Tuesday, November 26th, 2019

Toronto, Ontario

44th operating temple

Dedicated: 25 Aug 1990

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Head of Church

Mosiah 26:22

For behold, this is my church; whosoever is baptized shall be baptized unto repentance. And whomsoever ye receive shall believe in my name; and him will I freely forgive.

Book of Mormon

Mormon 7:1-8:11

New Testament

1 Peter 2; finish reading 2 Peter using New Testament Student Manual

10/19 General Conference

"Knowing, Loving, and Growing"

Elder Hans T. Boom

"Wherever you are on the path of life, some of you might feel so overburdened that you do not even consider yourself on that path. I want to invite you to step out of the darkness into the light. The gospel light will provide warmth and healing and will help you understand who you really are and what your purpose in life is."

I read an article in the December Ensign: "Ministering Principles: What the Christmas Story Teaches"

Before leaving for town I actually made a shopping list. 

Our first stop in town was at LaCasita for lunch. I had what I always have, a chicken enchilada with red sauce with a side of beans and rice. James ventured out and had a green chili mixed burros, enchilada style. He ate every bite.

I found most of the items I needed at Walmart except for rum extract to make the caramel rum sauce recipe my friend Debbie gave me.

We saw several of our friends in Walmart today: Catherine and Kerri, Blain Curtis, Jean and Tom Howard, and Stefani Hunsaker and her daughter Camrie with Camrie's little boy Parker.

 James picked up his prescription at CVS while I was shopping. I told him we had to go back to that side of town to check to see if Safeway had any rum extract. They didn't. We went home and James unloaded and I put away. On the way home we read from "Aunt Dimity Takes a Holiday."

While I was working on my blog posts for today I listened to Emily Freeman and Barbara Gardner talk about DC 84. It was great. I also listened to Greg Matsen talk about 1st Peter. 

I did some book repricing and a little buying. This evening James built me a fire and we watched "Our Christmas Love Song" starring Alicia Witt and Brendan Hines.

The high today was around 36. We had to pull up the carpet under the dresser downstairs because the planter leaked again. GRRR.

 Paul's sisters Trish and Tara with Dallin,

Michael, Joshua, and Adam

 Our ward prayed him back to life.

 Are those homemade Lion House rolls?

 I love the look on her face

 They grow up so fast!

Thursday, June 13th, 2019

Toronto, Ontario

44th operating temple

Dedicated: 25 Aug 1990

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Examplar

Luke 9:23

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Book of Mormon

Alma 15:5-19

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Matthew 26:31-46 Mark 14:27-42 Luke 22:39-46

General Conference

Your Priesthood Playbook

Elder Gary E. Stevenson

"You know what temptations you are most vulnerable to, and you can predict how the adversary will try to derail and dishearten you. Have you created a personal game plan and playbook so that you will know how to respond when faced with opposition?"

This was the question I asked the kids during our "Come Follow Me" scripture study this morning: "What do you do to help you think about Jesus during the sacrament?" 

We discussed how we could read the words to a sacrament hymn. The sacrament hymns start on page 169. I also told them they could look up the word sacrament in the topical guide in their hymn book if they forgot the page number. We also talked about the scriptures and the topical guide and Rowan said he has used the topical scripture guide.

I then had Rowan and Ruby read the sacrament prayers and we talked about them. We also read Luke 22:50-51 and talked about the kind of person Jesus was to heal the ear of one of his enemies.

While they were eating breakfast I read to them from the Book of Mormon and then we had family prayer. 

James left for the valley this morning so we all said goodbye to him. He is putting in a door at Stacy's house and then one at Hatch Dental in Tempe.

I went upstairs after dinner with the kids and helped them clean. We thought that Jason and his family were coming today and we wanted everything to look nice for them. Lola is very excited to meet Lila.

I needed to go to Dollar General to get some cash to mail Dallin's birthday card. The kids went with me. I told Rowan and Lola they could each pick out something for themselves and something for Ruby for her birthday. We are going to have a party for her tomorrow. Lola found a jewelry set right away that she liked and then she found a pink purse. She wanted both but I told her she had to decide. Right after she chose the purse she found a fuzzy pink diary with a key and a feather pen. This is what she ended up with. She picked a blue stuffed elephant for Ruby saying it was the "cutest thing she had ever seen." She was a little jealous it wasn't her birthday. She said she was going to invite Charlie to her birthday in July.

Rowan picked out a Just Friends Lego set for Ruby and said because it was so expensive he wasn't going to get anything for himself. He is such a thoughtful kid. I also got Ruby a Just Friends set with a girl with brown hair and glasses that I thought looked like her.

On the way home we mailed Dallin's card and picked up some books. While I was fixing lunch Rowan grabbed the paper towels and windex and went outside to clean off my windshield. I love this kid!

Lola watched "Beauty and the Beast". The other two joined in because they didn't want to scare the antelope away outside. We have LaVerne and Shirley and Elvis who has a nice set of antlers.

Finally I told the kids it was too nice a day to stay inside so they went out. They said the antelope ran away and they think they saw a baby with them but it could have been a big jack rabbit. I had to hold back a laugh.

Rowan asked James if he could borrow his rabbit squealer and he and Ruby went outside to try to call up some coyotes. Lola decided to stay with me. She played with my Hello Kitty bank and James's Snoopy bank while I worked on the computer. 

When it was dark and the kids weren't back I walked outside and shouted their names. They came in a few minutes later.

We had bean burritos for dinner and cantaloupe and corn. I was surprised that Lola doesn't like corn or cantaloupe and Ruby doesn't like corn but loves cantaloupe. I cut up a tomato for Lola to eat.

We watched the movie "Private Eyes", Ruby's choice and then I read a story to Lola while she was in bed with Ruby looking on.

Lola was a little sad that Lila and her family didn't come.

 Arizona Highways

 Danica is now a Hallmark star.

 One of James's former Teachers

 TBT: Boy these guys have changed!

 Sisterly love