Friday, May 1, 2015

Flowers courtesy of Aunt Carmen

 

"An important part of being fruitful that is sometimes overlooked is that of bringing forth the kingdom of God upon the earth."

-Elder Joseph W. Sitati

 

As I was reading Mosiah 16 today I realized it goes along with 2 Nephi 2 and 2 Nephi 9 in explaining the plan of salvation and our need for a Savior.  It was an epiphany of sorts.

 

Brent and one of his workers came this morning to fix sprinklers and bubblers.  Oh happy day!

 

Addy and her cousin Kylee had a famous day person at school.  I love these pictures.  I remember last year when Max was Wyatt Earp.

Addy's comment about Susan B. Anthony:

"I still don't understand why she is famous."

Addy did not get to choose who she wanted to be.

I guess we all know why Benjamin Franklin is famous.

 

I sure do miss the young women in Vernon.  Here is a picture of one of my favorites!

Trenda is smart, sweet, spiritual, and stunning!

 

Here is another picture to remind us of how beautiful Heavenly Father's creations are.  I do love the springtime!







 

 





Thursday, April 30, 2015

Alex found an exotic (for lack of a better word),

toad in his garage.  He was worried about him

so he brought him down and put him in our daisy planter by the

mail box and then turned the water on.  Later James couldn't find him so we are assuming he burrowed down into the mud.

 

I went grocery shopping at Walmart this morning because we were out of milk, bread, and other good things to eat.  I brought home and roasted chicken and James and I devoured it for lunch.

 

Joshua stayed home from school again today.  He made a speedy recovery this afternoon.

Indiana Jones rose up from his sickbed.

 

I read an interesting article today about the San Diego temple.  One of the LDS architects woke early one morning and came up with the design and a motif that looked like this:

He had no idea the significance of this design until he visited Hugh Nibley in Salt Lake City.  When Brother Nibley saw the design his comment was: "That is the seal of King Melchizedek."

The design was used throughout the temple.

Glass doors.

This aerial view shows how the squares were also

used in the design of the building.

The outside design of the San Diego is one of my very favorites if not my favorite.  Brother Lewis's story about the seal of Melchizedek and the significance of it gives me chills.  Brother Lewis has given many firesides telling about the design and what he learned about it.  When President Hinckley heard the story he insisted the design be used somewhere in the Salt Lake temple, which it was.

 



The seal of King Melchizedek.

 

James and I were out this evening when Erik came by to look at his truck.  Erik brought his family with him and I am sad that I missed seeing them, especially baby Tabitha Rose. 

 

















Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Jared Ammon, Dobis, and Joshua.

 

"The sealing power reveals itself in family relationships, in attributes and virtues developed in a nurturing environment, and in loving service.  These are the cords that bind families together, and the priesthood advances their development."

-James E. Faust

 

I spent the morning at the DMV.  I was last there on March 18th to apply for a new driver's license since I lost my original.  They gave me a temporary license and said I should receive my new license within 15 days.  I never received it.  My mistake was having it sent to Vernon instead of Chandler.  This time I had it sent to Chandler.  I was there almost two hours and was ready for some lunch when I got home.  James was ready to and wanted to take me out. 

 

We went to the Firehouse subs on Germann and Gilbert.  I had one of their under 500 calories subs, the salsa verdie turkey.  I liked the turkey but they needed to put more green chilies on.  While there I saw on the TV that no fans were allowed at the Orioles game because of the riots caused by the death of a black man, Freddie Gray.  Freddie died while riding in the back of a police car.  The world is crazy right now.

 

After lunch I was craving something sweet so I talked James into going to Kneader's drive thru for dessert.  It worked because I told him I would read to him from our new book:

 

The sequel to a book we read a month or two ago called:

"A Lady's Honor."

The Trelawny family legacy continues.

 

Anyway, back to Kneaders.  James got a double fudge brownie and I got a chocolate éclair.  So much for my low calorie lunch.

 

James put up a new mailbox today.  Someone hit the last one backing up in James's truck.  We still haven't figured out who did it.  No one seems to want to confess.  This afternoon he took Alex to do some work at Jerod Bowen's.

 

Paul put on his uniform and declared war on the leaves today.  His mom said he looked like a well-nourished terrorist.  Stacy thought it was ironic because he has a Captain America shirt on.



