OUR FAMILY

Monday, September 11, 2017

Saturday, September 2nd, 2017

Johannesburg, South Africa
36th operating temple
Dedicated: 24 Aug 1985 by Gordon B. Hinckley

Alma 60:14-28

How do you retain your freedom and resist temptation?

*Instagram-bofm365 says: "I think I lose my freedom when my eye is off God. Sometimes I rush through my day and don't take the time to be still and seek the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Freedom and peace return when I remember that I truly need Him every hour and lay my weaknesses before His feet."

DC 127:1-12

Why do we need witnesses for the ordinances we perform?

*To fulfill the law of witnesses. The Lord said: "all the records are to be had in order" DC 127:9
General Conference

The Beauty of Holiness

Carol F. McConkie

"Do we see our utter dependence on the grace and mercy of Christ, our Lord? Do we recognize that every good gift, temporal and spiritual, comes to us through Christ? Do we remember that according to the Fathers eternal plan, peace in this life and the glories of eternity are ours only in and through His Holy Son?"

I think I made Darrel's kids happy by making cinnamon rolls for breakfast. James set the live trap this morning and then he took Lola, Ruby, Addy, and Rowan on a Razr ride.

Later in the day we couldn't find Lola. Finally someone went outside and checked in the Razr. She was sitting in the backseat waiting for someone to give her a ride.

This afternoon James caught a squirrel in the live trap and the kids were so excited. Lola warned James to not touch the squirrel. When he did, she said: "Grampa, I told you not to touch it, he could bite your." Grama and the kids left the squirrel at Chocolate Lake with his brothers.

Wild thing

When it came time for Kim and Brian to go on a Razr ride, Lola was sitting in the seat waiting for them. Soon Brian came back holding her on his shoulder. She had fallen asleep. When Trina tried to take Lola from Brian he said: "Let me hold her for awhile, I don't very often get to hold a little girl like this."

Some fun things that happened today:

Molly kept calling, she talked to Ruby for a very long time.

Darrel went shopping and forgot to buy milk.

We played Five Crowns, Apples to Apples, and Darrel, Trina, and Addy played Settlers. Of course we let Darrel win most of the games because it was his birthday.

Addy did a card trick. I thought it was a darn good one.

I studied and prepared for my Primary lesson.

I made a three layer vanilla cake for Darrel for his birthday. Trina helped me. When the cake first came out of the oven it tasted like a warm sugar cookie. Addy and Kim loved it. I had to borrow a cake pan from Kathy Crane. It was a spring form and now I am convinced that I need to get this kind of pan because it was so easy to get the cake out.

The frosting on the cake was whipped cream with cream cheese and strawberries. Very tasty.

Trina frosting the cake while Darrel looks on.

Trina is doing a fine job!

39 candles

Trina might have a bit of a shadow on her face from her

recent Razr ride.

I made chili for dinner and Trina made a salad. We had chips, chili and cheese and salad before Darrel's party.

Darrel helps Trina light the candles

Posing

39 in one blow!

A football and an electronic dartboard

Enjoying the cake

Well-wishers

Other Photos:

James cutting up the meat for tomorrows green

chili pork stew while I make tonight's chili.

Rowan, Addy, and I looked at some of our favorite

clubhouses.

Rowan's favorite

We want grandpa to build us one of these!

Watching the hummingbirds is a

favorite activity.

Ruby helping Lola jump over the

spring at Chocolate Lake.

Rowan and Addy were inspired by Grandpa's

living trap so they decided to make their own.

They borrowed scissors and string from me

and Ruby helped them gather the sticks.

I think it is quite ingenious!

Saturday, September 9, 2017

Friday, September 1st, 2017

Chicago, Illinois

35th operating temple

Dedicated: 9 Aug 1985 by Gordon B. Hinckley

Alma 60:1-13

What was Moroni's purpose in writing the epistle to Pahoran?

*"To get more assistance for his armies. Moroni is assuming Pahoran and the government don't have a good reason why they haven't sent help. However, Moroni didn't know the whole story. This teaches us the importance of not assuming things we don't know and not jumping to conclusions. Moroni was an incredible man but even he was not perfect. Team work and good communication is so important." (Trujillofamilyjournal)

DC 125:1-4 - 126:1-3

What can we learn from Brigham Young's sacrifice?

