Thursday, February 1, 2024: Temple initiatories this afternoon w/ James, Annell Smith Bryant, Taco Bell, FaceTime w/ Charlie & Jared & Tom joins in

 

Washington D.C.

16th operating temple

Dedicated 19-22 Nov 1974

By: Spencer W. Kimball

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 20

18 - O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments - then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.

Come Follow Me

1 Nephi 17:1-6, 17-22 My trials can be a blessing

October General Conference

"Abide the Day in Christ" by Amy A. Wright

Inklings

"Do You Want to Be Happy" by Elder Choi; Moses 1; Matthew 11:28-30; "I accepted the call anyway"

Relief Society

"The Sealing Power" by Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Unlocking the Powers of Faith by Garth Allred

p. 29 Virtue & Charity - keys to knowledge and power.

"Focus you thoughts and draw upon heavenly powers."

 I got up at 5, went to get something to eat so I could take my Tramadol, and then went back to sleep until 7. Morning stiffness and pain is the worst!

It was kind of a slow day except that James and I went to the temple this afternoon and we each did 5 family names in initiatory.

One of the sisters working in initiatory was a friend from high school. She was actually a little younger than me and in my ward when I lived in Show Low. She lived in Linden and she still does. Her name is now Annell Smith Bryant, she married Jimmy Dean Bryant (He goes by Dean now). They were both in my ward a couple of years younger that I was. 

Annell recognized me and gave me a hug. She was so spiritual in high school and I get the feeling she still is. Her dad, Ted Smith, was on the high counsel and was always so upbeat, happy, and inspirational in his testimony. The Smith's had 10 children and lived in a tiny little farm house. They farmed their acreage and managed to get buy. When I think of all the good families in Show Low, this is one of the best.  We saw Dean Bryant as we left. 

I put all of my children's names and their spouses names on the prayer roll at the Snowflake temple. 

We stopped at the Taco Bell in Taylor for dinner. There was a slight drizzle and we could see rainstorms all around us. At Taco Bell I had a soft super taco and a strawberry freeze. James had a burrito supreme and a crispy taco and a strawberry lemonade.

We went into Walmart when we got to Show Low to get a refund for the four items we left behind when we were shopping on Sunday.  They took the total off my card at the customer service desk. When I was finished getting the refund, James and I went shopping. The total for the four items we had as $11.67. We spent over $50 so obviously we bought a few extra items, including two packages of rechargeable batteries. 

On the way home, or just as we got home and were still in the car, Jared and Charlie called. At first I couldn't see their faces but the closer we got to the house the better the reception was. Tom jumped into the car while I was on the phone and Charlie thought he was so funny!

James and I finished our book, "Lies Jane Austen Told Me."

Tom comes in the house for his morning rub.