Saturday, July 16, 2016

Alma 33:12-23

12 - Alma: Do ye believe those scriptures which have been written by them of old?

13 - Zenos said: Thou hast turned away thy judgments because of thy Son.

14 - If ye have read the scriptures how can ye disbelieve on the Son of God?

15 - Both Zenos and Zenock spoke of these things.

17 - A second prophet of old testified of the Son of God and because the people didn't understand his words they stoned him to death.

19 - The Son of God was spoken of by Moses and he raised a type in the wilderness that whosoever would look upon it and live.  Many did look and live.  
20 - But few understood the meaning of those things, because of the hardness of their hearts.  Many would not look and perished.  They didn't look because they didn't think it would heal them.
22 - . . . cast about your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God, that He will come to redeem His people, and that He shall suffer and die to atone for their sins, and that He shall rise again from the dead, which shall bring to pass the resurrection, that all men shall stand before Him, to be judged at the last and judgment day, according to their works.
23 - Plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith.  And it will become a tree, springing up in you unto everlasting life.  And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of His Son.  And even all this ye can do if ye will.  Amen.

GC: "The Price of Priesthood Power" President Russell M. Nelson
"The Greatest Leaders are the Greatest Followers" Brother Stephen W. Owen.

Evan had a nightmare last night.  He knocked on our door for quite awhile before James heard him.  I didn't hear him because I had ear plugs in.  He slept on one of our recliner chairs in our room and was fine the rest of the night.  We were going to go to the temple this morning but decided to stay home to make sure Evan was okay when he got up.  Also, I fixed the boys homemade pancakes for breakfast.  

Last night we were talking about our favorite places and Joshua said that our old house on 108th Way was one of his favorite places and when he gets older if it ever goes up for sale he is going to buy it.  I guess he is the one person in his family that really misses it.

James made this statement today: "I've had my voice for 8 weeks now.  The longest I've had it for four years.  Hooray!

The boys went out and helped grandpa a little this morning.

The concrete pour is on Monday.

James went in to town to get some supplies and came back with a bucket of chicken for lunch from KFC.  Ian, Sheri, and Ben got here about the same time.  Ben helped James outside raking abc.

I worked on my Primary lesson most of the afternoon while Sheri watched Family Feud.  She is a little obsessed with the show.  

Meanwhile at the beach in California:

The Case grandchildren.

Some of them are ours.  

Rowan, Addy, Ruby, and Lola.

Don't you just love these swimsuits!

At five o'clock today Tasha and Kaitlynn came to our house with two guys who work for Saladmaster.  They did a demo and then prepared dinner for us.  Saladmaster is very elite cookware made with titanium metal.  Sheri and I were so impressed with Shawn who did the demonstration.  Tucker was his assistant and I think his partner.  I ended up buying the smallest set but because I committed tonight I got a free electric skillet.  Ian and Sheri didn't buy anything but Sheri said she would have people over for demonstrations.  If she does two, she will get two of the Saladmaster Machines.  I told her I would trade my electric skillet for one of them.  It was a fun evening but James was a little stressed because I bought something. (He's also stressed about getting ready for concrete on Monday.)  I think because of the lifetime guarantee and the fact that we will be eating healthier and spending less at the grocery store, my purchase will pay for itself in no time. Shawn is Alberta Nickolaus's great grandson.

The boys played Apples to Apples with Ben tonight.

Friday, July 15, 2016

There is a great need for this in our world right now.

Alma 33:1-11

1 - the people want to know whether they should believe in one God. or how they should plant the seed, or in what manner they should begin to exercise their faith.

2 - You don't have to be in a synagogue to worship God.

3 - Have you read what Zenos said about prayer or worship?

4 - The Lord was merciful and heard Zenos's prayer in the wilderness.

5 - The Lord was merciful and heard Zenos's prayer in the field.

6 - The Lord heard Zenos's prayer in his house. 

7 - The Lord heard Zenos's prayer in his closet.

8 - The Lord is merciful when His children cry unto Him.

9 - The Lord heard Zenos's prayers in the midst of a congregation.

