Wednesday, November 13th, 2019

Taipei, Taiwan

31st operating temple

Dedicated: 17-18 Nov 1984

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ
DC 84:32
And the sons of Moses and of Aaron shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, upon Mount Zion in the Lord's house whose sons are ye; and also many whom I have called and sent forth to build up my church.
Book of Mormon
3 Nephi 28:1-24
New Testament
Hebrews 10; 9:1-10:22 Ancient and modern ordinances point to Jesus Christ. SS: 10:34-38; 11 Faith requires trusting in God's promises.

10/19 General Conference

"Standing By Our Promises and Covenants"

Elder Ronald A. Rasband

"Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is our great Exemplar when it comes to making and keeping promises and covenants. He came to earth promising to do the will of the Father. He taught gospel principles in word and in deed. He atoned for our sins that we might live again. He has honored every one of His promises."

I started a new Aunt Dimity book today. It's called "Aunt Dimity Goes West" and it's the same day that Jared, Kacey, and Charlie are coming out west to see us. I hope Charlie is okay on the plane.

James and I are reading, "Aunt Dimity Detective."

James went to the post office, the dump, and Dollar General today. 

I listened to the Scripture Study podcast. Jared, Kacey, and Charlie arrived in Mesa. Kacey sent me a picture of Charlie and Lola together.

Such cute girls!

James was on the roof working today. His ladder fell and he spilled stain all over the roof. Luckily he was not hurt. 

I worked on my book shipment today and got it all ready to mail. This time I am mailing 16 book and the box weighs 47 lbs. James lifted it and carried it out to the car when I wasn't looking. He's not supposed to be doing heavy lifting, although it has been 4 weeks since his surgery.

I listened to a podcast today featuring Sheri Dew. She told about having a "broken heart" when her fiance broke up with her when she was in her 30's. She said reading Brother Bruce C. Hafen's book, "A Broken Heart," really helped her. I like this question that Sheri Dew asks: "How much light and godly power do I want in my life and what am I willing to do to get it?

Day 3: Provision. Phillipians 4:19 - God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
There is an abundant storehouse of riches found in Jesus Christ. We don't have if we don't ask. Ask, Seek, Knock.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, please give Max the things he needs today and use me as an agent for thee. Please supply my needs as I try to supply his needs.

 Before and after pictures of the logs James 

is working on.

My heart goes out to Randy and

his family.

 More elk on our property

 Thru cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me!

Thursday, September 12th, 2019

San Salvador, El Salvador

135th operating temple

Dedicated: 21 Aug 2011

By: Henry B. Eyring

Jesus Christ, Glory of

Jacob 4:4

For, for this intent have we written these things, that they may know that we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming; and not only we ourselves had a hope of his glory, but also all the holy prophets which were before us.

Book of Mormon

Helaman 3:1-18

New Testament "Be Ye Reconciled to God" 2 Corinthians 1-7

2 Corinthians 5

General Conference

Behold the Lamb of God

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

"Beloved friends, as we unite across the globe each week in what we hope is an increasingly sacred acknowledgment of Christ's majestic atoning gift to all humankind, may we bring to the sacramental altar 'more tears for his sorrows and more pain at his grief.' And then as we reflect, pray, and covenant anew, may we take from that sacred moment 'more patience in suff'ring, .. more praise for relief.' For such patience and relief, for such holiness and hope, I pray for all of you in the name of Him who broke the precious bread of forgiveness and poured the holy wine of redemption, even Jesus Christ, the great and merciful and holy Lamb of God, amen."

I sold three books today and made over $30. 

James blew his elk call this morning but saw no elk, only antelope.

I made swiss steak today while James was gone into town to his doctor's appointment. When he got home it was ready to eat over a baked potato. It was delicious and James loved it. I asked him about his doctor's appointment. He said Dr. Moffat's says he does not have shingles because you can only get shingles once. He says it is nerve damage. He wants James to have an MRI on his neck because he thinks it might be called by a pinched nerve. James hates MRI's as most people do because he gets claustraphobic.

I sold three books today and James caught four mice outside.

I walked over 20,000 steps today to make up for yesterday.

 Oh Lola!

 Go Alice!

 This girl loves to climb!

Friday, January 18th, 2019

Bismarck, North Dakota
61st operating temple
Dedicated: 19 Sept 1999
By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

Luke 9:35

And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 13:40-14:8

*Why is it so important to hold fast to the plain and precious truths of the gospel?

General Conference

The Vision of the Redemption of the Dead

President M. Russell Ballard

"Joseph F. was called to serve a mission in the Hawaiian Islands in 1854 when he was 15 years old. This mission, which lasted more than three years, was the beginning of a life of service in the Church."

We had 80-100 elk migrate across our property this morning. James was so excited to tell someone, he went upstairs and woke Adam up. 

I cut James's hair this morning. He wants to look good for when Jared and Kacey and Charlie come to visit. 

I had a nice visit on the phone with Anne Miller today about her ministering assignments and about how she is doing with her health. After talking to Anne I worked on getting a book order ready. There are 20 books in the shipment. After fees and shipping fees, etc., we will make less than $30 on this shipment. We need to figure out what we are doing wrong. I think if we buy a book that will sell for less than $30 we need to ship merchant fulfilled instead of fulfilled by Amazon.

