Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Happy Birthday Brian
and Dallin

Brian at the beach.

 Dallin at the cabin with Claire and Ruby

Alma 16:1-21 Study Notes

How does having a Prophet help us with our daily tasks?  

Whenever we have questions, need answers, or are seeking guidance, we can turn to those who have "the spirit of prophecy ... to know whither the Lord would that we should do" (vs5), just like Zoram did with Alma.  A prophecy consists of divinely inspired words or writings, which a person receives through revelation from the Holy Ghost.  When a person prophesies, he speaks or writes that which God wants him to know for his own good or the good of others.

General Conference: "The Price of Priesthood Power by President Russell M. Nelson.

What has happened to our society?  Gay marriage, abortion, mass killings, pornography, co-habitation, immorality,  corrupt government, breaking the Sabbath, and the love of money are ever prevalent.  We live in a society that is becoming ever more evil and unstable, where we have no reassurances regarding economic, political, moral, and physical safety.  What we could once look to as a strong moral structure has come crashing down in a heap of revolting rubble that makes a mockery of all things decent and sacred.

Unlike that of a deteriorating society, the Lord's Church is alive and well, and His calm, reassuring voice speaks peace to our minds and offers safety to our souls if we stand in holy places.  Our homes and families must be places of spiritual training and safety for our children.  Holy places provide spiritual shade when the heat of worldly cares might otherwise consume us.  The pure in heart who gather together will find that the Lord is "our shadow by day and our pillar by night." (Isaiah 4:5-6)

I fixed breakfast for James before he left for the valley this morning.  I also wished Dallin a Happy Birthday and fixed him a breakfast burrito before he left to meet Claire in Show Low.

I finally get to meet Claire.  She is very friendly and gives me a big hug.  I immediately like her.  Dallin is staying upstairs and Claire stays downstairs.  After Dallin shows her around, she loves the cabin, they go on a Razr ride up to Green's Peak.

Beautiful scenery on the way

At lunch time Dallin has cereal and Claire has veggies.  She is a vegetarian.  

I worked on my blog and paid bills this afternoon.  I decided to go to Panda for Dallin's birthday.  I ask he and Claire what they wanted and then ordered online.  It was nice that it was ready when I arrived.  Dallin was so grateful.  I don't think he has alot of money for food.  

Trina is stuck in traffic on her way up.  There was an accident somewhere between Forest Lakes and Heber.

When Trina arrived we had a little birthday party for Dallin.  I got him a cookies and cream ice cream cake.  

So glad to have these people visit me!

Monday, June 13, 2016

Rowan and Evan's soccer team

Alma 15:5-19.  The thing I remember most about these verses is that Amulek gave up everything for the gospel and to become a missionary.  

General Conference reading: "Family Councils" by Elder M. Russell Ballard.

I love being home! I spent a relaxing morning studying the gospel.  A piano tuner was supposed to come this afternoon, but he cancelled and rescheduled for Friday.  

I bought jalapeno jelly from Kathy Crane today and paid Stefani Hunsaker for 10 lbs of cherries from Utah which will arrive next week.  

My new friend.  A baby lion cabbage patch doll.  Hailey Chaffin left this in my classroom when she taught for me last week.  He belongs to her little girl Huntleigh.

James is leaving tomorrow for the valley where he has a job at Desert Mountain Golf Course.  These are the things he did for me today before he left: fixed the dryer, took the tires for the Razr and had them mounted and then brought them back and put them on.  Helped me put clean sheets on the beds upstairs.  Dallin and a friend are coming tonight and Trina and her kids will be here Tuesday and Wednesday night.  

I went to town with James and did a little shopping at Walmart.  I wish they would quit moving things around in the store.  It really is confusing.

Curtis Wilhelm, one of the kids in

my Primary class.

Dallin texted me around 4:10 and said he was on his way.  When it got to be 9:15 and he hadn't arrived I began getting worried.  Finally he called me from Show Low around 9:20 saying he had been delayed by a small accident.  I guess a lady's tire came off her car and hit him on the driver's side door.  He had borrowed someone's car but every is okay because their insurance will cover it and no one was hurt.  His friend Claire was going to come from Flagstaff but decided to wait until morning so it's just Dallin for tonight.  As soon as he arrived safely and I had welcomed him, James and I went to bed.

