Saturday, May 25th, 2019

Papeete, Tahiti

25th operating temple

Dedicated: 27-29 Oct 1983

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

1 Nephi 11:24

And after he had said these words, he said unto me: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the Son of God going forth among the children of men; and I saw many fall down at his feet and worship him.

Book of Mormon

Alma 5:43-52

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Matt 23:1-12; John 12:20-50

General Conference

Cleansed by Repentance

President Dallin H. Oaks

"One purpose of God's plan for this mortal experience is to 'prove' us 'to see if we will do all things whatsoever the Lord our God shall command us' (Abraham 3:25). As part of this plan, we are accountable to God and to His chosen servants, and that accountability involves both mortal and divine judgments."

Today we left for the temple around 5:40 a.m. We listened to scriptures and conference talks all the way. It was a beautiful morning!

This was the first day for our new coordinator's, the Elmer's from Eager. My main assignment is working with Sister Reidhead at the veil for all three sessions during our shift. I love Sister Reidhead and enjoy working with her. 

The Palmer's did our training during preparation meeting. We talked about the new veil. Our temple is one of the first temples to have the new veil. Personally, I did not notice the difference. 

Since this is a holiday weekend I wasn't surprised that several of our workers had gotten subs. One of the subs was a girl I went to high school with. Her nephew married one of the girls from our ward in Chandler, and we made that connection. Her name was Luanna Geiger in high school. Now her last name is Solomon.

Brother Toronto, our stake patriarch, worked today along with his wife. Elwanda, (Sister Reidhead) and I wanted to ask one of them if they knew Jimmy Toronto, someone we went to high school with, but we did not do it.

Every single session was packed and had someone getting their own endowment. An older couple from our ward who have been engaged for awhile, were sealed today, Brother Gordon and Sister White. Brother Gordon came up to me and said, "Your husband didn't call me to help clean the temple tonight like he normally does." I said, "Sam, we decided to give you a break since you are getting married today." He just smiled.

Amy, Sam's new wife is very shy and doesn't smile very often. I went up to her after the ceremony and congratulated her. She gave me a hug and a big smile.

We had some leftover Chinese chicken salad to take home. James actually liked it and said he was going to go home and add a few more seasonings and finish it off. There were no rolls left, but I only brought half and the other half are still at home. James had bought some croissants at Costco when he was in the valley and we had several of them left. 

When we returned home after our shift, I did a little walking and then both James and I laid down for a nap. Kim and Brian said they had had a great day so far, including a Razr ride. Kim was working on a puzzle and Brian was watching a cooking show on TV.

We left to clean the temple this evening around 5:40, just 12 hours from when we left this morning. 

We clean with the Show Low Creek ward. I gave the opening prayer in prayer meeting and James gave the spiritual thought. I was asked by Brother Patterson to give the spiritual thought but I told him I required a little more preparation time. James did really well. He talked about the King who had the dinner from the scriptures and invited guests and many of them made excuses why they couldn't come. 

James and I were assigned to clean the women's dressing room. At first James was a little hesitant, but soon he realized it was an okay job.

These are the people who attended from our ward:

Teresa Smith, Holly and Charlie Gordon, Brother Peeler, Brothers Scott, Cooper, Romyak, and Curtis. Kerri, Anne, and Cammy. Tamara and Jimmy Applegate, the Lauritzen's, Dave and Rosa, the Allens, Stefani and Sean, the Klug's, and us. 25 in all. The Show Low Creek ward had 10 people which included President Beeler and his wife. Kerri was happy because she cleaned the oxen with the Beeler's and had a good time.

When we got home Kim, Brian and I watched the new Hallmark movie, From Friend to Fiance. James went in the bedroom and worked on his Primary lesson for tomorrow. 

Kim felt a little dizzy before going to bed.

 Clouds in Wisconsin

 Jill Wagner, of Hallmark fame, and her husband

on their farm in Tennessee. Kim says they

raise Highland cattle.

 The ever adorable Charlie!

Kim finished her donut puzzle

Thursday, December 13th, 2018

Papeete, Tahiti

25th operating temple

Dedicated: 27-29 Oct 1983

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, death of

Hebrew 9:15

And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Book of Mormon #1

*Why must we first be humble before the Lord hers our cries?

Book of Mormon #2

3 Nephi 13-15

Old Testament

Zechariah 3-4

General Conference

For Him

Joy D. Jones

"So whom was King Benjamin really serving? Heavenly Father and the Savior. Knowing the who and the why in serving others helps us understand that the highest manifestation of love is devotion to God."

