Thursday, October 10th, 2019

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

163rd operating temple

Dedicated: 14 Apr 2019

By: Dale G. Renlund

Jesus Christ, Good Shepherd

Ezekiel 34:12

As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 3:1-10

New Testament: Ephesians: "For the Perfecting of the Saints"

General Conference

Witnesses, Aaronic Priesthood, Young Women Classes

President Russell M. Nelson

"The adjustments we will now announce are intended to help young men and young women develop their sacred personal potential."

James took a picture of a big elk in our yard before leaving for the valley. He was right behind the storage shed.

 These photos were taken before sunrise with

the camera James got me for my birthday

a few years ago. That's why they are a 

little cloudy.

 On our property right behind the 

storage shed.

I know this looks like Mr. Bull Elk is

yelling at one of his wives, but James says he was 

responding to his cow call, inviting him

over to the harem.

Part of the harem

"Rescuing Wayward Children", (henceforth "RWC")

Our Children's Descent

President Joseph F. Smith describes the Fall as below all things. We fell into spiritual darkness from Celestial glory.

Just as the Savior descended below all things so that we could ascend above all things, we too have to descend to ascend.

As I was listening to this morning's book webinar on my phone, the phone rang. The number was from Atlanta, Georgia, so I ignored it. I noticed that whoever it was that called left a message so I checked the message. It started out, "Hello, this is Liz Kelly. Over 20 years ago I served in Chandler, Arizona as a missionary. You might remember me as Sister Bush." 

Of course I remember Sister Bush. I returned the call and we spoke for about 45 minutes. Liz lives in Dallas, Georgia. We went to her wedding and know where Dallas is and what her 100 year old house looks like. She has three birth children, Lauren who is serving a mission in the Ukraine, Trey who will be 18 in May and is looking forward to serving a mission, and Miles who is 13 and is trying to survive at the "ghetto" junior high he attends. He and his cousin are the only LDS kids in the school.

Liz and her husband took in a homeless boy whose name is Kyle. They told him he would be expected to take his turn at family prayer, attend FHE, and help teach the "Come Follow Me" lessons. Kyle is now getting ready to go on a mission. 

Liz's husband, James, is the bishop of their ward. She has several callings, one being the gospel doctrine teacher. 

The reason she called me today was to tell me she is coming to Arizona for a friend's wedding. She would like to visit us on November 7th.  As soon as I hung up I texted Laura and set it up for Liz to come to Dave and Laura's home. Liz, Sister Bush, was one of the missionaries who helped teach Laura. Liz fixed them a "Bush-a-toni" dinner at our house.

Liz said because of her parents divorce while she was serving a mission, she was very discouraged. She said she doesn't think she would have survived without us welcoming her into our family after she felt like hers was falling apart. She made the comment, "You may not know in this life how grateful I was for you. You saved my mission." She also said each Saturday when we had missionary meetings at our home that I would fix everyone a big breakfast. Funny, I don't remember doing that. It was so great to hear from my favorite sister missionary and I am so looking forward to seeing her in November.

This evening the older boys were playing a game and Joshua was sitting by himself on the couch. I asked him if he wanted to play Uno and he did. We play three rounds. Joshua won the first two and I finally won the third. Afterwards he thanked me for playing with him. 

Here are some other things that happened this evening. James got home from the valley, the boys went to town to get wings, later they played gray wolf outside and scared the elk away. Upstairs after we went to bed, Kaitlin gave the boys facials.

James saw Dr. Memon, painted with Michael at Stacy's. He had a nice visit with Michael. He is working at a clinic where he counsels children with autism. Good training for when he gets his degree.

It's going to get down to 25 degrees tonight.

Pumpkin carving at Kim's

 I love it Evan!

Some of the other carvers:

Dallin (I never saw his pumpkin), Joe

Michael and Alexis.

Dallin's still trying to decide

Darrel and Trina's trip to Mexico with family
and friends

The view from Darrel and Trina's motel room.

 Cousins: Lola and Ivy
Yes, Ivy has attitude

Cute little mermaids

Two Ivy's, Kreed and Ruby
Kreed and Ruby are the same age

 Addy and Kayla

Snorklers

 They are lucky to have Trina who can do
their hair

Rowan showing off his tatoo.

I hope it's not permanent!

Cousins and sisters are the best friends!

Kilee, Addy, Kayla

 For some reason we only have half photos of Rowan
and Lola too in this one

Happy Halloween!

Thanks to Kaitlin these boys all got facials

For Max and Joshua it was a first.

Alex gets them with Shayna all the time and

Chris and Adam have had them with Kaitlin before.

Kaitlin and her boys

This is a walking video of Charlie. I wish I knew

how to download videos on here.

So proud of herself. Those hips were

swaying those ruffles.

Saturday, November 17th, 2018

Cedar City, Utah

159th operating temple

Dedicated: 10 Dec 2017

By: Henry B. Eyring

Jesus Christ, Davidic Descent of

Psalms 89:27

"Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.

Book of Mormon #1

4 Nephi 1:23-49

* What are the characteristics of a true believer in Christ? Elder Neal A.. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles says:

"True believers are settled in their views of Christ. Despite their weaknesses, their spirituality is centered on the Savior. True believers gladly perform their duties in the kingdom. They include partaking worthily of the sacrament, rendering Christian service, studying the scriptures, praying, fasting, receiving ordinances, attending to family duties, paying tithes and offerings...True believers are humble. They are not easily offended. They do not resist counsel. True believers are willing to do what Christ wants. Are we willing to let the Lord lead us into further develop mental experiences? Or do we shrink back? The things which enlarge the soul inevitably involve stretching. True believers truly pray. Their prayers are sincere and heartfelt. True believers have both right conduct and right reasons for that conduct. They are so secure in their relationship with the Lord that their goodness would continue even if nobody were watching. True believers rejoice in the success of others.They don't regard colleagues as competitors.True believers remember that forgetting is part of forgiving. They follow the Lord's example: 'I will remember their sins no more.' (DC 58:42). True believers are innocent as to sin, but not naive. They are kind, but candid. They love other people. True believers are happy. They are serious about how they live life, but are also of good cheer." (True Believers, New Era, Apr 1994, 20-24; BMSM, 346).

