Thursday, May 7th, 2020

Buenos Aires, Argentina

39th operating temple

Dedicated: 17 Jan 1986

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, King

Isaiah 6:5

Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

Mosiah 14: With James; Sunday journal; Study guide; Sunday on Monday podcast

April General Conference

"Prayers of Faith"

Henry B. Eyring

"President Nelson invited us to make a personal plan to prepare ourselves for this historic conference, which commemoration he said would be 'a hinge point in the history of the Church, and your part is vital.' Like me, perhaps you heard his message and asked yourself, 'In what way is my part vital?' Perhaps you read and prayed about the events of the Restoration. Perhaps, more than ever before, you read the accounts of those few times when God the Father introduced His Beloved Son. Perhaps you read of the instances when the Savior spoke to the children of our Heavenly Father. I know I did all of those things and more. I felt filled with joy at the prospect of being invited to participate in this celebration of the ongoing Restoration.

"Is Faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ Written in Our Hearts"?

Linda K. Burton

October 2012

"Gratitude"

Stephen E. Snow

October 2001

James left a little before six this morning to meet with Richard the road guy. He paid him some money and they talked about him doing the next section. After meeting with Richard he went on to the Howard's to work. 

My book balance this morning was $703.31, the amount Amazon owes me!

I went to Taylor with James this afternoon because I could tell he really wanted me to go. He is going to see a guy about fixing the cracked block of the Razr. The guy can't fix it so now we will have to buy one. James says it will probably cost around $900 to order one. We want to get the Razr fixed before the summer. I am dying to go for a ride on the mountain. The Halcomb's said there is still snow up high.

James dropped me off at Walmart while he went to see the guy he came to see. When he was finished he joined me and picked out a Mother's Day card for his mom. As soon as we got home he took a few minutes to sign the card. I will sign it, put in an Amazon gift card and send it off tomorrow.

After our shopping spree we went over to Taco Bell across the street and we each ordered two tacos. It cost us $7.00 because we donated to feeding children, can't remember the exact name of the organization. Our tacos were lacking, lacking very much meat that is. James warned me that this Taco Bell wasn't up to par and he was right. We should have ordered something to eat at Sonic when we ordered our cherry limeades during Happy Hour.

On the way home we got some money out at the bank so we could pay Richard $400 more dollars. He has done half the job and we are paying him half the pay. James paid him $400 this morning so that makes a total of $800. Richard started grading the last stretch of road and made a big pile of dirt which was difficult to drive in. I wonder how long it will take him to finish this road since he only works about two hours a day. He is old, in his seventies or eighties and he said he runs out of steam. Tell me about it.

James went on a Luna ride while I studied the gospel. This evening we watched season 1 episode 8 of "Lark Rise to Candleford."

A violent storm hits Lark Rise and Candleford. The arrival of a radical new teacher causes divisions in the two communities. Dorcas has a new admirer, the new teacher, James Delafield. Alf tries to impress Laura, who seems increasingly smitten with Philip.

Quotes

Dorcas:

"Laura, will you tell Zillah Mr. Delafield and I will take tea in the parlor with Banbury cake."

Dorcas: "I do like to think well of myself, it is my one weakness."

Mr. Delafield to the men of Lark Rise in the Wagon and Horses Inn:

"Poverty is no disgrace. It is a great inconvenience though."

 Happy Birthday Autumn!

 This was a video to music and Charlie

was definitely squatting and joining in

the fun. These two are so cute together!

Congratulations Eden!

 Trina's Weekly Fieldtrip.

Gisela swimming and cliff jumping

 Listening to and singing a Beatles song

Tuesday, May 5th, 2020

Seoul, Korea

37th operating temple

Dedicated: 14 Dec 1985

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, King

Psalms 95:3

For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

Mosiah 12; Sunday journal; study guide

April General Conference

"Spiritually Defining Moments"

Elder Neil L. Andersen

"Eighteen years after the First Vision, the Prophet Joseph Smith wrote an extensive account of his experience. He had faced opposition, persecution, harassment, threats, and brutal attacks. Yet he continued to boldly testify of his First Vision. 'I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true. ... I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it.'"

"Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ"

Dallin H. Oaks

April 1994

"Grateful in Any Circumstances

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

April 2014

"Live by covenants, not convenience."

 My leg is still hurting this morning, behind my knee. The thought occurred to me that it could be a blood clot from sitting so long yesterday. James was so worried he wanted me to text Trina at 6 a.m. and see what she thought. Of course I did not do that. James had me take an aspirin and another pill that is supposed to help thin blood. Honestly, within a couple of hours, the pain was gone. 

Today is what I call a "Recovery" day. I worked on my blog and listened to Kris and Kathy on the book webinar, and rested. James was gone most of the day working at the Goodman's back filling the trenches to their amazing greenhouse. He wore the Star Wars mask Catherine H. made him but by noon it was so dirty he brought it home for me to wash. For lunch I made him a tuna melt sandwich and some tomato basil soup.

