OUR FAMILY: Thur, May 13th, 2021: Oaxaca Temple - Trip to the Valley with Cammy, Liana, and baby Malea, Savers, Olive Garden, Seagull Book, Sam's Club

Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico

74th operating temple

Dedicated: 11 Mar 2000

By: James E. Faust

Jesus Christ, Power of

Romans 14:9

For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revised, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 29:1-15

D&C

50:1-12

"Come Follow Me"

The Lord's teachings can protect me from Satan's deceptions.

AprGenCon

'Bishops - Shepherds Over the Lord's Flock

Elder Quentin L. Cook

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Today my purpose is to focus on bishops and their counselors, who can appropriately be called "shepherds over the Lord's flock" - with emphasis on being shepherds for the rising generation. It is interesting that the Apostle Peter referred to Jesus Christ as "the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."

Restoration Proclamation

We solemnly proclaim that God loves His children in every nation of the world. God the Father has given us the divine birth, the incomparable life, and the infinite atoning sacrifice of His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. By the power of the Father, Jesus rose again and gained the victory over death. He is our Savior, our Exemplar, and our Redeemer.

Inklings

"Conversion must come from within."

-Brother Jan E. Newman

I left home this morning at 6:14 headed for the Grapp's home to pick up Cammy, Liana, and Malea, the baby. Thomas was the first person I saw when I arrived at their gate. He had an armful of stuff to put in the car. Cammy brought the car seat for Malea. After everyone was loaded in the car Liana said a prayer that we would be safe.

I stopped for gas at the Circle K on the far end of town and Cammy paid for the gas. I think it cost her over $37.00. Liana sat in the back seat and entertained and fed Malea. She slept for awhile. Cammy and I visited in the front seat. We stopped at the Speedway gas station in Payson so Cammy could feed Malea. Malea is almost 9 months old and is still nursing. She is a tiny, dainty little baby and so good natured. Thomas, Cammy's husband, texted her and said

The first place Cammy wanted to go when we arrived in Mesa was the VF (Vanity Fair) Factory Outlet store on Power Rd. and Baseline.

She told me she could get quality clothes, including jeans, for cheap and it's her favorite place to shop. She is a real thrift shopper. When we arrived it didn't look like it was open. Cammy went up to see and the doors were locked. Some guy told her it was closed permanently. If she wanted to find another store he said there was one in Tucson. This was a huge disappointment but as we were leaving Liana said there was a Goodwill store across the street. Cammy had said she didn't like Goodwill but when I glanced over I saw a Savers store in the same shopping center. Cammy likes Savers and had mentioned it on the way down. The first thing we looked at were the books and puzzles, etc. Cammy bought several children's books and I bought two puzzles. Cammy and Liana were having a hard time looking at clothes and holding Malea so I took her in the cart and pushed her around the store. She loved it and was moving back and forth to the music they had playing in the store. We were there for at least an hour and a half. They had the most beautiful set of china, 43 pieces in all including the cutest teapot for $40. I loved it but I just couldn't justify spending $40 on it. When we went back to the car Cammy said she needed to use the restroom so she went back inside the store. She was gone quite awhile and when I looked in my rearview mirror I saw her coming out carrying a big box. I realized then that she had bought the china for me. I was grateful but also embarrassed because I had talked about how much I liked the china. I chastised Cammy and then gave her a hug and thanked her for being so thoughtful.

We were all hungry by this time so we headed for the closest Olive Garden on Southern and Alma School. I thought I had at least a $50 gift card but instead it only turned out to be $20. I still paid for lunch. We all had soup, salad and breadsticks. I had zuppa toscana, Liana had chicken and gnocchi, and Cammy and Malea had minestrone. Malea loved the zucchini. I asked Liana if she thought our waiter was cute. She said she couldn't tell with his mask on. We ask him for crackers for Malea but he said they didn't have crackers. Hmm, interesting. Maybe they make too big a mess on the floor.

