Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Fall in Vermont

3 Nephi 8:5-25

How can we prepare today for the Savior's Second Coming?

Answer: We are going to need righteous priesthood holders to perform miracles.  We need to follow the prophets.  Spiritually speaking, we will always face a "great storm (v.5) and a "great and terrible tempest" (v.6) when we chose to disobey our Father.  

Now is the time to repent and prepare.  Elder Klebingat (Oct. 2014 GC), asks: "On  a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your spiritual confidence before God?  Do you have a personal witness that your current offering as a Latter-day Saint is sufficient to inherit eternal life?  Can you say within yourself that Heavenly Father is pleased with you?  Six practical suggestions by Elder Klebingat: 1) Take responsibility for your own spiritual well-being.  2) Take responsibility for your own physical well-being.  3) Embrace wholehearted obedience as part of your life.  4) Become really good at repenting thoroughly and quickly.  5) Become good at forgiving.  6) Accept trials, setbacks, and surprises as part of your mortal experience."  

BYU Roundtable Discussion:

One professor said: "The barometer of how great and terrible the Second Coming will be is our relationship to the prophets."

GC: 'The Perfect Path to Happiness' by President Thomas S. Monson

"I testify of the great gift which is our Father's plan for us.  It is the one perfect path to peace and happiness."

One of my favorite President Hinckley quotes!

I read an article this morning by Larry Barkdull entitled: "When a Marriage is Sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise".  I get emails from Meridian Magazine and this article was in today's email. Here are a few quotes from this article:

"Temple marriage is initially provisional, waiting for obedience to 

make it 'more sure.'  But when that marriage is sealed by the

Holy Spirit of Promise, great powers are unleashed, and parents' love can become a powerful saving agent for their children."

"For single parents and those wishing to be sealed in the temple, this can be a painful reminder.  However, though this article

deals specifically with the power given to married couples 

who are sealed in the temple, many principles apply

to singles, single parents, those working for eternal union with less-active spouses, and to children who are praying for their

wayward parents.  The principle of grace states that we

do all we can do with what we have, and the Lord will

make up the difference."

"Love between a husband and a wife can be welded into an unbreakable link by the temple marriage covenant.  If a couple

lives true to that covenant, they can become one in word, purpose, and deed.  That quality of oneness is the ultimate unity

necessary to obtain redemptive blessings in 

behalf of our children."  

President Joseph Fielding Smith said, "Those born under the covenant, throughout all eternity, are the children of their

parents.  Nothing except the unpardonable sin, or sin unto death, can break the tie.  If children do not sin as John said, 

unto death, the parents may still feel after them and 

eventually bring them back near to them again."

President James E. Faust said this:

"When the covenant of marriage for time and eternity, the culminating gospel ordinance, is sealed by the Holy Spirit of

promise, it can literally open the windows of heaven for great

blessings to flow to a married couple who seek for

those blessings."

I ask James if he thought our marriage was sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise?  His answer: "I hope so."  If it was, would we know?  I think we are getting better.  We can go days without any contention and on those days I feel that it is.  It is definitely a goal.  

There was no wind this morning so James went out looking for elk.  I thought I got a picture but I can't find it.  Needless to say you have seen the picture before where he is dressed totally in camouflage.

We made a trip to town again today for plumber's glue, and prescriptions.  James's prescription that Dr. Moffat wrote yesterday still isn't ready.  I guess the doctor has to call our insurance company for verification.  

We went to Walmart and I got a birthday gift for Hailey, one of the sisters I visit teach,  and some food for the Vernon holiday food drive.  While shopping I visited with my friends from Vernon, Alice, Johnny, Sandra and baby George.  

While I was shopping James went to Home Depot and then he picked up sandwiches from Firehouse Subs for us.  I bought myself a hazlenut Snickers and James some Reisens.  On the way back home I read from Apocalypse the Unveiling.  

James took some fencing to his friend Kip and his tractor broke down by Pierre's on the way home.  He had to leave it over night.  He will need to go in to town again tomorrow to get something to fix it.  I cleaned out a cupboard in our bathroom to make room for a "gift shelf".

Second shelf is my gift shelf.