Today is my brother Dennis's 66th birthday. I called to wish him a happy birthday and asked what he was doing to celebrate. He said that he and Denise were in the valley waiting outside of Chili's trying to figure out how to order their food. Someone came out to take their order so our call was cut short. I love my brother Dennis, he is a great guy and lots of fun to be around.

I went with James over to the Halcomb's this afternoon to see about some stumps Kerri wants removed and some post holes she would like for him to dig. While Kerri showed James what needed to be done, I stayed inside and visited with Catherine. Catherine always has some interesting story to tell and today it was about being on the foster care board in California. She said being a foster parent is the best way to adopt a child. Her granddaughter wants to adopt but the $40,000 fee is too costly. Three of Catherine's children are adopted and all she paid for  two of them was the cost of the birth certificate. The other was through LDS Social Services and they had to pay $300.

James went for a Luna ride this evening while I did my gospel study. On the way home from the Halcomb's we stopped to talk to Chuck Crane. They think they finally found out what is causing Cathy's pain, it is her gall bladder. She is having surgery tomorrow.
Thank goodness! Hopefully this will do the trick. She has been through so many tests, and pain since the beginning of the year.

After James's ride he came back and grilled a couple of steaks for dinner. I put together a salad and warmed up some Busch beans and that was dinner. 

After dinner we watched a couple of episodes from season 1 of "Lark Rise to Candleford."

 Such beauties: Scarlett, Ivy, Lola

 I love the expression on her face

 Such wisdom

Great idea, if I was more organic

 James called me out to look at the moon

 May is concert month

Saturday, April 11th, 2020

Oakland, California

13th operating temple

Dedicated: 17-19 Nov 1964

By: David O. McKay

Jesus Christ, Judge

Alma 33:22
If so. wo shall come upon you; but if not so, then cast about your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God, that he will come to redeem his people, and that he shall suffer and die to atone for their sins; and that he shall rise again from the dead, which shall bring to pass the resurrection, that all men shall stand before him, to be judged at the last and judgment day, according to their works.
Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"
3 Nephi 11 and 17
April General Conference

"Consider the Goodness and Greatness of God"

Elder Dale G. Renlund

"I invite you to remember each day the greatness of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and what They have done for you."

Restoration

Church History in the Fulness of Times

Chapter 9 Gathering to the Land of Zion

Because of the Christ on Calvary

Brad Wilcox

Is there really a pandemic going on? Sometimes it seems unreal to me as I sit here at home doing the things I normally do. I have a rude awakening when I go to Walmart and the shelves are bare.

We read about the tradition of red eggs and lilies today in Emily's book, "A Christ-centered Easter."

We went to town today. It's funny how we don't communicate very well. James thought we were going to town to get feed for Luna. I thought we were going to town to get groceries. We did both but not without James acting surprised. 

The baby chicks were so cute at C-A-L Ranch. James showed me the pink saddles and the pink lassos. Everyone is catering to girls these days. 

After our trip to C-A-L Ranch we stopped at Taco Bell for some lunch. While I started the grocery shopping James went across the street to Circle K to get some gas. I am trying not to put too much on the credit card this month. I told him to use it for gas and I would use my debit card for the groceries. We also used the credit card at C-A-L Ranch. 

No matter how hard I try I can't seem to get my grocery bill below $200. This week I did take out some cash for Alex's birthday on the 16th. My bill was $200.01.

When James got home he took a nap and then went for a ride on Luna looking for antlers. They were gone about two hours.

While at Walmart I bought some baskets to make Easter baskets for the sisters I minister to. This was kind of a last minute idea. I'm not sure why I didn't think of it sooner. 

I ran off a flip book of the Easter story on the Redheaded Hostess's site. I also ran off questions to put in the eggs about Easter. Sometimes I wonder where my brain is. It would have been so easy for me to take a picture of all of the baskets when they were done, but of course I forgot.

Jean, Catherine, and Tanna's baskets all had 12 eggs with the questions in them and the Easter flip book. I also made a bunny pop for each basket and then wrote a message inside of an Easter card telling them one of my favorite scriptures, Phillipians 4:13 and bearing testimony of the Savior and how much He loves them and how much I love them. Cammy's card had 14 eggs because there are seven people in her family. 

I did not finish the baskets until about 7:30 Easter night and that's when we delivered them.

Scarlett

Charlie:

 I forgot to post this sweet picture.

Tanner was not with Charlie at Easter.

They are watching the movie "Cars"

Charlie's favorite.

 Fun at Home for Scarlett

I love how they turn their heads when they

are listening.

 James is dying to find this cave

but he won't ask where it is.

Haven't they suffered enough?