Sunday, February 1, 2015

President Packer says before we study the Book of Mormon

we need to study the Plan of Salvation.  Since we are studying the Book of Mormon this year in our FHE's with our children and grandchildren this will be on the front of the study journals I give to each family.

 

Since today is fast Sunday I wanted to include a couple of quotes regarding fasting:

"Fasting, coupled with mighty prayer, is powerful.  It can fill our minds with the revelations of the Spirit.  It can strengthen us against times of temptation."

-Joseph B. Wirthlin

"One reason fasting is such a source of spiritual strength is tat we take advantage of all the continual reminders our bodies give us, and use them as reminders to pray.  Without prayer, fasting is simply missing a couple of meals."

-Beppie Harrison

 

I woke up this morning thinking about the miracles of Jesus and wondering how James Hayden is doing in school. 

 

I love this quote I found on Facebook by Audrey Hepburn:



"As you grow older you will discover you have two hands.  One for helping yourself and one for helping others."

 

James bore his testimony in sacrament meeting today and so did Laura.  Laura reminded me of an angel. 

 

I really enjoyed Brother Dowdle's Sunday School lesson on being "Born Again."  He showed two Bible videos, one of the Savior teaching Nicodemus and one of him teaching The Woman at the Well.  The script was taken directly from John 3-4. 

Debbie Leib gave the lesson in Relief Society on the Plan of Salvation.  It was a good lesson.  I visited with Shellie Seymore and Laurie Jensen.

 

James and I fasted for Dallin until about 5pm.  For dinner we had my leftovers from Olive Garden and some avocado and cottage cheese.  Sheri brought over some oatmeal chocolate chip cookies which were delicious.  Later Evan brought me a Dr. Pepper 10. 

 

James and I did not watch the Superbowl but I was secretly hoping the Seahawks would win.  The final score was 28-24 with the Patriot's winning.

 

Joshua and Evan had fun with the building blocks today.

 

 



Saturday, January 31, 2015



Overcast and occasional rain today.

 

The soccer game was cancelled today because the fields were so wet  Sheri and I made a Bosa Donut run this morning.  We weren't the only ones who had this idea!

 

Michael went to a trial track run this morning in the west valley.  He was 4th out of 17.

Go Michael!

 

This morning during scripture study with James we were reading Abinadi's speech to king Noah and his people.  I was impressed with how well Abinadi knew the gospel and could teach it to others.

 

James spent the day scraping off the popcorn ceiling in Joshua's room and getting it re-textured.  He was doing this when Darrel, Trina and all of the kids came by for a visit.  They brought James chocolate covered almonds from See's and a giftcard to eat at Cheesecake Factory.

 

I am a little worried about Darrel because he has quit taking his Enbrel because his deductible is $2,000 and it would cost him $500a month.  

 

Today Rowan had his Pinewood Derby.  Here he is posing with his car.





I told him it looked like he was

holding up a fish.

 

Today Ian took Ben and Max to the NFL Experience in downtown Phoenix.  They got to see Joe Montana and Max said he had a great time. 

 

 

James and I had a date to Olive Garden with Sheri and Evan tonight to celebrate James's birthday.  James had the wings and I had the chicken scampi, my favorite dish there.

 

 

We came home and watched a BBC mystery murder with Stacy called Father Brown.  We watched two episodes.  I got a kick out of seeing the Father ride his bicycle in his priestly robes.

 

We began our fast for Dallin this evening. 

Friday, January 30, 2015

 

   "If you analyze the 58th chapter of the book of Isaiah you will find unraveled why the Lord wants us to pay fast offerings, why he wants us to fast.  It's because by qualifying thus we can call and the Lord can answer.  We can cry and the Lord will say, 'Here I am.'"

-President Harold B. Lee

 

 

The rain is putting a bit of a damper on the Phoenix Open and the pre-Super Bowl activities, but I for one am grateful for it.  We need it so much and the desert looks so beautiful after it rains!

 

This is what we do on a rainy day.  James rolls up in a blanket

while I read to him.

We did do some work today in Joshua's room and then went to Home Depot to get some paint.  We also had lunch at Chik-fil-a.

 

Laura got her prognosis today.  I received this text from her:

"I don't have IPF (Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis).  I have NSIP (Non specific interstitial pneumonia) - it is an inflammation of my lungs, but at least it is not a death sentence.  If I had IPF they were giving me 3 years to live.  With the NSIP about 30% of the affected area will not heal.  The doc hopes that she can treat the other 70% of the inflammation. 

We are so grateful that our prayers were answered.!

 

 

Jim Gaffigan, a comedian, was in town tonight and members of our family went to the show.



 

Kim and Brian went too but they didn't post a picture

on Facebook.

 

Sheri went to a surprise 50th Birthday party for Adrienne Ellsworth and posted this picture:

Good friends!

 

I am loving my early morning gospel study time.  This is one of the books I am reading:

Love it!









Thursday, January 29, 2015



 

I read about a British man on Facebook this morning named Sir Nicholas Winton.  He rescued 669 children destined for death camps in Nazis Germany.  He arranged for them to have homes and smuggled them to Great Britain.  He recently celebrated his 105th birthday.  What a legacy.  What kind of legacy am I leaving?

 

I was just saying that we hadn't seen any wildlife for awhile when I opened the blinds and there were four deer in our yard, one buck and 3 does!  James said the back was a 3x3 with really high antlers. I am not sure about all that technical stuff, but he was beautiful.

