Saturday, June 20th, 2020

Tampico, Mexico

83rd operating temple

Dedicated: 20 May 2000

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Lamb of God

Revelation 5:12

Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

Alma 16 with James, Study Guide

April General Conference

"That They May See"
Bonnie H. Cordon
"My dear brothers and sisters, for years I've pondered the principle I learned from Elder Perry. The Lord's invitation to let our light so shine is not just about randomly waving a beam of light and making the world generally brighter. It is about focusing our light so others may see the way to Christ. It is gathering Israel on this side of the veil - helping others see the next step forward in making and keeping sacred covenants with God."

"In the Strength of the Lord"

Elder David A. Bednar

BYU Devotional

 I'm itchin' to go back to the Taylor Walmart. It was such a good shopping experience on Tuesday. James went out to work on little Cat and I finished my blog and headed for Taylor. It was after 11 so I thought I would beat the rush and get a cheeseburger at Sonic. There's no beating the rush nowadays so I had to wait in line. I ate my cheeseburger in the far ends of the Walmart parking lot. 

My shopping experience was not as good as the one on Tuesday, because it's Saturday, but it was still better than Show Low. I got two 25 ounce bottles of liquid Safeguard soap, my main reason for coming. Somehow I managed to spend over $100. I had $75 in cash and without thinking, I gave all of it to the cashier and paid for the rest with my debit card. As I was driving home I realized that I had  spent all my cash and I was going to go to the Campbell girl's carwash and bake sale and have them was my car for cash. They are trying to raise money to go to the San Diego Zoo. I wanted to support them because their mom is so amazing about loving and supporting other people. I texted Candi, the mom, and asked if I could send them money via Zelle or Venmo. She told me I was so sweet but that they would have another carwash next month. She helped me to feel better and I told her I would definitely save my cash for the big event.

James has found another problem with little Cat and will need to get the mechanic back out here next week. We both sat on the couch in the recliners and I read to him from our latest Aunt Dimity book, "Aunt Dimity and the Summer King." 

After my nap I did my gospel study. This evening I am going to work outside so I switched my gospel study to this afternoon. I finished my Book of Mormon study guide for Alma 16 and finished reading all the talks about covenants for our Lambson Study Group on Sunday. I also finished my Inklings study by studying Elder Christofferson's conference talk on the Restoration and the Resurrection. Good times.

I rearranged furniture on the patio, swept the patio, and emptied the garbage. I picked up all of the pinecones under the pine tree and put them in a container. I also picked up trash in the "back yard." I use the term yard loosely. I re-organized the furniture on the deck outside of our bedroom and brought one of the small tables over from the deck so we could sit outside in the shade if we wanted to. The only thing I didn't do was clean off the ping pong table and cover it with the cover I ordered. The weather was so beautiful and so was the sunset.

We had chili for dinner and cheese crisps and then watched a new Hallmark movie, "Love Under the Olive Tree." Cheesy

Smokey sunset

 Cuteness abounds

 Love this puzzle

Thursday, May 21st, 2020

Monticello, Utah

53rd operating temple

Dedicated: 26 July 1998

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, King

Matthew 27:11

And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? and Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

Mosiah 27:1-22 with James; Sunday journal, study guide, Sunday on Monday podcast

Family Group Study

"Love and Law" Dallin H. Oaks, October 2009

April General Conference

"A Perfect Brightness of Hope"

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

"Speaking of Jesus, had we lived in those first years of the 19th century, we would have realized with great alarm that doubts about the reality of the Savior's life and Resurrection were beginning to take significant hold within Christendom. Therefore, we would have hoped for evidence to come to the whole world that would confirm the biblical witness that Jesus is the Christ, the literal Son of God, Alpha and Omega, and the only Savior this world will ever know. 

It would have been among our dearest hopes that other scriptural evidence be brought forward, something that could constitute another testament of Jesus Christ, enlarging and enhancing our knowledge of His miraculous birth, wondrous ministry, atoning sacrifice, and glorious Resurrection. Truly such a document would be "righteousness sent down out of heaven; and truth sent forth out of the earth."

"Full Conversion Brings Happiness"
Elder Richard G. Scott
April 2002

I am grateful for friends, family, and modern conveniences.

James started out this morning for Payson and then the valley in Tom Howard's truck. After less than an hour he called me and said the truck was not running right and could I pick him up at the Howard's in about 20 minutes. I said I could. 

When I got to the Howard's, James was not there yet. Tom was out in the yard so I spoke with him. I think he thought I was there to see Jean but it was only 7:30 in the morning. I told him I was there to pick up James because he was having problems with the truck. Tom told me to go in the house and visit with Jean but I was not dressed appropriately for a visit. I tried calling Jean but she didn't answer. She called me back later and we were going to go to Persnikkity's for lunch but Jean said she had a doctor's appointment. 

When James and I got home Alex was up sitting on the couch. He was anxious to go find the snake. He and James went outside and Alex carried the snake away in a bucket. He did not want to kill it. When he came back he found another snake. I wanted him to kill it but again he carried it off in a bucket. This picture says it all:

This picture makes my skin crawl

I was determined to get my 15,000 steps today. I walked almost all of the 15,000 in my bedroom while working on my blog and trying to buy books. I am concerned that I have been through three pages of books and have only found one to buy. Amazon is selling books cheap Prime keeping FBA sellers from making any profit. I'm not sure why. My balance right now is $796.30 but I am looking to the future and I am a little concerned.

