OUR FAMILY: Wed, Mar 2nd, 2022: Manila Philippines Temple, J pour, Sandra's text,Trina, Ro, Lola, Addy & Ruby hugs, Lunch at OG Stacy, Armando's, Sals, Costco,

Manila, Philippines

29th operating temple

Dedicated: 25 Sept 1984

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Rock

1 Nephi 15:15

And then at that day will they not rejoice and give praise unto their everlasting God, their rock and their salvation? Yea, at that day, will they not receive the strength and nourishment from the true vine? Yea, will they not come unto the true fold of God?

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 24:1-32

"Come Follow Me"

Genesis 29:31-35; 30:1-24 The Lord remembers me in my trials. Genesis 30

OctGenCon

"Come Unto Christ And Don't Come Alone"

Bonnie H. Cordon

Young Women General President

Remember, the best way for you to improve the world is to prepare the world for Christ by inviting all to follow Him.

Liahona

"The Lord Remembers Me in My Trials"

Elder D. Todd Christofferson

I pray that each of us will draw close to our Heaven Father and Savior through our personal adversity.

God isn't just interested in what we do or don't do, but what we are becoming.

Act as He acts, not simply be acted upon

Righteous in all circumstances

Heavenly Father will sustain us if we turn to Him

With Divine help, consolation replaces pain, peace replaces turmoil, hope replaces sorrow.

God will convert trial into blessing

Heavenly Father does not promise to spare us conflict, but to console us and consecrate use in our afflictions.

Endurance and perseverance overcome adversity.

Let generosity replace animosity. Reflection can bring perception.

MRBallard: ...waiting upon the Lord implies action. Hope and time forming the elixir of experience.

I am amazed how well I slept in Rowan's bed. I did not wake up during the night to go to the bathroom. That never happens at home. I had family prayer with James before he left for the concrete pour in Casa Grande.

I texted Sandra this morning to wish her a happy birthday. Here is what she said in return:

Thank you and we ate that delicious cake last night the kids were afraid of it getting stale.

Me: That is funny!

I got to hug Addy and Ruby before they went to school. I did not see Darrel this morning. I imagine he was at work. Rowan stayed home from school to help his mom setup her "store" at the Desert Market Place. Lola stayed home too. It was a half day. Addy forgot her running clothes so Trina had to take them to her. I remember those days.

I had scriptures and prayers this morning. I thought about walking over to Safeway but I worked on my blog instead.

James got home around 11:45 and he was very hungry because he did not have breakfast. He packed the car and then we gave Rowan a hug. Rowan called Lola down so we could give her a hug. Rowan has always been a great hugger.

We met Stacy at Olive Garden for lunch. She is taking both of us to lunch for our birthdays. Stacy has lost about 15 lbs. and all she ordered was salad. James ordered off the lunch menu and so did I. He ordered the fettuccini alfredo with chicken and I ordered the fettuccini alfredo without chicken. I loved mine and I think James loved his. The portion was just the right size, not too big and not too small. All of us shared the salad and breadsticks. Stacy asked that the onions be on the side of the salad and she didn't eat the olives either.

We had a nice visit. Stacy needs to have the stomach surgery that James had but she is hesitant because James had a difficult time recovering. Here was how the conversation went:

Stacy: What was the stomach surgery dad had?

Me(after asking James:) He had one for a hiatel hernia and he had a stomach valve put in to prevent acid reflex which was causing him to have laryngitis all the time.

Stacy: It was a bad recovery, right? I have the same issues. The valve on my stomach won't close. Food always tastes sour. I also have a hernia. I'm scared to have that surgery though because I remember dad's recovery was bad.

Me: The recovery was not bad except for the following: he had to have a liquid diet then soft food for several weeks. When he started eating bread and meat it was hard to swallow and painful. The only kind of bread he could eat was toast.

Stacy: Yea, that part sounds awful.

Me: But it doesn't last forever. If you don't do anything what you have now will only get worse.

Stacy: Yea I know. Thx.

Me: I am so sorry you have that.

Stacy: Thx. I'm a hot mess

Me: You are a cute hot mess.

Really, you are NOT a hot mess!

Stacy: Ha, ha, thank you

After lunch we went to Armando's house to drop off a check to his wife Susan. They still have plastic on their roof. Next we went to Sal's to get some grapefruit.

I have a $75 rewards coupon to spend at Costco so that was our next stop. James went to the hearing aid department while I shopped. Here is what I bought: toilet paper, paper towels, walnuts, two bottles of pomegranate juice and some green olives for James. My total was $75.29. The certificate was $75.07. I had to dig 22 cents out of my chain purse. I was quite pleased with myself to have come so close to my budget.

We went home through the canyon and I didn't even mind. When we got home and got everything put away, we began to walk. James has a lot more steps that I do but he walked with me so he could listen to the book. It was 65 degrees here in Vernon today and about 85 degrees in the valley which is too hot for this time of year.

I have been the second counselor in Relief Society for either four or five years. I looked it up in my journal and while I was looking I found this entry on Easter Sunday, April 16th, 2017:

"Sacrament meeting was wonderful today. We heard three testimonies, some special musical numbers, and the featured speaker was Brother Thomas Grapp. He is amazing and conveys the Spirit better than anyone I know. He is just so full of love and happiness and joy and he radiates it. It was wonderful to have him speak on Easter Sunday."

This is one of the reason I keep a journal, so I can go back and relive earlier experiences. I was called to the Relief Society Presidency in April 2018, so it will be four years this April.

Trina's inventory