Friday, August 2nd, 2019

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

94th operating temple

Dedicated: 16 July 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Foreordained

Matthew 15:24

But he answered and said I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Book of Mormon

Alma 43:41-54

New Testament "A Minister and a Witness"

Acts 27

Paul, in a perilous voyage, travels toward Rome - An angel comforts him - He uses the gift of seership - He is shipwrecked.

General Conference

Careful versus Casual

Becky Craven
"As I reflect upon obtaining lasting happiness, I realize that sometimes we do find ourselves in the gray. Mists of darkness are inevitable as we journey along the covenant path temptation and casualness can cause us to subtly divert our course into the darkness of the world and away from the covenant path. For the times when this might happen our beloved prophet, President Russell M Nelson has urged us to get back on the covenant path and to do so quickly. How grateful I am for the gift of repentance and for the power of our Savior's Atonement."

I missed saying goodbye to everyone at Darrel and Trina's except Trina. I caught her before she went out running and said goodbye, and thank you for allowing us to stay and for taking me to the movies last night. The kids were all gone to school and Darrel was gone to work before I came out of the bedroom.

I had my infusion this morning. I arrived at the AARA office in Mesa at 10:30 and Angela came and took me right back to the infusion center. I lost 6 lbs since the last time I was here. Woohoo!

Frances informed me that beginning in January they are going to a four day work week so I will have to change my Friday appointments. I am trying to decide between Monday or Thursdays.

After my appointment I walked over to Popeye's Chicken because James wasn't here yet. He picked me up in their parking lot.

He got a gift card for Father's Day to either Carrabas or Outback. We chose Carrabas and drove to the one on Market St. in Gilbert.

I ordered the caprese pasta with grilled shrimp and James ordered Mahi Mahi fish with broccoli. 

Very yummy!

Sourdough bread is delicious!

We each also had the house salad with parmesan dressing and we share strawberry drizzled cheesecake for dessert. 

When we walked in to Carrabas I noticed that Crumbl cookie was just across the way and I mentioned to James I wanted to go get a cookie afterwards but I was too full after the cheesecake.

We arrived back in Vernon around 5 pm. Our company had spent the day in Greer and it was time to fix dinner when we arrived. 

Sheri had baked rolls. She also made mashed potatoes and Ian cooked steaks on the grill. I made some broccoli and corn. The dinner was quite delicious. Thanks Sheri and Ian.

After dinner James made a fire in the fire pit and the group roasted marshmallows and made smores. Max played the guitar and sang. 

James and I walked. 

Sheri said that both Ian and Evan saw the bat last night so they join this summers "Cabin Bat Club" along with Darrel and Trina. Ian thought the bat was cool, Evan, not so much.

Greer:

Eli and Max

 Eli, Sam, Max, Evan, and his sidekick, Frasure

All of these boys are good friends!

 Frasure calls a flash light a torch.

He shined one in his dad's face when he was telling

a story. When Michael complained Frasure said:

"But you must be in the spotlight when you are 

telling a story."

 The day it rained and the lights went out.

Frasure said: "I am so bored. This

weather is rubbish."

I love the light in the window.

"Mom, could you get me out of here"?

 Ian, Max, Aly, Sheri

 Evan, Ian, Max, Michael, Aly, Sheri, Sam, Eli

Where is Frasure?

Friday, July 7th, 2017

Star Valley, Wyoming

154th operating temple

Dedicated: 30 Oct 2016 by

David A. Bednar

3 Nephi 25

At the Second Coming, the proud and wicked will be burned as stubble; Elijah will return before that great and dreadful day; Compare Malachi 4.

Alma 29:8-30:11

*Search Alma 29:10,14, and 16 looking for the blessing Alma received as he helped others come unto Christ.
*Have you ever felt the joy that comes from helping others come unto Christ?
*Read Alma 30:6 looking for a word that describes Korihor. (Anti-Christ). One definition of anti-Christ is: "Anyone or anything that counterfeits the true gospel plan of salvation and that openly or secretly opposes Christ."
DC 98:23-38
23-32, The Lord reveals His laws governing the persecutions and afflictions imposed on His people; 33-38, War is justified only when the Lord commands it;
General Conference

Our Father's Glorious Plan

Elder Weatherford T. Clayton

" I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; but if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit."

