Tuesday, August 15th, 2017

Tokyo, Japan

18th operating temple

Dedicated 27-29 Oct 1980

By: Spencer W. Kimball

Closed for renovation 29 Sept 2017

Atonement

Alma 7:11

And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

Jesus Christ, Antemortal Existence of

John 3:13

And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

Alma 51:1-12

What happens when people are divided?

*Abraham Lincoln said: "A house divided against itself cannot stand." Just before the Savior carried out the Atonement He pled for unity: "That they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us." The Savior knows that contention divides and weakens marriages, families, friends, neighbors, wards, and nations. Marvin J. Ashton taught about the negative effects of contention in "No Time for Contention (April 1978). Elder Ashton shared these ideas for alleviating contention:

"1.) Pray to have the love of God in your heart. The Spirit of the Lord can soften hard feelings and mellow a callous spirit. 2.) Learn to control your tongue. Think twice before you speak and three times before you act. 3.) Don't allow emotions to take over, rather reason together. 4.) Refuse to get embroiled in the same old patterns of argument and confrontation. 5.) Practice speaking in a soft, calm voice."

DC 114:1-115:19

If we build our homes after the pattern that the Lord has set forth, how can this help us keep our families safe?

*The Lord's standards are: 1) To unify and protect members 2) Members are to be standards of righteousness 3) They are to keep their covenants and 4) Create a refuge from the storm. (DC 115:6).

General Conference

Return and Receive

Elder M. Russell Ballard

"To return to His presence and to receive the eternal blessings that come from making and keeping covenants are the most important goals we can set. We return and receive by having 'unshaken faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, relying wholly upon 'His merits, pressing forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men and women... feasting upon the word of Christ and enduring to the end."

James went on a Razr ride today to place his wildlife camera for the Oregon hunters who are friends of Gail. I stayed home to study, and to make brownies and beans. 

Around 3:30 this afternoon we went to town. We stopped at LaCasita to get green chili burros, enchilada style. They are delicious!  I went to Walmart while James headed over the Cal-Ranch. We got gas and read three chapters from our book so it was a productive trip. 

James works on his new, bigger gate for the backyard so he can get his equipment inside the yard of he needs to. I polished the wood floor, put peppermints in my candy jars, and put the beans away. I also colored this evening and worked on my Primary lesson. 

We started watching "My Boyfriend's Dogs" but I had to stop. I had taken some Tramadol and evidently it didn't agree with me. I felt nauseous and had to go to bed earlier than I had planned. 

I sure hope North Korea doesn't strike the U.S. today.

Photos:

Sheri's post

I love Koalas'!

Creepy castle!

If I recently posted this, oh well,

here it is again. 2013 visit from

our Chandler friends.

Another gorgeous Vernon sunset!

Thursday, April 7, 2016

I love to see President Monson smile!

This morning James and I read Mosiah 3:1-18.

Mosiah 3:7. So great was His Anguish.

The following is a quote from the BMSM Religion 121-22:

" In his extremity, did He, perchance, hope for a rescuing ram in the thicket?  I do not know.  His suffering - as it were, enormity multiplied by infinity- evoked His later soul-cry on the cross, and it was a cry of forsakeness. (See Matthew 27:46.)

-Elder Neal A. Maxwell 

I worked on my blog and did some ironing this morning before I began to get ready to leave for the valley. We left a little after noon and stopped at Sonic in Show Low for some lunch.  I had a cheeseburger and a diet Coke with regular cherry flavoring.

Because we want to stop at Darrel's on the way in, we went the Globe way.  We stopped in Globe for a snack.  I got a Big Hunk candy bar and James went to Subway to get a 6" tuna sub.  I guess his New York dog at Sonic wasn't enough.  

I put Darrel and Trina's address in Mapquest, but it is so new it wasn't there.  The address it gave got us close and we found our way just as Darrel arrived at home from picking the kids up from school.  

Lola wanted me to hold her.  I played with her for awhile and then I took her outside so she could play on the trampoline.  I talked to Rowan about starting a mission fund and I told him I would help him by contributing some money each week.  

Ruby wanted to make sure we knew that if we went on the carpet we were supposed to take off our shoes.  We sat down and watched a couple of clips from Studio C, one of the kids favorite shows.  It's on the BYU channel so it's silly, but clean humor.  One of the fan favorites right now is Scott Sterling. 

James gave Darrel a check for the job Trina found and he bid.  I think he was surprised that the check was over $500.

