Saturday, April 23, 2016

This is the bouquet I would like to get

for Mother's Day

The are called Holland Rainbow roses.

Gorgeous!

In case you didn't believe they were real.

We went to the Snowflake temple again this morning.  It was so very windy it reminded us of when we were in high school and had to fight the wind to get to class.

The officiator in our session was Brother Elmer and the two sister ordinance workers were Sister Heaton and Sister DeWitt, all familiar names to us.  The video was the one with my favorite Adam & Eve!

Afterwards I drug James to El Cupido again.  I told him that next time he could choose where we ate after our temple session.

When we got home we were ready for a nap and some relaxation time.  Not for long though.  James got up to do some work and I went in to the kitchen to get the chicken taco meat into the crockpot.  I am anxious to see how this recipe turns out.

I worked on my blog and then went outside to clean off porches.  My first job was the front porch which has bird poop all over it.  Next I went to the back door by the pine tree.  I cleaned off the pine needles and collected pinecones to use later. 

I failed to mention that on the way to the temple we listened to our scriptures, Mosiah 14:1-15:9.  My question for the day: "Why do we do things our own way?"  Because we forget whey we are here.  Obedience is the whole duty of mankind.

We also listened to two conference talks.  The first was Elder Cook's, "See Yourself in the Temple."  How appropriate!  The second was President Uchtdorf's: "He Will Place You on His Shoulder and Carry You Home."  A beautiful talk!

On the way home we read a couple of chapters from our second Chronicles of Narnia book, "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe."

James ate a burrito for breakfast and a stuffed pork chop for lunch so he wanted to eat a light dinner.  I put the chicken meat in the frig for tomorrow and fixed him a nice salad.

No movie tonight, we are both busy getting ready for our lessons tomorrow.

Cathi texted me after their evening session of stake conference.  Randall Jones announced that his mother-in-law, June Bueler, had passed away.  June was the Relief Society president in the Chandler 2nd ward when we moved to Chandler.  When Cathi told me, I had to do a little reminiscing.  Her brother, Wilson Shill was my gynecologist and delivered all my babies.  James was her son Gordon's scout leader and he also built her son Franklin's home.  We have a long history with the Bueler's.  They are a wonderful family.

I love this pictures of Molly taken last soccer season.

I love the pink shoe laces.

 

Setting it up for the kick.

And there goes the kick!

Friday, April 22, 2016

This picture was taken Saturday,

April 16, 2016.

Scripture study: Mosiah 13:5-35

This is Abinadi teaching the wicked priests of king Noah.  Listen to him bear testimony in Mosiah 13:27-28:

27 - And now ye have said that salvation cometh by the law of Moses.  I say unto you that it is expedient that ye should keep the law of Moses as yet; but I say unto you, that the time shall come when it shall no more be expedient to keep the law of Moses.

28 - And moreover, I say unto you, that salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement, which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses.

It always amazes me that these prophets bore testimony of Christ hundreds of years before he was born.  Someday I would like to speak to Abinadi and find out how he gained his testimony.

Abinadi seems to have a glow about him in this picture.

How might this story of Abinadi give you courage when you face difficult tasks?  Abinadi knew who he was and what God expected of him.  He was not afraid to die for his testimony.  Courage is a decision where fear is a reaction.  Courage is llike a muscle, the more we use it, the more it is strengthened.  Abinadi chose to stand as a witness of God at all times, and in all place.  Can we do the same?

Today I discovered while working on family history that my mother and her siblings were sealed to Nannie and Grandpa, but Nannie and Grandpa have not been sealed to each other.  I printed out sealing cards for them and for Nannie's grandparents.  I love that we can print out temple cards at home now!  James and I are going to the temple tomorrow to do another endowment session.  Next week we are going to do sealings.  I want this work done!

I listened to three conferences talks today.  One was by President Monson where he quoted the Cheshire cat speaking to Alice when she asked which path to take and said she didn't know where she was going.  "If you don't know where you want to go, it doesn't matter which path you take."

Russell M. Nelson told the youth in the New Era that personal revelation can lead to spiritual discernment.  

 James needed to buy more lumber so he and I made a trip to town.  While he was at Home Depot I went to Walmart.  Trina has ask us to help make hygeine kits for refugees and I bought some of the stuff today.  I also bought some things for Primary and my visiting teaching care basket for Claire Mercado.  We use our travel time to either read or listen to conference talks.  Today we read from "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe."  James isn't liking it as well as he does our romance novels, but I think we needed to branch out a little.  There are seven books in this series and we are only on book two.

For dinner tonight I made pork chops with stuffing and James absolutely loved them.  I got the recipe from The Food Nanny who has a show on the BYU channel.  Definitely putting this one in the favorite file.