*He was loyal to, and took counsel from the prophet Joseph. He gave unselfish service to the Church wit no thought of personal gain. He assisted in financing the work with his own toil. Brigham Young was the living example of the spiritual principle taught by Joseph Smith: "A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation."

General Conference

Trust in the Lord and Lean Not

Sister Bonnie H. Cordon

"Jesus Christ has overcome the world. And because of Him, because of His infinite Atonement, we all have great cause to trust, knowing that ultimately all will be well."

James has an appointment at the hospital this morning around 9 a.m. to get an MRI on his throat. I went with him so I could do my grocery shopping while he was having his procedure done.

I bought a few extra things besides grocery. Here are a few of them:

A mattress topper for the bed in James's office, a hand vacuum, a football and electric dartboard for Darrel's birthday. I also bought the ingredients to make him a homemade cake, no mix.

When I was finished shopping I picked up James at the hospital. The doctor says he has an obstruction in his throat that causes his food to go in to his lungs and can cause pheumonia. Not good!

James was starving because he couldn't eat before his procedure, so we went to Arby's for lunch. I got a regular roast beef sandwich and James got an Italian sub.

I did most of my cleaning this afternoon with some help from James. I washed sheets and James put them back on the beds while I vacuumed, dusted and mopped. We finished up just as Kim and Brian arrived this evening. We had just sat down to watch the end of a Hallmark movie we had started earlier.

It was after ten when Darrel, Trina and the kids arrived. We had already gone to bed. So sorry Darrel and Trina but we pretty fall asleep after ten.

Photos:

Sandra and John

Two of my favorite Vernon people

Their family

The only family photo of the Hatch's

Brother Hatch died shortly after this photo was taken

Pug and Pig

L.A. fire out Derek Hough's window

This looks serious

Lake Powell

Is this real?

Woolie mammoth or elephant?

(New Zealand)

Thursday, August 31st, 2017

Stockholm, Sweden

34th operating temple

Dedicated: 2 July 1985 by Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Antemortal Existence of

Mosiah 7:27

And because he said unto them that Christ was the God, the Father of all things, and said that he should take upon him the image of man, and it should be the image after which man was created in the beginning; or in other words, he said that man was created after the image of God, and that God should come down among the children of men, and take upon him flesh and blood, and go forth upon the face of the earth -

Alma 58:30-59:13

How did Helaman's young warriors show their faith in God, despite the "many wounds" they received? (Alma 58:38-40)

As you face challenges in life, how can you benefit from following the example of the sons of Helaman?

*"It is better to prepare and prevent than it is to repair and repent."

-President Ezra Taft Benson

*Sheri: I listened to a talk today where Elder Hales talked about this. He said: "Sometimes people ask, 'Why do I have to go to sacrament meeting?' or 'Why do I have to live the Word of Wisdom, pay tithing? Why can't I have one foot in Babylon?' May I tell you why? Because spiritual pedaling takes both feet! Unless you are fully engaged in living the gospel--living it with all of your 'heart, might, mind and strength'--you cannot generate enough spiritual light to push back the darkness."

DC 124:131-145

What did I learn from this chapter?

*Verse 143: The above offices I have given unto you, and the keys thereof, for helps and for governments for the work of the ministry and the perfecting of my saints.

General Conference

Foundations of Faith

Elder Quentin L. Cook

"Adversity should not be viewed as either disfavor from the Lord or a withdrawal of His blessings. Opposition in all things is part of the refiner's fire to prepare us for an eternal celestial destiny. Think of the Savior on the cross and the Prophet Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail."

I love this quote!

My car has a flat tire and we don't have the wheel lock to change it. When we got our oil changed and tires rotated at Sears last time, they kept the wheel lock. Thank goodness for Brian. He went to Lexus of Chandler and purchased a new wheel lock and will bring it up with him when he and Kim come tomorrow.

We went to the Snowflake distribution center to pick up our temple clothes that we ordered. I got my shoes but the top I ordered was not available. I ordered another one in another size. After picking up our clothes we went to El Cupido's for something to eat. James and I both got their special, a taco and a toastado. They were both very tasty! Next stop, Walmart. I bought another lamp for Kim and Brian's room downstairs. We picked up a few other things, but I will have to do my real shopping tomorrow. Home again, home again, jiggity jig.

I worked on my blog this afternoon. James is pretty discouraged because of the equipment situation around here and so am I. The tractor is still sitting where it was a week ago when James was going to load it on the trailer to take it to the valley.