I also emptied a couple of boxes and found these guys:

I remember buying these at the Walgreen's in

Chandler last year.

While working on my blog I watched one of the new Aurora Teagarden mysteries, "The Julius House."  Candace Cameron Bure plays Aurora and Marilu Henner plays her mom Aiada.

I couldn't resist.

I keep a daily journal of times I felt the Spirit throughout the day.  It usually includes prayer, scripture study, and conference talks.  Today I felt the Spirit because James and I had no contention between us.  Now that is a good feeling.

Joshua and Shipley, the best of friends.

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Pennsylvania

3 Nephi 7:15-8:4

What part does the Holy Ghost play in conversion?

Answer: As we exercise faith, repent of our sins, and obey the commandments, we receive a witness born of the Spirit that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true.  We are visited "by the power and Spirit of God," (v.21), as we listen to testimonies of apostles and prophets.  The Spirit testifies of truth and touches hearts that are humble and teachable.

How can we become more deeply converted?  What lack I yet? How can we be a better influence for good?

Without the Holly Spirit we will not know what is truth and it will not prick our heart to change.  A mighty change of heart to completely follow the Savior and His gospel is an indication of true conversion and happens through the power of the Holy Ghost.

GC: 'Principles and Promises' by President Thomas S. Monson

"May we care for our bodies and our minds by observing the principles set forth in the Word of Wisdom, a divinely provided plan."

We left for town at 7:30 this morning.  James had a doctor's appointment with Dr. Moffat at 8:15.  I dropped him off then went to Walmart to do some shopping.  This is one of the things that I bought:

I love how all the pumpkin flavored items come

out in October.  These are actually quite good.

Doctor Moffat told James his laryngitis was caused by acid reflux, not his sinus infection.  He wrote a prescription but when we went to pick it up they said it wouldn't be ready until tomorrow.  Fine, we will be back tomorrow.  We drove all the way to Darbi's in Pinetop to have some breakfast.  I have been craving crispy hashbrowns, but instead I ordered this veggie burrito.  (I had some of James's hashbrowns).

James likes going out to eat with me because he eats his

food and then gets to eat half of mine too.

When I got home I crashed on the couch and watched last night's episode of "Dancing with the Stars."  It was Latin night, not my favorite, but I loved Lindsey and Calvin, and Sharna and James.

Sheri, Kim and I had a nice "text chat" about the dances.  I think Kim should be a judge.  She really knows how to analyze.

James finished fixing the waterline and the balcony decking.  He is such a little worker bee.  

We got out voters ballots today.  I am leaning toward Donald Trump for this reason:

Hillary scares me more than Trump.

We had chicken and asparagus for dinner.  It was a roasted chicken from Walmart and was very tasty.  Afterwards we watched the season's last episode of Chesapeake Shores.  Of course it is going to be a cliff hanger.  Trace (Jesse Metcalf) gets thrown in jail on the way to the hospital to see his dad who has just had a heart attack.  He failed to tell Abby where he was going.  Hopefully he will remember to call her once he gets to jail.  He was arrested because of an outstanding warrant but we don't know what for.

Grandkids Corner:

This was taken a year ago at our last FHE

before moving out of our house in Chandler.

Lola as a one year old, a perfect little angel.

Lola as a curious two year old.

Monday, October 17, 2016

A beautiful sunrise this morning.

3 Nephi 7:1-14

How and why is Satan trying to divide people today?

Answer:

When there is division the gospel, or any message really, cannot move forward.  It stops progress.  It stops every good thing.  It stops love and kindness.  We have been counseled that when we are not one, then we are not His.  Satan knows his time is running out and that in the last days even the elect will be deceived.  There is no strength in division.  We become weak and find our hearts seeking other treasures than God's kingdom.  

What must I do personally to be more humble and repentant in a divided world?  How will I seek peace and feel hope despite so much corruption in this world?  Follow the prophets!

I love President Uchtdorf!

GC: 'Learn From Alma and Amulek' by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"It is my hope that those who have strayed from the

path of discipleship will see with their hearts

and learn from Alma and Amulek."

Fall in Pennsylvania

James did several chores outside today.  He cleaned up The Lounge and started fixing a broken waterline to the trees that one of the kids ran over and he worked on replacing warped decking upstairs.

Broken waterline

Replacing decking.

I read to James from Apocalypse the Unveiling and I finished The Grip of the Shadow Plague.  I stayed in my pajamas most of the day.  My great accomplishment was to wash the sheets on our bed and vacuum our bedroom.  It was windy outside so I stayed inside. I needed this relaxing day.  I did payoff the Scion so we can get the title sent to us.  

Stacy posted this on Facebook today and I am glad she did.  This tells the kind of government we will continue to have if Hillary Clinton wins:

For FHE we listened to: "That He May Become Strong Also" by President Henry B. Eyring.  Afterwards we watched an episode of Chesapeake Shores.

I like Alex's new look.

Sunday, October 16, 2016

Fall in Vermont

3 Nephi 6:15-30

Why is it so important to follow our leaders, especially in these the latter days?

Answer: Because these "men are inspired from heaven." (v.20)

There was a great divide, in these years just before the coming of Christ, between the righteous and the wicked, just as there is a similar divide happening today before the Second Coming of Christ.  "Some were lifted up in pride and others were exceedingly humble."  The parallels today are not by chance.  Christ is coming again.  Satan knows it so he is ramping up all his efforts again.  The chasm between the wicked and the righteous is widening at an extremely fast pace, just as it did in this chapter.  How does this happen?  By allowing Satan to stir up our hearts to do iniquity.  We must decide whose side we are on, the Savior's or Satan's.  There will be no middle ground.  By following our church leaders we are choosing to follow the Savior.

GC: ' There is Power in the Book' by Elder LeGrand R. Curtis, Jr.

" The greatest power of the Book of Mormon is its impact in bringing us closer to Jesus Christ."

Today in sacrament meeting we had the Primary Children's Program.  I thought the children did a great job.  

"I Know the Scriptures are True"

Journey with us through the Book of Mormon 

and other scriptures and let us teach you

what we have learned this year.

Children participating: Johnny, Ruthie, Curtis and Zemira Wilhelm, Braylin and Taylor Chaffin, Kacey Westbrook, Kharima Penrod, Talena and Jace Singleton, Marlie Mercado, Benson, Tildee, Liana Grapp, Andyn and Cathryn Miller, Colter Hunsaker, and Ashten Hall.

Songs:

"Book of Mormon Stories", "I Will Follow God's Plan",

"Stand for the Right", "Fourth Article of Faith", 

"I Love to See the Temple", "The Lord Gave Me a Temple",

"I Hope They Call Me on a Mission", "If I Listen with My Heart",

"Praise to the Man"

Closing Remarks: Bishop Wes Miller 

Our lesson today in our Primary class was: "Jesus Christ Teaches the Nephites to Pray."  Braylin, Curtis, Kacey, and Zemira were all in my class.

After church was over James stayed to home teach Virgil C.  Afterwards he drove me home and then went with his partner Rick, and visited Millie and Jerry, Kip's family, and George and Ruth.  It must feel nice to get it all done in one day.  That never happens for me.  I stayed home ate, and took a nap.

I love this picture of Michael taken a few years back.

When James got home he fed himself while I got ready for the marriage class.  

Anne arrived a little after six with some cookies and milk.  She is the teacher of the class.  Only two other couples showed up, Cammy and Thomas, and Sandra and John.  We had a great class anyway.  We discussed the family proclamation and how its principles apply to us.  Afterwards we had a nice visit around the milk and cookies.

This thing is called a peacock grasshopper.

Weird.

Sheri texted me this afternoon and said that Evan told her this last night: The cabin feels like home.  He misses it and you and dad. 

Well guess what?  I miss him too!

I sent this to Addy because she is such a 

Harry Potter fan.

Oh I forgot to mention that one of the couples that James home teaches saw a jaguarundi carrying off a rabbit in their yard.

Creepy.  Its tail is as long as its body.

It was another one of those great Sabbath days.

Which temple?

Saturday, October 15, 2016

3 Nephi 5:16-6:14

How do these verses exemplify the pride cycle?  How can we avoid falling into the pride cycle?