Our Hallmark movie tonight was quite lame.  It was The Family Plan starring Tori Spelling and Jordan Bridges. The movie was made in 2005.  She starts out by telling her boss she is married  when she is not and the lie just snowballs.  Pretty silly and not much redeeming value.  We both were disappointed.  

Tomorrow is temple day.

I have to include in each days post some of the pictures of the past that I have come across.  Today's are pictures of Rowan, Joshua, and Evan has babies.

 November 2006 right after Evan was born.  

Early 2007.  Evan is catching up.

 A few months later.  Evan is Super Baby!

 This is when they are about two or three years old.

Best Buddies forever!

I can't wait for these three to go on missions all

at the same time.

 

Thursday, April 21, 2016

A stroll down memory lane.

This is the drugstore where I stopped everyday after school for a snack.  The school bus stopped across the street and we walked across highway 60 into the doors of Show Low Drug.  I would usually have a baked ham sandwich with barbequed potato chips, and a fresh limeade with plain water.  The cost: .75 cents.  Those were the days.  We sat in a booth next to the soda fountain.  The waitress never had to move out of her work station to wait on us.  Today the Dominoes pizza occupies this spot.

When I got home I would put on a record and relax.  Here was on of my favorite artists.

 Ooooh Ricky!

Today's scripture study: Mosiah 12:17-13:4

How do you apply your heart to understanding?

Through humility.  The condition of being meek and teachable.  Humility includes recognizing our dependence upon God and desiring to submit to His will.

James took me visiting teaching to Hailey Chaffin's.  Next time I am confident I can find it by myself.  I made her a basket.

The lesson was:

"Daughter of Our Eternal Father"

After Hailey's James and I went in to Show Low.  It is an absolutely gorgeous day here.  The high is around 73.  The first place we hit in Show Low is Sonic for my diet coke with regular cherry flavoring.  James picks up our Pappa John's thin crust veggie pizza while I do a little shopping at Walmart.  Walmart has a laminating machine for $20.  I am putting that on my wish list.  I had to pick up my folic acid at the pharmacy and then I was on my way.  On the way to Hailey's and Show Low we finished listening to the priesthood session of general conference.  On the way home we finished "The Magician's Nephew."  

At home we both took a nap and then James went out to go to work.  I went in to the computer to work on my Primary lesson and my blog.  I felt a little achy so I decided to take a whirlpool bath.

Just what the doctor ordered.  That is Nemo in

the corner with a striped hat.  Alexis made it.

I got it last year in our white elephant gift exchange.

 

For dinner I had a cheddar and jalapeno bagel with some of the salad I made on Tuesday.  

James is working until it's too dark to work so he doesn't get in much before seven.  He has to hurry to get ready for our movie which I like to start by 7:30.  Tonight's was a mystery, "Sandra Brown's White Hot."  It was okay but I like the romantic comedies or "feel good" movies better.

James's Pero was especially tasty tonight.  That's because he put more chocolate and sweetener than usual!

 

The moon was gorgeous tonight.  We tried to capture it, but never can do it justice.

 

Facebook find:

A purple house!  Have I died and

gone to Heaven?

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

So true.

From Howard W. Hunter lesson #8, "Taking the Gospel to all the World":  'A great indicator of one's personal conversion is the desire to share the gospel with others.'

As I was working on familysearch today I realized that my Nannie and Grandpa have never been sealed together  and my mom and her brother and sister have not been sealed to them, their parents.  I want to make this one of my top priorities. 

I listened to six conference talks today in an effort to listen to them all again before the end of the month.  

I made oven stew today.  James had it for lunch and dinner and he loved it.  We have plenty left for tomorrow too.

James seems discouraged because he is always in pain.  He worked outside on the building most of the day.

It's beginning to look like a building.

I love this old picture of Ben and Jared Ammon.  

 They look so sweet and innocent.

I was able to talk to Jean Howard and Claire Mercado today, two of the sisters I visit teach.  I have an appointment with Jean next week.  Claire is still not feeling well.  After I finished talking to her I decided I wanted to do a care basket for her and her daughter Marlie.  I offered to bring her dinner, but she has so many allergies she declined.

James and I look forward to our "date on the couch" every night.  Tonight we watched a movie called "Always and Forever."  The only thing I didn't like about it was Dean McDermott.

 

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Happy 20th Anniversary

Sheri & Ian

 Our family has changed a bit since this picture

was taken.  Jared was serving a mission in Ecuador

and couldn't make it to the party.  It's great to see Ian's

grandparents and J.D. in this picture.

Mosiah 11:16-29.  What does it mean when the Lord says He's a jealous God?  We know that God has tender feelings for us...He weeps.  Jealousy in this context means He has fervent feelings for us...He wants so much to bless us and for us to trust Him.  Elder Holland spoke of how we should love God with all our heart, might, mind and strength, but that we should remember. ...God, our Father, loves us with all His heart, might, mind and strength too.  He is possessive, caring, and loving.

