Monday, June 29th, 2020

Meridia, Mexico

92nd operating temple

Dedicated: 8 July 2000

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Lamb of God

Revelation 19:7

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

Alma 23 with James
April General Conference

Opening Message

President Russell M. Nelson

"How can we endure such trials? The Lord has told us that 'if ye are prepared ye shall not fear.' Of course, we can store our own reserves of food, water, and savings. But equally crucial is our need to fill our personal spiritual storehouses with faith, truth, and testimony."

Day 1 of me trying inter-mitten fasting. I am supposed to fast 12 hours and then the other 12 hours I eat 300 calories every four hours. 

Around 10 o'clock this morning I drove to the Taylor Walmart. I stopped at the post office and picked up a pile of books. I wore my mask in Walmart because I thought it was required. All of the workers wore masks but some of the shoppers did not. I kept mine on except I pulled it away from my nose. 

When James and I were on the Chunky Monkey Diet Challenge we drank a lot of smoothies. These smoothies were made with spinach, sometimes some kale too, a banana, and a cup of frozen pineapple chunks. We have some pineapple chunks at home but I wanted more. I couldn't find them in the freezer so I asked someone. He said, oh we don't have any. We had some yesterday but it's all gone. There was no frozen fruit whatsoever. I got my spinach and bananas and then went to the canned fruit aisle and got 12 small cans of pineapple. I plan on putting it in baggies and then in the freezer. 

James and I are in a bit of argument over going to the valley tomorrow. I want to go down and get my infusion, have some lunch, and come home. He on the other hand has to go to Sheri's and work on her AC cabinet, and meet with four different people all over the valley. I am imagining myself sitting in the car waiting for him in 110 degree weather and it's not making me happy. Finally in frustration he said he would take his truck but his truck is still dying and he is having to hold the key down to make it stay on. I told him I wanted him to come with me. I would miss his company if he didn't. It's settled, we are going together in my car. I will just bite the bullet and leave the AC on while I'm in the car.

This evening I got Max and Jared Ammon's birthday cards ready and put Lola's gift in a bag and signed her card. I also put labels on my box of books and got the label put on the outside of the box so my load of books is ready to mail. James wanted to go to bed at 9:30 because he said we had to leave at 5:15 at the latest. Great. That's almost two hours before I intended to leave. It was 11:00 when we went to bed.

 We all heard from Ben today. I will post his letters tomorrow.

Monday, January 6th, 2020

Dedicated: 21 May 2000

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Jehovah

Isaiah 45:21

Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time: Who hath told it from that time: Have not I the Lord" And there is no God else beside me; A just God and a Savior; there is none beside me.

Book of Mormon

"Come Follow Me" 1 Nephi 1

Oct 2019 General Conference

"Unwavering Commitment to Jesus Christ:

Elder Dale G. Renlund

"Being converted unto the Lord means leaving one course of action, directed by an old belief system, and adopting a new one based on faith in Heavenly Father's plan and in Jesus Christ and His Atonement. This change is more than an intellectual acceptance of gospel teachings. It shapes our identity, transforms our understanding of life's meaning, and leads to unchanging fidelity to God. Personal desires that are contrary to being anchored to the Savior and to following the covenant path fade away and are replaced by a determination to submit to the will of Heavenly Father."

"Trust in the Lord"

President Dallin H. Oaks

"Resurrection for all in the spirit world is assured by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:22), though it occurs at different times for different groups. Until that appointed time, what the scriptures tell us about activity in the spirit world principally concerns the work of salvation. Little else is revealed. The gospel is preached to the ignorant, the unrepentant, and the rebellious so they can be freed from their bondage and go forward to the blessings a loving Heavenly Father has in store for them."

My Thoughts and Actions

Can I experience peace and happiness through healthy eating?

Joseph did not let his questions paralyze his faith.

I spent three hours this morning blogging Christmas Day. Then I went for my infusion at the Arizona Arthritis and Rheumatology Associates.

The Door

My infusion is based on my weight. So I always have to weigh. I feel the after Christmas blues coming on as I look at the scale.

The same time I am having my infusion James is at the Sonoran Spine Center for his checkup. Because of the aching in James's upper back and ribs the physician ordered an MRI. 

After our appointments James picked me up and we headed across Baseline to Ironwood behind the Home Depot on Baseline and Country Club to a little place called Crackers where Laura and Cathi were waiting for us for lunch. 

Years ago, before Chandler was inundated with restaurants I used to come to Crackers with Cid Elmer. They are open for breakfast and lunch and specialize in sandwiches, soups and salads. I had a chicken salad, Laura had chili, Cathi had artichoke spinach soup with half a roast beef sandwich, James had vegetable beef soup with half a tuna melt sandwich. Everything was delicious. James should have gotten a whole sandwich because evidentally a half one didn't fill him up. He finished off my salad for me.

It was great to reconnect with two of our favorite people. We said our goodbyes and headed for James's mom's house in Tempe.

Lois was there waiting for us. She had candy and nuts on the counter and of course I had to grab a handful. We are here to pick up the massager that Dawn bought for us. I made out a check for $219 and gave it to Lois. When visited a few minutes and then had to be on our way because James has a meeting with Armando at the jobsite in Mesa.

On our way over Armando called to say he wasn't going to make it. James was a little disappointed. The meeting was regarding work that was done that the engineer did not approve. It is a frustrating situation. It involves how much dirt was taken out of a retention basin. First, the engineer never staked it, second when we followed his stakes he said we were too deep. This problem has gone on for weeks and is impeding progress.