James got Armando to pick up the fixtures in Payson and take them to the valley. He is still trying to decide when he needs to go down and meet with subcontractor's. I told him to hold off until next week because Darrel and Trina are coming tomorrow. Addy texted me and told me she could hardly wait. I said I felt the same way and for her to text me when they left. She said it would be in the morning and she would. 

James and Chuck had a meeting about the road. It is probably going to cost us $5,000 a piece by the time we finish grading it and get the cinders down. Everything is so expensive. We still have the Razr to fix too which will probably cost around $3,000 and a fence to build, another $3,000. Oh yes, we also have a horse to feed.

I made chili this afternoon using leftover taco meat and Bush beans. I added a can of tomato soup. James loved it. He spent time with the boys this evening. First they played Hearts. It was Max's first time and he actually ran them once. Alex won.

James also took them out to look for coyotes but they had no success. The last great even was going to Anthony's to look for planets through his telescope. No planets were out this evening but they did see a meteor. 

I worked on my budget and did some gospel studying but for some reason I did not feel well this evening. I ended up going to bed at 8:30.

 Next move: The DIY network with her

own show

 My friend Paula walks at Woodland Lake almost

everyday. I am dying to go there. They have

a walking path around the lake.

So true!

 Playing Hearts with G-pa

 "I want some food mama"

Saturday, December 22nd, 2018

Stockholm, Sweden

34th operating temple

Dedicated: 2-4 July 1985

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Death 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 #1

Ether 15:1-17

Book of Mormon #2

Ether 1-2

Old Testament

Malachi 3-4

General Conference

Wounded

Elder Neil L. Andersen
"We each understand that difficulties are part of life, but when they come to us personally, they can take our breath away. Without being alarmed, we need to be ready. The Apostle Peter said, 'Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you.' Along with the bright colors of happiness and joy, the darker-colored threads of trial and tragedy are woven deeply into the fabric of our Father's plan. These struggles, although difficult, often become our greatest teachers."

We delivered banana bread to the Woods's and the Grapp's this morning. We left Anthony's bread at the Grapp's because James doesn't want to take our car out to his place and the truck is in the valley. 

The Grapp's gave us homemade Reese's and they were delicious. I told James we should save them for the family party tonight, but they didn't stand a chance because we both loved them.

When we got home I finished wrapping James's gifts. I put the little gifts for Darrel's kids in some stockings I had. 

I brought wood in because it's going to snow, and I made some chili for tonight, We are taking it down already made in the crockpot. We also took down six bags of frozen venison, canned milk, and bisquick for Christmas morning. 

Our goal was to leave by noon but by the time we got everything done, I did some cleaning and packed the car, it was 3 pm. We had to stop in Show Low at Sister Dye's grandson's house. She is staying there recovering from her stroke so that's where we delivered her banana nut bread. They had a macaw on the front porch.

He must have his wings clipped.

We leave, going the Globe way. I haven't driven more than 10 minutes when I start falling asleep. I asked James if he would drive until Globe and then I would take over again. He did, and I got a short nap.

At Globe we stopped at Walmart because I wanted to get an ugly sweater. They didn't have a very good selection but I found a black one with Santa and Ho, Ho, Ho on the front. Sorry that I didn't get a good picture. I also bought some paper bowls for the chili, Belvita crackers, and some Slimfast for James. James came in and ordered himself some wings. I walked across the parking lot to Taco Bell and got a couple of tacos. It's hard to eat tacos while you are driving, but I managed.

I can barely keep up.

We made it to Sheri's before the party started at 7 p.m. Thanks to Max agreeing to bunk with Evan, we are staying in Ben's old room. The first thing Sheri did was take a picture of me with my Sheri holding Ollie with his Christmas sweater.

An old woman and her granddog

We had Chik-fil-a, chili, Panera cookies, and a yummy popcorn mixture. After snacking, we sat down for some entertainment. We asked each family to participate. Michael played the ukelele and sang "Silent Night" with Joshua. Stacy was sick and didn't come. I am sorry she missed them because they were really good.

These two really harmonize together

Kim and Brian were next. Brian told the story, "For the Man Who Hated Christmas." Kim passed out copies of the story for everyone and then an envelope for each family. Inside our envelope there was a note that said that they had provided items for refugees in Arizona. Sheri's said they had donated to the juvenile diabetes fund and the missionary fund. I'm not sure what Darrel's or Paul's said, but Paul was crying. These simple acts of service are how Kim and Brian celebrated Christmas. They truly brought the Spirit to our party tonight. Thank you!

 Taking a video of Michael and Joshua

 Kim wanted the lambie socks I brought

I showed which gift Paul bought so Rowan

wouldn't pick it. He knows that Paul got the

Taylor Lautner poster.

Ian picked Paul's gift and got the

Taylor Lautner poster to take home

for a year.

 I wanted to get this shirt for James

 Sweet little gingerbread girl!

 All the gifts I had to pack in the car.

 Cute little Scarlett

 Grandpa, Ruby, and Addy

Joshua entered the ugly sweater contest.

He borrowed this one from Kim.