Thursday, August 25th, 2022: Rental car, Clean frig, Ready to go, New Mexico speed limits, Billy the Kid, Smokey the Bear, Quality Inn in Sweetwater, Whataburger, Walk and purple toes

 

Guatemala City, Guatemala

32nd operating temple

Dedicated: 14-16 Dec 1984

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Seed of

Romans 8:14

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Book of Mormon

Alma 56:18-40

19And thus were we favored of the Lord; for had they come upon us in this our weakness they might have perhaps destroyed our little army; but thus were we preserved.

"Come Follow Me"

Psalms 119 God's word will keep me on His path. Psalms 127-128; 135-136

AprGenCon

"The Covenant Path:The Way To Eternal Life"

Elder Adeyinka A. Ojediran

Of the Seventy

"God will not abandon His relationship with, or withhold His promised blessings of eternal life from, any faithful covenant keeper. And as we honor sacred covenants, we are drawn closer to the Savior. Elder David A. Bednar taught us yesterday that gospel covenants and ordinances operate in our lives like a compass to give us cardinal direction to come unto Christ and become more like Him.

I cleaned out the refrigerator this morning in preparation for Kim and Brian being here while we are gone. It was quite a chore but looked so nice when I was finished. I also emptied the garbage and then went in to pack and get ready for our trip to Texas. Earlier I went to take James into town to get a rental car at Hatch Toyota. He came back with a 2021 Toyota Corolla, white, hatchback. It gets 42 miles to the gallon out on the road. 

I packed and took a shower and we were ready to go a little after 11. We stopped at the post office on the way out of town. Somewhere between Magdalena and Quemado, New Mexico James got stopped by an officer of the law. He was going 15 miles over the speed limit and was driving too close to the center line. The officer said the charge was $157.00 but he could reduce it to $82.00. With that he went back to his car. When he came back he told James to go ahead and consider this a warning. What a relief!

We listened to "Hearts at Briarwell" as we were traveling. We stopped in Soccoro for gas which was $3.69 a gallon. We stopped at Arby's for lunch. I got a cheesesteak sandwich which was quite good. 

We drove through the badlands of New Mexico, home to Billy the Kid and Smokey the Bear. At one point there was a deer in the road and it took him awhile to move out of the way. I like looking at signs when I travel and I saw a sign that said, Lone Tree Bible Ranch. In this part of New Mexico there are cute little farms with lots of grass, flowers, trees, and mountains in the background. 

We drove through Roswell where we have stayed before and passed Snyder, Texas where we have also stayed. We ended up staying at a Quality Inn in Sweetwater. 

Our car is on the far side.

The Budget Inn was cheaper and creepier.

After carrying in our luggage, etc. James went to get us a Whataburger. I began walking across the room in order to get my steps. James came back and went to bed while I stayed up to walk. I jammed my already injured toes into the desk chair and boy did that hurt. It took all of my willpower to not scream. I did get my steps so it's okay that I sacrificed a couple of toes in the process.

I went to bed around 1:30 Texas time. Pacer gave me about 5,000 extra steps so I stayed up late trying to make up for them because I was sure they would realize the error and subtract them. They didn't.

 

Wednesday, August 24th, 2022: Globe, Mesa, Chandler, Kids home, Infusion, Costco, Sheri, Ben, Cafe Rio, Kim, Joe, cookies, Lois, Dawn, Gifts, Home

Taipei, Taiwan

31st operating temple

Dedicated: 17 Nov 1984

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Seed of

Acts 17:29

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

Book of Mormon

Alma 56:1-17

16 Yea, and they were depressed in body as well as in spirit, for thy had fought valiantly by day and toiled by night to maintain their cities; and thus they had suffered great afflictions of every kind.

17 And now they were determined to conquer in this place or die; therefore you may well suppose that this little force which I brought with me, yea, those sons of mine, gave them great hopes and much joy.

"Come Follow Me"

Psalms 110; 118 The Psalms can point me to the Savior.

AprGenCon

"Divine Love In The Father's Plan"

President Dallin H. Oaks

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is properly known as a family-centered Church. But not well understood is the reality that our family-centeredness is not limited to mortal relationships. Eternal relationships are also fundamental to our theology. The mission of the restored Church is to help all the children of God qualify for what God desires as their ultimate destiny. By the redemption provided through the Atonement of Christ, all may attain eternal life (exaltation in the celestial kingdom), which Mother Eve declared "God giveth unto all the obedient." This is more than salvation. President Russell M. Nelson has reminded us that "in God's eternal plan, salvation is an individual matter; exaltation is a family matter."

We left for the valley around six this morning. We had no problem getting Rowan, Ruby, and Lola out of bed. 

We stopped in Globe at the Peeler's. James went in and before I could leave Rowan got out and followed him. James is sanding drywall and Rowan will help him. The girls and I drove down the hill and drove back on to the highway headed out looking for donuts. I stopped at Fry's grocery store. Lola didn't want to come in so Ruby stayed with her. They locked their doors and I gave Ruby the key. 

I picked out six donuts, got a box of strawberry mini-cakes and three bottles of water. I drove further down the road to get Rowan's breakfast burritos at Taco Bell. I got two bacon burritos for Rowan, and a sausage one and a potato one for James. I drove all the way back to downtown Globe, about five miles, to pick up James and Rowan. I looked back and Ruby was not eating. I said Ruby, why aren't you eating? She said, "I didn't want to eat until Rowan picked out which donut he wanted." I told her she didn't need to do that because he was going to have breakfast burritos anyway. Ruby is always thinking of others. 

James took over the driving when he got in and I told him we needed to make some good time in order to get me to AARA by 10:15. It is slow going between Miami and Superior, windy and narrow roads. When you reach Superior you feel li you have been set free!

It was about 9:40 when we got to Darrel and Trina's. Trina and Addy were home. Addy was so excited to tell Rowan and Ruby about the Harry Potter roller coaster she went on and said it was the best roller coaster ever!

We didn't stay long, said our goodbyes, and were on our way to my infusion. James dropped me off and did a couple of errands while I was in getting my infusion. The woman sitting next to me in the outer office was very friendly. She said she liked my pink top and it went really well with my hair, then she asked if I colored my hair. When I told her no, she said, "I don't color mine anymore either. My husband said I looked good either way. He's such a butt kisser." 

I was a little taken aback with her language and her attitude towards her husband and said I thought it was very nice of him. About that time I was called back. 

My infusion took an hour and James was waiting for me outside when I was finished. We drove across the street to Costco to get walnuts and spent over $126.00. We decided we needed snacks for our trip so we indulged. We were careful not to get anything that needed to be refrigerated. 

On to Chandler. First stop was Kim to pick up Charlie's birthday present and some gingerbread cookies that Kim made for me. She gave me three, two Christmas trees and a snowman.

Cookies were cuter than they appear.

We drove from Kim's to Chandler Eyecare to pick up Sheri who is going to lunch with us. Ben came out to say hi and give us a hug. He says he really likes his job. Sheri suggested we take her care. I don't think she wanted to ride in the truck. My choice as to where we go and I chose Cafe Rio. James even agreed when he usually says he doesn't like it. He doesn't like the sweet pork so Sheri suggested he get chicken with green chili sauce, which he did and he loved it!

I had the sweet pork taco with no rice and no beans. It was delicious. Sheri had the same. Sheri paid for everyone's lunch. She already sent me an Amazon gift card and told her we could pay but she insisted.

Thank you Sheri.

Sheri is a little discouraged. She says she and Evan are the only ones that go to church and she thinks when he turns 18 he will stop going too. I told her to not give up and that we were going to encourage Evan, Joshua, and Rowan to serve missions. She said that Sunday is the worst day of the week for her when it used to be her favorite. It hurt my heart to hear her say that. 

Max wants to join the military but doesn't think they will want him because of his type 1 diabetes. He isn't doing anything right now except picking up Evan from school. 

We said our goodbyes to Sheri and I told her that I needed to see her more. She said she was going to try to come up for Labor Day. That made me happy.

