Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Why do people come to visit me during the night when James isn't here?  I see things in my room, people hiding, and it seems so real.  Is this what you call night terrors?  Well at least I didn't call the police.

There was a beautiful sunrise this morning.

I began drinking warm lemon water again this morning.  It's something I used to do when I was going to Diet Center years ago.  Here is a website that gives 5 reasons to drink lemon water:

http://www.herbs-info.com/blog/5-reasons-to-drink-lemon-water-in-the-morning.

Gospel Study

"The Key to Spiritual Protection" - President Boyd K. Packer

"Parents today wonder if there is a safe place to raise children.  There is a safe place.  It is in a gospel-centered home.  Make scripture reading a part of your regular routine, and the blessings will follow."

Are Shem and Melchizedek the same person?

Found this information in the Old Testament Student Manual  Genesis-2 Samuel, p. 68.

1.  The inheritance given to Shem (Noah's son) included the land of Salem.  Melchizedek appears in scripture as the king of Salm, who reigns over this area.

2.  Shem, according to later revelation, reigned in righteousness and the priesthood came through him.  Melchizedek appears on the scene with a title that means 'king of righteousness.'

3.  Shem was the great high priest of his day.  Abraham honored the high priest Melchizedek by seeking a blessing at his hands and paying him tithes.

4.  Abraham stands next to Shem in the patriarchal order of the priesthood and would surely have received the priesthood from Shem; but D&C 84:5-17 says Abraham received the priesthood from Melchizedek.

5.  Jewish tradition identifies Shem as Melchizedek.

6.  President Joseph F. Smith's remarkable vision names Shem among the great patriarchs, but no mention is made of Melchizedek.

Bottom Line: We don't know, but I like to think that they are one in the same.

Some things I did today: paid bills, blogged, wrote an email to Stacy about President Packer's talk, "The Key to Spiritual Protection."  I also watched several episodes of The Walton's while I was undecorating Christmas.  I love the family values portrayed so well in this show.  Grandpa is my favorite character.  I wish I could get my kids and grandkids to watch it.  

I got all of the Christmas things put away except for the tree and the wreath over the fireplace.  I need James's help with both of these.  

While I was cleaning and putting things away I came across some of my old journals.  I looked through the ones from 2007, 2008, and 2009.  I was looking to see if we had taken Max to Disneyland.  The girls and I took all of the kids to Disneyland in October of 2007, but Max is right, he hasn't had his own trip.  Guess we will have to take him in November.  I read about falling off my chair at Red Lobster reaching for Evan's binky.  Wow, that sounds funny, Evan's binky.  Sheri thought it was so funny because everyone in the restaurant just ignored me and acted as if nothing had happened.

Tonight I watched a Hallmark movie called "Puppy Love."  James doesn't like it when dogs talk in movies so I thought I would watch this one and get it erased while he was gone.  It was too cute and I can't erase it.  I have to save it for him to watch.  Candace Cameron Bure was the featured actress.

Facebook finds:

The Soderquists:

Hans, Natalie, Jonah, and Adalyn.

Natalie was the Young Women's President when we moved to Vernon.  

They now live in Sandy, Utah.

Ruby Jane on a date with her Grandma Case.

Monday, January 6, 2014

I fixed James a nice breakfast this morning.  Something I don't do very often lately.  We both had a cheese omelet with ham and toast.  He is going to the valley but first he has an appointment with Dr. Moffat in Show Low about his sinus infection.  He called me after his appointment.  The results of the cat scan he had taken a month or so ago are back and they show that his leg is not healing properly.  Well, thank goodness he has an appointment with Dr. Ortega, his orthopedic specialist, on Thursday.  James is going to the valley to meet with Greg Hatch and to do a small job at Troone North for Brad Andersen.  He will also be working on the house if he gets time.  We want to get the roof fixed before the next rain.

I went into town today.  It looked nice and sunny outside, but it was cold, about 37 degrees.  That's okay because I like the cold.  The check engine light has been on in my car since we went to El Paso.  James is going to make an appointment with Erik for either Thursday or Friday while I am in the valley. 

After my trip to town I came home and watched The Mentalist and Downton Abbey while I took Christmas decorations down.  I am so happy that Downton Abbey is back on and this one was a two hour special.  It did not disappoint.

I had a talk with Stacy this afternoon.  She really liked the family letter I sent, but she is very worried about her boys, especially the older ones.  I tried to cheer her up but not too sure if I did any good.

I miss James.

I noticed an extra figure in this nativity scene as

I was getting ready to put it away.

Ruby?

Sunday, January 5, 2014

I took some Nyquil last night for my stuffy nose.  My plan was to get up at 4 am to do some studying.  It was more like 6:30 when I finally woke from my drug induced stupor.  After some breakfast I gave James a haircut.

We arrived at church a few minutes early and sat right behind Bill and Rita Solomon.  Today is Sadie Westbrook's farewell and they work with her in the temple so they came to here her speak.  It was such a wonderful sacrament meeting.  Maddie Carroll, Sadie's niece, was the youth speaker.  She spoke about missionary work and bore a sweet testimony.  Sadie's talk was inspirational.  She always makes me cry.  She is going to be such a wonderful missionary.  I used her talk as the basis for this month's family message that I sent to all the kids.  Her dad, Dave Westbrook, was the final speaker and he told of some experiences he had on his mission in Scotland.  He told a powerful conversion story of a man who had a drinking and gambling problem.  He talked about how the Lord will help people overcome their stumbling blocks.  It was so good!!  I am so impressed with him.  He took President Williams' challenge seriously and memorized the family proclamation.  I told James that he should be on the high council.

In Sunday School this year we are studying the Old Testament and the books of Moses and Abraham in the Pearl of Great Price.  Today we had a lesson on Moses 1.  The three main points of this lesson were: We are children of God, we can resist Satan's temptation, and God's work and glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
Sandra Wilehlm taught the Mia Maids today and based her lesson on Sister Dibbs's October 2012 conference address: "I Know It, I live It, and I Love It!"

For lunch today I made pumpkin pancakes and we also had leftover roast from last Sunday.  Afterwards we took a nap. 

James and I are reading one chapter from the Book of Mormon each day and then discussing and writing down the principles we have learned.  We are also reading from the Old Testament and Moses and Abraham in the Pearl of Great Price.  In Reliev Society and Priesthood the course of study is the life and teachings of the Prophet Joseph Fielding Smith.  Since his mother was a Lambson James calls him Uncle Joseph.  This evening I wrote a family message to our children and their spouses.  I hope it will help strengthen their families in the gospel. 

Since James is leaving town tomorrow we watched a movie together this evening.  We watched "A Walton Wedding."  Erin finally gets married!

Saturday, January 4, 2014

My view of the world in the early hours of the morning is my dining room window.  I open the blinds when I get up and wait for the sun to rise.

This picture didn't really capture how pink the clouds were.

Today I read Elder Dube's conference talk, "Look Ahead and Believe."  Here is a quote from his talk:

"In the sight of the Lord, it is not so much what we have done or where we have been but much more where we are willing to go."  I also read Sister Carol Stephens talk "Do We Know What We Have?"  She says that Priesthood ordinances and covenants provide access to the fulness of the blessings promised to us by God, which are made possible by the Savior's Atonement.

We helped clean the church again this week.  Chuck Crane, Jerry Scott, Millie Scott and James did the cleaning while Kathy Crane, Ruth Wallace and Diana Curtis and I took down the Christmas trees and decorations in the two foyers.

Ruth, Kathy, and Diana putting the last tree away.

Blain Curtis and I took all of the boxes back out to the storage shed in the back of my car and unloaded them.  Kathy says we need to make sure everything is stored properly because there may be mice in that shed. Diana said: "Well they want to stay warm too."  Kudos to the Curtis's and Ruth for going the extra mile and helping us.

As we left I asked James if we were going to go to town and he said no.  Back at home we had leftover taco soup for lunch.  I worked on my blog, doing three daily posts, paid some bills and finished up my 2013 Sunday Journal.

We watched two Mrs. Miracle Christmas movies and enjoyed both of them.  I was going to give James a hair cut but it will have to wait until morning.

 

 

Friday, January 3, 2014

Happy 65th Birthday to my 

dear sister-in-law Cathi!

Lots of sick people in our family right now.  Stacy called and said she and Paul have it and Joshua has a fever again.  Stacy says what she has is a throat virus and so an antibiotic won't work.  Alex and Micahel were sick after Christmas.  James has laringitis and a sinus infection. 

I love Elder Soares conference talk on being Meek and Lowly of Heart.  I really needed to hear his words today.  Here is the definition he gave of meekness: "Meekness is the quality of those who are Godfearing, righteous, humble, teachable, and patient under suffering.  Those who possess this attribute are willing to follow Jesus Christ, and their temperament is calm, docile, tolerant, and submissive.  Definitely need to work on this attribute.

I emailed some recipes to Kim today for chili, taco soup, and honey-lime chicken.  They are ones that she asked for.

I am excited that I am within four days of catching up on my blog! 

James and I were watching TV this afternoon when we heard a loud noise outside.  James went out to see what it was and found that a stone had come off the fireplace.  I guess he will be calling the stone mason. 

