Monday, April 23rd, 2018

Monterrey, Mexico

110th operating temple

Dedicated: 28 April 2002

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ betrayal of

Matthew 26:45

Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 14-15:9

* Why do we do things our "own way"?

- Sometimes we think our way is easier...or the right way. But we don't see the whole picture as God does. It's hard to let go of the wheel...it can be scary too!

Old Testament

Ruth 1

Elimelech and his family go to Moab because of famine - His sons marry - The father and sons die - Ruth, the Moabitess, her husband having died, remains constant to Naomi - They come to Bethlehem.

General Conference

Christ the Lord is Risen Today

Elder Gerrit W. Gong

"This is Easter Sunday. I reverently witness and solemnly testify of the living Christ - He who 'died, was buried, and rose again the third day.'"

Prophets Speak by the Power of the Holy Spirit

Elder Ulisses Soares

"Having prophets is a sign of God's love for His children. They make known the promises and the true nature of God and of Jesus Christ."

"Rescuing Wayward Children," 202: "The blessings given to Abraham flow to us by and through the Melchizedek Priesthood. What the ancients called entering into the order of the Son of God is today called entering into the fullness of the Melchizedek Priesthood. This can only happen in the temple. Both worthy men and women enter into this highest order of the priesthood in the temple....We obtain the power to bring our children into the presence of God by going to the house of the Lord and entering into 'the order of the Son of God' by means of the ordinances, including eternal marriage when the opportunity arises."

Russell M. Nelson 4/96 #25: "Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods Before Me" "Which way do you face? Our respect for the first commandment fashions our feelings for all the others."

Two people cancelled appointments with me today. I had an appointment to see Sister MacArthur at 9 this morning and just as I was about to open the muffin mix she called and said she was in town and could I come tomorrow. No problem.

I was going to take Sister Halcomb to have a minor surgery done on her arm and she texted me and said her daughter was home and she would take her. No problem.

James and I are really getting in to the "Kill the Chunky Monkey Weightloss Challenge. We both walked 45 minutes straight to get the 7 exercise points. 

I wrote a check for the last half of our property taxes. The check was around $1,400. 

James went to the post office today and there was a check there from Dianne Rico for $1,150. There was also a check from a life insurance company with the policy on me, for $118. The Lord really does answer prayers.

I started cleaning upstairs for our company on Thursday, Dave, Laura, Cathi, Terry, and Lady. It gets so dusty! James joined me. He moved the kingsized bed from my office to Sheri and Ian's room, their bed into his office, and the bed in his office into my office. 

He also started making shutters for the front windows today. It was a good day for him! He also did yard work and planted the iris's and hydrangea bush he bought the other day. 

We had boiled cabbage for dinner and then for FHE we listened to Brother Soares conference talk, "Prophets Speak by the Power of the Holy Spirit."

This baby bunny couldn't reach inside the 

bowl for his feed so he solved the problem

by jumping in.

Hello world!

Garden State Tortoise

Dresden, Germany

I remember President Uchtdorf giving a

talk where he mentioned how Dresden was

destroyed during World War II and then

was rebuilt to be just as beautiful as it was before.

Buffalo St., Chandler, Arizona

This is the first building where we attended

church in Chandler. It was light green in

color when we were there and before it was

torn down.

Wednesday, November 8th, 2017

Montevideo, Uruguay

103rd operating temple

Dedicated: 18 Mar 2001

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Ascension of

1 Timothy 3:16

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 23:1-14

What value is there in searching the scriptures and the prophets?

Today I quote from 3 prophets because I couldn't choose one. The Prophet Joseph Smith: "Search the scriptures - search the revelations and ask your Heavenly Father, in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, to manifest the truth unto you, and if you do it with an eye single to His glory, nothing doubting, He will answer you by the power of His Holy Spirit. You will then know for yourselves. You will not then be dependent on man for the knowledge of God; nor will there be any room for speculation. When men/women receive their instruction from Him that made them, they know how He will save them."

President Gordon B. Hinckley: "I am grateful for the emphasis on reading the scriptures. I hope that for you this will become something far more enjoyable than a duty; that rather, it will become a love affair with the word of God. I promise you that as you read, your minds will be enlightened and your spirits will be lifted. At first it may seem tedious, but that will change into a wondrous experience with thoughts and words of things divine."

President Henry B. Eyring: "The Holy Ghost will guide what we say if we study and ponder the scriptures every day. The words of the scriptures invite the Holy Spirit. With daily study of the scriptures we can count on this blessing. We treasure the word of God not only by studying them. We may be nourished more by pondering a few words, allowing the Holy Ghost to make them treasures to us, than by passing quickly and superficially over whole chapters of scripture."

Karen Lambson: "I love reading the scriptures!"

Doctrine Covenants Favorite Scriptures

DC 4:2

Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.

General Conference

Be Ye Therefore Perfect - Eventually

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

"'Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in Him...,' Moroni pleads. 'Love God with all your might, mind, and strength, then...by His grace ye may be perfect in Christ.' Our only hope for true perfection is in receiving it as a gift from heaven - we cant earn it. Thus, the grace of Christ offers us not only salvation from sorrow and sin and death but also salvation from our own persistent self-criticism."

