Saturday, September 24, 2016

I sent this out to Stacy, Kim, Sheri,

Trina, Addy, and Anna today as a reminder of

tonight's General Women's Session of

the 186th Semiannual General Conference

of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Helaman 9:1-17

 Some prophecies, like Nephi's in this chapter, are difficult to believe.  How have I gained my testimony in President Monson and his teachings.  

I loved President Monson's biography.  He went to Germany for 30 years and gained the confidence of the government.  After 30 years he was able to receive permission to build a temple behind the Iron Curtain.  I love the stories of his travels and how he would give his suit coat and shoes to those he saw who needed them.  I love stories of him personally visiting the 80 widows in his ward as a 22 year old bishop.  I love the stories of him receiving promptings to visit someone and going immediately.  I have also gained a greater love for President Monson as I have tried to apply his teachings to my life.  No only is President Monson a true disciple of Jesus Christ, he is the Prophet of God.  I know because the Spirit has born witness of this to me.

GC: 'The Holy Ghost' by Elder Robert D. Hales

"To my own posterity and all within the sound of my voice, I offer my testimony of the personal revelation and constant flow of

daily guidance, caution, encouragement, strength, spiritual cleansing, comfort, and peace that have come to our family through

the Holy Ghost.  Through the Holy Ghost, we experience 'the multitude of Christ's tender mercies' and miracles that do not cease."

I am intrigued by this birds coloring and his bill.

It felt cold enough this morning to turn on the space heater in the dining room when I got up at 4 am to do my gospel study.  

We had bunnies eating our grass today, three little ones.  James had to go out and chase them away.  They hide under his storage building along with the squirrels.  I love watching them run around in the morning getting their exercise.

James worked all day to finish these doors for the pump house.

I think he did a great job!

After our lunch, at 12:30 we said a prayer and started our fast.  Tomorrow is our ward's fast Sunday.  It is easier for us to fast 24 hours when we start on Saturday after lunch.  

I was excited to watch the General Women's Session of conference this evening.  It started at five and I love that I can stop what I am doing, go sit down in front of the T.V. and watch conference and but motivated and inspired.

I loved Sister Oscarson's talk!

I worked on my Primary lesson much of the day.  It is about the Savior giving the sacrament to the Nephites.  I had some handouts and visual aids I didn't finish so I will be getting up early to finish in the morning before church.

There are some beautiful places in Arizona

Guess where this is?

I got a call from Ruby today.  She asked me if I wanted to go with her to get our ears pierced.  I said yes.  I told her last year that when she went I wanted to go too.  I am excited.  Something to look forward to when I go to the valley on October 5th.  Ruby wasn't going to do it again until she turned eight.  I wonder what changed her mind.  She turned 7 in June.

I was sitting at the dining room table this evening working on my lesson.  James had gone in to take a shower.  I heard the front door open which freaked me out.  I yelled "Hello" and no one answered.  I took a peak around the wall and the door was open a crack.  I thought the wind had blown it open as it sometimes does, so I went over and closed it and then locked it.  A few minutes later I hear the doorbell frantically ringing.  You guessed it, I locked James out!  I did not hear him come from the bedroom.  Sometimes living in a big house in the country is a little scary.

The Tovrea Castle in Phoenix near Van Buren St.

I remember seeing this building as a little girl when I lived in Phoenix and always wishing I could go in it.  

I love Arizona sunsets!

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Japanese squirrel.

Love the big eyes!

It's 4am and the wind is howling!  My weather app first said 60% chance of rain today.  It doesn't look like rain outside at all, hardly any clouds, and now it says snow.  The wind howled all day and it stayed in the 40's most of the day.  Maybe a storm is blowing in and will arrive after dark.

 Quote for the day

"As you keep your covenants you draw upon priesthood power to bless your home and family."

-Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson

New Era, April 2014, p. 10-11.

 Mr. Joshua in a Superman shirt.

