Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Happy Birthday Stacy!

2 Nephi 2:22-3:5

1.  What insights about parenting do we learn from this section?

2.  What do you learn about joy in these verses?

Mosiah 3:15-4

DC 20:25-36

How do we become sanctified through the grace of God?  

* We came to earth to master the traits of godliness while under intense pressure - the pressure that is required to produce those very traits within us.  His grace allows us to be purified and sanctified by that pressure without being crushed by it.

Article: "Justification and Sanctification by Elder D. Todd Christofferson

June 2001 Ensign

GC:  'Am I Good Enough?  Will I Make It?' by Elder J. Devn Cornish

"Really trying means doing the best we can, recognizing where we need to improve, and then trying again.  By repeatedly doing this, we come closer and closer to the Lord, we feel His Spirit more and more, and we receive more of His grace, or help.  The great news is that if we have sincerely repented, our former sins will not keep us from being exalted.  Moroni tells us of the transgressors in his day.
'But as oft as they repented and sought forgiveness, with real intent, they were forgiven."

James made this comment to me this morning:  "Dr. Memon is sending me his plans today.  It is a $1.5 million job.  

I cleaned the wood floor while James brings in wood.  I am not sure our timing was very good.  I also had to vacuum the family room couch.  

James ask me to put Kristy Thomas's name on the temple prayer roll, which I did.  

Phoenix temple

(I actually put her name on the Gilbert prayer roll).

I couldn't import pictures from my phone to the computer like I normally do because the import command was not coming up.  I prayed and tried several times but it didn't work until I went over to my bed and knelt in prayer and poured my heart out to the Lord of my need to download these pictures.  I explained that this was for my journal, a history of my family and this particular entry was a record of Jared and Kacey's eternal sealing.  I got up, went back to the computer and was able to download the photos.  Thank you Heavenly Father.  Another tender mercy.

James went on a Razr ride this afternoon since the weather was so nice.  I worked on making Valentines. Here are a few I did:

I am making one of these along with an original verse for each of my grandkids.

I read to James from "Boys in the Boat."  The boys are in Germany and the Olympic games are beginning.  The book stresses the superficial grandeur of Nazi Germany.  We also watched a Valentine's movie called, "Dogs in Love." 

Stacy and Paul used the gift card we got them for Cheesecake Factory.  This is a picture of a meal Paul fixed Stacy a couple of years ago.  He invited James and I to eat with them.

Pork chops with apples, mashed potatoes, and asparagus.

It was delicious.

Fun Photos

This picture was taken at Joshua's baptism in

August 2014.

 My buddy Braylin

Mikey getting his Eagle and Janny his mom looking on.

Janny his good friends with Stacy and Sheri.

Today is her birthday too.

James enjoying the warm Vernon weather.

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

I love this view

2 Nephi 2:11-21

What are some insights learned about the Plan of Salvation in this chapter?

Mosiah 2:18-3:13

DC:20:13-24

What can we do to help us give "no heed" to temptation?

Talk: "Shunning Temptation: A Key to Receiving Revelation"

By: Ian S. Arden

February 2004 Ensign

GC:"A Choice Seer Will I Raise Up" by Elder Craig C. Christensen

'Because Joseph was a prophet, we have the blessings and

ordinances of the temple that bind us to God, make us His people, and manifest to us "the power of godliness," making it possible one day to "see the face of God, even the Father, and live."

Because Joseph was a prophet, we know that marriage and family are an essential part of God's plan for our happiness.  We know that through temple ordinances and covenants, our cherished family relationships can endure eternally.'

GC: 'The Lord Jesus Christ Teaches Us to Pray' by Elder Juan A. Uceda

"Do you prepare yourself to make important decisions by praying to your Heavenly Father?  Do you prepare yourself for a moment of prayer?"

Seven Lessons Learned from the Savior:

1.  Satan is the source of temptation - 2 Nephi 2:27, Matthew 4:10

2.  The Savior immediately dismissed temptation.

3.  Jesus took strength from the scriptures as a means of shunning temptation.

4.  From the Joseph Smith Translation, we know that Jesus did not go into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil as portrayed in the King James version, for the righteous seek no temptation.  Rather,

"Jesus was led up of the Spirit, into the wilderness to be with God."

(JST. Matt 4:1)  When we are trying to lose weight, we stay away from the bakery.

5.  Satan tempts us at our weakest point.

6.  Obedience.

7.  Christ was tempted three times in quick succession.  Satan does not give up.

Aba, Nigeria temple

I had hot and sour soup and a sandwich for lunch.  I cleaned our bedroom and bathroom today which included changing the sheets, and washing towels and rugs.  