Book of Mormon #2

Alma 27-29

Old Testament

Daniel 5-6

General Conference

Sisters' Paticiption in the Gathering of Israel

President Russell M. Nelson

"No one can do what a righteous woman can do. Men can and often do communicate the love of Heavenly Father and the Savior to others. But women have a special gift for it - a divine endowment. You have the capacity to sense what someone needs - and when he or she needs it. You can reach out, comfort, teach, and strengthen someone in his or her very moment of need."

Trina went to work this morning and Darrel took Addy and Rowan to the church with the rest of the YM and YW so they could walk 12 miles to the Gilbert temple.

Darrel, Ruby, Lola, James, and I drove over to Gateway Polytechnic School for Ruby's volleyball game. Her team has to win two out of three games in order to stay in the tournament. 

The first game was pretty close but Ruby's team pulled it off. The second game they took the lead early and won again! 

Ruby was so happy!

 That's Ruby sitting on the floor leaning forward.

 Ruby serving

Go Rubes!

 Ruby knows how to serve!

 Celebrating the win!

Ruby has on the purple pants with the green splotches.

 To the victors go the donuts

One for Lola and one for me.

 Really grandpa, you want a bite?

 Ok

That's a big bite!

Because James had a doctor's appointment yesterday morning we missed going to Kilee's wedding in Safford.

Not only did we miss the wedding but we missed

the reception in Vernon and the one in Safford.

I did sent a card with a gift card.

Kilee was my first friend in Vernon.

She was 12, I was 64.

After the game James dropped me off at Hobby Lobby and he went over to the job on Bellview St. to measure something. I had such a fun time in one of my favorite stores! I got Ben another tree, this one was bigger and I bought ornaments to go on it. I also bought supplies to make him a couple of Christmas cards, and some  Santa hats, one for Ben and one for his companion. I also got a couple of flannel nativities. 

When James returned we walked over to IHOP from Hobby Lobby and had some lunch. I had fried eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, and buttermilk pancakes with hot maple syrup. Yummy! I wish I didn't love food so much. 

James dropped me off at Kim's. He went to Subway and got lunch for Max and Evan and then took our car over to Sear's to get an alignment. 

Sheri came over and picked Kim and I up for our shopping trip. The first place we went was Deseret Book. Sheri loved the Christmas stockings that said Elder across the front and got one for Ben and his companion. She also got a wooden Plan of Salvation teaching aid. She said they love things they can use to teach with. She found a microfiber blanket folded very small and asked if I wanted to give it to Kim, which I did. Blankets are really my thing.

Sheri was hungry because she hadn't had lunch so we walked over to Cafe Rio. I wasn't going to get anything because it hadn't been too long since I ate, but I can't resist Cafe Rio food. I got a green chili pork toastado but ended up eating less than half of it. Kim got the same thing with none of the sides except lettuce.

I told my shopping comrades I needed to go to Target so I could get a Five Crowns game because that is the only thing Ben asked for from me. 

Of course I had to check out the blankets at Target. They had three that I liked. One was white, I know it's not practical but it was so pretty I had to get it. I am so grateful I got to go shopping with Kim and Sheri today. I just don't get to see them enough. 

After Target we went back to Kim's and James was walking down the sidewalk again. Brian was putting Christmas lights on the house. Kim has her tree up with the lights on. They look beautiful.

Kim reminded me that Lifetime also has Christmas movies so when I get home I am going to have to tape them along with my Hallmark movies.

Kim was telling me about a new family in their ward who moved here from Hawaii just so their son could play football at Chandler High. Who knew Chandler was so well known.

When we got back to Darrel and Trina's, Darrel was in charge. The girls were in the family room. Ruby was paying with the strong on the blinds, stand sitting on the couch. Lola was on the floor surrounded by toys, and Addy was in her corner looking at her phone. Rowan was over at Sheri's. Darrel was upstairs in the bedroom. Addy helped me clean up the family room while James and Lola ate my green chili toastado. James helped clean up by emptying the garbage. Darrel came down and did the dishes and fixed some dinner for the little girls. Addy left to go babysitting.

I played Go Fish and Llamanoes, a couple of games I got at Desert Book, with Ruby and Lola. We also made hand turkeys, which was Ruby's idea. Lola went outside with me when I went out in the backyard to walk. 

James and I went to Fry's again this evening to buy a few groceries for tomorrow. We are going to go to Sheri's for dinner after Evan's ordination.

By the time Trina got home, she went to pick up Rowan at Sheri's when she got off work, I had showered and was already upstairs getting ready to go to bed. I was supposed to tell her about the family Christmas calendar. I will write it out and leave it on the kitchen counter in the morning.

Good night world, I'm tired.

 The Hunsaker women

Congratulations William & Kilee!

 The missionary does light the world!

Oh how I love this baby!

 These two love each other!

Peek-a-boo

This is the city where Ben is serving.

A Gonzo right of passage.

Lola drove her car with the turtle on top
while I was walking.

We made hand turkeys. It was so
much fun. Lola made lots of them.

Ruby said she likes a picture with
lots of detail. Her finished picture
was awesome!

Pumpkin carving at Kim's. I forgot
to post these on Halloween.