10 - Thou hast heard me when I have been cast out and despised of mine enemies.  Thou didst visit mine enemies with speedy destruction.

11 - Thou didst hear me because of mine afflictions and my sincerity; and it is because of Thy Son that thou hast been thus merciful unto me, therefore I will cry unto thee in all mine afflictions, for in thee is my joy; for thou hast turned thy judgments away from me, because of Thy Son.

GC: "Family Councils" Elder M. Russell Ballard

I got this  quote from the New Era:

"The work of the youth is to prepare for missionary work and then do missionary work." - Elder Hugo E. Martinez

A whole food plant based diet will prevent attacks, cancer, and chronic diseases.  Wheat is the staff of life. From my WoW book.

We have six empty beds in this house and this is where

they choose to sleep.

Part of the fun today was catching a lizard that

the boys named Scales.  Lizzy, Jenifer's daughter helped catch him.

I guess she catches frogs at home all the time.

So glad Jenifer, Lizzy, Dennis, Amanda, and

Sammy came to visit.

I took all the kids on my one hour Razr ride to Christmas Tree Trail and back.  We stopped and picked some flowers.

This is Lizzy's bouquet.  It was the

prettiest.

I talked to Dennis about Timothy Ballard and his organization,

"Operation Underground Railroad" that helps to rescue children sold into slavery.  His organization has rescued over 2 million children.  He calls himself a modern day abolitionist.  He wrote the two books that I am reading, "The Washington Hypothesis", and "The Lincoln Hypothesis".  I bought The Lincoln book for Dennis and told him he could read it and then I would loan him the Washington book when I was finished. We had a nice visit and I am glad that Jenifer and her kids came.  Lizzy played a piano piece for me but seemed a little shy so I didn't press her for me.  Sammy went out and started to help James spread abc but the shovel was a little heavy so he gave up.

After saying goodbye, I worked on my Primary lesson for this week which is about Helaman and the Stripling Warriors.  I couldn't help overhearing the boys playing.  Here is what I heard:

Evan: "I can't see."

Joshua: "Use your x-ray vision."

Max: " I don't like the way your face looks." (I am not sure who he was speaking to.)

I made some chocolate chip cookies.  Jenifer's kids really enjoyed them, and so did the boys.  Amanda ask: "Did you make these cookies?"  

James fixed the gasline today so I could take a shower and wash my hair!  I am grateful for indoor plumbing and hot water!

Alex is "home alone" and so of course he had to take a selfie.

Wait a minute.  How can this be a selfie if I can see his phone.

Seth must have been there to take the picture.

Dallin's band left to go on tour and here is a picture of them practicing.

Dallin standing with his arm up.

Someone is going on vacation to the beach.

I think she is pretty excited!

Darrel and Trina's beach bodies.

Kreed and Ruby or Kruby as their mother's call them.

Well, back to my life here in Vernon. I cleaned upstairs and then fixed dinner and played some games with the boys.  Evan wanted to play the match game but we talked him in to playing Apples to Apples instead.  He loved it.

It might have helped that he won.

Max and Evan playing the Match game.

I am horrible at this game.  Thank

goodness Max wanted to play.

Stacy sent this picture for Joshua.  Shipley tore up her shoes.

I love the guilty look on her face.

Thursday, July 14, 2016

I like love and money too.

Alma 32: 21-43

21 - Faith is not a perfect knowledge of things.  If ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.

22 - God is merciful unto all who believe on His name.

23 - He imparteth His word by angels unto men, women, and children.

26 - Ye cannot know of my words surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.

27 - Awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

28 - The word is compared to a seed.  If ye don't cast it out, but nurture it, if it is a good see it will begin to swell within your breast and it will begin to enlighten your understanding.

29 - This would increase your faith even though it is not a perfect knowledge.

30 - As the seed grows ye must say it is good.  Will not this strengthen your faith?

32 - If a seed groweth it is good, but if it doesn't grow it is not good and ye must cast it out.

34 - Is your knowledge perfect?  You knowledge is perfect in that thing.  You know that the word has swelled your soul and your mind doth begin to expand.

35 - After ye have tasted of this light is your knowledge perfect?

36 - No, it is not.  Ye must not lay aside your faith.  There is so much more to believe in!

37 - If ye nourish it with great care ii will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.

38 - If ye neglect the tree it will not get any root.

39 - It's not because the seed wasn't good.  It's because your ground is barren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof.

40 - If you won't nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life.

41 - If ye nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.

42 - . . . by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.

43 - Then ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, diligence, patience and long-suffering waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.

GC: Always Retain a Remission of Your Sins by Elder David A. Bednar.

News: "Condoleezza Rice Calls Americans to 'Race Toward God' in Moving Prayer After Dallas Ambush."

"A Truck in France Deliberately Runs Over 75 People"

The world seems to be at war.

This sweet little face should make you smile.

I listened to several articles in this month's Ensign and I must say I am excited about the new Church history museum in Salt Lake.  I mentioned it to James and he says: "Let's start saving our money to go to conference." I talked to Kim.  She and Kim are going to conference and she suggested I reserve a hotel room and then if we don't go we can cancel it.  Brian actually did it for me.  We will be staying at the Marriott with them if we go.  I am so excited!

This is Dallin and his band getting ready to go our tour.

Pretty exciting!

I got this quote from an article in this month's Ensign:

"Saints are to become focal points of light and power." - Elder Marion D. Hanks.

I dusted and polished the wood floor in the living/family room today.  I also clean the deck and patio.  Dennis and Jenifer are coming tomorrow and then Sheri and Ian the next day.

There were rain clouds and a little thunder today, but no rain.

I love this picture that I found on the internet.

Baby hedgehog?

James's "work in progress."

I worked on my Primary lesson today.  I also waited for James and Evan, Joshua and Max to get here, but I was just too tired.  They didn't get here until after 11.

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

The love the Savior has for us is

unconditional.

Alma 32:1-20

1 - Alma and his brethren begin to preach the word of God.

2 - They began to have success among the poor class of people who were cast out of the synagogues because of the coarseness of their apparel.

3 - They were esteemed by their brethren as dross.  They were poor as to worldly things and poor in heart.

4 - The poor gather to the hill Onidah where Alma is preaching.

5 - The foremost among them tells Alma they have no place to worship and wonders what they shall do.

6 - Alma beheld their afflictions had humbled them and they were prepared to hear the word.

7 - Alma said no more to the other multitude but he cried unto those whom were truly penitent and said:

8 - Ye are lowly in heart and blessed are ye.

10 - Do ye suppose that ye cannot worship God save it be in your synagogues only?

11 - Do you think ye should worship God only once in a week?

12 - It is well ye are cast out of your synagogues that ye may be humble and learn wisdom.

13 - Sometimes if a man is compelled to be humble he seeketh repentance.  Whosoever repenteth shall find mercy and he that findeth mercy and endureth to the end the same shall be saved.

14 - Do ye not suppose that they are more blessed who truly humble themselves because of the word? 

15 - He that truly hmbleth himself, and repenteth of his sins, and endureth to the end, the same shall be blessed.

16 - Blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble; and believeth in the word and are baptized.

17 - Some seek for a sign.

18 - This is not faith if you seek for a sign.  For if a man knoweth a thing he hath no cause to believe.

19 - Cursed is he that knoweth the will of God and doeth it not.

20 - Every man will be judged of his works.

GC: The Sacred Place of Restoration by Elder Jairo Mazzagardi.

We had some elk in our yard this morning.

Three cows, a yearling and on calf. 

James says the bulls aren't doing their job because each one of those cows should have had a calf.

Later in the day after James had left for the valley, these same elk were in our yard again and one of the smaller ones was nibbling on one of the fruit trees that James had planted.  I shooed him away but he must have come back because when I got up this morning most of the leaves were gone.  James needs more tree elk repellant.

Today would have been Steve Westerman's birthday.  He died last month of complications due to brain cancer.  I sent his wife Karin a message on Facebook today expressing my love.

