Saturday, January 20th, 2018

Sao Paulo, Brazil

17th operating temple

Dedicated: 30 Oct-2 Nov 1978

By: Spencer W. Kimball

Jesus Christ Atonement through

John 19:30

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Book of Mormon

1Nephi 15:1-18

*Has there ever been anything in my life that is 'hard to be understood' until I made sure to 'inquire of the Lord'?

*Why is it important to avoid the spirit of contention?

Old Testament

Genesis 48-49

48 Jacob tells of the appearance of God to him in Luz-He adopts Ephraim and Manasseh as his own children-Jacob blesses Joseph-He puts Ephraim before Manasseh-The seed of Ephraim will become a multitude of nations-The children of Israel will come again into the land of their fathers.

49 Jacob blesses his sons and their seed-Reuben, Simeon, and Levi are chastened-Judah will rule until Shiloh (Christ) comes-Joseph is a fruitful bough by a well-His branches (the Nephites and Lamanites) will run over the wall-The Shepherd and Stone of Israel (Christ) will bless Joseph temporally and spiritually-Jacob chooses to be buried with his fathers in Canaan-He yeilds up the ghost and is gathered to his people.

Old Testament Scripture Mastery

Proverbs 3:5-6

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

General Conference

Has the Day of Miracles Ceased

Elder Donald L. Hallstrom

"Elder David A. Bednar once asked a young man who had requested a priesthood blessing, 'If it is the will of our Heavenly Father that you are transferred by death in you youth to the spirit world to continue your ministry, do you have the faith to submit to His will and not be healed?'

Do we have the faith 'not to be healed' from our earthly afflictions so we might be healed eternally?"

It rained during the night and was cold and windy this morning. James and I left to go get breakfast at IHOP. I wanted to take some of the kids with us but I hated to wake them up because Saturday is really the only day they get to sleep in.

After a yummy breakfast of bacon, eggs, and buttermilk pancakes, we headed for Ruby's soccer game. Ruby was on the field and Lola and Darrel were waiting for us. Darrel even brought me a chair, as I asked him to!

Ruby's on the purple team! 

Lola is cold so we take her home.

The rest of the family went to a baptism while James, Lola and I went to Fry's to do some shopping for James's party.

It is raining here in the valley and snowing in Vernon. Our prayers are answered again.  

James leaves to go see Salvador and then Steve Allen who is in the hospital in Phoenix. 

Lola and I start to make spanish rice and Lois's enchiladas, James's request for his birthday dinner. 

The party was supposed to start at four o'clock this afternoon but Stacy had some technical difficulties and was a little late. We started out with a blessing on the food and then everyone enjoyed some favorite family recipes: Lois's enchiladas, Mary's refried beans as made by Paul, Dennis's spanish rice, Sheri's salsa with chips, Trina's salad, and James's punch as made by Darrel. Kim proved the birthday cake and candles. We had family favorite flavors of ice cream to go with the cake: Stacy asked for pistachio almond, Sheri-mint chocolate chip, Evan - vanilla, James - butter pecan, Addy and me - cookies and cream, and Rowan - Rocky Road. Bluebell was on sale at Fry's, 2/$8.

After we were finished eating we watched some old 8mm film converted to digital on Darrel's TV. The best was when James, Tom Meeks, and Terry were fishing in Mexico. James runs out into the ocean and comes back carrying a fish as big as he is that he caught with his bare hands. The kids loved it! There was also one of Gail spearing a fish in a creek with a knife and bringing it up out of the water. 

Next was the power point presentation with some of the photos, there were so many Stacy ran out of time to use the all. Also on the power point were quote about things each person has learned or appreciated about James. 

When we were finished with the power point, we each shared a memory and then we had cake and ice cream. 

I think everyone had a great time!  We did miss having Jared's family here.

Helping her mom fix the salad

Addy sweeping the floor before the big event.

The cake is afire!

Getting ready to blow.

There he blows!

Enjoying the show.

Grandpa telling Addy about Pete the Crow.

James and one of his girls.

I love these two!

Two more girls!

Those missing:

Friday, January 19th, 2018

Washington D.C. 

16th operating temple

Dedicated: 19-22 Nov 1974

By: Spencer W. Kimball

Jesus Christ Atonement through

John 19:30

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 14:9-30

*What does "armed with righteousness and with the power of God" mean to me?

*What are the characteristics of the Church of the Lamb of God vs. the Church of the Devil?