"Fear not, be of good cheer, your future is as bright as your faith"

-President Thomas S. Monson

It was overcast today but for the next 15 days there is zero moisture in sight.

As I was walking around the house this morning I looked out the window and saw a coyote standing out beyond our fenced yard. He just stood there looking around. I watched him for awhile and then I looked over at the storage building and there was a little cottontail jumping around. I immediately went outside and started yelling and waving my arms to scare the coyote away. He looked at me like I was really weird and then he trotted away. The bunny was saved by the granny.

James went to town today to pick up pavers. I thought for sure he would bring me a taco but I guess maneuvering a trailer around a small parking lot is just too hard. He said we could go to lunch in Springerville and get tacos, so I got ready. On the way we started a new book, "Once an Heiress" which is on my kindle app on my phone. 

We went to Booga Reds and I ordered a green chili Navajo taco. It was okay but I should have ordered a regular taco. While James was waiting to pay the bill, I started walking to Western Drug. He picked me up and we went inside together. This place has a crazy assortment of merchandise, hunting and camping gear, material, dry goods, etc.  I even found a camo tablecloth. We also stopped at Safeway to pick up some strawberries and stuff for salad.

As we approached the graveyard on the Vernon Road, a 4x4 deer was standing in the road. Just as I was about to take a picture he ran off and jumped the fence. 

James is a one man show outside with moving the pavers for the patio. He accomplishes great things. 

As I worked on my blog and did some other chores I watched several Christmas movies: "Love You Like Christmas", "The Mistletoe Promise," "All I Want for Christmas," "Farewell Mr. Kringle," "Second Chance Christmas."

I read from the introduction of "Rescuing Wayward Children" and also got my 10,000 steps or more for the day.

Low hanging clouds hide the top of

Mt. Montoso

It's like the Springerville Superstore

James likes this sign better, maybe because

of the elk.

LaDonna Chapman from our 

early days in Chandler. Her daughter

married one of James's best friends from

high school and they work in the Snowflake temple.

I love this little pig!

Temple Open House

Love these old photos

"Lollipop"

Formerly known as Squaw Peak

Love these clouds!

James laying out the fire pit.

I saw this trailer on my walk through

Springerville today.

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Guadalajara, Mexico

105th operating temple

I was surprised when I opened the blinds early this morning to find two inches of snow on the ground.

I am tempted to use this for my

Christmas cards.

Mosiah 2:1-9

* Families gather and prepare to receive King Benamin's words.

* The people prepared to receive King Benjamin's words by offering sacrifices associated with the law of Moses.  In making these sacrifices, the people expressed gratitude to God and dedicated themselves to Him. (What kind of sacrifices are we ask to make today?  How did you prepare to receive the messages given at General Conference?)

* According to the last part of Mosiah 2:9, what did King Benjamin believe would happen if the people opened their ears and their hearts to his message?

* What do you think it means to open our ears and hearts to those who are called to teach?

Alma 62;15-52

The king-men who refuse to defend their country are put to death - Pahoran and Moroni retake Nephihah - Many Lamanites join the people of Ammon - Teancum slays Ammoron and is in turn slain - The Lamanites are driven from the land, and peace is established - Helaman returns to the ministry and builds up the Church. 

DC 51:7-20

The Saints are to deal honestly and receive alike; They are to have a bishop's storehouse and to organize properties according to the Lord's law; Ohio is to be a temporary gathering place.

* Why did the Lord counsel the saints to act upon the land "as for years?"

- The Lord wanted the Saints to live the gospel and share it in Ohio as though they were to be there a long time.

General Conference

"My Peace I Leave With You"

President Henry B. Eyring

"The Lord promised peace to His disciples as He was about to leave them.  He has made the same promise to us."

Today I studied the Relief Society visiting teaching message, on The Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood.  Sister Burton asks the sisters to memorize the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood in DC 84: 33-44.  I thought it was an interesting request, but I will do it.

I am reading about the Last Days in the Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual in the enrichment section.  Today I read: the Lord Will Preserve His People.  I found this statement to be interesting:

"It is part of the Lord's testing of his children in mortality to allow them to remain in the midst of difficulty to see if they will be true to him in times both of prosperity and of distress."

Can you see the Cougar?

I spent three hours working on my strengthening marriage talk.  I got it all written using the marriage manual as the basis for my text. Now I need to run it off and read it and revise it.  

I found out today that President Monson was

hospitalized earlier this week.  We all need to

pray for him.

This afternoon I made snickerdoodles from a mix I had to eat with the rest of the strawberries in the refrigerator.  They were delicious!

I should have never made them.  I ate 3 total today and put the rest in the refrigerator.  

By late afternoon all the snow was melted.  Outside my window looked like this:

It's hard to believe that snow can disappear so quickly.

No Christmas card here.

The snow disappeared but as an added bonus some elk crossed in the back:

There were seven for them.

This picture is blurry because I magnified it.

This guy was the leader and he was a little jittery.

I think our bunny was glad that the snow melted.

James is still trying to find that missing sewer line in Chandler.

At least he got his tractor out of this most precarious predicament.

What a mess!

I came across the idea on Facebook.  This little house is called a granny pod:

Do any of my kids have a backyard big enough for

one of these?