Friday, February 1st, 2019

Tuxtla, Gutuirrez, Mexico

75th operating temple

Dedicated: 12 Mar 2000

By: James E. Faust

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

Matthew 14:33

Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

Book of Mormon

1Nephi 21:1-21

When have you had the chance to be an everyday missionary?

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Jesus Christ was baptized to "fulfill all righteousness"

General Conference

Opening Remarks

President Russell M. Nelson

"This morning we will announce a new balance and connection between gospel instruction in the home and in the Church. We are each responsible for our individual spiritual growth. And scriptures make it clear that parents have the primary responsibility to teach the doctrine to their children. It is the responsibility of the Church to assist each member in the divinely defined goal of increasing his or her gospel knowledge."

I got up at five o'clock this morning excited to write down some goals for our book business. I am determined that we are going to make it work!

I had my personal prayers and studied the "Come Follow Me" lesson segment on the baptism of Jesus. 

I had a shake and a cinnamon roll for breakfast and before we left for the valley James gave me a diet Dr. Pepper. We left at 6:45 after having our family prayer. 

There was some rain in Globe. We arrived at the Arizona Arithritis and Rheumatology Associates at 10 and my appointment is at 10:30. I had to wait a little while before Frances called me back. 

It's Frances and Angie today like it has been the last several times I have been there. 

Angie had a hard time finding the vein in my left arm this time. When she did she took four viles of blood before putting in the Actemra infusion. 

The infusion takes about an hour. When the timer went off and Angie came over to take out the tube she said, "Oh, you have a tire." I looked at my arm and it was swollen around the infusion site. She told me to keep the tape on until about 2 or 3 this afternoon. She also said that next time we are going to have to choose another vein. 

James was outside walking when I was finished. We got in the car and he took me directly to Dr. Shah's on Ray between Dobson and Price. The doctor looked at my implant and said the tissue looked pink and healthy and that he would see me back at my next appointment around the first of May. He also told me to keep the incision site clean by using the mouth rinse 2x a week. When he left the nurse told me not to use it everyday. It is great at killing bacteria but it also turns your teeth brown. Well I certainly don't need my teeth to be brown!

James went to Kim and Brian's before they left for the Guster concert in California. They had a birthday card for him and a $40 Amazon card. Thanks Kim and Brian. Be safe on your trip.

I texted Stacy to see if we could come by and drop off Joshua's charger that he left at the cabin. She said she was upstairs and in a lot of pain. I told her we would just drop it off and that I was sorry she was in so much pain.

Our next stop was Hobby Lobby to look for stuff for Valentine cards. James loves this store too. While I was looking at the card stuff he found a quilling kit he bought for me. Quilling is the art of taking ribbon and wrapping it tight around a quilling pen to make designs. The set he got came with directions on how to make quilling flowers.

On to Joe's BBQ in Gilbert for lunch. James has been wanting to use the gift card he got for his birthday and today is the day. 

I ordered sliced brisket because I remember how moist and delicious the sliced brisket was that Brian got for me at Dickie's. I also ordered coleslaw and macaroni and cheese. 

James ordered chopped brisket, scalloped potatoes and beans. His lunch, every dish, was better than mine. The sliced brisket was dry and tough, the coleslaw had to much mayo, and the macaroni and cheese was just average. 

The chopped brisket was moist, and the beans and potatoes were delicious. James had to finish my brisket for me.

We stopped at a Shell station with a McDonald's in Apache Junction. While I used the restroom James bought us ice cream. A cone for me and a cup for him. His cost 3x more than mine and that upset him.

We made it home with no incidents. I slept part of the way and read to James part of the way. It's always good to be home.

I had quite a bit of walking to do this evening since I was in the car or a doctor's office most of the day.

Way to go Alice!

Ideas for Valentines for Darrel's kids

 I told Darrel and he said he would never have to do this.

 So cute!

Best friends...Happy Birthday Drea and Adrienne

Such a sweetie!

