Thursday, December 19th, 2019

 Edmonton, Alberta

67th operating temple

Dedicated: 11 Dec 1999

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Jehovah

Psalms 68:4

Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.

Book of Mormon

 Ether 13:1-18

New Testament

Matthew 2:1-12; Redheaded Hostess Christmas Questions

Oct 2019 General Conference

"Spiritual Treasures"

President Russell M. Nelson

"The heavens are just as open to women who are endowed with God's power flowing from their priesthood covenants as they are to men who bear the priesthood. I pray that truth will register upon each of your hearts because I believe it will change your life. Sisters, you have the right to draw liberally upon the Savior's power to help your family and others you love."

I was up at 4:30 this morning. After my morning devotional I made banana bread for the Finnell's and the Westbrook's. 

James went with me to deliver Christmas gifts today. We delivered calenders to the Applegate's. I got to see Shelly! The Wilhelm's, the Halcomb's, the Thompson's, and the Grapp's. We went to the post office and mailed Ben's calender and Christmas cards.  We stopped at Dave and Rosa Westbrook's. I ordered some tamales from Rosa and I had a card and some banana nut bread for them. Dave is James's Sunday School teaching companion and his ministering companion. We also go to see Marci Butler Westbrook while we were there and visit with her a few minutes. 

When we were at the Halcomb's Kerri's truck was loaded like Santa's sleigh. They are leaving early in the morning for their family Christmas party in the valley. Kerri was watching seven of the Judd children as she does every week, usually on Friday but she's going to be gone tomorrow.

After delivering the bread at the Finnell's we were going to go into town to get some batting for the Christmas pillows I ordered except that James got a call from Debbie Miller saying the guys were at our house with a new motor for the furnace. They came this morning and looked at the one James put in and said it was off- balance. Matt took it out and discovered it wasn't working correctly so he went to get another one at Hughes Electric in Lakeside. We hurried home to meet them because we really want our furnace fixed. We were half way to Lakeside when we were at the Finnell's. They live by the Wallace's and have a Lakeside address.

Hughes wouldn't take the motor back that James drilled holes in. Matt installed the new motor and he saw it was the wrong amp power so it wouldn't heat our house properly. He took it out and said he would be back tomorrow with a new one. So much trouble.

James got some steps in and I blogged while we were waiting for Matt. Afterwards we went in to Walmart where we got batting and stuff for tomorrow's stew. James has been so sweet today and given me so much of his time. 

When we got home I made another loaf of banana bread because I was a loaf short if I'm taking some to Dennis and Harold. 

I also wrapped calendars for Anthony, Dave and Laura, and Cathi and Terry. 

We watched these Christmas movies:

"Merry Liddle Christmas"

"Radio Christmas"

and the

Churches

New Nativity video

 I took a nativity set to the Grapp kids

They were so excited because they 

didn't have one.

 Tildy, Emsley, Benson, Liana and Bandit

Leland playing with the box.

I will bring him a little book set

of the First Christmas, just his size,

tomorrow.

 James helped me "stuff" my Christmas pillows

 I didn't even know Lichtenstein was a

real country.

Sunday, December 18, 2016

I honored the Sabbath by attending my meetings and partaking f the Sacrament.

Ether 12:22-41

Ether 12:33-37 speaks of this love called charity.  The Savior showed the most perfect charity or sacrificial love when He gave His life and atoned for each of us.  We must pray that we "may be filled with this love" so we can inherit eternal life (Moroni 7:48).  Elder Marvin J. Ashton of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained what it means to have charity: "Real charity is not something you give away; it is something that you acquire and make a part of yourself.  And when the virtue of charity becomes implanted in your heart, you are never the same again.  Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don't judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet.  Charity is accepting someone's differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone doesn't handle something the way we might have hoped.  Charity is refusing to take advantage of another's weakness and being willing to forgive someone who has hurt us.  Charity is expecting the best of each other" (Ensing, May 1992, 18-19).

GC:  Joy and Spiritual Survival by President Russell M. Nelson

"The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives."

The oldest Westbrook boy was the youth speaker in sacrament meeting today.  I have never heard him speak before and he did a great job.  He spoke on honesty and integrity.  "Live by high standards, even when no one is watching."

Rusty A. spoke on The Light of the World, the Savior honored the Sabbath and so can we.  "We should do things on the Sabbath day that will help us remember Him."

Brother Green from the high council was the final speaker.  He spoke on joy, using Elder Nelson's talk from the last general conference.  "The future is as bright as your faith." Pres. Monson.

Curtis, Kacey, and Sister Skousen's grandson Christian were in my class today.  The lesson was, "The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ."  Zemira was sick.

In sharing time the kids got to make nativity ornaments.  After the block some of the Primary children went to the Scott's to sing Christmas carols.  They are leaving for Utah this week and might not be back for a few months.  James and Brother Lauritzen took them a gift from the Primary and some pumpkin bread.  I missed seeing the kids sing because I was waiting for James to finish home teach Brother Cooper.  I was sad and frustrated because it was my idea to do it in the first place.

Deana is my visiting teacher

I delivered pumpkin bread to the Crane's and James delivered the rest of the loaves.  I also made a stocking for Lej, a boy in my class who does not attend and delivered it to Teresa Smith at the church while she was waiting for tithing settlement.  She will deliver it to Lej when she goes visiting teaching to his mom.

James went home teaching and then we watched, "Love at Christmas" and then got ready for tonight's marriage class.  This is the last session tonight.  The lesson is "Enriching Marriage."  

After the class I gave all the women a pair of Christmas socks.  James and John visited in the kitchen and Anne, and Sandra and I visited in the family room.  The Grapps' went home.

I love these snowman cookies made by my friend Kaeli.

Christmas and Friends:

Former bishop, stake president and mission president.

This couple waited a very long time for this little boy!

I love this pretzel house!