Saturday, April 18th, 2020

Jordan River, Utah

20th operating temple

Dedicated: 16-20 Nov 1981

By: Marion G. Romney

Jesus Christ, Judge

Alma 10:20

And now I say unto you that well doth the Lord judge of your iniquities; well doth he cry unto this people, by the voice of his angels: Repent ye, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

Mosiah 3:13-27; Mosiah 3 study guide

April General Conference

"The Melchizedek Priesthood and the Keys"

President Dallin H. Oaks

"In the Church the authority of the priesthood is exercised under the direction of a priesthood leader who holds the keys of that priesthood."

"The Greatest Leaders are the Greatest Followers"

Stephen W. Owen

April 2016

Ensign

"Ministering through General Conference"

Our gang of elk came by for a visit this morning. Luna doesn't pay much attention to them. I think her mind is on when James is going to come out and feed her.

After prayer and scriptures James left for the Howard's. 

As I was working on my blog this morning and eating kettle corn, I noticed something a little sharp on one of my teeth in the front. It was the tooth that Dr. Douglas had patched for me and part of the "patch" came off. This seals the deal. I can't smile and show my teeth until I get it fixed. 

I started a new online book today. It is a novel called, "His Lady in Hiding." 

I have added a couple of things to my daily schedule. One: Take a carrot to Luna in the morning and Two: Take an apple to Luna in the afternoon.

I cooked some navy beans I found in the pantry today. When I was at Walmart I looked for some pinto beans but there were not any. James loves beans and has been asking for me to cook some. I cooked them today and he loved them. I also made banana nut muffins and was going to make corn muffins but all of the boxes of mix had weevils. I made biscuits instead.

James and I set a date to clean out the pantry, a long overdue chore that we have been putting off. I could do it myself but for some reason James wants to help. First we said this coming Saturday the 25th but then I remembered that Erik and his family will be here so we changed it to May 2nd. It is probably going to be an all day affair.

I had 19 books I couldn't send off this week. This is normally the night that we watch a movie but James had to finish doing taxes so I was left downstairs alone. I decided instead of watching a movie that I would take those 19 books and put them in inventory as Merchant Fulfilled. As I was doing this I was getting discouraged thinking how I would not make nearly as much money as I would if I could send them in as Amazon fulfilled Prime. 

After I had done about four or five books I noticed a message posted on the Amazon sellers site. It said that more books could be sent in as of April 18th. I figured it was worth a try to check and see if my books could be sent in. To my amazement all of them could be sent in. I got so excited that I began getting all of the 19 books ready for shipment. 

Instead of sending all of the books to California the shipment was split up and I had to send 3 to Illinois and 3 to New Jersey. The other 13 went to California where I normally ship to. Because I had to ship three boxes it took a little longer than normal. I was finished somewhere around 10.

James had finished with his taxes and I asked him if he wanted to watch an episode of "Lark Rise to Candleford." He said yes so we watched an episode and determined that we both really like this show. Thomas and Margaret who have not ever had any children bought a dog. They named her Amelia Cordelia, after Margaret's mother and Thomas's grandmother. They treated the dog with such love and concern. It reminded me of some people I know and their dogs.

We made it to bed before midnight.

Sheri out for a Shake Snack

Paul's hike

I love this!

Lynda T. of Vernon:

Vernon ward members

I'm excited that I sold $453 worth of books
this week!

Love Tim Ballard

Joe and Bob

Ziggie

I wonder if she would organize my medicine cabinet

Case Cousins

Happy Anniversary

Sisters from Vernon

Decorator extraordinaire

Saturday, February 22nd, 2020

Gila Valley, Arizona

132nd operating temple

Dedicated: 23 May 2010

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Judge

Mosiah 3:10

And he shall rise the third day from the dead; and behold, he standeth to judge the world; and behold, all these things are done that a righteous judgment might come upon the children of men.

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

2 Nephi 25

Nephi glories in plainness - Isaiah's prophecies will be understood in the last days - The Jews will return from Babylon, crucify the Messiah, and be scattered and scourged - They will be restored when they believe in the Messiah - He will first come six hundred years after Lehi left Jerusalem - The Nephites keep the law of Moses and believe in Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel.

"The Savior's Touch"
Elder Walter F. Gonzalez
"He can heal us and lift us up becuase He has the ability to do it. He took upon HImself all the pains of body and spirit so that His bowels would be filled with mercy in order to be able to help us in all things and to heal us and lift us up. The words of Isaiah, as cited by Abinadi, put it beautifully and movingly:
'Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows. ... 
...He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.'"

Since we worked in the temple today I love this quote from Sister Ulrich's book, "Live Up to Our Privileges":

Temple ordinances we officiate in as women and men help others and us weave deliverance, redemption, and holiness into our stories of sorrow, sin, and loss. Likewise, the sacrament and temple ordinances can help us picture the promises we've been given."

