Saturday, May 18th, 2019

Tokyo, Japan

18th operating temple

Dedicated: 27-29 Oct 1980

By: Spencer W. Kimball

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

1 John 5:11

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

Book of Mormon

Alma 2:1-18

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Matt 20:30-34; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18::35-43

General Conference

We Can Do Better and Be Better

President Russell M. Nelson

"Nothing is more liberating, more ennobling, or more crucial to our individual progression than is a regular, daily focus on repentance. Repentance is not an event; it is a process. It is the key to happiness and peace of mind. When coupled with faith, repentance opens our access to the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ."

President Nelson and his wife Wendy and Elder Gong and his wife left for what they are calling the Pacific Ministry Tour. Their first stop was in Kona, Hawaii. James and I visited Kone in 1998 before there was a temple on the island. After Kona they are going to Samoa and then on to Sydney, Australia. Where do they get their energy. President Nelson is 94 years old!

The Samoan saints came out in the rain

Another Rock Star in my life, or maybe I should say "Walk" Star is my friend Paula. Today she walked in the Sue's Crew 30 mile walk for cancer. Last year she did 12 miles in spite of wind and cold weather. This year she did 15 miles.

Take a break Paula

I watched two Hallmark Christmas movies while doing my own walking today, "A Bramble House Christmas," and "A Very Merry Mixup." 

It was a relaxing day for me. James and I had breakfast and we both worked on our computers most of the morning. He grilled us some steak for dinner and I made a veggie and some potatoes. After lunch he went to the church. The youth are having a carwash to raise money for camp and our car is very dirty. I gave him a twenty dollar bill and told him not to ask for change. He was gone a little over an hour.

Jared and Kacey are asking our family to fast for them. They have a phone appointment with attorney's Cordell and Cordell who specialize in divorce representation for men. They are trying to find someone to work with them who will help Jared get out from under the alimony payments to Tricia. It is ruining them financially.

I did a little work on the book business today. We are doing 79% better than we did last month at this time. Our sales have hit over $1,000. Just a couple of mistakes I think Amazon made today. First, they gated us from selling a book that we had already sold and they had to issue a refund to the buyer. Second, they sold a second copy of a book that we thought we only had one copy to. It is impossible to speak to a real person in seller support so I don't quite know how to handle the situation. 

This evening we watched the new Hallmark movie, "Sailing into Love."

We enjoyed the movie, and made fun of

the cheesiest parts.

 She looks so tiny

So grown up. Since we've seen her she can sit 

up and crawl. 

 My kind of salad except for the feta cheese

 This was in the 4th grade.

Where has the time gone?

On our way!

 More Rock Stars!

Saturday, May 5th, 2018

Newport Beach, California

122nd operating temple

Dedicated: 28 Aug 2005

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, birth of

Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Book of Mormon
Mosiah 23:16-39
*How do you remember to give thanks? Why is it an important thing to do?
- frankorion0711: "Sometimes when I pray I only give thanks for all the blessings and trials, or opportunities to grow, in my life. It really puts things in perspective.
Old Testament
1 Samuel 13-15
13 Saul offers a burnt offering - The Lord rejects him and chooses another captain over His people.
14 Jonathan smites the garrison of the Philistines - Saul instructs the people to eat no food until evening - Unaware of the oath, Jonathan eats, and Saul decrees his death - He is rescued by the people - Saul vexes his enemies on every hand.
15 Saul is commanded to smite and destroy the Amalekites and all that they have - He saves some animals to sacrifice - Saul is rejected as king and told that to obey is better than sacrifice - Samuel destroys Agag.
General Conference

Until Seventy Times Seven

Elder Lynn G. Robbins

"Success," it has been said, "isn't the absence of failure, but going from failure to failure without any loss of enthusiasm."

Russell M. Nelson:4/02 How Firm a Foundation:

"The foundation of one's individual faith, if anchored firmly to eternal truth, allows each of us to reach upward with an eternal perspective."

