Friday, March 30th, 2018

Montreal, Quebec

86th operating temple

Dedicated: 4 June 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ Authority of

Ether 3:14

Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem y people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters. 

Book of Mormon

Jarom 1:1-15

* How can we stay out of the pride cycle, even when we are prosperous?

Old Testament

Deuteronomy 27-28

27 The children of Israel are to cross the Jordan, build an altar, and worship the Lord - They are the Lord's people but will be cursed if they do not obey Him.

28 If the children of Israel are obedient, they will be blessed temporally and spiritually - If they are disobedient, they will be cursed, smitten, and destroyed; diseases, plagues, and oppression will come upon them; they will serve false gods and become a byword among all nations; fierce nations will enslave them; and they will eat their own children and be scattered among all nations.

General Conference

Love One Another as He Has Loved Us

Elder Jose L. Alonso

" President Thomas S. Monson has counseled us, saying, 'Let us examine our lives and determine to follow the Savior's example by being kind, loving, and charitable.'"

Today is Good Friday. I wonder why it is called Good Friday when this is the day that the Savior suffered on the cross. 

Rowan and Ruby went with us this morning while Addy, Trina and Lola went on a walk. Actually, Addy roller bladed, Trina jogged and Lola rode in the jogging stroller. 

The first thing we did on our drive was stop at the bank to get some cash to pay Erik for fixing the shocks on our car. I brought my checkbook but I was all out of checks. We got $400 and paid him $380. James took Lexy from Erik's to Chandler Auto Body while I went to Stacy's to pick up Joshua and take him to Sheri's. James finished before we did so he started walking south on Arizona Avenue. We picked him up by Ray Rd. 

Kim took Stacy to the surgery center earlier this morning to have surgery on her foot. Paul will pick her up and take her home. 

After picking up James we drove to Tempe to see Lois and Dawn. Lois had cataracts removed from her left eye yesterday. It is the eye she can't see out of anyway so I'm not sure why they felt the need to remove cataracts. Dawn and Lois were both happy to see us and to see Rowan and Ruby as well. 

Lois fed us lunch. Ruby and I had a turkey and cheese sandwich, chips, and pineapple upside down cake. Rowan had some cake and cantaloupe. I think James had a little of everything.

On our way back to Chandler we stopped at Dollar Tree to pick up some goodies we thought we might put in the Easter eggs. We stopped at Sheri's for the egg coloring activity. Joshua's egg spinner was a big hit especially with Darrel and Trina's kids. Sheri was making rolls while we were there. 

When we got back to Darrel and Trina's James and I went upstairs to take a nap. While we were napping Suzy came to pick up the kids. They are having a cousin sleepover at her house tonight. Lola said to her: "Do you want to go upstairs and see my grandma and grandpa sleeping?" I am glad she declined. 

Trina and I went shopping this evening. Darrel was at work and James went for a walk. Trina had planned on using the massage coupon Darrel got her for her birthday tonight at Massage Envy but they wouldn't let her because even though she had the confirmation number she didn't have the original email. She was pretty upset and so was Darrel. When he got home he sent her the email. I think she will be going back very soon.

James and I were up until midnight making a double batch of Easter beans. Tomorrow I will make the ham and two kinds of potatoes.

I was walking and it turned midnight before

I reached 10,000.

I think this is what James was doing when 

he wrecked my car.

Winter or "Winnie" as her family calls her.

I saw this picture at Lois's and I had to copy it.

I love it!

Sheri's baby

Egg coloring at Sheri's:

Patiently waiting for her turn using

the egg spinner.

I think I need to get him one next year.

An artist at work.

Ruby showing off her egg.

Ollie is the photo bumber.

Thursday, March 29th, 2018

Villahermosa, Mexico

85th operating temple

Dedicated: 21 May 2000

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ Authority of

3 Nephi 9:15

Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name.

Book of Mormon

Enos 1:11-27

Have you ever prayed for an enemy?

Old Testament

Deuteronomy 24-26

24 Laws given concerning divorce, newly married persons, making merchandise of men, taking of pledges, leprosy, oppression of servants, and leaving gleanings of crops.

25 Judges prescribe punishment for wicked - Marriage law provides for brother's widow - Just weights and measures required - Israel commanded to blot out Amalekites from under heaven.

26 Israel shall offer to the Lord a basket of firstfruits of Canaan - They are commanded to keep law of tithing - Israel covenants to keep commandments, and the Lord promises to make them a holy people and a great nation.

General Conference

"Seek Ye Out of the Best Books"

Elder Ian S. Arden

" It is the very essence of religion not to have a sure answer to every question, for this is one of the purposes of faith. In that regard, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has taught us that 'when those moments come and issues surface, the resolution of which is not immediately forthcoming, hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes.'"

We had about 20 elk walk across our yard this morning between 8-8:30. They were walking back up the hill to bed down for the day.

