Friday, May 6, 2016

My "book of the month."

In conjunction with my calling as a teacher I am supposed to be reading this manual.  Also we are suppose to have training meetings once a month during the block.  Our ward hasn't started these training meetings yet.  Here are some notes I took from today's study:

Sources of power and support:

The power of the Holy Ghost

"As you strive to live the gospel worthily the Holy Ghost will reveal God's will to you."

"When the Spirit is with you, you will teach with God's power and help bring about the miracle of conversion." (See John 3:2, 2 Nephi 33:1).

The promise of my calling and setting apart.

"Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies."

 This is going to be a great read!

Scripture study: Mosiah 24: 1-15.  How has prayer helped ease your daily burdens?

12 - And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to Him and He did know the thoughts of their hearts.  

15 - . . . they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

At 10:00 I left for my infusion at the AARA office in Mesa.  I was there a little over an hour.  I felt very blessed as I saw some of the people who were so crippled that they could barely walk.

I went back home (Cathi's) and picked up James so we could go shopping at Walmart for the stuff to make the slingshot for my class.  My lesson this week is on Ammon guarding King Lamoni's sheep and teaching King Lamoni the gospel.

I picked up Sheri from Sears where she left her car to be serviced and we met Kim for lunch at Firebirds.  Sheri bought lunch for both of us with the $100 giftcard Dr. Carpenter gave her.

 One of my favorite restaurants!

I had what I always have at Firebirds, coconut shrimp with coleslaw and mango chutney.  Kim has never been to Firebirds before.  She loved the sourdough bread and her club sandwich on jalapeno bread.  Sheri had the delicious shrimp tacos.  We shared a piece of creme brule cheesecake for dessert.  It was a great experience.

The weather has really cooled down since Wednesday.  The high was around 80 today whereas Wednesday it hit 102 and Thursday it was in the high 90's.  
After lunch we said goodbye to Kim and Sheri took me to get a pedicure.  I tried to get a lighter color this time for summer.

Sheri got a dark purple but I didn't get a

picture of her toes.

Back at Cathi's I went with James to take his truck to Erik and then I dropped James back off at Cathi's while I went to Staples to get notebooks and then to Sam's Club to get gas and to get my car washed.  

When I got back to Cathi's she had picked up dinner for us at Panda so I ate dinner and then Dave and Laura came over for a visit.  We all sat around the dining room table and visited.  Cathi and Laura have a new game they like to play but Terry didn't want to play, so we just visited.  The game is called Tenzi.

It's a dice and card game.

 

Trina, Darrel and the kids came over later to bring my mothers day gifts and Trina said she had played the game and that it was alot of fun.

Trina and Darrel brought a beautiful purple orchid, a gift card to Cheesecake Factory and one to Red Lobster.  The kids absolutely loved the dogs, especially Rowan.  He says he wants two dogs, one like Indy and one like Lady.  He and Ruby went outside to see the tortoise, Scooter, but he was burrowed down in his hole.

 

Here is a picture of the orchid they gave me.  It is so beautiful!

 This picture was actually taken on Mother's Day

after I got cards from James, Brian, Sheri's family,

and Kim.

 

Thursday, May 5, 2016

This is where I want to be instead of running

around in the valley in 100 degree temperatures.

I was so tired this morning that I slept right through my gospel study time.  James left to go look at a job at Desert Highlands golf course around 7:30.  I got up and took a shower and came back into the bedroom to work on my blog.  Lady is my new best friend:

I think she misses Cathi and Terry being gone

all day.  She stayed with me until I left.

Today is my brother Dennis's birthday.  I called him to wish him a happy birthday and he said that he and Denise were on their way to visit Tonto National Bridge.  We set a date to go to lunch on Monday.  

James had an eye appointment with Dr. Vanover at Chandler Eye at 11.  I sent my glasses with him and Sheri fixed them perfectly!

While he was gone I went to Walgreen's to get a mother's day card and Amazon gift card for Lois for mother's day.  

When James returned from his appointment we drove the car to Sears to get the oil changed and the tires rotated.  It heated up immediately.  James dropped me off at the mall and then took the car to Sears.

We had lunch at Cheesecake Factory and this is what we had to eat.

This is the parmesean herb-crusted chicken

with mashed potatoes and green beans.

I love this dish, except I think my mashed

potatoes are better.  Their platter-plates are

huge and I can never eat everything on my plate.

James had the madeira chicken with mashed

potatoes and asparagus.  It was yummy too.

We made the mistake of ordering a piece of

cheesecake to share. 
It was just a little too much after our big meal.

After our car was finished we drove over to see Lois and Dawn.  We had a nice card and an Amazon gift card for Lois, and I gave Dawn a Book of Mormon and a journal with a note inside the Book of Mormon.  She may have peeked in the bag and seen what it was and didn't want to open it when we were there, I'm not sure, but the gift bag lay on the counter untouched as far as I know.  We also brought them a copy of the Conference Ensign and told them about the refugee choir.  

We had a nice visit but when we left I was wishing that we had brought flowers or a plant.  

Back at Cathi and Terry's we spent the evening in the office studying.  When Cathi went to bed she ask if they were ever going to get to visit with us while we were here.  I told her that I had saved tomorrow evening for that very purpose.  

Happy Cinco de Mayo

Sheri having fun with Snap Chat

 

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Not that I'm a Stars Wars fan,
but I think this is clever.

James left pretty early this morning to go buy a new drill and bit to finish the job in Fountain Hills.  He did it, and the general contractor said he would send him his last check.  Thank goodness!

I stayed on my gospel study schedule this morning and did some family history work and worked on my blog.  Around 10 am I left to go to the bank, Deseret Book to get some more conference Ensigns, and to get my bloodwork done at Dr. Allen's so I could pick up some more thyroid pills.

After Dr. Allen's I headed for Darrel's house.  I was a little early so I stopped at the Subway on Power and the 202 for lunch.  Driving and eating a sub sandwich is not a good idea.  No wonder I have food scraps in my car.  I got to Darrel's a little before noon.  He has to leave for work at 12:30 but I wanted a few minutes to go over the schedule, etc.  Lola was asleep when I got there and of course Ruby and Rowan were at school.  Trina and Addy already left for science camp.  Darrel wanted Lola to wake up before he left so she wouldn't "freak out" when he was gone and she saw me.  She got up on her own and didn't "freak out" at all when Darrel left.  We are already friends!

Just got up from her nap.

Lola wanted to watch the 'monkey' on TV so Darrel put on a Curious George movie before he left.  Being a Curious George fan myself, we watched it together.

George with some of his jungle friends.

After the movie and lunch, Lola and I went to pick up Rowan and Ruby from school.  I am pretty stressed about my car because it is heating up whenever I drive it now.  It probably doesn't help that today was the first 100 degree day in the valley this year.  

Darrel gave me good directions to get to the school so picking up the kids was no problem although it is quite a drive from their new house.  

When we returned home grandpa James was there.  At first Lola was little leary, but she soon warmed up to him.  She calls James "Umpa". 

 Looking at pictures on grandpa's computer.

Rowan was doing a report on prong-horned antelope so he and I were in trying to print off some pictures.  We got one, but then the printer ran out of colored ink so we couldn't print anymore.

Rowan missed soccer practice with Evan because he left his soccer shoes and shin guards in his mom's car which Darrel took to work.  

Instead of soccer practice, we went to Peter Piper Pizza on Ellsworth and Baseline.  The kids had a blast!

 I think we need a Peter Piper in Show Low!

Granpa won the pink ball for Lola and she wasn't

going to let go of it, not even to learn how to drive

a Corvette!

Ruby and Rowan playing my favorite game,

Skeeball!

We said goodbye to Rowan and Grandpa as they headed over to watch Michael run in the 800m state championship race at MCC.

Michael is in the blue with the white headband.

You can see the disappointment on Michael's face and

the way he is standing.  But his family is so proud!

The girls and I went home and watched another Curious George movie.  I couldn't help but admire their coffee table.

Ruby wanted to make sure that I knew that

her mom made this coffee table.

 Ruby had fun playing with the SnapChat

app on my phone.  She knows more about

how to use it than I do.

Rowan and Grandpa returned and we let the kids stay up until they Dad got home a little before 10.  We were all sitting on the couches watching "Studio C" when Darrel came home.