Rescuing Wayward Children: p. 239-40:

Elder Bruce C. Hafen wrote:

" A covenant marriage in the highest sense will begin as a temple marriage. When the partners are then sufficiently righteous, the marriage will be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise (DC 132:7), 

"which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true" (DC 76:53). Such a marriage will then be not only eternal in duration but also celestial in quality, for it will be a marriage that partakes of God's quality of life."

Elder Dale G. Renlund:The Melchizedek Priesthood: Chapter 4:

"The Priesthood Blesses the Priesthood Holder"

I am so grateful for my dear, sweet husband. He knew he was only going to be able to get things done for me today because tomorrow is the Sabbath and he leaves again for his job at Legacy Golf Course early Monday morning. Here is a list of the things he did this morning:

*Took the wet vacuum and blew out the dryer vent. I now have a working dryer!

*He went to the dump

*Washed the car because we are going to the temple this afternoon

*Took the shelves we got from Trina and put them upstairs where they belong. 

He is the best!

He's handsome too!

When I was at Fry's yesterday I bought a boxed meal, Jerk chicken with stewed greens,  with all the ingredients in the box. All you have to do is follow the directions for preparation and boom! your meals is ready.

The chicken was cooked perfectly but I didn't like the jerk seasoning very well. The stewed kale was good but my favorite was the mango salsa. James liked everything quite well too.

After lunch we started our fast. We are fasting for family concerns, our grandchildren who have gone away from the gospel, and what we can do to help them and their parents. We are also fasting that all of our children and their spouses will have family prayer, scripture study, and FHE. It is a good thing to be united together in fasting and prayer.

We left for Snowflake at 3:15 for the 4:30 temple session. I was fortunate to sit by a former temple matron's assistant during the session, Sister Miller. She says that all of the former temple presidency and their wives are temple workers. I knew we were in good company as temple workers!

James looks puzzled and I look like

I have a spider leg on my forehead.

We stopped at Walmart on the way home to pick up some ice cream. Tomorrow is the day we have our big treat for the week. We both love Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia so that's what I got, you know, one of those small containers. A 1/2 cup of this stuff has 260 calories!

I finished my 10,000 steps this evening and didn't even drink any water. I did have some sugarfree Icebreakers. I couldn't survive without my Icebreakers.

James worked on loading his truck for work on Monday and I worked on studying for tomorrow's RS lesson on Revelation and what I am going to say to the Young Women about ministering. Sister Allen asked one of us to come in and explain to the girls what the Laurels and Mia Maids responsibilities will be in their ministering assignments.

Today is my brother Dennis's Birthday.

Happy birthday Dennis!

Let's do lunch.

 Looking a little tired at the state track meet

in Mesa. It was over 100 degrees.

Well, after all, he is 64!

Today is also my dear sweet friend 

Betty Bogle's birthday. Here she is with

9 of her 10 children. Her oldest, Bobby,

was killed in an airplane crash several

years ago.

Congratulations Zachary!

As a sophmore he got 3rd in state in the

shot put. Throwing a distance of 49' 8".

Royal children, Princess Charlotte kissing

her brother Prince Louis.

  

Sunday, May 4, 2014

"No one can know of spiritual truths without prayer."

-p. 39, Preach My Gospel

"In answer to our prayers, the Holy Ghost will teach us truth through our feelings and thoughts."

I had my gospel study this morning.  James and I are fasting for some family members.  

At 9am we attended the Galveston 3rd ward fast and testimony meeting.  Paula Casto came over before the meetings and gave me a big hug.  We sat behind Adrienne and Mike Ellsworth so I got to talk to Adrienne.  

Bishop Lewis conducted the meeting and bore his testimony.  He also awarded Geoffrey Dowdle his missionary plaque and read from a letter Geoffrey's mission president sent.  It was pretty incredible.

 These were the people I know who bore their testimonies: 

Hilary Jiminez and her two daughters Evie and Elise, Sheri, our sweet daughter, Geoffrey Dowdle, Diana Dowdle, Dahlia and Isaac Dowdle, Paula Casto, and Bob Kaufman.  It was a good meeting.