The nearly completed Tucson temple.

These two brothers built the Salt Lake temple using

the Brickem' Young building set.

I put beans in the crockpot today and will put them on low or warm all night.  When they are done cooking I will put them in the refrigerator to marinate.  When James gets home he will have one of his favorite foods to eat.  I am enjoying our Whole Food Plant Based diet.  I have not eaten meat for awhile but I have used butter and cheese.

I had a 'warm' water shower.  I guess the gasline that James broke was to our water heater too.

I finished typing Lois's history, or at least as much as I got from her, which was only up to the beginning of high school.  I will get more when I go back down this month. 

Trina posted this awhile back.  This girl is pretty amazing!

I watched, or rather listened to "Chopped" while I paid bills and worked on my blog.  I also read from Seven Miracles that Save America and Seven Tipping Points that Saved the World.

It's lonely when James isn't here.

Corinna Westbrook and her girls, 

Kyah, Joely, and Macey.  They moved from Vernon to

Washington state in March.  I miss them.

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

"I love to see the temple,

I'm going there someday,

To feel the Holy Spirit,

To listen and to pray.

For the temple is a house of God,

A place of love and beauty

I'll prepare myself while I am young;

This is my sacred duty.

Alma 31:24-38

24 - Alma was grieved because of the wickedness of the people and that their hearts were set upon gold, silver and all manner of fine goods.

25- Also their hearts were lifted up unto great boasting, in their pride.

26 - He prayed: O, how long, O Lord, wilt thou suffer that they servants shall dwell here below in the flesh, to behold such gross wickedness?

27 - They cry unto thee, but their hearts are swallowed up in their pride.

28 - O God, their hearts are set upon the voice things of the world, and their costly apparel, 

29 - They say thou hast made it known unto them that there shall be no Christ.

30 - O Lord, wilt thou give me strength, that I may bear with mine infirmities. For such wickedness among this people doth pain my soul.

31- O Lord, my heart is exceedingly sorrowful; wilt thou comfort my soul in Christ.  Grant unto me that I may have strength, that I may suffer with patience these afflictions which shall come upon me, because of the iniquity of my people.

32 - Wilt thou give us success and comfort our souls in Christ.

33 - Give them (us) strength to bear our afflictions because of the iniquity of this people.

34 - O Lord grant us success in bringing them again unto thee in Christ. 

36 - Alma clapped his hands and those with him were filled with the Spirit.

37 - They separated themselves from one another.

38 - The Lord provided for them that they should not be hungry nor thirst.  He also gave them strength in their afflictions and they were swallowed up in the joy of Christ.  This was Alma's prayer and he prayed in faith.

GC: "To The Rescue: We Can Do It" Elder Mervyn Arnold

When James was the bishop of the Del Rio 2nd ward in Chandler we had a young married couple move into our ward in about 2006, Justin and Kate Gunther.  They were excited to become parents and they were hopeful for many years.  Finally, just this last month they had a baby boy.  His name is Evander.  There were complications at his birth.  Let me share with you a post Kate put on Facebook today:

Evander update: Evander is continuing to progress at the

Phoenix Children's NICU.  We're hopeful to be home by the beginning of August!  We have seen/been a part of many

miracles over the past three weeks and are so grateful for the love,

support and prayers on our family's behalf.

More details: Evander was born with a diaphragmatic hernia.

His intestines/spleen, etc. were all up inside his chest cavity, squishing his left lung, due to a hole in his diaphragm.

He underwent surgery to have this hole repaired and to diagnose the remainder of his condition.  He was blessed that his left lung had developed 50% (most kids with the condition are considered

in a good place with just 30%).  He's gone from a respirator

to oxygen. to now room air with just some flow to help keep his lungs open.  Due to the nature of his condition, he's been on

a feeding tube for the past few weeks, but yesterday the staff started working with hi on bottle feedings.  To give some perspective,

most kids with his condition do not survive, and when they do they usually have complications with their heart, lungs, and intestines

that require several surgeries and a lengthy stay in the NICU.

