Thursday, January 16th, 2020

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

95th operating temple

Dedicated: 30 July 2000

By: James E. Faust

Jesus Christ, Jehovah

D&C 128:9
It may seem to some to be a very bold doctrine that we talk of - a power which records or binds on earth and binds in heaven. Nevertheless, in all ages of the world, whenever the Lord has given a dispensation of the priesthood to any man by actual revelation, or any set of men, this power has always been given. Hence, whatsoever those men did in authority, in the name of the Lord, and did it truly and faithfully, and kept a proper and faithful record of the same, it became a law on earth and in heaven, and could not be annulled, according to the decrees of the great Jehovah. This is a faithful saying. Who can hear it?
Book of Mormon
1 Nephi 10:1-14

"Beloved Daughters"

Sister Bonnie H. Cordon

October 2019

"With the new class organization, all classes will be referred to by the unifying name of 'Young Women.' We will retire the names 'Beehive,''Mia Maid,' and 'Laurel.'

The final area I wish to address is the importance of class presidencies. No matter how Young Women classes are organized, every class should have a class presidency! It is divine design that young women are called to lead in their youth."

When I got up at 4:30 this morning it was 40 degrees outside. My shower gets me going. I sit at my desk and begin to review and write down the happenings of yesterday. When I am finished planning I pray over my plans. I wanted to work on "Inklings" the study with Emily Belle Freeman regarding the priesthood and the Restoration. Right now we are studying DC 107, but Emily had not posted for this week yet. She usually does it on Thursday morning but she is not an early riser.

Emily did have a post about the Savior:

Donuts for breakfast is never a good way to start the day, but that's what I did. Must get rid of sweets!

I'm still working on cleaning upstairs getting ready for Darrel and Trina's family tomorrow evening. The curtains in the common area and the ones in my office keep falling down. James bolted them to the wall so they will never fall again. Thanks Honey!

This afternoon I made rolls, minestrone soup and a salad for Pat Tedder and her son Jeff. At the last minute I decided to divide everything in half and take some to the Scott's too. Millie has fallen and broken two ribs and is in a lot of pain. I texted to check on Kathy Crane today but she is feeling much better and is actually serving in the temple today. 

I made an apple pie for us. I started too late for everyone else. I peeled and cut up twelve apples. It took awhile, and then cooked them for a bit on the stove before putting them in a pre-made pie crust and then put it in the oven. 

As I was working in the kitchen I looked up and realized that the rain that had been falling had turned in to snow. James and I were both surprised because snow was not in the forecast. 

As I went in to the bedroom to make myself presentable to make deliveries, James finished packing everything up. Before we left around 5 pm I put the pie in the oven and set it to 350 instead of 375 in case we were gone for more than an hour. 

We took because by now it was blizzard like conditions. First of all the truck is very difficult for me to get up in to. Once I was in my seat, James gave me one of the containers of soup to hold in my lap. His windshield wiper on the passenger side does not work so all I could see when I looked up was a big blob of snow on the windshield. 

We were going to go to the Scott's first. We couldn't find their turnoff so we went to the Tedder's instead. James delivered the food because I had soup spilled on my pants and it is so hard for me to get up and down out of the truck. There was a container of soup, nine rolls, and a salad. 

We went back up the road towards the Scott's. We had an epiphany and suddenly remembered you turn down 3151 to get to the Scott's. Jerry came out to the truck to thank me for the dinner. What a kind thing to do.

When we got home, the kitchen was a mess and James offered to clean it because my left foot was really hurting. I sat down to blogged and when the pie was done, that's what I had for dinner. James had had some soup earlier. 

I still do not have my Tramadol. 

 My perfect breakfast: 1 egg, 2 slices of

turkey bacon, whole wheat toast with butter

 Our bishopric during our early years

in Chandler

 IHOP with Grandpa

 What a difference a year makes

Friday, July 12th, 2019

Albuquerque, New Mexico

73rd operating temple

Dedicated: 5 Mar 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Firstborn

Isaiah 41:4

Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the Lord, the first, and with the last I am he.

Book of Mormon

Alma 31:24-38

New Testament "What Wilt Thou Have Me To Do?"

Acts 9:1-22

General Conference

Behold the Lamb of God

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

"Brother and sisters, this hour ordained of the Lord is the most sacred hour of our week. By commandment, we gather for the most universally received ordinance in the Church. It is in memory of Him who asked if the cup He was about to drink could pass, only to press on because He knew that for our sake it could not pass. It will help us if we remember that a symbol of that cup is slowly making its way down the row toward us at the hand of an 11 or 12 year old deacon."

