Monday, February 10th, 2020

San Antonio, Texas

120th operating temple

Dedicated: 22 May 2005

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Judge

Psalms 7:8

The Lord shall judge the people: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

2 Nephi 6

Jacob recounts Jewish history: The Babylonian captivity and return; the ministry and crucifixion of the Holy One of Israel; the help received from the Gentiles; and the Jews' latter-day restoration when they believe in the Messiah. About 559-545 B.C.

"The Atonement"

Russell M. Nelson

Oct 1996

"Humbly I join the Book of Mormon prophet Jacob, who asked,

'Why not speak of the atonement of Christ?' This topic comprises our third article of faith: 'We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.'"

"Come, Follow Me - the Lord's Counterstrategy and Proactive Plan

Mark L. Pace

Oct 2019

"Our purpose is to balance the Church and the home experiences in a way that will greatly increase faith and spirituality and deepen conversion to Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

We got up this morning to rain, off and on most of the day, until tonight when it turned to snow.

James reminded me that we were going to call Launch and Discover to see what happened to the refunds we should have received when we paid their respective accounts off. Since I am the co-signer on both accounts, I made the calls.

Launch first. They said on January 3rd they mailed a check to Stacy Gonzales. They had told me they were going to send it to Amrock because they are the ones who wrote the check paying the bill. I guess they called Amrock and Amrock told them to refund the money to the borrower. Stacy is the borrower and I am the co-signer. I texted Stacy and she said if she got a letter from Launch she threw it away. James called Amrock and complained to them. Amrock called Launch and they said since the first check was not cashed they would send us a check. Problem solves, hopefully.

When I called Discover and spoke to a guy named Phil he said they had sent a check to, at first he didn't know and eventually he said Jared Gonzales, at an address on a Birch St. in San Bernadino, California because that's the address they had on file. I'm sorry, but your file is wrong. Now I am waiting while they do some research to see if the check has been cashed. If it has not, they can issue a new check to Jared and Stacy will get it and deposit it and send me the money. 

The total of the two refunds is over $600. We could use that money right now. This has been such a hassle, all because Amrock made the wrong amounts on the payoff checks they sent.

We said goodbye to Kim and Brian this morning. Kim was excited about the cloudy, rainy weather and didn't want to leave, but of course they had to.

Super amazing Kim and Brian!

Before they left Brian made me some oil capsules to take for my red and swollen eyelid. Kim gave me an oil to rub around my eye socket and told me I could also use lavender. I love that they have a remedy for so many things. I hope mine works as well as the one they made for James.

I left to go to town around 11:45. I wanted to make it to the post office before they closed for lunch at noon so I was in a hurry. James was on the phone. I didn't think he wanted to go but he texted me later and said he was sad I left without him. I am so sorry honey! Honestly I'm glad he stayed home because he sprayed off the entire driveway and it looks so great!

Most first stop was at Walmart where I bought a rotisserie chicken for my chicken and rice soup I am making for the Crane's. I also came to buy valentines, which I did. It was a quick trip but I still managed to spend over $130. It's so easy to spend money, why isn't it easier to earn it?

I went across the street and down to Wagon Wheel where I went through the drive-thru at Aliberto's and ordered an Arizona burrito and a green chili burrito. I love the Arizona burrito and ate half of it before I got home. I stopped for gas on the way home. My goal is to always have my tank at least half full.

Back at home I started a batch of sugar cookie dough and put it in the frig to chill while I made the chicken with rice soup for the Crane's. I also got some Sister Schubert rolls and heated them up and put them in a basket. I baked the sugar cookies, frosted them, and James took the soup, rolls and a couple of cookies wrapped in decorative bags over to the Crane's. 

I didn't take a picture in the decorative bag

but this is what the cookies looked like.

I baked and frosted more cookies for our "Come Follow Me" study group, the Peeler's and the Goodman's. They loved them. Barbara said they were the best she's ever had. I left some unfrosted for those who prefer them without frosting which James and Owen did.

After our guests left I got a message from Cathy Arnett about a book she has that she borrowed from Gail years ago. She wanted Erik's number so she could get it to him and he could give it to Gail. I told her that Pierce had just been here. She said he is like a brother to her and she still remembers going to the hospital with her mom and waiting in the car while her mom went in to see the new baby. She said she was four years old and it was okay to leave your kid in the car back in those days.

I wanted to do some more studying before going to bed but realized I didn't have all my steps so I walked instead and listened to a couple of chapters from "Saints" volume 1.

Saturday fun at the lake

 NASA says today was the day that the

earth was at a tilt to let your broom

stand alone.