 









Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Girls lunch today at Mimi's

Lois invited her two daughters that live here and her three daughter-in-laws to lunch at Mimi's today.  I am kicking myself around the room right now for not taking a picture.  Anyway, there were six of us: Lois, Dawn, Rebecca, Cathi, Laura, and I.  We met at the Mimi's on Alma School and Southern around 11 am.  We all chose to order from the lunch menu.  I had the chicken chopped salad and a buttermilk spice muffin.  The salad was good and the muffin was great!  It was super fun.  I don't think any of us expected Lois to pay but she said she had a gift card and insisted.

 

James was worried we weren't going to get to do taco Tuesday but I assured him we would.  Later this afternoon we went to a little Mexican dive on Chandler Blvd and McClintock that has been around since we first moved to Chandler.  It is called Espo's.  We liked the tacos, refried beans and green chili burro.  I am ready to up our taco Tuesday game to nicer restaurants that have a little atmosphere.  Dawn says Barrio's in Phoenix is supposed to be the best Mexican food restaurant in Arizona.  I also would like to try La Hacienda's, a place I heard of on Facebook, and Garcia's.  I haven't been to Garcia's in years.

 

This is what my hand looked like this morning when I first got up.

It's hard to write when your hand is puffed up like a toad.

 

This even Max had a band concert at Hancock Elementary School.  He is in the fifth grade band and plays the trombone. 



Max on the trombone

Both the fifth and sixth grade bands performed.  I really enjoyed the concert and was proud of Max for receiving an award for Most Improved!  We sat by Sheri, Ian, and Evan.

 

We finally made a decision regarding the realtor who will represent us while we have our house on the market.  Her name is Jen MacClay.





Monday, April 27, 2015

Earthquake in Nepal

There was an earthquake in Nepal on Saturday measuring

7.8 on the Reichter scale.  Over 5,000 people have died

and those who are left in the hit area are without food or shelter.

One heartwarming story is of the rescue of a four month old baby.

We have been remembering them in our prayers and today I told Joshua about it and asked him to remember the people in his prayers too.  He said he would.

 

Joshua stayed home from school today saying he had a sore throat.  He has been on an antibiotic for several days now so it is frustrating that he is still complaining of a sore throat. 

 

I took Sheri to pick up her car this morning at Erik's after taking Max and Evan to school.  On the way home I stopped at Walgreen's and picked up some Tylenol for Joshua.  After taking it he was playing and felt much better. 

 

James and I had some watermelon around lunch time and we shared with Joshua.  He said next to pomegranates watermelon is his favorite fruit. 

 

Trina, Rowan, Ruby and Lola came over for a visit this afternoon.  Addy was at her dance class.  I miss that girl.  Evan was so excited they were coming that he rode his bicycle around the neighborhood waiting for them.  They brought back volume 2 of the illustrated Book of Mormon and took volumes 3 and 4 for Rowan to read this week.  If he finishes the 16 volumes by July 1st I told him I would give him $25.

 

We love having Trina and the kids come to visit!

Miss Ruby

Lola and Max

 

Trina says she thinks the house looks good.  I guess we have made some improvements since she was here last.

 

This evening after dinner James and Paul went to Kim and Brian's to give Brian a blessing.  Brian has lyme disease and is also suffering from vertigo.  During the blessing James gave him he admonished him to read and study the scriptures to increase his faith. 

After the blessing we told Kim that Stacy was also suffering from vertigo and that Joshua was sick with a sore throat.  She brought some of her DoTerra oils and used them on Stacy and Joshua.  They each got blessings also from James and Paul.  It was a good way to spend FHE.

 





Sunday, April 26, 2015

Gilbert, Arizona Temple

 

 The Sunday morning session of the Chandler West Stake conference was incredible.  The theme was "Trust in the Lord."

President Randall Jones was the first speaker.  He talked about the importance of being obedient as we put our trust in the Lord.  He quoted Alma speaking to his son Shiblon in Alma 38:5:

 

"And now my son, I would that ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day."

 

Sister Danielle Curtis from the Pleasant 3rd ward was the next speaker.  She spoke on "Facing Adversity with Faith." Her five year old son has bone cancer and she described some of the experiences their family went through and the comfort she received.  She quoted Matthew 11:28-30:

"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Her talk was very inspirational and powerful!

