Friday, June 30, 2017

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

St. George, Utah
1st operating temple
Dedicated: 6-8 April 1877 by:
Daniel H. Wells with Brigham Young presiding
Rededicated: 11-12 Nov 1975 by:
Spencer W. Kimball

Alma 19:22-36
*How did Abish's action show the strength of her testimony?
*Do you want to have a testimony?
*Are you willing to work for it?
*What can you do today that might have a good influence on people around you?
*By sharing our testimonies and setting righteous examples, we can help others turn to the Lord.
DC 88:127-41
127-41, The order of the School of the Prophets is set forth, including the ordinance of washing of feet.
How can we help people feel loved at Church?
General Conference
Don't Look Around, Look Up!
Elder Yoon Hwan Choi
"All of us are in the middle of an eternal family. Our role can be a turning point at which significant changes can occur in positive or negative ways. President Hinckley continued, 'Never permit yourself to become a wink link in the chain of your generations.'
Your faithfulness in the gospel will strengthen your family. How can we ensure we will be a strong link in our eternal family?"


We went out to the pool before 10 a.m. and of course the boys had to wait for the waterfall to come on. I guess that is part of the fun. Joshua kept coming over and asking me what time it was.  At 10 a.m. sharp it came on, and they were ready.

After the waterfall

Rowan looks relaxed

Hard to get them all together.

After swimming we went over to the splash grill. We all had either a burger or cheeseburger with fries and a drink except for Rowan who had chicken strips.  Then it was time to go back to our room.

They played in the room all afternoon.

First they tried the new game Addy picked out yesterday at
Walmart, Googly Eyes.

They couldn't figure it out. I guess Addy will
have to teach them.

They came over to my room and we played Tenzi's.
Those are my pink dice in the nice triangle by the empty chair
while I took this picture.



Mostly the boys just "hung out" until they got hungry and ask me if they could get NYPD pizza and garlic knots for dinner.  Of course.
I ordered and picked up and James stayed with the boys.  He arrived this afternoon and I was very happy to see him!

Popcorn and M&M's for snack and then a night swim with James being the chaperone. I stayed in the villa by myself for awhile. It was nice.

Showers and bed, not necessarily sleep when the boys get back.

Animal Photos:

I showed this picture to Rowan.
He loved it.

Elk in Show Low Park


When I showed these pictures to James he said:
"Nice bull in the front."



Thursday, June 29, 2017

Tuesday, June 20th, 2017

Sacramento, California
123rd operating temple
Dedicated 3 Sept 2006 by:
Gordon B. Hinckley

3 Nephi 14
The Savior Appears to the Nephites
Jesus commands: Judge not; ask of God beware of false prophets - He promises salvation to those who do the will of the Father - Compare Matthew 7.
Alma 19:22-36
*In Alma 19:12-14 what truths had Lamoni learned during the previous two days?
*Lamoni, the queen, and Ammon were "overpowered with joy." When have you felt the influence of the Spirit in a powerful way?
(Before bearing my testimony in sacrament meeting a couple of months ago, when praying and studying the scriptures, especially when they testify of the Savior, and when I shook hands with President Kimball, and sang with a small group outside the tabernacle, "We Thnak Thee O God for a Prophet", to President McKay just to name a few.)
*When have I felt great joy? (At the birth of each of my children and grandchildren and when I was sealed in the temple to my sweetheart and seeing my children sealed to their sweethearts.)
*By sharing our testimonies and setting righteous examples, we can help others turn to the Lord.
DC 88:111-126
103-16, Angelic trumps proclaim the restoration of the gospel, the fall of Babylon, and the battle of the Great God; 117-26, Seek learning, establish a house of God (a temple), and clothe yourselves with the bond of charity;
Has there ever been a time that you wanted to "run" and share the gospel with others?
General Conference
A Sin-Resistant Generation
Joy D. Jones
"Fortifying children to become sin-resistant is a task and a blessing for parents, grandparents, family members, teachers, and leaders. We each bear responsibility to help. However, the Lord has specifically instructed parents to teach their children 'to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord.'"


James broke the auger and the Cat.  He is having such a difficult time digging the post holes for our fence because there are big rocks buried underground.  They got a little rain in Vernon today. Here in the valley it was 122 degrees.

I waited until Addy got up before going to the store. I went to Frys and got food and supplies and then stopped at Jack-in-the-Box for a breakfast Jack. I also took the girls some pancakes.  The ordered waffles and strawberries for breakfast.  They each ate a waffle and of course Ruby had to have some whipped cream with hers. Later we made strawberry shortcake. After breakfast we went swimming.

Or I should say the girls went swimming and I
sat and watched.

Ruby sits on the edge of the pool and watches Addy.

A little sister fun.

They need some pool toys and goggles

Ruby waving.

The water does look inviting.

After their morning swim they each got a smoothie and then we went back to the villa. (That is what they call them here.)  The girls got dressed and we went to Chik-fil-a for lunch. After ordering Ruby informs me she doesn't like their chicken but she eats her fries. Addy likes the chicken but not the fries. I could have ordered one meal and they could have shared it.

After Chik-fil-a we went to Walmart to find some tubes for them to play with in the water.  I ended up buying seven tubes because I knew Lola, Rowan, Max, Evan, and Joshua were all coming this week.  

The afternoon swim was much more fun with the tubes.

So much more relaxing!

This picture makes me laugh. It looks like
Ruby's feet are in Addy's tube!

So cute!

Ruby coming back from the hot tub.

