Celebrate Earth Day

Heavenly Father has blessed us with this beautiful planet, and it's up to us to take good care of it. We all share a responsibility for this green earth, yet sometimes I forget that and abuse its resources. So I've decided to do my small, humble part to help keep our planet safer and ensure a decent place for our future children by using reusable "green" bags for bagging groceries whenever I shop. I purchased the green bags at Publix and keep them in my car. So, when I go through the grocery store checkout line, its paper: NO, plastic: NO, reusable green bag: YES! The bags are much easier to carry and hold more items than plastic.




Plastic bags don't biodegrade, they photo degrade-breaking down into smaller and smaller toxic bits contaminating soil and waterways and entering the food web when animals accidentally ingest. Hundreds of thousands of sea turtles, whales and other marine mammals die every year from eating discarded plastic bags mistaken for food.

Consider changing from single use plastic bags to reusable bags. Each reusable shopping bag that is used has the potential to eliminate hundreds, if not thousands, of plastic bags over its lifetime. Do your part . . .green bag it . . .think about it . . .

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world: indeed it's the only thing that ever has! -Margaret Meade

Relief Society Book Club - April

The R. S. Book Club met again! We discussed the book Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier. While reading this book I learned some interesting things about seventeenth century Dutch painting and customs. It is said that Vermeer's portrait, Girl With a Pearl Earring, is called the "Dutch Mona Lisa." We talked about the role of women and the choices Griet, the main character, had to make in order to survive. The author blended fiction and history to create a well-written, interesting story which I highly recommend. I rate this book 4 stars. Our May book will be The Memory Keeper's Daughter. Keep on reading!

The Allegory of the Olive Trees Jacob 5 - 7

I cannot begin to properly explain this allegory from the Book of Mormon so I'll take the explanation from Monte S. Nyman, publisher and author. The prophet Zenos tells a story in Jacob 5, in which he likens the House of Israel to a tame Olive Tree that was planted, grew mature, and started to decay. The Master of the Vineyard (Jesus Christ) and his servants (the prophets) saw it, pruned it, and nourished it. Some natural branches were cast off and wild ones grafted in. When that didn't work, the Master left the location of the tame Olive Tree roots (the blood of Israel among the Gentiles) and took some tender young natural branches to the nethermost part of the vineyard and grafted them in to wild olive trees (the Gentiles). This story goes on to span the history of the House of Israel until the end of the earth. [Monte S. Nyman, An Ensign to All People, pp. 35, 36]. The part that impressed me the most was the word nourish. I was told that some form of this word shows up 20 times in Jacob 5. I definitely have a need to be spiritually nourished. Moroni 6:4 speaks of our need to be "nourished by the good word of God..." We are told in Jacob 6:5-8 that God nourishes us all the time '...And while his arm of mercy is extended towards you in the light of the day ... For behold ye have been nourished by the good word of God all the day long..." I am very grateful for the concern the Lord shows for us. He is always concerned about our welfare and He is always there to help us and protect us and to bless us. I know that these words in the Book of Mormon are true. I know that the Lord's suffering and teachings and examples are real. He wants to help us have a fullness of joy, if we just remember "the plain and simple truths" of the Gospel.

Relief Society Book Club - April

The R. S. Book Club will meet Tuesday, April 15, 2008, at 7:30 PM at the same home we have used the last few times. Review the discussion questions in advance. Wear pearl earrings if you wish. To look at paintings from the book go to http://www.tchevalier.com/gwape/paintings/index.html

Above: My favorite picture by Vermeer

Girl With a Pearl Earring
by Tracy Chevalier

Discussion Questions
How did Chevalier bring to life 17th century Delft? What did you learn about everyday life during this time? How is it different than life now? How is it the same?
Describe Griet's relationship with her family. How did it change throughout the story? In what ways was she similar and different from her mother, father, and Frans?
Why did Griet feel so torn between her new life and old life? What did she enjoy about her new life in Vermeer's household? What did she miss about her old life?
Discuss Griet's relationships with different children, Maria Thins, Catharina, and Tanneke. What are the dynamics of the household?
Why was Griet so drawn to Vermeer?
Do you think Vermeer truly cared about Griet, or was he only concerned with the painting? Were his feelings toward her defined by passion, love, lust, paternal instincts, camaraderie? What about her feelings toward him?
Why did Griet hide her hair? Why did she feel so revealed once Vermeer saw her hair, that "it no longer mattered what I did and did not do?" Why do you think she went to Pieter that night?
What was the significance of Griet wearing the pearl? Why did Vermeer force her to wear both earrings even though only one would appear in the painting? How was his piercing her ears symbolic?
Why was Catharina so upset by the painting? Do you think Vermeer betrayed his wife? Did he love her? What was the nature of their relationship?
Do you think Griet made the right decision in marrying Pieter the butcher? Were the other options she considered while standing in the star at the town's center feasible?
What affect did Chevalier produce by dividing the book into years rather than chapters?
* From about.com:bestsellers

Back to the Grind

Spring Break is over and I'm back home. The time flew by while I was at Lake Panasoffkee. I am happy to say that I completed almost everything on my list of things to do. I bought a new hummingbird feeder for my dad and he filled it and put it up outside. The hummingbirds started feeding immediately. Everyday I fed peanuts to the squirrels. One would take the peanut from my hand. My cat, Star, tried to chase and catch the squirrels but she never had a chance. I think the squirrels spent most of their time hanging out in the trees laughing at her trying to catch them. Blackie, my parent's cat, was tolerant of Star. They have a pretty good relationship: when Star comes inside, Blackie goes outside and when Blackie comes in, Star goes out. While I was there I baked two cakes, a pineapple upsidedown cake and a spice cake with cream cheese frosting. I visited with my brother and his wife and their new dog. They call her Baby. I'm not sure what breed she is but she looks just like the dog Toto from "The Wizard of Oz." I finished reading the book Girl With a Pearl Earring. More about that later. I cleaned out my mother's rose bed and put fertilizer on the grass. Yes, I went shopping at my favorite store Bealls. I allowed myself to buy two pairs of shoes, and some skirts and blouses. I had a great time, I was always busy and I enjoyed every moment of it. Nine more weeks until summer vacation. I can't wait!