Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Castle in the sky

1 Nephi 2:16-3:8

How do you find the faith and courage to do what the Lord asks of you?

DC 1:21-30

How can we prepare ourselves to receive instruction and knowledge from the Lord regarding our missionary efforts?  

Why does God choose the "weak things of the world" to do His work?

GC: Rise Up in Strength, Sisters in Zion by Bonnie L. Oscarson

"President Russell M. Nelson told us a year ago: 'Attacks against the Church, its doctrine, and our way of life are going to increase.  Because of this, we need women who have a bedrock understanding of the doctrine of Christ and who will use that understanding to teach and help raise a sin-resistant generation.  We need women who can detect deception in all of its forms.  We need women who know how to access the power that God makes available to covenant-keepers and who express their beliefs with confidence and charity.  We need women who have the courage and vision of our Mother Eve.'"

James and Max left early this morning and Kim and Brian left later.

I am now officially "home alone."

I love these two!

I thanked both Kim and Brian for spending time with Max yesterday.  Kim did not even have time to do a puzzle like she normally does or to watch any Hallmark movies.  Thank goodness they did not get sick while they were here. Kim made me a "flu bomb" with her DoTerra oils.  We talked about Kacey and Jared's wedding which is now scheduled for January 21st.  It seems no one has any money or time to go.  James and I may be the only ones representing our family.  

I love snow!

My day is spent watching movies and laying around coughing.  I am afraid to use the internet because we have very few megabytes left and our cycle doesn't end until January 13th.  

 The course of study for Relief Society and Priesthood this year

is actually President Gordon B. Hinckley.  He is the master of the Jedi order!

I sent out an email and challenged all of our kids and their families to read the Book of Mormon again this year.  Each day I will send the reading assignment and a discussion question.  Everyone seems to be on board with it, at least I haven't heard any complaints

So true!

James sends me the sweetest texts when he is out of town.

Evan's business goals.

Saturday, December 3, 2016

Ether 2:13-25

The Lord wants us to grow and learn as we make our own decisions.  He also wants us to take our conclusions to Him frequently for His confirmation.  When the brother of Jared asked the Lord about the matter of light for the vessels, the Lord answered with a question of His own: "What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels?"  According to President Harold B. Lee, the Lord's question was similar to saying the following: 'Well, have you any good ideas?  What would you suggest that we should do in order to have light?'  Then the Lord went away and left him alone.  It was as though the Lord were saying to him, 'Look, I gave you a mind to think with and I gave you agency to use it.  Now you do all you can to help yourself with this problem; and then, after you've done all you can, I'll step in to help you.'"  After considering the possibilities, the brother of Jared demonstrated his great faith by asking the Lord to touch 16 stones and supply lights.  The Lord answered this plea and not only provided light for the vessels but gave this faithful man a vision unlike any other.  President Lee concluded: "This is the principle in action.  If you want the blessing, don't just kneel down and pray about it.  Prepare yourselves in every conceivable way you can in order to make yourselves worthy to receive the blessing you seek" (Stand Ye in Holy Places (1974), 243-44).

GC:    Rise Up in Strength, Sisters in Zion by Bonnie L. Oscarson

" If current trends are an indication, we need to be prepared for the storms that lie ahead.  It would be easy to throw our hands up in despair but as covenant people we need never despair.  As Elder Gary E. Stevenson has said, "Heavenly Father's generous compensation for living in perilous times is that we also live in the fulness of times."  I love the comfort of that statement."

Jared and Kacey are in San Diego this weekend for 

a convention for Jared's work.  

James went to the Gilbert temple this morning without me.  I forgot my temple clothes.  I really can't believe I did!  He did 5-6 initiatories while I stayed at Cathi's and read my scriptures and read a conference talk.  Oh yes, and I also ate the last piece of cheesecake for breakfast.  James was home a little after 8 and wanted to go to breakfast at IHop.  How could I say no even though I had just consumed over 600 calories.  

I had decided I was just going to have hash browns but I ended up getting an egg and a couple of pieces of bacon too.  Their hash browns were mushy, not nearly as good as the ones I make at home in my new oil-free skillet.  James had a piece of sausage with a chunk out of it and I complained about it.  Our waitress immediately brought two more pieces of sausage.   Because I appreciated her doing this and because I was trying to think of what to do in the way of service today to 'light the world', I left her a $10 tip and a note thanking her for her good service and wishing her a Merry Christmas.

When I got back to Cathi's, Cathi was waiting for me.  We had a date to go to Deseret Book, my favorite store.  What a fun time with one of my favorite people.

More pictures from San Diego:

Kacey's first time in San Diego

I bet the water is cold!

Toes in the sand.

One of the traditions in the city of Chandler on the first Saturday in December is the lighting of the tumbleweed Christmas tree.

When completed the tree is 35 feet tall.

James had a flat tire on the trailer he is bringing back to Vernon.  He took it in to Discount to get it fixed.  I began packing up but didn't actually pack my car until we got back from our family lunch at Serrano's.  This is a tradition that Kim and Brian started.  Serrano's on the first Saturday of December and then go look at Christmas lights.  Of course we did not stick around for the Christmas lights but went home after picking up James's tire.  He went through Globe and I went through Payson.

Candid shots at Serranos.

It takes James awhile to decide what he wants to eat.

There was quite a large group of us:
Sheri, Ian, Alex, Ben, Max, Evan, Kim, Brian, 
Joe, Amanda, Adam, Michael, Joshua,
James and me. 

I tried to get a shot from each corner of the table.

Amanda and Joe came in late and sat right 
across from me.

