Friday, June 5th, 2020

Raleigh, North Carolina

68th operating temple

Dedicated: 18th Dec 1999

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, King

1 Timothy 6:15

Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

Alma 7:1-16; "Sunday on Monday"

Inklings

Restoration Proclamation week #8

April General Conference

"Spiritually Defining Moments"

Elder Neil L. Andersen

"Along with the peaceful direction we receive from the Holy Ghost, from time to time, God powerfully and very personally assures each of us that He knows us and loves us and that He is blessing us specifically and openly. Then, in our moments of difficulty, the Savior brings these experiences back into our mind. Remembering these spiritually defining experiences takes us to our knees, declaring as did the Prophet Joseph: 'What I received was from heaven. I know it, and I know that God knows that I know it.'"

"Clean Hands and a Pure Heart"

Elder David A. Bednar

October 2007

James left this morning to check on the job. When I got up I checked on the deposit we made yesterday. It had been deposited into the personal account and then withdrawn, saying a mistake had been made. I finally managed to set up a phone meeting with someone at the bank where we made the deposit. The meeting is set up at 11 a.m. when James will be back. 

When Mr. Nelson from the bank called he asked to speak with James Lambson so I am glad James was there. What it all boils down to is, the check was made out to Lambson Construction and must be deposited in the Lambson Construction account. Mr. Nelson said the check would be returned within 7 days. That will not do. James said he would just have Mr. Chacon write another check. The banker agreed that would work. 

James went back to Mesa and got a new check and stood in a long line to deposit it, but the deed is done. He also delivered birthday cards to Brian and Dallin. He took Dallin's to Stacy's and put it by the front door. He also brought back a case of water and some drinks for me.

The boys did not get up in time to swim this morning but they did swim all afternoon until 4:30. Around 5 I asked them what they wanted to eat for dinner. Evan asked if there was a Shake Shack close by. He said they have the best hamburgers he has ever tasted. 

I checked and there is one within three miles of the resort. I downloaded their app and placed my order, 3 cheeseburgers and 3 orders of fries. I drove to the location but could not find curbside pickup. That's because you have to get out of your car and walk to the front of the restaurant and get in the curbside pickup line. I always thought curbside pickup was done from your car. Anyway, I picked up the order and then while I was driving back I realized they ordered nothing on their cheeseburgers and I had failed to place the order that way. When I got back to our room I very quietly opened up each burger and scrapped the sauce, tomato and lettuce off the buns and put the burgers back in the wrapper. I then delivered them to the boys. A few minutes later I stuck my head in their room and asked how the food was. Evan looked at me and said, "Soooo good."

The boys play basketball, watch TV, play video games, eat and drink rootbeer in their room. I work on my blog, study the gospel, and walk. James works on his computer, takes naps, eats dark chocolate raspberry sorbet bars, and watches "Lark Rise to Candleford" with me on my phone.

No comment needed

     

Monday, December 30th, 2019

Fresno, California

78th operating temple

Dedicated: 9 Apr 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Jehovah

Isaiah 44:6

Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

Book of Mormon

Moroni 9:20-10:7

"Come Follow Me"

Title Page of the Book of Mormon

Oct General Conference

"Fruit"

Elder Neil L. Andersen

"In our world today, the adversary's construction crews are working overtime, hastily inflating the large and spacious building. The expansion has spread across the river, hoping to envelop our homes, while the pointers and the scoffers wail day and night on their internet megaphones. President Nelson explained, 'The adversary is quadrupling his efforts to disrupt testimonies and impede the work of the Lord.' Let us remember Lehi's words: 'We heeded them not.'"

Sheri ran in 15 degree weather this morning. She is a real trooper. James and I went to help take down Christmas decorations at the church along with Chuck and Kathy Crane. Soon others came to help, Stefani, Alicia, and Holly Hunsaker, and Michelle Tesarek and a friend. We were through within the hour. James helped Chuck carry the boxes out to the shed where they are stored until next Christmas.

When we returned to the house I helped Sheri fix breakfast. We have eggs, bacon, and biscuits. 

After breakfast Sheri and I went into town. We stopped at Maverick for gas and Sheri also got a drink. It was difficult, but I told her no, I didn't want one. I did buy a Mug rootbeer later at Walmart. 