 I couldn't resist posting this picture.  This is Brett Lambson's daughter after getting in to her mother's permanent lipstick.  She is very thorough.  She is two years old.

 

Sunday, June 12, 2016

Happy Birthday Ian!

 Apron courtesy of Ian's brother Michael

who lives in Birmingham, England. 

I was up at 5 am to finish preparing my Primary lesson.  James was up early too to finish preparing for his Gospel Doctrine lesson.

Alma 14:23 - 15:4 Study Notes

26 - And Alma cried, saying: How long shall we suffer these great afflictions, O Lord? O Lord, give us strength according to our faith which is in Christ, even unto deliverance.  And they broke the cords with which they were bound; and when the people saw this, they began to flee, for the fear of destruction had come upon them.

General Conference talk: "Always Retain a Remission of Your Sins" by Elder David A. Bednar.

James put potting soil in plastic cups and gathered cantaloupe seeds for each member of my class.  I do appreciate his help.  I type reading assignments for his class every week so I guess we help each other.

I am also doing an experiment in my class using a bottle with four tablespoons of vinegar and a balloon with two teaspoons of baking soda.  You put the balloon on top of the bottle and allow the soda to mix with the vinegar which causes a chemical reaction and blows the balloon up.  It is to demonstrate the principle of faith.

Alice Wilhelm was the youth speaker in sacrament meeting today.  She did a great job speaking about patriarchal blessings.  Millie Scott spoke on love and service and Jerry Scott spoke about the word of wisdom.  Never before in church have I been taught how to make booze and drugs.  

Zemira, Curtis, and Kacey were in my class today.  Brylea, Paula Johnson's granddaughter from Snowflake was visiting and I had Jace and Colter from Sadie Westbrook's class.  It went very well.

After the block James and I went to the bishop's office and were set apart as temple cleaning coordinators.  Brother Thompson set me apart and John Wilhelm set James apart.  The bishop is out of town.

After lunch and our nap James and I read scriptures together and then I read to him from our current novel, Julianna.  I worked on my Primary lesson for next week, my blog, and texted with Dallin.  He is coming up here for his birthday and is bringing a girl friend named Claire with him.  

I sent a text to Alex and Michael inviting them to read scriptures with James and I.  Since we can't actually read together I invited them to follow our schedule and then we would take them to dinner on July 2nd at the restaurant of their choice.  I never heard from either one of them so I am assuming they are for it.

We had a nice sunset this evening.  I am more of a sunrise person than a sunset but I captured this one.

 

Saturday, June 11, 2016

Home again!

Alma 14:6-22 Study Notes:

6- Zeezrom harrowed up under a consciousness of his own guilt.

7 - Zeezrom cries unto the people that he is guilty and that Ala and Amulek are spotless before God. Zeezrom and male believers cast out.

8 - Wives and children of believers cast into a fire along with their scriptures.

9 - Alma and Amulek are forced to watch.

10 - Amulek wants to save them with the power of God.

11 - Almaexplains why they can't.

12 - 22 - Alma and Amulek cast in to prison.

General Conference talk: "To the Rescue: We Can Do It" - Elder Arnold.

Did I mention how much I like these cookies that I bought at Costco:

No additives or preservatives.

James left around 7:30 this morning to go home to Vernon.  I left around 11 am.  I stopped at the Dairy Queen in Payson for a potty break and a burger.  I then stopped at the Giant station for gas.  In Show Low I stopped at Safeway and then at CVS to pick up James's prescription.  I finally get home around 4.  

James unloaded the car for me and I put everything away.  This took awhile.  Afterwards I began studying for my Primary lesson tomorrow which is Alma teaching about faith in Alma 32.

I am quite tired and make sure I go to bed by 10.  I will need to get up early, around 5, in the morning to finish studying and preparing my lesson.  I bought a cantaloupe at Safeway so I could give each of the children in my class a seed to take care of.

Max left for scout camp today.  Scout camp is in San Diego so he should have a great time and enjoy some nice weather.

 Wearing his pool battle scars

Stacy and Joshua are getting ready to watch "Zootopia" on the big screen at the pool at Sheraton Desert Oasis.