Both James and I are trying to be obedient to what President Williams ask us to do regarding memorizing The Living Christ and the Family Proclamation.  I got out my old study notebooks, because I tried before, and went to work on the first sentence in each document.

As I was getting ready to go to town with James, I had a feeling I should text Vickie and ask her if she would like to have her family's temple work done.  To my joyful surprise she said yes.  I had just been on Family Search's family tree and was thinking about Harold and Vickie when I sent this text.  I ask her if Jeffrey had been to the temple and could help with the ordinances.  She said she didn't know but would find out.  A few minutes later she texted me back and said he was planning on going in late May or early June and would love to help with the family ordinances.

I can tell you that this made my day!

Our first stop in town was at Licano's.  After all, today is Taco Tuesday.  I had two chicken tacos with a side of rice and beans.  Everything was yummy but I could only eat one taco.  Too many chips and salsa.

I've never had a steak at Licano's.

I liked the chicken better than the beef tacos.

Rice and beans for lunch tomorrow!

James dropped me off at Walmart after lunch while he went to Home Depot.  They only thing I really needed to get was some lemons for James hot lemon drinks that seem to help his laryngitis.

When I went to change from my sunglasses to my glasses, my glass case was not in my purse.  I assumed I had left it at Licano's so I called.  They had not found it.  Now I was worried.

After shopping in Walmart with my sunglasses on, I told James about my call.  He said we would go check when we were getting ready to go home.  He had come to Home Depot to buy apple trees and they didn't have any.  I suggested we go to Christopher's Nursery in Lakeside to see if they had any.  They did.  He got a two cherry trees, and two apple trees.  One of the apple trees has four varities of apples, including Honey Crisp.

 

Before going home we stopped in at Licano's but they still had not found my glasses.  As we were leaving we checked the parking lot, and there they were on the ground where we had parked.  They had been run over but the frames were not broke and neither were the lenses.  They are bent and I am going to wear my old glasses until Sheri can fix them for me.  She tried to tell me how to do it on the phone, but I am not confident enough to do it.  James says he can fix them, but I would rather wait for Sheri.

 

Back at home James planted his four trees.  He put some spray on them to keep the animals away.

 Is that snow on the ground?  

 

I made a big salad tonight for dinner.  James was still hungry so he had some more of my chicken and rice dish.  After dinner we read from "The Magician's Nephew" and then watched an episode of "Signed, Sealed, Delivered."

 

 

Monday, April 18, 2016

April 2016 General Conference quote

 All the snow that is left from Saturday's storm

is on the mountains.

Today for scripture study James and I read Mosiah 11:1-15.  The question is: How are King Benjamin and King Noah different, and how can we develop character traits of King Benjamin?  I would say the basic differences are that one had charity and the other had pride.  One was spiritual and the other was carnal.  One remembered the Savior and the other did not.  If we remember the Savior and try to emulate Him we can become more like King Benjamin.

 Congratulations Jackson!

Vickie called me this morning in response to my message about our satellite failing to record some shows.  She helped me do a switch test and told me that if we have the problem to do the switch test again.  I am grateful to know there is someone out there who knows more about technology than I do!

James actually has walls up on the storage shed.  I don't know how he is managing to build this thing by himself.  I told him if he needs help to call me, but so far he has not.

James went in to town to get some lumber and do some other errands.  I decided to stay home and get some things done.  One of the things I did was clean the mud off the carpet and floor from Saturday.  

We are praying for Ecuador.

Today was Senior Ditch Day at Chandler High School.  This is what Alex did.

Looks like fun.

I fancied up our leftovers from Saturday and Sunday by adding some corn to the rice and putting the chicken in the rice.  It was quite tasty.  

For FHE we listened to Elder Duncan's conference talk on forgiveness.  After FHE we watched our Hallmark movie.  This one was called "The Generation Gap".

 Ed Asner and Alex Black.

The story is about a boy growing up in New York City with his single mom.  He has alot of anger because his dad left and he keeps getting into fights at school.  His mom sends him to stay with his grandpa in a small town for the summer.  Grandpa is a veteran of World War II and everyone calls him the colonel.  It's a great story about a boy learning respect, coming of age, and developing a strong bond with his grandpa.  We both enjoyed it.

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Sunday morning session of stake conference.

We sat by Owen and Donna Peeler, our friends and neighbors

from Vernon.

 Speaker: President Ken Van Winkle - Stay the course.  Mosiah 2:22 - "Behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you."

Elder Corbridge: "Don't be deceived."  How do we avoid being deceived?  (See Elder Corbridge's five primary questions in stake conference journal, November 8, 2015.)  