While at Walmart I wanted to buy a Red Baron pepperoni pizza for the boys but they were all out. Instead I got Tombstone pizza. When we got home I told Max and he said, "If it's Tombstone I don't want any." Oh well, I tried.

Sheri and I watched "Mistletoe and Menorahs." She liked it almost as much as I did. Ziggie is a big distraction for Sheri. She is constantly worried that she is going to have an "accident." I think she has had a couple but we won't tell James.

After my nap I worked on running off  the Redheaded Hostess Book of Mormon lesson for this week. I am so glad I subscribed because she offers so much material for all ages. I also have the study book which is pretty amazing.

Michael and Alexis went for a run. I think they are struggling because of the high altitude.

Michael made a peach/blueberry cobbler this evening. Sheri and I ate ours while watching, "Christmas in Angel Falls."

I got my 10,000 steps but I am getting further behind on my blog. 

We wanted to take the boys to the pit this afternoon to go sledding but no one wanted to go except Rowan and he didn't want to go by himself. He has not been sledding since he got here.

Everyone stayed home and played video games, Trivial Pursuit, Settlers of Catan, and light sabers.

Sheri made chicken tacos for dinner. They were delicious. 

Joshua, Michael, Alexis, Alex, and Shayna went to Licano's for lunch and brought food back for Ian. James, Sheri, and I ate the tacos. I think Max and Evan had ham sandwiches.

About seven years ago

 Settlers

 Trivial Pursuit

 Five Crowns

Sheri's post

 Ziggie and Shayna

 I wonder if Evan is wounded

Wednesday, January 2nd, 2019

San Diego, California

45th operating temple

Dedicated 25 April 1993

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Death of

Moroni 9:25

My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever.

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 1:16-2:15

New Testament

To truly learn from the Savior, I must accept His invitation, "Come follow me." Matt. 6:14-15; 18:21-35; Luke 23:33-34

General Conference

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

Elder Quentin L. Cook

"World conditions increasingly require deepening individual conversion to and strengthening faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and His Atonement. The Lord has prepared us, line upon line, for the perilous times that we now face. In recent years, the Lord has guided us to address related core concerns, including:
* Honoring the Sabbath day and the sacred ordinance of the sacrament has again been emphasized for the last three years.
* Under the bishop's direction, strengthened elders quorums and Relief Societies are focused on the purpose and divinely appointed responsibilities of the Church and helping members make and keep sacred covenants.
* Ministering in a higher and holier way is being joyfully adopted. 
*Beginning with the end in mind, temple covenants and family history service are becoming a purposeful part of the covenant path."

When I came in to the family room this morning Kim, Brian, and Sheri were watching a Christmas movie. They ended up watching two movies this morning. Ian was making breakfast. Michael cleaned the fireplace using my $2,000 vacuum. It's okay though because it is old. 

After breakfast Ian took the boys sledding. Max came in afterwards and said he lost his pants while he was on the sled. Oh dear. 

Sheri and Kim went out to build a snowman but the snow would not stick together because it was so dry so they went for a walk instead. They were gone for quite awhile and walked over two miles. Sheri looked it up on Google and a 40 year old woman burns 2,000 calories a day. I wonder how many calories a 70 year old woman burns in a day.

 Meet Mrs. Smiley Snow

It's snowing again. The boys come in and drop their snow-covered clothes in the laundry room. I have them trained well. 

Brian is smoking our ribs for us. I prepared a rub and James put the rub on and put the ribs in the smoker. It says leave them for 3 1/2 hours but since our smoker is run by propane you have to check it periodically to make sure it maintains the right temperature. This is what Brian did until they were done around 4 p.m. The boys devoured the first rack in about five minutes and the rest of us shared the second rack. The beef ribs were mostly fat and bone. Delicious, although they were just a snack. Brian and Sheri both made burgers for dinner and Sheri also made hotdogs. I did not have dinner.

Brian says the best kind of smoker is a Traeger so I looked them up. They run anywhere from $599 to thousands of dollars if you get them with a grill. I guess I will need to start saving my money.

You watched movies and played games inside and outside there was the snow.

 Joshua wears this mask to keep

his face warm. I think it is Brian's.

While Sheri and Kim were on their walk they

texted it to me and ask me to show it to James.

They wanted to know if it was a mountain 

lion. He said no, it is either a dog or coyote.

