We are all attending church today in Sheri's ward, the Galveston 3rd ward in Chandler. It starts at 9 a.m. and Ben is speaking. Kim and Brian will not be there because Kim is still feeling dizzy and nauseated. She ask if her dad could come over and give her a Father's blessing. James drove Darrel's truck and I drove my car so James could go immediately after sacrament meeting to give Kim's blessing and I could take the kids to Sheri's for brunch.
When we got to the church there were very few cars in the parking lot and so I double checked with Sheri to make sure we were at the right building. We were. It's just that the entire ward is still not meeting. They planned for 50 people today. There were 46 and 19 (including Ben), were our family. Those who attended from our family: Sheri, Ian, Alex, Shayna, Max, Evan, Michael, Joe, Stacy, Paul, Joshua, Adam, James, Addy, Rowan, Ruby, Lola, me, and Ben.
Some of our friends we saw: The Tolman's, the Price's, the Coffey's, and Brother Jiminez. Brother Jiminez is a counselor to Bishop Blaser and after every prayer and talk, he had to wipe clean the podium and microphone. The organist played the music but we were not allowed to sing. Here are some of the notes I took on my phone because I forgot my Sunday journal:
"Reverently and Meekly Now"
Brother and Sister Platt gave the prayers. They are Sheri's neighbors
Three boys passed the sacrament. Evan was one of them.
Bishop Blaser read a letter from the First Presidency regarding the upcoming General Conference.
Elder Trezise's talk:
Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Shared when JD died. He prayed and didn't feel anything and so he quit believing. One night in desperation he picked up his Book of Mormon and began reading. He said he read Helaman 5:12 at least 40x: "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."
This scripture helped Ben to believe again. Faith is believing and acting. I built my foundation on Jesus Christ and decided I wanted to serve a mission. Ben read the entire Book of Mormon in two weeks time. He found friends who had the same standards as he did.
It is not supposed to be easy.
Challenge: "Take Action"
Bishop Blaser
Read letter from Ben's mission president. He sang Ben's praises and said what a great missionary he was and that he had affected many lives for the good.
Moroni 10:4
"Teach Me to Walk in the Light"
We were not to "loiter" in the foyer and were to leave the grounds as soon as possible. Sheri and Ian gathered their boys and Shayna took a picture.
Ben, Ian, Sheri, Alex, Max, and Evan
James left to go to Kim and Brian's and Addy, Rowan, Ruby, Lola, and I all went in my car to Sheri's. While there I changed into some comfortable clothes. Rowan changed in the car. The girls stayed in their Sunday clothes. Sheri had apple and strawberry pastries, and cinnamon rolls from The Great Gadsby Bakery. She also had bacon, scrambled eggs, and orange juice for everyone. I had a strawberry pastry, which was delicious, and some orange juice. When James arrived I could tell Addy was ready to go. Rowan was in the bedroom hanging out with Joshua and Evan. Sheri had made a big deal over Lola so she wanted to stay and go home with grandpa. Ruby said she would stay to make sure that Lola behaved herself. It was just Addy and I in my car. Before leaving I gave Ben a big hug and told him how proud I was of him. Sheri said she had heard his story before and was hoping he would share some of the stories from his mission because he baptized many people. She said their ward missionaries came over the other night and Ben helped them teach the Plan of Salvation to the family. She said it was amazing! I told her we should have a FHE where Ben could share his mission stories. Hopefully we can do that soon.
I took a nap when Addy and I got home. This afternoon Lola and Ruby both wanted to make something for their mom and dad because they are coming home tonight. Ruby made anklets and Lola made a necklace for her mom. I'm not sure what she made for Darrel.
I cleaned the kitchen once. We had left over Peter Piper Pizza and cinnamon dessert from last night and the kids had been snacking. Later Addy made some chicken wontons for dinner and then cleaned and mopped before Darrel and Trina arrived home somewhere between 8:30 and 9.
James and I went in the bedroom at 6 p.m. and had our family discussion on the Sunday morning session of the last conference. It was James and I, Kim and Brian, and Sheri. Jared was busy fixing dinner for Kacey and her kids were coming over as today is her birthday. I can't remember why Stacy couldn't come but she did say that she listened to the talks.
It was a great Sabbath Day!
Happy Birthday Kacey!
Poor Shipley
Lola
Ruby's baptism
Three years makes such a difference
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