Every Who down in Who-ville

This year's Relief Society Christmas party was centered on how to get rid of the "Grinchies " since they seem to sneak in so easily this time of year. We got to visit Who-ville for some refreshments, hot chocolate, and a cookie exchange! They even gave us some interesting Elf names and quizzed us on how well we knew about their town and their green furry resident (those with kids had quite an advantage). We were uplifted by words spoken in the Christmas devotional in 2010 titled "Seeing Christmas through new Eyes" given by Dieter Uchtdorf. He said it best, but suggested 3 things to ponder, study and apply.

• Rejoice in the Birth of the Savior - Take time to rejoice and celebrate that glorious first Christmas day.
• Ponder His influence in our lives today - Christmas is a time for remembering the Son of God, a time of grattitude, a time of forgiveness, a time of pondering the Atonement and what it means to us personally.
• Look Steadfast for his coming - Let us look forward. let us prepare for the blessed day when He will come again.

"If we look for what is wrong with the Christmas season, we can surely find it. If we look for the good, we can see this time of year with new eyes."

Have a Merry Christmas!

Some cookies recipes that were left to share

Peanut butter Cookie Balls - Makes 4 dozen

1 lb peanut butter cookies crushed

1 8 oz block of cream cheese softened

1 lb chocolate flavored candy coating 

1 cup crushed pretzels

In a large mixing bowl combine the crushed cookies with the cream cheese to form a stiff dough. Roll 3/4 inch size balls from the dough and refrigerate them overnight. Melt chocolate candy coating in a double boiler. Fill a mini cupcake pan with mini liners. With a spoon, place a small dollup of chocolate in the bottom of the liner then press a chilled cookie ball on top. Cover with additional chocolate and dust with crushed pretzels. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Cream Cheese Cookies - from Glen Roosa Gulfport Branch

1 - 8oz pkg. cream cheese

1 box yellow cake mix

1/4 tsp vanilla

1/4 cup butter

1 egg yolk

Soften butter and cream cheese naturally (no microwaving). When softened, mix together. You can use a hand mixer to blend softened butter and cream cheese together. When well blended, add egg yolk and vanilla and blend together. Once all three ingredients are mixed together, add 1/3 of the box of cake mix. You can use a hand mixer, but dough will thicken up. When well mixed, add another 1/3 of the cake mix and repeat. When this is all mixed, add the last 1/3, but mix by hand using a wooden spoon. Refrigerate dough in covered bowl for at least 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Drop one teaspoon size mixture onto ungreased cookie sheet. Baking time is 8 to 10 minutes, but please watch your oven. Once they start to appear cake like on top, but not completely brown, they are done. Doneness will depend on whether you like a softer cookie or not. Variations include using white cake mix or yellow cake mix with pudding in the mix.