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!

Wednesday, October 25th, 2017

Adelaide, Australia

89th operating temple

Dedicated: 15 June 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Appearances, Postmortal

Luke 24:39

Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 12:25-48

*How hard is it to love our enemies?

I think it requires lots of prayer, forgiveness, and humility, and the Holy Ghost filling us with pure love.

*What does it mean to you to be perfect?

President Russell M. Nelson: "We need not be dismayed if our earnest efforts toward perfection now seem so difficult and endless. Perfection is pending. It can come in full only after the Resurrection and only through the Lord. It awaits all who love Him and keep His commandments" ("Perfection Pending," Ensign, Nov. 1995, 88).

Doctrine Covenants Scripture Mastery

DC 130:22-23

22 The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.

23 A man may receive the Holy Ghost, and it may descend upon him and not tarry with him.
General Conference

Do We Trust Him? Hard Is Good

Elder Stanley G. Ellis

"The Lord does trust us in so many ways. He has given us the gospel of Jesus Christ. He entrusts us with His priesthood authority, complete with the keys for its proper use. With that power we can bless, serve, receive ordinances, and make covenants. He trusts us with His restored Church, including the holy temple. He trusts His servants with the sealing power - to bind on earth and have it bound in heaven. He even trusts us to be the earthly parents, teachers, and caregivers of His children."

Paul and Janell are here shooting. I took a walk up to the broken down CAT with James to do some "observing," while he tries to start it. It started but now he's having problems draining the old oil so he can put in some new. 

James had a shirt on today that I have not seen him wear for a long, long time. When I told him I liked it he told me the following story. "You bought me this shirt when we took Darrel to the MTC for his mission. (That was in 1998). We took Amy Bush to dinner at Tony Roma's in Provo and she told me my shirt was a "chick magnet."

This chick is attracted.

We have smoke again today! Yikes! I guess we didn't do enough complaining!

Let the complainings begin!

James went to town today because he had an appointment with Dr. Reagan who was supposed to help him with the pain in his shoulder. He was going to do some other errands including picking up rice and beans at La Casita for our dinner we are taking to the Curtis's. Luckily I texted him his driver's license and credit card and they accepted it. He did not see the doctor because he was an hour and a half behind on his appointments. He is on call at the hospital for up to 14 days. The other doctor fills in for him but that means he is double booked. 

While James was gone I made a batch of chicken enchiladas. He took awhile because I cut the meat off a roasted chicken and shredded it and then put everything else together. When James returned I asked him to deliver the dinner and while he was gone I would make him so enchiladas. I really wanted to see my friend Dianne but I was not in any condition to see anyone. The dinner consisted of chicken enchiladas, a salad, and the delicious rice and beans from LaCasita. They have the best refried beans, rivaling Paul's mom's.

While he was making the delivery I made another batch of chicken enchiladas. I could not make them for someone else and not make some for James. He loves them!

When James returned we ate our enchiladas and watched an old movie we had taped "The Apple Mortgage Cake" which is based on a true story. It is a great movie and we enjoyed watching it again.

We also watched an episode from season two of Heartland: "Miracle Girl."

I also made time to do this today:

Shayna and the guys carving pumpkins

at Kim and Brian's.

Thanks for carrying on the tradition!

Evan did his free hand!

Addy wanted to know why poodle dogs so I sent her this:

So big he can't even stand up.

Some photos Carmen took of Sarah and Sydney on

their tour of Arizona.

Fall

Golden Oldie

Sunday, October 15th, 2017

Medford, Oregon

79th operating temple

Dedicated: 16 April 2000

By: James E. Faust

Jesus Christ, Appearances, Antemortal

Genesis 18:22

And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord.

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 5:20-6:14

*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." (verse 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?

Doctrine Covenants Scripture Mastery

DC 82:3

For of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation.

General Conference

Earning the Trust of the Lord and Your Family

Elder Richard J. Maynes

"Earning the Lord's trust is a blessing that comes through great effort on our part. Trust is a blessing based on obedience to God's laws. Earning the Lord's trust comes as a result of being true to the covenants we have made in the waters of baptism and in the holy temple. When we keep our promises to the Lord, His trust in us grows."

Brother Curtis and Brother Crane were asked to bear their testimonies in sacrament meeting today. Brother Curtis was the ward clerk that was just released. Here are some of the things Brother Curtis said: He said he was blessed to serve four years as the ward clerk. He said right now he is closer to the Savior than he has ever been in his life. The Savior will always come to my rescue. The priesthood is such a blessing as the Lord's tender mercies are administered.

Brother Crane: Grateful to serve in the bishopric. Chuck bore a powerful 4 point testimony. He forgot to mention Joseph Smith.

LeeAnn H. spoke about why she should listen to her parents. She used a talk by Elder M. Russell Ballard, "The Sacred Responsibilities of Parenthood." 

Brother Allen was the final speaker. He used Elder David E Sorenson's talk on temples from the October 2003 general conference. In 1998 there were 94 temple. Today there are 157. Temples stand as a symbol of the grace and goodness of God. The temple is a place of revelation, inspiration, meditation, and peace - a place to restore ourselves, to clear our minds, to find answers to our prayers, and to enjoy the satisfaction of worship and service. 

"When you are about the Lord's work, He will be about your work."

Brother DeWitt and James helped passed the sacrament today. I think Andy asks them because they are both short and the boys don't feel intimidated. 

During Primary we all stayed in the chapel for our program practice. I told my class if they were good that I would make them cookies. Colter and Jace were both very good, and of course Gracie and Liana are always good. Curtis was gone today. I can't remember him ever missing Primary before. Someone said he went to help his dad. Zemira, Ruthie and Johnny were gone for awhile but they all eventually showed up, but no Curtis. I missed him. 

When we got home Kim and Brian were packed up and ready to go home. We said our goodbye's and took a picture on the front porch.

After lunch and nap I studied and called my friend Charlotte and texted Pam. I also worked on my blog. James and I watched the finale of "Chesapeake Shores."

James saw some elk this evening, two herds. 

October 15, 2017

We need a watering trough.

Sunday morning puppy snuggles.

Goodbye to Kim and Brian.

Scarlett

Why do I mail my property taxes to

Houston, Texas?

This was posted on a friend's Facebook feed.

October 15, 2016

Anna and friend with Mike from

Monsters, Inc.

Ruby ready to rock and roll!

Last years new toy,

a log splitter

October 15, 2015

What a difference a couple of years makes.