James grilled us some steaks for lunch.  I had bought them to cook on New Year's Eve but we ended up going to the Dewitt's party instead.  They were yummy.  For dinner we had collard green and cabbage with bacon butter.  Quite good.

In my quest to put away Christmas I managed to put the Disney tree away.  I am moving slow.

We watched kind of a silly Christmas movie called "Finding Mrs. Claus." We enjoy spending this time together in the evening watching movies. 

Facebook finds:

Evan's selfie

Evan is such a unique and special boy.  On New Year's day he got all of his family together around the table and had them open a note from him.  It said:  "It's hard to be good all the time, but Trezise family you are doing a great job!"  Sincerely from Robo Tech.  Then he gave each one of them a dollar.  Robo Tech is the name of his company.  You gotta love this kid!

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Well, the heater is not working again.  It went through one day's cycle and then quit.  Poor Brother Miller.

James and I may a trip to town today.  On the way there and back I read to him from our latest novel, The Bride of Pendorric.  We went through the drive-thru of Panda for my lunch and then I ordered James's lunch from LaCasita.  I shopped at Walmart and he shopped at Home Depot. 

James has been Mister FixIt lately.  Today he hung the curtain rods and curtains for the doors in the family room and the living room.  He also fixed the thresholds in the pantry and the garage doors.  Now we don't have to keep a towel in front of the doors to keep the cold air out.  Also, Sierra Propane delivered us about 600 gallons of propane today.  That should last us for awhile.

I finished reading Armor Up, the book I gave all the teenage boys in our family and their parents to read.  This book covers the following areas very well: 1) Having your loins girt about with truth, 2) Putting on the breastplate of righteousness, 3) Using the shield of faith, 4) Having your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, 5) and taking the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  It is based on the scriptures found in Ephesians 6:14-18. 

James and I have decided that we are going to have a large meal of the day at noon.  For dinner we are trying to do away with carbs.  Tonight we had kale for dinner.  It wasn't too bad with some Olive Garden dressing. 

I blogged for December 24th, 25th, and 26th today.  It took me almost 2 hours because of all the pictures I downloaded. 

I told James tonight: "I feel like running, I wish I had the body for it."  His reply: "That's how you get the body!"  Oh did I mention that James also fixed the water flow in our shower and tub.  He's quite a guy.  I think I will keep him!

We watched Mistletoe Over Manhattan.  The end of the Christmas movies is coming soon.

Facebook finds:

Two cuties!

A baby fur seal.

An 8 ton Orca whale jumping 15 feet in the air.

How true!

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Happy New Year!

It was pretty quiet around here this morning when I got up.  I finished reading the General Conference talks for the third time and I finished reading the December Ensign and New Era.  

May I share with you some of the meals that were served while we had company:  Brian did much of the cooking: Homemade macaroni and cheese, sausage gravy and biscuits, chicken fettucini alfredo, breakfast casserole, chili dogs, appetizers galore.  Darrel made tacos and some of the best steaks I have ever tasted. 

 

Darrel and Addy played Five Crowns and Darrel won.  Then Addy played Kim and I and she beat us both.

The older boys watched episodes of The Office and played Rockband.

Michael loves playing the drums.

Rockin in the New Year with Rockband.

Alex, Joe, and Michael were trying to think of a name for their band.  I told them that I liked A King and Two Jokers.  Who will be the King?

 

Darrel and his kids were the first to leave.  I was sorry to see them go.  Darrel says he won't be able to come back for another five months because of rotations and work.

Rowan and his great smile!

While Darrel was here he read from his Jim Gaffigan book: "Dad is Fat."  One in awhile we would here him chuckling and then he would share what he just read with us.  Darrel helped Rowan put this together at one point when Rowan was bored.

I can't find the Mario that goes to this.

As Addy is getting ready to leave she tells me that she wants to read her scriptures more this year.  I told her if she just reads a page and a half of the Book of Mormon each day that she can read it in a year.  I am so excited that she has set this goal for herself.  Darrel and I also tried to encourage Rowan to read the Book of Mormon before he is baptized.  He will be 8 in August.

Before Kim and Brian leave Kim plays a couple of games of Hearts with the boys.  

A rousing round of Hearts.

After everyone leaves it seems so quiet.  James and I are home alone again.  We watched two Christmas movies: "Naughty and Nice" and "Fallen Angel."  James really liked Fallen Angel.  We also started reading the Book of Mormon again.  We are reading a chapter a day and discussing what principals we learn.  I really enjoyed the discussion we had today.

 Facebook finds:

Christy and Sheri took their kids on

a hike.

The Snowflake Temple