We attended the gospel doctrine Sunday School class taught by Mike Ellsworth.  He is an awesome teacher!  The lesson was "Look to God and Live."

During the last hour was Alex's ordination to the office of a priest in the Aaronic priesthood.  James gave the blessing and ordination and did an incredible job.  Paul, Michael, and Ian were all in the circle.  

Back at home James and I broke our fast and went down to Sheri and Ian's to help fix dinner.  We did fried chicken, biscuits and gravy, corn and asparagus.  Everyone liked the chicken.  Sheri says that is a rarity in their family.

 Sheri's new shirt.  I need one too.

  After dinner we went home and took a nap and then got up to go visit with Darrel's family.

It was nice that Trina was there too!

 Love these kids!

We sat on the back porch while Rowan fed the bunnies and Addy told us about her trip to the Grand Canyon.  It was a nice visit, so relaxing and fun.

 I'm not sure what Rowan is after in this picture.

We couldn't stay long because James had to get back for Jacob and Isaac Dowdle's Court of Honor.  He is being honored as one of Jacob's mentors and received another mentor's pen.

Jacob, Diana, Jared, and Isaac Dowdle

and the back of Bishop Lewis's head.

 

Sunday, August 4, 2013

For my morning study I am reading three different places in the Book of Mormon and I am also reading the Doctrine and Covenants.  Today we are fasting that we will be able to get out of debt. 

Sunrise

We said goodbye to Paul and Joshua before leaving for church.  Tara and Trisha are still upstairs.  James went to fast and testimony meeting, Sunday School and Priesthood.  He is pretty miserable though.  Today we learned in Sunday School that Liberty Jail was more like a temple than a prison because of the Prophet Joseph and the things he learned from the Lord.

We divided into classes today in Young Women's.  Randa Covert taught the Beehives and Denice Hall taught the Mia Maids and Laurels.  The topic for the month is marriage and family.  Denice has a unique way of teaching and the girls lover her.

It was raining when we came out of church.  We came home and broke our fast before taking a nap.  I worked on my blog this afternoon and this evening we watched "The Walton's" and "Cedar Cove."

 So pretty and green!

My petunia's love the rain!

I love dead trees!

Ominous clouds.

Sunday, February 3, 2013

It was overcast and even rained a little today.  I am sad because most all of the snow is melted.  When the snow melts and the sun comes out, we live in a mud bog.

During Shelly Applegates (Mia Maid) testimony in sacrament meeting, Brother Sayer, a member of our ward slumped down and passed out.  Brother Applegate, and several other men ran back to help him and carried him out in to the foyer.  We have several firemen in our ward and most of them were the ones who moved in to action, including Collin DeWitt who is the fire chief in Gilbert.  Brother Sayer has a bad heart and he is on medication for it but he has a difficult time sitting straight up in the church pews.  He is going to be okay.

Today in Young Women Tina Allen gave a lesson on dealing with adversity.  Before the lesson started I handed out these journals for the girls to take notes in:

 Stand in Holy Places is the 

2013 Mutual theme

At home we fasted until around 4pm and then we ate dinner  After dinner and cleanup we read our scriptures and had family home evening.  Since the youth are learning about the plan of salvation this month we studied that section of Preach My Gospel.  We got about half way finished because we read all of the accompanying scriptures.  Afterwards we watched my favorite TV show, Downton Abbey.  

Oh yes, the Ravens beat the 49ers in the Superbowl.  We didn't watch but I guess the power went out for about 34 minutes. 

