Sunday, December 4, 2016

I am so grateful for the Sabbath day when we worship our Heavenly Father and partake of the sacrament and ponder about the Savior and His great atoning sacrifice.  Today was fast and testimony meeting.  I bore my testimony.  Our new stake president, President Shumway and his counselor, President Bealer both visited our sacrament meeting.  They both bore their testimonies and I felt the Spirit so strongly.  They are truly men of God.

There are only five or six temple that decorate for Christmas.

The Mesa temple is one of them, and of course,

the Salt Lake temple.

Ether 3:1-16

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has said, in regards to the brother of Jared seeing the spiritual, premortal Jesus Christ: "Perhaps Christ was saying to the brother of Jared, 'Never have I shown myself unto man in this manner, without my volition, driven solely by the faith of the beholder.' As a rule, prophets are invited into the presence of the Lord, are bidden to enter His presence by Him and only with His sanction.  The brother of Jared, on the other hand, seems to have thrust himself through the veil, not as an unwelcome guest but perhaps technically as an uninvited one.  Said Jehovah: 'Never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast; for were it not so ye could not have seen my finger....Never has man believed in me as thou hast.' Obviously the Lord himself was linking unprecedented faith with this unprecedented vision.  If the vision itself was not unique, then it had to be the faith and how the vision was obtained that was unparalleled.  The only way that faith could be so remarkable was its ability to take the prophet, uninvited, where others had been able to go only with God's bidding" (Christ and the New Covenant, 21-23).

GC:   Fourth Floor, Last Door by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

" Just because we can't hear something doesn't mean

there is nothing to hear.  Two people ca listen to the same

message or read the same scripture, and one might

feel the witness of the Spirit while the other doesn't."

I had Denice Hall's Primary class today along with Kacey, Zemira, and Curtis.  Denice's class included: Tana, Madison, Talena, and Carly a girl I have never seen before.

We talked about having faith in Jesus Christ.  We watched part of the video "Finding Faith in Jesus Christ," but because I did not have a speaker we couldn't hear very well.  I also had pictures on the board of different people in the Book of Mormon who had demonstrated faith and we discussed them.  I ask the class how they strengthen their faith and what it means to have faith.  It was a good class.

Curtis had a tablet and he played with it during singing time.  Colter said something to his mom who was leading the music, but I didn't make him stop because at least he was sitting still and keeping quiet.

Seven Falls in Bear Canyon

James and I went home for a short while after the block.  I got online and paid our tithing for November.  We had tithing settlement at 1:30.  I love our bishop.  He is only 32 years old but he is full of wisdom, good counsel and advice.  I had a private chat with him after James went out of the room.  He told me he was grateful for my Christlike example.  I am grateful for his.

After tithing settlement we broke our fast.  James cooked me some pork chops.  They were delicious!

I have some memories on this date that I want to include:

A couple of years ago when they came up for

Christmas.

I think they did a great job!

Ruby Tuesday

Since she didn't get to help with the cookies, Lola

wants to help with the puzzle.

Tonight our family met at Sheri's for the annual gingerbread house

contest.  I think hands down, Kim and Brian won this year.

Kim and Brian's house.

Other houses, I am not sure whose.

This is the house James and I were going to make.

Oh well, maybe next year.

Sheri hung out with Lola while everyone else was working

on their houses.

James and I stayed home and watched the

First Presidency Christmas Devotional.

Saturday, December 3, 2016

Ether 2:13-25

The Lord wants us to grow and learn as we make our own decisions.  He also wants us to take our conclusions to Him frequently for His confirmation.  When the brother of Jared asked the Lord about the matter of light for the vessels, the Lord answered with a question of His own: "What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels?"  According to President Harold B. Lee, the Lord's question was similar to saying the following: 'Well, have you any good ideas?  What would you suggest that we should do in order to have light?'  Then the Lord went away and left him alone.  It was as though the Lord were saying to him, 'Look, I gave you a mind to think with and I gave you agency to use it.  Now you do all you can to help yourself with this problem; and then, after you've done all you can, I'll step in to help you.'"  After considering the possibilities, the brother of Jared demonstrated his great faith by asking the Lord to touch 16 stones and supply lights.  The Lord answered this plea and not only provided light for the vessels but gave this faithful man a vision unlike any other.  President Lee concluded: "This is the principle in action.  If you want the blessing, don't just kneel down and pray about it.  Prepare yourselves in every conceivable way you can in order to make yourselves worthy to receive the blessing you seek" (Stand Ye in Holy Places (1974), 243-44).

