Thursday, December 5th, 2019

Monticello, Utah

53rd temple

Dedicated: 26 July 1998

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Head of Church

Alma 1:19

But it came to pass that whosoever did not belong to the church of God began to persecute those that did belong to the church of God, and had taken upon them the name of Christ.

Book of Mormon

Ether 3:17-28

New Testament

1John 5; Redheaded Hostess

Oct 2019 General Conference

"Spiritual Capacity

Michelle Craig

"Be Intentional about Creating Time and Space to Hear God's Voice"

James had a meeting at Montessori School this morning with the owner and the architect. Darrel went to work, the kids are at school, and Trina went to the gym. She also has to work at the boutique for four hours today. I have an appointment at 11 to get my teeth cleaned at Dr. Douglas's in Chandler. 

James comes home before 11:00 in a panic. He thinks we have a major oil leak in the car. He goes to get two quarts of oil and puts it in the car. We drive to Dr. Douglas's where he lets me off and then he goes to have Erik check the car out. Shelly cleans my teeth and does my yearly x-rays. I have four cavities in my front teeth so I have to come back in January. When will this end? When all of my teeth are gone I guess.

James picks me up. Erik said we do not have a leak. The oil on the ground must have belonged to someone else. 

We had lunch with Stacy at the Garcia's on Queen Creek and Arizona Avenue. James orders a sampler plate but he doesn't eat very much because he's having a hard time swallowing. I ordered a sour cream enchilada. 

After lunch I went shopping at Dollar Tree in the same shopping center and Ross. I got birthday cards for December at Dollar Tree and more blankets at Ross. Their blankets are wonderful and at a great price. 

We take Paul's birthday card and drop it off at Stacy's house. Stacy shows me the centerpiece she designed for their ward Christmas party. It is supposed to be something depicting some of their Christmas traditions. She had a nativity, lights, and a pretty box full of sugar cookies. I loved it!

We were going to go to the temple this afternoon but James was sick and I didn't want to go by myself. He went back to Darrel's and took a nap. I watched "The Christmas Prince III" with Addy. Addy sits on the couch with her laptop and does homework while watching TV. 

Trina went out and bought everyone Firehouse subs. Thanks Trina! James and I went to Safeway and got some herbal tea, stevia, and honey. James says tea is the only thing that sounds good to him.

I inventory all the books I brought with me. There were around 12. I will go home to print the labels and we will ship them from home.

I listened to a podcast called, "This Is The Gospel." The feature this week is "Angels Among us." I walked with James. Trina and Ruby asked me to play Cover Your Assets with them but I ended up drawing with Lola instead. 

I still can't download pictures so I couldn't blog. I got a notice from Walmart that my new computer, which was supposed to be here tomorrow is delayed until next Tuesday.

 Shouldn't he be more white?

 Christmas house in Darrel and Trina's

neighborhood

 Mark Lamb and his wife

 Bruce R. McConkie's granddaughter,

the murder mystery writer and a former member of

our ward in Chandler.

 Love this. It reminds me of my dad's ranch.

Virginia is a former member of our ward in Vernon.

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.

Thursday, December 28th, 2017

Fort Collins, Colorado

153rd operating temple

Dedicated: 16 Oct 2016

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Jesus Christ Atonement through

Mosiah 4:6

I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, ad his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body -

Book of Mormon

Moroni 8:1-30

*What do you think it means that "little children are alive in Christ?" What do we need to do to become alive in Christ?

Doctrine Covenants Favorite Scriptures

DC 38:8

But the day soon cometh that ye shall see me, and know that I am; for the veil of darkness shall soon be rent, and he that is not purified shall not abide the day.

General Conference

Do We Trust Him? Hard Is Good

Elder Stanley G. Ellis

"Hard makes us stronger, humbles us, and gives us a chance to prove ourselves. Our beloved handcart pioneers came to know God in their extremities. Why did it take two chapters for Nephi and his brothers to obtain the brass plates and only three verses to enlist Ishmael's family to join them in the wilderness? It seems the Lord wanted to strengthen Nephi through the struggle of obtaining the plates."