Adam left for home this morning. Ben said he had to clean up after him in the bedroom where he slept.

Molly wants to celebrate her birthday with us while she is here. I took her and Ruby to Walmart this morning. I got about to the Vernon dump when James texted me and said he wanted to go, so I turned around and went back and picked him up. 

While James took the girls shopping I went and picked up the few items of groceries we needed. James checked out and I finished up with the girls. Molly got a pair of tennis shoes, a pair of shorts, and a jewelry making kit and some other small items with her $50.  Ruby spent some of her money too. She says she is saving the fifty dollars I gave her for her birthday for when she goes to Universal Studios, Harry Potter.

When we got back home to the cabin it was about time for lunch. I realized we were out of catsup so I made a trip to Dollar General while James fixed the boys popcorn chicken and french fries. When I returned everyone had eaten and no one had even missed the catsup. 

Darrel and Trina went on a walk this morning and then came back and cleaned upstairs before leaving for home.  They said they want to buy a horse and keep it up here if we would help them take care of it. Of course we would.  

Before Darrel, Trina, Addy, Ruby, and Lola left for home we had a party for Molly. Jared made her a cake and we had more ice cream.

Molly will be 8 on August 8th.

Ruby cried when she realized she had to go home and wouldn't be seeing Molly anymore. Jared and his family went into Fool's Hollow Lake and Licano's for burros this afternoon. James, Ben, Max, Evan, Joshua, Rowan and I all piled into our car and drove to Greer. As soon as the boys got out at the creek it began to rain. We didn't stay long. I guess Jared and his group got rained on too and the water was too cold to swim.  He said it wasn't a total bust because they got burritos.

We stopped at Sonic on the way home and got the boys food so they seemed happy.  

It rained a little this afternoon in Vernon, but not much. There were cows outside our fence so James turned the fence on. When the boys found out, they began touching the fence to see how much of a shock they could get. Rowan took his shoes off and got it the worst. It was like a game to them.

Jared made ribs for dinner. His kids didn't eat much because they will still full from their burros. 

This evening Jared wanted to go to bed early and then get up and drive home at midnight. Everyone was just going to stay up and sleep in the car. I thought maybe they would want to watch "Private Eyes," Jared's favorite movie when he was a kid, but the boys were watching "Nacho Libre" again.

James and I said good bye to Kacey, Tanner, Emmy, Molly, and Jared before we went to bed. Anna, Summer and James were somewhere upstairs. I am sad to see everyone go because I know how far they are going and that it will be a long time before we see them again.

More Photos:

Taylor a girl in my Primary class

Evan Face timing with his mom.

Alex got to see the London Bridge today.

Our kids loved this movie when

they were growing up.

Monday, July 18, 2016

I love this! Tony Robbins is a great motivator.

"If you saw the size of the blessings coming, you would understand the magnitude of the battle you are fighting." - Unknown

Alma 34:17-41

17- Begin to exercise faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon His holy name, that He would have mercy upon you.

18 - Cry unto Him for mercy for He is mighty to save.

19 - Humble yourselves and continue in prayer unto Him.

20 - Cry unto Him when ye are in your fields and over your flocks.

21 - Cry unto Him in your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening.

22 - Cry unto Him against the power of your enemies.

23 - Cry against the devil who is an enemy to righteousness.

24 - Cry over your crops.

25 - Cry over the increase of your flocks.

26 - Pour out your souls in your closets and your secret places.

27 - And when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those around you.

28 - You must also care for the poor and needy or your prayer is in vain.

29 - Ye must be charitable.

30 - ... Come forth and bring fruit unto repentance.

31 - Harden not your hearts any longer.  Now is the day of your salvation.  If ye will repent, and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you.

32 - This life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.  

