Thursday, November 3, 2016

A perfect rainbow!

3 Nephi 19:1-29

How can we strive just as much as the Nephites to come unto Christ today?

* How hard do I labor to put myself in places where Jesus can show himself to me?  How hard do I pray?  What efforts do I put into attending the temple?  What sacrifices do I make to have F.H.E., scriptures study, family prayer?  How often am I pondering and seeking the Spirit?  How often and well do I serve?  What am I doing with my time?  What sacrifices am I making?  Do I "labor exceedingly that I might be in the place where Jesus can show himself to me?  When we put forth effort and we are doing the things that our Savior has asked, He will certainly "bless us and His countenance will smile upon us, and shine upon us."  We will witness the Savior in our life.  He will come to us as we come to Him!

GC:     'Rise Up in Strength, Sisters in Zion' by Bonnie L. Oscarson

" In the 8th chapter of Mormon, Mormon describes people from our day who are filled with pride, caught up in the wearing of expensive clothing and who make fun of religion.  

He is shown people who are so obsessed with worldly things that they allow "the needy and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by without being noticed."

Everybody is so excited about the Cubs!

It was starting to rain and the cloud was dark when we left Vernon this morning around 7:30.  It rained on us most of the way to Payson.  When we got to Chandler we picked up my car at Erik's and I drove to the Costa Vida in Gilbert to meet my friend Karen for lunch.  James went to Cathi and Terry's and unloaded our suitcases.   

Karen and I had a nice lunch and visit and then we went to Deseret Book to do a little shopping. Steve Young will be here this evening for a book signing, and Mitt Romney is in town for a John McCain rally.

Karen is still doing her cancer treatments and Lance has a broken leg from a motorcycle accident. She has to get someone from her ward to drive her to Scottsdale for her treatments.  

I found this on Instagram and had to post it because

after all, I was born in Holbrook!

I went home and James was gone over at the construction yard.  Cathi and Terry were home and I said hello, put my leftovers in the refrigerator, and headed in the bedroom to take a nap.  I didn't sleep long because I wanted to go to Sam's Club and pick up some blankets for the grandkids for Christmas.  

When I went outside to get in the car, this is what the sky looked like:

I think a storm is headed our way.

Sam's Club did not have the blankets that I like, so I decided to go back over to Gilbert to Costco.  They had lots of good blankets.  I got 18, one for each grandchild.  

After checking out, I noticed it was raining hard outside. I stalled by stopping at the snack bar and getting a hotdog and a drink. Not a good time to unload blankets, but I did it! 

Instead of going back to Chandler, I headed out to Darrel and Trina's to pick up Rowan for Evan's birthday date.  It was raining so hard I almost had to pull off the freeway, but I didn't.  

Rowan was waiting for me and Trina was getting ready to go somewhere.  I always enjoy visiting with my grandkids one on one.  Rowan can be quite a talker!

 When we got to Sheri's Joshua was already there.

He got glasses.  Now we have three ten year olds with glasses!

I guess Joshua wanted to show his glass case.

Evan is the only one taking this seriously.

James helped me unload the blankets so we would have enough room in the car for all the kids.  One of them has to ride in the very back.  

At the mall I dropped James and the boys off by the food court entrance and then I found a parking place.  Thank goodness for umbrellas!

Our first stop was at the Lego Store. 

 Make a character station.

Since I didn't get a picture of Evan in the Lego Store, I had James go down and take a picture of him and Max with his Lego sets that he picked out.

Star Wars

Evan the builder

Evan and Max

After the Lego Store we headed for the food court for some dinner.

Joshua had pizza, Evan and Max and Gpa went to Subway,

and Rown went to Panera.

After dinner we headed for the pet store at Evan's request.  The boys found these pet names and thought they were great.

Scuba Steve was the name of Michael

and Joe's band.

Gonzo needs no explanation.

Watching the puppies.

Next door to the pet store was a new business called Bounce and Roll.  We couldn't resist.

The boys had a blast!

On the way out of the mall I took a picture of my boys.

I love these guys and had a wonderful time

with the this evening.

In the car I love listening to the boys talk.  They were talking about the houses of Hogwarts from Harry Potter and trying to decide who of them belonged in what house: Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Griffendor, and Slytherin.

Max read the characteristices of those in Ravenclaw: Intelligent and creativity. He immediately said: "Oh that is Evan.  He is intelligent and creative.  Next was Hufflepuff: Kind and generous.  Evan said: "Oh, that is Rowan.  He is the most kind and generous person I know"!  Such a sweet response.  No wonder I love these boys!

We dropped Max, Evan and Joshua off, and  then took Rowan home.  We got to see Addy, Ruby and Lola.  Such sweet girls!