 What a life.

Friday, June 10, 2016

The waterfall

Carly Elmer drowned 21 years ago today.  She would have been 4 a few days after she drowned.  Here is a picture of her sister Chelsea and Chelsea's boys at Carly's gravesite.

Carly and some of her family members.

Alma 13:21-14:5

21 . . . Now is the time to repent, for the day of salvation draweth nigh.

23 - . . . glad tidings are declared unto us . . .

24 - . . . angels are declaring it unto many, .. . . this is for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive His word at the time of His coming in His glory.

26 - It shall be made known unto just and holy men, by the outh of angels, at the time of His coming . . .

27 - . . . I wish from the inmost part of my heart, yea, with great anxiety even unto pain, that ye would hearken unto my words, and cast off your sins and not procrastinate the day of your repentance.

28 - But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on His holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering.

29 - Having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the love of God always in your hearts that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into His rest.

30 - And may the Lord grant unto you repentance, that ye may not bring down His wrath upon you, that ye may not be bound down by the chains of hell, that we may not suffer the second death.

Trina came and picked up Addy and Ruby this morning before nine because Ruby had cheerleading practice.  I wonder who she cheers for.

James left for awhile this morning but was back quite early.  We spent some quiet time alone at the resort.  I washed the sheets on the guest bed and washed towels while I was studying.  Around 3pm I left to buy birthday cards and some other commodities at Fry's.  I came back and cleaned until our guests arrived.

Kim, Brian and Joe were the first to arrive.  We had invited them over to play games.  Soon after Paul, Stacy, Michael and Joshua arrived.  Michael brought his ukulele and Joe brought his guitar.  They sang a few songs and sounded really great.  I forgot how good they harmonize and what great voices they have.  Such talent!

I love to hear these two sing together!

 James and Kim enjoying the music.

Visiting between performances.

After the performance Kim, Brian, James, Joe,

Michael and I played a game of Five Crowns.

Paul ordered pizza and wings for his family.

Stacy took Joshua to swim until the lightning

scared them back inside.

When Joe, Kim, and Brian left I helped Michael and Joshua make up their beds on the two couches and then said goodnight.

It was a fun evening.

 

 

Thursday, June 9, 2016

The back side of water.

Alma 13:10-20

Brigham Young's definition of sanctification:

"Overcoming every sin and bringing all into subjection to the law of Christ. God has placed in us a pure spirit; when this spirit reigns predominant, ..., and triumphs over the flesh and rules and governs and controls . . , this I call the blessing of sanctification."

Alma 13:16 "The Rest of the Lord"

Joseph F. Smith: "To me it means that through the love of God I have been won over to Him, so that I can feel at rest in Christ, that I may no more be disturbed by every wind of doctrine, by the cunning and craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; and that I am established in the knowledge and testimony of Jesus Christ, so that no power can turn me aside from the straight and narrow path that leads back into the presence of God, to enjoy exaltation in His glorious kingdom; that from this time henceforth I shall enjoy that rest until I shall rest with Him in the heavens."

Evan and Rowan played a game of Tenzi this morning before we went down to the pool.

 I love their summer hairdo's.

I thought this post on Facebook by Michael was pretty funny.

Sounds about right.

Pool time this morning for a couple of hours.  Rowan, Max, Evan and I had to take a snow cone break.  This time Evan got grape instead of sour apple.

Not sure what Ben is doing. I hope he isn't texting.

After we finished swimming we went back to the suite for lunch.  I fixed quesadillas for Ben and Max and cheese crisps for Evan, Rowan, and Joshua.  Joshua had two.  I guess he was really hungry.

Michael worked a few hours and then James brought him back to the resort.

 He fits right in with the rest of the crew with the

last name of Gonzales.

Trina brought Addy and Ruby this afternoon to spend the night.  Of course Lola came with them.

Who cares if it's 100 degrees outside and you have a jacket

on when you are this cute!

I had promised Ruby we would go to the mall for her birthday shopping so we headed for Chandler.  Our first stop was to take Michael home.  Trina took Ben, Evan, Max, and Joshua home with her.  

After dropping Michael off Ruby, Addy and I headed for the Chandler mall.  This is the gift that Ruby picked out at Fuzziwigs.

