Wednesday, July 27, 2016

This morning's sunrise.

Alma 40:15-26

What happens between death and the resurrection.  It says in verse 21: . . . there is a space between death and the resurrection of the body, and a state of the soul in happiness or in misery until the time which is appointed of God that the dead shall come forth, and be reunited, both soul and body, and be brought to stand before God, and be judged according to their works.

GC: "Refuge from the Storm" by Elder Patrick Kearon

Rowan and Ruby started school today.  They are in a new school so it will be a challenge to make new friends.

Ruby is in 2nd grade and Rowan is in the 4th.

I love these two sweeties!

James had to make an emergency trip to town for more plumbing supplies for the sprinklers he's putting in.  I went with him and we had lunch at Panda again and I went to Walmart to pick up a prescription while he went to Home Depot.  I think we may be in a rut.  On the way home we finished reading "The Washington Hypothesis."  I loved this book and have gained a new appreciation for John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Henry Knox, and especially George Washington.  Where are men like this when we need them right now.  I don't think the people of America are honoring God and our National Covenant, 'If ye keep the commandments, ye shall prosper in the land.'  I fear for America.  

When we returned from town Alicia Hunsaker brought us some Protandim which is a new supplement designed to help rid your body of free radicals.

James and I both want to feel better and so in addition

to changing our diet we are trying this supplement.

I am always tired when I return from town so I put on my comfy clothes and laid down in the recliner and watched an episode of "Chopped."  Afterwards I got ready for my visiting teaching visit with Claire Mercado.  I prepared this handout:

The lesson was on the blessing of children and

our potential for parenthood.

I really do like Claire and she has been an example to me on how to eat right.  She is a vegan and seems to be quite healthy.

We had a really nice visit.  I feel like she has become my friend.

For dinner we had beans, salsa, chips, radishes, and cucumbers.  It was quite tasty and we ate the last of the beans I cooked last week.

Tonight I studied "The Seven Miracles that Saved America."  One of these miracles was Christopher Columbus and that's who I am reading about now.  I also read "The Seven Tipping Points that Saved the World."  One of these was Christianity and it's effect on the thinking of the people of Europe.  Fascinating reading and I am learning so much.

When Dallin came to visit he took this picture.

I hope he remembers the Savior everyday of his life.

Today is Claire's birthday.  She is Dallin's friend and came with him to the cabin.  I hope she had a wonderful day.

Happy Birthday Claire!

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Mosiah 27:18-37

How does it feel to have your soul "redeemed from the gall of bitterness and the bonds of iniquity"? This is the conversion story of Alma the younger and here are a few of my favorite verses:

24 - For, said he, I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit.

25 - And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters;

28 - Nevertheless, after wading through much tribulation, repenting nigh unto death, the Lord in mercy hath seen fit to snatch me out of an everlasting burning, and I am born of God.

29 - My soul hath been redeemed from the gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity.  I was in the darkest abyss; but now I behold the marvelous light of God.  My soul was racked with eternal torment; but I am snatched, and my soul is pained no more.

31 - Yea, every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess before him.  Yea, even at the last day, when all men shall stand to be judged of him, then shall they confess that he is God; then shall they confess, who live without God in the word, that the judgment of an everlasting punishment is just upon them; and they shall quake, and tremble, and shrink beneath the glance of his all-searching eye.

36 - And they traveled throughout all the land of Zarahemla, and among all the people who were under the reign of king Mosiah, zealously striving to repair all the injuries which they had done to the church, confessing all their sins, and publishing all the things which they had seen, and explaining the prophecies and the scriptures to all who desired to hear them.

Wow! What a change.  I wish I could see this dramatic change in some of my grandsons. 

 

During our morning study time:

While he's huddled around the heater, I am sitting under the fan.

 

Today is a smoky day.  For some reason the forest service thinks they have to do burns to protect the trees.  James and I are both frustrated.  We are wondering why they can't chip the trees, etc. and sell them to the chipping plant in Show Low.  The smoke makes us miserable, especially James who has such bad allergies.

 

James needed to get some materials for the shed in town and wanted me to go with him.  On the way we read from Sarah M. Eden British Isles Collection.  We never finished the last story and James wants to finish it before we go on to the next Narnia book.  The story is called "A Lesson in Love."

 

I shopped at Walmart and probably spent too much money while James was buying roofing materials.  When he was finished he picked me up and I went with him to Home Depot.  While he was buying building supplies I bought a new filter for our refrigerator and some air filters for the air conditioner.  The items I bought were right around $100.  Keeping up a home is expensive!

Oh yes, James heard from Erik and my car does have a warped head gasket so that's probably going to cost us around $1,500.  Let's just say that it's expensive to live.

 

On the way home we listened to Elder Mervyn B. Arnold's conference address, "To the Rescue: We Can Do It" Here is a quote:

"The Son of Man is come to save that which was lost . . .

"For it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish."

 

On a little lighter note:

Our choices for President of the United States are Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.  I honestly don't know who to vote for.

 Is there a decent third party running.  We will have to wait and see.

Laura says we need to vote Republican because of the Supreme Court nominations, but can I honestly vote for someone who I think is incompetent?

Kaeli Nicoll and I went to visit Claire Mercado this afternoon.  We even met beforehand and had prayer.  I took Claire and her daughter Marlie a basket of fruit an Claire seemed very appreciative.  She ate one of the bananas while we were there.  

 

After our visit I couldn't get in the house so I called James to let me in.  He was still outside working and so I told him not to worry about it.  As I was walking around to the back of the house where the door was unlocked he came charging through the garage and ran into a wall.  He was a bloody mess when I saw him.  He has a big gash between his eyebrows.  He probably needed to have stitches.  He spent all day on a ladder and never got hurt and then this happens.  He wouldn't let me take a picture.

 

I fixed cabbage and broccoli for dinner and we both loved it!  While we were settling in to watch our movie Dallin and Joe were performing with Alpin Hong at MCC.

Dallin is singing on the far right.

These two are very talented if I do say so myself!

 

Here is the movie we watched.  Another one with Ed Asner as the grumpy, wise grandpa.

Some gorgeous northern California

scenery in this movie.