Saturday, September 7th, 2019

Oquirrh Mountain, Utah

130th operating temple

Dedicated: 21-23 Aug 2009

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Glory of

Revelations 1:14

His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

Book of Mormon

Alma 62:34-52

New Testament "God is Not the Author of Confusion, But of Peace" 1 Corinthians 14-16

1 Corinthians 16

General Conference

The True, Pure and Simple Gospel of Jesus Christ

President M. Russell Ballard

"Effective ministering is best viewed through the focused lens of loving God and loving our neighbors. Simply stated, we minister because we love our Heavenly Father and His children. Our ministering efforts will be more successful if we keep our ministering simple. The most joy comes from the simple things of life, so we need to be careful not to thin that more needs to be added to any of the adjustments we have received to build faith and strong testimonies in the hearts of God's children."

At first James didn't want to go outside to work on the railings because of the smoke from the fire but the smoke disappeared and it turned out to be a beautiful day.

We did have a little cloudburst in the afternoon with left us with quite a bit of rain. 

I worked inside most of the day preparing for tomorrow, watching "Come Follow Me" YouTube videos, working on my blog, and walking. 

A little after four we left to do a little birthday shopping at Dollar General. We were invited to Emsley and Liana Grapp's birthday party and dinner starting at 5. We bought cards for each of them. I brought a journal from home to give to Liana. We got her some colored pens to go with that journal. For Emsley James suggested crayons and a coloring book so that's what we got.

When we got to the Grapp's we were the first ones there besides Uncle Mark and Thomas's grandparents. Cammy said when she asked the girls who they wanted to invite to their party Emsley, the six year old, said: "I want to invite adults because kids are just too rowdy." 

The Nicoll's family, Brianna and Wyatt and their kids came along with the Finnell's.

The Finnell's are a couple a little younger than us who have grown children but no grandchildren. They have adopted the Grapp children as their grandchildren and the kids call them grandma and grandpa. 

Let me tell about the dinner we had. Cammy had a big pot of beans. When I asked for her recipe she said that Rikki, Thomas's grandmother, sprouts beans and then pressure cooks them and bottles them. Cammy takes those beans and adds green chilies, and other spices and boingo, those are the beans. There was fry bread and all kinds of toppings. Here is what Cammy's plate looked like after going through the line:

Yummy!

After dinner we sang Happy Birthday to Emsley, who's sixth birthday is today, and to Liana, whose 11th birthday is the 20th.

 Benson, Liana, and Emsley

Cheesecake and chocolate zucchini cake.

Here are some photos we took during the evening.

The baby is baby Abigail, the Nichol's baby.

 Little Leland handing a toy to Mason.

Leland was a big hit pushing his walker around.

He turned 1 in July.

 Emsley and Abigail

 Tildy and Abigail

Abigail and Liana

 Cammy home schools her kids and she

has them write in the journal everyday.

Kacey, Autumn, and Loren went to TOFW

in Arlington Friday and Saturday.

Charlie and Jared stayed home.

Don't you just love that face!

Saturday, November 3rd, 2018

Cordoba, Argentina

145th operating temple

Dedicated: 11 May 2015

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Jesus Christ, Davidic Descent of
Jeremiah 23:5
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
Book of Mormon
3 Nephi 19:1-29
*What can you do to feel closer to the Savior?
- How hard do I labor to put myself in places where Jesus can show himself to me? What efforts do I put into attending the temple? What sacrifices do I make to have FHE, scripture study, family prayer? How often am I pondering and seeking the Spirit? How often and well do I serve? What am I doing with my time? What sacrifices am I making? Do I labor exceedingly that I might be in the place where Jesus can show himself to me? When we put forth effort and we are doing the things that our Savior has asked, He will certainly "bless us and His countenance will smile upon us, and shine upon us." We will witness the Savior in our life. He will come to us as we come to Him!
Book of Mormon
Mosiah 24-26
Old Testament
13-16
General Conference

Lift Up Your Head and Rejoice

By M. Joseph Brough

"As we face hard things in the Lord's way, may we lift up our heads and rejoice."

Sore throat again this morning. It feels like it is on fire. What's a good remedy? A fun Christmas movie starring Autumn Reeser, "Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade."  Here are some lines from the movie as Henry and Emily meet the Star Light dancers some of whom have been married and dancing together for over 30 years.

Henry: "What makes a relationship last for years?"

Emily: "Peaks and valleys. You remember the peaks to get you through the valleys. Affection, compromise, and peaks and valleys."

I think I am going to text this to Elder Bernecker. He asked me what was the secret to being married 50 years.

Later Emily's friend says to her, (back to the movie): "Be his soft place to fall." Emily: "Where did you hear that?" Friend: "Dr. Phil."

The interesting story of James's morning hunt. I woke up early this morning with the thought that he should go out near the girls camp on the Vernon-McNary road. I remember thinking that I needed to be sure and tell James when he gets up. He left in such a hurry after our prayer that I forgot to tell him. I did remember to pray for him though.

He was home sooner that I thought he would be. The first thing James said to me was, "Thanks for praying for me." I asked him if he was successful and he said yes. He then told about how he ended up saying and prayer and decided to go on the Vernon-McNary road and within a few minutes he found a deer and shot it. I told him about my earlier impression and how I had forgotten to tell him. In his prayer he said to Heavenly Father, "I don't know where the deer are but you do." Heavenly Father really is in the details of our lives.