We had some time to kill. We are supposed to pick up Joshua from the Circle K on Queen Creek and McQueen at 3:20. I suggested we go to Deseret Book so I could use my gift card that Sheri got me for Christmas. We did and I did. I bought the next volume in The Joseph Smith Papers and a Book of Mormon Study Guide that EmilyBelle Freeman recommended. I also bought a cherry drink that tasted like medicine.

Next stop, Circle K. When Joshua wasn't there by 3:20, honestly, I thought someone was dropping him off, I looked at my phone and I had received a text from him. He asked if I could pick him up at the school because the sidewalks are closed. I then realized he was walking, which under normal circumstances would have been fine because it's just a little over a mile. But these were not normal circumstances. All along Queen Creek Rd there is construction and all of the sidewalk is closed, just like Joshua said. 

We drove down Queen Creek to Gilbert Rd and took a right and went about a quarter of a mile to Joshua's school. There he was waiting for us. We took him home and I offered to stop at Circle K for a treat but Joshua declined because he wanted to "get right home and start his homework." What kid passes up a treat for homework.?

Stacy started cosmetology school today and that's why she needed help with Joshua. I guess Kim will probably wind up helping. 

Finally, back to Darrel and Trina's and my comfy clothes. Ruby, Addy, and Trina are at home. We have a little discussion about war and Trump ordering a terrorist to be assassinated. Ruby is studying some of the things that happened in WW11.  We also talked about the Second Coming of the Savior and walking to Jackson county Missouri. Trina said she didn't want to walk to Missouri because it was cold. 

Trina made tacos for dinner and then took Ruby and Lola to tumbling. I talked a little bit with Addy about being the Laurel class president of 14 girls. She is thinking about who she is going to chose for counselors. 

Rowan walked to Safeway with friends where they are each buying individual cakes to eat. Rowan said he got red velvet. I said that was just chocolate with red food coloring. While Rowan was eating cake, Addy went on a run.

James walked to Safeway to get tea and other essentials. I wasn't feeling up to it after our tiring day. I stayed home and did the dishes for Trina and made myself a rootbeer float. And I wonder why I can't lose weight. I love food, especially sugar, too much.

James went to bed but I needed to stay up and finish my steps. When I came in the bedroom James was playing Tabernacle Choir songs on his phone. So sweet.

 The watch James gave me for Christmas

Ben's Letter

Monday, September 2nd, 2019

Rexburg, Idaho

125th operating temple

Dedicated: 10 Feb 2008

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Glory of

Matthew 24:30

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Book of Mormon

Alma 60:14-28

New Testament "God is Not the Author of Confusion, but of Peace"

1 Corinthians 14-16

1 Corinthians 14:1-28

General Conference

Careful vs. Casual

Becky Craven

"It's impossible to live a perfect life. Only one man was able to live perfectly while dwelling on this telestial planet. That was Jesus Christ. Although we may not be perfect, brothers and sisters, we can be worthy: worthy to partake of the sacrament, worthy of temple blessings, and worthy to receive personal revelation."

Well the contest is set. It's the mouse against the human (James).
James has set two traps in the pantry with peanut butter on them. So far the mouse has licked the peanut butter off the traps five times and not been caught. James has devised a new trap for the mouse in the storage room who is as evasive as the one in the pantry. Here is the trap.

He definitely had to explain this one to me.

He said he would put a plank on the ground

leading up to the top of the bucket. 

The mouse would walk out on the Slimfast bottle to 

get the peanut butter and the bottle would turn

and the mouse would fall to the bottom

of the barrel where he would eat the poison James

had placed there and die. Quite ingenious I

must say. Hope it works but I think it's too big

to work in the pantry. 

James went out to visit his friend Anthony today. Anthony has a police scanner and told James all about the escaped convicts. It seems they shot and killed a man in Tucson and took his 100 guns. They were caught in Utah and while being transported back to Arizona they escaped and tied up the two guards. They were last seen in a red GMC truck they got from a friend in St. Johns. 

The real clencher is that they are residents of Vernon and members of the Hells Angels. Anthony says they have friends in the area and could be hiding out in someone's garage. So far they have avoided an arrest.

After leaving Anthony's James went into town to get gas in the car. He was lucky he made it because the gauge said he could only go another 20 miles. He got an extra 10 gallons to have on hand.

Since I went to sleep at 2 am I slept in until after 8 this morning. I'm not sure what happened to me last night but it was the worst case of insomnia I have ever had. I was so tired that I asked Cammy if we could wait until next week to continue our watching of "When Calls the Heart." She of course said yes and that relieved a little stress for me.

Stacy sent me a video of Ricky Nelson singing in the movie "Rio Bravo" which made me want to listen to some Ricky songs so I downloaded an old album from I-tunes and listened while I worked.

I only sold one book today but I have improved my Inventory Performance Index. It went up from 480 to 511. This is because I have sold so many books and I keep repricing. I looked for books to buy. My goal is to buy 3-5 books every weekday.

I walked this afternoon and evening while watching episodes of Chopped. One of the chefs on one of the episodes was from Bourbon and Bones in Scottsdale where Jared Ammon works. He didn't do very well and was the first one to be chopped.

For FHE James and I listened to David and Emily on YouTube discuss 1 Corinthians 14-16. We also listened to the next presentation by someone else called, "Teaching with Power." It was a totally different approach than David and Emily's but we love it too. He focused on the importance of the resurrection of Christ as discussed in 1 Corinthians 15.

James and Sheri both got letters from Ben today. Here they are:

                                      Grandpa

Sheri's letter and Ben's answer:

 Missed my friend Catherine at church today.

She was in Mesa for a baby blessing.

 Happy Cat Monday!

 Brings back memories of being a teenager

and laying on my bed listening to Ricky.