Stand firm in the faith, and hold fast.

Fernando Thompson, Jr. - Recently returned missionary.  He is the first and only missionary to leave from the Cibeque branch.  My mission taught me how to be closer to Heavenly Father.  Never lose the focus of bringing our families to God.  Help them endure to the end  Never lose focus on the things that you know to be true.  

Paige Bennie, Laurel from the Country Club Manor ward.  How can we use social media to uplift?  1. Keep posts positive.  1972 prophecy by President Kimball about technology.  2.  Make sure you edify and uplift.  3. Be authentic and consistent  4. Be wise and vigilant.  Don't post anything you don't want everyone in the world to see.  Elder Bednar's talk on social media given in August, 2014.

Ben Dike, Priest from the Pinedale ward.  Language and how we communicate with others.   (see 'For the Strength of Youth').

Story of McKay Hatch and his 'No Cussing Club.'  It became a media sensation, reaching people all over the world.  Don't gossip or show anger to others.  Laman and Lemuel's murmuring caused a standstill in their spiritual progression.  President Uchtdorf: "Stop It!"  Agape - Greek word meant to lover everyone unconditionally.  Brother's mission journal: Charity vs. Pride, two kinds of love.  One is the love of others and the other is the love of self.  Our speech defines us.  We represent the Savior as members of His Church.

Sister Miller of the Snowflake Temple Presidency - From Joseph City.  Grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  Hastening the work is now and includes missionary and temple work.  The Snowflake temple performs 100's and even 1000's of ordinances each day.  Youth are more involved than ever in temple work.

President Miller, counselor in the Snowflake temple presidency - President Hancock is the temple president and President Scott is his other counselor.  Service is the essence of the gospel.  Related President Nelsons' story he told in General Conference about the Hatfield family and doing their temple work.  Elder Kevin R. Duncan quote from April 2016 G.C. on forgiveness.  Elder Rasband: "I need my Savior now more than ever before."  Quote from Bishop Waddell in April 2016 G.C. Quinten L. Cook: "We are equal before God in the temple."  Kent F. Richards, General Temple Director, "Sanctify yourselves."

Speaker: David Larue Crockett, stake patriarch - I believe in miracles and I am grateful for the miracle of forgiveness.  Story of woman in prison for drug abuse.  Her bishop sees a vision of who she was in the premortal life before he gives her a blessing.  She becomes a valiant disciple of Jesus Christ, serving with charity and love those in her ward.

President Danny Crandall, 2nd counselor in stake presidency - When the world is in commotion what are you going to hang on to?  By their fruits ye shall know them.  Why do I stay on the old ship Zion?  Do I believe in the miracles of the Restoration.  We as a church are not on a pedestal but in a place of rescue.  We are built upon a foundation of prophets and apostles. (See Ephesians).  Keys were given to Joseph and Oliver and when Oliver left the Church, Joseph and Hyrum had the keys.  Our mission is to bring people to Christ, and stay on the ole' ship Zion.  Exaltation is the destination.  

President Steven Williams, Show Low stake president - We need each other.  Examples of service. "I think of...."  The list could go on and on on ways we can help each other.  told a story from his family history  Wales-America.  Father joined the Church and moved to SLC when he married an LDS woman.  His 10 year old son, William Williams, for some reason, stayed in Wales.  His temple work needed to be done and President Williams is determined to do it.  This is the Spirit of Elijah.  New Church program, Find, Take, Teach.  What can we become in the process.  President Williams gave a blessing to those who would accept this Find, Take, Teach challenge.  Here is the blessing: "We will receive impressions from beyond the veil, and feel greater peace in our lives and more forgiveness from others.  We will have a deepened appreciation for prophets, temples, and our covenants.  We will feel the Spirit stronger on a daily basis.  We will have more strength to overcome trials and as we serve we will become more Christlike.

Thank you President Williams.

After stake conference we came home and James fixed us a nice lunch of potatoes, eggs, onions, and various veggies all cooked together.  After lunch it was nap time.  

I did my gospel study this morning and this afternoon I copied notes from my stake conference notebook to my Sunday journal.  For dinner I made strawberry shortcake and James dipped strawberries, raspberries, and nuts in chocolate.  

James had a pretty awesome Sabbath.  He did indexing for several hours, wrote in his journal, and HE FOUND HIS TRUCK KEYS!!

I think that last one was his greatest accomplishment of the day.

We did watch a Hallmark movie tonight.  I was disappointed again when something I tried to tape failed to tape because the satellite signal was lost.  I messaged Vickie on Facebook and ask her to call me.

 "Love By Chance"

Alex's Birthday Celebration

 Happy 18th!

Wish we were there to help celebrate.

This week's ponderize scripture: