Thursday, September 1, 2016

Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Oregon

Alma 60:1-13

Moroni writes again to Pahoran. 

2 - Moroni reminds Pahoran of his responsibility to provide provisions and soldiers for the war.

3 - He tells Pahoran of the sufferings of those involved in the war.

5 - Great has been the slaughter among our people and great has been your neglect toward us.

6 - Why are you neglecting us?

7 - Are you sitting upon your throne in a thoughtless stupor?

8 - You could have saved thousands from falling by the sword.

13 - For the Lord suffereth the righteous to be slain that His justice and judgment may come upon the wicked; Ye need not suppose that the righteous are lost because they are slain; but behold, they do enter into the rest of the Lord their God.

GC: "He Asks Us To Be His Hands" by Sister Cheryl Esplin

Mormon Helping Hands

Deep Thoughts:

These thoughts are taken from an article about prayer that was published in Meridian Magazine:

"The tidy pretense of being a good person did not hold up to the painful reality of my fallenness."

"O Jesus, thou Son of God, Have mercy on me." (Alma the Younger)

"If I make myself humble He makes me clean."

"Prayer is not a polite beg-a-thon.  No, it is a lost and confused child in a hostile and foreign land calling home for directions."

"Begging for mercy is different from presenting our demands."

James and I seem to have good timing.  We have been deciding it's time to go to town right around lunch time. Today we went to Grumpy Jake's.  It was our third choice but Persnikkity's and Darbi's were too busy.

I had the pulled pork sandwich.

James dropped me off at Walmart while he went to Home Depot.  It was raining hard, but we didn't get any rain in Vernon.  On the way home we finished our book, "With Every Breath."  We liked it.

We had a quiet relaxing afternoon.  Even though we didn't get any rain, it was overcast and cool.

This is a picture of Rainbow Lake in Lakeside, just

down the highway from Grumpy Jakes.

 James's dad had 12 brothers and sisters, having one sister who died in infancy.  Now there are only two siblings left, Elton Kay, and Delbert.  Today is Delbert's 93rd birthday.  We hope he has a great day!

A World War II prisoner of war, a poet,

and an artist.

Delbert Dempsey Lambson

Elton Kay Lambson,

the baby of the family.

He is an artist too.

During my gospel study today I came across this diagram in the gospel doctrine Sunday School manual.

This is called the Pride Cycle and was the

downfall of the Nephite society.

I wonder if we will follow their example, or

learn from their mistakes.

My desires have evolved from wanting James to build a playhouse to having him build a guesthouse.  Here is one I like because of the porches.

James said the flat roof might not work too

well when it snows.

Someone posted this on Facebook today:

I love it!

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Congratulations Nicoll family on

you newest edition, baby

Guy!

When I left for the valley on Saturday I had asked Kaeli is she would try to finish up our visiting teaching or at least make appointment for Wednesday while I was gone, if she felt up to it.  Her baby wasn't due for another week or so.  Well instead of visiting teaching, on Monday Kaeli had a beautiful baby boy!

So sweet!

Love the shoes

I love the look of shear joy on sister Natalie's face.

James had a sleep study again last night.  He was home before 6 a.m. and said he didn't get any sleep.  First the mask on the new machine was too tight and then it was too loose.  The good news is they think this machine is going to help him get a good night's rest.  Let's see if the insurance will cover it. 

Alma 58:30-59:13

30 - The Lamanite armies flee out of all this quarter of the land.  They carried with them many Nephite women and children.

31 - Those cities which had been taken by the Lamanites in this quarter of the land are in our pssession.

32 - Helaman says his armies are small to maintain so great a number of cities.

33 - "But behold, we trust in our God who has given us victory . . .

34 - We don't know why the government doesn't give us more men and provisions.

36 - We fear there is some faction in the government.

37 - It mattereth not, we trust God will deliver us.

38 - This is the 29th year.