I put sheets on the bed downstairs in the basement for Kim and Brian, did some cleaning and put up the new lamp. Let there be light!

Tomorrow is going to be a busy day, shopping and cleaning!

Photos:

One of my favorite views

Our tractor we were going to take to the

valley to trade in won't start

Look what we brought back from the valley...

more broken down equipment!

Braylin took Arnold the pig to school.

Arnold gave Braylin a kiss. I guess he likes school.

The Vernon ward elders quorum president

One of the two missionaries serving from Vernon

who comes home in a few days. Elder Hall.

A valley storm

Wednesday, August 30th, 2017

Frieberg, Germany

33rd operating temple

Dedicated: 29-30 June 1985 by Gordon B. Hinckley

Alma 58:13-29

What was Helaman's strategy to regain possession of the city of Manti?

kdeford1: "To outlast and outsmart the enemy. He had his men continue when he knew the enemy would be resting and he knew the city was left with few guards and would be easily overtaken. Sometimes we are required to outlast and outsmart our enemy. With the help of the Lord this is possible."

DC 124:111-130

What is meant by "His (David Patten) priesthood no man taketh from him?"

David Patten, who had died, would always have His power. The power of the priesthood was given through ordination on this earth, and that power would break the bonds of death and be with him throughout the eternities.

General Conference

That Our Light May Be a Standard for the Nations

Elder Benjamin DeHoyos

"While there are many things we can do to be a light and an ensign to others, I would like to focus on the following three: observing the Sabbath day, hastening the work of salvation on both sides of the veil, and teaching in the Saviors way."

James had to go to the valley today to get the rest of his stuff out of Bill's yard because Bill has sold the property. I decided to go with him for two reasons: 1) To have lunch/visit teach my friend Jean. 2) To buy Molly's scriptures. I accomplished both goals.

On the way down James and I were both looking forward to stopping at Burger House. James called and called, but there was no answer. When we finally got there I noticed there was a sign in the window. I made James stop so I could go read it. It said: Closed until Septermber 5th. Cathi is going to be so disappointed!

We arrived at Terry and Cathi's at 9:30. James dropped me off and immediately left for Bill's. I took Terry's truck and headed for Target until I realized I had left my sunglasses in James's truck. I had to go over to "the yard" to pick them up, and then to Sonic and Target. I got some fruit for the basket I brought for Jean and some other incidentals.

I had some time before our lunch date so I headed to Deseret Book to get Molly's scriptures. I got the same ones for her that Ruby picked out for herself. I also got her a scripture carrier.

Maroon colored quad

I love the carrier!

After I was finished shopping at Deseret Book, I headed back to Chandler to Fresh Start on Chandler Heights and Alma School where I met Jean, her granddaughter Tara and Tara's 2 year old Taylor for lunch. I am sad that I didn't take a picture of the fruit basket I put together for Jean.

Jean ordered a salad and Tara and I both ordered off the breakfast menu. I had the baconado omelet. It comes with bacon, avocado and cheese. I also had a side of fried potatoes. It was delicious!

Jean told me once that Tara was her favorite and I can see why.
We checked out separately and said our goodbyes. Jean took her fruit basket with the visiting teaching message attached.

I went back to Cathi and Terry's for a nap. James is still working out in the heat. I am sure he is miserable. I admire and appreciate him so much!

When James gets back from Bill's he takes a shower and then goes shopping for a new box springs for the bed in his office. While he is gone I visit with Cathi while she sorts through her costume jewelry. She is gradually going through all of her things organizing, giving away, and putting away. We also have a good discussion about Heartland since we are both watching it. She is several seasons ahead of me. She keeps talking about Lou's husband and I am dying to know who it is!

James and I leave for home around 4 p.m. We stop in Irene's in Globe for dinner. James recognizes one of the girls that works at Burger House working at Irenes. We both ordered green chili burros. I also ordered a taco. The green chili burros were a little hot for my taste. I ate half of mine and took the rest in a to go box.

When we got home it was very evident that it had rained pretty hard at our place. We were happy, but sad that we missed it. Kathy Crane called and asked if I would be willing to take dinner to the Scott's this coming Tuesday. I said yes. Millie has broken both her shoulders and is pretty miserable. We love the Scott's and will do anything we can to help them.

We watched the next episode of Heartland, "One Trick Pony."

Photos: