Thursday, March 13, 2014

General Conference Goals

Elder Randy D. Funk "Called of Him to Declare His Word"

1.  Believe in the power of prayer.

2. Be humble and obedient and listen to the Spirit.

3.  Make sure I fully repent.

4.  Partake of the sacrament with a humble and repentant heart and spirit.

5.  Be healed through the Atonement and feel peace.

6.  Think pure thoughts continually.

7.  Through obedience and service receive power from God to do more that I could by myself.  Feel the enabling power of the Atonement.

8.  Trust in the Lord that He will bless others through me.

9.  Memorize Joseph's words at the First Vision.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"You Can Do It Now!"

1.  Use effort and discipline to overcome my weaknesses.

2.  True repentance is about transformation, not self-loathing.

3.  Turn my heart and will to God and give up sin. 

I Can Do It Now!

4.  Remember who I am, a child of God.

5.  What would Jesus do?

I also read the article in the month's Ensign: "Faith and Fortitude - Women of the Old Testament."  I loved this article and am including the concepts I learned from reading in it my meditation journal.

After finishing Jacob 5 and family prayer, James left for the valley.  He has a meeting at Camden apartments and will hand in the contract he has already signed.  The job is scheduled to start next week.  He also wanted to get some work done on our house but none of his guys showed up.  You can't blame them for getting another job, but it's disappointing.  

I wasn't a good day for James.  He went to Fry's to get some fried chicken and cranberry celebration and his credit card was declined.  I was in the middle of paying bills and discovered the credit card was maxed out so I paid $500 on it.  By the time he went to get gas the card was usable.  He decided to come home and on the way he stopped at the Fry's in Globe and got some fried chicken and cranberry celebration.

The sky looks ominous this evening and it might rain during the night.  James had some enchiladas for dinner, one of the reasons he came home and then we sat down and watched an episode of Castle.  We were in bed before 9.  It's what old people do, especially when they get up early.

Facebook finds:

  Bamboo forest in Kyoto, Japan.

Napali Coast, Kaui, Hawaii

I'm trying to break this habit.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Joe, Brian, and Kim 

Redwood Forest

 Joe in a tree

I slept in until 4:30. Yikes!  What a slacker.  

Gospel Study

Conference Goals

Elder Perry: "The Doctrines & Principles Contained in the Articles of Faith"

1.  Teach about the Godhead and the basic doctrine of Christ. (Articles 1-4).

2.  Understand the organization and order of the Priesthood, (5-6).

3.  Eternal Resources in a Mortal Journey, (7-9).

4.  Member missionaries, (10-12).

5.  Aspirational Attributes, (13). Honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, doing good to all men.  We seek after virtuous, lovely, and praiseworthy things.

6.  Encourage family to memorize the Articles of Faith.

Bishop Gerald Causse: "Ye Are No More Strangers"

1.  Welcome and greet people at church that I don't know.  Include them and love them.  Remember the bishop from Les Miserables.

The debate going on right now in our family is: Which are better, Droids or I-Phones.  Paul thinks I-Phones are for the slow and aged.  Well, I say: Droids drool and I-Phones rule!

I spent most of the day getting ready for tonight's Young Women's dinner at our house.  I cleaned upstairs, vacuumed bugs out of the windows and cleaned the main bathroom.  I did take the time to make soup and sandwiches for lunch and take a nap with James. 

This afternoon I made Lois's recipe for enchilada casserole.  They will probably be too spicy for the girls but I think the adults will love them.  

I had a visiting teaching interview at the church at 5:30 with Rosa Westbrook.  She encouraged me to keep trying to visit Lannie in her home and to remember to have prayer with my sisters.  I took Audrey Guerrero, Kelly Reynolds, and Jordyn and Shelly Applegate back home with me.

Here is how our evening went: Audrey made taquitos, rice and guacamole.  Diana set the tables with her Corelle dishes and flatware.  I provided the glasses.  Diana also made chicken enchiladas with sour cream so we had two kinds of enchiladas.  We also had two kinds of rice, beans, salsa and chips and salad.  For dessert LeeAnn made a Texas sheetcake, Alice brought cookies, and Jordyn made the best apple pie I've ever had.  She baked it in a paper bag and an hour and a half.  Shelly brought punch so we had plenty to eat and drink.  

Analee spoke to the girls about proper ettiquette.  She was the perfect person for that assignment.

 

Diana talked about Divine Nature and how they could overcome any obstacle to live a Christ-like life.

She told about her dad who grew up in a family where drugs and alcohol were used and how he met her mom and joined the Church and now they are serving a mission together.

Kelly in the corner.

After Diana I gave each one of the girls one of my "Light of Christ" handouts.  They loved them!  It was a wonderful evening.

 Those attending: Audrery Guerrero, Diana Curtis, Analee Hunsaker, myself as the adults.  Young Women: Jordyn, Trenda, Hailey, Shelly, Kelly, Maddie and her friend Jaime, Alice, Hope, Heaven, Kilee, and LeeAnn.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Amazing tree!!

Here are some notes I took this morning while reading Elder Callister's "Infinite Atonement." 

     "If the gifts of the Spirit are the medium by which we perfect ourselves, how can we accelerate our acquisition of such gifts?"

       1.  See all the best gifts of the Spirit orderly and persistently with all my heart.

       2.  We must ask so fervently that this pursuit is a constant unending struggle.

Even though James put a plug in my back driver's side tire last week, it is still leaking air.  We left a little after 11 to take it to Center Tire to be fixed.  We dropped Lexy off and walked over to Persnikkity's for lunch.  James had the green chili chicken sandwich with a side of potato salad.  I had the chicken salad sandwich with pasta salad.  We shared.  Everything was very tasty.  

We stopped at both Chase and National bank and then went on to Walmart.  James stayed in the car while I shopped at Walmart.  For a Good Works value experience I needed to make a two week menu plan and then shop and prepare the meals.  Today I did the shopping for one week.  

I read to James from the book The Book Thief both coming to town and going back home.  We still aren't sure if we are going to like the book but Kim liked it even though she said it was sad so I'm holding on to that.  Sheri said she wouldn't read it because she heard it was sad.  It's about a family in Nazi Germany during WW11.

We had salad for dinner and then watched Rizzoli & Isles.

Kim texted me from Oregon.  She said she had the ocean on one side of her hotel room and a herd of elk on the other.  I told her she must be in heaven.  She agreed.

 

 

Monday, March 10, 2014

I got up at 4am in order to fit everything into my schedule.  I love to start my day out by studying the gospel.

Gospel Study

Old Testament-Numbers 24, 25

24.  Balaam sees in vision and prophesies of the destiny of Israel - He prophesies of the Messiah: There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel.

25.  Israelites who worship false gods are slain - Phineas slays adulterers and stays a plague - Israel commanded to vex the Midianites who had beguiled them.

Book of Mormon-Jacob 4

All the prophets worshipped the Father in the name of Christ. - Abraham's offering of Isaac was in similitude of God and His Only Begotten-Men should reconcile themselves to God through the Atonement - The Jews shall reject the Foundation Stone.

Ensign, New Era, Friend

The Peacegiver

The Infinite Atonement

Happy Birthday Kilee Hunsaker!  You are officially a Mia Maid!

I got a call from Stacy about Dallin.  She thinks she talked him into trying out for the production of Saturday's Warrior that is coming soon.  She hopes it will help bring him back to his family and the gospel.  Dallin tells them to stay out of his life because he is an adult now but he asks them for rides and money when he needs it. 

Kim, Brian, and Joseph are on a road trip.  They are driving on of the Pace's cars to Portland, Oregon for them.  They were in San Francisco yesterday and are headed north.  I look forward to seeing their posts on Facebook.

I made my "Light of Christ" handouts for visiting teaching and the Young Women today.  I love how they turned out.  Thanks Marci Coombs!

 Visiting Teaching

 Young Women and YW Leaders.

Yesterday in Sunday School Blain Curtis said it was important that we stay informed as to what is happening in the world.  I am not in the habit of watching the news but decided I would give it a try.  I missed the regular news but watched Hannity.  It seems there is a plane flying from China to Malaysia that is missing.  Well, I'm not going to fell so badly now when I can't find my car in the Walmart parking lot.  

Finally!  The Mentalist is back on and it did not disappoint.  I love Simon Baker and his character Patrick Jane!  The ending where LaRoche gets killed was a little sad though.

Facebook finds:

 Cute idea!

I could have used this with Sheri.

 Frog with an umbrella.

 Gorgeous!

 

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Wish I could say this picture was taken in Vernon

It does remind me of all the wildflowers we

had last summer after the rains.

Gospel Study

Sunday School Lesson: "Living Righteously in a Wicked World"

The story of Abraham and Lot

Young Women

"Why Do the Choices I Make Matter?"

Heavenly Father has given us moral agency, the ability to choose and act for ourselves.  While we are free to make our own choices, we cannot chose the consequences of those choices.  Good choices lead to lasting happiness and eternal life.  If we ask Him, Heavenly Father will help us make wise choices.

I was up at 4am.  I ironed James's shirt first thing because he leaves for high council meeting in Show Low around 5:15.  I should have ironed it last night so I wouldn't have to do it on Sunday.  Must do better!

I showered and dried my hair and then laid down on the couch for a short rest  Well, I slept too long and we were almost late for church.