I am still feeling pretty low with a sore throat, cough, and no energy. I did go to town with James today. We stopped at the Aliberto's on the Deuce and I got a breakfast burrito. It was delicious and really hit the spot. James liked it better than the Torta that he got. I stayed in the car while James went in to Safeway to get some freezer bags for his deer meat. While James was getting gas and washing the car I walked to McDonald's to use the little girls room and to get an ice cream cone. I know ice cream isn't the greatest thing to eat when you have a sore throat but it sure feels good on a scratchy throat.

James spent a couple of hours washing the car since the carwash didn't get all the mud off, the truck, the Razr and the driveway and garage. I appreciate him so much. 

I worked on my lesson, blog, and walked and that's about it. James said a fast prayer and included missionary work as per Elder Robbins' request.

He worked on Book Traders and built a fire before going to bed, which keeps the house warm during the night and is much cheaper than having the heater come on.

Scarlett is such a sweetie!

 Where's your nose Charlie?

Anything else you want me to do?

Going for a walk with Mama

Great photo of Paul and Stacy!

 Dallin's new ride. Oh dear.

 So sorry I missed it.

 Someone didn't do their market research.

Monday, September 3rd, 2018

Nashville, Tennessee

84th operating temple

Dedicated 21 May 2000

By: James E. Faust

Jesus Christ, Crucifixion

Mosiah 3:9

And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the children of men even through faith on his name; and even after all this they shall consider him a man, and say that he hath a devil, and shall scourge him, and shall crucify him.

Book of Mormon

Alma 60:29-61:5

How do you "adhere to the word of God"?

- I apply Christ's Atonement daily. I would be lost and miserable without the knowledge that I can repent and become at one with God again, each day when I slip up and need His cleansing and enabling power.

Brian Horak: " It starts with a desire to do so. Everything good in the gospel starts with a desire. We can't force it. It has to come from within. From there it's all about following the teachings of Christ and doing our best each day to follow His example. I think that if we can get the small stuff down, reading our scriptures every day, praying every day, then it's easier to adhere to the word of God. But it's so easy to shirk the small stuff isn't it? My challenge to everyone here is to try and remember to do the small things. The things that are taught in Primary. These are the things that will bring us closer to our Heavenly Father, closer as a family, and ultimately to our Heavenly home."

Old Testament

Proverbs 4-5

General Conference

Even as Christ Forgives You, So Also Do Ye

Elder Larry J. Echo Hawk

"I plead for all of us this day to remember and follow the example of Jesus Christ. On the cross at Golgotha, in His anguish, He uttered these words: 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.'

By having a forgiving spirit and acting upon it, we can realize the promise of the Savior: 'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.'"

FHE

The Heart of a Prophet

Elder Gary E. Stevenson

"This divinely ordained process leads to another divinely called prophet. Just as President Monson was one of the grandest inhabitants to grace this earth, so is President Nelson. He has been profoundly prepared and specifically tutored by the Lord to lead us at this time. It is a great blessing to now have dear President Russell M. Nelson as our loving and devoted prophet - the 17th President of the Church in this final dispensation."

When Adam finally got up, James said he heard them upstairs until 3 a.m., he started breakfast. He says he likes to cook but he never gets the chance at home. He made potato eggs with the left over mashed potatoes from yesterday, and sausage. While the boys were sitting at the table eating, Kaitlin put in cinnamon rolls. Next round was cinnamon rolls and left over, heated up, bacon.  

After breakfast the played a game called, "Cover You Assets." Adam assured me that I would love it. I wonder.

James took care of his babies today. In the winter it's the bunnies and in the summer it's the hummingbirds.

Focusing on the one:

After breakfast cleanup Adam had to go out and change the tire on his car. It took awhile but now they are ready to go home. They each wrote in our guest book about what a fun time they had and thanked us. Kaitlin confessed that she was doing a cartwheel upstairs, she's 26 years old mind you, she cracked the corner of the ping pong table and offered to buy us a new one. It's a pretty big crack but I don't think we are going to make her buy a new one. We need some kind of insurance called "damage done by guests."

Adam, Kaitlin, Jacob, and Kyle

"A jolly group, that like to have fun."

I made ministering calls today and delivered a check to Kerri for registering me at "Time Out for Women" which will be November 2nd-3rd in Phoenix. I have my ticket and will keep it in a safe place.

I made a salad for dinner while James went to the Howard's to pick up our awning. Tom had just gotten home from the hospital and James didn't feel comfortable asking him for a check because he had company. 

I ironed three blouses for our trip tomorrow this evening, and did a little unpacking of a box that's been in my bedroom for five years. The nice thing about waiting that long to unpack is you find hidden treasures you forgot you had and it's like getting something brand new.

 I read a story called "Scarlet" based on the

Scarlet Pimpernel and now I can read the original!

For F.H.E. we listened to Brother Stevenson's talk about the Prophet, Russell M. Nelson, and then I cut James's hair. 

 She looks like a little peanut!

 Brush fire at the Howard's

James's service project.

 Waterline dug on Saturday filled up with rain from

Sunday's rain. The Applegate's pumped some water out

and then it was the mud brigade. Of course, Ty being

the youngest gets the worse job. He is grimacing because he

keeps getting mud in his face.

 Scarlett loves to swing while waiting for 

Daddy to get home from work.

Trip to town to pick up my prescriptions and do a

little shopping. My pink water bottle is on the floor

because it keeps clanging against James's when it's in the

holder. Shoes off while I'm reading to James.

Poor Tinkerbell.