After my gospel study this morning I began getting ready to go to the valley. I got out my red pot, two crockpots, the ham roaster, utensils, the ricer and the food I need to take with us. I also boiled some eggs for coloring. I watered my plants, packed a box with snacks, and finished up Stacy's basket. It looked like this:

Pink little Lambie!

We left at 11:47 and James already has 10,000 steps. He worked outside and sprayed off the car and the garage. 

It is a beautiful day, no wind, sunny, and 50 degrees. We stopped at Burger House and got a couple of burros. James needs some Biotene so we stopped at the Walgreen's in Apache Junction.

I got two Tofifay's, one for Stacy and one for us, and some Biotene although they didn't have the little spray bottle. 

From Walgreen's we went on to Darrel's to unload. It is 85 degrees. Yikes!  As soon as we got unloaded we drove over to Chandler to the Enterprise on north Arizona Avenue. We had pre-registered and we were signed up at the one in south Chandler so we drove to the one on Germann and Alma School inside Cobblestone Carwash.

We were there for over an hour. The service was so slow. Finally we came away with a Toyota Camry. James drove Lexy to Erik's and I drove the rental to pick him up. 

Our next stop was at Stacy's. We gave her the basket and she loved it. James had to make an egg with Joshua's egg spinner. 

Such concentration.

Can you find his egg?

Since Stacy is going in the morning to have surgery Paul and James gave her a priesthood blessing. Paul anointed and James gave the blessing. It was sweet.

We got back on the 202 and headed east to Darrel and Trina's. We stopped at the Sweet Tomatoes on Power Rd. and had some dinner.

I had asked the kids to help me fill my Easter eggs. I had seven different colored plastic eggs and I originally was going to assign a color to each kid. Ruby picked the sparkly ones and that made Lola cry. We gave a couple to Lola and then Ruby got upset about something and laid over on the couch the rest of the evening. I felt bad but didn't know what to do. I did everything I could think of to make her happy. I think she was tired. Rowan and Addy and I had fun filling the eggs. Rowan is hilarious. He put a small amount of candy in one egg with a note that said: "I bet you wish there was more."

Lois had cataracts removed from her right

eye today. 

This was three years ago in March.

More from last year at Buckulieu Springs.

Silly kids!

I showed this to Ruby and she loved it.

Kyler, Jasmine's baby.

Somewhere in the White Mountains.

Our new book.

She is one of our favorite authors.

Wednesday, March 28th, 2018

Nashville, Tennessee

84th operating temple

Dedicated: 21 May 2000

By: James E. Faust

Jesus Christ Authority of

Matthew 12:18

Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

Book of Mormon

Jacob 7:21-Enos 1:10

* Why do you think it was important to, Nephi, Enos, and Mormon that these records be preserved for their brethren the Lamanites?

Talk: Holy Scriptures: The Power of God unto Our Salvation

By: Elder Robert D. Hales, October 2006, general conference.

Old Testament

Deuteronomy 22-23
22 Moses sets forth laws pertaining to lost property, wearing of proper clothes, caring for interests of others, marrying virgins, and sexual immorality.
23 Moses specifies those who may and may not enter the congregation - He sets forth laws concerning sanitation, servants, usury, and vows.
General Conference

Essential Truths: Our Need to Act

Elder Adilson de Paula Parrella

" Jesus is the promised Messiah, the Lawgiver, the Holy One of Israel, our Lord, our Savior, our Redeemer, our King, our All.

May we all continue to act upon these essential truths and knowledge, offering our obedience to God and His Beloved Son.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

I finally caught up on my blog but tomorrow I will be going to the valley and will probably get behind again. It is never ending.

"Gratitude is twin sister to humility; pride is a foe to both." - Elder James E. Talmage

James wanted to send out a family text this morning regarding general conference. He had a hard time. It took him about two hours but he didn't give up and he finally accomplished his goal.

I listened to the song, "I Heard Him Come," which was composed by Jeff Goodrich and sung by Afterglow. I also listened to Afterglow sing, "The Greatest Gift."

I worked on my personal history today using a book which gives various assignments. Today I told about my grandparents, Albert Alexander Strickland and Myrtle Mae Rutledge, my grandpa and nannie.

The high today was 54 degrees. All of the snow is gone. 

For lunch we had marinated chicken thighs, lemon pepper asparagus, and a salad. Everything was delicious.

We made a trip to town. We finished "Charity House Courtship," and started the new Sarah Eden book I bought, "Ashes on the Moor." I got all the things to put in Stacy's basket and the cellophane wrap to put around the outside. I couldn't find her favorite candy, Tofifay, so I got some Jordan Almonds at Walgreen's instead. She likes those too and so do James and I.