I blogged for January 18th and 19th. 

I made chicken rice soup and Red Lobster biscuits for dinner this evening.  I also paid bills, and emptied one storage box.  

The Church's Pathway Program has gone global and the President of BYU-Idaho, President Tanner is taking it over.  Henry J. Eyring is the new president of BYU-Idaho.  He has to be President Eyring's son because he looks just like him.  At one time President Eyring was president of Rick's College, which was renamed BYU-Idaho  

After FHE James and I watched a Hallmark movie called "Makeover."  We were in bed by 9.

Fun Photos

A familiar face when visiting Cathi and Terry's.

Such a cute picture!

Speaking of Cathi and Terry, here they are with the

amazing indexing group from Galveston 3rd ward,

one of the best in the entire Church.

Some more familiar faces when visiting at Cathi and Terry's.

Indy on the bed, Lady on the pillow.

Grandpa and Lola

Grandpa with the guys playing Hearts.

Grandpa wins this game 90% of the time.

Some of my young women at the Snowflake temple.

Sisters: Alice and Trenda and

Sisters: Shelly and Jordyn.

Glasses or no glasses, this girl is cute and sweet!

Beautiful!

Monday, February 6, 2017

Morning Sky

2 Nephi 1:30-2:10

How do I keep the balanced perspective of my dependence on God's grace with the desire to live righteously?

Mosiah 1-2:17

DC 20:1-12

Why is it important to know that God does not change?

Article: "The True Nature of God"

By: Jeffrey R. Holland

December 2016 Ensign

GC:  'The Soul's Sincere Desire' by Carole F. McConkie

"The answers we receive in prayer may not be what we would desire.  But in times of trouble, our prayers become a lifeline of love and tender mercy.  In our pleading, we ma be strengthened to go forward and fulfill all that we have been ordained to do. 

To His Saints living in perilous times, the Lord says,

'Let your hearts be comforted...; for all flesh s in mine hands; be still and know that I am God.'"

Interesting!

Thanks James for the picture of the sunrise and the elk in our yard this morning:

Evan has made a movie trailer for the movie he and Evan are making.  It is quite good but I don't know how to post videos on this blog so you will just have to take my word for it.

Evan has had a stiff neck for a couple of weeks now.  The doctor just said to give him Ibruprofen.  Sheri took him to see a friend who is a chiropractor and he cracked his neck a few time and now Evan feels much better.

This is a picture of the Arequipa, Peru temple

which is scheduled for groundbreaking on

March 4, 2017.

I actually stayed on my schedule today.  It has been such a long time!  I went shopping, ironed, cleaned the kitchen and dining room floor, blogged, read my book and read to James, did my gospel study and had FHE with James.  I feel good!

After FHE James and I watched the Autumn Reeser movie, "Valentine Ever After."  

Grand Canyon

James builds a fire using the pine cones Addy and Ruby gathered when they were here in October.  He built the fire to save on gas but leaves the back door in our bedroom open so we have to turn on the heater in our bedroom to warm up.  James has a sinus infection right now and thinks it's because of the water that hit him when he was working on the Bowen job.

Fun Photos

This should have been posted last Friday night.

Denise and Aunt Gene

Where is you smile, Michael?

Joshua loved baby Lola

Actually, everyone loves her!

I love this!

Friends:

The Ellsworth's in Cancun.

Karin G.

My friend Hailey is second from the left.

She is beautiful.

Sunday, February 5, 2017

St. George, Utah temple

2 Nephi 1:13-29

When have I been benefited by a priesthood blessing?

Omni and Words of Mormon

DC 19:25-41

How can we better seek after eternal blessings?

Talk:  "After Much Tribulation Come the Blessings"

By:  Adney Y. Komatsu

October 1978

GC: "Come, Follow Me By Practicing Chrstian Love and Service"

by Elder Robert D. Hales

"I promise you: the calling to be a parent includes the gift to teach in the ways that are right for you and for your children.

Some of our most impactful Christian service is given by holding family scripture study, family prayer, and family council meetings.

Let us remember, the most important work we do in our families

is through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Let us remember that our children and grandchildren measure our love by how much devoted time we give them.

Above all, don't lose patience and don't give up!"

Brother Thompson conducted sacrament meeting today.  He read a letter from our stake presidency thanking us for fasting for moisture in January.  Since that fast we have had five major storms.  The letter said some people might call this a coincidence, but we know better.  I am grateful for the faith that comes through fasting and prayer.