After scriptures and prayers I put on my big girl shoes and went upstairs to clean. James was a big help. He helped me put sheets on the beds and he cleaned the toilets and the bathtubs. He also did some vacuuming and moved the Noah's Ark onto the shelf by the stairs so no more pieces will get broken.

Randomly while I was cleaning I would take a break and come down and watch a little of "Marrying Father Christmas."

Adam and friends arrived somewhere between 1 and 2. Kaitlin said hi and then went upstairs to take a nap.. Adam said she has had a hard week because she broke up with her boyfriend. 

The first thing Adam, Kyle and Chris did was go upstairs to play video games. They found some bat poop on the couch. Darn! I thought I got rid of it all! Now they are concerned about bats. I told them bats only come when they have a food source and we had tried to get rid of all the moths and bugs. Well then of course they kept finding moths.  Later Adam saw a bat in the garage and he assumed that was the bat in the house and it had left. Anyway, we never saw any more bats or bat "sign." We did see a few moths and everytime Kaitlin saw one she would have one of the guys come and kill it for her. I told them waht Addy said when she was here and there was a bat. Trina was very nervous and Addy said, "Will they kill you?" Trina said no and then Addy said, "Well what's the big deal?" She is definitely Darrel's daughter!

I had wanted to go to town today to get a few groceries but James said he couldn't go and so I forgot about it. Later this evening he decides he needs to go to get some of the medication this new doctor asked him to get for his laryngitis. At first I said it was too late and then he said, "I'll buy you something to eat." That gets me every time. 

After doing a little shopping at Walmart my "something to eat" came from Taco Bell. That's fine. I got a taco and a double tostado. I think it was a double tostado because it had both lettuce and tomatoes. It was certainly not double in any other way. James didn't eat because the doctor said he should stop eating five hours before going to bed.

I had a nice visit with Adam for about an hour today, just the two of us. something I don't get to do very often.

James got someone to work for him at the temple tomorrow but I decided that I am well enough to go.

Happy Anniversary to the Heyman's

Contemplating

 Recording

Alex and Shayna

 Charlie and Holly were sealed to his dad and

her husband today. They are so happy!

Congratulations!

 Beach Beauties

 The Case Crew

Sharpening those teeth and

practicing her standing

Thursday, June 13th, 2019

Toronto, Ontario

44th operating temple

Dedicated: 25 Aug 1990

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Examplar

Luke 9:23

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Book of Mormon

Alma 15:5-19

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Matthew 26:31-46 Mark 14:27-42 Luke 22:39-46

General Conference

Your Priesthood Playbook

Elder Gary E. Stevenson

"You know what temptations you are most vulnerable to, and you can predict how the adversary will try to derail and dishearten you. Have you created a personal game plan and playbook so that you will know how to respond when faced with opposition?"

This was the question I asked the kids during our "Come Follow Me" scripture study this morning: "What do you do to help you think about Jesus during the sacrament?" 

We discussed how we could read the words to a sacrament hymn. The sacrament hymns start on page 169. I also told them they could look up the word sacrament in the topical guide in their hymn book if they forgot the page number. We also talked about the scriptures and the topical guide and Rowan said he has used the topical scripture guide.

I then had Rowan and Ruby read the sacrament prayers and we talked about them. We also read Luke 22:50-51 and talked about the kind of person Jesus was to heal the ear of one of his enemies.

While they were eating breakfast I read to them from the Book of Mormon and then we had family prayer. 

James left for the valley this morning so we all said goodbye to him. He is putting in a door at Stacy's house and then one at Hatch Dental in Tempe.

I went upstairs after dinner with the kids and helped them clean. We thought that Jason and his family were coming today and we wanted everything to look nice for them. Lola is very excited to meet Lila.

I needed to go to Dollar General to get some cash to mail Dallin's birthday card. The kids went with me. I told Rowan and Lola they could each pick out something for themselves and something for Ruby for her birthday. We are going to have a party for her tomorrow. Lola found a jewelry set right away that she liked and then she found a pink purse. She wanted both but I told her she had to decide. Right after she chose the purse she found a fuzzy pink diary with a key and a feather pen. This is what she ended up with. She picked a blue stuffed elephant for Ruby saying it was the "cutest thing she had ever seen." She was a little jealous it wasn't her birthday. She said she was going to invite Charlie to her birthday in July.

Rowan picked out a Just Friends Lego set for Ruby and said because it was so expensive he wasn't going to get anything for himself. He is such a thoughtful kid. I also got Ruby a Just Friends set with a girl with brown hair and glasses that I thought looked like her.

On the way home we mailed Dallin's card and picked up some books. While I was fixing lunch Rowan grabbed the paper towels and windex and went outside to clean off my windshield. I love this kid!

Lola watched "Beauty and the Beast". The other two joined in because they didn't want to scare the antelope away outside. We have LaVerne and Shirley and Elvis who has a nice set of antlers.

Finally I told the kids it was too nice a day to stay inside so they went out. They said the antelope ran away and they think they saw a baby with them but it could have been a big jack rabbit. I had to hold back a laugh.

Rowan asked James if he could borrow his rabbit squealer and he and Ruby went outside to try to call up some coyotes. Lola decided to stay with me. She played with my Hello Kitty bank and James's Snoopy bank while I worked on the computer. 

When it was dark and the kids weren't back I walked outside and shouted their names. They came in a few minutes later.

We had bean burritos for dinner and cantaloupe and corn. I was surprised that Lola doesn't like corn or cantaloupe and Ruby doesn't like corn but loves cantaloupe. I cut up a tomato for Lola to eat.

We watched the movie "Private Eyes", Ruby's choice and then I read a story to Lola while she was in bed with Ruby looking on.

Lola was a little sad that Lila and her family didn't come.

 Arizona Highways

 Danica is now a Hallmark star.

 One of James's former Teachers

 TBT: Boy these guys have changed!

 Sisterly love

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.

Saturday, October 7th, 2017

Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

71st operating temple

Dedicated: 26 Feb 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Appearances, Antemortal

Alma 19:13

For as sure as thou livest, behold, I have seen my Redeemer; and he shall come forth, and be born of a woman, and he shall redeem all mankind who believe on his name. Now, when he had said these words, his heart was swollen within him, and he sunk again with joy; and the queen also sunk down, being overpowered by the Spirit.

3 Nephi 1:1-14

*What does it mean to you to "lift up your head and be of good cheer?"

-"To not despair in spite of your circumstances Literally lift up your head, look to Him and His Atonement. Be optimistic and exercise faith and remember what President Hinckley: 'Things will work out.'"

Scripture Mastery

DC 19:16-19

16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;

17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;

18 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit - and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink-

19 Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.

General Conference

The Plan and the Proclamation

Elder Dallin H. Oaks

"In a parable, Jesus described those who hear the word but become unfruitful when that word is choked by the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches. In His final teachings in mortality, He told His Apostles, 'If ye were of the world, the world would love His own: but because ye are not of the world, ... the world hateth you'(John 15:19). "

"Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy to God" (James 4:4).

I read my talk to James this morning and basically what it was, was a quote from every conference talk. He told me it was good at first but then he got confused because I changed subjects so often and it was hard to follow. Back to the drawing board, but first I have to finish cleaning upstairs because Sheri, Ian, and the boys are coming and will be here around 1.

I cleaned upstairs until noon, even polishing the wood floor. I took a shower and started to re-write my talk. The Trezise's and Joshua got here around 1:30. I will have to finish my talk later. Ollie is adorable and much smaller than I thought he would be. Sheri is definitely his mom and main caregiver. 

After unloading and taking Ollie potty, Sheri and I get in my car and go to Walmart. I picked up my alternate thyroid prescription ( Levothyroxin) and some groceries: 3 Halo ice creams, potatoes, Dayquil for James, corn, grapes, strawberries, and hot dog buns.

She got spaghetti and meatballs to make for the boys. I told her I was going to make her and Ian chicken enchiladas, which I did. they both loved them. 

There is definitely an Ollie obsession going on in the Trezise clan. Sheri went to bed at 8, after scriptures and prayers because she plans on getting up with Ollie at 3 am. The boys and Ian watch Ollie until they go to bed, then they take him and put him in his kennel.

I re-wrote my talk, hopefully for the last time. I was in bed by 11. This time I spoke about my experiences with last April's conference and how they affected me. It was more from the heart.

What an amazing family!

Grandpa Jared and Scarlett

I love this time of year.

Twinkie 'stashed minions

2014

Fond memories

Temple memories

I can identify

The day Addy faced her fears and went on 

Tower of Terror

2015

2015 the Trezise boys and their mom

helped Grandmother with yard work.