Tuesday, April 5, 2016

The flower fields in Carlsbad, California.

Posted on Facebook by Toni Ball.  I love Carlsbad.  James and I stayed there once in a timeshare.

Scripture study: Mosiah 2:9-27.  From King Benjamin's time forward the religious and historical information were kept on the large plates of Nephi.  

I am also working on my General Conference notebook with a quote from every talk that was given. 

I did two blog posts today and watched a Chopped Championship in which the guy I was rooting for won!

I also watched DWTS.  Thank goodness Mischa Barton went home.  My favorites are: Paige, Nyle, and Wanya.  Nyle got the first 9 of the season from Bruno.

Today is Taco Tuesday and I made tacos here at home.  I must say, they were quite delicious.  I should have taken a picture.  I also made a delicious salad.  

I vacuumed and washed sheets today and brought in 8 boxes from the garage.  "Out of small things proceedeth that which is great."

I love this picture that Sheri posted on Facebook of Max and Evan waiting for her to pick them up after school.  I guess she was a little late.

And they say girls are dramatic.

Max texted: "Need food and water, and shelter and air."

I worked on my Primary lesson while James went on a Razr ride where he saw several elk.  I think he is looking for antlers.  The other day when he went into town he saw a truckload of antlers.  They are worth quite a bit of money.  

This evening we watched a movie called, "Come Dance at My Wedding."  John Schneider was in this movie.  I really do like him.

 John Schneider is the father of the bride.

Roma Downey has too much botox in her upper lip.

 

Monday, April 4, 2016

So true!

 Today I am thinking about Molly and what a special little girl she is.  This picture was taken six years ago.  It's easy to forget what she was like as a baby because now she is a six year old with lots of energy, personality, and spunk.

Thanks Tricia for posting this picture.  

This is the reason I am on Facebook.

Here is another reason.  This is Zemira and baby George.

Zemira is in my Primary class.  He is one of the kindest, sweetest boys I have ever met.  I am so grateful for this family in our ward!

 James made a trip into town this morning without me.  He took the truck to get the tractor tire fixed and to pick up some cement for his building project.  He is building a storage room for his tools, etc.

I offered to help, but he turned me down.  I am sad he has no one to help.  He comes in after working and says his back hurts.  In spite of this, he never quits.  I am so grateful for such a hard-working, dedicated husband, but worry for his health.

One of the things I read about today in my gospel study was in the book I am reading, "The Blueprint of Christ's Church".  Chapter 26 is entitled, 'How Can Studying the Scriptures Help Me Become More Christlike?'  Here is the list of ideas in this chapter:
1.  They teach Us What We Should Do.
2.  They Help Protect Us.
3.  They Give Comfort and Hope.
4.  They Soften the Heart and Appeal to the Mind.
5.  We Can Testify We Have Heard God's Voice.
6.  the Scriptures Help Keep Us True to the Faith.

For family scripture study we read Mosiah 1:15-2:8.

This morning I polished our wood floor in the family and living room.  It looks so beautiful now!  I paid bills including tithing.  I love paying tithing online.  It is so convenient.  I paid tithing, fast offerings and humanitarian contributions.  I am going to start paying my grandsons missionary contributions instead of general or ward missionary funds.  Right now only Evan and Rowan are saving for their missions.  My goal is to contribute $20 each month to Michael, Alex, Ben, James, Max, Rowan, Joshua, and Evan.

This evening instead of watching DWTS which James doesn't really like, we watched a Hallmark movie called "Follow the Stars Home."  A very touching story starring Kimberly Williams who has a handicapped child.  Her husband can't accept this child, and leaves her.  His brother is a pediatric doctor and helps "Donna" raise the child.  Such a good story.

Alexa Vega plays the girl who becomes Julie's only friend besides her mother, grandmother, and David the doctor.

 

Sunday, April 3, 2016

Kirtland temple

On Sunday, April 3, 1836, as Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery prayed at the temple pulpits, they were visited by Jesus Christ and many angelic messengers.  Christ pronounced them clean, accepted the house they had built for Him, and affirmed "the endowment with which my servants have already been endowed."

Immediately thereafter, they received from Moses himself "the keys of the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the Earth," as well as receiving other keys from other ancient prophets, Elias and Elijah.  

This was Easter Sunday and the events that occurred this day regarding the restoration of priesthood keys is recorded in D&C 110. 

This occurred 180 years ago today.  The Jews are still waiting for Elijah's return.

Here are some highlights from today's

conference sessions:

President Monson gave his second talk this morning.

It was also his last talk.  He looks very frail.

President Uchtforf is one of my favorite speakers.

He said today:

"It is by obedience that we gather light into our souls."

It was my favorite conference quote!

One of Alex's favorite talks.

Elder Kearon spoke about helping refugees.

It was an awesome reminder of how

disciples of Jesus Christ should act.

One of Michael's favorite quotes.

Elder Cook spoke about the temple.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland was the last speaker.

 

I love this photo of President Monson and his daughter Ann.

I am excited to read the conference talks again very soon.  I was spiritually fed and uplifted.  This only thing that makes me said about this weekend is that we failed to go to visit Jared and his family.  We miss our Texas grandchildren.

Colee Tolman Geiger had a baby girl yesterday.

This is Colee and Troy's first.

They named her Avery Mae.

Congratulations!

Evan giving his nightly foot massage to his Mom.

This boy is a keeper!

Saturday, April 2, 2016

186th Annual General Conference

I love General Conference weekend!  James and I watched together at our home in Vernon.  Here are some highlights:

What a privilege to be able to sustain our

General Authorities!

