Thursday, September 3rd, 2026: Up @ 3:45 I feel great! 5 promises of power from scripture study, Atonement, Louie Navellier-Elon Musk&APEX, Psalms & household chores, GC, Inklings, Kim's BM every month schedule, Mikki Gilbert Nutella bars, Kim & Green Machine clean all day, rain, "A Buffalo Bills" Christmas, Sept you activity Mt Humphrey hike, Rise Zion, "Growth Investor"

 

Lima, Peru Los Olivos

Temple #187.

Up @ 3:45. I slept in because I went to bed late. I feel great! I hope this lasts. I had a busy day. After my personal prayers and daily devotional I went to work. I finished listening to a video featuring someone named Louie Navellier. He is a wealthy investor in the stock market and knows how to find the latest successful stock. He talked a lot about Elon Mush and his new startup in the AI market called APEX. Louie has an incredible amount of financial knowledge so I subscribed to his newsletter, Growth Investor.

I did some household chores while listening to Psalms 135-37. My general conference talk for the day was Elder Gilbert's, "Come Home." I texted Sheri and told her it reminded me of her. 

I listened to Inklings as Emily and Hilary Weeks discussed Sister Porter's talk, "Here Am I, Send Me." BTW, did you know that Kim reads the Book of Mormon every month. She made a schedule and shared a copy with me. 

I sent $100 to Autumn for the RS cookies. It's decided that Stacy & Paul will ride with us to Salt Lake for the temple open house. We just don't know what date yet. I told Kacey about an LDS mental health podcast. I took Nutella bars to Mikki & Roger Gilbert. James went with me and it's a good thing. Mikki had fallen out of her wheelchair and Roger couldn't get her back in by himself. It was a tender mercy for both Mikki & Roger. 

Kim cleaned all day. She used the Little Green machine to clean one of the couches. She vacuumed, dusted logs and fans earlier and swept and cleaned the floors using Endust. 

It was overcast all day and rained after dark. 

Kim and I watched and enjoyed "A Buffalo Bills Christmas" this evening. 

I spoke with Kathy Crane today and she told me what the Bishop, who happens to be her son, has planned for the combined youth activity for September. He is going to take them to Flagstaff to hike Mt. Humphrey's. They are going to stay overnight and go to a fireside at the mission home. Bishop Crane is friends with the mission leader and his wife. Some of the youth in our ward, including Easton, the bishop's son, are struggling to feel accepted in the ward and they are having a difficult time finding good friends. This is to help them to bond and to feel more united. I think it is an excellent idea! I love our bishop.

I watched Seth on Rise Zion, a YouTube channel, whom I almost always enjoy. 

I signed up for Louie Naverelli's newsletter, "Growth Investor."

"The Savior loves all of us and is tenderly calling for you and for me to come home." 

- Elder Clark Gilbert

Psalm 119:105

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Charlie opening her roller skates

More Decor from Kacey & Jared's

Is that Pa Kettle or James Lambson

I may have already posted this but 

in case I didn't.

Charlie and her fan club

Back row left to right: Albert, Loren, Palmer, Jared & Mason,

Christina, Bella, Fred, Isaac

Macey, Autumn & Benson, Scarlett, Charlie, Me, James

Charlie is our last grand child.

Reading the new scriptures we got her in bed.

I sent this to Charlie

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2026: 2:43, prayer & gospel study, leave for valley @ 6:36, Kim finds 2 more Jesus's, Costco - Ramone, Paul's cousin, William, AARA, Yen, Ritauxin, Tylenol, Benadryl, Dianne, Edith

 

Okinaw, Japan

Temple #186.

Up at 2:43. Prayer, Book of Mormon, Psalms, Conference talk, and ready to go to the valley. We leave at 6:36. Kim finds two more Jesus's. Only four more to go.

Our first stop was at Costco. We bought two cases of Fairlife shakes, ribbon, walnuts, birthday cards, a nut snack pack with packages of three types of nuts: pistachios, cashews and the best mixed nuts I have ever eaten. Toilet paper, gallon freezer bags and Pom juice.

I found some beautiful area rugs. I thought since we are Thcoming back in two weeks, if we decide to buy any we could bring the truck.

While we were eating at the food court we met William, a black man in a purple shirt who lives in Chandler. Yes, I spoke to him. He was sitting by me. Ramon Rubacaba came and said hello to James. He is Paul's cousin and used to work for James. 

After checking in at AARA, the cutest little black girl with green wired rimmed glasses came to take me back for my infusion. My blood pressure was a little high, 138/77. I forgot to take my blood pressure medicine, Volsartan and Amlodipine, this morning. 

