Friday, May 17th, 2019

Sao Paulo, Brazil

17th operating temple

Dedicated: 30 Oct - Nov 2 1978

By: Spencer W. Kimball

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

1 John 4:14

And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

Book of Mormon

Alma 1:15-33

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Matthew 20:18-29; Mark 10:32-45; Luke 18:31-34

General Conference

Where Will This Lead?

President Dallin H. Oaks

"Some time ago I gave a talk titled 'Good, Better, Best.' In that talk I said that 'just because something is good is not a sufficient reason for doing it. The number of good things we can do far exceeds the time available to accomplish them. Some things are better than good, and these are the things that should command priority attention in our lives. ... We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best."

I have something to say about the talk I read yesterday by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Laborers in the Vineyard" from the April 2012 General Conference. This talk was life changing for me and answered a question that I have had for some time now about our will. James has said he was going to give certain children less inheritance because we have helped them more than we have helped others. I understood what he was saying, but I was not totally comfortable with that decision. Kim and Brian are going to be the executor's of our will and I did not want to leave it up to them to make any decisions we should have made. This talk has helped me to realize that all that we have should be divided equally among our five children. Period. The main inheritance will be our home and property in Vernon. It will be up to them as to what they do with this inheritance. I feel so goo about this decision and after listening to Elder Holland, I think that James does too. I would encourage everyone to listen to this talk!!A

Here is part of a quote from that talk: "Why should you chose to be jealous because I chose to be kind? It is my money."

As I sat at my desk this morning doing my scripture study, I could hear the wind howling and blowing through the trees outside. Another windy day.

Hear is another Jeffrey R. Holland quote from another talk, "Lessons from Liberty Jail, Ensign, Sept 2009, 30.) 

"When lonely, cold, hard times come, we have to endure, we have to continue, we have to persist. That was the Savior's message in the parable of the importuning widow...Keep knocking on that door. Keep pleading. In the meantime, know that God hears your cries and knows your distress. He is your Father and you are His child."

Another quote I found as part of my study. This one was in the New Testament Student Manual as part of the religion class taught at BYU:

"Perseverance is rooted in the foundational gospel principles of faith and hope. Perseverance reflects our faith that our actions will bring the Lord's blessings into our lives."

James had an appointment at Chase Bank today at 10:30 to see about cashing in our Zion's Bank stock. I dropped him off and I headed for Safeway. While I was shopping at Safeway I ran in to Sister Grapp and her kids. All of the kids except baby Leland gave me a hug. They were excited about coming over tonight so their parents could have a night out. Benson said he was going to bring his army guys if that was okay. Of course Benson. 

James called me before I was finished shopping, just as I discovered they had no Dr. Pepper 10. He needs me at the bank to sign some papers, so I cut my shopping short and off I went to Chase Bank. 

Jeremy was the name of the bank officer helping James. After signing all the papers he told us we should be getting our money in about 7-10 days. We should be getting around $2300 if all goes well. I already know what I am doing with the money.

We had lunch at LaCasita, we each had our usual. While there an old friend from high school and a friend of James's when he was on the Show Low high council walked in with several other workers at the hospital. Brother MacArthur is a bigwig at the hospital and so is Greg Butler. I will always remember Greg Butler as the kid who worked in my dad's store when we were in high school. We called him Bugs Bunny because he had white Converse tennis shoes and a feather duster in his back pocket and he walked with sort of a hop. I hope they had a nice lunch. Brother MacArthur spent a lot of time in Vernon because he was assigned to our ward when on the high council.

When the Grapp's got here this evening at 6 pm there were only two kids instead of four. Benson and Tildy are being punished for bad behavior and will have to stay home this evening. I guess Cammy and Thomas are staying home and hanging pictures. Liana (10)and Emsley(5)are little angels and we had a great time. They played Barbie's for awhile and then we watched the movie, "Ratatouille."

I made popcorn and James made limeade. I also had made cookies and they each had a cookie.