Thomas has written a book he wants to have published. It is about the blessings of keeping a journal. He keeps a daily journal like I do and has since his mission to Hawaii. Liana, Cammy and Thomas's oldest daughter is 12 and is an avid reader. She loves proper romance novels and the other day began writing her own book. She read what she has written to me and I was very impressed. She knows how to add details to make it interesting and she knows how to keep the story flowing. Oh yes, she is writing a romance novel that has horses in it. Liana loves horses.

Our next stop was at Seagull Book on Gilbert and Southern where there used to be a Deseret Book. They have lots of cute, modest clothes and neckties for men and boys. I got myself an undershirt to wear with the new tops I got at Target last week. I also bought James three new ties in pastel colors and I got myself a light purple leather journal to write my favorite Doctrine and Covenants scriptures in.

Cammy found a cute dress for Liana and Liana loved it. They shopped for well over an hour and bought clothes and children's books. Just south of Baseline on Gilbert Rd. is a Sam's Club. This was our next and last stop. I used to shop at this Sam's Club many years ago.

I don't have a Sam's Club card but Cammy does. We don't have much room left in my little car but that didn't stop us from buying what we wanted. I thought there was no way we were going to get all of this stuff in the car. Cammy said she was a good packer and she was sure she could manage. I bought some oat bar snacks, honey, disinfectant wipes, dark chocolate covered freeze dried raspberries and a watermelon that Liana picked out. When I looked in my purse for my wallet, it wasn't there. I panicked for a moment and then the thought came to my mind that maybe I dropped my wallet in my Seagull Book bag. I asked Cammy if I could borrow her Sam's Club card so I could get back in and I went out to the car. Sure enough the wallet was in the bag. I grabbed it and was hurrying back inside when I stumbled and tripped on the curb. I went down hard on the sidewalk, using my hands and arms to break the fall. I looked around and I could see no one so I proceeded to get up. It was a struggle but I made it. I have some scabs on my hands and a bruise on my left hand and a little pain in my right elbow, but that is it. I am grateful.

When I got inside Sam's Cammy and Liana were waiting in line at the snack bar. Cammy had paid for my items. I paid for our berry sundaes and she said we were even. Of course we weren't. I told her I was going to give her a hundred dollar bill when we got home. She said it wasn't that much and showed me the receipt. I owe her closer to $50. Also, I bought a ticket for the youth fund raiser Navajo taco dinner next Friday from Liana so I will give her a $20 bill when I get home.

Somehow Cammy managed to get all of our purchases in the car. Liana was a little crowded but she never complained. We thought Malea would sleep on the way home but she didn't. She was fine until we got to Payson and then she began crying and never stopped until we got to the Speedway gas station on the other end of town where we stopped so Cammy could hold her and feed her. After she was done Cammy got in the back seat so Malea could see her and Liana got in the front.

I asked Liana and Cammy if they had gotten the Covid vaccine. Liana said no and proceeded to tell me all of the reasons it wasn't a good idea. She is like talking to a little adult. She is a good listener and remembers what she hears. I told them about someone in our ward who had been living in the valley that came up for the summer. This person asked me if I had gotten the vaccine and I said no. She made the comment, "Has anyone in the ward gotten the vaccine."?

Cammy said I should have told her, "No, we're all a bunch of rebels."

It was dusk when we drove into the Grapp's place. All of the kids and Thomas came out to help unload. Cammy and Liana had both noticed hair on my backseats in the car. Soon Thomas was coming out with a portable vacuum to vacuum out the back seats. They also gave me two dozen eggs and some guacamole chips that Cammy said she had gotten at Big Lots. She wanted me to try them. Before saying our goodbyes we took a picture by my car. I gave them hugs and was on my way home.

James told me about his day. They got Holly's building placed on the concrete slab. Now they just have a little more repair work to do. It was a successful day for both of us. I was too tired to do any walking. So I took a shower and went to bed.

Happy Birthday to Monte, my nephew!