We had just enough time to shower and eat some strawberry shortcake before leaving for Rowan's Cub Scout Arrow of Light Ceremony in east Mesa. I drove over 40 miles to Crismon and Guadalupe to their meetinghouse.  We got there just in time, and just a little before Trina and Darrel arrived.  

The meeting was quite long because others boys got awards and a retired Navy Aviator came and spoke. It was interesting. They saved Rowan for last. We are very proud of him for receiving the highest award you can receive in Cub Scouts.

Rowan's scout leader came over and asked me if I knew what
a great young man Rowan was. I said I did.

Darrel handing Rowan his award.

Rowan pinning on Trina

Rowan with his award and his arrow.
He wanted to bring the arrow with him to the resort but
I told him I didn't think it was a good idea.

Rowan and one of his friends

We are all very proud of him!

Addy is like Adam, she takes a book with her wherever she goes.

Lola watching Ruby lick the frosting off her cupcake.

And this is the result.

Lola planning her next move.

She had to make sure I saw her green tongue.

I said goodbye to the girls and Trina and Darrel and Rowan and I headed for Chandler to pick up Joshua, Evan, and Max.  I also stopped at Cathi's and picked up the Omaha frozen food that Jared purchased for James for Father's Day.  Lots of good stuff.  Cathi told me about Lois being sick and spending time with her in the hospital last night as she couldn't stop vomiting.  They thought she had eaten some bad potato salad but that proved to be wrong. For the rest of the week, Cathi, Dawn, and then Terry were vomiting and very sick. So sad.

Back at the resort these boys like to stick together.


This was supposed to be Evan and Joshua's bed but
they all ended up sleeping together.

Max and Evan said the resort, they call it the condo, was their favorite place in the world. Rowan and Joshua opted for the cabin.












Monday, June 19th 2017

Rome, Italy
Estimated completion date:
Mid 2018
John 17:19 
Atonement
3Nephi 13
Jesus teaches the Nephites the Lord's Prayer; They are to lay up treasures in heaven; The twelve disciples in their ministry are commanded to take no thought for temporal things.
Alma 19:1-11
King Lamoni and many of his people repent and are baptized.
*Ammon's missionary efforts caused a ripple effect: Ammon, King Lamoni, the queen, Lamoni's servants, Abish, and many other Lamanites.
*What can we learn about the queen in Alma 19:7-11?
DC 88:99-110
95-102, Angelic trumps call forth the dead in their order; 103-16, Angelic trumps proclaim the restoration of the gospel, the fall of Babylon, and the battle of the great God;
What things will be revealed?
* All things will be revealed!
General Conference
"Walk With Me"
President Henry B. Eyring
"Every one being ordained after this order and calling should have power, by faith, to break mountains, to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out of their course; to put at defense the armies of nations, to divide the earth, to break every bond, to stand in the presence of God, to do all things according to His will, according to His command, subdue principalities and powers; and this by the will of the Son of God which was from the foundation of the world." (Joseph Smith)

The Power of the Book of Mormon
President Thomas S. Monson
"We live in a time of great trouble and wickedness. What will protect us from the sin and evil so prevalent in the world today?
I maintain that a strong testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and of His gospel will help see us through to safety."


James left for the Howard's around 6 a.m. to work. While he was gone I did my gospel study and then started to get ready to go to the valley. I am spending the week at our timeshare in Scottsdale.
Today I am picking up Darrel and Trina's girls to stay with me.
Before I left I made a green chili stew for James.  It is one of his favorite meals and I was going to fix it for him for Father's Day but James told me he would rather I didn't fix it on Sunday.  It was a good idea because he isn't coming down to the valley until Wednesday and now he will have something to eat in my absence.

I was able to say goodbye to James before I left at 1:45.  I stopped in Show Low at the McDonald's for an ice cream cone. I ended up getting a Happy Meal to go along with my cone because they were giving away Beanie Babies with their Happy Meals, or so I thought. Instead of a Beanie Baby I got a Smurf cup that I ended up throwing away.  What a waste and the food wasn't even that good.

I felt like I was falling asleep between Salt River Canyon and Globe so I stopped a few minutes to rest.  I also stopped in Globe to get gas and then at Walmart to get some earrings because I realize I forgot to wear any and if I don't put some in the holes in my ears will grow back together again. I get some earrings and put them in. I also got some cheese sticks and some cherries to eat on the way.  I do better about staying awake when I eat. This is why I should never drive on long trips.

I arrive at Darrel and Trina's around six. Rowan opens the door and gives me a big hug.  Trina is at work and Lola is asleep. Addy and Ruby are ready to go.

These headphones are her favorite birthday gift!

That's what I call a loaded backpack.
I wonder what's in there?

Addy's bag looks a little less full.

Our first stop was the Chandler mall where we had some
dinner and then took Ruby shopping. She must have spent an hour
in this store and came out with one fake pair of glasses!

Addy did a little decorating once we arrived at the timeshare.
Our timeshare is Sheraton Desert Oasis on
1770 N. Hayden Rd. in Scottsdale. We were assigned
units 1023 and 1024 this stay. I was happy to get downstairs units!

Someone's sleeping in my bed!

Yikes! An alien in the bathroom!

Bambi's going to do a little reading.

Cream staring at his reflection.

I think Flower wants a drink.

Right by the front door to welcome us as we come in.
Now I know what Ruby had in her backpack!

Addy watched "Beauty and the Beast" while I went in to put Ruby to be.  Michael had slept in the bed she was sleeping in the night before and she wanted to know if there were any bedbugs.  I assured her there weren't but we had to check anyway.  We sang, "I Am a Child of God", "Nephi's Courage," and "You Are My Sunshine." You Are My Sunshine is Ruby's signature song.