Tuesday, November 26th, 2019

Toronto, Ontario

44th operating temple

Dedicated: 25 Aug 1990

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Head of Church

Mosiah 26:22

For behold, this is my church; whosoever is baptized shall be baptized unto repentance. And whomsoever ye receive shall believe in my name; and him will I freely forgive.

Book of Mormon

Mormon 7:1-8:11

New Testament

1 Peter 2; finish reading 2 Peter using New Testament Student Manual

10/19 General Conference

"Knowing, Loving, and Growing"

Elder Hans T. Boom

"Wherever you are on the path of life, some of you might feel so overburdened that you do not even consider yourself on that path. I want to invite you to step out of the darkness into the light. The gospel light will provide warmth and healing and will help you understand who you really are and what your purpose in life is."

I read an article in the December Ensign: "Ministering Principles: What the Christmas Story Teaches"

Before leaving for town I actually made a shopping list. 

Our first stop in town was at LaCasita for lunch. I had what I always have, a chicken enchilada with red sauce with a side of beans and rice. James ventured out and had a green chili mixed burros, enchilada style. He ate every bite.

I found most of the items I needed at Walmart except for rum extract to make the caramel rum sauce recipe my friend Debbie gave me.

We saw several of our friends in Walmart today: Catherine and Kerri, Blain Curtis, Jean and Tom Howard, and Stefani Hunsaker and her daughter Camrie with Camrie's little boy Parker.

 James picked up his prescription at CVS while I was shopping. I told him we had to go back to that side of town to check to see if Safeway had any rum extract. They didn't. We went home and James unloaded and I put away. On the way home we read from "Aunt Dimity Takes a Holiday."

While I was working on my blog posts for today I listened to Emily Freeman and Barbara Gardner talk about DC 84. It was great. I also listened to Greg Matsen talk about 1st Peter. 

I did some book repricing and a little buying. This evening James built me a fire and we watched "Our Christmas Love Song" starring Alicia Witt and Brendan Hines.

The high today was around 36. We had to pull up the carpet under the dresser downstairs because the planter leaked again. GRRR.

 Paul's sisters Trish and Tara with Dallin,

Michael, Joshua, and Adam

 Our ward prayed him back to life.

 Are those homemade Lion House rolls?

 I love the look on her face

 They grow up so fast!

Saturday, June 1st, 2019

Guatemala City, Guatemala

32nd operating temple

Dedicated: 14-16 Dec 1984

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

Alma 13:16

Book of Mormon

Alma 9:19-34

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

JS-Matthew 1:22-55; Luke 21:25-38; Gospel Topic: The Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

General Conference

How Can I Understand?

"Our purpose as we seek to learn and to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ must be to increase faith in God and in His divine plan of happiness and in Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice and to achieve lasting conversion. Such increased faith and conversion will help us make a genuine spiritual transformation in us - in other words, transforming us into a new creature, as taught by the Apostle Paul in his epistle to the Corinthians. This transformation will bring us a more happy, productive, and healthy life and help us to maintain an eternal perspective."

Happy 51st Wedding Anniversary to us!

Just a couple of kids

James made me breakfast this morning: sausage, an omelet, hashbrowns, toast with cherry jam, and orange juice. Best of all he cleaned the kitchen afterwards!

Before the sausage and toast came

He posted on Facebook about our anniversary and is trying so hard to make it special. He asked me what I wanted to do. I told him I just wanted to stay home this morning and then go to the 1:00 temple session, have lunch at Charlie Clark's, and then go on a ride up in the mountains. He was okay with that and went in to take a nap while I did some walking and working on my blog and books.

When we were getting ready to leave for the temple I asked James to get my bag while I got a drink, he said he would. I got my drink and went to the car and when he came out he was carrying a bag and I thought it was mine. When we got to the temple and I asked for my bag from the back seat he said, it's not here. I guess that was his bag he was carrying to the car. I reminded him I had asked him to get my bag. It was too late for me to go in and try to find a dress, etc., so we just left. He felt terrible, but I did not get upset with him. I told him it was okay and that we would go Tuesday. I did not want to destroy all of the good feelings we have had by getting angry. I guess it was partly my fault too, I should have made sure my bag was in the backseat before we left.

We drove from Snowflake to Pinetop to Charlie Clark's and got there around 2 p.m. I ordered a steak and a baked potato and James got the salmon salad. We sat out on the patio in plastic chairs. Everyone says this is the best place to get a steak in the White Mountains but I have never been here and it's been here forever.

My steak was delicious and James's salmon was good. We were disappointed that they didn't serve any bread with our meal but maybe that's because we were still on the lunch menu. We shared deep dish peach pie with ice cream for dessert. 

Pretty tasty

After lunch we drove up to Paradise Creek. James wanted to find the tree where he carved our initials about 55 years ago. We didn't find the tree but we saw some beautiful country.

 Now where was that tree...

It's out there somewhere

This evening we started our fast and watched the newest Hallmark movie.

Lots of good Elvis songs in this one!

It was a wonderful day to spend with my best friend and sweetheart.

I love these sheep!

Meanwhile, back in Texas:

Wednesday, April 17th, 2019

Provo City Center, Utah 

150th operating temple

Dedicated: 20 Mar 2016

By: Dallin H. Oaks

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

2 Nephi 25:16

And after they have been scattered, and the Lord God hath scourged them by other nations for the space of many generations, yea, even down from generation to generation until they shall be persuaded to believe in Christ, the Son of God, and the atonement, which is infinite for all mankind - and when that day shall come that they shall believe in Christ, and worship the Father in his name, with pure hearts and clean hands, and look not forward any more for another Messiah, then, at that time, the day will come that it must needs be expedient that they should believe these things.

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 10:1-22

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Matthew 22:1-14; 24; 25:1-13

General Conference

Where Will This Lead?

Dallin H. Oaks

"We make better choices and decisions if we look at the alternatives and ponder where they will lead."

A little moisture last night and this morning. I guess it was enough to make the roads muddy because when James went to the post office he took the truck. I worked a couple of hours paying bills before he left so he could mail them.

I had some canned chicken noodle soup for lunch and put some of the sweet chili sauce that I got from Mountain Thai in it. It was spicy good. 

James worked on income taxes again today. I inventoried the five books he brought back from the post office and I bought three more. We have decided not to buy any more until we sell some of the newer ones we bought in the last couple of weeks. 

I blogged, and walked, and cooked some chicken in the crockpot with salsa. When it was finished I shredded it and made myself a tasty chicken burro. James had his with corn chips and cheese. 

I got a sweet email from a sister in our ward that really made my day. Here it is:

This sister gives more community service than anyone I know. She is the president of the park, runs the community food bank and is involved in the Vernon's Women's Club. If you need some service done, Paula will be there to help. She is pretty amazing.

I just heard that Evans Farnsworth is undergoing surgery for lung cancer. His wife Terry was my secretary when I served as the Stake Relief Society Presidency. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this most difficult time.

Monte is doing better and even got to eat some Jello today, the first thing he has eaten in two months. Hopefully he will get to go home in a couple of days.

There was an unwanted critter in the pantry this evening. James told me he would see to it that he was not made to feel welcome.

 The Arnett's: A.J., Anthony, Wendy, Danny, Chea, Kathy, Channy, Heidi, Casey, Jackie, Pierce, Cliff Jr., or Boggs is the only one missing. He left early from the funeral.

Where's the Doc?

Sheri's photos of Notre Dame

 Joe and Ben

 She looks like a Charlie in this picture.

 Scarlett helping Pop do the dishes