James and I were exhausted when we got home and went straight to bed.  It was an exhausting but very fun day and I am so grateful for the opportunity to spend time with Darrel's kids, although I did miss seeing Addy.

Alexis, Kylie, Addy, and Trina

at Science Camp.

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

I had to post a picture of these three pretty ladies!

Kiley, Kaitlin, and Kathy.

Don't you just love their white teeth.  Maybe that's because Kiley is

a dental hygienist!  BTW, Kathy is the mom!

My gospel study this morning started with reading and finishing the book, "Covenant Keepers."  Here is a quote:

"Making covenants with God calls forth the divine within us.  Keeping our covenants with God allows Him to pour His divine power into us."

Notes from my scripture study of Mosiah 21:28-22:9:

See Mosiah 21:32 and 35:

32 - Since the coming of Ammon, king Limhi had entered into a covenant with God, and also many of his people, to serve him, and keep his commandments.

35 - They were desirous to be baptized. . . . an account of their baptism shall be given hereafter.

My conference talk for today was Sister Durham's, "A Child's Guiding Light."

Studied Howard W. Hunter's lesson on The Law of Tithing.  

I had prayers and scriptures with Adam and James and then they went out to work.

It does my heart good to see them

working side by side.

I ironed for about an hour and a half today getting clothes ready for myself and James to take to the valley.  This gave me awhile to listen to talks.  I am trying to focus on the Christlike attribute of charity this month.  When I listened to the Renlund's talk on charity they referred to a talk given by Marvin J. Ashton in the April 1992 General Conference entitled, "The Tongue Can Be a Sharp Sword."  I want to print this talk out and really study it.  Here is one of my favorite quotes:

"The way we treat each other is the foundation of the gospel of Jesus Christ."

I also listened to a talk by President Howard W. Hunter given in 1988.  In this talk he told the story of Vern Crowley and the lessons he learned from his dad.  I actually remember this story because it has such a profound effect the first time I heard it. Listen to it on the Gospel Library app if you have the time. Not sure if it was April or October General Conference. The name of the talk was, "A More Excellent Way." Here are a couple of my favorite quotes:

"Don't try to force others to do better,

inspire them to do better."

and

"The peace of Christ doesn't come from 

seeking the things of the world."

Next a talk by President Monson given in 1994 called, "An Example of the Believers."  Here is a quote I wrote down:

"What we need is less criticism and more models to follow."

As I was working in my bedroom, getting ready to leave for the valley, I watched DWTS.  My favorite dance was Paige's and Mark's.  They were awesome and they got a 30, or a perfect score!

I said goodbye to James and gave him a kiss around 3pm.  Adam was gone on a Razr ride.  He couldn't come to the cabin and not ride it at least once.  On the way out of town I stopped at Sandra Wilhelm's to pick up a couple of doTerra items.  

The throat drops are for James and the

peppermint for me.

Total cost: $37.50

I could probably get them cheaper from Cathi,

but I know that Sandra could use the money.

She has nine children and lives in a very small house.

Because I want to stop at Deseret Book when I get to the valley, I decided to go the Salt River way.  Of course I had to stop at Burger House for dinner.  I ordered in and had a bean burro.  It was delicious!

Burger House in Miami on

Live Oaks and Forest. 

On to Gilbert and a stop at one of my favorite places.  I bought some journals and conference Ensigns.  I have to control myself in this place.

 

When I left Deseret Book for Office Max across the street, I noticed that my car temperature was on high.  I left the AC off as I went across the street.  Once I headed for home on the freeway it cooled down a bit.

I unloaded my car and organized all my things when I got to Cathi and Terry's.  I even had time to visit a bit.  Cathi showed me her new favorite show, "Little Big Shots".  The show is about young kids with real talent.  We watched 11 year old twin boys who play the trumpet, and their siblings who form a brass band.  They were amazing!

I waited around until James got home, even though I was tempted to go to sleep.  I guess he drove Adam around Mesa looking for a Chase bank to deposit his check.  

It was good to finally go to bed.  Of course I had to rub Indy's tummy before saying goodnight.

 

Monday, May 2, 2016

California hillside after the rainy season.

