Thursday, September 6th, 2018

San Jose, Costa Rico

87th operating temple

Dedicated: 4 June 2000

By: James E. Faust

Jesus Christ, Crucifixion

Luke 23:23

And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voice of them and of the chief priests prevailed.

Book of Mormon

Alma 62:19-33

*Has the Lord ever relieved you from a great burden? How did it feel to no longer carry that weight?

-Some burdens are relived just by being over. But some become strengths to us. Some burdens aren't lifted quickly but the Lord is mindful of us and know what we need to carry them longer.

Old Testament

Proverbs 11-14

General Conference

Meek and Lowly of Heart

Elder David A. Bednar

"Meekness is an attribute developed through desire, the righteous exercise of moral agency, and striving always to retain a remission of our sins. It also is a spiritual gift for which we appropriately can seek. We should remember, however, the purposes for which such a blessing is given, even to benefit and serve the children of God."

We had a bit of a scare thinking Ruby had pink eye but it looks like she doesn't. Lola wouldn't touch Darrel's birthday balloons because Ruby touched them with her pinkeye. 

Trina and Lola left taking Ruby and Rowan to school and then going on to the gym. After the gym Lola had preschool. She cried about going but once she gets there she likes it. 

James and I were home alone a few hours. It was relaxing and I was able to do some catch up on my blog. James left around 11:30 to drop Tramadol by to Stacy and pick up our ice chest and then on to a meeting with Bill Valentic and then Armando Perez.

He spoke with Bill Valentic about getting paid for the Phoenician job and what the legal ramifications are. He ended up borrowing some money from him to pay off White Cap and Desert Ready Mix. 

James enjoyed his visit with Armando. He has five children that he adores. He lost his license for a year and James made him an offer about using his license.

Because Carmen Chavez and Tom Howard paid us some money I was able to pay the Verizon bill and James's line of credit. 

When James returned we headed out. First we were going to go to Red Lobster to eat but I forgot the gift cards, leaving them at Darrel and Trina's in my other purse. We got quarter pounders at McDonald's instead and then did some shopping at Hobby Lobby and then on to Costco for the Grapp's. 

It was fun shopping for the Grapp's, I sent James in one direction while I went in another. When we were finished we headed back to Darrel and Trina's. 

The kids wanted to make more cards which we did. It was fun. 

Trina is training for a sprint triatholon. She will run, ride a bike, and swim. The event is on September 29th. 

We went with Trina to pick up Rowan at the bus stop. So did Ruby. She showed us the lot for their new house. Across the street the house being built is just like theirs so we took a tour. 

Each of the kids will have their own rooms

and Trina says they are putting a bed in the

den for us.

Trina made pancakes for dinner. They were yummy.

Mom is great she makes us chocolate cake!

While I was at the kitchen table working on my blog, Rowan layed down on the couch. He kept talking to his Google Play. Google, play "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "Carry On," "Top of the World," and "Freesion."

Addy is so disciplined. She comes home from cross country, does her homework, showers, and then goes to bed because she has to get up at 5:30 and do it all over again tomorrow.

 Nap after a long day at the gym and school

Reading Harry Potter

 Scarlett

 Charlie

 Last summer, Ruby and Pepper

Wednesday, September 5th, 2018

Montreal, Quebec
86th operating temple
Dedicated: 4 June 2000
By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Crucifixion

Matthew 27:22

Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.

Book of Mormon

Alma 62:1-18

*What effect did Moroni's standard of liberty have on the hearts of the people of Nephi?

- It gave them courage and confidence and hope in the cause they were fighting for.

Old Testament

Proverbs 8-10

General Conference

The Prophet of God

Elder Neil L. Andersen

"We embrace President Nelson as we would have embraced Peter or Moses if we had lived in their day. God told Moses, 'I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.' We listen to the Lord's prophet with the faith that his words are 'from the Lord's own mouth.' 

Is this blind faith? No, it is not. We each have a spiritual witness of the truthfulness of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. By our own will and choice, we raised our hand this morning, declaring our desire to sustain the Lord's prophet with our confidence, faith, and prayers and to follow his counsel. We have the privilege as Latter-day Saints to receive a personal witness that President Nelson's call if from God."

This morning James and I went to Fry's to get the ingredients to make shredded beef tacos. Fry's had coffee and donut holes out for their shoppers. I was so excited to see donut holes that I grabbed some, totally forgetting about my commitment to not eat sugar. How do I overcome this addiction?

Can't help but compare Fry's produce section 

to Walmart's. There is no comparison. 

Sorry for the backside of the old guy.

While we were at Fry's Trina said she was going to take Lola to the gym with her and then she would bring her over to Cathi's later. We tried to hurry home before she left but we didn't make it. I am watching Lola and picking up Addy from the bus stop while Trina goes to the doctor. 

Cathi is so nice to do this for me. She is providing the material, time, and no how to make my card kits for card making class. I asked James to go to the bank and get $20 for her, which he did. 

Here is what I ended up with:

16-17 kits for card class

Lola made a card for her dad's birthday and then went upstairs and got locked in the play area. Later she said she liked playing with the dogs and making her card but she didn't like getting locked in with the toys.  Cathi watched Ollie for Sheri while Sheri took her car in. James picked Sheri up.  She is very emotional today. It's the saddest happy she has ever been.

Saying goodbye to Ben:

We left Cathi's around 1:15. Addy gets out of school early today and we are supposed to pick her up at the bus stop at 1:45. Lola told us she knew where the bus stop was. When I asked her which way we turn she said I think it's right, or maybe left. At first Addy didn't see us so she called her dad. Darrel called us and we drove around closer to where she was so she could see us. 

Addy wanted to go home so we went to drop her off. Trina had accidentally locked the door so Addy came with us to Jersey Mike's. James ordered her a mini sandwich with provolone cheese and ham. She said she didn't really like ham but she ate the entire sandwich. Lola ate the inside of her bread where it was nice and soft. She drank lots of pink lemonade and ate chips. James got her a cookie and she said she didn't want it. I looked at it and it had raisins in it so that's probably why.

Poor Trina spends most of her time in the afternoon running back and forth taking and picking up kids. She picked up Rowan from football practice and then took Addy to Mutual. Rowan was supposed to go too but he didn't want to because he doesn't really know anyone. Addy didn't have time to eat dinner and she was not here for Darrel's "party." We had to have Darrel's party between 6 and 7 because one of his birthday presents from Trina was a massage and he had to be there at 7.

Our tacos, both chicken and shredded beef were delicious. Darrel says tacos alot, that's why we made them for him. I hope he liked them.

Happy Birthday Darrel

  A candle and a kid for every decade of his life. 

The Big 40.

Lola's card:

Ruby's card:

Rowan's card:

Rowan didn't know that his dad used to
drive a motorcycle.

Photo a day:

Miss Charlie Mae

She sleeps with her legs in the air
building up her leg muscles for when she
becomes a dancer.

 Flooding in Manhattan, Kansas
Hurricane Gordon

I was her home teacher. She got me registered

at D.U.P. 

Daughters of Utah Pioneers

She was unforgettable and I loved her!

Tuesday, September 4th, 2018

Villahermosa, Mexico

85th operating temple

Dedicted: 21 May 2000

By: James E. Faust

Jesus Christ, Crucifixion

Matthew 26:2

Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.

Book of Mormon

Alma 61:6-21

*How do you retain your freedom and resist temptation?

- I think I lose my freedom when my eye is off the Lord. 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.

Old Testament

Proverbs 6-7

General Conference

"Until Seventy Times Seven"

Elder Lynn G. Robbins

"Repentance is God's ever-accessible gift that allows and enables us to go from failure to failure without any loss of enthusiasm. Repentance isn't His backup plan in the event we might fail. Repentance is His plan, knowing that we will. This is the gospel of repentance, and as President Russell M. Nelson has observed, it will be 'a lifetime curriculum.'

I had a goal to leave by 8 a.m. and we left a little before 9. We went back once for something I thought I forgot but I really didn't, and then I ended up forgetting my temple clothes. Luckily the Gilbert temple now rents some clothes. 

We attended the 2:30 p.m. temple session with Sheri and Ben. James said that Ben was very proficient in putting on his ordinances clothes this time. I provided all the temple names from my family tree.

Ben's friends Ian and Burke were outside the

temple when we were leaving. Ian took these

photos for us.

We parted ways and James dropped me off at Michael's to look around while he searched for a fast food place to grab a bite. I was not impressed with Michael's compared to Hobby Lobby.  I didn't buy anything with is quite amazing.

James found a Carl's Jr. and bought each of us a Santa Fe chicken sandwich. How thoughtful!  We had stopped for In n Out burgers when we first got in to town. Yikes! What were we thinking? Fast food is not good when you are trying to lose weight.

We went back to Darrel and Trina's so we could say hi to the kids. Trina was at work. The girls were home alone because Darrel had taken Rowan to his football game.

I can't text Addy anymore because she has a different phone so we were glad when someone opened the door for us. 

Ben's setting apart was in the high council room of the Chandler West stake center, the room where I used to attend stake council meeting when I was the stake Relief Society president. 

President Kent Johansen, the stake president, set Ben apart. He explained that he got his authority directly from President Russell M. Nelson. President Johansen asked if anyone knew the 5th Article of Faith. Rowan raised his hand and recited it. President was impressed. He gave a beautiful blessing. Sheri, Kim, and I all were trying to write things down. I was sitting by Lola and she kept asking me questions. He told Ben that his name tag was a reminder that he was taking upon himself the name of Christ and was his representative. Here is my sketchy version of the blessing:

Serve with all your heart, might, mind and strength. You will feel great joy and receive direct revelation as you act in courage. At times of trial and discouragement seek the Lord in humble prayer. Chase darkness away and be filled with light. Be diligent in your studies. You teachings and your pure and humble testimony will go deep into the hearts of others. Develop a great love for the people you teach and see them and love them through Heavenly Father's eyes. Bear testimony often. I bless you with health, strength, a sound mind and a sound body. I bless you that through your obedience you will find great joy in serving the Lord. Make friends and be a leader. Be an inspiration and lift those who are struggling in the responsibilities of serving a mission. Be diligent. Overlook the faults of others. Take counsel from DC 84:88 where the Lord says: And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.

See the Lord's purpose. You may think of your mission as a great sacrifice but it is actually a great blessing and will be for you and your family now and in generations to come. 

President Johansen is a very powerful, spiritual man and the Spirit was definitely in the room.

Those who attended: Sheri, Max, Evan, Kim, Brian, Darrel, Addy, Rowan, Ruby, Lola, James and myself.  Now Ben is a missionary and can go forward to serve. President cautioned him to obey mission rules and have someone as a companion until he leaves for Utah and the MTC tomorrow morning.

James and I met Sheri, Ian, Alex, Ben, Max, Evan, Kim, and Brian at the Mellow Mushroom in Mesa for pizza. Our pizza was delicious: mozarella and parmesan cheese, fresh basil, olives, onions, and tomatoes. Yummy! I had two pieces and James had four. The last time we will see Ben for two years.

Goodbye Ben!

 Scarlett, Autumn, Palmer

Sweet family!

 James brought me a bouquet

Sweet Charlie

Adorable!