Friday, May 10th, 2019

Los Angeles, California

10th operating temple

Dedicated: 11-14 Mar 1956

By: David O. McKay

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

Hebrews 1:2

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 27:1-17

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Luke 16-17

General Conference

Feasting upon the Words of Christ

Takashi Wada

"When I was young, I thought that feasting was simply having a big meal with rice, sushi, and soy sauce. I now know true feasting is more than enjoying a delicious meal. It is an experience of joy, nourishment, celebration, sharing, expressing love to families and loved ones, communicating our thanksgiving to God, and building relationships while enjoying abundant, incredibly delicious food. I believe when we feast upon the words of Christ, we ought to be thinking of the same kind of experience. Feasting upon the scriptures is not just reading them. It should bring us real joy and build our relationship with the Savior."

This is the first thing James said to me when he got up this morning: "It rained all night." I'm not sure how he knows these things but from the looks of things outside he's probably right.

Something I read today while studying the "Come Follow Me" lesson: "No matter how difficult and impossible the circumstances we face, we must retain the attitude that we are still in the Lord's debt. Just keeping the commandments may be enough to maintain our faith but not enough to increase it. We must continue sacrificing and serving with no thought of reward. We do it out of love and gratitude for the Lord, to whom we owe everything." - Elder John K. Carmack

We had about six or seven cow elk feeding on our property again today. Two of them look like they are going to calf very soon.

We went in to town today to mail the books I prepared for shipment yesterday. There are only five books and they are going to three different places. After dropping the books off at UPS we did a little shopping in Walmart, stopped for lunch at Taco Bell, got gas and headed back to Vernon. On our way home we stopped at the Grapp's to pick up the stuff from the meal I took in last week. Cammy was embarrassed about yesterday and I told her not to be,  that coming by was on our way home from town. She said her father came to visit and wasn't very nice to her and it threw her for a loop. Thank goodness she has a good husband who is kind to her and sticks up for her.

I came home and started some rolls for tomorrow and washed m temple clothes. I walked over 20,000 steps and now my knee is hurting.

 Our friend Pam and one of her beautiful quilts

 Kacey says that every once in awhile

Charlie stops like this and looks at this statue.

She's a mover now

 This is Paul Greene speaking about Lori Loughlin.

Paul plays Dr. Carson Shepherd on 

"When Calls the Heart."

 Missionary turned fisherman

Is there anything more precious than a sleeping baby?

 Movie of the day

Thursday, March 28th, 2019

Oquirrh Mountain, Utah

130th operating temple

Dedicated: 21-23 Aug 2009

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

DC 93:14

And thus he was called the Son of God, because he received not of the fulness at the first.

Book of Mormon

Jacob 7:21-Enos 1:1-10

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Matthew 15:1-20; Mark 7:1-23

"Fear Not to Do Good"

Henry B. Eyring 10/2017

General Conference

"Choose You This Day"

Elder Dale G. Renlund

As the Book of Mormon prophet Jacob said, I say with him:

"Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves - to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life. Wherefore, my beloved brethren (and sisters), reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil ...; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved."

So, choose faith in Christ; choose repentance; choose to be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost; choose to conscientiously prepare for and worthily partake of the sacrament; choose to make covenants in the temple; and choose to serve the living God and His children. Our choices determine who we are and who we will become. I conclude with the rest of Jacob's blessing: "Wherefore, may God raise you from ... everlasting death by the power of the Atonement, that ye may be received into the eternal kingdom of God."

James listened to and watched the Book Profits webinar while I got ready to go to town. It was Jim and Herman teaching again. 

Today was my Aunt Gene's, (dad's sister) 91st birthday. I went to visit her and stopped on the way to get yellow mums at Safeway. I chose yellow because I always think of the song, "You Are My Sunshine" when I think of Aunt Gene. 

When I first arrived at her house it was just she and I. She took me into the bedroom and gave me a picture of my grandma and grandpa from their 50th wedding anniversary. It was hanging on the wall in a frame and she gave me the frame also.

Arlee T. Maxwell and

Verdie Rea Robinson Maxwell

This is another picture that was hanging on the wall. Aunt Gene said this picture was taken when grandma and grandpa were first married.

Aunt Gene and I visited a little while when the doorbell rang. It was Harold and Dennis. I had invited them to come. Denise was at work and Vickie's allergies were bothering her. I am glad I invited my brothers. I don't see them too often and it's always nice to catch up. 

Dennis says he and Denise are going to Cleveland, Ohio in May to celebrate their anniversary at the Rock n' Roll and Football Halls of Fame. They love to travel and Dennis loves history of any kind. They will also be going to Texas at the end of May for Bettylea's high school graduation in Del Rio. I told them we were going to Texas also for two graduations.

Harold gave us an update on Monte. Right now he is not allowed to eat any food or drink anything He has a bag he carries around that supplies him with nutrients. On April 19th he is scheduled to have surgery at the Chandler hospital. We will be down on the 20th and 21st for Easter so hopefully we can go see him.

Aunt Gene is pretty independent for a 91 year old, kind of like James's mom. She just got back from a trip to Texas and Arkansas where she visited with her husband Clyde's family. She said she had attendants push her around the airport in her wheelchair and she gave a $5 to everyone that helped her. 

Aunt Gene has a great attitude. She says she focuses on what she can do, not on what she can't do.

We stayed an hour or so and then we said our goodbye's. I promised Aunt Gene I would be back soon to see her. 

I stopped at the post office and mailed a book we sold, "Visions of Glory." I went to the bank to deposit a check from Mario Chacon and then went on to Walmart to go grocery shopping. On the way home I stopped and filled my car with gas. 