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Today I am fasting for two people who have health problems, Kim and James. 
We had a sweet fast and testimony meeting today.  Curtis Wilhelm, the 4 year old boy who has cancer and is doing chemo treatments so he has no hair, bore his testimony.  Ty Applegate a ten year old boy who fell out of a tree and is in a torso and neck brace, and has two broken arms bore his testimony and reminded us that Heavenly Father loves all of his children.  Sister Swansey, our new convert, just had surgery on her hand and she bore a touching testimony.  I am so grateful for the testimonies of other members because it strengthens my testimony.
James was so miserable but he wanted to come and partake of the sacrament.  I took him home after sacrament meeting.  When I got back to the church I asked Brother Wallace if he could send someone over this afternoon to give James a blessing.
When Sister Soderquist and I got into the young women's room no one was there except Jordyn Applegate.  Sister S.(Natalie) went out to look for them and she never came back so I went out to look.  The only person I saw was the bishop's wife, Denise Hall.  I asked her if she had seen the young women and she said yes, they were in opening exercises of Relief Society.  Oops!  That's were we are suppose to be on fast Sunday.  By this time it was too late for me to go in so I went back to the young women's room with Jordyn. 
Natalie gave the lesson on finding and using our talents.  I provided a handout.  We got a new Laurel class president.  McKenzie Hunsaker was released and Mary Swift was called and set apart.  She is an indian girl and her adopted mother, Sister Singleton was there for the setting apart.  Mary is a very sweet girl.  She is a bit of a tomboy and hangs out with the boys alot and loves to play basketball.  She is a senior and when I asked her what her plans were for next year she said she didn't have any.  This concerns me.
I spoke with Tina Allen today who is our young women's secretary about her two year old granddaughter who has juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.  She is on methotrexate and enbrel and her hair is falling out.  She has it so badly that the doctors said if her mother hadn't caught it when she did that she would be in a wheelchair.  She is in so much pain she cries all the time and just wants her mom to hold her.  She also has night terrors (so do I) because of the meds.  My heart goes out to her and I will pray that soon her arthritis will go in to remission.  Her name is Marlee.
When I got home James was asleep on the bed with his white shirt and tie, pants, and shoes still on.  He slept until right before 4pm when Sean and Kip Hunsaker came over to give him a blessing.  James talked to them for a long time about the history of his back and heart problems.  I am worried about how he talks very slowly.  I hope it's because of his medicine and not because he has any damage from the carbon monoxide poisoning. 
Sean Hunsaker gave James a wonderful blessing and I felt so much better after they left.  Kip came back and brought a maching called a Chi machine that he uses for his back pain (the Hunsaker's work in concrete too) and some herbal tea that is supposed to be like a detox.  I am so grateful for the Hunsaker family.  They are goo neighbors. 
We had rain today and lots of it.  I love this weather!!  When it rains James and I love to go on the backporch and read.  First we read from the Book of Mormon and then we read from our Victoria Holt book of the week.  The one we just started is an historical fiction novel about Marie Antionette. 
Misty Mae Treanor and Kerri Walsh -Jennings won another volleyball match.  I love them!

Sunday, July 1, 2012

James and I are fasting for help with our finances.  We told the boys we were staying for the entire block and that we had to leave early because we had a meeting before church with a member of the bishopric.  We met with Brother Wes Smith before fast and testimony meeting.  He called me to be the first counselor in the Young Women's organization.  I told him I wasn't young and he said that didn't matter.  A couple of weeks ago the YW's president came up to me and introduced herself (Natalie Soderquist) and said she had been waiting for me to get here, so I wasn't completely surprised by the calling.  I was sustained in sacrament meeting.  I attended YW's today and was surprised by the frankness of the Sister Soderquist in speaking with the girls about dressing modestly.  Wow! I hope I am able to be a good example and love the girls and teach them the things they need to know.  After the block James and I went in to the bishop's office and Brother Wes Smith set me apart.  It was a very nice setting apart. 
As we went to the car James told me that the boys, Joe, Alex, Michael, and Dallin had ditched priesthood.  I was very disappointed.  I told them that in YW the lesson was on the priesthood and how important it is for young men and young women to honor the priesthood.  I told the boys I didn't feel like they had honored their priesthood today. 
When we returned to the cabin James's Dad and his wife Alisha were sitting on our front porch.  They are returning home from the Lambson reunion and stopped by for a visit.  Ruby especially liked Alisha. 
After we broke our fast we had a nice roast dinner with biscuits, asparagus, corn, and salad.  Alex was especially hungry.  He at 10 biscuits and 20 asparagus spears.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Today as part of my gospel study I read the Sunday School lesson for the Book of Mormon gospel doctrine class.  Today's lesson covered Mosiah chapters 7-11 and the title was" A Seer...Becometh a Great Benefit to His Fellow Beings."  Of course the seer referred to here is King Mosiah the 2nd.  Jen Coffey was our teacher today and I love her style of teaching.  One of the main purposes of the lesson was to encourage us to follow the counsel of Church leaders, particularly those whom the Lord has called as prophets, seers, and revelators.  It was a good lesson.