When Cammy came back to pick them up she said: "It's funny how you got the two good kids and we had the two misbehaving kids." We laughed and I said hopefully all of them would be able to come next time. I really do want to play with Benson's army guys.

 I love the many faces of Charlie

 Just making some funny faces!

I loved this story and picture!

 Lots of things to earn this week.

 I like this kind of recycling!

 Good idea!

 Congratulations Hunter!

My mentor is becoming a book hoarder!

 Like his brother Dallin, Joshua likes to perform

to an audience.

Friday, April 5th, 2019

Manaus, Brazil

138th operating temple

Dedicated: 10 June 2012

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

DC 29:42

But, behold, I say unto you that I, the Lord God, gave unto Adam and unto his seed, that they should not die as to the temporal death, until I, the Lord God, should send forth angels to declare unto them repentance and redemption, through faith on the name of mine Only Begotten Son.

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 2:9-27

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

General Conference preparation day.

General Conference

Just as He Did

W. Christopher Waddell

As we seek to minister just as He did, we will be provided opportunities to forget self and lift others."

James went to Home Depot and got a screw driver to removed something in Lexy to see if wires were chewed. They were not. I am not sure if this is good new, or bad. 

 The rats/mice did this.

They did not chew any other wires at this time.

Thanks rats.

While James was working on Lexy I was blogging and playing with Lola. She should me around upstairs and then we danced. She danced first and then asked me to dance with her. I told her I wasn't very good but when I started to dance she said, "Perfect!"

 It's fun to dance with a cape on.

Of course she had to show me her 

dance trophy.

As we were packing up and getting ready to leave for my infusion,

Trina was getting ready to run and Lola was getting ready to ride her scooter.

This girl really enjoys life!

I had a chest x-ray before my infusion today so I arrived a few minutes early. When I finally arrived in the infusion room, every chair was full except mine. By the time I left, everyone else was gone and I was the last one. I feel very blessed when I see how crippled some others are because of this disease that we share.

My heart goes out to them.

James had a meeting with Mr. Chacon and was paid, in cash, for the balance of what was owed on the job. I stuffed it into my tiny purse and won't let it out of my sight until we get it deposited in the bank.

James was waiting for a call from Erik who was gone somewhere. We decided to go get some lunch but as we were on our way Erik called so we headed for his house. He was able to determine that we had a couple of bad coils. We followed him down the street to O'Reilly's Automotive where he bought what was needed and installed it right there in O'Reilly's parking lot. I walked across the street to a little mexican place called Moreno's and bought a couple of carne asada street tacos. By the time I got back Erik was finished. James paid him and we were on our way. It cost us, including parts, $180. 

We stopped at Burger King in Payson because James was hungry. He got a burger, and a fish sandwich. I got a chicken sandwich.

We picked up the tire and wheel at Robert's ten minutes before closing. They were outside waiting for us because James had called a head. We stopped at the post office and picked up another 5 books.

It was nice to be home. We unloaded the car, put things away and I walked while watching a movie. James bought some more books.

What a beautiful little girl!

This was on while I was getting my infusion.

Kathie Lee's last day co-hosting daytime television.

 When Calls the Heart set near Langley,

British Columbia.

Bluebells in Texas

The cutest bluebell isn't too sure 

about the grass.

 Gingerbread heart cookies

Charlie's first lesson about fishing from big

brother Tanner.

 On the Mount of Transfiguration

 This one is one of my favorites

Sunday, March 24th, 2019

Curitiba, Brazil

126th operating temple

Dedicated: 1 June 2008

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

Luke 1:32

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

Book of Mormon

Jacob 5:49-69

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Matthew 13; Luke 8:13 Review

"Certain Women"

Linda K. Burton

General Conference

Try, Try, Try

Henry B. Eyring

"My testimony is that the Savior is putting His name in your hearts. For many of you, your faith in Him is increasing. you are feeling more hope and optimism. And you are feeling the pure love of Christ for others and for yourself. I bear you my witness that the Savior knows and loves you. He knows your name as you know His. He knows your troubles. He has experienced them. By His Atonement, He has overcome the world. By your being willing to take His name upon you, you will lift the burdens of countless others. And you will find in time that you know the Savior better and that you love Him more. His name will be in your heart and fixed in your memory. It is the name by which you will be called. I so witness, with gratitude for His loving-kindness to me, to my loved ones, and to you, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

We sold the book, "John Adams." 