James stayed home because he had some phone calls to make regarding work that was to be done today that Armando is handling. He went to town at 4:30 because that's when President Beeler said he could meet with him and sign his temple recommend. It is frustrating when we have to make two trips to town in the same day but I guess this time it couldn't be helped.

This evening we ordered books, I blogged, and walked while watching Hallmark movies. Maybe I am in a rut.

The ice hotel in this movie is amazing!

This girl loves books!

 Dallas, Texas temple

 Filmed in Bruges, Belgium

One of my favorites

Friday, March 8th, 2019

Monterrey, Mexico

110th operating temple

Dedicated: 28 Apr 2002

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

I am a little overwhelmed with life right now and have decided that I need to simplify my blog so that I have time to do other important things, such as, family history and our book business. I will continue to read and study the gospel as before but will not be posting so much of my gospel study on here. I will continue to post the temple pictures. 

"Come Listen to a Prophet's Voice"

Bishop Dean M. Davies

"The chief cornerstone and building block of the Church and for our lives is Jesus Christ. This is His Church. President Nelson is His prophet. President Nelson's teachings witness and reveal for our benefit the life and character of Jesus Christ. He speaks lovingly and knowingly of the Savior's nature and of His mission. He has also borne frequent and fervent testimony of the divine calling of the living prophets - the Presidents of the Church - under whom he has served."

James, Rowan and I left the house around 6:45. No one inside was awake. As we were sitting in the car getting ready to go Trina came running up. I guess she had been outside running. It was nice that Rowan got to see his mom before we left. She made my day because she said to me, "Oh Karen, you look pretty." It was probably surprising to her to see me with my hair done and makeup on.

We had to drop off something in Mesa at James's jobsite before heading to Chandler to pick up Max, Evan, and Joshua.  We got to Sheri's before 8 and she and the boys weren't there. I told James they probably went to get gas and drinks. I was right. While we were waiting for Stacy to show up with Joshua, Ollie got out and ran down the street. Sheri, Evan and I hurried after him. Of course he went straight to Cathi's and Sheri was able to get him. It was a little scary for a minute because when he was running down the street the garbage truck was headed right for him.

I went for a walk and when I got back Stacy was there with Joshua and their three dogs in the car. I went over to say high to the dogs and they went crazy in the car. 

We are trading cars with Sheri for the week because all of the boys won't fit in our car. Rowan forgot his Sunday clothes so Sheri got some of Evan's for him to wear. 

After we left Payson Rowan said he had to go to the bathroom. He had to wait until we got to Heber. It rained from Heber until we got to Show Low. In Show Low we went to Subway for Evan and to KFC for everyone else. We just ordered the chicken to take home with us. 

After we got home and everything was unloaded I headed back for town to do some grocery shopping and to pick up the Razr tire at Center Tire. I ran into the tire store and got soaking wet just to find out that it won't be ready until Monday. 

I bought groceries at Walmart to feed these boys until next Wednesday. I bought bacon, pork chops, steaks, hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken. I also bought chicken tenders and pizza rollups, cereal and milk, and snacks. I think I would rather have too much food than not enough.

James grilled hamburgers and hotdogs outside for dinner. I made corn and beans to go with them.

The boys wanted to play ball on the driveway so

they swept it off. It started raining before they could play.

 Quilt

I think that puppy is real. All they need 

is Lola in the mix.

 I read this today as part of the "Come

Follow Me" lesson for the week.

Thursday, March 7th, 2019

Lubbock, Texas

109th operating temple

Dedicated: 21 Apr 2002

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

2 Corinthians 1:19

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 26:31-27:11

What do you think it means, the books shall be read upon the house tops?

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Matt 8:28-34; 9:32-38; Mark 3:21-30; 5:1-21

"Balm of Gilead" Boyd K. Packer, 10/1977

General Conference

"Firm and Steadfast in the Faith of Christ"

Elder D. Todd Christofferson

"Always remember the promise of good things to come, both now and hereafter, for those who are firm and steadfast in the faith of Christ. Remember, eternal life, and the joy of the saints. 'O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever.' In the name of Jesus Christ, amen"

We sold "To Kill a Mockingbird," and "Joseph Smith, A Rough Stone Rolling." 

Darrel works from 9-9 today and Trina from 10-10. We stayed home with Lola and took her to preschool at noon. We picked up Ruby at 12:30 at the bus stop because today is a half day. We were going to go to IHOP but we realized we did not have enough time because we had to pick up Rowan at the bus stop at 1:30. We went to Peter Piper and ordered some pizza to take home instead. We picked up Rowan at 1:30 then took Ruby and Rowan home. 

We picked up Lola from preschool at 2:30. She has some pizza and joins Ruby and Rowan in watching Studio C. James left to have a meeting with Armando but was back before I had to pick up Addy.

James went upstairs and took a nap and I picked up Addy around 4:30. What a schedule and to think that Trina does this everyday, unless she's at work. On our way home Addy and I see grandpa holding hands with Ruby and Lola walking home from the park.

Lola 

After we got the kids settled at home James and I left to visit Donna in Scottsdale at the hospital. 

Donna is on the same floor of the hospital where James was, the fifth floor. He was in room 6 and she is in room 18. She was in the room alone, sitting up in bed, just finishing her dinner. She looks well and she says she feels well which is such good news. She has suffered so much for so long. 

We had a nice visit with Donna but did not want to stay too long. We said goodbye and headed for Menchie's, the place I went yesterday to get the lemon and mango frozen yogurt.

We went to the Menchie's off the Power and the 202. I got pineapple, pistachio, and the original flavor. James got the mango and lemon. He liked it but not as well as I did.

Back at home we went walking. Lola went with us and laughed at her shadow most of the time.

Started out as the Primary Presidency now
Sister Bingham is the General RS President,
and Sister Cordon is the YW's President.

 Wedding day

 Summer is graduating