Friday, June 21st, 2019

Preston, England

52nd operating temple

Dedicated: 7 June 1998

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Exemplar

Hebrews 5:8

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

Book of Mormon

Alma 19:22-36

New Testament "It Is Finished"

Matthew 27:51-56; Mark 15:39-41; Luke 23:47-49; John 19:31-37

General Conference

Great Love for Our Father's Children

Elder Quentin L. Cook

"As General Authorities assigned to work on 'Preach My Gospel' 15 years ago, we concluded that the attribute of love was essential to missionary work in our day, just as it has always been. Chapter 6, on Christlike attributes, including charity and love, has consistently been the most popular chapter among missionaries.

As emissaries of the Savior, most missionaries feel this kind of love, and when they do, their efforts are blessed. When members gain a vision of this kind of love, which is essential in assisting the Lord in His purpose, the Lord's work will be accomplished."

Sold "Lehningers Principles of Biochemistry" today. 

I spent most of the day buying books. My goal is to buy 10 a day for five days until textbook season which starts around the end of August, first of September. 

I promised James I would make banana nut bread with the four over ripe bananas we have. So I did, only instead of bread I made muffins. I accidentally poured in too much cinnamon at the end but it certainly didn't ruin the flavor. I also took the three loaves of frozen Rhodes bread dough and made rolls for the temple tomorrow.  For dinner I made homemade chicken noodle soup. It was quite delicious. James doesn't usually like chicken noodle soup but he likes mine.

While I was inside cooking James was outside washing the cars and the driveway, garage, and Razr. I think my job was easier and less messy. I always appreciate it when he washes our car before we go to the temple.

I watched "chopped" while walking this afternoon. Stacy, Paul, and Joshua joined family on the beach in San Diego today. Evan was excited to have his friend with him. 

Rowan is up here for scout camp this week but we didn't get to see him.

 So sweet!

 Miss Personality

 Ruby at Ruby Tuesday's

 I couldn't resist posting this card

Begging for food

San Diego: Relaxing, enjoying the 

scenery and the good food and entertainment.

 Looks like she has a buzz on one side.

 Shana, Alex, Michael

 Evan and Joshua

Thursday, June 20th, 2019

Vernal, Utah

50th operating temple

Dedicated: 2 Nov 1997

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Examplar

Hebrews 4:15

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Book of Mormon

Alma 19:12-21

New Testament "It is finished"

Matthew 27:44-50; Mark 15:33-38; Luke 23:39-46; John 19:25-30

General Conference

Christ: The Light that Shines in Darkness

Sharon Eubank

"Christ tenderly told the Nephites, 'I have commanded that none of you should go away.' Peter had that powerful epiphany in Acts 10 when he declared, 'God hath shewed me that I should not call any person common or unclean.' It is an unwavering requirement of Christian disciples and Latter-day Saints to show true love to one another. Jesus extends the same kind of invitation to us that He did to Zacchaeus: 'Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if you hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to you, and will sup with you, and you with me.' Christ sees us in our tree."

I got my books into the car so I knew that I could get them out. One of the boxes weighs 31 lbs. and the other weighs 33 lbs.

I drove to the post office and got my mail which included four books. I went on to Nita's house. When I got there I knocked on the door and rang the bell beside the door but no answer. I called. Again, no answer. I could hear the TV and saw her car was in the garage so I knew she must be home but for some reason she wasn't answering the door. I texted Pam and asked her to call Nita and after sitting on the porch for awhile I went back to sit in my car. After being there a minute or two I looked up and saw that the door was open. 

When Nita got in the car she was apologetic for making me wait. I told her it was no problem I was just glad that she was all right. 
We had to go through some road construction to get to the hospital but when we got to the hospital we found a parking spot in front immediately. Pam had told us it was packed today and we would need to get valet parking. Pam met us inside the door and we went and picked up Jenny and then we all walked down to the cafeteria. Pam gave both Nita and I a meal ticket for one item and a drink. Nita got a chicken sandwich and I got the salad bar. 

As the four of us sat visiting we talked about Pam's dad and her son, Jenny's daughter who has a brain tumor and Jenny's son Robbie who is playing football for Monte. 
Soon the conversation turned to Nita and her recent divorce. She was teary-eyed. She did not want a divorce and she is grieving. 

After we said our goodbye's and going to the UPS store we made our way back to Vernon. Nita told me what happened to her from the time she left Vernon last year until coming back a few days ago.
She lives in Yuma during the winter. Let me go back to last summer when she and Calvin were here. Calvin began taking the missionary discussions and was baptized here last summer. Brother Howard was one of the ward missionaries who helped teach him.

Nita had cancer and had just come home from the hospital when about a month ago Calvin came to her and said that he didn't want to be a Mormon anymore and that he wanted a divorce. Nita and Calvin are both 85 years old and have been married before. Nita's first husband wouldn't allow her to join the Church. Their daughter joined and when her husband passed away, Nita joined.