For my study in Preach My Gospel I read 2 Nephi 28.  Here are some of the verses that especially meant something to me:

14 - . . . they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ.

24 - Wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!

26 - Yea, wo be unto him the that hearkeneth unto the precepts of men, and denieth the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost!

Repent, and come unto me!

My daily study of the Book of Mormon:

Mosiah 21:9-27

9 - Great mourning among people of Nephi.

11 - Because of the cries of the widows, the remainder of the people of Limhi are angry with the Lamanites.  They go to battle and suffer great losses.

12 - Went for the third time and suffered losses again.

13 - AND THEY DID HUMBLE THEMSELVES, submitting to the yoke of bondage.

14 - And they did humble themselves even in the depthis of humility; and they did cry mightily to God; yea, even all the day long did they cry unto their God that he would deliver them out of their afflictions. ( Humility fortifies our dependence upon the Lord.)

15 - The Lord was slow to hear their cries because of their iniquities.  The Lord did soften the hearts of the Lamanites.

22 - Ammon comes from Zarahemla.

24 - Limhi filled with exceeding great joy.

27 - Limhi's people find the Jaredite record.

I usually eat breakfast when I get up, sometime between five and six.  Today was no different.  Later in the morning James made steak and gravy.  Of course he brought me some into the bedroom where I was working on the computer.  I couldn't resist.

While I was ironing I listened to the talk by Elder and Sister Renlund that they gave at BYU Women's Conference.  Thanks Jared for posting it on Facebook.  The theme for women's conference was "One in Charity."  I especially liked the idea that "charity leads to unity, and unity leads to charity."  Another quote I liked: "Charity is a consequence of conversion."  I want to go back and listen to Marvin J. Ashton's April 1992 General Conference address, "What is Charity." Oops! The name of the talk is: "The Tongue Can Be a Sharp Sword."

One last quote: "Increasing our Sabbath day observance will increase our charity."

I got a call from my friend Charlotte Mattice this afternoon.  Also talked to Stacy about Jared Ammon.

I fixed a late lunch for James and Adam since we had a late breakfast.  We had: Pork chops with stuffing, asparagus salad, rolls, cranberry sauce and apple sauce.  Adam says he doesn't usually care for pork chops but he loved these!

After lunch the two guys go in to town to get more plywood for the roof of the storage shed.  

We had some dark clouds today and Adam said it hailed on him, but James said he never felt the hail.  Weird.

On worked on Primary preparation and my blog this afternoon.  I also said a prayer as I went upstairs to look for my mom's memory book.  I didn't find it but later while I was in the kitchen I decided to go look on the shelf in the living room where I have several photo albums.  There it was!  I said a prayer of gratitude.  I also found my mother's birth certificate and baptismal certificate and James and my marriage certificate.  It was a good day.

I wasn't going to fix dinner because we had such a big lunch, but I decided to make stirfry because I had mushrooms, celery, onion, and snow peas.  I also added a little ham.  James loved it.  For dessert I made strawberry shortcake.  Since we are going to be gone the rest of the week, I am trying to clean out the fridge.

For FHE we listened to President Eyring's talk, "Where Two or Three are Gathered."  In his talk he talks about the Parable of the Sower.  I love this parable and the symbolism.

After FHE James and I watched "The Good Witch" and then went to bed.  Adam went upstairs to watch "Castle".

Sunday, May 1, 2016

My new ponderize scripture

for the week.

I got up early to pray and meditate and then to finish up my Primary lesson on Alma and Amulek.  Here they are walking out of prison after everyone else inside was killed as the prison walls collapsed.  

"For the Lord had granted unto them power, 

according to their faith in Christ."

Alma 14:28

After church James was going to check on George Wallace.  He heard he was in the hospital and that his wife, Ruth, is out of town.

He called Ed Miller and Ed said he would check at the hospital to see if George was there.  He wasn't.  James tried to call, but no answer.  What to do? We did nothing, hoping for the best.

We fasted until 3 pm.  We broke our fast with this meal:

Roast beef, gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, salad, and rolls.  It was especially after fasting for 24 hours.  

We had some crazy weather today.  It was supposed to rain, but we didn't get much.  We got most of ours last night.  We could see it rain all around us and some places even got snow.