I thought I was ready to teach my lesson when I left for church this morning but when I got to the building I realized that I had left my outline and the pictures I was going to use. I dropped James off and turned around and drove like crazy back to the house. I picked up the folder with my lesson and the bag with the pictures and was on my way. When I got back to the church and walked in the foyer, Dimitri Gardner was passing the bread and I was able to take a piece. I stayed in the foyer until the sacrament was complete and then I went into the chapel and sat by Tom and James. I guess Jean's right knee was swollen and she stayed home.

The Judd's were the speakers in sacrament meeting. They are a couple who recently moved in to our ward with several children, many who are adopted. Two of them are in James's Primary class.

Brother Judd spoke first and his topic was, "Teaching in the Savior's Way." He told how they were inactive for years but for the last 18 years the gospel has been the center of the lives. He spoke about making room for Christ in our lives. He thanked Sister Woods for having the most contagious smile he has ever seen. i thought that was sweet. He told of a Teacher's Council Meeting he attended in their old ward in Benson and how much he learned. The topic was, how to nurture children by teaching them "how to fish" spiritually rather than just "giving them a fish." He ended his talk by saying that we need to love our neighbors as ourselves. Good talk.

The choir sang "I Am a Child of God" Those singing: Lorraine Vaught, Ruth Wilhelm, Kathy Crane, Rosie Lauritzen, Alicia Hunsaker, Tamara Applegate, Thomas Grapp, Virgil Cooper, Sean Bowen, Anthony Romyak, Mel Wilhelm, and Sean Hunsaker. Stefani Hunsaker is the choir director and Pierce Goodman played the piano. They sounded really good.

Sister Judd spoke using a talk President Eyring gave in the last General Conference, "Women and Gospel Learning in the Home."

"This is an exciting time in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Lord is pouring out knowledge on His Church as He promised that He would. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. This includes the nurture of gospel truth and knowledge. Fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. As daughters of God, you have an innate and great capacity to sense the needs of others and to love. This makes you more susceptible to the whisperings of the Spirit." 

Obviously President Eyring gave this talk in the women's session of conference. It was one of my favorite talks and we chose it for the last Relief Society lesson in April.

I feel like the lesson in Relief Society went well today. We had many sisters share what the hardest thing in their lives has been, three of them have had children in prison. The most touching was Sister Ulmer's. Her son is getting out of prison son but he is in poor health, Her daughter has been in prison and now her granddaughter.

She raised her three grandaughters and now she is raising her great grandson. Sister Ulmer very seldom comes to Relief Society but I was grateful she was here today and was able to open up and share the concerns of her heart with us. I told her how much she was loved and I felt her family was very blessed because of her.

James and I came home and made chicken fettucini alfredo for lunch. James grilled the chicken and I made the noodles and the sauce. It was delicious but so very rich. Butter, cream, and parmesan cheese are the ingredients in the sauce.

At 3 pm James had an appointment to go see Brother and Sister Woods. I was going to go with him but I began to have stomach cramps and was pretty miserable. I sat down on the recliner and took a nap while he went on the visit. I really like the Woods' and I was a little miffed about my stomach cramps. I think that lunch didn't set well. 

I worked on my blog this evening while James wrote an email to Ben, or I mean Elder Trezise.

 One of the last photos I have of my mother is 

on this bridge at Woodland Lake with myself and

two brothers with her.

These kids are the Pope boys who used to live in our ward.

As a result of the rains, we have gorgeous

desert flowers.

What a sweet, adorable girl!

 So beautiful!

This picture should have been posted on

Friday, the day of the hike. I love how Evan

has his hands up in the air.

 He made a mess in the microwave and

he's cleaning it up.

I used these in my lesson today