We sat by the Curtis's towards the middle of the middle section.  We normally like to sit on the side but all of those seats were taken.  We had lots of visitors today because of spring break in the valley.  It was our fast and testimony meeting.  Brother Jimmy Applegate conducted and bore his testimony.  Little Curtis Wilhelm, the 5 year old with leukemia (it's in remission right now), was next.  My favorite testimony was that of Sister Winna Ulmer, the grandmother who is raising her three granddaughters who are in Young Women's. (Hope, Hailey, and Heaven).  Winna is one of my heroes.  She and her husband rescued these girls from a deplorable situation literally saved their lives.  Ellen Kostusiak, a non-member got up because she went to see the movie "The Son of God" and was so touched by it that she wanted to encourage all of us to go see it.  We also heard from Wendy Dewitt and Audrey Guerrero for the first time bearing their testimonies.  It was a good meeting.

Although Randa Covert was suppose to teach, she asked Kaeli Nicoll if she would teach for her.  Kaeli gave a wonderful lesson about the Atonement and how we can apply it in our lives.  

After the block I had a temple recommend interview with Bishop Hall.  I came home and had some lunch and took a nap.  James is still trying to finish the audit for our ward finances.  There is a problem that no one can seem to solve.

After my nap I got up and began preparing for my brother Harold's birthday dinner.  James cooked the steaks.  We had to have smaller portions because Colby is coming too.  That's okay because we were so glad to see him.  He seems like such a nice young man, and he's very handsome too.  He is Brian and Cher's youngest and will graduate from high school this year.

Our menu:  Steak, baked potatoes, corn, green beans with bacon, salad, and croissants.  For dessert we had chocolate cake, whipped cream and strawberries.  We had a nice visit but missed Dennis and Denise who are in Texas visiting Jenifer and her kids.

 

Saturday, March 8, 2014

James went to Queen Creek this morning to meet with the Yoshmine's about some work they want done.  I went to Joshua's flag football game with Stacy, Michael and Joshua at Freestone Park in Gilbert.  Evan and Rowan are on the team too, but they went to their last soccer game instead.  Joshua plays on the Vikings and they played the Eagles and won, but Joshua wasn't really into the game.  He's excited about his reversible shirt, white on one side, purple on the other, and his mouth guard which he played with between plays.  I am sure Michael will have a talk with him about paying attention during the game.  James made it for the last part of the game which I think made Joshua happy.

Evan getting his soccer trophy.

Back in Chandler I went to Sam's Club with Sheri to get steaks, etc., for Harold's birthday dinner on Sunday.  After my shopping trip we packed up and headed for home.  

Our first stop was Sweetie's to get more Lemonheads.  We also stopped at the two Hobby Lobby's I mentioned yesterday but neither one of them had any lightbulbs.  I have enough to do the sisters I visit teach and the young women.  I guess when I come back on the 18th I can check the Hobby Lobby's in Scottsdale to do the ones for my grandkids.

On the way home we stopped at Burger House for burros.  We ordered two extra to take home for tomorrow's lunch.

At home after unpacking we sat down to watch "When Calls the Heart."

Friday, March 7, 2014

We came down in the truck so James could put up a new beam at the end of our carport.  He got the new beam yesterday and today Laro and Reuben came over to help him put it up.

I left for my infusion appointment at AARC a little after 9am.  I was finished around 12:30 and drove to the Hobby Lobby in Ahwatukee to get some more lightbulbs to add to the 14 I already have.  I got 19 for a total of 33.  I need 13 more.  Tomorrow on the way home we will hit the Hobby Lobby's at Greenfield and Baseline, and if necessary the one at Signal Butte north of the 60.

James needed to use the truck for a few minutes when I returned.  When he returned I got us lunch at Jersey Mikes.  

This afternoon I made a trip to Sweeties to get some yellow candy to put inside my lightbulbs.  I was going to get M&M's but they were an ugly color and too expensive so I got 2lbs. of Lemonheads. I was able to fill 28 lightbulbs which means I have to go back to Sweeties tomorrow.  

Sheri brought Darrel's kids over after soccer practice.  They stayed here until Darrel arrived and then they went to see Lois with us.  Ruby came with us.  I visited with Lois and James visited with Dawn.  Darrel joined in too.  The kids went out to play in Dawn's room and we didn't see them again until it was time to leave.  It was good to see that Lois was feeling so much better.  

On the way home we stopped at McDonald's because I wanted to try their Mighty Wings.  They were OK, but I wouldn't order them again.  

In other news, Kim, Brian, and Joseph left for Portland, Oregon,  this afternoon.    Cody, Chelsea, Carter, and Cash Pace are moving there.  Cody drove a moving truck there last week.  Brian drove Cody's car today and Chelsea went in their other car with the two boys.  I hope they have a great time.  Sorry to see the Pace's leave but I know how excited they are.

Facebook finds:

Trenda gets her driver's license!

 A couple of cuties!

Addy and Miss Ruby.