We couldn't stay long because I am going to see Mary Ellen Edmunds with Kim and Stacy this evening.  We said our goodbyes and then found our way out of the Eastmark subdivision, which is no easy task.

We stopped at the new Costa Vida on Pecos in Gilbert for dinner.  I had a sweet pork salad, the same thing I always get because it is delicious.  When we got in the car I turned on the air conditioning and soon noticed it was not blowing out cool air.  James checked the thermostat and it was hot. 

 We drove on to Cathi and Terry's and unloaded the car.  James took me to Kim's to go to the Women's Conference and then he was going to wait for the car to cool down so he could check the antifreeze.  It was fine we hadn't lost any.  He drove to the Verizon store on Arizona Avenue and Ocotillo and the car did not heat up.

He got me a new phone and himself a new one also.  Mine is a large size but only has 16GB so I decided I want to take it back tomorrow so I never even take it out of the package.

Stacy, Kim and I had a great time at the Chandler Stake Women's Conference.  The theme was "If Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade."  

   Mary Ellen Edmunds is a great combination of spirituality and silliness.  She can make you laugh and cry at the same time.

She is over 75 years old and still going strong.  She is one of my favorite speakers!

When I got home Cathi was already in bed.  I will have to tell her about the meeting tomorrow.  

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

My husband left for the valley this morning, so I went shopping at

Walmart by myself. 

Another beautiful 65 degree day here in Vernon and Show Low.  I enjoyed my shopping trip into the Walmart in Show Low.  I bought a calculator for James, a trash can with a lid, a dish drainer, and some tree decorations.  I get back after dark and miss going to the monthly Relief Society activity.  

 I love President Monson!

Today I paid bills and also found time to watch a couple of Christmas movies: "Once Upon a Holiday", and the other shall remain unknown because I didn't write it down before I erased it.

An upstairs view of our tree and fireplace

A closeup view of the tree.

I slept on the recliner tonight after watching my Christmas movies.

 

Thursday, December 3, 2015

I was up before 7:20 this morning to say goodbye to Cathi and Terry.  After they left I changed the sheets on the bed and washed the towels in our bathroom.  I enjoyed hanging out with my new buddies, Indy and Lady.

 Even in a picture Indy lets Lady be first and in front.

I left Cathi and Terry's around 10 am.  I stopped at Walmart on Gilbert and Germann to get some stevia for James and to look for my Star Shower laser lights.  No lights, but I did get the stevia and some more blankets for the grandkids.  

I stopped in Payson at the Soonic for a drink and a corndog, and then at the Circle K in Star Valley for a Big Hunk.  I have to have something to keep me awake!

It is a beautiful day in the mountains with the high around 55-60.  When I finally make it home James unloads my car for me.  I put things away and settle down in my relaxing clothes.  We have tamales for dinner and then watch a couple of Christmas movies:

"The Twelve Gifts of Christmas" and "The Christmas Note."

 

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

I love President Monson

I woke up to this text on my phone from James: "I hope my favorite person is having a great day.  Good morning sweetheart!"  

After the good morning text he asks me where we are suppose to read today in the scriptures.  My answer: Hebrews 12 and Alma 27-29.  I love that he loves me and that he loves the scriptures!

I think we all need to be reminded of this from time to time.

 Christina and Jon Hoose with their children

Eden and Ander.

I think that these two have established a happy home.  Christina is the daughter of James's sister Rebecca Tibbetts and her husband Brent.  

It's sunny today and all of the snow is melting.  Sad there wasn't anyone here to play in it with me.  

I had to cancel our Visa credit card that James uses today. We had a security breach.  Someone tried to use it to buy a pair of running shoes.   Chase will send us a new one and it will arrive at Cathi's tomorrow which I thought was where James would be.  When I called to tell him he said he was coming home today.  Oh well, I guess he will have to wait until we go down next week to get his new card.  He brought burros from Burger House so I couldn't be too upset with him.

While James was in the valley he accomplished alot.  He worked at his remodel job, unclogged Sheri's sewer line from the sump pump to the main line.  Sheri was so grateful!  He also picked up the materials and started doing the remodel in his mom's new storage room.

I watched three Christmas movies today.  "One Starry Christmas", "Let It Snow", and "Christmas Incorporated."  James watched the last one with me.

Sunday, October 11, 2015

On top of Green's Peak

James and I attended stake conference in Show Low this morning.  We invited Kim and Brian to come with us but they declined.