Our next visit was with Lois and Dawn in Tempe. They had birthday gifts for me. A orchid colored t-shirt, an Amazon gift card, and a two teacups with saucers. They are always so generous! 

Tea for two

We had a nice visit but didn't stay too long because of the drive home. There is a strange black truck parked in front of Lois and Dawn's house and they have no idea whose it is. It is quite ugly.

I convinced James to go home the Payson way. We stopped for gas in Payson and got some rain on the rim. It was a nice drive and since we haven't been this way for awhile it was a nice change.

We put our stuff away, I did a little cleaning and then we walked. I also started watching a movie, "Individual Love."

I made two deposits, one from the Quintana's who paid off their Deming property and one from the Thompson's. Today is Gary Thompson's birthday. James gift to him was the concrete pad he poured yesterday. 

Thompson concrete pad

poured yesterday morning.

 

 

Tuesday, August 23rd, 2022: Thompson pour perfect, Bishop & Sean help, Ruby & I Blackmoore, Donut puzzle, Scarlett the puddle jumper, Lola's Jesse, Carmen's cake, fireplace door fixed!

Dallas, Texas

30th operating temple

Dedicated: 19 Oct 1984

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Seed of

D&C 45:8

I came unto mine own, and mine own received me not; but unto as many as received me gave I power to do many miracles, and to become the sons of God; and even unto them that believed on my name gave I power to obtain eternal life.

Book of Mormon

Alma 55:15-35

31 ...the Nephites were not slow to remember the Lord their God in this their time of affliction.

"Come Follow Me"

Psalms 102-103; 116 The Lord can comfort me in my suffering. 

Palms 111-120

AprGenCon

"The Power Of Spiritual Momentum"

President Russell M. Nelson

President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Today I would like to suggest five specific actions we can take to help us maintain positive spiritual momentum.

First, Get on the covenant path and stay there.

Second, Discover the joy of daily repentance.

Third, Learn about God and how He works.

Fourth, Seek and expect miracles.

Fifth, End conflict in your personal life. 

 James left around 5 for his concrete pour at the Thompson's. He tried to wake Rowan up to go with him, but couldn't. 

My blood sugar was high this morning so I waited awhile to eat. I walked, blogged, listened to conference talks and "Come Follow Me." 

James got home around 10:00 this morning and said the concrete pour went perfectly and that Sean and Bishop Hunsaker are amazing! When James asked what he owed them Bishop said, nothing.

James said the concrete would be completely set up after four hours and even if it rained the rain wouldn't do any damage. It rained after four hours and fifteen minutes. The Lord is looking after James.

The girls and I finished the 500 piece donut puzzle today and since Ruby is reading the book, "Blackmoore" I started listening to it on Deseret Book Plus. I've read it before but of course I don't remember everything. James says he remembers it very well. 

I washed all of Ruby's and Lola's clothes and folded them so they would be clean when they got home and Trina wouldn't have a ton of laundry to do. I offered to wash Rowan's too but he turned me down.

The kids had turkey sandwiches, chips and fruit for lunch and then I fixed chili dogs and mac & cheese for dinner. 

Ruby and Rowan went for a walk together and when they returned Lola and Ruby went on a walk. This evening the girls and I watched some old game shows, one was The Match Game starring Gene Rayburn. It was from 1976 and we laughed at some of the hair styles and clothes. We also watched Jesse. 

We all had family prayer together with James offering the prayer. 

Scarlett the Puddle Jumper

These pictures are amazing!

Love!

Aunt Carmen made this cake for a one

year olds birthday!

Fireplace glass repaired and installed!

500 piece donut puzzle

Vernon, Arizona 

I don't get the torn jeans

  

 

Monday, August 22, 2022: Thompson's, donut puzzle, Sonic, Taco Bell, Woodland Lake, caterpillar, playground, strawberry pie from Halcomb's, Ruby's mouse, Carrots for Luna, Groundswell

 

Manila, Philippines

29th operating temple

Dedicated: 25 Sept 1984

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Seed of

D&C 42:52

And they who have not faith to do these things, but believe in me, have power to become my sons; and inasmuch as they break not my laws thou shalt bear their infirmities.