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

" If current trends are an indication, we need to be prepared for the storms that lie ahead.  It would be easy to throw our hands up in despair but as covenant people we need never despair.  As Elder Gary E. Stevenson has said, "Heavenly Father's generous compensation for living in perilous times is that we also live in the fulness of times."  I love the comfort of that statement."

Jared and Kacey are in San Diego this weekend for 

a convention for Jared's work.  

James went to the Gilbert temple this morning without me.  I forgot my temple clothes.  I really can't believe I did!  He did 5-6 initiatories while I stayed at Cathi's and read my scriptures and read a conference talk.  Oh yes, and I also ate the last piece of cheesecake for breakfast.  James was home a little after 8 and wanted to go to breakfast at IHop.  How could I say no even though I had just consumed over 600 calories.  

I had decided I was just going to have hash browns but I ended up getting an egg and a couple of pieces of bacon too.  Their hash browns were mushy, not nearly as good as the ones I make at home in my new oil-free skillet.  James had a piece of sausage with a chunk out of it and I complained about it.  Our waitress immediately brought two more pieces of sausage.   Because I appreciated her doing this and because I was trying to think of what to do in the way of service today to 'light the world', I left her a $10 tip and a note thanking her for her good service and wishing her a Merry Christmas.

When I got back to Cathi's, Cathi was waiting for me.  We had a date to go to Deseret Book, my favorite store.  What a fun time with one of my favorite people.

More pictures from San Diego:

Kacey's first time in San Diego

I bet the water is cold!

Toes in the sand.

One of the traditions in the city of Chandler on the first Saturday in December is the lighting of the tumbleweed Christmas tree.

When completed the tree is 35 feet tall.

James had a flat tire on the trailer he is bringing back to Vernon.  He took it in to Discount to get it fixed.  I began packing up but didn't actually pack my car until we got back from our family lunch at Serrano's.  This is a tradition that Kim and Brian started.  Serrano's on the first Saturday of December and then go look at Christmas lights.  Of course we did not stick around for the Christmas lights but went home after picking up James's tire.  He went through Globe and I went through Payson.

Candid shots at Serranos.

It takes James awhile to decide what he wants to eat.

There was quite a large group of us:
Sheri, Ian, Alex, Ben, Max, Evan, Kim, Brian, 
Joe, Amanda, Adam, Michael, Joshua,
James and me. 

I tried to get a shot from each corner of the table.

Amanda and Joe came in late and sat right 
across from me.

Of course we missed Jared and his family and Darrel and his family.  They were both off doing fun things today though:

The cutest Rudolph's I've ever seen!

When the elf ask Darrel what he does for a living

he said: "I sell drugs." I'm glad he didn't get arrested!

After a session in the temple.

After packing up and getting ready to go home I stopped at Charlotte's to bring her the conference Ensign and to help her set up the Gospel Library on her Ipad.  To my surprise she wasn't home.  I tried to call her later, but there was no answer.  I hope she is all right.

One more family outing I forgot to mention.  Sheri took her boys, along with Alex and Shana to the hot air balloon festival at the San Tan Village Mall.

Cute picture!

I got home about 30 minutes after James did.  It was around 7:30.  I unloaded and put everything away.  We forgot it was fast Sunday.  We usually like to start our fast around noon on Saturday, but tonight it was more like 8 pm.  We went to bed early.

Friday, December 2, 2016

Ether 2:1-12

Ether 2:8-11 states what Moroni called "the everlasting decree of God." (v.10) concerning this land of promise.  Stated three or four times, this decree is that "whatsoever nation shall possess this land shall serve God, or they shall be swept off" (v.9).  President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008) taught that obedience is essential if the promised land is to keep its promised blessings: "Great are the promises concerning this land of America.  We are told unequivocally that it 'is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ.' (Ether 2:12).  This is the crux of the entire matter - obedience to the commandments of God." (In Conference Report, Oct. 2001, 89).  Compare Ether 2:7-12 with Nephi 1:6-10.  List the promises and the warning given to the inhabitants of America.

GC:     The Master Healer by Carole M. Stephens

"Our faith in Jesus Christ enables us to meet any challenge.  We, in fact, often find our faith deepened and our relationship with Heavenly Father and His Son refined in adversity."

For breakfast this morning I had a chocolate Slim Fast shake and a croissant.  Quite good.  James left this morning to go work at the yard.  I left for my infusion a little before ten so I could go through Sonic and get 1/2 off drink.  I got to my infusion early and this time I did not have to wait long.  My friend Francis was home with sick kids but Kahwanda was there.  She drew my blood and started my Actemra.  

I was finished before noon and met James at Discount Tire to get my tires rotated.  I read from "United We Stand."  Of course he brought it with him.  He loves me to read to him!

James wanted chicken wings for lunch.  I had told him they were in the refrigerator.  He couldn't find them.  He made this comment: "They aren't in there.  Cathi can't find them either so maybe she has man's disease too."  When I dropped my car off at Discount I looked in the back and there were the wings, along with a package of uncooked bacon and a box of Toaster Strudels.  Oh dear.  Everything was still good because the weather was so nice and cool.

I am amazed and confused by this picture.

Such talent, but really, how long is it going to last?

This afternoon I went to lunch at Zupas with Sheri, Alex, and Kim.  Kim bought my lunch in honor of the Light the World challenge.  Thanks Kim!

After lunch we went Christmas shopping at the Chandler Mall.  We went to Just Sports so Sheri could get Evan a Kansas City Chief's hat.  I guess that is his favorite football team.  Max loves the Cardinal's, Ben the Vikings, and Alex the Patriot's.

It would have been fun if Trina could have come with us but she and Darrel are taking the kids to see Santa at the North Pole set up in Williams.

Here they are in their motel room.  Rowan is so

excited that he is dancing on the bed.

I ended up getting a Harry Potter chess set for Rowan, Star Wars bionicles for Evan and Joshua and a monkey for Lola.  It is the monkey from Claire's that she loved the night Ruby and I got our ears pierced.  

James and Cocoa.

After hitting Claire's, Barnes and Noble, and a short trip to the Disney store, we were busy for the day.  I went home and took a nap with James.  

While Cathi, Terry, Dave, and Laura were delivering cookies around the neighborhood James and I were going to fix dinner for them.  Laura came in and mentioned she thought she saw my car at Sheri's and we suddenly realized that we had never picked up our car from Discount Tire.  It was after five when we left to pick it up and they close at six.  

We grilled steaks left from last night and I heated up mashed potatoes and green beans.  We also still had some rolls and croissants and cranberry celebration and some cheesecake for dessert.  The six of us enjoyed our dinner and visit.  Laura told us about Thanksgiving at Kevin's and how the neighbors love Kevin!

Cathi loved the green beans I made and said they were the best she had ever tasted.  I enjoyed my steak tonight more than I did the one I had last night.  It was a fun evening.  The guys did the dishes.

This is Braylin from my Primary class.

He stopped coming a couple of months ago and

I really miss him.  He is handicapped, but a voracious

reader.  I pray everyday he will come back to Primary.

Thursday, December 1, 2016

The Nauvoo temple

Ether 1:1-43

The Lord explained to the brother of Jared that blessings had come to his people as a result of prayers offered over a long time.  President Spencer W. Kimball taught that we must put great effort into our prayers and that we must pray frequently: "Do you get answers to your prayers?  If not, perhaps you did not pay the price.   Do you offer a few trite words and worn-out phrases, or do you talk intimately to the Lord?  Do you pray occasionally when you should be praying regularly, often, constantly?  Do you offer pennies to pay heavy debts when you should give dollars to erase that obligation??  When you pray, do you just speak, or do you also listen?  Your Savior said, 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.' (Rev. 3:20).  Should we ever fail to get an answer to our prayers, we must look into our own lives for a reason." (BMSM, 363).

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

Jesus Christ is the perfect embodiment of charity.  His premortal offering to be our Savior, His interactions through out His mortal life, His supernal gift of the Atonement, and His continual efforts to bring us back to our Heavenly Father are the ultimate expressions of charity.  He operates with a singular focus: love for His Father expressed through His love for each of us.  When asked about the greatest commandment Jesus answered: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." 