Tyneall hooked me up to the Ritauxin infusion, and gave me some Tylenol and Benadryl. The Benadryl knocks me out for awhile. When I wake up Dianne is here to take me to an examine room to see Edith. My oxygen level is at 93. Edith asks how I am doing. I told her I am doing much better and she says she is happy about that. I really like Edith better than Dr. Kumar, although I do like her too. She wants me to get bloodwork done and chest x-rays when I come back in two weeks. I will see her again in six months.

Back to my five hour infusion when only lasts around four hours. I got such a nice nap and then I read some stock email, and worked on my journal. The Game network is playing on the TV. These are my nurses: Yen, who looks like she is 15. She is from Ethiopia. She was adopted when she was 3 and grew up in Albuquerque. I love her! I can see how we could be good friends. Then there is Frances whom I have known since coming to AARA about 30 years or so ago. I told her if she left I was leaving too. I asked about Ang who moved to Canada. She said there is lots of smoke from the wild fires and it is bother her husband. 

I was done at 4pm instead of 5. When I called James he said he was three minutes away. He delivered BatDuck to Addy at Chandler Eyecare. Nancy adjusted his glasses. He texted Cathi to see if he could visit Dawn but Dawn was gone, staying with a college friend for a few days. He wanted to take her and Aunt Faye to lunch. He picked up Aunt Faye and they went to Arby's where Aunt Faye fell in love with the Steak Nuggets. They had a great time. He also took our donation to Deseret Industries. 

We stopped at Sam's Club. I forgot to mention that Costco didn't have Pom juice, even though it was on our list. Sam's Club has it. Sam's Club, in some ways, is better than Costco. It tells you on their app the letter and the aisle of where an item is located. I went straight back to G-8 to find the Pom juice. I bought six large bottles. Did I say I went straight back, I was wrong. I stopped at a display of ASU blankets and bought 9 ASU blankets and 1 Cardinals. I always buy Max a Cardinals blanket. I am so excited for these ASU blankets, they are awesome! I also bought Smores Built bars, 9 big ribeye steaks and 5 small filets. One our way home we went through Salt River canyon. James drove through Globe. He was so tired so I drove the rest of the way home. We arrived at 8:36, 14 hours after leaving. Kim and James unloaded the car and helped me put things away. We were in bed by 10.

On the way down to the valley we listened to a BYU Devotional by Jeff Bednar, the son of Elder Bednar and his wife Susan. The name of the talk: "To Those Enduring Trials with No End." An amazing talk!

"Ministering is truly loving and caring for others as the Savior would. It is a way of being and it is the way of our Savior, Jesus Christ." - Kristin Yee 

Psalm 119:7

I will praise Thee with a rightness of heart....

Psalm 127

Children are an heritage of the Lord ....

Relief Society lesson:

"All Who Have Endured Valiantly"

Elder David A. Bednar

Back at Kacey's house

Charlie's starmaker robot

Charlie & Mason looking at the stars

Love this!

Our friends Greg & Florence Hatch

are bicycling through Europe after

Greg had cancer treatment and was

given a clean bill of health.

I love that Addy & Max are doing something

together that they both love.

Sheri and Kayla too.

The rose bush that James bought me.

My sweet sleeping Tom

Tuesday, September 1st, 2026: Up @ 3:30, pumpkin pecan, caramel bread for breakfast, unpack, personal gospel study, Stansberry, Altimetry, trip to town, James says I have changed and now I am the nicest person he knows, I felt loved, boxes to Cress Miller who is moving, Vernon PO for Total Bowel Release pills, magnesium pills, Jesus & the Lamb picture, printer ink & Auto Owner bill, Sholo PO to mail Darrel's card,

 

Bangkok, Thailand

Temple #the 

Tom wanted out at 2:12 this morning. I was up for a potty break anyway. I got up for good at 3:30 am.

For breakfast I had pumpkin pecan bread with caramel glaze. So good! I had to finish unpacking from our trip. Even though I got up so early I did not get to my investment "classes," Stansberry and Altimetry. I did do my personal gospel study: 1) A chapter from the Book of Mormon, 2) Come Follow Me, 3) a General Conference talk or two, reading from Psalms and choosing a verse to ponder. James and I also had our devotional and prayers. There was a talk by Camille N. Johnson we were going to listen to on the way to Show Low, "Christ Is Relief," but we forgot. I will write it on my list and since we are going to the valley tomorrow, we can listen to it then.