Friday, December 27th, 2019

Tuxtla Gutierrez Mexico

75th operating temple

Dedicated: 12 Mar 2000

By: James E. Faust

Jesus Christ, Jehovah

Isaiah 41:4

Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am he.

Book of Mormon

Moroni 7:35-48

New Testament

Revelation 19-20; Redheaded Hostess and New Testament Student Manual

Oct General Conference

"Giving Our Spirits Control Over Our Bodies"

President M. Russell Ballard

"The word that keeps coming to my mind now when I consider the plan is 'reunion.' It is a plan, designed by our loving Father in Heaven, that has at its center the grand and glorious possibilities of family reunion - of eternally reuniting husbands and wives, parents and children, generation upon generation in the household of God."

Ministering is exercising divine love

Repentance is daily refining

I talked to the boys about what they wanted to eat before I made a trip to town. It's the same things they always want. Pizza, steak, hotdogs, and hamburgers. Alex asked if I would buy him Simply Orange orange juice with no pulp, and some eggs. 

James went to town with me. While I was shopping Stacy kept texting me that Alex left his egg pan and other dirty dishes in the sink and didn't clean the kitchen. I am not sure what she wanted me to do. I told her to please ask him to clean up after himself. 

As we were going through Vernon we passed Sarah, Dallin, and Charlie leaving. We stopped and talked a few minutes and told them to be careful going home and that we enjoyed their visit. 

We stopped at Little Caesar's Pizza and picked up two large pepperoni pizzas, and two orders of breadsticks for $20.44. That is an amazing price!

We got more snow today. The kids tied the sled to the back of Alexis's car and are pulling each other down the road. It looks a little dangerous but they are having fun.

My foot is hurting. I blogged Dec 13th, the day of the gingerbread houses, Addy's concert and Jared and Kacey going to Marshall, Texas. There were a lot of pictures. 

I checked on Jared today. He still has numbness on the left side of his face. 

Max and Evan say they are not hungry tonight. I hope I didn't buy all of this food that Sheri is paying me for and no one is going to eat it. 

Joshua broke his new fancy light saber today and Paul is very upset because Michael told him to duct tape the batteries in. The tape is stuck inside the handle. Joshua is so upset he goes outside and no one can find him. When Evan comes in Stacy asks him if he will go outside and look for Joshua. Evan leaves out the back door and in a few minutes Joshua comes in the front door. Now Stacy is worried that Evan is going to get lost. I told her he would be fine.

James and I watched a Christmas movie, "Christmas On My Mind," starring Andrew Walker.

 Bryce Case's family

Bryce is Trina's brother

 The gang

Wednesday, July 17th, 2019

Fresno, California

78th operating temple

Dedicated: 9 April 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Firstborn

Hebrews 12:23

To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

Book of Mormon

Alma 34:1-16

New Testament "The Word of God Grew and Multiplied"

Acts 13

General Conference

Where Will This Lead?

President Dallin H. Oaks

"Where will this lead?" is also important in choosing how we label or think of ourselves. Most important, each of us is a child of God with a potential destiny of eternal life. Every other label, even including occupation, race, physical characteristics, or honors, is temporary or trivial in eternal terms. Don't choose to label yourselves or think of yourselves in terms that put a limit on a goal for which you might strive."

Sold a book this morning.

James left early this morning to pick up his friend Anthony. A while back Anthony bought a cat that he thought was a girl and he named her Clare. Well, it turns out that Clare is a boy and has been renamed Clarence. Clarence had an appointment to be "fixed" at the vets today at 7 a.m. Anthony needed a ride so James took him. I guess Clarence was quite vocal about not wanting to be at the vets. He only knows Anthony and his personality is more like a dog than a cat. For example, at home while Anthony is on the computer Clarence will bring a ball in his mouth and sit on the computer and look at Anthony. Anthony throws the ball and Clarence retrieves it.

I picked up my friend Catherine this morning and took her to the Compass Medical Center in Snowflake. Catherine is 85 years old and has diabetes. She has experienced severe neuropathy in her feet and was told if she didn't do something she may face amputations. 

She began doing treatments on her feet about 3-4 months ago. Today was her checkup to see how the treatments had been working. I guess the results were amazing! The doctor said he had never seen anyone make so much improvement. Before she had very little feeling in her feet and now she said when the doctor touched her feet it really tickled. They asked her to write a testimonial and when she came up front to check out a big cheer went up. 

While Catherine was at her appointment I went shopping at Walmart for the dinner I am fixing for the Nicoll family on Thursday. I finished just a few minutes before Catherine. 

