Tuesday, December 12th, 2017

Kansas City, Missouri

137th operating temple

Dedicated: 6 May 2012

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ Atonement through

Hebrews 7:27

Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

Book of Mormon

Ether 9:1-22

How can we choose to possess our lands unto the Lord?

Doctrine Covenants Favorite Scriptures

DC 27:16-18

16 Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, which I have sent mine angels to commit unto you;

17 Taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked;

18 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of my Spirit which I will pour out upon you, and my word which I reveal unto you, and be agreed as touching all things whatsoever ye ask of me, and be faithful until I come, and ye shall be caught up, that where I am ye shall be also. Amen.

General Conference

By Divine Design

Elder Ronald A. Rasband

"Each of us is precious and loved by the Lord, who cares, who whispers, and who watches over us in ways unique to each of us. He is infinitely wiser and more powerful than mortal men and women. He knows our challenges, our triumphs, and the righteous desires of our hearts."

Stinkin' tree lights!  We had to go back to town again today to get more lights for the tree. James comes too. He heads for Home Deport and Firehouse Subs while I go to Walmart. I mail Michael's birthday card and $20 to Kim to buy a little boy some Hotwheel cars for Christmas. 

James found some lights and when we get back home he went outside to work. I don't think this was a good idea because he had a big coughing spell right at bed time. 

While I am watching the movie, "Christmas Princess," a true story about a girl who becomes one of the princesses in the Rose Bowl Parade, he puts the new lights on the tree.  Now I can decorate it tomorrow.  

We found out today that our temple substitutes for last Saturday, Ruth and Mel Wilhelm did not make it to the temple because their car broke down in Taylor.

I missed the ward Relief Society party this evening. I didn't really feel like going. I still have the blahs.

Today's movies: "A Golden Christmas," "Falling for Christmas," and of course "Christmas Princess" which I already mentioned.

I put this message on Facebook regarding this years Christmas presents: This year for Christmas each of you will receive a blanket from us. Dad/Grandpa even went Christmas shopping with me this year. To me a blanket symbolizes our love for each of you. It evokes images of sitting in front of a fire wrapped in a warm blanket and reading a good book or watching a Christmas movies with someone you love. As you are wrapped in the warmth of your blanket, think of Dad and I and the love we feel for each one of you. Think of the Savior and being wrapped in the arms of His love. We love you all so very much and wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Instead of buying gifts for us, do a service or something kind for someone else!

I didn't tell them that blankets were all I could afford because dad spent all of our Christmas money on our new patio and fire pit.

If James would let me get a dog, I would get

one that looks something like this.

Nice castle and moon.

Max, enjoying Cross Country.

Case's at the North Pole

The Whalen family

Sunday, November 12th, 2017

Columbia River, Washington

107th operating temple

Dedicated: 18 Nov 2001

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Ascension of

Mosiah 18:2

Yea, concerning that which was to come, and also concerning the resurrection of the dead, and the redemption of the people, which was to be brought to pass through the power, and sufferings, and death of Christ, and his resurrection and ascension into heaven.

Book of Mormon

*How can we strive to be more like Christ in our lives?

President Ezra Taft Benson said: "The entire ministry of the Master was characterized by His voluntary subordination to His Heavenly Fathers will", and in the Savior's own words, "I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me... for I do always the things that please Him" (John 8:28-29).  Christ was not only perfectly obedient, but maybe even more importantly, perfectly trusting. So if we choose, like Jesus Christ, to trust more completely, to follow more obediently, and to make doing the will of our Father the core motivation behind decision-making, focus, thoughts, actions, and if we make understanding His will our very purpose, what could the ripple effect of that be? Would we be cultivating and deepening Christlike virtues such as truth, wisdom, patience, kindness, gentleness, love, godliness, faith and self-control? Would we be more completely and exactly following the Savior's example? Would we experience deeper peace, happiness, and joy? Elder Neal A. Maxwell said: "Only by aligning our wills with God's is full happiness to be found...progression toward submission confers...an enhanced capacity for joy."

Doctrine Covenants Favorite Scriptures

DC 6:5-7

5 Therefore, if you will ask of me you shall receive; if you will knock it shall be opened unto you.

6 Now, as you have asked, behold, I say unto you, keep my commandments, and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion.

7 Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich.

General Conference

By Divine Design

Elder Ronald A. Rasband

"Our lives are like a chessboard, and the Lord moves us from one place to another - if we are responsive to spiritual promptings.

Looking back, we can see His hand in our lives."

Neither one of us had to prepare a lesson today. We left for church around 8:45. I did not feel well but I made myself go. It was fast and testimony meeting and Shelly bore her testimony for the last time in sacrament meeting before leaving for her mission. Her family is taking her to Utah to the MTC on Tuesday. 

The bishop was out of town today and Anne was home with two sick babies. The bishop's parents brought the older children so they would be here for the Primary program practice. 

I loved Brother Secard's testimony. He got up as he normally does and as he was talking he tried to explain that he had an illness but he couldn't remember the name of it. He said: "You know, it's the one where you can't remember anything." 

My friend Rosa who is also a Primary teacher told me we were supposed to teach today but she didn't come prepared because she thought we were practicing for the program both hours. I told her I wasn't prepared either and I went to talk to Sister Skousen, the Primary president. She said originally we were not going to teach but they decided two hours was too long to practice so she had Sister Thompson the secretary, call every one. I told her I did not get a call and neither did Rosa. She said it was okay that the presidency would cover the teaching hour, which they did along with the music director. Sister Thompson came to me and apologized and told me she sent out an email on Thursday. I told her I didn't get it but then I realized that every day I delete over 200 emails and maybe I accidentally deleted it. Sure enough, I found it in my deleted files. I was a little embarrassed. Oh well, I guess I need to be more careful in the future.

One exciting thing happened today. Braxton, one of the boys in my class who very rarely comes, came to Primary today and participated in the program!

I was so tired and sleepy I just kept watching the clock and almost decided to leave early during the practice since I was just sitting there anyway. I knew if I went home though I would just have to come back and pick up James so I stayed.

As soon as we got home we broke our fast and I sat down to watch a Christmas movie while eating a peanut butter sandwich and drinking a glass of milk. 

James grilled some steaks and cooked some corn for our real lunch. It was delicious. I was still tired and had a headache and just camped in front of the TV watching Hallmark Christmas movies. 

I watched: "The Sweetest Christmas" starring Lacey Chabert, and Lea Coco. "A Cookie Cutter Christmas" starring Erin Krakow, and David Haydn-Jones, and Alan Thicke. "A Song for Christmas" starring Rebecca Tobin, Kevin McGarry, and Kendra Leigh Thomas. And last but not least, "Enchanted Christmas" starring Carlos and Alexa PenaVega.  Afterwards I vowed there would be no more TV watching on Sunday. It just wasn't right because it kept James from indexing and me from working on family history.

I gave Pam and Ricky conference Ensigns yesterday on the way home from the temple. Pam texted me and said she had finished reading the entire Ensign! Wow! Pretty amazing!

More photos from last night's

Patriotic Program in Chandler

Sister Bear, Sister Barney (from Snowflake), 

Sister Lamb, and Sister Davis.

Brian L., friends with James

The Montgomery's, who happen to have a

summer place in Vernon.

Pres. A. Farnsworth with his daughter and son-in-law.

Sister Kempton and Sister Layton

my counselor and secretary when I was the Primary

President in Chandler 2nd ward.

Fall photo of the day

Kilee, one of my young women

This is about what I look like first thing in the morning.

The Whalen family

The Whalen family Christmas tree

Northern Lights and a glowing igloo

Sooo cute!

My kids cousins and their kids

The Living Christ

Sunday, January 26, 2014

James left at 5:20 for his high council meeting in Show Low.  He was back by 7:40.  His meeting let out early because the stake presidency had to be at our ward council meeting at 7:30.  I was resting on the couch when James got home, planing on getting up and getting ready for church at 8am.  When 8am arrived I felt so miserable that the thought of getting ready for church just overwhelmed me so I went to bed instead.  I slept until after noon when James got home.  He gave me a brief report of ward conference and said it was one of the best he's ever attended.  I asked him to take notes for me and he did, of all three meetings!

We had lunch and took a nap.  I was feeling a little better after my second nap of the day. 
James had asked his home teaching companion, Westin Hall, to make appointment with the Hunsaker's and Peeler's this afternoon but Westin forgot so James went by himself after the Book of Mormon class. 

I finally made James's Eagle Brand birthday pie.  We had it for dessert after our grilled honey-lime chicken with rice and corn. 

Facebook finds:

Cousin's, Kreed and Ruby

Gilbert temple

Gilbert temple

The Whalen's at the Gilbert temple

open house.