Thursday, July 19th, 2018

Lima, Peru

38th operating temple

Dedicated: 10 Jan 1986

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Creator

Revelation 4:11

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Book of Mormon

Alma 35:1-16

*How are the people in Jershon an example of charity?

- They welcomed those who had been cast out from the Zoramites for believing. This chapter is a parallel of today! 

Millions are being killed or cast out or forced to leave their homes because of violence or differing beliefs. We need to be like those of Jershon. We have been given counsel to look for those refugees, or others, who need us to welcome all and to love and to minister to them.

Old Testament

Ezra 1-3

1 King Cyrus of Persia lets the Jews go back to Jerusalem to build the temple - Cyrus returns the vessels of the house of the Lord taken by Nebuchadnezzar.

2 The descendants of the Jews taken captive who return to Jerusalem and to Judah are listed - The children of priests whose genealogy is lost are denied the priesthood - Faithful people contribute to the building of the temple.

3 The altar is rebuilt - Regular sacrifices are reinstituted - The foundations of the temple are laid amid great rejoicing.

General Conference

Pure Love: The True Sign of Every True Disciple of Jesus Christ

Elder Massimo De Feo

"True disciples love to forgive. They know that the Atonement of the Savior covers all sins and mistakes of each one of us. They know that the price He paid is an 'all-inclusive price.' Spiritual taxes, fees, commissions, and charges related to sins, mistakes, or wrongdoings are all covered. True disciples are quick to forgive and quick to ask for forgiveness."

I have been watching Hallmark Christmas movies all week. They make me feel good and I am definitely in the Christmas mood. 

I watched Sister Aburto's story on lds.org today. She is from Nicaragua and experienced an earthquake, the death of her brother, political unrest, and a divorce because of a husband addicted to drugs and alcohol. Her story bears out the truth that Heavenly Father knows and loves all of his children. 

Lately I have been having a difficult time in the mornings, not feeling well until a couple of hours after I take my Tramadol. 

I makes for a slow start. 

After scriptures and prayer James leaves for the Howard's. He hadn't left earlier because he knew that the Howard's came in late last night from their trip and he didn't want to wake them up but he got a text from Brother Howard asking if he was coming.

I stay home ll day, working on my blog and watching the clouds to see if it's going to rain. James comes home for lunch and has a couple of bowls of beans for lunch. He really could leave on beans.

While he is home the tractor repair guy shows up and so he has to deal with him. We both take a short nap and he was on his way back to the Howard's and I went back to my blog and Christmas movies. I also made a charm bracelet with charms, etc. I bought a Walmart.

The tractor repair guy was here until 5 p.m. That's going to cost a pretty penny. 

When James gets home he doesn't come in the house but goes immediately out back to work on his rabbit hutch. 

Our evening activities include walking, reading from our book "Abby's Crossing", and finishing up the Christmas movies for the day.

This is the rosebush James got me for our

anniversary. He put something on it so the bunnies

wouldn't eat the blooms.

Amaron and his twin brothers
that I babysat yesterday.

Thiessen and Anakin

Molly and her horsey "Butterscotch"

Sweet little Scarlett.

I can hardly wait to meet her!

Google Earth view of our house.

National Geographic photo of the year

Thursday, May 24th, 2018

Tegucigalpa, Honduras

141st operating temple

Dedicated: 17 Mar 2013

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Jesus Christ, Birth of

3 Nephi 1:19

And it came to pass that there was no darkness in all that night, but it was as light as though it was mid-day. And it came to pass that the sun did rise in the morning again, according to its proper order; and they knew that it was the day that the Lord should be born because of the sign which had been given.

Book of Mormon

Alma 5:26-42

* How can you know if you have received a change of heart?

-frankorion0711: "The day I felt the Holy Ghost for the first time. Feeling God's love changed my attitude changed my priorities. Of course the feeling leaves but the memories fused my soul. Change of heart for me is striving to follow Christ. When I fail I have my memories of partaking of the 'fruit of the tree of life that keeps me pushing forward. Trying, striving and enduring in following Christ will bring hope, love and peace which changes my heart.