I wanted to watch the movie Austenland while I was cleaning the wood floors today.  At first I couldn't get the input button to work on the remote.  I finally went to the top of the TV button and got on HDMI3 the place where I am supposed to be able to watch movies from my VCR.  All I got was fuzzy, irritation audio.  That's when I figured it was the 3-pronged cord from the VCR to the TV.  I called Vickie to see if I could get some new remotes. I told her my problem and she said I could pick up some new remotes at the office tomorrow on my way to the valley.  Then she called back and said she and Harold were on their way out.  I did need a new 3-pronged cord and Vickie brought one.  When Harold came in from walking his dogs we had to move the TV off the wall and set in on the floor in order to plug the cord into the back of it.  There were two other cords that needed to be plugged in and it's a pain to get back there.  We need a new wall mount!  I was so appreciative of Harold and Vickie coming out.  They are always so anxious and ready to help other people.  

 This is Harold & Vickie's granddaughter

Kaytlynn throwing the discus.

Tonight I attended the General Women's Meeting Rebroadcast at the stake center Diana Curtis, Shelly Applegate, and Coty Iannoli.  Diana made it back from California just in time to go with us.  Here is a picture of all the girls from our ward who attended the meeting:

Kelly Reynolds, Alice Wilhelm, Shelly Applegate, Coty Iannoli,

Trenda Wilhelm, Kyah Westbrook, LeeAnn Hunsaker and Maddie Carroll.

The jean jacket girls:

Maddie, Trenda, and LeeAnn

It was freezing cold as we left the meeting.  I told Shelly, Coty, and Diana I thought it was going to snow tonight.

James did not have a good day because the concrete pump broke down.  He stayed until after dark putting water on the concrete.  It will be so sad if he has to tear it out.

 Niagra Falls.

I like to close the day with a soothing scenery picture.

 

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Hunyad Castle, Transylvania, Romania 

Gospel Study

"How Can I Sin and Do This Great Wickedness"

OT-SSL# 11 Genesis 34; 37-39

Purpose: To help class members 1) learn how to make all experiences and circumstances work together for our good and 2) strengthen our commitment to obey the Lord's standard of sexual morality.

Young Women

"How can the Atonement help me during my trials?"

-As part of His atoning sacrifice, the Savior took upon Himself our pains and sicknesses.  Because He has experienced our trials, He knows how to help us.  When we exercise faith in Jesus Christ, He will give us strength and ease our burdens.

James says I talked in my sleep last night.  When I asked what I said this was his response: "You lifted your arm in the air and said excitedly, 'I got it'!  When I asked what you had gotten you said: 'The Mickey Mouse label!'"  I do remember one of the women yesterday whose scrub top had Mickey Mouse on it.  I wonder if that's what triggered my dream.  Oh dear, where is my mind.

 Philippines Temple.

Can you see the protective bubble around it?

Today was our day to go to the temple but it was closed for cleaning.  We like to go the Saturday before fast Sunday.  We start our fast around 1pm and then leave for the temple around 2:15 in time to make it to the 3:30 session.  We have made plans instead to go to the Gilbert temple this coming Thursday with Kim and hopefully Sheri.  

James made what I call a big breakfast this morning, hashbrowns, eggs, green chilies and sausage.  I made egg salad sandwiches for lunch so we got our weeks supply of eggs.  We started our fast around 12:30.  We are fasting for family members.

I made cookies for the Howard family funeral and James delivered them to the Church.  We both decided we like white chocolate macadamian nut cookies.

In my efforts to gather histories of my family I found the talk Aunt Gene gave at my Dad's funeral which I will use for his life story.  I also found some life histories of my grandpa Maxwell's siblings but not his history so I need to call Rita, my cousin, and see if she can help me.  I am doing these life histories for Jenifer's kids but I think I'm going to give them to my kids and grandkids too.  

Troy Meadows, New Jersey

Tonight was the first ever Primary eight and older, Young Women's and women's broadcast.  They are calling it the General Women's Broadcast.  I taped it and watched it hear at home.  I love the stories and pictures of the young girls.  The 12 year old Beehive who gave the opening prayer gave one of the best prayers I've ever heard by a girl that age.  It was an inspirational meeting.

James and I watched the season finale of "When Calls the Heart."  We will anxiously await season two.