Friday, January 11, 2019

Saturday, January 5th, 2019

Hong Kong, China
48th operating temple
Dedicated: 26 May 1996
By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Death of
DC 45:4
Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified.
Book of Mormon
1Nephi 4:1-19
Have I ever been "led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do?"
New Testament
I am responsible for my own learning.
1 Nephi 10:17-19; Alma 32:27; DC 18:18; 58:26-28; 88:118
General Conference
Be Not Troubled
Elder Ronald A. Rasband
"Our desire to 'always have his Spirit" with us will push fear aside for a more eternal view of our mortal lives. President Nelson has cautioned, 'In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.'"


Our plan this morning was to load up our garbage, go to the church to do our cleaning assignment, and then take the garbage to the dump. When James went out to start loading it up he realized it was gone. I'm surprised that we didn't notice it last night when we came in. Brian and Kim took our 12 bags of garbage with them. Wow! What can we say. We appreciate them so much! 

When James contacted Brian to thank him and ask him what he did with it, Brian said: "When we got home the garbage man was just coming down the street. We put some of the bags in our container and some in our neighbors. The rest I took to Auto Zone around the corner."

James made us smoothies for breakfast before we left to clean the church. The Allen's, one of the families we are assigned to clean with, wanted to meet no later than 8 a.m. We arrived at the church at 8. James went in to see if anyone was there because he saw a car parked on the other side and the door on that side was propped open. We could find no one inside but soon the Gardner's showed up, Brother and Sister Gardner and Liam. The Allen's said they forgot when James called them later. They said they had a temple wedding to go to and that's what they were thinking of. We found out later that it was Aaron Winsor's sealing. He was a youth in Vernon and after his mission he moved to Taylor with his mother.

James started out by emptying trash throughout the building and discovered one of the classrooms was missing their trash cans. I started out by cleaning the bathrooms. Brother Gardner and Liam vacuumed and cleaned the chapel. Sister Gardner washed windows and cleaned the kitchen where she found mouse droppings. We will need to report this and the missing trash containter to the FM (Facility Management) so I took down their number. 

It only took us a little over an hour to clean. At 9 Sister Crane and her crew, Kerri, Amy, Alicia, Kip, Hailey, and Colter came to take down the Christmas decorations. Brother Gardner and Kerri took all the trash to the container outside. It was a good experience being in the building with these good people. The Gardner's are hard workers and so very kind.

We picked up our mail and headed to Dollar General to see if they have bananas. They don't. Next stop was Stanford General. They had one ripe banana and the clerk gave it to me. She said they needed to make a produce run but hadn't done so yet. I need at least three bananas to make banana nut bread for the Crane's. I have been promising them since Christmas. I thought we had bananas or we would have picked some up yesterday. James was so nice and didn't even complain when I asked if we could go to Walmart. 

We bought bananas, flour, sugar, eggs, shakes, oil, and butter. I just like to have baking supplies on hand, plus I am also making peanut butter cookies for Brother Wilhelm who had a birthday on December 30th. We stopped at Taco Bell and I got two tacos and a diet Pepsi. When I realized that a medium diet Pepsi at this joint cost $1.89 I vowed to never buy another.

We also stopped to get gas and then we were homeward bound.
It was stressful going up our hill and around our driveway but we made it, mud and all.

I worked on my blog and tomorrows "Come Follow Me" lesson while baking peanut butter cookies for Brother Wilhelm. I also read James a chapter from our book, "The Captain's Daughter." 

I was just getting ready to put a loaf of banana nut bread in the over at around 4:05 when the electricity went off. I put the bread in the refrigerator instead. The electricity ended up being off for around two hours.

While we were waiting in the dark James decided to light our kerosene lamps so I could read some more. After reading a chapter he said we should go deliver John his cookies. I reminded him that we could not get the garage door open. He said we could. 
It was difficult but we got the door open enough to put James's walking stick under it to prop it open. I drove the car out and we delivered the cookies to Sandra and the kids. John was not yet back from the young men's bicycle outing. 

The electricity came back on shortly after six and I baked the banana nut bread for the Crane's. James walked over in the snow and delivered it around 8 pm. James was gone for awhile as Chuck told him about the outing with the young men in Black Canyon.
Kathy texted me and said the bread was delicious! 

I put a log on the fire and we watched the new winter Hallmark movie, "Winter Castle." It's about a wedding held in an ice hotel. This hotel actually exists in the city of Quebec. Why would anyone want to stay in hotel that is freezing cold no matter how beautiful it looks? There is a new Hallmark movie every Saturday night in 2019. I am excited!

We began our fast before going to bed. We are fasting for greater family unity. 

After the electricity came back on James had
to go up and fix something on the garage door.
He's saying, "Don't take my picture."

 The Gilbert temple





 Where are the hearts on this Valentine
card?

 Nothing sweeter than a sleeping baby.

I wonder what's buried under this
pile of snow.

