Sunday, April 19th, 2020

Atlanta, Georgia

21st operating temple

Dedicated: 1-4 June 1983

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Judge

Alma 11:44

Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil.

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

 Review Mosiah 1-3; Finish BM Study Guide and Sunday journal

April General Conference

"Opening the Heavens for Help"

President Russell M. Nelson

"Let us put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ 

into action"!

"Ensuring a Righteous Judgment"

James R. Rasband

April 2020

Happy Anniversary to Sheri and Ian. I hope it was a good one!

I slept in until after six this morning. I spent time finishing up the "Come Follow Me" lesson in my Book of Mormon study guide and my Sunday journal.

Many people think this pandemic is a ploy by the government to take away our liberties. I am not sure what I think but I think something needs to happen in order for our economy to be restored.

James put Luna in the yard this morning instead of her little cooped up pen. I think she loved it. She was eating grass over by our bedroom until she found the patch of grass outside the dining room window. That's where she ended up staying most of the time.

At one o'clock we met with the Goodman's and the Peeler's at the Goodman's house for the sacrament and a gospel discussion.

We sang "Welcome, Welcome, Sabbath Morning" and then Brother Peeler gave the opening prayer. We then had the sacrament, James blessing the bread and Brother Peeler passing it and then Brother Peeler blessing the water and James passing it. 

When the Sacrament was finished we talked about what to do for our lesson. President Peeler, our stake president, had sent out an email this morning. Today was supposed to be our stake conference. As part of President Peeler's message each member of the stake presidency, President Beeler, President Smithson, and President Alder had made a YouTube video with a gospel message. We used Brother Goodman's phone attached to a bluetooth speaker to listen to the messages.  

We then had lunch. Brother Peeler and Sister Goodman had both made chili and they had combined it. There was frogs eyes salad, the bagged maple bacon bourbon salad I brought, and check cordon blue made at Safeway. There was also cheese for the chili and mini saltine crackers. It was a delicious meal. Afterwards we had orange, cranberry, applesauce bread that Barbara had made. 

As we drove in to the Goodman's we noticed a huge backhoe and big piles of dirt where trenches had been dug. When we asked about it Pierce explained that he was building a greenhouse that would be climate-controlled by underground pipes. He said he watched a YouTube video called "Greenhouse in the Snow." Of course we had to go out and see where this green house was going to be.

17 X 100 greenhouse. It seems as if

Pierce is planning on feeding all of Vernon.

This evening we had our family discussion on forgiveness, led by Jared. Those participating: Jared, Kacey, Stacy, Sheri, Kim, Brian, James and I. I was hoping Darrel and Trina would join us but they didn't.

It was a great discussion. I especially enjoyed Kacey telling about her dad leaving when she was a young girl and how she had done temple work for her dad's family. Everyone participated. It was a good discussion. When we were finished Stacy asked us to pray for her tomorrow since she has a test for he class that is comparable to state boards. 

It was fun seeing Charlie and Scarlett on the Skype call. Charlie had to tell us about watching "Cars." I think she was happy to see James and I on the call.

After our discussion James wrote a letter to Ben and I worked on my blog before going to bed. It was a wonderful Sabbath day.

 Jared rides his horse as James

rides Luna

Sheri and Ollie

Thursday, April 9th, 2020

Hamilton, New Zealand
11th operating temple
Dedication: 20-22 April 1958
By: David O. McKay

Jesus Christ, Judge

Alma 5:15

Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

Mosiah 5:1-2, 27:8-28, Alma 15:3-13, 24:7-19

"In the Strength of the Lord", David A. Bednar, GC Oct 2004

April 2020 General Conference

"Come Unto Christ - Living as Latter-day Saints"

Elder John A. McCune

"We can do difficult things and help others do the same, because we know in whom we can trust."

I

I love my hours in the morning devoted to gospel study. I still can't seem to stay on my schedule though. I am getting further behind on my blog. Tomorrow, Saturday, and Sunday I will try to catch up.

I emailed the ministering sisters in my district to remind them of tomorrow's fast. I also asked them to contact the sisters they minister to as a reminder regarding the fast.

James made grilled tuna sandwiches with pepperjack cheese for lunch while I read from "Aunt Dimity and the Family Tree."

After lunch James left to work at the Howard's for a few hours. He was supposed to bring back Luna but Tom told him to wait until tomorrow and he would bring him in the trailer.

I was tired today and didn't feel like doing much so I watched a movie that's been in my DVR since Christmas. It's a Lifetime movie called "The Christmas Wish" starring Hilarie Burton. I have never seen it and enjoyed watching it. Hilarie is one of my favorites.

Today James and I read about Lazarus and planted some week grass to remind us that hope can unexpectedly come out of dark places.

This morning I read from Church History in the Fulness of Times, chapter 7, "The Infant Church Expands."

James went for a walk this afternoon, a rather long one I might add. I saw one lonely elk in the yard. 

Kerri came by to return the container we took to her house with the ground wheat in it. She stay and visited for awhile.

After Kerri left we had dinner and then started our fast.

 We had some rain today

 Summer, Charlie and Ollie

 Following the labrinyth

 Reading about a llama with her mama.

She knows what's coming next.

Thursday, August 29th, 2019

Aba, Nigeria

121st operating temple

Dedicated: 7 Aug 2005

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Glory of

Ezkiel 1:28

As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day or rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.

Book of Mormon

Alma 58:1-12

New Testament "Ye Are the Body of Christ" 1 Corinthians 8-13

1 Corinthians 11

General Conference

The Immediate Goodness of God

"I realize that sometimes life's experiences create confusion and turbulence that can make it difficult to receive or recognize relief. I have been through such times. I testify that, during such times, our mere preservation is a tender and powerful manifestation of the immediate goodness of God. Remember, ancient Israel was ultimately delivered 'by that same God who had preserved them' day to day."

We had prayer this morning before James left for the valley. He is going down to work on the door at Stacy's and to meet with some people about some remodeling. Armando did some landscaping for them and he gave them James's name.

As I looked out my bedroom window this morning I saw a woodpecker on the tree trunk where James has built two birdhouses. There was a bluebird dive bombing the woodpecker to get him off her tree. I guess she may have babies in one of those birdhouses. James says bluebirds nest two times a year, in the spring and the fall. The woodpecker moved to the other side of the tree but the bluebird kept dive bombing him. She was relentless.

I don't know how much more critters I can handle in my house. We just got rid of the bat and now I just saw a mouse in the pantry. This means war!

I finished Aunt Dimity's Good Deed and moved on to Aunt Dimity and the Duke. I now realize I should have read the duke one first.

Repricing took forever but it is totally worth it. I am selling so many books right after I reprice. I did only sell 3 books today though.

I heard from both Stacy and Sheri today and found out that Adam and Kaitlin won't be coming up this weekend.

It rained again today just enough for the car to get muddy when James got home from the valley. No green chili burros. Burger House was closed.

 Such a good little singer!

 Can't you just see them as teenagers!

Charlie loves to climb!

 While Autumn had the kids Kacey and Jared

got to go to the temple in Dallas.

On the Latin America Tour

Sister Nelson says when they get back from these

tours President Nelson hits the ground running and

she just hits the ground.

They were in prison in Utah for murder and

escaped on their way to Pima county, Arizona.

Sorry this isn't legible.

 I feel safe with my friend Lynda in the neighborhood.

Missed Dog Day yesterday.