Tuesday, October 2nd, 2018

Nauvoo, Illinois

113th operating temple

Dedicated: 27-30 June 2002

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Crucifixion

1 Corinithians 2:2

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.

Book of Mormon

Helaman 13:21-39

*How can we be more like Samuel, the Lamanite?

- Remember the Primary song, "Follow the Prophet," he knows the way. President M. Russell Ballard said that if we bring the teachings of the prophets and apostles into our homes our relationships with family members will increase and so will our relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. As we draw close to the Lord we will be able to feel the Spirit and He will teach us and prompt us to know what to do to follow the counsel given that our testimonies might be strengthened and that we might have peace and joy.

Old Testament

Isaiah 48-50

General Conference

Deep and Lasting Conversion to Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

Elder Quentin L. Cook

"Our purpose is to balance the Church and the home experiences in a way that will greatly increase faith and spirituality and deepen conversion."

The boys were up early this morning roaming around before breakfast. Breakfast, although there were many choices, was donuts.

James got up earlier and went for a walk. He called some elk and although he didn't see any, he had some answer him.

It was a relaxing morning for me. James went to work and the boys entertained themselves playing games and going outside. I was able to do two blog posts. Afterwards I made spaghetti and garlic bread for lunch. With the salad left over from last night we had a complete Italian meal. Joshua says spaghetti is one of his favorites.

At one point I looked up and he was walking around outside barefoot eating spaghetti.

It was overcast here but there was a cloud over Show Low most of the afternoon and that cloud was full of rain. We took the boys in to do the Show Low Bluff Trail hike. At first it was raining. James let me off at Sweet Potato to do some shopping and he took the boys to McDonald's to get ice cream. By the time they got back to pick me up the rain had let up so we all did the hike. Before we got back to the car it had started to rain again and we all got wet. 

The first thing the boys wanted to do when we got home was take showers. I told them not to all shower at once or there would't be enough water pressure, so they took turns. 

For dinner we had New York strip steak, baked potatoes, corn, beans, and salad. Max said the steak was delicious. It was his choice so I am glad that he liked it. He likes lots of salt just like James on most of his food. 

Evan wanted to do a load of laundry, his second since being here, so I showed him how to use the washer and dryer. He says he does the laundry and fold the clothes for his mom at home. 

Max has an online social studies class that he worked on while the other boys went outside to play. As soon as he was finished he joined them. 

James and I worked on a book trader business until we reached a glitch. I had to email and ask for help. Hopefully we will get our answer by tomorrow.

 My friend saw this ghostbusters car in

Phoenix yesterday, October 1st.

 Looking forward to Scarlett's 1st birthday party!

Dot Journal tracking

 Love the arms up in the air!

Good walking companion

Friday, September 14th, 2018

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

95th operating temple

Dedicated: 30 July 2000

By: James E. Faust

Jesus Christ, Crucifixion

Mark 15:13

And they cried out again, Crucify him.

Book of Mormon

Helaman 4:1-17

*The Nephites were left to their own strength because of wickedness. Why is it so important for us to remain worthy to have the Holy Ghost at all times?

- I need the peace that comes from living worthy to have the Holy Ghost with me. There is happiness, freedom and peace from just living the commandments, from not being physically enslaved to poor choices. There is an actual physical comfort from having the Holy Ghost with me.

Old Testament

Song of Solomon

General Conference

Inspired Ministering

President Henry B. Eyring

"It seems to me that we receive the Holy Spirit best when we are focused on serving others. That is why we have the priesthood responsibility to serve for the Savior. When we are engaged in service to others,we think less about ourselves, and the Holy Ghost can more readily come to us and help us in our lifelong quest to have the gift of charity bestowed upon us."

James left at six this morning to go elk calling. I stayed home to study and do my morning chores and blog. I listened to Song of Solomon even though President Kimball said we don't really consider it inspired scripture. Here's a verse that made me laugh. "Thy belly is like a field of wheat." I think these are Solomon's love notes to his wives. 

I finished reading this month's Ensign and "The Christ Who Heals" today. I washed two windows, cleaned upstairs and changed the remainder of the beds that were used the last time we had company. 

This afternoon James and I made a trip to town. He had to get something for a piece of equipment and I wanted to get some Halloween stickers from Dollar Tree and hamburger soup ingredients at Walmart. We got gas and read from "The Secret Keeper." A big surprise chapter and we are beginning, finally, to really love this book. 

We weren't back very long before Kim and Brian arrived, and a few minutes later Darrel, Trina, Addy, Rowan, Ruby and Lola arrived, and the fun began!

My Little Ponies made their entrance and Lola asked me to play with her but then she asked if we could watch the movie "Brave." We went into the bedroom and Darrel had to help me set up the dvd player. We finally got it going. Soon Trina joined us and Ruby and Rowan went in and out several times as did James.