I was up at 4 am to finish preparing my Primary lesson on Joseph Smith beginning to translate the gold plates.  The kids loved the paper I had where they had to translate a message that was supposedly written in reformed Egyptian.  Colter was gone today.  His family is at the monster truck rally in the valley.

Talena played a piano solo in sharing time.  She played a hymn and her piano teacher, who is a non-member, came to visit.  

Sister Skousen gave a sharing time about Noah's ark.  Each child was given a picture of an animal and there were two of each animal and everyone had to find their mate before getting on the ark.  I was a bluebird.  Did they have blue birds on the ark?  We sang my favorite Primary song today, "I'm Trying to be Like Jesus."

We got new home and visiting teaching assignments today.  James has the newly baptized member and two total inactives, one no one has ever seen.  Brother Westbrook is his new companion.  

I have a new companion, Sister Carroll, and a new person to visit, my dear friend Pam who I have not seen since October.

We broke our fast when we got home with grilled cheese sandwiches and chili.  We had a nap and then I made James some dark chocolate brownies.  I did my daily gospel study and then James and I watched a Hallmark movie, "All Things Valentine" and read from "Boys in the Boat."  It was a relaxing Sunday afternoon spent with my sweetheart.  

Most of the rest of the world watched The 51st Superbowl Game between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons.  It went into overtime and the Patriots ended up winning 34 to 28.

Fun Photos

Lola could definitely give the Gerber baby a

run for her money!

My only baby picture of myself.

Guster Concert, courtesy of Brian and Kim

How are they going to get down?

Saturday, February 4, 2017O

Paris, France temple

The dedication is scheduled for May 21, 2017.

2 Nephi 1:1-12

How have the American continents been kept sacred?

Enos and Jarom

DC 19:15-24

How can we be more humble and willing to accept our trials?

Broadcast: 'That We Might "Not Shrink"'

By: David A. Bednar

March 3, 2013

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

"The purpose of faith is not to change God's will but to empower us to act on God's will.  Faith is trust - trust that God sees what we cannot and that He knows what we do not.  Sometimes, trusting our own vision and judgment is not enough."

GC:  'O How Great the Plan of Our God!' by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"Brothers and sisters, we are eternal beings, without beginning and without end.  We have always existed.  We are the literal spirit children of divine, immortal, and omnipotent Heavenly Parents! 

We come from the heavenly courts of the Lord our God.  We are of the royal house of Elohim, the Most High God.

We walked with Him in our premortal life.  We heard Him speak, witnessed His majesty, learned His ways."

After gospel study and scriptures and prayers with James, we went to clean the Vernon chapel.  Kaeli, a friend and our Relief Society President, Ari met us there as she and her husband Chris are scheduled to help us.  Christ had already made a commitment to work on his dad's ranch so he was not able to come.  

We cleaned for over two hours and determined that no one has cleaned the building since James and I cleaned it on January 14th.  The trash was still half full like we had left it. (I looked for my pictures of the chapel but couldn't find them.)

James and I came home and had lunch, grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, and a salad.  After lunch we started our fast.  We are fasting for Stacy's family.  I took an hour nap and worked on my blog for awhile before it was time to get ready to go clean the temple.  

I almost forgot that it is my brother Harold's 67th birthday!

Happy Birthday Harold!

We left our home at 5:45 and picked up Brother Cooper at the church.  We arrived at the temple at 6 o'clock.  We are doing a deep clean with the Show Low City Creek ward from our stake.  There are two couples that are stake cleaning coordinators, the Pattersons' and the Brooks'.  They are in charge, which means James and I are off the hook as far as making sure everything runs smoothly.  We even got to clean together.!  We did the men's dressing room.  

One of the reasons so many members of our ward couldn't make it for the cleaning.  The Show Low wrestling team were in Payson participating in sectionals.  Every Show Low wrestler qualified and they came in first!

James has been making phone calls for the last couple of days trying to get at least 15 people to come for the cleaning.  Six people cancelled and our last minute fill-ins were: The Wallaces, Peelers, and Applegates.  We ended up with 16 people.  Besides these three coupls we had Brother Gordon, Brother Miller, Brother Curtis, the Lauritzens, Skousens, Brother Cooper, and us.  

Brother Patterson, a stake co-ordinator, said we had 37 people total and that was a new record!  The Vernon ward rocks!

  The nice thing is we were home and in bed before 10.

Fun Photos

In honor of Harold I had to post John Wayne.

This boy is hilarious!

Oh Michael, you

look like a missionary!!

FHE Pileup