40 - The sons of the Ammonites are in Manti with Helaman.  None are killed but they have received many wounds  Nevertheless they stand fast in that liberty wherewith God has made themm free.  They are strict to remember the Lord their God from day to day.

41 - And now my beloved brother Moroni, may the Lord our God, who has redeemed us and made us free, keep you continually in His presence.

Alma 59:1-13

1 - Moroni rejoices in Helaman's epistle.

3 - Moroni sends an epistle to Pahoran requesting men be sent to help Helaman.

4 - Moroni begins to lay a plan to obtain the remainder of the cities the Lamanites had taken.

5 - The city of Nephihah is attacked by the Lamanites.

6 - The Lamanites were exceedingly numerous and were receiving strength from day to day.

7 - They did slay the Nephites with an exceeding slaughter.

8 - The people of Nephihah flee and join Moroni.

11 - Moroni was exceedingly sorrowful for the loss of the city of Nephihah.  He began to doubt because of the wickedness of the people.

13 - Moroni was angry with the government because of their seeming indifference concerning the freedom of their country.

GC: "Tomorrow the Lord will Do Wonders Among You" Elder Jeffrey R. Holland.  The last conference talk.  I have read them all five times and will read them again in September. 

James drove me to Hailey Chaffin's today in his truck for visiting teaching.  I had a nice visit with Hailey and Huntleigh, her one year old who is walking everywhere.  I love Hailey and her family!

On the way home James and I stopped at the Stanford Store and had lunch at their deli.  James had a ham sandwich on rye and I had a hamburger with fries.

 Sweet potato fries that is!

When we got home we read on the porch from our new book:

Reading makes me tired, so I took a nap.  After napping I was working on my blog and texted Claire Mercado and Randa Covert my two sisters I haven't visited yet.  Claire texted and said she was moving back in with her mom and Cope and I could probably catch her around five.  It was close to five so I left.  I was able to talk to Claire and her daughter Marlie and give them my handout for the month about speaking softly as a way to show love.  They also loved the lip balm.  I will still be able to visit Claire while she is living with her mom Amy.

When I returned home I parked my car at the end of the driveway because James was working and had the Cat parked in the driveway.  I told him to be careful when he moved the Cat and please not hit my car.

He forgot.

I was very upset at first, but I realized that whenever I make a mistake like this he is very patient and kind.  I said I was sorry and was ashamed the way I reacted at first.  Of course my husband is much more important than my car.  

I was excited that Randa texted me back and said I could come and visit her next week.  I need to do that on Tuesday because I will be gone the rest of the week.

I found this on Facebook today:

you were sent from God."

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

We started our day at the Gilbert temple.

We went to the 6:15 a.m. session and ended 

up being the witness couple just like we did

when we were here on August 10th.

What a way to start the day!

Alma 58:13-29

13 - Helaman goes against the Lamanites in Manti.

14 - Lamanites send out spies to see the size of Helaman's army.

15 - Lamanites prepare to come against Helaman.

16 - Helaman has Gid and Teomner and a group of their men hide in the wilderness in two places.

17 - One on the right, the other on the left.

18 - The Lamanites attack Helaman's army.  Helaman has his men retreat into the wilderness.

19 - The Lamanites follow and pass by Gid and Teomner without seeing them.

20 - Gid and Teomner cut off the Lamanite spies from returning to the city.

21 - When they cut them off, they ran to the city and fell upon the men who were left to guard the city.

23 - Gid and Teomner gain possession of the Lamanite stronghold.

24 - The Lamanites see the Nephites going towards Zarahemla and retreat into the wilderness.

25 - These Lamanites did not realize what had happened in Manti.

26 - Helaman has his men march during the night back to Manti.

27 - Helaman's men beat the Lamanites back to Manti.

28 - The Nephites took the city of Manti without the shedding of blood.

29 - The Lamanites see the Nephites in Manti and flee to the wilderness.

Me too!

Alex and Seth use James's truck to help Adam move today.  We were going to help but they didn't really need us.  We went to meet them at Stacy's and played with Shipley instead.  I don't know why I didn't take a picture because Shipley was really cuddling with James.  Stacy says she loves everybody but I think he was her favorite between the two of us.

