Friday, August 11th 2017

Ogden, Utah

14th operating temple

Dedicated: 18-20 Jan 1972

By: Joseph Fielding Smith

Rededicated: 21 Sept 2014

By: Thomas S. Monson

Alma 48:18-49:8

*In a class I took from Sister Jennifer Gardiner she compared Moroni's building program and fortifications to President Hinckley's building program of temples. In 1995 when President Hinckley took office there were 47 temples. In 2003, when Jennifer made this comment, there were 114 temples with 14 under construction. President Monson has continued with the building of temples. Today there are 156 operating temples, 13 under construction, and 13 announced. Why is the building of temples so important and how are they like a fortification to us?

*Many of us will have the opportunity this week to attend a temple dedication with our children 8 and older. What a great privilege, blessing and opportunity to teach our children about the temple!

DC 111:1-11
How can we always remember to include the Lord in our decision making?
*juliekiser says: If I include the Lord in my decision making going through the proper steps, then I can rest assured all will be well. It doesn't mean it will be easy or without challenges but I have the confidence that I have the Lord's "stamp of approval" so I can go on. If we don't go to the Lord in fasting and prayer, when we are making a big decision then we don't know if we've made the right decision. When the challenges come we will second guess the decision we made. But if I go through the proper order of decision making including going to the temple, then I move forward with peace knowing the Lord has answered my prayers and guided me in the right direction. I can't make a decision any other way. It's important to always remember the Lord in our decision making. He desires to guide and bless us, we just need to ask!
General Conference

Songs Sung and Unsung

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

"With divine imperatives of love and faith, repentance and compassion, honesty and forgiveness, there is room in this choir for all who wish to be here. 'Come as your are,' a loving Father says to each of us, but He adds, 'Don't plan to stay as you are.' We smile and remember that God is determined to make of us more than we thought we could be."

Using Terry's truck we took the car to Sears this morning for an oil change. They say we need an alignment and when James asked how much it would cost they said, $600. He said "he would look into it." I am not sure what that means but he will probably take it to Erik to look at. It is driving fine and there is no indication that it is out of alignment. 

We picked up the car at 10:15 and I was going to drive to my infusion appointment in Mesa but I realized I was totally out of gas so I went down Chandler Blvd. to the nearest station. I filled the tank and headed down the 101 to Mesa. I happened to look out the rear view mirror to see I had forgotten to replace the tank lid and it was dangling on the side of the car. I made a quick exist on Warner. I while waiting for the light to change ran out and replaced the lid and got back on the freeway. I was only about six minutes late for my appointment. 

A new girl set up my infusion and drew blood. I had an appointment to see Dr Caldron and had a nice visit with him. He took Dr. Moffat's lab request for thyroid bloodwork and told me he would have the lab do it and send it to Dr. Moffat.

At 12:30 I was at Firebird's having lunch with my friend Karen Schneider. This was my birthday lunch, on Karen. I ordered what I always order at Firebirds, the coconut shrimp appetizer with habanero coleslaw. We both also love their sourdough bread that comes to every table. Karen also made sure I ordered a scoop of ice cream with chocolate sauce although she herself did not indulge.

Karen has cancer and has chemo treatments every other week. She is one of the lucky ones who has not lost her hair. We had alot of catching up to do. She is a dear friend and we have quite a bit of history together. She is an amazing resource person for doing family history. The best researcher I know.

After returning to Cathi's I had a short rest and then it was time to pack up and get ready to go home. We said our goodbye's and thanked Cathi and Terry for their hospitality. On our way out of town James let me stop at Deseret Book to buy a hankie for the temple dedication. 

We picked up Addy and Ruby who are going with us to Vernon. The rest of their family is coming up tomorrow for Rowan's birthday celebration. 

Since we won't be here for Addy's birthday on the 28th we gave her birthday present to her. I got her a complete new set of Harry Potter books. She seemed excited. Also, she gets to choose where we have dinner. She chose Rubio's. We found one in the Walmart shopping center on Signal Butte near Baseline. 

After our delicious Rubio's meal Addy, Ruby, and I walked to the Bosa Donut shop nearby and ordered a dozen donuts from a little oriental lady we could barely understand. Now it's on to the cabin. 

Of course James went the Salt River Canyon way. I know Addy doesn't like it but she never complained. 

It has definitely rained here since we were gone.  We could tell by our muddy road and the puddles in the road. 

Our first order of business was to get rid of the dead moths upstairs, which I did much to Addy and Ruby's delight. I also vacuumed their room and James helped by putting sheets on the bed in Sheri's room. I guess we are now ready for company, except for the broken box springs in James's office. It happened when kids jumped from the loft onto the bed. Ruby admitted it was her, and Molly, and she says Emmy did it once. Addy said she knew they did it, but she didn't.