(p. 188-89)

President Palmer and his wife presided today during our shift. We watched a baptism video we had seen several times with an 11 year old girl going to the temple with her dad for the first time to do baptisms. The girl suffers from social anxiety and the temple was very busy but she pressed forward. Do you know what I noticed during this video today? The girl had on a blouse with cartoon cat heads wearing glasses on it. I guess I had seen it so many times I was focusing on seeing something different this time. Maybe next time I need to look for something more spiritual.

I started out this morning at the sealing desk under the stairs. Sister Farr said, "go to your corner." I did, gladly. I like it over in the corner. You can see what's going on without being right in the middle of things. Also when you aren't busy, I had two people who needed help in an hour, you can read your scriptures or on the little post it notes you can make notes to yourself. I made out my schedule and a list of things I need to do this coming week. I also finished reading all of the chapter headings for the Old Testament and started on the new.

James and I had break at the same time but we didn't sit together. My table was already full when James came in so he sat by cute little brother Hancock and came back with some more good newly wed stories. I guess in an effort to wake him up this morning Sister Hancock tickled him. He got angry and wouldn't get up so she pulled him out of bed onto the floor. He said, "then I got up." (This is the same girl who blew the air horn at the golfers). Their favorite TV program is Avatar. James mentioned that he thought that was an animated children's program. Brother Hancock said, "yes it is, but the script is genius."!

I sat by Sister Sauwen, Sister Crandall, and Sister Cureton. Sister Sauwen lives in Woodruff and it sounds like it's abu the size of Vernon. She said they have a church, school, post office, and community center and library. Sounds almost like Vernon except that we have more than one church.

Sister Crandall is young and lives with her parents. She asked me if I had a good Valentine's day and I said yes, how was yours. She said, Oh, I had strep but my parents went out."

As we all were enjoying our breakfast burritos which had been cut in half she said: "I always think I should bring something for the potluck, but I can't think what to bring so I never do."

Sister Cureton lives on the other sides of Williams and travels 150 miles to get here. I asked her how long it took and she said two and a half hours. She said the speed limit on the freeway is 75 and her husband goes 80.

After my break I went upstairs to present at veil 1. All of the sisters who came to my veil were well versed in the temple. It was a pleasure to help them. I love being at the veil.

Other things I did today: Worked in initiatory twice, helped in the baptistry and got to visit with the older Sister Hamblin. She is from Salt Lake but has lived in Eagar 25 years and she loves it. She runs a pre-school and orders supplies from Walmart online and they deliver to her the next day. I did not know that they delivered.

There was a group from Eagar in the baptistry and a huge ward from Phoenix waiting in the chapel. They had several boys who came in Samoan dress.

While I was the downstairs greeter the couple that were sealed today came down. A huge group of people were waiting for them in the foyer because it was raining outside. James was the grooms assistant. The grooms name was Jeben Lewis. Funny. My first bishop in Show Low as a teenager was Eb Lewis and I went to school with Charlie and Eben, his sons, who were a little younger than I was. Jeben is Eben's grandson. I saw Eben and his wife. He looked very old. This is what I love about the Snowflake temple. I see people I knew when I grew up here all of the time.

I was finished at 12:30. My 12:30 assignment was "as assigned" which means , you are done. Several other sisters had the same thing and Sister Elmer left early so we couldn't be assigned anyway if she did have something for us to do.

I'm glad I brought my umbrella because it was raining hard when we left. We were going to do sealings but I rationalized and said we could do them next week. This week we went to Eva's to get mexican food. 

We saw the Mortensen family eating at Eva's too. They aren't friends but James had helped Brother Mortensen in initiatory and I had helped Sister Mortensen in initiatory. The had three of their daughters with them.

After Eva's, I had a chicken enchilada with rice and beans and James had a green chili burro, we went to Walmart. Since James lost our toilet paper and I forgot to buy some when I went back, we needed toilet paper and ended up spending $68. Expensive toilet paper.

This is one of those days you just want to curl up with a good book and sit by the fire. As soon as I got home I changed into my comfy clothes and curled up on the recliner with Aunt Dimity. I also read to James and while I was reading he walked and got 1500 steps.

Some more things I did this evening: finished my steps, fixed broccoli and french fries for dinner, worked on my blog, and finished "Come Follow Me' for the week. It was almost 10:00 when we went to bed. It was a good day. Lots and lots of rain.

 Mine on the left, James's on the right

After the rain

The face of an angel!

  Ruby Delight!

Saturday, January 4th, 2020

Dedicated: 20 May 2000

By" Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Jehovah

2 Nephi 11:2

And now I, Nephi, write more of the words of Isaiah, for my soul delighteth in his words. For I will liken his words unto my people, and I will send them forth unto all my children, for he verily saw my Redeemer, even as I have seen him.

