Wednesday, March 6th, 2019

Snowflake, Arizona

108th operating temple

Dedicated: 3 March 2002

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

Acts 9:20

And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 26:12-30

How do you recognize the subtle flaxen cords around your neck before they become too strong?

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Matthew 8:18-27; Mark 3:31-55; 4:35-41

"Spiritual Healing:," James E. Faust, 4/1992

General Conference

Truth and the Plan

President Dallin H. Oaks

"Our loving Heavenly father wants His Children to have the joy that is the purpose of our creation. That joyful dstiny is eternal life, which we can obtain by pressing forward along what our prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, often calls 'the covenant path.' Here is what he said in his first message as President of the Church: 'Keep on the covenant path. Your commitment to follow the Savior by making covenants with Him and then keeping those covenants will open the door to every spiritual blessing and privilege available to men, women, and children everywhere.'"

Jesus performed more miracles in Capernaum, the Savior's own city, than anywhere else. Jesus used the title "Son of Man" 80 times in reference to himself. 

We left a little after 9 for the valley this morning. We stopped at Walmart in Show Low to pick up the shakes James left in our cart on Monday. I go for a little walk and get a drink at McDonald's while James is getting the shakes

On our way we stop at the McDonald's in Globe so I can use the little girl's room. This is what we saw in the parking lot.

So many motorcycles on the road. I said to James that a lot of 

people in Globe love to ride and he said I will bet most of them are from out of state. Sure enough, I started checking, Ontario, Canada, New York, Minnesota. I guess that's one of the reasons people like to come here in the winter.

We met Sheri and Kimmy for lunch at the Cafe Rio in Chandler. Stacy couldn't come because she had a doctor's appointment. James ate lunch and then left for his doctor's appointment at the Southwest Sonoran Spine center in Tempe. 

After lunch I saw a set of missionaries go in to Mechie's frozen yogurt next door. Sheri said they were the missionaries from their ward and she had just fed them the other night. She went in and paid for their yogurt. While she was doing that I tried the mango and lemon yogurt mix. It was delicious!

Kim and I dropped Sheri off at work and then went to park on Washington St. by the high school to wait for Max to get out of school. There was a house for sale and I thought it would be perfect for James and I when we come down to stay. Too bad we don't have any money.

This is the next door neighbors yard.

On the way to take Max home Kim tells a funny story about when she and Brian were in Nebraska for his grandma's funeral. They were out in the middle of nowhere when the neighbor lady came out and rang a bell. Kim said hundreds of cats came running and she doesn't know where they came from. She looked at Brian and said, "What just happened"?  Anyway, it was funny when she told it. I guess you had to have been there.

While I a waiting for James to pick me up from Kim's I scanned a few of her books. She has some nice art books but she doesn't want to sell them. 

After James arrives and picks me up we drive to Scottsdale to Shea Honor hospital to see if our friend Donna from Vernon is out of surgery. She is not but we visit with her husband Owen and our neighbor and Owen's good friend Chuck. We stayed over an hour waiting for her but then we had to get back to Darrel and Trina's to keep an eye on Ruby and Lola. Addy, Rowan and Trina are all going to Mutual and of course Darrel is at work. Trina was just called as the Young Women's president. When they moved from their old ward she was the Primary president. You just can't get away from the fact that you are pretty awesome Trina.

We took Ruby and Lola to Peter Piper Pizza. They had already eaten dinner and weren't hungry for pizza so we ordered a cinnamon dessert pizza and played some games.

I guess Max is pretty upset that we aren't leaving for the cabin tomorrow night.  We promised Owen we would come back tomorrow and see Donna and we won't be able to go until evening because we are babysitting and picking up kids for Darrel and Trina tomorrow. Darrel was supposed to have the kids but one of the guys he works with needed to switch with him. Darrel says this guy always accommodates him so he wanted to do this for him, hence I said I would babysit.

 Susan is a friend from Chandler. James used to

do repair work for her at her house all the time.

Her daughter Christine was married to Cody Birch.

 Our dear friends the Tolman's and their grandchildren.

 Lola lookin' good in a blue sports car.

 Darrel & Trina's rental house. A few more

weeks and they will be gone from this house.

I brought each of the kids a surprise egg.

The frog is Lola's and the bunny is Ruby's.

Rowan got Star Wars and we aren't sure what

Addy's was.

 Love this face!

 She's waving!

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019

Regina, Saskatchewan

65th operating temple

Dedicated: 14 Nov 1999

By: Boyd K. Packer

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

3 Nephi 11:7

Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name - hear ye him.

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 16:1-16

*Why do the "wicked take the truth to be hard"?

New Testament,"Come Follow Me"

John 1:1-10; JST John 1-10 "We Have Found the Messiah"

General Conference

Wounded

Elder Neil L. Andersen

"God did not create our spirits to be independent of Him. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, through the incalculable gift of His Atonement, not only saves us from death and offers us, through repentance, forgiveness for our fins, but He also stands ready to save us from the sorrows and pains of our wounded souls."

I got up and walked this morning early. I got in 3,000 steps before James told me it was too cold to walk and that I needed to come in because he didn't want me to catch cold. I try to honor my husband when he makes a request so in I came. He seemed to disappear. I guess he went upstairs to lay down. 

This morning was our temple day that Jared and Kacey requested. Trina watched Charlie and Sheri, James, and I were going to go to the temple with Jared and Kacey. First of all, James left his temple bag and recommend at home. I told him he could go and rent clothes and they would look up his name on the recommend list and he could get in but he decided he would take the car to Discount Tire to get the tires balanced and rotated. The ride down here the car began vibrating around 65-70 mph. 

We had planned on going to the 10:45 session. I met Sheri at the temple at 10:00, well actually James missed the turnoff so it was more like 10:10. We were going to do initiatories before the session. I couldn't find my recommend. I guess the last time I went I did not put it back in my wallet and I left it in my other temple purse. A brother Andersen took down my name and birthdate and was gone a few minutes. When he came back he welcomed me into the temple. 

Sheri and I got ready and were waiting for Kacey. When we all three went to get the new name we were told the 10:45 session was closed. 

We finally decided that Kacey would go up to the chapel waiting room and meet Jared there for the 11:30 session while Sheri and I went to do initiatories. 

I had three family names for initiatories and one name for an endowment. I gave the name for the endowment to Kacey and Sheri and I took the three names to initiatory. I got a temple name and we each did two names. Three is the limit. 

So grateful Jared, Kacey, Sheri and I were able 

to do ordinances here today.

They have three initiatory booths but we still had to wait about an hour to do our names. When we were finished we picked up James at the Discount Tire on Market St. and got me a sugar cookie and drink at Swig and Sweets,  and then headed back to Trina's to pick up Charlie. 

A cold sugar cookie that is divine!

Charlie fell asleep while Trina was taking Lola to school and she was still sleeping when we got there. I changed my clothes and our plan was to meet Kacey and Jared for lunch. After their session they were able to do a sealing for Kacey's grandmother and then we met them at the Cafe Rio near the temple.

We had a nice lunch and President Johansen, Sheri's stake president and an old friend from Chandler came over to visit for a few minutes about Ben. It was nice seeing him. 

Charlie finally woke up from her nap. That bottle on the table isn't good for much. Trina tried to give it to Charlie but she wasn't having it.

 Sweet picture, even though you can't see

Charlie's face.

The most photographed baby ever!

After lunch Sheri took us back to Discount Tire to get our car. No more vibrating!  

When we got back to Trina and Darrel's I laid down for a short while and James went to have a meeting with Armando about the Mesa, Bellview job. He wasn't gone long and when he got back he wanted to go home. 

While I was packing up James was working on removing the piece of hard plastic that has been hanging down from underneath our car. He finally got it removed and then had to sweep up the clumps of mud left on Darrel's driveway.

We left a little before six and we were almost to Vernon before nine. I didn't even notice but James missed the Vernon turn and just kept on sailing down the highway at over 70 mph. The speed limit changes to 55 just before Vernon and continues on past Vernon. A cop was waiting for him and he got a ticket on his birthday eve. It will cost him $200 for doing 74 in a 55 zone  unless he does traffic school online. He plans to do the traffic school. I could not get upset with him because he already felt so bad.

So our trip had a less than happy ending. It was good to be home though and we unloaded the car and unpacked everything before going to bed. Kacey, Jared, and Charlie are coming up tomorrow.

 Lola loves Charlie!

 Here Scarlett is ready for prayer. She loves Charlie too.

When they Facetime with Kacey she always

asks for "baby."

Wish we could go to Rome to see the temple.

Somehow I managed to get all my steps

today. I guess it was that early start I got

this morning.

Thursday, November 9th, 2017

Winter Quarters, Nebraska
104th operating temple
Dedicated: 22 Apr 2001
By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Ascension of

3 Nephi 11:12

And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words the whole multitude fell to the earth; for they remembered that it had been prophesied among them that Christ should show himself unto them after his ascension into heaven.

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 24:1-25:6

*What blessings are promised to those who pay their tithing?

Those who live the law of tithing show their faith in God. Obedience to this law brings the blessings stated in 3 Nephi 24:10-12. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland shared five reasons why every member of the Church, in any kind of circumstance, should obey the law of tithiing: "I suggest five reasons why all of us, rich or poor, longtime member or newest convert, should faithfully pay our tithes and offerings. First, do so for the sake of your children. Teach your children that many of the blessings of the Church are available to them because you and they give tithes and offerings to the Church. Second, pay your tithing to rightfully claim the blessings promised those who do so. Third, pay your tithing as a declaration that possession of material goods and the accumulation of worldly wealth are not the uppermost goals of your existence. Fourth, pay your tithing and offerings out of honesty and integrity because they are Gods rightful due. this leads to a fifth reason to pay our tithing and offerings. We should pay them as a personal expression of love to a generous and merciful Father in Heaven. through His grace, God has dealt bread to the hungry and clothing to the poor. At various times in our lives, that will include all of us, either temporally or spiritually" (Ensign, Nov 2001, 33-35)

Doctrine Covenants Favorite Scriptures

DC 4:4-5

4 For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;

5 And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.

General Conference

Spiritual Eclipse

Elder Gary E. Stevenson

"In the same manner that the very small moon can block the magnificent sun, extinguishing it's light and warmth, a spiritual eclipse can occur when we allow minor and troublesome obstructions - those we face in our daily lives - to get so close that they block out the magnitude, brightness and warmth of the light of Jesus Christ and His gospel. Elder Neal A. Maxwell took this analogy even further when he stated: 'Even something as small as a man's thumb, when held very near the eye, can blind him to the very large sum. Yet the sun is still there. Blindness is brought upon the man by himself. When we draw other things too close, placing them first, we obscure our vision of heaven.'"

We left for the valley a little after 8 a.m. James was driving the truck and pulling a 22 foot long trailer. We stopped to get gas and then our next stop was Burger House in Miami. We each had a burro, and we bought two extras to take to Sheri. My appointment with Chandler Eyecare was at noon and I arrived right on time. James dropped me off and then went to Bill's to park the trailer. 
My left eye needs a little more correction so I got a new prescription. It is always fun to see Sheri and friends Nancy, Rachel and Chris at work. Sheri gets off at one for lunch so we met James at Cafe Rio. Sheri took this photo of us and I was going to take one of her and James outside but I forgot.

 Boy I look old!

After lunch Sheri had to go back to work and James had to go see Dr. Hatch about doing a remodeling job at his dental office. While James was meeting with Dr. Hatch I took the truck and drove down to the Albertson's and did some walking. When James called I went back and picked him up. We drove to the Costco in Gilbert and bought some Alpine Valley bread, James's favorite, and 11 blankets for grandkids for Christmas. If they don't get anything else from us they will get a new blanket. 

Next stop, Deseret Book, which is right next door. I bought 3 conference Ensigns for the sisters I visit teach. I actually only visit 2 sisters right now, Jean, and Pam but I bought an extra for Pam's husband Ricky. I bought a Book of Mormon and had my name engraved on it for next year's Book of Mormon study. I also bought two journals, one for Sunday and one for Shelly for her mission.

By this time it was 4:30 and time to go pick up Rowan who is going with Evan on his birthday date. Joshua and Max are going too but they are already at Evan's. 

When we walked in to Trina and Darrel's Lola was sitting on the couch eating popcorn and watching Moana. When she saw us she said, "Oh they are probably picking me up." We visited a few minutes with Ruby and Lola, Addy was at a friends, and then the three of us left.

The boys had fun playing in the backyard with Ollie and we had to keep reminding them we were here to take them on a birthday date.

Rowan was a little afraid of Ollie because last time

he "chewed" on him. He would run and of course

Ollie would run after him.

Evan didn't want to go shopping like we normally do. He asked if we could go to the Xtreme Air on Rural and Ray. He had to give the location because there is one here on McQueen and Pecos just a couple of miles away but the boys like the Rural and Ray one better.

I dropped James and the boys off while I went across the street to Fry's Marketplace to get a few groceries. I bought some shakes, chicken, cranberry celebration, a fresh salad, and three ASU blankets. The three blankets are for Evan, Joshua, and Rowan. I am holding out for a Cardinal's blanket for Max. 

After their hour at Xtreme Air the boys were hungry. Oh yes, so was James. He had been walking the whole time the boys were doing their activities.

Evan decided he wanted to go to the mall food court for dinner. He and Max went to Subway and Joshua and Rowan to the pizza place just like always. James brought in his chicken and cranberry celebration from Fry's. I am holding out for the fresh salad I got.

I did decide to go to Panera and get some cookies. I got six chocolate chip cookies which qualified me for six more free cookies. I got two snickerdoodles, two ginger molasses, and two frosted pumpkin sugar cookies. 

We took Evan and Max home and then Joshua. Our ride to Rowan's gave us time to talk to him about school and what he is doing. He plays the cello and also plays soccer. We got to see Addy and Ruby and Trina when we got to the house. Lola was asleep. We visited a few minutes. I wanted to give the kids the cookies but Trina said no.

We stayed at Sheri's and slept downstairs in Alex's room. Roxy's cage is down there so of course I said hi. Sheri was already in bed when we got back.

Joe, Kim and Brian have been in Disneyland

this week. They came home today.

Old Family Photos

Camping at the north rim of

the Grand Canyon.

So cute.

Jonathan, Charlotte, Jared

Jared's birthday

Christmas eve at Grandmother Clark's.

Interesting

Lola reading scriptures

Dallin H. Oaks with hair

Saw this at Sheri's

Look at those claws!

Love this!