Saturday, August 25th, 2018

Tuxtla, Gutierrez, Mexico

75th operating temple

Dedicated: 12 Mar 2000

By: James E. Faust

Jesus Christ, Crucifixion

Mark 15:34

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Book of Mormon

Alma 56:18-40

*When have I had to stand up for something I believe in?

- When my friend Wendy told me I couldn't pray or meditate for 28 days if I wanted to be a life coach for the company she was working for, and I was to tell my clients the same thing. I asked for a refund saying that this was something I could not do.

Old Testament

Psalms 76-80

76 God is known in Judah and dwells in Zion - He will save the meek of the earth.

77 The righteous cry unto the Lord - They remember the wonders of old, how He redeemed the sons of Jacob and led Israel like a flock.

78 The Israelites are to teach the Lord's law to their children - Disobedient Israel provoked the Lord in the wilderness - The Egyptian plagues are recounted - The Lord chooses and blesses Judah and David.

79 The heathen nations destroy Jerusalem and defile the temple - Israel pleads for forgiveness and deliverance

80 Israel pleads with the Shepherd of Israel for deliverance, for salvation, and for His face to shine upon them.

General Conference

Prophets Speak by the Power of the Holy Ghost

Elder Ulisses Soares

"Brothers and sisters, from the bottom of my heart, I testify that the prophets speak by the power of the Holy Spirit. They testify of Christ and His divine mission on earth. They represent the mind and heart of the Lord and are called to represent Him and teach us what we must do to return to live in the presence of God and His Son, Jesus Christ. We are blessed as we exercise our faith and follow their teachings. By following them, our lives are happier and less complicated, our difficulties and problems are easier to bear, and we create a spiritual armor around us that will protect us from the attacks of the enemy in our day."

We left the house at 5:45 for our shifts at the Snowflake temple.

It rained most of the way. 

The Reidhead's were our leaders today. In our preparation meeting we saw a film about the initiatory ordinances. 

My first assignment was to be the greeter at the top of the stairs. I get to greet everyone coming up the stairs. Next I was downstairs as greeter 2. My friend Debbie was a greeter with me. I told her my daughter Sheri and grandson Ben were coming to do a session. At 8:30 I had to leave to work in the initiatory, and so did Debbie. We were in the elevator and Debbie realized she had left a clipboard and went back down while I went on to the initiatory to tell the sister in charge that Debbie would be a little late. 

When Debbie arrived she said, "You should have come back with me. Your daughter and grandson came in." I was so excited that they were actually here!

Sheri came in and did 3 names in initiatory while I was there. It made me happy!  

Sheri and Ben attended the 9:30 session. James was the follower for the brothers. As I was going to my next assignment I passed the endowment room where Sister Reidhead was standing at the door counting the sisters. I explained to her that my daughter and grandson were in the session and would she trade schedules with me. She was glad to. That's how I became the second follower in Ben and Sheri's session.

After the session I had the celestial room and I hurried in hoping Sheri and Ben would be there but they were already gone. I didn't see them again until we got home.

Although it rained in Snowflake, it looked like it had rained alot more in Vernon. I had a text on my phone from Deana, the Howard's daughter, that the Wolf Mountain open house had been postponed until next because of the weather and I am sure also because Brother Howard is in the hospital.

I forgot to mention something that happened last night while the kids were outside at the firepit making smores. Sheri had seen a rat go into the cabinets by the grill on the patio. Rowan and Max scared him out and were trying to kill him. Grandpa got in on the action and there were actually two rats. Both of them met their demise. Rowan and Max were chanting, kill, kill, kill. Although I don't like rats I was sad to hear that they were so blood thirsty.

I know, it's gross!

I'm glad I was in the house during the killings.

James wins the good husband award this afternoon/evening. We forgot to get gas on the way home from the temple so he went back to get some at Stanford and of course they were out and he had to drive all the way to Show Low. The gauge said he could go 7 miles but he actually went 9. He also washed the car and made a cobbler for dessert after dinner. Oh yes, he also cooked us steaks for dinner.

I made a salad and some rolls to go with Sheri and Ian's burgers and beans.