Sister Oscarson is the Young Women

General President.  This was one

of James's favorite talks.

 President Uchtdorf never disappoints.

The talk he gave in the General Priesthood session

and the one he gave on Sunday were two of my favorites!

Another one of my favorites.  Elder Renlund's

voice is very soothing to me. 

 Elder Ballard's talk was on family councils.

 President Monson's talk in the 

General Priesthood session.

Sister Esplin was released today, so this was 

probably her last talk in General Conference.

I love this chart that someone posted on Facebook!

A new Primary General Presidency was called and sustained:

Joy D. Jones as president, Jean B. Bingham as 1st counselor, and

Bonnie H. Cordon as 2nd counselor.

I love that they are dressed in the Primary colors.

I couldn't resist the Power Ranger picture.

 Probably the most exciting thing to happen today was

to hear President Uchtdorf call President Raymond S. Heyman

as an area Seventy.  Now we will call him Elder Heyman.

Congratulations!

Elder Heyman was our bishop and stake president and he also served as a mission president in Argentina.

Diane and I served together in the Young Women's when we were in the same ward.  I was her counselor.

James watched the General Priesthood session here at home and I watched with him.  Afterwards we watched a movie together.

 

Friday, April 1, 2016

TGIF!

This was a post on Facebook today.  At first I thought it was real and began reading it to James.  When they started talking about Elder Youknowwho from the third quorum of the Seventy I knew it was an April Fool's joke.

April Fool's! 

I am grateful for these two posts by Christina Tibbetts Hoose today.

Their family is really a wonderful example of how a family should be.

 Brent is of course, Christina's dad.

 Brent and Rebecca's youngest, Nathan returning 

from his mission in France.

James and I went into town today.  Before going I read the letter I sent to Michael to James.  He thought it was great, which made me feel pretty good about it. 

In town we stopped at Grumpy Jake's for lunch.  I had a cheeseburger and James had a quarter rack of ribs.  I ordered a salad along with my cheeseburger.  I could only eat half the burger.  James ate the rest.  

I went to Walmart to pick up a few things while James went to CVS to get a prescription Dr. Memon called in for him.  He has been having chest pains lately and I ask him to please go see the doctor.

On the way home I read from our Sarah Eden short stories book.  At home we watched a Hallmark movie together called "The Edge of the Garden."

 Brian Connor buys an abandoned house in the country, and begins

to communicate with the spirit of a woman who lived there

years earlier.

We both really liked this story.

 

Thursday, March 31, 2016

Bettylea Strickland Maxwell

September 13, 1930 - March 31, 1999

Today is the 17th anniversary of my mother's death.  I still miss her and wish we could spend more time together.  I am grateful for the gospel and the resurrection which helps me to know that I will see her again.

I have one person in my family who never forgets to tell me she is thinking of me on this day.  Can you guess who it is?

James is pouring concrete today at Fountain Hills.  If everything goes as planned he will be coming home tonight.  I look forward to seeing him.

It felt so good to be home that I am afraid that I was a little lazy.  

I watched DWTS again, Chopped, and a Hallmark movie.  I did try to go visiting teaching this afternoon and I mailed a letter to Michael encouraging him to serve a mission.  

I tried to visit Claire Mercado but she said she wasn't feeling well.  I prepared her a handout to go with the lesson and I left it on her door step.

 The lesson was on being created in the image of God.

I was also going to leave this jar of Rollos but since Claire

was sick I decided not to.

James got home in time for us to watch this week's episode of "When Calls the Heart."  I had Pero for the first time in a week!

Great to have my honey home!

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Havasu Creek, Arizona

Today I had lunch with Jean Howard, one of the sisters that I visit teach.  It just so happens that she and her husband have a house in Chandler just a few miles from Cathi and Terry's.  I picked her up and we went to The Good Egg on Chandler Heights and Alma School.  It was her choice.  I guess it is one of her favorite restaurants.  

I was just about to give up on being Jean's visiting teacher because I have had such a hard time contacting her.  I have only been to visit her once in the past six months but I try every month.  Jean is 75 years old and is not in very good health.  A few years ago she was in a horrible accident where the car she was traveling in was hit from behind by a semi-truck.  Her car went through the guard rail and rolled over six times going down a hill.  Jean had to have her back completely rebuilt and now has 40 rods and 80 pens in her back.  As she was recovering from this accident she was walking in a parking lot and a car backed up and hit her.  She is in constant pain and it is very difficult for her to sit for more than a little while.

Jean's favorite item at The Good Egg is Berry Breakfast Blintz which includes: 2 crepes filled with mixed berries, raspberry Greek yogurt, cream cheese, cottage cheese, warm blueberry compote, whipped cream, powdered sugar, caramelized pecans, cinnamon and nutmeg.  It looked something like this:

It was delicious, but more like a dessert than

a lunch.

I thought it would look like this.

Jean had bananas in hers because she needs to gain weight.  Obviously I don't have that problem.  

 

I am so glad I got to know Jean a little better and now I will loo forward to our monthly visits.

 

As soon as I returned to Cathi's I loaded up the car and headed for home.  I was right behind James who had to make a trip back out to Fountain Hills.

 

I got home around 5 pm.  It was cold in Vernon but there wasn't any snow on the ground like there was on top of the rim between Payson and Heber.  I unloaded the car and sat down to enjoy some television.  I watched a couple of movies before going to bed.  

 

I sure do miss James when I am here by myself.