Thursday, August 18, 2016

I love Elder Scott

Alma 52:1-18

1 - The Lamanites discover Amalickiah is dead. Teancum killed him.

2 - They retreated to Mulek and sought protection in their fortifications.

3 - Amalickiah's brother Ammoron is appointed to be king.

4 - Ammoron comandeed that they maintain those cities which they had taken through the shedding of blood.

6 - Teancum prepares for another battle.

7 - He continues to prepare until Moroni sends a large number of men to strengthen his army.

8 - Moroni tells Teancum to retain all the prisoners he has taken as a ransom for those the Lamanites have taken.

9 - He also tells him to fortify the land Bountiful, and secure the narrow pass which led into the land northward

10 - Moroni asks Teancum to be faithful in maintaining that quarter of the land.

12 - Ammoron arches forth against the Nephites on the borders by the west sea.

13 - He commands another army to harass the Nephites by the east sea.

14 - The Nephites are in dangerous circumstances at the end of the 26th year.

16 - Teancum received orders to make an attack upon the city of Mulek, and retake it if it were possible.

17 - Teancum waits for Moroni so he might receive strength to his army.

18 - Moroni arrives with his army at the latter end of the 27th years of the reign of the judges.

We had a busy day today.  We went to help Charlotte and I did an upgrade on her Ipad and now we can't open it because she doesn't remember the Apple ID or password.  I took it home with me and worked on it and tried to contact Apple but I had no luck.  I am taking it back to Charlotte's tomorrow and we are going to call Apple Support.

We took my car to Sears to get it lubed.  Tomorrow James has an appointment in Mesa for his truck.

For dinner tonight Sheri suggested I make breakfast, blueberry muffins, eggs, and bacon.  Instead I made the muffins for an after school snack and then we took the boys to IHOP.

Delicious food and great company!

The moon as we came out of IHOP.

This picture doesn't do it justice.

Max played grandpa again in chess and came very close to beating him, again.  Keep trying Max!  You can do it!

Just a random picture I took.

Evan happened to see me and waved.

Here are some pictures from Havasupai:

Alex took this picture.

I am not sure who the people are.

Another one of Alex's pictures.

He takes some good ones!

Alex, Ben, and Ian.

Sheri and Rachel.

Sorry I didn't get a picture of Rachel's 

husband Dillon.

Darrel and Trina.  We were all a little worried

about Darrel because of his arthritis.

I will post more pictures tomorrow.

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

51

Havasupai, the adventure begins.

I can hardly wait for more pictures!

Alma 51:22-37

How do I access the power of the Atonement to help me with my heavy concerns today, or any day, with any concern, regardless?

I can call upon and rely on the Atonement of my Savior to help me fight my battles I am facing today.

How did the personal preparedness of each of Teancum's soldiers turn the tides of Amalickiah's success?

Every soldier matters.  Every soldier contributes to the overall success of the unit.

I love Max.  Today I ask for a fan and he brought me the one that he and Evan use upstairs when they are making their videos.  

After taking the boys to school I realize I have six hours to do what I need to do.  It sounds like alot of time but it goes by fast.  

I watched a television interview with Evan McMullin.  

He is LDS and I liked most of what he said, including the

fact that he would try to overturn Roe vs. Wade.  I just think he

entered the race a little too late.

I pick up Evan at 3:10 and then Max at 4.  James takes them to Xtreme Air.  There is one here in Chandler but Max says the one in Tempe is better, so away they went.  I guess they had a good time.

Part of it is an obstacle course

James took some videos but I don't know

how to post videos on my blog.

Go Evan!

Did Max have more fun than Evan?

No smiles here.

I went out to East Mesa and picked up Addy for her birthday date.  She wanted to go to Barnes and Noble so we drove back to the Chandler mall because I thought we might meet the boys there.

A "Pop" of Hagrid from Harry Potter.

Three books from the latest 

Rick Riordan series.

Silly Addy!

