Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Happy Birthday to this beautiful lady,

Denise Curry-Maxwell, my sister-in-law.

She can be the life of the party and does

a mean dance to Rocky Top Tennessee.

Denise and her daughter Rachel.

As a side note, Rachel and I share birthdays.

A Maxwell gathering for Denise's birthday last year.

Since Tasha and Monte are in this picture I want to share something Tasha posted yesterday on Facebook:

BTW, Tasha's birthday was on September 15th.

"Without work ethic I would be a lost sheep.

I struggled in school and had many nights I had to work extra hard to study for the test, but it was up to me to stay up late and do my best.  It wasn't my parents' job or my teacher's.

Then in the spectrum of sports I had to work extra hard compared to the tall person next to me that could 'stand' at the net and block.

But with showing up to practice early, listening to the coach, not

making excuses, and working hard I was able to attend two free

years of college with a scholarship.  My own children know that 

one of our biggest expectations is work ethic in the classroom and on the field.  Our saying to them is that one of the biggest factors

you can control is your effort.  So many ties I see excuses being

made and it breaks my heart because with some effort and work people can conquer the world."

Here is a picture Denise posted on Facebook.  This was

taken in about 1971 when Muhammed Ali was training in

Show Low and staying at my grandparents hotel,

The Maxwell House.  In the front that is my brother Dennis

with the shades on, he is now married to Denise, next to Dennis is

Muhammed Ali hold Kami Hawkins, Aunt Gene's granddaughter.

Next to Muhammed is my grandpa Arlee.

I am not sure who the man standing in the back is.

I am so grateful Denise marred Dennis and became a part of our family.

About this time of year the first thing James does in the morning and the last thing he does at night is bugle for elk.  

The bugling has begun.

Helaman 7:1-12

How can we follow Nephi's example in these verses?

*Remember the righteousness of those who have gone before me.

*Joy in the righteousness of others.

* Sorrow because of wickedness.

*Be prayerful and seek guidance from Heavenly Father.

*Bear testimony to others in spite of opposition.

GC:          'Fathers' by Elder D. Todd Christofferson

"Ye will not suffer your children that they go hungry, or naked; neither will ye suffer that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and quarrel one with another. . . .

But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of 

truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love

one another, and to serve one another."

Today just happens to be International Peace Day.

We had an overcast day but had very little rain.  When I say little I mean maybe 10 minutes.  It was wonderful to sit on the porch and read from Millennial Glory with James.  Later this evening I read from The China Study and The China Study Cookbook.  I know I need to eat more healthy and reading these books motivates me.

I love living in Vernon

"On the evening of the twenty-first

of September 1823 . . ."

Sunday, August 21, 2016

I love this family tree and want James to draw

me one in our hallway.  The only problem,

he doesn't like it.  Boohoo.

Alma 53:18-54:12

What can we learn from the stripling warriors courage?

18 - Two thousand warriors took the oath to defend their country.

19 - They became a great support to the Nephites.  Helaman was their leader

20 - They were all young and exceedingly valiant for courage, strength and activity.  They were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.

21 - They were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before Him.

22 - Helaman marched at the head of his 2,000 soldiers.

23 - The 28th year ended.

Alma 54

1 - Ammoron wants to exchange prisoners with the Nephites.

2 - Moroni wrote to Ammoron:

3 - Repent and withdraw your armies into you own lands.

7 - An awful hell awaits to receive such murderers as thou and thy brother unless you repent and return with your aries to your own lands.

11 - Thou art a child of hell.

GC: "Fathers" by Elder D. Todd Christofferson.

Today was high council Sunday.  Montana Westbrook gave her first talk in sacrament meeting since turning 12.  She spoke on her favorite scripture story, about Lehi and Nephi as recorded in Helaman 5.  She did a great job.  This is one of my favorite scripture stories too.  Cory Davis was the next speaker.  I believe he is a recently returned missionary.  He spoke on priesthood keys and authority.  Rob Jones was our high councilman speaker.  I know his wife Fawne.  She was the stake young women's president when I was in young women's.  They live in Clay Springs.  The first thing Brother Jones did was remind us of the blessings President Williams promised us at the end of our last stake conference if we would participate in the Find, Take, Teach family history program.  Here are the blessings: 1) We will receive help beyond the veil, 2) Our burdens will be lighter, 3) We will feel more forgiveness and we will forgive others more easily, 4) We will have a deeper testimony of prophets, priesthood keys, and others around us will notice this about us.  President Williams also ask us to memorize the Family Proclamation and The Living Christ.  This is something I work on every morning during my gospel study.  

 Thank you President Monson!

Today my Primary class consisted of: Braylin, Curtis, Kacey, Zemira, and a visitor from Eagar, Joely.  I think Joely is related to the Grap family.  Our lesson was on "Signs of Jesus Christ's Birth in America" covering 3 Nephi 1-2.

During sharing/singing time I was sitting by Curtis.  Braylin drug his chair around to my other side and started talking to me about the Fablehaven book series that he just finished reading.  He knows I am reading it too.  On the other side of me Curtis starts telling me about the series he is reading called "The Amulet".  It was like stereo book report all during singing time.  I tried to quiet them down but it wasn't easy.  On the one hand I am glad they want to share what they like with me, but I don't think singing time is the appropriate time.  It was funny.

James and I came home and had a salad for lunch before he left to go home teaching with Brother Rick Lauritzen.  They visited George and Ruth Wallace, and the Kip Hunsaker family.  When he returned home a couple of hours later we had some pesto flatbread and then James went in to take a nap.  I texted Randy to see how Aunt Gene was doing.  They are putting her in ICU tonight to keep a better watch on her.  I plan on going to see her tomorrow.

Michael left for college today.  Joshua was still asleep and was very sad when he woke up and Michael was gone.

Moving is hard work.

Michael's space.

Nice blanket.

Joshua was so upset he didn't want to go to church.  It was just him and Stacy because Paul went with Michael.  At one point he got up to go to the bathroom and told Stacy he was leaving to walk home.  She looked at him and said, "You better not."  He has never done anything like that before so she really didn't think he would.  He never came back and when she went to look for him he was nowhere to be found.  She went home, and there he was, sitting on the couch with Shipley.  He probably walked a mile and had to cross McQueen Rd.

On Sunday evening James and I usually start working on our lessons for the next week but this week we didn't need to.  Next week Michael is being ordained an elder and we are going down to the valley.  We read and James called Ed Miller to teach his class.  I will talk to Hailey Chaffin tomorrow to see if she is available to teach my class.

 Clouds over Mt. Mentoso

Baby Lola

She has changed quite a bit in two years!

Guest house of the Day: