Monday, March 25th, 2019

Panama City, Panama

127th operating temple

Dedicated: 10 Aug 2008

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

Luke 1:35

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Book of Mormon

Jacob 5:70-77

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Matthew 14:1-21; Mark 6:14-44; John 6:1-14

"The Grandeur of God"

Jeffrey R. Holland

General Conference

"The Father"

Brian K. Ashton

"There is much we do not understand about becoming like the Father. But I can testify with certainty that striving to become like the Father is worth every sacrifice. The sacrifices we make here in mortality, no matter how great, are simply incomparable to the immeasurable joy, happiness, and love we will fell in God' presence. If you are struggling to believe it is worth the sacrifices you are asked to make, the Savior calls to you, saying, 'Ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath ... prepared for you; ... ye cannot  bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along."

Here is the letter that Ben sent to his mom this week:

I think Ben is a natural born speaker and preacher. 

I ordered several books today and was able to get my tramadoll prescription refilled.

A sister in our ward had to go in for emergency surgery. Her name is Sister Campbell and she had cancer surgery a couple of weeks ago. We had a sister willing to pick her up from the hospital but her husband was able to do it. It's always nice to know that people are willing to help if needed.

James made lots of phone calls today to schedule work for the next phase of the Chacon job. He made the comment to me: "Let's do something fun," but we got so busy we never did. Hopefully sometime this week we can go to Buckelieu Springs and see the water falls. We did read from our book today and watched "Campfire Kiss" on the Hallmark channel.

I inventoried, sourced and set buying alerts in our book business besides buying several books. Things are beginning to happen and we finally feel like we know what we are doing. We have sold over 30 books but that's just the beginning.

A look of pure joy on that face

 This sweet family from our ward was recently

sealed in the temple. Sister Nichols is the sister

who made the delicious chicken salad for our

Relief Society birthday party.

An explanation of Spring:

 These pictures were taken in Carefree just

north of Scottsdale.

Doing her stretching exercises

 Last Friday after their hike

 I love this picture!

Monday, February 11th, 2019

Villahermosa, Mexico

85th operating temple

Dedicated: 21 May 2000

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

Galatians 2:20

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 4:28-5:9

* Why do you think some blessings we receive are conditional on praying and fasting and others are not?

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

John 2:1-11 The power of Jesus Christ can change me.

"Ye Must Be Born Again" Elder David A. Bednar, 4/07

General Conference

Our Campfire of Faith

Elder Gerrit W. Gong

"Our campfire of faith encourages us to establish regular patterns of righteous living that deepen faith and spirituality.These holy habits, righteous routines, or prayerful patterns may include prayer; scripture study; fasting; remembering our Savior and covenants through the ordinance of the sacrament; sharing gospel blessings through missionary, temple and family history, and other service; keeping a thoughtful personal journal; and so on."

I have asked several of my family and friends how they liked the fireside last night. Everyone I spoke to said that Sister Nelson's talk was their favorite. I believe she knows how to connect with people. She was a marriage counselor for years before she was married. She also spoke on a topic that was interesting to everyone. She has a very pleasant voice to listen to. I truly do love her. I remember how she made me felt when I met her. She asked me, "How are you, what is your name, where are you from? Tell me about yourself." It made me feel like she really cared and I actually think she does.

I was laying in bed at Darrel and Trina's this morning when I got a text from Karen S. She has to cancel our lunch date today because she has a man coming to repair her hot water heater. We rescheduled for March 1st, the next time I am down here for an infusion. 

I got up and went downstairs to get cookies and cards ready for Darrel and Trina's family. I decided not to give the sugar cookies to anyone else. Lola helped me put the cookies in heart bags, and choose Mickey and Minnie Valentines and suckers for everyone in her family. She stayed at the house with me while Trina took Rowan and Ruby to school. James went out for a walk.

I made this fox and was going to use it for a Valentine but I ended up not using it. I asked Lola if she had heard the song, "What Does the Fox Say?" She had not so James played it for her on his phone. She loved it!

We wanted to go over and see the progress on the new house but Trina had an appointment with a dermatologist and couldn't go with us and we didn't want to go buy ourselves. 

We left the house around 9:30 and headed for the nearest Verizon store. There was one on Baseline and Signal Butte in the Walmart shopping center. Before the fireside last night James looked down at his phone and it said he had "no contacts." I thought he would be in the store for awhile so I decided to walk across the parking lot to the Hallmark Store. I just arrived and took some pictures when James texted and said he was done. A woman working there checked his setting and his icloud storage was turned off. She turned it back on and all of his contacts re-appeared.

Here are the pictures I took in the store:

 Lola loves pink and she loves unicorns

 Ruby loves unicorns and koala bears.

She also likes pink.

 Addy hates flamingoes but I

had to take a picture.

Love these Valentines for girls

I texted these photos to Trina. When she received them she asked me where I was. When I told her I asked if she was going to show them to her girls. She said no. I just laughed.

After leaving the Hallmark and Verizon stores we headed for the Chacon tire business in Mesa. James stopped by and told Mario Chacon who does not speak english that the permits for the job should be available on Wednesday. 

Our next stop was the Chili's on Baseline and Stapley for lunch. We have three gifts cards, one with $15, $30, and $50. Darrel and Trina gave us the $50 one for James's birthday. We spent around $38 so we still have the $50.

I love the Caribbean salad with shrimp and James loves their salmon. We also ordered unlimited chips and salsa, another favorite.

 Carribean shrimp salad

Salmon with broccoli and rice

We got gas and went through a carwash before heading home. 

We stopped in Globe to put air in our tire and for me to get a drink.

I waited until we got home this evening to email Ben because I had left the information I wanted to send him at home. I think I was too late because I never heard back from him.

Sheri sent me the email he sent her today about how he got his testimony of the Book of Mormon. It is personal and I can't share it on here until I check with Ben which won't be until next Monday.

I finished my steps and James and I watched the latest Hallmark movie, "The Story of Us" starring Maggie Lawson and Sam Page.

 Stacy needs this

 Dalllin's dog. She heard Sarah say

it's time for a bath.

 Is there anything more precious

than a sleeping baby?