Lola took me by the hand to show me these pictures:

I love them!

What a great evening!

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

I love temple open houses!

3 Nephi 18:15-39

What do these verses teach us about the power of prayer?

* Watch and pray always to overcome temptation.  Pray in your families.  Pray for others.  Our relationship with Heavenly Father is imperative to our success.  The Savior prayed all the time, every day.  He sought God consistently, intently, and with sincere desire.  Through prayer Christ learned, evolved, and was led to serve the greatest mission on earth.  Prayer centered our Savior in every step of His life, even helping Him to overcome all temptation.  Prayer was an integral part of the Atonement.  He prayed for us and others and ask us to do the same.  Our Savior knows what prayer can do. If Christ needed to pray always, and understood the power in it, how much more do we need to pray and follow His example.  How can we make our prayers more meaningful?  Pray to do His will.  How can we be more sincere with our relationship with God?  How can we utilize prayer more effectively like the Savior did?  "We should seek to emulate the Savior as much as we can." Elder Neal A. Maxwell

GC:  'The Master Healer' by Carole M. Stephens

"When we learn how to apply the doctrine of Christ to our individual circumstances, our love for our Savior grows.  And we recognize 'that regardless of perceived differences, all of us are in need of the same infinite Atonement.  We realize that He is

our foundation - 'the rock of our Redeemer, a sure foundation whereon if we build we cannot fall."

I made crispy hashbrowns this morning for breakfast.  They turned out really well.  I cook them in the Saladmaster electric skillet so I don't use any grease.  I do add a little butter.  I told James I would make them once a week for breakfast.  

I paid bills and blogged today while watching Christmas movies.  I watched "The Magic Stocking", and "Christmas Shepherd."  

James and I read from "The Ascension", and I read from Fablehaven, "Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary", and then from my history book about "Ghengis Khan.  

I started putting away my Halloween decorations:

Every time one of us goes upstairs we take something.

The Cubs won the World Series for the first time in 108 years.

Three Cubs fans.

Paul has been a fan since he was a little boy and watched the

games with his grandpa.

A fan because his dad is a fan.

Two of my favorite people!

We have to leave for the valley by 7-7:30 in the morning so I can make my lunch date with my friend Karen.

Gorgeous Havasu Falls!

I love how blue the water is.

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

3 Nephi 18:1-14

How can we better focus on Christ while partaking of the sacrament each Sunday?

* The Savior taught that the principal purpose for taking the sacrament is to remember Him.  We have an opportunity to concentrate on the Son of God during the sacrament ordinance; we should not allow our thoughts to wander or be distracted.  Elder Jeffrey R. Holland described several appropriate ways to remember the Lord while renewing our covenants through the sacrament: "We could remember the Savior's premortal life and all that we know Him to have done, the simple grandeur of His mortal birth to just a young woman, His miracles and His teachings, His healings and His help.  We could remember that Jesus found special joy and happiness in children and said all of us should be more like them.  We could remember that Christ called His disciples His friends.  We could and should, remember the wonderful things that have come to us in our lives and that 'all things which are good come of Christ' (Moroni 7:24).  On some days we will have cause to remember the unkind treatment He received, the rejection He experienced, and the injustice He endured.  We can remember that Jesus had to descend below all things before He could ascend above them, and that He suffered pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind that He might be filled with mercy and know how to succor His people in their infirmities."  Something I like to do is read from "The Living Christ" during the sacrament.

GC: 'I Will Bring the Light of the Gospel into My Home' by Jean B. Bingham

"The building of hope and faith and even greater love between receiver and giver are inevitable results of true charity.  The prophet Moroni tells us that charity is an essential characteristic

of those who will live with Heavenly Father in the celestial

kingdom.  He writes, 'Except ye have charity ye can

in nowise be saved in the kingdom of God."

Some of the things I did today while working on my blog and doing my chores: Talked to Stacy on the phone, watched the Halloween special of "Dancing with the Stars", and watched "Christmas Song" and "Christmas with Tucker" on the Hallmark channel.  

I read to James from "The Ascension" and I read a chapter from my book "The Seven Tipping Points that Saved the World", The Mongol Horde Turns Back.  

After dinner James went with his home teaching companion to give the Scott's, who are leaving for Utah tomorrow, each a blessing.  Their granddaughter is in trouble with CPS and is in danger of losing her three children.  Her baby fell off the bed and had to have surgery and CPS believes the baby was abused.  They took her children away.  It really is quite a tragedy.  Hopefully it will turn out well.

So true!

Kathy Crane brought over the box of Honey Crisp apples that I ordered from Sandra Wilhelm.  I am taking them to the valley tomorrow to share with family.

I love this picture of Trina and Darrel 

taken four years ago!