Answer:

We can avoid falling into the pride cycle by being truly converted to the faith, and by being "firm, steadfast and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord."(v.14).

Are our minds and hearts anxiously engaged in good things?  Do we just go through the motions or are we truly converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ?  Is the seed of faith planted in our souls?  When our hearts are no longer set upon the things of this world, we will no longer aspire to the honors of men or seek only to gratify our pride.  Instead we take on the Christlike qualities Jesus taught and become His disciples.  Missionaries are able to set aside the things of this world and focus totally on serving the Lord and His children.  Because of this they experience great power and joy, and their hearts are changed and they have no more disposition to do evil but to do good continually as long as they are obedient.

GC: 'Emissaries to the Church' by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

" We are asking you as home teachers to be God's

emissaries to His children, to love and care and

pray for the people you are assigned."

The elk were here last night.  They trampled our grass and left holes in the ground, uprooted Lois's tree and ate the leaves on some of James's other trees.  He says he now has a love/hate relationship with elk.

James participated in a ward woodcutting project this morning at the Knight's home.  We don't know the Knights but we knew Brother Knight's grandparents Dick and Aggie Brown who are no longer with us.  We loved Dick and Aggie.  Dick was the Sunday greeter when we first moved to Vernon and he always seemed so glad to see you when you came to Church.  Aggie was older than me but she went to Creighton School in Phoenix just like I did. 

Off he goes with his new log splitter.

I stayed at home and cleaned.  We have a class meeting in our home on Sunday evening starting tomorrow.  The first thing I did was sweep, clean and polish the wood floors.  Afterwards I vacuumed the couch and all the floors in the family-living room area.  I also dusted, and cleaned the kitchen floor and the kitchen.  I kept busy most of the day.  

When James returned from the service project he went to work on our loveseat that has been broken for quite sometime.  

He was able to fix it so the sides don't fall off when

you sit down, but it is no longer a recliner.

James also did some more trapping today.  Either he is catching different squirrels each time or this one really likes his cage.

Somebody help me, it's a trap!

One giant leap.

This I am going to miss now that the kids are gone home: Playing Uno theMatch game and doing the donut puzzle with Ruby, ping pong, Bounce Off and Poker tournaments with the other kids.  They were so great and there was no fighting or arguing, or at least if there was I didn't hear.

This evening I worked on my Primary lesson.  James is not going to teach tomorrow because he has laryngitis.

I like this picture of Anna and a friend that she posted on Snapchat.

I like the pumpkin too.

Ruby has sure changed in the last

couple of years.  I couldn't

resist posting this.

Friday, October 14, 2016

3 Nephi 5:1-15

What do these verses teach us about forgiveness?

Answer:

Forgiveness can be a healing balm for the person who has been offended.  Usually those who have gone through the most in regards to trials are also those who have developed empathy and are good listeners and have developed Christlike love.

When we forgive the person who did us wrong we will find liberty in letting go of the resentment which if not dealt with can turn into contention.  Forgiveness is never easy but in the long run will bring peace and contentment.

GC: 'Sharing the Restored Gospel' by Elder Dallin H. Oaks

"What we call 'member missionary work' is not a program but an attitude of love and outreach to help those

around us."

This morning for our final breakfast we had pancakes and cinnamon sugar tortilla chips.  The kids liked both.  

Rowan went out and helped grandpa stack wood this morning all on his own.  Evan went out and helped for awhile too.

Thanks Rowan!

I did not get a picture, but Addy went upstairs and cleaned.  Thank you Addy!

Here is a picture of Ruby bringing down her dirty laundry in a very unique way.

Go Ruby!

Ruby was so excited that we finished the donut puzzle this morning.  She told me I needed to take a picture and send it to her mom.

Her favorite donut is decorated in pink with

blue and white swirly lines.

We had everything loaded up and all the kids in the car by ten o'clock.  Addy said the family prayer and we were on our way.  Just a little ways out of Vernon Rowan said he forgot his I-pad.  We told him we would bring it to him on our next trip down and he seemed fine.

Trina texted and said she was going to be a little late.  That was fine.  We got to Payson a little after ten.  We went to the Subway by Basha's and it was packed.  We checked Google and discovered there is another Subway about half a mile away at the Walmart.  We went there and the crowd was much smaller.  