After we settled in, the girls wanted to watch the Incredibles so I put it on for them and watched a little with them before going to bed. It is good to be home.

Photos

You know it's going to be a good day when

the sunrise looks like this.

I am in love with this little girl.

Trina made the skirt and the ribbons in her 

hair match.

I've seen a few of these this summer. It

reminds me of spending my summers in

Lakeside with Nannie when I was a girl.

She always had bird feeders. She didn't like the

bluejays because they drove the other birds away.

Her favorites along with my grandpa Al's, were

the cardinals. Maybe they loved them because

 they were big St. Louis Cardinals fans.

Whenever they were playing my grandpa would have the game on.

I may have already posted this, but

I couldn't take the chance that I hadn't.

Addy and grandpa at Big Lake a 

few years ago.

Addy loved this and wanted me to send it to her.

Cute photo of these two.

Two Vernon boys and their wives who

now live in Houston.

Thursday, June 9, 2016

The back side of water.

Alma 13:10-20

Brigham Young's definition of sanctification:

"Overcoming every sin and bringing all into subjection to the law of Christ. God has placed in us a pure spirit; when this spirit reigns predominant, ..., and triumphs over the flesh and rules and governs and controls . . , this I call the blessing of sanctification."

Alma 13:16 "The Rest of the Lord"

Joseph F. Smith: "To me it means that through the love of God I have been won over to Him, so that I can feel at rest in Christ, that I may no more be disturbed by every wind of doctrine, by the cunning and craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; and that I am established in the knowledge and testimony of Jesus Christ, so that no power can turn me aside from the straight and narrow path that leads back into the presence of God, to enjoy exaltation in His glorious kingdom; that from this time henceforth I shall enjoy that rest until I shall rest with Him in the heavens."

Evan and Rowan played a game of Tenzi this morning before we went down to the pool.

 I love their summer hairdo's.

I thought this post on Facebook by Michael was pretty funny.

Sounds about right.

Pool time this morning for a couple of hours.  Rowan, Max, Evan and I had to take a snow cone break.  This time Evan got grape instead of sour apple.

Not sure what Ben is doing. I hope he isn't texting.

After we finished swimming we went back to the suite for lunch.  I fixed quesadillas for Ben and Max and cheese crisps for Evan, Rowan, and Joshua.  Joshua had two.  I guess he was really hungry.

Michael worked a few hours and then James brought him back to the resort.

 He fits right in with the rest of the crew with the

last name of Gonzales.

Trina brought Addy and Ruby this afternoon to spend the night.  Of course Lola came with them.

Who cares if it's 100 degrees outside and you have a jacket

on when you are this cute!

I had promised Ruby we would go to the mall for her birthday shopping so we headed for Chandler.  Our first stop was to take Michael home.  Trina took Ben, Evan, Max, and Joshua home with her.  

After dropping Michael off Ruby, Addy and I headed for the Chandler mall.  This is the gift that Ruby picked out at Fuzziwigs.

Cookies 'n' Cream and baby Oreo.

She was so excited and because she bought Panda's, we had to eat at Panda Express for dinner.

Addy found this at Barnes and Noble and I just had to buy it for her.  She is a huge Harry Potter fan.  I was afraid if I waited until her birthday it would be gone.

Harry Potter in his quidditich

uniform.

Ruby wanted to take a picture in the photo booth but it cost $5.  I had the girls get in the booth and I took my own picture.

Two cuties!

Back at the resort grandpa was finally home.  He played Tenzi with the girls while I did some shopping at Fry's.  

I took the girls down to go swimming and they had a great time.

I love Ruby's swimsuit.  She has Lola

has one just like it.

Addy is such a great sister!

 The snowcone place was closed so we had to get smoothies instead.

 Addy got lemonade and Ruby and I got strawberry with

whipped cream.

Ruby is quite a poser.

After the smoothies the girls were cold so we had

to go over to the hot tub for awhile.

We went down to the clubhouse and picked out a movie, "Maleficient".  Grandpa watched it with them while I fixed some refreshments and put clean sheets on their bed.

Addy had seen it before but Ruby and

Grandpa had not.  It totallly changes the

story of Sleeping Beauty.

Cookie 'n' Cream and Oreo liked the movie too.

Cookie is the mom and Oreo the baby

In other news, Muhammed Ali's funeral was today.  I posted this picture of him with my brother Dennis in 1976.

 Muhammed is holding Dennis's son Eric.