The boys did meet us at the food court.  Evan looked very pale and went to the bath room where he got sick.  Afterwards he came back and said he was hungry and he ordered his usual meal from Subway.  Max said he wanted a pizza from Pizza Hut so I ordered it and they picked it up on the way home.  Addy and I both ate at Paradise Bakery.  Of course Max had to get a sugar cookie.

Trina's mom is babysitting for Darrel and Trina while they are gone to Havasupai.  She was running Rowan to Scouts when I left and when Addy and I returned they were at the park where Rowan had basketball practice.  I had to take a picture of the sunset:

I love taking my grandkids on birthday date.  I had so much fun with Addy!

Back at home Evan read to me from the book he is reading:

Notice who the author is.

Max and grandpa played a game of chess.  Max almost won!

Grandpa, the thinker.

We had no problem getting the boys to bed tonight.  They were exhausted!

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Another Brick'em Young temple,

this time it's the San Diego, 

my personal favorite!

Alma 51:13-21

How can we refrain from pride and be humbled? 

Sacrament meeting is the most important meeting where I can take care of pride and humble myself.  

"Prepare and prevent rather than repair and repent."

I left for the valley this morning at 6 a.m.   James didn't come with me.  He did some chores and left about 3 hours after I did.  I had an appointment at Aquila Dental with Dr. Higgs to see about getting my tooth pulled at 10 am.  The doctor talked me in to getting a root canal and crown instead.  He said he could do it in two hours and it would only cost me $2,100.  He said if I got my tooth pulled I would have to go to an oral surgeon because there was some complications.  I scheduled an appointment to come back on September 7th.  Things sure do change.  I had planned on spending $250 to get my tooth pulled.  

After my appointment I drove to Sheri's to receive instructions.   I am watching Max and Evan while she, Ian, Alex, and Ben go to Havasupai.  The main thing I am worried about is where to drop off and pick up for school.  Sheri drove the route with me and wrote the times down.  I am good to go.

James was starving so we went to get some lunch at Jersey Mike's.  Sheri, Alex, and Ian put in their orders and Sheri sent her debit card.

Darrel, Trina, and Sheri's friend Rachel from work and her husband Dillon are also going.  They had a quick meeting before taking off.

 Not sure where Rachel, Dillon, Alex

and Ben are.  Darrel offered a prayer

before everyone left.

Sheri forgot her shoes and James jumped in Ian's car and drove to Tempe to take them to her.  He told everyone they better not give her a bad time because they have all forgot things before too.

For dinner Sheri said to cook burgers and hot dogs on the George Foreman grill, which we did.  The only problem was we couldn't get it open and by the time we did, the burgers were overdone.  Evan ate his anyway and Max had hotdogs.  James and I made Evan some homemade fries because he said that's what his mom always does.  I know he loves them.

When Evan gets home from school the first thing he does is go in to the computer room to watch Youtube videos.  He and Max also go upstairs and make their own Lego Youtube videos.  Evan went to bed at 9:15 and Max stayed up until ten.  I was exhausted and went to bed after family prayer.  James says Max is in charge of family prayer because he is the oldest priesthood holder in the home.  He said he and I were only visitors.  Max is 13 and Evan is almost 10.

They unloaded the dishwasher for me because I said I didn't know where anything went.  

Here are some pictures from Facebook today since I didn't take any of the boys:

This is Ian as a baby, his dad, his grandma,

and his great grandmother.

Some pictures from Havasupai

The water is so blue!

It looks like a huge goldfish.

I tried this and it works!

I love this picture.

Monday, August 15, 2016

This was put to the test today.

Alma 51:1-12

1 - The 25th year of the reign of the judges was peaceful.

2 - There began to be a contention regarding the chief judge Pahoran.  Some people wanted some points of the law altered.

3 - Pahoran would not alter nor alow the law to be altered.

4 - Those who wanted the law altered were angry withh him.  They no longer wanted him to be chief judge and there arose a warm dispute.

5 - Those who wanted Pahoran out of the judgment seat were known as kingmen.  They wanted to overthrow the free government and establish a king.

6 - Those who wanted Pahoran to remain as chief judge were nown as freemen.  The freemen had sworn to maintain their rights and their religion by a free government.

7 - The contention was settled by the voice of the people in favor of the freemen.

8 - Those in favor of a king were those of high birth.  They sought to be kings and they sought power and authority over the people.

9 - Amalickiah had again stirred up the hearts of the Lamanites against the Nephites.

10 - He prepared himself and his armies to come to battle against the Nephites.

11 - His army was so great he feared not to come down to the land of Zarahemla.

12 - Amalickiah himself was at the head of the army in the 25th year when they came down against Zarahemla.

GC: "Family Councils" by Elder M. Russell Ballard.

New Fort Collins, Colorado temple.

We went to town today.  I shopped at Walmart while James went to Home Depot and then on to Christopher's Garden to get more grass seed.

It is difficult to plant grass on a slope.

  

Here are some pictures that helped to cheer me up today.

  This is Stacy Barney's daughter.  She picked me

the most beautiful bouquet of flowers when she

was here three years ago.  It was the best!

This is the newest Lego set,

Sleeping Beauty's castle.

The cost: a mere $349.00.

Brick'em Young Provo City Center Temple Set

Cost: $79.99

A little more affordable.

In anticipation of tomorrow's trip down the

Grand Canyon:

This trip will be taken by:

Ian, Sheri, Alex, Ben, 

and Darrel and Trina.

Sunday, August 14, 2016

That is my goal but I have a long ways to go.

Happy Birthday Joshua!

Ten candles make quite a blaze.

Joshua wanted to eat hamburgers with his brothers and

watch the newest Star Wars movie with these friends.

Just a couple of years ago we were at Joshua's baptism.

A happy day!

Alma 50:21-40

21 - The Nephites quarreling and contentions, and their murderings, their plunderings, their idolatry, whoredoms, and their abominations which were among themselves, which brought upon them their wars and destructions.

22 - Those who were faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord were delivered at all times, while thousands of their wicked brethren were consigned to bondage or to perish by the sword or to dwindle in unbelief, and mingle with the Lamanites.

23 - There never was a happier time since the days of Nephi, among the Nephites than in the days of Moroni:(This pertains to the people in the Church).

26 - A warm contention arose in the 24th year between the people of Morianton and Lehi.  The people of Morianton took up arms against their brethren to slay them.

27 - The people of Lehi, who had done no wrong, appealed to Moroni.  

29 - Morianton convinces his people to flee to the land northward

35 - Teancum slays Morianton and defeats his army.

37 - Nephihah dies.

40 - Nephihah's son Pahoran becomes the cheif judge.

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

In our Primary class today our lesson was on "Samuel the Lamanite."  We have a new class member, Kaden Singleton, Nadine Singleton's grandson.  Zemira and Curtis were the only other ones in class today.  

In sacrament meeting Aaron Windsor, returned missionary from the Reno, Nevada, spoke.  Before the meeting Aaron told me he knew Vernon Lambson.  It's a small world.  Aaron said he went to the temple this past week to pray for guidance as to what to say today. 

He received the answer: "Testify of me."  He spoke on the Savior's Atonement and then shared an experience on his mission.  He was in a members home with his companion and they had just taught a discussion to an invesigator.  They had knelt down to pray and as Elder Windsor got up he looked into a mirror on the wall.  Instead of seeing his image, he saw the image of the Savior.  He was reminded that as a missionary he was the Savior's representative on the earth.  This was a powerful message to him that what he was doing was accepted of the Savior.  James said he thought of the scripture: "Have ye received His image in your countenance?"

Aaron acknowledge his weaknesses and says he doesn't know why he was given that experience, but he is grateful for it.

After the block today Zemira and I went to visit a boy in our class who does not attend, Cameron Kenyon.  We took him a plate of cookies and invited him to attend.  Cameron is a sweet boy and he said: "I am going to ask my dad to wake me up early so I can come."  