Of course we missed Jared and his family and Darrel and his family.  They were both off doing fun things today though:

The cutest Rudolph's I've ever seen!

When the elf ask Darrel what he does for a living

he said: "I sell drugs." I'm glad he didn't get arrested!

After a session in the temple.

After packing up and getting ready to go home I stopped at Charlotte's to bring her the conference Ensign and to help her set up the Gospel Library on her Ipad.  To my surprise she wasn't home.  I tried to call her later, but there was no answer.  I hope she is all right.

One more family outing I forgot to mention.  Sheri took her boys, along with Alex and Shana to the hot air balloon festival at the San Tan Village Mall.

Cute picture!

I got home about 30 minutes after James did.  It was around 7:30.  I unloaded and put everything away.  We forgot it was fast Sunday.  We usually like to start our fast around noon on Saturday, but tonight it was more like 8 pm.  We went to bed early.

Thursday, November 3, 2016

A perfect rainbow!

3 Nephi 19:1-29

How can we strive just as much as the Nephites to come unto Christ today?

* How hard do I labor to put myself in places where Jesus can show himself to me?  How hard do I pray?  What efforts do I put into attending the temple?  What sacrifices do I make to have F.H.E., scriptures study, family prayer?  How often am I pondering and seeking the Spirit?  How often and well do I serve?  What am I doing with my time?  What sacrifices am I making?  Do I "labor exceedingly that I might be in the place where Jesus can show himself to me?  When we put forth effort and we are doing the things that our Savior has asked, He will certainly "bless us and His countenance will smile upon us, and shine upon us."  We will witness the Savior in our life.  He will come to us as we come to Him!

GC:     'Rise Up in Strength, Sisters in Zion' by Bonnie L. Oscarson

" In the 8th chapter of Mormon, Mormon describes people from our day who are filled with pride, caught up in the wearing of expensive clothing and who make fun of religion.  

He is shown people who are so obsessed with worldly things that they allow "the needy and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by without being noticed."

Everybody is so excited about the Cubs!

It was starting to rain and the cloud was dark when we left Vernon this morning around 7:30.  It rained on us most of the way to Payson.  When we got to Chandler we picked up my car at Erik's and I drove to the Costa Vida in Gilbert to meet my friend Karen for lunch.  James went to Cathi and Terry's and unloaded our suitcases.   

Karen and I had a nice lunch and visit and then we went to Deseret Book to do a little shopping. Steve Young will be here this evening for a book signing, and Mitt Romney is in town for a John McCain rally.

Karen is still doing her cancer treatments and Lance has a broken leg from a motorcycle accident. She has to get someone from her ward to drive her to Scottsdale for her treatments.  

I found this on Instagram and had to post it because

after all, I was born in Holbrook!

I went home and James was gone over at the construction yard.  Cathi and Terry were home and I said hello, put my leftovers in the refrigerator, and headed in the bedroom to take a nap.  I didn't sleep long because I wanted to go to Sam's Club and pick up some blankets for the grandkids for Christmas.  

When I went outside to get in the car, this is what the sky looked like:

I think a storm is headed our way.

Sam's Club did not have the blankets that I like, so I decided to go back over to Gilbert to Costco.  They had lots of good blankets.  I got 18, one for each grandchild.  

After checking out, I noticed it was raining hard outside. I stalled by stopping at the snack bar and getting a hotdog and a drink. Not a good time to unload blankets, but I did it! 

Instead of going back to Chandler, I headed out to Darrel and Trina's to pick up Rowan for Evan's birthday date.  It was raining so hard I almost had to pull off the freeway, but I didn't.  

Rowan was waiting for me and Trina was getting ready to go somewhere.  I always enjoy visiting with my grandkids one on one.  Rowan can be quite a talker!

 When we got to Sheri's Joshua was already there.

He got glasses.  Now we have three ten year olds with glasses!

I guess Joshua wanted to show his glass case.

Evan is the only one taking this seriously.

James helped me unload the blankets so we would have enough room in the car for all the kids.  One of them has to ride in the very back.  

At the mall I dropped James and the boys off by the food court entrance and then I found a parking place.  Thank goodness for umbrellas!

Our first stop was at the Lego Store. 

 Make a character station.

Since I didn't get a picture of Evan in the Lego Store, I had James go down and take a picture of him and Max with his Lego sets that he picked out.

Star Wars

Evan the builder

Evan and Max

After the Lego Store we headed for the food court for some dinner.

Joshua had pizza, Evan and Max and Gpa went to Subway,

and Rown went to Panera.

After dinner we headed for the pet store at Evan's request.  The boys found these pet names and thought they were great.

Scuba Steve was the name of Michael

and Joe's band.

Gonzo needs no explanation.

Watching the puppies.

Next door to the pet store was a new business called Bounce and Roll.  We couldn't resist.

The boys had a blast!

On the way out of the mall I took a picture of my boys.

I love these guys and had a wonderful time

with the this evening.

In the car I love listening to the boys talk.  They were talking about the houses of Hogwarts from Harry Potter and trying to decide who of them belonged in what house: Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Griffendor, and Slytherin.

Max read the characteristices of those in Ravenclaw: Intelligent and creativity. He immediately said: "Oh that is Evan.  He is intelligent and creative.  Next was Hufflepuff: Kind and generous.  Evan said: "Oh, that is Rowan.  He is the most kind and generous person I know"!  Such a sweet response.  No wonder I love these boys!

We dropped Max, Evan and Joshua off, and  then took Rowan home.  We got to see Addy, Ruby and Lola.  Such sweet girls!

Lola took me by the hand to show me these pictures:

I love them!

What a great evening!