It was a beautiful evening so I did my walking outside.

Monday, March 19th, 2018

Tuxtla, Gutierrez, Mexico

75th operating temple

Dedicated: 12 Mar 2000

By: James E. Faust

Jesus Christ Authority of

DC 19:24

I am Jesus Christ; I came by the will of the Father, and I do His will.

Book of Mormon

Jacob 3:1-14

*Why does Jacob choose to say 'awake' in this chapter instead of just repent or change? What do you visualize in Jacob 3:11?

* What is the relationship between the riches of the world and the riches of eternity?

Article: "Treasures of Eternal Value"

By: Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, April 2008

Old Testament

Deuteronomy 3-4

3 Israel destroys people of Bashan - Their lands, on east of Jordan, given to Reuben and Gad - Moses sees Canaan from Pisgah but is denied entrance thereto - He counsels and strengthens Joshua.

4 Moses exhorts Israel to keep commandments, to teach them to their children and to be exemplary before all nations - They are forbidden to make graven images or worship other gods - To witness that they had heard the voice of God - Israel shall be scattered among all nations when they worship other gods - They shall be gathered again in latter days when they seek the Lord their God - Moses extols mercy and goodness of God to Israel.

General Conference

The Lord Leads His Church

President Henry B. Eyring

" There is a thread that binds us to the Lord in our service. It runs from wherever we are called to serve in the kingdom, up through those called to preside over us in the priesthood, and to the prophet, who is bound to the Lord. It takes faith and humility to serve in the place to which we are called, to trust that the Lord called us and those who preside over us, and to sustain them with full faith."

That Your Joy Might Be Full

 Sister Jean B. Bingham

" As we learn more about Jesus Christ, we develop greater faith in Him and we naturally want to follow His example. Keeping His commandments becomes our greatest desire. Our hearts yearn to relieve others' suffering, as He did, and we want them to experience the peace and happiness we have found."

James is always so miserable when he gets up in the morning and today was no different. I sympathize with him but usually it just takes some time and, oh yes, some lemon juice.

The snow is all gone except for a few small patches here and there. Hopefully we will get some more. 

One of our ward members, I will call him Brother Scott, was assigned to clean the church this past week. No one else that was assigned was able to be there, including his wife who is quite ill. Brother Scott went down at 8:30 on Saturday to clean and at 4:00, after Charlie's baptism he was still there cleaning. Now that's dedication! I already loved this brother, but now I love him even more.

I am struggling with trying to give up sugar. It is much harder for me than giving up Dr. Pepper 10. I have not had any since the 4th of March.

James went upstairs to work on taxes and had a difficult time getting on our bank website. I finally had to go up and help him. It is usually him helping me so it's nice that I can help him once in awhile.

For lunch we had steak, baked potatoes, and a salad. Afterwards I had a nice nap. 

This afternoon I blogged, walked, and read to James. Somehow I missed cleaning. Around 4:30 we left for Show Low. James went to Home Depot to look for some wax remover for the wood floor. I went to Walmart to get a dessert for Sister Howard whom I am visiting tomorrow. Her birthday is on Thursday. Not only am I her visiting teacher, I consider her a good friend. 

Home Depot had no wax remover so on the way home I ordered some online from Walmart. 

James grilled me a cheeseburger for dinner. We had four hamburger patties left from when Max, Evan, and Joshua were here.

For FHE we listened to Sister Bingham's conference talk, "That Your Joy Might Be Full." I also showed James around the Family Search website.

I quit watching "Upstairs, Downstairs" on my phone. It got to be too racy. Instead I am watching "Little Men" which is a TV series based on the book "Little Men" by Louisa May Alcott. The March sisters Jo, Amy and Meg are all in it, and so is Lauri.

I think I post this every year.

Our bishop and his buddy.

What is it about seals that I like?

Maybe it's the cute face.

Trina and the kids in Sedona.

Tomlinson's and their cousins in D.C.

Looks like an elephant to me, or a 

woolly mammoth.