Monday, April 29th, 2019

Rome, Italy

162nd operating temple

Dedicated: 10 March 2019

By: Russell M. Nelson

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

Acts 3:26

Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 19:1-24

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

John 7

General Conference

The Immediate Goodness of God

Kyle S. McKay

"Even while we are patiently waiting upon the Lord, there are certain blessings that come to us immediately."

I read an article in the Ensign today about receiving personal revelation. One of the things that struck me was this statement:

Serious reflection precedes revelation.

James and I left for town this morning a little after 11. We stopped at the Vernon Library to see Tamara and I picked up May birthday cards to sign for Relief Society sisters with birthdays in May. James went in to the 10 cent room to look for books. After I was done visiting with Tamara I joined him. We only came away with three books today. One of the books I got was a quilting book that was ranked really low and that I could sell for over $16 Prime. 

James wanted me to take him home because he had a lot to do today but I talked him in to going to town and getting the oil changed in the car while I did my shopping at Walmart. He did a few other errands and then came to pick me up. I helped James unload some of the groceries and then got in the car. We stopped to get gas on the way out of town and as we were headed towards the Y I asked James where my clipboard was. He said, what clipboard? I said, the one that was in the cart with the groceries. He said, I didn't get it and I realize I also forgot all the soda on the bottom of the cart. He immediately turned around and we headed back to Walmart. 

I don't know how he does it but James came back with my clipboard which had the recipe for the soup I'm fixing for the Howard's tonight, and the three 12-packs of soda that we left. The woman at the customer service desk said that once the groceries leave the store they don't replace them, but they did for James. I guess it's his charm.

As soon as we got home I started the soup.   I bought a roasted chicken and added chicken broth, carrots, celery and Rice-a-Roni chicken garlic flavored rice. Instead of using a crockpot which I didn't have time for, I used my cast iron pot. 

It was raining when we loaded up the car to go to the Howard's and when we unloaded at their house. 

Jean and Tom were alone. I expected the McNeil's and Hunter to be there but they were gone. Jean had set the table for four and insisted that we stay, so we did. 

The soup was still hot, and we also had croissants, and a salad with nuts and berries. It was good and for dessert we had a Sock-It-To Me bundt cake. Jean brought out some Dr. Pepper and Coke for us to drink. When Tom said the blessing on the food he thanked the Lord for bringing the Lambson's into their lives, which made us feel good and we feel the same way about them. They are good people and we love them. It was a nice evening. It was stil raining when we left and when we got home. We went to bed with the sound of rain on our roof.

When we got home and all of our steps were done, we watched the newest episode of "Morning Show Mysteries" starring Holly Robinson Peete and Rick Fox. It was okay but I'm just not in to murder mysteries like I am Hallmark romances.

This is where the Wanlass's moved to.

 This baby is a blues buster!

Love that smiling face!

 Happy Cinco de Mayo

YW's fundraiser

Sunday, April 28th, 2019

Barranquilla, Colombia

161st operating temple

Dedicated: 9 Dec 2018

By: Dallin H. Oaks

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

Acts 3:13

The God Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 18:17-35

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Review Matthew 18 and Luke 10

General Conference

Prepared to Obtain Every Needful Thing

David A. Bednar

"Blessings will come as we strive to fulfill our individual responsibility to learn and love the restored gospel of Jesus Christ."

I missed seeing Shelly this morning at church. She didn't want to cause a disruption in the chapel so she sat in the foyer and I missed her. Afterward sacrament meeting she went to the singles ward.

We sat by Kim and Brian during sacrament on the back row. Several youth spoke on conference talks and it was difficult to hear them. Elder Irish was the last speaker and we could hear him fine. He bore his testimony and shared some messages from the prophet, President Nelson. Kim and Brian went home after sacrament meeting. 

Cammy was nervous about teaching in Relief Society. She is teaching from Elder Holland's conference address, "Behold the Lamb of God."  The sisters came through for Cammy and we had a good discussion about reverence in the chapel and during the sacrament. I noticed that Holly G. wasn't there and I texted her after church to make sure she was okay. 

We had a family history meeting after the block. I forgot about it and was visiting in the RS room with Tamara, Kailee, and Kerri. I was a little embarrassed coming in late. Everyone was there except our teenager Ty. I texted him afterwards and told him we wanted him to visit Charlie G. and that James would go with him. Tamara his mom said he would do it but it would be after May 4th because he is preparing for the state track tournament.

James and I fixed biscuits and gravy for Kim and Brian before they left. James did all the work. I got the biscuits out of the freezer and warmed them up in the oven. The venison gravy was delicious!

Kim, Brian and I played a game of Five Crowns before they left. Brian whipped us each by over a 100 points. Maybe he was getting even with us for eating Rocky Road ice cream in front of him. (He's lactose intolerant).

After Kim and Brian left James went to the Howard's to help Tom with family history. While I was home alone I listened to a podcast interview with Sheri Dew about her association with prophets. She has written three books about prophets, Ezra Taft Benson, Gordon B. Hinckley, and now Russell M. Nelson. She told the story of the circumstances surrounding the meeting of Wendy Watson and President Nelson. She was a part of them getting together. I want this book that she has written for mother's day. I have told James and posted an advertisement for it on my white board. No jewlery honey, just a book.

I caught up on my blog this evening and watched a Mormon Message video, "The Passover Lamb." Tamara told us about this video in Relief Society today. This is something I will watch every Easter.