James picked up five books at the post office today, all of them textbooks. He was excited for me to ship them off until we found out all of them except one we are not approved to sell. So, we don't make any money on the cheaper books and the more expensive ones where we have a chance of making money, we can't sell. This is not good. When we talked to Paul at Book Arbitrage, he said Amazon sometimes does that to new buyers until they establish themselves as legitimate buyers. We are frustrated to say the least but we are not giving up. 

This evening while Adam and his friends were playing games and making cookies in the kitchen and dining room we stayed in our bedroom and watched the new Hallmark movie, "Winter Princess." James got to sit and watch it while I walked around the room because I had less than 6,000 steps when we started the movie. I ended up getting over 10,000.

Carmen's Noah's Ark cake

Such a sweet baby!

The books in orange are profitable to buy but
we probably are not approved to sell them
according to Amazon.

James prepping books to ship to Amazon

Monday, December 3rd, 2018

Provo, Utah

15th operating temple

Dedicated: 9 Feb 1972

By: Joseph Fielding Smith

Jesus Christ, Death of

John 12:33
This he said, signifying what death he should die.

Book of Mormon #1

Ether 2:13-25
*The lord wants us to grow and learn as we make our own decisions. He also wants us to take our conclusions to Him frequently for His confirmation. When the brother of Jared asked the Lord about the matter of light for the vessels, the Lord answered with a question of His own: "What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels"? According to President Harold B. Lee, the Lord's question was similar to saying the following: 'Well, have you any good ideas? What would you suggest that we should do in order to have light? Then the Lord went away and left him alone. It was as though the Lord were saying to him, 'Look, I gave you a mind to think with, and I gave you agency to use it. Now you do all you can to help yourself with this problem; and then, after you've done all you can, I'll step in to help you.'" After considering the possibilities, the brother of Jared demonstrated his great faith by asking the Lord to touch 16 stones and supply lights. The Lord answered this plea and not only provided light for the vessels but gave this faithful man a vision unlike any other. President Lee concluded: "This is the principle in action. If you want the blessing, don't just kneel down and pray about it. Prepare yourselves in every conceivable way you can in order to make yourselves worthy to receive the blessing you seek." 

Book of Mormon #2

Helaman 3-4
Old Testament
Jonah 3-4

General Conference

Lift Up Your Head and Rejoice

M. Joseph Brough

"I was forever changed upon hearing these words from Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve, spoken in the midst of his struggle with leukemia. He said, 'I was doing some pensive pondering and these 13 instructive and reassuring words came into my mind: 'I have given you leukemia that you might teach my people with authenticity.' He then went on to express how this experience had blessed him with 'perspective about the great realities of eternity. ...Such glimpses of eternity can help us to travel the next 100 yards, which may be very difficult."

I was up at five this morning. James got up around six. We had scriptures and prayers before we started getting ready for our trip to the valley. James made a trip to town in my car to get gas for his truck because his truck would have never made it. 

I have two more packages to mail today. I forgot to send Lois's Christmas stockings to the kids in Texas so I will need to send them today. I also have Ben's Christmas package. 

We are taking both the car and the truck. James is leaving the truck and the Bobcat in the valley for the Mesa job which Armando will be running when and if they get the permits. 

I was ready to leave a little before 11. James was still doing something with the trailer. I told him I had to stop at the church to leave my roaster and then I was going to the post office. He actually ended up passing me up while I was at the post office and I never caught him because I stopped in Show Low to wash Lexy. I never caught up to him. I went the Salt River way in case something happened to James's rig I would be there to help.

I had wanted to stop at Deseret Book when I got in to town but there was no time. I drove directly to my appointment with Dr. Shah. The appointment was a consultation about putting in an implant. James had a meeting with Armando then he dropped his truck and the Bobcat off at Bill V.'s yard and then walked over to Sheri's to wait for me to pick him up. 

I am set for an implant on Tuesday, January 8th and thanks to Care Credit I will pay $250 a month for the next year interest free. Whoopee....$3,000 is still a lot of money. Am I sure I want to do this? Why is everything so expensive?

I picked up James and we went to Olive Garden for dinner. I had Zuppa Toscana soup and salad and of course breadsticks. James had salmon. 

After dinner we went across the street to Target to finish shopping for Ben's Christmas package. I was a little disappointed that I couldn't find cozy socks. 

We finally ended up at Darrel and Trina's for the night. Lola was certainly "wound up" this evening. She had a rope around her stuffed dog Tommy and was dragging him all over the place. She, Ruby, and I also played hide the ball in the Christmas tree. I was afraid we were going to knock the tree over so we changed the rules a little. 

Trina was telling me about her dad's childhood this evening. She said his mother was killed by a drunk driver when he was 18 months old. He used to stand and wait at the door for her to come home. His mom was pregnant when she was killed. They story gets worse. His first stepmom was a little crazy and did some bizarre things including trying to kidnap Trina's dad. 

His second step mom was very jealous of anything his dad did for him and demanded he do the same for her kids. Finally one of his older sisters came and got him and took him home to live with her family. Elder Bernecker's grandmother wanted to adopt him and have him come and live with them. Bob, Trina's dad is one of the nicest, kindest, unselfish people I have ever met and I never knew he had such a difficult childhood. 

When Darrel got home from work at 9:30 He went upstairs and changed into a white shirt and tie so he could give James a blessing.  The kids were in bed and Trina was upstairs so it was just the three of us. The blessing was a great comfort and Darrel emphasized the importance of healing and being patient after surgery.

I did some walking before going to bed. 

President Nelson's talk at last night's devotional was wonderful.

 The Long Road ahead

Love these two!

 Our friends the Umphress family

 Dec 3, 2012