We came home and watched, "Royal Matchmaker," and finished our steps. I got over 17,000. James fed his bunnies. I got lemon squares at Walmart for us to try. They were just as good as the homemade. The sugar cookies with icing I bought were gross and they got thrown in the trash. 

Conference reminder by my friend Marci.

Happy 90th Birthday Aunt Gene!

Lola is number 1!

Buckelieu Springs

Rowan, Ruby, Evan, last year.

I love watching Evan climb and hike in his flip flops.

Tuesday, March 27th, 2018

Tampico, Mexico

83rd operating temple

Dedicated: 20 May 2000

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ Authority of

Moses 6:52

And he also said unto him: If thou wilt turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, and believe, and repent of all thy transgressions, and be baptized, even in water, in the name of mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth, which is Jesus Christ, the only name which shall be given under heaven, whereby salvation shall come unto the children of men, ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, asking all things in his name, and whatsoever ye shall ask, it shall be given you.

Book of Mormon

Jacob 7:1-20

* Sherem is the first anti-Christ in the Book of Mormon. 

*President Ezra Taft Benson shared the following three questions we can ask ourselves to avoid being deceived:

1.) What do the standard works have to say about it?

Brigham Young said the Book of Mormon was written on the tablets of his heart and no doubt helped save him from being deceived.

2.) The second guide is: what do the latter-day Presidents of the Church have to say on the subject - particularly the living President.

3.) the third and final test is the Holy Ghost - the test of the Spirit....This test can only be fully effective if one's channels of communication with God are clean and virtuous and uncluttered with sin.

Old Testament

Deuteronomy 19-21

19 Cities of refuge appointed for cases of manslaughter - Murderers shall be put to death - Two or three witnesses required in court cases - False witnesses punished.

20 Laws revealed for selection of soldiers and making of war - Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites shall be utterly destroyed.

21 How murders by unknown persons are expiated - Equity required in dealing with wives and children under plural marriage - Stubborn and rebellious sons may be put to death.

General Conference

Do We Trust Him? Hard Is Good

Elder Stanley G. Ellis

" Before this calling I was a financial consultant in Houston, Texas. Most of my work was with multimillionaires who owned their own businesses. Almost all of them had created their successful businesses from nothing through lots of hard work. The saddest thing for me was to hear some of them say that they wanted to make it easier for their children. They did not want their children to suffer as they had. In other words, they would deprive their children of the very thing that had made them successful."

I got up at 4 a.m. and looked outside. It was a winter wonderland and still snowing!  The trees are frosted and it looks like we have at least two inches. Thank you Lord.

According to President Nelson how I care for my body affects my destiny.

I read an article in the New Era today about a girl with cyctic fibrosis and how she turned her life around by exercising and eating healthy. She ended up going on a full-time mission. It was very inspirational. I need to realize that my body is a gift from the Creator. When we live with patience, faith, and gratitude, we find joy.

"Joy, it seems, Is not only happiness but the resultant feeling of the Holy Ghost manifest within us." - Barbara B. Winder, former General Relief Society President.

It snowed most of the day today but by the end of the day all of the snow was melted except on the mountains. The snow that fell today melted as soon as it touched the ground.

Brother Patrick came over today to show James some radios. These are walkie-talkie radios run off a tower. James wants some so we can communicate with other people who have them so if there is an emergency and our phones don't work, we can still communicate.

I am sure we will eventually get some but right now we just don't have the money.

At 2:30 I went to visit Sister MacArthur across the road from us. She and her husband and their two year old daughter just moved here from Fairbanks, Alaska. He is still a firefighter in Alaska and will be going back up from April until October. 

They both grew up in Show Low and when they had their baby they decided they wanted to be back down here by family. She is Sister Umphress's sister and their parents live in Linden. Her husbands parents live by Walmart.

I enjoyed my visit with her and took her a small Easter basket and shared a couple of quotes with her, one by President Nelson.

Love this little Lambie!

For dinner we had leftover spaghetti, and salad. We are trying to clean out all the leftovers in the fridge before we leave. 

After dinner James took a short nap and then left to go on a visit with Brother Greer from the stake and Brother Curtis from the ward. They visited the Gordon's, the new converts. James says they have goats and they spin yard out of the goat hair.  He really enjoyed the visit and said you can tell they love the gospel.

We  watched the final episode of season 7 of Heartland. Jack and Lisa secretly got married, Amy flew to Europe with the prince as part of his horse show. Ty and Caleb won $100,000 with their barrel racing horse. Georgie got the trick riding saddle of her dreams because she is spoiled rotten. We will not be ordering season 8. If we watch it, it will be on Amazon Prime.

Added tulips to my Easter centerpiece

I love this frosty scene

So gorgeous!

Our "snow" pit

I wish it would last.

So pretty

"Come As You Are" 
by
Greg Olsen

I wonder if our backyard could
look like this?

The White Dove of the desert

 Interesting