Old Testament

Genesis 46-47

46 The Lord sends Jacob and his family of seventy souls to Egypt-The descendants of Jacob are named-Joseph meets Jacob.

47 The Israelites settle in Goshen-Jacob blesses Pharaoh-Joseph sells grain to the Egyptians-Pharaoh receives the Egyptians' cattle and lands-Jacob desires to be buried with his fathers in Canaan.

Old Testament Scripture Mastery

Psalms 24:3-4

3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?

4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

General Conference

That Your Joy Might Be Full

Sister Jean B. Bingham

"No matter what we have suffered, He is the source of healing. Those who have experienced any manner of abuse, devastating loss, chronic illness or disabling affliction, untrue accusations, vicious persecution, or spiritual damage from sin or misunderstandings can all be made whole by the Redeemer of the world. However, He will not enter without invitation We must come unto Him and allow Him to work His miracles."

We left for the valley a little after 9 this morning. James had to turn the water off because it is going to get down below freezing while we are gone. 

Our first stop on the road was at Burger House where we got three burros for lunch, one for each of us, and one to share only James ended up eating all of the third one because I was full. 

We arrived at Trina and Darrel's around 12:40. James passed up the Signal Butte exit because I was reading to him and he wasn't paying attention. Trina and Lola were waiting for us. 

We unloaded the car and James went to take a quick shower because we are supposed to meet Sheri at the temple at 1:30. We leave late because I am visiting with Lola and don't arrive at the temple until 1:40. Sheri is nowhere to be found. I hurry and get dressed and go upstairs. There is only one patron in the chapel so I ask a worker about the 2 o'clock session. He says it started at 1:45. I would have made it had it been at 2 so it is partly Sheri's fault for telling me the wrong time and partly my fault for being late. I wait in the chapel for the 2:30 session wondering where James is. I just figured he made it to Sheri's session. Sheri said she was going to go to the 2 o'clock session no matter what, she wasn't waiting for us. I guess she is stressed about time because she also said she couldn't come with us to the movie tonight.

After my session I go out to the car and talk to James. He did not attend any session because he forgot his pants and the temple did not have any in his size.

He felt so bad. I felt bad for him. We go through Panda Express before going back to Darrel and Trina's. Trina is leaving to take friends of the kids home when we get back. We just meet her later at the Crossroads theater at Germann and Gilbert because we thought Kim and Brian and maybe Stacy were coming to see "The Greatest Showman" with us.  They didn't end up coming and we could have gone to a theater closer to Trina's because she and her kids were the only ones who came with us.

We loved the movie! Afterwards we had a quick visit with Brother and Sister Tomlinson. He was the young men's president when James was our bishop and now he is a bishop.

Darrel is home when we get there and Trina tells him that her brakes are very loud and need to be replaced.

Lola falls asleep but earlier she told me she wanted me to sleep in her bed, because I was a girl. James beat me to it.

A great family movie!

Too dark. Look at Ruby at the top.

Too bad James didn't get to do a session.

Trina and Darrel's new couch from Costco  is

just like the one Sheri and Ian got.

They are couch twins.

Jackson's match. That's his sister filming it to 

show his dad who is in the hospital.

Of course he got first.

Tina's post. Tina is Jackson's mom and

Steve is his dad.

For the first time this year Talon got first too!!

Thursday, January 18th, 2018

Provo, Utah

15th operating temple

Dedicated: 9 Feb 1972

By: Joseph Fielding Smith

Jesus Christ Atonement through

Leviticus 4:31

And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour unto the Lord; and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him.

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 13:40-14:8

*As I strive to follow the Lord, how have I seen Him take away my stumbling blocks?

*Why is it so important to hold fast to the plain and precious truths of the gospel?

Old Testament

Genesis 41-45

41 Pharaoh dreams of the cattle and the ears of grain-Joseph interprets the dreams as seven years of plenty and seven of famine-He proposes a grain storage program-Pharaoh makes him ruler of all Egypt-Joseph marries Asenath-He gathers grain as the sand upon the seashore-Asenath bears Manasseh and Ephraim-Joseph sells grain to Egyptians and others during the famine.

42 Jacob sends his sons to buy grain in Egypt-They bow before Joseph-He makes harsh accusations against them, imprisons Simeon, and sends them back for Benjamin.

43 Jacob is persuaded to send Benjamin to Egypt-Joseph's brothers show respect to him-They all eat and drink together.

44-Joseph arranges to stop the return of his brothers to Canaan-Judah offers himself in place of Benjamin for their father's sake.