-Matthew 22:37-39

Today the Church started the 

"Light the World" campaign.  

Today: 

Jesus lifted others burdens and so can you.

James turned off the water and left for the valley this morning.  I left a little after 9.  I stopped in Show Low for gas and to wash my very dirty car.  I was so tired I had to stop at the Circle K in Heber to get something to eat in order to stay awake.  My next stop was

the Dollar Tree in Payson.  I bought five more glass plates and 18 Christmas stockings for my grandkids.  I also got two tacos at Taco Bell for lunch.  

When I got to Chandler I went straight to Stacy's to deliver her tree stand.  I noticed she had a snowman puzzle she was working on.

I guess Shipley noticed the puzzle too.

She couldn't resist messing it up.

Boy does she look guilty!

From Stacy's I went down Ocotillo to Gilbert Rd. to the new Fry's Artesian Marketplace.  What a beautiful store.  I bought some wings, potatoes, green beans, cranberry celebration and some drinks.  My next stop was the Gilbert Costco.  I got both fillet and ribeye steaks for our scripture dinner this evening at Kim and Brian's.  I also got Alpine Valley bread for James, some croissants and a caramel pecan cheesecake for dessert.  I also got a couple of pies at Fry's and two at Costco for our ward party on Saturday night.

After shopping at Costco I headed for Kim and Brian's to start preparing dinner. James headed for Phoenix to pick up Michael.  He was over halfway there when Adam called and said he was close to the school and would pick Michael up.  I am glad because James needed to get back to cook our steaks.  

It was a fun evening but I felt a little unorganized.  I even forgot to serve the drinks!  Alex left for school before we could take his picture.

Michael and Adam pretending to have an arm

around Alex.

I guess Seth has moved back to Oregon and was not able to attend.

I still send the scripture reading assignment everyday to him and Gail.

I was exhausted and Brian and Kim offered to clean the kitchen.  I am grateful to them for that and for allowing us to have the dinner at their house.  

James and I dropped the leftover food, etc., at Cathi's and then we drove over to Phoenix to take Michael back to school.  I read to James from "United We Stand" on the way home.

Cathi was up making cookies.  Now that they are at the Chandler ROC they only work Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.  

I visited with her for a few minutes before going to bed.

Blue Canyon

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Manti temple

Mormon 9:22-37

Mormon knew that Moroni faced overwhelming challenges due to the wickedness of the Nephites.  Nevertheless, Mormon also knew that Moroni could endure with the assistance of divine grace.  The book 'True to the Faith' explains that grace provides strength to persevere in the daily struggles of life: "The word grace, as used in the scriptures, refers primarily to the divine help and strength we receive through the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ.  In addition to needing grace for your ultimate salvation, you need this enabling power every day of your life.  As you draw near to your Heavenly Father in diligence, humility and meekness He will uplift and strengthen you through His grace."

GC:     Repentance: A Joyful Choice by Elder Dale G. Renlund

" Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.  By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins, - behold, he will confess them and forsake them." - D&C 58:42-43

One of the first things I did this morning was read an article called: "Why Being Bored is Good for Children."  "We don't have to have a particular creative talent or intellectual bent to benefit from boredom.  Just letting the mind wander from time to time is important, it seems, for everybody's mental wellbeing and functioning.  Children need to sit in their own boredom for the world to be quiet enough that they can hear themselves.  Inner quiet equals self-awareness.  Their interests are stimulated as they come to find solutions to boredom."

Do either one of these girls look bored?

James got a call from Brother Skousen who is our ward High Priest Group Leader in the Vernon ward.  He asked if he and President Jensen from the new stake presidency could come by for a visit this evening.  James got out the nativity set and I got out some more Christmas decorations and tried to clean the wood floor where James had tracked mud in before their visit.

President Jensen is the retired member of the stake presidency.  He lives in the Pinetop Lakes Country Club and must be quite wealthy.  He knew our former bishop, Bob Horne and so did Brother Skousen.  We had a nice visit.

No, they did not give us a balloon.

We watched two Christmas movies today:

"Finding Christmas," and "Married by Christmas."  The first one is one of my favorites but the second was meh.

Last years week after Christmas.

I love pictures of Arizona