 I miss these guys




This is the first Christmas card we received this 
past Christmas. I love this sweet family!

 I like this.

 Dennis and Denise's family
Dennis, Rachel, Evie, Santa, Peg
Denise, Thor












Thursday, January 10, 2019

Friday, January 4th, 2019

Bountiful, Utah
47th operating temple
Dedicated: 8 Jan 1995
By: Howard W. Hunter

Jesus Christ, Death of
DC 20:23
He was crucified, died, and rose again the third day;
Book of Mormon
1 Nephi 3:9-31
Why do you think Sam willingly followed Nephi while Laman and Lemuel persecuted him?
New Testament
John 7:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:21; James 1:5-6, 22; 2:17
General Conference
Laying the Foundation of a Great Work
Elder Steven R. Bangerter
"Consistent, wholesome family traditions that include prayer, scripture reading, family home evening, and attendance at Church meetings, though seemingly small and simple create a culture of love, respect, unity, and security. In the spirit that accompanies these efforts, our children become protected from the fiery darts of the adversary so embedded in the worldly culture of our day."



I got up at 3:36 this morning to take a shower. I went back to bed and James and I lay their talking, trying to decide if we were going to our appointments in the valley today. James finally said, "Yes we are. We can do hard things." We left around 5 a.m.

James drives. The hardest part is getting out of the garage because of the snow piled up in our driveway. Away we go! No stopping. We drive directly to James's appointment on Dobson just south of Frye. 

I leave the keys in the car and text him that I am walking north on Dobson Rd. My infusion appointment is at 10:30 and it's around 8:45, on Baseline and Arizona Avenue. I only walk a short ways before he picks me up and drives to the Chandler mall. The only place open is Wildflower Bakery. I ordered some lemon ricotta pancakes and James has some orange juice. I eat two of my pancakes. They are delicious. What is it with me and lemon these days?

Two of my favorites are in the infusion center, Angie who puts in my drip, and Frances who makes the appointments. I got 640 mg of Actemra. My blood pressure was 108/64. I think my walking is helping me to stay a little more healthy although my weight is up about four lbs for last month.

 At 11:30 I am finished. James is outside waiting. I drive this time to QuikTrip to check the air in our tires and to get some gas. 

Our next stop is the Olive Garden on Gilbert and Germann. I have the Ravioli di portabello:

My favorite OG dish right now.

This is what James ordered:
Asiago Tortelloni Alfredo with Grilled Chicken
I liked mine better.

Our waiters name was Jesse. I really liked him so he got a good tip.  

We were going to go to Darrel and Trina's just to say hi but Trina was taking the younger girls to Sodalicious and the older two were gone somewhere else. Rowan was with the Trezise's bowling.
 We said goodbye and that we would be back Monday and Tuesday, and headed home.

 Evan, Joshua, Rowan, and Max

 The winners!
Alex and Ian

I drove until we got to the Circle K in Superior. When we got out to trade places I realized what a beautiful, sunny day it is. 

Our ride was pretty uneventful until we got to the Safeway in Show Low where James stopped to get me some Dr. Pepper 10. As he was carrying it to the car he realized that it weighed more than the 5 lbs that he is supposed to be lifting. Sorry honey.

As we got to our hill in Vernon we made a running start and kept it going until we rounded the road into our driveway and garage. We almost got stuck in the driveway!

I walked and worked on my computer this evening doing my blog. I am a little sad because I have watched all the Christmas movies I had recorded, all 126 of them.

 I love Sister Hinckley!


 The Wanlass Family

Posting ideas for Valentine cards


 I took a picture of this when I was at the 
Chandler mall this morning.

My favorite temple, I couldn't resist posting

 In Arkansas at Kacey's mom's
70th birthday. Charlie loves her
brother Tanner.









Thursday, January 3rd, 2019

Orlando, Florida
46th operating temple
Dedicated: 9 Oct 1994
By: Howard W. Hunter

Jesus Christ, Death of
DC 18:11
For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.
Book of Mormon
1 Nephi 2:16-3:8
New Testament
Lesson #1 - Quote by Elder Bednar:
"As learners, you and I are to act and be doers of the word and not simply hearers who are only acted upon. Are you and I agents who act and seek learning by faith, or are we waiting to be taught and acted upon? ... A learner exercising agency by acting in accordance with correct principles opens his or her heart to the Holy Ghost and invites His teaching, testifying power, and confirming witness. Learning by faith requires spiritual, mental and physical exertion and not just passive reception" ("Seek Learning by Faith," Ensign, Sept. 2007, 64).
General Conference
Lift Up Your Head and Rejoice
M. Joseph Brough
" To help us travel and triumph over our hard times with glimpses of eternity, may I suggest two things. We must face hard things, first, by forgiving others and, second, by giving ourselves to Heavenly Father."



I have a book box ready to mail to Amazon's fulfillment center. Sheri and Ian are leaving this morning with the boys and I want to be here to take a picture but James has a doctor's appointment with Dr. Moffat about his laringitis, plus I want to mail our box of books, so I go to town with James.