Catherine bought me lunch at Sonic. We both had the hotdog, Catherine had tater tots with hers and I had french fries with mine, and a diet cherry limeade. 

They are painting the lines on the highway and we were slowed down for a bit. I really do enjoy visiting with Catherine, she has a lot of personality and is quite talented as a seamstress and she loves to cook. She said she has a list that says, "I'm dead, now what?" She is going to add me on that list to inherit her recipes.

I forgot to mention some news that happened yesterday. Sheri texted me and said that she was just promoted to office manager. I guess Chris, the current office manager, took a job with Shamir to be a lens rep. He and Sheri are good friends and I am sure that he recommended Sheri for office manager. I told Sheri that now she knew how Ben feels and that the advice she gave him regarding getting help from the Lord, also applied to her. She said she never thought of that but it was true. I am very proud of Sheri and know she will do a great job.

This afternoon I took a break from books and fixed dinner. I tried out the goulash recipe I am going to fix for the Nicoll's tomorrow night. James loved it and so did I. I also made green beans and they fit right in with the goulash. The recipe calls for Rotel which is a little spicy. Tomorrow I am going to use diced tomatoes instead and add some Prego sauce. 

I alternated walking with working on books and ended up walking 15,000 steps. I also read several chapters from our book, "Love Unscripted," to James and watched Christmas movies. 

"Mingle All the Way"

"A Gift to Remember"

"The Perfect Christmas Gift"

James has finished taking his prednisone and now he is miserable again. The doctor who did his swallow test said he needed to go in and get a kenolog shot and I have been trying to convince him to do that.

 Michael is unique

 Next best step to being there is these daily photos

 This girl loves berries!

Friday, July 12th, 2019

Albuquerque, New Mexico

73rd operating temple

Dedicated: 5 Mar 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Firstborn

Isaiah 41:4

Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the Lord, the first, and with the last I am he.

Book of Mormon

Alma 31:24-38

New Testament "What Wilt Thou Have Me To Do?"

Acts 9:1-22

General Conference

Behold the Lamb of God

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

"Brother and sisters, this hour ordained of the Lord is the most sacred hour of our week. By commandment, we gather for the most universally received ordinance in the Church. It is in memory of Him who asked if the cup He was about to drink could pass, only to press on because He knew that for our sake it could not pass. It will help us if we remember that a symbol of that cup is slowly making its way down the row toward us at the hand of an 11 or 12 year old deacon."

After scriptures and prayers I put on my big girl shoes and went upstairs to clean. James was a big help. He helped me put sheets on the beds and he cleaned the toilets and the bathtubs. He also did some vacuuming and moved the Noah's Ark onto the shelf by the stairs so no more pieces will get broken.

Randomly while I was cleaning I would take a break and come down and watch a little of "Marrying Father Christmas."

Adam and friends arrived somewhere between 1 and 2. Kaitlin said hi and then went upstairs to take a nap.. Adam said she has had a hard week because she broke up with her boyfriend. 

The first thing Adam, Kyle and Chris did was go upstairs to play video games. They found some bat poop on the couch. Darn! I thought I got rid of it all! Now they are concerned about bats. I told them bats only come when they have a food source and we had tried to get rid of all the moths and bugs. Well then of course they kept finding moths.  Later Adam saw a bat in the garage and he assumed that was the bat in the house and it had left. Anyway, we never saw any more bats or bat "sign." We did see a few moths and everytime Kaitlin saw one she would have one of the guys come and kill it for her. I told them waht Addy said when she was here and there was a bat. Trina was very nervous and Addy said, "Will they kill you?" Trina said no and then Addy said, "Well what's the big deal?" She is definitely Darrel's daughter!

I had wanted to go to town today to get a few groceries but James said he couldn't go and so I forgot about it. Later this evening he decides he needs to go to get some of the medication this new doctor asked him to get for his laryngitis. At first I said it was too late and then he said, "I'll buy you something to eat." That gets me every time. 

After doing a little shopping at Walmart my "something to eat" came from Taco Bell. That's fine. I got a taco and a double tostado. I think it was a double tostado because it had both lettuce and tomatoes. It was certainly not double in any other way. James didn't eat because the doctor said he should stop eating five hours before going to bed.

I had a nice visit with Adam for about an hour today, just the two of us. something I don't get to do very often.

James got someone to work for him at the temple tomorrow but I decided that I am well enough to go.

Happy Anniversary to the Heyman's

Contemplating

 Recording

Alex and Shayna

 Charlie and Holly were sealed to his dad and

her husband today. They are so happy!

Congratulations!

 Beach Beauties

 The Case Crew

Sharpening those teeth and

practicing her standing