Here is another picture taken a couple of years ago when the family did a service project for Lois for her birthday.

Patrick, Dave, Joe, and Kim.

I always like to have a picture of nature on my blog.  This is a picture taken on the north rim of the Grand Canyon.

I love Arizona!

b

Monday, October 31, 2016

Happy Halloween everyone!

From the staff at Chandler Eyecare.

3 Nephi 17:1-25

Why do you think Jesus Christ told the people to ponder the things that He taught and to ask Heavenly Father for understanding?

*The dictionary says that ponder means to weigh mentally, think deeply about, deliberate, meditate.  Pondering is, in my feeling, a form of prayer.  Pondering the things of God helps to keep us from becoming complacent in our approach to Him.  Elder Neal A. Maxwell explained the dangers of not regularly internalizing the gospel in our lives: The worshipers at Rameumpton so ritualized their religion that they never spoke of their God again until they had assembled themselves together a week later at the holy stand. (Alma 31:23).  Note the contrast in how Jesus instructed His followers on this hemisphere (3 Nephi 17:3).  See how the Master focuses on the family, on pondering, praying, preparing together!  It should not surprise us, if we routinize our religion and do not assign the highest priority to the kingdom, that our hearts and minds will quite naturally drift to other things."

James and I went to Walmart today where I had three prescriptions waiting for me.  I bought a few groceries and James picked up some paint at Home Depot.  We stopped at KFC and picked up some of the tiniest wings I have ever eaten.  They were good but they were about the size of quail wings.  We read from "Ascension" and then we stopped at the Reynolds' so I could give Marlie her pink CTR ring.  She was so excited!  There has been a change of plans and now instead of Claire going to California she is going to Phoenix.  Marlie is still going to Washington to live with her dad for a few months.

James worked on his shed when we got home.

Allison and Nathan got married at the Justice of the Peace in Phoenix today.

 Congratulations!

There were a couple of birth announcements sent out today:

Bishop and Anne

The Hoose family.

Evan and Joshua went trick-or-treating together

in Joshua's new neighborhood.

Dallin and a friend.

Anna, James and a friend, and Molly as Alice.

Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum

Mad Hatter

Rae

This is a picture of Molly in a school production:

Cutest shark I've ever seen.

I love this picture of Ben and had to include it!

I know this picture is two years old, but I love

that Rowan and Addy are both Harry Potter fans!

My friend Denice who is a bus driver in Lakeside.

James and I had a quiet Halloween.  We stayed home and listened to Elder Renlund's conference talk and watched a Hallmark movie.  

Sunday, October 30, 2016

What temple is this?

3 Nephi 16:1-20

What is the purpose of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon?

* It is a sign to the entire world that the Lord has began to gather Israel and fulfill covenants He made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (3 Nephi 29:1; Ether 4:17).

Who is the House of Israel?  

* "The House of Israel generally refers to the descendants of Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel in the Old Testament (Genesis 32:27-28).  In the Book of Mormon the Savior expanded this definition to include not only the literal descendants of Israel (3 Nephi 20:25-27) but also all Gentiles (other people) who repent, are baptized, and come unto Christ. (3 Nephi 21:6).

The gathering of Israel is taking place in preparation of the Savior's Second Coming.  In recent years it has been accelerated as missionaries are being called at a younger age.  Heavenly Father loves all of His children and wants us to be gathered and united when the Savior comes to redeem the world.  

GC:    "No Greater Joy Than To Know That They Know"

Elder Nattress

Today we, along with Jared and Kacey, attended the Galveston 3rd ward Primary Children's Program starring Evan Trezise.

I know this is an old picture of Evan, probably two years ago,

but I thought it was appropriate for today.

This was Evan's part: Nephi taught: "If ye will enter in by the way, through baptism, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things, what ye should do." - 2 Nephi 32:5

We stayed for Sunday School.  Jared and Kacey left after sacrament meeting but they picked us up at Erik's house after Sunday School.  We are leaving my car here so Erik can now replace the roters.  My car was shaking pretty badly when we tried to drive it on the freeway.  We shared our lunch with Jared and Kacey because they forgot to buy food for today.  We got ready to leave for home and they got ready to go visit with James's mom before Jared takes Kacey to the airport and then heads for home.  Our time together was short, but it was wonderful.  We are so excited that Kacey is going to be a part of our family!

I love this picture from last year at Halloween!

On the way home I read to James from our book, "The Ascension."  We got home in time to get ready for our marriage class.  James unloaded the truck and put away all my new dishes and stemware.  I made one of his favorite desserts, the pistachio pudding dessert with pecans.  

Anne was sick this evening so Bishop taught the marriage class for her.  Bishop taught the second lesson in the new manual, "Communicating with Love."  It was great!