Monday, September 4th, 2017

Lima, Peru

38th operating temple

Dedicated: 10 Jan 1986 by Gordon B. Hinckley

Alma 61:6-21

How do you retain your freedom and resist temptation?

*Instagram-bofm365-auberina: "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 128:14-18

Why are baptisms for the dead such an important gospel principle?

*It tells us in verse 17 that baptism for the dead is the "most glorious of all subjects belonging to the everlasting gospel! This doctrine shows the love and mercy of an all wise, kind, and loving Heavenly Father.

General Conference

Gathering the Family of God

"I testify that God the Father wants His children home again, in families and in glory. The Savior lives. He directs and blesses this work, and He watches over and guides us. He thanks you for your faithful service in gathering His Fathers family, and I promise you the inspired help that you seek and need."

James and I started reading Havencross today by Julie Daines.

James caught squirrel #6 today.

All of these squirrels made me think about my favorite

children's book:

There was wind, lightning, and thunder today, so hopefully we will get some rain. 

James and I made the decision that in spite of all of the obstacles we are going to Molly's baptism. We have never missed a grandchild's baptism and we are not about to start now. We need to support Molly and Jared. We will have to rent a car because I really don't want to take mine.

Photos:

We said goodbye to Kim and Brian

this morning

Ruby 2011 enjoying a cookie

Jon and Jamie's daughter Lexy

at the Boise balloon festival.

Look at those long legs!

Addy left a little something behind

Hiking in the high country

I don't see many photos of Dallin so I

take advantage when I do

Today is John and Jackie's wedding anniversary.

The year was 1953.

Jackie was 24 and Senator John F. Kennedy was 36.

Sunday, September 3rd, 2017

Seoul, Korea

37th operating temple

Dedicated: 14 Dec 1985 by Gordon B. Hinckley

Alma 60:29-61:5

 How do you "adhere to the word of God?"

*trujillofamilyjournal:

"I apply Christ's Atonement daily. I would be lost and miserable without the knowledge that I can repent and become at one with God again, each day when I slip up and need His cleansing and enabling power."
DC 128:1-13
Why is the baptismal font placed on the ground floor of the temple?
*The font is placed in the basement or bottom of temples in similitude of the grave. When we baptize for the dead it "is in likeness of the resurrection of the dead in coming forth out of their graves." Therefore the font is "placed underneath where the living are assembled " to represent "that which is earthly conforming to that which is heavenly."
General Conference

Certain Women

Linda K. Burton

"Let us be found staying close to Him in prayer and scripture study. Let us draw ourselves near to Him by preparing for and partaking of the sacred emblems of His atoning sacrifice weekly during the ordinance of the sacrament and as we keep covenants by serving others in their time of need. Perhaps then we might be part of the certain women, disciples of Jesus Christ, who will celebrate His glorious return when He comes again."

President Trump has declared this a National Day of Prayer.

We are fasting and praying for those in harms way.

Hurricane Harvey

Hurricane Irma

Wildfires in the West

I worked on my Primary lesson early this morning, "Joseph Smith is Jailed Unjustly" and then made cinnamon rolls for the non-fasters. I also finished making the green chili pork stew with the meat that James cut up last night. 

We had two baby blessings in sacrament meeting today. Densyn Lootan, Sister Ulmer's great grandson whom she and her husband are raising. The second baby was the bishop's little girl, Sophia Emma. I love baby blessings. There is such hope in new life.

Our chapel was filled with strangers today, the last holiday of the summer. I guess a stranger is just a friend you haven't met yet, right.  Our kids were in the back of the overflow. 

Darrel and Trina were going to go home after sacrament meeting but their kids talked them in to staying. How is that for a switch!
Ruby and Rowan came to my class along with Gracie, Liana, Curtis, Colter, Zemira, Easton, and Celeste. Easton and Celeste are the Crane's grandchildren. 
At one point during the lesson I looked over and Colter was crying. I asked him what was wrong but he wouldn't tell me. He wanted me to take him to his Mom. I was doing the lesson on a power point and I asked Rowan to continue while I was gone. 

We talked a little bit about Harvey and I asked Rowan to tell the kids what he knew. He began: "When Harvey hit landfall it was a category 4 hurricane...... I do believe he could be a weatherman.

When we went in to sharing time I noticed Bailey was sitting with the seven year old class. She is eleven and usually comes in my class when her teacher isn't here. Today she went in her little sister's class. 

When we got home from Church there was a news announcement. Brian noticed when he got home that our outside bedroom door was open. When he went in to close it, a squirrel ran out. James told Lola Gramma was going to be upset with her. She didn't seem too worried.

Darrel told me something funny. I was telling him how Molly used to call me little gramma and Tricia's mom big gramma. He said that Lola calls me cabin gramma and Trina's mom house gramma. I love it!

These are some of the things we did this afternoon:

James and the kids watched "Private Eyes."

This movie was a family favorite when our

kids were growing up.

Lola likes the lady in pink.

Kim helped Lola put her makeup on:

Yesterday Lola put makeup on Kim.

Today Kim is returning the favor.

Yes Lola, you look beautiful!

We went outside on the front porch to play

with the bubbles and there was bird poop on

the chairs. Lola helped clean it off.

Ruby and Rowan went outside with their bow and arrows. James and I went out on the porch to read and watch the hummingbirds.

Darrel and Trina left in the late afternoon. I forgot to have them pose for a picture so I am using the one from last year. Can you tell?

Trina looks the same.

Kim and Brian went on a Razr ride this evening. Afterwards while Kim was taking a shower I was texting with Jared about Molly's baptism and he said that Jeremy was baptizing her. We were all surprised and upset. Brian asked us to please not tell Kim, so we didn't.

Random Photos:

The L.A. fire

Can you imagine seeing this while driving

down the freeway?

If I ever re-decorate

So cute!

Twitch and Allison with their kids.

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!