Cookies 'n' Cream and baby Oreo.

She was so excited and because she bought Panda's, we had to eat at Panda Express for dinner.

Addy found this at Barnes and Noble and I just had to buy it for her.  She is a huge Harry Potter fan.  I was afraid if I waited until her birthday it would be gone.

Harry Potter in his quidditich

uniform.

Ruby wanted to take a picture in the photo booth but it cost $5.  I had the girls get in the booth and I took my own picture.

Two cuties!

Back at the resort grandpa was finally home.  He played Tenzi with the girls while I did some shopping at Fry's.  

I took the girls down to go swimming and they had a great time.

I love Ruby's swimsuit.  She has Lola

has one just like it.

Addy is such a great sister!

 The snowcone place was closed so we had to get smoothies instead.

 Addy got lemonade and Ruby and I got strawberry with

whipped cream.

Ruby is quite a poser.

After the smoothies the girls were cold so we had

to go over to the hot tub for awhile.

We went down to the clubhouse and picked out a movie, "Maleficient".  Grandpa watched it with them while I fixed some refreshments and put clean sheets on their bed.

Addy had seen it before but Ruby and

Grandpa had not.  It totallly changes the

story of Sleeping Beauty.

Cookie 'n' Cream and Oreo liked the movie too.

Cookie is the mom and Oreo the baby

In other news, Muhammed Ali's funeral was today.  I posted this picture of him with my brother Dennis in 1976.

 Muhammed is holding Dennis's son Eric.

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Our bedroom at the villa.

The bed and pillows are very comfortable!

The bath is a whirlpool.

 

Alma 12:28-13:9

29 - He sent angels to converse with them, who caused men to behold of His glory.

30 - . . . God conversed with men, and made known unto them the plan of redemption . . . and this He made known unto them according to their faith and repentance and their holy works.

31-32 - He gave commandments unto men, after having made nown the plan of redemption.

33 - . . . If ye will repent, and harden not your hearts, then will I have mercy upon you, through min Only Begotten Son;

34 - . . . unto a remission of his sins; and these shall enter into my rest.

Alma 13

1-9 - Men are called as high priests because of their exceeding faith and good works.

 

James left early for work.  I got up and did some gospel study.  

When the boys got up they played Tenzi while they ate their breakfast.  

After breakfast they wanted to go to swim around 9:30.  They like to be there at 10 when they turn the waterfall on.  

They swam for a couple of hours and probably would have swam longer but Max chipped his tooth and skinned his face at the bottom of the pool, so we went back to the room, but not before getting snow cones for Max, Evan, and I.  Joshua did not want one.

Evan ordered sour apple, hence the face.

At first I thought he had a brain freeze.

A picture of Max with his wounds.  I guess he didn't want to

show his chipped tooth.

I fixed the boys each their own Totino's pizza for lunch.  Joshua's got a little burnt on the bottom so I went down and got him a hamburger with fries and Evan a cheeseburger and fries at the grill.  I can't believe that Evan at the pizza and the cheeseburger and fries.  That boy has an appetite!

James came home for a quick lunch and then left again to go back to work. 

 

We just hung out in the suite until Sheri got here with Rowan, Ben, and Brian Ross.  Now it was swim time again.

I am not sure why the hot pool is such an attraction

when it's over 100 degrees outside.

 Joshua swam better this year than he ever has!

 

When the boys were finished swimming we had Ben be in charge while Sheri and I went to Sprouts on north Scottsdale Road to get these goodies.

 Lemon cream almonds.

Absolutely delicious.

This could be a binge food for me.  I am glad they don't have 

a Spouts in Show Low.

After our trip to Sprouts we came back to the resort and took orders for dinner.  We went to Taco Bell and In'n'Out Burger.  Sheri left with Brian after getting dinner for the boys.

 

I went to Firehouse Subs to get dinner for James, Michael, and myself.  Michael here tonight because he is going to work with James in the morning.

 

The big boys took the little boys swimming.  When the little boys came back: Evan, Rowan, Max, and Joshua they said: "Ben and Michael were throwing us around."  They got ready for bed and watched Animal Planet because there wasn't anything else on that they wanted to watch.

Four boys in a bed.