Sunday, July 2nd, 2017

Sapporo, Japan

151st operating temple

Dedicated: 21 Aug 2016 by

Russell M. Nelson

Alma 26:1-16

*How is it a blessing to be an instrument in the hands of God?

DC 96:1-9

1, The Kirtland Stake of Zion is to be made strong; 2-5, The bishop is to divide the inheritances for the Saints; 6-9, John Johnson is to be a member of the united order.

How can we make our home (stake) strong?

*As I read these scriptures I saw such words as Order, Prayer, wisdom, and keep my commandments...

We have an obligation to "bring forth my word" (vs-4,5) for the purpose of subduing the hearts of the children of men for your good." Good homes produce good people, who in turn produce good works and bless the Church and its members. 

Doing things that invite the Spirit will help us do the most important work of all. We also must assist the Lord in bringing forth His word. (8)

General Conference

The Beauty of Holiness

Carol F. McConkie

"Our Father in Heaven knows us. He loves us, and He has provided for us all that is required so that we can become holy as He is holy. Our hope for holiness is centered in Christ, in His mercy and His grace. With faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, we may become clean, without spot, when we deny ourselves of ungodliness and sincerely repent. We are baptized by water for the remission of sins. Our souls are sanctified when we receive the Holy Ghost with open hearts. Weekly, we partake of the ordinance of the sacrament. In a spirit of repentance, wit sincere desires for righteousness, we covenant that we are willing to take upon us the name of Christ, remember Him, and keep His commandments so that we may always have His Spirit to be with us.

Over time, as we continually strive to become one with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, we become partakers of Their divine nature. Most often it is the sacrifices we make to keep our covenants that sanctify us and make us holy."

We thought maybe we had a bat because we had seen evidence upstairs. James found him laying on the family room floor this morning and took him outside. Emmy and Molly thought he was so cool and Emmy took this picture.

It creeps me out to think that this critter was flying around my house. Later today Kacey mentioned that she thought a bird

was flying around in their room last night. I told her I didn't think it was a bird but I didn't think it would bother her tonight.

Today was our fast and testimony meeting. James and I are fasting for rain. I bore my testimony and bore my testimony of modern-day apostles and prophets. I also mentioned adding studying about the Savior's life to my scripture study because of President Nelson's talk. I enjoyed Bishop Millers, Brother Price's, and Brother Westbrook's testimonies. We had so many guests today that sacrament meeting was filled to the back of the second overflow.  

I had fifteen kids in my tiny Primary classroom. Sister Kuffer asked me to teach her class and there were lots of visitors.

Ashten and Kacey ducking their heads.

Couldn't get them all in one picture.

Molly made a friend in Primary today. He was a visitor and is four years old.

I can't remember his name, but 

I bet Molly does.

Back at home we fixed breakfast for lunch. James helped me by cooking the eggs.  It was quite delicious. I even had some cinnamon rolls for everyone.

Family time around the dining room table.

After lunch I took a nap. After my nap I got a call from Nadine Singleton. Two of her grandchildren who were visitors in my class today finished their homework papers and earned fidget spinners. Caden took the fast camoflage one and his sister Raylynn took my personal favorite, the purple. 

For dinner this evening we had burgers, steaks, beans, and corn-on-the cob.  Afterwards Jared and Kacey took their kids to Greenspeak. Some rode in the van and others rode on the Razr.

 Guess where these five rode.

Such a cute face!

We had FHE and scriptures together this evening. James told the story of how he was saved from the fire as a baby. 

I made popcorn and M&M's.

Emmy, Kacey, and Jared played Life. Molly watched The Incredibles. Earlier in the day Anna and Summer watched "The Help."  It was a good day.

Photos:

Christina and her baby Winter.

Winter was blessed today.

Cute little family.

I remember those days.

Congratulations!

Friday, November 20, 2015

James spent the day working on taxes and it's partly my fault.  In the check ledger for 2012 I didn't enter what many of the checks were written for so James had to go online and look them up.  To make up for it I made him some ham and eggs for breakfast.  

 

After breakfast and scriptures we read a chapter from Wuthering Heights.  

