Friday, September 6th, 2019

Draper, Utah

129th operating temple

Dedicated: 20-22 March 2009

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Glory of

2 Peter 1:17

For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Book of Mormon

Alma 62:19-33

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

Today: 1 Corinthians 15:35-58

General Conference

A Home Where the Spirit of the Lord Dwells

President Henry B. Eyring

"I know that the priesthood keys restored to Joseph Smith were passed on in an unbroken line to President Russell M. Nelson. Those keys make possible the sealing of families today. I know that Heavenly Father loves us His spirit children, with a perfect love. I know that because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can repent, be cleansed, and become worthy to live in loving families forever with our Heavenly Father and with His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

I had cake for breakfast. What a way to start the day. 

We went to see James's mom this morning before my infusion. She seems to be feeling much better than the last time we saw her. She and Rebecca have been making Christmas ornaments. Here is a photo of Lois with Jack, Teresa's son. 

The round bulbs are the Christmas

ornaments.

This package was from Dawn. It contained 

a set of wind chimes.

 The table runner Lois made for me

A beautiful box with a purple necklace and

earrings, a leather journal, a card and a

$50 Amazon gift card.

The outside of the beautiful box.

Lois always showers her family with gifts and I am most grateful.

We had a nice visit and then we left around 10:15. James took me to my infusion and then he drove to Phoenix to have a meeting with Salvador and someone who wants him to build a house.

I was finished with my infusion by noon and James was waiting for me. We drove to the Olive Garden on Chandler Blvd. and the 101 for lunch. Darrel and Trina, and Kim and Brian both gave me Olive Garden gift cards for my birthday plus I ordered one with my credit card points.

I wanted tortellini but there was none on the menu so I ordered chicken and shrimp scampi. James got the stuffed chicken marsalla. I couldn't eat all of mine so I took it and gave it to Sheri. 

We dropped Stacy's cake plate off at her house. She was not there. Afterwards we drove over to Target. I wanted to look for a bag of Harkin's popcorn but they didn't have any. Brian probably got his at the Target Greatland over on Gilbert Rd. 

After Target we went to Sheri's to visit with her. Ollie barked a little at us but not like he used to. We said hi to Max and Alex and sat down to talk with Sheri. Max and Alex went to the gym and when they left James gave Sheri a blessing. It was a really good blessing and I hope it helps her. After the blessing we said goodbye and headed for home. The heat has been stifling and I can hardly wait to get back up north. We went the Payson way at my request.

When we got home the entire Vernon valley was filled with smoke. I guess there was a fire started by lightning while we were gone. It is called the Telephone Fire and started near Lake Mountain. So far about 230 acres have burned.

Our house smelled like garbage that we had forgotten to carry out. On the plus side we did catch Jif in the pantry and another mouse in the garage. We unpacked and put things away. I finished walking my 10,000 steps and then James and I watched a Hallmark movie.

It's good to be home!

 Tonight was his celebration, Monday

is his birthday.

 Arizona Highways 1948

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

Wednesday, July 12th, 2017

Tampico, Mexico
83rd operating temple
Dedicated: 20 May 2000 by
Thomas S. Monson

Atonement

2 Corinthians 5:18

Jesus Christ

Philippians 2:10-11; 2 Timothy 2:8

Alma 31:24-38

*What was the focus of the Zoramites' prayer?

*What was the focus of Alma's prayer?

*What elements of Alma's prayer would you like to incorporate into your personal prayers?

*How has the Lord given you strength to bear your infirmities?

DC 101:25-38

22-31, The nature of life during the Millennium is set forth; 

32-42, The Saints will be blessed and rewarded then;

How can we better take care of our souls?

* By coming unto Christ, repenting of our sins, being baptized and receiving the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end in obedience and righteousness.

General Conference

Songs Sung and Unsung

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

"The declarations of heaven cry out to us that the only way complex societal issues can ever be satisfactorily resolved is by loving God and keeping His commandments, thus opening the door to the one lasting, salvific way to love each other as neighbors. The prophet Ether taught that we should hope for a better world."

Our friend Grady E. from Chandler got his mission call. He is going to Quito, Equador. He leaves in October. We are excited for him. We had Grady in our Primary class a few years back.

James worked on finishing the fence this morning while I got ready to go to the valley. We left at 10:50. I read three chapters of "The Reluctant Duchess" before we stopped at the Taco Bell in Payson. 

I made it to my appointment at Dr. Douglas's at 2:30 a few minutes early. Sheri got James an appointment with Dr. Carpenter at 3 so I dropped him off there before going to my appointment.  It did not take Dr. Douglas long to fill my tooth. I was out in 30 minutes. James was still waiting to see Dr. Carpenter so I decided to go to Target and get some Dr. Pepper 10. 

It was a quick shopping spree but I bought four small notebooks, four DP10's, four bathtub scrubber refills, and a few more items before James was ready for me to come and get him. I grabbed a mini pizza at the snack bar and shared it with James. 

At Cathi and Terry's James unloads the car while I tell Cathi about our cousins reunion, and all of our kids visiting. 

I hang out in the bedroom most of the evening. James got me an In-n-Out Burger and a Jersey Mike's. I am saving the Jersey Mike's for tomorrow. We read another chapter from "The Reluctant Duchess" before going to bed.

Random Photos

Today marks 27 years from when Mario, a friend of ours from Chandler,  died in a tragic airplane accident. Brennan, his oldest, was only 15 but he and his mom and brothers keep Mario's memory very much alive in their family by sharing the memories of him. This is all of Papa Mario's grandchildren except Adam and Gabby.

38 years of marital bliss for these two.

Ray and Dianne.

This is my dear friend Analee.

I would have never recognized her from this photo

as it was taken several decades ago.

I need to show this to James.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

"Just as a man does not really desire food unti he is hungry,

so he does not desire the salvation of Christ until he knows

why he needs Christ.  No one adequately and properly knows why

he needs Christ until he understand and accepts the doctrine

of the Fall and it's effects upon all mankind."

-President Ezra Taft Benson

James has not been able to use the wireless printer he has here in Chandler for quite awhile.  He even tried to get Adam to fix it but Adam said he couldn't do it either.  I worked on it this morning and was able to get it to work.  To say James is happy is an understatement!

This morning I went with Sheri to Target.  She is discouraged because both Max and Evan are home from school with coughs which means she can't go to work.  She is discouraged.

I came home and fixed chicken salad sanwiches for lunch for James and I using the roasted chicken I bought at Fry's on Saturday night.  

After lunch I went to Penney's, Hobby Lobby, and Target again.  The only thing I bought were birthday cards for Lois, Dawn, and Jared and three $50 giftcards.  Oh yes, and I went to one more place, this time by myself....Frost.  I got salted carmel and hazlenut.  Salted carmel is still my favorite.  

James went to Susan Jacobson's to help her with some home repairs.  I stayed at home and helped Joshua with his homework.

That's Adam holding Skittles

 Weird

I taught Joshua his 9 times tables and showed him how all the answers added up to 9.  He liked that.

Later Joshua came downstairs to play a game on the computer.  Grandpa was working at his computer too.

A tragedy occurred in Ian's family tonight.  His brother JD fell on the back of his head and dislodged his brain.  He passed away around 11pm.  

Friday, April 11, 2014

Bluebells in Hallis Forest, Belgium

Gospel Study

The children of Reuben and Gad call their altar ED.  I'm not exactly sure why. 

-Joshua, O.T.

Mosiah 5

Be obedient to God's commandments
Be called the children of Christ
Be found at the right hand of God
Be called by the name of Christ
Be steadfast and immovable
Be brought to heaven.

This morning I worked outside for quite awhile.  I am amazed at how well these steroids are working for me.  The pain in my knees is entirely gone, at least for now.  I finished pulling grass around the mailbox.  Now I want to plant some vincas which are good and sturdy and will last through the summer.  I guess that's for another day.  I also swept off the front porch and driveway.  

Dr. Douglas called and said she could see me around 11:30 to put in a temporary crown.  I hurried to Staples and Target to do my shopping there and then went to see Dr. Douglas.  I had a nice visit with her about the temple open house, etc.  Afterwards I finished up my shopping and errands at the bank, Walmart, and Sam's Club.

 Jason and Drea Boles legally

adopt baby Benjamin.

James came home from work as if a huge burden had been lifted from his shoulders.  He has been released from his contract at Camden Foothills.  They couldn't agree on who should be doing the grading and when he told them he would lose money if he had to do it, that it wasn't in his bid, they let him go.  He thinks they were afraid he wouldn't be able to pay his bills and they would have liens against the property.  I am so grateful.  This is another tender mercy.

This evening James and I went to Ian's parents house, John and Betty Trezise's, so James could price out how much it would cost for them to enclose their carport into a garage.  The last bid they had was $20,000.  James thinks he can do it cheaper, but there are some problems involved.  I had a nice visit with Betty while James and John discussed the job.

!

This reminds me of Ruby

who loves bandages!

James is concerned that I spent too much money on discretionary items this week.  He's probably right.  I will do better.  

Love this picture!

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

I am so glad I took the appointment with Dr. Caldron this morning.  The authorization for me to be on Remicade had already been sent by my insurance company so I was able to get my first infusion today.  Dr. Caldron says my secondary insurance will pay for Remicade but not for Enbrel.  

I stayed until after 12:30.  The infusion took two hours.  I went right home and picked up James and we went to lunch at Chili's.  (We still have gift cards.)  

This afternoon I went shopping at Deseret Book for birthday gifts for Cathi and Karen S.  I also bought journals for Kim, Sheri, Trina, and Stacy as part of their birthday gifts.  I also went to Target and Walgreen's today.  I am a shopoholic when I am in the valley.

Joshua is the star student for his class this week.  Stacy made a poster with pictures of him and information about him.  It turned out very nice.  ( I will try and get a picture to include here).

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