Old Testament

2 Samuel 21-22

21 The Lord sends a famine - David understands that the famine came because Saul smote the Gibeonites, contrary to the oath of Israel - David delivers up seven sins of Saul to be hanged by the Gibeonites - Israel and the Philistines continue their wars.

22 David praises the Lord is a psalm of thanksgiving - The Lord is his fortress and savior, He is mighty and powerful in deliverance, He rewards men according to their righteousness, He shows mercy to the merciful, His way is perfect, He lives, and blessed is He.

General Conference

Christ the Lord is Risen Today

Gerrit W. Gong

"This Easter Sabbath, I joyfully sing, 'Alleluia.' The song of our risen Savior's redeeming love celebrates the harmony of covenants (that connect us to God and to each other) and the Atonement of Jesus Christ (that helps us put off the natural man and woman and yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit)."

Russell M. Nelson, 10/08, #52. Celestial Marriage

"The noblest yearning of the human heart is for a marriage that can endure beyond death. Fidelity to a temple marriage does that. It allows families to be together forever."

James made two trips to town today to buy parts for Brother Wallace's grapple, the fittings and hydraulic hoses kept breaking. He also got the mail and went to Dollar General for laundry detergent. When he got home he cut up the pork for the green chili pork stew. 

I was able to get the pork stew going quite early so it could simmer and the meat would be very tender, then I made the white sauce chicken enchiladas. 

The missionaries called. They want to change the time for dinner from 5 to 4:30. 

James also invited his friend Anthony to eat with us. Anthony was on time but the missionaries were a little late. 

We set the food out on the counter and created a buffet line like we normally do when we have company. We had green chili pork stew, chicken enchiladas, the best refried beans ever from LaCasita, spanish rice, and an Olive Garden salad. Oh yes, and chips and salsa. 

Elder Macy thought the green chili stew was a little hot but he ate all of his and so did Elder Burt. Elder Burt normally serves in the Aspen ward in Pinetop but they are doing splits tonight. Elder Macy is from Montana and Elder Burt is from Pennsylvania.

The missionaries had to leave before leaving a message because they had an appointment with Chris M. Chris is going to be baptized on June 2nd. His wife, Mary, was another one of my young women.

After the missionaries leave James and Anthony go to the Wallace's to deliver Brother Wallace's grapple which James finally got fixed. 
I'm left washing the three crockpots and the cast iron pot and all of the dishes, silverware, etc. It takes me over an hour to clean the kitchen.

When James and Anthony returned Anthony, who lives out in the middle of nowhere and does not have a shower, took a shower in our bathroom. He came out saying that he wants a shower just like that one. He says he is going to build it himself.

James and I started our new book this evening. It is the one that Dennis loaned to me and is called, "Riders on the Orphan Train." It is a novel about a little-known piece of American history. Between 1854 and 1929, over 250,000 orphans and 'surrendered' children were placed out across the country. They started their journey in New York and were given away in train stations in every state in the continental United States. This is the story of two children from very different backgrounds, Ezra Duval and Elizabeth Farrell; who find themselves on the same train heading West in 1918w. Their odyssey is a story of dislocation, loss, and the search for home that is at the heart of the American experience. Can you tell I got this information off the back cover of the book? I wonder why there were so many orphans?

Pat Tillman report

No, that's not a bald kid in the audience,

parents were invited to hear the reports.

Joshua was Wyatt Earp

Addy and friends

Alex and Michael's graduation party

Socks are serious business

Graduation 2016

Talon's graduation this year

Anakin at the lake. Wonder where 

his twin is.

Thursday, May 17th, 2018

Kiev, Ukraine

134th operating temple

Dedicated: 29 Aug 2010

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, birth of

1 Nephi 10:4

Yes, even six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem, a prophet would the Lord God raise up among the Jews - even a Messiah, or, in other words, a Savior of the world.

Book of Mormon

Alma 1:15-33

*How did the church of God respond to the beliefs of others? How did they respond to persecutions from those of other beliefs?

