Arlington 2nd Ward Relief Society: December 2009

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

December Activities

Adventure Crew

(formerly known as "playgroup")

Contact: Ashlee Burt

Wednesday, December 2nd @ 10:00 AM

US Botanic Gardens (see above post)

Friday, December 11 @ 10:15 AM

Story time at Kinder Haus Toys

1220 N. Fillmore Street, 22201

(Below Gold's Gym, just south of Clarendon Blvd, two blocks east from the Clarendon Metro stop with parking just across the street.)

Word is, they give out balloons! If you are able, please bring a canned or boxed good, which Kinder Haus will donate to the Arlington Food Assistance Center.

Thursday, December 17th @ 10:00 AM

Tyson's Corner Mall Santa

Come delight or terrify your child with this legendary Kris Kringle!

Book Club

Thursday, December 17th @ 8:00 PM

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Home of Gina Olson

Gospel Study

Home of Kathryn Kimball

Friday, December 4th @ 10:30 AM

"What Have I Done for Someone Today?"

President Monson, October 2009 Conference

Friday, December 18th @ 10:30 AM

Toning Class

Fridays @ 9:30 AM

Ward Building

Contact: Rene Johnson

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Botanic Gardens

Wednesday, December 2nd

10:00 AM

Meet at main entrance:

100 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC

The U.S. Botanic Garden's National Mall and fanciful garden-train exhibits have become a beloved Washington tradition, and this year they're serving up even more magic with larger and more amazing displays made of plant-based natural materials. You'll find an enchanted storybook garden with trains popping in and out of a landscape that now includes Snow White's cottage and the Owl and the Pussycat's beautiful pea green boat. Their exhibit of the National Mall landmarks is up to date this season with the Obama children's swing set and another new addition: the National Museum of the American Indian. Again this year, one of Washington's largest indoor holiday trees will tower over pools of colorful poinsettias and other holiday plants. The whole family will enjoy the children's plant hunt, which will take visitors through their collections in search of particularly "magical" plants.

December VT Message

Nurture through Compassionate Service

December Lesson Schedule

6 - Special Relief Society All Women's Lesson

13 - Chapter 45: Joseph Smith’s Feelings about His Prophetic Mission (Kathryn Kimball)
20 - Christmas story and music program
27 - "School Thy Feelings, O My Brother" President Monson October 2009 Conference (Andrea Watkins) English, Mongolian

Happy December Birthdays!

11 - Kim Brubaker

11 - Rebecca Smith

15 - Mariel Buffington

17 - Urna Badamgarav

17 - Martha Stevenson

27 - Necia Stanford

29 - Jane Deeds

30 - Emily Keller

Chocolate Mousse Torte

From Kimberly Brubaker

Vegetable oil
4 oz bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped
4 oz milk chocolate, chopped
4 oz good-quality white chocolate (such as Lindt or Baker's), chopped
1/4 c cold water
1 T unflavored gelatin
5 large egg yolks
1/4 c sugar
1 c half and half
1 3/4 cups chilled whipping cream

Brush 9-inch-diameter springform pan with oil. Place each chocolate in separate medium bowl. Combine 1/4 cup water and gelatin in small bowl. Let stand until gelatin softens, about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, beat yolks and sugar in large bowl until mixture is pale yellow and very thick, about 5 minutes. Bring half and half just to simmer in heavy large saucepan. Gradually whisk hot half and half into beaten egg mixture. Return mixture to same saucepan. Stir over medium heat until custard thickens and leaves path on back of spoon when finger is drawn across, about 3 minutes (do not boil). Remove custard from heat. Add softened gelatin; stir until gelatin dissolves. Strain mixture into large glass measuring cup. Immediately pour 1/3 of hot custard over each. Stir each chocolate with separate spoon until melted and smooth. If mixture cools before chocolate is completely melted, set bowl over saucepan of simmering water and stir just until chocolate melts. Cool chocolate mixtures to room temperature, stirring occasionally.

Beat cream in large bowl until stiff peaks form. Divide whipped cream equally among bowls of chocolate, using about 1 1/3 cups cream for each. Fold whipped cream into chocolate in each bowl.

Pour bittersweet chocolate mixture into bottom of prepared pan. Smooth top with spatula. Freeze until firm, about 15 minutes. Pour milk chocolate mixture over bittersweet chocolate layer. Smooth top with spatula. Freeze until firm, about 15 minutes. Pour white chocolate mixture over milk chocolate mixture. Smooth top with spatula. Freeze until firm, about 15 minutes. (Torte can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cover with plastic and store in refrigerate.)

Run sharp knife around sides of pan. Remove pan sides. Cut torte into wedges and serve.

Charity Never Faileth

"Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don't judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet. Charity is accepting someone's differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone doesn't handle something the way we might have hoped. Charity is refusing to take advantage of another's weakness and being willing to forgive someone who has hurt us. Charity is expecting the best of each other." - Elder Marvin J. Ashton