 

There has been a bit of a measles in the valley recently because some people are not getting their children vaccinated.  A little three year old girl from Gilbert went to Phoenix Children's Hospital for leukemia treatment and came down with the measles.  I am not sure the pros and cons of each side, but I do think we need to be more tolerant of each other.  No one in the past 10 years has died from the measles.

 

We left for Chandler this afternoon and on our way out of twn we stopped for lunch at LaCasita.  I had one of my favorite lunches, a chicken enchilada with green sauce and a side order of refried beans. 

 

As I was helping unload the car I saw Laura out walking.  She says she is feeling a little better every day. 

 

We took my computer to Joe and he says he can retrieve the files but he can't fix the computer so off to Costco we went to get a new one.   It was raining as we approached Costco but we stopped for a minute under the front entrance to speak with Curtis Whalen, a friend from Del Rio 2nd ward.  He was buying pizzas for his daughter's 2nd birthday.  He excitedly told us that in a few weeks he would be the father of a boy.  This after having four girls.  James can understand a little bit of how he feels.

 

 

Not only did I get a new computer, but we also got a new rug for the dining area, and a salad for dinner.

Such an improvement!

 

We also picked up Lexy at Erik's.  It cost us $420 total for a set of new struts.  It rides so much smoother now!

 





Wednesday, January 28, 2015

 

 

 

James left for his stress test after we had scriptures and prayer, around 7:30.  I had a frustrating time while he was gone.  I set up my computer to work on my blog and the screen remained black.  I tried several times to get it to come on, but to no avail.

One of the things I wanted to do while I was here was put some boxes in the closet in my office.  The door was locked and the key Brian & Kim had hidden in the bathroom was gone.  No one seems to know where it is.  I went to my next project: I cutout and covered with contact plastic my 90-day Book of Mormon reading schedule bookmarks.

 

James was home early from his stress test and no, he didn't have to jog on a treadmill for six hours like he was afraid he would.  They did a cats scan and an Ekg and injected dyes.  He will go back to the doctor on February 10th for the results. 

He brought home a Pappa John's pizza.  Yum.  We watched one of the best Mentalists ever! DEA agent Peterson is behind bars because of the cleverness of Patrick Jane!  We also watched a good Hallmark movie called "Caitlin and Cupid."

 



Tuesday, January 27, 2015

 

"The average American watches more than four hours of television per day.  What would happen if we spent more time developing our talents than watching others develop theirs?"

-John Bytheway

 

The Church held a news conference today calling for a "fairness for all" approach that balances religious freedom protections with reasonable safeguards for LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) people - specifically in areas of housing, employment and public transportation, which are not available in many parts of the country.  Those speaking were: D. Todd Christofferson, Jeffrey R. Holland, Dallin H. Oaks, and Neill F. Marriott.  Sister Marriott is a counselor in the Young Women's presidency.

 

I did my gospel study and worked on my blog this morning before getting ready to go to Vernon. 

James is going to have Erik put new struts on Lexy while we are gone.  He also asks me to go with him to see Reed and Janis Willis, which I did.  He was nice to see dear friends we have known for over 40 years.  Next we have to stop by Greg Hatch's office for a few minutes on our way to see Lois and Dawn.  By this time I am a little grouchy because I haven't eaten.  Lois had an apricot pineapple pie for James for his birthday.  Laura and Dave were at her house to so we ask them to take it back to our house and have Stacy put it in the frig until we get home.  While there we pick up our Christmas gifts from Carmen and Rebecca.  Rebecca made me a temple bracelet with a clip on it to put my name slip on.  Very handy.  Laura liked hers too.  Laura looks a little pale to me but she says she is feeling a little better everyday. 

 

On our way out of town we stop at Arby's in Mesa for lunch.  It's 1:30 when we finally leave town.  I went to sleep until after Salt River Canyon.  We arrived at the cabin around 5pm.  This evening I watched Downton Abbey and we read two chapters from "Reluctant Courtship" while sitting in front of the fire.

  



Monday, January 26, 2015

Bern, Switzerland

 

"Learning for ourselves that the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is true can beone of the greatest and most joyful experiences in life.  We must be able to declare, as Alma, 'I know these things of myself.  Behold, ...they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God.  I have fasted and prayed many days that might know....And now I do know of myself that they are true.'"

Elder Craig C. Christensen

 

 

Went with James today to sign papers for the sale of our commercial lot in Bogle Business Park.  We met the realtor, Melody Baumer at the Starbucks on Alma School & Elliot.  Afterwards we wet to lunch at the Cheesecake Factory using our last gift card.  I had the Chinese chicken salad and James had fish tacos.  No cheesecake this time. 

 

This evening Stacy fixed James dinner for his birthday.  We had chicken, rice pilaf, salad and rolls.  It was very good and we enjoyed eating with the family.  Tara was here too.  I wished I would have taken a picture.

 

Kim came over this afternoon and gave James Dove dark chocolate almonds, an Olive Garden gift card, and a Whataburger gift card for his birthday.  We had a nice visit.

 



This is an exciting week in the valley.  Not only is the SuperBowl being played here but the Phoenix Open is going on and Tiger Woods is in town along with the Patriots and the Seahawks.

 

Stacy's "puzzle of the week."