Wendell Allen, a friend of ours from high school was the translator for Elder Pino.  He did an outstanding job.  Elder Pino is the first general authority from Venezuela.  He is a member of the first quorum of the Seventy.  He spoke about relationships and traditions and how our traditions, such as temple attendance, scripture study, and prayer can protect us and our families.  It was a good meeting.

Before Kim and Brian left for home I played a game of Five Crowns with them.  James was taking a nap.  I talked Kim into leaving a couple of her gluten free chocolate chip pumpkin muffins.  They are very tasty.  

Two of my very favorite people in the world!

Brian really wants to build a home on part of our property and he and James talked about putting in water lines and electrical lines.  Now that they are "empty nesters" they are planning their future.

Our Hallmark movie this evening: "Your Love Never Fails."

 

Friday, October 10, 2014

"This is a wonderful time to be on earth.  While there is much that is wrong in the world today, there are many things that are right and good.  There are marriages that make it, parents who love their children and sacrifice for them, friends who care about us and help us, teachers who teach.  Our lives are blessed in countless ways."

-President Thomas S. Monson

I got up this morning and made bacon and eggs for Darrel.  I hadn't seen him since Tuesday and I knew he was going home today.  

Brian and Kim made pumpkin bread and it was gone within five minutes.  I made some pumpkin bars with cheesecake frosting that James loved. Definitely a pumpkin theme going this weekend.

Kim played the match game with Ruby and Addy and Ruby won.  She definitely has a knack for this game.

Ruby is the Frozen match game queen!

A crowd gathers to watch her in action.

Kim is so much fun.  She played hide and go seek with the kids.  Rowan hid under the kitchen sink and Ruby left her spot to go to the bathroom so it took a long time to find her.  

James took the kids on a Razr ride to look for elk.

I love these kids!

Kim and I watched Lola while Trina vacuumed and packed to go home.  She loved the little lamb Trina bought her last night and wanted to grab it but kept grabbing her hands instead.

Love this baby!

Addy got to finish her puzzle!

Beautiful!

Kim gave Addy a Hermoine wand,

scarf, and robe for Halloween.

Addy didn't need the glasses so Ruby took them.

The dining room table is where most of the game

playing and eating takes place.

Brian went and got gas for the Razr so they could take a ride on the mountain to see the fall leaves.  

I couldn't resist posting this picture of

Joe with Ben and Max a year or so ago.

Such handsome boys!

Ruby and Rowan had a great time playing with Alex.

Kim is a favorite with all the kids.

I love this picture!

Trina and the kids left for Show Low around 5 to meet Darrel

and go home.  Ruby was not ready to go.

Grandpa had to comfort her.

 

We will definitely miss these faces!

James and I left for town around the same time.  We went to two banks, Walmart, and then Sonic.  I am addicted to their cheeseburgers and James likes the New York dog.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

I love this quote!

Lynda Tanner posted on Facebook that she had only four hours sleep in the past 48 hours.  James is her home teacher and her husband is dying of cancer.  I private messaged her and asked if we could bring her some food.  There was no immediate response from Lynda but a step sister from Arkansas named Anita thought food was a good idea, so I messaged Lynda to tell her we were bringing her lunch.  No response until we were in Vernon at the post office.  I got a message from Lynda saying she was going to the airport to pick up her sister-in-law so she wouldn't be home for lunch.  I offered dinner, but didn't get a response.  We love Lynda and wish her all the very best.

We came home and I made sugar cookies for the combined young men and young women activity tonight.  They are playing human foozball and I'm sure they will be hungry afterwards.  Besides, I was assigned to do it.

Pumpkin sugar cookies.

While we were watching the kids play foozball I overheard Collin DeWitt telling Analee Hunsaker that a rat had chewed the hose on his AC unit in his truck and it had cost him $500 to get it fixed.  I guess the same thing had happened to Analee.  One of the hazards of living in the country.  James says that's what happend to his tractor.

Here are some pictures of the ym/yw playing foozball:

Kaeli, on the left, was in charge.

Jordyn, Trenda, Shelly, and Brother Pope.

The backside of greatness!

The ball in motion.

Going for the cookies!

Kaeli Nicoll, Kelly, Coty, Trenda, Kilee, Maddie

This is what our bishop was doing while we were playing foozball:

Tricia posted these pictures on Facebook:

Molly in her Woody PJ's

Molly does her own thing.

Where is Anna?

I will end with this:

I love President Monson!