I gave James a haircut this morning and built a fire for him while he took a shower. 

At 9:00 we listened to the Book Profits help session. It was a repeat of Tuesday. They are emphasizing more money in 2019 and encouraging people to get a mentor or a group coach. New software is coming out and we will be selling items other than books. It is pretty exciting.

Homemade vegetable soup for lunch. After lunch I turned on an old movie for James, "Sabrina," starring Audrey Hepburn, William Holden, and Humphrey Bogart. It was made in 1954. 

I went into the bedroom and called Amazon about why our two of our books were not listed for sale. I was on the phone for a long time but they finally got the books listed. When I came out the movie was ending and I asked James how he liked it. "I loved it." 

But it was in black and white. "Doesn't matter, it was a great movie."

I still have lots of the homemade chicken noodle soup leftover that the Crane's brought over. They also brought some homemade bread over. James prefers the vegetable soup so I took the chicken soup and bread over to Monte's and Tasha's. They are at the hospital but the boys answered the door and they looked hungry!

Stopped by Safeway and got my DP10, some Belvita snacks, walnuts, paper towels and kleenex. 

Tamara dropped by tonight to leave frames for the RS gifts we are giving the sisters in our ward. We are giving wrapped copies of the RS Declaration and purpose.

Here is a quote from the movie, "Welcome to Christmas."

"She raised me when my parents died. She has a heart the size of the Rockies. She's family."

I put the grandkids stockings up on the mantle tonight. There are 23 counting Scarlett's.

Grandpa contemplating the meaning of life.

Our sleeping angel.

 Our new favorite waffles,

12 grams of protein per serving.

 Scarlett loves cats!

Elder Trezise serving in Idaho

 Michael's track team at GCU

 My favorite part about Christmas is the nativity

 Addy had a Christmas concert tonight.

They sang Mistletoe and Holly, Once Upon a

December, Holly Road, and We Wish You

A Merry Christmas.

I wish we could have been there.

Friday, July 6th, 2018

Papeete, Tahiti

25th operating temple

Dedicated: 27-29 Oct 1983

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Creator

Isaiah 40:28

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

Book of Mormon

Alma 28:9-29:7

*"I ought not to harrow up in my desires the firm decree of a just God, for I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire." What does this mean?

-Just like parents with their children, God sometimes allows us to pursue unjust desires, especially if there is a lesson to be learned. In any case He almost always does not interfere with our agency. The only exception is if we ask the Lord to help us resist bad choices, or some one else close to you is asking and fasting on your behalf. (Alma for Alma the younger).

Old Testament

2 Chronicles 3-4

3 Solomon begins to build the temple - He makes the veil and the pillars, and uses much gold and many precious stones.

4 Solomon makes a basin and places it on twelve oxen - The altar, basins, pots, and various items are made.

General Conference

Meek and Lowly of Heart

Elder David A. Bednar

"Meekness is a defining attribute of the Redeemer and is distinguished by righteous responsiveness, willing submissiveness, and strong self-restraint."

James had an early meeting with Francisco this morning. He gave him a check for $4,500 for labor on the Phoenix Country Club job which lasted 2 1/2 days.

Darrel went to work this morning and Trina and Addy went to the gym. That left Rowan, Ruby, and Lola and I home together.

The kids watched Studio C while I worked on my blog. 

At 10:00 I gave them all a hug and said goodbye and left for my infusion appointment. 

My appointment was at 10:45 but they are running late and it's after 11 before I get called back. They are always late after a holiday in the middle of the week.

After my infusion I went across Baseline to Fry's to get some lunch and snacks to eat on the way home. I also got some gas and then headed for Payson.

James is ahead of me and so are Stacy, Paul, Joshua, and Rowan.

I zip right on through Payson. When I get almost to Show Low it starts raining really hard. Stacy said they came through the canyon and they got into a hard rain before getting into Show Low too.

When I get home I am crying. I finished listening to President Eyring's biography. His wife has alzheimer's and sometimes she doesn't remember who he is.

Paul and James help me unload the car. Once I get everything put away I sit down to relax. Joshua and Rowan are playing laser guns. Joshua is so excited to have someone to hang out with. He has really missed Evan since he has been gone to Europe.

Paul looks really good. He has lost 70 lbs. He says he has 30 more to go. So do I but I have not been doing very good the past few days.

Vader and Shipley are here too. They can't go outside unless they are on their leash. They like looking at the bunnies, especially Shipley, through the dining room window.