Kim took a picture for me but I guess there had been a bit of a misunderstanding and Max shoved Evan down. Sheri and Ian both yelled and Max so none of them were happy in this picture. 

Sheri looks happy.

James and I stopped at Taco Bell for my taco craving. We also went to CVS to get James's prescriptions.

We got stuck going up our hill at home. I walked the rest of the way and Brian came in the Razr to rescue James and the car. I guess the car got stuck 2 more times.  

Brian and Kim have taken down our Christmas tree, and the grandkids stockings. Brian has carried everything downstairs. I am so grateful for their help! I love looking at my Christmas tree when it's up but I hate taking it down and putting it up.

Sheri and company got home safely. They pick up Ollie at Cathi's and he is happy to see them. Later Cathi comes down and he is so excited to see her that he stands by the door blocking her so she can't get out. She picks him up and he licks her all over the face. This dog is in love with his aunt Cathi.

Brian made breakfast for dinner. Scrambled eggs with sausage and hashbrowns. I didn't eat too much because I had been snacking on lemon cake all day. 

We had several deer, Kim counted 8, and some elk in our yard this evening. Kim and James both took pictures. One of the cow elk herd Kim and I talking and ran back up the hill. The rest of the herd stayed around for awhile.

This evening the four of us, Kim, Brian, James, and I watched one of my favorite Christmas movies. It's called "Christmas Around the Corner" about a girl who visits a bookstore in Vermont and changes the entire town. Love it.

We have some friends who came home from the valley after Christmas, Pam and Chuck, to find that their waterline had broken. There is also a single sister in our ward with broken pipes. The elders quorum is going to put skirting around her manufactured home to keep them from freezing again.

A Charlie picture a day keeps the 
blues away.

Phillipians 4:13



Brian and James enjoying dinner together.






 Kim's latest M&M craze









Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Wednesday, January 2nd, 2019

San Diego, California
45th operating temple
Dedicated 25 April 1993
By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Death of
Moroni 9:25
My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever.
Book of Mormon
1 Nephi 1:16-2:15
New Testament
To truly learn from the Savior, I must accept His invitation, "Come follow me." Matt. 6:14-15; 18:21-35; Luke 23:33-34
General Conference
Deep and Lasting Conversion to Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
Elder Quentin L. Cook
"World conditions increasingly require deepening individual conversion to and strengthening faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and His Atonement. The Lord has prepared us, line upon line, for the perilous times that we now face. In recent years, the Lord has guided us to address related core concerns, including:
* Honoring the Sabbath day and the sacred ordinance of the sacrament has again been emphasized for the last three years.
* Under the bishop's direction, strengthened elders quorums and Relief Societies are focused on the purpose and divinely appointed responsibilities of the Church and helping members make and keep sacred covenants.
* Ministering in a higher and holier way is being joyfully adopted. 
*Beginning with the end in mind, temple covenants and family history service are becoming a purposeful part of the covenant path."





When I came in to the family room this morning Kim, Brian, and Sheri were watching a Christmas movie. They ended up watching two movies this morning. Ian was making breakfast. Michael cleaned the fireplace using my $2,000 vacuum. It's okay though because it is old. 

After breakfast Ian took the boys sledding. Max came in afterwards and said he lost his pants while he was on the sled. Oh dear. 

Sheri and Kim went out to build a snowman but the snow would not stick together because it was so dry so they went for a walk instead. They were gone for quite awhile and walked over two miles. Sheri looked it up on Google and a 40 year old woman burns 2,000 calories a day. I wonder how many calories a 70 year old woman burns in a day.

 Meet Mrs. Smiley Snow


It's snowing again. The boys come in and drop their snow-covered clothes in the laundry room. I have them trained well. 

Brian is smoking our ribs for us. I prepared a rub and James put the rub on and put the ribs in the smoker. It says leave them for 3 1/2 hours but since our smoker is run by propane you have to check it periodically to make sure it maintains the right temperature. This is what Brian did until they were done around 4 p.m. The boys devoured the first rack in about five minutes and the rest of us shared the second rack. The beef ribs were mostly fat and bone. Delicious, although they were just a snack. Brian and Sheri both made burgers for dinner and Sheri also made hotdogs. I did not have dinner.

Brian says the best kind of smoker is a Traeger so I looked them up. They run anywhere from $599 to thousands of dollars if you get them with a grill. I guess I will need to start saving my money.

You watched movies and played games inside and outside there was the snow.




 Joshua wears this mask to keep
his face warm. I think it is Brian's.


While Sheri and Kim were on their walk they
texted it to me and ask me to show it to James.
They wanted to know if it was a mountain 
lion. He said no, it is either a dog or coyote.



Trivial Pursuit





The game gets more interesting when Kim plays.

 She finished her "Valley of the Sun" puzzle.

 Something I definitely need more of.

 She always brightens my day!

Lots of steps today!