Since James is from New Mexico I had to post this picture

which was taken near Virden, New Mexico.

James and I went back to Cathi and Terry's.  I washed sheets, towels, and rugs and took a nap.  James worked on his Sunday School lesson.  We left for home around 12:30.  James followed me and thought he could catch me, but he didn't.  We met up in Payson at Chili's for lunch.  My lunch looked like this:

Steak with cilantro sauce, avocado's, cherry

tomatoes and asparagus.

It was delicious!

James went on home and I stopped at the Safeway in Show Low.  When I got to Vernon it was raining really hard.  The rain was much lighter at our house.  After unloading and putting most of my things away James and I read from our book "With Every Breath" on the porch and then we watched a Hallmark movie.  There was a new Peach Cobbler Mystery about Hannah the baker and how she helps her boyfriend who is a police detective played by Cameron Mathison, solve the mystery of who murdered the very unpopular town sheriff.

I also watched an episode of Chopped before going to bed.  I love this time of year.  The high's are in the 70's and the low's in the 50's.

Just a couple of more pictures to post.  This picture of Ruby was taken two years ago.

She never stopped until that potato was

completely peeled.  She was a great helper!

This is so true for me.

Monday, August 29, 2016

Beautiful!

Even more beautiful!

Alma 58:1-12

1 - The Nephites next object was to take the city Manti.

2 - The Lamanites are more numberous than the Nephites.

3 - The Nephites wait for more provisions and for more men

5 - The Lamanites were receiving strength from day to day.

6 - The Nephites could not come to battle with the Lamanites because of their strongholds.

7 - The Nephiets wait for many months even until they were about to perish for the want of food.

8 - They finally received food and 2,000 men.

9 - The army is grieved because the government didn't send more.

(The reminds me of the U.S. armies in the Revolutionary War.)

10 - They did pour out their souls in prayer to God that He would strengthen the and deliver them out of the hands of their enemies and give them strength to maintain their cities.

11 - The Lord did deliver them with assurances that He would deliver them.

12 - They did take great courage and had great faith that the Lord would deliver them.

GC: "And There Shall Be No More Death" Elder Paul V. Johnson.

Elder Johnson's daughter who

died recently of cancer.

I am home alone at Cathi and Terry's and my car is at Erik's getting new shocks and some other work done.  Terry always says I can use his truck but I really don't have anywhere I need to go.

James is doing a job at the multi-million dollar mansion of the owner of Discount Tire on Camelback Mountain.  This guy is worth over 9 billion dollars!  Adam and Seth are working on the job as well as Christopher Gallagos (Lauro) and another guy.  Sorry he didn't get any pictures of Seth.

Lauro and Adam

Adam and the other guy

This a one day job.  James made over $900.

I watched a video today about the Sapporo, Japan temple and it's architecture.  It was very interesting and the temple is beautiful!

When James got home around 2pm we went to IHOP for something to eat and then he went to Susan Jacobson's to correct some touchup paint that was the wrong color.  She gave him some cookies to thank him.  After he left she texted and said: "I should have gave you more cookies."

Cathi and Terry made pork chops, potatoes and salad for dinner.  It was delicious.

Dave and Laura came over for a FHE visit.  It was fun to visit with them and Cathi and Terry. Sorry, no pictures.

Sunday, August 28th, 2016

She's 12!

Happy Birthday Addy!

As she came in to Young Women's on the red carpet they played her favorite Primary song, "Teach Me To Walk in the Light."

Alma 57:17-36

17 - Another battle ensues.

18 - The men sent with the Lamanite prisoners return and save the Nephites in battle.

19 - Helaman's 2060 fought valiantly.

21 - They did obey and observe to perform every word with exactness.  Even according to their faith it was done unto them.

22 - The Lamanites were driven back to the city of Manti.

23 - The Nephites retain the city Cumeni.