When I opened the blinds on the dining room window this morning there were eight bunnies eating grass outside. That is the most that I have ever seen.

James is asleep on the couch.  He slept util almost 10:30 at which time I fixed him hot lemon juice with honey, stevia, and cinnamon. I also gave him two aspirin and a Tramadol. 

I am beginning to wonder if we are ever going to get any snow. Not only is there no snow, but it is 60 degrees. 

Sheri's family is waiting to get a valve stem fixed on one of their tires and then they will be on their way up here.  Kim and Brian are not coming because they are both sick. Michael and his friends are coming tomorrow.

Sheri, Ian, Ben, Max, Evan, and Ollie arrived around 6:30 with Alex and Shayna a few minutes behind. I had just taken three loaves of pumpkin bread out of the oven. After eating KFC for dinner, Max and Sheri had some bread. 

Ollie ran around sniffing everything which makes Sheri a little nervous. She took him outside, just in case.

James and I watched the end of "Broadcasting Christmas."  

The boys turned on the Houston - Boston basketball game. Houston was ahead the whole time until right at the very end they won 99-98. Everyone was happy, at least here in Vernon.

Hallmark moon in Switzerland

I guess penguins are curious.

James says this is a baby otter

I showed this to Joshua and he said he didn't

believe in Santa. How sad.

Is Addy the favorite child?

Wednesday, December 6th, 2017

Vancouver, British Columbia

131st operating temple

Dedicated: 2 May 2010

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ Atonement through

Romans 8:32

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Book of Mormon

Ether 4:1-19

Moroni wrote that the brother of Jared recorded in his vision all the inhabitants of the earth from beginning to end. This vision reveals "all things from the foundation of the world unto the end thereof" (2 Nephi 27:10). Moroni explained that "there never were greater things made manifest" than what the brother of Jared saw (Ether 4:4). We know Moroni sealed a copy of this vision with  the plates he delivered to Joseph Smith. (Ether 4:5;5:1)  Moroni further informed us of the conditions the Lord indicated must exist for this sealed portion of the record to come forth. The scriptures indicate we must repent; exercise faith in the Lord, like the brother of Jared did; and become sanctified. (Ether 4:6-7).

Doctrine Covenants Favorite Scriptures

DC 19:38

Pray always, and I will pour out my Spirit upon you, and great shall be your blessing - yea, even more than if you should obtain treasures of earth and corruptibleness to the extent thereof.

General Conference

The Plan and the Proclamation

Elder Dallin H. Oaks

"Inevitably, the actions of those who try to follow God's plan of salvation can cause misunderstanding or even conflict with family members or friends who do not believe its principles. Such conflict is always so. Every generation that has sought to follow God's plan has had challenges. ...Whatever the cause of conflict with those who do not understand or believe God's plan, those who do understand are always commanded to choose the Lord's way..."

James is sick. I warned him that if he kept kissing me he was going to get sick, and sure enough, he did. 

I wrapped presents today. I am taking some down to the valley with me tomorrow so we won't have such a big load when we go down on the 23rd. I am still trying to decide how I am going to get Jared's family's gifts to them. His kids will be in the valley for Christmas.

I talked to Wendy DeWitt today on the phone. Sister Wilhelm wants me to pick up something from her while I am in the valley. 

These are the Christmas movies I watched while wrapping presents: "Christmas Hope," "Our First Christmas," "Dear Secret Santa."

Kathy Crane brought us dinner this evening. Homemade chicken noodle soup, biscuits, and a piece of cake for each of us. We are grateful to have such good neighbors.

James and I dropped off Curtis Wilhelm's birthday gift tonight to an empty house. I will check in the morning and make sure he got his tackle box with lures.

We had our first fire of the season this evening.

We still don't have our tree decorated.

The Wilhelm's are having their tenth baby and

it's a girl. Boys 6 Girls 4.

California is still on fire.