OUR FAMILY: "Christmas Under the Stars"

Monday, November 25, 2019

Monday, November 18th, 2019

Johannesburg, South Africa

36th operating temple

Dedicated: 24 Aug 1985

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Head of Church

DC 124:94

And from this time forth I appoint unto him that he may be a prophet, and a seer, and a revelator unto my church, as well as my servant Joseph;

Book of Mormon

Mormon 1:1-19

New Testament

James 1:1-18; I/F: Introduction and Who Was James? SS: James 1:5-6 When We Ask in Faith, God Gives Liberally.

10/19 General Conference

"Two Great Commandments"

President Dallin H. Oaks

"I begin with what Jesus taught were the two great commandments.

'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.'

This means we are commanded to love everyone, since Jesus's parable of the good Samaritan teaches that everyone is our neighbor. But our zeal to keep this second commandment must not cause us to forget the first, to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. We show that love by 'keeping His commandments.' God requires us to obey His commandments because only through that obedience, including repentance, can we return to live in His presence and become perfect as He is."

Day 7: Pure Thoughts - Philemon 4:8 NKJV

Dear Heavenly Father, Please help Max to think about and focus on what is true, honorable, and right. Help me to guard him from the perverse things that Satan is trying to put in front of him. Show me practical ways to put true, pure, and good things in his path."

Kacey, Jared, Kim, Brian and I played a game of Five Crowns before Kim and Brian left to go home. Jared won.

James would have played Five Crowns too but he had an esophagus test to take in town. They are trying to determine if he needs another surgery to get rid of the pocket in his throat. The tests determined that he did not need surgery, which was a little disappointing because James keeps getting pills caught in this pocket.

Before Kim and Brian left I gave them a jug of James's punch to take home with them.

Thanks Kim and Brian for coming and for

putting up, putting the lights on, and

decorating my tree.

We had leftovers for lunch. After lunch Jared, Kacey, and Charlie left in the rental car for Green's Peak. I wanted to go but I was so tired that I stayed home. After Green's Peak they came home through Springerville and stopped at Western Drug where Charlie tried on a skunk hat. They also stopped at Basha's and found some Dr. Pepper 10. They brought home a 12-pack for me. I was so happy!

Charlie called the big satellite receivers on Green's Peak:

"Moons"

One busy little girl. Dad has a hard

time keeping up.

It was nice outside this afternoon so Kacey and I went out with Charlie. Jared went out also to help James split wood but James was still on the roof putting the new trim around my office window. When they started splitting and stacking the wood I ask Jared if he wanted to use my gloves but he declined. He was lucky that he didn't get any splinters.

Charlie really is such a joy. Kacey said that when Jared gave her blessing when she was sick he said that she had been very close to her Savior and as a result of that she would bring joy in to the lives of others. She really does.

While we were outside James built a fire in the firepit and we came up with the idea of roasting hotdogs for dinner. I have not hotdogs so I went to Dollar General and bought a package of hotdogs, hamburger buns, and plain and bbq potato chips. Hotdogs was the perfect alternative to leftover turkey.

Charlie picked up a comb and started combing her hair. She said, "I pretty." I showed her a picture of herself on my phone and she said, "I cute." I think her favorite thing to say is "thank you." She says it if you give her something and if she hands something to you.

Someone, I think it was Jared, taught her how to say, "Merry Christmas."

For F.H.E. we watched a story of Hope on the church's website. Afterwards we watched "Christmas Under the Stars" starring Jesse Metcalf and Autumn Reeser.

Kacey and I watched "Dancing with the Stars." There was a little drama with Hannah and Carrie Ann and Hannah ended up apologizing to her. The big story of the night was James Van Der Beek's wife's miscarriage. You could tell he was very upset but his wife wanted him to dance, so he did, only to get eliminated. He was in the final two with Ally and Ally offered to go home so he could stay. Of course the judges wouldn't allow that but it was a nice gesture. She just might win. The judges give her the highest points although she does not always get the most votes from the audience. These are the dancers who will be in the finale: Kel and Witney, Hannah and Allen, Ally and Sasha, and Lauren and Gleb. I like all of them, Hannah probably the least. I would like to see Ally and Sasha win because Sasha has never won and Ally is a good dancer.