 

James have a conversation with Alex via texts regarding the refugee situation.  Today during scriptures we read Alma 35 so he had Alex read Alma 35:6-9 where it tells about the Ammonites taking in the Zoramite refugees.  It really does apply to the situation today.  I told him to read Moroni 8:16 too.

 

I kept busy all day except for a 30 minute nap.  I finished cleaning my office except for putting clean sheets on the bed and putting up the new curtains.  

 

When we went into Vernon to get our mail I had a big box from Amazon which had the three books and one jigsaw puzzle I had ordered.  I love Amazon!

The soup I made in the crockpot, a recipe from my "Dump Meal" cookbook wasn't very good.  We ate a little but threw most of it out.  

We had a herd of elk pass through our yard this evening.  There were 14 cows and calves, no bulls.  James did see a big bull this morning just north of our house.  

Sad news.  Chandler High's football team lost to Desert Ridge in the playoffs tonight 24-21.

 

Tonight we watched "The Tree That Saved Christmas" and "Help for the Holidays."

 

Sunday, November 1, 2015

One of my favorite months!

Sheri's quote:

Elder Holland in his talk "Lord I Believe" says,

"When problems come and questions arise, do not start your quest for faith by saying how much you do not have, leading as it were with your 'unbelief.'  That is like trying to stuff a turkey through the beak!  Let me be clear on this point: I am not asking you to pretend to faith you do not have.  I am asking you to be true to the faith you do have.  Sometimes we act as if an honest declaration of doubt is a higher manifestation of moral courage than is an honest declaration of faith.  It is not!"

I was up at 4:30 this morning to finish preparing my lesson.  It is about Cornelius and Peter and taking the gospel to the Gentiles and all the world as the Lord commanded.  I felt like I was prepared.

James helped me put on my new shoes.  They do hurt my feet a little but I checked and I can't get them in a wider size so I will just grin and bear it.  

An announcement was made in sacrament meeting today regarding the refugees coming into Europe.  We were encouraged to donate to the humanitarian fund to help these refugees.  I saw this on Facebook:

 

I loved Brother Scott's testimony today.  He talked about how the refugee's from Syria fleeing to Europe could now be taught the gospel.  He also bore testimony of the Savior!

 I am grateful to belong to the this church!

 Everyone in my Primary class, except Zemira, bore their testimonies in sacrament meeting.  I told them in class it was important to remember to bear testimony of the Savior.  Hopefully they will remember.  

I am not sure if it was the Halloween candy or what but our class was very rowdy today.  It didn't help that today was Joely's birthday and Isabelle was there to celebrate with her.  Joely brought a bean bag and begged me to let them play a game, so after class  they played hide the beanbag.  They were rude to Braylin who tries to get attention by saying rude things.  When he was out of the room I told them they needed to practice being more kind to him.  

Zemira did give an answer regarding Peter's symbolic dream of seeing unclean animals and how it applied to the Gentiles.  I was proud of him.  I don't think he has ever answered a question in class before today.

Ashten is excited that her brother, Kendall is coming home from his mission on Wednesday.  She really didn't want to read scriptures today but I talked her in to it.  Talena was the best in class and was the most reverent.

Denice Hall did singing time today.  I think Alicia went to visit her mom in Utah who is dying of cancer.  It was lots of fun songs and Denice made it even more fun.  

Lannie Gillespie did sharing time.  She told the story of the Good Samaritan and then gave the kids an assignment to do 5 acts of service before our next Primary in two weeks.  It's a contest and the class who does the most acts of service gets a prize.  The kids were pretty excited!

We came home from church and watched a movie, "The Wishing Tree", before breaking our fast.  

I also worked on my blog, read scriptures and listened to several conference talks.  My favorite was the one by Pres. Eyring on the Holy Ghost.  James took an extra long nap.  

We watched two more Christmas movies: "The Best Party Ever", and "The Ultimate Life."

Kim took family pictures today for the Trezise's.  I love this one of the boys:

So handsome and lovable,

all of them!