We ordered our food and as we were eating Trina and Lola came in.  At first Lola was a little shy and looked puzzled as to why we were all there but it didn't take her long to warm up.  

She was pretty happy to see her family!

Group picture, including the doll,

Georgette.

When we went outside to exchange cars, it was apparent that Lola was just as happy to see her car as she was her family!  She was a little upset that it had "dirt" on it though.  

About half way home we realized that we forgot to get our garage door opener from Trina.  Guess we will have to get it on the 29th.  

It was so quiet when we got home.  I missed everyone!

We read a few chapters from book 3 in the Millennial Glory series, Apocalypse, the Unveiling.  We both are really getting into these books!

We had a light dinner and then watched three episodes of "Chesapeake Shores."  When we went to bed I was having difficulty breathing and realized I didn't take any of my pills today.  I got up and drank a shake with my pills and listened to Elder Oaks's conference talk.  I went back to bed and went right to sleep.

Thursday, October 13, 2016

So true.

Do you ever feel like a three-headed dragon.  Pulled

in so many different directions you don't know

which one to take?

3 Nephi 4:15-33

What do these verses teach about the importance of being prepared at all times, spiritually, physically, and provisionally?

Answer: The Nephites knew that Zemnarihah and his men couldn't make it for long because they weren't prepared.  Sometimes the battle is just being able to outlast the enemy.  The Nephites had prepared temporally and provisionally and relied on the Lord spiritually to endure and outlast their enemy.

GC: "Be Ambitious for Christ" Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita

' We are ambitious for Christ when we serve faithfully, accept humbly, endure nobly, pray fervently, and partake worthily.'

Happy 45th Birthday Kevin!

I miss your Facebook posts.  Come back!

Before breakfast this morning James and Ruby went out to look for elk. James said they would probably be back in about 15 minutes but it ended up to be much longer because they found an elk.  They got out of the Razr and walked for awhile.  James said Ruby was as quiet as a mouse.  Here is the elk they saw. 

Ruby's elk

For breakfast we had pumpkin muffins, scrambled eggs, and bacon.

We took a vote yesterday as to what we should do today.  The choices were: stay at home, go to Green's Peak and Greer, or go to Dairy Queen and the Show Low Park.  Dairy Queen and the Show Low Park won.  Those who wanted to go to Green's Peak and Greer were good sports.  These kids are amazing!

The after breakfast game of Quelf.  Addy looks like she is 
up to something. 

We checked out the Show Low Park and then decided to go to Dairy Queen first and get something to eat.  This is what Ruby's lunch looked like after she finished dousing it in ketchup.

She didn't eat much except the mint Blizzard and
then she said she had a tummy ache.  It didn't stop her from
playing at the park though.

James and Ruby stayed at the playground while the rest of us went on the hiking trail around the park.  Addy said we needed to do something after that unhealthy lunch and I agreed.  It was a beautiful day for a hike.  

Grandpa had to make a trip to Home Depot for more paint.  The kids wanted some bandanas like the ones they used for their play.  James dropped us off at Walgreen's but they didn't have what we wanted so we walked across the street to Walmart.  Walmart had a nice variety.  Everyone got a bandana except Ruby who got a scarf, and Evan who got Haribo gummy bears instead.  

Back at home James caught another squirrel.
Or is it the same one.  I think it is smaller.
What do you think?

The kids put on their new bandanas and played good guys and bad guys again.  When it came time for Ruby to take her bath I ran the bath water and put bubbles in it before she came in.  She was afraid to get in because she thought there might be a snake in the water.  I assured her there wasn't but I could tell she was still very nervous so we let out all the bath water, checked for snakes, and filled up the tub again.  She was totally happy.  I asked her what her favorite part of the day was.  She said: "Finding the elk with grandpa." 

Everyone came in our bedroom and we watched some Looney Tunes with Bugs, Daffy, and Porky.  When it came time to go to bed Ruby was asleep and all the boys wanted to sleep in our room, so Addy was the only one who left.  She had no qualms about sleeping upstairs all by herself.  It was another tiring, but GREAT day!