-"...If you stand firmly for the right despite the jeers of the crowd or even physical violence, you shall be crowned with the blessedness of eternal joy. Who knows but that again in our day some of the saints, or even apostles, as in former days, may be required to give their lives in defense of the truth?? If that time should come, God grant that they would not fail!" - President Harold B. Lee

Alma 1:26-31. The affairs of the Church established. President James E. Faust: "In the first chapter of Alma we find an instructive sequence of events outlining the way by which the Lord's Church is established...1. The doctrines are taught (vs. 26). 2. Members esteem each other as themselves (vs. 26). 3. They all labor; they work and earn that which they receive. (vs. 26). 4. They impart of their substance to the less fortunate; they serve one another (vs. 27). 5. They discipline their own appetites while at the same time caring appropriately for their own needs (vs. 27). "This mighty change happened, not because the people were given things, but rather because they were taught and began to help themselves and to care for those who were less fortunate. It was when they gave of themselves in the Lord's way that their circumstances began to improve. This process of establishing the Church can apply anywhere."

Old Testament

2 Samuel 7-8

7 David offers to build a house for the Lord - The Lord, through Nathan, says He has not asked David to do so - The Lord will establish David's house and kingdom forever - David offers a prayer of thanksgiving

8 David defeats and subjects many nations - The Lord is with him - He executes judgment and justice unto all his people.

General Conference

Ministering wit the Power and Authority of God

President Russell M. Nelson

"Now, may I voice a concern? It is this: Too many of our brothers and sisters do not fully understand the concept of priesthood power and authority. They act as thought they would rather satisfy thier own selfish desires and appetites than use the power of God to bless His children."

Rescuing Wayward Children

As our children mature, we hope that their motivation for obeying the laws of family and of God will migrate from duty to understanding and finally to love.

Worth the Wrestle

Nephi attempted to teach his older brothers the pattern for receiving information through the Spirit: "Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?" he asked. "If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you" (1 Nephi 15:11).
Russell M. Nelson 4/07, #49 Repentance and Conversion

"A repentant soul is a converted soul, and a converted soul is a repentant soul."

Dale G. Renlund  Melchizedek Priesthood Chapter 14 Principle #6

Priesthood Power and Influence are Maintained Using Christlike Attributes

Truman G. Madsen  Lectures on the Prophet Joseph Smith  Lecture #5  Doctrinal Development and the Nauvoo Temple

I called the D.I. in Glendale, Arizona and asked what we needed to do to get a requisition order for two girls from our ward. I spoke with Dan Holme, the manager who was very kind. He said that the bishop needed to fill our a commodity form for clothing. If he doesn't have the form he can call and speak with Brother Holme. No one else can call for him, it must be the bishop. Tamara, our RS President was very appreciative that I found out what we needed to know to get clothes for the Burton girls.

I worked on stripping the polish off the wood floor. It is such a slow, messy job. I wonder if I will ever finish. Yes I will!

I also made some muffins to take to Laurann's. I picked up Amaron from school and then drove him home. I took in muffins, candy, and my new Star Wars book and my Dr. Seuss book, "Oh, The Places You'll Go." Amaron carried in the four boxes I brought for Lauren to use for packing. They bought a house from the Grapp's and will be moving across the highway. I could tell that Lauren did not feel well so I didn't stay long. I read with Amaron and then had him read a little before I left. I am worried about Laurann's health.

Amaron walks me to the car. He likes to turn the car on, and look at the trunk, and then open and close the sky roof. He is fascinated with my car and would like to have it when I die.

We used to have elk in our backyard. Now we have bunnies, 8 of them this evening eating our grass.

James will be home tomorrow!

Five bunnies enjoying a feast

Throwback Thursday to the day

Scarlett was blessed.

The temple is closing on Friday for

2 1/2 years.

Christina's kids

Taylor was five years old when we

were her Primary teachers.

Braylin playing the drums

Hailey, his mom is grateful he and his sister have

been accepted at their new school in Deming.

Wisteria Tree

I wouldn't mind having one of these in

my backyard.

Ruby tells me sea turtles are becoming

extinct.