So far, this is not the case with Evander.  We have been told

that our son is phenomenal by the medical staff.  

Of course, we understand that he is a miracle.

Thank you again for everything!

Kate has red hair and it looks like Evander does too.

For lunch today I made the garden vegetable soup recipe I got from Weight Watchers years ago.  This is a zero points food so you can eat as much as you want on the Weight Watcher's diet and it is delicious!

I added some potatoes so mine isn't

zero points.  It was yummy.  James and I both loved it!

James ordered some abc for his concrete pour on Monday and now we have a big pile of it in the back.  Also, he was digging trenches today and he broke a gasline for the hot water heater and furnace on our bedroom side of the house.

It looks like a mess right now but it is going to be nice!

We left for the temple at 5:45 this evening. We don't have to be there until 7 but James wants to do some initiatories and I have some baptisms I want to see if I can get someone to do.  James did two initiatories and I got one brothers baptism done.  I was too late for the sisters I have.

We are so grateful for our ward and the support they give us in our new calling as temple cleaning coordinators.  We had 21 people come to help: Jim and Linda Diewald, Darla and Ronnie Freeman, Owen and Donna Peeler, Chuck and Kathy Crane, Jerry and Millie Scott, Bishop Miller and his dad, Ed, Wes Smith, Tamara Applegate, John and Linda Price, Sister Thompson, the Klugs, and Mel and Ruth Wilhelm.  When we got home and said our prayers our hearts were filled with love and gratitude.  Love for our ward family, and gratitude to Heavenly Father for providing us with this opportunity.

Millie Scott told me about a good deal on blueberries so we stopped at the Taylor Walmart on the way home to get some.  Basha's has a pint of blueberries for .75 cents.  Walmart does ad match so they sold their pints which normally go for $2.64, to us for seventy five cents!  Thanks Millie for the heads up!

For the first time in months we parked our car, Lexy, in the garage!

I love this quote by Mother Teresa.

Monday, July 11, 2016

Alma 31:1-23

1 - Alma's heart sickens when he hears of the perversions of the Zoramites.

2 - It caused Alma sorrow to hear of iniquity among his people.

3 - The Zoramites live in Antionum.

4 - The Nephites feared the Zoramites would enter into a correspondence with the Lamanites.

5 - Preaching has a more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword.  Alma wants to try the virtue of the word of God.

6 - He took Ammon, Aaron, Omner, Amulek, Zeezrom, Shiblon and Corianton with him.  He left Himni and Helaman in Zarahemla.

8 - The Zoramites were dissenters from the Nephites so they had heard the gospel.

9 - They had fallen into great errors.  They would not keep the commandments of God.

10 - They would not pray daily.

11 - They did pervert the ways of the Lord.

12 - The Zoramites built synagogues and had a strange way of worshipping.

13 - A stand to admit one person.

14 - Cry with a loud voice saying:

15 - Holy God we believe that thou art a Spirit.

16 - We are separated from our brethren and we don't believe their foolish traditions.  Thou hast elected us to be thy holy children.  There shall be no Christ.

17 - Thou hast elected us to be saved while others are destroyed.  We are not bound down to Christ.

18 - We thank thee that we are a chosen and holy people.

19 - Alma and his brethren are astonished beyond measure at these prayers.  

20 - Every man went forth and offered the same prayer.

21 - The places was called Rameumpton being interpreted is holy stand.

23 - After offering up thanks they returned to their homes never speaking of God until the next week.

GC: "Whoso Receiveth Them, Receiveth Me" Elder Neil L. Andersen.

I cleaned upstairs this morning and worked outside in the garage.  The garage is looking better but we still have alot of stuff to put away.  I am mainly sweeping and putting things in piles to be put away.  Oh yes, I held a board so James could run it through the power saw.  Sometimes you don't have to have any skill to help.

James had a doctor's appointment with Dr. Moffat today to get a referral for a new C-pap machine.  He ask me if I would go with him and I said yes.  I made some menus for the week and got my shopping list prepared so i could count this as my weekly shopping. When you don't buy meat your grocery bill is so much less.