24 - The Nephites dress the wounds of their injured.

25 - 200 of the 2,060 fainted because of the loss of blood.  Not one of them did perish.

26 - And the Nephites ascribe it to the miraculous power of God, because of their exceeding faith in that which they had been taught to believe.

27 - They are young and their minds are firm and they do put their trust in God continually.

28 - After burying the dead, they ask Gid about the Lamanite prisoners taken to Zarahemla.  

32 - The prisoners rose up in rebellion against their Nephite guards.

33 - We did slay many of them and the remainder of them broke through and fled from us.

34 - We returned to Cumeni and helped to save our brethren.

35 - Behold, we are again delivered.  And blessed is the name of our God; for behold, it is He that has delivered us.

36 - When I Helaman heard these words of Gid I was filled with exceeding joy because of the goodness of God in preserving us.

GC: "The Power of Godliness" Elder Kent F. Richards.

At 11am we attended the McQueen 2nd ward with Stacy, Paul, Adam (we picked him up), Michael, and Joshua.  Bishop Devrin Day use to be James's executive secretary when James was bishop of Del Rio 2nd ward.  Jerod Bowen, someone James has done work for and who also use to be in Del Rio 2nd ward is also in this ward.

After the block other family members gathered for Michael's ordination.  From our family: Kim and Brian, Sheri, Ian, Alex, Ben, Max, and Evan, James and I, and of course Stacy, Paul, Adam, and Joshua.  From Paul's family: Mary and Marvin, Chad and his three older boys, Devin, Kim and some of their kids.  

Paul gave a nice blessing along with the ordination.  

Maybe a haircut will be next.

When did Alex get taller than Michael?

Group hug

We are proud of Michael and hope he will realize what a privilege it is to hold the Melchizedek priesthood and that he will use it to serve and bless the lives of others.

Trina and Darrel and their kids were not able to attend the ordination because their church is from 1-4.  We missed having Jared and his family here too.  We went out to see Addy for her birthday this afternoon around 4:30.  Darrel was gone to get his temple recommend renewed.  We gave Addy her candy bar and I don't know why I didn't get a picture.  I did get some pictures while I was there.

Lola loves Grandpa

Ruby playing with the farm book.

Cute little Lola

More craziness

Grandpa was the center of attention.

Trina and Rowan

The book Addy is holding is one her class did in first grade.

Their teacher ask them to be super heroes.

Addy was Fire Girl.  She spelled it:

"Fir Grill."

Caution, enter at your own risk.

I showed the kids several club/guest houses while I was there

and this one was the number one choice of everyone:

I guess this is the one James will need to build.

I just need to convince him to put in a bathroom and kitchen.

Back and Cathi and Terry's Cathi showed me how to do zoning for index preparation.

Saturday, August 27, 2016

Alma 57:1-16

1 - Ammoron wants to exchange Nephite prisoners for the city Antiparah.

2 - Moroni says no.  He would only exchange prisoners for prisoners.

3 - Ammoron says no, so the Nephites prepare to go against the city of Antiparah.

4 - The people of Antiparah left the city and thus the Nephites took the city Antiparah.

5 - Thus ended the 28th year.

6 - In the 29th year the Nephites received provisions, 6,000 men and 60 more Ammonites.

7 - The Nephites desire to battle the amanites guarding the city of Cumeni.

8 - The Nephites did surround Cumeni by night before they received a supply of provisions.

9 - The Nephites caped outside Cumeni for many nights.

10 - The Nephites take the Lamanites provisions.

11 - The Nephites send the Lamanite provisions to Judea and their prisoners of war to Zarahemla.

12 - The Lamanites eild up Cumeni to the Nephites.

13 - The Nephites have a huge amount of Lamanites prisoners of war.

14 - They had to slay 2,000 of them because they fought with stones and clubs to be free.

16 - The rest of the prisoners of war were sent to Zarahemla.

GC: "Refuge from the Storm" by Elder Kearon.