Book of Mormon

"A Testimony of the Book of Mormon" Russell M. Nelson 10/1999

Oct 2019 General Conference

"The Joy of the Saints"

Elder D. Todd Christofferson

"God sees things in their true perspective, and He shares that perspective with us through His commandments, effectively guiding us around the pitfalls and potholes of mortality toward eternal joy. The Prophet Joseph Smith explained: 'When His commandments teach us, it is in view of eternity; for we are looked upon by God as though we were in eternity; God dwells in eternity, and does not view things as we do.'"

At 8:30 this morning we met the Gardner's, Tina Allen and Shaelyn Smith at the church to clean. It comes around once a year and is always the first and second week of January. The Gardner's brought their boys and were very efficient. They were over the cleaning of the chapels in Tucson and so they know what needs to be done. It was great that Shaelyn came because she isn't even in our ward. She is Tina's niece and Tina asked her to come.

There is a memorial service for Lorrain Tieman, a former member of our ward who died of cancer. She has family in our ward, a sister, nieces and nephews and a brother. Her sister Nadine Singleton wanted to do this memorial service for her even though she lived in California with her daughter. Nadine made pulled pork and baked beans and the Relief Society brought rolls, salads and desserts. 

Kathy Crane is our compassionate service leader and she was here around 10 with Rosie Lauritzen to make sure the food was all ready for the luncheon after the service. 

Kathy had the cultural hall setup the night before. She did a nice job.

James and I brought clothes to change in to for Lorraine's service in the chapel. Nadine told her life story and Tamara talked about her example and dedication. Sean Hunsaker, who was her bishop also spoke. Lorraine was my visiting teaching companion for awhile when I used to go out to the Chaffin ranch to visit Hailey. The first time Lorraine went she offered to take her pickup. The road was so rocky she really did not like it. She never offered to take her truck again. We either took my car or James drove us in his truck. 

I sat by Catherine Halcomb during the service. Although Catherine did not know Lorraine she is Nadine's ministering sister. James sat by Ed Miller. 

When we sang "O My Father" Catherine got a little teary-eyed because that's one of the songs they sang at her husbands funeral. The closing song was "God Be With You Til We Meet Again" which we sang at my mom's funeral.

Here are some of the things said in the funeral.

When Lorraine was a girl growing up in northwest Phoenix, her family raised turkeys. They had over a 1,000.

She met her husband at the local swimming pool in Phoenix.

She and her husband lived in Hawaii for a year when he was in the Navy. Lorraine learned to cook Hawaiian food.

Lorraine and Nadine raised their kids together so the cousins would grow up knowing each other.

Lorraine worked at Honeywell for 15 years.

While their children were growing up she and her husband Bruce were not active in the church. They spent lots of weekends in the boat on Lake Powell.

When Lorraine decided it was time to go back to church Bruce sold the boat. The sad thing is the kids were teenagers by then and were not interested in going to church.

Lorraine loved music and played the organ in the Vernon ward, alternating with Analee Hunsaker.

Bruce was a Primary teacher. He never gave the kids candy but if they were good he would give them a green bean from his garden.

Bishop Sean Hunsaker says he was there home teacher and he loved Lorraine's chili relleno casserole. It was a treat he enjoyed when he went for a visit.

Lorraine was a temple worker in the Snowflake temple.

When her health began to fail her she moved to California to live with her daughter.

We sat by the Diewald's, Kerri Halcomb and Amy Reynolds. We enjoyed the pulled pork on rolls, coleslaw, baked beans, and Texas sheetcake both chocolate and "blonde." I prefer the blonde.

I excused myself from helping in the kitchen afterwards because I needed to go in to town to get some groceries. I am taking soup in to the Grapp's tonight who have had the flu. Kathy gave me some salad and a bag of rolls to go with the soup.

We went to Walmart for groceries and some of my prescriptions and then we got gas and washed the car. 

When we got home James carried in the groceries and I put them away. James went to take a nap while I fixed homemade chicken noodle soup for the Grapp's. James made the delivery. Later I got a text from Cammy. This is what she said:
"When you get a chance and can look up the 2014 Mormon Message, 'You Never Know,' I would love for you and your husband to watch it. This video describes the blessing that you have been to us so many times, especially tonight. Your soup was the greatest thing that has come of all this illness. Leland (1 yr old) hasn't wanted to eat much and he loved your soup. He is still with fever and others are recovering. Thanks so much for making the beautiful salad and sending crackers and rolls too. We love you!

Gratitude makes it all worth while.

New Hallmark movies are taping tonight and tomorrow night. 

Weaver's Needle in the Superstition Mountains

Silly Charlie