Paul fixes the boys burgers for dinner. After dinner the boys go into our room to watch "Private Eyes" and Stacy, Paul, and I watch "The Greatest Showman" in the family room. James keeps going back and forth but I know he favors "Private Eyes."

We went to bed around 11.

 Haboob in Chandler

Hail in Pinetop-Lakeside

Sunday, January 28th, 2018

Papeete, Tahiti

25th operating temple

Dedicated: 27-29 Oct 1983

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ Authority of

Mark 1:22

And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 18:5-20

*When has Christ been a "ship" in my life, and kept me safe from life's storms?

*Why did the Liahona stop working for Lehi's family? How can we avoid this happening in our lives?

Old Testament

Exodus 13

The firstborn of man and of beasts are to be sanctified unto the Lord - The Feast of Unleavened Bread is to be kept in the land of Canaan - Moses takes Joseph's bones out of Egypt - The Lord attends Israel in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

Old Testament Scripture Mastery

Amos 3:7

Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

General Conference

Essential Truths - Our Need to Act

Adilson de Paula

"A Savior and Redeemer was needed to free us from death and sin. Under Heavenly Father's direction, Jesus Christ came to earth, suffered, died on the cross and was resurrected so that we too can be resurrected and, with sincere repentance and the making and keeping of sacred covenants be once again in the presence of God."

I lost my typed Primary lesson on the computer. Sometimes I just don't like technology. I decided to use the power point on my Ipad instead. 

I have made cookies 3x this week and the ones I made today are the very best. I put walnuts in some of them for James. James kept saying that I put Mrs. Fields to shame.

Today in sacrament meeting was Shaelyn's farewell before leaving for her mission. She reports on February 7th at the MTC in Provo.

Alice Wilhelm was the youth speaker, and Brother Greer from the high council was the final speaker. Brother Greer is a former mission president and he still keeps in contact with many of his former missionaries. Here are some notes from his talk.

"President Shumway has been given a special gift of love and his emphasis on the temple is divinely inspired. His other concern is self-reliance. There will be a self-reliance seminar on February 22nd. You might ask yourself, How can I feel the Saviors love in my life everyday? I say, read the Book of Mormon. We can do what the Lord has asked us to do and be immunized against the evils of our day.

President and Trisha Reidhead attended our sacrament meeting today. I was embarrassed because our ward was so noisy before sacrament meeting started. 

All six of my Primary kids were in class today. The boys, Colter, Jace, and Amaron were quite disruptive. The boys also have a problem looking up and reading scriptures. I need to do something different. Andyn and Liana got coloring books for bringing back their completed Valiant Newsletters from last week. 

During the third hour I attended part of the teachers council meeting. Sister Tice was concerned about her class. She thinks because they are 18 they should act like adults. Apparently that isn't always true. I had to leave early to go to the Beehive class. Sister Hunsaker asked me to share my story about how I have come to know Christ through the years. When I first got in the class Chuck Crane was setting apart Bailey Umphress as an officer in the Beehive class presidency. I am not sure what her calling is but Churck did a nice job. Those attending the Beehive class today: Maddie, Bailey, and Talena. Sister Hunsaker, Sister Deatherage, and Sister Ulmer were also there. 

I started out by telling the girls about my experience with finding a Book of Mormon at my grandma's house when I was 10 and thinking that someday I was going to read that book.

I felt good about sharing my testimony with these girls and sisters. I have spent years getting up early for gospel study and prayers and I believe this has helped me to come to know the Savior better.

We had stew for lunch and then it was nap time. 

When I got up from my Sunday afternoon nap it was gospel study time. While I was studying I got a text from Kaeli, the Relief Society president, that Sister Howard was having serious complications after her surgery. Since I am her visiting teacher and her friend, Kaeli wanted me to know. Kaeli was receiving texts from Sister Howard's daughter Deana. This is what she said: 

"They had to put a central line in because all the lines blew. Her potassium is way too low. She is as big as Shreck, she is normally very thin, and she is as stiff as a board and has infection all the way around her arm and her blood pressure is 243/220.

When I heard this report I started to cry. It sounded to me like she wasn't going to live. I immediately texted Trina and she helped me to feel better. She said: "I don't really know her whole story. It's hard to say no or yes about surviving. I would say yes. All those things can be treated." After saying a prayer and hearing this from Trina I felt so much better.

I studied my patriarchal blessing this evening, read from "Life Everlasting" with James and had scriptures and prayer with James before going to bed.

 I am loving the music from this movie!

Brent and Rebecca

Jesus and the children

The new First Presidency