When Calvin was baptized last year Nita was hopeful that she had found her eternal companion. Everything was fine as long as they were up here surrounded by members of the Vernon ward. When Calvin returned to Yuma and with Nita in the hospital with cancer, he began spending time with his old drinking buddies. They made fun of him being a "Mormon" and urged him to smoke and drink with them. I guess the peer pressure was too great for this 85 year old man and he went back to his old ways. 

Nita is heart-broken and is grieving. I tried to comfort her on our trip back to Vernon. At one point she asked where I lived and I asked her if she wanted to come and see. She said yes, if I had the time. 

Nita loved our house and kept going on and on about it. On our way back to her house we passed and stopped to talk to James who was on his way home from the valley. 

At Nita's we exchange addresses and I give her a hug goodbye. She is going back to Yuma for doctor's appointments and won't be back until the end of July. I told her when she got back I would take her to the top of the ski lift at Sunrise. She seemed excited.
Nita's daughter, Dana, says Nita has alzheimer's but I did not see any indication of it today.

We saw lots of smoke from the Woodbury fire again this evening. 
James and I watched the movie, "Wedding March 5, My Boyfriend's Back," starring Jack Wagner and Josie Bissett and Cindy Busby.

 The Grapp's: Liana, Cammy,

Tildy, Leland, Emsley

 The fire that destroyed our Pinedale cabin.

Love the "Welcome to my crib"

sign.

 San Diego sunset

 Love these sweet girls!

 Photography by Kaufmann

San Diego fun!

 San Diego entertainment by Michael

 Phil's in San Diego the sandwich that

lasts a week.

 San Diego sunset

 Vernon sunset

 The little girl with the big personality

Wednesday, January 2nd, 2019

San Diego, California

45th operating temple

Dedicated 25 April 1993

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Death of

Moroni 9:25

My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever.

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 1:16-2:15

New Testament

To truly learn from the Savior, I must accept His invitation, "Come follow me." Matt. 6:14-15; 18:21-35; Luke 23:33-34

General Conference

Deep and Lasting Conversion to Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

Elder Quentin L. Cook

"World conditions increasingly require deepening individual conversion to and strengthening faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and His Atonement. The Lord has prepared us, line upon line, for the perilous times that we now face. In recent years, the Lord has guided us to address related core concerns, including:
* Honoring the Sabbath day and the sacred ordinance of the sacrament has again been emphasized for the last three years.
* Under the bishop's direction, strengthened elders quorums and Relief Societies are focused on the purpose and divinely appointed responsibilities of the Church and helping members make and keep sacred covenants.
* Ministering in a higher and holier way is being joyfully adopted. 
*Beginning with the end in mind, temple covenants and family history service are becoming a purposeful part of the covenant path."

When I came in to the family room this morning Kim, Brian, and Sheri were watching a Christmas movie. They ended up watching two movies this morning. Ian was making breakfast. Michael cleaned the fireplace using my $2,000 vacuum. It's okay though because it is old. 

After breakfast Ian took the boys sledding. Max came in afterwards and said he lost his pants while he was on the sled. Oh dear. 

Sheri and Kim went out to build a snowman but the snow would not stick together because it was so dry so they went for a walk instead. They were gone for quite awhile and walked over two miles. Sheri looked it up on Google and a 40 year old woman burns 2,000 calories a day. I wonder how many calories a 70 year old woman burns in a day.

 Meet Mrs. Smiley Snow

It's snowing again. The boys come in and drop their snow-covered clothes in the laundry room. I have them trained well. 

Brian is smoking our ribs for us. I prepared a rub and James put the rub on and put the ribs in the smoker. It says leave them for 3 1/2 hours but since our smoker is run by propane you have to check it periodically to make sure it maintains the right temperature. This is what Brian did until they were done around 4 p.m. The boys devoured the first rack in about five minutes and the rest of us shared the second rack. The beef ribs were mostly fat and bone. Delicious, although they were just a snack. Brian and Sheri both made burgers for dinner and Sheri also made hotdogs. I did not have dinner.

Brian says the best kind of smoker is a Traeger so I looked them up. They run anywhere from $599 to thousands of dollars if you get them with a grill. I guess I will need to start saving my money.

You watched movies and played games inside and outside there was the snow.

 Joshua wears this mask to keep

his face warm. I think it is Brian's.

While Sheri and Kim were on their walk they

texted it to me and ask me to show it to James.

They wanted to know if it was a mountain 

lion. He said no, it is either a dog or coyote.

Trivial Pursuit

The game gets more interesting when Kim plays.

 She finished her "Valley of the Sun" puzzle.

 Something I definitely need more of.

 She always brightens my day!

Lots of steps today!