45 Joseph makes himself known to his brothers-They rejoice together-Pharaoh invites Jacob and his family to dwell in Egypt and eat the fat of the land.

Old Testament Scripture Mastery

Job 19:25-26

25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

General Conference

The Lord Leads His Church

President Henry B. Eyring

"The Lord sees His servants perfectly. He sees their potential and their future. And He knows how their very nature can be changed. He also knows how they can be changed by their experiences with the people they will lead."

President Uchtdorf posted on Facebook today that he appreciated everyone's concern for him but that he loved being back in the Quorum of the 12 and he loves and supports the new First Presidency.

James is really in to our book, "Journey's End and asks me to read from it several times a day. 

I read this from "Rescuing Wayward Children:" 

"Personal repentance and sanctification are essential tools in asking for power from heaven in order to reclaim others." p. 91.

I have no more pain in my knee! I am not doing my steps until after my infusion. James has been walking between 15-20,000 steps everyday. I got over 8,000 steps today without even trying. I cleaned and polished the wood floors and moved furniture around again for the fireside. 

Our elder's quorum president, Steve Allen, fell off a house today and was air-evacuated to Phoenix. He was getting ready to go to a wrestling tournament with his son Jackson.

We watched the new Emma Fielding mystery movie on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries tonight.

I wonder if this is one of his grandchildren.

 I love the smell of bacon!

I cleaned off the games shelf before the fireside.

James got right up from his nap and fixed 

this bench for me today.

Jared Ammon was such a sweet little boy.

Very smart and competitive.

I have several photos of James playing chess

with various grandchildren. The last one was

with Lola.

Wednesday, January 17th, 2018

Ogden, Utah

14th operating temple

Dedicated: 18-20 Jan 1972

By: Joseph Fielding Smith

Jesus Christ Atonement through

3rd Article of Faith

We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 13:28-39

*What is the #1 reason I'm thankful for the scriptures?

They help me feel the Spirit, they help strengthen my testimony of Jesus Christ, and they teach me the commandments of God.

*Why do the Gentiles in Nephi's dream stumble? When were the plain and precious things recovered? 

Some were recovered in the Book of Mormon, and also the Joseph Smith translation of the Bible.

Old Testament

Genesis 39-40

39 Joseph, prospered by the Lord, becomes ruler of Potiphars house - He resists the advances of Potiphar's wife, is falsely accused, and is cast into prison - The keeper of the prison commits the prisons' affairs into Joseph's hands.

40 Joseph interprets the dreams of Pharaoh's chief butler and chief baker - The butler fails to tell Pharaoh about Joseph.

Old Testament Scripture Mastery

1 Samuel 16:7

But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

General Conference

Bearers of Heavenly Light

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"The Lord has promised, 'If you eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light and there shall be do darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things."  This is the ultimate remedy for spiritual sickness. Darkness vanishes in the presence of light."

Happy 16th Birthday Anna!

James and I are reading the Book of Mormon and the Old Testament together. I get up at 5 and he doesn't usually get up until after 7 so I study other things until he gets up.

This morning in looking for more photos for Stacy, I found a couple of boxes of old photos upstairs. I sent a couple to her but decided I needed to go through them and organize them before our anniversary on June 1st. This is a big year for us. We both turn 70 and we celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary.

I started typing family memories and Alex's made me cry. He wrote an entire page and it's not too difficult to see how much he loves and respects his grandpa James. 

I rearranged furniture for Sundays fireside today. The bishop expects around 30 people. 

James had a high priest group presidency meeting this evening.
I worked on my blog and talked to my friend Jean who is going in for surgery next week. We are going to lunch next Monday.

When James got home we watched an episode of "Heartland."

Sounds like something I would do.

Except Sheri was a little "rough" with Jared.

Snow while we are gone this weekend!

Pete the Crow.

Not sure what the brown spot is.

James and I on a double date with my cousin Rita and her

date Terry Branson.

Me with my helmet head hair and James.

Just clownin' around.

James, Dave Dudding, Jeff Szoke, Harold.

Working on Mrs. Weech's house.

Christmas caroling with Dave and Sandy's kids.

Looks like Stacy got to be Mary this year.

I love Jared's face in this one.

James and Kevin.

Kim and Charlotte working for James.

Fun in Pinedale

Pinedale cabin before it burned.