Happy Sabbath from these two sweet girls!

 Anxiously awaiting!

Dear sweet Ruby

Saturday, April 27th, 2019

Concepcion, Chile

160th operating temple

Dedicated: 28 Oct 2018

By: Russell M. Nelson

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

John 20:21

Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 18:1-16

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Luke 10:38-42

General Conference

Good Shepherd, Lamb of God

Gerritt W. Gong

"Jesus Christ calls us in His voice and His name. He seeks and gathers us. He teaches us how to minister in love."

When we left at 5:40 this morning for the temple the sky was filled with smoke. The further away from Vernon we got the less smoke there was. By the time we got to the temple in Snowflake the smoke was just a distant memory. As we got out of the car and looked over towards the mountains near Vernon we could see the Vernon valley filled with smoke. So sad.

 I went ahead of James as we entered the temple because he had to wait to get approval from a higher source since he did not have his recommend. 

The Brimhall's did our training today. President Brimhall told about his dad who worked for the Santa Fe Railroad in Winslow. The men that worked with him called him the Mormon Bishop, even though he was not a bishop, and they called his line shack the Mormon temple. President Brimhall seemed proud to have such a wonderful dad. 

My first assignment was in the women's dressing room assigning lockers to sisters coming in for the 8 am. session. Next I went to initiatory. I worked in initiatory three different times today. I think they want to make sure that I memorize everything.

I helped in the baptistry, worked at the sealing desk under the stairs where I read several chapters in the Book of Mormon. I was there for an hour and helped two people.

One of my assignments was sitting in the Celestial room. While I was there a brother who was 7'4" tall came in and sat down on the couch. It looked like a toy couch with him sitting on it. I was thinking, oh dear, he's never going to find anyone to marry when a 6'2" sister, who happened to be his wife, came and sat by him. The reason I know their heights is that James told me. He was at the recommend desk when they came in the temple and spoke with them. The brother had to duck as he went out the door.

I got to have my break with James and one of my best friends at the temple, Debbie V. from Chandler. We asked where her husband Jim was. He was back in Virginia visiting his brother and had to have emergency surgery for kidney stones. He was supposed to be home to work in the temple today but didn't make it. 

On the way home this afternoon we stopped at Sonic because I wanted to try their new BBLT (Bacon, bacon lettuce tomato) sandwich. It was quite good and I think James wishes he would have gotten one instead of getting a corndog. 

When we got home we were so tired we took a nap. When we got up we were listening to a chapter from our book when Stacy called. She had to tell me that they found a house and that she starts her new job next Wednesday, May 1st. The house is over 3,000 square feet and his near Gilbert and Lindsey. They needed a big house because Adam, Jared Ammon, and Michael will all be living with them. The name of the place where she will be working is Transforming Image. She saw an ad on TV and just went in off the street. The owner says he wants her to do the TV ads so I guess she's going to be on TV. She is a little stressed about that. 

Kim and Brian went for a walk and then they took the Christmas Tree Trail ride on the Razr. They were shocked to see that there was still snow up in the high country. 

This evening we watched the new Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, "Love Takes Flight," based on a true story. We all loved it. This is not your ordinary Hallmark movie. It's a classic. I guess that's why they call it "Hall of Fame" because it's based on a true story. 

 The Umphress girls, Bailey, Gracie, and Abby 

with their horses.

 In honor of Tasha's mom Monte and his boys wore purple.

It will probably be the only time Monte says.

Their big rival Blue Ridge has purple as one of their colors.

Our girl is 8 months old today

 We found this tulip growing under a pine tree.

Not sure where it came from. 

 We really enjoyed this movie.

Summer and her prom date.

Friday, April 26th, 2019

Cedar City, Utah

159th operating temple

Dedicated: 10 Dec 2017

By: Henry B. Eyring

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

John 19:7

The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 17:1-20

New Testament "Come Follow Me
Luke 10:25-37 How can we be better neighbors?

General Conference

Exercising Our Spiritual Muscles

Juan Pablo Villar

"Just as reading and earning about muscles is not enough to build muscle, reading and learning about faith without adding action is insufficient to build faith."

This morning I work up thinking of my neighbor Kathy Crane. Interesting how today's Come Follow Me lesson is about the Good Samaritan. I think I am feeling guilty because I have not bought any eggs from Kathy. I also woke up with the impression that I should visit the sisters I minister to and take them some bread. Most of my inspiration comes in the early hours of the morning.

Well Paul is going to Costa Rico with his boss. She chose him over several other people. I hope she doesn't think he speaks Spanish. 

We are surrounded by smoke this morning because of the brush burn. This does not make me happy. 

I buffed the wax on the floor today and I must say they look pretty good. James loves how they look. I think I put too much wax on and they are a little too shiny. I spent most of the afternoon cleaning, getting ready for Kim and Brian. They arrived at 6 pm. Grateful to be here. It's 104 degrees in the valley and they are already tired of it. 

Kim, Brian and I were watching a Hallmark Christmas movie when James came in and announced that he did not have his temple recommend. I guess it was in his wallet that he left at Darrel and Trina's.

We sold another book and made $15.63 profit. Whoopee.

We were in bed by 9:30 because we have to get up early tomorrow for our shift at the temple.

                                trade our time in Chandler for anything.

 Molly looks happy, Charlie looks a little scared.

The movie I watched with Brian and Kim.

 Giraffees are such interesting animals.