 

President Blacker spoke about the power that comes from fasting and prayer.  He encouraged us to contribute as generous a fast offering as we possibly can.  He shared some personal examples of when his sixth child, a son, was born with Downs Syndrome

 

Nancy LeSueur, the matron of the Gilbert temple, was the next speaker.  She talked a little bit about the groundbreaking of the Star Valley Wyoming temple which took place yesterday and then she focused on the Christ-like attribute of kindness.  She quoted from a conference address given by President Hinckley in April 1999:

"Now, brethren and sisters, let us return to our homes with resolution in our hearts to do a little better than we have done in the past.  We can all be a little kinder, a little more generous, a little more tolerant and friendly to those not of our faith, going out of our way to show our respect for them  We cannot afford to be arrogant or self-righteous.  It is our obligation to reach out in helpfulness, not only to our own but to all others as well.  Their interest in and respect for this Church will increase as we do so."

She said that the temple is a place of kindness as we extend the hand of love and fellowship.

 

President David LeSueur of the Gilbert temple is a masterful gospel teacher.  I don't think he had a written talk but just spoke as he was inspired by the Spirit.  He spoke about the gospel principals taugt in the Sermon on the Mount: Avoiding anger, thinking pure thoughts, and loving unconditionally.  He said the Savior taught not a law of doing and not doing, but of becoming. 

We must be born of the water and of the Spirit and have a mighty change of heart. 

An ordinance is a sacred ceremony performed by someone with priesthood authority. 

The doctrines of the priesthood distill as the dew from heaven.

The blessings of the Atonement are conveyed through ordinances.

"I am a witness of the Restoration...."  An amazing talk!

 

I always love President Johansen's talks.  He has such a wonderful spirit about him.  He quoted President Benson by saying:

 "When we put God first, all other things fall into

their proper place or drop out of our lives."

He also quoted from Joshua: "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve, but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord."

The little things are the big things.

 

It was a wonderful conference session.  The stake choir sang: "I Wonder When He Comes Again", and "Lead Kindly Light."  The closing hymn was "Our Savior's Love" and the benediction was give by Lynette Braddock.

 

We came home and had pesto flatbread for lunch and James took a short nap before leaving to go home teaching with Dave to the Bingham's.  Later I went with Bunny Miner and we visited Nancy Tolman and her little six month old granddaughter Alice Jane.  Nancy has applied for a job at Good Samaritan hospital in Phoenix to train nurses as to how to care for diabetic patients.  Nancy is a nurse and her specialty is diabetes.  Right now she works at the wound center here in Chandler but she really would like to have the other job so we told her we would pray for her.  She will find out on Wednesday if she got the job or not.

 

It was cloudy, cool and there were beautiful clouds this afternoon.  It was so nice because by the end of the week we will be hitting around 100 degrees. 

 

James fixed steak and gravy for dinner and I made my delicious 7-Up biscuits.  Yummy!





 

 





Saturday, April 25, 2015

This picture was taken today near Big Lake, Arizona.

 

Well I woke up this morning feeling as if I had never had a steroid shot.  I should have had it yesterday instead of Thursday but they failed to tell me it was only going to last one day.  I guess I am going to either be taking aspirin or Ibuprofen most of the day.  I missed going to Evan and Josh's soccer game. 

 

I finally got my talk completely written and now I need to repeat it at least 10 times.  At least that's why my coach, Mr. James says.

 

Before leaving for conference this evening James and Paul gave me a priesthood blessing.  I was most appreciative. 

 

I was very touched by the amount of support I got from my kids.  Stacy invited all of her boys to come.  None of the older ones did except Michael, but Adam texted me and told me he would like a copy of my talk.  Joshua, Paul, Stacy, Michael, and Alexis, Kim, Joe, Sheri, Ian, Darrel, Trina and Lola all came, and of course James was there as was Cathi, Terry, Laura, and Dave. 

 

I think the theme of the meeting was about families although there was a talk by Bishop Johnson of the Del Rio 1st ward on ward councils, and two talks about family history. Oh yes, and the Tempe Mission President, President Toone, and his wife spoke about missionary work.  President Toone is the biggest man I have ever met.

 My talk was entitled "The Family is Ordained of God" and I mainly spoke about my family and my testimony.  Afterwards some of us went to Chili's.



Sheri is a baby hog

James had his turn.

 

I love Lola's face in this picture.

Lola knows where the camera is.

 

Boy I look old!

Selfies!

 

It was a good night, but I am glad it's over.  I can enjoy the session tomorrow without any stress.