Zemira took home a plate of chocolate chip cookies for himself and his family.  He told me last week that they were his favorite.

This is my sister-in-law Laura's family tree.  

I want James to make me one for our family pictures.

James and Rick Lauritzen went home teaching this afternoon.  They visited Jerry and Millie Scott and Virgil Cooper.  Millie sent us some apricot pineapple jam and some apple butter.  Jerry encouraged James to read a book by Cleon Skousen called "The Cleansing of America."  James asked me to order it and I told him I already had it.  This made him happy!

I read a chapter from "The Painter's Daughter" to James.  I also read from "The Power of Everyday Missionaries", and "Christ in Every Hour."

It was a wonderful Sabbath day.  I will be leaving Vernon early on Tuesday to spend most of the week in the valley.  I can hardly wait to return.

The road to Vernon.

Saturday, August 13, 2016

Another Selfie attempt at the Snowflake temple

Alma 50:1-20

1 - Moroni digs up heaps of earth round about all the cities throughout all the land possessed by the Nephites.

2 - On top of the ridges of earth he had built works of timber as tall as a man.

3 - Upon the timbers were pickets.

4 - He had towers and places of security to be built.

5 - They could cast stones from the top thereof.

7 - Moroni has his armies drive the Lamanites out of the east wilderness into their own lands south of Zarahemla.

9 - The Nephites possess the east wilderness.

10 - Moroni continues to build fortifications in the south of the land northward.

13-14 - The Nephites begin to build cities, Moroni, and Nephihah.

15 - They also built one in the north called Lehi.

16 - Thus ended the 20th year.

18 - The Nephites did prosper exceedingly and they became exceedingly rich.

19 - The Lord is merciful and just in fulfilling all His words unto the children of men which He spake unto Lehi saying:

20 - Blessed art thou and thy children and they shall be blessed, inasmuch as they shall keep my commandments they shall prosper in the land.  But inasmuch as they will not keep my commandments they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord.

GC: "To the Rescue: We Can Do It" by Elder Arnold and "The Sacred Place of Restoration" by Elder Mazzagardi.

Our temple names today: Marietta Davis and Solomon Bales

On the way home from the temple James dropped me off at Teresa Smith's home for a Relief Society progressive dinner.  We had appetizers at Teresa's and then moved to Rosie Lauritzen's for the main course.  I drove with Trenda and Sandra Wilhelm, Tammy Grap, and Ashley Reidhead.  I felt like I was in the fun, young car.  Ashley is new in our ward and was recently called as the Relief Society secretary.  She has a two year old and a three month old baby.  

Rosie Lauritzen is a great cook.  She had prepared chicken enchiladas and rice and meat.  We had several non-member women attend.  Teresa gave a lesson and Tamara Applegate shared some stories of her young married years in Relief Society.

Monument Valley

Just in case you were going to sleep reading 

my boring blog, I place pictures to wake you up.

Our final destination was Amy Reynolds' for dessert.  We had a yummy banana torte with pecan encrusted crust.  I rode back to the church with Stefani Hunsaker and Linda Price and then Linda Price drove me home.  I sure do like her and wish she and John would move up here year round.

I was exhausted when I got home and in dire need of a nap.  James was working outside.  He actually burned some of the brush that has been piling up the past few months.

I spent the afternoon preparing for my Primary lesson on Samuel the Lamanite.  

This evening I read from "The Seven Tipping Points that Saved the World", and "The China Study."  Good reading!!

I texted with Pam Giles this evening.  I saw her today but we really didn't get to visit.  I told her about Prolympian and how excited I am about it.  Pam is a good friend.

Tricia and her kids left for Houston today.  They are going on a cruise with Christine, Tricia's birth mother.  Here are some pictures Anna took in the car.

Two beautiful girls.

James catching up on his sleep.

Trina is excited about her upcoming hiking adventure to Havasupai.  She ordered some goodies to take with her.

How good can this be?

At least the picture looks good.

Paul posted this picture:

Michael has his phone to entertain him but

Joshua looks bored.