We got food at Panda.  I had the steamed rice and veggies again and James had Pacific shrimp and veggies with no rice or noodles.  Both we yummy.

I mailed a birthday card and the CTR necklace I got Aurora for her baptism today.  I hope she gets it before next Monday.

I love this.

Wildlife report: One squirrel.  He was a "super" squirrel though.

James was in charge of FHE.  We listened to two Ensign articles.  The first was: "Like the Widow of Zarapeth: The Miracle of Fast Offerings."  Here are a few notes I took: Give for your own welfare.  Giving decreases selfishness and increases spirituality.

The last was called: "My Journey as a Pioneer from India."  This was a pretty amazing story.  This man's first contact with the church was President Spencer W. Kimball and they remained friends until President Kimball's death.

We were in bed by 9:00.

Darrel posted this picture of Rowan on Instagram:

The caption said: "Safety first at the pool."

This is a picture of Ruby and Max taken a couple of

years ago at Hamilton pool.

Monday, July 11, 2016

Alma 31:1-23

1 - Alma's heart sickens when he hears of the perversions of the Zoramites.

2 - It caused Alma sorrow to hear of iniquity among his people.

3 - The Zoramites live in Antionum.

4 - The Nephites feared the Zoramites would enter into a correspondence with the Lamanites.

5 - Preaching has a more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword.  Alma wants to try the virtue of the word of God.

6 - He took Ammon, Aaron, Omner, Amulek, Zeezrom, Shiblon and Corianton with him.  He left Himni and Helaman in Zarahemla.

8 - The Zoramites were dissenters from the Nephites so they had heard the gospel.

9 - They had fallen into great errors.  They would not keep the commandments of God.

10 - They would not pray daily.

11 - They did pervert the ways of the Lord.

12 - The Zoramites built synagogues and had a strange way of worshipping.

13 - A stand to admit one person.

14 - Cry with a loud voice saying:

15 - Holy God we believe that thou art a Spirit.

16 - We are separated from our brethren and we don't believe their foolish traditions.  Thou hast elected us to be thy holy children.  There shall be no Christ.

17 - Thou hast elected us to be saved while others are destroyed.  We are not bound down to Christ.

18 - We thank thee that we are a chosen and holy people.

19 - Alma and his brethren are astonished beyond measure at these prayers.  

20 - Every man went forth and offered the same prayer.

21 - The places was called Rameumpton being interpreted is holy stand.

23 - After offering up thanks they returned to their homes never speaking of God until the next week.

GC: "Whoso Receiveth Them, Receiveth Me" Elder Neil L. Andersen.

I cleaned upstairs this morning and worked outside in the garage.  The garage is looking better but we still have alot of stuff to put away.  I am mainly sweeping and putting things in piles to be put away.  Oh yes, I held a board so James could run it through the power saw.  Sometimes you don't have to have any skill to help.

James had a doctor's appointment with Dr. Moffat today to get a referral for a new C-pap machine.  He ask me if I would go with him and I said yes.  I made some menus for the week and got my shopping list prepared so i could count this as my weekly shopping. When you don't buy meat your grocery bill is so much less.

We got food at Panda.  I had the steamed rice and veggies again and James had Pacific shrimp and veggies with no rice or noodles.  Both we yummy.

I mailed a birthday card and the CTR necklace I got Aurora for her baptism today.  I hope she gets it before next Monday.

I love this.

Wildlife report: One squirrel and James saw 12 bunnies.

James was in charge of FHE.  We listened to two Ensign articles.  The first was: "Like the Widow of Zarapeth: The Miracle of Fast Offerings."  Here are a few notes I took: Give for your own welfare.  Giving decreases selfishness and increases spirituality.

The last was called: "My Journey as a Pioneer from India."  This was a pretty amazing story.  This man's first contact with the church was President Spencer W. Kimball and they remained friends until President Kimball's death.

We were in bed by 9:00.

Darrel posted this picture of Rowan on Instagram:

The caption said: "Safety first at the pool."

This is a picture of Ruby and Max taken a couple of

years ago at Hamilton pool.