James and I fasted today for three family members in particular that we fell are in need of spiritual help.  Dallin bore his testimony today in sacrament meeting.  He has a good testimony and the ability to express himself very well.

During Relief Society and Priesthood Sheri and I went in to the Teacher's Quorum where James set Alex apart as a Teacher.  Michael was there too.  The blessing James gave was very special and powerful and the spirit was strong.  He told him to be a leader and a peacemaker in his home.  And he said that the reason we are here on earth is so that we can serve others.  James and Alex have a very close bond.

Tonight we had FHE with our children and grandchildren.  It went something like this:  We listened to "I Know That My Savior Loves Me" and then Max gave the opening prayer.  James did a demonstration on how to get from birth to eternal life.  He blindfolded Addy and asked her to go towards the eternal life sign.  He twirled her around which was very confusing and of course she couldn't find her way.  Next her gave her a rope to hang on to and she had no difficulty in finding her way.  He related this to the iron rod and how if we hold to it we can find our way back to Heavenly Father and Jesus.  We discussed the Tree of Life symbols and their meaning and then I expressed my love for the Book of Mormon.  Rowan was especially interested tonight and answered many of the questions.

After the lesson we went outside and roasted marshmallows and made smores.

Those attending: James, myself, Stacy, Adam, Dallin, Michael, Joshua, Kim, Joe, Sheri, Alex, Ben, Max, Evan, Darrel, Trina, Addy, Rowan and Ruby.  

 

Saturday, May 5, 2012

We left for Chandler around 10am and said goodbye and "have fun" to Brian and Joe.  Of course we were hungry for green chili burros so we stopped at Burger House for lunch.  When we got home we began our fast.  This is our home in Chandler.

This evening I attended the Chandler Relief Society Centennial Celebration at the Chandler Center for the Arts with my sisters-in-law Cathi and Laura.  There was a reception in the lobby before the program where displays were set up.  My favorite display was a 50's kitchen done by a sister in our ward, Hillary Whalen.  The two refreshment tables were the most beautiful I've ever seen with all kinds of goodies including cake pops, mini cupcakes and sugar cookies.  Also there was a special punch receipe from Ada Jones's receipe file.  Ada has been gone for several years now but she is one of the great Relief Society sisters from Chandler.  The punch was called Ada Jones's Grapefruit Punch.  Ada was one of my first visiting teachers when we moved to Chandler.  As a former member of the General Relief Society board we always looked to her for counsel and advice.  A very wise woman indeed.  I suppose because I have served in Relief Society in Chandler for over 40 years they gave me a flower corsage and a Relief Society apron.  I was there with some of the great ones, Kathryn Ethington, Betty Bogle, Beverly Parris, Lora Willis, June Bueler, and Carolyn Schnepf just to name a few.  The program was written by my dear friend Karen Bland and it was wonderful with lots of singing and dancing and cute skits.  Sherri Holtey made a power point presentation with old pictures and they had one of me from the 80's with my "owl" glasses.  It was a wonderful evening and brought back lots of great memories.  I have made so many wonderful friends here in Chandler!!

This is the 50's kitchen display and a funny picture of Hillary and her family taken on Cinco de Mayo.