I finished reading "The Lincoln Hypothesis."

It was a beautiful overcast morning with rain.  James and I were both so tired from being out late last night that we went back to bed.  We slept a couple of hours or so.  It was after ten when we got up again.  I studied and fixed pesto flatbread and a salad for lunch.  

Eltz Castle, not sure where.

We left for the valley around 4:20.  We stopped for gas and to get our car washed again and then to Walmart to pick up my folic acid prescription.  I also got a big almond Hershey bar for Addy for her birthday tomorrow.  

This picture was taken a couple of years ago at

Chino Bandido's in Chandler.

James, Molly, and Ruby.

Lola is at it again, following Evan around.

James and I stopped at Burger House in Miami for dinner.  We ate in and then ordered some burros to go for lunch tomorrow for us and Terry and Cathi.  Tonight I had a chicken enchilada and some refried beans.  Good, but not as good as La Casita's use to be.

Guest/playhouse

We arrived at Cathi and Terry's around 9pm just like I told her we would.  We talked a little while with Cathi about the 25 million name marriage project FamilySearch has been hired to do by FindMyPast.  Cathi of course is working on it.

The view out our window (Not!)

This is Mt. Rainier

Friday, August 26, 2016

So true!

Alma 56:41-57

41 - Helaman: "We continue to flee before the Lamanites."

42 - In the morning of the third day of the seventh month, the Lamanites halted.

43 - We didn't know why they halted.  Maybe to catch us in a snare or because Antipus overcame them.

44 - Helaman: "What say ye my sons, will ye go against them to battle?"

45 - Never had I seen so great courage.

46 - My sons said unto me: "Father, behold our God is with us, and He will not suffer that we shall fall; then let us go forth; . . .

47 - Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.

48 - We do no doubt our mother's knew it.

49 - We returned to help Antipus fight the Lamanites.

50 - Antipus's army was about to fall.

51 - Antipus and many leaders had fallen by the sword.

52 - Lamanites halt and turn upon Helaman's army.

53 - Antipus's army attacks from the rear.

54 - We, our two armies, did surround the Lamanites and sley them insomuch that they gave up their weapons and became our prisoners of war.

55-56 - Not one of my young men had been slain.  They fought with great strength!

57 - The prisoners of war were sent to Zarahemla.

GC: "Always Remember Him" by Elder Gerrit W. Gong.

James's back hurts so bad this morning that I rub some Deep Blue on it and he goes back to bed.  He is also a little discouraged because he does not have his temple clothes or his temple recommend for tonight.  He called the temple and they said he could wear scrubs and booties and then he called the bishop and he said he would call the temple about his recommend.

We have the privilege of cleaning this temple tonight.

I finished all the Church magazines for the month of August.  Now I can start Septembers.  For lunch today James and I both had beans

and salad.

Sadly the "treat yoself" always wins.

I am not looking forward to going to the valley tomorrow.  We are going down because Michael is being ordained an elder on Sunday.  I am proud of him and would not want to miss this special event.

We left early for temple cleaning to get gas, wash our car, and run through Sonic for some dinner.  I had a grilled cheese sandwich because I felt like it wouldn't be messy.  James, who was driving, got a hamburger with mustard.  Of course he got mustard on the sleeve of his shirt.  The temple looked something like this:

We had 25 people come to help us clean the temple.  The Burkey's who are summer visitors, and the Price's who are visitors.  Rick and Pam Giles, Teresa and Wes Smith, Owen and Donna Peeler, Fred and Barbara Klug, Gary and Maxine Thompson, Tamara and Jimmy Applegate, Sister Virginia Chaffin, Brother Clayton Reidhead, Sister Garp, Ann Miller, Rusty Allen and Steve Allen, Kip Hunsaker, Sam Gordon, and Steve Butler.  What a great feeling to have a ward that is so supportive!

These are my brother's Harold's youngest grandsons.  They belong to Monte and Tasha.  One is almost 13 and the other will be 16.  They are such handsome boys!