Monday, October 12, 2015

Food for Thought

James and I left for Silver City, New Mexico this morning at 6am for a 9am meeting.  James forgot about the hour time difference so the people he was meeting had waited an hour for him.  The Taco Bell where we met didn't even open until 10 am.

Papers were signed, a deed was delivered, and we went home with a pocket full of cash.  We celebrated by eating at one of the finer restaurants in Silver City, Taco Bell!

James and I read our scriptures and then I read to him from our new book, "A Hearts Rebellion."

 Why do so many women choose the wrong man?

We made several stops on the way home.  This one was the first:

I didn't realize I was taking a selfie.

We stopped here to use the restrooms and then felt like we should buy something.  We settled on the Plain Jane fudge instead of the Lavender fudge and two chocolate truffles, one with raspberry and the other with chili.  I thought the fudge was the best that I've ever had.  I don't normally like fudge.  

We also took a little side trip which was about 15 miles out of the way.  It's one of those little places with just a main drag and not much else.  I got a kick out of "Wild Bill's Bar."  There use to be a Bill's Bar in Show Low but it wasn't "Wild Bill's."

When we got to Springerville I mentioned that sometime I would like to go into the Western Drugstore and look around.  To my surprise James stopped.  It was your typical small town store with some unique features, like a place in the back where you can by woodworking products.  They also really cater to hunter's and outdoorsman.  I also found a very interesting assortment of cookie cutters.  

When we returned home to Vernon we took a nap.  For some reason I was feeling a little sad and depressed.  I spent the afternoon and evening watching three Hallmark movies.  "Before You Say I Do", "Growing the Big One" (pumpkins that is), and "Bridal Fever."  I also watched most of "Dancing with the Stars."

It was not a day of great accomplishment for me.

This picture of Bruce was taken at 4am.

during my morning devotional.

Ruth 1:16-17

"And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LOrd do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me."

This morning for scripture study Emmy shared a scripture she learned about in her primary class yesterday.  It was Genesis 39:18-23: 

18 -And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.

19- And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.

20-And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

21-But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

22-And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.

23-The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper."

We talked about how when bad thing happened to Joseph even when he was trying to do good, eventually because of his goodness and obedience, he was blessed.

I went with Jared to take Emmy and Anna to school so I would know the route. Bruce and Penny went with us.

 I am picking up Emmy this afternoon.  She goes to Mitzy Bond Elementary School.  Anna goes to Abraham Lincolm Junior High.  Emmy is in the third grade and Anna is in the sixth.

We hung out with Molly and the dogs while the other girls were gone to school and Jared was at work.

 Penny and Molly

Molly trying to get Bruce to shake hands with her,

but I think he's just too tired.

Penny found the most comfortable spot in the house.

Molly singing her preschool songs for us.

Molly, James and I went shopping at Walmart.  The guy behind us in line was trying to be friendly with Molly.  She told him he had sharp teeth.  Thank goodness he was a good sport about it.  

After shopping we went to lunch at Rudy's.  Molly loved their potato salad and dill pickles.  She also ate a tiny bit of smoked turkey.

Back at home we all laid down to take a nap.  Molly told me I smelled good, just like an old grandma.  I guess I should consider that a compliment.  While she was still sleeping I left to pick up Emmy from school and take her to volleyball practice.  I stayed and watched her practice. 

 Emmy loves sports and she is very athletic.

There were lots of girls all shapes, sizes, and ages practicing volleyball at Stars Haven today.  I guess Anna has practice on Fridays.

On the way home Emmy and I stopped at the local Circle K for some refreshments.  Jared made burgers for dinner.  They were delicious. Anna was very helpful.  She asked everyone what they wanted to drink and then she delivered our drinks to us.

 I played with Molly outside.  I watched her jump on the trampoline and then we played tetherball.

Anna gave a really good lesson for FHE.  She had questions for us to answer and when we were finished she gave what she thought would be a good answer.  I guess she is doing this for Mutual on Wednesday night too.  Anna also made some delicious snickerdoodle cookies for us. Emmy got to chose the game.  We played Apples to Apples.  Molly did the song.

 Maybe we should be glad we lost the remote to the TV.  We spent a nice evening together.