmas.

"If you want to be happy, give something away," is the title of my book and my daughter and I decided to create a darling little video trailer to share some snippets about the story.  This has been a labor of love, but one that I know you will enjoy as much as my family has enjoyed it for years. I did rewrite and have it illustrated,   but the end is still the same beloved story. 

Please view my book video trailer and if you like it, please write to me at printablesbykatie@gmail.com and I can put you on the waiting list and send it to you the moment it is out.  I will have my first shipment coming in only a week and a half.

I have so many followers of this blog and my others, and I decided to announce that I will be having an book signing, held the first week of December. (I will make an official announcement in a week so you can mark your calendars.) I would love to meet you and share with you my wonderful Family Christmas book, and the message of how you too can be happy.  I will have refreshments, and a drawing, and I will be passing out free bookmarks to the first 200 people who stop by to say hello and learn about my new book.

Best regards,
Katie G (Kathleen Gauger)

Heaven's Very Special Child

Yesterday I visited a woman, who I had been her Visiting teacher, but I was visiting her with a different purpose.  She asked me while I was visiting her if I would take this poem she was given years ago and make something pretty so she could frame it and hang it up on her wall.  She was given it, after a few years after giving birth to one of heavens very special children.  She knew that I too had a very special child that I raised, and also wanted me to have a copy.  Today, I created this beautiful poem in several different colors because I wasn't sure which one would match her home the best, so she could chose for herself. I decided that there are many people who are blessed with a special child to come into their home.  At first I am sure that all of us think of it as an overwhelming challenge, and one that we don't know if we can do, but after a while and lots of love, we understand what a blessing these very special children are and how blessed we are to have been selected to be the parent and to raise them. 

I would bet that many of you have sisters, friends and neighbors who have been also blessed in this uniquely special way, and perhaps passing this beautiful poem on to them might help their perspective, when they are having a bad day, or when things seem more than they can bare.  Please feel free to either print this one or if you want the other colors that I have made, go to my new blog http://ifyouwant2behappy.blogspot.com
My download process is easy...
Click on the picture to enlarge it and save it to your computer.  The only thing I ask is that if people ask you where you got it, that you would direct them back to either of my blogs.

 For 3 other colors, click here

Have you done any good in the world today?

Today was my Stake conference.  There were many wonderful talks all about "Hastening the work."  Lots of wonderful stories were given about missionary work and conversion stories.  It was really wonderful, and I took notes on little messages that really inspired me.  I decided to share a poster with you about one such message.  The words of the song... Have I done any good in the world today?  Obviously I took a bit of liberty with the last line, because I didn't want to use the entire song, but wanted to get the message accross.  I left Conference knowing what I needed to do to step up, and lengthen my stride and commitment.  This is a visual reminder of some simple things we can all do to make this world a better place.  If we ask ourselves these few questions, hopefully you too, will be inspired and motivated to do more.  Enjoy and pass the word along, oh and the poster too.  Katie G

Scripture Power Bookmark

You are probably wondering why I am posting something for Primary Children on my Visiting Teaching blog.  I decided that since it took me a good long time to create these, I would go ahead and share and hopefully some of you that follow my blog will serve in Primary.  My husband was asked by the Ward Primary President if after the Scripture Power Challenge, if he as the Bishop would come into the classes that completed it, and congratulate them with high fives, or something.  I thought that if little children were to be so diligent as to bring their scriptures to Primary for weeks and weeks in a row, especially considering that youngsters barely remember to take anything they are suppose to with them wherever they go, that they needed more than a high 5.  I make some for the boys and some for the girls, but also thought of another idea for a bookmark using the light bulb and Book of Mormon.  Feel free to use whatever you would like of these and I thought that when you Visit Teach, and you talk about the power of the Scriptures in your life, that you could use it too.  Enjoy!  Katie G.  Oh and go drop by my new blog http://ifyou want2behappy.blogspot.com

If you want 2 be HAPPY (my new blog)

I wanted to share with you my new blog.  I have created some cute printables that are perfect for sharing with the sisters you visit teach, a friend, neighbor, or anyone you think might have a need for something to help them to have a HAPPY DAY!  It is called If you want 2 be happy  I will be creating some HAPPY things there almost every day and all of them are FREE, Free, free!!!

Please go to my new blog and follow me as I will have the very same cute things I offer on this blog, but just a little different. 

Have a hap, hap, happy day!

August 2013 Visiting Teaching Message (Handout)

Here is a little printable that I created to go with the August 2013 Visiting teaching message that you will be sharing during the month.  To print, click on the image, right click and save as a file on your computer, then print from there.  Enjoy!  Katie G

July 2013 Visiting Teaching Handout

I printed up a condensed version on the Visiting Teaching message, to cut and hand out to the sisters that I Visit teach.  You can see the full message on LDS.org.  You are free to print save this to your computer and print it off to take with you as well if you like.  Enjoy, Katie G.