This picture was taken by Jani Huso Johnson.

I bet the skiing is good this week.

We had a good fast and testimony meeting.  I had told James earlier this week that I was worried about Deborah Brewer because I hadn't seen her in church for awhile.  She was here today and even bore her testimony!

I had five kids in my class today: Curtis, Zemira, Braylin, Kacey, and Izabel.  Curtis was tired.  He said they didn't get home from the valley until 2 a.m.  I guess they went to a D-backs game.

Trenda looks great!

This afternoon I worked on next week's Primary lesson and my blog.  James, Adam, and I watched the bunnies play outside.  There are about six of them now.  Some of them are very tiny.

This evening the three of us watched the Young Adult Fireside Broadcast featuring Elder Richard J. Maynes and his wife.  Elder Maynes spoke on the Restoration and the Prophet Joseph Smith.  It was excellent!

It was a wonderful Sabbath day.  I felt like I kept the Sabbath better today than I have for a long time.

Kim posted this picture on Facebook today:

 

 

Saturday, April 30, 2016

I love this sweet couple.

They have the best smiles ever and

they glow!

James and I did sealings this morning in the Snowflake temple and this picture of Marisa and Curtis reminds me of how happy a couple can be to be sealed together for time and all eternity.

Jared had given us four couples to be sealed, one was a William Trezise to an Elizabeth Daniels, probably Ian's great grandparents, and three Mangum couples.  We didn't get the cards back because we left before all of the sealings were done.  

We were also sealed for my grandparents, Albert Alexander Strickland to Myrtle Mae Rutledge.  I was so surprised to find that this work had not been done.  Their children, my mom and her brother and sister have been sealed to them, but their sealing had never been done.  We were also sealed for my "Nannie's" (Myrtle Mae's), grandparents, George Thomas Walker to Amanda Epley.  

I love that you can print temple cards from home now!  These are the cards that I printed.

The only reason I got these cards back was because of a

sister in our ward who works in the temple records office.

She saw my name on them and brought them to me.

We listened to our scriptures and two conference talks on the way to Snowflake.  Mosiah 19:25-20:11 - Why did the Lord let Limhi's people end up in bondage?  Answer: They were compelled to be humble, whereas, Alma's people were humble without being compelled to be. (Alma 32: 13, 16).

We listened to Sister Marriott's talk in the general women's session of conference.  Here is one of my favorite quotes from her talk:

"Sister Julie B. Beck, former Relief Society General President taught: 'The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life. . . . It requires a conscious effort.'

Next it was Sister Linda K. Burton, the Relief Society General President.  Here is a quote from her talk:

"There are more than 60 million refugees, including forcibly displaced people, worldwide.  Half of those are children."

That makes me so sad.

James and Adam worked on the shed this afternoon while I began preparing our last meal of the day.  After this meal we will begin our fast and end it 24 hours later.  I marinated some chicken.  James loves this recipe for honey-lime chicken.  I also made a big pot of mashed potatoes because I know how much Adam likes them.  I made a salad and some peas.  We ate at 3pm.  

I used chicken thighs instead of breasts and they were absolutely melt in your mouth delicious!  It was a yummy meal and afterwards James said the prayer to start our fast.  Other members of our immediate family are joining us in this fast for two young men in our family.  We love them so much and want them to feel the love of the Lord in their lives.

I woke up very early this morning and had to get up and record some thoughts in my 'feel the Spirit' journal.  As a result, after our meal and cleaning the kitchen I was super tired.  I tried to take a nap but that didn't work so I turned on a Hallmark movie called "Just Desserts".  Soon James joined me.

Because of this movie I looked up some recipes for flourless 

chocolate hazelnut cakes.  When I showed them to James, he was excited and said he wanted to try both recipes.  He loves dark

chocolate and hazlenut.  I think it would be so fun to be a

pastry chef but I would probably weigh 300 lbs!

After the movie I was relaxed and refreshed and worked on preparing my Primary lesson on "Alma and Amulek in Prison", until it was time to go to bed.

Family Happenings

 Jared posted this:

One of my dreams is to be able to watch Emmy and Molly

play soccer.

Sheri's post:

Sheri, Trina, and Alexis hiked

Picachio Peak today.