Trivial Pursuit

The game gets more interesting when Kim plays.

 She finished her "Valley of the Sun" puzzle.

 Something I definitely need more of.

 She always brightens my day!

Lots of steps today!

Tuesday, January 1st, 2019

Toronto, Ontario

44th operating temple

Dedicated: 25-27 Aug 1990

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Death of

Mormon 9:13

And because of the redemption of man, which came by Jesus Christ, they are brought back into the presence of the Lord; yea, this is wherein all men are redeemed, because the death of Christ bringeth to pass the resurrection, which bringeth to pass a redemption from an endless sleep, from which sleep all men shall be awakened by the power of God when the trump shall sound; and they shall come forth, both small and great, and all shall stand before his bar, being redeemed and loosed from this eternal band of death, which death is a temporal death.

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 1:1-15

New Testament

We Are Responsible for Our Own Learning

General Conference

Opening Remarks

President Russell M. Nelson

"This morning we will announce a new balance and connection between gospel instruction in the home and in the Church. We are each responsible for our individual spiritual growth. And scriptures make it clear that parents have the primary responsibility to teach the doctrine to their children. It is the responsibility of the Church to assist each member in the divinely defined goal of increasing his or her gospel knowledge."

My breakfast consisted of lemon cake, banana nut bread, which Sheri and I made yesterday, and biscuits and gravy. In my defense I didn't know the biscuits and gravy were coming but I couldn't pass them up when they did. Brian brought an elk roast and he cut it up and James made the gravy and Brian made the best biscuits, Pillsbury frozen.

Looks a mess but tastes great!

Kim is working on her puzzle, Sheri is watching a Hallmark Christmas movie, and Ian is upstairs reading a book. It looks and feels like we are snowed in. We got more snow during the night but we really don't care. I was trying to blog for December 24th but something was wrong with blogger or my internet connection so I finally gave up and sat down and watched Sheri's movie. 

Michael built a fire this morning and kept it going throughout the day. I think he might have been a little cold. The boys played video games, football, and went sledding. Kim, Brian, and Sheri shoveled snow on the decks and there was a ton! Thanks guys! Kim had a backache the rest of the day and that made me sad.

Kerri H. brought the birthday cards for the sisters having birthdays in January for me to sign. She got stuck two times. I hated to ask him but I did ask James if he would help her. 

Our neighbor Pierre had his tractor out clearing the road and he helped get her "unstuck" the first time. She came up to turn around in our driveway and got stuck again.  This time James got her out. I think she thought her four-wheel drive truck was invincible but she found out that it wasn't.

The boys went sledding but I think the snow got the best of them too.

 Instead of putting their wet clothes in front

of the fire I had them go directly to the 

laundry room and then I dried the clothes

for them.

The first thing they wanted when they came in was some hot chocolate. Here is Joshua putting an icicle in his hot chocolate to cool it down.

Michael and Max playing a game of chess.

Max won.

I made sub sandwiches for lunch. One for James, Ian, Kim, Brian, and myself.

James, Michael, and Max went to Dave Elkins to check on his water to see if it was frozen. The snow was so deep they couldn't find the shut-off valve.

 Who is that masked man?

Max

Michael

Sorry Mr. Elkin, but everything is covered with snow. It's a marshmallow world in the winter time.

I found one of my old dream journals from 2010 in the cupboard today. I had written down for several days some of the dreams that I had. I shared them with Kim and we had a good laugh. I am writing from Darrel and Trina's right now so I don't have the journal with me. One of the funniest was Trisha Yearwood leaving Garth Brooks for Ryan Seacrest. I will share more when I get home.

Sheri made shrimp and tilapia for dinner. I had been snacking all day so I did not eat much dinner. James, and Michael made another cobbler. This time Max assisted. We took a vote and decided on blueberry and peach. 

The kitchen is a gathering place and everyone

adds their opinion. Sheri loved this one better

than the blueberry-apple. I preferred the

blueberry-apple, but this one was good too.

Kim loved the fact that it had peaches in it.

Sheri and I were watching a movie in the bedroom and realized we

should invite Kim even though she was working on her puzzle.

She declined but said she was glad that we thought of her.

A daily dose of Charlie makes everything better.

As I set goals for the new year here are some
things to consider:

I love Mother Teresa!