Friday, July 14th, 2017

The Hague, Netherlands

114th operating temple

Dedicated: 8 Sept 2002 by

Gordon B. Hinckley

Atonement

Ephesians 2:16

And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

Alma 32:21-43

*How do we plant spiritual "seeds?"

27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

DC 101:51-62

63-75, The Saints are to continue gathering together;

How can we stay stronger amid the chaos that is around us?

*"Peace, it does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart." We can gain that peace by doing those things that make our soul happy...reading scriptures, praying, service, going to church, etc...When we are at peace, it doesn't matter what chaos is billowing all around us. We are grounded and strong because of our choices.

General Conference

The Language of the Gospel

Valeri V. Cordon

" Verily, verily I say nto you, The Son can do nothig of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise." -John 5:19

I had my infusion this morning at 9:30. 

Afterwards James and I went to lunch at Pei Wei. I have been craving their lettuce wraps and spicy chicken salad. Both were delicious!

When we got home we took a nap and then I had a date with Ruby. 

When I get to Darrel and Trina's I am bombarded with hugs and kisses from four sweet kids. Trina was at work and Darrel was with the kids. I should have taken some pictures.

Ruby and I headed to Deseret Book to get her some scriptures. Ruby is getting baptized tomorrow. We saw Cathi while we were shopping and Ruby invited her to her baptism. 

Ruby picked out the maroon leather quad. While we are waiting for her name to be imprinted We do a little more shopping and then as we leave I suggest that we go to Kneader's and get everyone some brownies. 

Ruby is so worried that I am going to spend too much money on her. I love that about her. We buy a dozen brownies and head back to take Ruby home. On the way Ruby says: "Oh grandma, these scriptures are so soft." Such a sweet girl. 

I called my friend Charlotte and talked with her while driving home. When I tell her I need to go she says a quick goodbye and hangs up. It makes me feel bad.

James painted his water trailer and is getting ready to sell it. I work on my blog for July 1st and 2nd. It is so hot, something is wrong with Cathi and Terry's air conditioner, they go to bed at 8.

James was hungry so I asked Cathi if he could have some ziti. Of course she said yes. 

Jared and Kacey got a house. They move in tomorrow.

Random Photos:

Lola enjoying her brownie.

She was asleep when we got home.

Darrel sent me this picture.

Tea Party 2015?

 I couldn't agree more.

2015

Jared and Emmy having scriptures together.

Emmy's date.

I'm a sucker for a beautiful sunset.

Sunday, April 23, 2017

Salt Lake Temple in the spring

Mosiah 15

* Can you find the words redeem, redeemer, redeemed, and redemption in this chapter. ( I found 11) Underline them.  These words are important to Abinadi's message.  Redeem means to release from debt or to set free by paying a ransom.

* What would happen to us without Christ's redemption?

3 Nephi 7-8

7 The chief judge is murdered, the government is destroyed, and the people divide into tribes - Jacob, an anti-Christ, becomes king of a secret combination - Nephi preaches repentance and faith in Christ - Angels minister to him daily, and he raises his brother from the dead - Many repent and are baptized. About A.D. 30-33.

8 Tempests, earthquakes, fires, whirlwinds, and physical upheavals attest the crucifixion of Christ - Many people are destroyed - Darkness covers the land for three days - Those who remain bemoan their fate. About A.D. 33-34.

DC 61:19-39

36 And now, verily I say unto you, and what I say unto one I say unto all, be of good cheer, little children; for I am in your midst, and I have not forsaken you;

How can verse 36 help us to remember that the Lord is always near?

General Conference

Let the Holy Spirit Guide

Elder Ronald A. Rasband

 "By divine assignment, the Holy Ghost inspires, testifies, teaches, and prompts us to walk in the light of the Lord."

Whatsoever He Saith unto You, Do It

Elder L. Whitney Clayton

When we decide to do "whatsoever God saith unto us,"

we earnestly commit to align our everyday behavior with 

God's will."

Today during Primary class I ask my kids if I could take a picture of them.  This is what I got:

Taylor should be in our class too:

My phone betrayed me during teacher council meeting today and began playing a song.  I had to go out in the hall to stop it.  I could have just turned the volume down but I could a little too rattled.

James did not make it to his meetings today but he felt better this afternoon.  We had 11 elk in our backyard.  They saw us looking at them through the window and got a little skittish but ended up staying.  James watched them for a long time and finally scared them off because one of the yearlings kept eating leaves off one of his apple trees.  He had sprayed them but the elk would chew on it and then spit it out.  He did this several times, so off they went.

While listening to Elder L. Whitney Clayton's conference address, a phrase stuck in my mind: "Simple daily practices of faith lead to miraculous events."  As a result I sent a text message to my kids reminding them that it is through obedience that we receive blessings.  I felt the Spirit very strongly and I was aware of Heavenly Father's love for me for one of the first times in my life.

Text Message 

As I was listening this evening to Elder L. Whitney Clayton's conference address, "Whatsoever He Saith Unto You, Do It," something was brought back to my memory, a miracle that occurred in my life.  I know I have told most of you about this miracle, but as I have pondered over it the last several weeks since it occurred, I have learned something very profound: The small things really are the big things.  Elder Clayton says it this way: "Simple habits of belief lead to miraculous events." 

Let me tell you about what happened when we stopped at a gas station in San Antonio and our car began making a terrible noice.  When Erik heard via cell phone the horrific noise our car was making he told us to stop driving it and have it towed right away.  When dad told me this I said no, we will be ok, drive on. For the first few miles on the freeway this loud clanging noise continued and then it stopped and our car was running smoothly again.  We have not had a problem since.  Oh, did I mention that I was praying continuously and talking to Heavenly Father about how important it was for us to be at Jared and Kacey's sealing.  This was their day and we did not want the distraction of worrying about getting our car fixed, and we could not afford a huge repair bill right now.  

When we returned to Chandler, Erik did a diagnostic test and said it looked like we had had a bad valve but everything was okay now. To me and Dad and Erik this was a miracle, a tender mercy of the Lord.  When Elder Clayton said "simple habits of belief lead to miraculous events," I though of all those early mornings of gospel study and prayer and I realized I was able to obtain this blessing because of my faithfulness.  I say that in all humility because without the Lord and His goodness I am nothing.  I have a testimony that if we strive to be obedient the Lord will bless us at the most opportune times.  I just wanted to share this with all of you whom I love so very much.  The Lord wants to bless us but he can only bless us when we are obedient. 

After scripture study, indexing, and blogging, James and I watched the season finale of "When Calls the Heart" this evening.  I love this show. Although I was a little disappointed that Mounty Jack didn't return from fighting in the Northwest territories.

Random Photos:

Gorgeous!

Watching the hummingbirds

August 2013

Molly can be very entertaining!

She looks so little.

Addy and Lola

Three years ago

I love these two faces!

Monday, August 2, 2016

Philadelphia temple

The public is invited to tour the newly completed

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania temple.

Alma 43:27-40

30 - Since the Nephites were defending their homes, families and liberties, Moroni thought it no sin that he should defend them by stratagem.

35 - Lehi leads his army forth and encircles the Lamanites about on the east in their rear.

37 - As the battle begins the Nephites are more protected than the Lamanites because of their armor.

38 - . . . the Nephites did carry on the work of death among the Lamanites.

39 - The Lamanites flee towards the river Sidon.

40 - Lehi and his men pursue them until they cross the river Sidon.

What strategies did Moroni use to succeed with his army?  What strategies do we use to fight Satan?

GC: "He Asks Us To Be His Hands" Sister Cheryl A. Esplin.

I have been working on memorizing The Living Christ and The Family Proclamation as our stake president ask us to do in our last stake conference.  I memorize one sentence a week and recite from the beginning everyday for a week.  I actually had a chance to use one of the sentences from The Family Proclamation when I was visiting teaching Hailey Chaffin last week.  The lesson was on our potential for parenthood.  I said: "The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife." (sentence #8)  This week I am on sentence 12.

Get in shape!

James and I made a trip to town.  He needed to pick up grass seed and some supplies and I wanted to go to National Bank and close our account.  I also wanted to get my weekly fix of veggies and rice from Panda.  We went to Panda first but it was packed so we headed to Christopher's Garden for grass seed.  I stayed in the car because it was raining and read from "Rise of the Evening Star", the second book in the Fablehaven series.  

Panda was not busy at all on our second try.  Before we went to the bank I checked online to see how much money we had in the account.  I was excited to be getting some cash.  Much to my surprise our account had a balance of -$63.52.  When James changed our Translife supplemental insurance payment he was supposed to transfer the one taken out of this account to my personal Chase account.  Instead he tranferred the one from our business account and so Translife debited $154.85 which made us overdrawn with a $33 service fee.  I was upset but James calmed me down and went in the bank and took care of everything.  

It rained on us on the way home but no rain at our place.  Brian sat outside reading from "The Washington Hypothesis."  Kim was downstairs taking a nap.  James and I went to take a nap too.

Andrew Mancini from The Online Success Team was supposed to call at 10 this morning.  I worked on the things he ask me to do but when it got to be 11 and he hadn't called I stopped.  This afternoon around 5 he called but I didn't answer because I did not want to talk to him.  We will see what happens tomorrow.

I made meatless taco soup for dinner with cornbread.  It was a delicious dinner.  After dinner, James, Brian, Kim and I had some meaningful gospel discussions and we called it F.H.E.  

James told about his angel, Brandon Garvin, who saved his concrete.  We discussed the Nephites in North America, a vision seen by Heber C. Kimball on the night that the Prophet Joseph Smith received the gold plates.  We discussed the Word of Wisdom and most particularly verse 15.  Is wheat to be the staff of life, or is it to be used sparingly.  Kim and I have a difference of opinion.  We need more clarification.  Kim is gluten intolerant and can't eat wheat.  We also talked about our Will and Living Trust.

I texted my friend Pam Giles about making visits to rest homes.  She is a volunteer at Bannon Springs and Angel Wings.  We are kindred spirits.  I love talking to her.  She said it was raining at her house.  We had no rain here but the weather is gorgeous!

Stacy posted some pictures on Facebook that I must share:

Stacy's 21st birthday.  The baby

is Jared Ammon.

Gargantuan Michael holding pee wee

Alex's hand so they can go jump jump.

Also this picture is from three years ago

when I visited my dad's and my grandparents gravesite:

Show Low Cemetery

Kim ask us where we want to be buried.  We are not sure but I think in Vernon.