Rowan and James are planning on going out to call for elk around 5:30 in the morning so they went to bed pretty early.

My first Victoria Holt book, given to me 

by my "Nannie."

 Card of the day

Sweet baby Charlie enjoying her "bouncer"

while Mom does the dishes.

 Love this!

Happy 50th Anniversary to the Arnett's

 Sure do love these faces!

Ruby, Kimmy, and Addy in a 

rousing game of Uno.

 Scarlett is so adorable!

 I love this story

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Apostle Richard G. Scott passed away today.

He was 86 years old.

"Recognize the good in others,
not their stains."
-Richard G. Scott

James calls elk out on the porch every morning and every evening.

I think this group is onto him because they aren't responding.

James went with me today to visit two of the sisters on my visiting teaching beat.  These were the handouts I gave for the lesson on the divine attributes of Jesus Christ, power and glory.

The quote says:

"The Savior uses His Power to Redeem

and Empower us.  Our Faith in Him will increase as

we Remember that He is full of Power an Grace."

This quote is attached to a small Book of Mormon.  I told the sisters that I feel like I get power from reading about the Savior in the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon.

We left the house around 9am.  Our first visit was with Elida Pope.  The Pope's live further away from the ward building than any other family in the ward.  We met Elida at the second well on Stanford Rd.  It is 14 miles from the Stanford store to Elida's house, mostly all on dirt roads.  Her house is actually closer to Taylor than it is to Vernon, but there are no roads going into Taylor from where she lives.

 On the road to the Pope's

The Pope's home.  They have solar energy

and a generator and their own well.

I told Elida she was truly a pioneer.  She also home

schools her little boy Ethan.  She has three boys but

Eli and Edmund aren't in school yet.

I had a nice visit with Elida.  I was impressed with how soft-spoken she was with her kids.  She is a convert and she says her husband Eric introduced her to the gospel.  They served in the military together.  She just returned from a trip to her home state, Florida, for her great grandmother's funeral.  She said she was glad to get home and loves the peace and quiet which surrounds her at home.

After our visit with Elida we headed back to the well where we met her and turned to go to visit Hailey Chafin at the Chafin ranch.  

The Chafin's have no electricity.  They have solar power

and a generator and their own well.

Hailey had her baby Huntley Nicole with her.  Her baby has more hair than any baby I've ever seen and it is black and sticks straight up in the air.  Sorry I didn't get a picture.  

We figured we traveled about 60 miles round trip to visit with these two sisters.  I just hope I can make it when it snows.

After our visit with Hailey we headed into Show Low.  We wanted to have lunch at LaCasita but there was no place to park, so we went on down the road to Grumpy Jake's BBQ.  I had the pulled pork sandwich with a side of cowboy beans.  It was all very tasty!  Kyle Thomas, a member of our ward when James was the bishop in Chandler, was in the booth right behind us.  He is a dentist and lives up here now.  

We drove on to the Lakeside Cemetery to check on the mums on my Mom's grave.

They are blooming because of all the rain.

James checking to see if the soil is wet.

On the way home we stopped at Walmart for a little shopping.  When we got home we took a nap and watched a Hallmark movie.

I also worked on my blog and did some cleaning.  James worked on income taxes.  When we went to bed, it started to rain.

Monday, October 20, 2014

Christlike Attribute:

"Charity"

I forgive others who have

offended or wronged me.

Ephesians 4:32

I try to understand others

and their point of view

Jude 1:22

James went to the hospital this afternoon for a cats scan.  He won't know the results for several days.  We finished our book, "Longing for Home."  Although it had some very sad elements to it, the ending was good except for one small detail: we never found out what happened to the bad guy.

James did some things for me today.  He put the carpet back in place downstairs in the storage room/closet where we had the flood.  He also did some edging around the front of the house.  It look's so much better!

While paying bills today I listened to a BYU devotional talk by Elder Donald L. Hallstrom entitled: "The Heart and a Willing Mind."  I went online and downloaded it because it was so good!

James went out elk calling this afternoon.  

A bull and his harem

Here are some of the things I accomplished today:

I called my friend Charlotte Mattice and wished her a happy birthday.

I made a doctor's appointment with Sheri's doctor, Dr. Allen for November 10th.

I made a visiting teaching appointment with Mary Swift for tomorrow afternoon. 

This evening James and I watched an episode of Sue Thomas.  It was the one where Bobby goes undercover as an Elvis impersonator.  

Trina went to work today for the first time since

Lola was born.  These two are together most of the time

so I am sure it was quite a shock for both of them.

Darrel did say that Lola did pretty well all things considered.