Saturday, January 18th, 2020

Houston, Texas

97th operating temple

Dedicated: 26 Aug 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Jehovah

Abraham 2:8

My name is Jehovah, and I know the end from the beginning: therefore my hand shall be over thee.

Book of Mormon, "Come Follow Me"

Iron Rod, Tree of Life discussion

 "The Two Great Commandments"

President Dallin H. Oaks

"The gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us to love and treat all people with kindness and civility - even when we disagree. We affirm that those who avail themselves of laws or court rulings authorizing same-sex marriage should not be treated disrespectfully."

Today was a beautiful day in Vernon, Arizona. The high was around 45 with lots of sunshine. I didn't leave my room until I finished blogging January 6th. It was 10 a.m. at which time I headed for the kitchen. I made a pot of chicken noodle soup and heated up some individual french rolls that Sheri left here. I took the rolls to the Relief Society service activity. Kerri called them "butt" rolls. 'Oh Kerri, I see what you mean.'

Trina, Addy, and I left for the church around 11:40 just a head of Darrel and the other kids who were planning on going to the pit to go sledding. We saw the herd of elk as we were leaving and Trina pointed to them for Darrel but he didn't see them. 

The Relief Society service project is making headache bags for the cancer center and baby blankets for the hospital. It runs from 11-2. We dropped my rolls off in the Relief Society room and decided we would eat before going in to help with the project. 

There were ten different types of soups to choose from and just as many types of bread. Addy had five types of bread. I had the pasta fagoili soup. It was delicious, like Olive Gardens except it had corn. Addy bumped in to me and I spilled my soup all over the front of my white blouse. She felt so bad. I told her it was okay. We sat down and ate and visited with Kerri and Michelle Tesarek. I was glad Michelle was there because I wanted Trina to meet her. Virgil Cooper and Anthony were the priesthood. Because there was honey being served he began to tell us about raising bees. He also said that mesquite honey was the most healthy type of honey.

When we were finished eating we went to help Maxine tie quilts. Addy and Trina finished their quilts before I did so Addy helped me finish. 

Addy and Maxine. In the background Catherine is

hemming Anthony's jeans.

Amy Gordon came over and visited with us. She talked about herself and said more than I have ever heard her say before. Her maiden name is Hatch and she grew up in Taylor.

After finishing our quilts we left and went to Dollar General. I needed to get a gift card for MaKenzi Forrester's baby shower. We had almost as much fun at Dollar General as we did when we went to Western Drug last summer. Addy and Trina are just fun to shop with. Trina ended up getting Lola and Ruby coloring books. 

When we returned home we found out that the road to the Pit had been closed and Darrel got his car stuck. James had to go rescue them. Not much fun for the kids. James saw a herd of deer like we saw a herd of elk.

I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date

Addy made brownies this afternoon and saved a couple for Maxine who told us she can't make brownies in her toaster oven. We will give them to her at church tomorrow.

Darrel has been marinating chicken thighs all day and this evening he grilled them for us. They were delicious. We also had asparagus, salad, and beans. We could not find Ruby and Rowan when it was time to eat. They had taken the sled up the hill by the side of our house to sled. I guess there were too many rocks for it to work very well. 

After dinner Trina said she had to go upstairs to go shopping for jewelry (Lola) and donate to the "Help save the animals organization." The kids love to play store in my office. Trina came down to talk to Addy who needed  some counseling from her mom so I went upstairs with the girls. Ruby was looking at things through the microscope and Lola was coloring. As a side note here Trina told me of a condition that she, Addy and Ruby all have. It is called trytophobia or fear of circle clusters in nature. Ruby looked at a slide with a cluster of cells on it and said that freaked her out. Addy had told me earlier that she didn't like the word cluster. I guess that's why. Trina showed me some people online who have the phobia also. I have never heard of it and am sorry to say I don't completely understand it. 

Lola wanted me to play some music on my phone, which I did. I played Dancing Queen and then I played the music from Phantom of the Opera. She liked it and when I told her it was from a movie she wanted to watch the movie. Darrel came into our bedroom and connected the DVD player to the TV and Ruby, Lola, and Rowan and I watched half of "Phantom of the Opera" before grandpa came in to go to bed. I told them we would finish watching it tomorrow although I really didn't want to watch it on Sunday.

 Emily's new book

 Ruby and Lola

 Cope is a friend and member of our ward.

Happy 70th Birthday!

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Today the Chandler West Stake had what they called a special stake conference.  Yesterday a priesthood leadership conference was held in Tempe and the two visiting authorities were Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Walter F. Gonzalez of the Presidency of the Seventy.  Elder Andersen visited a stake in the area and Elder Gonzalez visited the Chandler West Stake. 
Before conference began we visited with some of our friends from the Del Rio 2nd ward; The Tolman's, the Lueck's, Adrienne Ellsworth, and Charlotte Mattice.  We sat by Charlotte and her ex-husband Roland Mattice.  The following people spoke in the conference: President Johansen, Lisa Johansen, Sister House of the Tempe, Az. Mission, President House, Mission President of the Tempe Mission, President Porter, President of the Mesa temple, and Elder Walter F. Gonzalez.  Here are some notes from Elder Gonzalez's message: "The gospel helps with life's challenges."  He quoted scriptures from Matthew 11 such as the one that says come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and find rest unto your souls.  He talked about the importance of our personal prayers and keeping our covenants.  He said if we are willing to follow Christ, our wayward children will return.  Everyone's burdens will eventually be removed.  We all will be healed.  He said the Book of Mormon is the greatest tool to convert to the Lord.

We went home and had lunch and then headed to Mesa to attend sacrament meeting in the Emerald Bay ward with Darrel and Trina.  Addy was presented for baptism and stood up on the stand.  She looked so small.  After sacrament meeting we said our goodbyes and went back to Chandler to take naps.

Sheri and Evan came down for a visit this afternoon.  I gave Sheri season 2 of Downton Abbey to lend to Christy Wanlass.  We talked a little about our trip to Texas next week.  Ben and Max are coming with us.  We are meeting Sheri in Payson Thursday evening to pick them up.

For dinner James grilled the chicken I marinated last night.  Stacy said she really liked it.  Dallin and Michael liked it ok but Joshua wouldn't eat it because we didn't have any A-1 steak sauce.

I downloaded LDS tools on James's phone for him.  Later he went to call someone and all of his contacts were gone.  He has the worst luck.  We called both Verizon and Apple and neither of them could help.