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

Monday, October 15th, 2018

Curitiba, Brazil
126th operating temple
Dedicated: 1 June 2008
By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Crucifixion

DC 35:2

I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was crucified for the sins of the world, even as many as will believe on my name, that they may become the sons of God, even one in me as I am one in the Father, as the Father is one in me, that we may be one.

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 5:16-6:14

*How do these verses exemplify the pride cycle? How can we avoid falling into the pride cycle?

-We can avoid falling into the pride cycle by being truly converted to the faith, and by being "firm, steadfast, and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord." (v.14)

Are our minds and hearts anxiously engaged in good things? Do we just go through the motions or are we truly converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ? Is the seed of faith planted in our souls?

When our hearts are no longer set upon the things of this world, we will no longer aspire to the honors of men or seek only to gratify our pride. Instead we take on the Christlike qualities Jesus taught and become His disciples. Missionaries are able to set aside the things of this world and focus totally on serving the Lord and His children. Because of this they experience great power and joy, and their hearts are changed and they have no more disposition to do evil but to do good continually as long as they are obedient.

I love all of you so much and see the power you have to do good as you turn your hearts over to the Lord. I ask myself each day in my morning prayers for the Lord to lead me to someone who needs my help.

Old Testament

Jeremiah 22-24

General Conference

The Joy of Unselfish Service

Cristina B. Franco

"We have promised our Father in Heaven that we will serve Him and others with love and do His will in all things."

Women and Gospel Learning in the Home

President Henry B. Eyring

"The Savior is your perfect example of how you will play a major part in His move to place greater emphasis on gospel learning in the home."

We left Jared and Kacey's around 5 am Texas time, 3 am Arizona time. We took the toll road and as we neared the Dallas/Ft. Worth area a digital sign said you might want to take a detour because of an accident we did. We took the detour and ended up going right up through the middle of the city. We never had to stop, but this way did some longer if there had not been an accident. James said it was like driving through Phoenix for three hours. The rain is really coming down as it has been most of the time.

We saw a semi-truck jack-knifed in the wrong direction. Traffic going the other direction was backed up for miles. The speed limit here is 70 mph. Most of the time on the freeway it is 75 mph. 

We stopped for gas and some refreshment and it was raining very hard!

Some notes from my book, "The Forgotten Garden":

"A person need rescue themselves."

"A rat, I saw a rat, large as a dog with beady black eyes and sharp teeth. I'm not made for such horrors." (Mrs. Sturgent, the do-gooder, come to take Eliza to the workhouse.)

Some observations about Texas: There are lots of Sonics, Whataburgers, and Dairy Queens. Nearly every town has a water tower. At one point when we saw oil rigs, we could smell the oil.

We stopped at the little town of Post to use the restroom at a McDonald's. We got there just as a bus was unloading and I was able to beat those "older" women to the restroom. I was going to say "Old ladies" but how would that sound? Would I want someone to refer to me in that way?

Another line from "The Forgotten Garden":

"Tiny white cottages clung like barnacles to the rocky cove."

Some of the things we did on this trip: Read from the Book of Mormon and the Old Testament and President Eyring's conference talk, "Women and Gospel Learning in the Home." I read to James from "Saints" and I listened to "The Forgotten Garden." While James drove like a machine or a robot, I slept. How unfair. I offered to drive but he turned me down.

Did you know that there is a UFO museum in Roswell, New Mexico.

We arrived home around 5:45 Arizona time and it was raining. It rained on us most of the way home. It was good to be home.

Some things I learned about Jared's and Kacey's kids on this trip:

-James wants to be a chef.

-Anna wants to go to art school in North Carolina after she graduates.

-Summer is interest in fashion design.

-Tanner loves trucks and he loves taking things apart to see how they work. Putting things back together again is one of his talents.

Darrel and Trina went to Waco to see Joanna and Chip and to shop at the Silo. I guess it was a little too cold for Trina.

Such a cute little face!

Nothing sweeter than a sleeping baby

I think Scarlett likes to shop with her mom.

Just a little too organized for me.

Wednesday, May 9th, 2018

Curitiba, Brazil

126th operating temple

Dedicated: 1 June 2008

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, birth of

Micah 5:2

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judan, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose going forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 26:14-39

*Who are the Lord's sheep?

- sue_heugly: "The gospel of Jesus Christ is about people. It doesn't matter if you're a child, youth or an adult. We all need to feel loved, and we all need a leader to follow. Jesus liked to call us his sheep, and he was the shepherd. Everyone is part of his flock, wit him knowing each one of us personally. As a shepherd he goes after us one by one if we get lost."

Old Testament

1 Samuel 23-24

23 David smites the Philistines and saves Keilah - He continues to flee from Saul - Jonathan comforts him in Ziph.

24 David finds Saul in a cave and spares his life - Saul confesses that David is more righteous than he - David swears that he will not cut off the seed of Saul.

General Conference

Saving Ordinances Will Bring Us Marvelous Light

Elder Taniela B. Wakolo

"The Lord told Abraham that through his seed and through the priesthood, all the families of the earth would be blessed 'with the blessings of the Gospel,...even of life eternal' (Abraham 2:ll; see also verses 2-10).

These promised blessings of the gospel and the priesthood were restored to the earth, and then, in 1842, the Prophet Joseph Smith administered the endowment to a limited number of men and women. Mercy Fielding Thompson was one of them. The Prophet said to her, 'This endowment will bring you out of darkness into marvelous light."

Rescuing Wayward Children

As our children mature, we hope that their motivation for obeying the laws of family and of God will migrate from duty to understanding and finally to love.

Russell M. Nelson:10/03 #42: Personal Priesthood Responsibility

"When ordained to an office in the priesthood, you are granted authority. But power comes from exercising that authority in righteousness."

Dale G. Renlund The Melchizedek Priesthood

Chapter 8 Commandments of the Melchizedek Priesthood Covenant

James is pouring concrete this morning at 6 a.m. and I am praying for him. 

I left at 9 a.m. to pick up my friend Catherine. She's 84 years old and she asked me if I could take her to the temple. Of course I said yes. We are going to the 10:30 session. Catherine has never been to the Snowflake temple before. She worked in the Mesa temple for 12 years though. 

Catherine is quite the seamstress. Not only did she make her temple dress but she also made her apron which was hand-stitched around every leaf. She said that her husband who passed away 8 years ago, had one just like it. I was impressed. 

Catherine did one of my family names so I felt like she was serving me as much as I was serving her.

Catherine is a delight, except that

she is hard of hearing. He deceased

husband was the football coach both

at Westwood High and Mountain View, at

different times, of course.

Oh yes, she, her husband and their

four children used to raise Siberian Huskies

for dogsled racing. It started when they lived in Denver.

She and her husband had four children, two boys and two girls: Kelly, Kerri, Kathy, and Kenny.

I was trying to take a selfie and one of the missionary elders who was in our session came over and offered to take a picture for us.

We had at least 20 missionaries who serve in Snowflake in our session.

I put some of our family names on the temple prayer roll, including Laura.

I got home, changed my clothes and began my 45 minute walk to the soundtrack from "The Greatest Showman." I walk around the dining room table and the kitchen island with the blinds open. Five bunnies were munching on the grass.

This is what I had for dinner: Asparagus, frozen blueberries, popcorn and sugar free chocolate pudding with whipped cream. 

It was 85 degrees today. I had to turn on the air conditioner.

I talked to Laurann today about Amaron coming over tomorrow after school. She says he has a counseling session at the park until 4:30 and that I could pick him up afterwards.

I got a little inspiration while I was in the temple. I came up for a name for our ward activity, "A Celebration of Family." I later shortened it to "Celebrating Family" which everyone liked.

Jasmine's baby Kyler is so cute.

He reminds me of Seth, Jasmine's brother.

A castle in Scotland, I didn't catch

the name. That critter needs a haircut or

a stylist.

One of my favorite photos of Lola and Gpa.

We are using a tree on the poster

we are making for our

"Celebrating Family"

ward activity.

I still don't have family photos for 

Stacy's family, Kim's, or Jared's.

This dog is a little spoiled.

I want a flower garden of purple flowers!

Friday, December 1st, 2017

Curitiba, Brazil

126th operating temple

Dedicated: 1 June 2008

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ Atonement through

John 17:19

And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

Book of Mormon

Ether 1:1-43

The Lord explained to the brother of Jared that blessings had come to his people as a result of prayers offered over a long time. President Spencer W. Kimball taught that we must put great effort into our prayers and that we must pray frequently: "Do you get answers to your prayers? If not, perhaps you did not pay the price. Do you offer a few trite words and worn-out phrases, or do you talk intimately to the Lord? Do you pray occasionally when you should be praying regularly, often, constantly? Do you offer pennies to pay heavy debts when you should give dollars to erase that obligation? When you pray, do you just speak, or do you also listen? Your Savior said, 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.' (Rev. 3:20). Should we ever fail to get an answer to our prayers, we must look into our own lives for a reason."

Doctrine Covenants Favorite Scriptures

DC 18:18-19

18 Ask the Father in my name in faith, believing that you shall receive, and you shall have the Holy Ghost, which manifesteth all things which are expedient unto the children of men.

19 And if you have not faith, hope, and charity, you can do nothing.

General Conference

Turn On Your Light

Sharon Eubank

"Innovation and creation are spiritual gifts. When we keep our covenants, it may make us different from others in our culture and society, but it gives us access to inspiration so we can think of different solutions, different approaches, different applications. We aren't always going to fit in with the world, but being different in positive ways can be a lifeline to others who are struggling."

Kathy Crane asked me earlier this week if I would go to the church this morning and help decorate for Christmas. Even though I have a cough and sore throat I am going. I cancelled on her the last time she asked me to do something. 

I was assigned along with Sister Patrick and Sister Miller to decorate the north foyer. Kathy, Sister Singleton, Sister Wallace and a sister I didn't know decorated the other foyer. We finished around 11:30. I told Kathy I would buy a tree skirt for the tree we decorated rather than using the batting that was used before.

I went home to find James and Anthony working on the patio. I heated them up some chili for lunch, got myself some lunch and went into the bedroom to watch a movie. 

This afternoon after James was finished working we made a trip to town to get some hot and sour soup from China Wok. We also went to Walmart to pick up prescriptions and some groceries. When I am sick hot and sour soup is the thing that I want most. It felt so good on my throat.

Today's Christmas movies: "Naughty and Nice," and a "Christmas Kiss." We also watched an episode of Heartland.

A Christmas Castle

Starts Today!

Rats chewed the wires in three vehicles

and it is very costly to fix them. That's

what happened to James CAT too.

I guess yesterday makes up for today.