33- ... do not procrastinate the day of your repentance . . . if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.

34 - Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God.  Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.

35 - For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.

36 - And this I know, because the Lord hath said he dwelleth not in unholy temple, but in the hearts of the righteous doth he dwell; yea, and he has also said that the righteous shall sit down in his kingdom, to go no more out but their garments should be made white through the blood of the Lamb.

37 - And now, my beloved brethren, I desire that ye should remember these things, and that ye should work out your salvation with fear before God, and that ye should no more deny the coming of Christ.

38 - That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you.

39 - Yea, and I also exhort you, my brethren, that ye be watchful unto prayer continually, that ye may not be led away by the temptations of the devil, that he may not overpower you, that ye may not become his subjects at the last day; for behold, he rewardeth you no good thing.

40 - And now my beloved brethren, I would exhort you to have patience, and that ye bear with all manner of afflictions; that ye do not revile against those who do cast you out because of your exceeding poverty, lest ye become sinners like unto them;

41 - But that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions.

That was long but I just love these verses by Amulek!

GC: "Eternal Families" President Henry B. Eyring.

James and Ben were outside this morning around 5:30 getting ready for the concrete pour.  Talon, Curtis, and Zemira were here at 7, and Sheri and Ian too.  

I made blueberry muffins for breakfast and to share outside.  Sheri and I also filled up the five gallon water container.  Here are some pictures of the action of the day.

Talon, Ben, Curtis, and Zemira

The truck is here but the concrete was so hard

they had difficulty getting it out of the truck.

James thinks that instead of adding a retardant

the concrete company, Perkins, added an

accelerator instead.

Things go so bad that when Talon's dad, John Wilhelm,

called to see how it was going Talon told him that

they needed help.

John showed up and right along with him was someone who had called about getting an inspection done.  John is the building inspector for the city of Show Low. John told him we needed help and he wanted to help too. The person's name is Brandon Garvin. (It turns out he is Brian Maxwell's boss).  Brandon is a general contractor, a concrete contractor, and part owner in Perkins Concrete.  James said he offered a prayer for help and not three minutes later Brandon, someone we don't even know, turns up with concrete tools in hand and takes over the operation.  James was exhausted from trying to get the concrete out of the truck.  Brandon and John literally saved the concrete.  Ben, Sheri, and Ian were all helping too but they really had no experience so it was great that someone came who knew what he was doing.  John Wilhelm walked up to James and said: "You just received Divine Intervention."  James said, "I know.  It was a tender mercy."  I have heard of these things happening to other people but I have never seen it so profoundly exhibited.  We are so grateful.

John and Brandon working the concrete.
Johnny on the left and Zemira on the right.

This afternoon Sheri and I took Joshua, Max, and Evan to Greer.  We went on the Green's Peak road and enjoyed the scenery and cows.  That's about all the wildlife we saw.  Our ice cream shop in Greer was closed down but we found another one.

Cute little shop with an ice cream counter.

Sheri took the boys down by the creek but there were alot of people so we didn't stay long.  I didn't get out of the car at the creek because my knee was bothering me.

On the way home we drove to the top

of Green's Peak.

The views are gorgeous.

The sky was awesome!

Green, dark green, blue, and dark blue.

Some places got more rain than we did.

When we got home Sheri grilled chicken and made mashed potatoes for dinner.  I cooked some corn in the microwave.  Ben, Sheri, and I also played Five Crown's.  I still haven't won a game.

Ben is the big winner.  The TV is on the Game Show network most of the time.  This family is a big fan of Family Feud and "Let's Make a Deal."

For FHE I had everyone fill out a four-generation pedigree chart.

It's kind of sad that Ian has never met his maternal

grandparents.

In other parts of the world:

A dust storm in the valley.

Mary Johnson posted on Facebook that it 

was raining dirt.

The Case cousins are getting ready to leave the beach.

We missed Aurora's baptism this evening but we sent her a card and a CTR necklace.

Erik and Aurora

Newly baptized!

Baptism is a family affair.