Our trip to town was insightful. James tole me I had changed. He said I was now the nicest person he knows. Well, that was a surprise and certainly nice to hear. I felt loved. We stopped on the way to town to take Cress Miller some boxes. She had requested boxes on Facebook. They are moving. Pantera and Geno are already gone to live with their mom. Jacob is moving to San Simone to live with his mom, although he doesn't want to go. I hope their mother's take them to church. So does Cress. Cress & Richard are moving to the west valley somewhere around 55th avenue and Glendale to take care of Cress's mom and dad. They are in their mid 80's and her dad is having back surgery and her mom needs help. Cress and I hugged and cried together. We told her that when they want to come for a visit they can stay with us. We gave Cress four of our Bankers boxes that I bought last January.

We stopped at the Vernon post office and picked up my Total Bowel Release pills, magnesium pills, Jesus & the Lamb photo, which I am giving to Chelsea MacArthur for her birthday in a couple of weeks. We also got our HP printers ink and an Auto-Owners insurance bill.

We went to the Show Low post office to mail Darrel's birthday card & cash. 

Kim and I are reading the Book of Mormon, looking for 60 different names of Christ in 1st & 2nd Nephi. Brother Hall gave us the idea to do this in her conference address.

"The conference we convene today is different because it begins with what we call a solemn assembly."

- President Dallin H. Oaks

"Life is better - everything is better - when we are about His business."

- Elder Patrick Kearon

Psalm 17:15

As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. 

Judy made me the most beautiful 

birthday card.

Sleeping Tom

Sammy needs a new house

Stonehenge, still a conundrum

Finding Jesus, the True Vine

Plastic bottle of water exposed to the

sun is not good.

Kat & Larry

President & Sister Van Winkle

Not sure who the counselors are.

Ruby was 5 in this photo.

It is one of my all-time favorites.

Who did this to Addy's hair?

Monday, August 31st, 2026: Goodbye to Jared @ 5:37 am Texas time, Buc-ee's new travel shoes, chicken salad, gas for $2.69, James feeds grackle's, bumper to bumper traffic, Sis Eubank's "Doing Small Things w/ Great Love" Hurricane Mitch 1998 11,000 people in Honduras died,

 

Feather River, California

Temple #184.

We left Jared and gave him a hug and said goodbye at 5:37 am Texas time. Our first stop was at Buc-ee's for some more of that delicious chicken salad. I also bought me some new travel shoes. They are like a rubber sandal, brand name Reef. They are slip-ons and so comfortable.

When I came out the door I saw James standing by our car with a gaggle of grackles. Is that right? I know it's a gaggle of geese. I like gaggle of grackles. Here is a picture after a few of them flew away. He was feeding them.

The man loves black birds

We are in the Dallas traffic jam, bumper to bumper. James and I listened to Sister Sharon Eubank's new audio book: "Doing Small Things with Great Love." This is a book all about service. I learned something about Hurricane Mitch which happened in Honduras when Darrel was on his mission in 1998. I did not know that 11,000 people died in Hurricane Mitch and my son was there. He and the other missionaries were protected by their mission president who called the missionaries home to the mission home.

After we finished Sister Eubank's book we listened to some of "Follow Him" with the guest star being a Michael Balaam. Michael was Satan in the old temple videos. He is also an opera singer. He told about his amazing son who has spina bifida. 

I got a text from Kacey. She ordered me the kitchen cloths she uses that I liked so well. Mine are going to be in a sunflower design. Thank you Kacey!

We listened to Carrie Underwood sing, "How Great Thou Art", read Psalm 146 where is says that joy is a gift from God. What a great gift!

It is 2:55pm New Mexico time, they are an hour ahead of Arizona, and we are in the city of Roswell. I read in the Church News that the location for the Queen Creek temple has been announced. I bet the members in Queen Creek are excited!

Now we are at the Arby's in Socorro where my steak nuggets are waiting for me. The entire dining area is empty except for us. 

Soon we are in Pie Town, but not for very long, there isn't much there. Quemado has a horse hotel. Ha Ha. There were so many wildflowers by the side of the road. James stopped and picked some for me.

We are finally home after 16.5 hours! A patrolman flashed his lights at James about a mile or so from Vernon. I guess he got excited we were almost home and was speeding. 

Kim helped us unload the car. We made a pile of blankets in our bedroom. There was pumpkin pecan bread, a birthday card and an Amazon gift card all waiting for me on the kitchen counter. 

Kim and I watched the finale of "Paris Is Always A Good Idea." Tom slept on my lap while I was watching T.V. It's good to be home.

More Photos from Longview

A picture in Kacey & Jared's home

Showing me her butterfly balloon

The Barbie hospital

Kacey's Grand Highlander

James by our car, Celeste.

Summer & John brought Cane's chicken and sauce

to the luncheon on Saturday.

Kacey's delicious potato salad

Jared's smoked beans and ribs. 

Those ribs were finger lickin' good!