Book of Mormon

Alma 54:13-55:14

54:13 - Behold, I am in my anger, and also my people; ye have sought to murder us, and we have only sought to defend ourselves. But behold, if ye seek to destroy us more we will seek to destroy you; yea, and we will seek our land, the land of our first inheritance.

"Come Follow Me"

"Let Everything That Hath Breath Praise the Lord."

AprGenCon

"Teaching Self-Relicance to Children and Youth"

Elder Hugo E. Martinez

Of the Seventy

The Children's Guidebook says: "When Jesus was your age, He learned and grew. You are learning and growing too. The scriptures say: 'Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man'. This scripture refers to growth and learning int he spiritual aspect, favor with God; the social aspect, favor with man; the physical aspect, stature; and the intellectual aspect, wisdom. These developmental areas apply to all of us, no matter our age.

James slept in this morning which is something he hasn't been able to do lately. When he got up we had family prayer with the kids and then he went to Thompson's for a couple of hours to work. While he was gone we worked on a new donut puzzle. The last one was three hundred pieces and this one is five. It is much harder. 

When James came home from the Thompson's he had a loaf of zucchini bread for me from Maxine. It is delicious and I had two pieces which I will probably regret later when I take my blood sugar. 

This afternoon we made a trip to town. First we got drinks and Sonic and then we made a Taco Bell run. The girls ordered bean burritos and Rowan and I each had two tacos. James wasn't hungry because he ate before we left. James took us up to Woodland Lake and dropped us off while he went back to Home Depot. 

The hike around the lake is a little over a mile. About half way around we found an interesting looking caterpillar. Here are some pictures:

Lola slid down on some gravel and hurt her knee. This is Rowan going over to check it out.

You're okay Lola.

Of course there are sunflowers.

We got around the lake and James still wasn't back to pick us up. The kids went to the playground and Lola decided they were going to do an obstacle course. I sat down at a picnic table and told James we were ready for pickup. He showed up about 10 minutes later and we headed home. 

As soon as we got home James loaded up his truck and went over to Thompson's to finish up getting ready for tomorrow's concrete pour. 

A few minutes after he left he called and asked if I could bring him his level. He explained to me where it was and what it looked like. I told the kids I would be gone for about 20 minutes. Just as I was about to leave I got a text from Catherine Halcomb that she was on her way to my house to bring me a gift. I told her I was going over to the Thompson's to take James a tool and that I would drop by her house afterwards.  About that time James called and asked if I brought the pole with the level. I said, "What pole, you never mentioned a pole."? He said, "Yeah, it's not your fault." I will come and get it. I told him if he was coming back that I was going to the Halcomb's to pick up a gift from them. 

Catherine had made me a strawberry pie and it was on the table when I walked in. She made one for James once and I ate most of it. I didn't get a picture of the pie before the kids and I dug in to it. This is what it looked like when I put it into the refrigerator. 

It was so beautiful when I picked it up.

I forgot to mention that I passed James on the way home from the Halcomb's and he got the level from me. He was on his way back from our place with the pole. 

I made some Costco orange chicken for dinner and after dinner the girls and I watched some game shows while we worked on our puzzle. We were watching Family Feud and Lola said, "This show is making me uncomfortable, and I said, me too." We turned it off and I taped some other shows for us to watch tomorrow. Tonight we watched Jesse instead at Lola's request. This show is ridiculously silly but Lola likes it so Ruby and I tolerated it. 

The Razr has a broken frame in three places so the kids didn't get to ride it today. Lola said to me, "It's okay, the Razr isn't the only fun thing to do at the cabin." She and Ruby played games and fed carrots to Luna. 

I got a birthday card from Sheri and Ian today. It was signed by everyone in the family and was really nice. Sheri also sent an Amazon gift card along with it.

I watched a new Hallmark movie today starring Lacey Chabert. She is a chef and goes to Hawaii to visit her aunt and while there she learns how to surf. Of course she and the surf instructor fall for each other.

It's almost pumpkin bread season!

Birthday cards.

Ziggie

Charlie