Monday, November 4th, 2019

Apia, Samoa

22nd operating temple

Dedicated: 5-6 Aug 1983

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Head of Church

DC 11:16

Wait a little longer, until you shall have my word, my rock, my church, and my gospel, that you may know of a surety my doctrine.

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 19:30-20:19

What does the Savior promise those who partake of the sacrament? Why is this promise so significant?

New Testament

Hebrews 1-6, Jesus Christ, "the Author of Eternal Salvation; Hebrews 1; Introduction to the lesson - share a verse meaningful to me. Hebrews 5:8. "Yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered."

Oct 2019 General Conference

"Spiritual Capacity"

Michelle D. Craig

"President Russell M. Nelson has extended a simple, powerful invitation: 'My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation. ... Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly.'

My desire this morning is to speak to you from my heart about four ways to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation."

RWC: "Divine design made sin possible so that grace could abound ... to deliver man from sin." (see Romans 5:20-21)

Once the Lord comes for us in the midst of our descent, we are accountable for the knowledge that He imparts.

"CFM": "We all have to give up something for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Would accepting Christianity mean that the Hebrews must give up their earlier beliefs and history? Jesus Christ is better. Sometimes we must give up traditions to make Jesus Christ the center of our worship and our lives.."

I spotted elk this morning and it got James out of bed. There were about 20 and one was a bull. It's always a good day when you see elk on your property.

This morning James put new brakes on my car. I bought five books to sell. 

This afternoon I made a trip to Dollar General. I bought Coke Zero for me and a pot pie for James. He loves chicken pot pies!

I stopped at the post office and I had nine books to pick up. Woohoo!

There is smoke from a prescribed burn. Not woohoo.

I worked on my Halloween blog post and it took forever! This evening I watched part of "Dancing with the Stars" but since James doesn't like it, I turned it off and we watched the next Hallmark Christmas movies, "Christmas Scavenger Hunt." We had camomile tea for refreshment.

Happy Birthday Jared!

We love you Jared!

 My hard working hubby

 I love this!

 Stag on a bed of roses. I love his antlers!

Wednesday, December 5th, 2018

Sao Paulo, Brazil

17th operating temple

Dedicated: 30 Oct - 2 Nov 1978

By: Spencer W. Kimball

Jesus Christ, Death of

Romans 5:10

For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Book of Mormon #1

Ether 3:17-28

*What blessings have I seen in my life because of my faith?

- Every blessing I have in my life comes because of my faith in Jesus Christ.

Book of Mormon #2

Helaman 7-9

Old Testament

Micah 3-4

General Conference

Be Not Troubled

Elder Ronald A. Rasband

"We may or may not have chariots of fire sent to dispel our fears and conquer our demons, but the lesson is clear. The Lord is with us, mindful of us and blessing us in ways only He can do. Prayer can call down the strength and the revelation that we need to center our thoughts on Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice. The Lord knew that at times we would feel fear. I have been there and so have you, which is why the scriptures are replete with the Lord's counsel: 'Be of good cheer, and do not fear.'

'Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.'

I got to Kim's at 7:30 this morning. I was back at the hospital by 12:30. While I was gone James got nauseous and was very uncomfortable. I am grateful for a sweet nurse named Anna who took care of him. Ana is a tiny Arabic woman who wears a scarf around her head and has the most wonderful way of radiating love.
When she learned that James had three separated ribs she could not understand why the doctor would do surgery. We believe it was because of the pain from those ribs that caused James to get pneumonia. Because of the pain associated with these ribs James was not using the full capacity of his lungs and they began to fill with fluid. 

James had been on a clear liquid diet after surgery. When I went to order him something to eat they still had him on clear liquids. I had to go speak with Ana and she changed his chart. For dinner he had salmon with potatoes and asparagus and bananas foster brule for desert. The desert sounds fancy but it didn't look very fancy. James says it was good though. I had pork chops with poblano chili sauce. It was very good. I had to make a trip to the cafeteria to get James some packets of salt. 

James is in a lot of pain. They are giving him 10mg of oxycodone every four hours and a drip of morphine. Once he got to sleep this afternoon I took a walk across the street to Barnes and Nobles. It is an absolutely perfect day with lots of sunshine and the high around 70-75. 

While at Barnes and Nobles I found a multi-colored llama Beanie Baby. I looked at the tag to see her name. Lola. How could I not get her.  

Lola says she wants soft, cuddly and cute things for Christmas.

I think this one fits the bill, although it was certainly spur of the moment...not something I planned to do. 

Buying a llama named Lola is not the reason I came to Barnes & Nobles. I am making a gift basket for Cathi's daughter Wendy who had a radical masectomy on Monday. Cathi told me she like magazines with decorating ideas, so I came here to buy a magazine for Wendy. Years ago I used to subscribe to a Victorian magazine. I wish I would have kept them because Wendy loves Victorian and that magazine is no longer in print. I did find and buy a Southern Living. Magazines cost what books used to cost. This one was $12.99. Yikes!  

Buying Lola the llama caused a bit of a problem for me. I now think I have to buy something for Ruby, Rowan, and Addy. I found a cute Beanie Baby for Ruby.

Her name is Kookoo

Now what do I get for Addy and Rowan. I am so ridiculous! I don't want to get them Beanie Babies and I don't find anything else in this store. Another store another day.

James had more visitors today. Michael and Paul came by to give him a blessing. Since Darrel already gave him a blessing of healing, this one would be a blessing of comfort. I was so proud of Michael for showing up in a white shirt and tie.

Paul posted this.

Michael changed his clothes after the blessing because

he and Paul are going to a concert. Michael bought the

tickets for his dad for his birthday.

Before leaving Michael said to me: "Now grandma, you know I am closer than anyone else to this hospital so if you need anything please call me."  I sure do love this boy...young man.

James kept complaining about being cold this evening. These hospital blankets and thin and threadbare.  Kim had asked me if there was anything they could bring us and I said, a blanket. A little while later these two showed up with two of the warmest, softest blankets you could imagine. 

Thank you Kim and Brian

We sat and watched James sleep and had a nice visit. I left soon after they did to sleep at their house tonight since I got very little sleep in the hospital last night.

These babies are the best dose of medicine

anyone could have:

 Harrison Fjord is Dallin's band

Happy Birthday to my Nannie, Myrtle Mae Rutledge Strickland.
She was born on December 5, 1905.